Great independent films. Great conversations with the filmmakers.
STARRING JERRY AS HIMSELF
Beacon Film Society presents…
STARRING JERRY AS HIMSELF
Thursday April 9, 2026
7:30p (7p doors)
Howland Cultural Center
477 Main Street Beacon NY 12508
Q&A with producer Jonathan Hsu, director Law Chen and director of photography Tinx Chan to follow the screening.
A genre-bending hybrid documentary/narrative about Jerry Hsu, a retired Taiwanese immigrant in Florida scammed out of his life savings.
After an unsettling call from a Chinese police officer puts Jerry on his heels, he agrees join an undercover operation that sends him into a spiral of secrecy and self-destruction.
What follows is a rare film that exists along the fine line between fact and fiction, one that confronts memory, nostalgia, human frailty and fallibility, the pursuit of the ‘America dream’, and the seductive traps that fraudsters set to prey upon our aging population.
*****
~ GRAND JURY AWARD ~
Slamdance Film Festival
*****
“ Starring Jerry as Himself can be filed under ‘truth is stranger than fiction.’ ”
– RogerEbert.com
“… participatory nature offers something new for true crime”
-POV Magazine
“… a remarkable accomplishment”
– Cinema Escapist
“100% Fresh”
– Rotten Tomatoes
Jonathan Hsu has been making films ever since his father gave him the family’s Digi8 Camcorder to document their family travels. Since then he has produced multiple award winning commercials, music videos, and films. He founded his commercial production services company HsuBox Productions Inc. with the mission to share and produce content that is as diverse as his crew and clients.
Jonathan is an alumni of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. He recently Executive Produced the horror movie “A Wounded Fawn” for Tribeca 2022’s Midnight Program and also the short film “Closing Dynasty” for the inaugural Netflix x Gold House x Tribeca 2022 Future Gold Fellowship. He is a member of the DPA, A-Doc, IDA, Gotham, and Film Independent.
Law Chen is an award winning director based in Brooklyn. His narrative, documentary, and commercial films have earned 19 Cannes Lions, as well as multiple Webby Awards and Vimeo Staff Picks. His genre-bending first feature STARRING JERRY AS HIMSELF tells the true story about an ordinary immigrant dad retired in Florida who becomes a spy for the Chinese police. It won the Grand Jury, Audience, and Best Actor awards at Slamdance along with a dozen other awards at more than thirty international festivals. Law is dedicated to telling diverse stories with a focus on immigrants and the pursuit of the American Dream.
Tinx Chan is a cinematographer from Brooklyn, New York with over 15 years of experience in feature films, commercials, TV and documentaries. Tinx has traveled the world bringing award winning directors’ visions to screen. His work has been featured in American Cinematographer Magazine and in festivals worldwide. He was recently the cinematographer of the 2022 Tribeca film Our Father, The Devil as well as 2nd Unit on Todd Solondz’s Wiener Dog. Tinx is a member of the IATSE600 Cinematographer’s Guild and a recipient of ICG’s 2019 Emerging Cinematographer Award.
I REALLY LOVE MY HUSBAND
Beacon Film Society presents…
I REALLY LOVE MY HUSBAND
Thursday May 7, 2026
7:30p (7p doors)
Howland Cultural Center
477 Main Street Beacon NY 12508
Q&A with writer-director (and No Film School podcast host) GG Hawkins to follow the screening.
When a woman grows disillusioned with her golden-boy husband during their tropical honeymoon, she recruits an enigmatic expat to spice things up—for better or worse.
Just one year into her marriage, Teresa hopes her honeymoon in the tropical paradise of Bocas del Toro, Panamá will be the pinnacle of her relationship thus far. Yet, upon arrival, her husband Drew’s people-pleasing begins to push her to the edge. Stripped of the routines that barely sustain their newlywed bond and unwilling to confront her true feelings, Teresa becomes captivated by Paz, a free-spirited expat who manages their vacation rental. Driven by this infatuation, Teresa suggests a wild way to spice up her marriage.
*****
“ Messy, truthful, and undeniably human, it’s the rare romantic film that understands … ”
– moviejawn.com
“ … a refreshingly fluid approach to sexuality …”
– Variety
“ … Hawkins’ well-crafted indie satire functions as a cautionary tale …”
– Paste Magazine
Q&A with film writer-director and host of No Film School Podcast GG Hawkins to follow.
GG Hawkins is a writer-director whose work explores the female experience and millennial ennui. Her work has been showcased at the Tribeca Festival, HollyShorts, Salute Your Shorts and more. Her debut feature, I Really Love My Husband, premiered at SXSW 2025 to critical acclaim, won the first time director award at Chattanooga and best film at the Female Eye Film Festival. I Really Love My Husband screened theatrically, and is now streaming. GG also hosts the No Film School podcast, exploring the craft of filmmaking and interviewing talents such as Kelly Fremon Craig, Pete Docter, and James Mangold. and writes the newsletter Making It, about microbudget filmmaking and her work-in-progress career.
Join Us!
Subscribe to our list to learn about future screenings.