Written and directed by two-time Independent Spirit Award nominee Bryan Poyser, Leads is a sharp, spirited comedy about second acts and sibling chaos. Mags (Heather Kafka) is a drama lecturer with a steady job, a kid to raise, and her dreams of artistic greatness on the back burner — until her charmingly unpredictable younger brother Merritt (Justin Arnold) shows up out of nowhere… and signs up for her acting class.

What starts as an awkward reunion quickly spirals into a hilariously messy journey as old wounds, big ambitions, and way-too-honest monologues bubble to the surface. With Mags trying to maintain control and Merritt stirring the pot, the class turns into a chaotic proving ground for everyone’s creative (and personal) baggage.

Poyser turns the classroom into a comedic pressure cooker, where drama — both scripted and unscripted — explodes in surprising, heartfelt, and laugh-out-loud ways. With standout performances from Kafka and Arnold, plus a winning ensemble that includes Macon Blair and Sara Paxton, Leads is a love letter to late bloomers, awkward family reunions, and the beautiful mess of trying to make art — and sense — of your life.—Cara Cusumano

Bryan Poyser