THE TRAVEL COMPANION Trailer: New Comedy Observes the Awkwardness & Delicacy of Male Friendship
A fresh New York comedy that premiered at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival, The Travel Companion is a modern-day comedy of errors that dives into the insecurities within friendship and artistic craft. Travis Wood and Alex Mallis co-direct in their feature debut from a script they co-wrote with Weston Auburn. It stars breakout Tristan Turner (The Residence) as a struggling documentary filmmaker whose bond with his best friend (Anthony Oberbeck) starts to crack when the latter starts dating a more successful director (Naomi Asa). It also features appearances by indie film icon Joanna Arnow (The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed) and Dara Messinger, senior programmer at DCTV’s Firehouse Cinema. Oscilloscope Laboratories has now unveiled the official trailer ahead of its release in theaters this April.
I wrote in my Tribeca 2025 review, “This meticulous comedy takes a long, hard look at the New York indie film scene of today, and how one’s creative crisis can spiral into ego and desperation without making it as far-fetched as most recent dark comedies would… The Travel Companion might be one of the most accurate depictions of the broader anxieties and diffidence that artists face nowadays. Relative newcomer Tristan Turner is a revelation, giving a fleshed-out performance as someone going through self-doubt who mostly needs someone to listen to him, even though he’s a giant pain in the ass. It wouldn’t be surprising if Wood and Mallis had to endure their own creative roadblocks leading up to this film, and it has certainly paid off in this introspective comedy that raises more questions about what artists must endure rather than offer easier alternatives. Just like the brilliant final shot, the time has come for people to hear their voice.”
Contributor Chris Shields also interviewed directors Mallis and Wood about their comedy at last year’s Tribeca, which you can read HERE.
As the official synopsis reads:
Simon is an early 30s filmmaker living in New York City with his best friend and roommate, Bruce, who works for an airline. As Bruce’s dedicated “travel companion,” he gets to fly for free on standby anytime he wants – an incredible asset for his unfinished, sprawling documentary about humanity, which he can’t quite describe but hopes to find in the edit. After a lackluster film screening, Simon’s life takes a turn when he befriends Beatrice, a fellow filmmaker, and invites her to join him and Bruce at a bar. Bruce and Beatrice hit it off and before long, Simon wakes to find Beatrice in his kitchen. As his roommate’s budding relationship gets more serious, Simon begins to fear he will lose his coveted travel perks. With only two months left until Bruce can change the recipient of his flight benefits, Simon begins to compromise his friendship with Bruce in his pursuit of retaining the free flights. Meanwhile, Simon’s jealousy of Beatrice’s successful filmmaking career intensifies, and he gradually loses focus on his own creative project as this obsession takes over. Can Simon keep both the benefits and his friendship intact?
The Travel Companion will open at New York City’s BAM Rose Cinemas on Friday, April 10, for a week-long theatrical run, followed by a limited national rollout on Friday, April 17.
Check out the official trailer below.
