The Peanut Butter Falcon

The Peanut Butter Falcon

Winner of the Audience Award at the 2019 South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival, The Peanut Butter Falcon is a heartfelt and uplifting adventure about friendship, freedom, and finding family in unexpected places. Written and directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz, the film combines classic Americana storytelling with modern compassion, creating a moving and deeply human road movie.

Zak (Zack Gottsagen), a young man with Down syndrome, escapes from a state-run nursing home to pursue his dream of becoming a professional wrestler. Along the way, he crosses paths with Tyler (Shia LaBeouf), a drifter on the run, and together they embark on a makeshift journey through the American South—evading pursuers, confronting their pasts, and building a bond rooted in trust and acceptance.

Anchored by Gottsagen’s magnetic performance, the film radiates authenticity and warmth, challenging stereotypes while celebrating independence and self-worth. LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson bring depth and tenderness to their supporting roles, helping to shape a story that feels both timeless and immediate.

With its soulful cinematography, folk-inspired soundtrack, and unguarded sincerity, The Peanut Butter Falcon is a modern fable about the courage to dream beyond circumstance. It’s a film that reaffirms the simple truth that family is not defined by blood, but by love and the people who choose to walk beside us.

*Single event tickets for THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON are $12, with 50% of proceeds going towards Community Living North Bay’s capital campaign.

Screening With:

Building Oasis

Student Shorts Showcase

The story of a young man fulfilling a childhood dream as he moves into adulthood, trying to find the balance between two contrasting lifestyles.

4 mins
Canada, 2019
Dir. Vanessa Tignanelli
Language: English

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