Please Don't Feed the Children
| Please Don't Feed the Children | |
|---|---|
 Release poster | |
| Directed by | Destry Allyn Spielberg |
| Written by | Paul Bertino |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Shane Sigler |
| Edited by | Todd Sandler |
| Music by | Cornel Wilczek |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Tubi |
Release dates |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Please Don't Feed the Children is a 2024 American psychological thriller film directed by Destry Allyn Spielberg and written by Paul Bertino. It stars Michelle Dockery, Zoe Colletti, Andrew Liner, Dean Scott Vazquez, Regan Aliyah, Emma Meisel, Josh Melnick, Vernon Davis, and Giancarlo Esposito.
The film has its world premiere at the 57th Sitges Film Festival on October 11, 2024.
Premise
[edit]A group of orphans head south in search of a new life after the country's adult population is wiped out from a viral outbreak. Soon they discover a dangerous secret from a deranged woman.[1]
Cast
[edit]- Michelle Dockery[2]
- Zoe Colletti[1]
- Regan Aliyah[1]
- Andrew Liner[1]
- Josh Melnick[3]
- Emma Meisel[3]
- Dean Scott Vazquez[3]
- Vernon Davis
- Giancarlo Esposito
Production
[edit]In March 2023, it was reported that Destry Allyn Spielberg would make her feature directorial debut with Please Don't Feed the Children, from a script by Paul Bertino, with Michelle Dockery being cast in the lead role.[2] In May 2023, Regan Aliyah, Zoe Colletti and Andrew Liner were cast.[1] The following month, Joshuah Melnick, Emma Meisel and Dean Scott Vazquez joined the cast.[3] Vernon Davis and Giancarlo Esposito were announced as part of the cast later that year.[4][5]
Principal photography took place in Santa Fe, New Mexico in July 2023.[3] The production was granted an interim agreement allowing the actors to continue working on the film during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.[6] The film faced production challenges, and although filming concluded in November 2023, several crew members and vendors had not received payment as of May 2024. While the production qualified for $750,000 in New Mexico tax credits, the credits could not be issued until all outstanding payments were resolved. Lead producer Jason Dubin acknowledged the delays and pursued additional financing on multiple occasions to address the remaining obligations.[7]
Release
[edit]The film had its world premiere at the 57th Sitges Film Festival on October 11, 2024.[8][9] In June 2025, it was announced that Tubi had acquired the film's U.S. and Canadian rights and set it for release on June 27.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Whittock, Jesse (May 20, 2023). "Please Don't Feed The Children: Zoe Colletti, Regan Aliyah & Andrew Liner Join Destry Allyn Spielberg's Debut Feature – Cannes Market". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 20, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
- ^ a b Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 22, 2023). "Destry Allyn Spielberg's Directing Debut Will Be Please Don't Feed The Children; Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery Starring". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 20, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Yossman, K. J. (June 9, 2023). "Destry Allyn Spielberg's Directorial Feature Debut Don't Feed the Children Adds Cast (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on June 20, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
- ^ Whittock, Jesse (October 16, 2023). "Vernon Davis Lands Role In Destry Allyn Spielberg's Please Don't Feed The Children". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (November 22, 2023). "Giancarlo Esposito Joins Destry Allyn Spielberg's Please Don't Feed The Children". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (July 28, 2023). "SAG-AFTRA Launches Casting-Specific Interim Agreements, With New Guy Ritchie Movie Among Those Getting Waivers". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 28, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
- ^ Maddaus, Gene (May 15, 2024). "Destry Allyn Spielberg's Indie Feature Debut Suffers Financing Hurdles and Still Owes Vendors". Variety. Penske Media Corporation.
- ^ "Destry Allyn Spielberg estrena su debut en Sitges: Dirigir es "algo que nunca había planeado"". Europa Press (in Spanish). October 11, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
- ^ Lodderhose, Diana (October 11, 2024). "Destry Allyn Spielberg Talks Feature Film Debut Please Don't Feed The Children, Why Hollywood Should Cast Fresh Faces & Next Steps: "I Want To Start Careers – I'm Sick Of Seeing Movies That Lack Young Talent"". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (June 3, 2025). "Destry Allyn Spielberg's Directorial Debut 'Don't Feed The Children', Starring Michelle Dockery & Giancarlo Esposito, Acquired By Tubi". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
