Before Yellowjackets wraps its final season, star Kevin Alves is already plotting his next big move—this time behind the camera. Alves, who plays Travis Martinez on the hit Showtime series, is making his feature directorial debut with Lucky Weekend, a coming-of-age heist comedy set to world premiere at the Raindance Film Festival in London this June. Collider has the exclusive first look at the film's ensemble crew.
Lucky Weekend isn't your typical slick, high-stakes heist thriller. Instead, it's a smaller, more personal story about friendship, betrayal, and a lottery ticket worth fighting for. Alves stars as Gabe, a guy who discovers his best friend has stolen his winning ticket and plans to cash it in on Monday. With the clock ticking, Gabe assembles a ragtag team for a chaotic weekend mission to get it back—and along the way, he learns that some things are worth more than money.
The first image offers a glimpse of the crew, including Alves' Yellowjackets co-star Alexa Barajas, who flashes a knowing smile that suggests she's ready for trouble. Also in the frame are Jessica Clement (Gen V, Dream Scenario) and newcomer Clarice Wood. The rest of the cast includes Jesse Camacho (Locke & Key), John Daniel (Wayward), Agape Mngomezulu (Ginny & Georgia), Jack Ettlinger, Luke Hutchie, and Alex Ozerov-Meyer.
For Alves, Lucky Weekend is a major step forward. He wrote, directed, and produced the film through his company 31 Twelve Films, with Barajas and Julian Smither also producing. It's his second directorial effort after the 2024 short Dinner Party, and it marks a shift from his on-screen work in series like Locke & Key, Degrassi: The Next Generation, and Shadowhunters.
In a statement, Alves emphasized the collaborative spirit of the production: “What better way to kick things off than at Raindance which champions not only indie film but has such a focus on shining a light on first time filmmakers which is exactly what our entire crew was. The friendships forged were not just on screen and the belief we had in each other to find a way every day was special. Thrilled we get to finally share this film with audiences!”
The film's tone echoes the heartfelt chaos of classic coming-of-age heists, blending humor and emotion. For fans of the genre, it's a refreshingly intimate take—think less Ocean's Eleven and more Sing Street with a lottery ticket. If you're in the mood for a deeper dive into heist movie history, check out our ranking of the best heist movie climaxes.
Lucky Weekend will premiere at Raindance, which runs from June 17 to June 26 in London. As Alves gears up for the final season of Yellowjackets, this debut signals a promising new chapter—one that proves he's just as compelling behind the camera as he is in front of it.
