🎬 I Hate New Year's

The film follows Layne Price (Dia Frampton), a rising indie-pop star experiencing a severe creative blockage. Desperate for a spark of inspiration to write her next hit album, Layne reluctantly returns to her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, for New Year's Eve. Her primary, misguided mission: track down an elusive ex-girlfriend whose memory she believes holds the key to her musical muse.

Accompanying her on this chaotic night is her fiercely loyal, grounded, and long-time best friend, Cassie (Ashley Argota). Together, the duo embark on a whirlwind, music-fueled trek across Nashville's vibrant nightlife scene, guided by a mysterious, ethereal fortune teller named Zelena (Candis Cayne), who drops cryptic hints about where Layne's true destiny lies.

As the midnight countdown approaches, the party-hopping journey takes unexpected detours through crowded honky-tonks, intimate backstage encounters, and spontaneous musical sets. Along the way, Layne's single-minded obsession with her ex begins to blind her to the reality of the situation. Cassie, harboring a long-hidden romantic love for Layne, struggles to keep her feelings tucked away in the shadows. Amidst the neon haze and holiday cheer, Layne is forced to confront her own emotional avoidance, realizing that the creative inspiration—and the transformative love—she has been searching for globally was standing right beside her the entire time.

💡 Production & Cultural Context 🧠
Tello Films' Signature Curation: Produced by Tello Films, a pioneering production company and streaming platform dedicated entirely to creating high-quality, authentic, and joyful stories centered on queer women. Director Christin Baker has long been a driving force behind lesbian holiday romances.

Dia Frampton's Musical Roots: Lead actress Dia Frampton brings immense authenticity to the role of a touring musician. Frampton was the runner-up on the inaugural season of NBC’s The Voice and a successful real-world singer-songwriter. The film cleverly doubles as a showcase for her genuine musical talents, weaving her original tracks directly into the plot.

Diverse & Inclusive Casting: The romantic comedy breaks standard holiday tropes by featuring two diverse women of color as the central romantic pairing, supported by iconic transgender actress and LGBTQ+ pioneer Candis Cayne in a delightful, magical-realist supporting role.

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