Breakup Season
Breakup Season is a 2024 American romantic dramedy film written & directed by H. Nelson Tracey. The film stars Chandler Riggs, Samantha Isler, and James Urbaniak, and follows a young couple whose relationship unravels during a Christmas visit to a rural Oregon hometown. Independently produced and financed, the project was developed through the Filmmaker Residency at the Eastern Oregon Film Festival. It was filmed on location in La Grande, Oregon.
Breakup Season had its world premiere at the Desertscape International Film Festival in St. George, Utah on March 29, 2024. It had a limited theatrical release starting November 15, 2024, followed by a worldwide digital release on December 6, 2024. It received generally positive reviews from critics.
Plot
Ben Russell brings his girlfriend Cassie to his rural hometown for Christmas. Not long after they arrive, tensions within the family and unresolved issues in the couple's relationship lead to an argument that ends in a breakup. Cassie plans to return home, but winter weather and the town's remote location make travel impossible. Forced to remain together for the rest of the holiday, she and Ben navigate the discomfort of their recent breakup while spending Christmas together alongside Ben's family.Cast
- Chandler Riggs as Ben
- Samantha Isler as Cassie
- James Urbaniak as Kirby
- Brook Hogan as Mia
- Carly Stewart as Liz
- Jacob Wysocki as Gordon
- Kailey Rhodes as Cristina
Development
Production
took place in February 2023 in La Grande, Oregon. Local community members participated as extras and provided logistical support. The production was featured in local coverage for its positive impact on the community.Release
World premiere
Breakup Season held its World Premiere on March 29, 2024 at the Desertscape International Film Festival in St. George, Utah. Cast and crew attended the premiere, including all 6 members of the principal ensemble cast, and the film received 4 awards from the festival.Festival circuit
Breakup Season screened at 39 film festivals in the United States. Notable Film Festival selections included: Newport Beach, Port Townsend, Waco Independent, Julien Dubuque, RiverRun, and San Antonio. The film received multiple jury and audience awards on the festival circuit.;Denver premiere
Breakup Season had its Denver premiere at the Esquire Theatre on June 19, 2025. The film's writer-director H. Nelson Tracey grew up blocks away from the Esquire Theatre, and the sold-out screening was one of the final public events at the historic 97-year-old venue before its closure. It was covered by several local news outlets.
;Tulsa premiere
Breakup Season held its Tulsa premiere at the Circle Cinema Film Festival on July 15, 2024, where it served as the festival's closing night selection. The sold-out screening also coincided with Tulsa born actress Samantha Isler receiving a Circle Cinema Walk of Fame medallion, an honor she described as a surreal milestone given her long history with the theater.
;La Grande premiere
Breakup Season held its premiere in La Grande, Oregon, the movie's filming location, during the Eastern Oregon Film Festival on October 18, 2024. The film screened to a sold-out audience at Eastern Oregon University's McKenzie Theatre and received a standing ovation. The screening also coincided with La Grande's addition to the Oregon Film Trail, with a marker unveiled in the downtown core the following day recognizing Breakup Season as the 43rd film featured on the statewide trail showcasing movie locations within Oregon.