Aloha Theatre is proud to present a special one-night film screening of The Addiction of Hope on Friday, June 26, 2026 at 7:00 PM. This special fundraiser event will include a live post-screening Q&A with star Anne-Marie Johnson and writer-director Martin A. Gottlieb, offering audiences an intimate look at the making of the film and the themes behind it.

The Addiction of Hope is a critically acclaimed independent feature that explores reinvention, resilience, aging, and the emotional cost of holding onto the past. At its center is Joanne “Jo” Stock (Anne-Marie Johnson), an aging actress whose career has stalled as she grapples with the fading echo of past success and the pressure to remain relevant in an industry that often overlooks women of a certain age.

When Jo is confronted with a family crisis involving her estranged sister Lynnie (Harley Jane Kozak), she is forced into a reckoning that challenges everything she believes about identity, ambition, and what it means to start over. The film examines how hope itself can become complicated—both a lifeline and a barrier—when it prevents us from facing difficult truths and making necessary change.

Written and directed by Martin A. Gottlieb, the film draws on his extensive background in acting and storytelling to deliver a grounded, character-driven narrative. Critics have praised the film for its restrained, honest tone and its focus on performance, describing it as a deeply human story about “kicking the habit of false hope and learning to embrace reality.”

Anne-Marie Johnson delivers a powerful lead performance as Jo Stock, anchoring the film with emotional precision and vulnerability. The ensemble cast includes Clancy Brown, Erika Alexander, Shari Belafonte, Alan Rosenberg, and Harley Jane Kozak, each contributing to a layered exploration of family, fame, and reinvention.

Across its festival run and critical release, the film has garnered multiple honors and awards, including recognition for:

• Best Feature Film, Trailblazer Visionary Award – Santa Fe Film Festival
• Best Feature Film – Tryon International Film Festival
• Best Actress – Culver City Film Festival
• Best Original Screenplay – Richmond International Film Festival

Following the screening, attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from Anne-Marie Johnson and Martin A. Gottlieb during a live Q&A session, where they will discuss the creative process, the film’s themes, and the collaboration behind bringing this story to life.

This event is also a fundraiser for Aloha Theatre, supporting its mission to sustain and grow live performance, film programming, and arts education in West Hawaiʻi. Community support helps ensure that the theatre continues to serve as a vibrant cultural home for artists and audiences alike.

General admission tickets are $10 and available now at:
https://www.apachawaii.org/events/the-addiction-of-hope-film-screening-with-qa