I USED TO BE FUNNY

Premiering at SXSW, writer-director Ally Pankiw’s directorial debut (after directing episodes of SHRILL, BLACK MIRROR and THE GREAT) feature showcases the rich talents of rising star Rachel Sennott (BOTTOMS, 2023; SHIVA BABY, 2020), in a dark dramedy that's both funny and heartbreaking in its honest and refreshing look at trauma and recovery, and how they affect the relationships and communities that shape us.

Sam Cowell (Rachel Sennott), an aspiring stand-up comedian and au pair struggling with PTSD, must decide whether or not to join the search for Brooke (Olga Petsa), a missing teenage girl she used to nanny. The narrative unfolds in two timelines: the present, where Sam struggles to heal from her trauma and return to the spotlight, and the past, where memories of Brooke's abrupt disappearance weigh heavily on her, becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss.

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"Sennott is perfectly cast, portraying Sam as simultaneously lifeless and hilarious with her default blasé attitude and dry-wit humor." — Little White Lies

“This film manages to be genuinely funny while simultaneously confronting hard-hitting subjects that are no laughing matter, fully and appropriately confident in the exceptionally delicate balance it manages to achieve.” — AWARDS WATCH