How One Filmmaker Made Her Dark Comedy the Season’s Hottest In-Person Date Night Event

At the theatrical premiere of "Honeyjoon," people flocked to the award-winning film to laugh and go deep, then mingle at singles afterparty. Filmmaker and Movie Date mastermind Lilian T. Mehrel shares with IndieWire how the stars aligned.

In her award-winning debut feature “Honeyjoon,” director, writer, and producer Lilian T. Mehrel transforms grief, desire, and human connection into something electric, introducing a visionary new voice. Winner of the biggest production prize in the world, the Tribeca AT&T Untold Stories Award, the film premiered at Tribeca; after 50+ festival screenings and multiple awards, “Honeyjoon” is now in theaters, released by Utopia’s Circle Collective.

Ahead, Mehrel reflects on how the remarkable audience response inspired her to reinvent the Movie Date.

Screening my movie “Honeyjoon” across the country, I started to notice a pattern: people don’t want to leave.

After every screening, they linger and want to talk — to me and to each other. The movie is an experience: waves of laughter and emotion, together in the dark. You feel it in your body. There’s a natural desire to connect after. A buzzy energy. A sexy vibe. Over and over, people share that it makes them feel alive.

Did I mention “Honeyjoon” is a grief comedy?

A surprisingly sexy, darkly funny, emotional rollercoaster about a family trip to a romantic island in the Azores, for a grief anniversary. It’s really about surfing the waves of life, loss, flirting. I made it to rediscover the pleasure of being alive. To share the inside joke of being human. To show off to my exes.

I realized it also happens to be the perfect date movie. People of all genders, ages, and cultures connect. It inspires fun and flirty but also deep and real conversations — about life, pleasure, and sharing a hotel room with your mom.

Watching the movie together creates a collective experience of emotion and excitement, which according to psychologists (not just filmmakers), naturally boosts real-life connection.

In this era especially, people are craving IRL experiences to connect. A movie date is retro, classic, real.

So I started dreaming up a new kind of movie date…

Lean back in a plush red chair. Buttered popcorn, the fizz of a fresh soda. The anticipation, looking up at the big screen. The familiar intro, the lights dim. Sitting next to you, someone hot. A shared armrest. Did your hands just touch? Electric. You all laugh together. You get quiet together, emotion in the air. You ride the waves together. The credits roll. And you roll over to the singles afterparty. You all just shared this experience. You talk about the movie, life, each other.

Plus, the film’s director gave you official permission to flirt.

Welcome to “Honeyjoon” Movie Date. A special theatrical experience for singles to watch the film, and then mingle at a singles afterparty.

I decided to do it for the film’s theatrical release in NYC, at the iconic IFC Center. We hosted our first singles afterparty at a bar around the corner (The Parkgate) with Met Through Friends (who host events where everyone has to bring a friend). I wrote playful question prompts inspired by the movie, which people asked each other bingo-style for a prize (a pair of “Honeyjoon” hats — one to give to a new crush).

We sold out IFC’s biggest theater. The screening was a blast. The singles party had a waitlist out the door. There was an exhilarating ease as people talked, laughed, and flirted freely. It brought new audiences in and created a natural shared experience for people to connect over.

I think the pairing was such a hit because it was organically inspired by the film and audience. “Honeyjoon” makes people laugh and feel emotional and alive. It opens up deeper conversations. It encourages flirting. The combination amplified connection in new and electric ways.

All of this taught me how much people really do want to connect in real life, at movie theaters and beyond.

As we share the film in more cities, I’m excited for more “Honeyjoon” Movie Dates, screening series, and ways for people to keep connecting after the credits roll.

Plus, as a director who has been exclusively dating her movie… I’m still single.

“Honeyjoon” opened in theaters in NYC, LA, Chicago, Toronto, and more, with Utopia’s Circle Collective. Follow @honeyjoonfilmfor more.