Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know James Sweeney, the Writer-Director of Twinless

By Jessica Herndon

One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a front-row seat for the bright future of independent filmmaking. While we can learn a lot about the filmmakers from the 2025 Sundance Film Festival through the art that these storytellers share with us, there's always more we can learn about them as people. We decided to get to the bottom of those artistic wells with our ongoing series: Give Me the Backstory!

James Sweeney is a Shakespeare fan. When asked about the biggest inspiration for his film Twinless, which he wrote, directed, and stars in, the multihyphenate recites the famous line said by witches in the playwright's Macbeth: Double, double toil and Trouble. The rhyme, which can have double meanings and is emblematic of the chaos and destruction the witches bring, perfectly compares to Sweeney's film, premiering at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival in the U.S. Dramatic Competition.

Twinless is a sharp, shocking, dark comedy about grief, friendship, and the search for connection. When two men, played by Sweeney and Dylan O'Brien, meet in a support group for individuals who've lost their twin, they develop an unexpected friendship that teeters between healing and unhealthy codependency.

Witty, emotionally raw, and a bit twisted, Sweeney's Fest debut is also incredibly fun. Storytelling is humanity's coping mechanism for the mysteries and challenges of life, says Sweeney. Film can be a guide, a relief, or a sly dose of empathy.

Below, Sweeney chats about why O'Brien was the perfect addition to the film's cast and why he feels connected to Sofia Coppola. He also offers words of wisdom for other filmmakers.

LINK:	https://www.sundance.org/blogs/give-me-the-backstory-get-to-know-james...
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