“Mother, May I Have A Kidney?” will make its world premiere at the 2025 Tribeca Festival, as part of the Indie Episodic (NOW) program, which highlights innovative storytelling in short-form content. This heartfelt dramedy explores the complexities of family, identity, and reconciliation through a uniquely humorous lens – directed by Paul Schnee and created by Veronica Reyes-How. [IMDB].
The series features a talented cast including Doug Plaut (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Hurricane Bianca franchise), Tina Benko (“The Greatest Showman,“The Rehearsal,” for which she won an EmmyⓇ for Best Supporting Actress in a Digital Series), Darius de Haas, Charlotte Ray Rosenberg and Troy Iwata, among others.
“Mother, May I Have a Kidney?”
is a heartfelt comedy-drama about Doug Andrews, a 30-something navigating a full-blown midlife crisis when he’s hit with even worse news: he needs a kidney transplant. The only viable donor? His estranged mother, Rhonda — a sharp-tongued, boundary-challenged woman he hasn’t spoken to in over a decade. As Doug attempts the most awkward reunion of his life, old wounds resurface, expectations clash and long-buried family secrets threaten to derail the one thing that could save him.
But in the awkward, often hilarious process of orchestrating this unwanted reconciliation, Doug might just discover that healing a relationship can be as life-saving as the organ itself.
The first episode will premiere with Doug learning he needs a kidney transplant, and his options for a successful match. He’s compelled to embark on a journey toward familial reconciliation. [Trailer].
Doug has had it hard all his life. He has had a dire medical condition since being young, and it seems as if his mom had never truly been the nurturing mother.
As much as he tries, and even asking his sister to be a go-between in his request, his mom isn’t budging.
He talks about a kidney donor, and she wonders why “These alleged hippie kidney donors” can’t be more helpful.
Doug is so unassuming and sweet and just wants the love of his mother, who he learns has sold the family home more than 10 years, and he didn’t even know about it!
“The entire cast is incredible, but it was so thrilling to create these strong, independent NY women and our actresses really blew me away with their portrayals of them. From Tina Benko to Charlotte Ray Rosenberg to Myra Lucretia Taylor to Lydia Gaston, we were fortunate to have powerhouse women to drive this narrative. I often write stories about fractured families working toward reconciliation, and I believe audiences will enjoy the difficult and hilarious paths these characters take to achieve it,” said Reyes-How.
I am covering the Tribeca Film
festival once again for the Chicago Crusader, and this is one of the many films that I will be able to view virtually.
It’s a funny look at how a family can become so estranged that even in the most crucial moments, reconciliation doesn’t seem possible.
The Festival runs between June 4 and June 15.
Screening details:
Sunday, June 8, at 8:30 p.m.– Shorts Theater at Spring Studios.
Wednesday, June 11, at 6:00 p.m.– Village East by Angelika.
Sunday, June 15, at 5:15 p.m.– AMC 19th St. East 6.
Check out the full Tribeca Film Festival films and information about virtual and in-person screening tickets: https://tribecafilm.com/festival.