Chester, a cartoonist, and Sonny, a TV host – are a long-term, committed romantic couple. When Sonny introduces the idea of opening up their relationship, Chester begins sleeping with sex workers, forcing him to face his issues with intimacy and romance in the process.

Celebrating the vibrant underground comic and zine era through the experiences of cartoonist Brown, Paying For It connects the past with the present by bringing together emerging comic actors, performance artists, authors, activists and multimedia creators in front of and behind the camera, and it has resonated for festival audiences and critics alike. 

Based on the best-selling graphic novel by acclaimed alternative-cartoonist Chester Brown, Paying For It is a personal take on romance and relationships. From writer/director Sook-Yin Lee the film comes to theaters January 30, 2026.

Directed by: Sook-Yin Lee
Written by: Sook-Yin Lee, Joanne Sarazen
Cast: Dan Beirne, Emily Lê, Andrea Werhun
Produced by: Matt Code, Sonya Di Rienzo, Aeschylus Poulos
Co-produced by: Natalie Urquhart, Sook-Yin Lee
Executive Produced by: John Cameron Mitchell, Dan Beirne
Cinematography by: Gayle Ye