New Year’s Rev rocks TIFF with OKC roots

 A punk rock road trip with deep Oklahoma roots just made its world debut on one of the biggest international stages. New Year’s Rev, a comedic coming-of-age film sparked by an idea from Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September. Behind its rebellious humor and cross-country storyline is a story that shines a spotlight on Oklahoma City’s rising film industry.

Since Green Day’s rise in the 1990s, their sound and swagger have fueled countless garage bands. In New Year’s Rev, one of those groups, The Analog Dogs, will do anything to meet their heroes. When a prank convinces them they have scored an opening spot for Green Day’s New Year’s Eve show at the Hollywood Palladium, the trio piles into a car and heads west from Kansas, chasing their shot at glory.

A film fueled by punk spirit 

Written and directed by Lee Kirk and co-produced by Green Day, the film doubles as a love letter to road movies, ’90s nostalgia and the dream of making music at all costs. More than a dozen Green Day songs underscore the ride, while a cast of absurd and endearing characters—Fred Armisen, Angela Kinsey, Bobby Lee, McKenna Grace and more—keep the journey unpredictable. Stars Mason Thames, Ryan Foust and OKC’s own Kylr Coffman round out the central band of misfits.

Oklahoma talent on the big screen 

While the story sends its characters from Kansas to California, much of the movie came to life in OKC. The film was shot primarily in OKC during February 2025, making use of both the OKC Film Rebate Program and the state film rebate.

For Coffman, who runs OKC-based OFA Studios, landing one of the lead roles was a dream realized through persistence. He recorded a self-taped audition, submitted it to a casting director in Los Angeles and soon after was invited to audition. That opportunity ended with his casting as one of the leads.

“Growing up on punk music like Green Day, I always felt like there was this mountain I wanted to be on top of, and New Year’s Rev gave me that moment,” Coffman said. “I was raised by a single mom, I used to play the drums before I thought about acting, and now I get to be part of a story like this. From filming in Oklahoma City to Los Angeles and then walking the red carpet in Toronto, it was surreal.” 

OKC at TIFF 

That Oklahoma connection extended beyond production. The OKC Film & Creative Industries Office and the Oklahoma Film + Music Office partnered with Live Nation Studios to co-host the Sept. 12 red carpet premiere and after-party at Vinny’s Vinyl Bar in Toronto. For Jill Simpson, executive director of the OKC Film & Creative Industries Office, the evening was an opportunity to celebrate not just a single film but the entire community of talent that makes Oklahoma a growing hub for production.

“New Year’s Rev represents the kind of opportunity our rebate programs were designed to support,” Simpson said. “It is proof that Oklahoma’s film industry has the talent, infrastructure and creativity to deliver stories that resonate far beyond our borders. I am beyond proud of Kylr and this incredible film.” 

As for Coffman, he said the experience left him grateful not only for his own role but for the support system around him.

“Right now, my cup is full,” he said. “I just want to keep cheering people on, stay grounded and be grateful I can do this while also running my own studio at home. None of this would have been possible without people like Jill [Simpson] and the film offices who have built an industry that makes opportunities like this possible.” 

Expanding Oklahoma’s film footprint 

The OKC connection to TIFF further highlights the city’s role as a growing hub for filmmaking. Rebates and support from local offices continue to attract productions of all sizes, giving Oklahoma crews, actors and small businesses opportunities to contribute to projects with national reach.

Producers on New Year’s Rev include Tim Perell, Green Day, Ryan Kroft and Anna Keegan, with production companies Live Nation Studios and Process helping shepherd the project to life. The film’s mix of major stars and local talent demonstrates what is possible when Oklahoma invests in creative industries and builds partnerships with nationally recognized studios.

As of its world premiere, the film has not yet announced a distribution deal. That uncertainty only fuels excitement for what is to come. Whether on streaming platforms, in theaters or both, audiences across the country may soon see a story that started in Oklahoma take center stage.

Looking ahead 

For OKC, New Year’s Rev is more than a movie premiere. It is a marker of the city’s continued growth as a place where stories can be told, talent can thrive and industries can expand. With each project filmed here, momentum builds for a future where Oklahoma is not just a backdrop but a destination for filmmakers.

And for audiences, the journey of The Analog Dogs is just beginning. It carries with it the energy of punk rock, the spirit of a road trip and the proud creative force of OKC.