About The Debut

When Mona Friedman is cast in a bit part at a small community theater, she transforms from a shy, unassuming housewife into a zealous method actor willing to do anything to protect the artistic integrity of her marginal role—even if it means waging war against the show’s domineering director.

About this Event

The Debut will screen at  AMFA’s Performing Arts Theater on Thursday, December 10, at 6:30 pm, courtesy of A24. Following its premiere at the 2026 Telluride Film Festival, The Debut has followed with screenings at several top film festivals around the world including San Sebastian, NYFF, and Zurich, where Julianne Moore was presented with their Golden Icon Award. The film has been a critical and audience favorite with Moore, Paul Giamatti, and writer, director, producer, Eisenberg, all the recipients of critical appreciation and potential awards consideration talk.

Cade Bethea, Managing Director of the Arkansas Cinema Society, said, “Screening an awards favorite like The Debut for our Little Rock audience is one of the huge hallmarks of ACS’ Sneak Series. Our film fans have a reputation for keeping up and looking forward to the hottest films on the festival and award circuit, and this is a prime example of ACS presenting a major awards player on the big screen at AMFA prior to the film’s release. The Debut is both a certified crowd pleaser and a film we’ll all be talking about when the Oscars, Golden Globes, etc. start entering the conversation.

The film follows Mona Friedman, played by Julianne Moore who is cast in a bit part at a small community theater, and transforms from a shy, unassuming housewife into a zealous method actor willing to do anything to protect the artistic integrity of her marginal role—even if it means waging war against the show’s domineering director (Paul Giamatti). Produced by Emma Stone, Dave McCary, Ali Herting, and Jesse Eisenberg, the film also stars Halle Bailey, Jesse Eisenberg, Cara Buono, Craig Bierko, Eldar Isgandarov, and Bernadette Peters.