Closing Night Gala: Theater Camp Unclassified 15+ 94 mins
Waiting for Guffman meets Wet Hot American Summer as a ragtag cast and crew of theatre nerds bring extra drama to save their beloved summer camp.
When an unfortunate lighting effect at a middle-school production of Bye Bye Birdie sends revered summer-camp director Joan (Amy Sedaris) into a coma, it could be curtains for her cash-strapped musical theatre program, AdirondACTS. Joan’s son Troy, a social-media finance grifter, has no idea about musical theatre, and a rival summer camp is eyeing off the property. So to the histrionic misfits who work at AdirondACTS as camp instructors – in every sense – the solution is obvious: they’ll put on a show!
Winner of Sundance’s US Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble, Theater Camp is the brainchild of show-pony pals clearly adlibbing out their own adolescence – and it lands. Power couple Nick Lieberman and Molly Gordon (Booksmart) make their feature directing debut and co-wrote the film with Ben Platt (Dear Evan Hansen) and Noah Galvin (The Real O’Neals), the last three of whom also have key onscreen roles. Boosting this mockumentary’s cast are rising comedy stars Jimmy Tatro (Home Economics), Ayo Edebiri (The Bear; The Sweet East, MIFF 2023) and Patti Harrison (Together Together, MIFF 2021), along with Minari’s tiny, delightful breakout Alan Kim. You’ll laugh! You’ll cry! You might even sing and dance!
“Sidesplitting … A quick-witted crowd-pleaser [that] is both mischievously critical and adoring of the microcosm it depicts.” – The Wrap
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After the screening, enjoy MIFF’s famous Closing Night festivities with film-inspired DJs, dancing and drinks ’til late.
Tickets
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31For information about the accessible services being offered at MIFF, please visit miff.com.au/access. If you require any access service, such as wheelchair/step-free access, for any MIFF session, please call 03 8660 4888 or email boxoffice@miff.com.au to book your ticket.