Director/writer/actor/producer Jay Duplass will accept the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival’s 2025 Spotlight Award during a presentation and screening of his latest film on April 27.
The Baltimorons marks Duplass’ return to his roots of writing and directing for the first time in 14 years. The film made its debut at SXSW this month, winning an audience award in the narrative spotlight category.
“We are honored to celebrate such an icon in the independent film community,” SLOIFF Executive Director Skye McLennan says. “Jay Duplass and his brother, Mark Duplass, have long been champions and trailblazers in the world of independent cinema.”
Jay Duplass began his career in the early 2000s writing, directing, and producing several award-winning independent and studio films with his brother Mark, including The Puffy Chair and Cyrus. In 2014, the brothers created the critically acclaimed television series Togetherness, part of an overall television deal with HBO, and produced the Emmy-winning Netflix docu-series Wild Wild Country.
Duplass’ acting credits include the hit HBO series Industry, Amazon’s Transparent (which won a Golden Globe for best comedy series and multiple Emmys); Percy Jackson and the Olympians on Disney +, Netflix’s The Chair, and the feature films Outside In and Beatriz at Dinner.
The Baltimorons tells the story of how a newly sober man’s Christmas Eve dental emergency leads to an unexpected romance with his older dentist as they explore Baltimore together. It stars Michael Strassner (who co-wrote the screenplay with Duplass), Liz Larsen (Madoff, Mr. Robot), and Olivia Luccardi (East New York, The Thing About Pam).
The Spotlight Award presentation and screening of The Baltimorons, along with a Q&A with Duplass, are scheduled for April 27.