A thirtysomething man accepts a job as a babysitter. When he meets the children’s mother, an actress trapped in a troubled marriage, his life takes an unexpected turn. Matthew Shear (Between the Temples) directs, writes, and stars in Fantasy Life, his debut feature, which struck all the right notes to win the Audience Award at Americana 2026, after receiving the same prize at SXSW last year.
Entertaining, heartwarming, and highly enjoyable, Shear’s film explores the employment and emotional insecurities of the millennial generation through a protagonist who is verbose, uncertain, and yet deeply endearing.
Filled with “indiespensable” actors such as Amanda Peet (Togetherness), Alessandro Nivola (The Brutalist), Judd Hirsch (The Fabelmans), and Zosia Mamet (Girls), Fantasy Life is a bittersweet welcome to middle age, a slap across the face, a “romantic” comedy with nuanced performances and witty, brazen dialogue. A true gem.
Credits
Year: 2025
Runtime: 91′
Country: USA
Direction: Matthew Shear
Screenplay: Matthew Shear
Cast: Amanda Peet, Matthew Shear, Alessandro Nivola
Cinematography: Conor Murphy
Subtitles: Jara Segura, Olga Gómez Balduz
Genre: Comedy
Contact: Visit Films
Wins & nominations
2025 | SXSW Film Festival | Special Jury Award for Performance (Amanda Peet) and Audience Award
2025 | San Diego Film Festival