The Sweetest Goodbye by Emily Schooley: Confronts Love, Dignity and Final Choices

A Story That Can’t Be Missed: The Sweetest Goodbye Confronts Love, Dignity and Final Choices

Toronto ON (January 30, 2025). Following a series of screenings at international film festivals where it has garnered multiple awards and nominations including Best Film. The poignant and thought-provoking short drama “The Sweetest Goodbye” from local indie studio Laughing Cat Productions. It is set for its official hometown premiere on November 2, 2024, as part of Rendezvous With Madness Film Festival.

Written, directed by and starring Emily Schooley with co-star Salma Dharsee. The film delves into the deeply personal narrative of Clara. A woman with disabilities who struggles to find the care and resources she needs to live a fulfilling life. As Clara (Schooley) grapples with societal abandonment and her own deep-seated desires, fears, and unmet needs. Her closest friend Skye (Dharsee) passionately confronts her about the irreversible choice she’s about to make.

Continuing Laughing Cat Productions’ mandate of telling original narrative stories with a strong social impact ethos. “The Sweetest Goodbye” is a raw, unflinching modern tragedy. It dives deep into the emotional and ethical complexities of medical assistance in dying (MAiD).

The Official Trailer for The Sweetest Goodbye Directed by Emily Schooley

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“A large part of why I made this film is because so many Canadians are still unaware of how our disabled friends. Or neighbours and loved ones are living in below-poverty-level conditions. And, struggling with burdens that would exhaust anyone,” Schooley comments. “Disabled voices have been sounding the alarm about these issues for years, but they often are spoken over or ignored. My hope is to screen this film for audiences all across Canada. Because of the transformative conversations I know it will spark.”

Most recently, “The Sweetest Goodbye” earned a record six awards and nominations from CineMAZ in Brazil. Winning Best International Film, and Best Actress in an International Film. The Dona Neném Trailblazing Women of Film Special Jury Award. With nominations for Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Original Soundtrack for composer David Federman.

Additional crew for “The Sweetest Goodbye” includes producers Alicia C. Ramdeo (Reelworld producer mentee 2023) and Greg Arnold (Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood). With cinematography and co-direction by Christine Buijs (Pink is In, The Bounce). Production design by Dora Awards nominee Justine Cargo, and picture editing by Kris Myers (Wednesday, Effin’ Birds).

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About Laughing Cat Productions.
Laughing Cat Productions is an emerging production company. It creates bold, original women-led media across a variety of genres and formats. It is telling transformative stories “by, about, and for” rebellious and revolutionary heroines.

Since its incorporation, Laughing Cat Productions has incubated and received mentorship through Banff Spark and the Canadian Film Centre. The Disability Screen Office, and Toronto Metropolitan University’s Transmedia and Social Ventures zones. Our most recent project “The Sweetest Goodbye” is funded by the Canada Council for the Arts. And the Ontario Arts Council, and generously supported by Panavision Toronto, William F. White, and Workman Arts.

Currently, Laughing Cat Productions is developing an original digital series with the support of Ontario Creates.

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