‘Charliebird' First Look: A Children's Hospital Music Therapist Struggles to Find Hope Through Song in Tribeca Premiere
There is a certain ballad that carries over when dealing with a shared trauma: It's a resonance that only those who are attuned to woe can understand. In the highly-anticipated film 'Charliebird,' that song is amplified to a volume that no doubt will be heard by audiences everywhere.
'Charliebird' stars Samantha Smart (who also wrote the script) as a music therapist at a children's hospital. During her shift, she is assigned to work with one patient whose story triggers her own past. The film will have its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in the narrative competition section. This Libby Ewing's directorial feature debut.
More from IndieWire
Akira Kurosawa Event at Film Forum to Debut 4K Restorations of 'High and Low,' 'Stray Dog,' and More
'It's Dorothy!' Review: The 'Wizard of Oz' Heroine's Cultural Impact Is Closely Considered in This Energetic Doc
The official synopsis reads: 'Working as a music therapist at a children's hospital in Texas, Alyse aka Al (Smart) is deeply devoted to her patients and has a rebellious spirit. She's masking her struggle to face a violent, past trauma. Her world is challenged when Charlie, a resistant 17-year-old patient, is assigned to her. Unlike her other kids, Charlie has no interest in working with Al. She doesn't trust her at first, but there is something about Charlie that reminds Al of her past and she is drawn to her, determined to break through. Their sisterly bond grows with an unexpected force. As professional lines blur, Al moves through her past, as Charlie confronts her unknown future.' Gabriela Ochoa Perez, Jeffrey Grover, Gabe Fazio, and Maria Peyramaure co-star.
'Charliebird' is produced by Ewing, Smart, and Elliot Gipson. The film was developed in Ewing's female writers collective, which she started in 2020. 'Once the characters became clear to me, they kind of steered the script- as woo as that sounds. In that way, I don't feel like I wrote it: I feel like I listened and typed,' Smart said.
After then after director Ewing's own father suddenly passed away in 2023, she knew that it would be cathartic and healing for them both to bring the story of 'Charliebird' to the screen.
'It was a life altering experience,' Ewing told IndieWire of making the film. 'Sam and I had been working on 'Charliebird' for a while at that point and the only thing that made sense to me [after losing my dad] was to make this film. Funding was a long, oftentimes discouraging journey and ultimately we were able to fund our film because of individuals who were touched by this story. Our beloved community, including League City, San Leon, Dickinson High School, and The Houston Film Commission, were tremendous resources for us. We kept production as small as we could without losing the integrity of the story. If there were financial limitations, that's where the creative problem solving pushed me and the team into making bold and meaningful, story driven choices. Sam and I were relentless in our mission and I'm convinced making a movie is a miracle.'
Ewing added that it was 'serendipitous' to be at Tribeca 2025, especially during a year where the festival program has a strong music theme with debuts of Billy Joel's 'And So It Goes' documentary and Miley Cyrus' own directorial debut, 'Something Beautiful.' 'We all know that music is transcendent and transformative; it has the power to heal,' Ewing said. 'My hope is that 'Charliebird' highlights how vital the work of music therapists and creative arts therapists are as part of the healing journey. These individuals are dedicating themselves to not only providing an outlet for patients, but in many cases, assisting patients and their families during the process of end-of-life care. These programs are often the first to lose funding and I hope to rally our audiences' support around the value this provides for our failing healthcare system.'
Ewing and Smart are set to reunite on another music-centric film, titled 'September.' The feature is a love story set in Paris.
'Charliebird' premieres at Tribeca as a sales title from Circus Road Films. Check out the first look clip below.
Best of IndieWire
Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See
'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie
Nicolas Winding Refn's Favorite Films: 37 Movies the Director Wants You to See
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘Suited and booted'? Club World Cup lands in a furnace of political tension
You need a special glove to hold the key to the Club World Cup you know. You need a special glove to hold the key to the Club World Cup you know. Photograph: Mark Humphrey/AP BEHOLD: THE COPA GIANNI After years of existing only as a fever dream inside the shiny, spacious cranium of Fifa's greatest showman, Gianni Infantino, the first edition of an expanded, summertime Club World Cup that nobody asked for is finally here. Infantino's most ambitious vanity project to date is about to collide with reality, and as students of the Swiss school of football farce, we're excited. It's not so much a question of what will go wrong over the next 30 sun-baked days in an increasingly dystopian USA USA USA, but what might actually go right. Saturday's opener pitches Egyptian giants Al-Ahly (who qualified by winning the 2021 African Big Cup) against MLS middleweights Inter Miami (who qualified by having Lionel Messi in their team) at the 65,000-capacity Hard Rock Stadium. Fifa has denied reports that fewer than 20,000 tickets have been sold for the game in Miami, but the tournament's dynamic pricing model is trending in one direction: from $349 in December, some tickets are now cheaper than $60. Advertisement In an effort to fill seats, local college students have reportedly been offered a multi-buy deal at $4 a seat. Other early highlights include Bayern Munich v Auckland City, an amateur side who claimed Oceania's only qualifying spot and may be hoping to avoid a baseball scoreline in Cincinnati. PSG v Atlético Madrid on Sunday might sound a more bearable prospect – but the game will be played in 30-degree heat at the Rose Bowl, a roofless arena on the outskirts of a city in turmoil. Donald Trump's response to protests against deportations in Los Angeles has been to send in the military; hosting glorified pre-season friendlies is the last thing on anyone's minds right now. It may come to pass that Gianni's great white elephant is obscured by the elephant in the room. LAFC, who face Chelsea in Atlanta on Monday, are a club with deep roots in their city's migrant communities. Earlier this week, their fans held a silent protest against ICE raids in the city during an MLS game. Suddenly, Liam Delap's potential debut is far from the biggest story in town. The main thing Infantino should be asking himself – save for where that bloody key has gone – is whether Trump's increasingly visible and emboldened hostile environment is a suitable backdrop to a global football jamboree featuring 32 teams from 20 nations. Long derided as a half-baked joke, the rebooted Copa Gianni has landed in a furnace of political tension – and suddenly doesn't seem so funny any more. On the eve of the tournament, US Customs and Border Protection have confirmed they will be 'suited and booted, ready to provide security for the first round of games,' in a social media post that could scarcely have sounded more ominous. Fifa's best chance of any kind of atmosphere at this month's matches will come when Latin American sides meet, attracting expat fans – like River Plate v Monterrey at the Rose Bowl, for instance. Now, the only people in America who actually want to go and watch these games might fear what awaits them at the venue. 'It's perfectly reasonable to be scared,' the American Immigration Council told Reuters. 'We haven't seen large-scale immigration enforcement actions at sporting events like this historically, but this is also a moment that is not like any other in US history.' Good job there's not a 48-nation World Cup taking place there in exactly 12 months' time, then. Wait, what's that? Oh, Gianni! QUOTE OF THE DAY The time has come for me to move on. But, even as I leave, I know I have left a big piece of my heart at Brentford, not just at the football club but with the community and, of course, the incredible and loyal supporters. For my family and I, it has been a privilege to be allowed to be part of such a special community – it's an experience and adventure that we will cherish for life' – Thomas Frank pens a love letter to Brentford fans after racing round the North Circular for a different kind of adventure at the Cirque du Spurs. FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS On the dawn of the 'it doesn't matter what you call it, it's a disgraceful monstrosity that shouldn't exist', can I make a plea that we just ignore it? I mean, I know any reputable sports writer, or someone who has to knock out The Daily, can't, because of journalism etc, but surely, the 1,057 can keep the letters section free of any mention of the wretched thing. C'mon folks, pedantry, nostalgic whimsy, godawful puns and lengthy diatribes about the state of it all suffused a sense of powerlessness and angst. We've got this. Maybe still go easy on the puns' – Jon Millard. Good luck to Crystal Palace fans, if Woody Johnson does buy John Textor's shares (yesterday's News, Bits and Bobs, full email edition). The Jets are an absolute clown show and have been so forever. Johnson is generally regarded as the stupidest owner in the league, and there's admittedly tough competition. So, yeah, could be fun in south London' – Joe Pearson. Re: Trent Alexander-Arnold's fluent unveiling (yesterday's Football Daily). I assume Florian Wirtz will be busy reading and learning his scouse in time for the new season' – Kevin Quinn. When the new manager of Spurs inevitably reproduces his appalling starts suffered at his previous clubs, will the headline be 'Frank's side bottom', accompanied by an image of Thomas's spherical fibreglass head?' – Peter McHugh. Advertisement If you do have any, please send letters to Today's winner of our prizeless letter o' the day is … Kevin Quinn, la. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed here. RECOMMENDED ASKING Is there anything you have always wanted to ask the USWNT and former Chelsea coach Emma Hayes? Then now is your chance. ABSOLUTELY IFAB-ULOUS Sweden has given us so much: Björn Bjorg, Abba, flat-packed furniture, Volvos, Zlatan, meatballs, herring and, um [snip! – Football Daily Lazy Stereotypes Ed]. And now we can add an amendment to the offside laws to that impressive list. Yep, Swedish third-tier side Torns IF have changed the laws of the game after 'gentle persistence' in exploring an offside loophole. Football's law-making body, Ifab, has amended the text of the offside law to prevent players from doing something they would never do in a million years anyway. Advertisement The change comes after Torns IF, from the speck on a map that is Stångby near Malmö, wondered whether a player could get around the offside law by keeping the ball balanced in the crook of their foot. Yep. A video showing Torn trying to put their 'scoop pass' trick into practice went viral in 2023 and provoked lengthy correspondence between Torn and Ifab, who tried to dismiss the query but then found it 'amusing' and agreed to review the wording of the law. David Elleray, the former Premier League referee and one-time schoolmaster who is technical director of Ifab, wrote to Torn and thanked the club 'for your part in this clarification' and 'for your gentle persistence in this matter'. Torn's Tim Nielsen, said it felt 'absolutely fantastic to have contributed to the rules of the beautiful game', adding: 'Ifab required some convincing, but we got there in the end.' NEWS, BITS AND BOBS Liverpool have agreed a potential £116m deal (£100m plus add-ons) to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen. Insert pun about him not being the Wirtz ever signing here ... Tottenham have filed high court proceedings against Manchester United co-owner Big Sir Jim Ratcliffe's company Ineos over a terminated sponsorship agreement. Advertisement Goals from Harvey Elliott, Jonathan Rowe and Charlie Cresswell propelled England's Under-21s to a 3-1 win over the Czech Republic, getting their European Championship defence off to a decent start. Uh oh, there could be another multi-club operation on the scene. Burnley's owner Alan Pace is in advanced talks to buy a stake in Espanyol. Sigh. USA USA USA winger Christian Pulisic has defended his decision to skip the Gold Cup and slammed those questioning his commitment as 'way out of line'. He fumed: 'I just don't understand why so many people are so big on just wanting to give out these [hot] takes when they've been through tough moments themselves.' Real Madrid have won the race to sign tricky playmaker and teen sensation Franco Mastantuono from River Plate on a six-year deal. Advertisement And the Scottish FA is 'always scanning to see [which managers] are available', according to its chief suit Ian Maxwell. Current head coach Steve Clarke's contract expires at the end of June 2026 and Scotland aren't going to manage themselves, you know. STILL WANT MORE? Thomas Frank is a traditionally slow starter so will need time to turn around Tottenham Hotspur or Spurs. But will he get that time? Jonathan Wilson wonders aloud. While John Brewin looks at what's in Frank's Tottenham in-tray. Former Spurs stopper Hugo Lloris is thriving across the pond with LAFC and will relish the chance to upset Chelsea in their upcoming Copa Gianni tussle, writes Joseph D'Hippolito. Advertisement But in yet another Copa Gianni blow, there are fears that extreme heat during the tournament could pose a danger to fans and players, reports Paul MacInnes. Trent Alexander-Arnold hit all the right notes in his Madrid unveiling, notes Sid Lowe. 'I think it surprised a lot of people,' tooted 'Trent' of his fluent Spanish. Palmeiras's billionaire president Leila Pereira gets her chat on with Caio Carrieri about being the only female chief suit at the 32-team Copa Gianni. And Alejandro Garnacho to Aston Villa? Bryan Mbeumo to join Frank at Spurs? The Rumour Mill delves into the latest dose of transfer dreck. MEMORY LANE November 1999 and Paul Merson is lining up a free-kick for Aston Villa Reserves during their match at Loughborough University. The students remarkably led 2-0 at half-time against a team containing the £18m trio of Merson, Stan Collymore and Mark Draper, before being hauled back to draw 2-2. 'Hey Dazz,' someone shouted to the Loughborough coach, 'Doug Ellis will be calling you next.' YEARNING FOR RESERVES FOOTBALL
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
Mariska Hargitay will reveal past secrets, new family at 'My Mom Jayne' premiere
Mariska Hargitay will reveal past secrets, new family at 'My Mom Jayne' premiere Mariska Hargitay will introduce her extended family and "My Mom Jayne" at Tribeca Film Festival on June 13. And it's going to be big. The "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" star makes her directing debut with the powerful and poignant documentary about her late mother, actress and bombshell Jayne Mansfield. "My Mom Jayne" airs June 27 on HBO after making its world premiere at May's Cannes Film Festival in France to acclaim and global headlines. Hargitay and her siblings, who speak about their mother for the first time on camera in the documentary, will attend the premiere at Carnegie Hall, which will conclude with a discussion featuring Hargitay. Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox "I'm so excited to share this story and share my gorgeous family, these hearts and souls, with the world," Hargitay tells USA TODAY in an interview for an upcoming profile. "My family is coming in and I can't wait to hold them. Because we have been through something together." Which family members appear in Mariska Hargitay's documentary 'My Mom Jayne'? Hargitay goes on a journey to rediscover her famous mother, who died in 1967 at age 34 in a car crash that has become the tragic fodder of Hollywood legend. Hargitay, 3 at the time, survived the horrific crash along with her two brothers, but has no memories of her mother. In "My Mom Jayne," Hargitay speaks with her older brothers from Mansfield's marriage to bodybuilder and actor Mickey Hargitay − Mickey Jr. and Zoltan − as well as older half-sister Jayne Marie Mansfield (from Jayne's first marriage to Paul Mansfield). The family discusses memories of their mother and life in Mansfield's famed Pink Palace home on Sunset Boulevard, which featured a heart-shaped pool and exotic animals. To complete one family circle, the documentary features Hargitay's youngest half-sibling, Anthony Cimber, from Mansfield's brief marriage to her third husband, Italian director Matt Cimber. Just speaking with the famous family for the first time on camera about the life and death of the complex and misunderstood Mansfield, as well as discussing devoted father Hargitay, would make for a compelling documentary. But there's much more to "My Mom Jayne." 'My Mom Jayne' reveals a secret about Jayne Mansfield that Mariska Hargitay kept for 30 years Most headlines surrounding the documentary have centered on the revelation about Hargitay's biological father, which the actress kept secret for more than three decades. In 1963, Mansfield became romantically involved with singer Nelson Sardelli amid her divorce from Mickey Hargitay. Mansfield and Hargitay reconciled late in 1963, and Mariska was born in January 1964. The actress has always called Hargitay, who lovingly raised her after Mansfield's death, "my rock." (Mickey Hargitay, who died in 2006, even guest-starred on a Season 5 episode of "SVU" with his famous daughter.) However, in the documentary, Hargitay discusses her life-altering discovery that Sardelli was her biological father and recounts her decision to dramatically confront the singer in Atlantic City 30 years ago. There were Hollywood whispers that Sardelli was Hargitay's father, including a mention in a tell-all book about Mansfield written by her former publicist, Rusty Strait (who is also interviewed). But Hargitay and Sardelli came to terms and agreed to keep silent. Until now. Hargitay has remained quietly close to Sardelli and his daughters Giovanna and Pietra, from his marriage to Fledia, his wife of 47 years. Sardelli and Hargitay's newly revealed half-sisters all appear in "My Mom Jayne" and are expected to attend the Tribeca premiere. The revelation of these relationships has been freeing to Hargitay. The "SVU" veteran concedes it was a sometimes "bumpy road to get here. But it has paid off. Once you open the door and shed a bit of light on something, the beauty that comes from the scariest places is extraordinary." Even before heading to the premiere with her family, Hargitay feels relieved that the secret is out. "I feel like this 1,000-pound weight has been lifted," she says. "There's this sense of integration and peace about it. There are all these beautiful heartstrings that connect our hearts together. I'm just taking in the moment now." Who else will attend the Tribeca premiere of 'My Mom Jayne'? Hargitay's husband of more than two decades, actor Peter Hermann, will attend. The couple met on the set of "Law & Order: SVU" and have three children: Miklós Friedrich, Amaya Josephine and Andrew Nicolas. "SVU" stars Ice-T and Christopher Meloni will also support their co-star, along with celebrities including Jon Hamm, Carrie-Anne Moss and Brooke Shields. Where can I stream 'My Mom Jayne'? "My Mom Jayne" airs June 27 on HBO (8 EST/PST) and will stream on HBO Max.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Rock Icon, 69, Looks Youthful in Bold Outfit at NYC Documentary Premiere
Rock Icon, 69, Looks Youthful in Bold Outfit at NYC Documentary Premiere originally appeared on Parade. When it comes to rock stars with style, no one does it better than Billy Idol. On Tuesday, June 10, the 'White Wedding' singer, 69, arrived at the New York City premiere of his documentary, Billy Idol Should Be Dead, rocking an all-black look complete with a skirt, blazer, and trendy boots. Idol completed the look with chunky silver jewelry. As always, his signature bleach blonde hair was spiked to perfection. Billy Idol Should Be Dead is a documentary about the musician's rise to fame in the late 1970s and 1980s. As for the somewhat shocking title of the film, Idol found it quite fitting. 'Well, it's one of those things that people usually say when they don't realize I'm still alive. They actually say that: 'Isn't he dead?' Yeah, I should be dead with everything that I did to myself. But it just made me laugh; the idea of that as the title,' he revealed during an interview with The Ankler earlier this month. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 'I think the documentary has got a depth to it, as we really worked on it over quite a long period of time, mainly because the coronavirus was going on while we were making it. It kept getting stopped for one reason or another from the different waves of the virus,' Idol continued. 'But actually it really helped the documentary in the sense that we were able to massage it and really look at what we had and realize what we needed,' he added. 'I think we've got something really good. I think it's a really great documentary that shows a lot of aspects of my life.' Following the red carpet and premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, Idol is set to Icon, 69, Looks Youthful in Bold Outfit at NYC Documentary Premiere first appeared on Parade on Jun 10, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
