A 22-year-old filmmaker making her feature debut with a comedy she co-wrote with her mother is not the usual way these projects come together, but that's exactly what has happened with Search Party: Where’s PawPaw?.
The film arrives in US theaters on November 13, with Victoria Monai Richards directing, co-writing and starring, where her mother, Sherrie Richards, helped write the screenplay, and the two also founded Faith+Works Productions to make family-focused films - the premise reads:
College student Noble Williams, who rushes home after hearing that her grandfather's health has taken a turn, and when PawPaw later disappears from his nursing home, Noble, her two best friends and her aunt set out to find him. What follows is a search involving strange characters, odd clues and plenty of comic complications.
Tommy Davidson plays PawPaw, with Tichina Arnold as Aunt MeekMeek. Nijah Brenea and Daisy Fernandez also star alongside Richards.
Richards spoke to Family Media News about making the film and bringing her own experiences into the characters. She said the idea was partly inspired by the friendships she formed early in her acting career, while the comedy also grew out of the differences between her and her mother.
There is a faith element here, too, although Richards says she didn't want the film to become preachy - she has explained that her Christian faith influenced the writing, with Scripture helping guide the comedy, where the aim was to make something families could enjoy together without talking down to younger viewers or leaving the adults out of the jokes.
That was a pretty clear goal from the beginning. Richards has spoken about missing the kind of films she could watch with her parents and siblings, where everyone could have a laugh and enjoy the same experience. She wants Search Party: Where’s PawPaw? to bring some of that back.
The film is rated PG and runs for 102 minutes - Search Party: Where’s PawPaw? opens in US theaters November 13, 2026.
You may also like to read:
Provident Entertainment Signs Christian Hip-Hop Artist Skema Boy
Hard Faith Fest Returns to New York With Two Days of Independent Christian Film
Steve Cuss Puts Being Human on Pause to Launch New Christianity Today Podcast
Forrest Frank Announces New Album and 2027 Tour Movie
JUST ONE LIFE Partners With GriefShare to Help Churches Talk About Grief