If Slacker were a Gen Z film set in a cinema, it might look something like Concessions, a first feature from Mas Bouzidi receiving its world premiere at Edinburgh International Film Festival 2025.
I don’t live in small-town America; I’m not even from the United States, but I have some friends who are and who would probably totally get the vibe of Concessions, the first film from 23 year old New Yorker Mas Bouzidi. This Gen Z homage to cinema is dedicated to cinematic legends including Sergio Leone, Richard Linklater and François Truffaut, and wears its heart firmly on its sleeve. It also features one of the final screen performances of Michael Madsen.
We convene at the Royal Alamo Cinema on its final day of operation. Disenchanted staff, a stressed-out manager, and an array of cinema patrons pass by the ticket office and concession stand for one last journey into the world of movies before the Royal Alamo finally closes its doors. The dawn of change causes many of the staff to think deeply about what they have done with their lives so far, and what they might do in the future. Conversations are tetchy, sometimes deep, and often misconstrued as each individual tries to find a way of dealing with the finality of the day. Intertwined with the street philosophy are scenes from the films which are being shown that evening, cleverly spoofed versions of recognisable genre films including “an epic musical about the life of President William Howard Taft”.
Steven Ogg is the cinema’s manager Luke Plimpton, who has somehow managed to run his father’s cinema into failure, and takes it out mainly on concessions cashier Hunter (Rob Riordan). Hunter has worked at the cinema perhaps longer than is healthy, and has meaningful conversations with co-worker Lorenzo (Jonathan Price) on such topics as whether Star Wars can be considered racist or not.
In the middle of all the wayward regulars buying tickets, there’s a beautiful turn from Michael Madsen as Rex Fuel (what a name!), a stunt double fallen on hard times who has come to see himself on screen. Along with the dedications to directors of decades past, Concessions also seems like a fitting tribute to one of cinema’s tough guys.
Concessions offers, death, philosophy and popcorn all in the space of 90 minutes, and where else to find that in one place other than a cinema?
Concessions has its World Premiere (presented in 35mm) at Edinburgh International Film Festival (14th – 20th August 2025) on 15th August 2025.
If Slacker were a Gen Z film set in a cinema, it might look something like Concessions, a first feature from Mas Bouzidi receiving its world premiere at Edinburgh International Film Festival 2025.
I don’t live in small-town America; I’m not even from the United States, but I have some friends who are and who would probably totally get the vibe of Concessions, the first film from 23 year old New Yorker Mas Bouzidi. This Gen Z homage to cinema is dedicated to cinematic legends including Sergio Leone, Richard Linklater and François Truffaut, and wears its heart firmly on its sleeve. It also features one of the final screen performances of Michael Madsen.
We convene at the Royal Alamo Cinema on its final day of operation. Disenchanted staff, a stressed-out manager, and an array of cinema patrons pass by the ticket office and concession stand for one last journey into the world of movies before the Royal Alamo finally closes its doors. The dawn of change causes many of the staff to think deeply about what they have done with their lives so far, and what they might do in the future. Conversations are tetchy, sometimes deep, and often misconstrued as each individual tries to find a way of dealing with the finality of the day. Intertwined with the street philosophy are scenes from the films which are being shown that evening, cleverly spoofed versions of recognisable genre films including “an epic musical about the life of President William Howard Taft”.
Steven Ogg is the cinema’s manager Luke Plimpton, who has somehow managed to run his father’s cinema into failure, and takes it out mainly on concessions cashier Hunter (Rob Riordan). Hunter has worked at the cinema perhaps longer than is healthy, and has meaningful conversations with co-worker Lorenzo (Jonathan Price) on such topics as whether Star Wars can be considered racist or not.
In the middle of all the wayward regulars buying tickets, there’s a beautiful turn from Michael Madsen as Rex Fuel (what a name!), a stunt double fallen on hard times who has come to see himself on screen. Along with the dedications to directors of decades past, Concessions also seems like a fitting tribute to one of cinema’s tough guys.
Concessions offers, death, philosophy and popcorn all in the space of 90 minutes, and where else to find that in one place other than a cinema?
Concessions has its World Premiere (presented in 35mm) at Edinburgh International Film Festival (14th – 20th August 2025) on 15th August 2025.
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