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Trash Mountain Debuts at TIFF as Caleb Hearon’s Personal Dramedy

Strong festival reviews have bolstered the film’s prospects for securing U.S. distribution.

Overview

  • Trash Mountain premiered this week at the Toronto International Film Festival and is actively seeking U.S. distribution from festival buyers.
  • The story follows two siblings who must clear out their hoarder father’s possessions after his death, a narrative co-written by Caleb Hearon and Ruby Caster and drawn from Hearon’s own experience.
  • Hearon stars as the lead, and reviewers singled out his writing and performance along with Zooey Deschanel’s supporting turn and a small, effective ensemble.
  • The movie was shot as a low-budget indie in an 18-day production using guerrilla-style locations, and producers Colin Trevorrow and Lilly Wachowski helped restart the project after years of false starts.
  • Industry and critical attention at TIFF position the film as a potential career breakout for Hearon by showcasing his move from comedian and supporting actor to writer-star.