Genre
Synopsis
Zia is pregnant with her first child when she receives the devastating news that her fetus is no longer viable and must head to OVUM to get a medical termination per her doctor’s recommendation. OVUM is a government mandated VR (Virtual Reality) simulation that uses the data social media and tech companies collect to fabricate a perfect life with your unborn fetus. It’s filled with all the hallmark scenes of a child growing up from their first steps to them leaving for college. In a bleak near-future America, every person seeking an abortion must go through OVUM, no matter the circumstances.
After spending time with her simulated daughter, Zia can’t bring herself to go through with the abortion. She lies to her partner Ben about getting the procedure and secretly returns to OVUM again and again to spend precious moments with a daughter she can never have. Meanwhile, Zia’s pregnancy is wreaking havoc on her physical health. Suffering from stabbing abdominal pains and severe migraines, Zia suspects she has developed preeclampsia, a life threatening condition when left untreated. Will Zia be able to terminate her doomed pregnancy in time or will she ultimately succumb to the fantasy of OVUM?
Bio
Cidney Hue is a writer-director in NYC with a focus on building inclusive futures through science fiction. Her most recent award-winning film, Ovum, is a Black Mirror-esque short on the convergence of reproductive rights and VR technology. Her previous award-winning short, Odessa, recounts the journey of an astronaut’s last night on Earth. Her webseries for Wired & Reddit, Cyborg Nation, profiles scientists at the forefront of prosthetics, robotics, and brain-computer interfaces. She teaches filmmaking and mentors students at her alma mater, NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Cidney founded Pano (formerly NYC Women Filmmakers) in 2015, where she leads its thousands strong community and nonprofit programming to support women, non-binary & GNC filmmakers across the US. She can often be found traveling the world with her camera in tow, capturing Earth’s most spectacular natural phenomenons. Her lifelong goal is to visit space by 2050 so you should email her if you have an extra seat on your rocketship.
Awards History
Final Draft Big Break 2021 - Quarterfinalist
Credits
Lead Actor - Shunori Ramanthan
