Last Saturday night found me sitting in The Egyptian Theater in Seattle’s Capitol Hill. As I looked around the packed movie house, I recognized nearly every face from my community as we showed up to see Eliza Flug’s debut film, which she wrote and produced entitled, Year of the Fox. I’ve known Eliza for many years and be it a holiday luncheon she hosted, a costume Halloween party, or supporting charitable endeavors, Eliza always shows up big. So, I was not the least bit surprised at her successful SIFF debut before heading now to Cannes.

The film is a coming-of-age story following Ivy, a teenager navigating Aspen’s wealthy party scene. It also exposes the vulnerability of an impressionable young woman exposed to predatory behavior. Eliza, like the character, Ivy was adopted and relocated to Seattle with her mother.

We all have a story to tell. Brene Brown says the more vulnerable you are, the more courageous. Brava to Eliza for courageously taking us behind the affluent life in #Year of the Fox.

SIFF ends May 21st- so, get to the theater! For those who live in the Pacific Northwest, you will appreciate the beauty of our landscape and maybe recognize a few locals in the film. So proud of you Eliza!