After years of painful separation, Quinn (Juan Castano) learns that his brother Ray has fatally overdosed. Seeking closure, he attends the funeral and forms an unlikely connection with Daphne (Sarah Steele).

Director’s Vision for ‘Ray’

I have been watching addiction up close for what feels like my whole life. My father lost his battle with it, while my brother, miraculously, was able to save himself. As a person who doesn’t suffer from substance use disorder, I’ve always been on the outside looking in – unsure of my role. Over the years, I’ve had to accept the conventional wisdom that it is impossible to save a person – the choice of “life or death” is theirs and theirs alone. But deep down, a part of me believes that all human beings fight for dignity on the edge of some abyss. Ray explores whether two grieving souls can recognize one another across a great divide and find a new, meaningful path forward.

Ray was made with support from Northern Illinois Recovery Center.