press
“gorgeously shot, honest and deeply personal”
— Virgie Tovar, Forbes
“MOST FILMS ABOUT ADDICTION FOCUS ON THE ADDICT… ‘STAY AWAKE’ CONCENTRATES ON THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE DONE – NOT TO MOM, BUT TO HER SONS.”
Bob Mondello, NPR’s All Things Considered
"OLEFF, ARGUS AND METZ SUCCEED IN DEPICTING BOTH THE FRUSTRATIONS AND THE COMPASSION ASSOCIATED WITH CARING FOR RELATIVES WHO CONTINUOUSLY HARM THEMSELVES."
Claire Shaffer, The New York Times
“Sisley has created an authentic and nuanced portrait of a family not just in crisis, but in transition: big transition, sparked by the accumulation of small moments where the heart is laid bare, where the frustration boils over, where the delusions must be faced. And where the truth is embraced.”
Josh Kupecki, Austin Chronicle
“‘Stay Awake’ offers a compassionate but clear-eyed take on a sadly all-too-familiar family dilemma.”
Michael Rechtshaffen, Los Angeles Times
“a quiet, melancholy feature that, in a nonjudgmental manner, details the emotional toll of addiction.”
Bob Bloom, ReelBob
“This remarkable film debut takes an empathetic and meticulous approach to a complex topic that is an unfortunate reality for so many families.”
Caroline Madden, Moviegoing with Bill
“Stay Awake” is a searing depiction of the damage that addiction and co-dependency can do to families.”
Carla Hay, Culture Mix
“Chrissy Metz Says She Was Drawn to 'Stay Awake' Partly Because 'I Understand Addiction' (Exclusive)”
Kimberlee Speakman, People Magazine
“…I realized then that the greatest use for Stay Awake was simply to open the door for people to share their experiences with each other – the exact thing I’d wanted as a kid, but had somehow missed or lost along the way.”
Jamie Sisley, Talkhouse
“I wanted to tell a story from the caretaker’s point of view, because I’d never seen that before—the rollercoaster ride caretakers have to go on with their loved ones to help manage their disease.”
Jamie Sisley in conversation with Natalia Keogan, Filmmaker Magazine
“That’s what intimate cinema like this has always done best — put believable characters in “lived in” places, in real world situations where the stakes are small but terminal and pretty damned important to those affected.”
Roger Moore, Roger's Movie Nation
“Anchored by exceptional lead performances from Wyatt Oleff and Fin Argus, and supported by the nuanced portrayal of Chrissy Metz, the film presents a raw and authentic exploration of addiction, while delivering both tender and devastating moments that resonate long after the credits roll.”
Caillou Pettis, Geek Vibes Nation
“‘Stay Awake’ is a grounded drama that delicately tells a story that’s all too common in our country.”
Cody Dericks, Next Best Picture
“A solid drama about often unrecognized role of caretakers in the world of opioid addiction. This is a greatly directed film.”
Frederico Furzan, Movieblogger.com
“One of the more fantastically told movies on the subject of addiction thats been made in recent times. Never overblown, always grounded when needed.”
Bill Arceneaux, Movie Going With Bill
“I always assumed growing up that this was a domestic issue, and i realized fairly quickly that it wasn’t.”
Jamie Sisley, WBAI "Any Saturday" w/ David Rothernberg
“…what’s unique about Stay Awake is that you get to see a movie that has a big focus on struggling with addiction and substance abuse, but also…it doesn’t vilify the addict, you know? It’s a very human and empathetic look at the experience of addiction. I think that’s what also encouraged people to be vulnerable about their own experiences.”
Fin Argus, Anthem Magazine
"The compassion the brothers show each other on-screen rings true."
Lisa Blanck, In Focus-Magazine
“Oleff has also worked with several indie filmmakers, including Jamie Sisley, whose latest movie, STAY AWAKE premieres this month. ‘People with that singular vision are really inspiring,’ Oleff says, ‘and I want to be that person someday.”’
2023 Florida Film Fest: ‘Stay Awake’ – An Effective Family Recovery Tragedy
Alan French, Sunshine State Cineplex
“Prickling with coming-of-age sharpness”
Josh Batchelder, Josh At The Movies
"CHRISSY METZ IS MESMERIZING AS MICHELLE”
Chad Liffman, Spinning Platters
“sincere and heartwarming”
Brittany Witherspoon, Film Threat
Berlin Review: Stay Awake Takes a Complex Look at Familial Care and Compromise
Jared Mobarak, The Film Stage
“The relationship between the bothers is genuinely brought to life through the beautiful chemistry between Oleff and ARgus.”
Niger Asije, The New Current
Berlinale 2022 Review: A Family Fights Prescription, Medication and Otherwise, in Jamie Sisley’s Heartfelt “Stay Awake”
Stephen Saito, The Moveable Fest
“Stay Awake is a beautifully made film.”
Aseem Chhabra, Rediff
Berlinale 2022: Stay Awake
Christian Klosz, Film Plus Kritik
“CHRISSY METZ IS HEARTBREAKING”
Stephen Whitty, Film Racket
Stay Awake (Review): A Heartbreaking Story of Addiction
Bethany Lola, Loud and Clear Reviews
Holding on and letting go in Stay Awake
Shubhra Gupta, The Indian Express
Berlin First-Look Image: Teenage Pressures and Prescription Drug Addiction in ‘Stay Awake’ (Exclusive)
Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter
Berlin Fresh Faces: ‘Stay Awake’ Producer Shrihari Sathe
Naman Ramachandran, Variety
Alcarras’ wins Golden Bear at 2022 Berlinale
Ben Dalton, Screen Daily
Alis and Comedy Queen win the Crystal Bears in Berlinale’s Generation
Vassilis Economou, Cineuropa
Berlin: ‘Kind Hearts,’ ‘Skhema’ Win Top Prize Crystal Bear in Youth Sidebar Generation 14plus
Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter
Berlinale 2022: Carla Simón’s ‘Alcarràs’ wins Golden Bear for Best Film, Claire Denis named Best Director
Erik Anderson, Awards Watch
Caring for a loved one is a rollercoaster: Interview with Jamie Sisley & Wyatt Oleff
Jonas Meyer, MYP Magazine
Berlin Film Festival Award Winners — Updating Live
Guy Lodge, Variety
Obsessions: Wyatt Oleff & Fin Argus x STAY AWAKE
Alexandra Bonnet, Bello
Interview: Screenwriter/Director Jamie Sisley & Stay Awake Cast
Josh Batchelder and Allison Brown, Josh at the Movies
Small-Town Americana: An Interview with Jamie Sisley
Alice Connolly O’Brien, Berlin Art Link
film STILLS
film STILLS
Teenagers Derek and Ethan are figuring out their lives in Stay Awake, a coming of age drama revolving around addiction.
— Bethany Lola, Loud and Clear Reviews
Stay Awake walks the tough tightrope between facile sympathy and over-romanticisation.
— Shubhra Gupta, Indian Express
Photos by Alejandro Mejia