The Sundance favorite marks a heartfelt, offbeat debut from filmmakers Pasqual Gutierrez and Ben Mullinkosson.
Tribeca Films is gearing up to bring a fresh wave of indie humor to audiences this fall with Serious People, an experimental comedy from longtime collaborators Pasqual Gutierrez and Ben Mullinkosson.
The film, which made its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, is now set for a theatrical release on November 14, followed by a digital debut on December 16 through Tribeca Films and Memory.
Serious People centers on a quirky yet heartfelt premise: when expectant father and successful music video director Pasqual (played by Gutierrez himself) lands a career-defining opportunity, he decides to hire a look-alike to take his place at work — and chaos, self-discovery, and absurd humor ensue.
The story, which is partially inspired by true events, blurs the lines between fiction and reality while offering a tongue-in-cheek look at identity, ambition, and creativity.
In a statement, Gutierrez described the project as “a labor of love shared amongst lifelong friends.” He added, “For Ben and me, it was something we had talked about since we were post-grad roommates. It’s the kind of filmmaking you dream about when you’re a kid.”
Tribeca Enterprises co-founder and CEO Jane Rosenthal praised the film’s offbeat charm and fearless creativity, saying, “Serious People embodies the inventive, fearless spirit of independent filmmaking that Tribeca Films was built to champion.
Pasqual and Ben’s collaboration reflects the creativity, humor, and heart that make audiences fall in love with indie film — and it’s a perfect finale to a year that celebrates bold voices and new perspectives.”
The cast includes Gutierrez’s real-life partner Christine Yuan, along with his directing partner RJ Sanchez and actor Miguel Huerta. Behind the camera, the film was produced by Ryan Hahn for HPLA, Laurel Thomson for Long Holiday, and Teddy Lee, with executive producers Jerad Anderson and Natasha Atalla Seubert for Florence, as well as Christine D’Souza Gelb and Julia Nelson for 2AM, who brokered the film’s sale.
With its mix of surreal humor, heartfelt storytelling, and an intimate creative spirit, Serious People promises to be one of this year’s standout indie releases — a film made by friends, for dreamers.
