COMING SOON: Nubile’s first Film Festival response
Nubile, directed by Kevin Newbury and Donna DiNovelli, is a haunting and deeply moving short film that transforms personal family history into cinematic poetry. Drawing on DiNovelli’s own mother’s harrowing experience as a teenage immigrant, the film creates a narrative that is both intimate and universal—about survival, resilience, and the yearning for freedom.
The premise is stark: a young girl arrives in America with travel papers pinned to her dress labeling her “nubile,” only to discover she has been promised to a much older man. The story that unfolds—her desperate search for refuge and her unexpected encounter with another “promised” figure, the Madonna—resonates as both allegory and testimony, bridging faith, hope, and human dignity.
At the heart of the film is the extraordinary performance by Fina Strazza, whose presence on screen is luminous. She conveys innocence, fear, and fierce determination with remarkable subtlety, anchoring the film with emotional authenticity. Her portrayal gives voice to countless silenced immigrant stories, while honoring the very real history behind this one.
Visually, Nubile is striking—its nocturnal setting and symbolic imagery heighten the sense of entrapment and transcendence. The directors balance naturalistic detail with lyrical flourishes, creating a world that feels both grounded and dreamlike. The editing and pacing serve the narrative with precision, allowing tension and tenderness to unfold organically.
Nubile is not only a touching tribute but also a work of cinematic courage. By reimagining her mother’s story, DiNovelli bestows the miracle of escape through art, offering healing and empowerment. It is a short film that lingers, sparking reflection on the vulnerabilities of the past and the resilience required to rewrite them. –Auguri Film Festival, Turin, Italy
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Nubile in post-production
Nubile, a proof-of-concept short film, is nearing completion. Shot in New London, Connecticut, we are waiting on the film’s score and plan to release the short in 2025. Nubile, based on my mother’s kidnapping, focuses on a teenage immigrant who takes refuge in a church in the middle of the night to escape her pursuer only to discover another teenage immigrant already hiding out–The Madonna. With Fina Strazza and Sara James seen below. Co-directed by Kevin Newbury and Donna Di Novelli. Screenplay by Donna Di Novelli. Stay tuned for updates.
When Last Seen screens at NY International Short Film Festival at Cinema Village
On October 14th, When Last Seen screened at New York’s Cinema Village to a crowd of film enthusiasts and supporters.
“WHEN LAST SEEN” wins award from the NYC Women’s fund/NYFA/MOME
Our team is so chuffed by this award which will give us finishing funds to complete our short movie, “When Last Seen,” an adaptation of the Persephone and Demeter Greek myth using found text to carry the search for the missing daughter into the present.
#NYCWomensFund #MOME
The Relevance of “Nubile”–my latest screenplay
“Ms. Maxwell would refer to the girls she was looking for as “nubiles,” Ms. Farmer said. “They had a driver, and he would be driving along, and Ghislaine would say, ‘Get that girl,’” she said. “And they’d stop, and she’d run out and get the girl and talk to her.”
Lawyers for Ms. Maxwell and Mr. Epstein did not respond to requests for comment for this article.” New York Times
Rehearsals for BAM’s Next Wave
Kevin Newbury in action with The Good Swimmer lifeguards.
