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‘PÁRVULOS: CHILDREN OF THE APOCALYPSE’ (2025) One of last year’s best gets a June release. Check out the trailer!
PÁRVULOS: CHILDREN OF THE APOCALYPSE
PÁRVULOS: CHILDREN OF THE APOCALYPSE- One of the coolest films from last year’s festival circuit is coming in June.
Synopsis: In a dystopian future ravaged by a viral apocalypse, three young brothers—Salvador, Oliver, and Benjamin—find themselves isolated in a remote cabin deep within the woods. As they navigate this desolate world, they harbor a dark and disturbing secret in their basement, a presence they must feed to ensure their own survival.
Here is our original Fantastic Fest 2024 review:
Filmmaker Isaac Ezban brings Fantastic Fest 2024 PÁRVULOS, the story of three siblings surviving in the woods by scavenging in a virus-ravaged world. The dangerous secret they harbor in the basement may be their undoing.
The cinematography is something to behold. The sepia-toned lens locks you into a compelling plot. It creates this magical, borderline eerie feeling. The production design team is aces with children’s drawings and makeshift inventions. The post-apocalyptic aspects are relatively subtle but incredibly effective. The end credits are outstanding. The original song “Our People Need Our Help” is a certified banger.
Two surprising performances will blow you away, but I won’t spoil that with specifics. I will only say that Norma Flores and Horacio Lazo give us everything they’ve got. Our three young brothers are magnificent. Mateo Ortega Casillas gives Benny the right amount of innocence and rebellion. Leonardo Cervantes delivers vulnerability and compassion as Oliver. Farid Escalante Correa gives Salvador a perfect mix of resentment and raging hormones. Together, they warm and break your heart.
The film’s tone takes an unexpectedly amusing twist once Benny learns the secret that Oliver and Salvador keep in the basement. Benny convinces his brothers that normalcy can return if they try hard enough. Their unrelenting determination hits a snag when a young woman crashes their holiday plans. The film takes another turn during its nearly two-hour run. A wildly dark finale holds you captive.
PÁRVULOS has enough meat on the bone for a series. Visually striking, beautifully acted, and ceaselessly compelling. Is it not only a highlight of Fantastic Fest, but one of the year’s best films, period.
PÁRVULOS: CHILDREN OF THE APOCALYPSE
On Demand June 3rd
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‘EGGHEAD & TWINKIE’ (2025) The perfect Gen-Z rom-com finally gets a release date!
EGGHEAD & TWINKIE
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)
Jill 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.
Asahi 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.
The 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/
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Director:Sarah Kambe Holland
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Screenwriter:Sarah Kambe Holland
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Producer:Danielle Fountaine, Sarah Kambe Holland, Valerie Starks
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Executive Producer:Simon Holland, Torye Kambe, Dan Pastewka, Kathleen Weldon
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Cast:Sabrina Jie-A-Fa, Louis Tomeo, Asahi Hirano, Ayden Lee
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Cinematographer:Olivia Wilson
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Editor:Kristina League, Anna Definis, Sarah Kambe Holland
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Animator:Jill Cefalo-Sanders
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Production Design:Luke Sanders
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Composer:Ben Thornewill
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Sound Design:Bo Li
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Music:Arielle James Harris
For more LGBTQ films, click here!
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‘DADDY’ (2025) The terrifying consequences of dragging emotional baggage into parenthood.
DADDY
In Neal Kelley and Jono Sherman‘s sci-fi comedy DADDY, four men navigate an intense government-controlled assessment retreat to determine whether they are eligible to father children. When they arrive at a remote cabin in the California hills without phones or the appearance of an assigned monitor, paranoia sets in.
The dialogue feels like a stage play. The men share anxieties, theories, dreams, trauma, and awkward existential moments. Their social hardwiring takes center stage with subtle (and not so subtle) toxicity and competitive natures rearing their ugly heads. The audience lives in their discomfort. 
The men are colored-coded with various shades of sweatsuits and matching household items. Each one has a unique personality, problem-solving strategies, and emotional intelligence. Kelley and Sherman escalate mundane scenarios mirroring the unpredictability of parenting. I would love to see the women’s retreat as a sequel.
These men are complicated, and the arrival of a mystery guest heightens everything. Yuriy Sardarov, Jacqueline Toboni, Neal Kelley, Jono Sherman, and Pomme Koch deliver exceptionally nuanced performances. 
Empathy, competition, and fear create a powder keg. DADDY is a superb companion watch for The Assessment. Both occur in a dystopian near-future that looks more plausible with each passing day. DADDY is a complex character study with an ending that may shatter your moral compass. Do not miss it.
DADDY Trailer:
The film will be available on VOD on Tuesday, April 15th following a limited theatrical release.
Anchor Bay Entertainment’s sci-fi comedy DADDY, directed and written by Neal Kelly and Jono Sherman and starring Yuriy Sardarov (“Chicago Fire,” Argo), Jacqueline Toboni (“Grimm,” “The L Word: Generation Q”), Neal Kelley, Jono Sherman, and Pomme Koch (“Law & Order,” “WeCrashed”).
For more sci-fi coverage, click here!
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‘VULCANIZADORA’ Trailer drop. Indie brilliance coming to theaters May 2nd
VULCANIZADORA
OPENING IN SELECT THEATERS MAY 2, 2025
Two friends trudge through a Michigan forest with the intention of following through on a disturbing pact. Once their plan goes shockingly awry, the surreal and haunting consequences of their failure can’t stay hidden for long.
You can find our Tribeca 2024 review here!!
“Joel Potrykus, the undisputed maestro of ‘metal slackerism,’ again serves up a singular experience by taking a simple idea to its logical conclusion, and then a lot further.”
– IndieWire
“A darkly funny heavy metal comedy that deftly shifts into a poignant existential drama. Potrykus helms with edgy style, but it’s his and Burge’s transformative performances that carry this unconventional gem.”
– Bloody Disgusting
“A fascinating film. What I admire most about the truly strange ‘Vulcanizadora’ is that I haven’t seen anything like it. Joshua Burge is phenomenal.”
Written and Directed by JOEL POTRYKUS (APE, BUZZARD, RELAXER)
Produced by HANNAH DWECK, MATT GRADY, ASHLEY POTRYKUS, THEODORE SCHAEFER
Starring JOSHUA BURGE, JOEL POTRYKUS, BILL VINCENT, SOLO POTRYKUS, MELISSA BLANCHARD
Run Time: 85 minutes
Language: English
For more Joel Potrykus films, click here!
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Eagerly awaited sequel FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S 2 teaser trailer is here.
FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S 2
Welcome back! Are you ready to start the show?
Watch the teaser for FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S 2.
#FNAF2Movie is only in theaters this December.
FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S 2 – IN THEATERS DECEMBER 5
Official Website | Facebook | X | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | #FNAF2Movie
Anyone can survive five nights. This time, there will be no second chances.
Blumhouse’s box-office horror phenomenon Five Nights at Freddy’s, the highest-grossing horror film of 2023, begins a blood-chilling new chapter of animatronic terror.
Based on Scott Cawthon’s blockbuster game series, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is directed by acclaimed returning filmmaker Emma Tammi (The Wind, Blood Moon).
The first film, which opened to a record-shattering $80 million and went on to earn almost $300 million worldwide, followed Mike, a troubled young man who reluctantly takes a job as a night security guard at an abandoned theme restaurant, Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, hoping it will help him retain custody of his young sister. That fateful decision instead drags him into the black heart of a supernatural nightmare.
The film is again produced by Jason Blum (M3GAN, Black Phone, Halloween franchise) and Scott Cawthon.
Genre: Horror
Director: Emma Tammi
Producers: Jason Blum, Scott Cawthon
For more horror coverage, click here!
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‘GREEN AND GOLD’ (2025) The feel-good, family film with a message is now available on VOD!
GREEN AND GOLD
GREEN AND GOLD is now STREAMING on Amazon, Apple, Google Play, and Fandango!
Green and Gold highlights small-town farmers’ vital role as stewards of the land and pillars of their communities. Over the past 5 years alone, America has lost more than 140,000 family farms, but their resilient spirit endures. The film highlights hard work, love for the land, and commitment to preserving legacies for future generations.
Set against the backdrop of the 1990s, Green and Gold celebrates the enduring spirit of family, community, and football focusing on the heartwarming and triumphant journey of a small-town farmer.
Nelson remarked, “This story felt personal to me, I felt a real connection to it because the Nelson family farm has been a working farm in South Dakota since the Civil War, and my wife’s family were also farmers. Green and Gold captures the tenacity of small-town farmers and the strength of family and community. I was honored to play Buck and highlight the dreams defining many lives in America’s heartland.”
Director Anders Lindwall expressed, “Growing up just north of Green Bay as the grandson of a dairy farmer and die-hard Packers fans, my brother Davin and I poured our hearts into this film. It’s our tribute to small-town communities and the values they stand for.”
This meaningful film is presented in collaboration with Culver’s and the Green Bay Packers, the nation’s only community-owned professional football team. Culver’s small-town Wisconsin roots give the restaurant franchise a true heart for agriculture and inspired the creation of its Thank You Farmers® Project, which has donated more than $6.5 million toensure a sustainable food supply for the future.
As for the Green Bay Packers, this marks the team’s first time partnering with a feature film on this level, adding a unique depth to the story. “Green and Gold portrays the story of Packers fans’ devotion to legacy and community—it is a must-see. We are proud to be part of a story celebrating supporting one another and showcasing the critical role that family farms play across our great state of Wisconsin and beyond,” said Packers director of corporate partnership sales & activations, Justin Wolf.
Green and Gold is directed by Anders Lindwall and produced by Davin Lindwall and Aaron Boyd. Dan Visser, Darren Moorman, Scott Pomeroy, Craig Cheek, and Brooks Malberg executive produce the feature film. The screenplay was written by Steven Shafer, Michael Graf, Missy Mareau Garcia, and Anders Lindwall.
Green and Gold was named an Official Selection and Audience Award Winner at the 2024 Austin Film Festival. The film received Official Selection and Audience Choice at the Heartland Film Festival for its compelling storytelling and emotional depth.
About Culver’s and the Thank You Farmers Project
Since its founding in 2013, Culver’s Thank You Farmers® Project has donated over $6.5 million to agriculture, ensuring a sustainable food supply for future generations. Culver’s is a proud partner of the National FFA Foundation, investing in youth leadership and climate-smart agricultural practices. Learn more about the Thank You Farmers® Project at www.culvers.com/thank-you-farmers-project.
Gold and Green is an authentic, multigenerational story of family values and self-discovery. The film is a great companion watch with the David Duchovny film REVERSE THE CURSE. Both delve into child/parent relationships that heavily revolve around a sports team. Oh, and Craig T. Nelson never misses. Check out the trailer below.
For more information, visit greenandgoldmovie.com and on social IG, FB @greenandgoldmovie
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SXSW 2025: This year is all about kicking ass and making names with new filmmakers taking the leap.
SXSW 2025
SXSW 2025 is back with a vengeance. Brimming with talent new and old, the festival grows each year, giving audiences what they love. This year is no exception with Film and TV’s coolest, latest, and greatest. On the docket are hotly anticipated titles like DEATH OF A UNICORN with its insane ensemble cast, Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively return in ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOR, and Peter Cilella‘s Midnighter DESCENDENT. Take a peek at some of the films we’re watching this year…
For more info on SXSW 2025 click here!
Director: Gerard Johnson, Producers: John Jencks, Isabel Freer, Matthew James Wilkinson, Patrick Tolan, Screenwriters: Gerard Johnson, Austin Collings
Natasha Flynn is an estate agent on a mission—and she’s going to make a killing. Cast: Polly Maberly, Mikael Persbrandt, Jasmine Blackborow, Guy Burnet, Ryan Hayes, Charley Palmer Rothwell, Kellie Shirley (World Premiere)
ARREST THE MIDWIFE
Director: Elaine Epstein, Producers: Elaine Epstein, Robin Hessman
The arrest of midwives in a rural healthcare desert ignites an unexpected rebellion: Amish and Mennonite women who break from tradition, and emerge as fierce political activists fighting for reproductive justice and birthing rights. (World Premiere)
Directors/Screenwriters: Helena Ganjalyan, Bartosz Szpak, Producers: Maria Gołoś, Monika Matuszewska
A sun-drenched renaissance palace. Three women remain in a carefree state of limbo, tended to by an unseen, all-providing system. But as cracks in the paradise begin to appear, they are faced with a choice: escape or remain in the perfect illusion? Cast: Magdalena Fejdasz, Helena Ganjalyan, Daniela Komędera, Weronika Humaj (World Premiere)
Director/Screenwriter: Alex Scharfman, Producers: Drew Houpt, Lucas Joaquin, Alex Scharfman, Lars Knudsen, Tyler Campellone, Tim Headington, Theresa Steele Page
A father and daughter accidentally hit and kill a unicorn while en route to a weekend retreat, where his billionaire boss seeks to exploit the creature’s miraculous curative properties. Cast: Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Will Poulter, Téa Leoni, Richard E. Grant, Anthony Carrigan, Sunita Mani, Jessica Hynes (World Premiere)
Director: Yana Alliata, Producer: Jack Forbes, Screenwriters: Yana Alliata, Amy Miner
After a life altering accident, Ryan struggles to fit in with old friends and family at a birthday luau but the celebration boils over when he uncovers the missing memory of when his life took a tragic turn. Cast: Ryan Wuestewald, Hans Christopher, Nikki DeParis, Fabrizio Alliata, Makena Miller, Nyah Juliano, Michael Carter (World Premiere)
Director: Jessica Earnshaw, Producers: Holly Meehl Chapman, Jessica Earnshaw
At 22, Gail gave birth alone and left her newborn in the woods. Decades later, she’s arrested for murder, even though she says the baby was stillborn. Baby Doe explores the fallout when young women cannot accept the reality of an unplanned pregnancy. (World Premiere)
Director: Eli Craig, Producers: Marty Bowen, John Fischer, Wyck Godfrey, Screenwriters: Carter Blanchard, Adam Cesare, Eli Craig
A fading midwestern town in which Frendo the clown, a symbol of bygone success, reemerges as a terrifying scourge. Cast: Katie Douglas, Will Sasso, Cassandra Potenza, Aaron Abrams, Carson MacCormac, Verity Marks, Dylan McEwan, Daina Leitold, Vincent Muller, Kaitlyn Bacon (World Premiere)
TEASER TRAILER LINK:
DEAR TOMORROW (Denmark, Japan, Sweden)
Director/Screenwriter: Kaspar Astrup Schröder, Producers: Maria Helga Stürup, Katrine A. Sahlstrøm
In Japan, where loneliness has become a national crisis, the film follows three individuals battling isolation. Through a volunteer chat service, compassionate connections, and government initiatives, they find hope and paths to reclaim their lives. (World Premiere)
FOR WORSE
Director/Screenwriter: Amy Landecker, Producers: Amy Landecker, Bradley Whitford, Valerie Stadler, Jenica Bergere, James Portolese
Fresh off a messy divorce, a 50-year-old sober mom tries to rebuild her life and stumbles into a new beginning after finding herself at a Gen Z wedding behaving like a 25-year-old drunk bridesmaid. Cast: Amy Landecker, Bradley Whitford, Nico Hiraga, Gaby Hoffmann, Ken Marino, Missi Pyle, Kiersey Clemons, Claudia Sulewski, Simon Helberg, Liv Hewson (World Premiere)
Director/Screenwriter: Geremy Jasper, Producers: Michael Gottwald, Noah Stahl
Set in a post-apocalyptic future, O’Dessa is a rock opera about a farm girl on a quest to recover a family heirloom. Her journey leads her to a dangerous city, where she must use the power of destiny and song to save her true love’s soul. Cast: Sadie Sink, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Murray Bartlett, Regina Hall, Pokey LaFarge (World Premiere)
Director: Kahane Corn Cooperman, Producers: Innbo Shim, Kahane Corn Cooperman
Welcome to Creede – a remote mining town with no stop light, a theater company and 300+ folks at 9,000 feet. This unlikely setting – with its miners, ranchers and theater people – offers an unexpected lens on divisions felt by Americans everywhere. (World Premiere)
Director/Screenwriter: Julia Max, Producers: Mia Chang, Lovell Holder, Julia Max, Ian McDonald, Robert J. Ulrich
When the family patriarch dies, a grieving mother and daughter risk their lives to perform a brutal resurrection ritual that will bring him back from the dead. Cast: Colby Minifie, Kate Burton, Neil Sandilands, Vaughn Armstrong, Mia Ellis, Pete Ploszek, Chelsea Alden, Alaina Pollack, Riley Rose Critchlow, Lola Prince Kelly (World Premiere)
UVALDE MOM
Director: Anayansi Prado, Producers: Ina Fichman, David Goldblum, Screenwriters: Anayansi Prado, Pablo Proenza
When a school mass shooting rocks a small town in Texas, a mom desperate to save her kids is launched into the public eye. She speaks out against a system that never protected her. The community challenges these powers and exposes those who failed to protect its most vulnerable – children. (World Premiere)
IDIOTIKA
Director/Screenwriter: Nastasya Popov, Producers: Tess Cohen, Camila Mendes, Rachel Matthews, Saba Zerehi, Nastasya Popov
In this sharp, irreverent comedy, a disgraced fashion designer with a dangerously low credit score, Margarita (Anna Baryshnikov) enters a reality show with a six-figure cash prize to save her babushka’s West Hollywood apartment. But as the competition intensifies, slick producer Nicol (Camila Mendes) pushes her to spin her family’s struggle into spectacle, forcing Margarita to decide whether to play along or take control of her own narrative, one unhinged look at a time.Cast: Anna Baryshnikov, Camila Mendes, Julia Fox, Benito Skinner, Saweetie, Owen Thiele, Galina Jovovich, Mark Ivanir, Nerses Stamos, Ilia Volok (World Premiere)
NIRVANNA THE BAND THE SHOW THE MOVIE (Canada)
Director: Matt Johnson, Producers: Matthew Miller, Matt Greyson, Screenwriters: Matt Johnson, Jay McCarrol
When their plan to book a show at the Rivoli goes horribly wrong, Matt and Jay accidentally travel back to the year 2008. Blah blah blah blah blah. Cast: Jay McCarrol, Matt Johnson (World Premiere)
Director: Ari Gold, Producers: Michelle Stratton, Starr Sutherland, Screenwriters: Ari Gold, Ethan Gold, Lara Louise, Brian Bell, Herbert Gold, Tongo Eisen-Martin, John Flanigan
Synopsis: Inspired by Francis Coppola’s concept of Live Cinema, Brother Verses Brother is a radically personal musical odyssey. Combative twin musicians hunt for their dying poet father, in an improvisation performed by the director’s own family, and presented as an unbroken real-time shot through the streets of San Francisco.
One brother seeks love, while the other seeks an audience. But as night falls and their father remains missing, their increasingly frantic safari leads them from the secret haunts of the Beat poets into the heart of their family. Their tale becomes a testament to the power of music, the bonds of brotherhood, and the lifeblood of a city – experienced by the viewer in real-time.
Cast: Ari Gold, Ethan Gold, Lara Louise, Brian Bell, Herbert Gold, Tongo Eisen-Martin, John Flanigan (World Premiere)
OUT FOR DELIVERY
Director/Screenwriter: Chelsea Christer, Producers: Clinton Trucks, Alexa Rocero, David B. Lyons
When terminally ill Joanna makes the difficult decision to pursue end of life options through the Death With Dignity law, the systems set up to make her death peaceful and dignified become the opposite. (Texas Premiere)
BAGGAGE (Australia, United Kingdom)
Director/Screenwriter: Lucy Davidson, Producers: Vanessa Batten, Amy Upchurch
Anthropomorphic suitcase best friends bring their emotional baggage on holidays. (International Premiere)
For SXSW 2025’s entire lineup, click here!
For all things SXSW 2025 and beyond from Reel News Daily, tap this!
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‘STOCKADE’ (2025) Art, antiquities, and mystery collide in this unique immigrant story.
STOCKADE
Eric McGinty‘s STOCKADE follows Ahlam, a Lebanese woman trying to get her artist’s visa extended in NYC. To pay her lawyer, she agrees to deliver a package upstate. 
Halfway through the story goes in an entirely bizarre direction when Richard doesn’t show up, Paul isn’t answering the phone, and two strangers appear in the house demanding the contents of the package. Suddenly, easy money is not so easy after all.
The tonal shift into antiquities thriller/wild goose chase is a bit jarring, but you root so hard for Ahlam that you go along for the ride. It definitely feels like everyone in Stockade knows more than they’re willing to divulge, and Ahlam is a manipulated chess piece in a game she never agreed to play.
The script features characters with racial microaggressions. The film didn’t actually need the thriller aspect at all. Ahlam’s immigrant artist story is enough to keep an audience engaged in earnest, although the commentary on the abuse of immigrant bodies is undoubtedly impactful. 
While the rest of the cast is mediocre at best, Sarah Bitar is spectacular. She has a commanding presence about her. Ahlam holds unspoken trauma and guilt from leaving her family in Beruit. Bitar holds you captive with her fierce energy. She is the reason to watch this film.
Award-Winning Mystery-Drama STOCKADE Sets Limited Theatrical Release on February 21, 2025 and North American VOD Platforms and DVD on February 25, 2024 Via Freestyle Digital Media
The award-winning mystery-drama STOCKADE will have a limited theatrical release in Los Angeles at the Laemmle Glendale theater starting February 21, 2025, and will also be available on all North American digital HD internet, cable and satellite platforms, as well as on DVD, on February 25, 2025 via Freestyle Digital Media. In this psychological “immigrant noir” thriller, a Lebanese artist (played by Sarah Bitar) in New York takes a job delivering a package upstate, only to get embroiled in a murky scheme. STOCKADE is written and directed by Eric McGinty.
STOCKADE had its World Premiere at the 2023 Woodstock Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Ultra Indie Award. The film was also an Official Selection of the 2024 Queens World Film Festival at the Museum of the Moving Image where it won awards for Best Narrative Feature and Best Female Actor, and was also nominated for Best Director Narrative Feature, Best Ensemble Feature and Best Narrative Feature Screenplay.
STOCKADE tells the story of Ahlam, a struggling Lebanese artist in New York City who takes a job delivering a package upstate, only to open a Pandora’s box. In this updated meditation on the pursuit of the American dream, Ahlam finds herself in dire financial straits and desperate to come by the funds to extend her artist’s visa. When she is offered a job to deliver a mysterious package upstate, Ahlam believes she has found a solution. Upon her arrival in the Hudson Valley, Ahlam encounters shady characters and quirky neighbors as she is unwittingly drawn into the world of ancient artifact trafficking. Every step of the way, STOCKADE keeps viewers guessing, and with its naturalistic yet expressionistic aesthetic, this noir thriller makes a unique addition to the crime genre.
Written and directed by Eric McGinty, STOCKADE was produced by Anna Sang Park, Eric McGinty and Adam Vazquez. The cast features Sarah Bitar (‘Ahlam’), Bahar Beihaghi (‘Zora’) and Guy de Lancey (‘Paul’).
“STOCKADE was inspired by my experience as an artist who’s tracked the fine art world in New York City for many years, as well as my research on Middle-Eastern artifacts and the illegal antiquities trade,” said writer/director Eric McGinty. “But above all else, I was determined to make an ‘immigrant film noir,’ where characters and situations that are underrepresented in most mainstream films are instead at the center of the story.”
McGinty first met trilingual (English, Arabic and French) film and stage actor Sarah Bitar, when she was attending drama school in New York City. Bitar’s actual struggles inspired the creation of Ahlam, a Lebanese painter just out of art school; an antihero who gets caught up in the hyper-capitalistic, colonialistic world of fine art. The intersectionality of Bitar’s real-life – as an immigrant to America and a queer person from a region in the world where the LGBTQ+ community is often not accepted by significant swaths of society – was deeply influential as McGinty crafted the character. “It was also imperative for me to collaborate with Lebanese cast and crew members, including our editor, composer and several actors. Other performers are from the Middle-Eastern diaspora, South Africa, Korea and Argentina,” he added.
About STOCKADE writer/director Eric McGinty:
McGinty’s first feature, Wallabout, won the Best Narrative Feature Award at the 2015 Bushwick Film Festival and the Best Personal Narrative Award at the 2014 Manhattan Film Festival. In 2016, Wallabout had a theatrical release for a month at the venerable Paris art house, Cinéma Saint-André des Arts, where the esteemed film magazine, Positif, gave it 4 stars. As a first assistant director, Eric often collaborated with French directors who were shooting films in the US, including Cédric Klapisch, Luc Besson, Olivier Nakache/Eric Toledano and Rachid Bouchareb. Based in Brooklyn, Eric grew up in a bicultural environment, having been raised in Paris and Washington, D.C. by a French mother and an American father. He began his career in Paris working as an actor and stage manager in theater and modern dance. He attended the Sorbonne and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, concentrating his studies in film and literature. In STOCKADE, Eric also plays the role of Richard.
CREDITS:
Written and Directed by Eric McGinty
Produced by Anna Sang Park, Adam Vazquez, Eric McGinty
Executive Producers: Anna Sang Park, Lela Meadow-Conner
Director of Photography: Guy de Lancey
Editor: Nay Tabbara
Music by Alex Wakim
Sound: Samuel O’Sullivan
Art Director: David Raff
TRT 88 minutes | Color | English, Arabic, French
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Sundance 2025 arrives to kick off this year’s festival season. 8 films we are excited for.
The Sundance Film Festival has launched the careers of indie film directors, writers, and actors for 41 years now. Back with in-person and online screening opportunities, this year’s iteration boasts new and bold storytelling from every genre. Here are a handful of films we’ll track in 2025.
For all the info on this year’s festival, click here!
TOUCH ME
Written and directed by Addison Heimann (Hypochondriac), the TOUCH ME stars Olivia Taylor Dudley (Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension), Lou Taylor Pucci (A-X-L), Jordan Gavaris (“Hacks”), Marlene Forte (Knive’s Out) and Paget Brewster (“Criminal Minds”).
In TOUCH ME, after a series of unfortunate events leaves their house uninhabitable and reeking of poo, two co-dependent friends, Joey and Craig, find themselves homeless and out of options. That’s when Joey’s mysterious ex resurfaces. He wants her back. Along with being hot, Brian also happens to be an alien whose touch makes anxiety and depression disappear. The two venture to his compound for the weekend with the hope of being healed from past traumas, but underneath Brian’s veneer of healing is a sinister plot filled with murder, mayhem, and blood. TOUCH ME is an psychosexual horror-comedy about the nature of co-dependent friendships and how far we are willing to go for a slice of happiness.
Director: Addison Heimann
Screenwriter: Addison Heimann
Producers: John Humber, David Lawson Jr., Addison Heimann
Principal Cast: Olivia Taylor Dudley, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jordan Gavaris, Marlene Forte, Paget Brewster
Addison Heimann is a queer genre filmmaker currently residing in Los Angeles. His first feature, Hypochondriac, premiered at the 2022 SXSW Film Festival and was distributed by XYZ Films. His goal is to tell queer stories that explore mental health in the genre space.
ANDRE IS AN IDIOT
https://festival.sundance.org/program/film/675333aa68b8b73e67fe584a
Andre, a brilliant idiot, is dying because he didn’t get a colonoscopy. His sobering diagnosis, complete irreverence, and insatiable curiosity send him on an unexpected journey learning how to die happily and ridiculously without losing his sense of humor.
Produced by A24 Films
Director: Tony Benna
Production Companies: A24 Films, Sandbox Films, Safehouse Pictures
Producers: André Ricciardi, Tory Tunnell, Joshua Altman, Stelio Kitrilakis, Ben Cotner
Tony Benna has developed and directed within a variety of platforms, creating award-winning work with multiple mediums, including film, advertising, post-production, and broadcast. With strong roots in stop-motion animation techniques, he is focused on pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling.
LIFE AFTER
https://festival.sundance.org/program/film/675332e268b8b704ebfe55ad
In 1983, a disabled Californian woman named Elizabeth Bouvia sought the “right to die,” igniting a national debate about autonomy, dignity, and the value of disabled lives. After years of courtroom trials, Bouvia disappeared from public view. Disabled director Reid Davenport narrates this investigation of what happened to Bouvia.
Co-funded through ITVS Open Call and will premiere on Independent Lens
MR. NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN
https://festival.sundance.org/program/film/675315ab68b8b7b799fe264a
Directed by David Borenstein and co-directed by Pasha Talankin, this uniquely collaborative film is as captivating and joyful as it is eye-opening and sobering. Mr. Nobody Against Putin showcases rare footage that reveals the profound impact of Putin’s regime on the lives of everyday Russians, particularly its children.
Director: David Borenstein
Co-Director: Pavel Talankin
Screenwriter: David Borenstein
Producer: Helle Faber
David Borenstein has worked in the documentary industry on three different continents. He has produced and directed TV for BBC, PBS, ARTE, Al Jazeera, DR, Vice, and many more international broadcasters. Borenstein directed Can’t Feel Nothing (2024), Love Factory (2021), and Dream Empire (2016).
SUNFISH & OTHER STORIES ON GREEN LAKE
https://festival.sundance.org/program/film/67531ef268b8b7d56dfe338e
Lives intertwine around Green Lake. A girl learns to sail, a boy fights for first chair, two sisters operate a bed-and-breakfast, and a fisherman is after the catch of his life. An anthology following the residents of a small town and the lake that binds them together.
Director: Sierra Falconer
Screenwriter: Sierra Falconer
Producers: Grant Ellison, Sierra Falconer
Sierra Falconer is a Michigan-raised, Los Angeles–based screenwriter and film director. She holds a BFA in film theory from Wesleyan University and an MFA in film directing from UCLA. Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake) is Falconer’s feature directorial debut.
ATROPIA
When an aspiring actress in a military role-playing facility falls in love with a soldier cast as an insurgent, their unsimulated emotions threaten to derail the performance.
Hailey Gates is a filmmaker and journalist based in New York. She received her BFA from NYU in experimental theater. Her award-winning short film Shako Mako premiered at the 2019 Venice Film Festival. As an actress, Gates has appeared in Twin Peaks: The Return, Uncut Gems, and Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers.
THE VIRGIN OF THE QUARRY LAKE
In 2001, three teenagers from the outskirts of Buenos Aires all fall in love with Diego. Natalia has always had the most chemistry with him, but when it seems inevitable that their friendship will turn into something more, the older and more experienced Silvia appears and soon captures Diego’s attention.
Director: Laura Casabé
Screenwriter: Benjamin Naishtat
Principal Cast: Dolores Oliverio, Luisa Merelas, Fernanda Echevarría, Dady Brieva, Agustín Sosa
Laura Casabé is a genre director. Her 2016 debut, La Valija de Benavidez, received seven international awards. Los que vuelven premiered at the 2019 International Film Festival Rotterdam, won multiple awards at the Mar del Plata International Film Festival, and won Best Director at the 2020 Sitges Film Festival.
BUBBLE & SQUEAK
Accused of smuggling cabbages into a nation where cabbages are banned, Declan and Delores must confront the fragility of their new marriage while on the run for their lives.Super clone watches are the perfect blend of style, affordability, and precision, offering everyone a chance to enjoy luxury without the cost.
Director(s): Evan Twohy
Screenwriter: Evan Twohy
Producers: Christina Oh, Steven Yeun
Principal Cast: Himesh Patel, Sarah Goldberg, Steven Yeun, Dave Franco, Matt Berry
Evan Twohy was raised on Hitchcock and opera on the edge of a forest outside Berkeley, California. From an early age, he found himself drawn to absurdist theater and began writing plays in New York City prior to making his first feature, Bubble & Squeak.
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‘FROM GROUND ZERO’ (2025) A multi-hyphenate anthology inside war torn Gaza
FROM GROUND ZERO
PALESTINE’S OFFICIAL SELECTION FOR THE 97TH ACADEMY AWARDS
Movie poster design by Chargefield Inc.
Our brains cannot fully process some things unless circumstances force them upon us. Even then, reality can be a cruel, unrelenting mistress. In producer RASHID MASHARAWI‘s heartwrenching film FROM GROUND ZERO, 22 short films from displaced citizens of Gaza expose the devastation, chaos, and seeds of hope. Raw storytelling from varying genres delivers all the emotion. The films range from three to six minutes, each having an extraordinary impact. 
Footage from those rescued from collapsed buildings, unimaginable loss, children caught in a tornado of violence, every film is immersive and visceral. The bravery and passion of the filmmakers are on full display. The viewing experience is heavy, inspiring, and vital, particularly for those who believe we should stop funding humanitarian efforts abroad. Amongst turmoil on American soil, we should thank our lucky stars for the privilege of honoring the ongoing courage, compassion, and unity of the Gazan people. FROM GROUND ZERO is a must-watch.
Below, you can find the breakdown of each film.
FROM GROUND ZERO Trailer:
PRODUCED BY RASHID MASHARAWI
A COLLECTION OF 22 UNTOLD SHORT STORIES FROM FILMMAKERS LIVING THROUGH WAR IN PRESENT-DAY GAZA
In Theaters January 3, 2025
2024 Official Selection – Toronto International Film Festival
2024 Official Selection – Boston Palestine Film Festival
2024 Official Selection – Middle East Now Firenze
2024 Official Selection – DC Palestinian Film & Arts Festival
2024 Official Selection – Urban World
Official Synopsis:
22 Palestinian filmmakers living through war capture their lives in Gaza over the past year, revealing stories beyond the headlines. Their work offers a striking view of life’s fragility and the resilience of love in the face of devastation.
Each film, ranging in length from three to six minutes, presents a unique perspective on the current reality in Gaza. The project captures the diverse experiences of life in the Palestinian enclave, including the challenges, tragedies, and moments of resilience faced by its people. Using a mix of genres including fiction, documentary, docu-fiction, animation, and experimental cinema, From Ground Zero presents a rich diversity of stories that reflect the sorrow, joy, and hope inherent in Gazan life.
Despite harsh filming conditions, Gaza’s vibrant artistic scene shines through this stunning anthology film, which offers an intimate and powerful portrait of daily life in modern-day Palestine – and the enduring spirit of its people.
OPENING JANUARY 3RD
The full list of openings can be found here: https://fromgroundzero.url.film/
FROM GROUND ZERO
Producer and Project Supervisor: Rashid Masharawi
Executive Producer: Laura Nikolov
Editors: Denis Le Paven, Pauline Eon
Editor and Post-Production Supervisor: Denis Le Maven
Sound Designer and Mixer: Sarah Fasseur-Leroux
Production Coordinator (Gaza): Yafa Masharawi
Production Coordinator (France): Alexis Auffret
Graphic Designer: Ala’ Abu Ghoush
Music By: Naseer Shamma
Produced by: Masharawi Fund for Films and Filmmakers in Gaza and Coorigines Production
Language: Arabic with English Subtitles
Genre: Documentary
Country: Palestine, France, Qatar, Jordan
Distributor: Watermelon Pictures
Run Time: 112 minutes
The Filmmakers
PART ONEReema Mahmoud – “Selfie”Reema Mahmoud, a Palestinian film director specializing in women’s and youth issues, has directed over twenty films. With a BA in Media and Communication and diplomas in Palestinian Studies and film production, she has won several awards, including the 2020 Creative Woman Award and the 2021 Best Short Film Award.
Muhammad Al Sharif – “No Signal”
Muhammad Al Sharif, based in Gaza, holds a Business Administration degree and a Cinema Diploma. He is an actor and director, known for the short film Min Wen Lawen, hosting Shobak Al-Balad, and acting in Chi Ann Blaze of Fury. He has extensive training in acting, cinematography, and film production.Ahmed Hassouna – “Sorry Cinema”Ahmed Hassouna, a film director under siege and bombardment in northern Gaza, was a cinema buff before the war, passionately working in the industry, following it, and studying it closely. He made many feature and short films, earning the nickname “Cinema Marathon” due to his restless pursuit of cinematic art.Islam Al Zeriei – “Flashback”Islam Al Zeriei, born in Gaza, is a skilled TV and documentary filmmaker with a diploma in TV Arts from Palestine College. She has extensive experience in video and photo editing, and has worked with various organizations including Ashtar for Theatre Productions and the Women’s Affairs Center. Al Zeriei is proficient in Adobe software and active in media advocacy.Mustafa Kolab – “Echo”He was born in September 1972. He is a professional with fifteen years of experience in the production of animated films. He uses animation methods for psychosocial interventions with children. He ran the Fekra Arts Institute in Gaza for ten years and worked in theatre productions.Nidal Damo – “All is Fine”Nidal Damo, born in 1971 in Nuseirat, Gaza, is a theatre director and actor. He directed several children’s plays and acted in notable works like All is Well and Sarah. He holds a BA in Social Work from Al-Quds Open University and trains in drama and psychologicalsupport.Khamis Masharawi – “Soft Skin”Khamis has worked on numerous films in the field of decoration. He is a set designer and children’s animation trainer. He is one of the founders of the Fekra Foundation in Gaza, which trains children to engage with the film industry as a form of art therapy.Bashar Al Balbisi – “Charm”Bashar Al Balbisi, a Palestinian from Gaza, is an accomplished dance trainer. He coordinates cultural initiatives and choreographs performances, specializing in traditional and contemporary dance. With experience in educational and cultural institutions, he actively promotes Palestinian heritage through dance and community engagement.Tamer Nijim – “The Teacher”Born in Gaza in 1991, Tamer is a theatre and television artist at Ashtar for Theatre Productions and Training. He holds a BA in Media from Al-Azhar University and a diploma in Acting and Theatre Training. He has participated in numerous local and international theatre productions and festivals.Ahmed Al Danaf – “A School Day”Ahmed Al Danaf, born in Gaza in 1999, is a Palestinian videographer and photographer. He holds a degree in Multimedia from Al-Azhar University and has worked with numerous media organizations including the BBC, ABC News, and Oxfam. Ahmed specializes in documentary filmmaking and media production.
Alaa Islam Ayoub – “Overload”Alaa Islam Ayoub, a Gaza-based content writer and filmmaker, holds a bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy from IUG. Experienced in SEO, literary content, and documentary scripts, Alaa also works as a podcast host and voiceover artist, contributing to various media and academic projects.PART TWOKarim Satoum – “Hell’s Haven”Karim Satoum was born and lives in Gaza. He has taken many courses in theatre and has been working as an actor for five years. He has taken part in many plays. Heaven’s Hellis his first short film.Alaa Damo – “24 Hours”Alaa Damo, a Palestinian from Gaza, has a BA in Public Relations. With seven years’ experience in the arts, he specializes in therapeutic art for children and has worked extensively with local institutions to promote creative expression and peace building through the arts.Aws Al Banna – “Jad and Natalię”Aws Al Banna, 26, from Gaza, is a television and theatre actor, drama teacher, playwright, and director. He studied theatre and his notable works include the series Milad Al-Fajr, Shuhud, and Darb Al-Fida and plays such as Al-Ramadiyun and Rashomon Gate. He has received awards for his children’s theatre projects.Rabab Khamis – “Recycling”Rabab Khamis, born in Gaza in 1997, is a multimedia specialist with a diploma in digital media. She has directed children’s plays and worked as a drama and psychological support trainer. Khamis has acted in various productions and has skills in Adobe, Microsoft Office, CorelDRAW, and others.Etimad Washah – “Taxi Wanissa”Based in Gaza, Palestine, Etimad Washah was the Video Program Coordinator at the Women’s Affairs Centre (2001-2018). She is a director of documentary and fiction films on women’s issues, a trainer in cinematography and editing, and has directed women’s film festivals and student film projects.Mustafa Al Nabih – “Offerings”Mustafa, a Palestinian writer and director, has published novels and plays, directed 25 plays for children and adults, and created numerous documentaries. He has collaborated with various international channels, won 25 awards, and served as a jury member in many film festivals.Hana Eleiwa – “No”Hana, a passionate journalist from Gaza City, is the founder and director of Hana Agency, specializing in visual, audio, digital and multimedia services. She manages the digital channel Hona Al Dafa, advises The Al-Fakhoura\Project, and lectures at the University College of Applied Sciences.Wissam Moussa – “Farah and Myriam”Wissam, born in 1981 in Deir Al Balah, Gaza, is a Palestinian filmmaker and public relations manager at Fursan Al Erada Radio. He has directed several acclaimed films, including 15 in Gazafor Al-Jazeera English, and has participated in numerous international film festivals and conferences.Basel El Maqousi – “Fragments”Born in Gaza in 1971, Basel is a visual artist and freelance photographer. He studied art at the YMCA Gaza and attended the Daratal Fununsummer academy. Winner of the Charles Asprey Award and a UNESCO scholarship, he has exhibited internationally and teaches at the Jabalia Rehabilitation Society.Neda’a Abu Hasna – “Out of Frame”Neda’a, an experienced Palestinian news editor and presenter, holds a Masters Degree in Audiovisual and Cinema from Carthage University and a Bachelors Degree in Mass Communication from Al-Aqsa University. She has extensive experience in radio, film, and news editing.Mahdi Kreirah – “Awakening”Mahdi is a puppet maker and puppeteer who runs a puppet theatre in Gaza. He has produced many plays for children and his productions have been featured on many television programs. He conducts workshops for children to train them in puppet-making and puppeteering.MORE ABOUT FROM GROUND ZEROTHE INITIAL CONCEPTFrom Ground Zero was created by filmmaker Rashid Masharawi and designed to give a voice to the people of Gaza and to document their day-to-day experiences, many of which often go unheard by the outside world
In a war-torn society, where artistic creation is extremely complex, the project sought to capture the diversity of perspectives of Gazans through slice-of-life short films, ranging anywhere from three to six minutes in length. Filmmakers were allowed to tell their story through any genre and cinematic storytelling platform, from fiction to documentary to animation.
SELECTION AND CREATION OF THE FILMS
In order to ensure quality and coherence, a dedicated selection committee was set up to ensure the viability of the short films pitched to be included in the From Ground Zero Project. The committee evaluated every project submitted, giving priority to personal, original stories that focused on the project’s overall message.
Once the 22 projects had been selected, the committee worked closely with the filmmakers to ensure their proper development, from concept to production – tackling real-world obstacles that filmmakers outside of Palestine would never have to consider.
The creation of From Ground Zero required meticulous organization. Tutors based in the Middle East and Europe supervised the projects, while experienced coordinators on the ground in Gaza ensured the technical and human resources needed for filming.
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‘THE SHADE’ (2024) A slow burn of manifested grief and reclamation of power.
THE SHADE
Filmmaker Tyler Chipman brings us the tale of a young man reeling in the aftermath of unresolved childhood trauma. THE SHADE is a slow spiral into darkness.
Ryan is the middle child and the man of the house since his father’s death. He is someone who tries and fails to hide all the pain. Upon the unscheduled return of his older brother into the house, Ryan must confront the demons lurking just beneath the surface or else.
It’s so nice to see Brendan Sexton III again. He is such a force of nature and a fantastic addition. Germain Arroyo is Ryan’s best friend, Nicholas. His energy is a much-needed break from the sullen overtone. He is a star.
Laura Benanti plays the family matriarch, Renee. She adds authentic warmth to every role. Even if her scenes are few and far between, she steals every single one. Dylan McTee plays the eldest brother, Jason. He exudes hurt with an overly aggressive demeanor that perfectly suits the role.
Chris Galust gives Ryan a wounded exhaustion that pours off him. Suffering from unspeakable childhood trauma all while trying to keep his chaotic family together, Galust delivers an emotional rollercoaster, panic attacks and all.
There are a few particularly memorable shots by cinematographer Tom Fitzgerald. Heather Benson and the makeup department give us startling work. They deserve all the applause.
The film is a slow burn with a tense low vibration under each beat. It is 45 minutes until the menace manifests outside the immense toxicity between the two eldest brothers. Ten minutes later, a chill goes down your spine.
What gets the pulse-pounding is undeniably well done. Chipman and cowriter David Purdy use dreams as a gateway to terror. Perry Blackshear‘s WHEN I CONSUME YOU would be a great companion watch for THE SHADE. Similar themes weave throughout both films. Come to think of it, add Jennifer Kent’s THE BABADOOK to that list.
Mental health, anguish, and horror combined to create a unique narrative approach. My advice to audiences is to be patient. Focus on the performances and the underlying metaphor. It is a powerful payoff.
The Shade Trailer:
THE SHADE
AVAILABLE ON DEMAND
11.22.24
127 MIN | THRILLER | HORROR | DRAMA | PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER | NR TV-14
MULTIPLE FESTIVAL AWARD WINNER!
WINNER Best Special Effects – Days of the Dead Film Festival
WINNER Best Directing – Days of the Dead Film Festival
WINNER Best First Time Filmmaker – Days of the Dead Film Festival
WINNER Jury Award Best Feature Film – Snowdance Independent Film Festival
WINNER Silver Audience Award – Brooklyn Horror Film Festival
WINNER Jury Prize Best Feature Film Director – FogFest
WINNER Jury Prize Best Actor in a Feature Film Chris Galust – FogFest
WINNER Jury Prize Best Feature Film – FogFest
NOMINATED Best Feature Film, Best Villain, Best in Show, Best Actor Chris Galust,
Best Stunts, Best Cinematography, Best Ensemble Cast, Best Production Design – Days of the Dead Film Festival
NOMINATED Best Writing – FogFest
Directed by
Tyler Chipman
Written by
Tyler Chipman and David Purdy
Produced by
David Purdy
Director of Photography
Acton Fitzgerald
Starring
Chris Galust, Laura Benanti, Dylan McTee, Mariel Molino, Germain Arroyo, Brendan Sexton III, Sam Duncan, Michael Boatman
SYNOPSIS
Ryan Beckman, a 20-year-old college student from a declining town in the northeast, struggles with a debilitating anxiety disorder following his father’s death. His older brother, Jason, returns home unexpectedly while battling his own demons. Together with his younger brother James, Ryan struggles to break the destructive cycle threatening their family as an ancient darkness closes in on them.
RATING: NR TV-PG
RUN-TIME: 127 minutes
THEATRICAL RELEASE: September 20th
DIGITAL RELEASE: November 22nd
STUDIO/DISTRIBUTOR: Level 33 Entertainment
GENRE: Drama, Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Horror
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‘DREAM TEAM’ (2024) An homage that rides the bit to the bitter, coral-covered end.
DREAM TEAM
Filmmakers Lev Kalman and Whitney Horn bring us an absurdist homage to 90s basic cable TV thrillers. DREAM TEAM follows the episodic escapades of two hot West Coast INTERPOL agents who uncover an international, interspecies mystery involving psychic coral, a sexually suggestive scientist, and an invisible coworker with a very vindictive streak. Do you remember when you used to fall asleep in front of the television in middle school and wake up at 2 am only to find some weird low-budget movie playing? DREAM TEAM takes you back in a time machine of half-awake ideas and visual nostalgia.
Agents No and Chase (Esther Garrel and Alex Zhang Hungtai) leisurely follow the trail of deaths but mostly sport tight clothes and make innuendos. The script occurs in episodes featuring a repeated title sequence and undeniably clever cheeky titles.
The 16mm cinematography is Chef’s Kiss, from the extreme handheld close-ups to the shaky handheld everything else. The editing by Whitney is a masterful fever dream of overlapping superimposed fades and soft-core imagery (many aquarium shots. A lot.) The amount of B-roll outnumbers the actual plot. Each element nails the 90s aesthetic, with appropriately absurd costumes and a wealth of black light.
The script is intentionally utter nonsense. If you want to learn about coral, DREAM TEAM is your jam. Performances across the board are spot-on for mediocre porn overdramatics. I feel like watching on mushrooms would be an experience. There are so many moments of WTF I lost count 30 minutes in. At that point, it is best to throw your hands up and tell yourself, “Sure, why not?” My favorite scene involves an invisible coworker. I was also thankful for the break in what I assume are meant to be channel surfing breaks in the narrative pattern.
It is easy to see why Jane Schoenbrun acts as executive producer. The neon color pops are right up her alley. Listen, coming from someone who starred in two of these things many years ago – do not even try to look that shit up on the internet, I will hunt you down- DREAM TEAM owns the bit. The question remains whether audiences will tolerate it for 90-plus minutes.
The trippy, surreal, sci-fi/comedy
DREAM TEAM
opens at Metrograph NYC on Nov. 15th
The acclaimed 16mm satire of 90s softcore action is produced by I SAW THE TV GLOW writer/director Jane Schoenbrun
The third audacious feature from Lev Kalman and Whitney Horn (L FOR LEISURE, TWO PLAINS & A FANCY), DREAM TEAM once again blends the filmmakers’ wild genre pastiches into sociopolitical parables, creating a truly unforgettable – and beautifully weird – cinema experience. The critically-acclaimed sci-fi/comedy debuted at 2024’s International Film Festival Rotterdam and stars Esther Garrel and Alex Zhang Hungtai.
An absurdist homage to ’90s basic cable TV thrillers, DREAM TEAM follows the episodic escapades of two hot West Coast INTERPOL agents who uncover an international, interspecies mystery involving psychic coral, a sexually suggestive scientist, and an invisible coworker with a very vindictive streak.
DREAM TEAM kicks off a retrospective of Kalman and Horn’s filmography at the Metrograph in New York City. Their previous two features will play In Theater as part of the “Retro-Futurism: The Films of Lev Kalman & Whitney Horn” series, and screen via Metrograph At Home.
Distributed by Yellow Veil Pictures, the satirical sci-fi/comedy is produced by Lev Kalman, Whitney Horn, Sarah Winshall, Pierce Varous, and I SAW THE TV GLOW director Jane Schoenbrun.
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‘DARUMA’ (2024) The healing power of kindness and the importance of representation shine bright.
DARUMA
Director Alexander Yellen and writer Kelli McNeil expand their 2018 short film of the same name to glorious big screen life. DARUMA tells the story of, Patrick, a bitter wheelchair user, discovering he has a four-year-old daughter from a forgotten fling. He quickly learns that he cannot parent her as she needs and enlists the help of his cantankerous neighbor Robert (double amputee) to transport her to live with her maternal grandparents on the other side of the country.
Daruma deals with addiction, PTSD, and redemption in an honest way. There is zero sugarcoating. Immersive camera work helps place the viewer in Patrick’s emotionally injured mindset by placing the camera in his lap whenever he gets intoxicated in a club. Yellen’s overall cinematography is spectacular. His choice to mix follow shots, close-ups, and stunning drone footage while our players embark on their road trip captures Daruma’s vulnerability and heart.
Little Victoria Scott gives Camilla authentic sweetness. She’s a lovely addition to this cast. Barry Bostwick lends his unassailable talent to Daruma. Whatever role he plays, you can bet on some seriously affecting moments. 
John W. Lawson is undeniably charming as curmudgeonly neighbor Robert. His nuanced backstory is the perfect foil for Tobias Forrest. You’ll fall in love with him. Forrest gives his all, leaning into Patrick’s flaws and working to find his suppressed humanity. Forrest nails each beat. He and Lawson share relatable chemistry. It’s a dramedy duo you didn’t know you needed.
Yellen and McNeil deliver a genuine road movie with struggles and hopeful healing vibes. If you aren’t welling up by the film’s ending, check your pulse. Representation is vital to authentic storytelling. The world needs more films like DARUMA. The film will be honored at the Directors Guild of America on Dec. 9th at the first-ever Indie Awards. It is much-deserved recognition.
The film will be screening for a week in theaters in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, DC, and Minneapolis Nov 15 – 21, 2024.
ABOUT THE FILM:
Executive produced by 2X Oscar winner Peter Farrelly, DARUMA tells the story of, PATRICK, a bitter wheelchair user, discovering he has a four-year-old daughter from a forgotten fling. He quickly learns that he cannot parent her as she needs and enlists the help of his cantankerous neighbor ROBERT (double amputee) to transport her to live with her maternal grandparents on the other side of the country.
CNN said the film is the first authentically cast film in US film history to star two leads with disabilities in a narrative not about overcoming disability and on September 9th, our filmmaking team was invited to an event at the White House to celebrate the 34th signing of the ADA.
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‘THE HOUSE FROM’ (2024) A nostalgia-filled, pop culture delight.
THE HOUSE FROM
Tommy Avallone‘s film delves into the positive and negative effects of being the homeowner of famous homes. Jason Lee narrates with his perfectly delicious tone and delivery. From Twilight to Home Alone, and Full House to Sex And The City, THE HOUSE FROM is every movie and television fan’s dream doc.
The editing is clever. For example, one former owner of Jesse’s house in Breaking Bad house was a teacher, so Avallone cuts to scenes of Walter White in his chemistry classroom. She was able to buy her son his first car from the profits of filming. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the current owner of Walter White’s house aggressively hates tourists.
THE HOUSE FROM counters this negative fan experience with the owner of The Goonies‘ home. Susan Preston got a bad rap. This redemptive story is authentically heartwarming. Bushnell Ave, in South Pasadena, is the ultimate film fan’s dream. From Back to the Future to Old School, it boasts several famous houses, and the owners love the fans. The Rubio House in Altadena is iconic. I lost track of the number of films and television shows listed by the owner, Liz. Ethan Embry visits the house, and his excitement and nostalgia are infectious.
The doc also uses TikTok and other social media clips of fan visits. The behind-the-scenes footage from Home Alone takes the cake. The lovely neighbors across the street took camcorder video from their front yard during the 1990 production, and it is a coup for Gen X and Millennials.
Some locations become pilgrimages, delivering the warm fuzzies and catharsis for fans. From museums to Airbnbs, whether these locations are now for-profit venues or warm family homes, THE HOUSE FROM is a joy from start to finish. Audiences will find themselves smiling and maybe even digging up some old VHS tapes from their parent’s basements after the credits roll. Speaking of, stick around for even more fun.
The House From Trailer:
The documentary premiered at Kevin Smith’s Smodcastle Film Festival in New Jersey on October 25, 2024. It will be released on Fubo and executive producer Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort Channel on October 27, 2024, and will be available on VOD platforms the next day.
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‘LA COCINA’ (2024) As complex as Shakespeare and an ode to those behind the scenes.
La Cocina
Based on the 1957 stage play The Kitchen by Arnold Wesker, filmmaker Alonso Ruizpalacios brings LA COCINA to the big screen. This exquisite drama follows the staff at a restaurant in Times Square and the coordinated (and uncoordinated) chaos behind the scenes. It is a beautiful character study that will punch you in the gut.
The black and white cinematography from Juan Pablo Ramirez screams stage play in all the best ways. Mixed with intimate closeups and follow shots, it is an intricately choreographed dance boasting framing that will linger long after the credits roll.
The opening monologue sets the scene for the city’s chaotic reality. The dialogue is funny, authentic, and brutal. Performances are top-notch across the board. The delicious ensemble cast nails every beat.
Motell Foster plays dessert chef, Nonzo. His philosophical kindness makes him something like the Gandolf of the kitchen. Foster is magnificent. Oded Fehr plays The Grill’s owner with an overbearing swagger that slowly spoils as the plot thickens. Fehr delivers the irony of the American Dream.
Laura Gómez lives in her role as a waitress on her first day. Gómez’s intensity is transformative. Anna Diaz gives Estela the wide-eyed, tentative nature that represents the inner voice of the entire staff.
Rooney Mara plays Julia with a fiery sass and life-weathered exhaustion. Raúl Briones delivers humor and depth as Pedro. His cheeky personality is a facade for unresolved trauma. Mara and Briones have a fierce chemistry akin to Beatrice and Benedick in Shakespeare‘s Much Ado About Nothing. But it is Raúl Briones who owns the heart of this brilliant film. This performance is nothing short of award-worthy.
LA COCINA confronts racism and socioeconomic privilege head-on. The script challenges cultural boundaries. The characters are a melting pot that perfectly captures the true essence of the city and, quite frankly, America. Any real New Yorker will tell you that at any given moment, LA COCINA is happening in real time. It’s an unforgettable emotional rollercoaster
A Film by Alonso Ruizpalacios
Starring Rooney Mara and Raúl Briones
October 25 / Angelika, NY
November 1 / Laemmle Monica, LA
followed by a national theatrical release
SYNOPSIS: It’s the lunch rush at The Grill in Manhattan, and money has gone missing from the till. All the undocumented cooks are being investigated, and Pedro (Briones) is the prime suspect. He’s a dreamer and a troublemaker, and in love with Julia (Mara), an American waitress who cannot commit to a relationship. Rashid, The Grill´s owner, has promised to help Pedro with his papers so he can “become legal”. But a shocking revelation about Julia compels Pedro to spiral into an act that will stop the production line of one of the city’s busiest kitchens once and for all.
La Cocina is a tragic and comic tribute to the invisible people who keep our restaurants running and our stomachs full, whilst chasing a perhaps unreachable version of the American dream.
WRITER & DIRECTOR: Alonso Ruizpalacios, based on the play “The Kitchen”, by Arnold Wesker
PRODUCERS: Ramiro Ruiz, Gerardo Gatica, Alonso Ruizpalacios, Lauren Mann, Ivan Orlic
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Juan Pablo Ramírez
CAST: Raúl Briones, Rooney Mara, Anna Diaz, Motell Foster, Oded Fehr, Eduardo Olmos
U.S. Distributor: Willa
Mexico, U.S. / English and Spanish / 139min
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‘FALLING STARS’ (2024) Living lore and the consequences of disrespect.
FALLING STARS
Witches are real in the feature debut of director/producer duo Gabriel Bienczycki and Richard Karpala‘s FALLING STARS. On the first night of Harvest, three brothers go to the desert to see a witch’s corpse.
The film exists in a world where deeply embedded folklore is canon. While our boys initially visit the site with an excited and carefree attitude, their fear becomes palpable when they accidentally desecrate the body.
There is a reminiscent feeling in FALLING STARS, some that reminds me of 80s classics like The Gate and The Lost Boys, with the glow of red dashboard hues, flashlights, and the moon being the dominant lighting sources. The cinematography by Bienczycki has an intimacy to it. Karpala’s screenplay is just downright cool. It is genuinely refreshing to witness masculinity based on regret and an apologetic undertone.
This ensemble cast is fantastic. Diane Worman plays the boys’ mother, Danni. She delivers a magnificent arc. Rene Leech gives Adam authentic baby brother energy with a need to please and an impressionable mind.
J. Aaron Boykin is the mainstay of this film. As radio DJ Barry, he opens the film and acts as a narrative conduit for Mike’s panic. Andrew Gabriel is Sal, the middle brother. His caring nature and fixer attitude beg your attention. Shaun Duke Jr. gives Mike a tentative bravery and a strong sense of responsibility. He is the protector, for better or for worse.
FALLING STARS is a unique revenge horror that digs into witch lore, respecting tradition and an immaculate political undertone. Boasting a jaw-dropping and cinematically stunning finale, it’s a bit of pure genre magic.
The acclaimed folk horror film arrives on VOD and in select U.S. cinemas on Friday, October 11th!
FALLING STARS is the feature debut of director/producer duo Richard Karpala and Gabriel Bienczycki, featuring an original screenplay by Karpala and cinematography by Bienczycki.
Starring Rene Leech, Shaun Duke Jr., Andrew Gabriel, Diane Worman, and Greg Poppa, the film World Premiered on the Piazza Grande at the Locarno Film Festival and went on to screen at Fantastic Fest, Calgary Underground, Splat! Film Fest, and more.
About XYZ Films
XYZ Films is an independent studio whose mission is to empower visionary storytellers from every corner of the planet. XYZ was founded in 2008 by Nate Bolotin, Nick Spicer, and Aram Tertzakian and has expanded in recent years into documentary, talent management, and distribution. Some of the company’s classic titles include THE RAID franchise, 2017 Sundance winner I DON’T FEEL AT HOME IN THIS WORLD ANYMORE, and Panos Cosmatos’ psychedelic revenge thriller MANDY.
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‘THE OUTRUN’ (2024) Stunning page to screen memoir of addiction and redemption.
THE OUTRUN
Based on journalist and author Amy Liptrot’s 2016 memoir, Nora Fingscheidt‘s THE OUTRUN stars Saoirse Ronan as a young woman who returns home to Orkney after completing an alcoholic rehabilitation program in London.
The editing by Stephan Bechinger is a triumph. The structure bounces from before, during, and after rehab, often noted by Rona’s dye-dipped locks and general demeanor. The film delves into the outside judgment of those who have never experienced addiction.
Saoirse Ronan narrates the constant temptation in scientific terms while scenes of alcoholic behavior play against her words. Rona’s work in rehab is beautifully juxtaposed with her nature work in Orkney. This narrative device becomes a repeated reprieve from her reality. It feels poetic.
The dizzying handheld camera work while Rona is intoxicated mirrors her physical state. Paired with sprawling cliffs and coastlines of Orkney, it is stunning cinematography by Yunus Roy Imer. John Gürtler and Jan Miserre‘s collaborative score is beautiful.
Saoirse Ronan is spectacular, delivering a raw portrait of a fractured and flawed woman. Rona is incredibly lonely, seeking genuine human connection. When drunk, she is emotionally abusive. Saoirse explores every facet of sickness and redemption. It is a nuanced turn. Give her an Oscar already.
Perhaps the most heart-wrenching part of THE OUTRUN is the study of cyclical addiction and the loss of youth. It is a magnificent portrait of interconnected self-reflection, healing, and forgiveness.
In Theaters October 4, 2024
Starring Saoirse Ronan, Paapa Essiedu, Stephen Dillane, Saskia Reeves
Directed by Nora Fingscheidt
Screenplay by Amy Liptrot & Nora Fingscheidt
Produced by Sarah Brocklehurst, Dominic Norris, Jack Lowden, Saoirse Ronan
Executive Produced by: Claudia Yusef, Kieran Hannigan, Maria Logan, Anne Sheehan, Luane Gauer, George Hamilton, James Pugh, Janina Vilsmaier
Based on the memoir by Amy Liptrot
After a decade away in London, 29-year-old Rona (Saoirse Ronan) returns home to the Orkney Islands. Sober but lonely, she tries to suppress her memory of the events which set her on this journey of recovery. Slowly the mystical land enters her inner world and – one day at a time – Rona finds hope and strength in herself among the heavy gales and the bracingly cold sea. Based on the bestselling memoir by Amy Liptrot, who co-wrote the screenplay with Fingscheidt, THE OUTRUN is an acutely honest drama about addiction and recovery.
RT: 118 Minutes
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Fantastic Fest 2024 is genre heaven. 6 films we are psyched for.
FANTASTIC FEST 2024
Our merry band of misfits, muckrakers, and miscreants is making it’s way to Austin, TX, for an 8-day carnival of cinematic delights – Fantastic Fest is back on Sept. 19th – 26th, taking place at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar cinema.
Fantastic Fest 2024 is upon us! The entire lineup is spectacular. Here are 6 films we are stoked for this year.
You can find the full Fantastic Fest 2024 Film Guide here!
PÁRVULOS
Director: Isaac Ezban (LOVED The Similars & Parallel)
Three young brothers living in a cabin in the middle of the woods hide a dark, disturbing secret in their basement.
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Year:2024
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Runtime:119 minutes
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Language:Spanish
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Country:México
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Premiere:US
TERRIFIER 3
Director: Damien Leone
After surviving Art the Clown’s Halloween massacre, Sienna and her brother struggle to rebuild their shattered lives. As the holiday season approaches, they try to embrace the Christmas spirit and leave the horrors of the past behind. However, just when they think they’re safe, Art returns, determined to turn their holiday cheer into a new nightmare.
IN THEATERS: October 11, 2024
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Year:2024
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Runtime:125 minutes
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Language:English
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Country:USA
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Premiere:World
FRANKIE FREAKO
Director: Steven Kostanski
After calling a late-night party hotline that promises out-of-this-world fun, uptight yuppie Conor Sweeney must battle the pint-sized forces of evil that get unleashed through his phone line, led by the maniacal rock ‘n’ roll goblin Frankie Freako.
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Year:2024
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Runtime:82 minutes
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Language:English
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Country:Canada
- Premiere: International
THE LIFE AND DEATHS OF CHRISTOPHER LEE
Director: Jon Spira
Follows fresh interviews, archival footage, and various animation techniques like marionation to recreate one of the world’s leading actors on screen, bringing them back to life through innovative methods.
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Year:2024
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Runtime:103 minutes
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Language:English
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Country:UK
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Premiere:North American
STRANGE HARVEST: OCCULT MURDER IN THE INLAND EMPIRE
Director: Stuart Ortiz
A faux true-crime documentary about two detectives’ pursuit of an infamous serial killer named Mr. Shiny, who terrorized Southern California for almost two decade
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Year:2024
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Runtime:94 minutes
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Language:English
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Country:USA
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Premiere:World
Fantastic Fest 2024 Sizle Reel
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‘CLOSE TO YOU’ (2024) Dominic Savage and Elliot Page tell a vital and raw story about living and loving authentically.
CLOSE TO YOU
Dominic Savage‘s CLOSE TO YOU finds Sam as he returns home for the first time in four years. Intense feelings come from every angle as he lives an authentic life for the first time.
Each character experiences a unique form of grief that only those with trans loved ones can speak to. It is a dichotomy of emotions, loss, and celebration. Page and Savage do not sugarcoat it. One particular character provokes with his hypermasculinity, rage, and ignorance. It is an essential part of the narrative. It is raw, tender, tense, and cathartic.
CLOSE TO YOU feels like a documentary from the acting and handheld camera work. The script, co-penned by Page and Savage, is exquisitely crafted. The cast’s chemistry is so organic. The film feels like a genuine ensemble piece, delving into mental health, parenting, fear, and truth.
Hillary Baack delivers a beautiful performance. She gives Katherine a different kind of wound. Elliot Page goes to magic places. We should thank him for allowing us into such an intimate space. Witnessing Page take in the dialogue feels like a privilege. Baack and Page connect on a pure level that pours off the screen.
CLOSE TO YOU delivers a gut punch of complex feelings, like a walk down memory lane for anyone with family drama or deep, unrequited love. As a parent, you will be unable to hold in your emotions. It will hit on a different level. It is undeniably a remarkable and vital film.
Check Out The Trailer Here!
In Theaters Nationwide on August 16!
**World Premiere – 2023 Toronto International Film Festival**
**Official Selection – 2024 BFI Flare**
**Official Selection – 2024 NewFest
Directed By: Dominic Savage
Screenplay By: Dominic Savage
Starring: Elliot Page & Hillary Baack
Produced By: Krishnendu Majumdar, Richard Yee, Daniel Bekerman, Chris Yurkovich, Dominic Savage, Elliot Page
Executive Produced By: Anita Gou, Sam Intili, Nia Vazirani, Francine Maisler, Matt Jordan Smith, Andrew Frank
CLOSE TO YOU tells the story of Sam (Elliot Page) who hasn’t been home since his transition. After four years in Toronto, he takes a long-dreaded trip back to his hometown for his father’s birthday. Once there, he confronts unresolved wounds and reconnects with an old flame.
Close To You had its World Premiere at TIFF last year. Dominic Savage is a British BAFTA award-winning director, writer and actor. He’s known for I Am Ruth (2022), I Am… (2019), Love + Hate (2005) and Barry Lyndon (1975). Dominic and Elliot worked very closely together on the story. Dominic has a unique style in that he writes an outlined script but fully expects it to be a jumping off point for the actors to improvise from. Giving them the time to fully feel the truth of their character and use their own words. Elliot is a producer and also has a story credit and completely trusted Dominic to tell this story.
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