Saturday, October 15, 2022

AFI FEST 2022

 AFI FEST 2022 ANNOUNCES FULL FESTIVAL LINEUP  


The American Film Institute (AFI) announced the full lineup for this year’s AFI FEST Film Festival including BONES AND ALL, directed by Academy Award®-nominee Luca Guadagnino, LE PUPILLE, directed by Alice Rohrwacher, NANNY, directed by Nikyatu Jusu, “SR.”, directed by Chris Smith, and WOMEN TALKING, by Academy Award®-nominated writer and director Sarah Polley, which will all screen in the Special Screenings section. Passes are now available at FEST.AFI.com, and individual tickets for all screenings will be available to AFI members on October 11 and to the general public on October 12.

The complete AFI FEST program includes 125 titles (7 Red Carpet Premieres, 6 Special Screenings, 12 Discovery, 12 World Cinema, 12 Documentary, 30 Short Film Competition, 43 AFI Conservatory and 3 Guest Artistic Director Selections). Of the official selections, 53% are directed by women, 32% are directed by BIPOC filmmakers and 11% are directed by LGBTQIA+ filmmakers. This year’s program represents 31 countries and includes six International Feature Oscar® submissions, ALCARRÀS (Spain), BARDO, FALSE CHRONICLE OF A HANDFUL OF TRUTHS (Mexico), CLOSE (Belgium), EO (Poland), JOYLAND (Pakistan) and SAINT OMER (France).

AFI FEST 2022 will take place exclusively in person in Los Angeles from November 2-6. AFI members receive discounts on passes and tickets and other exclusive benefits. To become an AFI member, visit AFI.com/join/.

 

As previously announced

The World Premiere of Apple Original Film’s SELENA GOMEZ: MY MIND AND ME will open the festival and the U.S. premiere of Universal Pictures’ and Amblin Entertainment’s THE FABELMANS, directed by AFI Life Achievement Award recipient and Academy Award®-winning director Steven Spielberg, will close AFI FEST 2022. Additional Red Carpet Premieres include BARDO, FALSE CHRONICLE OF A HANDFUL OF TRUTHS, directed by Academy Award®-winning director Alejandro González Iñárritu; the U.S. Premiere of GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S PINOCCHIO, directed by Academy Award®-winning director Guillermo del Toro and Emmy Award® winner Mark Gustafson; LIVING, directed by Oliver Hermanus; SHE SAID, directed by Emmy Award®-winning director Maria Schrader; and THE SON, directed by Academy Award® winner Florian Zeller. Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay will serve as Guest Artistic Director at AFI FEST 2022 and will be showcasing three independent films amplifying the voices of women directors including HELLION (2014), directed by Kat Candler and starring Academy Award®-nominee Juliette Lewis and Aaron Paul; MOSQUITA Y MARI (2012) directed by Aurora Guerrero and YELLING TO THE SKY (2011), directed by Victoria Mahoney and starring Academy Award®-nominee Gabourey Sidibe and Zoë Kravitz.


 

RED CARPET PREMIERES

AFI rolls out the red carpet for the most anticipated films of the festival. Sure to be an exciting celebration of the best in film, the section delivers world-class filmmakers, talented actors and artisans, and a dose of Hollywood magic that can only be found at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre.

BARDO, FALSE CHRONICLE OF A HANDFUL OF TRUTHS
BARDO, FALSE CHRONICLE OF A HANDFUL OF TRUTHS follows a Mexican journalist and documentarian’s journey home as he grapples with questions about identity, success, mortality, history and familial bonds. DIR Alejandro G. Iñárritu. SCR Nicolás Giacobone, Alejandro G. Iñárritu. CAST Daniel Giménez Cacho, Griselda Siciliani, Ximena Lamadrid, Iker Solano. Mexico

THE FABELMANS
Starring Michelle Williams and Paul Dano, Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical coming-of-age epic follows Sammy Fabelman, who falls in love with moviemaking and grapples with the family turmoil that would ultimately shape him as a filmmaker. DIR Steven Spielberg. SCR Steven Spielberg, Tony Kushner. CAST Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Paul Dano, Gabriel Labelle, Judd Hirsch, Jeannie Berlin, David Lynch, Birdie Borria, Cooper Dodson, Gustavo Escobar, Julia Butters, Sam Rechner, Chloe East, Keeley Karsten. USA

GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S PINOCCHIO
Set in 1930s Italy, this darkly whimsical, stop-motion film directed by Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson reimagines Pinocchio on an enchanted adventure that reveals the life-giving power of love. DIR Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson. SCR Guillermo del Toro, Patrick McHale. CAST Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Gregory Mann, Finn Wolfhard, Cate Blanchett, John Turturro, Ron Perlman, Tim Blake Nelson, Burn Gorman, Christoph Waltz,Tilda Swinton. USA

LIVING
In this British reimagining of Kurosawa’s IKIRU, a lonely bureaucratic pencil pusher is struck by a newfound tenacity when he learns of his impending death. DIR Oliver Hermanus. SCR Kazuo Ishiguro. CAST Bill Nighy, Aimee Lou Wood, Alex Sharp, Tom Burke. UK

SELENA GOMEZ: MY MIND AND ME
In this deeply personal documentary, Grammy®-nominated singer and actress Selena Gomez invites audiences along on an illuminating journey as she navigates the pressures of stardom and seeks to prioritize and destigmatize conversations surrounding mental health. DIR Alek Keshishian. SCR Alek Keshishian, Paul Marchand. USA

SHE SAID
SHE SAID details New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor’s groundbreaking story which propelled the #Metoo movement, shattered decades of silence around sexual assault and altered culture forever. DIR Maria Schrader. SCR Rebecca Lenkiewicz. CAST Carey Mulligan, Zoe Kazan, Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Jennifer Ehle, Samantha Morton. USA

THE SON
Divorced and newly married Peter (Hugh Jackman) has a fraught relationship with his troubled teenage son in Florian Zeller’s affecting spiritual sequel to THE FATHER. DIR Florian Zeller. SCR Florian Zeller, Christopher Hampton. CAST Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern, Vanessa Kirby, Zen McGrath, Hugh Quarshie, Anthony Hopkins. USA, France



SPECIAL SCREENINGS

Showcasing the most acclaimed films of the season from an exciting combination of international auteurs and emerging talent, this section features unparalleled and unforgettable stories, characters and performances.

BONES AND ALL
Luca Guadagnino’s latest film, BONES AND ALL, is a story of first love between Maren, a young woman learning how to survive on the margins of society, and Lee, an intense and disenfranchised drifter; a liberating road odyssey of two young people coming into their own, searching for identity and chasing beauty in a perilous world that cannot abide who they are. DIR Luca Guadagnino. SCR David Kajganich. CAST Taylor Russell, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg, André Holland, Chloë Sevigny, David Gordon Green, Jessica Harper, Jake Horowitz, Mark Rylance. USA

IS THAT BLACK ENOUGH FOR YOU?!?
Elvis Mitchell constructs a personal history with portrayals of Black life in American cinema, from Oscar Micheaux to the blaxploitation era and beyond, in this energetic, joyous love letter to a community and an art. DIR Elvis Mitchell. USA

LE PUPILLE
Produced by Alfonso Cuarón, LE PUPILLE is a magical fable about a group of rebellious Catholic schoolgirls blessed with a Christmas cake during wartime. Screening followed by a conversation with director Alice Rohrwacher. DIR Alice Rohrwacher. SCR Alice Rohrwacher. CAST Alba Rohrwacher, Greta Zuccheri Montanari, Carmen Pommella, Lady Maru, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Melissa Falasconi. Italy

NANNY
Imbued with magical realism, African folklore and a creeping sense of dread, NANNY follows Senegalese mother Aisha, displaced in New York City and cursed by horrific nightmares that threaten her sanity. DIR Nikyatu Jusu. SCR Nikyatu Jusu. CAST Anna Diop, Michelle Monaghan, Sinqua Walls, Morgan Spector, Rose Decker. USA

“SR.”
This tender, career-spanning portrait of the irreverent, underground filmmaker Robert Downey Sr., is told via revealing interviews with family members, including his son, actor Robert Downey Jr., and friends such as Alan Arkin, Norman Lear and Paul Thomas Anderson. DIR Chris Smith. USA

WOMEN TALKING
Directed by Sarah Polley, WOMEN TALKING follows the riveting story where the women of an isolated religious community struggle with an epidemic of sexual abuse, featuring a stunning ensemble cast including Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, with Ben Whishaw and Frances McDormand. DIR Sarah Polley. SCR Sarah Polley. CAST Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, Sheila McCarthy. USA

 

GUEST ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

AVA DUVERNAY

In a special Spotlight section, AFI FEST honors celebrated filmmaker, producer and founder of distribution company ARRAY, Ava DuVernay, who presents three independent films amplifying the voices of women directors.

HELLION (2014)
When motocross and heavy metal obsessed, thirteen-year-old, Jacob’s increasing delinquent behavior forces CPS to place his little brother, Wes, with his aunt, Jacob and his emotionally absent father, Hollis, must finally take responsibility for their actions… DIR Kat Candler. SCR Kat Candler. CAST Aaron Paul, Juliette Lewis, Josh Wiggins, Deke Garner. USA

MOSQUITA Y MARI (2012)
When straight A student Yolanda — aka Mosquita decides to help struggling tough girl Mari with her homework, an intense attraction evolves between the two. As their friendship grows, a yearning to explore their strange yet beautiful connection surfaces. DIR Aurora Guerrero. SCR Aurora Guerrero. CAST Laura Patalano, Venecia Troncoso, Fenessa Pineda. USA

YELLING TO THE SKY (2011)

As her family falls apart, 17-year-old Sweetness O’Hara is left to fend for herself in a neighborhood where her survival is uncertain. DIR Victoria Mahoney. CAST Zoë Kravitz, Jason Clarke, Tim Blake Nelson. USA



WORLD CINEMA

Here in the movie capital of the world, we celebrate the contributions of global cinema. Bringing to our city the best films from around the globe, this section presents the depth and diversity of human culture as seen through the universal language of the motion picture.

ALCARRÀS
Selected as Spain’s official Oscar® submission, Carla Simón’s neorealist film follows the close-knit Solé family, who pick peaches from their rural orchard every summer, as they struggle to keep up with the changing times. DIR Carla Simón. SCR Carla Simón, Arnau Vilaró. CAST Jordi Pujol Dolcet, Anna Otín, Xènia Roset, Albert Bosch, Ainet Jounou. Spain, Italy

BEFORE, NOW & THEN
Set amid the political upheaval of 1960s Indonesia, Nana (Happy Salma) is pressured to remarry and suffer in silence as she is haunted by the past in this lyrical epic of repressed longing. DIR Kamila Andini. SCR Kamila Andini, Ahda Imran. CAST Happy Salma, Laura Basuki, Arswendy Bening Swara, Ibnu Jamil. Indonesia

THE EIGHT MOUNTAINS
In this quiet epic, and co-winner of the Cannes Jury Prize, two friends, Pietro (Luca Marinelli) from the city and Bruno (Alessandro Borghi) from a remote mountain village, navigate a lifelong friendship. DIR Felix van Groeningen, Charlotte Vandermeersch. SCR Felix van Groeningen, Charlotte Vandermeersch. CAST Luca Marinelli, Alessandro Borghi, Filippo Timi, Elena Lietti, Elisabetta Mazzullo. Italy, Belgium, France

EO
In Polish auteur Jerzy Skolimowski’s playful tribute to AU HASARD BALTHAZAR we experience the beauty and the horror of the human world through the eyes of a donkey in this award-winning film which shared the Jury Prize at Cannes. DIR Jerzy Skolimowski. SCR Ewa Piaskowska, Jerzy Skolimowski. CAST Sandra Drzymalska, Tomasz Organek, Mateusz Kosciukiewicz, Lorenzo Zurzolo, Isabelle Huppert. Poland, Italy

THE ETERNAL DAUGHTER
This haunting tale from Joanna Hogg stars Tilda Swinton as a mother-daughter duo returning to their former family manor – now an eerily vacant hotel – to confront long-buried secrets. DIR Joanna Hogg. SCR Joanna Hogg. CAST Tilda Swinton, Joseph Mydell, Carly-Sophia Davies. UK

THE FIVE DEVILS
From French director Léa Mysius, this darkly enthralling and supernatural tale follows a young girl, Vicky, who discovers her highly attuned sense of smell can lead her to secrets from her family’s past. DIR Léa Mysius. SCR Léa Mysius, Paul Guilhaume. CAST Adèle Exarchopoulos, Sally Dramé, Swala Emati, Moustapha Mbengue, Daphné Patakia. France

GODLAND (VANSKABTE LAND / VOLAÐA LAND)
Set in the late 1800’s, an aloof, young Danish priest embarks on a treacherous voyage to Iceland that causes his mind and faith to waver in Hlynur Pálmason’s stunning new epic. DIR Hlynur Pálmason. SCR Hlynur Pálmason. CAST Elliott Crosset Hove, Ingvar Sigurðsson, Vic Carmen Sonne, Jacob Hauberg Lohmann, Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir. Denmark, Iceland, France, Sweden

NO BEARS
In his latest docufiction which won the Venice Special Jury Prize, Iranian auteur Jafar Panahi plays himself as a filmmaker who relocates to a small town to make a film about a couple attempting to flee the country. DIR Jafar Panahi. SCR Jafar Panahi. CAST Jafar Panahi, Naser Hashemi, Vahid Mobaseri, Bakhtiar Panjei, Mina Kavani. Iran

ONE FINE MORNING (UN BEAU MATIN)
Mia Hansen-Løve returns with a finely observed, deeply personal tale of a mother (Léa Seydoux) at a crossroads grappling with familial misfortune and a passionate illicit romance. DIR Mia Hansen-Løve. SCR Mia Hansen-Løve. CAST Léa Seydoux, Melvil Poupaud, Pascal Greggory, Nicole Garcia. France, Germany

PACIFICTION
Chronicling the beguiling relationship between a French bureaucrat (Benoît Magimel) and a Polynesian choreographer (Pahoa Mahagafanau), this hypnotic political thriller exposes colonialist corrosion on the island of Tahiti. DIR Albert Serra. SCR Albert Serra. CAST Benoît Magimel, Pahoa Mahagafanau, Marc Susini, Matahi Pambrun. France, Spain, Germany, Portugal

SMOKING CAUSES COUGHING (FUMER FAIT TOUSSER)
Quentin Dupieux returns with another delightfully absurdist comedy, featuring a team of spandex-clad vigilante superheroes called the Tobacco Forces who go on a work retreat and share bizarre stories around the campfire. DIR Quentin Dupieux. SCR Quentin Dupieux. CAST Gilles Lellouche, Anaïs Demoustier, Oulaya Amamra, Adèle Exarchopoulos. France

WALK UP
Successful filmmaker Byung-soo visits old friend Ms. Kim. Their afternoon encounter slowly becomes a years-long exploration of human connection in this sly, gentle study of the passage of time from modern master Hong Sang-soo. DIR Hong Sang-soo. SCR Hong Sang-soo. CAST Kwon Hae-hyo, Lee Hye-young, Song Seon-mi, Cho Yun-hee, Park Mi-so, Shin Seok-ho. South Korea



 

DISCOVERY

Bursting onto the scene with astounding force, these exciting new voices push the boundaries of contemporary cinema with cutting-edge themes and profound original visions.

BRUISER
In Miles Warren’s piercing feature debut exploring generational violence and toxic masculinity, 14-year-old Darious (Jalyn Hall) strikes up an unexpected friendship with a mysterious and charismatic drifter (Trevante Rhodes). DIR Miles Warren. SCR Miles Warren, Ben Medina. CAST Trevante Rhodes, Shamier Anderson, Jalyn Hall, Shinelle Azoroh. USA

CLOSE
Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes, Lukas Dhont’s potent, new film explores how the intense friendship between two sensitive and affectionate 13-year-old boys is abruptly torn apart when school bullies begin mocking their closeness. DIR Lukas Dhont. SCR Lukas Dhont, Angelo Tijssens. CAST Eden Dambrine, Gustav De Waele, Emilie Dequenne, Léa Drucker. Belgium, Netherlands, France

DRY GROUND BURNING (MATO SECO EM CHAMAS)
In this expansive hybrid docufiction of dystopia and rebellion, two sisters, leaders of a fearsome all-female gang, run a black-market gasoline operation, stealing from the authoritarian Brazilian government. DIR Adirley Queirós, Joana Pimenta. SCR Adirley Queirós, Joana Pimenta. CAST Joana Darc Furtado, Léa Alves da Silva, Andreia Vieira, Débora Alencar, Gleide Firmino. Brazil, Portugal

HUMAN FLOWERS OF FLESH
After becoming fascinated with the French Foreign Legion, including a member played by iconic French star Denis Lavant, Ida (DOGTOOTH actress Angeliki Papoulia) sets sail for Algeria on a mystical journey across the Mediterranean Sea. DIR Helena Wittmann. SCR Helena Wittmann. CAST Angeliki Papoulia, Ferhat Mouhali, Gustavo de Mattos Jahn, Ingo Martens, Denis Lavant. Germany, France

A HUNDRED FLOWERS (HYAKKA)
Adapted from Genki Kawamura’s own novel, this intimate drama follows Izumi as he contends with his mother Yuriko’s dementia. But on his path to acceptance, he uncovers secrets from her complicated past. DIR Genki Kawamura.  SCR Kentaro Hirase, Genki Kawamura. CAST Masaki Suda, Mieko Harada, Masami Nagasawa, Masatoshi Nagase. Japan

JOYLAND
Affable, directionless Haider lands a gig as a background dancer in a courtesan act led by a transgender dancer. Little does he anticipate the sexual rebellion he will ignite in his patriarchal Pakistani family. DIR Saim Sadiq. SCR Saim Sadiq, Maggie Briggs. CAST Ali Junejo, Rasti Farooq, Alina Khan, Sarwat Gilani, Sohail Sameer, Salman Peerzada, Sania Saeed. Pakistan

LADY CHATTERLEY’S LOVER
Emma Corrin (THE CROWN) and BAFTA Award-winning actor Jack O’Connell bring to life this sensual adaptation of D.H. Lawrence’s classic novel about the recently married Lady Chatterley who begins a passionate affair with a groundskeeper. DIR Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre. SCR David Magee. CAST Emma Corrin, Jack O’Connell, Matthew Duckett, Joely Richardson. UK

MONICA
Stoic and self-reliant Monica returns home for the first time in years to care for her ailing, estranged mother as the two confront unspoken tensions in this sensitive family drama. DIR Andrea Pallaoro. SCR Andrea Pallaoro, Orlando Tirado. CAST Trace Lysette, Patricia Clarkson, Emily Browning, Joshua Close, Adriana Barraza. USA

PIAFFE
When a struggling foley artist grows a horsetail out of her body, she begins a game of seduction with a botanist in this skillfully crafted study of control and eroticism from visual artist Ann Oren. DIR Ann Oren. SCR Ann Oren, Thais Guisasola. CAST Simone Bucio, Sebastian Rudolph, Simon(e) Jaikiriuma Paetau, Bjørn Melhus, Sarah Nevada Grether. Germany

SAINT OMER
Selected as France’s official submission to the Academy Awards®, this searing narrative debut from Alice Diop follows novelist Rama as she contends with her own pregnancy and a broken relationship with her mother. DIR Alice Diop. SCR Alice Diop, Amrita David, Marie Ndiaye. CAST Kayije Kagame, Guslagie Malanda, Valérie Dréville, Aurélia Petit, Robert Cantarella. France

TRENQUE LAUQUEN
When an inquisitive woman discovers secret letters hidden in a local library, she is thrown into a labyrinth of mysteries, disappearances and an unclassified flora species in this sprawling opus from Argentine director Laura Citarella. DIR Laura Citarella. SCR Laura Citarella, Laura Paredes. CAST Laura Paredes, Ezequiel Pierri, Rafael Spregelburd, Cecilia Rainero, Juliana Muras, Elisa Carricajo. Argentina

UNREST (UNRUEH)
Set amidst a local movement of anarchist watchmakers in the Swiss Jura Mountains in the 1870s, a young factory worker meets a Russian traveler and together they transform their town. DIR Cyril Schäublin. SCR Cyril Schäublin. CAST Clara Gostynski, Alexei Evstratov, Monika Stalder, Hélio Thiémard, Li Tavor. Switzerland



 

DOCUMENTARY

Presenting some of the most engaging and powerful real-life stories depicted in global documentary film. With subjects and themes both profound and impactful, these works are sure to enlighten, educate and entertain.

32 SOUNDS
This profound sensory experience from filmmaker Sam Green features an immersive, sonic tour into the history of sound science and experimental music, with original music by JD Samson. Headphones will be provided for this special binaural presentation. DIR Sam Green. USA

BODY PARTS
A deep dive into the history of sex scenes in Hollywood and the treatment of actresses on set, showing the real-world impact that onscreen portrayals have after the credits roll. DIR Kristy Guevara-Flanagan. CAST Jane Fonda, Rose McGowan, Joey Soloway, Angela Robinson, Karyn Kusama. USA

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Oscar®-nominated Israeli documentarian Dror Moreh (THE GATEKEEPERS, 2012) interviews important players in international politics and diplomacy, in an insightful examination of the complexities surrounding military interventionism. DIR Dror Moreh. USA

DE HUMANI CORPORIS FABRICA
Harvard Sensory Ethnography Lab’s radical duo plunges us inside the human body through the gaze of the medical institution for an intimately visceral spectatorship of life and death. DIR Verena Paravel, Lucien Castaing-Taylor. France, USA, Switzerland

GEOGRAPHIES OF SOLITUDE
A richly textured, delicately meditative portrait of Sable Island and one of its lone inhabitants, conservationist Zoe Lucas, captured through a tender encounter between filmmaker and scientist. DIR Jacquelyn Mills. CAST Zoe Lucas. Canada

MARIUPOLIS 2
Documenting a group of Ukrainians sheltered in a Mariupol Christian church during the 2022 Russian invasion, MARIUPOLIS 2 is a testament to human resilience and the harsh realities of war. DIR Mantas Kvedaravičius. Lithuania, France, Germany

REWIND & PLAY
French-Senegalese filmmaker Alain Gomis exhumes and reedits raw footage from an excruciating, never-aired 1969 interview with legendary jazz pianist Thelonious Monk. DIR Alain Gomis. SCR Alain Gomis. CAST Thelonious Monk, Henri Renaud. France, Germany

SUBJECT
From award-winning filmmakers Jennifer Tiexiera and Camilla Hall, SUBJECT unpacks the ethics and responsibilities in documentary filmmaking by examining important works from the past three decades and how these productions have affected the lives of their onscreen participants. DIR Jennifer Tiexiera, Camilla Hall. SCR Jennifer Tiexiera, Camilla Hall, Lauren Saffa. CAST Arthur Agee, Ahmed Hassan, Margie Ratliff, Michael Peterson, Mukunda Angulo. USA

THIS HOUSE (CETTE MAISON)
Ten years after her teenage cousin’s unsolved murder, Canadian filmmaker Miryam Charles examines fractured memories of the tragedy and her family’s migration from Haiti in this enigmatic feature debut. DIR Miryam Charles. SCR Miryam Charles. CAST Schelby Jean-Baptiste, Florence Blan Mbaye, Eve Duranceau, Matthew Rankin, Yardly Kavanagh. Canada

TURN EVERY PAGE – THE ADVENTURES OF ROBERT CARO AND ROBERT GOTTLIEB
This remarkable new documentary is a loving tribute to two titans of contemporary publishing, Robert Caro and his prolific editor Robert Gottlieb, as well as a deep dive into the books themselves. DIR Lizzie Gottlieb. USA

THE VOLCANO: RESCUE FROM WHAKAARI
In 2019, a volcano eruption stranded 47 people in a cloud of steam and ash and claimed 22 lives. THE VOLCANO: RESCUE FROM WHAKAARI is the story of the incredible rescue mission. DIR Rory Kennedy. SCR Mark Bailey, Dallas Brennan Rexer. USA

WILDCAT
The Amazon rain forest becomes a refuge for a former British solider suffering from PTSD, as he connects with an American scientist, and they reintroduce orphaned baby ocelots back into the wild. DIR Melissa Lesh, Trevor Beck Frost. USA

 

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

American French FF 2022

JEAN-JACQUES ANNAUD’S NOTRE-DAME ON FIRE TO OPEN
THE 26th ANNUAL AMERICAN FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL





75 Films and Series to be Screened at the Festival Taking Place 
at the DGA Theater Complex October 10-16 
71 Films to be Considered for The American French Film Festival Awards

At a press conference held today at the Résidence de France in Beverly Hills, members of the Franco-American Cultural Fund (FACF) and The American French Film Festival Program Committee announced that the Opening Night film for The American French Film Festival (formerly COLCOA) will be the North American premiere of Jean-Jacques Annaud’s NOTRE-DAME ON FIRE / Notre-Dame Brûle. The film will screen October 10, kicking off the week-long Festival held at the DGA Theater Complex in Los Angeles.
Participating in the press event today were Cécile Rap-Veber, CEO, SACEM; Julie Duhaut-Bedos, Consul General of France in Los Angeles; Francois Truffart, Executive Producer and Programmer, The American French Film Festival; Anouchka van Riel, Deputy Director, The American French Film Festival; Andrea Berloff, writer/WGAW and Board Member of the Franco-American Cultural Fund; Amy Nicholson, film critic/LAFCA; and Peter Debruge, Chief Film Critic for Variety.

“Every year, The American French Film Festival presents the very best of French cinema and television, and this year is no exception. I am personally excited about the opening night selection of Jean-Jacques Annaud’s NOTRE-DAME ON FIRE as I think it perfectly embodies the Franco-American Cultural Fund’s mission,” said Andrea Berloff.






The entire lineup for the Festival was also revealed at the press event and includes 75 films and series and 20 shorts, many of which are International, North American and U.S. premiere presentations. Seventy-one of these films will be up for The American French Film Festival Awards.

“This selection of French films and series in competition for The American French Film Festival Awardsunderscores - despite the two year pandemic period - the astounding dynamism of the French production community,” said Francois Truffart. “This 26th edition of the Festival is notable for its diversity of genres, the emergence of new talent and particularly for the creativity coming from new female filmmakers.”

“As exemplified by this year’s swath of impressive films, French cinema continues to explore form and storytelling that echo Jean-Luc Godard’s freedom to experiment,” notes Anouchka van Riel. “More than ever, The American French Film Festival seeks to build bridges between two countries and tell stories with different narrative structures. This Festival is not only a showcase for French films and series, butalso a place where bicultural conversations occur on topics like remakes and young audiences. It is a celebration and an opportunity to promote understanding and build communities.”




THE AMERICAN FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL 2022 SELECTION:

OPENING NIGHT FILM, MONDAY, OCTOBER 10: NOTRE-DAME ON FIRE / Notre-Dame Brûle (North American Premiere) is a blow-by-blow recreation of the gripping events that took place on April 15, 2019 when the cathedral suffered the biggest blaze in its history. The film retraces how heroic men and women put their lives on the line to accomplish an awe-inspiring rescue. The screening will be followed by a discussion with filmmaker Jean-Jacques Annaud.

CLOSING NIGHT FILM & SERIES: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16: THE NIGHT OF THE 12TH / La Nuit du 12 (North American Premiere presented in association with Film Movement) - Dominik Moll’s thriller about a nagging cold case where the only certainty is the night it occurred was part of the 2022 Cannes Festival selection. Festival will dedicate its annual FOCUS ON A FILMMAKER to Moll. Also the series IRMA VEP, written and directed by Olivier Assayas, co-presented with A24 and HBO, will have its world theatrical
premiere at the Festival on closing day.

CINEMA SELECTION also includes:

• BLAZING NEON / Du crépitement sous les néons (World Premiere) – Written and directed by Kevin Ossona and Fabrice Garçon. Co-written by Sherazade Khalladi.
• DIARY OF A FLEETING AFFAIR / Chronique d’une liaison passagère (North American Premiere) – Written and directed by Emmanuel Mouret. Co-written by Pierre Giraud.
• DIVERTIMENTO / Divertimento (International Premiere) - Written and directed by Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar. Co-written by Clara Bourreau.
• EVERYBODY LOVES JEANNE / Tout le monde aime Jeanne (North American Premiere) - Written and directed by Céline Devaux.
• FALCON LAKE (West Coast Premiere) – Written and directed by Charlotte Lebon. Co-written by François Choquet and Karim Boucherka. Winner of the D’Ornano Valenti Prize, an award supported by The Franco American Cultural Fund.
• FINAL CUT / Coupez! (West Coast Premiere) – Written and directed by Academy Award-winner Michel Hazanavicius.
• FULL TIME / A Plein Temps (Los Angeles Premiere) - Written and directed by Eric Gravel.
• LIE WITH ME / Arrête avec tes mensonges (North American Premiere) - Written and directed by Olivier Peyon. Co-written by Olivier Peyon, Vincent Poymiro, Cécilia Rouaud and Arthur Cahn.
• LOVE ACCORDING TO DALVA / Dalva (U.S. Premiere) - Written and directed by Emmanuelle Nicot.
• MARIA INTO LIFE / Maria rêve (North American Premiere) - Written and directed by Lauriane Escaffre and Yvonnick Muller.
• METRONOM (West Coast Premiere) - Written and directed by Alexandru Belc.
• MOTHER AND SON / Un petit frère (Los Angeles Premiere) - Written and directed by Léonor Serraille.
• RUMBA THERAPY / Rumba la Vie (U.S. Premiere) - Written and directed by Franck Dubosc.
• SON OF RAMSES / Goutte d’or (North American Premiere) - Written and directed by Clément Cogitor. Co-written by Thomas Bidegain, Fanny Burdino, Camille Lugan and Nadja Dumouchel.
• SOULA (North American Premiere) – Written and directed by Salah Issaad. Co-written by Soula Bahri.
• SOUTH SENTINEL / Sentinelle sud (North American Premiere) – Written and directed by Mathieu Gerault.
• THE INNOCENT / L’Innocent (North American Premiere) – Written and directed by Louis Garrel. Cowritten by Tanguy Viel and Naïla Guiget.
• TWO OF KIND / Jumeaux mais pas trop (North American Premiere) - Written and directed by Olivier Ducray and Wilfried Méance. Co-written by Jean-Paul Bathany.

In addition to THE NIGHT OF THE 12TH presented with Film Movement, several films will premiere in Hollywood at the The American French Film Festival in association with U.S. distributors:

• A FAMILY FOR 1640 DAYS / La Vraie Famille (U.S. Premiere) - Written and directed by FabienGorgeart (Distrib Films U.S).
• CORSAGE (West Coast Premiere) - Written and directed by Marie Kreutzer (IFC FIlms)
• HAWA (U.S. Premiere) - Written and directed by Maimouna Doucouré (Amazon Prime)
• NOBODY’S HERO / Viens je t’emmène (U.S. Premiere) Written and directed by Alain Guiraudie. Cowritten by Laurent Lunetta. (Strand Releasing)
• RISE / En Corps (West Coast Premiere) - Written and directed by Cédric Klapisch. Co-written by Santiago Amigorena. (Blue Fox entertainment)
• RODEO (Los Angeles Premiere) - Written and directed by Lola Quivoron. Co-written by Antonia Buresi. (Music Box Films)
• THE WORST ONES / Les Pires (U.S. Premiere) - Written and directed by Lise Akoka and Romane Gueret. Co-written by Elénore Gurrey. (Kino Lorber)

The festival will also make the first theatrical presentation in North of America of the Netflix epic/drama ATHENA, written and directed by Romain Gavras.







TELEVISION SELECTION:

• CIRCLES OF POWER / Jeux d’Influence: Les Combattantes (Series - International Premiere) - Written and directed by Academy Award-Winning director Jean-Xavier De Lestrade.
• EN GARDE / Touchées (TV Movie - North American Premiere) – Written and directed by Alexandra Lamy. Co-written by Solen Roy-Pagenault, Quentin Zuttion and Alexandra Lamy.
• INFINITI S1 (Series - U.S. Premiere) - Written and Directed by Thierry Poiraud. Co-written by Stéphane Pannier and Julie Vanlerenberghe.
• MOM, DON’T LET ME FALL ASLEEP / Maman ne me laisse pas m’endormir (TV Movie - International Premiere) - Directed by Sylvie Testud. Written by Juliette Boudre, Nathalie Hugon and Lorraine Lévy.
• OFF SEASON S1 / Hors Saison (Series - North American Premiere) - Directed by Pierre Monnard. Written by Claire Kanny, Sarah Farkas and Marine Flores-Ruimi.
• PLAYDATE / L’Invitation (TV Movie - North American Premiere) - Written and directed by Fred Grivois. Co-written by Nicolas Brigaud-Robert.
• REIGN SUPREME S1 / Le Monde de demain (North American Premiere) - Written and directed by Katell Quillévéré and Helier Cistern. Co-written by Raphaël Chevènement, Nour Ben Salem, David Elkaim, Vincent Poymiro and Laurent Rigoulet. (Netflix)
• SOLDIERS S1 / Les Sentinelles (Series - North American Premiere) - Directed by Jean-Philippe Amar. Written by Thibaut Valetoux and Frédéric Krivine.
• THE AEROBICS PROJECT S1 / Toutouyoutou (Series - International Premiere) - Written and directed by Julien Party. Co-written by Maxime Donzel, Géraldine de Margerie, and Benjamin Adam.
• UNCOUPLING S1 / L’Amour Flou (Series - North American Premiere) - Written and directed by Romane Bohringer. Co-written by Philippe Rebbot, Gábor Rassov, and Lou Bohringer.
• WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY FAMILY? / Qu’est-ce qu’elle a ma famille? (TV Movie - North American Premiere) - Written and directed by Helene Angel. Co-written by Marie Deshaires and Catherine Touzet.

In addition to ATHENA (Netflix) and IRMA VEP (HBO Max), two other programs already available in theUS will be part of the competition for The American French Film Festival Awards:

• MISKINA / Miskina la pauvre (Series - Special Presentation) - Written and directed by Melha Bedia. Co-written by Melha Bedia, Yoann Gromb, Xavier Lacille, Mehdi Fikri and Paul Rotman. (Amazon Prime Video)
• PETER VON KANT (Special Presentation) - Written and directed by Francois Ozon. (Strand Releasing)

The line-up will also include a Documentary selection, a Classic Program paying homage to Jean-Luc Godard, Jacques Perrin, and Jean-Louis Trintignant, and celebrating Alice Guy, the Short Film competition with 20 new films, and the High School Screenings Program. Information on those selections can be found at www.theamericanfrenchfilmfestival.org.

This year the festival will dedicate its FOCUS ON A FILMMAKER to Dominik Moll (THE NIGHT OF THE 12TH), its FOCUS ON A PRODUCER to Charles Gillibert (NOBODY’S HERO, RODEO & the restored version of THE MOTHER AND THE WHORE), and its FOCUS ON A COMPOSER to Eric Neveux (SOLDIERS).





Everyday, from Tuesday to Saturday, festival goers will be invited to attend professional panels for free, followed by a complimentary wine and cheese reception. The complete program will be available online at www.theamericanfrenchfilmfestival.org.

THE AMERICAN FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS

The American French Film Festival audience will be invited to vote in the three categories: Cinema, Television, and Shorts. For the 14th year, The Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) will partner with The Festival for the Critics’ Award and the First Feature Award in the cinema category.

For the fifth year, a student jury made of high school and college students, will vote for The American Students Award. A professional jury will vote for the Best Short Film.
The complete recipient list of the 2022 Awards will be announced on Wednesday, November 2 during a special ceremony taking place in Paris with all recipients attending.

THE AMERICAN FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS are presented in association with TV5 Monde USA and AIR TAHITI NUI.

All Films are presented with English subtitles.

TICKETS AND COVID RESTRICTIONS:

Tickets are available for advance purchase online at www.theamericanfrenchfilmfestival.org starting on September 22. The online box office and RSVP will be open until the night before each show at the festival. Tickets will be also available on site at the Directors Guild of America, 7920 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles CA 90046 during the event. For sold out shows, some tickets may become available 20 minutes before each screening. Please visit www.theamericanfrenchfilmfestival.org for box office hours, week-long passes, and ticket prices. Discounts are available for members of American Cinematheque, ASC, ICG, Film Independent, SAG-AFTRA and Women in Film. Limited opening night tickets available at
the Box Office. Tickets are complimentary for DGA and WGAW guild members. All screenings and events before 4 pm during weekdays are free on a first-come/first-served basis with no reservation needed.

Masks must be worn at all times in the DGA’s public spaces, including theaters, lobby and restrooms. Covid rules may change depending on state and city restrictions. Visit our website for updates.






Wednesday, August 17, 2022

American French FF 2022 DOCS

THE AMERICAN FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES THE DOCUMENTARY LINE UP FOR ITS 26TH ANNUAL EVENT TAKING PLACE OCTOBER 10-16 IN LOS ANGELES


Documentaries to be Included in the Festivals Program this Year Focus on Filmmakers’ Personal Journeys, the War in the Ukraine, the First Female Director, 
the Making of the Classic Black Film Sweet Sweetback and More 


Filmmakers bring their personal passions to this years crop of documentary films to be featured at THE AMERICAN FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL (formerly known as COLCOA) this year. Using the medium they love the most - film - these documentarians dig deep into their own personal histories, as well as that of the medium itself to tell stories that have been long buried, if not forgotten.


Five feature documentary films and three TV documentaries make up the non-fiction part of the program that will be on offer when the Festival celebrates its 26th year at the DGA Theaters as a live event October 10-16. These films will also be eligible for the 2022 American French Film Festival Best Documentary Award. The full Festival line-up will be announced on September 20. 


By putting together films that are about the exemplary lives of exemplary women, minorities fighting to create and being recognized for their work as filmmakers, the intimacy of a famous American writer and a famous French author, surpassing of oneself thanks to sport or dance, and about the resilience of Ukrainian fighters, this selection of contemporary French documentaries for the 26th edition of the festival brings the competition for the Best Documentary Award 2022 to a very high level,” said François Truffart, Executive Producer and Programmer, The American French Film Festival.






The film documentaries chosen for premiere exhibition at THE AMERICAN FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL include:


Flickering Ghosts of Loves Gone / Et jaime a la fureur (2022 - written and directed by Andre Bonzel - North American Premiere) - Inheriting a film collection of home movies after the death of a relative, the director of the cult film Man Bites Dog recounts his life and the women he loved while investigating some family secrets hidden in the recovered images.


Rookies / Allons Enfants (2022 - written and directed by Thierry Demaizière, Alban Teurlai) - Filmed over the 2018-19 academic year, this upbeat breakdance documentary follows a group of talented, ambitious kids from diverse backgrounds as they adjust to life at Turgot, in the center of Paris, a much swankier high school than they're used to.


The Earth is All That Lasts / Seule La Terre est Eternelle (2022 - Written by Francois Busnel, co-directed by Francois Busnel and Adrien Soland - North American Premiere) - This soulful documentary feature takes us on a lyrical road trip through the American northwest with the late great Jim Harrison.  The prolific writer of poetry, novels, screenplays and nonfiction (The Road Home, Legends of the Fall) — a man considered this country's foremost master of the novella — recounts his life, his craft and many a homespun, yet highly perceptive, philosophies with an intimacy and surprising immediacy for a man who passed on six years ago.  


The Super 8 Years / Les Annees Super 8 (2022 - written by Annie Ernaux, directed by Annie and David Ernaux  - West Coast Premiere) - Internationally recognized author Annie Ernaux (Simple Passion, A Woman’s Story)  incorporates her familys super eight films, shot between 1972 and 1981, into a story which combines the intimate with historical, as well as a look at the lifestyle and aspirations of a social class at the start of two pivotal decades.


Trenches Tranchées (2022 - written and directed by Loup Bureau) - In Donbas, months before Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, while precarious truces and ceasefires are negotiated far away by diplomats, Ukrainian soldiers fight against separatists supported by Moscow.  At an age when some are experiencing the best years of their lives, men and women on the frontline are fighting in the trenches. The film  takes us on an immersive and stunning cinematic journey, revealing the reality of survival.





The television documentaries to be included in this years lineup are:


Alice Guy, The First Female Director Alice Guy LInconnue du 7eme art   (2022 - written and directed by Nathalie Masduraud and Valerie Urrea - North American Premiere) - It all began in 1896: The first narrative filmmaker was a woman named Alice Guy. Her inimitable imagination, quick-witted humor, poetic eye, social conscience, and her boundless energy and passion for visual story-telling led her to write and direct almost one thousand films. But even though she shot the first fiction film in history, her work remained in the shadows until today.


Nadia (2021 - written and directed by Anissa Bonnefond North American Premiere)This film follows the unique destiny of Nadia Nadim, who was born and raised in Afghanistan. She was forced to escape her country after her father was killed by The Taliban in 2000. She went on to become a professional football player with the Paris Saint-Germain team, and is committed to supporting a non-profit organization that supports women, education and refugee children. She is also studying to become a surgeon.


Sweet Black Film: The Birth of a Black Hero / Naissance dun héros  noir au cinéma: Sweet Sweet Black (2022 - written and directed by Catherine Bernstein and Marine Belumeau - North American Premiere) - Discover the genesis of Melvin Van Peebles’ film that has become a legend: a true cinematographic coup d’état” that echoes the situation of a majority of Afro-Americans in US society even today. 

This program is presented in association with ARTE France, Federation Entertainment, Films Boutique, Le Paste, Rosebud Productions, Titra Films, Totem Films and Wilde.

The American French Film Festival offers a unique platform to promote French films and series at the beginning of the Awards Season in Hollywood. Annually, the festival brings the highest-caliber French filmmakers and talent to Los Angeles for red carpet premieres, numerous panels and screenings, as well as the opportunity for high-profile collaborations between French and American professionals. In addition, more than 20,000 audience members - including journalists, industry professionals, the general public and students - attend the festival annually. 



Monday, August 15, 2022

Oscar Entries 2022

Submissions to the 95th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film

 



Submissions are open now to the 95th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film. Last year there were 92 submissions from around the world. The Oscar went to Japan's Drive My Car directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi.

The category was previously called the Best Foreign Language Film, but this was changed in April 2019 to Best International Feature Film, after the Academy deemed the word "Foreign" to be outdated.

The deadline for submissions is October 3, 2022. The Academy is scheduled to announce a list of eligible submissions in October 2022 from which 15 finalists will be shortlisted on December 21, 2022. The final five nominees will be announced on January 24, 2023. The winner will be announced on March 12, 2023 at the Oscar ceremony held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.


The submissions to the 95th Academy Awards:

  • Albania - A Cup of Coffee and New Shoes On
  • Algeria - Our Brothers
  • Argentina - Argentina, 1985 ★★★
  • Armenia - Aurora's Sunrise ★★★
  • Australia - You Won't Be Alone 
  • Austria - Corsage ★★★
  • Azerbaijan - Creators
  • Bangladesh - Hawa
  • Belgium - Close ★★★
  • Bolivia - Utama ★★
  • Bosnia ans Herzegovina - A Ballad
  • Brazil - Mars One ★★★
  • Bulgaria - In the Heart of the Machine
  • Cambodia - Return to Seoul ★★★
  • Cameroon - The Planter's Plantation
  • Canada - Eternal Spring ★★★
  • Chile - Blanquita ★★
  • China - Nice View ★★
  • Colombia - The Kings of the World
  • Costa Rica - Domingo and the Mist
  • Croatia - Safe Place ★★
  • Czech Republic - Il Boemo ★★★
  • Denmark - Holy Spider ★★★
  • Dominican Republic - Bantú Mama 
  • Ecuador - Unseen
  • Estonia - Kalev
  • Finland - Girl Picture ★★★
  • France -  Saint Omer ★★★
  • Georgia - A Long Break ★★
  • Germany - All Quiet On the Western Front ★★★
  • Greece - Magnetic Fields ★★★
  • Guatemala - The Silence of the Mole
  • Hong Kong - Where the Wind Blows ★★
  • Hungary - Blockade ★★★
  • Iceland - Beautiful Beings ★★★
  • India - Last Film Show ★★★
  • Indonesia - Missing Home
  • Iran - World War III ★★★
  • Iraq - The Exam ★★★
  • Ireland - The Quiet Girl ★★★
  • Israel - Cinema Sabaya ★★★
  • Italy - Nostalgia ★★★
  • Japan - Plan 75 ★★★
  • Jordan - Farha ★★★
  • Kazakhstan - Life
  • Kenya - TeraStorm
  • Kosovo - Looking for Venera
  • Kyrgyzstan - Home for Sale ★★★
  • Latvia - January ★★
  • Lebanon - Memory Box ★★★
  • Lithuania - Pilgrims ★★
  • Luxembourg - Icarus
  • Mexico - Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths ★★★
  • Moldova - Carbon
  • Mongolia - Harvest Moon ★★★
  • Montenegro - The Elegy of Laurel
  • Morocco - The Blue Caftan ★★★
  • Nepal - Butterfly on the Windowpane
  • Netherlands - Narcosis ★★
  • New Zealand - Muru
  • North Macedonia - The Happiest Man in the World ★★★
  • Norway - War Sailor ★★★
  • Pakistan - Joyland ★★★
  • Palestine - Mediterranean Fever ★★★
  • Panama - Birthday Boy
  • Paraguay - Eami
  • Peru - Moon Heart ★★★
  • Philippines - On the Job: The Missing 8
  • Poland - EO ★★★
  • Portugal - Alma Viva
  • Romania - Immaculate 
  • Saudi Arabia - Raven Song
  • Senegal - Xalé
  • Serbia - Darkling ★★
  • Singapore - Ajoomma ★★★
  • Slovakia - Victim ★★
  • Slovenia - Orchestra
  • South Korea - Decision to Leave ★★★
  • Spain - Alcarràs ★★★
  • Sweden - Cairo Conspiracy (Boy from Heaven) ★★★
  • Switzerland - A Piece of Sky ★★★
  • Taiwan - Goddamned Asura ★★★
  • Tanzania -Tug of War
  • Thailand - One for the Road ★★
  • Tunisia - Under the Fig Trees ★★★
  • Turkey - Kerr ★★★
  • Uganda - Tembele
  • Ukraine - Klondike ★★★
  • United Kingdom - Winners
  • Uruguay - The Employer and the Employee
  • Venezuela - The Box ★★★
  • Vietnam - 578: Shot of the Madman