22nd Calgary Underground Film Festival

April 17-27, 2025

13th CUFF.Docs Documentary Film Festival

November 19-23, 2025

Cash Cow

United States, 2023: 99 minutes: International Premiere
Archives 2023
Special Guest!
CashCow_1
Globe Cinema
Sun, Apr 23 2:30 PM Buy

description

In the Fall of 2020, a financially struggling actor camps and explores early Mormon historical sites as he anxiously awaits national broadcast for his Domino’s Pizza commercial.

Matt Barats occupies himself with historical research, following the timeline and locations of Joseph Smith’s life. But as financial troubles seem to weigh heavily on him (and his Domino’s Pizza commercial has still not aired yet), a dramatic detour is taken in order to get his life (and the film) back on track.

Self-funded and shot alone over 30 days during the COVID pandemic, the Slamdance 2023 low budget comedy blends documentary and narrative, resulting in a deadpan comedy through one man's lens.

OFFICIAL SELECTION
Slamdance Film Festival 2023 (World Premiere)

DIRECTOR'S BIO
Matt Barats is a comedic actor and filmmaker in NYC. He has a lead role in the indie comedy feature INSPECTOR IKE, has been part of the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, and is co-creator of the visual albums REVERIES. He is the creator of short films including IMPROV IS LOVE, MY CREATION, FLY ON THE WALL, and directed the documentary short HERE WE HAVE IDAHO. Matt has contributed to The New Yorker and The Onion. TV credits include HIGH MAINTENANCE, SEARCH PARTY, THE LAST O.G., and the HBO miniseries THE WHITE HOUSE PLUMBERS. Matt is from Idaho. He is repped by CAA.

press for Cash Cow

"This film is a joy."
- Unseen Films
"There’s something in the listless journey between paychecks, something as distinctly American now, as Mormonism is American."
- The Twin Geeks

details

Comedy / Documentary / First Feature

English
99 minutes

special guest

Director Matt Barats in attendance for Q&A

credits

Director
Matt Barats

Producers
Matt Barats
Whit Conway

Screenwriter
Matt Barats

Cast
Ana Fabrega
Bardia Salimi
Brad Howe

community

awards

WINNER: Jury Award: Honourable Mention, Best Documentary Feature