Too many of us—the short film Leylak hits too close to home. Directors Scott Aharoni and Dennis Latos captured the essence of the first few weeks of the nationwide lockdown of 2020 as COVID-19 gripped the world.

With rising infections and deaths, families and friends were in utter confusion to grasp this new lifestyle of wearing masks and the stay-at-home orders. In fact, the short film even touched upon the massive deaths demand for mass graves in New York, along with coping with a love one dying at the hospital with the virus.

Here’s the brief synopsis of Leylak:

In present day Queens, New York, a Turkish gravedigger is unable to face a shattering truth, and risks losing the dearest connection left in his life.

The short film stars Nadir Saribacak and Isabella Haddock.

Leylak was directed by Scott Aharoni and Dennis Latos during the pandemic. It shares the struggles that frontline workers were going through at the time. The film was sparked just a few days New York Times reported the deaths surpassed the 100,000 mark and 25% were from New York.

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LRM Online’s Gig Patta talked with directors Scott Aharoni and Dennis Latos prior to the beginning of the Tribeca Film Festival. We talked about the cast, the story, and grave sites that haunt the beginning of the short film.

Scott Aharoni and Dennis Latos are a directing duo based in New York. They have produced a slate of ad campaigns and produced several award winning films. Other short films under their credits included The Untimely Gift and Bardo.

Leylak made its premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival 2021, in which it won the festival’s Special Jury Mention Award.

Watch the exclusive interview with Scott Aharoni and Dennis Latos below. Let us know what you think.

Source: LRM Online Exclusive