Elliott (Maisy Stella) meets an older version of herself (Aubrey Plaza) in Megan Park’s “My Old Ass.”
By Lucy Spicer
September — whether you’re mourning the close of summer or celebrating the imminent autumn, there’s a feeling of change in the air. So why not embrace the new by checking out the latest crop of Sundance-supported titles reaching new audiences this month? With a list comprising a healthy mix of both fiction and nonfiction works, September’s releases explore a variety of genres.
Fans of documentaries can choose between a portrait of New York City psychics, an investigation into a Moroccan filmmaker’s family history, a road trip with Will Ferrell and friend Harper Steele, or an emotional tribute to the legacy of actor and activist Christopher Reeve. Fiction lovers with a fondness for coming-of-age stories are spoiled for choice — the list includes the awakenings of a 16-year-old at a Himalayan boarding school, a humorous meeting between a college-bound teen and her older self, a chronicle of a father’s well-meaning but complicated relationship with his daughters, and an episodic series about a teenager who wants to build a life in the wilderness, as well as a surreal tale about a man and his new face and a sci-fi feature in which a woman relives one week in her life over and over.
Look Into My Eyes — Sundance alum Lana Wilson (After Tiller, Miss Americana) returned to the Festival in 2024 with a quiet but thoughtful documentary that gets to know a group of individuals who are usually asking the questions, not answering them. Look Into My Eyes follows a handful of New York City psychics, capturing intimate readings they provide for clients while also inviting the audience into their lives, giving us insight about how their practice is intrinsically linked to human connection. Coming to select theaters September 6.
The Mother of All Lies — Filmmaker Asmae El Moudir was spurred by a lack of family photos to recreate her childhood in Casablanca with the help of miniature models and handmade figurines. Combined with oral accounts, the models help to unearth a family history during Morocco’s Years of Lead that El Moudir’s grandmother would rather ignore. The Mother of All Lies originally premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, where El Moudir won the Un Certain Regard Best Director award. The film subsequently screened in the Spotlight section of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Coming to select theaters September 6.
Girls Will Be Girls — Writer-director Shuchi Talati deftly navigates adolescent awakenings and female sexuality in her film Girls Will Be Girls. The story revolves around 16-year-old Mira, whose first foray into love and desire with a charming classmate is hindered by her young mother (Kani Kusruti), who missed out on those same experiences herself. Talati’s feature directorial debut won the Audience Award: World Cinema Dramatic at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where actor Preeti Panigrahi also took home the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting for her nuanced performance as Mira. Coming to select theaters September 13.
My Old Ass — Do you ever wish you could go back in time and talk to your younger self? That’s just what happens in writer-director Megan Park’s My Old Ass. Park’s lighthearted film, which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, finds Elliott (Maisy Stella) in the summer months before college begins, excited about her future. During a mushroom trip, Elliott meets someone unlikely — it’s her 39-year-old self (played by Aubrey Plaza), who has a fair few pieces of advice to share. Coming to select theaters September 13.
Will & Harper — This buddy pic directed by Josh Greenbaum may not be the typical fare you’d expect to see with Will Ferrell, but Will & Harper is full of humor and heart nonetheless. When Ferrell learns that his close friend — whom he has known since their work together on Saturday Night Live starting in the ’90s — has come out as a trans woman, the two decide to take a road trip to commemorate this stage of their friendship and revisit some of their old haunts with a new perspective. Greenbaum’s funny and insightful documentary premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Coming to select theaters September 13; streaming on Netflix September 27.
A Different Man — In writer-director Aaron Schimberg’s mind-bending film, Edward (Sebastian Stan) is an aspiring actor who agrees to a serious medical procedure that completely changes his face. Edward’s new appearance initially makes life around him seem brighter, but then he learns that the change has caused him to miss out on an acting role that would have been perfect for his old self. Schimberg’s thrilling dark comedy premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Coming to theaters September 20.
In The Summers — Inspired by her own childhood trips with her sister to visit their father, writer-director Alessandra Lacorazza made her feature directorial debut with In The Summers, which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and took home both the U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic and the Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic. Lacorazza’s markedly personal film follows sisters Violeta and Eva over the years as they untangle their relationship with their father, Vicente (played by René Pérez Joglar, also known as musician Residente), when they visit him at his Las Cruces home during the summers. Coming to select theaters September 20.
Omni Loop — Ever since doctors discovered a black hole in her body that meant she would die in a week, Zoya (Mary-Louise Parker) has been taking a pill that lets her relive the final seven days of her life over and over again. The loop remains unchanged until Zoya enlists a student (Ayo Edebiri) to help her take time travel into her own hands. Written and directed by Bernardo Britto, Omni Loop was supported by Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program, Producers Program, and Catalyst and originally premiered at the 2024 South by Southwest (SXSW) Film & TV Festival. Coming to theaters and streaming platforms September 20.
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story — Co-directors Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui’s documentary combines archival footage, home movies, and contemporary interviews to paint a moving and sincere portrait of Christopher Reeve, who became an icon of the silver screen for his portrayal of Superman before embodying a real-life hero to the disabled community and more after an equestrian accident left the actor paralyzed from the neck down in 1995. Bonhôte and Ettedgui’s film, which includes interviews with Reeve’s family and friends, premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Coming to theaters September 21.
Penelope — Directed by Mel Eslyn and co-written by Eslyn and Mark Duplass, Penelope follows the series’ titular character (played by Megan Stott) as she makes the decision to venture beyond the life expected of her. In spite of the risks of the unknown, the 16-year-old girl leaves everyone she knows to seek her purpose in the wilderness. The first episode of Penelope screened at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival as part of the Episodic Pilot Showcase. Streaming on Netflix September 24.
The 2024 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour is underway! Traveling to all corners of the United States and beyond in the following months, the 110-minute program features seven short films selected from the 2024 Festival, including three Festival Award–winning titles. Check here for dates and venues; see below for dates in September.
- Louisville, Kentucky, August 30–September 1, Speed Art Museum
- Kansas City, Missouri, August 30–September 6, Screenland Armour
- Stamford, Connecticut, September 4, Avon Theatre
- Waldoboro, Maine, September 6, The Waldo Theatre
- Houston, Texas, September 14–15, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
- Boston, Massachusetts, September 19–22, Institute of Contemporary Art Boston
- San Luis Obispo, California, September 20, Palm Theatre
- Ithaca, New York, September 22–October 10, Cornell Cinema
- Portsmouth, New Hampshire, September 24–25, The Music Hall
- Middlebury, Vermont, September 26, Hirschfield International Film Series
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 26–28, PhilaMOCA
- Howell, Michigan, September 27–October 3, Historic Howell Theater
