Q&A with SCREENWRITER Victoria T. Kieburtz & Jane Austen, Writer of In Time
Tell us about the moment this screenplay began for you.
As an almost obsessive Austen fan, I have day-dreamt of this interaction for years—the chance to travel in time and tell Jane, before she died, of the lasting impact of her work. She would be utterly flabbergasted. There is an episode of Dr. Who (one of my favorite shows) where the Doctor transports a despondent Van Gogh to the Musee D'Orsay to view his work being cherished and admired more than a century after his death and it always makes me cry—this is that moment for me (and for Jane).
What idea unlocked the screenplay for you?
It's truly an unburdening of my own heart—this screenplay flowed easily because it allows me to say everything I wish I could say to Jane and to imagine her response. I have spent years immersing myself in her world—her novels, her letters, her biographies—and it was almost as though this story wrote itself.
Why did this story feel important for you to tell now?
As dear to my heart as this story is, it is also the perfect size and scope of project for me to take into production and direct. I have many stories in progress at any given time, but a short script that is actor-driven and emotionally evocative is really my cup of tea. After putting my career on hold for 7 years to raise my children (my last project was a short I completed while 8 months pregnant with my first kiddo), this is a story I can take into completion, which feels really important to me as an artist and human right now.
What was the biggest creative risk?
I think putting a bunch of words on paper and asking the world to take it seriously is always a risk—but it is also such a thrill and such a gift. I am so beyond grateful to be here working on this piece of art right now!
What keeps you creating amid the demands of life?
Trying to bounce in and out of creativity while being a parent of young kids can be a huge challenge. I have to give major props to my local (Boulder-based) Writing Group for keeping me accountable and reminding me to make time every week to turn off my phone, set a timer, and get going.
What surprised you most about your characters?
I can't say that any of my characters surprised me, actually—in this story they felt like old friends; consistent, reliable, familiar. It doesn't usually work out that way!
What do you hope audiences take away?
I hope they are moved; this is a story about people, specifically women, holding each other up through the barriers of time and space, centuries apart. What could be more moving? I cried several times editing it because it felt so real to me.
What part are you especially excited to experience with an audience?
Definitely the entire second half (the final visit and onward) is all deeply emotional and touching. I can't wait!!!
How does performance change the work for you?
I think when actors inhabit the space, everything changes. Actors bring the words to life and own the decisions and responses and reactions of the characters in a way that is truly magical. I spent many years as an actor and will never underestimate the power of performance. That's what it's all about!
What does “Make Time for Your Dreams” mean to you?
It means fulfilling my dream of telling stories and not waiting for permission or “the right time”—this is the time!
What are you working on next?
I am working on a feature-length script called Modern Judgements in Love, another homage to Jane Austen, as it is a modern retelling of her beloved Pride & Prejudice; complete with social media, actors of different backgrounds (socially, racially, sexually), and lots of scenes in spas and saunas! My goal is to make the ultimate romantic comedy with the insightful and intelligent human commentary but also the light-hearted humor and kindness that has kept the original story relevant for centuries. (I have a few other projects in the background as well; bigger, more spectacular and not Austen-related.)
What advice would you give to writers just starting out?
I think people should write what brings them joy!
GET TICKETS → https://www.bushwickfilmfestival.com/tickets
The 19th Annual Bushwick Film Festival returns October 7–11, 2026, bringing filmmakers and audiences together for five days of independent film, conversation, and community across Brooklyn.
For writer-director Victoria T. Kieburtz, Jane Austen in Time grew from a longtime wish to tell Jane Austen how deeply her work would endure. The short screenplay imagines a time-travel professional making an extraordinary sacrifice to visit Austen, allowing the author to understand the lasting reach of her writing before her death. After years working on sets and time away from her career while raising young children, Kieburtz sees the project as both a return to filmmaking and a reminder not to wait for permission or the 'right time' to create.
