The 2026 Cannes Film Festival just found its heartbeat, and it’s thumping to the rhythm of a 2016 Rihanna deep cut. When the lights came up at the Palais after the premiere of Jordan Firstman Club Kid, the atmosphere wasn’t just celebratory—it was electric. Firstman, the internet’s favorite multi-hyphenate, was seen sobbing and embracing co-star Diego Calva as the audience delivered a thunderous 6-minute standing ovation. This isn’t just another influencer-to-indie-darling pipeline story; it’s a high-stakes gamble on authenticity that actually paid off.
What is the movie Club Kid about?
Club Kid is the feature directorial debut of Jordan Firstman. The film follows a past-his-prime New York party promoter whose life changes when he discovers he has a 10-year-old son (Reggie Absolom). It premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival to a 6-minute standing ovation in the Un Certain Regard section.
The Rihanna Gamble: Securing 'Sex With Me' Without the Rights
In the world of indie filmmaking, you’re usually told to play it safe with music licensing. You clear the tracks before you roll camera, or you find a cheaper alternative. Jordan Firstman did neither. The opening scene of Club Kid features a 2016 flashback where a group of friends are headed to a party, blasting Rihanna’s "Sex With Me" on the aux. It’s a vibe-setter that Firstman insisted was non-negotiable.
Producers reportedly begged him to shoot "alts" (alternative scenes with different music), but Firstman refused. He bet the entire opening of his Jordan Firstman directorial debut on a song he didn't own. "I knew if Rihanna saw this, she’s gonna gag for it," Firstman noted during the festival. Real talk: that is a massive risk when you’re working with a tight indie budget and a 26-day shooting schedule.
The Rihanna Sex With Me Club Kid saga ended just three weeks before the Un Certain Regard Cannes 2026 premiere. Through a mix of "God and a great publicist," the film reached Rihanna herself. She didn't just approve it; she loved it. The result is an opening sequence that feels like a time capsule of mid-2010s NYC hedonism, perfectly preserved on film.
Authenticity on Screen: Filming in the Real NYC Queer Party Scene
While most films about nightlife rely on soundstages and over-the-top costumes, Club Kid opted for a "boots on the ground" approach. Firstman utilized his own social capital to gain access to New York party scene locations that usually keep cameras far away from the velvet ropes. These weren't just sets; they were active spaces where the crew staged scenes in the middle of real parties.
- The Locations: Filming took place in exclusive NYC queer spaces, leveraging Firstman's personal connections to ensure the "lived-in" feel of the city's nightlife.
- The Extras: Instead of hiring standard background actors, the production cast real "scene kids" to populate the clubs.
- The Language: Firstman describes the film’s dialogue as a "foreign-language" of queer dialect—a hyper-specific gibberish that felt so authentic the straight crew members had to learn it on the fly.
The visual style, captured by cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra, was heavily influenced by the "grit and glamour" of 70s and 90s New York cinema. Firstman and Newport-Berra looked to Paul Mazursky’s An Unmarried Woman and the Michelle Pfeiffer-led One Fine Day for inspiration. By shooting on 16mm and 35mm film, they achieved a texture that digital simply can't replicate—making the sweat and glitter of the club feel tactile.
Casting Reggie Absolom: The Heart of Jordan Firstman Club Kid
The film’s emotional anchor isn't the party—it's the parenting. Finding the right Reggie Absolom actor was the make-or-break moment for the production. Casting director Lucy Bevan, fresh off the Harry Potter TV series, discovered Absolom in the UK. Despite his background in more traditional projects like Silo, Absolom’s chemistry with Firstman was instant and "disarmingly endearing."
The relationship between the jaded promoter and his 10-year-old son was built in real-time. Firstman famously skipped rehearsals to keep the interactions awkward and honest. One of the most touching behind-the-scenes stories involves Absolom’s reaction to the diverse cast. After filming with the breakout queer performers like Miss Benny and Saturn Risin9, Absolom reportedly told his mother, "I love the dolls!" It’s this intersection of the "club kid" world and childhood innocence that gives the film its unique bite.
The Road to Cannes 2026: From Instagram to the Palais
It’s easy to pigeonhole Firstman because of his Jordan Firstman Instagram impressions influence, but he’s been a fixture in writers' rooms for shows like Search Party and Big Mouth for a decade. Club Kid is the culmination of years of "development hell" in the traditional studio system. After selling shows at 24 and 28 that never got made, Firstman decided to go rogue.
Backed by Topic Studios—the same outfit behind Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain—and produced by Alex Coco (fresh off an Oscar win for Anora), Club Kid was built on the foundation of queer cinema excellence. The film isn't a condemnation of the party lifestyle or drug use; rather, it's a character study of a man who "overstayed his welcome" in a world that usually has an expiration date.
Technical Specs & Production Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Director/Star | Jordan Firstman |
| Cinematography | Adam Newport-Berra (16mm/35mm) |
| Key Cast | Reggie Absolom, Diego Calva, Cara Delevingne, Miss Benny |
| Production Company | Topic Studios |
| Shoot Length | 26 Days on location in NYC |
Future Distribution: When Can You Watch?
Following the breakout hit status at Club Kid Cannes 2026, the film is currently one of the most sought-after sales titles at the festival. While a Club Kid movie trailer has yet to drop for the general public, the buzz suggests a major boutique distributor (think A24 or Neon) will likely snap up the rights for a late 2026 theatrical release. There is also heavy speculation regarding a Club Kid soundtrack list release, especially given the high-profile Rihanna clearance.
Key Takeaways
- Jordan Firstman Club Kid marks a successful transition from viral creator to serious auteur, earning a 6-minute standing ovation at Cannes.
- The film features a Rihanna Sex With Me Club Kid opening that was cleared only weeks before the premiere.
- Reggie Absolom actor delivers a breakout performance as Firstman's long-lost son.
- The production prioritized authenticity, filming in real NYC clubs with actual "scene kids" as extras.
- The visual style is a "grit and glamour" homage to 70s and 90s New York, shot on actual film.
The wild part about Club Kid is that it manages to be a "foreign-language" film for the queer community while remaining universally relatable as a story about growing up—even when you’re already an adult. Firstman didn’t just make a movie about a scene; he captured the soul of a city that’s constantly reinventing itself. As the Cannes 2026 breakout stars begin their victory lap, one thing is clear: Jordan Firstman didn't just join the conversation; he changed the dialect.
