SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2026 REVIEW! Having different types of voices in cinema is essential in order for the audience to get as many perspectives as possible. There are three fantastic indie female directors on the rise off the top of my head who I have had the pleasure to review debut feature films for: Tracie Laymon, Vivian Kerr, and Kate Cobb. I loved Cobb’s first film, Okie, a dramedy set in her hometown of rural Illinois, for its authenticity, humor, and relatability to small-town characters, even though I didn’t grow up there. Her second directorial feature, BRB, is a road trip movie back to Illinois, with the relationship between two young sisters at the heart of it. The road trip drama it was written by Sydney Blackburn and Michael Waller.
Sam (Autumn Best) is a 15-year-old who goes on an adventure with her older sister, Dylan (Zoe Colletti), to meet a boy whom she fell for in an AOL chatroom. It takes place in that early internet age, one that I am quite familiar with, having met my wife online. It’s a time when the term “catfish” started to gain prominence because you never knew for sure who you were really talking to, and that plays a role in this movie. Sam is a self-conscious girl, and a disability with her hand contributes mightily to the normal teen awkwardness. She loves carrying her camcorder around and chatting online with her internet boyfriend Eric (played by Dan Holler) about their favorite teen drama show, Riverview. Her sister Dylan has a volatile on again off again relationship with her boyfriend Sully (Richard David). When their parents (Beth Lacke and Keith Kupferer) go out of town, Dylan discovers Sam’s love messages online and decides that a road trip to meet the mystery man is exactly what they both need.
“Sam is a 15-year-old who goes on an adventure with her older sister, Dylan (Zoe Colletti), to meet a boy whom she fell for in an AOL chatroom.”
I get a kick out of seeing a little bit of an Adventures in Babysitting vibe of young kids out on their own with only each other to rely on, with a janky car and all. The main theme of BRB, besides teenage girls trying to find themselves, is the relationship between the two sisters. It has that authentic and universally relatable quality about it, just like Okie did. It’s a family relationship drama, which is refreshing because most love stories are of the romantic variety, but that’s sprinkled in too for good measure.
Kate Cobb has a knack for not only capturing visually striking images of Illinois but also for showing us layered characters who will always keep you interested. This kind of hook is essential for independent films working with a tight budget. The rich characters, along with emotional depth, are qualities that Laymon and Kerr excel at as well, so the future of all three looks extremely bright.
Women have a natural advantage over men when it comes to portraying female relationships, due to a lifetime of experience. This is why having different voices matters. They always say that you should “write what you know,” and Cobb (along with her writers) has done that to a T now with two movies. Best and Colletti also deserve their flowers for beautifully pulling off the funny and relatable love-hate sibling relationship that carries the movie.
The themes of wanting to be accepted and to become closer to a family member are universal. BRB is the rare coming-of-age film that is both fun and realistic.
BRB screened at the 2026 Slamdance Film Festival.
"…Cobb has a knack for not only capturing visually striking images of Illinois but also for showing us layered characters..."
