The Manhattan Film Festival is honored to kick off its 2025 edition with the emotionally raw and deeply resonant SHEEPDOG. Join us Friday, June 13 at 9 PM, on the iconic Cinema Village stage in Greenwich Village, as this captivating drama takes center stage.
SHEEPDOG—written, directed by, and starring Steven Grayhm—is a deeply moving story set against the backdrop of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and recovery. The film centers on Calvin Cole, a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran who is court-ordered into treatment after a crisis. His journey to healing intensifies when his ex-convict father-in-law, a retired Vietnam vet, unexpectedly shows up at his door. Through this collision of past and present, Calvin must confront his inner wounds and learn how to rebuild not just himself, but also fractured family bonds (sheepdogthemovie.com).
Filmed in Western Massachusetts, SHEEPDOG lifts the veil on the often-overlooked power of Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG)—the idea that healing can lead to newfound strength. The narrative draws from real-world testimonials, making it an uplifting and timely story of redemption and resilience (sheepdogthemovie.com).
The Cast & Creative Force
- Steven Grayhm as Calvin Cole – writer/director and lead actor, winner of Best New Director at GI Film Festival San Diego 2025 (instagram.com)
- Virginia Madsen (Academy Award–nominee ) as Dr. Elecia Knox – as a VA trauma therapist in-training, working nights in a diner (sheepdogthemovie.com)
- Vondie Curtis Hall as Whitney St. Germain – Calvin’s father-in-law and guiding presence (sheepdogthemovie.com)
The cast also features Dominic Fumusa, Lilli Cooper, and Matt Dallas, who bring emotional depth and authenticity to this profound healing-influenced drama (sheepdogthemovie.com).
Why SHEEPDOG Is a Standout Opener
At MFF, we celebrate cinematic voices that both challenge and connect. SHEEPDOG delivers on both fronts: it tackles the important issue of veteran mental health, and does so with intimate character drama and powerful performances. It’s been praised as “one of the best films of the year” by critic Tony Toscano and lauded for its rare and heartfelt portrayal of PTSD and path to recovery (sheepdogthemovie.com).
After its sold-out screenings—like at the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival and GI Film Festival SD—it’s time for New York audiences to experience it on June 13!
📅 Date & Time: Friday, June 13, 2025 · 9:00 PM
📍 Venue: Cinema Village, Greenwich Village, NYC
🎤 Post-Screening Q&A: Immediately following the premiere, join Steven Grayhm and key cast members for a candid conversation about the film’s creation, themes, and impact.
Reserve your seats—this is one screening you won’t want to miss:
Why This Film Matters Now
As conversations around mental wellness, especially among veterans, continue to gain urgency, SHEEPDOG arrives as a cinematic voice of empathy and insight. Its story of heartbreak and hope is both timely and universal—uniting us behind real-life healing journeys.
🎥 Watch the Cast Talk About It
Steven Grayhm & Matt Dallas on SHEEPDOG (at Julien Dubuque Int’l Film Fest)
Mark your calendar and join us for a night of storytelling that proves cinema can be a bridge from trauma to triumph. We look forward to sharing SHEEPDOG—a film that truly matters—with New York.
Stay tuned for more MFF updates, and follow @manhattanfilmfestival for behind-the-scenes moments and special festival highlights.
Here’s to powerful stories and new beginnings at MFF 2025!
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