The Novice

US Narrative Competition

World Premiere

FEATURE | United States | 94 MINUTES | English |

THE NOVICE

Women, Drama, LGBTQIA, Sports

Isabelle Fuhrman (Orphan, 2009) plays Alex Dall, a queer college freshman who joins her university's rowing team and undertakes an obsessive physical and psychological journey to make it to the top varsity boat, no matter the cost. Intent on outperforming her teammates, Alex pushes herself to her limits—and beyond, alienating everyone around her in the name of success. Furhman’s fierce lead performance collides with Lauren Hadaway’s bold direction and dynamic editing, creating a visceral window into a cutthroat world. Stylish cinematography and a seductive soundtrack complete the experience, evoking the romance and danger of falling in love; the attraction, the drama and the fallout.

This unapologetic debut from Hadaway, based on her personal experience as a competitive collegiate rower, heralds a bold new voice in queer storytelling. If you liked Whiplash, this one’s for you. —Lucy Mukerjee

2021 Award Winner. Get your Tribeca At Home Awards Pass to watch online. See the full list of 2021 Award Winners here.


CAST & CREDITS

Directed by Lauren Hadaway

Lauren Hadaway is a writer and director who comes from the post-production sound world. She’s a 2018 Outfest Screenwriting Lab Fellow. She’s from Texas, and she recently relocated to Paris from Los Angeles.

Director
Lauren Hadaway
Producer
Ryan Hawkins, Kari Hollend, Steven Sims, Zack Zucker
Screenwriter
Lauren Hadaway
Cinematographer
Todd Martin
Editor
Nathan Nugent
Composer
Alex Weston
Executive Producer
Alex Engemann, Michael Tennant, Chris Hines, Ryan Bartecki
Associate Producer
Jason Bourke, Greg Paraskov
Sound Mixer
Scott Bell
Production Design
Eva Kozlova
Casting Director
Matthew Lessall, Nicole Hilliard-Forde
Cast
Isabelle Fuhrman, Amy Forsyth, Dilone, Kate Drummond, Jonathan Cherry, Charlotte Ubben

CONTACTS

US Sales Contact
Pip Ngo
XYZ Films
Los Angeles, CA 90016
Phone: 310 982 6025
pip@xyzfilms.com
Print Source
Zack Zucker
Bellevue Productions
Los Angeles, CA 90035
Phone: 424 274 1754
zack@bellevueprods.com
International Sales Contact
Steven Sims
H2L Media Group
Los Angeles, CA 90212
Phone: 310 497 7630
SSims@h2lmediagroup.com
Press Contact
Shannon Treusch
Falco Ink
New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212 445 7100
shannontreusch@falcoink.com
Press Contact
Liza Connor
Falco Ink
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212 445 7100
lizaconnor@falcoink.com