Best Narrative Feature
Grove & Pines Film Festival · 2026
Directed by Mike Doyle
A chapter closes... and the story begins.
F. MURRAY ABRAHAM / CAROLINE AARON / NOAM ASH / CHARLIE BARNETT2026 · 99 MIN
WINNER · SBIFF STAND UP AWARD
“The queer family film we didn’t know we needed... A tender reminder of what’s possible when family chooses love.”HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN
THE FILM
Love, across generations.
2026 / USA / 99 minutes
Official film clip · Watch on YouTube ↗
Synopsis:
When Nate is forced to leave his fabulous city life behind and move in with his grandparents after a bad breakup, he is determined to escape the confines of retirement community life and his meddlesome grandparents' relentless attempts to 'improve' him. But when his Holocaust-surviving grandfather, Saul, shows signs of cognitive decline and his grandmother, Miriam, refuses to acknowledge her husband's early dementia, Nate finds himself torn between his desire to flee, family responsibilities, and an unexpected romance with his grandparents' handsome doctor…
AWARDS
Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature
OUT at the Movies International Film Festival · 2026
Best Supporting Actor
Awarded to F. Murray Abraham
FilmOut San Diego · 2026
Stand Up Award
Santa Barbara International Film Festival · 2026
2026 festivals & screenings. Visit each venue for times and ticket availability.
Past screenings & festival selections
THE CAST
Meet the family.
Academy Award winner
F. Murray Abraham
(Amadeus, The White Lotus)
Saul Cohen
SAG Award winner
Caroline Aaron
(The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, 21 Jump Street)
Miriam Cohen
Noam Ash
(The Other Two)
Nate
Charlie Barnett
(Russian Doll, The Acolyte)
Dr. Daniel Green
BEHIND THE FILM
Creative team.
DIRECTED BY
Mike Doyle
WRITTEN BY
Noam Ash
PRODUCED BY
Alon Shtruzman, Scott Einbinder, Noam Ash, Henry Russell Bergstein, Warren Ostergard
CINEMATOGRAPHY BY
Tari Segal
ORIGINAL MUSIC BY
Dabney Morris
Executive team
Scott Krieger, Chad E. Brown, Gil Goldschein, Noah Eisenberg, Nicole Eisenberg, Stanford Brown, Nick Francescon, Deborah Shmueli, Oded Shmueli, C. Graham Berwind III, Eleni Gianulis-Vermeer, Rebecca Gold, Shira Milikowsky, S. Asher Gelman, Stefano Milici, F. Murray Abraham, Caroline Aaron, Mike Doyle, Charlie Barnett
In the press
Bookends Bring Love in Every Chapter - Rage Monthly MagazineRead story ↗SBIFF Announces Festival Winners | DeadlineRead story ↗10 must-see films at Frameline: BOOKENDS | San Francisco ChronicleRead story ↗WATCH: Charlie Barnett and Noam Ash flirt in 'Bookends' clip | Out.comRead story ↗BOOKENDS First Look | Just for VarietyRead story ↗Review: Noam Ash and Mike Doyle's 'Bookends' | Instinct MagazineRead story ↗Grandparents loving a gay kid is a 'blessing' | Out.com interviewRead story ↗NY1 News: ‘Bookends’ premieres this weekend as part of NewFest PrideRead story ↗Queerty | What older generations teach us about life & love in romantic dramedy BookendsRead story ↗A comedy about a Holocaust survivor and his gay grandson - Jewish Telegraphic AgencyRead story ↗Interview with the director Mike Doyle - Fred Film RadioRead story ↗Atlanta and Company (NBC) interview: BOOKENDS | 11alive.comRead story ↗DEADLINE: F. Murray Abraham, Caroline Aaron, Noam Ash & Charlie Barnett Board ‘Bookends’Read story ↗iHeart Radio | Academy Award Winner F Murray Abraham From The Movie Bookends Arroe Collins View From The Writing InstrumentRead story ↗After a hellish breakup, I moved in with my grandparents. It was … awesome.Read story ↗
