One of the surprises of the 2026 Brooklyn Film Festival is Crystal Cross, a film that could have easily gone down the road of feeling incredibly derivative. Instead, it manages to take the familiar road trip formula and turn it into something far more thoughtful, placing its central characters on a parallel journey that becomes surprisingly philosophical. Dottie, played by Rubyrose Hill, is an aspiring Christian rap artist determined to make her way to the West Coast and get into a recording studio. Along the way, she crosses paths with James, played by Richie James Follin, a terminally depressed man … Continue reading Brooklyn Film Festival 2026: Crystal Cross