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Lifetime has announced a new two-part original movie, The 13th Wife: Escaping Polygamy, starring Felicity Huffman, Olga Petsa, and Eric Johnson. Based on a true story, the film event premieres over two nights, May 31st and June 1st at 8/7c. Here’s the Lowdown: The movie tells the story of Rena Chynoweth, portrayed by Huffman in […]

Felicity Huffman Stars in Lifetime’s True Story Movie The 13th Wife: Escaping Polygamy...

Writer and director Ally Pankiw's I Used To Be Funny features a cast of new and notable names in the entertainment industry who show new sides of their abilities in the Canadian comedy-drama. I Used To Be Funny focuses on a young comedian with Ptsd, who debates whether to help search for a missing teenager she used to babysit. Premiering in 2023 at SXSW before being released in theaters on June 7, 2024, reviews of I Used To Be Funny have commended the cast's emotional performances.

From completely new faces in the industry to ones that are familiar to keen comedy fans, I Used To Be Funny utilizes its cast's comedic background to deliver an emotionally deep story with moments of comedic flair. As such, many of these actors show a completely new side of their acting abilities as comedy actors who nail dramatic roles. This fresh-faced cast brings I Used To Be Funny...

During her time in journalism school, writer-director Ally Pankiw discovered documentary studies and broadcast news, and immediately fell in love with video editing and production.

Although she didn’t attend traditional film school, she taught herself the basics of Final Draft after graduating and started writing. After directing Season 1 of Netflix’s “Feel Good,” the “Joan Is Awful” episode of “Black Mirror” and more, Pankiw finally got funding for her first feature film: “I Used to Be Funny,” starring “Shiva Baby” breakout Rachel Sennott.

The film is in select theaters via Utopia and was released digitally on June 18. Sennott stars as Sam, a stand-up comedian struggling with Ptsd after being sexually assaulted. She tries to decide whether or not to look for Brooke (Olga Petsa), a missing teenage girl she used to nanny. The story swaps between past and present, where Sam navigates her trauma.

Pankiw tells Variety that the...

I Used to Be Funny, starring Rachel Sennott, tackles the complex themes of trauma and healing through a stand-up comedian's story. Ally Pankiw's film blends humor and drama to highlight how women are silenced after experiencing violence. The movie explores the impact of trauma on creativity and the importance of reclaiming humor and joy in the face of adversity.

I Used to Be Funny, a smart and contemplative movie that recently received high praise at Tribeca Film Festival, is now available to watch in theaters or from home. Written and directed by Ally Pankiw (who has previously written for Schitt's Creek and directed episodes of The Great), the movie stars Rachel Sennott, best known for her star-making turn in Bottoms. Sennott plays Sam, a stand-up comedian who hasn't felt like getting up on stage since her recent traumatic experience.

Though it does veer more toward drama than comedy, I Used To Be Funny...

Rachel Sennott shines in a nuanced role. I Used to Be Funny balances comedy and drama effectively. The film's ending feels rushed despite strong filmmaking.

For a movie about Ptsd, I Used to Be Funny is anything but "used to." The film is funny in the here and now, constantly reminding the audience that, while laughter isn't the best medicine, sometimes it's the only way to move forward in the wake of the unimaginable. Starring Rachel Sennott, best known for her comedic turn in Bottoms, I Used to Be Funny gets the actress to flex the dramatic muscles she used in her earlier project, Shiva Baby. She plays Sam, the stand-up comedian who can't seem to shake her past with the family she nannied for.

I Used to Be Funny (2024)

DirectorAlly PankiwRelease DateJune 7, 2024CastCaleb Hearon, Sabrina Jalees, Olga Petsa, Rachel Sennott, Jason JonesRatingNRRuntime105 MinutesGenresDrama, Comedy Expand

It's not difficult to guess what happened to Sam,...

It’s not a joke: Ally Pankiw spent 10 years making “I Used to Be Funny” into the dog whistle of a dark comedy for millennial women.

As Pankiw told IndieWire, the film is a “nightmare of what it is to be a young woman in the world,” with Rachel Sennott playing Sam Cowell, an aspiring stand-up comedian grappling with Ptsd after an assault. Sam is haunted by the memories of working as an au pair for teen girl Brooke (Olga Petsa), who recently disappeared. The film premiered at the 2023 SXSW Festival.

Writer/director Pankiw’s debut feature, which already landed her among IndieWire’s female filmmakers to watch list, has topped IndieWire’s must-see films of the summer in part due to the “no-brainer” casting of buzzy star Sennott in the lead role.

“Rachel is such an exceptional talent because she makes everything feel like it’s her, [and] like it’s effortless,...

For many viewers, the scenes hardest to take in viral streaming cringefest “Baby Reindeer” weren’t the ones of overt stalking or abuse, but those depicting the Doa stand-up comedy of Richard Gadd’s alter ego — moments whose flop-sweating public failure seemed to stretch into tortuous infinity. Canadian feature “I Used to Be Funny” likewise hinges on a paralyzing intersection between stand-up, anxiety and depression. Mercifully, however, here it’s not the protagonist’s stage act that is the cause of massive self-doubt. Instead, it’s a host of external problems that conspire to make her incapable of performing …as well as eating, sleeping and leaving her apartment.

Ally Pankiw’s big-screen debut recalls such prior indie features as “The Big Sick,” “Sleepwalk With Me” and “Obvious Child” in successfully using a comedy milieu to place a leavening frame around some very serious issues. In this case, an aspiring comedian...

Rachel Sennott is funny, and her character in I Used to be Funny, a stand-up comedian named Sam, is too—or at least she used to be. Writer-director Ally Pankiw’s debut feature weaves two eras of Sam’s life together, with Sennott fully embodying both the bubbly, brassy person Sam once was and the shut-in she became in the wake of a traumatizing event. The nimble way that she hops between these two versions of the character easily makes up for the odd narrative misstep that I Used to Be Funny makes along the way.

The film begins with Sam cooped up in a house she shares with her two besties, fellow comedians Paige (Sabrina Jalees) and Philip (Caleb Hearon). They’re both worried about how reclusive Sam has become, as well as her refusal to get back on stage, though it’s some kind of progress when they...

I Used To Be Funny Image: Utopia Rape jokes are never funny, except when a survivor gives you permission to laugh. In the rearview of a hard-earned recovery, it is pretty funny that the joke-teller went to bed in a sopping wet towel, commended by their friends because at least...

I Used To Be FunnyImage: Utopia

Rape jokes are never funny, except when a survivor gives you permission to laugh. In the rearview of a hard-earned recovery, it is pretty funny that the joke-teller went to bed in a sopping wet towel, commended by their friends because at least they took a shower for once.

Rachel Sennott delivers an impressive performance that takes her impressive skills to new levels in I Used to Be Funny. The film balances humor with sensitive subject matter and cleverly withholds information, resulting in an emotionally affecting and surprising story. I Used to Be Funny may get too melodramatic or even cheesy near the end, but the phenomenal acting keeps things grounded.

Anyone who pays attention to the rising stars of young Hollywood will have kept tabs on Rachel Sennott, the extremely talented, multifaceted, and funny actor from Tahara, Shiva Baby, Bodies Bodies Bodies, and Bottoms. I Used to Be Funny, writer-director Ally Pankiw's feature debut, stars Sennott as Sam, a comedian whose career has been stopped in its tracks by Ptsd. To make matters worse, the girl she was previously a nanny for, Brooke (Olga Petsa), has gone missing, and Sam seems to be the last person to have seen her.

While her performance in Bottoms may have gotten the most buzz out of South by Southwest Film Festival last year, Rachel Sennott also brought a dramedy to the festival. Ally Pankiw’s debut I Used to Be Funny follows that actor as an aspiring stand-up who struggles with attempting to search for a missing teenager she used to nanny. Also starring Olga Pesta, Jason Jones, Sabrina Jalees, Caleb Hearon, and Ennis Esmer, the first trailer has now arrived ahead of a June 7 release from Utopia.

Here’s the synopsis: “I Used To Be Funny is a dark dramedy that follows Sam Cowell (Rachel Sennott), an aspiring stand-up comedian and au pair struggling with Ptsd, as she decides whether or not to join the search for Brooke (Olga Petsa), a missing teenage girl she used to nanny. The story exists between the present, where Sam tries to recover from her trauma and get back on stage,...

I Used To Be Funny Screenshot: Utopia/YouTube Even though the world is still recovering from her earth-shaking delivery of “your parents are upper middle class” in Bodies Bodies Bodies, Rachel Sennott is back with yet another sardonic but personally miserable protagonist in I Used To Be Funny, the feature-length debut from director Ally Pankiw.

I Used To Be FunnyScreenshot: Utopia/YouTube

Even though the world is still recovering from her earth-shaking delivery of “your parents are upper middle class” in Bodies Bodies Bodies, Rachel Sennott is back with yet another sardonic but personally miserable protagonist in I Used To Be Funny, the feature-length debut from director Ally Pankiw.

Rachel Sennott always has her finger on the pulse of indie films, and her latest feature “I Used to Be Funny” is no exception.

The “Shiva Baby,” “Bodies Bodies Bodies,” and “Bottoms” star leads highly anticipated dark dramedy “I Used To Be Funny,” directed by rising talent Ally Pankiw who has helmed episodes of “Black Mirror” and “The Great,” plus a recent short film titled “Decades of Confusion” for fashion brand Loewe.

Sennott stars as aspiring stand-up comedian Sam Cowell who works as an au pair by day. Yet after the disappearance of Brooke (Olga Petsa), a teen girl she used to nanny, Sam begins to struggle with Ptsd and grapples with whether or not to join the search. The film is split between two timelines as Sam tries to recover from her past trauma and get back on stage while also reliving memories of Brooke.

Writer/director Pankiw marks...

"I Used To Be Funny" is a comedy-drama starring Rachel Sennott as a stand-up comedian struggling with Ptsd. The film explores themes of trauma, recovery, and the ripple effects they have on relationships and communities. Utopia has acquired the U.S. rights to the film, partnering with writer-director Ally Pankiw to share this nuanced story with audiences.

We have a new look at actor and Bottoms star Rachel Sennott in her upcoming movie I Used To Be Funny. The film is written and directed by Ally Pankiw, who will be making her feature film directorial debut. I Used To Be Funny is a comedy-drama starring Sennott as a standup comedian, a profession that she had some experience in prior to becoming an actor. Several new images from I Used To Be Funny have now been released, which you can check out below courtesy of X/Twitter:

New look at...

After distributing Rachel Sennot’s breakout movie Shiva Baby, Utopia has landed the U.S. rights to the SXSW feature I Used to Be Funny starring The Idol actress.

The comedy-drama follows Sam (Sennott), an aspiring stand-up comedian struggling with Ptsd, as she decides whether or not to join the search for a missing teenage girl she used to nanny. Jason Jones, Sabrina Jalees, Caleb Hearon, Olga Petsa, and Ennis Esmer round out the cast

Ally Pankiw, whose credits include The Great and Black Mirror, made her feature directorial debut on the film, which was produced by James Weyman, Jason Aita and Breann Smordin of Barn 12. Li-Wei Chu of Partizan, Judy Holm of Markham Street Films and Alcina Pictures’ Paul Barkin executive produced, along with Pankiw.

“It was so fulfilling to see how I Used to Be Funny and its honest portrayal of recovery from trauma resonated with audiences at...

The 33rd annual Inside Out Toronto 2Slgbtq+ Film Festival has revealed its full film lineup.

Showcasing 107 films from 30 countries, including 33 feature films, and 7 world premieres. The festival will take place both in-person and virtually from May 25th to June 4th in Toronto, Canada. The announcement was made today by Inside Out’s Co-Head & Executive Director, Elie Chivi, and Co-Head & Artistic Director, Andrew Murphy. ​​

The festival’s opening night film this year will be the Canadian Premiere of acclaimed filmmaker Ira Sachs’ French romantic drama Passages, which premiered earlier this year at Sundance to rave reviews. The drama about three people caught in a love triangle marked by passion, jealousy, and narcissism stars Franz Rogowski, Ben Whishaw, and Adele Exarchopoulos. Closing the festival will be the World Premiere of a fantastical summer romance with a big musical heart, Glitter & Doom by Tom Gustafson, which is a love story told through the...

Titles join Cannes Un Certain Regard selection The Delinquents, others.

Magnolia Pictures International has bulked up its Cannes sales slate by adding international sales rights to SXSW selections I Used To Be Funny and Cora Bora.

Ally Pankiw wrote and directed the dramedy I Used To Be Funny which follows an aspiring stand-up comedian and au pair grappling with Ptsd from an experience that is revealed gradually.

Rachel Sennott from Shiva Baby stars with newcomer Olga Petsa, Jason Jones, Sabrina Jalees, Caleb Hearon, Ennis Esmer, and Dani Kind.

Pankiw makes her feature directorial debut. She previously directed and served as...

Rachel Sennott continued her impressive run as a quick-witted, creatively vulgar comic in Bottoms, which premiered during South By Southwest’s second night. But she does something more impressive in Ally Pankiw’s I Used to Be Funny, her second starring turn in this festival that highlights her full dimensionality. Though she still gets to show off her standup skills here––Sennott garners laughs in a series of scenes performing in comedy clubs, something movies and television are rarely able to achieve––this character study about trauma’s unpredictable ripple effects doesn’t foreground too many jokes. As the title implies, this is a movie about losing (and attempting to regain) a defining characteristic due to circumstances out of one’s control.

When the movie opens, Sam (Sennott) has just discovered and become distressed over a 14-year-old (Olga Petsa) who’s gone missing. The significance of their relationship is unclear...

Festival runs March 10-19 in Austin, Texas.

SXSW opens on Friday with the world premiere of all-star fantasy romp Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, kicking off what is expected to be a rambunctious 10 days of screenings of films both spoken for and available for worldwide distribution.

Over the years the festival has proved itself to be a valuable launchpad for studio titles and the most recent evidence of that was last year’s edition, where A24 premiered Oscar frontrunner Everything Everywhere All At Once in 2022 as well as Ti West’s horror X, Lionsgate brought The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent...

SXSW has announced the first wave of movie and television programming for its 2023 film festival, including its narrative, documentary, and television competition lineups.

While several sections of the complete film lineup, including this year’s Global and 24 Beats Per Minute programming, have yet to be announced, the lineup already features new work from many of the industry’s most exciting names. The festival will open with the world premiere of “Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” John Francis Dailey and Jonathan Goldstein’s comedic adaptation of the beloved role-playing game. Other notable premieres include “Evil Dead Rise,” the latest entry in Sam Raimi’s camp horror franchise that hails from director Lee Cronin; Eva Longoria’s Frito-Lay origin story “Flamin’ Hot”; and the Season 2 premiere of “Blindspotting.”

“We are thrilled to announce the first wave of our incredible lineup for SXSW 2023,” SXSW VP of Film & TV Claudette Godfrey said in a statement.

SXSW has announced the first batch of titles in its 2023 film festival line-up, including opening night movie, Paramount’s big-budget adventure film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.

“We are thrilled to announce the first wave of our incredible lineup for SXSW 2023,” said Claudette Godfrey, vp film & tv. “It’s an amazing collection of films, TV series and Xr experiences that promise to inspire, entertain and challenge our audiences. We’re also proud to open with Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, a raucous and engaging fantasy adventure, and look forward to welcoming everyone to Austin in March for what promises to be an unforgettable event.”

The other 2023 headliners are the Julio Torres A24 movie Problemista, the latest film in the Evil Dead franchise, Evil Dead Rise, and Eva Longoria’s directorial debut Flamin’ Hot. Last year’s headliners included box office break out The Lost City and awards contender Everything Everywhere All At Once.

Ours is an age of nostalgia. Now that the rose-tinted glasses have increasingly turned their gaze toward the 1990s — they’re literally making a “That ’90s Show,” in case you didn’t already feel old enough — “Mixtape” almost feels timely. With a pre-Y2K setting, soundtrack featuring the likes of Vitamin C and Lit, and plot revolving around an orphaned 12-year-old named Beverly (Gemma Brook Allen) tracking down the songs on a mixtape belonging to her departed parents, Valerie Weiss’ very-young-adult dramedy is also a (deep) cut above the usual tween fare.

“A mixtape is a message from the maker to the listener,” says the jaded record-store owner (Nick Thune) to whom Beverly turns for help on her whimsical mission, and you can be sure that “Mixtape” abounds in similar pearls of wisdom. For the most part though, the film’s inherent sweetness keeps such lines from eliciting eye rolls...

Ally Pankiw will make her feature directing debut with “Brooke & Sam,” an upcoming comedic drama featuring “Shiva Baby” breakout Rachel Sennott.

The film, which quietly wrapped production, follows Sam, a young stand-up comedian and au pair struggling with Ptsd, who is weighing whether or not to join the search for Brooke, a missing girl she used to nanny. The story exists between the present, where Sam tries to recover from her trauma with the help of her friends in the comedy community, and the past, where memories of Brooke make it harder and harder to ignore the teen’s disappearance; and harder and harder to get back on stage.

Pankiw, who wrote the script along with directing the film, has established herself in the television and streaming world. Her directing and executive producing credits include the entire first season of Netflix’s series, “Feel Good,” which was created by and stars comedian Mae Martin.

"A mixtape is a message from the maker to the listener." That is indeed an accurate description. Netflix has debuted an official trailer for a nostalgic dramedy film titled Mixtape, the latest from filmmaker Valerie Weiss. As the world approaches Y2K, a quirky 12-year-old sets out on a journey to find songs on a mixtape made by her late parents. When a young girl accidentally destroys the mixtape that belonged to her mother, she sets out to track down each of the obscure songs on the cassette. The film stars Gemma Brooke Allen as Beverly, with Audrey Hsieh, Olga Petsa, Jackson Rathbone, plus Nick Thune and Julie Bowen. As cute as this looks, it's pretty much like hitting gold in the nostalgia mine - combining late 90s nostalgia with cassette-tape nostalgia all in one! There's also toppings of Napster nostalgia and vinyl nostalgia, too. It does look like ...

Exclusive: The music-driven project Mixtape, which landed on the 2009 Black List, is finally turning up the volume at Netflix.

Outer Banks and The Archer director Valerie Weiss has come aboard to direct, with a number of actors joining the cast including two-time Emmy winner Julie Bowen, Gemma Brooke Allen, Nick Thune, Jackson Rathbone and newcomers Olga Petsa, Audrey Hsieh and Diego Mercado.

Stacey Menear penned the original script with revisions by The Half of It‘s Alice Wu.

In Mixtape, on the eve of Y2K, orphaned, awkward 12-year-old Beverly Moody (Allen) discovers a broken mixtape crafted by her teen parents. Raised by her grandmother Gail (Bowen), a former teen mom herself who finds it painful to speak about her late daughter, Beverly sees this mixtape as a chance to finally learn more about her parents. So she sets out on a journey to find all the songs on the tape.