Writer-director-star Matthew Shear makes his feature directorial debut with Fantasy Life, a New York-set comedy-toned drama about a once-promising paralegal whose world unravels after a layoff and panic attack.
Down but not out, he stumbles into a summer job babysitting his psychiatrist’s three granddaughters, a gig that opens unexpected doors.
Starring in the independent film are Amanda Peet as Dianne, the girls’ accomplished yet unsettled mom; Alessandro Nivola as her musician husband; and a remarkable supporting cast including Judd Hirsch, Bob Balaban, Andrea Martin, Zosia Mamet, Jessica Harper, Holland Taylor, and Sheng Wang.
Fantasy Life first premiered at the 2025 South by Southwest (SXSW) Film & TV Festival, where it won both the Audience Award for Narrative Feature and a Special Jury Award for Performance for Amanda Peet’s warmly grounded portrayal of Dianne. Beyond SXSW, Fantasy Life continued its festival presence with screenings at the Hamptons International Film Festival and the New York Jewish Film Festival. It is now set for a U.S. theatrical release on March 27, 2026, via Greenwich Entertainment
Here is the official synopsis of Fantasy Life: After losing his job as a paralegal, Sam Stein suffers a panic attack and stumbles into a job babysitting his psychiatrist’s three granddaughters. Their mother, Dianne, is an actress whose promising career has stalled and whose marriage to a rock bassist is strained. When the musician husband goes abroad on tour, Sam and Dianne discover an easy rapport that deepens into a quietly affecting connection. As Sam joins the family for the summer on Martha’s Vineyard, he finds himself entangled in their everyday life, navigating mental health challenges, relationship tensions, and the messy, hopeful unpredictability of adult life.
Director Matthew Shear has described the personal nature of Fantasy Life, explaining, “The film is inspired by my years working as a male nanny for NYC families while navigating a one-third-life crisis and an anxiety disorder. Amanda Peet gives a deeply personal, funny, and beautiful performance, and I can’t wait for audiences to see her alongside Bob Balaban, Judd Hirsch, Andrea Martin, and Alessandro Nivola-true masters of their craft. I hope you enjoy watching them as much as I loved directing them.”
Watch the official trailer for Fantasy Life.
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