Objector directed by Molly Stuart makes its World Premiere as the “Spotlight Centerpiece Film” of the 2019 Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. The documentary tells the story of Atalya, who like all Israeli youth, is obligated to become a soldier. Unlike most, she questions the practices of her country’s military and when she refuses military duty, is imprisoned for her dissent.
Elia Suleiman’s whimsical, yet thoughtful film IT MUST BE HEAVEN – the Palestinian 2020 Oscar submission, will open the 2019 CineCina Film Festival on Friday, October 25 at the DGA New York Theater. The film features the beloved filmmaker observing the goings on around him in Nazareth, Paris and France. Through his eyes, we see moments, and fragments of life and human interaction that can surprise and delight one moment, and be very familiar the next.
The first-ever Shortie Film Festival showcasing independent and international films 30 minutes or less, will be held October 3rd and 4th 2019 in Brooklyn, New York. The festival fosters and propels emerging and provocative filmmaking with two days of screenings, Q&As, and afterparties for an audience seeking new voices and perspectives.
The 57th New York Film Festival which runs September 27 to October 13 will host the eighth edition of free talk series NYFF Live and additional free events. NYFF Live features actors, directors, writers, critics, and other industry insiders participating in daily evening discussions from September 28 to October 9 in the Amphitheater at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center.
Composer Ching-Shan Chang impressed the jury over 321 composers from 46 countries to win the Golden Eye for ‘Best International Film Music 2019’ at the 8th International Music Film Competition.
The Brazilian film Pacificado / Pacified, directed by Paxton Winters, is the winner of the Golden Shell for Best Film at the 67th edition of the San Sebastian Festival and the first Brazilian production to win the prize in the history of the Festival. Darren Aronofsky, Paula Linhares, Marcos Tellecheak, Lisa Muskat and Winters himself are the producers of this film set in the favelas of Brazil. As well as carrying off the Festival’s highest accolade, Pacified garnered another two recognitions: the Best Actor Silver Shell for Bukassa Kabengele and the Award for Best Cinematography going to Laura Merians.
The 32nd Annual Virginia Film Festival will feature more than 150 films, including independent films along with hotly anticipated titles including Harriet, Just Mercy, Western Stars, Jojo Rabbit, Marriage Story, The Two Popes, The Report, Clemency, and Portrait Of A Lady On Fire. This year’s lineup also includes award-winning actor, writer, and director Ethan Hawke, noted actor Ann Dowd, international bestselling author John Grisham, actor Dennis Christopher, acclaimed filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu – plus more than 100 filmmakers in all.
The 2019 Screamfest Horror Film Festival unveiled its second-wave of feature films lineup and will showcase new work from American and international independent horror filmmakers. The festival will close with the West Coast premiere of We Summon The Darkness directed by Marc Meyers and starring Alexandra Daddario, Keean Johnson, Johnny Knoxville, Logan Miller, Maddie Hasson, Amy Forsyth, and Austin Swift.
Josh and Benny Safdie’s Uncut Gems will make its New York premiere as the secret screening of the 57th New York Film Festival on Thursday, October 3. The festival runs September 27 to October 13, 2019.
The Heartland International Film Festival announced the official selections for its 28th edition, taking place October 10-20. Marielle Heller’s Tom Hanks’ starrer A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD was chosen as the Opening Night Gala film, and Destin Daniel Cretton’s JUST MERCY will screen as the Closing Night Gala selection. Noah Baumbach’s MARRIAGE STORY is set to be the Centerpiece Screening, and Fernando Meirelles’ THE TWO POPES will be the Showcase Screening.
The Brazilian mystery-thriller THE FATHER’S SHADOW (A SOMBRA DO PAI) by Gabriela Amaral Almeida will open the 32nd edition of exground filmfest in Wiesbaden, Germany. The festival will be hosting the German premiere of the film, which also serves as the kick-off for this year’s Country Focus on Brazil.
Measure for Measure by director Paul Ireland will open this year’s 2019 Byron Bay Film Festival. Ireland’s re-imaging of the William Shakespeare “problem” play Measure for Measure is brought up to date, darkened, and set in Melbourne’s gritty underbelly, where ice, vice and inter-racial rivalries make for a tense urban landscape, with police pay-offs and violence the tactics of first resort.