Star People

This was an impressive feature debut from writer-director Adam Finberg. As viewers, we experienced the journey into the main character's childhood memory of a UFO sighting. As she struggles to reconcile that mysterious childhood experience with the realities of her adult life, the film explores themes of memory, belief and emotional truth.

It had strong character development especially in the portrayal of her troubled, drug-addicted brother as she tries to balance her need to support him with her search for her truth. The film, which had a few interesting twists along the way, held my attention from start to finish.

I was not fully prepared for Star People to be such an engrossing and enthralling film. Being born and raised in Phoenix, it was interesting to see a story centered around the Phoenix lights, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the city and the desert backdrop throughout. The characters and the story itself completely pulled me in, and despite being a viewer who is known to fall asleep during movies, I was on the edge of my seat until the very end. Adam Finberg displays the vision of a far more advanced filmmaker than one who was making his debut.

Bravo to writer, Director Adam Finberg on telling a compelling, unique, original story that drew us in and left us wanting more. The chemistry between the phenomenally talented duo of Claire (Kat Cunning) and her brother Taylor (McCabe Slye) was so honest, raw and relatable that you really believed that they were siblings who both lived through a rough past. This isn't a story about UFO's and aliens but using that as the backdrop to the story was a brilliant move. You get attached to all of the main characters and find yourself rooting for them and wanting to ride along on their journey. The storyline of Ricardo and his daughter is so relevant and important given our current political climate. This is a story about survival, family, life choices and humanity. The setting in the Arizona desert during a heatwave was another great choice as we literally felt the oppressive heat and it just built on the tension that was so masterfully built throughout. The cinematography, editing and sound design were also beautiful. Kat, McCabe and Adam are definitely ones to watch! I appreciate the opportunity to have had a tiny role in telling this story and look forward to watching it again and the ending leaves you thinking and wondering, as a great film should. Bravo to all the cast and crew.

Star People completely surprised me-in the best way. On the surface, it's about the Phoenix Lights, but it's really a heartfelt, deeply human story about love, loss, and the bond between siblings. I felt incredibly moved.

The film captures Arizona beautifully-visually and emotionally. The heat of the desert was portrayed with authenticity. The cinematography is stunning, and the performances are real.

Adam Finberg's storeytelling is thoughtful, emotional, and even funny at times. Star People is for anyone who's ever loved someone deeply, or wondered what else might be out there.

Star People is a haunting, meditative sci-fi drama that follows Claire, a woman whose life was forever altered the night she witnessed the Phoenix Lights as a child - an event marked by a simultaneous seizure that blurred the line between trauma and revelation. Now an adult, Claire obsessively chases unexplained lights in the sky, driven by a need to reclaim the mystery that shaped her. The final scenes don't offer clear answers - instead, they offer meaning: maybe the real phenomenon is how we show up for each other in moments of crisis, like guardian angels in human form. Don't come looking for simple sci-fi thrills - come for the quiet beauty, the mystery, and the emotional resonance that lingers long after the credits roll.