Centerpiece Narrative
Director Matthew Shear expected to attend
Nannying for three rambunctious girls was not exactly Sam Stein’s intended career path. And Dianne Cohen expected to be in demand as both an actress and a mom by the time she reached fifty. In this humorous and relatable dramedy, both find that sometimes life—and one’s own brain chemistry—can take unexpected turns. Sam (writer-director Matthew Shear) is thirty-something and single, and the loss of his paralegal position triggers a familiar mental spiral. A visit to his longtime psychiatrist (Judd Hirsch) lands him a higher dose of Xanax and a spur-of-the-moment job offer: babysitting the doc’s granddaughters. One night becomes a regular gig, and despite her loving children and cool dad husband, Dianne (Amanda Peet) craves the easy rapport she shares with Sam. It’s revitalizing…if a little risky. Can two people just trying to keep their own heads above water throw each other a lifeline? Co-leads Shear and Peet bring authenticity and warmth to their roles, and audiences will delight in the many familiar faces in their orbits from Manhattan to Martha’s Vineyard. —Laura Henneman
West Coast Premiere
Matthew Shear is a New York–based filmmaker and actor. He starred in Noah Baumbach’s Mistress America alongside Greta Gerwig and appeared in The Alienist with Dakota Fanning and Daniel Brühl. His screen credits also include The Meyerowitz Stories, Old, The Boy Downstairs, and Between the Temples. Fantasy Life, his debut feature as writer/director, premiered at SXSW 2025, winning the Narrative Feature Audience Award and a Special Jury Award for Amanda Peet’s performance.
This film is available with closed captions.