SXSW 2024: Corey Fogelmanis Gives Groundbreaking Performance in I Wish You All The Best

Based on the novel of the same name by Mason Deaver, I Wish You All the Best follows Ben DeBacker (Corey Fogelmanis) who comes out as a non-binary teen. Ben is then thrown out of their house and forced to move in with their estranged sister (Alexandra Daddario) and her husband (Cole Sprouse). Struggling with anxiety, Ben only comes out to close family and friends, including an eccentric art teacher (Lena Dunham). Attempting to survive junior year, Ben meets Nathan (Miles Gutierrez-Riley), a charismatic jokester, who takes the struggling teen under his wing. Through a supportive group of friends, Ben is able to discover themself and see what a happy future may look like. 

At its core, I Wish You All the Best is a heartwarming story about finding yourself and your community. There truly are good people out there and this movie is a reminder of that. High school is hard, being a teen is hard, finding yourself is hard, but it isn’t impossible and it is entirely worth it. Directed by Tommy Dorfman, this is the first movie of its kind and will blaze a trail for future queer storytellers, directors, writers, and actors. 

Dorfman has been very vocal about her relationship with gender identity and how impactful media can be in making people feel less alone. It is wonderful to see a successful literary story be adapted into a movie with such care and grace by this first time director. As an avid reader myself, I was happy to see that the core of the story is the same. In the screenwriting process, Dorfman decided to change a few components to modernize the story and de-dramatise some of the elements. 

While Corey Fogelmanis is far more private about his personal life than the director of the film, it is clear that he has a personal connection to Ben. The way in which he is able to tap into emotions in a physical way is a testament to his skill and talent. Just by watching this movie, you are able to learn in a digestible way without it seeming educational. Non-binary people have been often left out of the conversation in the media due to a lack of understanding. Through this film, viewers are able to empathize and learn. 

I Wish You All The Best has all of your typical teen drama tropes including first relationships, experimenting with drugs and alcohol, and the discomfort of understanding a growing and evolving body, all without feeling stale or redundant. While I struggled a bit with the connection and chemistry between Hannah and Thomas, the familial love element was there. 

SXSW was the perfect environment to premiere this movie. The theater was actively engaged the entire time and you could feel the love radiating through the room. Though I Wish You All The Best has yet to receive an official release date, I don’t think it will be long before fans can get their hands on this groundbreaking and important film.