Nov 18, 2025
SFFILM
Emmy-nominated actor Will Arnett and Academy Award-winning actor Laura Dern to appear in-person for the award presentation and post-screening conversation
San Francisco, CA—November 18, 2025—Today, SFFILM announced that the 2025 SF Honors Award will go to Is This Thing On?, co-written and directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Bradley Cooper. The film stars Emmy-nominated actor Will Arnett—who also co-wrote the film—alongside Academy Award-winning actor Laura Dern. Is This Thing On? is a poignant story of a middle-aged couple facing the specter of impending divorce. They are forced to navigate co-parenting, identity, and whether love and commitment can take a new form. The SF Honors event will culminate in a special public screening of the film on Wednesday, December 17 at 7:30 pm at the Premier Theater at One Letterman. Will Arnett and Laura Dern are expected to attend in person for the pre-screening award presentation and an in-depth post-screening conversation about the film.
Since 2016, SF Honors has been recognizing the year’s most compelling films with a special spotlight. SFFILM Board President Todd Traina said, “Is This Thing On? represents the kind of fresh, distinctive filmmaking that SF Honors celebrates. Bradley Cooper’s unique vision and style, and the stellar acting by the skilled cast, all lend itself to the special magic of this film. I’m excited to bring this type of exceptional cinema to San Francisco audiences.”
“SF Honors is the perfect showcase for Bradley Cooper’s third film, Is This Thing On?,” said Jessie Fairbanks, SFFILM’s Director of Programming. “Both Will Arnett and Laura Dern give career best performances. San Francisco audiences get to enjoy an early screening with the two stars joining us in person, and the film joins an auspicious group of SF Honors recipients, all of whom have gone on to garner Academy Award nominations and wins.”
ABOUT IS THIS THING ON?
As their marriage quietly unravels, Alex (Will Arnett) faces middle age and an impending divorce, seeking new purpose in the New York comedy scene while Tess (Laura Dern) confronts the sacrifices she made for their family—forcing them to navigate co-parenting, identity, and whether love can take a new form.
Directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Bradley Cooper (A Star Is Born, Maestro), IS THIS THING ON? stars Emmy Award-nominee Will Arnett (“Arrested Development”, “30 Rock”), Academy Award winner Laura Dern (Wild, Marriage Story), Academy Award nominee Andra Day (The United States vs. Billie Holiday, The Deliverance), Academy Award nominee Ciarán Hinds (Belfast) and 2-time Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole (42nd Street, Grey Gardens), along with Cooper. Written by Cooper, Arnett and Mark Chappell (See How They Run), from a story by Arnett, Chappell and John Bishop (The John Bishop Show), the film is produced by Cooper, Arnett, Weston Middleton (Maestro) and Kris Thykier (Operation Mincemeat). Bishop, Caroline Jaczko and Robert S. Wilhelm Jr. are executive producers.
TICKETS + MEMBER BENEFITS
Tickets will go on sale for SFFILM Members on Tuesday, November 18 at 10 am at sffilm.org. The online box office will open to the general public on Wednesday, November 19 at 10 am. Ticket prices for General Admission are $35, and $30 for SFFILM Members. Senior, student, and ADA are $32.
VENUES
The Premier Theater at One Letterman is located in the Presidio at 1 Letterman Drive #B. Transit options include Muni Line 43 and the Presidio GO Shuttle. The easiest way to find directions to this theater is by having your GPS navigate to the Yoda Fountain. Street parking and paid underground parking ($6/hour) is available at the theater. When you arrive, follow the signs to find underground parking.
ACCESSIBILITY
SFFILM is committed to providing accessible experiences at all events whether in-person or online. The Premier Theater at One Letterman is an accessible venue. This program will have closed captioning and audio description available. To request a closed caption or assisted listening device, contact ada@sffilm.org. Please note any requests for American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation must be made at least one week in advance of the event.
For more information about accessibility at specific venues or programs, please visit sffilm.org/accessibility or contact ada@sffilm.org.
SPONSORS + PARTNERS
SF Honors is made possible by support from SFFILM Board President Todd Traina and philanthropist Diane B. Wilsey.
Support for SFFILM’s year-round programming is made possible by our Board of Directors, whose leadership and generosity empower artists, audiences, and the future of independent film.
Thank you to our partners at Searchlight Pictures.
ABOUT SF HONORS
SF Honors is an annual award and showcase that brings extraordinary cinema to San Francisco audiences by celebrating the fearless and bold talent behind one of the year’s most compelling films.
The inaugural SF Honors award was presented in 2016 to La La Land, with a public screening event and onstage conversation featuring writer/director Damien Chazelle, actors Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, and composer Justin Hurwitz. Subsequent SF Honors awardees include Darkest Hour (2017), with director Joe Wright and actors Gary Oldman and Ben Mendelsohn; On the Basis of Sex (2018) with screenwriter Daniel Stiepleman and actors Felicity Jones and Armie Hammer; CODA (2021) with director Siân Heder; Cyrano (2021) with writer/director Joe Wright, screenwriter Erica Schmidt, and actors Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett, Kelvin Harrison Jr.; Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022) with writer/director Guillermo del Toro; Azazel Jacobs’ His Three Daughters (2024) with writer/director Azazel Jacobs, executive producer and actor Elizabeth Olsen, and actor Jovan Adepo; and Steve McQueen’s Blitz (2024) with writer/director Steven McQueen.
SFFILM
For nearly 70 years, SFFILM has been transforming the world through the creativity and inspiration of film. As the Bay Area’s premier film institution since 1957, SFFILM cultivates an enduring and vibrant film culture, expertly connecting singular storytellers with passionate audiences. With world-class festivals, accessible youth programs, and robust filmmaker support, SFFILM champions cinema as a force for connection, creativity, and change. Our annual film festivals include the San Francisco International Film Festival and Doc Stories. The SFFILM Presents series and Family programming give Bay Area audiences early, exclusive access to film events all year. SFFILM’s youth Education program empowers over 15,000 local students and educators with learning opportunities that foster media literacy, global citizenship, and a lifelong love of movies. And, SFFILM propels the careers of independent filmmakers from the Bay Area and beyond through vital grants, residencies, and diverse creative development services in our Artist Development initiative.
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