Actors sit in a theater, ready to tell a story. Their tale begins on Yom Kippur and unfolds in a synagogue—“a little microcosm of society.” Songs are woven between scenes, adding emotional and intellectual depth. At times, images and voice-over provide additional context. Lost Cause is a story of exploration—of sprawling questions and unresolved answers—as a community tries to understand and save itself. Writer, director, and actor Adam Kritzer’s Lost Cause is a singular work of art. A meta-narrative, the film functions as much as a multimedia art piece as it does a musical. It does not shy away from this blending of forms; instead, it revels in its pliability, using it to examine its subjects’ inner psyches and the broader consequences of their actions. Lost Cause is neither farce nor foil—it is a clear artistic exploration of the unanswerable questions facing our country today. —Anisse Elias
World Premiere
Adam is a filmmaker, musician, writer, and educator whose work spans narrative film and interdisciplinary arts. He began his career collaborating with mentor Peter Sellars on a film adaptation of Toni Morrison’s Desdemona. After moving to New York in 2014, Adam produced Chocolate Heart (SXSW 2015) and Lace Crater (TIFF 2016), while also writing and directing his own debut feature, Good Funk (CPH PIX 2017). He later produced Froth & Bubble (US-in-Progress 2019). Adam is also the founder of a virtual arts program supporting neurodiverse artists with personalized, interdisciplinary curricula. He lives in New York City with his partner and their schnauzer, Upton Sinclair.