GREENFIELD — After receiving wide acclaim at international film festivals across the country, the locally filmed movie “Money Game” will enjoy a grand homecoming this week with a premiere at the Garden Cinemas.

“It’s a very, very nice chance to say, ‘Thank you,’” said lead actor Daniel Washington, who also co-wrote and co-produced the film.

“Money Game,” a story representative of real-life pandemic-inflicted economic hardship, appears to have resonated with viewers and judges since it started being shown at festivals in April. It won awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture in its debut at the Boston International Film Festival before going on to win a dozen more awards across three subsequent festivals.

“This movie, it’s the little movie that could,” Washington said, noting that “Money Game” had to bypass a variety of obstacles throughout its creation and distribution. Director Julian Lowenthal, who was also the film’s primary writer and producer, said these obstacles ranged from funding challenges, to issues filming during a pandemic, to difficulties pursuing an advantageous distribution offer.

“Watching how miraculously thing after thing moved out of the way of the film and miracle after miracle happened to it … I continue to be amazed by how much it’s already done to the point where if it ends here … I can walk away satisfied with that because it’s surprised me so much,” Washington said.

Lowenthal, a Turners Falls resident, described the drama as “the story of an average American journey in 2021 to succeed.” Standing in the way of protagonist James, a widower with two young daughters, is Bryson, a hot-headed business owner who represents tyranny within a broken economic system.

Washington and Lowenthal said reception has been overwhelmingly positive from those who have made comments after seeing the film, which is not yet accessible to the general public. Having this validation has been encouraging, said Lowenthal, who intended the film to be thought-provoking and insightful.

“It just made me really happy that I was able to microphone a lot of important issues that [viewers] believe in … and that I could be a channel to really voice this culture without coming off biased or incorrect,” he expressed.

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Washington said while most of the feedback he has received about “Money Game” has been praise, he’s taken in “all sorts of different reactions” with “a healthy mix across the board” between positive and negative.

“If what you made was not capable of receiving different reactions, did you really risk enough?” he commented.

Whether positive or negative, almost all of it has been deeply thought-out and reflective, Washington added. Hearing different people’s interpretations of the story and its characters has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of the journey, he continued.

“I think this may be the biggest dose of something where people take things in that you don’t really expect,” he said. “It’s incredible because it’s almost like they create a whole new version of the movie for me when I hear it.”

Now, heading back to Franklin County where “Money Game” takes place and was filmed, both Washington and Lowenthal said they hope locals emerge from the theater with a renewed sense of pride in where they live. Lowenthal said he had an “agenda” of “advertising” and “uplifting” the area throughout the process of making the movie. He added that he hopes “Money Game” can help encourage other filmmakers to take their talents to the county and make it a “film hub.”

“I hope they’re proud it happened there,” Washington said, referencing his aspirations for the premiere at the Garden Cinemas. “I hope they feel good that something like that could be made there.”

The premiere week will be highlighted by two marquee events. There will be a red carpet event with several cast and crew members in attendance from 6 to 7 p.m. on Friday, June 14. Attendees will have an opportunity to chat with them either before or after the film is screened at 7 p.m. Then, on Sunday, June 16, at 3:30 p.m., Lowenthal will host a question-and-answer session that may feature some surprise guest appearances. Screenings will continue through Thursday, June 20.

Lowenthal anticipates the red carpet event will sell out and he encourages those interested in attending the event (or any of the screenings) to purchase tickets in advance at gardencinemas.net.

Washington said he is committed to simply “being a fan” for the first time at this premiere, and he hopes his cast and crew can follow suit.

“I’ve made quite a habit of overstressing this project … kind of taking it maybe too seriously,” Washington explained. “A No. 1 goal for me with this upcoming screening is to finally just enjoy it.”

An earlier version of this article included an incorrect first name for lead actor Daniel Washington.