Heather Graham Explores Life and Love — and Gets Punched by Julia Stiles! — in Trailer for “Chosen Family ”(Exclusive)

'Chosen Family' marks the sophomore directorial project for Graham, who also wrote and stars in the film

Heather Graham is embarking on a new path toward self-care and love in Chosen Family.

The actress and filmmaker wrote and stars in the new romantic dramedy, which also marks her second feature-film directorial project after 2018's Half Magic.

Chosen Family follows yoga teacher Ann (Graham), who "cannot escape her manic family, miserable dating life, and inability to say no, leaving her constantly trying to fix everyone else's problems," a synopsis states. "But can she finally put herself first when a new love walks into her life?"

Speaking about the film, which PEOPLE is premiering the trailer for exclusively, Graham, 54, says it "was a labor of love" that "took a pretty long time to get made."

"It's kind of a journey of this woman who's kind of a people-pleaser and she thinks she's supposed to take care of everyone else, and that will make her happy," she continues. "Then she realizes that she has to take care of herself and go where the love is. And it's about how sometimes your friends are really your family."

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In the trailer, Ann meets Steve (played by Fuller House star John Brotherton) and sparks quickly fly between them. But challenges arrive for Ann in the form of winning over his young daughter Lilly (Ella Grace Helton) — and clashing with her much-different sister Clio (Julia Stiles).

Near the end of the trailer, Clio tells Ann while they're in front of a crowd outdoors, "Yoga sucks," attempting to get those gathered around more into something she dubs "punch-ilates."

The women are soon rolling around on the floor, after Ann pushes Clio and the latter punches her older sister in the face.

But things appear to be all okay in the end as Ann asks Steve, "You still wanna hang out with me after all that?", before they share a passionate kiss.

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Related: Heather Graham Opens Up About Moving Out of Family Home in High School and Becoming ‘Estranged’ from Parents

Chosen Family also stars Andrea Savage, Michael Gross, Julie Halston and Thomas Lennon. The movie is produced by Graham, Michael A. Nickles, Anthony Gudas, Chad A. Verdi, Andre Relis, Michelle Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr. and Paul Luba, with co-producers David Gere and Chelsea Vale.

Asked what drove her to want to write Chosen Family, Graham tells PEOPLE, "Growing up in a business, I just like seeing content made by women and movies where women are the protagonists, and stories that are empowering to women."

"And I'm not just out there trying to get someone to hire me," she adds. "I want to tell my own story that is hopefully empowering to women and men. I hope men find it empowering too ... just to tell something that mattered to me."

Chosen Family is in theaters and on demand Oct. 11.

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