This film exists because stories like this rarely do.

Park Bench warmly explores what friendship means. At its heart, it is a story about love and laughter. About how life cannot be a perfect fairytale, how we’re left guessing, but also about how much better it all is when you face the various bumps in the road with someone else.

This tale challenges the default narrative that places romance at the center of male-female friendships. Jules and Sim simply exist as they are: messy, funny, thoughtful, and entirely platonic.

More than anything, this is a personal film. It grew from scraps of my own experiences, conversations, and questions I’ve wrestled with. The realization that people experience and desire intimacy in different ways, and that treating “the standard” desires as a default makes other orientations invisible, also tinted this project. Seeing yourself reflected in stories can bring so much clarity and comfort. And, honestly? I’m making this because I love it. It’s open, authentic, and definitely playful.

Here’s to movies that feel like a warm hug on a chilly evening.

~Anika Lee Vroom

Park Bench wrapped in September of 2025! The material is currently with the editors and on its way to completion.

We know it’s been a while, but things are happening behind the scenes and many a late-night glowing screen. Making a movie requires so much more than preparing and filming. There’s selecting the cuts, designing the score, editing the visual and audio tracks, soundscaping, mixing…

You get the picture.

That being said, we’ve got picture lock! That means that the visual side of the story is set in place, allowing the audio team to get started on their magic.

Want to know more about our team and what they do? Check out our instagram for details and recent updates!