Spotlight: Brian Leahy (Glitterbomb)

September 19, 2026

Filmmaker Spotlight

Glitterbomb

Brian Leahy · USA · 11 min

What led you to creating Glitterbomb?

“Glitterbomb” is based on our own miscarriage in the Fall of 2023, and about the absurd expectations society puts on women, even in the most traumatic moments of our lives. Because we’re filmmakers, we did what we always do: We turned that trauma and absurdity into art.

We learned about our miscarriage just nine weeks into our first pregnancy, and the prescribed medication kicked off a two-month-long ordeal that ended in a Game of Thrones-esque bloodbath while Deborah was home alone in the middle of a virtual interview. This gory yet strangely comical scene became the inspiration for “Glitterbomb.”

Because we’re filmmakers, we did what we always do: We turned that trauma and absurdity into art.

What were some inspirations going into the creative process?

To me, the film did not fit squarely into any traditional genre, but I knew there were elements of comedy, drama and horror throughout, so part of creating the visual identity for the film was allowing all of those genres to coexist, even within the same frame. Lee’s body is in turmoil (it is, in a way, turning against her), so she is seeking to control anything and everything outside of her body; this theme of “in vs. out of control” influenced everything from color choice (the earthy, deep blood red colors of her jacket, the walls of her bedroom) to composition and camera movement. Shooting in a very small space translated to being very selective with camera and dolly positioning, and any camera movements were highly controlled and intentional. And given that the film is essentially a true story, we also wanted this world to feel unmistakably real… a magical realism when we factor in the glitter pouring out of Lee’s body.

I love editing to music and found wonderful inspiration in some artists who also defy traditional genres (Son Lux’s “Easy” was often on repeat during Premiere editing sessions). Our visual references were especially broad, with everything from “Normal People” to Gus Van Sant’s “Elephant” inspiring our shot choices.

Tell us what you hope the audience gets from Glitterbomb and why is a story like this important to tell?

Despite how common miscarriage can be, it is still surprisingly difficult for women to open up about it, even to their closest friends and relatives. Although miscarriage impacts close to 30% of pregnancies, most women wrongly believe that it occur in 5% or fewer pregnancies, reinforcing the false narrative that miscarriage is an outlier. With “Glitterbomb,” we hope to change the narrative and the statistics. We are kickstarting a long overdue conversation about the complicated feelings around miscarriage and the severe lack of discussion about women’s clinical health, women’s mental health, and infertility. As part of the social impact campaign for this film, we are currently collecting other miscarriage stories and showcasing them on our website to encourage conversation.

How did you become a filmmaker?

Brian’s love for the arts began on stage at the age of ten, and that foundation in theatre is still a substantial influence on his work even now. Years after graduating from NYU and the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School in New York, Brian and some former classmates created a three-part web series about fledgling superheroes, made from our own blood, sweat and tears (primarily tears). Since then, Brian has written multiple award-winning short films that have appeared at film festivals across the globe, including “Made Public,” “Waffles,” and “5 Stages of Grief.” “Glitterbomb” is Brian’s first official foray into film directing.

Deborah’s love of storytelling began with watching Alfred Hitchcock and Audrey Hepburn movies as a kid. She exclusively pursued acting until she realized that adding producing to her résumé would suit her Type A personality. These days, Deb is most “in her element” when she has the opportunity to act and produce as part of the same project. To date, she has produced six feature films (including “Butterfly in the Sky” and, more recently, “Sell Your House”) that have played at countless festivals around the world and aired on platforms such as Hulu, Netflix, and Paramount Plus. “Glitterbomb” is her most personal project to date as it ties in all of her favorite things: making movies with her partner, telling stories about women’s health, and sparking conversations to incite change in the world.

Film	Glitterbomb
Director	Brian Leahy
Section	Narrative Shorts
Shorts Program	Hard & Soft
Runtime	11 min
Screening	Sat 26 Sep, 2:25 pm