Throughout my years of covering the Sundance Film Festival, one of the most thrilling aspects has been discovering new voices in film. Notable Academy Award winners like Jordan Peele, Wes Anderson, and Quentin Tarantino all got their start in Park City. With the 2025 edition of the festival, the excitement of exploring new selections and uncovering the next great filmmakers is undeniable.
While not his debut, Josh Sweeney’s Twinless kicked off this year’s Sundance with a bang. However, it was Cole Webley’s powerhouse debut, Omaha, that delivered an emotional knockout. Exploring the dynamics of parenthood, sacrifice, and resilience, Omaha is a striking and profoundly moving portrait of a family in crisis.
The film follows a family who, after losing their home to foreclosure, embarks on a cross-country journey. Along the way, they make a stop in Omaha, where they are faced with a life-altering decision.
Robert Machoian’s screenplay crafts a rhythm and tone that is utterly absorbing. From the opening moments, the organic nature of his writing pulls you in, creating a hypnotic effect that never fades throughout the film’s tight 83-minute runtime. Much like Aftersun, Omaha thrives in its quiet moments, allowing cinephiles to deeply connect with a man struggling with internal turmoil while striving to maintain a sense of normalcy for his family.
John Magaro continues his ascent as one of cinema’s most dependable actors. Portraying a father grappling with personal grief while offering unwavering love and support to his family, Magaro makes this journey both stoic and essential—an on-screen depiction of life’s harsh realities at their most raw. His performance stands as the best of his career thus far.
Matching Magaro’s excellence is Molly Belle Wright, who delivers a sensational debut performance. While child actors can sometimes be hit or miss, Wright brings an authenticity that serves as the emotional anchor of Omaha. Her chemistry with Magaro is both heartbreaking and deeply affecting, culminating in a father-daughter dynamic that will leave audiences in tears by the film’s conclusion. Paul Meyers’ cinematography beautifully captures the vast landscapes of their journey, while Christopher Bear’s score enhances the film’s emotional core.
It’s hard to imagine finding a bigger triumph at this year’s Sundance Film Festival than Omaha. Offering a compelling and heartfelt exploration of hardship and parental sacrifice, the film marks an outstanding debut for Cole Webley and secures its place as a true gem in the 2025 cinematic landscape.
