2017 HIFF Films: Synopses

OPENING NIGHT FILM

ITZHAK

10/5, 7 PM Guild Hall
10/5, 7:30 PM East Hampton UA1
10/7, 10 AM Bay Street

World Premiere, Documentary Feature, USA, 2017, 82 minutes, English/Hebrew

Alison Chernick’s documentary ITZHAK examines the life and music of Itzhak Perlman, widely considered one of the world’s greatest living violinists. Exploring the ways in which Perlman’s passion for music allowed him to find a platform for personal expression against tremendous circumstances, Chernick creates a portrait of man whose remarkable will to survive is never removed from his tremendous generosity and humor. Through it all, the discipline we see at work is starkly contrasted with the world we see at home, as a modern Jewish family continues to embrace their heritage against a world of changing expectations. A co-production with American Masters.

Director: Alison Chernick
Producer: Alison Chernick
Subject: Itzhak Perlman

CLOSING NIGHT FILM

I, TONYA
10/9, 7:00 PM Guild Hall
10/9, 7:30 PM East Hampton UA1

US Premiere, Narrative, USA, 2017, 121 minutes, English

For many, the revelations following the attack on figure skater Nancy Kerrigan in the lead-up to the 1994 Winter Olympics cemented the legacy of Tonya Harding as one of the most iconic villains in sports history. Craig Gillespie’s at turns hilarious and tragic look at the life of Harding (astonishingly realized by Margot Robbie) flips the script on this sensational narrative—following her from the tumultuous relationship with her abusive mother (Allison Janney) to the absurd moments that led to that fateful night in Cobo Arena. Fueled by a razor-sharp script that doesn’t let anyone in Harding’s orbit out of its sights, I, TONYA is an outrageous and surprising look at the players behind the notorious scandal.

Director: Craig Gillespie
Screenwriter: Steven Rogers
Producers: Bryan Unkeless, Steven Rogers, Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley
Cast: Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Julianne Nicholson, Bobby Cannavale, Allison Janney

CENTERPIECE FILMS

*Goodbye Christopher Robin*, *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri* and *Breathe*

GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN
10/6, 7:00 PM, Southampton SH1
10/9, 10:45 AM, Guild Hall

US Premiere, Narrative Feature, UK, 2017, 107 minutes, English

Simon Curtis, director of MY WEEK WITH MARILYN (HIFF 2011), presents a heartfelt look into the complicated relationship between beloved children’s author A. A. Milne (Domhnall Gleeson) and his son Christopher Robin (newcomer Will Tilston), whose collection of toys and unbridled imagination inspired the enchanting world of Winnie The Pooh. As the whimsical adventures of this honey-loving bear quickly capture the attention of a traumatized, post-war England, the family suddenly finds themselves swept up in the international success—though not without paying the price that often accompanies such fame. While his mother (Margot Robbie) revels in the spotlight, her son struggles with the abrupt loss of his childhood. With great empathy, GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN explores the complexities of family, war, and celebrity.

Director: Simon Curtis
Screenwriters: Frank Cottrell Boyce (written by), Simon Caughan (based on the book by)
Producers: Steve Christian, Damian Jones
Cast: Domhnall Gleeson, Margot Robbie, Kelly Macdonald, Will Tilston, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Alex Lawther

THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI

10/7, 8:45 PM, Guild Hall
10/8, 7:45 PM, Bay Street

US Premiere, Narrative, USA, 2017, 115 minutes, English

With the local police force no closer to finding a culprit in the months following her daughter’s murder, Mildred (Academy Award® winner Frances McDormand) decides to make a statement of her own when she posts three signs leading into the town with a blatant message for the town’s chief of police (Woody Harrelson) and his rough-hewn second-in-command (Sam Rockwell). With the same bitingly dark and comedic tone of his previous two films, IN BRUGES and SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS (HIFF 2012), Academy Award® winning writer-director Martin McDonagh returns to feature filmmaking with this wildly entertaining and unpredictable story of a divided community simmering with tension and ready to blow.

Director/Screenwriter: Martin McDonagh
Producers: Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Martin McDonagh
Cast: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Abbie Cornish, Lucas Hedges, Caleb Landry Jones, John Hawkes, Peter Dinklage

BREATHE

10/8, 5:00 PM Guild Hall
10/9, 3:45 PM Bay Street

US Premiere, Narrative Feature, UK, 2017, 117 minutes, English

Best-known for his motion-capture work as Gollum in the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy and Caesar in the PLANET OF THE APES series, Andy Serkis makes his directorial debut with the inspiring true story of activists Robin and Diana Cavendish (Academy Award® nominee Andrew Garfield and Golden Globe® winner Claire Foy). When Robin’s shocking contraction of rapid-onset polio leaves him paralyzed, the two make the controversial decision to remove him from the hospital and define a different life for him. Working together to both create a sustainable condition for Robin and break the stigma surrounding disability rights, the two begin a groundbreaking campaign captured with a warm and enlivening touch by Garfield, Foy, and Serkis.

Director: Andy Serkis
Screenwriter: William Nicholson
Producer: Jonathan Cavendish
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Tom Hollander, Hugh Bonneville

SPOTLIGHT FILMS

FILM STARS DON’T DIE IN LIVERPOOL
10/8, 2:00 PM Guild Hall
10/9, 1:15 PM Guild Hall

East Coast Premiere, Narrative Feature, UK, 2017, 105 minutes, English

Adapted from British actor Peter Turner’s memoir of the same name, the late-life relationship between legendary Golden-era actress Gloria Grahame (Academy Award® nominee Annette Bening) and the significantly younger Turner (Jamie Bell) is lovingly recounted in Paul McGuigan’s moving period romance. As the two begin their relationship, we follow Grahame as she moves between Los Angeles, a town in which she seems eternally out of touch with an industry that doesn’t quite know how to treat her, and Turner’s native Liverpool. At the center of it all is Bening, whose lively and nuanced performance brilliantly pays homage to an actress denied the stature she deserved in her own lifetime.

Director: Paul McGuigan
Screenwriter: Matt Greenhalgh
Producers: Barbara Broccoli, Colin Vaines
Cast: Annette Bening, Jamie Bell, Julie Walters, Vanessa Redgrave

IN THE FADE “Aus dem Nichts”
10/8, 8:15 PM Guild Hall
10/9, 4:15 PM Guild Hall

US Premiere, Narrative, Germany/France, 2017, 105 minutes, German

Selected as Germany’s official submission for the Academy Awards® Best Foreign Language Film, Fatih Akin’s tightly-wound revenge thriller stars Diane Kruger as a woman struggling to overcome her profound grief in the wake of a neo-Nazi terrorist attack that leaves her husband and son dead. Awarded the Best Actress prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Kruger provides a stunningly fearless and grounded lead performance as the victim of an increasingly prevalent form of violence, pushed to the edge and forced to find her own justice in the wake of a failed judicial system.

Director/Screenwriter: Fatih Akin
Producers: Ann-Kristin Homann, Nurhan Sekerci-Porst, Fatih Akin, Herman Weigel
Cast: Diane Kruger, Denis Moschitto, Johannes Krisch, Samia Chancrin, Numan Acar, Hanna Hilsdorf, Ulrich Friedrich Brandhof, Hartmut Loth, Ioannis Economides, Karin Neuhauser, Uwe Rohde, Asim Demirel, Aysel Iscan

LBJ
10/7, 8:00 PM, Southampton SH1
10/8, 3:30 PM East Hampton UA4

New York Premiere, Narrative, USA, 2016, 98 minutes, English

Led by a thunderous lead performance by Woody Harrelson in the titular role, Rob Reiner helms this eye-opening study of the controversial political career of Lyndon B. Johnson, ranging from his days as Senate Majority Leader to his sudden ascendancy to the presidency in the wake of John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Aided by an impressive supporting cast that includes Jennifer Jason Leigh, Richard Jenkins, and Bill Pullman, Reiner offers a panoramic look at Johnson’s long-debated presidency in a time of both major progress and strife for a nation at the peak of the Civil Rights Movement and the dawn of the Vietnam War.

Director: Rob Reiner
Screenwriter: Joey Hartstone
Producers: Matthew George, Liz Glotzer, Rob Reiner, Tim White, Trevor White, Michael R. Williams
Cast: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Woody Harrelson, C. Thomas Howell, Bill Pullman, Jeffrey Donovan, Michael Mosley

MARSHALL
10/8, 7:45 PM, East Hampton UA2

Narrative, USA, 2017, 118 minutes, English

Long before Thurgood Marshall (Chadwick Boseman) sat on the U.S. Supreme Court, the NAACP sent the young, rabble-rousing attorney to defend a black chauffeur (Sterling K. Brown) against his wealthy employer (Kate Hudson) in a landmark case that became a media sensation. Partnered with Samuel Friedman (Josh Gad)—a green, Jewish lawyer who had never tried a criminal case—the pair struggle against a hostile storm of fear and prejudice, driven to discover the truth in the inspiring trial that set the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement to come in Reginald Hudlin’s engrossing drama.

Director: Reginald Hudlin
Screenwriters: Jake Koskoff, Michael Koskoff
Producers: Paula Wagner, Jonathan Sanger, Reginald Hudlin
Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Josh Gad, Kate Hudson, Dan Stevens, Sterling K. Brown, James Cromwell

THE MEYEROWITZ STORIES
10/7, 5:45 PM, Guild Hall
10/8, 7:30 PM, Southampton SH1

Narrative, USA, 2017, 113 minutes, English

Content in living out their individual lives in separation from one another, the three middle-aged siblings of the Meyerowitz family find themselves uncomfortably reunited when they are forced to come together to deal with the sudden health issues of their father (Dustin Hoffman), a sculptor who has long defined his career through his resentment to those around him. With a perfectly calibrated ensemble including Ben Stiller, Emma Thompson, and Adam Sandler (in a powerfully grounded return to form), THE MEYEROWITZ STORIES finds director Noah Baumbach returning to the tales of familial dysfunction that defined his earlier work with a renewed understanding of the moments of lyrical humor and tenderness that arise alongside it.

Director/Screenwriter: Noah Baumbach
Producers: Noah Baumbach, Eli Bush, Scott Rudin, Lila Yacoub
Cast: Adam Sandler, Grace van Patten, Dustin Hoffman, Elizabeth Marvel, Emma Thompson, Danny Flaherty, Judd Hirsch, Sigourney Weaver, Ben Stiller, Adam Driver, Candice Bergen

THE SHAPE OF WATER
10/6, 9:15 PM, Guild Hall
10/7, 9 PM, Bay Street

East Coast Premiere, Narrative, USA, 2017, 123 minutes, English

As the Cold War reaches its peak in the early 1960s, Elisa (Sally Hawkins), a mute janitor working at a US government facility, finds a strange creature held deep within the laboratory. Guillermo del Toro’s THE SHAPE OF WATER is a mesmerizing continuation of his fascination with on-screen monsters and their real-world counterparts, wonderfully realized through a brilliant cast (including Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer, and Richard Jenkins), and jaw-dropping production design and cinematography. In creating perhaps the most realized synthesis of his many preoccupations to date, del Toro has created a wondrous take on the classic monster movie that seems to exist at once out of time and inseparable from our own.

Director: Guillermo del Toro
Screenwriters: Guillermo del Toro, Vanessa Taylor
Producers: Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale
Cast: Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, Michael Stuhlbarg, Octavia Spence

THE TRIBES OF PALOS VERDES
10/6, 7:30 PM, East Hampton UA2
10/7, 12:00 PM, Southampton SH1

World Premiere, Narrative, USA, 2017, 104 minutes, English

When teenage Medina (Maika Monroe) moves with her family to the picture-perfect paradise of Palos Verdes, California, they seem headed for a happy new chapter in their lives. But old troubles soon catch up to them, as the disintegration of Medina’s parents’ marriage leads her mother (Jennifer Garner) into an emotional freefall and pushes her brother towards addiction. Caught in the middle of it all, Medina must rely on her inner strength to become the stabilizing force in her family, while finding refuge in a new passion: surfing. Set amidst the sun-kissed beaches and crystal blue waters of the California coast, THE TRIBES OF PALOS VERDES is a stirring look at how life’s greatest challenges forge who we become.

Director: Emmett Malloy, Brendan Malloy
Screenwriter: Karen Croner
Producers: Robbie Brenner, Karen Croner
Cast: Jennifer Garner, Maika Monroe, Cody Fern, Alicia Silverstone, Noah Silver, Elisabeth Röhm

WONDERSTRUCK
10/8, 11:00 AM, Guild Hall
10/9, 11:00 AM, Bay Street

Narrative, USA, 2017, 117 minutes, English

Celebrated filmmaker Todd Haynes (CAROL, HIFF 2015) returns to the festival with a transcendent adaptation of Brian Selznick’s best-selling novel. Deftly alternating between two narratives set fifty years apart, WONDERSTRUCK follows a pair of runaway deaf children on their seemingly individual—though ultimately interconnected—adventures. Though separated by time and place, the mysterious symmetry between Ben and Rose’s (newcomers Oakes Fegley and Millicent Simmonds) journeys emerge with mesmerizing poignancy. Starring the incomparable Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams, and featuring breakout performances from its young leads, WONDERSTRUCK is an impeccably crafted and visually stunning coming-of-age tale.

Director: Todd Haynes
Screenwriter: Brian Selznick
Producers: John Sloss, Christine Vachon, Pamela Koffler
Cast: Millicent Simmonds, Julianne Moore, Cory Michael, Oakes Fegley, Michelle Williams, Tom Noonan

THE YELLOW BIRDS
10/8, 4:30 PM Southampton SH1

East Coast Premiere, Narrative, USA, 2017, 94 minutes, English

In the midst of the Iraq War, Bartle (Alden Ehrenreich, soon to be Han Solo in an upcoming STAR WARS film) and Murph (Tye Sheridan), two young soldiers fresh out of training camp, find themselves woefully unprepared for the realities facing them upon their deployment into active duty. What starts off as a simple mission ends in tragedy, driving one traumatized soldier to return home desperate to escape the past, while the other’s parents begin their own search for the truth. Aided by stand-out supporting turns from Jennifer Aniston and Toni Collette, THE YELLOW BIRDS provides a haunting look at the personal devastation facing both the soldiers on the ground and those they leave behind.

Director: Alexandre Moors
Screenwriters: David Lowery, R.F.I. Porto
Executive Producer: Jennifer Aniston
Producers: Mark Canton, Jeffrey Sharp, Courtney Solomon
Executive Producer: Jennifer Aniston
Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Toni Collette, Alden Ehrenreich, Tye Sheridan, Jack Huston

SIGNATURE FILMS—CONFLICT AND RESOLUTION

WINNER: 2017 BRIZZOLARA FAMILY FOUNDATION AWARD

HONDROS

10/6, 1:30 PM, East Hampton UA2
Panel immediately following screening

Documentary, USA/Iraq/Liberia/Libya, 2017, 93 minutes, English/Arabic

Known for his probing and humane coverage of countries ravaged by conflict, Chris Hondros was one of the world’s most acclaimed war photographers when killed in action at the age of 41. Director Greg Campbell thoughtfully retraces Hondros’s numerous assignments to war-torn nations, with a visceral understanding of the invaluable power of photojournalism. Featuring interviews with Chris’s colleagues and subjects, Campbell creates a stirring portrait of the life of a pioneering photographer who committed himself to bearing witness to the human condition, to ennobling the suffering of others, and to telling their stories with compassion.

Director: Greg Campbell
Screenwriters: Greg Campbell, Jenny Golden
Producers: Greg Campbell, Daniel Junge, Geoff McLean, Mike Shum

HUMAN FLOW

10/6, 7:00 PM, East Hampton UA4
10/8, 1:30 PM, Bay Street

East Coast Premiere, Documentary, Germany, 2017, 140 minutes, English

Visionary artist Ai Weiwei’s haunting new documentary follows the plight of migrants displaced from their homelands by war, poverty, and climate change. A sprawling global odyssey, HUMAN FLOW was filmed in 23 countries over the course of more than a year and examines the staggering scale of a crisis that has now reached epidemic proportions. Bearing witness to the atrocious refugee experience serves as a reminder that this is not just a refugee crisis, but rather a human crisis. The end result is a stirring and poignant essay on the profound impact of migration and the different ways in which it shapes the word.

Director: Ai Weiwei
Screenwriters: Boris Cheshirkov, Tim Finch, Chin-Chin Yap
Producers: Heino Deckert, Ai Weiwei, Chin-Chin Yap

MUHI—GENERALLY TEMPORARY

10/5, 5:15 PM, East Hampton UA3
10/8, 10:15 AM, Southampton SH2

Documentary, Israel/Germany, 87 minutes, Arabic/Hebrew

Jerusalem-based journalists Rina Castelnuovo and Tamir Elterman present MUHI—GENERALLY TEMPORARY, an enchanting portrait of a sweet boy from Gaza who finds himself trapped between two conflicting nations. After an immune disorder threatens to take his life as an infant, Muhi is rushed to an Israeli hospital for emergency surgery and into the care of those considered to be his people’s enemy. Unable to leave due to the severity of his condition, the endlessly cheery Muhi and his doting grandfather remainw in bureaucratic limbo for seven years—their moving story illustrating the far-reaching impact these paradoxical circumstances hold over the individuals caught in the crosshairs.

Directors: Rina Castelnuovo, Tamir Elterman
Producer: Hilla Medalia

THE OTHER SIDE OF HOPE “Toivon tuolla puolen”

10/8, 10:00 AM, East Hampton UA1
10/9, 5:30 PM, East Hampton UA2

Narrative, Finland/Germany, 2017, 101 minutes, Finnish/English/Arabic

At the same time Syrian refugee Khaled emerges from the coal freighter on which he has stowed away and takes his first hopeful steps into Helsinki, travelling salesman Wikström makes his own foray into the unknown when he leaves his wife and purchases a local restaurant—setting the stage for the surprise convergence of their two worlds. Applying his trademark deadpan visual style to a globally urgent backdrop, Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki (LE HAVRE) continues his legacy of advocating for those on the fringes with this gently tragicomic look at the necessity of hope and the power of even the smallest gestures of compassion.

Director: Aki Kaurismäki
Producer: Aki Kaurismäki
Cast: Sherwan Haji, Sakari Kuosmanen, Ilkka Koivula, Janne Hyytiäinen, Nuppu Koivu

SIGNATURE FILMS—VIEWS FROM LONG ISLAND

WANDERLAND

10/6, 8 PM East Hampton UA1
10/7, 3:45 PM Bay Street

NARRATIVE FEATURE, World Premiere, USA, 2017, 90 minutes, English

In an effort to briefly escape his humdrum life of isolation in New York City, Alex (Tate Ellington) impulsively accepts an invitation from an online acquaintance (Dree Hemingway) to house-sit at her picturesque “Enchanted Cottage” on Long Island. Despite his best attempts for a quiet weekend of relaxation, Alex suddenly finds himself lost on a surreal, all-night musical odyssey of misadventures. Filmed in and around the Hamptons area, and featuring a cast of wonderfully kooky local characters, Josh Klausner’s WANDERLAND is a madcap East End experience.

Director/Screenwriter: Josh Klausner
Producers: Barbara Romer, Erika Hampson
Cast: Tate Ellington, Tara Summers, Harris Yulin, Ronald Guttman, Dree Hemingway

STRONG ISLAND

10/6, 12:00 PM, Bay Street

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE, USA/Denmark, 2017, 107 minutes, English

The dynamics of family, loss, and racial injustice converge in Yance Ford’s haunting meditation on the senseless death of his brother in 1992 and the judicial system’s failure to indict the killer. Moving beyond the tropes of traditional nonfiction filmmaking, Ford skillfully balances memoir with true crime investigation—interspersing intimate conversations with his family and revelatory moments of catharsis against the backdrop of the racial disparity that plagues our society. A work of profound resonance and relevance, STRONG ISLAND is a powerful examination of one grieving family’s quest for the truth.

Director: Yance Ford
Producers: Joslyn Barnes, Yance Ford
Executive Producers: Laura Poitras, Danny Glover, Susan Rockefeller

KILLER BEES

10/6, 6:00 PM, Bay Street
10/6, 6:30 PM, Southampton SH2
10/6, 9:00 PM, Southampton SH2

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE, World Premiere, USA, 2017, 82 minutes, English

KILLER BEES spotlights the famed Bridgehampton basketball team as they prepare to defend their state championship title. Following the young men on and off the court, filmmakers Benjamin and Orson Cummings explore the Bees’ historical importance within the local community. More than just a high school team, the Bees are a symbol of hope—particularly to those who are struggling to survive in one of the wealthiest districts in the country. Produced by NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, KILLER BEES is a nuanced look at the powerful role sports play in overcoming racial, social, and economic adversity.

Directors: Benjamin Cummings, Orson Cummings
Screenwriters: Benjamin Cummings, Orson Cummings, Alex Bayer
Producers: Benjamin Cummings, Orson Cummings, Hilary McHone, Glenn Fuhrman, Shaquille O’Neal, Larry Gagosian, Mara Burros-Sandler, Eric Lane
Subjects: Carl Johnson, Joe Zucker, The Bridgehampton Killer Bees

SIGNATURE FILMS—COMPASSION, JUSTICE AND ANIMAL RIGHTS

EARTH: ONE AMAZING DAY
10/7, 10:00 AM, East Hampton UA3
10/9, 10:30 AM, East Hampton UA1

Documentary Feature, UK, 2017, 85 minutes, English

Narrated by Robert Redford and co-directed by Academy Award® nominee Peter Webber and BAFTA winner Richard Dale, EARTH: ONE AMAZING DAY takes us on a breathtakingly immersive voyage across the continents—revealing our planet’s natural wonders and unique animal behavior, and reminding us of its increasing vulnerability. Over the course of a single day, the filmmakers travel across the globe, following the sun from the highest peaks to far-flung islands and exotic jungles. Along the way, we spend time with animals ranging from the white-headed langur monkeys in the mountains of southwestern China to a colony of chinstrap penguins in the Antarctic Ocean, illuminating the awe-inspiring beauty of our planet on an epic and sprawling scale.

Directors: Richard Dale, Lixin Fan, Peter Webber
Screenwriters: Frank Cottrell Boyce, Richard Dale
Producer: Stephen McDonogh
Narrated by: Robert Redford

FROM THE ASHES
10/7, 12:30 PM East Hampton UA3

Documentary, USA, 2017, 85 minutes, English

Moving beyond the rhetoric that frequently muddies the debate, FROM THE ASHES reflects on the United States’ long and often fraught relationship to the coal and mining industry, and ponders its uncertain future under the current administration. Balancing the conflicting perspectives of those most closely affected—one, an idealized return to the glory days of a thriving industry and the other, a growing awareness of the environmental consequences from the world’s most destructive form of energy—documentarian Michael Bonfiglio presents a series of compelling stories that speak to what is at stake for our economy, health, and climate. Panel immediately following the screening

Director: Michael Bonfiglio
Producer: Sidney Beaumont
Subjects: Mary Anne Hitt, Carl Pope, Brandon Dennison

COMPETITION FILMS—NARRATIVE

DISAPPEARANCE “Napadid Shodan”
10/6, 10:15 AM, East Hampton UA3
10/7, 12:30 PM, Southampton SH2

US Premiere, Iran/Qatar, 2017, 88 minutes, Persian

Rising Iranian filmmaker Ali Asgari, whose short film THE SILENCE took home the Best Narrative Short Competition prize at HIFF 2016, returns to the festival with his mesmerizing feature debut. Set against the backdrop of contemporary Iranian society, where conservative traditions often conflict with modern desires, DISAPPEARANCE is the tale of one couple’s race against time to solve an unsolvable problem over the course of one endlessly long night. Featuring outstanding performances from newcomers Sadaf Asgari and Reza Ranjbaran, and an impressively assured stylistic touch, DISAPPEARANCE establishes Asgari as one of the bold new voices in world cinema.

Director: Ali Asgari
Screenwriters: Farnoosh Samadi, Ali Asgari
Producers: Pouria Heidary Oureh, Ali Sadraei
Cast: Sadaf Asgari, Amir Reza Ranjbaran, Nafiseh Zare, Sahar Sotoodeh, Mohammad Heidari

OH LUCY!
10/7, 6:30 PM, East Hampton UA3
10/8, 11:15 AM, East Hampton UA2

US Premiere, USA/Japan, 2017, 95 minutes, English/Japanese

In this offbeat tale, OH LUCY! follows Setsuko Kawashima (Shinobu Terajima)–a lonely, chain-smoking introvert who is wasting away at her office job in Tokyo. Setsuko’s world is turned upside down when she meets a charismatic English teacher, John (Josh Hartnett), who draws her out of her shell with the help of a blond wig and the promise of a bold new identity. When John abruptly departs for Southern California, the newly emboldened “Lucy” sets out to find him on a life-altering journey of self-discovery. Based on her award-winning short film, Atsuko Hirayanagi’s charming directorial debut explores the transformative power of individualism.

Director: Atsuko Hirayanagi
Screenwriters: Atsuko Hirayanagi, Boris Frumin
Producers: Han West, Yukie Kito, Jessica Elbaum, Atsuko Hitayanagi
Executive Producers: Will Ferrell, Adam McKay
Cast: Shinobu Terajima, Josh Hartnett, Kaho Minami, Koji Yakusho, Shioli Kutsuna

SUMMER 1993 “Estiu 1993”
10/6, 12:30 PM, East Hampton UA3
10/8, 6:45 PM, East Hampton UA3

New York Premiere, Spain, 2017, 96 minutes, Catalan

Following the death of her parents in Barcelona, six-year-old Frida (the haunting Laia Artigas) is sent to her uncle’s (David Verdaguer) picturesque countryside home, in Carla Simón’s autobiographical feature debut SUMMER 1993. Frida battles with a sense of loneliness and displacement while also yearning to fit into the picture with her new family. Punctuated by moments of youthful exuberance and mature ruminations, this coming-of-age drama, set amongst summery hues, is an extraordinarily moving snapshot of being a child in an adult world, anchored by a flawless performance by its young star.

Director: Carla Simón
Screenwriter: Carla Simón
Producer: Valérie Delpierre
Cast: Laia Artigas, Paula Robles, Bruna Cusí, David Verdaguer, Fermi Reixacha

THOROUGHBREDS
10/6, 3:15 PM, East Hampton UA4
10/8, 8:45 PM, East Hampton UA4

East Coast Premiere, USA, 2017, 91 minutes, English

Two wealthy teenage girls with violent impulses seek to inject excitement into their boring suburban lives in THOROUGHBREDS, Cory Finley’s deliciously twisted filmmaking debut. When Lily’s (Anya Taylor-Joy, THE WITCH) stepfather threatens to send the troubled teen off to reform school, she recruits her equally unstable childhood friend, Amanda (Olivia Cooke, ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL), in a dangerous plot that serves both of their interests. Featuring electrifying performances from its young leads—including the late Anton Yelchin, in his final appearance—this stylish neo-noir establishes newcomer Finley as a filmmaker to watch.

Screenwriter/Director: Cory Finley
Producers: Kevin Walsh, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, Alex Saks, Andrew Duncan
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Anya Taylor-Joy, Anton Yelchin

UNDER THE TREE “Undir Trénu”
10/6, 6:00 PM, East Hampton UA3
10/7, 4:00 PM, East Hampton UA4

East Coast Premiere, Iceland/Denmark/Poland/Germany, 2017, 89 minutes, Icelandic

“Love thy neighbor” does not apply in the Iceland suburbs of UNDER THE TREE. After his wife kicks him out of the house, Atli (Steinþór Hróar Steinþórsson) stays with his parents—just as the passive aggressive hostility with their neighbors is ramping up over a large tree in the yard. Director Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðs son establishes character dynamics with jabs to the gut and enough dark humor to quell the uneasiness in your stomach. With a moody score and sound design that sways between the tension and release of the scenes, you may find yourself nervously laughing the next time you want to talk to your neighbors about the noise.

Director: Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson
Screenwriters: Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson, Huldar Breiðfjörð
Producers: Grímar Jónsson, Sindri Páll Kjartansson, Þórir Snær Sigurjónsson
Cast: Steinþór Hróar Steinþórsson, Edda Björgvinsdóttir, Sigurður Sigurjónsson, Lára Jóhanna Jónsdóttir

COMPETITION FILMS—DOCUMENTARY

11/8/16
10/6, 4:00 PM, East Hampton UA4
10/8, 4:00 PM, East Hampton UA3

World Premiere, USA, 2017, 104 minutes, English

On the day of the 2016 presidential election, filmmaker Jeff Deutchman surveys the thoughts and feelings of ordinary Americans as they head to the ballot box. Told in brief vignettes from across the country and focusing on voters from every side of the political spectrum—ranging from a Sikh man and his family in New York City to a coal miner in West Virginia—the film humanizes the electorate in an age of sweeping generalizations. In its panoramic form and disparate viewpoints, 11/8/16 provides a necessary counterpoint that finds moments of common humanity within a seemingly unbridgeable divide.

Curator/Producer: Jeff Deutchman
Directors: Duane Andersen, Yung Chang, Garth Donovan, Vikram Gandhi, Raul Gasteazoro, Jamie Goncalves, Andrew Beck Grace, Alma Har’el, Daniel Junge, Alison Klayman, Ciara Lacy, Martha Shane, Elaine McMillion Sheldon, Bassam Tariq, Don Argott, Sheena M. Joyce, Petra Epperlein, Michael Tucker
Executive Producer: Dana O’Keefe

THE CHINA HUSTLE
10/7, 3:15 PM, East Hampton UA3
10/8, 2:45 PM, Southampton 4 SH2

US Premiere, USA, 2017, 84 minutes, English/Mandarin

In the midst of the 2008 market crash, investors on the fringes of the financial world feverishly sought new alternatives for high-return investments in the global markets. With Chinese indexes demonstrating explosive growth, the country suddenly emerged as a gold rush opportunity with one caveat: US investors were prohibited from investing directly into the country’s market. Makeshift solutions led to a market frenzy, until one investor discovered the massive web of fraud left in its wake. Jed Rothstein’s documentary rings the alarm on the need for transparency in an increasingly deregulated financial world by following those working to uncover the biggest heist you’ve never heard of.

Screenwriter/Director: Jed Rothstein
Producers: Sarah Gibson, Ryan Suffern Executive
Executive Producers: Alex Gibney, Mark Cuban

LOTS OF KIDS, A MONKEY AND A CASTLE “Muchos Hijos, un Mono y un castillo”
10/6, 1:15 PM, East Hampton UA4
10/7, 5:45 PM, Southampton SH2

New York Premiere, Spain, 2017, 88 minutes, Spanish

Julita Salmerón’s biggest wishes in life were to have lots of children and a pet monkey, and to live in a castle. Gustavo Salmerón’s humorously candid film follows his mother, and the rest of their family, as they rummage through the vast family archive over a period of fifteen years. She reflects on the dreams she managed to fulfill, along with the lingering effects of the economic crisis that forced her to almost lose it all. Filled with moments of warmth and sincerity, LOTS OF KIDS, A MONKEY, AND A CASTLE is a touching documentary about an eccentric, otherworldly family facing up to the harsh economic realities of living in contemporary Spain. Preceded by: NEGATIVE SPACE

Director: Gustavo Salmerón
Screenwriters: Gustavo Salmerón, Raúl De Torres, Beatriz Montañez
Producer: Gustavo Salmerón

LOVE MEANS ZERO
10/7, 3:30 PM, East Hampton UA1
10/8, 6:30 PM, East Hampton UA4

New York Premiere, USA, 2017, 91 minutes, English

With his notorious no-nonsense approach to coaching, Nick Bollettieri is regarded as a controversial figure in the world of tennis—but also, crucially, as a mentor with the know-how to push players to greatness. Director Jason Kohn balances the pointed questions to his subject, who remains intransigent throughout, with interviews with many of Bollettieri’s students—Boris Becker and Jim Courier among them—to shed light on the enigmatic figure. What emerges is a story of a coach fiercely determined to win at all costs, and a compelling look at what it takes to compete at the highest level.

Director: Jason Kohn
Producers: Amanda Branson Gill, Jason Kohn, Anne White, Jill Mazursky, David Styne
Subject: Nick Bollettieri

MOUNTAIN
10/6, 10:45 AM, East Hampton UA4
10/7, 3:00 PM, Southampton SH2

US Premiere, Australia, 2017, 73 minutes, English

Narrated by Willem Dafoe, MOUNTAIN takes the viewer on a sweeping journey to the most awe-inspiring summits on earth. A collaboration between BAFTA-nominated director Jennifer Peedom and Richard Tognetti’s Australian Chamber Orchestra, the film glorifies our species’ pursuit of peril: from ice climbers, snowboarders, and wing-suiters, the thrill-seekers’ daredevil antics will leave audiences gasping for breath. Filmed in 15 countries and assembled from 2,000 hours of hypnotizing footage, MOUNTAIN is a beautifully scored and visually stunning work that vividly captures the fear and reverence inspired by the world’s highest peaks. Preceded by: SKYWARDS

Director: Jennifer Peedom
Screenwriter: Robert Macfarlane
Producers: Jennifer Peedom, Jo-Anne McGowan
Narrator: Willem Dafoe

WORLD CINEMA

A CIAMBRA
10/6, 12:15 PM, East Hampton UA1
10/9, 11:30 AM, East Hampton UA2

US Premiere, Narrative, Italy/France/USA/Sweden/Germany, 2017, 117 minutes, Italian

Adapted from his eponymous short film, filmmaker Jonas Carpignano returns to the southern Italian setting of his debut MEDITERRANEA (HIFF 2015) in this neo-realist coming-of-age story. Desperate to join the ranks of the men of his Romany family, 14-year-old Pio finds his initiation into adulthood unexpectedly fast-tracked with the imprisonment of his father and older brother, as he gradually involves himself in the same criminal world that placed them there. Executive produced by Martin Scorsese and directed with a remarkably atmospheric touch that refuses to settle into the expected tropes of the genre, A CIAMBRA is another nuanced look at the difficulty of escaping a life of crime in a community defined by it, confirming Carpignano as a undeniable international force.

Director/Screenwriter: Jonas Carpignano
Producers: Paulo Carpignano, Jon Coplon, Christoph Daniel, Gwyn Sannia, Marc Schmidheiny, Rodrigo Teixeira, Ryan Zacarias
Executive Producer: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Pio Amato, Koudous Seihon, Damiano Amato, Francesco Pio Amato, Lolanda Amato

ARRHYTHMIA “Aritmiya”
10/5, 7:45 PM, East Hampton UA3
10/9, 2:30 PM, East Hampton UA2

Narrative, US Premiere, Russia/Finland/Germany, 2017, 116 minutes, Russian

ARRHYTHMIA, Boris Khlebnikov’s explosive portrait of a fractured marriage, follows the young, gifted paramedic Oleg (Alexander Yatsenko) and his wife Katya (Irina Gorbacheva), who works as a nurse in the hospital’s emergency department. Headstrong, impulsive, and willing to bend the rules when necessary, Oleg frequently runs afoul of the new management that is trying to implement absurdly strict new rules that prioritize bureaucracy over the patients’ well-being. As their professional and personal lives collide, Oleg and Katya must deconstruct their familiar spaces in order to rebuild their marriage in Khlebnikov’s intriguing commentary on the anatomy of a relationship.

Director: Boris Khlebnikov
Screenwriters: Boris Khlebikov, Natalia Meshchaninova
Producers: Ruben Dishdishyan, Sergey Selyanov, Natalia Drozd, Aleksi Hyvärinen, Toni Valla, Eva Blondiau
Cast: Alexander Yatsenko, Irina Gorbacheva

DEAD NATION “Tara moarta”
10/6, 5:45 PM, East Hampton UA5
10/9, 6:15 PM, East Hampton UA3

Documentary, US Premiere, Romania, 2017, 83 minutes, Romanian

Acclaimed narrative filmmaker Radu Jude explores Romania’s shifting identity throughout history in his first documentary, THE DEAD NATION. Using archival images found from the collection of a rural photographer, text excerpted from the journal of a Jewish doctor, and songs recorded from the nationalistic anthems of the time, Jude’s cinematic essay provides a harrowing yet captivating account of the rise of nationalism and anti-semitism in Romania during the 1930s-40s. Equal parts mesmerizing and horrifying, THE DEAD NATION is, as the narration describes, “torn between reality and poetry,” creating a necessary recollection of a period with eerie similarities to our own.

Director/Screenwriter: Radu Jude
Producer: Ada Solomon

THE DIVINE ORDER “Die Göttliche Ordnung”
10/5, 4:00 PM, East Hampton UA1
10/8, 12:30 PM, Southampton SH2

Narrative, Switzerland, 2017, 97 minutes, Swiss-German

In 1971, a quaint Swiss village, seemingly untouched by the cultural and social upheavals of the 1960s, anticipates the vote for women’s suffrage. Following her exposure to a women’s rights demonstration in Zurich, a shy and well-liked housewife becomes the unexpected beacon of her village’s suffragette movement. Featuring a strong ensemble cast, led by the effortless Marie Leuenberger, THE DIVINE ORDER chronicles the challenges of a determined group of women who cast off the stubborn ways of the village and fight for independence. Directing with a keen eye for sincerity and humor, Petra Volpe captures the inspiring journey of harnessing your voice to both speak truth to power and tell your husband he can do his own laundry.

Director/Screenwriter: Petra Volpe
Producers: Reto Schärli, Lukas Hobi
Cast: Marie Leuenberger, Maximilian Simonischek, Rachel Braunschweig, Sibylle Brunner, Marta Zoffoli, Bettina Stucky

EN EL SÉPTIMO DÍA
10/8, 12:45 PM, East Hampton UA4

Narrative, USA, 2017, 92 minutes, Spanish/English

Returning to feature filmmaking after a decade in television, indie veteran Jim McKay’s EN EL SÉPTIMO DÍA is a heartfelt, subtle, and captivating portrait of an undocumented Mexican immigrant in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park. José, played brilliantly by newcomer Fernando Cardona, is a hardworking delivery man whose only respite from his overwhelming schedule is his local soccer team. But when assigned a double shift on the day of the championship, José is forced to either let down his team or lose his only source of income. Refreshingly authentic and frequently humorous, EN EL SÉPTIMO DÍA is a rare film that highlights the consequences of the most seemingly simple decisions.

Director/Screenwriter: Jim McKay
Producers: Alex Bach, Lindsey Cordero, Caroline Kaplan, Jim McKay, Michael Stipe
Cast: Fernando Cardona, Gilberto Jimenez, Abel Perez, Genoel Ramírez, Alfonso Velazquez

THE FAMILY I HAD

10/7, 1:30 PM, East Hampton UA4

Documentary, USA, 2017, 77 minutes, English

In Katie Green and Carlyle Rubin’s THE FAMILY I HAD, Charity Lee recalls the harrowing moment her teenage son shattered her family with one unthinkable act of violence. Ten years into the wake of this unimaginable tragedy, the grieving mother is forced to come to terms with her new reality. With great empathy and unrivaled access to their subjects, Green and Rubin forgo true-crime sensationalism for a nuanced exploration of the family’s complicated history with mental illness, addiction, and domestic abuse. Highlighting our capacity to adapt to even the most unmooring of circumstances, THE FAMILY I HAD is a moving testament to human resilience.

Directors: Katie Green, Carlye Rubin
Producers: Katie Green, Carlye Rubin, Tina Grapenthin
Executive Producer: Julie Goldman
Subject: Charity Lee, Paris Lee

A FANTASTIC WOMAN “Una Mujer Fantástica”
10/6, 3:00 PM, East Hampton UA1
10/7, 7:00 PM, Guild Hall

Narrative, East Coast Premiere, Chile, 2017, 103 minutes, Spanish

A shatteringly intimate and nuanced performance from newcomer Daniela Vega anchors Chilean director Sebastián Lelio’s latest film, A FANTASTIC WOMAN. In this Hitchcockian drama, transgender woman Marina (Vega) and Orlando (Francisco Reyes) are in love and are planning to spend the rest of their lives together, but when tragedy strikes, Marina finds herself unexpectedly under criminal investigation. Much like with his previous film, 2013’s GLORIA, Lelio offers a complex portrayal of a strong female character unsure how to navigate a hostile environment defined by prejudice and intolerance.

Director: Sebastián Lelio
Screenwriters: Sebastián Lelio, Gonzalo Maza
Producers: Juan de Duios Larraín, Pablo Larraín, Sebastián Lelio, Gonzalo Maza
Cast: Daniela Vega, Francisco Reyes, Luis Gnecco, Aline Kuppenheim, Nicolas Saavedra

FILMWORKER
10/8, 3:00 PM, East Hampton UA1

Documentary, USA, 2017, 95 minutes, English

At the age of 27, actor Leon Vitali met Stanley Kubrick during the filming of BARRY LYNDON. Despite having his own respected acting career, Vitali’s fascination with Kubrick led him to throw it away and pursue a life in service of the director as his personal assistant, right-hand man, and, most tumultuously of all, friend. With a treasure trove of behind-the-scene footage and stories recalled by both Vitali and Kubrick’s past collaborators, FILMWORKER provides a fascinating firsthand account of the complex relationship that facilitated the creation, and made possible the preservation, of some of the director’s most legendary work.

Director: Tony Zierra
Producers: Elizabeth Yoffe, Tony Zierra
Subjects: Leon Vitali, Ryan O’Neal, Matthew Modine, Stellan Skarsgård

THE FIRST TO DO IT
10/6, 8:30 PM, Bay Street

Documentary, World Premiere, USA, 2017, 88 minutes, English

In 1950, three years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in major league baseball, Earl Lloyd stepped onto an NBA basketball court and changed the game forever. During Lloyd’s 22-year NBA career, he became its first African American player, its first African American scout, and its first African American full time head coach. Through intimate conversations with family, childhood friends, and the legendary players whose lives he touched (including Oscar Robertson, Dave Bing, and Kawhi Leonard), THE FIRST TO DO IT chronicles the the experience of Lloyd and other early African American players against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement and explores the role of sports in the lasting legacy of desegregation today.

Directors: Coodie & Chike
Producer: Arka Sengupta Executive
Producers: Carmelo Anthony, Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker, Michael Finley
Subjects: Deon Cole, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Kawhi Leonard, Oscar Robertson, Dave Bing, Bob Lanier

THE FLORIDA PROJECT
10/8, 8:30 PM, East Hampton UA5

115 minutes, English

Sean Baker supplants the West Hollywood setting of his 2015 festival hit TANGERINE with the cheap motels laying in the shadow of a certain Orlando mouse-themed amusement park. in another free-flowing and sincere look at those living in the shadows of the cities they call home. Living in one of the rooms are 6-year-old Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) and her 22-year-old mother Halley (Bria Vinaite), who struggle to keep a roof over their heads. Aided by Willem Dafoe’s remarkably warm performance as Bobby, a staff member of the hotel, Sean Baker has crafted another empathetic look at those existing on the fringes.

Director: Sean Baker
Screenwriters: Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch
Producers: Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch, Kevin Chinoy, Andrew Duncan, Alex Saks, Francesca Silvestri, Shih-Ching Tsou
Cast: Willem Dafoe, Brooklynn Prince, Valeria Cotto, Bria Vinaitew

HAPPY END
10/6, 3:15 PM Guild Hall
10/7, 5:15 PM Southampton SH1

US Premiere, Narrative, France/Austria/Germany, 2017, 107 minutes, French/English

While living out their days in a Calais mansion against the back drop of the city’s increasingly turbulent refugee crisis, the well-off Laurents find themselves slowly torn apart by the surprise arrival of a young guest. In the follow-up to his Academy Award®-winning (and five-time nominated) film AMOUR (HIFF 2012), acclaimed filmmaker Michael Haneke returns to the career-defining social and familial themes of his work in this story of the disintegration of a single bourgeois family. Anchored by powerful performances from past Haneke collaborators Isabelle Huppert and Jean-Louis Trintignant, HAPPY END is another unrelentingly singular work of social satire from a master filmmaker working at the top of his game.

Director/Screenwriter: Michael Haneke
Producers: Margaret Ménégoz, Stefan Arndy, Veit Heiduschka, Michael Katz
Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Mathieu Kassovitz, Fantine Harduin, Toby Jones

I AM EVIDENCE
10/8, 1:15 PM, East Hampton UA3

Documentary, USA, 2017, 86 minutes, English

Produced by Mariska Hargitay (Law and Order: SVU), I AM EVIDENCE uncovers the many disturbing ways our criminal justice system neglects victims of sexual assault. In this revealing exposé, filmmakers Trish Adlesic and Geeta Gandbhir investigate the alarming number of untested evidence kits that have accumulated over the last several decades, denying justice to thousands of survivors in the process. Giving voice to the brave individuals affected by this misconduct and to the heroic law enforcement officials who tirelessly work to deliver long-awaited due process in these cases, I AM EVIDENCE is a powerful call to action.

Directors: Trish Adlesic, Geeta Gandbhir
Producers: Mariska Hargitay, Trish Adlesic, Nancy Abraham

LARGER THAN LIFE: THE KEVYN AUCOIN STORY
10/7, 6:00 PM, East Hampton UA1
10/8, 5:15 PM, Southampton SH2

Documentary, World Premiere, USA, 2017, 97 minutes, English LARGER THAN LIFE: THE KEVYN AUCOIN STORY explores the life of the iconic make-up artist who transformed the profession into a prominent and influential art form. Director and fellow make-up artist Tiffany Bartok paints a beautiful and deeply personal portrait of a man who, as both an artist and LGBTQ advocate, dedicated his life to elevating the inner confidence and presence of others. Through intimate archival footage and interviews with his famous friends and clients, Bartok weaves through the journey of Aucoin’s life up until his tragic end—reminding everyone that he truly was larger than life.

Director: Tiffany Bartok
Producers: Jayce Bartok, Troy Surratt, Bronwyn Cosgrave
Subjects: Kevyn Aucoin, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Isabella Rossellini, Tori Amos

THE LEISURE SEEKER
10/7, 10:30 AM East Hampton UA1
10/8, 2:00 PM, Southampton Arts Ctr

Narrative, US Premiere, Italy, 2017, 112 minutes, English Academy Award® winner Helen Mirren and two-time Golden-Globe® winner Donald Sutherland shine as Ella and John, an aging couple who embark on one final adventure in Paolo Virzi’s English-language feature debut. Foregoing the concerns of their doctors and grown children, the pair impulsively set off on a whirlwind, cross-country escapade in their beloved Winnebago. Experiencing equal moments of elation and frustration, the pair wind their way down the East Coast—rekindling their passion for life and their affection for one another along the way, in a journey full of humor and pathos.

Director: Paolo Virzì
Screenwriters: Stephen Amidon, Francesca Archibugi, Francesco Piccolo, Paolo Virzì
Producers: Rabrizio Donvito, Marco Cohen, Benedetto Habib
Cast: Helen Mirren, Donald Sutherland, Christian McKay, Janel Moloney, Dana Ivey

LOVE, CECIL
10/6, 3:00 PM, Bay Street

East Coast Premiere, Documentary, USA, 2017, 98 minutes, English

Documentarian Lisa Immordino Vreeland (PEGGY GUGGENHEIM: ART ADDICT) presents an engaging portrait of the visionary Cecil Beaton. Known for his astounding work ethic and prickly personality, the celebrated and sometimes controversial photographer and costume designer shot iconic portraits of celebrities and took home two Academy Awards® for his work on GIGI and MY FAIR LADY. Expertly weaving thoughtful passages from Beaton’s diaries—brought to life through Rupert Everett’s keen narration—with archival interviews featuring his famous friends (and foes), LOVE, CECIL tracks the artist’s long, illustrious career with equal amounts of affection and frankness.

Director/Producer: Lisa Immordino Vreeland
Subject: Cecil Beaton

LOVELESS “Nelyubov”
10/6, 8:15 PM East Hampton UA5
10/7, 9:00 PM, East Hampton UA4

Narrative, East Coast, Russia/France/Belgium/Germany, 2017, 127 minutes, Russian

Boris and Zhenya’s (Alexey Rozin, Maryana Spivak) divorce has devolved into an endless series of arguments. Consumed with selling their apartment and beginning lives with new partners, their 12-year-old son Alyosha (Matvey Novikov) seems increasingly pushed out of their minds, until he suddenly disappears without a trace into the wintry expanse of Moscow. Using the foundation of a crime procedural to shed greater light on the stark inhumanity seeping into every aspect of contemporary Russian society, Andrey Zvyagintsev’s (LEVIATHAN) expertly crafted film applies his impeccable ability to portray human drama on a global scale to this bitingly vicious story of lost love.

Director: Andrey Zvyagintsev
Screenwriters: Oleg Negin, Andrey Zvyagintsev
Producers: Alexandre Rodnyansky, Serguey Melkumov
Cast: Maryana Spivak, Alexey Rozin, Matvey Novikov, Marina Vasilyeva, Andris Keishs

THE MISOGYNISTS
10/6, 8:30 PM East Hampton UA3
10/7, 9:15 PM East Hampton UA5

World Premiere, Narrative, USA, 2017, 85 minutes, English

In a single, fully-stocked hotel room on the night of the 2016 general election, two Trump supporters celebrate the unexpected results, in the latest from indie provocateur Onur Tukel. As the night rages on, an ensemble of characters venture in and out of the room. Some match the two’s enthusiasm while others voice their terror at the prospect of the incoming President, but most struggle to find reasons to care less about the results that caused the debauched celebration occurring around them. Led by Dylan Baker’s gleefully deranged lead performance, Tukel’s tongue-in-cheek exploration of a divided America digs deep into the night’s mass existential crisis, and leaves with some disquieting results.

Director/Screenwriter: Onur Tukel
Producer: Gigi Graff
Cast: Dylan Baker, Ivana Milicevic, Trieste Kelly Dunn, Jamie Block, Nana Mensah

MR & MRS ADELMAN “Monsieur & Madame Adelman”
10/7, 10:30 AM East Hampton UA2
10/8, 11 AM Southampton Arts Center

East Coast Premiere, Narrative, France, 2017, 120 minutes, French

In his directorial debut, Nicolas Bedos stars opposite co-writer Doria Tillier as a French couple intertwined, consumed with, and defined by each other in life and work: he, an accomplished writer; she, his sometime-muse and editor. The chemistry between Bedos and Tillier is irresistible, as they quip back and forth through four decades of music, haircuts, and a romance that’s more shattered glass and Camus than chocolate and flowers. Biting and tender, MR & MRS ADELMAN packs the intricacies of marriage into a romantic comedy—with a twist.

Director: Nicolas Bedos
Screenwriters: Nicolas Bedos, Doria Tillier
Producers: François Kraus, Denis Pineau-Valencienne
Cast: Doria Tillier, Nicolas Bedos

NOVITIATE
10/6, 4:30 PM, East Hampton UA2
10/9, 6:45 PM, Bay Street

Narrative, East Coast Premiere, USA, 2017, 118 minutes, English

Drawn in by the prospect of a higher calling despite her non-religious upbringing, Cathleen (Margaret Qualley), a teenager growing up in the early 1960s, soon finds herself among a group of young women who have devoted themselves to a training program within The Sisters of Blessed Rose convent. While their earnest devotion is quickly contrasted with the harsh realities of religious life, the sudden announcement of Pope John XXIII’s Second Vatican Council provides a new question for both the students and their Mother Superior (Academy-Award® winner Melissa Leo): whether to transform along with the church’s plans of liberal reform or adhere to the strict principles that first compelled them into the convent.

Director/Screenwriter: Maggie Betts
Producers: Carole J. Peterman, Celine Rattray, Trudie Styler
Cast: Margaret Qualley, Melissa Leo, Julianne Nicholson, Dianna Agron, Morgan Saylor

ONE OF US
10/7, 6:30 PM, Bay Street
10/8, 10:30 AM, East Hampton UA3

Documentary, US Premiere, USA, 2017, 94 minutes, English/Yiddish

In a borough defined by rapidly shifting identities and vastly increased visibility, Brooklyn’s Hasidic community exists as an anomaly—one virtually cut off from the change surrounding it and defined largely by the secrecy of what exists within it. Over the course of three years, Oscar-nominated® directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady embed themselves with three former members who have removed themselves from the community, exploring the circumstances that led to their departure and capturing their new lives outside—despite persistent threats from the world they left behind. As in 2006’s JESUS CAMP, Ewing and Grady explore the boundaries of a community defined by religious connection, and shine a light on the disturbing conditions found within.

Directors: Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady
Producers: Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady

SPIELBERG
10/8, 10:00 AM, Bay Street

Documentary, USA, 2017, 147 minutes, English

Emerging out of the New Hollywood era to become the biggest name in blockbuster film for the last four decades, Steven Spielberg has been defined by both the countless classics he directed and the constant risks that kept his streak alive throughout his career as a filmmaker, producer, and studio executive. With interviews from Spielberg’s consistent collaborators (Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio, John Williams), contemporaries (George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola), and friends and family, Susan Lacy’s wide-spanning portrait of the director provides an unprecedented look at perhaps the most influential figure in modern filmmaking.

Director: Susan Lacy
Producers: Susan Lacy, Jessica Levin, Emma Pildes
Subject: Steven Spielberg

THE SQUARE
10/7, 3:45 PM, East Hampton UA2
10/8, 1:15 PM, Southampton SH1

Narrative, Sweden, 2017, 142 minutes, Swedish/English Winner of the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Ruben Östlund’s provocatively anarchic THE SQUARE follows Christian (Claes Bang), the suave director of a respected contemporary art museum who sees the museum, and his career, suddenly upended when the PR campaign surrounding his latest exhibit goes off the rails. Using the same razor-sharp humor found in his festival favorite FORCE MAJEURE (HIFF 2014), Östlund has created another masterful social satire that playfully disassembles the hypocrisy, privilege, and self-importance of the contemporary art world. Featuring fantastic turns by Terry Notary, Elisabeth Moss, and Dominic West, THE SQUARE skillfully orchestrates one standout sequence after another, and in the process creates one of the most memorable films of the year.

Director/Screenwriter: Ruben Östlund
Producer: Erik Hemmendorff
Cast: Claes Bang, Elisabeth Moss, Dominic West, Terry Notary, Christopher Læssø

STRAD STYLE
10/7, 10:45 AM, East Hampton UA4
10/9, 3:30 PM, East Hampton UA3

Documentary, New York Premiere, USA, 2017, 104 minutes, English

Out on the vast middle American steppe, an eccentric loner named Daniel Houck passes the time cruising social media and obsessively whittling away violins inspired by Old World masters like Guarneri and Stradivarius. Stefan Avalos’s unlikely, rousing documentary STRAD STYLE follows Daniel as a chance encounter on Facebook with a famous violin soloist leads him on a singular, yearlong quest to craft an exact replica of the world’s finest violin. Avalos’s intimate camera paints an irresistible portrait of a Midwestern misfit with the chance to enter the rarefied world of classical music, far away from the windswept plains of Ohio.

Director/Screenwriter: Stefan Avalos
Producers: Stefan Avalos, Suzan Ortmeier

VOYEUR
10/7, 8:45 PM East Hampton UA3
10/8, 12:30 PM East Hampton UA1

Documentary, USA, 2017, 96 minutes, English

In 2016, legendary journalist Gay Talese published in The New Yorker an excerpt from his upcoming book The Voyeur’s Motel, which quickly proved to be one of the most controversial stories of his career. Following the writer during this period, documentarians Myles Kane and Josh Koury track Talese as he investigates the story of the Colorado motel owner, Gerald Foos, who secretly built an observation platform to watch the most intimate moments in the lives of his guests. As questions emerge about Foos’s trustworthiness, Talese is thrown into the middle of a controversy that threatens to destroy the story he’s been working on for more than three decades.

Director: Myles Kane, Josh Koury
Producers: Trisha Koury
Subjects: Gay Talese, Gerald Foos

THE WORK

10/7, 1:15 PM East Hampton UA2

10/8, 10:15 AM East Hampton UA4

Documentary, USA, 2017, 87 minutes, English

Twice a year, the maximum-security Folsom State Prison allows free citizens from the outside to participate in an intensive group therapy program with the incarcerated men on the inside. With unprecedented access, directors Jairus McLeary and Gethin Aldous document these raw and revealing sessions—capturing harrowing moments of human vulnerability, catharsis, and connection in the process. Awarded the Best Documentary at the 2017 SXSW Film Festival, THE WORK is an extraordinary feat of verité filmmaking that looks behind prison walls to reveal a movement of redemption that transcends what we think wofas rehabilitation.

Directors: Jairus McLeary, Gethin Aldous

Producers: Alice Henty, Jairus McLeary, Angela Sostre, Eon McLeary, Miles McLeary

Special Screenings

AUDIENCE AWARD

WINNER: SUMMERDOCS

ICARUS

10/8, 8:00 PM Southampton SH2

Documentary, USA, 2017, 121 minutes,

English/Russian

The ruthless worlds of international sports and politics rarely collide as spectacularlyas they do in Bryan Fogel’s ICARUS. While investigating the furtive world of illegal doping in sports, he connects with renegade Russian Scientist Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov—a pillar of his country’s “anti-doping” program. Fogel and Rodchenkov develop a close friendship, despite shocking allegations that place Rodchenkov at the center of Russia’s state-sponsored Olympic doping program. As signs point to illegalities running to Russia’s highest chains of command, they realize they hold the power to reveal the biggest international sports scandal in living memory and soon find themselves in the middle of an international conspiracy.

Directors: Bryan Fogel

Screenwriters : Bryan Fogel, Mark Monroe

Producers: Dan Cogan, Bryan Fogel, David Fralkow, Jim Swartz

Short Films

Shorts Program #1

NARRATIVE SHORT FILM COMPETITION

10/7, 4:30 PM, East Hampton UA5, 82 Min

10/8, 1:00 PM, East Hampton UA5, 82 Min

Featuring exceptional technique and storytelling, the Short Narrative Competition honors the fresh perspectives of up-and-coming filmmakers. The winner will receive a $500 cash prize and qualify for consideration at the Academy Awards® for Best Live Action Short Film.

THE BURDEN “Min Börda”

US Premiere, Sweden, 2017,

14 minutes, Swedish

Director: Niki Lindroth von Bahr

On the eve of what may be the apocalypse, the animal occupants of a lonely industrial park sing for liberation in this series of surreal, musical vignettes.

DEKALB ELEMENTARY

New York Premiere, USA, 2016,

20 minutes, English

Director: Reed Van Dyk

A thrilling moment between two strangers—inspired by a real 911 call placed during a school shooting incident in Atlanta, Georgia.

FOREVER NOW

New York Premiere, Denmark, 2017, 19 minutes, Danish

Director: Kristian Håskjold

After many years together, William and Cecilie’s relationship has come to an end. Unwilling to let go of each other just yet, the couple spend a drug-induced weekend together reliving the highs and lows of their romance.

SIGNATURE

East Coast Premiere, Japan, 2017, 13 minutes, Japanese/Mandarin/English

Director: Kei Chikaura

A young man wanders the busy streets of Tokyo, anxiously trying to memorize a phrase that could change his life.

TOGETHER ALONE

“Nosotros Solos”

US Premiere, Argentina, 2017, 16 minutes, Spanish

Director: Mateo Bendesky

Facundo is inseparable from his deaf younger sister Débora. When presented with an opportunity to increase her independence, he struggles to come to grips with the changing dynamics of their relationship.

DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM COMPETITION #2

10/7, 11:15 AM, East Hampton UA5, 113 Min

10/8, 10:00 AM, East Hampton UA5, 113 Min

COMMODITY CITY

New York Premiere, China/USA, 2017, 10 minutes, Mandarin

Director: Jessica Kingdon

A meditative observation of the Yiwu Markets in China, the largest wholesale consumer market in the world.

EDITH + EDDIE

New York Premiere, USA, 2017, 29 minutes, English

Director: Laura Checkoway

The unusual and idyllic romance of Edith and Eddie—America’s oldest interracial newlyweds—is challenged by a family dispute that threatens to tear the couple apart.

LONG SHOT

Documentary, USA, 2017, 38 minutes, English

Director: Jacob La Mendola

When Juan Catalan is arrested for a murder he did not commit, his lawyer must go to extraordinary lengths to prove his alibi.

MY DAUGHTER NORA, “Ma Fille Nora”

New York Premiere, Belgium/ France, 2016, 15 minutes, French/Arabic

Director: Jasna Krajinovic

A mother tirelessly pursues her runaway teenage daughter, who left her home in Belgium to join the war against the infidels in Syria.

East Coast Premiere, Netherlands, 2016, 21 minutes

Director: Sebastian Mulder

As nature fades into the background of our increasingly urban world, a series of artificial simulations are ready to take its place.

Shorts Program #3

NEW YORK WOMEN IN FILM AND TELEVISION

10/8, 3:15 PM, East Hampton UA5, 86 Mins

We are very pleased to continue our partnership with New York Women in Film and Television for our fifteenth annual showcase of outstanding achievements by female filmmakers.