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 AthleticsIn Association with: TinygiantDirected by: Travis Wood & Alex MallisWritten by: Alex Mallis, Travis Wood, Weston AuburnProduced by: Weston Auburn, Travis Wood, Alex MallisCast:Main: Tristan Turner, Anthony Oberbeck, Naomi AsaSupporting: Dara Messinger, Raheem Roher, Anil Joseph, Daryush ParsiCameos: David H. Smilow, Brit Fryer, Joanna Arnow, Steven Phillips-Horst, Peter Davis, Pete Spooner, Charlie Hoxie, Peter FairmanExecutive 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 HartleyDirector of Photography: Jason ChiuEditor: Bryan ChangCasting: Alan Scott NealProduction Design: Laura VargasCostume Design: Lauren LevinOriginal Music: Eliot Krimsky
