Need an offbeat crime film to screen this Spring? “Forge” may be an option: a comedic crime drama that drops the audience into the underworld economy of art forgery. Jing Ai Ng‘s feature directorial debut was an SXSW 2025 favorite.
Set in Miami, “Forge” follows two siblings in the art forgery racket who team up with a disgraced millionaire to make a potential fortune. But an FBI agent specializing in art crime is heading from NYC to South Florida to track down whoever’s making some forgeries that have landed on her radar…
Here’s an official synopsis for “Forge,” courtesy of SXSW:
In Miami, the resourceful Zhang siblings—Raymond and Coco—sell forged paintings to unsuspecting parties. Despite their thriving underground operation, the siblings are still short on cash when they cross paths with disgraced millionaire Holden Beaumont. Sensing an opportunity to make a fortune, Holden convinces the Zhangs to forge long-lost masterpieces as a front for his family’s collection. Meanwhile, FBI Art Crimes agent Emily Lee moves from New York to Miami, discovering a plethora of forgeries cropping up in the South Florida art market. As Emily continues to investigate the Zhang siblings’ work, their lives converge to devastating effect in the Zhang family dim sum restaurant.
“Forge” stars Kelly Marie Tran, Andie Ju, Brandon Soo Hoo, Edmund Donovan, Eva De Dominici, T.R. Wright, Jack Falahee, and Sonya Walger.
Jing Ai Ng writes and directs “Forge,” and also produces the film with Liz Daering-Glass, Gabrielle Cordero, and Damian Bao. Dave A. Liu is also on board as executive producer.
As noted earlier, “Forge” had its world premiere at SXSW 2025 last March, where it received positive reviews from critics.
“Forge” will hit theaters in LA and NYC in May, with additional markets to follow. The film arrives first at the Landmark Nuart Theatre in Los Angeles on May 15, then at Quad Cinema in New York City on May 22, courtesy of Utopia’s Circle Collective.
Wath the trailer for “Forge” below.
