Nine years ago, Hannah Mittermeier lost her brother, Christian, in a drowning accident.
On Tuesday, which would have been his birthday, Mittermeier will feature her semi-autobiographical film, “Happy Sadurday,” at a screening at Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theater in Orefield, in the third of three area screenings beginning Sunday.
Mittermeier, 25 and a graduate of Whitehall High School, directed the film, which pays homage to Christian and chronicles the life of a young woman encountering grief and survivor’s guilt.
Not only did Mittermeier direct the film, but she wrote the script, produced scenes and starred in it.
“I’m very happy with the final product,” Mittermeier said. “Every time I watch it back, I’ll always find something that I’m like, ‘I could have done this differently, or that’s not quite what I intended.’ But I think that’s any filmmaker, any artist.”
Originally, Mittermeier wasn’t expecting to direct the film when she pitched it to production company Onyx Films.
“I realized I really liked directing,” she said. She eventually worked with a filmmaking team of around 20 people throughout the process.
Mittermeier grew up in Coplay before moving to California. “Happy Sadurday” was filmed in and around a cabin in May 2023 in Lake Arrowhead in California.
The 18-minute film is set in the Lehigh Valley area, however. Some Lehigh Valley references include Mittermeier’s cross-country T-shirt from Whitehall High School, and magnets from Christian’s refrigerator.
“It’s really subtle,” she said of the references. “But it’s one of those things that I think people watching it, if they were a part of my childhood growing up, or if they knew Chris, there’s certain things that they’ll catch.”
One of the biggest tributes to Christian during the film can be heard, not seen. Her friend, who created the soundtrack, had the idea to include home videos and audio of Christian talking.
“It makes me feel close to him, and it gives people a glimpse into what he was like,” Mittermeier said.
Some of the audio clips of Christian include recital recordings, plays and even a recorded clip of him skydiving. Home videos are also inserted into the film during a post-credit scene.
“It’s so thoughtful and it’s so intentional,” Mittermeier said. “And I think that is a beautiful way to pay tribute to Chris.”
Screenings will take place at 7 p.m. Sunday at The Roxy in Northampton, 4 p.m. Monday at ArtsQuest in Bethlehem and 7 p.m. Tuesday at Shankweiler’s.
While the first two screenings have important ties — Mittermeier described The Roxy as “old-timey Hollywood,” and ArtsQuest as a space that “integrated into my high school experience” — the final screening will hit close to home.
“I’m very much looking forward to all three, but that’ll be a very good final screening to end with,” Mittermeier said.
She also wants people to be caught off guard during the screenings.
“There are portions of the film that kind of lean into absurdity and are weird, and it’s meant to be so very intentionally,” she said.
Tickets are free for the screenings Sunday and Monday, and can be found on eventbrite — guests are asked to RSVP. Tickets can be bought on Shankweiler’s website for the Tuesday screening, which costs $8 for children and $12 for adults.
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