Hannah Einbinder and Justin Theroux star in Victoria Strouse ’s directorial debut about dysfunctional siblings rescuing their sister from a cult. World premiere at SXSW.
Three siblings walk into a doomsday cult. It sounds like the setup to a dark joke, but in Victoria Strouse ’s directorial debut, it’s the beginning of something far more complex. When estranged family members discover their sister has joined a cult, they embark on a road trip through the American South that becomes less about rescuing her and more about confronting their own demons.
Seekers Of Infinite Love brings together a knockout cast led by Emmy winners Hannah Einbinder (Hacks) and Justin Theroux (The Leftovers), along with Oscar nominee Greg Kinnear (Little Miss Sunshine).
The film follows a claustrophobe, a compulsive gambler, and a controlling lawyer who must unite despite their profound dysfunction. As they chase an unpredictable cult deprogrammer across the South, they discover the hardest person to save might be yourself.
Protagonist Pictures has secured international sales rights ahead of the film’s world premiere at next month’s SXSW festival, with the European Film Market serving as the launching pad for global distribution.
When Family Dysfunction Meets Cult Deprogramming
The premise crackles with potential. Strouse, whose writing credits include Pixar’s Finding Dory, has crafted a screenplay that George Hamilton, CCO of Protagonist Pictures, describes as “wildly smart” with “a fearless point of view and a beating heart at its core.”
What makes “Seekers Of Infinite Lov”e particularly intriguing is how it uses the cult rescue mission as a vehicle for exploring family dynamics. The three siblings aren’t just searching for their sister. They’re navigating the minefield of their shared history, each carrying baggage that makes them question whether they’re fit to save anyone.
Einbinder, who has proven her dramatic range in Hacks, takes on a role that promises both humor and depth. Theroux brings his trademark intensity, while Kinnear adds gravitas to what could have been a straightforward comedy. The ensemble is rounded out by John Reynolds (Search Party), Griffin Gluck (American Vandal), and Justine Lupe (Succession), each actor known for bringing authenticity to offbeat characters.
The South itself becomes a character in this story. There’s something deeply American about a dysfunctional family road trip through backroads and small towns, searching for meaning in all the wrong places. It’s a setting rich with flavor, where truck stops and motels become the backdrop for life-changing conversations.
A Director’s Vision Comes to Life
For Strouse, this project represents more than just a career milestone. “It’s an indescribable thrill to have this film finally come to fruition, and knowing that its first audience will be at SXSW is a dream come true,” she said. “I knew, going into production, how fortunate I was to be making this movie at all. And that included being able to work with the actors I cast. They exceeded my expectations at every turn, and the gratitude I feel toward them, and to the producers, Limelight and Temple Hill, for believing in this movie is profound.”
That gratitude isn’t misplaced. Temple Hill Entertainment (Twilight, The Maze Runner) and Limelight (Roofman, Palm Springs) have a track record of backing distinctive voices. Their joint statement reveals their confidence in the material: “Victoria has written a script that manages to be both hysterically funny and heartbreakingly human, and she brought an incredibly confident vision to the film as a first-time director. Seekers of Infinite Love balances big laughs with big feelings, and the cast delivers in a way that makes the film both distinctive and relatable.”
That word, “relatable,” matters here. Cults make for compelling cinema because they expose our universal need for belonging. But Strouse appears to have found something deeper in her characters’ search for their sister. She’s exploring how we all join cults of one kind or another, whether it’s devotion to work, addiction to risk, or the compulsion to control everything around us.
The production team includes producers Dylan Sellers and Chris Parker for Limelight, along with Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey for Temple Hill. Executive producers include Einbinder herself, alongside Alexa Faigen, Nicole Flores, Hal Sadoff, Patrick Gogerchin, Tyler Zacharia, and Gabby Zemer.
SXSW and Beyond
The film’s world premiere at SXSW positions it perfectly. The Austin festival has become a launching pad for comedies with heart, from the anxiety-fueled brilliance of Eighth Grade to the time-loop romance of Palm Springs (also from Limelight). It’s where sophisticated audiences gather to discover films that blend genres and defy easy categorization.
“Victoria Strouse has written and directed a film that is both laugh-out-loud funny and refreshingly original…”
George Hamilton
Protagonist Pictures
Hamilton’s enthusiasm suggests Protagonist Pictures sees serious commercial potential in this mix of humor and humanity. “Victoria Strouse has written and directed a film that is both laugh-out-loud funny and refreshingly original, not to mention the cast is an absolute knockout,” he noted. “Temple Hill and Limelight have produced something special and following the SXSW premiere we have no doubt this film will find an abundance of love from audiences around the world.”
That global ambition makes sense. The themes in Seekers Of Infinite Love transcend borders. Family dysfunction is universal. So is the search for meaning, the fear of losing someone you love, and the question of whether you can save others when you can’t save yourself.
For film buyers circulating through the European Film Market this week, the package is compelling. An original screenplay from a proven writer making her directorial debut. A cast that mixes Emmy winners with beloved character actors. Producers with serious credits. And a premise that promises both commercial appeal and critical substance.
What sets this apart from other family dysfunction comedies is its willingness to venture into darker territory. Cults aren’t funny, and the film doesn’t appear to be treating them as such. Instead, it’s using the cult rescue as a pressure cooker that forces these siblings to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves. That’s where the best comedy lives, in the space between laughter and discomfort, where recognition hits hard and catharsis feels earned.
The supporting cast brings additional credibility. Reynolds has proven he can handle comedy with dramatic undertones in Search Party. Gluck captured the awkward authenticity of adolescence in American Vandal. And Lupe brought sharp intelligence to her work on Succession. Each actor suggests Strouse surrounded herself with performers who understand that comedy works best when grounded in truth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When does Seekers Of Infinite Love premiere at SXSW?
A: The film will have its world premiere at SXSW in March 2025. Specific dates and screening times will be announced closer to the festival.
Q: Who are the main stars of Seekers Of Infinite Love?
A: The film stars Emmy winners Hannah Einbinder (Hacks) and Justin Theroux (The Leftovers), alongside Oscar nominee Greg Kinnear (Little Miss Sunshine), with supporting performances from John Reynolds, Griffin Gluck, and Justine Lupe.
Q: What is Seekers Of Infinite Love about?
A: The comedy follows three dysfunctional siblings – a claustrophobe, a compulsive gambler, and a controlling lawyer – who must unite to rescue their sister from a doomsday cult. Their journey through the American South becomes as much about reconnecting with each other as saving their sister.
A Film Worth Seeking
In an era when streamers greenlight content by algorithm and studios chase proven IP, there’s something refreshing about a first-time director bringing an original vision to screen. Seekers Of Infinite Love represents the kind of mid-budget comedy that once dominated theaters, films that trusted audiences to appreciate character-driven stories with emotional stakes.
The European Film Market timing is strategic. By the time SXSW audiences see the finished product in March, international territories will have had weeks to consider their bids. For distributors seeking content that can work theatrically while also having streaming appeal, this package checks multiple boxes.
More importantly for audiences, it promises the rare combination of genuine laughs and legitimate emotion. As Strouse noted, getting to work with this cast was a dream. For viewers who appreciate smart comedy that doesn’t condescend, watching them navigate this story might feel the same way.
