Genre
Synopsis
PUDDYSTICKS is a joyously twisted dark comedy produced by Alex Coco (Palme d'Or winner Anora, A24’s Red Rocket) and Olympian Alexi Pappas, starring Mamoudou Athie (Kinds of Kindness, Jurassic World), Dan Bakkedahl (Veep), Danny Deferrari (Oppenheimer, Shiva Baby), and writer/director Megan Seely.
The film follows anxious videogame designer Liz and her therapeutic odyssey into a secret society of adults who play like little kids. Led by the alluring Sylvester Cromwell, the society compels each member to reveal their most shameful memory, with the promise of psychological healing through childlike play. But when Liz finally gains the courage to share her own darkest trauma, her world turns upside down and she must find her own way to free herself of her past.
Bio
Megan Seely is an award-winning filmmaker exploring life through dark comedy. Her feature debut PUDDYSTICKS is produced by Alex Coco (ANORA, RED ROCKET) and stars Dan Bakkedahl (VEEP), Mamoudou Athie (KINDS OF KINDNESS), Danny Deferrari (SHIVA BABY), and herself. Beyond writing, directing, and acting in the festival-favorite MY LOYAL AUDIENCE, she co-wrote THE MAD WHALE, a feature starring Camilla Belle, Summer Phoenix, Dominic Rains, and James Franco and recently released her fiction podcast EVERY YEAR ON MY HALF BIRTHDAY, which she created and stars in with Dan Bakkedahl and Peter Vack.
As an actress, she can be seen in the Filipino-American musical feature THE GIRL WHO LEFT HOME and with Helena Howard in TWIST (premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and qualified for the Academy Awards), on which she also served as co-producer. Megan received her M.F.A. from USC.
Screening History
Premiere - Cinequest 2024
Sarasota 2024
International Premiere - Fantaspoa 2024
Lower East Side Film Festival 2024
Eastern Oregon Film Festival 2024
Awards History
Lower East Side Film Festival - Closing Night Film
Credits
Producer - Alex Coco
Actor - Mamoudou Athie
Producer - Alexi Pappas
