In Passing: Bringing Hospice Stories to Life

The Distillery Film Co., is proud to announce the launch of In Passing, a dramatic short film set in a fictional Alberta hospice — and filmed in a real Edmonton hospice.

The film tells the story of Ethan, a teenager whose father lies dying in a hospice bed. Thanks to guidance from hospice nurse Beth, he learns to face the inevitable reality of saying goodbye. Ethan is played by 15-year old Skye Munro, and Beth is played by Ashley John, both of Edmonton.

Produced with the support of two hospice organizations, and filmed onsite at the Roozen Family Hospice Centre in Edmonton, the project was inspired by the real life experiences of its co-creators, Chris Beauchamp & Gordie Haakstad, who each have experienced family members in palliative care.

“Hospice nurses and other end-of-life caregivers are truly amazing people,” said co-creator Gordie Haakstad. “They help not only those who are dying, but those who are losing their loved ones as well. And they do it every day.”

“Having been through hospice care firsthand, we wanted to tell stories that celebrate these people, but also to explore the many profound experiences – sad, happy, scary, heartfelt, you name it – that people have at the end of life,” he added. “Our cast did an excellent job at delivering performances that truly depicted the emotions that fill those halls.”

The team recreated a hospice room in the basement community room of the Roozen Family Hospice Centre, and coordinated with staff to film in other areas of the building while minimizing disruptions to programs, residents, and families.

“Working in a building with active palliative care was sobering,” said Haakstad. “Entering each day reminded us why this story matters.”

The Alberta-based cast and crew also filmed scenes on a chartered St. Albert city bus, and within the classrooms and hallways of Edmonton’s Archbishop MacDonald Catholic High School — including with the help of 25+ student extras.

Conceived as an anthology web-series, In Passing had to work as both a series pilot, and as a standalone short film. The creators are pursuing additional funding to produce further episodes.

“While this first film tells the story of a single family, we have always envisioned this project as an anthology – a series of diverse stories set in a single hospice, exploring the interconnected lives of staff, residents, and their families.” said co-creator Chris Beauchamp. “Every experience of dying is different, but there are also universal themes.”

The creative team collaborated with the Red Deer Hospice Society to ensure the story stayed authentic to the experiences of real-life caregivers.

“It has always been important to us that we get this world right,” said Beauchamp. “We are incredibly grateful to the Red Deer Hospice for their insights and support.”

Red Deer Hospice Executive Director Jackie Van Langen provided technical expertise and story consulting on the project.

“At the heart of this work is the belief that every person deserves to feel seen, supported, and cared for in a way that honours their unique journey.,” said Van Langen. “The team’s commitment to listening and understanding the hospice experience is what makes this story so authentic and meaningful.”

In Passing is available to watch for free at storiesforcaregivers.com, and was produced by the Distillery Film Co. with the participation of TELUS Fund.