Chris Merola’s Lemonade Blessing Brings Catholic School Rebellion to Tribeca

Jake Ryan stars in Chris Merola’s rebellious coming-of-age comedy Lemonade Blessing at Tribeca 2025.

April and May are typically slower months for the festival season (something we at HMU hope to change in the future), but June brings the kickoff of the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival. One of the new standouts we just got word on is Lemonade Blessing, a funny, coming-of-age Catholic school comedy that looks ready to charm audiences.

From writer-director Chris Merola (known for his award-winning short The Stall), Lemonade Blessing follows John (Jake Ryan), a teenager freshly tossed into a private Catholic high school by his devout mother. Things take a wild turn when he falls head over heels for a devious classmate, who pushes his faith—and his morals—to the brink with a series of increasingly uncomfortable acts, all in the name of love.

A native New Yorker, Merola makes his feature film debut with Lemonade Blessing. The cast includes Jake Ryan, Jeanine Serralles, Skye Alyssa Friedman, Miles J. Harvey, Michael Oloyede, Todd Gearhart, and Keith William Richards.

Lemonade Blessing will have four public screenings at Tribeca on June 5th, 6th, 14th, and 15th.

Check out a first look at the film.

PUBLIC SCREENING SCHEDULE

Thursday, June 5- 7:15PM at SVA2 -Beatrice - 1st Screening

Location: SVA Theater (333 West 23rd Street)

Friday, June 6- 9:00PM at VEC-04 - 2nd Screening

Location: Village East Cinemas (VEC) (181-189 2nd Avenue)

Saturday, June 14- 6:00PM at VEC-04 - 3rd Screening

Location: Village East Cinemas (VEC) (181-189 2nd Avenue)

Sunday, June 15- 11:15AM at VEC-02 - 4th Screening

Location: Village East Cinemas (VEC) (181-189 2nd Avenue)