Burt (film)

Last updated

Burt
Directed byJoe Burke
Written by
Produced by
  • Joe Burke
  • Oliver Cooper
Starring
CinematographyDaniel Kenji Levin
Edited byJoe Burke
Music by Tim Rutili
Production
companies
  • The Juice is Loose
  • Floating Rock Pictures
Release date
  • March 16, 2025 (2025-3-16)(CFF)
Running time
77 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$7,000

Burt is a 2025 American comedy-drama film directed by Joe Burke and starring Oliver Cooper, Burt Berger, Steven Levy, and Catlin Adams. Produced by Burke and Cooper and executive produced by David Gordon Green, Berger portrays a fictionalized version of himself, a 69-year-old musician with Parkinson's disease who finds out he has a son named Sammy (Cooper). [1] The film is shot in black-and-white. [2]

Contents

Burt premiered at the Cinequest Film Festival on March 16, 2025. [3]

Premise

Burt, a 69-year-old street musician living with Parkinson's disease, meets Sammy, a wayward young man from New York who shows up claiming to be his son. Having always dreamed of being a father, Burt embraces Sammy and invites him to stay for the weekend at his home, where he lives with his grumpy landlord, Steve.

Cast

Production

Burke and Cooper both grew up together in Sylvania, Ohio. Burt is their second collaboration on a feature film, following Four Dogs (2013). [2]

Burke based the film off of the real-life experiences of musician Burt Berger, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself. Berger suffers from Parkinson's disease. Speaking to Metro Silicon Valley , Burke stated, "The movie is a love letter to him, his wonderful music, and to my own dad, who is also living with Parkinson’s." The film is shot in black-and-white, and filming was completed in seven days. [4] [2] The film's production budget was $7,000. [5]

Release

Burt premiered at the Cinequest Film Festival on March 16, 2025. [3] The film will also screen at the Phoenix Film Festival from April 4–6, 2025, and at the Florida Film Festival. [6] [2]

References

  1. "Burt The Movie". joeburke. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Filmmakers Started in Toledo, Now Running the Festival Circuit". Toledo City Paper . Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "BURT". Cinequest. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  4. "Cinequest Serves Up a Cinematic Kaleidoscope". Metro Silicon Valley . Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  5. "Burt | 2025 Florida Film Festival". Eventive. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  6. "Burt 4/4/2025 4:30 PM". BrownPaperTickets. Retrieved March 13, 2025.