Inez & Doug & Kira is a feature-length narrative film, written and directed by Julia Kots, and released in 2019. It is a suspenseful dark drama (with flashes of comedy and magical realism) about the collateral damage of mental illness.[1] It was produced by Caitlin Gold, Márcia Mayer, Joe Dinnen, and Julia Kots.

Poster for the narrative feature film Inez & Doug & Kira (2019)

Synopsis

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When Inez (Tawny Cypress) took her own life after a long struggle with bipolar disorder and drug addiction, she left no note—only a pile of old photos strewn about her bed. Her sister, Kira (Talia Thiesfield), and Kira's fiancé, Doug (Michael Chernus) are left with unanswered questions. Doug becomes obsessed with deciphering the meaning behind the photos and understanding what drove Inez to her breaking point. As his investigation deepens, his relationship with Kira deteriorates, and he begins to lose his grip on reality, confronting his own demons.

Cast

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  • Tawny Cypress as Inez
  • Michael Chernus as Doug
  • Talia Thiesfield as Kira
  • Louis Cancelmi as John
  • Asher Grodman as Young George Small
  • Ellen Tamaki as Valerie
  • Gibson Frazier as Louis
  • Aleyse Shannon as Teen Inez
  • Armand Schultz as Dr. George Small
  • Caroline Watters as Teen Kira
  • Ed Squires as Dennis
  • Bob Jaffe as TJ
  • Juanita Howard as Martha
  • Analisa Velez as Angela
  • Branden Wellington as Joe

Release

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Inez & Doug & Kira premiered at the 2019 Woodstock Film Festival,[2] where Tawny Cypress was awarded an honorable mention[3], but its festival run was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. It won Best Feature Film at the 2020 Big Apple Film Festival and the 2020 New Jersey International Film Festival. The film was distributed by 1091 Pictures 2020-2023,[4] then by Indie Rights starting in 2024.

Reception

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This directorial debut received limited coverage, due to its microbudget nature and the pandemic, but was praised by critics for its performances and nuanced portrayal of grief.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11]

References

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  1. ^ Stigler, Britt (2020-02-10). "Filmmaker Julia Kots explores grief in "Inez & Doug & Kira"". ALL ARTS. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  2. ^ Kopian, Steve. "Inez & Doug & Kira (2019) Woodstock Film Festival 2019". Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  3. ^ www.broadwayworld.com https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Woodstock-Film-Festival-Announces-20th-Anniversary-Audience-Maverick-Award-Recipients-20191007. Retrieved 2024-09-04. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (2020-07-14). "1091 Acquires 'Inez & Doug & Kira'; Cleopatra Takes 'Le Choc du Futur'; Vision Films Sets 'Accidental Climber' Documentary". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  5. ^ Stigler, Britt (2020-02-10). "Filmmaker Julia Kots explores grief in "Inez & Doug & Kira"". ALL ARTS. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  6. ^ Kopian, Steve. "Inez & Doug & Kira (2019) Woodstock Film Festival 2019". Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  7. ^ Saito, Stephen (2019-10-02). "Woodstock Film Fest '19 Interview: Julia Kots on a Process Where There's Never Closure in "Inez & Doug & Kira"". The Moveable Fest. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  8. ^ "Джулия Коц: «Помогайте тем, кто одинок»". ГОЛОС АМЕРИКИ (in Russian). 2020-09-26. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  9. ^ "Inez & Doug & Kira screens at the NJ Film Festival this Friday!". New Brunswick, NJ Patch. 2020-10-13. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  10. ^ Moore, Roger (2020-09-19). "Movie Review: The tangled emotional web of "Inez & Doug & Kira"". Movie Nation. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  11. ^ "Julia Kots and Tawny Cypress on their film "Inez & Doug & Kira"". Cinema Femme. 2020-09-28. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
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