Official Selection - 2026 Tribeca Festival

THAT FRIEND

GenreComedy / Bromance

Runtime90 min

ProductionBolo / Straw Hut Media

IMDbtt33041195

Logline

When Paul crashes his best friend Henry's romantic weekend in Palm Springs with his new girlfriend Penny, what starts as an innocent visit spirals into mayhem after Paul's drug-laced cigarettes disappear into a stranger's hands.

Synopsis

That Friend is an indie bromance comedy about Paul (Harvey Guillén) — you know, that friend whose invitation for “one drink” seems harmless but inevitably leads to chaotic consequences.

When Paul crashes his best friend Henry's (Josh Brener) romantic weekend in Palm Springs with his new girlfriend Penny (Billie Lourd), what starts as an innocent visit spirals into mayhem after Paul's drug-laced cigarettes disappear into a stranger's hands.

Written and directed by the filmmaking duo Alex Wall and Will Sterling in their feature debut, this film explores the hilarious and complex dynamics of friendship, loyalty, and the chaos we create for the people we love most.

Directors' Statement

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Production Stills

Filmmakers

Alex Wall

Writer / Director

That Friend is the debut feature from Alex Wall (writer/director). His prior collaborations with Will Sterling have placed and been featured in The Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting, Newport Beach Film Festival, Paris International Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, Blue Cat Screenwriting and more. Wall edits and produces unscripted television for HBO, MAX, NBC, A&E and Netflix.

Will Sterling

Writer / Director

That Friend is the second film from Will Sterling (writer/director). His prior collaborations with Alex Wall have placed and been featured in The Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting, Newport Beach Film Festival, Paris International Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, Blue Cat Screenwriting and more. Sterling is also a novelist who recently published his first book.

Ryan Tillotson

Producer

Ryan Tillotson is the founder and CEO of acclaimed podcast house Straw Hut Media that partners with Hulu, Netflix, Universal, Rotten Tomatoes, among several other companies.

Cast

Harvey Guillén

Paul

Emmy-nominated for his beloved role as Guillermo in “What We Do in the Shadows.”

Billie Lourd

Penny

Star of “American Horror Story,” “Scream Queens,” and “Booksmart.”

Josh Brener

Henry

Known for “Silicon Valley” and “The Internship.”

Retta

Christine

Known for “Parks and Recreation” and “Good Girls.”

Neil Brown Jr.

Bill

Known for “SEAL Team” and “Straight Outta Compton.”

Miles Gutierrez-Riley

Spencer

Known for “The Wilds” and “Gaslit.”

Lauren Lapkus

Jessa

Known for “Orange Is the New Black,” “The Wrong Missy,” and “Good Girls.”

Mary Holland

Michelle

Known for “Happiest Season,” “Booksmart,” and “The Afterparty.”

Rose Abdoo

Maryann

Known for “Gilmore Girls,” “Reno 911!,” and “People of Earth.”

Alok Vaid-Menon

Blair

Acclaimed author, poet, and performer known for their comedy specials and bestselling books.

Paul Guzman

Phillip

Actor and comedian known for his versatile performances.

Will Sterling

Pastor Kevin

Co-writer and co-director of “That Friend,” also appearing as Pastor Kevin.

Full Credits

Written & Directed byAlex Wall & Will Sterling

Produced byRyan Tillotson

Executive ProducersTroy Hoffman, Levi Chambers, Stephen Markley

Executive ProducersHarvey Guillén, Billie Lourd, Josh Brener, Retta

ProducersAlex Wall & Will Sterling

Co-ProducerKristi Lugo

Director of PhotographyMichael Amico

Edited byJosh Land

Music byDillon Baldassero

Production DesignerLucia Lopez

Wardrobe byDanielle Bazan & Madeline Boreham

Casting DirectorKristi Lugo

1st Assistant DirectorAshley Rosenberg

Cast

PaulHarvey Guillén

PennyBillie Lourd

HenryJosh Brener

ChristineRetta

BillNeil Brown Jr.

SpencerMiles Gutierrez-Riley

JessaLauren Lapkus

MichelleMary Holland

MaryannRose Abdoo

BlairAlok Vaid-Menon

FredrickJim Hoffmaster

Pastor KevinWill Sterling

PhillipPaul Guzman

ChrisAlan Peterson

TiffanyAisha Holden

Other HenryVance Lovett

Baby HenryAlex Wall

Additional Cast

PartygoerKatharine Mangold

PartygoerEdward Hong

PartygoerAnand Ramprasad

PartygoerSofiane Aït-Kaci

PartygoerJase Alan

PartygoerJosephine Chang

Bonfire GuestMadison Cross

Bonfire GuestChristine Armstrong

Bonfire GuestDillon Baldassero

Bonfire GuestMaggie Boles

Bonfire GuestBrianna Wongsuphakphan

Liquor Store ClerkEdgar

Paul's Rideshare DriverAshley Rosenberg

Penny's FootMaggie Boles

Crew

1st Assistant DirectorAshley Rosenberg

Script SupervisorKristin Rapinchuk

Production CoordinatorVance Lovett

2nd Unit DPCameron Owen

Camera OperatorsArturo Ochoa, Cameron Owen

1st Camera AssistantsJake O'Connor, Cecilia Hubbard, Andre Fernandez

Drone OperatorMalin Hiles

Digital Imaging TechJosh Land

Key GripLance Brown

2nd Unit Key GripKevin Ramirez

Production Sound MixerDaniel McCoy

Production DesignerLucia Lopez

WardrobeDanielle Bazan, Madeline Boreham

Hair Department HeadJill Corp

Key Hair StylistConnie Agawin

Key Makeup ArtistRomie Macedo

Makeup ArtistsKeaghlan Ashley, Jay Quintana

Production AssistantsRaelle Vargas, Brianna Wongsuphakphan

Asst. to Harvey GuillénAmada Sanchez

Behind the ScenesEdward Sandoval, Matt Carver

Set PhotographerJordan Reed

Head of TransportationEric Dansak

Post Production

Edited byJosh Land

Assistant EditorJosh Land

ComposerDillon Baldassero

Music SupervisorScarlett McDonald

Digital IntermediateFotoKem Creative Services

Finishing ColoristAlastor Arnold

Finishing ProducerEmily Vail

Visual EffectsBenjamin Nichols

Sound — MelodyGun Studios

Sound SupervisorHamed Hokamzadeh, MPSE

Supv. Sound Editor / Re-rec MixerThomas Ouziel, MPSE

Dialog EditorKevin Khor, MPSE

Foley ArtistReece Miller

Foley MixerKristopher Breckon

Sound Effects EditorAmenda Lee

Musicians

TrumpetKae Murphy

Flute & ClarinetKaren Ng

Drums & PercussionMark Ballyk

DrumsZach Sutton

Bass & GuitarBrad Labelle

Catering

Anna Marie Ugapo

Gwen Marlowe Catering

Leo's Tacos

Music

“Shake Your Groove Thing”Peaches & Herb • Courtesy of Polydor Records / Universal Music Enterprises

“It Keeps You Running”The Doobie Brothers • Courtesy of Rhino Entertainment / Warner Music Group

“It Keeps You Running”Michael McDonald • Courtesy of Kobalt Music Publishing

“When They Fight, They Fight”Grant Widmer & Edward Joyner • Rough Trade Publishing / Bank Robber Music

“Time”Angelo De Augustine • Courtesy of Secretly Publishing / Asthmatic Kitty Records

“I Can't Explain”Maggie Glass • Produced by Dillon Baldassero

“This Is It”Maggie Glass • Produced by Dillon Baldassero

“Modern Love”Maggie Glass

“True Romance”Maggie Glass • Performed by Squarefish

“I'm That Girl”Danielle Carr

“MP3”Danielle Carr

“She Noticed”Pregnant

“Wyd”Grebes

“Time With My Baby”Tino Drima

“Infinito Tren”Amos Ever Hadani ft. Tula Ben Ari • Courtesy of Artlist

“Where's The Magic Gone”Kyle Cox • Courtesy of Artlist

“Le Bon Temps”Retrophonics • Courtesy of Artlist

“Lever De La Lune”Dan Zeutine feat. Loren Noyman • Courtesy of Artlist

“Limitless ZISO Remix”Ziso • Courtesy of Artlist

“Harmony Rush”Alex MakeMusic • Courtesy of Artlist

“Hi”Kawauso • Courtesy of Artlist

“Miss Lindy”Larry and The Lamp Lighters • Courtesy of Artlist

“End Of The Line”Roy Young • Courtesy of Artlist

“Your & I”Benjamin Esterlis • Courtesy of Artlist

“Positive Persistent Pluck Sequence 2”Artlist Music Logos • Courtesy of Artlist

Thank You

Michael McDonald • Kacey Short • Tara Roy • Maggie Boles • Mother Earth Brewing • Pizza Port Brewing • Carver Diserens • Sonja O'Hara • Jeff Deverett • Jay Kogen • Caroline Mendoza • Ana Clara • Ali Ahmed • Danielle Carr • Madison Cross • Alan Peterson • Nikki Groton • Paul Coleman • Rachel Paulson • Kayleen Casey • Michaelangelo Macias • Carrie Frazier • Jessica Thompson • Connor Simpson • Katrina Bitner • Benjamin Nichols • Christine Armstrong • Stephen Markley • Anand Ramprasad • Ian Robertson • David Pergolini • Nicholas Ybarra • Jase Allen • Katie McCuen • Dave Burg • Dean Liao • Keayva Mitchell • Christian Bladt • Xavier Montesinos • Alexandra Montesinos • Kristi Avila • Rajeev Dassani • California State University at Long Beach • The Writers of Fantasy Football League • Adam Moore • Martin Wright • Ryan Beardsley • Mark Hanna • Emmett Russell • James Lostlen • George Zakkour • Jennifer Jakob Scelzi • David Holechek • Daniel Holechek • Ben Cox • Alexander Jeffrey • Greg Hollander • Bo Youngblood