Kaitlyn Santa Juana may have cheated death in Final Destination Bloodlines, but her next big-screen adventure throws her into a different kind of chaos: a cramped touring van with a band on the verge of falling apart. The rising star leads the ensemble of The Jam Van, a new Canadian indie dramedy that promises strained friendships, awkward silences, and a soundtrack packed with early 2000s pop-punk nostalgia.
Described as Superbad meets Almost Famous, the film follows a dysfunctional pop-punk band racing toward a gig that could finally give them their big break. But the question is whether their relationships can survive the long drives and even longer silences before they hit the stage. ShowtimeSpot has the exclusive first look at the movie, which recently wrapped principal photography in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and is now in post-production.
Meet the Cast of The Jam Van
Santa Juana headlines the cast alongside Nikki Roumel, known for her role in Ginny & Georgia. They're joined by Maclean Fish (Little House on the Prairie), Madison MacIsaac (My Secret Santa), Cassandra Potenza (Clown in a Cornfield), and Dom Bergeron (High School). The supporting cast includes Ryan McDonell from Shoresy, Jesse Camacho of Locke & Key, and Stephanie Sy from Netflix's FUBAR.
The film marks the feature directorial debut of Alec Carlos, who co-wrote the script with Peter Roumeliotis. The story centers on a band navigating the messy realities of life on the road, where personal conflicts and creative differences threaten to derail their shot at success. Music is at the heart of the film, with Roumeliotis also serving as music supervisor, drawing inspiration from iconic pop-punk acts like Fall Out Boy, Paramore, and blink-182. The score comes from Blitz//Berlin, whose credits include the 2025 Silent Night, Deadly Night reboot.
Behind the Scenes
Santa Juana also steps into a producer role, joining Jordan Connor, Helen Roumeliotis, Peter Roumeliotis, Kyle Guerrero, and Carlos. Allen Roman and Mike Ng serve as executive producers. The Jam Van is the fifth feature from Popternative Pictures, following The Cure, which starred David Dastmalchian, the Bigfoot thriller Sawtooth Mountain, and the upcoming drama Sometimes I Believe in Ghosts with Brenna D'Amico.
With its blend of humor, heart, and a killer soundtrack, The Jam Van is shaping up to be a must-watch for fans of road trip comedies and pop-punk music alike. For more on the film's journey, check out our exclusive first look at another indie project or see how crime dramas are climbing the charts.
Stay tuned for more updates on The Jam Van as it heads toward release.
