Opening Night: Stay Awake
Description
Rarely conveyed in the headlines decrying the opioid epidemic are the personal struggles of addicts – daily fighting for sobriety and the hopeful resilience of their families. For teenagers Derek (Fin Argus) and Ethan (Wyatt Oleff), the situation is all too familiar as they pace the streets searching for their painkiller-dependent mother, Michelle. This Is Us star Chrissy Metz, playing Michelle, delivers a nuanced portrayal of guilt and shame that fearlessly digs into the trauma of recovery, while newcomers Argus and Oleff infuse the film with vulnerability and unexpected humor. First-time feature director Jamie Sisley masterfully builds a relatable world full of characters that vibrate with authenticity in this powerful, SFFILM-supported drama that will stick with you long after you exit the theater. North American premiere
Trailer
Biographies
Jamie Sisley has an MFA in film from Columbia University. Among his short films are Ladybug (2012), Love in Four Parts (2013), and We’re All Gonna Die (2016). He also directed, with Miguel ‘M.i.G.’ Martinez, Farewell Ferris Wheel (2018), a documentary that was nominated for an Outstanding Business and Economic News & Documentary Emmy Award. His 2015 short film, Stay Awake, won the Best Narrative Short Grand Jury Prize at the Slamdance Film Festival. Stay Awake (2022), his adaptation of that short and his first feature, won the AG Kino Gilde – Cinema Vision 14plus prize and a Youth Jury Special Mention at the Berlin International Film Festival.