The Independent Film Festival Boston closed out its 2026 run with a notable guest appearance from director and actor Olivia Wilde, who attended the festival’s closing night screening of her new film, The Invite.
Wilde appeared at the April 29 event at the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, bringing a major Hollywood presence to one of New England’s most anticipated annual film events.
The visit also carried a meaningful regional connection. Wilde, an alumna of Phillips Academy in Andover, returned to the Greater Boston area with her latest project, offering North Shore audiences a local tie to the filmmaker.
Her newest directorial effort, The Invite, features an A-list cast including Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, Edward Norton, and Wilde herself. Written by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, the film explores the unraveling of a strained marriage. When the couple invites their mysterious upstairs neighbors to dinner, the evening takes an unexpected turn, unfolding into increasingly complex and provocative territory.
The film premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, where it generated early buzz. It is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on June 26, 2026, from A24, with a wider rollout expected later in the summer.
Now in its third decade, the Independent Film Festival Boston has grown into the region’s largest celebration of independent cinema, drawing filmmakers and audiences to screenings at some of Greater Boston’s most iconic arthouse venues. The Coolidge Corner Theatre—long considered a cornerstone of the local film community—served as a fitting backdrop for the festival’s closing night.
For full festival details and programming, visit www.iffboston.org.