Jane Austen's Period Drama

Jane Austen's Period Drama is a 2024 English-language short comedy film written and directed by Julia Aks and Steve Pinder. The film set in 1813 England is a satire on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.^[1]

The film had its world premiere at the 39th Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 9, 2024.^[2]

It was shortlisted for the Best Live Action Short Film at the 98th Academy Awards.^[3][4]

The film set in 1813 England, is a Jane Austen-inspired comedy centered on Ms. Estrogenia, who experiences menstruation during a long-anticipated marriage proposal. Her suitor, Mr. Dickley, misinterprets the visible blood as a serious injury, triggering a sequence of humorous misunderstandings. The narrative uses these comedic situations to explore and highlight conversations around the social stigma associated with menstruation.

• Julia Aks as Miss Estrogenia Talbot
• Samantha Smart as Miss Labinia Talbot
• Ta'imua as Mr. James Dickley
• Hugo Armstrong as Mr. Father Talbot
• Marilyn Brett as Mrs. Bitts
• Dustin Ingram as Dr. Bangley
• Nicole Alyse Nelson as Miss Vagianna Talbot

Co-writers and directors Aks and Pinder initially conceived the project as a three-minute sketch inspired by the pun in the title and their shared background in sketch comedy and highbrow–lowbrow humor. While researching material for the sketch, Aks solicited personal menstruation stories from a private Facebook group for female opera singers. The response was large and varied, ranging from humorous anecdotes to deeply personal accounts involving healthcare access, partner misunderstandings, and reproductive health stigma. These responses led the filmmakers to expand the concept beyond a sketch into a narrative short film.^[5]

In November, 2025, British actress Emma Thompson joined the project under the title of "Executive Menstrual Advisor." Thompson declined a traditional executive producer credit, stating that she preferred not to take a producer title unless she had been directly involved in production.^[6]

Jane Austen's Period Drama had its world premiere at the 39th Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 9, 2024.^[7][8]

The film was presented in the Live Shorts section of the 2024 Palm Springs International ShortFest in June 2024,^[9] it also had its US premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2024.^[10][11]

The film was showcased in the 2024 Cordillera International Film Festival on 27 September 2024 in Movies in the Ballpark - Shorts Program #5 - Blended Block.^[12]

The film was presented in 34th Edition Shortsfest: Program 1 at the Aspen Shortsfest on March 31, 2025.^[13]

The film was presented in Shorts at the Maryland Film Festival on November 6, 2025.^[14]

In a review for Film Threat, Alan Ng wrote that Jane Austen's Period Drama successfully applies the conventions of a Jane Austen–inspired narrative to contemporary subject matter. Ng commented on the film's visual presentation, noting its period setting, lighting, and costuming, and described the performances as committed to the material. He also highlighted the film's narrative structure, stating that the screenplay sustains its comedic premise through to the conclusion while addressing menstrual stigma through humor.^[15]

In a review for UK Film Reviews, Joe Beck described Jane Austen's Period Drama as a satirical homage to Jane Austen that blends period conventions with contemporary themes surrounding menstruation. Beck noted the film's use of wordplay and heightened performances, and highlighted the chemistry between Julia Aks and Lachlan Ta'imua Hannemann, as well as the filmmakers' use of verbal and physical comedy.^[16]

At the 2025 Aspen Shortsfest, Jane Austen’s Period Drama won the Comedy Jury Award, which qualified the film for consideration in the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. In its jury statement, Aspen Shortsfest cited the film's "commitment to its concept" and its integration of multiple comedic elements across production disciplines.^[17]

• Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film
• Submissions for Best Documentary Short Academy Award
• Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film
• 98th Academy Awards

• Official website
• Jane Austen's Period Drama at IMDb