The Travel Companion is a bittersweet comedy about indie filmmaking, friendship, and free flights. Simon (Tristan Turner), a struggling documentary filmmaker in his early 30s, relies on his best friend and roommate, Bruce (Anthony Oberbeck), who works for an airline, to get free standby flights as his “travel companion.” These flights are a crucial asset for his sprawling, unfinished documentary about humanity—a project Simon can’t fully define but hopes to find in the edit.
Simon’s life changes when he befriends Beatrice (Naomi Asa), a fellow filmmaker. She and Bruce quickly hit it off, and Simon soon finds Beatrice in his kitchen one morning. As their relationship deepens, Simon becomes increasingly obsessed with maintaining his travel perks, fearing that Bruce might cut him off once he can change the recipient of his flight benefits.
With just two months to go before Bruce can change the recipient, Simon’s jealousy intensifies as Beatrice’s filmmaking career takes off. His own creative project falls by the wayside as he prioritizes his free flights over his friendship. Will Simon be able to preserve both his benefits and his relationship with Bruce?
World Premiere: Tribeca Festival 2025 (U.S. Narrative Competition)
Production Companies: Meerkat Media, BRIC TV, Art School Athletics
In Association with: Tinygiant
Directed by: Travis Wood & Alex Mallis
Written by: Alex Mallis, Travis Wood, Weston Auburn
Produced by: Weston Auburn, Travis Wood, Alex Mallis
Cast:
Main: Tristan Turner, Anthony Oberbeck, Naomi Asa
Supporting: Dara Messinger, Raheem Roher, Anil Joseph, Daryush Parsi
Cameos: David H. Smilow, Brit Fryer, Joanna Arnow, Steven Phillips-Horst, Peter Davis, Pete Spooner, Charlie Hoxie, Peter Fairman
Executive Producers: Charlie Hoxie, Kuye Youngblood, Neil Champagne, Veronica Diaferia, Sara Eolin, Lourdes Ramirez-Crusellas, George Mallis, Jan Mallis, Robin Mallis, Becky Bartovics, Bill Bartovics, Kelly Anneken, Tennesha Wood, Zachary Collinger, Jourdan Daleo, Vicky & Pamela Mederos-Streetz, Matt Hartley
Director of Photography: Jason Chiu
Editor: Bryan Chang
Casting: Alan Scott Neal
Production Design: Laura Vargas
Costume Design: Lauren Levin
Original Music: Eliot Krimsky