Canadian Premiere
Sam can’t sleep. His bedroom is surrounded on all sides by chirping smoke alarms, the sign of a low battery. So he does what any bleary-eyed problem solver would do: sets out on an odyssey to find the annoying beeps and in the process learns about himself, his neighbors, and his place in the world.
Supported by
Community Partner
Samuel Smith, Robert Vilalta
USA
2024
In English and Spanish with English subtitles
Coarse language
Open to youth!
Indigenous & Community Access
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Credits & Director
Executive Producer
Sam Smith, Robert Vilalta
Producer
Kirk Johnson
Cinematography
Nathan Smith
Editor
Jack Price, Kirk Johnson
Original Music
Robert Amjärv, Bennett Barbakow
Kirk Johnson
Kirk Johnson specializes in character-based documentaries that weave together true life, drama and comedy. He was a producer on The Amazing Johnathan Documentary (2019) which premiered and was acquired by Hulu at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. He also co-directed the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary series The American Gladiators Documentary (2023) which recently premiered on the ESPN Network worldwide.
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