'Surreal': Screenwriter From Lockport Recognized At Film Festival

LOCKPORT, IL — Lockport native Sidney Bottino has always found herself turning to writing. Now a Boston-based screenwriter, the LTHS alumna recently had her short film screenplay, "Black Coffee Eulogy," recognized as a quarterfinalist at the Vail Film Festival.

Bottino said the same screenplay also ranked in the top 16 percent overall shorts on Coverfly, a leading platform for screenwriters, out of hundreds of thousands of scripts.

Growing up in Lockport, Bottino said her focus was usually 100 percent on sports, but "whenever I had a quiet moment, I’d find myself writing these little scenes or acting out sketches," especially on Saturday nights when Saturday Night Live would air.

"I didn’t tell anyone as I was shy, painfully shy in large groups, and it felt like this personal little getaway for myself," she said.

Bottino took her first big step in her writing journey when she began publicizing her short film script.

"'Black Coffee Eulogy' [is] a really personal story that means the world to me, and I was terrified of anyone reading it, let alone judging it for the first time," she told Patch. "It ended up placing at the Vail Film Festival, which was honestly surreal. That moment gave me a huge boost and a sense of validation, but it also reminded me that this journey isn’t a quick sprint—it’s about staying committed, learning as I go, and staying open to whatever opportunity comes next."

Since moving to Boston, Bottino has also started acting, with small roles or background acting on "The Perfect Couple," "The Instigators" and "Cobra Kai".

"My roles have been small, but it’s been such a rewarding way to step out of my comfort zone and learn. It’s also been eye-opening to realize just how much I enjoy being on set—whether it’s a 6 a.m. call time or wrapping well past midnight, the unpredictability really keeps me moving," she said, adding that the crew members on each show make her experience even more special.

But Bottino said writing "has always been the heart of what I do."

"There’s just something about creating a story from scratch that’s exhilarating. And terrifying," she said. Bottino is continuing work on her short film, which she also hopes to direct some day, and also is working on a couple of comedy specs, and a 30-minute pilot that's in the revision stages.

Bottino, who also attended District 92 schools, shouted out Lockport for shaping who she is today.

"There’s something about growing up in Lockport, and the Midwest in general, that just sticks with you. The teachers were a huge part of that for me," Bottino said. "Ms. Gilbert, Mr. Bolling, Mrs. Gallagher, and Ms. Bowden all encouraged my creativity in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time. They helped me find my voice when I was too shy and lacked the confidence to believe my perspective and story mattered. Even when I’m banging my head against the wall during yet another round of revisions, I’m so grateful for the foundation they gave me."

Bottino said she also credits her family for teaching her the importance of showing up, working hard and letting your actions do the talking.

"Honestly, whenever I meet someone from the Chicago area, there’s this unspoken bond," Bottino said "It’s not just where we’re from but how we were raised. People from Lockport are hardworking, kind, and proud and not in a loud, showy way, but in a quiet, 'I’ve got your back' kind of way. That sense of community is something I carry with me everywhere. Wouldn't trade it for the world."

As for what's next for the Lockport native, she recently found out she's been accepted into New York University's visiting student program at the Kanbar Institute for Film and Television.

"Still figuring out if it’s the right move, but the chance to dive into screenwriting as a craft at Tisch, where so many creatives I admire got their start, is incredibly exciting," she shared.