Shot at Congers Lake in Rockland County, The Sign is a short dramatic comedy inspired by real-life experiences and created to raise awareness around invisible disabilities and the realities faced by people who rely on service dogs. Seeing a local publication take the time to spotlight both the film and the community where it was filmed is really meaningful.

Thank you to the Rockland County Times for supporting independent cinema and for helping amplify the message of The Sign. And thank you to everyone who continues to support the film and share its journey.

After a wonderful run through festivals, from New York City to San Diego and all the way to Australia, The Sign continues to reach new audiences and open meaningful conversations around invisible disabilities and the realities faced by people who rely on assistance dogs.

Filmed in Congers Lake, New York, The Sign is a short dramatic comedy that was created with the hope of encouraging greater understanding and awareness, and I am grateful to see its message echoed and supported by media outlets like French District.

I am also honored that the film will be screened at YoFiFest 2025, marking another important step in its journey.

Thank you to French District for the thoughtful french article, and to everyone who continues to support The Sign and share its message.

A powerful vehicle for disability awareness.

Le Cinéma d’Olivier H. is a French film blog dedicated to thoughtful and passionate reviews of independent and international cinema.

If you read French, you can discover the full review here: Le Cinema D’Olivier H.

A bold narrative that reinvents visual storytelling.

A story that touches the heart and opens the mind.

An impressive production… driven by a strong social message. 

Huge thanks to Mulderville for this spotlight on the film and its mission to raise awareness around invisible disabilities and service dog teams.

Read the full review (in English):

Melissa Mars Reinvents Visual Storytelling To Highlight Invisible Disabilities

Pour les lecteurs francophones :

Melissa Mars Réinvente La Narration Visuelle Pour Mettre En Lumiere Les Handicaps Invisibles

A powerful short film …

…with clear potential to serve an educational role while also entertaining the viewer. 

The review is in French, if you want to test your language skills and read it: RENEGADES: THE SIGN REVIEW.

Thank you Renegades for shining a light on invisible disabilities and service dog teams through The Sign!

He watched The Sign and finds that “the film captures effectively the everyday challenge” of service dog teams and is “an excellent tool to encourage positive change”. Read the full review below.

This film effectively captures the everyday challenges that service dog handlers face, from public misconceptions to unwarranted scrutiny. It realistically portrays a well-trained service dog remaining calm and focused, despite being wrongly accused of being a danger. The woman’s reaction reflects common misunderstandings, such as the belief that all disabilities must be visible or that service dogs should be questioned in public spaces. By showing the progression from her initial complaint to her insistence on verifying the handler’s disability, the film highlights the ongoing struggles many service dog teams encounter.

” An excellent tool to encourage positive change”

The film’s message is both powerful and educational, reinforcing the importance of service dogs and the rights of their handlers. The inclusion of the statement “Not all disabilities are visible” is a crucial reminder for the public to be more understanding and informed. By showcasing a real-world scenario that many service dog users experience, the film promotes awareness, respect, and the need for better education on service dog laws and accessibility. It serves as an excellent tool to foster empathy and encourage positive change in how service dog teams are treated.

Max, who has since moved to Oregon and now runs his own dog training business, Bingley and Co Dog Training, is also the proud pawdre of Domino’s father. Does that make him Domino’s grandpaw?

Grateful for this new review as we gear up for our World Premiere at the Garden State Film Festival!

“The point of this film is to make people aware that all disabilities aren’t visible. I think that it did an excellent job of doing so.”

Grateful for this thoughtful review as we gear up for our World Premiere at the Garden State Film Festival!

Read the review

“A film that (…) reflect[s] how many feel about the future of love in the age of technology.”

Check out this beautiful new review of The Last Touch by Bitpix TV news, a channel where you can still watch The Last Touch and a whole collection of shorts selected by Hollyshorts Film Festival for their latest monthly screening that they played live at the iconic TCL Chinese 6 Theaters!

Read the review

 Watch The Last Touch until July 3rd on Bitpix*

*Bitpix is available on Roku, iOS, Android, Google Play, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV

The blog also features Writer/Director/Actor Melissa Mars in an interview in which Mars shares the dystopias that inspired her the most, such as the movies Dark City and Blade Runner, or the book 1984, one of the first novels she read as a teenager.  She also chats about how acting, filmmaking and music have been part of her life since the age of 13, the challenges of making The Last Touch, her projects in the works and her favorite movies including E.T., Gary Ross’ Pleasantville and Peter Jackson’s Lovely Bones.

[Read the full interview in French]

Last year, The Last Touch garnered a Gold Selection at the British festival and was included in their second issue. This year, it is an honor to be featured on the COVER and on two pages of World London Film Festival’s magazine.

You can check out the magazine online for free.

And stay tuned for the release date of the magazine in PRINT. COMING SOON !!!