Before We Forget follows a filmmaker in midlife who becomes obsessed with revisiting the defining relationship of his youth through his latest project. As he attempts to shape his memories into a coherent narrative, he is forced to confront the gap between what truly happened and the story he has been telling himself for years. The film unfolds across interwoven timelines, blending past and present into a reflective, immersive exploration of love, loss, and identity.

Story & Themes

In the past, a younger version of the protagonist experiences an intense, formative connection with someone who will become the great unresolved love of his life. In the present, he sifts through footage, letters, and recollections, trying to find an ending that never quite materialized in reality. The film explores how memory distorts and idealizes, how unspoken desires can shape a lifetime, and how returning to the past can be both healing and dangerous.

Before We Forget uses a tender, observational style to examine themes of first love, self-acceptance, and the cost of silence. It positions memory as both an archive and a creative act, questioning what we choose to remember, what we choose to forget, and what happens when the two no longer align.

Visual & Tonal approach

The visual language of the film emphasizes contrast between the warmth and immediacy of youth and the more muted, contemplative texture of the present. The past is captured with a sense of spontaneity and discovery, while the present-day sequences carry a quieter, reflective tone that mirrors the protagonist’s internal struggle. The overall mood is gentle yet piercing, combining emotional intimacy with cinematic sophistication.

Tonally, Before We Forget balances aching nostalgia with understated humor and humanity. It aims for the emotional honesty and observational detail of contemporary European and Latin American character dramas, offering a film that feels personal, grounded, and universally relatable.

Audience & Positioning

Before We Forget is crafted for audiences who respond to nuanced, character-led storytelling and for festivals and distributors seeking heartfelt, elevated drama with clear emotional stakes. Its exploration of memory, identity, and the long shadow of first love positions it to resonate strongly with adult audiences, particularly viewers drawn to reflective, emotionally intelligent cinema.

• Cast: Juan Pablo Di Pace, Santiago Madrussan, Oscar Morgan, August Wittgenstein, Sarah Parish, Araceli González, Marta Beatriz Maineri, Fabián Mazzei, Krista Kosonen, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson

• Directors/Writers: Juan Pablo Di Pace & Andrés Pepe Estrada (Directorial Debut)

• Producers: Guillermo Escalona (De Espaldas Al Mar), Alvaro R. Valente (Night Comes On), Amanda Lenker Doyle (Cape Fear), & Juan Pablo Di Pace

• Executive Producers: Norman Lear (All In The Family), Brent Miller (Boots), Stephanie Slack (Love In The Villa), Margret H. Huddleston (Bad Blood)

• Director of Photography: Devin Doyle (They Cloned Tyrone)

• Editors: Juan Pablo Di Pace & Andrés Pepe Estrada

• Original Music: Kjartan Dagur Holm (Sicario: Day of The Soldado), Sindri Már Sigfússon (Fresh), Dorian Dionisi

• Production Design: Marta Beatriz Maineri (Minutiae)

• Genre: Drama / Romance / LGBTQ+

• Runtime: 109 minutes

• Language: English and Spanish

• Status: Completed