2012 was filled with great movies, and one of them was comedian Mike Birbiglia‘s debut feature, Sleepwalk with Me.  The film was based on Birbiglia’s one-man show/book, and was developed into a movie in association with Ira Glass and This American Life.  The movie won the Audience Award at Sundance, and it’s currently on Netflix Instant, so I highly encourage you to check it out.  But now we’re left wondering what Birbiglia will do for a follow-up, and it looks like he’ll be going with the same creative trajectory as Sleepwalk with Me for his new project, an adaptation of My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend.

Hit the jump for more.

Mike Birbiglia and Ira Glass‘ Sleepwalk with Me is one of the year’s must-see films.  It takes a fascinating look into the world of stand-up comedy, but it also provides a great conflict between loving your work and loving a person, and how moving towards one can cause painful revelations about the other.  It’s heavy stuff that never weighs down the picture because Birbiglia, a stand-up comic, has created a hilarious, honest story.

The movie had a limited run in theaters, but now it’s available on VOD, and I highly encourage you to check it out.  As a bonus, Birbiglia and Glass will be hosting a video chat on Friday for your pizza party if you want to gather your friends and watch the movie.  Hit the jump to check out a message from Birbiglia and Glass, and for details on how you can get them to video chat with your pizza party.

There aren’t enough movies like Sleepwalk with Me.  Mike Birbiglia’s one-man-show-performance now turned narrative feature is smart, funny, sad and just downright great.  Birbiglia uses his own autobiographical experiences dealing with a sleepwalking disorder to comment on the uncertainties of forming a career and the dissolution of a relationship.  It’s a film that isn’t afraid to paint Birbiglia in a less than flattering light – and it feels all the more honest and true because of it. Sleepwalk with Me is easily among the best indies released this year and one of the best of the now winding down summer – which is why it’s unfortunate that Joss Whedon, director of the biggest film of the year (i.e. The Avengers), has put it upon himself to take down this little film.  See here for filmic proof.  I guess the multiplexes just aren’t big enough for the both of them. And to add insult to injury – the week Sleepwalk with Me opens in twenty-five cities (check your local listings), Marvel re-releases The Avengers. Coincidence – I think not.

In the following interview, Birbiglia and producer Ira Glass (This American Life) respond to Whedon’s promotions (err… attacks) on their film, challenge the billion dollar gross of The Avengers and discuss the plight of taking your shirt off on film for a buck or two.  For the full interview, hit the jump.

Mike Birbiglia‘s superb film Sleepwalk with Me is due to hit theaters on August 24th, and I highly encourage you to check it out.  It was one of the best flicks I saw at the SXSW Film Festival, and the movie does a wonderful job of giving you a glimpse into the world of stand-up comedy, but also explores the larger picture of what we have to sacrifice in the pursuit of perfecting our art.  It’s also quite moving and painfully funny, and I can’t wait to see it again.  But Joss Whedon doesn’t want anyone to see it at all.  The Avengers is only on 500 screens, and Sleepwalk with Me is poised to take 80 of them.  This will not stand, and Whedon has provided a humorous video about why you should avoid Birbiglia’s movie.

Hit the jump to check out the video.  Sleepwalk with Me also stars Lauren Ambrose, James Rebhorn, and Carol Kane.  Click here to try and get the movie into your local theater.

The first trailer for stand-up comedian Mike Birbiglia’s Sleepwalk with Me has gone online.  Birbiglia both directed and starred in the piece which tells the tale of a struggling comedian who faces a career slump and a failing relationship, amidst increasingly dangerous bouts of sleepwalking.  Fans of Birbiglia will recognize some of his signature jokes from his stand-up act by the same name.  It’s at once a humorous and touching tale that features the comedians signature Birbiglian style.  Sleepwalk with Me, also starring Lauren Ambrose, Kristen Schaal, James Rebhorn, Carol Kane , Cristin Milioti, Aya Cash, Lucy DeVito and David Wain, opens August 24th.  Hit the jump to view the trailer.

Fans of stand-up comedian Mike Birbiglia (Cedar Rapids) and This American Life host Ira Glass will want to check out Sleepwalk with Me when it debuts later this summer.  The film, co-written and co-directed by Birbiglia, follows a struggling stand-up comic who is trying to balance a failing career, a rocky relationship and uncontrollable bouts of sleepwalking.  Glass co-wrote and produced the film, based on Birbiglia’s sucessful one-man show.  Sleepwalk with Me also stars Lauren Ambrose, Carol Kane, James Rebhorn and Cristin Milioti. Look for it in theaters August 24th.  Hit the jump to check out the synopsis and new poster for Sleepwalk with Me.