2018 Sundance Film Festival Predictions: Andrew Bujalski’s Support The Girls

If Andrew Bujalski lands at the fest with his third straight film, we’ll officially call him a fixture. On the seen since 2002’s Funny Ha Ha, SXSW was first home to the filmmaker with 2005’s Mutual Appreciation and 2009’s Beeswax, and then Park City lassoed 2013’s Computer Chess (read review) and 2015’s Results. Known for his playful insight in the human condition, Support the Girls sees Regina Hall and Haley Lu Richardson at the top of the deck in this sabotage comedy which sorta feels like a more palpable version of The Good Girl. Re-teaming with long time cinematographer Matthias Grunsky, this was shot in Austin this past May.

Gist: This centers on Lisa Conroy (Hall) who may not love managing the restaurant Double Whammies, but she loves her employees more than anything, not only Danyelle (McHale), and Maci (Richardson) her closest friends, but also her extended family. Unfortunately, the cheap, curmudgeonly owner Ben Cubby (Le Gros) doesn’t care nearly as much, and confronts Lisa when he learns that she’s using the restaurant to raise money for Shaina (Kramer), an employee in legal trouble related to an abusive boyfriend. To get even, the girls decide to sabotage the restaurant on the night of a major mixed martial arts fight.

Production Co./Producers: Houston King Productions’ Houston King, Burn Later Productions‘ Sam Slater (Lemon).

Prediction: Premieres.

U.S. Distributor: Rights Available. TBD (domestic). TBD (international)