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The Long Haul

  1. Year2026
  2. TypeFeature Film
  3. StatusReleased

The Long Haul is the debut feature film by writer and director David Drake. It stars Margo Martindale as CJ Montague, a long-haul truck driver in Idaho who is facing retirement and the potential paroling of a prisoner who destroyed her life 25 years earlier. It shot in New Mexico in 2025 and was produced by Braintrust and Spiral Stairs.

The Long Haul, poster
The Long Haul, official selection, Tribeca Festival 2026

The Long Haul, 91 minutes, Official Selection, Tribeca Festival

Cast

  1. CJMargo Martindale
  2. JuniorCole Sprouse
  3. AndyStephen Root
  4. AraceliYalitza Aparicio
  5. WayneJefferson White
  6. BuckWes Studi

Credits

  1. Written and DirectedDavid Drake
  2. CinematographyMika Altskan
  3. EditedSarah Brewerton
  4. MusicChris Roe
  5. Production DesignLorus Allen
  6. SoundInes Adriana
  7. ProducedSam Bank and Helene Sifre of Braintrust
  8. ProducedJuliet Berman of Spiral Stairs
  9. Co-ProducedHeather Denton

Listings

  1. Letterboxd
  2. Wikipedia
  3. IMDb

Footnotes

  1. 2026Mostra Internacional de Cinema em São Paulo, The Long Haul, New Directors CompetitionScreeningForthcoming
  2. 2026BendFilm Festival, The Long HaulScreeningForthcoming
  3. 2026Yellow Springs Film Festival, The Long HaulScreeningScreened
  4. 2026The Bulletin, 'The Long Haul,' 'The River Remembers' screen at BendFilmReviewPublished
  5. 2026DMovies, The Long HaulReviewPublished
  6. 2026Eye for Film, One For The RoadInterviewPublished
  7. 2026Josh at the Movies, Tribeca 2026: The Long HaulReviewPublished
  8. 2026Rachel's Reviews, Tribeca 2026: The Long HaulReviewPublished
  9. 2026Tribeca Festival, The Long Haul world premiereScreeningScreened
  10. 2026Tribeca Festival, The Long Haul premiereQ&ACompleted
  11. 2026The Hollywood Reporter, Margo Martindale Just Gave the Film Performance of a LifetimeFeaturePublished
  12. 2026IndieWire, What Trucking Taught Me About Making an Independent FilmFeaturePublished
  13. 2026Cinephile Mike, Interview with David DrakeInterviewPublished
  14. 2026Film-Book, Margo Martindale Delivers a Career-Best Performance in This Emotional DramaReviewPublished

The film was formerly known as Dead Letters during production and in early press coverage.