Steadvar — News without the noise

Privacy · Terms · About

© 2026 Steadvar. All rights reserved.

Queer Road Trip Film 'Dreams in Nightmares' Sets Summer Theatrical Release

Entertainment3d ago
Share

Similar Articles

NewFest LGBTQ Film Festival Announces May Program with Premieres and Free Screenings

CultureEntertainment4/30/2026

New 'Camp Miasma' Horror Film Premieres at Cannes with Standing Ovation

EntertainmentCulture2d ago

MoreThan Films Acquires International Sales for Debut Feature 'Summer Drift' Ahead of Cannes Premiere

EntertainmentCulture5/7/2026

Frameline50 LGBTQ+ Film Festival Announces Lineup and Ticket Sales

CultureEntertainment3d ago

Fantasia Film Festival Announces First Wave of Titles for 2026 Edition

EntertainmentCulture5/5/2026

Shatara Michelle Ford's sophomore feature, 'Dreams in Nightmares', will open in New York and Los Angeles theaters this summer before a nationwide expansion. The film, which follows a group of queer friends on a road trip, has already won festival acclaim, including a Critic's Prize in Paris. Lunette Films is managing the release strategy.

Facts First

  • A theatrical release this summer beginning in New York and Los Angeles before expanding nationwide.
  • Directed by Shatara Michelle Ford, known for the 2019 thriller 'Test Pattern'.
  • Follows a group of queer friends in their mid-30s on a road trip.
  • Premiered at multiple festivals, including BlackStar and Berlin, and won a Critic's Prize at the Champs-Élysées Film Festival in Paris.
  • Stars Denée Benton, Sasha Compère, Charlie Barnett, and Jasmin Savoy Brown.

What Happened

The film 'Dreams in Nightmares', directed by Shatara Michelle Ford, will be released theatrically this summer. The rollout will begin with openings in New York and Los Angeles before expanding to theaters across the country. Lunette Films is leading the booking and release strategy. The film premiered at several U.S. and international festivals, including BlackStar, Berlin, and the Champs-Élysées Film Festival in Paris, where it won a Critic's Prize.

Why this Matters to You

If you enjoy independent cinema focused on authentic queer stories, this film may offer a new option for your summer moviegoing. Its planned nationwide expansion means you could have a chance to see it in a local theater, even if you don't live in a major coastal city. The festival recognition suggests it could be a noteworthy addition to the cultural conversation.

What's Next

The film's release strategy will now move into its execution phase, with specific dates for the New York and Los Angeles openings likely to be announced soon. Following those initial launches, the film may roll out to additional markets throughout the summer and fall.

Perspectives

“
Lunette Leadership maintains that there is a vital necessity for stories focused on community and connection, asserting that theatrical releases facilitate a deeper, shared resonance for such narratives.
“
Filmmakers value highly collaborative creative environments and find it rare to secure such supportive relationships with distributors during 'extremely fraught' industry periods.
“
Producers praise the distributor's 'filmmaker-first, highly collaborative approach' and their ability to design intentional releases that build momentum beyond the opening weekend.