With nine festival wins, including Best Short Film at the Green Mountain Christian Film Festival, director Courtney Lee Simpson is raising support to turn her personal story into a full production.
Some stories are written. Others are lived first.
Till My Last Breath is the story of a woman whose marriage and dream of becoming a mother are put at risk by a severe eating disorder, and of the journey she and her husband take together toward faith, healing, and renewed hope. It is also the real-life story of the woman behind the camera.
Courtney Lee Simpson wrote, produced, and directed the film through Shine Your Light Productions, drawing it from her own experience. She and her husband faced her illness together, and their faith in Jesus Christ carried them through it. Now she wants to tell that story so others facing eating disorders, anxiety, depression, or other mental health struggles hear a clear message: you are not alone, help is available, and God is with you every step of the way.
A proven story with a proven cast
Courtney has already made a completed short version of Till My Last Breath as a proof of concept. It stars Claire Whitehead in the lead role, alongside Brian Scott Gilmore, Ben Dawson, and Laura Ann Heaton Gray, with a cast of 16.
That short has been recognized again and again on the festival circuit, earning 9 wins and 3 nominations. At the CONTENT Christian Conference, Courtney took home Best Director and Claire Whitehead won Best Actress for her lead performance. Then on October 24, the film won Best Short Film (Under 30 Minutes) at the Green Mountain Christian Film Festival. For a story told from personal experience, that record is strong evidence that the message connects.
Watch the proof-of-concept trailer
From award-winning short to full production
The short was the first step. The next is a full production, and that is where supporters come in.
The film has a total production budget of $100,000, with funding opened on October 1 and production scheduled to begin July 1, 2027. The budget is laid out openly on the project page:
- Creative development and talent$13,250
- Production$55,132
- Post-production$10,200
- Insurance$1,000
- Marketing and distribution$20,418
That last line matters. A film like this only helps people if it reaches them, and a dedicated share of the budget covers social media outreach, festivals, and targeted screenings to get Till My Last Breath in front of the audiences who need its message most.
How to support the film
Till My Last Breath is featured on AllFundIt, a platform built to give values-driven projects an audience and a path to funding. Supporters can give any amount, from a few dollars upward. Gifts are made to the Media Liberty Alliance Foundation, a 501(c)(3), which receipts donors and grants funds to the project. Supporters who fund 20% of the overall budget earn an Executive Producer credit.
On the project page you can:
- watch the trailer
- page through the full 16-slide presentation
- see exactly where the money goes
- give directly
Help bring this true story of faith and healing to the screen.
Faith-based films are made possible by people who believe the story deserves to be told. If this one speaks to you, or to someone you love, now is the time to help bring it to the screen.
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, help is available. The National Alliance for Eating Disorders helpline can be reached at 1-866-662-1235.
