August 10 at midnight at the Hollywood Chinese Theater 6
INTERVIEWED by ODALYS NANIN for HOLLYWOOD TIMES
RECOMMENDED
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 8/10/25 – Jennifer Van Gessel’s new short film Ver. Fine Day based on the diaries of Anne Lister takes our heroine into a Gothic-Supernatural world which fits in with the mental state of mind of the famous diarists. This short is screening at the Holly Shorts Film Festival August 10 at midnight at the Hollywood Chinese Theater 6. I had the opportunity to interview Ms. Van Gessel on zoom since she resides in Australia. What a wonderful creative style of cinema and this short is the predecessor to her feature film. She does state that the feature will not be in the same Gothic style. She plans to start casting soon and filming for the feature will take place around February or March of 2026. How exciting for the LGBTI community and the ALBW which I myself support whole heartedly.
One of my favorite lines in the short film is taken right from a letter written to Anne Lister by Harriette; “It must be witchery, you’ve taken forceable possession of my heart.”
But what inspired Ms. Van Gessel to write this short film about Anne Lister?
Written & produced by Jennifer van Gessel
Cast: Samantha Allsop, Erin Clare, Chiara Osborn, Olivia Sawyer
Let’s step back in time to pre pandemic 2019 during the release of Gentleman Jack the famous TV series expertly penned by Sally Wainwright for HBO starring the talented Suranne Jones as Ms. Lister. This TV series with just two seasons brought together sisters from all over the world to Halifax, Shibden Hall. Pat Estate the creator behind the now celebrated Anne Lister Birthday Week (ALBW) programmed a series of events to celebrate with pride not only Anne Lister’s birthday week but all of our stories creating a strong community of sisterhood. It was during this time that Ms. Van Gessel learned about Anne Lister. She later attended the ALBW in April 2021 and she was smitten by Anne Lister’s words making it her mission to read all her diaries. But she did not stop there she also met the Goddess Helena Whitbread who ignited this slow fuse by publishing her famous book “The Secret Diaries of Ms. Anne Lister” in 1988. It was celebrated by the Academia, but it was not till 2010 that Helena’s book was turn into a film starring Christine Peak as Ms. Anne Lister.
Ms. Van Gessel’s Gothic interpretation of Ms. Lister is a riveting look into Anne’s soul and visually stimulating.
