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What We Do Next film image, director Stephen Belber

What We Do Next

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Canadian Premiere

Councilwoman Sandy James (Karen Pittman) aspires to a more compassionate New York. But when a woman from her past, Elsa (Michelle Veintimilla), is released from prison, Sandy worries her detractors will uncover her involvement in Elsa’s crime. Sixteen years ago, Sandy and her then-fling, corporate lawyer Paul (Corey Stoll), loaned $500 to a teenage Elsa who sought protection from her abusive father—not realizing they were buying her a gun with which to kill him.

To protect Sandy’s career, she and Paul ask Elsa to lie to a journalist about the source of the funds. But one lie opens the door to blackmail, and when Elsa’s parole is violated, she asks Sandy and Paul to corroborate another lie—forcing them to walk the razor’s edge between their morals and the standard judicial process. Writer/director Stephen Belber’s heart-wrenching dramatic three-hander provides incisive commentary on gun control, racial and class biases, the nature of trauma, and the failures of the U.S. justice system to protect the most vulnerable.

 

Q&A Sept 30 & Oct 2

Director
Cast

Corey Stoll, Karen Pittman, Michelle Veintimilla

Credits
Country of Origin

USA

Year

2022

Language

English

Film Contact
Content Warning

Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence, Child Abuse, Self Harm, Incest

18+

At International Village

19+

At The Rio

77 min
Award Winners Drama

Book Tickets

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Credits

Executive Producer

Brian Tanke, Stephen Belber, Matt Bronson

Producer

Chris Mangano, Merry-Kay Poe, Max Neace

Screenwriter

Stephen Belber

Cinematography

Garrette Rose

Editor

Justin Chan

Production Design

Christelle Matou

Original Music

Paul Brill

Director

Stephen Belber headshot, What We Do Next director

Stephen Belber

Stephen Belber’s plays have been produced on Broadway and in over 25 countries. They include Tape (2000), Match (2004), The Power of Duff (2012), and The Muscles In Our Toes (2014). He was an associate writer for Tape (2001) and a writer for The Laramie Project (2002). He also wrote and directed Management (2008), and Match (2014), which starred Jennifer Aniston and Patrick Stewart, respectively. His television credits include Rescue Me, Law & Order SVU, and pilots for F/X, FTVS, and HBO.

Filmography: Management (2008); Match (2014)