The critically acclaimed Sundance hit comedy SERIOUS PEOPLE officially opened in Los Angeles on Friday, November 14, at the Laemmle Glendale, marking the beginning of its regional theatrical rollout before its nationwide VOD release on December 16. Directed and written by Pasqual Gutierrez and Ben Mullinkosson, the film arrives as one of the most original and daring comedic features of the year—full of sharp humor, emotional honesty, and a strikingly inventive take on work, identity, and creative burnout in modern Los Angeles.
Presented by Tribeca Films in partnership with Memory, SERIOUS PEOPLE has been generating attention not only for its Sundance success but also for its bold storytelling style and dynamic performances led by filmmaker and star Pasqual Gutierrez.
A Comedy Rooted in Crisis, Creativity, and Clout Culture
The story centers on Pasqual Gutierrez, a successful music video director who reaches a life-changing crossroads on the day his first child is due. As he prepares for fatherhood, he receives an offer to direct the biggest project of his career. Struggling with his unhealthy work–life balance and desperate for more time with his family, Pasqual hires a look-alike—Miguel, played by Miguel Huerta—to temporarily replace him within his directing duo, Cliqua.
What begins as a convenient fix quickly spirals into chaos. As Pasqual attempts to train Miguel to take over his work duties, he becomes increasingly aware of how easily people can be replaced in a clout-driven city like Los Angeles. His relationship suffers, his carefully structured career wobbles, and a disastrously mismanaged music video shoot forces him to confront his own insecurities, ambitions, and flaws.
SERIOUS PEOPLE blends comedic absurdity with emotional depth, offering a satirical yet heartfelt look at what it means to be a creator, a parent, a partner—and how we define ourselves in an industry obsessed with status and image.
A Festival Favorite with a Strong Creative Vision
The film premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, earning widespread praise for its originality, humor, and distinctive aesthetic. Co-directors Gutierrez and Mullinkosson bring a vibrant, authentic voice to the narrative, grounded in real experiences within the music video and film industries.
The cast—Pasqual Gutierrez, Christine Yuan, RJ Sanchez, and Miguel Huerta—delivers memorable performances, balancing comedy with grounded emotional beats. Their chemistry gives the film a raw, spontaneous energy that highlights the awkwardness, ambition, and confusion that come with trying to balance career ambition and personal responsibility.
The official trailer can be viewed here
The Filmmakers Behind the Vision
Pasqual Gutierrez
Pasqual Gutierrez is widely recognized for his work in the directing duo Cliqua, alongside RJ Sanchez. Together, they’ve crafted high-profile music videos for global artists including Bad Bunny, Rosalia, J Balvin, Madonna, Travis Scott, and The Weeknd. His visual style has earned multiple nominations and an MTV VMA.
His fiction directorial debut came with the short film Shut Up & Fish, currently Oscar-qualified. SERIOUS PEOPLE marks his first narrative feature, a deeply personal exploration of identity and artistic integrity, infused with elements of his real-life journey.
Ben Mullinkosson
Ben Mullinkosson is an award-winning filmmaker whose documentary work has been celebrated worldwide. His 2023 documentary THE LAST YEAR OF DARKNESS won a Special Jury Mention at CPH:DOX and was distributed by MUBI. His earlier documentary, DON’T BE A DICK ABOUT IT, won the Audience Award at IDFA, one of the world’s biggest documentary festivals.
Mullinkosson’s narrative storytelling blends documentary-style realism with whimsical humor, making SERIOUS PEOPLE an ideal canvas for his creative strengths. Fluent in Chinese and even an X Games gold medalist, he is a multi-talented artist who continues to push genre boundaries.
Tribeca Films x Memory: A Powerful Collaboration
SERIOUS PEOPLE is distributed under the Tribeca Films label, known for elevating independent cinema from top festivals to broader streaming audiences. The label, presented by Tribeca Enterprises and Giant Pictures, expands access to bold, creative films while generating distribution opportunities for emerging filmmakers.
Memory, founded in 2014, is known for championing formally adventurous and artist-driven films. Their past collaborations include projects with Zia Anger, Amalia Ulman, Martine Syms, and Dean Fleischer-Camp. Memory received the Cinereach Producing Award for its innovation and influence in the filmmaking world. Their recent releases include MY FIRST FILM, YOUR FINAL MEDITATION, and THE DELLS, with more visionary projects on the horizon.
This partnership brings SERIOUS PEOPLE into a powerful network of indie cinema—supporting its theatrical rollout and upcoming VOD release.
A Fresh, Clever Addition to Modern Indie Cinema
Running 86 minutes, SERIOUS PEOPLE stands as a smart, refreshing entry in contemporary comedy. It is deeply personal yet universally relatable, especially to anyone balancing ambition, identity, creative work, and family.
Its exploration of “replaceability” in the age of digital clout offers timely commentary without losing its comedic charm. With acclaimed filmmakers at the helm and a relatable emotional core, the film resonates strongly with audiences searching for new perspectives in modern storytelling.
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