A teenager gets into college. But his family doesn’t want him to leave. | Everything Stays

» Subscribe for the world’s best short films: » Get some merch: Everything Stays is used with permission from Cole Bacani. Learn more at OMELETO ON SOCIAL Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: Gabe is a young teen living in the Chicago suburbs, where he enjoys life as part of an extended Filipino clan. He has a girlfriend, Nikki, and a full life as a high school student, and he also hangs out with his cousins. They’re a tightly bonded group, full of noise, love, jokes and affection for one another. Among them, Gabe is a leader, functioning as an anchor to his younger cousins. But Gabe then gets an offer to attend college in California, which would move him far from his family. His cousins attempt to convince him to stay, forcing Gabe to choose between his future or his family. Written and directed by Cole Bacani, this short family drama excels at capturing the web of interdependence and togetherness that comes from being firmly embedded into a family clan. Captured in warm, naturalistic tones and lighting, the film luxuriates in wide shots showing the family traveling in a pack, often spilling into the frame in a rush of energy and activity. At the center of this tightly knit crew is Gabe, a thoughtful, caring high school boy, who carries himself with a quiet authority among his cousins. But Gabe is also a young man coming into this own, and when he gets an acceptance into a college out in California, it rocks the family unit. The gentle, affectionate storytelling takes its time to set up the family atmosphere, but the pacing comes into sharper focus as one of Gabe’s cousins confronts him about abandoning the family. There isn’t a lot of dramatically focused dialogue, but what is there is pointed, causing Gabe to question his choices and path in life. As Gabe, actor Ryan Gatus is the grounded center in a whirlwind of familial energy. A photographer and artist, he stands out as slightly different from his family. He loves his family, but if he leaves, his cousin Sofia worries their familial bond will fracture. Gabe must then confront how his absence -- and the pursuit of his own happiness -- may affect his cousins, and their future as a family together. A heartfelt coming-of-age story, “Everything Stays“ excels in portraying the bonds of family, both in their loving, warm connection and in how they can chafe at us, especially at a time in life when we want to break free and map our destinies. This tension between individual identity and belonging is one almost universally navigated by young adults as they face the work of forging lives of their own, and the film celebrates both sides of that tension. Whether they become sides of a growing divide or a bonding cord of love often depends on whether or not there’s grace in the process, and a recognition that it’s not a letting go, but a setting free. ABOUT OMELETO Omeleto is the home of the world’s best short films. We showcase critically-acclaimed filmmakers from the Oscars, Sundance, Cannes and more! Subscribe now: A teenager gets into college. But his family doesn’t want him to leave. | Everything Stays Omeleto @Omeleto 🎬 Got a film? Submit it to us for consideration at