105 min • Narrative Feature • USA • 2026
Academy Award® nominee Jesse Eisenberg (A REAL PAIN, HIFF 2024) returns with a playful love letter to the vibrant, larger-than-life world of community theater. When Mona Friedman (Academy Award winner Julianne Moore) is cast in a bit part at her local theater, she transforms from a shy, unassuming housewife into a zealous method actor willing to do anything to protect the artistic integrity of her marginal role—even if it means waging war against the show’s domineering director (Academy Award nominee Paul Giamatti). Through plenty of heart and laugh-out-loud performances, THE DEBUT celebrates the transformative miracle of the creative process. An A24 release.
A Q&A is expected to follow the screening. All talent attendance subject to change.
FILMMAKERS & CAST
Director: Jesse Eisenberg
Producer: Emma Stone, Dave McCary, Ali Herting, Jesse Eisenberg
Executive Producer: Michael Bloom, Ian Stratford, Ryan Heller, Jasmine Daghighian, Jennifer Booth, Kevin Kelly
Screenwriter: Jesse Eisenberg
Language: English
Cast: Julianne Moore, Paul Giamatti, Halle Bailey, Jesse Eisenberg, Cara Buono, Craig Bierko, Eldar Isgandarov, Bernadette Peters
Run Time: 105 minutes
