Almost Fairytales

02/13/2026

Looking for the perfect Valentine’s Day watch? 💘💌

Method: A Voice Actor Prepares is an award-winning romantic comedy that takes you behind the scenes of love, performance, and vulnerability. The story follows a dedicated voice actor who goes to hilarious (and unexpectedly heartfelt) lengths to prepare for a rom-com role, only to discover that real emotions can’t always be scripted.

With sharp wit, charming performances, and festival acclaim, Method blends industry satire with genuine romance in a way that feels both fresh and relatable.

This Valentine’s Day, skip the clichés and stream Method for FREE. 🎬💕

Fall in love with the process… and maybe a little bit with yourself too.

"Method: A Voice Actor Prepares" is a quirky comedic short set at a recording studio, starring a thespian who takes his craft VERY seriously. Featuring some ...

02/09/2026

✨ Valentine’s Day Movie Alert! 🎙️💕

Looking for something fun, quirky, and free to watch this Valentine’s Day? 💌
We’re thrilled to share that our award-winning short film, Method: A Voice Actor Prepares, is now available to stream online!

After more than a decade in the making, this charming office romcom takes you behind the mic and into the world of a passionate voice actor who takes his craft very seriously. It’s a love letter to the art of performance — full of laughter, heart, and a dash of chaos!

🎬 Watch now for free ➡️ https://www.jessicarenslow.com/post/method-a-voice-actor-prepares-my-quirky-long-awaited-film-is-now-online

Read the full update on how my passion project starring 3 Emmy award-winners finally made it to the big screen!

02/03/2026

As 2026 is revving up, all of us at Almost Fairytales Films are feeling deeply grateful for all that was 2025. 🤍🎥🎞️

This past year brought films finding their audiences, stories taking their time on the page, classrooms filled with curiosity, and countless moments of genuine community connection.

We’ve shared a Year in Review on the blog, part reflection, part gratitude, and part reminder that showing up consistently really does add up. None of this work happens in isolation, and we’re thankful for every collaborator, student, audience member, and supporter who made 2025 what it was.

Here’s to carrying these stories forward into 2026. ✨ Happy New Year!

What started as a simple goal, to create equitable, accessible access to the Grand Calumet Lagoon and River, grew into Indiana’s first universally designed kayak launch and sensory garden. Capturing this process on film was essential because this story isn’t just about a physical space, it’s a...

12/05/2025

We received a lovely award from the Power International Film Festival today all the way from South Africa. The Almost Fairytales crew wishes they could have been there in person but we were definitely there in spirit. Thanks once again to Indiana Humanities for supporting Hoosier filmmakers like our director, .

11/28/2025

We are grateful our little film is being featured in this Gary International Black Film Festival online showcase this week. You can watch the award-winning films from the 15th Annual Gary International Black Film Festival online (including Launching the Lagoon) and support independent filmmaking/ the arts in the process. Go to https://www.garyblackfilmfest.org for 🎫 info.

11/27/2025

We are grateful our little film is being featured in this online showcase this week. Starting today (11/27/25) you can watch the award-winning films from the 15th Annual Gary International Black Film Festival online (including Launching the Lagoon) and support independent filmmaking/ the arts in the process. Go to https://www.garyblackfilmfest.org for 🎫 info.

The countdown begins!

Awards Watch Weekend is almost here! Celebrate Black Film on Black Friday with GIBFF, as we stream the amazing award-winning films from the 15th Annual Gary International Black Film Festival on November 27-30!

Weekend and single film passes are now on presale at GIBFF.org! Let’s make this holiday weekend unforgettable!

11/26/2025

Great turnout at the SilverScreen Filmmakers Fall 2025 Cohort’s Short Film Showcase on Monday night. Thanks to the Indiana Arts Commission for supporting , and / local such as . Shout out to the Miller Beach Arts & Creative District for once again being our host organization. You can view their films and posters by going here:

Check out Jessica Renslow's first filmmaking course geared towards people ages 55+.

11/16/2025

📢 ♥️🖤Almost Fairytales is so honored that our short film “Launching the Lagoon” is part of this latest announcement from the Gary International Black Film Festival!

from The Gary Black International Film Festival

BLACK FILM ON BLACK FRIDAY 11/27/25-11/30/25

Black Friday didn’t start as a celebration, it began as a retail tactic.

The term was first used by Philadelphia police in the 1960s to describe the traffic jams, crowd surges, and chaos caused by shoppers rushing stores the day after Thanksgiving. Over time, it became a national ritual: a day defined by urgency, overconsumption, and pressure to buy more, not by gratitude or connection.

For many of us, that rush stands in sharp contrast to what Thanksgiving is meant to hold: family, rest, reflection, and the sharing of stories.

Black Film on Black Friday offers another path—one grounded in culture, creativity, and the beauty of slowing down. Instead of chasing deals, we’re choosing to celebrate the narratives that nourish us.

This Thanksgiving, We’re Serving Cinema

The Ones That Had Us Talking

The award-winning films of the 15th Annual Gary International Black Film Festival return to your screen for one weekend only. These stories rose above the rest. Films that were bold, beautifully crafted, and rooted in the full complexity of Black life.

Thanks to Indiana Humanities
for supporting like our director, .
Go here ➡️ for 🎫 https://www.garyblackfilmfest.org
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10/21/2025

Delighted to announce 📣 that Launching the Lagoon has been selected for the Synergy Film Festival. Our director, , has also been listed as a semifinalist for their director category. The Almost Fairytales crew can’t wait for our little film to make its Los Angeles debut! Thank you to Indiana Humanities for supporting filmmakers.

10/17/2025

Almost Fairytales director, , was thrilled to sit down with CapitalB to discuss all things filmmaking and the 15th Annual Gary International Black Film Festival. Read the full article here ➡️ https://gary.capitalbnews.org/gary-international-black-film-festival/

The festival continues to spotlight powerful stories from the African diaspora while nurturing a new generation of Midwest creators.

10/17/2025

Honored to announce that “Launching the Lagoon” won in the category of Midwest Award: Best Documentary Short at the Gary International Black Film Festival. In addition, Launching the Lagoon will be featured in the 15th Anniversary Award Watch Virtual Weekend of the Gary International Black Film Festival, November 27 - 30, 2025. For 🎫 info go ➡️ https://www.garyblackfilmfest.org Thank you to Indiana Humanities for sponsoring filmmakers like our director, .