Alternately spiky and sweet, this relationship comedy by writer-director Pavan Moondi follows the increasingly intertwined lives of two thirty-somethings who first meet by chance. While Andie (Leah Fay Goldstein), a wedding planner and new mother, may seem like she’s got her act together, she’s really not so different from Ryan (Peter Dreimanis), a blue-collar guy with a looser, more cavalier approach to life. The growing connection between the two threatens to make things even messier for the both. But what’s bad news for Andie and Ryan is good news for viewers of MIDDLE LIFE, which is suffused with the same low-key charm and authenticity that distinguished Moondi’s earlier features. Just as enjoyable are the performances by Goldstein and Dreimanis, two longtime collaborators with the director who are also at this year’s KCFF with their band July Talk. MIDDLE LIFE is making its Ontario premiere!

Director: Pavan Moondi

Cast: Leah Fay Goldstein, Peter Dreimanis, Luke Lalonde, Norah Sadava, Colin Burgess

Language: English

Runtime: 84 minutes

PAVAN MOONDI, DIRECTOR

Pavan (pronounced “Pav-in”) Moondi is a Los Angeles-based writer/director originally from Toronto.

He has written and directed three critically-acclaimed feature films, including DIAMOND TONGUES and SUNDOWNERS, which co-stars Tim Heidecker.

DIAMOND TONGUES premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival to critical acclaim, garnering a Canadian Screen Award nomination for its first-time actress star, Leah Fay Goldstein of the band JULY TALK.

Pavan has also worked in television: he directed all 8 half-hour episodes of a CBC TV single camera sitcom, FOUR IN THE MORNING; and worked in the writers’ room on SCHITT’S CREEK, which was nominated for a Best Comedy Series Emmy Award.

LEAH FAY GOLDSTEIN, ACTOR

Leah Fay Goldstein is a Toronto-based musician and artist who co-founded the rock and roll band, July Talk, as well as the feminist performance art collective, WIVES. Her artistic practice centres on dismantling patriarchal and androcentric societal norms. While completing her BFA at Concordia University as a Contemporary Dance major, she fell in love with intervention performance as it allowed her to tactfully encroach on the boundaries of strangers. She adopted the use of raw uninhibited emotion as a means to desecrate the notion of feminine wiles and has been making people uncomfortable with her honesty ever since. She was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award (2016) for “Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role” in the indie film “Diamond Tongues”. July Talk, Juno Award recipients (2015 and 2017) for “Alternative Album of the Year” and in 2014, Leah was dubbed one of “28 Top Front Men and Women” by the CBC.

PETER DREIMANIS, ACTOR

Peter Dreimanis is a multidisciplinary artist, most known for co-founding the Juno Award winning rock band July Talk. The band has toured internationally since 2013 and was the recipient of the 2017 Hi-Fidelity Prism Prize, awarded to a recording artist who has used video art to represent their work in a consistently creative and innovative way. He lives in Toronto.

Peter Dreimanis is a Canadian musician and artist who gained recognition as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the indie rock band July Talk. Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Peter grew up surrounded by music and developed a passion for the art form from a young age. His unique vocals and charismatic stage presence have made him a staple in the Canadian music scene.

Dreimanis formed July Talk in 2012, along with guitarist Ian Docherty. The band quickly gained attention for their intense and energetic live performances, which often feature Dreimanis and co-vocalist Leah Fay engaging in captivating vocal dynamics. Their music blends elements of alternative rock, blues, and folk, offering a distinctive sound that resonates with audiences worldwide.

With his rugged appearance and raw, powerful voice, Dreimanis has been hailed as a charismatic frontman, often compared to rock icons such as Nick Cave and Tom Waits. He is known for his emotive songwriting, exploring themes of love, relationships, and societal issues. His lyrics are often introspective and introspective, mirroring the complex emotions that his music evokes.

Beyond his work with July Talk, Peter Dreimanis has also collaborated with various artists, including Arkells, Climax Blues Band, and Canadian folk musician Dan Romano. His versatility and ability to adapt to different musical styles have further solidified his status as a talented and respected figure in the Canadian music industry. Dreimanis continues to create and perform, leaving his mark on the world of music with his distinctive voice and captivating presence.

As a creative, Dreimanis has produced music videos and films, but his biggest acting break has just hit theatres in Ryan Coogler’s latest film Sinners.

LUKE LALONDE, ACTOR

Luke Lalonde is the lead singer of JUNO-nominated indie-rock mainstays, Born Ruffians. Alongside the band’s 5 full-length records, Lalonde has become known as a prolific solo writer, collaborating with a variety of artists across several genres, including Caribou.

Jared Raab, cinematographer

Jared Raab is a Canadian writer and cinematographer, best known for his collaborations with Matt Johnson on the television series Nirvanna the Band the Show and the films BlackBerry, Operation Avalanche, and The Dirties.

Jared Raab is a Canadian cinematographer, writer, and filmmaker based in Toronto, originally from Millbrook, Ontario, who studied film at York University. He gained early recognition with his award-winning short film The Revenge Plot (2011). He is best known for his long-term collaboration with director Matt Johnson, serving as director of photography on films such as The Dirties (2013), Operation Avalanche (2016), and Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie (2025), as well as co-writing and shooting the mockumentary series Nirvanna the Band the Show (2016–2017).

Raab’s cinematography work extends to acclaimed projects like the tech satire BlackBerry (2023), for which he won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Cinematography in 2024, and the horror anthology V/H/S/94 (2021).He has also directed music videos for artists including July Talk, Andy Shauf, and Alvvays, earning Prism Prize nominations for “Picturing Love” (2017) and “Clove Cigarette” (2021).In addition to narrative work, Raab has contributed to documentaries, including a nomination for Best Direction in a Documentary Series at the 2022 Canadian Screen Awards for the episode “Auto-Tune” in This Is Pop. His style often blends verité aesthetics with humor, reflecting influences from his early short films and music video background.

Josh Warburton, musician/producer