Austin Film Festival (AFF) will close out the 2021 festival with the highly anticipated Kristen Stewart stunner, Spencer, directed by Pablo Larraín and written by Academy Award Nominee Steven Knight. The Writers Conference’s annual celebration of some of the industry’s most talented wordsmiths will culminate with a Centerpiece screening of A24’s The Humans by Tony Award winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist Stephen Karam.
The 15th Annual Other Israel Film Festival returns as a hybrid format with in-person premieres and filmmaker Q+As at the freshly renovated Carole Zabar Center for Film’s Goldman-Sonnenfeldt auditorium at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan and streaming online from November 4–11, 2021.
The 26th Busan International Film Festival has selected director Im Kwon-taek, as the recipient of The Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award, presented to an Asian filmmaker or organization that has made the most significant contribution to the advancement of Asian film industry and culture throughout the year.
Miami Film Festival unveiled the line-up for the eighth annual edition of its acclaimed Miami Film Festival GEMS, expanding to seven days from its traditional four-day format. Legendary Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar’s Parallel Mothers starring Penélope Cruz will open the Festival. King Richard, produced by and starring Will Smith, will be the Centerpiece screening, while Denmark’s Oscar submission shortlist candidate Flee will close the event. The festival will hold its screenings at MDC’s Tower Theater Miami from November 4-10.
The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) added 65 new documentary films to its festival lineup today, rolling out the non-competitive program sections Best of Fests, Masters, and Paradocs. The 34th edition of IDFA takes place from November 17 to 28 in Amsterdam.
The 13th Naples International Film Festival (NIFF) will be held October 21-24, 2021, featuring a return to in-person screenings. The festival will include 67 films (12 narrative features, 11 documentary features, 44 short films) from 20 countries. A central theme of this year’s edition of NIFF will be a celebration of the art of making the short film, including the first time the festival has showcased a specially curated shorts program for its Opening Night Film experience. The film festival will close with a special presentation of Robert Zemeckis’ Back to the Future featuring a live performance of John Williams’ classic score by the Naples Philharmonic, conducted by Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly.
Directed by Dan Slater, the beautifully shot and deeply disturbing genre film The Family will World Premiere at Busan International Film Festival. The film stars Nigel Bennett (Father), Benjamin Charles Watson (Caleb), Jenna Warren (Abigail), Toni Ellwand (Mother), Keana Lyn (Mary), and Yasmin MacKay (Evelyn).
My Name Is Pauli Murray directed by Betsy West and Julie Cohen (RBG) was voted the Audience Award winner of the 42nd annual Aspen Filmfest. The film made its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival and will be released digitally on the Amazon platform October 1, 2021.
Aneil Karia’s The Long Goodbye starring Riz Ahmed won the Grand Prix at the Academy Awards®-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival’s 17th edition. Best Live Action went to Little Bear from director Nicolas Birkenstock and the prize for Best Animation short went to I Am A Pebble from Berteraut Mélanie, Bresson Yasmine, Coulombier Léo, Grondin Nicolas, le Chapelain Maxime, and Massé Louise. The three films now qualify to compete at the 2020 Oscar®.
The prizes of the 17th Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) were presented during the Award Night with the Golden Eye prizes going to The Fam (La Mif) by Fred Baillif in Focus Competition, A Chiara by Jonas Carpignano won the Golden Eye for Best Feature Film, and Life Of Ivanna by Renato Borrayo Serrano won the Golden Eye for Best Documentary Film. The ZFF Children’s Jury presented the Little Golden Eye to The Wolf and the Lion (Le loup et le lion).
The 24th annual SCAD Savannah Film Festival returns in-person and virtually from October 23–30, 2021 with 157 films, including 45 narrative feature films, 15 documentary feature films and 97 shorts – with 63 of these films directed by women.
Virginia Film Festival is back in-person in its 34th year with a vibrant and diverse program of more than 85 films, including 60 features, and an outstanding lineup of special guests and discussions. The 2021 VAFF will feature theatrical presentations as well as reprise last year’s popular drive-in series at the picturesque Morven Farm in eastern Albemarle County.