THE RITES OF MAN (2025)

Time-traveling anthropologists document the heartbreak of an aspiring entrepreneur in Los Angeles.

In homage to 20th century documentaries, this film explores the shadows of trauma lurking behind American masculinity. And it does so with a level of craft and care that will delight and inspire audiences.

The Rites of Man is a work of poetic philosophy, inspired by the work of Byung-Chul Han, Simone Weil, Peter Rollins, Hannah Arendt, and Zygmunt Bauman. It plumbs questions of motivation and meaning in the 21st century: what forces drive our hustle for success in this technological world we’ve created?

Filmed entirely on 16mm and almost lost to the LA fires, The Rites of Man is a stunning narrative debut for award-winning filmmaker Fred Sprinkle. He was inspired to write and direct this piece after his own experience with a mental health crisis and his subsequent journey of recovery. The film’s gorgeous period score, inspired by obscure early horror films and medieval cantares, was crafted by 2025 Women in Film fellow H.B. Thal.

Running Time: 12 minutes
Premieres Fall 2025

Written/Directed
Fred Sprinkle

Cinematographer
Mike Jones-Schilling

Featuring
Terence Matthew Sullivan
Anuschka van Lent
Colin Cassidy

Composer
H.B. Thal

Sound Editor
John Chamberlin

A woman and man ride bikes at Venice Beach, CA. The image has the warm glow and grain of 16mm film.
Close-up profile of a man with long hair and a beard, looking into the distance.
A woman with blonde hair holding her forehead and neck with her hands, appears to be distressed or worried, outdoors with a blurred background.
Andrew Anderson faces the camera outside of his mid-century modern home in Los Angeles. He's ready to be interviewed for The Rites of Man.
A researcher places a photo of Marilyn Monroe over a vintage map of California.
Andrew Anderson, on the toilet, wonders why we are filming him.
Close-up of a young boy with blonde curly hair and freckles, with a nosebleed and blood on his lips, standing on a sports field during dusk.

Inquiries

For press inquiries, to request a screener, promotional opportunities, or other questions, please reach out.

An archive of Fred Sprinkle’s previous award-winning short films and work on feature documentaries can be found here