Daniel Blake Schwartz‘s very personal Tribeca 2026 drama Cotton Fever explores the trappings of addiction. The film follows the lives of interconnected drug users in Massachusetts.

Dealer James and his pregnant girlfriend Dina hope to move into a proper apartment. Homeless and addicted couple Sam and Manny chase the next high with petty crime. Akil’s motivation is his brother’s near misses with overdosing. Each one has the hope of a better tomorrow, despite the odds stacked against them.

Ari Mora and Chabely Ponce are spectacular together, playing Manny and Sam. Their mix of survival and enamored love is a fascinating study.

Colton Osorio gives teen dealer Harley the precise innocence and streetwise fearlessness that proves captivating. Ronald Emile‘s Akil bleeds love-soaked desperation in his brotherly efforts. Don’t sleep on him.

Sosie Bacon‘s Dina is genuine and aspirational. Her kindness and self-actualization are incredibly refreshing.

Kyle Gallner, one of my favorite actors on the planet, knocks it out of the park again. It feels like there is no role he cannot own. As James, Gallner commands each frame, bouncing between fear, rage, the hustle, and the deceiving calm of a high. But it is the sacrificial lamb under the surface that gets you. Once again, it is award-worthy stuff.

There is an immersive feel to the opening scene, almost a sensory overload. Gallner’s performance, Tom Acton Fitzgerald‘s camerawork, and the augmented sound editing from Dylan Castora put the audience on edge. Each time James attempts to get clean, this overwhelming cycle begins again, chasing him from help.

Each one of our ensemble comes from poverty, abuse, violence, and generational trauma. Our players cross paths on the streets and in detox centers during their lowest lows. Cotton Fever is a frighteningly authentic peek inside the realities of too many people. It is raw humanity. These are the stories Tribeca audiences live for.