"Love Letter to Tom"

What does it mean to love?

This is the question at the heart of my latest short — a stop-motion love letter dedicated to Tom, a dear friend whose life ended tragically on my first weekend at college.

Recently, I was reunited with a postcard he sent me years ago — an invitation to go surfing.

This film is for you, Tom. Thank you for staying by my side all these years through that same infectious belief that anything is possible.

“Love Letter to Tom” by Lalita Gabriella (2026)

As a writer and director, I'm drawn to stories that pair powerful emotion with buoyant visuals and/or sound. This short was an opportunity to explore grief, memory, and love through that lens, and I'm proud of what was created.

I'm actively seeking collaborators who share this commitment to joyful, human-centered storytelling. If you're a 2D, 3D, stop-motion, or graphic motion animator — or a puppeteer — and you're passionate about making work that shifts culture and moves people to higher ground, I'd love to connect. DM me.

Credits
Music: "Under the Heavens" — Tony Anderson
Writer & Director: Lalita Gabriella
Stop Motion: AI