Mylissa Fitzsimmons On Running Away And The Making of MACKENZIE (2026)

My guest today, director Mylissa Fitzsimmons, previously released two features -- EVERYTHING IN THE END (2021) and THE LONG RUN (2025) -- and never got a premiere. She suffered from burnout of the excruciating process of making these brilliant films. And yet:here she is in 2026 with MACKENZIE (2026), opening at Film Fest Oldenburg this year. What does that say about perseverance? Resilience? A never quit attitude and the ability to keep going on even though this is really, really, fucking really hard?I think it says everything. I'm so motivated hearing her story and so excited for the journey of her new film and her renewed love of the art form.Hat tip to the best friend any indie filmmaker can have, Scott Monahan, for making this interview happen.In this episode, Mylissa and I talk about:why Oldenburg?how she's NEVER gotten an opportunity to have a full premiere for her films;what people should expect to see when watching MACKENZIE;why she waited till her third feature to tell her most personal story;the burnout she felt after her first two features;the incredible story in her film EVERYTHING IN THE END;directing actors to not really be actors in THE LONG RUN;where did the motif of running away comes from;the process of working with a non-professional actor as the star of MACKENZIE;why she has ambiguous endings in her films;what's next for her.Mylissa's Indie Film/Filmmaker Highlight: Frank Mosley in JACKRABBIT (2026); Leonora Pitts in I HATE MYSELF AND WANT TO DIE (2024) dir. by J. DavisMemorable Quotes:" So the baby is ready to walk, and we're gonna be there all as proud parents watching."" This kind of moment in childhood that we all have where we realize like the reality of the real world is seeping through the cracks of your childhood innocence and you are growing up."I don't want to have to worry about saying, "hey, I really want you to work on this, but it's a microbudget and I can't really pay you a lot," and then feel guilty and then have them not really be 100% committed."" When MACKENZIE came along, my only goal was like, "hey, I just wanna make a movie and have fun again.""I actually set out to make a movie about people who are lost."" I had worked with kids before, and I know it's like you don't really direct them, they direct you."Links:Follow Mylissa On Instagram