Human Theories

A film by Jess Zeidman

Human Theories is a playful, experimental mosaic of what it means to be alive and endlessly bumping into one another. Told through forty loosely connected vignettes, the film captures the humor, awkwardness, and quiet poignancy of trying—and often failing—to connect in a city overflowing with people. Shot over the course of a year across New York City with a rotating ensemble of more than fifty actors and non‑actors, it becomes a living, breathing love letter to the city’s rhythms, seasons, and strange, beautiful contradictions.

Brooklyn-based filmmaker and writer Jess Zeidman brings her signature blend of humor, complexity, and inclusivity to her first feature as director. Known for writing and producing Tahara (a NYT Critics’ Pick) and producing projects like Summer Solstice and Our Home Out West, Zeidman approaches Human Theories with a spirit of experimentation and collaboration. Filmed month-by-month with a small crew and an ever-changing cast, the project mirrors the unpredictability of city life itself—full of laughter, tension, discovery, and the bittersweet satisfaction of creating something that feels both intentional and entirely unexpected. The result is an ode to the messy, funny, frustrating, and deeply human experience of simply being alive.

Director, Writer: Jess Zeidman
Producers: Jess Zeidman, Arno Mokros, Yoko Kohmoto, Tam Sackman, Leo Gallagher, Paula Andrea Gonzalez-Nasser, Camille Casmier, Ryan Martin Brown