‘FIRE AT WILL’ (Tribeca 2025) Authentic familial chaos

Tribeca 2025 rainbow logoFIRE AT WILL

Fire at Will (2025) - [www.imdb.com]

Morgan Gruer‘s Tribeca 2025 short FIRE AT WILL is one of the most relatable films to come out of this year’s program. In nine minutes, we witness a mother and father attempting to prepare their four children to sign their will with a notary who will soon be arriving at the house. Blindsided at every turn, the conversation does not go as anticipated. 

fire at will kidsFIRE AT WILL looks fantastic. Jared Levy‘s camerawork is most immersed and intimate. Kyle Moriarty‘s quick-take editing is perfect. The fast-paced dialogue filled with self-absorbed personalities is every kitchen table conversation featuring adult children and their parents. As the firstborn of four loud children in an Irish Italian household, I can attest to the authenticity in the chaos of Gruer’s script, right down to the mother storming out in emotionally exhausted dramatics and the unspoken connection between father and artistic daughter. The cast nails each ping-pong match beat. FIRE AT WILL is a spectacular treatment for a feature. I need to know what happens next.

 

Director: Morgan Gruer
Producer: Sandra Tan
Screenwriter: Morgan Gruer
Cinematographer: Jared Levy
Editor: Kyle Moriarity
Executive Producer: Kerri Mandelbaum, Rob Neft, Morgan Gruer
Associate Producer: Wendy Neft-Sanda, Sarah Zaccardo, Donald Milsten, Teddy Gruer, Hannah Gruer
Co-Producer: Justin Lacob, Nicola Smith, Sam Gruer, Naomi Milsten Gruer
Production Manager: Beatriz Barbieri
Production Company: Prom Creative
Sound Design & Mix: Calvin Pia, Felt Sound

1st Assistant Director: Darcy Thompson
Color Grade: Jared Rosenthal
Cast: Scott Cohen, Amy Stiller, Ellie Sachs, Lucas Zelnick, Rebecca Gever, Julia DiCesare

Tribeca 2025 icon

For all things Tribeca, click here!

‘JIMMY & THE DEMONS’ (Tribeca 2025) A dazzling career of creation.

Tribeca 2025 rainbow logoJIMMY & THE DEMONS

Jimmy and the demons Jimmy & the demons

Cindy Meehl brings the life of larger-than-life artists to Tribeca 2025 audiences in JIMMY & THE DEMONS. James Grashow‘s work has been seen by millions, even if his name is unknown. From album art to 30 years of weekly drawings in The New York Times, his massive installations of cardboard sculptures appear around the world. Jimmy’s work can best be described as if Tim Burton’s stop-motion creations were life-sized and brimming with color. 

In Meehl’s documentary, one of Jimmy’s prominent collectors commissions a piece based on his deep connection to religion. Having never worked with wood in this way, Jimmy is winging it. You’d never know. The intricacy of the work is astounding. The piece evolved over the years into a one-of-a-kind sculptor of demons, tortured souls, and Christ carrying a Cathedral on his very back. Each piece is mocked up in cardboard and then hand-carved. 

Jimmy___The_Demons-Clean-1

All the while, Meehl features intimate sitdowns with Jimmy and his wife, Guzzy, as they talk about his work. During Jimmy’s in-school cardboard workshops over the years, he says you can pinpoint the moment an artist is born and how the entire class lights up at the realization of talent.

Jimmy’s art is immersive and brimming with joy. Scott Ruderman does a beautiful job capturing the minute details and the wonder of Jimmy’s creations. The film culminates in a grand retrospective of his pieces, and the result is like being transported to a living storybook. Grashow’s ability to manifest pure wonder is breathtaking. JIMMY & THE DEMONS simultaneously feels like a nostalgic hug and a whimsical journey.


Jimmy & The Demons: World Premiere – 2025 Tribeca Festival – Spotlight Documentary

SYNOPSIS
A magical journey into the artistic life and inner mind of celebrated sculptor James Grashow, who, at age 79, devotes four years to creating his magnum opus.


DIRECTED BY
Cindy Meehl (“Buck”, “The Dog Doc”)

PRODUCED BY
Elizabeth Westrate

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
Jennifer Wastrom

CINEMATOGRAPHY BY
Scott Ruderman

FEATURING
James Grashow, Guzzy Grashow

RUN TIME: 93 Minutes


Tribeca 2025 icon

For all things Tribeca, click here!

‘HORSEGIRLS’ (Tribeca 2025) Heartfelt dramedy.

Tribeca 2025 rainbow logoHORSEGIRLS

Horsegirls

Representation Matters. Filmmaker Lauren Meyering brings Tribeca 2025 audiences a unique and yet wholly relatable story with HORSEGIRLS. The film follows Margarita, a 25-year-old woman with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Margarita lives with her ailing mother at her wits’ end, as her daughter seems entirely unmotivated to find a job. Margarita navigates adulthood, friendship, and stepping out of her comfort zone in a whirlwind of tumultuous circumstances.

Margarita’s energy is infectious. She is lovable, curious, and the perfect amount of sass. Begrudgingly, she gets a job at a Halloween store, but her passion for hobby horses becomes a bit of a distraction when she stumbles upon a competitive troupe of girls in town. Trying her best to juggle her hours at the store, choreography, her mother, and social-emotional dynamics in the group, Margarita must come to terms with this moment in time, for better or worse.

HORSEGIRLS shines in its authentic performances. Iqbal Theba and Matthew Schwab are pure delight as Margarita’s boss and co-worker.  Jerod Haynes plays Coach with genuine passion and kindness. 

Gretchen Mol delivers a heartfelt turn as a cancer-stricken mother, Sandy. She exemplifies the unconditional love, burnout, and relentless fear that special needs parents experience every minute of the day. We worry about how our kids fare when they are out of our sight, how others treat them, and most heavily, who will care for them when we are gone. In truth, our most impossible challenge is letting them go. Mol walks that delicate line of exhaustion and support like a pro. It’s a lived-in performance. 

Lillian Carrier nails the lead role. She steals every second of screen time with her fierce energy, whether through excitement, frustration, or earnest innocence. Margarita is a star-making moment for Carrier. You will not be able to take your eyes off of her. She is pure joy. 

Margarita displays all the same ASD traits as my 9-year-old son: unfiltered honesty, sensitivity to loud sounds, difficulty with figurative language, a fervent work ethic, and empathy that surpasses the average neurotypical individual. Based on the film’s description, HORSEGIRLS might feel like an overwhelming mashup of ideas. In reality, it is an accurate depiction of daily chaos. Cancer has managed to infiltrate every family I know in some way. Grief is universal. The battle over neurodivergence acceptance rages on. I’ll repeat it- Representation Matters.

Natalie Kingston‘s beautifully thoughtful camerawork perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the film. Erin Orr‘s costumes are delightful. “The Fastest Girl In The World” is an uplifting original song you will fall in love with. With stunning moments of magical realism, Meyering creates an undeniable gem. HORSEGIRLS captures the essence of finding your people. If you aren’t crying by the end of this film, check your humanity. Tribeca 2025 audiences are lucky to see it first.


Director
Lauren Meyering
Producer
Michael Sherman, Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Mackenzie Breeden
Screenwriter
Lauren Meyering
Cinematographer
Natalie Kingston
Editor
Stephanie Filo
Composer
Dan Romer
Executive Producer
Rachael Moton, Corie Adjmi, Betsy Sherman
Co-Producer
Blair Skinner
Cast
Gretchen Mol, Jerod Haynes, Lillian Carrier, Tony Hale, Matthew Schwab, Iqbal Theba Horsegirls
Tribeca 2025 icon
For all things Tribeca, click here!

‘HONEYJOON’ (Tribeca 2025) Mother, daughter, mayhem.

Tribeca 2025 rainbow logoHONEYJOON

Honeyjoon-Clean-16x9-01

On the anniversary of the family patriarch, mother-daughter team Lela and June find themselves on a vacation together. Lilian T. Mehrel‘s HONEYJOON arrives at Tribeca 2025 with humor, heart, and healing.

Persian-Kurdish Lela longs to connect in the wake of her grief. American June wants some no strings attached vacation ass. Lela remains deeply connected to her heritage and global events. June is self-absorbed. After booking a private tour, each woman forms a different bond with their guide, João. Lela and June relive their long goodbye through the experiences of his dementia-ridden grandmother. Their relationship organically evolves through sadness, miscommunication, honesty-drenched barbs, and heartfelt laughter. 

honeyjoon 2José Condessa creates a vibrant and charming character. He is sensitive and caring, everything a woman desires in a man. Condessa is dazzling.  Ayden Mayeri gives June a true egocentric millennial with an unresolved emotional trauma vibe, which is precisely what Lilian T. Mehrel intended. Mayeri effortlessly glides into June’s arc. Amira Casar takes on Lela with a lived-in authenticity and passion. She holds each frame with her powerful presence. These two women share gorgeous chemistry. 

Cinematographer Inés Gowland delivers thoughtful framing and takes full advantage of natural light. The work heightens the overall feeling of the film.

HONEYJOON is perfect for adult children and their parents. It is a gorgeous example of generational nuance and the unspoken turmoil within every mother-daughter relationship. Tribeca audiences will undoubtedly connect on every level.

Written & Directed by Lilian T. Mehrel
Producers: Andreia Nunes, Lilian T. Mehrel, Wonder Maria Filmes, Bärli Films
Production Companies: Wonder Maria Filmes, Bärli Films 
Screenwriter: Lilian T. Mehrel

Director of Photography: Inés Gowland

Starring Ayden Mayeri & Amira Casar, José Condessa

Tribeca AT&T Untold Stories Award 2024 Winner

HONEYJOON is a sexy, emotional comedy about… a mother-daughter trip. 

Persian-Kurdish Lela (Amira Casar) and her sensual American daughter June (Ayden Mayeri) travel to a romantic Azorean island, for the one-year anniversary of Dad’s death. They planned this trip to be together, but Lela & June have opposite views about why they’re there, how to grieve, and June’s tiny bikini. Surrounded by honeymooners, doom-scrolling for Woman Life Freedom, and taken on a tour by their hot philosophical guide, João (José Condessa); Lela and June find each other… coming back to life.

 Supported by the SFFILM Rainin Grant.

Script developed at the TorinoFilmLab and Cine Qua Non Lab.

Tribeca 2025 icon

For all things Tribeca, click here!

‘PORELESS’ (Tribeca 2025 short) Representation honey!

Tribeca 2025 rainbow logoPORELESS

Poreless still 1

Filmmaker Harris Doran delivers Tribeca 2025 audiences a laugh-out-loud short about embracing authenticity and finding your place in this messy but beautiful world. In PORELESS, a fabulous, queer beauty entrepreneur is selected as a finalist in a Shark Tank-style competition to be part of an elite global brand. A last-minute allergic reaction threatens to end his career before it takes flight, but fate steps in, shenanigans ensue, and this tongue-in-cheek short speaks volumes.

poreless

Fawzia Mirza and Doran write the script from a lived-in perspective filled with humor and truth. In a landscape of social media influencer excess, our protagonist, Akram, narrowly escapes the trap of a fake persona with the help of his friends and family. Akbar Hamid is hilarious. Yes, yes, yes. The ease with which he owns the frame makes it feel longer than the 13-minute runtime in all the best ways. 

PORELESS is cleverly titled. It is a metaphorical masterpiece about visibility and culture.  Doran is no stranger to funny and smart shorts. F^¢K ‘€M R!GHT B@¢K and The Ivanka Diaries absolutely kill. It is no wonder PORELESS is equally joy-filled and sharp. I would watch these siblings in long-form and/or series comedy in a heartbeat. I’m buying whatever they are selling.

Short | United States | 13 MINUTES | English

STARRING: Akbar Hamid, Diane Guerrero (Orange Is The New Black, Jane The Virgin), Parvesh Cheena (Outscored)Allyce Beasley (hit series Moonlighting), Sophie Von Haselberg (Give Me Pity, Pose), Sureni Weerasekera (comedian), Gia Crovatin (House of Darkness) Lucy Owen (Miss Sloane), Joey Zauzig (TV personality, influencer and actor) Jillian Gottlieb (beauty influencer and actress), Joel Perez (Odd Mom Out, Tick Tick Boom)

Fawzia Mirza – Producer & Co-Writer, Harris Doran Director & Co-Writer, Akbar Hamid – Producer, Rabia Sultana – Producer

The comedic short had its NY Premiere at the upcoming 2025 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL on Sat June 07 – 8:00 PM at the Shorts Theater at Spring Studios in NYC

Co-written by Fawzia Mirza and Harris Doran, and starring Hamid as a queer Muslim beauty founder navigating a high-stakes pitch competition after an untimely allergic reaction, the film is both hilarious and healing. It’s a story rooted in lived experience – and a powerful reclamation of joy, identity, and visibility.

A passionate advocate for queer, Muslim, and intersectional representation in media, Akbar also launched Finding SafeTea Productions – a creative studio and production company devoted to storytelling at the intersection of identity, transformation, and culture.


Remaining Screenings of Poreless:

Tribeca 2025 iconFor all things Tribeca, click here!

‘BIRD IN HAND’ (Tribeca 2025) Generational trauma and family secrets.

Tribeca 2025 rainbow logoBIRD IN HAND

bird in hand


Melody C. Roscher’s incredible feature debut comes to Tribeca 2025 audiences. BIRD IN HAND follows a newly engaged young woman returning to her Mom’s house to view a local wedding venue. But, it quickly becomes apparent that Bird has ulterior motives.

Carlotta treats her as an inconvenience, constantly criticizing Bird and being openly hostile if things do not go her way. She controls the narrative. Bird tries her best to connect and longs for an ounce of compassion. But the truth is more complicated than fiction.

An accidental meeting with her mother’s new neighbors sparks a unique relationship and a quest to confront the past. Will hiring a wedding band be the answer to all her childhood hurt?

James Le Gros nails Dennis’ wildly erratic arc. Jeffrey Nordling is entirely charming as Carlotta’s longtime boyfriend, Dale.

Christine Lahti plays Bird’s mother. Self-described as “woo woo,” pretty much covers her untraditional take on life. It’s sort of a miracle Bird survived emotionally with such a kooky narcissist at the helm. Lahti is a force of nature. You have to love/hate her. Alisha Wainwright is spectacular in the titular role. Her vulnerability and ability to slide from wounded creature to absolute badass are impeccable.

Roscher dives headlong into racism, beginning with small-town microaggressions, then boldfaced offensive moments surrounding plantation history, all barreling towards her mother’s heart-shattering feelings. But, deep momma bear instincts and Bird’s unwieldy plan flip the script.

BIRD IN HAND is about healing, identity, and the messy path there and back. Tribeca 2025 audiences are lucky to see it first.


Directed by: Melody C. Roscher

Starring: Alisha Wainwright, Christine Lahti, James Le Gros, Annabelle Dexter-Jones, Jeffrey Nordling, K. Todd Freeman

Written by: Melody C. Roscher

Produced by: Craig Shilowich, Alex Schepsman, Danielle Massie, Cody Ryder, Sam Bisbee, Saba Zerehi

Executive Produced by: Jackie Kelman Bisbee, Lance Acord, John Craighead, Muwaffaq Salti

Bird in Hand follows Bird Rowe, a biracial bride-to-be who arrives unannounced at her charismatic hippie mother Carlotta’s rural home, to plan her wedding. As the two scout wedding venues, their attempts at bonding quickly unravel as buried truths surface, revealing an emotionally complex and fraught relationship. Bird enlists the help of the new neighbors who have recently bought a nearby plantation, sparking an unlikely connection. A darkly comedic and emotionally raw exploration of race, family, and identity, Bird in Hand is a sharp portrait of a young woman’s desperate search for connection—no matter how messy it gets.

 

RT: 87 Minutes

Tribeca 2025 iconFor all things Tribeca, click here!

‘CUERPO CELESTE’ (Tribeca 2025)

Tribeca 2025 rainbow logoCUERPO CELESTE

cuerpo celesteFilmmaker Nayra Ilic Garcia brings Tribeca 2025 audiences CUERPO CELESTE, a film about the inevitability of change, for better or worse.

The film opens on New Year’s Eve on an isolated coastal beach with 15-year-old Celeste, her parents, family, and friends. A warm, lazy day of swimming, lounging, learning to drive, exploring the Atacama Desert landscape for fossils, songs by firelight, and stolen moments with a crush. It is a core childhood memory. The following morning, 1990 begins with a sudden tragedy, and Celeste’s path alters forever.

The story moves through time to almost a year later. An eclipse is coming. Celeste’s now estranged mother plans to sell the house, has given away her father’s life’s work, and thinks she can step back into parenting without the consequences of near abandonment. Celeste challenges the rules, discovering that her mother is not the only vastly different thing since she was last there.

Helen Mrugalski gives Celeste a lived-in maturity. To understand that she was only 14 during filming makes her performance all the more impressive. She is a star.

Cinematographer Sergio Armstrong‘s distinctive style is breathtaking. It is both a celebration of the desert topography and yet maintains stunning intimacy. Roberto Espinoza‘s sound design is revelatory. There is patience in Valerie Hernandez‘s editing. In a post-Pinochet nation, CUERPO CELESTE is a microcosm of the national Chilean political shift. It is a clever parallel. Nayra Ilic Garcia delivers an examination of time, grief, healing, secrets, and change. It is a moving coming-of-age story.


ABOUT THE FILM
Summer, 1990. As Chile’s dictatorship draws to a close, fifteen-year-old Celeste spends the holidays with her family on a remote beach by the Atacama Desert. When an event shatters her adolescence and sends her mother into a downward spiral, their world begins to shift.

Months later, drawn by the promise of a solar eclipse, Celeste returns to that same place, but nothing is the same. In a country on the brink of transformation, she must navigate her own path forward.

WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY Nayra Ilic García
STARRING Helen Mrugalski, Daniela Ramírez, Néstor Cantillana, Mariana Loyola. Nicolás Contreras, Clemente Rodríguez. Erto Pantoja
PRODUCED BY Fernando Bascuñán & Úrsula Budnik
CO-PRODUCED BY Luigi Chimienti, Alessandro Amato, Dominga Ortúzar, Florencia Rodríguez
CINEMATOGRAPHY BY Sergio Armstrong A.C.C.
EDITING BY Valentina Hernández
MUSIC BY David Tarantino

Tribeca 2025 iconFor all things Tribeca, click here!

‘SUNLIGHT’ (2025) A twisted rom-com you’ll go bananas for!

SUNLIGHT

Sunlight_poster

I became familiar with Nina Conti through Instagram. Her hilarious ventriloquism act has me doubled over with each new clip. She improvises each live show in multiple voices and unpredictable audience member volunteers, and it will blow you away. Monkey is her original creation, and in her directorial debut, SUNLIGHT, Nina uses him as a vessel to mask incredibly dark trauma. The result is emotional brilliance and endless laughter.

SUNLIGHT Shenoah AllenRoy hates his life. He brings some serious childhood baggage, and his job as a radio interviewer sucks the life out of him. As he attempts suicide in a motel room, he catches a glimpse of a life-sized Monkey through his window. As he comes to, Roy finds said Monkey driving his airstream down the empty roads. The audience quickly comes to realize this is not a hallucination but a woman dressed in a costume and putting on a voice.

Sunlight Monkey stretchThe woman in the suit is Jane. She uses Monkey as a coping mechanism to flee her stepfather, and the root of all her sadness. Both Roy and Jane have specific plans that are so outrageous that they agree to accompany one another on their journeys. Roy plans to dig up his abusive cop father and steal the watch he thought he had inherited. Jane wants to find a way to buy a pontoon boat and run banana boat rides as Monkey.

SUNLIGHT launches headfirst into one of the weirdest narratives I’ve ever seen. But simply calling it weird is a disservice to the complexity behind these characters. Conti and Allen co-wrote the story. It is easy to see why Christopher Guest executive produces. This creative pairing perfectly slots in with Guest’s brand of humor. The chemistry between Conti and Allen is instantaneous, even with the added physical barrier of Monkey. These are two pros bouncing weirdness off of each other.

Sunlight Shenoah and NinaShenoah Allen gives Roy a lived-in exhaustion. There is a gentleness that pulls you into his sphere. Conti is phenomenal as she navigates comedy through the suit, but also manages to rip your heart out. She uses humor to convey the hurt. It is a love story between two deeply wounded adults. Allen and Conti do not hold back in the dialogue. They take risks in every beat.

SUNLIGHT is a wonderfully unique road movie that delves into the reality that most of us idle in our loneliness. Finding your people is essential for truly living. Packed with profound revelation and shocking twists and turns, SUNLIGHT is one of the most heartwarming and funniest films ever.

Sunlight Trailer:

A darkly comic love story between a man and a woman who doesn’t want to come out of a monkey suit
 
Coming To Theaters June 6, 2025 

 


Sunrise Films is excited to announce the U.S. theatrical release of SUNLIGHT, the darkly hilarious and unconventional love story from acclaimed British actress, comedian, and ventriloquist Nina Conti, presented by Christopher Guest. Following its opening at the Edinburgh Film Festival, SUNLIGHT will debut in New York City theaters on June 6, followed by a Los Angeles premiere on June 13. Additional markets are to be announced.

Marking Conti’s feature directorial debut, SUNLIGHT reimagines “Monkey”—the iconic character from her renowned ventriloquist act—as the human-sized alter ego of a woman on the run from a toxic relationship. Conti, who began her career with the Royal Shakespeare Company before becoming an inventive comedy performer, co-wrote, directed, and stars in the film, delivering a bold dual performance as both the woman and the monkey. 

Conti stars alongside her longtime creative collaborator Shenoah Allen, who also co-wrote the screenplay. Allen, a Barry Award-winning comedian and one half of the cult comedy duo Pajama Men, plays Roy, a suicidal radio host who becomes Jane’s unlikely companion. 

Set against the quirky backdrop of Albuquerque, New Mexico, SUNLIGHT is a road movie with heart, humor, and absurdist flair. Jane (Conti) meets Roy (Allen) at a low point in both their lives. Disguised in a full-body monkey suit and eager to escape her past, Jane hits the road with Roy in his Airstream trailer. As they chase a fresh start—and hatch a risky scheme to fund it—Jane’s possessive ex looms close behind. Equal parts eccentric and emotionally resonant, SUNLIGHT is a natural, inspired extension of Conti’s sell-out stage act.

SUNLIGHT is produced by Sam Parker for Anyway Content, Will Machin for Metro International, Keagan Karnes for Inspirado, Tabitha McDonald and Conti, with Christopher Guest serving as executive producer. Cinematography is by James Kwan, with editing by Riaz Meer, composition by Christoph Bauschinger and music by Radiohead, Aphex Twin & The Pixies. 

“We are delighted to bring Nina and Shenoah’s wonderfully funny and charming road trip movie to audiences in the U.S. and Canada,” said Andrew Nerger, Head of U.S. & International Distribution at Sunrise Films. “It’s a laugh-a-minute ride. We fell in love with the film from the very first screening and can’t wait for audiences to meet the mischievous Monkey and the world-weary Roy this summer.”

The U.S. distribution deal was negotiated by Andrew Nerger on behalf of Sunrise Films and Will Machin, CEO of Metro International.

 


ABOUT SUNRISE FILMS
Sunrise Films is a new, internationally focused production, distribution, and sales company launched by Rupert Preston and Nigel Williams.


The company produced high-stakes thriller THE ACCUSED, directed by BOILING POINT and ADOLESCENCE’S Philip Barantini, which debuted on Netflix in the UK, ANZ, and Canada in 2023. Sunrise also produced George Amponsah’s GASSED UP, which released theatrically in the UK through Vertigo Releasing in early 2024 and debuted afterwards on Amazon Prime.


On the distribution side, Sunrise has released a multitude of titles across North America including Luna Carmoon’s BAFTA-nominated debut HOARD featuring rising star Joseph Quinn, action thriller SUNRAY: FALLEN SOLDIER, which was created by and stars former Royal Marines Commandos, Julia Jackman’s coming of age queer rom-com BONUS TRACK, BAFTA-winning drama AFTER LOVE, and César-nominated Iranian crime drama LAW OF TEHRAN. Sunrise next plans to release Freddy Macdonald’s buzzy SXSW debut SEW TORN and coming of age drama LAST SWIM which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2024 to wide acclaim.



Rupert Preston is also the CEO of Vertigo Releasing and he has produced over 25 films including BRONSON, THE SWEENEY, PUSHER, HORRID HENRY: THE MOVIE, and MONSTERS. Nigel Williams is the Chairman of Vertigo Releasing and Protagonist Pictures.

For more romcom reviews, click here!

Tribeca 2025 is almost here. Get ready for the buzz to get loud with world premieres galore.

Tribeca 2025 rainbow logoTribeca 2025

Tribeca is back with a vengeance. This year, the festival features new and exciting storytellers who break barriers, make us laugh, and spark conversations. This year’s fest runs from June 4th to the 15th. 

 

ABOUT THE TRIBECA FESTIVAL
The Tribeca Festival, presented by OKX, brings artists and diverse audiences together to celebrate storytelling in all its forms, including film, TV, music, audio storytelling, games, and immersive. With strong roots in independent film, Tribeca is synonymous with creative expression and entertainment. Tribeca champions emerging and established voices, discovers
award-winning talent, curates innovative experiences, and introduces new ideas through exclusive premieres, exhibitions, conversations, and live performances.

The Festival was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan following the attacks on the World
Trade Center. The annual Tribeca Festival will celebrate its 24th year from June 4–15, 2025, in New York City.

In 2019, James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems bought a majority stake in Tribeca Enterprises, bringing together Rosenthal, De Niro, and Murdoch to grow the enterprise.

ABOUT THE 2025 TRIBECA FESTIVAL PARTNERS
The 2025 Tribeca Festival is presented by OKX and with the support of our partners: AT&T, Audible, Bulleit Frontier Whiskey, Canva, CHANEL, City National Bank, Don Julio Tequila, Indeed, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, NBC4 and Telemundo 47, NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, National CineMedia, New York Magazine, Spring Studios New York, The Wall Street Journal, Variety, Vulture, and Whalar.


Take a look at a few Tribeca 2025 films, long and short, and pilots we’re keeping our eyeballs peeled for. For the entire lineup, click here!



THE BEST YOU CAN – World Premiere – Spotlight Narrative Tribeca 2025
The Best You Can
Directed & written by: Michael J. Weithorn
Starring: Kyra Sedgwick, Kevin Bacon, Judd Hirsch, Brittany O’Grady


Reuniting Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon on screen for the first time in twenty years, THE BEST YOU CAN is a sharp, touching, and laugh-out-loud exploration of change, losing our bearings, and finding connection in the most unexpected places. This character-driven comedy is a reminder that sometimes the people who understand us best are the ones who are nothing like us.

RT: 103 Minutes


ARE WE GOOD? – New York Premiere – Spotlight+ Tribeca 2025

Are We GoodDirected by: Steven Feinartz
Starring: Marc Maron


An intimate portrait of comedian and podcast pioneer Marc Maron, following the sudden loss of his partner and filmmaker Lynn Shelton. Maron struggles with grief, disillusionment, and a shifting comedy landscape.

RT: 95 Minutes Tribeca 2025


OUR HERO, BALTHAZAR -Viewpoints

Our Hero BalthazarDirector: Oscar Boyson

Cast: Jaeden Martell, Asa Butterfield, Chris Bauer, Jennifer Ehle, Anna Baryshnikov, Noah Centineo, Becky Ann Baker, Avan Jogia, Pippa Knowles

Wealthy New York City teenager Balthazar “Balthy” Malone (Jaeden Martell) has a crush on a classmate who organizes gun control protests. To gain her attention, he creates dramatic social media videos pleading for stricter gun laws. When an online troll (Asa Butterfield) begins mocking his videos, Balthy becomes convinced that he is communicating with a potential mass shooter and impulsively decides to travel to Texas to confront him in person. What starts as a misguided hero’s journey evolves into a complex encounter between two young men from vastly different worlds, each struggling to find their place in a divided America. 

91 MINUTES Tribeca 2025


BIRD IN HAND – World Premiere – US Narrative Competition Tribeca 2025
bird in hand
Directed by: Melody C. Roscher
Starring: Alisha Wainwright, Christine Lahti, James Le Gros, Annabelle Dexter-Jones, Jeffrey Nordling, K. Todd Freeman

Bird in Hand follows Bird Rowe, a biracial bride-to-be who arrives unannounced at her charismatic hippie mother Carlotta’s rural home, to plan her wedding. As the two scout wedding venues, their attempts at bonding quickly unravel as buried truths surface, revealing an emotionally complex and fraught relationship. Bird enlists the help of the new neighbors who have recently bought a nearby plantation, sparking an unlikely connection. A darkly comedic and emotionally raw exploration of race, family, and identity, Bird in Hand is a sharp portrait of a young woman’s desperate search for connection—no matter how messy it gets.

RT: 87 Minutes Tribeca 2025


HORSEGIRLS – World Premiere – US Narrative Competition Tribeca 2025
HorsegirlsDirected by: Lauren Meyering
Starring: Lillian Carrier, Gretchen Mol, Jerrod Haynes
Produced by: Alix Madigan, Michael Sherman, Mackenzie Breeden

After her mother’s illness returns, 22-year-old Margarita, a young woman with autism, discovers the world of hobbyhorsing and sets out to prove her independence to her mother—stick horse and all.

RT: 101 Minutes

“As a mother of neurodivergent children, this film’s authenticity screams off the screen. It is a must-see.”


JIMMY & THE DEMONS – World Premiere – Spotlight Documentary Tribeca 2025

Jimmy and the demons Jimmy & the demonsDirected by: Cindy Meehl

A magical journey into the artistic life and inner mind of celebrated sculptor, James Grashow, who, at age 79, devotes four years to creating his magnum opus.

RT: 93 Minutes

 


DEAD LANGUAGE – Viewpoints

large_Dead_Language-Clean-16x9-0While waiting at the airport for her husband, Aya (Sarah Adler) is mistaken for someone else. Intrigued, she decides to pick up a complete stranger (Ulrich Thomsen) on a whim. Their encounter sparks an unexpected intimacy that unsettles Aya’s sense of certainty and awakens a yearning she neither fully understands nor knows how to fulfill. Her quiet search for meaning unfolds in a hotel room, a customer service chat and in subtle disruptions to her daily routine, as we are taken through a woman’s delicate and honest search for something meaningful.

Director: Mihal Brezis, Oded Binnun

Cast: Sarah Adler, Ulrich Thomsen, Yehezkel Lazarov, Lars Eidinger

110 MINUTES Tribeca 2025


RE-CREATION – World Premiere – Spotlight Narrative
re-creationDirected by: Jim Sheridan & David Merriman
Starring: Vicky Krieps, Jim Sheridan, Aidan Gillen, and Colm Meaney


In a fictitious trial, twelve members of a jury must decide whether British journalist Ian Bailey is guilty of the murder of French filmmaker Sophie Toscan Du Plantier in 1996. Based on real events, the film reconstructs, through the discussions between these twelve people, a case that ultimately invites the viewer to draw their own conclusions.

RT: 89 Minutes


SHE DANCES – World Premiere – Spotlight Narrative Tribeca 2025
She dancesDirected by: Rick Gomez
Starring: Steve Zahn, Audrey Zahn, Mackenzie Ziegler, Ethan Hawke, Sonequa Martin-Green, Rosemarie DeWitt


Forced to reconnect on the road to her final dance competition, a father and daughter must confront their fractured relationship. As they navigate a shared tragedy, the whirlwind of the Young Miss Southeast Regional Dance Finals becomes the backdrop for their journey toward healing. She Dances is a story about rediscovering family and finding yourself—about accepting what is, letting it shape you, and recognizing who you are through the memories of those you love most.

RT: 93 Minutes


LEMONADE BLESSING (Section: US Narrative Competition) Tribeca 2025

LEMONADE BLESSING

WORLD PREMIERE

Directed and written by: Chris Merola

Starring: Jake Ryan, Jeanine Serralles, Skye Alyssa Friedman, Miles J. Harvey, Michael Oloyede, Todd Gearhart, and Keith William Richards

Freshly tossed into a private Catholic high school by his devout mother, John (Jake Ryan) falls head over heels for a devious classmate ready to push his faith (and morals) to the brink with a series of increasingly uncomfortable actions, all in the name of love. ‘

100 MINS

“This former Catholic school product approves of all the messaging and coming-of-age authenticity!”


DEEP COVER – Spotlight Narrative

Deep_Cover-Clean-16x9-02

Directed by Tom Kingsley

Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom, Nick Mohammed, Paddy Considine, Sonoya Mizuno, with Ian McShane and Sean Bean

DEEP COVER is a fast-paced action comedy starring Bryce Dallas Howard as Kat, an improv comedy teacher beginning to question if she’s missed her shot at success. When an undercover cop (Sean Bean) offers her the role of a lifetime, she recruits two of her students (Orlando Bloom and Nick Mohammed) to infiltrate London’s gangland by impersonating dangerous criminals.

Coming to Prime Video June 12, 2025

109 MINUTES Tribeca 2025


THE WOLF, THE FOX AND THE LEOPARD (International Narrative Competition)

The_Wolf_the_Fox_and_the_L

A film by David Verbeek

 Starring: Jessica Reynolds, Nicholas Pinnock, Marie Jung and Naomi Kawase

A feral young woman raised by wolves is captured and thrust into modern society, only to be rescued by a radical couple who isolate her on an abandoned oil rig. As she uncovers the lies of her new “parents”, she is forced to stand on her own two feet and ultimately decide whether to integrate into society or return to the wild.

124 MINUTES

“This hybrid fairytale about trauma is not to be missed.”


WIZKID: LONG LIVE LAGOSSpotlight+

WIZKID: LONG LIVE LAGOSDirector: Karam Gill 

Subjects: Femi-Anikulapo Kuti, Ayodeji Balogun, Jada Pollock, Julie Adenuga, Seni Saraki, Sunday Are, Matthew Temitope Solomon, Karen Binns, Adosu Segan, Tops Bademosi

From Lagos to London, this powerful documentary follows Wizkid’s rise as a global icon reshaping how Africa is seen — and heard — around the world. Blending intimate moments, explosive performances, and cultural commentary, the film captures how Wizkid is using his platform to change perceptions, reclaim African identity, and inspire a new generation. Directed by Karam Gill. Produced by Karam Gill, Daniel Malikyar. An HBO Documentary Films Release.

83 MINUTES  Tribeca 2025


HONEYJOON (Viewpoints)

Honeyjoon-Clean-16x9-01

Written & Directed by Lilian T. Mehrel

Starring Ayden Mayeri & Amira Casar, José Condessa

HONEYJOON is a sexy, emotional comedy about… a mother-daughter trip. 

Persian-Kurdish Lela (Amira Casar) and her American daughter June (Ayden Mayeri) take a trip to a romantic Azorean island, for the one-year anniversary of Dad’s death. They planned this trip to be together, but Lela & June have opposite views about why they’re there, how to grieve, and June’s tiny bikini. Surrounded by honeymooners, doom-scrolling for Woman Life Freedom, and taken on a tour by their hot philosophical guide, João (José Condessa); Lela and June find each other… coming back to life.

75 minutes Tribeca 2025


AN EYE FOR AN EYE (Documentary Competition)

Eye_for_an_Eye-Clean-16x9

Directors: Tanaz Eshaghian, Farzad Jafari

Convicted of murdering her husband, Tahereh served her sentence and now faces a ticking clock to negotiate with her in-laws who, under Sharia law in Iran, have the legal right to either execute her or forgive her- for a price.

84 MINUTES


THE END OF QUIET (Documentary Competition)

the end of quiet still

Directors: Kasper Bisgaard, Mikael Lypinski

A meditative documentary that offers a glimpse into one of the few inhabited places on Earth where Wi-Fi and phone signals are not allowed to reach.

83 MINUTES


TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN- Spotlight Documentary 

TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN- Spotlight Documentary 

Director/Producer: Ole Juncker

Brilliance or bold-faced theft? In 2021, the Kunsten Museum got more than it bargained for when Danish artist Jens Haaning borrowed $83,000 for a commissioned piece—then delivered an empty frame. Titled with brazen wit, Take the Money and Run ignited a global firestorm: was it a scathing critique of capitalism, or the slickest art-world heist in history?

82 MINUTES


COUNTING CROWS: HAVE YOU SEEN ME LATELY? – Spotlight Documentary

COUNTING CROWS: HAVE YOU SEEN ME LATELY? Director: Amy Scott

Subjects: Adam Duritz, Cyndi Lauper, Steve Kerr, Chris Martin, Jeff Ross, Mary-Louise Parker

Catapulted into overnight fame by their massively successful debut album, San Francisco indie rock band Counting Crows and their introspective frontman Adam Duritz were suddenly the biggest rockstars in the world, defiantly facing whatever came next. Counting Crows: Have You Seen Me Lately? captures this pivotal crossroads through revealing interviews and evocative 1990’s archival to craft a rare story of artistic integrity in the spotlight. Directed by Amy Scott. Produced by Brian Morrow, Jonathan Lynch. An HBO Documentary Films Release.

90 MINUTES Tribeca 2025


YANUNI (Closing Night Gala)

Yanuni still 1

Directed by RICHARD LADKANI 

Produced by ANITA LADKANI, RICHARD LADKANI, JUMA XIPAIA, LEONARDO DICAPRIO, JENNIFER DAVISSON, PHILLIP WATSON

Executive Producers include JOANNA NATASEGARA, LAURA NIX, ERIC TERENA, DAX DASILVA, MARTIN CHOROBA, PHILIPP SCHALL

YANUNI is a cinematic portrait of Juma Xipaia, an Indigenous chief from the Brazilian Amazon who rises from a remote village to the frontlines of climate justice. After surviving six assassination attempts, she is appointed Brazil’s first Secretary of Indigenous Rights—while her husband, a federal IBAMA agent, leads dangerous operations against illegal gold miners. As Juma navigates political power, growing threats, and impending motherhood, she is forced to confront the personal cost of resistance. At once intimate and epic, YANUNI is a powerful story of Indigenous sovereignty, love, and the urgent fight to protect the planet we call home.

112 MINUTES 


SEASONED (World Premiere — Indie Episodic (NOW)

seasoned

Directed by Ewen Wright

Written by Gideon Grody-Patinkin, Ewen Wright

Starring Mandy Patinkin, Kathryn Grody

Synopsis: Based on the real lives of Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody, “Seasoned” follows the delightfully tumultuous relationship and life of this successful, gregarious, deeply committed, slightly insane married couple. They’re each other’s greatest cheerleaders and harshest critics. The source of their unending magic is the same as their unending woe: that they’ve stayed together all these years. They struggle, they fail, they forgive, they learn, they remain bewildered, and most importantly, they hold everything together through love. As they navigate a society that feels as if it’s crumbling around them, will they remain standing?

Pilot Episode “Hangry” Synopsis: When Mandy and Kathryn miss their anniversary dinner reservation, they’re forced to try and find a new place to eat. Wandering New York City in an effort to salvage the occasion, 40 years of marital dynamics are laid bare as everything falls short – first with the food, then with each other.

96 MINUTES


84 MINUTESbeca 2Tribeca 2025 icon

Follow along with Tribeca 2025 and all things Tribeca Film Festival here!

(NYAFF 2025) The New York African Film Festival, now underway at Film at Lincoln Center

(NYAFF 2025)

The New York African Film Festival

New York African Film Festival 2025 NYAFF - [www.filmlinc.org]The New York African Film Festival (NYAFF), now underway at Film at Lincoln Center, lands in Harlem on Thursday with a focus on documentaries.

The Opening Night film, Ebrohimie Road: A Museum of Memory by Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún, is an insightful documentary about the role of a small university bungalow on the life of esteemed Nigerian author, playwright and Nobel Prize in Literature awardee Wole Soyinka.

Of the 29 films coming to Maysles, three are world premieres, three are North American premieres, six are U.S. premieres, and three are New York premieres. Highlights include: French films; a Spanish film; films about art and music including the U.S. Premieres of Maurice Pellosh, Capturing Memory about the photographer-portraitist; one about the Bronx-based African Jazz-Art Society and Studios and the North American premiere of a film about artists in Haiti resisting the chaos; the New York premiere of a film about Nobel Prizewinner in Literature Wole Soyinka; fashion and beauty films; a film about Haiti; and another about child marriageThe Last Shore, a film about a young Gambian man’s viral drowning death in Venice to shouts of abuse rather than offers of help will have its North American premiere. Shorts Program #2: Ever Rising includes The Adventures of Angostat, a unique one-shot fiction film of urban artists, some with disabilities, about Angola’s first satellite launch; and a film about John Coltrane.

NYAFF runs in Harlem through Sunday, May 18, and then heads to BAM for FilmAfrica during the popular DanceAfrica series. See a trailer for the festival here

 

You can find the schedule here: https://nyaff32.eventive.org/schedule

Film at Lincoln Center (FLC) and African Film Festival, Inc. (AFF) will partner to present the 32nd edition of the New York African Film Festival (NYAFF). NYAFF features more than 30 contemporary and classic films from Africa and its diaspora screening at FLC May 7 through May 13, with 100 films in total as the festival continues at other esteemed New York City cultural venues throughout the month of May, with many filmmakers in attendance for post-screening Q&As. Since its inception in 1993, the festival has been at the forefront of showcasing African and diaspora filmmakers’ unique storytelling through the moving image.

This year’s theme, “Fluid Horizons: A Shifting Lens on a Hopeful World,” honors the resilience of African youth and the forebearers who paved the way for them. As cinema was an integral part of the African continent’s struggle for independence and the triumph of its liberation, this edition of the festival celebrates the African youth who have turned to their cameras to document their experiences and the influence of those who came before them. With a multitude of genres ranging from comedies to experimental films, the 32nd New York African Film Festival offers a multidimensional take on African culture, history, and cinema.

For more film festival coverage, click here!

‘EGGHEAD & TWINKIE’ (2025) The perfect Gen-Z rom-com finally gets a release date!

giant pictures logoEGGHEAD & TWINKIE

Egghead & Twinkie poster

EGGHEAD & TWINKIE is an instant classic. After coming out to her parents, two best friends go on an impromptu road trip to meet a crush. This genre-bending film is one of the most fun selections at Outfest: LA. (Here is our original review from the fest)

Egghead & TwinkieJill Cefalo-Sanders provides quirky animation, giving us adorable hand-drawn anime-inspired visuals for emotions, sounds, and transitions. It’s very Lizzie McGuire, and that’s an absolute compliment. It’s almost its own character in the film. The script kicks close-minded conservatism to the curb, much like a Mini Katana cutting through outdated beliefs with precision and style. Writer-director Sarah Kambe Holland makes Twinkie a total badass. She is funny, brave, awkward, fearless, and (to use a Gen Z word) fire. Holland gives Egghead all the qualities to balance his best friend. He is nerdy, loyal, thoughtful, and unequivocally at Twinkie’s mercy. The script doesn’t shy away from sexual fluidity but directly addresses it in an accessible way. 

Egghead & Twinkie_Still 15_300dpiAsahi Hirano plays Jess with a comfortability that is chef’s kiss. Acting like an LGBTQ+ sensai for Twinkie, Hirano makes the conversation flow easily. She is a delight, someone who could carry a spinoff film. Louis Tomeo as Egghead is fantastic. He is laugh-out-loud funny in his natural delivery. The sass is perfection. Holland allows him to show his comedy chops through the script and hilarious editing from Anna DeFinis and Kristina League. Sabrina Jie-a-fa plays Twinkie with a perfect balance of audaciousness and hesitancy. We see authentic coming-of-age and coming-out stories in her journey. Together, Tomeo and Jie-a-fa are a spectacular duo. You will fall in love with them. 

egghead & Twinkie dinner sceneThe teenage shenanigans ring true. That feeling of invincibility and daring reminds me of my crazy ideas and dumb decisions in the late 90s. Egghead and Twinkie take risks, make mistakes, hurt each other, get their hearts broken, and confess their fears. The film is a helpful guide for parents struggling to understand their kids’ feelings. Regardless of their core beliefs, EGGHEAD & TWINKIE is undeniably relatable. A modern-day romcom-buddy comedy-road movie we all needed to see. It is easily one of the year’s best films. Do not sleep on it!

EGGHEAD & TWINKIE
2023 | USA | 87 min | Color | Narrative Comedy
 RELEASE INFO
Available on Demand April 29 (U.S. & Canada)
*Special Screening in Los Angeles, including Q&A with filmmakers and cast
Thurs, April 24, 7:00pm
Laemmle Glendale, 207 N. Maryland Ave.
Info & Tickets:
https://www.laemmle.com/film/egghead-twinkie

  • Director:
    Sarah Kambe Holland
  • Screenwriter:
    Sarah Kambe Holland
  • Producer:
    Danielle Fountaine, Sarah Kambe Holland, Valerie Starks
  • Executive Producer:
    Simon Holland, Torye Kambe, Dan Pastewka, Kathleen Weldon
  • Cast:
    Sabrina Jie-A-Fa, Louis Tomeo, Asahi Hirano, Ayden Lee
  • Cinematographer:
    Olivia Wilson
  • Editor:
    Kristina League, Anna Definis, Sarah Kambe Holland
  • Animator:
    Jill Cefalo-Sanders
  • Production Design:
    Luke Sanders
  • Composer:
    Ben Thornewill
  • Sound Design:
    Bo Li
  • Music:
    Arielle James Harris
For more LGBTQ films, click here!

‘UNBROKEN’ (2025) Netflix honors Holocaust Remembrance Day with release of astounding doc

greenwich ent logoUnBroken

unbroken poster

Beth Lane’s captivating documentary, UnBroken, tells the story of seven siblings who survived Nazi Germany. Following the arrest of their hero mother and previously imprisoned Catholic father, marked for a concentration camp, Lane’s mother and siblings were smuggled to safety in the back of a truck in the dead of night by their farmer neighbor. A journey of unbelievable resiliency, Lane retraces their steps from Berlin to America and into the pages of history.

unbroken animationLane pieces together the Weber children’s story using archival footage, family photos, letters of eldest brother Alfons, and the foggy memories of the five remaining sisters. She travels to Berlin, stopping at each location where the siblings were hidden and nurtured. Lane discovers her grandfather’s original fascist concentration camp papers and the entry log of all seven children in a nunnery, finding that her mother Bela’s instinct about her middle name was correct.

UNBROKEN-motw-no-logo-800x445Misfit delivers enchanting line-drawn animation to fill in the visual gaps. Aaron Soffin and Dina Guttmann’s editing is award-worthy. Jonathan Snipes’ score is haunting. The film plays out like historical fiction from one moment to the next.

unbroken teensOne particularly intriguing moment happens as Beth runs into a small group of young people listening to music outside the siblings’ old apartment. After she tells them what the film is about, she asks if they would hide her if history repeats itself. Their honesty will burn into your memory. The echoes of trauma and triumph rear their ugly heads in many ways, but the knowledge that in saving seven siblings, there are now 72 thriving Weber family members is something to celebrate.

unbroken searchThe similarities to the systematic dismantling of the United States’ democracy should serve as a stark warning, but UnBroken also shines a light on the goodness of the human heart. One phrase from the film perfectly captures the message. “When you’re faced with adversity, who do you become?”

Here’s the link to the trailer on YouTube
 
 

Streaming on Netflix today!

 

About the film:  
UNBROKEN is the miraculous true story of the seven Weber siblings, ages 6-18, who evaded certain capture and death, and ultimately escaped Nazi Germany relying solely on their youthful bravado and the kindness of strangers, following their mother’s incarceration and murder at Auschwitz. 
 
After being hidden in a laundry hut by a benevolent German farmer, the children spent two years on their own in war torn Germany. Emboldened by their father’s mandate that they ‘always stay together,’ the children used their own cunning instincts to fight through hunger, loneliness, rape, bombings and fear. Climactically separated from their father, the siblings are forced to declare themselves as orphans in order to escape to a new life in America. Unbeknownst to them, this salvation would become what would finally tear them apart, not to be reunited for another 40 years. 
 
Filmmaker Beth Lane, daughter of the youngest Weber sibling, embarks on a quest to retrace their steps, seeking answers to long-held questions about her family’s survival. The film examines the journey of the Weber family as told through conversations with living siblings – now in their eighties and nineties – while Beth and her crew road trip across Germany, following the courageous, tumultuous, and harrowing path taken by her family over seventy years ago.
 
UnBroken is Beth Lane’s feature directorial debut, and it is both a professional milestone and a personal quest to immortalize the incredible story of the Weber siblings’ survival as the only family of seven Jewish siblings living in Nazi Germany known to have survived and emigrated together. 
 
The film had its world premiere at the 23rd Heartland International Film Festival, where it was awarded Best Documentary Feature Film. It also won the Audience Choice award at the River Run Int’l Film FestivalJulien Dubuque Int’l Film Festival and The Berkshire Int’l Film Festival
 
For more documentary films, click here!

‘FRÉWAKA’ (2025) Shudder original delivers Irish folk-horror at its finest

shudder

FRÉWAKA

Fréwaka poster

Filmmaker Aislinn Clarke brings Shudder audiences a dark and tense story of a primary caregiver and the odd elderly ward she finds herself assigned. Following the death of her estranged mother, Shoo travels to a small town riddled with foul energy for the woman she must look after. Peig is a household name, and not in a good way. Surrounded by Peig’s superstitious rituals, Shoo’s growing isolation and underlying anguish trigger a long-dormant demand. 

Frewaka_keystilll_2_fa500e

Beautifully lit and framed (DP Narayan Van Maele is a wonder), FRÉWAKA pulls you in from the first scene. Straying from any formula, Clarke takes an even more nightmarish approach with the second scene. The audience is in a constant state of unease. Peig’s routine is easily dismissed as dementia, but Clarke understands folk horror to its core. 

Bríd Ní FRÉWAKA

Bríd Ní Neachtain gives Peig a fiery sass that is intoxicating. Walking the line between paranoia and rage, Neachtain commands your attention. Clare Monnelly infuses a similar hardness to Shoo but mixes a lost hurt, complex grief, and underlying fear into her role. Together, they make one hell of a compelling watch. 

Frewaka_keystill01_600

A clever mix of unresolved trauma and lore, Clarke keeps you guessing at every turn. One particular death made me gasp out loud. The script examines mental illness, generational trauma, and fae canon in a wicked and creative manner. FRÉWAKA is wholely unsettling. It is a perfect crossover for any romantasy readers and genre girlies. 

Frewaka_altposter_600lVJVvXZvqpkbYG0hK5LLGtubP-723x1024Trailer:

New Film from The Devil’s Doorway Filmmaker Aislinn Clarke
 
Debuts April 25

 

Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thrillers and the supernatural, today announced the streaming premiere date and released the trailer and poster for FRÉWAKA, from the director/writer of the acclaimed THE DEVIL’S DOORWAY, Aislinn Clarke. The highly anticipated film, which made its world premiere at the 2024 Locarno Film Festival and its U.K. premiere at the BFI London Film Festival, will make its exclusive streaming debut Friday, April 25 on Shudder as part of the Halfway to Halloween celebration.

For more horror coverage, click here!

‘NORA’ (2025) Music and motherhood strike a beautiful cord.

 NORA

Nora poster

The multitalented filmmaker and musician Anna Campbell‘s musical motherhood journey NORA is in theatres now. The film follows a former musician who moves to the burbs to raise her young daughter. With her husband on the road for six weeks, Nora must navigate considerable life changes in the suburban jungle while coming to terms with her deepest dreams. 

NORA_Film Stills1_CuddleSophie Mara Baaden plays six-year-old Sadie with authentic innocence and sass. She has wonderful chemistry with Campbell. Lesley Ann Warren plays Nora’s waspy mother and provides the stereotypical artist’s parent doubtful “I told you so” tone. Nick Fink is fantastic as Sadie’s first-grade teacher Adam. He and Campbell are a striking duo. It doesn’t hurt that his singing voice Is delicious.

Nora still Lesley Ann WarrenThe script nails the loss of personal identity when a woman becomes a mother. The invisible labor and patriarchal structure often lead to isolation and lingering resentment. It delves into self-loathing and body changes. It tackles suburban social pressure, which can be a lot. On the flip side, she also perfectly captures the love-filled hyping up we do for our kids every single day. 

Nora disassociates through musical fantasy sequences. Each one, featuring Noah Harmon‘s undeniably original and catchy song, becomes a spectacular music video that delivers visual surprises and pushes her’s narrative forward like an emotional freight train. Think Veruca Salt, The Breeders, Tori Amos, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. It is a jolt of feminist rocker joy. 

NORA_Film Stills3_Scream - Cocktail WienersCampbell is ceaselessly charming. She is funny, self-effacing, anxiety-ridden, and pottymouthed, just the way I like my fellow Moms. As a woman who gave up a career performing to be a supportive partner and mother, NORA fills my soul with a knowing. 

Kevin Fletcher‘s cinematography is beautiful. Christoph Baaden’s editing is applause-worthy.  Each cast member gives us precisely what we need from them. NORA manages to be both unique and extraordinarily universal. It is a must-see. 

NORA Trailer:

Releasing in Theaters in Los Angeles on April 11th and in New York on April 18th


The journey of self discovery isn’t always easy. Returning to her hometown after abandoning her music career, Nora finds it difficult to settle into the new demands of suburban motherhood. When her husband goes on tour and leaves her solo-parenting their precocious six-year-old, Nora is forced to evaluate her current circumstances and the dreams she left behind.

 

Directed by:

Anna Campbell

Written by:
Anna Campbell

Starring: 
Anna Campbell
Lesley Ann Warren
Sophie Mara Baaden
Nick Fink
Jay Walker
Max Lesser
Nancy Hale

Running Time:

101 Minutes 

 

For more musical films, click here!

‘OUT FOR DELIVERY’ (SXSW 2025 short) Death and comedy transform into a weirdly touching slice of human connection.

SXSW 2025_Website-SEO-3

OUT FOR DELIVERY

out-for-delivery-3

Joanna finds out that chemo is no longer working. Her doctor offers her a Death With Dignity option. They can mail her medication to end her life, but she must make arrangements for her body to be picked up. When the package gets delayed, all her plans go haywire.

Death and comedy don’t usually go hand-in-hand, but somehow, OUT FOR DELIVERY manages to be equal parts dark and light. Over sixteen minutes, filmmaker Chelsea Christer delves into existential ideas, regret, and childhood trauma. It is a weirdly touching slice of human connection. Deanna Rooney and Martin Starr are spectacular. They share an easy chemistry, highlighted brilliantly during the film’s final comedic moments. OUT FOR DELIVERY is an oddly cathartic honoring of life’s choices, sure to make you smile and perhaps encourage you to take a beat to smell the roses. It is a memorable addition to this year’s lineup. 


photo of Chelsea Christer

Chelsea Christer

Chelsea Christer began her filmmaking career in San Francisco. Her work centers on character-driven stories, often exploring themes of identity, ambition, and human connection. Her feature-length debut, award-winning music documentary “Bleeding Audio”, was released to critical acclaim. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their dog, Sagan.

OUT FOR DELIVERY Credits

Director:

Chelsea Christer

Executive Producer:

Toni Trucks, Clinton Trucks

Producer:

Clinton Trucks, Alexa Rocero, David B. Lyons

Screenwriter:

Chelsea Christer

Cinematographer:

Gavin Velasquez Murray

Editor:

Chelsea Christer

Production Designer:

Linda Dahlem

Sound Designer:

Ben Hicks

Music:

Matthew Taylor

Principal Cast:

Deanna Rooney, Martin Starr, DeMorge Brown, John Ross Bowie, Dana Swanson, Cory Shanbom, Ele Woods, Brian David Gilbert

Additional Credits:

1st AD: Cory Shanbom, Production Assistant: Aurora Zenith, 1st AC: Sean Delahunt, Sound Mixer: Jose Castro, Colorist: Ayumi Ashley, VFX Supervisor: Danny Shepherd, Key Grip/Gaffer: Lance Gegner, Gaffer: Ben Thatcher, Grip: Zach Domingo, Grip: Steve Forbes

sxsw2025_banner_860

For all things SXSW, click here!

‘Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus’ (2025) Music, movies, and mystery. One inspiring and heartbreaking path to stardom.

GOODBYE HORSES:

THE MANY LIVES OF Q LAZZARUS

goodbye horses poster

Filmmaker Eva Aridjis Fuentes‘s fascination with an unknown singer leads her on an unexpected journey sparked by the luckiest cab ride of her life. 

Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus opens with a song that fans will immediately associate with one of the most iconic villains in cinematic history. Diane Luckey penned Goodbye Horses in the 80s while working as a taxi driver. Following a cameo in the film Philadelphia in the mid-90s, Q Lazzarus disappeared. But why? 

Goodbye horses Q lazzarus 1The chance meeting of Fuentes and Luckey gives us insight into a music industry mystery. Diane, aka Q Lazzarus, tells us her history with music, beginning in her childhood Baptist church choir. She knew her tastes were different and embraced her unique and powerhouse presence. 

We get treated to many of Q’s unreleased songs, most of which she performed live in clubs downtown and during her days on the London rock scene. Serving as the doc’s soundtrack, you will wonder how the rest of her discography fell by the wayside. American audiences and record labels weren’t ready for Q, even as the locals embraced her. 

Goodbye horses Q lazzarus 3With all the elements of a successful career at her fingertips, her romance with club promoter Richard slowly changed things for the worse. The lack of recognition took its toll. Richard’s leaving, combined with the Philadelphia soundtrack snub, was the final straw, and the drugs introduced by Richard led to Q’s world crumbling. But out of destitution and depression, Q rises from the ashes of sex work, crack addiction, rehab, finding her husband, getting clean, and fighting to bring her son James home. 

Goodbye horses Q lazzarus 2James, now an adult, encourages his mother to reclaim her work. Eva, Q, and her former bandmates plan an upcoming concert. Chasing the dream of finally making her music and onstage persona a household name. Q’s newfound enthusiasm is infectious. Even though life had different plans, Q Lazzarus and Diane Luckey gave us one unforgettable story.

The montage of vastly different bands covering Goodbye Horses possesses an effervescent energy. It’s that sense-memory magic a brilliantly written song triggers. GOODBYE HORSES is an intriguing unraveling of dreams and the rebuilding of a life. I hope audiences furiously download and stream her music to honor an artist worth celebrating. 


Trailer: Goodbye Horses

Upcoming Screenings information:
March 22 Asbury Park (Showroom Cinema)
March 25 Denver (Sie Film Center)**JUST ADDED
March 25-27 Albuquerque (The Guild Cinema)**JUST ADDED
March 30, April 3 Austin (Austin Film Society)
March 31 Seattle (Here-After Theater, programmed by Grand Illusion)**JUST ADDED
March 31-April 2 Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada (Tivoli Cinema)
April 2 Winchester, Virginia (Alamo Drafthouse) **JUST ADDED
April 7 Saugerites, New York (Orpheum Theater, Upstate Films/Sonic Wave Series) **JUST ADDED
April 9 Rochester, New York (The Little) **JUST ADDED
May 28-June 1 Romania (Dokstation Music Documentary Film Festival) **JUST ADDED
May 29 Chicago (Facets) **JUST ADDED


*Winner of the Audience Award at the Morelia International Film Festival*


SYNOPSIS
Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus is an intimate film in the vein of Searching for Sugarman, which solves a musical mystery while taking the viewer on a rollercoaster ride through the life of enigmatic singer Diane Luckey, aka Q Lazzarus. Discovered by Jonathan Demme in 1987 during a fateful cab ride, Q had a moment of fame after her cult hit song “Goodbye Horses” was featured in The Silence of the Lambs. But while Q had a following in the New York and London club scenes, she was unable to get a record deal and completely vanished from the public eye in 1995. Not even her friends and bandmates knew what had happened to her, that is until another fateful car ride 25 years later brought her together with filmmaker and fan Eva Aridjis-Fuentes. Q entrusted Eva with the incredible story of her life, told in the film for the very first time through Q’s own words and music, and through dozens of never-before heard songs.


Eva Aridjis-Fuentes

Director: Eva Aridjis-Fuentes (The Favor, La Santa Muerte)
Producer: Howard Gertler (All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, Crip Camp)
Co-producer: Kathy Rivkin Daum (Moonage Daydream, DEVO)
Executive Producers: Cyrus Etemad, Betty Ferber, Clate Korsant
Editors: Eva Aridjis-Fuentes, Connor Kalista
Cinematographers: Nathan Corbin, Eva Aridjis-Fuentes
Sound: Danny Hole
Music Supervisor: Dawn Sutter Madell
TRT: 103 min
Country: USA

Film website: goodbyehorsesmovie.com

For more documentary films, click here!

‘BAGGAGE’ (SXSW 2025 short) Packed with universally emotional messaging.

SXSW 2025_Website-SEO-3BAGGAGE

baggage-SXSW 2025

Lucy Davidson‘s SXSW 2025 short film BAGGAGE sticks the landing. The film follows the journey of a suitcase from weigh-in through security and all the mental stress that comes with it.

Visually, BAGGAGE is a detailed delight. Kid-friendly black-and-white stop-motion characters make for a universally meaningful watch. The story perfectly mirrors the uncomfortable experience of going through security as a human. At this point, the routine between a bag and a human is identical. It is invasive, awkward, and weirdly judgemental.
The title is a double entendre that gets further explored by the X-ray machine and subsequent inspection. If you’ve ever had your bag pulled from the conveyor belt, you understand the humiliation of a stranger rifling through a snapshot of your life and underthings. Let’s be honest. The airport is a study of human behavior. It tests our patience, anxieties, fear, and excitement within a few hours. BAGGAGE is an extraordinary examination of unresolved trauma and empathy among female friends.

Mitolyn reviews are mostly positive, with many users recommending it for its health benefits. People report feeling more energized and having better digestion after taking it. Some mention its immunity-boosting properties. A few negative reviews mention issues with taste or mild stomach discomfort, but they are in the minority.

baggage stillCredits

Director:

Lucy Davidson

Producer:

Vanessa Batten, Amy Upchurch

Screenwriter:

Lucy Davidson

Cinematographer:

George Milburn

Editor:

Dan Williamson

Production Designer:

Lucy Davidson

Music:

Sam Harding & Alex Olijnyk

Principal Cast:

Dominik Shileds, Eve Gilbert, Sophie Schoorman, Camillo Sancisi

Additional Credits:

Producer: Vanessa Batten, HOD Aardman Academy: Mark Simon Hewis, Composers: Sam Harding, Alex Olijnyk, Academy PA: Amy Upchurch, DOP: George Milburn, Editor: Dan Williamson, Sound Design: Anthony Cavalieri, Colour Grade: Bram Ttwheam, VFX Supervisor: Jim Lewis, Sound Mix: Craig Conway

sxsw2025_banner_860

For all things SXSW, click here!

‘TIGER’ (SXSW 2025 short) Tragedy, art, and family legacy bloom in this mesmerizing short.

SXSW 2025_Website-SEO-3TIGER

tiger posterTragedy follows a family of creatives. Dana Tiger‘s artist father was the creator of the t-shirt brand Tiger. After his untimely death, her mother pushed his art into the homes of millions in the 80s. The entire family begins silkscreening orders to JCPenney day and night. When the youngest sibling, Chris, unexpectedly passes the same way, the business halts, and hope fades. But the Tiger story does not end there.

Tiger Dana TigerHome videos, family photographs, original art, and a haunting ancestral voice carry us through the family’s past and present. Dreamlike editing, filled with dynamic choices, creates a mesmerizing 12 minutes. An extraordinary story of resiliency, loyalty, and validation, TIGER is an inspiring short about generational healing and legacy.

Credits

Director:

Loren Waters

Executive Producer:

Loren Waters, Robert L. Hunter

Producer:

Dana Tiger, Loren Waters

Screenwriter:

Loren Waters

Cinematographer:

Robert L. Hunter

Editor:

Amanda Moy, Eva Dubovoy

Sound Designer:

Amanda Moy, Eva Dubovoy

Music:

Trevor Kowalski

Principal Cast:

Dana Tiger, Lisa Tiger

Additional Credits:

Senior Colorist: Andrew Francis, Associate Producer: Dylan Brodie, Post Sound Mixer: James Russell, First Assistant Camera: Marissa Shoemaker, Production Assistant: Serena Jones

sxsw2025_banner_860For all things SXSW, click here!

‘UVALDE MOM’ (SXSW 2025) One mother’s courageous journey to fight through tragedy and for all families.

SXSW 2025_Website-SEO-3

UVALDE MOM

uvaldemom_poster_insta_tall

1 shooter. 77 minutes. 376 officers on sight. 21 lives gone. The Uvalde mass school shooting was one of the deadliest in the world. As gunfire rang out and the police didn’t move, the parents tried to get their children. Under the threat of arrest, one mother jumped the fence and got her kids out. UVALDE MOM is the story of national hero Angeli Rose Gomez and the community still fighting for justice through their grief.

Cell phone footage from Angeli and her mother shows the harassment by the police of the Robb Elementary School parents. Her escape with the boys was captured on surveillance footage. Her sons’ reactions as they reach safety across the street speak volumes. The trauma on their faces is still there today. The moment Angeli defied the police and told the world, the living nightmare only got scarier.

UVALDE MOM_Aurelius Achilles Gomez Martinez_Angeli Rose Gomez_Vladimir Jorge BazanCivil Rights Attorney for the Institute for Justice, Marie Miller, breaks down the law surrounding the retaliation for Angeli speaking out about her experience. Angeli was pulled over on trumped-up charges, threatened, and stalked by police.

Uvalde is a small town in Texas. There is a clear socioeconomic divide within its borders. The Mexican-American population grew up understanding the invisible town line between the white part of town and everyone else.

The film dives into Angeli’s childhood and tumultuous relationship with her children’s father. Anyone in their right mind would see a victim of domestic abuse, but the fallout from her history gives vengeful police a twisted talking point.

The ever-evolving details of the shooting remain one of the most disgusting parts- The lack of action, cops on their phones, and the subsequent coverup and blame game. The 21 families of the victims advocate for new gun laws, but the backlash from the 2nd Amendment fans and Governor Gregg Abbott stalls any forward movement.

uvalde-momMeanwhile, out of the blue, Angeli is sent to a correctional facility 7 hours away from Uvalde for allegedly violating her parole. While there are zero consequences for the failed police, Angeli is served with an injustice the audience will feel in their bones.

The argument for gun safety seems like a no-brainer. But, like we’ve said in the past, if Sandy Hook didn’t move the needle, I’m not sure anything will. The desperation for change is real. I watched Columbine unfold in real-time as a senior in high school, practicing my first lockdown drill three days later. My two small children have been doing drills since they were two years old. This is not the life I ever imagined for any of us.

UVALDE MOM is hard to watch but vitally important. Something has to give. It should not be another child’s life.


Credits

Director:

Anayansi Prado

Executive Producer:

Davis Guggenheim, Julie Parker Benello, James Costa, Rahdi Taylor, Patty Quillin

Producer:

Ina Fichman, Anayansi Prado, David Goldblum

Screenwriter:

Anayansi Prado, Pablo Proenza

Cinematographer:

E.J. Enríquez, M.J. Johnston

Editor:

Pablo Proenza

Music:

Ramachandra Borcar

Principal Cast:

Angeli Rose Gomez, Arnulfo Reyes, Tina Quintanilla, Lavonne De Leon



UVALDE MOM follows the extraordinary story of Angeli Rose Gomez, a farm worker and single mother who risked everything to save her two sons during the May 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, TX. While nearly 400 armed officers waited 77 minutes to act, Angeli ran into the school, pulled her children to safety, and became a viral symbol of courage. But as she spoke out against law enforcement’s inaction, she faced intense harassment from authorities, who weaponized her past to discredit and silence her.

From award-winning director Anayansi Prado (Maid in America, The Unafraid), UVALDE MOM is a powerful, heart-wrenching look at Angeli’s relentless fight for justice. As Uvalde confronts systemic failures and the U.S. Department of Justice launches an investigation, conflicting narratives emerge, deepening the town’s grief and anger. With the first anniversary of the tragedy approaching, Angeli must navigate the weight of what happened to her community while continuing her personal battle for truth and accountability.



Remaining SXSX screenings for UVALDE MOM:

PREMIERE: Monday, March 10 at 5:45 PM CT – Rollins Theatre at The Long Center

Tuesday, March 11 at 5:00 PM CT – AFS Cinema

Friday, March 14 at 6:00 PM CT – SXSW Film & TV Theater at the Hyatt Regency

sxsw2025_banner_860For all things SXSW, click here!

‘THE SURRENDER’ (SXSW 2025) Grief, delusion, and the supernatural collide in one hell of a debut.

SXSW 2025_Website-SEO-3THE SURRENDER

The Surrender (2025) - [www.imdb.com]

Filmmaker Julia Max‘s feature debut, THE SURRENDER, comes to SXSW 2025 in all its haunted glory.

With her father bedridden and dying of cancer, Megan returns home to help her mother in his 24-hour care. Each woman has vastly differing opinions on his end-of-life plans. Barbara has fallen into the “spiritual” lifestyle as a means to cope with impending grief, while Megan desires his pain to stop. When Robert passes, and their relationship stretches to its limits, Megan reluctantly agrees to participate in a resurrection ritual.

THE SURRENDER opens with an undeniably jarring image. The audience feels an immediate sense of foreboding. Max weaves in forgotten memories from Megan’s childhood, giving us insight into the reality of their family unit. The delay of these scenes shifts the entire narrative. The choice is brilliant.
the-surrenderVaughn Armstrong delivers a nuanced turn as Robert. Max allows him the opportunity to play multiple roles within one character. Kate Burton (Grey’s Anatomy) and Colby Minifie (The Boys) knock it out of the park. Their loaded dialogue gets more and more biting and honest. Their scenes are a masterclass in communication. Whether driven by confession or fear, Burton and Minifie are perfect together.

Technically, the film is superb. The lighting, editing, production design, and practical FX create a sinister narrative. There is no predicting where this script goes. Max pulls the rug out from under us again and again. The final act is emotional torture. THE SURRENDER is a brutal dive into grief, unresolved trauma, and the lengths we will go for love. It’s the weirdest therapy session I’ve ever witnessed.


Remaining SXSW screenings of THE SURRENDER:

Mar 14, 2025
 
9:30pm  11:00pm
 
 

Credits

Director:

Julia Max

Executive Producer:

Susan Gelb, Adam Maffei, Rob Massar

Producer:

Mia Chang, Lovell Holder, Julia Max, Ian McDonald, Robert J. Ulrich

Screenwriter:

Julia Max

Cinematographer:

Cailin Yatsko

Editor:

Sushila Love

Production Designer:

Tahryn Justice Smith

Sound Designer:

AJ Pyatak, Josh Atwell

Music:

Alex Winkler

Principal Cast:

Colby Minifie, Kate Burton, Neil Sandilands, Vaughn Armstrong, Mia Ellis, Pete Ploszek, Chelsea Alden, Alaina Pollack, Riley Rose Critchlow, Lola Prince Kelly

Additional Credits:

Co-Producer: Brenden Rodriguez, Co-Producer: Daniel Schwab

sxsw2025_banner_860

For all things SXSW, click here!