Based on true events, On the End is a classic tale of an underdog’s fight against The Man. Tim Blake Nelson plays Tom Ferreira, a cantankerous mechanic with a rundown repair shop and house in an area of Montauk, Long Island that is being gentrified.
A wily real estate agent is anxious to get him out so she can sell the house next door. Thus begins a long battle with the police, the city, and the courts.
Tom’s personal life is also fraught. He meets a woman online, Freckles, and who shows up at his house after losing her job and home. Despite the chaotic state of his house, she stays, and they lovingly support each other. They also share a serious health issue: diabetes.
The film covers the many challenges in Tom’s life, as well as the wins. It includes many characters (with lots of recognizable faces) of people both for and against Tom, and some who switch sides.
Director Ari Selinger had met Tom Ferreira when he was a film student at NYU and was scouting locations on Long Island (“On the end” refers to the tip of Long Island).
They stayed in touch, and Ari followed the case closely, recording conversations with Tom along the way. The case was reported in the New York Times, which brought in support for Tom and his fight.
The 41st Santa Barbara International Film Festival takes place from February 4-14, 2026. Official events including screenings, filmmaker Q&As, industry panels and celebrity tributes are held throughout the city, including at the historic Arlington Theatre and the new McHurley Film Center. Passes for the 2026 Festival are on sale now at sbiff.org.
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