In Starland
A bold exploration of a middle aged man becoming involved with online influencers.
In small-town America, 50-year-old Ernie (Clarence Maclin gives an astonishing performance in his first lead role) lives a quiet and unremarkable life. But his solitary existence is shattered after he encounters a group of twenty something influencers. Finding a place where he finally belongs, Ernie discovers a world of hedonistic pleasure and voyeurism in which every movement he makes begins to blur the boundaries between performance and reality.
As he searches for an identity lost in a mysterious past, fractures begin to appear between his new found friends and the town of which he has been a part of for so long and Ernie begins to wonder the cost of his new found notoriety.
The debut from Pathanaki – whose long history of credits as an actor includes films with Danny Boyle and Bong Joon Ho – is not only a beautiful and emotive character study but also a pointed portrait of the differences between two generations: one whose certainties have disappeared and another for whom absolutes have never existed.
Bold and provocative, “In Starland” is a coming-of-age story mixed with a searing indictment of modern culture and a lament on the death of the American dream.
Laurence Boyce
Biography
Ray Panthaki (1979) is a British actor, writer, director, and producer. He is known for roles in “Marcella”, “Away”, “Boiling Point”, and “Colette”. He began directing with the short film “Life Sentence” (2013), followed by “Ernie” (2020). His feature directorial debut, “In Starland” (2026), which he co-wrote with Jason Kavan, explores identity, belonging, and unexpected connections in small-town America. The film was selected for the British Council and BFI’s GREAT 8 showcase at Cannes 2026.
Filmography
Life Sentence (2013, short), Ernie (2020, short), In Starland (2026)
Award for the best film, grant of 5000€ by
