Paying for It
Synopsis
In the late 1990s, when Sonny seeks to redefine his long-term relationship with Chester, the painfully introverted cartoonist begins sleeping with sex workers and discovers an unexpected new form of intimacy.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Sook-Yin Lee on Directing, Love, and PAYING FOR IT | TIFF
Type: Featurette • Published 2025-02-06
Top Cast
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Dan Beirne
Chester Brown
Emily Lê
Sonny Lee
Andrea Werhun
Denise/Yulissa
Noah Lamanna
Suzo Jones
Chris Sandiford
Cain
Ely Henry
Cecil
Rebecca Applebaum
Laura
Ehren Kassam
Miles
Ishan Davé
Reed
Stephen Kalyn
Carl
Hannia Cheng
Anne
Jamie Whitecrow
Angelina
Lisa Smolkin
Wendy
Lea Rose Sebastianis
Kitty
Dusty Lee
Jolene
Becky Johnson
Tina
Kitoko Mai
Amanda
Rubie Magnitude
Mandi Moulin
Release History & Theatrical Window
Toronto International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
January 30, 2026
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Sook-Yin Lee
- Screenplay & Story
- Sook-Yin Lee, Joanne Sarazen
- Original Score
- Dylan Gamble, Sook-Yin Lee
- Original Title
- Paying for It
- Country of Origin
- Canada
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 25m
- Production Studios
- Wildling Pictures, Hawkeye Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Sook-Yin Lee
Sook-Yin Lee, Joanne Sarazen, Chester Brown
Dylan Gamble, Sook-Yin Lee
Gayle Ye
Anna Catley
John Cameron Mitchell, Aeschylus Poulos, Sonya Di Rienzo, Matt Code
Department Leadership Roster
Sook-Yin Lee
Screenplay
Joanne Sarazen
Screenplay
Sook-Yin Lee
Director
Anna Catley
Editor
Gayle Ye
Director of Photography
Dylan Gamble
Original Music Composer
Sook-Yin Lee
Original Music Composer
Aeschylus Poulos
Producer
Sonya Di Rienzo
Producer
Matt Code
Producer
Olivia D'Oliveira
Production Design
Erin Logan Hemmerling
Costume Design
Cameron Lee
Costume Design
Jeff Bruneel
Visual Effects Supervisor
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Paying for It.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Paying for It
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Paying for It about?
In the late 1990s, when Sonny seeks to redefine his long-term relationship with Chester, the painfully introverted cartoonist begins sleeping with sex workers and discovers an unexpected new form of intimacy.
Who directed Paying for It?
Paying for It was directed by Sook-Yin Lee.
Who stars in Paying for It?
The principal cast of Paying for It includes Dan Beirne, Emily Lê, Andrea Werhun, Noah Lamanna, Chris Sandiford.
When was Paying for It released and how long is it?
Paying for It was released in 2025 with a total runtime of 1h 25m.
Who composed the musical score for Paying for It?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Paying for It was composed by Dylan Gamble, Sook-Yin Lee.
Is Paying for It based on a book or true story?
Paying for It is adapted from the following source material: Comic Book: "Chester Brown".