Reconstructing Charlie to World Premiere at 2026 Tribeca Festival in the Vital Stories Program

Tribeca Studios and Eli Lilly selected Lara Everly’s RECONSTRUCTING CHARLIE for production as part of the inaugural Vital Stories Filmmaker Program, an initiative dedicated to supporting authentic storytelling around health and disease. This short will make its world premiere at the 2026 Tribeca Festival.

At once fearless, funny, and deeply personal, RECONSTRUCTING CHARLIE tells the story of a woman whose long-awaited post-divorce glow-up is abruptly interrupted by a breast cancer diagnosis. With no other adult to help with the recovery, Charlie and her two children move in with her seemingly picture-perfect sister to begin treatment and recovery, the two set out on a rebellious and cathartic “last night out for the boobs,” a decision that sparks an emotional reckoning filled with humor, vulnerability, and unexpected connection. Grounded in sharp comedic instincts and emotional truth, the film offers a fresh lens on survivorship, body empowerment, and the complicated ways we process life-altering news.

The project carries particular resonance as Everly herself is a recent breast cancer survivor, bringing lived experience and emotional authenticity to the story. Drawing from her own journey, Everly approaches the subject with unflinching honesty while embracing humor as a means of empowerment, creating space for a narrative that is both deeply human and disarmingly entertaining.

The film was selected by a jury including Yvette Nicole Brown, Amanda Farrand, Stacey Walker King, and Lina Polimeni and Image Entertainment, who recognized its bold voice and ability to challenge conventional portrayals of illness through dark comedy and character-driven storytelling.

Everly is an award-winning DGA director celebrated for her work in female-driven content and dark comedy. Known for blending sharp wit with emotionally grounded storytelling, she first gained attention through her sketch comedy work before expanding into television and film. Her recent credits include directing an episode of NBC’s American Auto, the pilot I Can By Friday starring Geena Davis, and the Netflix Family series Like A Mother. She also directed Heritage Day, a Jewish dark comedy starring Rachel Bloom. Everly also has a second short film SELAH selected for Tribeca.

With RECONSTRUCTING CHARLIE, Everly brings her signature comedic voice to one of the most personal stories of her career, using humor not to diminish the reality of illness, but to reclaim it.

RECONSTRUCTING CHARLIE will premiere at the 2026 Tribeca Festival as part of the Vital Stories showcase on June 10th at 5:30pm at the Shorts Theater at Spring Studios.