The Theatre at Ace Hotel was buzzing with excitement this past Friday night for the premiere of Emmett and Brendan Malloy’s latest venture, The Tribes of Palos Verdes. The film, which had its world premiere earlier this fall at the Hamptons International Film Festival, is a dramatic tale of a family that breaks in the midst of beauty.

Referred to the Malloy brothers as the “little movie that could,” The Tribes of Palos Verdes was a true family affair that brought the brothers back to their Southern California roots. Written by Karen Croner and starring Jennifer Garner, Maika Monroe, Cody Fern, and Justin Kirk as the family central to the film’s tragic tale, Tribes showcases heartbreak amongst a small beach town.

The crowd gathered at the Theatre at Ace Hotel was transported to the beaches of Palos Verdes from the moment they entered the venue, as a dreamy beach scene was projected on screen and a band played a sampler of the music from the film, which was composed by Gustavo Santaolalla.

After the lights came back up, the cast was brought onstage and the Malloy brothers alerted the audience of the truth within the tragedy of the film’s plot, announcing a call to action site to help create awareness for teen drug abuse and teen suicide. Learn more about the Malloy brothers’ call to action here.

The film, which also stars Goran Visnjic, Elisabeth Rohm, Joely Fisher, Stevie Lynn Jones, and Alicia Silverstone, is to be released by IFC Films December 1st.

Watch the trailer above and view more of the Malloy brothers’ work here.