Cinequest 2026: Dead or Dying

In a near-future Los Angeles, people are dying in droves—and most of society has learned to live with it. Dead or Dying is a darkly funny ensemble comedy following a web of characters navigating a world where mortality has become background noise.

Phoebe is the personal assistant to Sam, a flailing TV star desperate for a comeback after unspecified allegations derailed her career. When Phoebe experiences a shocking event in the middle of a workday, she struggles to maintain the relentless optimism and availability Sam demands, putting her job—and her sense of self—at risk.

Across the city, tech optimist Lennon spirals when his favorite billionaire dies in humiliating circumstances on the eve of a make-or-break investor pitch. Elsewhere, therapist Terry—fresh off a session with a client who refuses to listen—takes to social media to propose a radical solution for avoiding uncomfortable thoughts altogether.

As these stories intersect, the film introduces a sharply observed cross-section of Angelenos: a venture capitalist obsessed with her new downtown loft, a woman who keeps stumbling upon dead bodies, a couple teetering on the edge of a breakup before a road trip, a man convinced he’s about to die, and a grieving delivery worker who still has to finish his shift. Together, they form a portrait of a city numbed by loss—and finding humor, connection, and meaning anyway.

We'll meet in the lobby around 9:15 for the 9:30 pm showtime. Buy tickets here: https://tickets.cinequest.org/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=594207~a12ee803-7eae-437e-8208-1c4d52da2020&epguid=83980c85-25e4-4e57-9648-95e2018763c5&mdy=3/12/2026&showing=594630&