‘Brotherhood: A Cinematic Musical’ Trailer

If you’ve read any of Daren Smith’s “A Producer’s Path” columns on IndieWire over the past year, you know that the Utah-based producer has been working to develop a business model that works for independent film in 2026. His essays often use his upcoming film “Brotherhood: A Cinematic Musical” as a case study to explain the importance of building and engaging an audience before starting production and meeting investors where the actual demand lies. We’ve followed the project throughout pre-production and filming, and now it’s almost time to unveil the film to the world.

Written and directed by Ross Boothe, who also composed 13 original songs for the film, “Brotherhood” tells the story of a Mexican immigrant and his evolving relationship with his longtime next door neighbor. Broadway star Mauricio Martínez leads a cast that also includes Casey Elliott, a founding member of the tenor group GENTRI.

Per an official synopsis, “Brotherhood” tells the story of two next-door neighbors whose lives become deeply intertwined. Jon (Elliott) is a lifelong American citizen, while Fabián (Martínez) is a Mexican immigrant who has spent more than a decade waiting for a resolution to his U.S. asylum application. As the men and their families navigate uncertainty and turbulence, they are challenged to see one another beyond labels and to rediscover what it truly means to be neighbors, Americans, and human beings.

“This project is deeply personal to me. As an immigrant, this story hits very close to home right now,” Martínez said in a statement. “It’s about people, about heart, and about empathy — and music is such a powerful way to communicate those things. That’s what moved me most about ‘Brotherhood.’”

In the lead-up to the film’s release, Boothe, Martínez, and Elliott will embark on the Love Your Neighbor tour, which will feature live performances, select scenes from the film, and roundtable discussions lead by cultural lead Liliana Bolaños featuring local leaders, authors, and special guests. The tour kicks off on August 29 in Salt Lake City and ends on October 1 in New York.

“Brotherhood: A Cinematic Musical” opens in select theaters on Friday, October 9. Watch the trailer, an IndieWire exclusive, below.