Oscar-nominated director Jessica Sanders returns to the festival circuit with I WANT TO FEEL FUN, a breezy, sharp-witted short comedy premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival. Known for her skillful balance of documentary authenticity and narrative craft, Sanders again proves why she’s one of the most versatile voices in independent cinema.

Inspired by something as delightfully mundane as a Nicki Minaj shower curtain spotted in Esther Povitsky’s apartment, I WANT TO FEEL FUN follows Povitsky as Esther, a woman on a chaotic mission to get into a Nicki Minaj concert. Along the way, the film introduces us to an offbeat circle: her sort-of boyfriend (Simon Rex), her brother (Avi Rothman), and his long-term girlfriend (Vivian Bang). What elevates the film is its entirely improvised performances, which bring a refreshing spontaneity and authenticity to the absurd situations. The chemistry among the cast feels loose and alive — thanks in large part to Sanders’ keen directorial instincts and her documentary roots, which let the actors play freely without losing narrative momentum.

What elevates the film is its entirely improvised performances, which bring a refreshing spontaneity and authenticity to the absurd situations.

Sanders has already cemented herself as a formidable filmmaker, with past work like the Sundance Special Jury Prize-winning After Innocence and the SXSW Grand Jury Prize-winning Embrace. Here, she demonstrates her knack for crossing genres and tones, shifting from the intensity of wrongful conviction documentaries to the effervescence of indie comedy — and making it look effortless.

She demonstrates her knack for crossing genres and tones, shifting from the intensity of wrongful conviction documentaries to the effervescence of indie comedy — and making it look effortless.

The cast is a comedy dream team. Povitsky, known for Dollface and Drugstore June, is at her awkward, vulnerable best; Simon Rex, fresh off acclaim for Red Rocket, leans into his charismatic unpredictability; Rothman and Bang round out the ensemble with grounded, funny turns. That the entire film was improvised only heightens the sense of joyful chaos — something that could have easily fallen flat under a less experienced director’s hand.

It’s no surprise I WANT TO FEEL FUN landed a coveted spot at Tribeca, selected from over 13,000 submissions. This short feels like a natural extension of Sanders’ adventurous spirit as a filmmaker, one who is never afraid to experiment and who knows how to tap into her performers’ most human, hilarious sides.

With I WANT TO FEEL FUN, Jessica Sanders reminds us that sometimes the best art can start with something as silly as a pop star shower curtain — and that the search for connection (and maybe a concert ticket) is as relatable as it gets.

Margaret Brown