The Sign – Made in Mars Studios https://www.madeinmarsstudios.com We Tell Powerful, Heartfelt, and Thought-Provoking Stories Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:35:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 The Sign at Glass Ceiling Breakers 2026 https://www.madeinmarsstudios.com/the-sign-glass-ceiling-2026/ Fri, 22 May 2026 21:41:09 +0000 https://www.madeinmarsstudios.com/?p=6913 We are thrilled to announce that The Sign, directed by Melissa Mars, is an Official Selection at Glass Ceiling Breakers 2026! 🎉

A festival shining a spotlight on women identifying filmmakers, showcasing both short films and short plays!

We screen Sunday June 7, 2:45–4pm, Film Block 4, followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers, including Melissa Mars — at Philipstown Depot Theatre in Garrison, NY and its beautiful area (right next to Cold Spring). If you’re in the area, come see us. It’s just a train ride from Grand Central!

This little film about invisible disabilities keeps finding its people. We hope to see you there.

The Sign — Winner Audience Choice Award — Honorable Mention Yofifest 2025

A woman’s peaceful jog takes a dark turn when she dials 911 after spotting a man with a dog in a no-dogs-allowed park. But things are not always as they seem


]]> And the award goes to… https://www.madeinmarsstudios.com/the-sign-audience-choice-award/ Sun, 30 Nov 2025 20:00:00 +0000 https://www.madeinmarsstudios.com/?p=6658 The Sign and our whole cast & crew are deeply honored to receive the Audience Choice Award — Honorable Mention for the Locally Sourced films at YoFiFest 2025!

Being selected is already a reward.

Receiving an award is an honor.

But when it comes directly from the audience choice
 that’s something truly special.

Huge thanks YoFiFest from the bottom of our hearts. What a beautiful festival, what a warm crowd, and what a joy to feel the love for this little film about seeing beyond what’s visible.

To everyone who watched The Sign and voted for it — thank you. You refilled our creative tanks!

]]> THE SIGN on the Red Carpet! https://www.madeinmarsstudios.com/the-sign-red-carpet-yofi/ Sun, 16 Nov 2025 16:00:44 +0000 https://www.madeinmarsstudios.com/?p=6626

The Sign cast and crew
 together for the very first time!
What an honor to stand with our cast, crew, and family and watch The Sign on the big screen at YoFiFest.
Meet below >>


🐕‍đŸŠșDomino, our star, service dog, and now official actor, absolutely owned the red carpet.
đŸ€˜And Monica Blaze Leavitt, a total rockstar, brought the voice of the Karen to life. A true gem.
đŸŽ„As for Melissa Mars
 She played the Karen’s legs, and wore the writer, director, and producer hats too.

Because film is a visual art, Mars designed a frame that leaves much unseen — just like invisible disabilities — and shot the entire film from the legs down, the dog’s perspective. So of course
 we had to take a “legs-only” red carpet photo with Domino.

🎞Now, about the festival

We were truly honored to be selected. The lineup was inspiring, the filmmakers incredible, and the Q&A was a joy. The love and support for the film was overwhelming, moments like these refill our tank and remind us as filmmakers why we make movies. Stories born from personal sparks become team efforts, and then — magic — they reach people we’ve never met. That’s everything.

Domino
Melissa Mars
Monica Blazeleavitt

]]> THE SIGN gets a New Review! https://www.madeinmarsstudios.com/the-sign-review-lecinemado/ Thu, 16 Oct 2025 12:08:16 +0000 https://www.madeinmarsstudios.com/?p=6595 We’re thrilled to share that the French movie critic blog Le CinĂ©ma d’Olivier H. has just released a wonderful review of The Sign.

A powerful vehicle for disability awareness.

Le CinĂ©ma 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.

]]> THE SIGN – New Official Selection in NY! https://www.madeinmarsstudios.com/the-sign-yofifest2025/ Wed, 01 Oct 2025 15:37:47 +0000 https://www.madeinmarsstudios.com/?p=6544 We are excited to share that The Sign, directed by Melissa Mars, has been officially selected for the YoFiFest Film Festival 2025 in Yonkers, New York

Awarded best of Westchester’s “Best New Film Festival” and “Best Film Geek Event”! 

After touching hearts in the US and abroad, this powerful short film is returning to New York to be part of a festival celebrated for its vibrant community and dedication to diverse, thought-provoking storytelling.

YoFiFest has built a strong reputation for championing independent voices and unique cinematic perspectives, and we are truly honored to be included in the 13th edition of the festival this year.

We’re thrilled to invite you to the New York screening on November 15, 2025 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM:

📍 Riverfront Atrium Theater
Yonkers Riverfront Library – 1st Floor
1 Larkin Center, Yonkers, NY 10701

Get your tickets [HERE].

We can’t wait to share this story, stay tuned for more information on the screening!

  • YOFIFEST FILM FESTIVAL 2025 – IN NEW YORK
    In Person
    November 7th to 16th 2025
    MORE INFO: www.yofifest.com

]]> Current & Upcoming Festivals and Screenings 2025 https://www.madeinmarsstudios.com/upcomingfestivals-2025/ Tue, 30 Sep 2025 21:00:42 +0000 https://www.madeinmarsstudios.com/?p=6013 Check out below the list of upcoming screenings and official selections for our new movie THE SIGN… Stay tuned for updates.

Last update: 09/26/2025

 

]]> THE SIGN in Australia!!! https://www.madeinmarsstudios.com/the-sign-heathcote2025/ Mon, 25 Aug 2025 20:42:00 +0000 https://www.madeinmarsstudios.com/?p=6539 We are thrilled to announce that The Sign, directed by Melissa Mars, will have its Australian premiere at the Heathcote Film Festival 2025! 🇩đŸ‡ș✹

After screening in the US and touching audiences across the country, this moving short film continues its journey internationally — now reaching Australia for the first time!

The Heathcote Film Festival is known for showcasing powerful storytelling and original voices, and we are honored to be part of this year’s lineup.

Stay tuned for more details, and a huge thank you to the festival for welcoming The Sign to Australian audiences for the very first time!

]]> THE SIGN, New Official Selection in NYC! https://www.madeinmarsstudios.com/the-sign-nymff2025/ Thu, 03 Jul 2025 16:38:05 +0000 https://www.madeinmarsstudios.com/?p=6500 The Sign has been officially selected for the New York Mobile Film Festival 2025, a festival that celebrates bold and innovative storytelling through mobile filmmaking! đŸ“±đŸŽŹ

Thank you to the NYMFF team for this honor.

🗓 The film will be screened on July 10th during a private, invite-only event in New York.

Director Melissa Mars will attend alongside actress Monica Blaze Leavitt, who lent her voice to the character in the film.

An online screening will take place at the same time!

We’re thrilled to be part of this creative showcase and to continue spreading the message behind The Sign.

]]> THE SIGN featured on Mulderville https://www.madeinmarsstudios.com/the-sign-review-mulderville/ Sun, 29 Jun 2025 15:42:30 +0000 https://www.madeinmarsstudios.com/?p=6501 The international movie platform that has reviewed thousands of films, Mulderville, wrote a beautiful and thoughtful critique of The Sign, and we’re honored by their words:

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. đŸŸ

📖 Read the full review (in English):

Melissa Mars Reinvents Visual Storytelling To Highlight Invisible Disabilities

đŸ‡«đŸ‡· Pour les lecteurs francophones :

Melissa Mars RĂ©invente La Narration Visuelle Pour Mettre En Lumiere Les Handicaps Invisibles

]]> THE SIGN x A SHARED UNIVERSE at GSFF https://www.madeinmarsstudios.com/interview-gsff-a-shared-universe-the-sign/ Sat, 28 Jun 2025 15:32:00 +0000 https://www.madeinmarsstudios.com/?p=6496 While attending the Garden State Film Festival, Melissa Mars had the pleasure of sitting down with Ming Chen (yes, Comic Book Men legend himself!) for an episode of his podcast A Shared Universe.

They talked about The Sign, invisible disabilities, the power of service dogs like Domino đŸŸ, the Exit Zero project, and the journey of bringing indie films to life. From the editing process to how post-production becomes the ultimate rewrite in storytelling. It was a fun, thoughtful, and energetic conversation.

We’re so grateful for the space to share more about the heart and mission behind the film. Thank you, Ming, and A Shared Universe, for amplifying these voices.

▶ Watch the full interview above or on GSFF’s YouTube channel!

Stay tuned—more updates coming your way!

 

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