Starring Taylor Blackwell and Alan Tudyk, “It Happened: The Judy Tenuta Story” follows the whimsical life and career of iconic ‘80s accordion-playing “comedienne” Judy Tenuta. Winner of Best Indie Short at L.A. Film Fest, Best Comedy at the Imagine This Women’s Film Festival, and Best Emerging Filmmaker at the Los Feliz Film Festival.
Judy Tenuta became nationally known in 1987 for her first HBO comedy special “Women of the Night”, starring alongside Ellen DeGeneres, Rita Rudner, and Paula Poundstone. She was a two time Grammy nominee, winner of “Best Female Stand-Up Comic” at the American Comedy Awards in ’88, toured with legendary comedian George Carlin, and made dozens of notable MTV appearances. Written and directed by Taylor Blackwell. Starring Taylor Blackwell and Alan Tudyk. This film a love letter to the self-proclaimed “love goddess”, and was made in close collaboration with her estate, family, and friends. Judy’s real costumes and accordion were used in the film.
“A simultaneously fantastic and sincere love letter to Tenuta” - MovieMaker
“Both a winning tribute to Tenuta’s genius and a marvelous showcase for Blackwell” - CinemaFemme
Upcoming Screenings
Past Screenings
10/12/26. Chicago Screening of “It Happened: The Judy Tenuta Story” at CinemaFemme Short Film Fest. Tickets here.
IFS / L.A. Film Fest - 2025
Winner of Best Indie Short
Los Angeles, California
Poppy Jasper International - 2026
Gilroy, California
Cinequest Film Festival - 2026
Mountain View, California
Los Feliz Film Festival - 2026
Winner of Best Emerging Filmmaker
Los Angeles, California
Spark of Madness Film Festival - 2026
Pocatello, Idaho
Official Videos
Oak Cliff Film Festival - 2026
Dallas, Texas
Waco Film Festival - 2026
Waco, Texas
Woods Hole Film Festival - 2026
Woods Hole, Massachusetts
Imagine This Women’s Film Fest - 2026
Winner of Best Comedy
New York, New York