Emile Hirsch stars in In Tandem for AFM 2026 brings WME and Ultimate Media Group to the survival thriller. See the cast and screening details.
Emile Hirsch is taking on a new role in In Tandem, the outdoor survival thriller he wrote and stars in alongside Benjamin Norris of Abbott Elementary and Never Have I Ever.
The film marks Hirsch’s feature screenwriting debut and reunites him with director Luc Walpoth, who previously directed him in Dead Money. Now, with production complete, the film is preparing for its first American Film Market screening in Los Angeles.
Ultimate Media Group, led by Jason Buckley, has signed on to handle international sales, while WME Independent will oversee domestic sales.
The film arrives at AFM with a completed production, an established cast, and separate sales representatives pursuing buyers in different territories.
In Tandem Brings Two Former Friends Into the Wilderness
In Tandem follows two estranged high school friends who decide to climb a mountain together despite having no real-world climbing experience.
Their attempt to reconnect becomes increasingly dangerous as unresolved conflicts surface during the climb. The pair must rely on each other to survive and return home.
Hirsch stars opposite Benjamin Norris, whose television credits include Abbott Elementary, Never Have I Ever, and Superstore.
The film also features appearances by professional climbers Alex Honnold, the subject of the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo, and Brette Harrington, who appeared in The Alpinist.
Filming took place on location in Oregon and Montana.
Walpoth previously worked with Hirsch on the gambling thriller Dead Money, which also starred Rory Culkin and Peter Facinelli.
Ultimate Media Group and WME Independent Lead Film Sales
For the filmmakers, the next step is securing distribution.
Ultimate Media Group is handling international rights, while WME Independent is responsible for domestic sales.
The division matters because domestic and international rights can be licensed through separate deals. Each territory has its own potential buyers, release strategy, and commercial terms.
The film was fully financed by Giovanni Entertainment, according to the production announcement. Giovanni James Guidotti produced for Giovanni Entertainment alongside Dwjuan Fox for Decipher Entertainment. Mark Korshak and Jijo Reed serve as executive producers.
UMG and Giovanni Entertainment previously worked together on Ping, another Giovanni Entertainment production that UMG introduced to buyers at the Toronto market.
The new assignment extends that relationship to a completed survival thriller with recognizable actors and a scheduled AFM screening.
Emile Hirsch Makes His Screenwriting Debut
For Hirsch, In Tandem brings him back to the kind of outdoor setting associated with his performance in Sean Penn’s Into the Wild.
This time, Hirsch is responsible for the screenplay as well as one of the central performances.
Producer Giovanni James Guidotti describes the film as a spiritual follow-up to that earlier role, with a greater focus on friendship and the ways people depend on one another under extreme conditions.
The Film Catalogue lists In Tandem as an 87-minute comedy thriller. Its 2026 entry names Hirsch as writer, Walpoth as director, and Hirsch and Norris as the leading cast.
In Tandem AFM Screening Details
In Tandem is scheduled for its AFM screening on Friday, November 13, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. at AMC Century City 10 in Los Angeles.
The production has also announced a Giovanni Entertainment and Ultimate Media Group wrap party at 8 p.m. that evening, with attendance details available upon request.
The screening is part of the 2026 American Film Market, running November 10 to 15 in Los Angeles.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is In Tandem screening at AFM 2026?
In Tandem is scheduled to screen Friday, November 13, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. at AMC Century City 10 in Los Angeles. The screening appears in the official AFM Film Catalogue.
Who wrote and directed In Tandem?
Emile Hirsch wrote the screenplay and stars in the film. Luc Walpoth directed the production, marking another collaboration between the two following Dead Money.
Who is handling distribution sales for In Tandem?
Ultimate Media Group has been appointed to handle international sales, while WME Independent is handling domestic sales. The November 5 announcement does not identify completed distribution agreements.
Where was In Tandem filmed?
According to the production announcement, filming took place in Oregon and Montana. Giovanni Entertainment financed the production.
