Director Jess Zeidman and producer Arno Mokros expected to attend in San Francisco
In New York City, day-to-day life can feel almost surreal in its unpredictability. Through vignettes spanning every borough, Human Theories draws out the hilarity of coincidence, the eccentricity of the banal, and the mimetic rhythms of life lived in close quarters with millions of other people. In her first feature, director Jess Zeidman weaves together the moments that make up New York City life—ordering at the bodega, checking yourself out in the bar bathroom during a first date, or simply walking down Eastern Parkway—with precision and levity.
Along with a sprawling cast of 50-plus characters (played by comedians such as Sureni Weerasekera, Sophie Zucker, and SFJFF alumna Joanna Arnow), Zeidman crafts a dynamic comedy of intimacy and its absence while the city itself serves as both a vivid backdrop and the catalyst for her expanding web of chance encounters. —Karina Curry
West Coast Premiere
Jess Zeidman is a Brooklyn-based filmmaker. She received her BFA from Northwestern University and wrote and produced her debut feature Tahara (2022), a New York Times Critics’ Pick. In 2024, she founded the production company Alina Pictures. Human Theories marks her directorial debut. She focuses on intimate, character-driven stories working with nonprofessional and emerging talent.
$125 General Public
Available for cinephiles ages 18–35 to enjoy 8 tickets redeemable to any SFJFF46 programs at the Roxie Theater, the Festival's home for Next Wave, forward-thinking programming. Includes annual JFI Supporter membership ($60 value)
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