We created meaningful connections at Lonely Seal this year not only with the incredible Jonathan and Hammad but also with fellow festival participants. The online seminars and get-to-know-you’s were a successful covid-19 pivot, as was the viewer-friendly streaming platform they created, which ended up increasing viewership beyond what would have been possible in a traditional in-person venue. Jonathan and Hammad are engaged, generous, and authentic, and the high caliber of films, scripts, and other work in the festival is inspiring.