A female-centered neo-western that challenges the romanticized portrayals of women in Western media.

FROM THE DIRECTOR

I grew up surrounded by romanticized stories of the American West—stories about cowboys, rugged masculinity, and freedom. Stories where women existed only as damsels in distress, virtuous wives, or saloon girls.

Those portrayals couldn't be further from the women I met while working on a ranch in Cody, Wyoming for three summers: women who are deeply complicated, resilient, independent, and emotionally richer than any version I had seen onscreen.

Hellbent Lonesome was born from my desire to tell a Western story that feels honest to those women and to the realities of contemporary rural America. Drawing from my experiences working on ranches and film productions across the country, I wanted to create a world that feels lived-in and authentic while still embracing the cinematic scale and visual language of the neo-western genre.

— Libby Nook

ABOUT LIBBY NOOK:

Libby Nook has always had a deep passion for storytelling. Whether immersing herself in the minutiae of the human experience or delving into unexplored worlds, she is dedicated to finding new ways to tell engaging stories. Currently a Radio/TV/Film major at Northwestern University, she is passionate about writing, film production, and the creative process — and believes strongly that the best results come with collaboration.

A NOTE ON FUNDING:

Hellbent Lonesome recently received a generous grant from Northwestern University, helping bring the film to life through the support of the university's artistic community. Additional funding is still needed to cover travel to Wyoming, lodging, production design, gear, and post-production costs—which is where you come in.