SONDER
Black Film Space is thrilled to announce our latest fiscally sponsored project, Sonder, in collaboration with Booker Vance, Sydney Lolita Cusic and Kiara Lauren.”
As fiscal sponsors, we offer tax-deductible opportunities for all donations—large or small—helping to bring this powerful short film to life. Watch the video to hear from the co-creators about why this project is so meaningful to them.
All donations are tax deductible and go 100% towards the making of this film. 7% of every contribution going directly to Black Film Space.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
PROJECT TYPE: Narrative Short
GENRE: Drama
PROJECT STATUS: Post Production
DIRECTOR: Kiara Lauren
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/WRITER: Booker Vance
PRODUCER/WRITER: Sydney Lolita Cusic
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Nkosi Roma
PRODUCER: Faoileán Cosgrove
PRODUCER: Valeria Benítez
LOGLINE: Upon his return to a recently gentrified Chicago, Sean Eberhart finds his memories of home colliding with a stark new reality.
SYNOPSIS: Sonder is Written and Produced by a team of South Side Chicago Natives, Booker Vance and Sydney Cusic, who have first hand experience on what it’s like to be grown on the cornerstone of Cottage Grove but apprehensive to return as full time residents again. Sonder has been a labor of love blossoming from a trip home for Booker in the Winter of 2020. He was overwhelmed by memories and the beauty of his hometown when acting as a tour guide for his girlfriend who had never been to Chicago. Through sharing it with someone who had never experienced it he realized it was time for Chicago to get its own love letter that could be experienced through film by the folks who call it home and beyond. Deeply inspired by films like Last Black Man in San Francisco which explores gentrification in San Francisco and Residue which dives deep into rapidly changing Southwest D.C.
A note from the filmmakers…
After months of dedication, passion, and love for Chicago, Sonder—a deeply personal love letter to the city—has been beautifully captured on 16mm film. Now, we’re entering the crucial post-production phase, and we need your support to ensure this story is told the way it deserves. With your help, we can complete essential editing, color correction, sound design, and original music composition, ensuring Sonder is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant experience.
Our goal with this fundraiser is to reach our initial $25,000 goal, which will cover the bare essentials of post-production—allowing us to complete the film at a foundational level. However, our stretch goal of $57,120 will ensure we can fully realize our vision by not only finishing the film but also securing archival materials, equitably compensating our team, and giving Sonder the promotion it deserves. With these funds, we can submit to major festivals, reach a wider audience, and spark meaningful conversations about home, identity, and change. Created by a team of young Chicagoans, Sonder is more than just a film—it’s a movement. It’s about returning to the place that shaped you, seeing it with fresh eyes, and rediscovering its beauty. At its heart, this story is about resilience, memory, and finding love in the everyday.
This is more than just a film; it’s a Chicago story told by Chicagoans for Chicago and beyond. It’s for those who’ve left home in search of something more, only to realize that home itself holds a depth they never fully understood. It’s for those who love this city—not just for its skyline but for its soul, its people, and its stories.
By pledging today, you’re not just supporting a film—you’re investing in a vision that honors Chicago’s beauty and complexity. Every dollar gets us closer to completion, and every share spreads the word further. Let’s bring this film home, together.
Pledge today to help Sonder reach the finish line. Follow & share to amplify our Chicago-made story. Join the movement as we take Sonder from post-production to the world stage.
Meet the Team
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Booker Vance
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/WRITER
Booker is an actor and writer from the South Side of Chicago, currently based in NYC. He earned his MFA from The New School of Drama and a BA in Theatre & Performance Studies from Morehouse College. Committed to representing African-American culture, he draws inspiration from filmmakers like Charles Burnett, John Singleton, and Spike Lee. As a writer, he has been a semi-finalist for BlackBoysWrites and has contributed to writers' rooms across the country, focusing on narratives that reflect connections to Black Middle America.
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SYDNEY LOLITA CUSIC
PRODUCER/WRITER
Sydney is a bi-coastal producer and filmmaker from the South Side of Chicago, now living in Brooklyn, NY. An alumna of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, her work examines relationships and their impact on the human experience. Notable projects include Away From Home, Bluebird, and The Rider and The Bull. Sydney has produced numerous short films and commercials and serves as Head of Production for Juniper Productions. Recently, she co-directed the Off-Broadway production of Wine in the Wilderness and actively advocates for the arts beyond film and theater. juniperprod.com
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Kiara Lauren
DIRECTOR
Kiara is a multi-hyphenate artist based in Brooklyn, known for her work as a director and producer. Her productions have been featured at The Apollo Theater, WAM Theater, and WP Theater Off-Broadway. In 2023, she was awarded a Directorial Fellowship from the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation. Kiara’s artistic practice emphasizes empathic storytelling to cultivate vulnerability and truth for Black and Brown femmes. A proud Spelman College graduate, she holds a B.A. in Theatre and Performance with a concentration in Directing and is eager to tell stories about Chicago youth in today's context.
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Nkosi Roma
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Nkosi is a US-based filmmaker specializing in shooting 16mm film. With five years of experience as a full-time cinematographer, Nkosi is a self-taught artist who values trial and error and approaching each project as his first. Nkosi's grounded and immersive visual style emphasizes closeups to convey emotions, always serving the story. Recent achievements include screening the music video, BY THE DAWN at the DeadCenter Film Festival and acceptance of the short, HONORABLE into the St. Louis International Film Festival. With humility and professionalism, Nkosi is dedicated to preserving the film medium and inspiring others through his art.
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Faoilean Cosgrove
PRODUCER
Faoilean is a producer based out of New York and Los Angeles. Her narrative work has been featured in festivals such as NewFest, Chelsea Film Festival, NFFTY (Audience Award Winner), Buffalo International Film Festival, Fantasia Film Festival, Final Girls Film Festival, Academy Award Qualifying Rhode Island International Film Festival, Kodak Shoot Film, and others. She has produced commercial and music video content for brands such as Warner Music, Hopeless Records, Condé Nast East, Vogue China, Ralph Lauren, and others. juniperprod.com
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Valeria Benitez
PRODUCER
Valeria is a bi-coastal producer from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and an alumna of NYU Tisch. As Head of Production for Los Angeles and Puerto Rico at Juniper Productions, she leads projects like Telaraña, Leo, and Satos, working with clients such as Hopeless Records and Warner Music. She is dedicated to amplifying POC and Latina women's voices by producing narratives that intertwine humor and darkness, illuminating their unique experiences within a vibrant and authentic reality. juniperprod.com