Dreams in Nightmares film stars Denée Benton and Charlie Barnett

The new road trip drama “Dreams in Nightmares,” directed by nonbinary filmmaker Shatara Michale Ford, is set to open on September 4, 2026. The film follows a group of queer friends—Z (Denée Benton), Tasha (Sasha Compère), and Lauren (Dezi Bing)—as they travel across the country to locate their missing friend, Kel (Mars Rucker).

Denée Benton stars in her first major leading film role as Z, an academic navigating life after an unexpected layoff. Charlie Barnett appears in a supporting role as Reece, Z’s partner in a polyamorous relationship. Barnett described the project as a desire to move away from epic storytelling toward something more grounded and “homey,” emphasizing the importance of portraying the queer experience.