Writer, Director and Producer Lauren Melinda talks about her Oscar 2026 Qualiying short film ‘Before You’
The decision to start a family is an emotional one, a hope for many wishing to expand their own family units and ensure their own legacies in turn. The confrontation however of child loss and abortion life altering realities faced by women globally, yet quietly navigated. Highlighting the heaviness of the impact of these realities – writer, director and producer Lauren Melinda talks about Oscar 2026 qualifying short film Before You, a film painting an intimate portrait of a couple navigating the quiet grief that follows a decision rarely spoken about in public, yet carried by so many in private. Lauren tells us more about exploring this sensitive topic further, collaborating with Planned Parenthood Federation of America and what she’s learned from creating the film.
Hi Lauren, your short film Before You has recently become Oscar qualified, how are you feeling?
I feel incredibly proud and excited that more people will have the chance to see the film. This story was created with such intention and care, and knowing it is reaching wider audiences means so much to me. It began as something very personal, and watching it resonate with others and open meaningful conversations has been both humbling and energizing.
Before You is a deeply personal reframing of abortion and reproductive loss rather than politics. It paints an intimate portrait of a couple navigating the quiet grief that follows a decision rarely spoken about in public, yet carried by so many in private. How have you found exploring this particular topic further?
It has been emotional, grounding, and eye opening. Every time I speak about this story, I meet people who have lived through something similar and have never felt they had permission to say it out loud. Exploring the topic further has reinforced how necessary these conversations are. There is so much silence and complexity around reproductive loss, and holding space for that has been a responsibility I take to heart. It has pushed me to stay open, to stay honest, and to honor the full weight of what so many people carry privately.
The film has been created in collaboration with Planned Parenthood Federation of America. What has this involved?
Planned Parenthood has been an incredible partner from the very beginning, especially my relationship with Caren Spruch (National Director, Arts and Entertainment Engagement). They understood the heart of the film and the need for compassionate storytelling around abortion and reproductive care. Their involvement has included guiding our impact conversations, supporting screenings across the country, and connecting us with communities who rarely see their experiences reflected with empathy. It has been a true collaboration grounded in shared values and a shared desire to make space for real, nuanced stories.
You’re currently developing a photography project alongside the film inviting individuals to visually express their experiences with abortion or reproductive loss through more abstract means. The aim of this to provide space for healing, connection, and storytelling. How is this element of the film’s outreach going?
It has become one of the most moving parts of this journey. People have stepped into these portraits with such vulnerability and imagination. Some images are abstract, some are more literal, but each one carries truth. The project is creating quiet but powerful space for people to process, to be witnessed, and to see their own courage reflected back to them. My hope is that it continues to grow into a living archive of these experiences.
What have you learned or taken away from creating the film?
I learned that honesty invites honesty. When I finally allowed myself to tell this story, I realized how many people were waiting for someone to speak openly about this kind of loss. I learned that grief and love can exist side by side, and that both can shape a relationship in meaningful ways. And I learned that when you tell the truth, even when it feels vulnerable, people meet you with empathy and courage.
What can audiences expect from the film?
Audiences can expect a quiet, intimate story centered on a couple who loves each other and is trying to navigate something they never thought they would face. It is emotional but grounded. It invites viewers into small moments that shape the bigger ones. This is not a political film, it is a deeply human film that holds space for complexity without judgment.
What would you like for audiences to take away from the film?
I hope audiences walk away feeling less alone. I hope they understand that pregnancies can be planned and deeply wanted and still end in heartbreak, and that this experience exists in many homes and relationships. More than anything, I hope people see that even in the hardest moments, love can guide a decision. And for anyone who has lived through a similar experience, I hope they feel seen and understood.
Interview by Lucy Basaba.
To find out more about Before You, visit here…
Leave a Comment