Watching Mr. Pearson Kicks Off Nationwide Grassroots Theatrical Release Rooted in Community Engagement, Compassion, Care, and Indie Spirit
A national, community-driven theatrical rollout begins this week for Watching Mr. Pearson, an intimate and emotionally resonant feature redefining independent film distribution through direct audience connection, grassroots outreach, and filmmaker presence in theaters across the country.
Produced by Boston-based KT Pictures and Hedy Films, Watching Mr. Pearson marks the first theatrical release from the emerging creative partnership behind the SXSW-premiered genre film Imposters. While Imposters signals the collective’s range in bold, cinematic storytelling, Watching Mr. Pearson represents the heart of their mission: human-centered filmmaking grounded in empathy, connection, and lived experience.
The film stars Hugo Armstrong (Lucky, Coherence), delivering a deeply layered performance as Robert Pearson, a once-celebrated actor navigating the disorienting realities of memory loss. He is joined by Sam Bullington (Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2), Zainab Jah (All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt, Only Murders in the Building), Dominika Zawada, and Luis Rizo, forming a richly textured ensemble that brings emotional authenticity and nuance to the film’s exploration of caregiving, identity, and human connection.
Synopsis
Watching Mr. Pearson follows two caregivers, Caroline and Miguel, as they share responsibility for Robert Pearson, a brilliant but fading actor struggling with cognitive decline. While Miguel focuses on routine and stability, Caroline forms a more imaginative and emotionally immersive bond with Pearson, stepping into scenes from his past to keep him engaged and connected. As their approaches begin to clash and the line between performance and reality blurs, both caregivers must confront what it truly means to care for someone at the edge of memory, identity, and self.
More than a film, Watching Mr. Pearson is launching as a national grassroots movement, with a distribution strategy built on direct, human connection and a belief that meaningful cinema can live beyond traditional release models.
The rollout has been intentionally shaped through outreach to senior communities, nursing professionals, and memory care organizations, creating space for the film to resonate with those closest to its themes. At the same time, the campaign is engaging faith-based communities through the film’s message of compassion, presence, and care, while maintaining an open, inclusive approach that welcomes audiences of all backgrounds into the conversation.
In parallel, the release has become a point of engagement for the film and media studies community, offering a real-time case study in independent distribution. The team’s hands-on, “build it from the ground up” approach, marked by direct theater relationships, local partnerships, and filmmaker-led outreach, reflects a bold, instructive model for how films can connect with audiences outside traditional systems.
“This release is about meeting people where they are,” said the filmmaking team. “Whether that’s in a theater, a classroom, a care community, or a place of worship, the goal is the same, to create connection, conversation, and a shared emotional experience.”
The rollout is supported by RBL Films & PR, led by industry veteran Ry Levey, specializing in impact-driven distribution and audience-first engagement strategies.
Filmmakers and Cast Touring Nationwide
Select screenings will feature in-person appearances and post-film Q&As with members of the creative team and cast, including:
- Director and co-writer Dillon Bentlage
- Producer and KT Pictures co-founder Brian Reilly
- Co-writer and producer Simon Kienitz Kincade, whose Chesapeake Bay roots have shaped key regional outreach efforts
- Additional cast appearances in select markets
These appearances are designed to foster meaningful dialogue and deepen the film’s community impact.
WATCHING MR. PEARSON – THEATRICAL ROLLOUT SCHEDULE
• April 9–12 — Bethel, CT (Greenwood Features)
• April 10 — Seymour, CT (The Strand Theater, with Q&A)
• April 11 — Madison, CT (Madison Cinemas)
• April 12 — Mystic, CT (Mystic Luxury Cinemas)
• April 13 — New Canaan, CT (The Playhouse)
• April 14–15 — Hartford, CT (Cinestudio)
• April 17–23 — Rehoboth Beach, DE (Movies at Midway)
• April 17–23 — Irvington, VA (Compass Cinemas)
• April 19–21 — Somerville, MA (Somerville Theatre)
• April 26 — Dennis, MA (Cape Cinema)
• April 29 — Greenfield, MA (Greenfield Garden Cinemas)
• May 9–10 — Santa Fe, NM (Sky Cinemas)
• May 9–10 — The Villages, FL (Old Mill Playhouse)
• May 16–17 — New Orleans, LA (Zeitgeist Theatre & Lounge)
• May 24 — New Paltz, NY (Denizen Theatre Cinema)
• May 30 — Encino, CA (Laemmle Theatres – Town Center)
• May 31 — Los Angeles, CA (Laemmle Theatres – The Royal)
• June 4 — San Francisco, CA (Lee Neighborhood Theatres)
Additional markets to be announced.
Screenings, tickets, and community engagement details:
www.watchingmrpearson.com/screenings
