Karen Dee Carpenter

Feature Screenplay, 114 pages

Once a rising star in the art world, a young painter abandons her career after a devastating collapse and seeks refuge in a stable marriage with an ambitious academic. But when her need to create becomes impossible to ignore, she secretly returns to painting—unraveling the fragile balance of her marriage and forcing her to confront the artist she was meant to be.

Film project currently in development.

In competition:

Finalist, New York International Film Awards, 2025

Finalist, Rome Prisma Awards, 2025

Winner, New York Screenwriting Awards, 2024

Winner, Berlin Women Cinema Festival, 2024

Finalist, Women’s Independent Film & Television Festival, 2024

A Screencraft reviewer wrote, “Tonally and thematically, the script has the contemplative feel of great cinematic storytellers like Woody Allen and Noah Baumbach, in films like Allen’s Hannah and Her Sisters and Interiors, and Baumbach’s Frances Ha and Marriage Story, especially in the very contemporary and dramatically involving ways that your script’s characters interact with each other and express themselves.”

14 minutes, S-16mm film

An aspiring actress intent on making her mark in Hollywood has botched an audition, can't find the means to bury her cat and is about to be evicted. She finally decides to solve her dilemmas, and make her mark, with one brash stroke.

Cast: Lucia Brizzi, Calida Jones, Chic Daniels

Screened at film festivals internationally, including San Antonio Film Festival, New York City Independent, NewFilmmakers NY, Golden Door and Chicago Arthouse, among others.

20 minutes, S-16mm film

Two young house-cleaners hate their jobs. Their work takes them out of their blue-collar neighborhood and into the wealthy suburbs where they feel the sting of their inferior position. When they discover a stash of money they suddenly have an opportunity to change their lives- but it's going to cost them.

Cast: Rachael Kemery, Ana Nogueira

Awarded the prestigious Princess Grace Award.

Screened at film festivals internationally including, Aspen Shortsfest, Mill Valley, Holly Shorts, Cucaloris and Baja International among others.

35mm film, 10 minutes

Marked as outsiders, Emily and her friends are searching for a quick escape from their small town on this Friday night. The close-minded oppression that pervades their community is disguised by the idyllic landscape that surrounds it. A backwoods boy and his car finally provide a way out but as the night wears on Emily realizes that no matter where she goes, she will always be from here.

Cast: Emily-Grace Murray, Rachael Kemery, Rebekah Bonney, Jessica Brettle, Tobias Segal

Screened at film festivals internationally including Torino, Brooklyn Intl., Mill Valley, Hamptons Intl. and Tampere. Was awarded five Best Film awards.