Thelma
Oscar® nominee June Squibb (Nebraska) stars as the titular 93-year-old character who, when she is scammed out of $10,000, embarks on a daring mission across Los Angeles to recover her money by any means necessary. Featuring one of Richard Roundtree’s final performances.
Writer and director Josh Margolin schedule to attend for a Q&A after the screening along with Thelma producers Zoë Worth and Chris Kaye, and Tribute recipient June Squibb.
OPENING NIGHT FILM & PARTY
Get down and party with the SIFF crew on opening night. Enjoy Thelma then take to the Paramount’s stage or right outside on 9th Avenue for a night of dancing, drinks, and bites–all complimentary with your ticket. Groove to C89.5 DJs, strike a pose in the 360 photo booth, and dig into Kottu, Where Ya At Matt, Piroshky Piroshky, and Tutta Bella.
Thursday, May 9, 2024 | Paramount Theatre | Screening: 7:00 PM
*Note: SIFF parties are strictly 21+. Please bring valid photo ID (driver's license, passport, etc.).
Tickets
Select showtime for pricing and tickets.
Thursday, May 9, 2024
- Limited Availability
- On Standby
- Matinee
“Holding out until the age of 94 for her first lead role, June Squibb proves what her legion of devoted fans has always known: she’s a superstar.”— Fionnuala Halligan, Screen Daily
John Wick had his dog. “The Dude” had his rug. For Thelma Post, the MacGuffin of this debut feature from writer/director Josh Margolin is a phone call gone bad. Thelma is a fiercely independent 93-year-old (the incandescent fellow nonagenarian June Squibb) who falls for the oldest old-person trick in the book: the telephone scam. After unwittingly sending $10,000 to a criminal who she thought was her grandson, Thelma takes matters into her own hands, much to the chagrin of her daughter (Parker Posey) and son-in-law (Clark Gregg), who think maybe it’s time for some assisted-living help. Finding an Ocean's Eleven-style team is hard at the senior center, so Thelma recruits her friend Ben (Richard Roundtree, in his final role), who reluctantly allows Thelma to borrow his snazzy scooter. Together, they race to intercept the money before the criminals escape. While the premise could’ve descended into superhuman senior slapstick, Margolin wisely makes Thelma and Ben believable characters who overcome the realities of infirmity with their wits. While much hilarity is mined from 5 mph scooter chases and hearing-aid spy equipment, Thelma is a charming crowd-pleaser that respects the difficulties of old age and gives Roundtree a proper career coda. Can you dig it?
—Randy Woods
JUNE SQUIBB TRIBUTE EVENT
A Tribute event honoring June Squibb including a conversation moderated by Variety's Jenelle Riley and questions from the audience will be held Saturday, May 11 at SIFF Cinema Downtown, preceded by an Honoree Brunch with Squibb at Palace Kitchen. Tickets for the tribute event and Honoree Brunch are sold separately and on sale now.
Saturday, May 11, 2024 | SIFF Cinema Downtown & Palace Kitchen
10:00am - Honoree Brunch with June Squibb at Palace Kitchen
12:30pm - Tribute event at SIFF Cinema Downtown
- Director: Josh Margolin
- Principal Cast: June Squibb, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, Richard Roundtree
- Country: USA
- Year: 2024
- Running Time: 97 min.
- Producer: Zoe Worth, Chris Kaye, Nicholas Weinstock, Benjamin Simpson, Karl Spoerri, Viviana Vezzani
- Screenplay: Josh Margolin
- Cinematographers: David Bolen
- Editors: Josh Margolin
- Music: Nick Chuba
- Language: English
- US Distributor: Magnolia Pictures