A powerful new independent drama with deep roots in Logan County made a local stop Sunday, May 17, when Union County screened before a packed theater at the Holland Theater in Bellefontaine ahead of its nationwide theatrical release later this year.
The 2026 American drama, written and directed by Adam Meeks, was filmed almost entirely in Bellefontaine and throughout Logan County, blending professional actors with real members of the local recovery community to tell an authentic story centered on addiction recovery and drug court programs in rural Ohio.
The film stars Will Poulter as Cody Parsons and Noah Centineo as Jack Parsons, alongside Elise Kibler and Emily Meade.
Local recovery court director Annette Deao and Logan County Common Pleas Judge Kevin P. Braig also appear in the film as themselves.
The movie follows Cody Parsons as he enters a county-mandated drug court program while navigating recovery amid the opioid epidemic in rural Ohio. The film intentionally avoids sensationalism, instead focusing on the daily realities, setbacks, and victories experienced by people working toward recovery.
A panel led by the Executive Director of the Holland Theater, Lance Schmidt, was conducted after the screening of the film. It included, from left to right as they appear in the video below, Deao, Poulter, Meeks, and Judge Braig.
Schmidt speaks on what it means to have the film shown to the community it featured so heavily:
Filmed in Bellefontaine and Logan County
Principal photography took place from April 21 through May 16, 2025, in Bellefontaine and surrounding Logan County locations. According to production details, portions of the movie were filmed inside a real drug court setting, with many supporting cast members drawn directly from the local recovery program itself.
That includes participants and staff connected to the Adult Recovery Court (ARC) of the Logan County Court of Common Pleas.
Among the locals appearing in the film are Judge Braig and Deao, who both portray themselves onscreen. Several ARC participants and recovery court team members also appear throughout the production.
Director Meeks, who grew up in the area, has described the project as deeply personal and grounded in his hometown experiences. Sundance Film Festival programming notes praised the film’s authenticity and the decision to incorporate local residents and non-actors alongside the professional cast.
“The leads embedded themselves in the community they portray for months and are joined on screen by local nonactors — a uniquely honest approach that lays bare consummately intimate truths,” festival notes stated.
Sundance premiere and national release
Union County premiered Jan. 25, 2026, at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Sundance Film Festival reportedly received more than 16,000 submissions and selected approximately 160 films for screening during the 2026 festival.
In April 2026, Oscilloscope Laboratories acquired distribution rights to the film. A nationwide theatrical release is scheduled for Aug. 14, 2026.
Recovery court earns statewide recognition
The attention surrounding the film comes as Logan County’s Adult Recovery Court recently received final certification from the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Specialized Dockets in December of 2025.
Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy congratulated Judge Braig and Deao following the certification approval, noting that specialized dockets help provide treatment, accountability, and second chances for participants working through addiction and recovery.
Judge Braig credited Deao, compliance officers, treatment partners, and local organizations for helping establish a strong recovery community in Logan County.
Braig also highlighted the connection between the court and the film, praising Deao and director Adam Meeks for bringing their vision of recovery in Logan County to the screen.
The film’s local ties — from its Bellefontaine filming locations to the inclusion of real recovery court participants and staff — have made Union County a source of pride for many in the community as it prepares for its national theatrical debut later this summer.
