Young Filmmaker Returns Home To Capture St. Mary’s County In “Sweet Virginia”

ST. MARY’S COUNTY, Md. — For one Southern Maryland native, the winding roads, quiet waterways, and tight-knit communities of St. Mary’s County are more than just a backdrop; they’re the heart of a story years in the making.

Ariel Gill-Ehrenreich, a 22-year-old emerging filmmaker, is preparing to return home this August to film “Sweet Virginia,” a short film rooted in her childhood experiences growing up on St. George Island. While the title may suggest otherwise, the story is firmly grounded in Maryland, something Ariel says is intentional.

The name, she explains, is “tongue-in-cheek,” referencing the film’s young protagonist rather than its setting.

A Story Born From Home

“I would say all of my films are inherently quite personal,” Ariel shared in an interview with The BayNet. “I can’t help but pull from lived experience when it comes to writing screenplays, and “Sweet Virginia” stemmed from an amalgamation of childhood memories growing up on St. George Island.”

Those memories of isolation, imagination and exploration serve as the foundation for the film’s tone.

“If you’re from the county, you know it feels pretty isolated out there, though it’s equally beautiful,” she said. “I have so many memories of wandering the island feeling like an explorer. It’s a place that allowed my imagination to blossom and made me feel really connected to nature.”

Bringing The Story Back To St. Mary’s

Though Gill-Ehrenreich recently graduated from the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema at Concordia University and has been pursuing filmmaking in Montreal, she found herself constantly trying to recreate Southern Maryland’s unique character in her work.

“It only recently dawned on me that filming back home would be the most fulfilling thing I could do, and also something I feel I owe to the county that raised me,” she said.

Filming locally, she believes, offers something deeper than just visual authenticity; it creates a lasting snapshot of a place in transition.

“To be able to represent the specific charm of the area on screen would be an amazing time capsule for not just myself, but others in the area who are seeing it quickly change and evolve,” Ariel added.

A Story Of Youth, Resilience And Belonging

At its core, “Sweet Virginia” follows a restless 13-year-old girl navigating her relationships with family, community and herself. The story explores themes that Ariel says are both deeply personal and widely relatable.

“The story touches on themes of loneliness, desperation, love and hope,” she said. “When you’re a kid with an active mind and not many people around, you end up constantly dreaming and searching.”

She hopes to capture that fleeting feeling of youth — especially the quiet intensity of summer days in a small town.

“I really want to capture that summer feeling of not having anything to do, but feeling a true urgency to do something, even if you’re not sure what,” Ariel explained.

Recognizing Home On Screen

For local viewers, Ariel says the film will offer something uniquely meaningful: the chance to see familiar places through a new lens.

“I’m excited for people to see places they recognize, like the Piney Point Market or Chief’s Bar and Grill,” she said. “There’s a new special kind of pride that can maybe be felt by seeing these places you regularly frequent being immortalized and romanticized.”

Collaboration And Early Success

Gill-Ehrenreich will direct “Sweet Virginia,” continuing a long-standing creative partnership with cinematographer Kirill Sommer.

“I’m directing the film, and Kirill Sommer will be the cinematographer!” she said, noting the two have worked together for years.

Their collaboration has already seen success. “I won the best student film award with my short from three years ago, ‘Like Smoke.’ Kirill also shot that one! We are long-time collaborators at this point :)” she added.

That film earned recognition at the Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival, an experience that left a lasting impression.

“The festival was amazing because I got to meet up-and-coming filmmakers like Annapurna Sriram, a female director I respect,” Ariel said.

Community Support Fuels The Project

As production approaches, Ariel says the response from the community has already been overwhelming.

“I have been amazed by the reception the GoFundMe for the film has gotten,” she said. “Pretty quickly, people from my childhood started popping up and supporting me… It really touched me that people I haven’t seen in years care about supporting my passion project.”

Still, bringing the film to life comes with logistical challenges, from travel and housing to feeding a crew of up to 15 people.

“All of this adds up really quickly for a 22-year-old who is just graduating film school and trying to make rent each month,” Ariel said.

How The Community Can Help

Ariel is inviting the community to play a direct role in making “Sweet Virginia” a reality. Donations through her GoFundMe campaign are currently the primary source of support, but she’s also seeking local assistance.

“If you know of anyone who has a house/room/anything that is interested in hosting some young filmmakers, that would be a huge help for us,” she said.

The team is also looking for catering support during filming, offering film credits and social media recognition in return.

To support “Sweet Virginia,” visit the project’s GoFundMe page, or reach out directly to the production team to assist with housing or catering during filming by emailing sweetvirginiathemovie@gmail.com.

Looking Ahead

Once filming wraps, Ariel hopes to take “Sweet Virginia” on the film festival circuit before eventually sharing it online for the broader community to experience.

“I’m hoping the film can do a festival run,” she said. “After the festivals, I’d put it out on Vimeo for everyone to see!”

For Ariel, the project is about more than just a single film; it’s about staying connected to the place that shaped her.

“Looking forward, I hope I can always stay connected to my roots,” she said. “The dream is really just to find like-minded people… to capture the closest thing we can to our memories and dreams.”

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