Piggy Duster opens July 24 in select theaters and on Apple TV

The award-winning independent drama Piggy Duster begins a limited theatrical run and an exclusive Apple TV release on July 24 after a festival campaign that brought multiple awards. The film centers on a stepfather and teenage daughter on a Rocky Mountains camping trip that turns into a confrontation with buried family tension.

Why it matters: - Piggy Duster is moving from the festival circuit to audiences in theaters and at home on the same day, widening access for an independent film with award momentum. - The film targets viewers drawn to intimate family dramas about step-parenting, blended families, and difficult conversations. - The release adds another title to Apple TV’s exclusive digital slate while giving the film a traditional theatrical launch.

What happened: - Piggy Duster opens in select theaters and exclusively on Apple TV on Friday, July 24. - Jesse Stewart directs the feature, which follows Vivian, played by Julia Ma, and her stepfather Keith, played by Brian Landis Folkins, on a camping trip in the Rocky Mountains. - The trip starts as an effort to reconnect and turns into a confrontation with long-buried truths, unresolved emotions, and an unexpected grizzly bear in camp. - The film has already picked up festival recognition, including Audience Choice Award at the Amarillo International Film Festival, Visionary Director Award at the Puerto Aventuras International Film Festival, Best First Feature at the Puerto Aventuras International Film Festival, and a Best Feature nomination at the Orlando Film Festival.

The details: - The story is set against alpine landscapes and uses a contemplative, immersive style. - The film focuses on the relationship between a sharp, independent teenager and a stepfather trying to hold onto the family he helped raise. - Julia Ma is also known as a content creator with more than one million followers across social media platforms. - Piggy Duster reunites Ma with Stewart more than a decade after her acting debut in his BAFTA-shortlisted short film Mt. Molehill. - Brian Landis Folkins’ credits include Rent-A-Pal and Life is Strange: Double Exposure. - The cast also includes Juliette Leong in her feature-film debut. - Alex Rhodes-Wilmere, Evan Diercks-Brown and MJ Alhabeeb Jr. are producers. - Jesse Stewart wrote the script and also serves as producer and director. - The film was developed under Stewart’s Epocene Motion Picture Company, Rhodes-Wilmere’s ARWorks Motion Picture Company, and Alhabeeb Jr’s Impavid Entertainment, in association with Flore Films. - The soundtrack includes an original score by Matt Stewart-Evans and the original song “Our Thing,” performed by Mandy Groves and produced by Matthew Torres. - The soundtrack is expected to release Aug. 14. - More information, tickets and showtimes are available at Piggy Duster’s official site.

Between the lines: - Stewart is positioning the film as a quieter, reflective drama built around emotional repair rather than plot-heavy suspense. - Ma’s comments frame the film as a story about love that is hard to express, which reinforces the film’s emotional appeal. - The emphasis on awards and festival wins signals a bid to convert critical momentum into wider audience interest.

What's next: - Piggy Duster will be available in select theaters and on Apple TV starting July 24. - The soundtrack release on Aug. 14 will extend the film’s rollout beyond the debut date. - Viewers can check the film’s website for tickets, showtimes and additional details.