Posted by Larry Gleeson

Passes are currently on sale at FEST.AFI.com. Individual tickets are available Wednesday, October 7.

Check it out! The full lineup for this year’s virtual AFI Fest presented by Audi! The festival features 124 titles – 53% are directed by women, 39% are directed by BIPOC and 17% are directed by LBGTQ+. This year’s reimagined virtual festival runs online Oct. 15-22.

The newly announced films will play in the World Cinema, New Auteurs, Documentary, Cinema’s Legacy, Short Film Competition, Meet the Press Film Festival at AFI FEST and the AFI Conservatory Showcase sections at FEST. The Grand Jury Award winners for Live Action and Animated Short will be eligible for the 2021 Best Live Action Short and Best Animated Short Academy Awards®. Short Film Competition Jurors this year are film critic Carlos Aguilar, filmmaker Sophia Nahli Allison and Film Festival Alliance Executive Director Lela Meadow-Conner.

Learn more about the sections and films below, and get your tickets starting Oct. 7:

World Cinema
A collection of diverse narrative feature films from celebrated storytellers across the world.

À L’ABORDAGE
After a whirlwind one-night romance, Felix and his friends follow Alma 300 miles to a riverside town as a surprise. There, they will come to embrace the bittersweetness of young love and passing summer. DIR Guillaume Brac. SCR Catherine Paillé, Guillaume Brac. CAST Eric Nantchouang, Salif Cissé, Edouard Sulpice, Asma Messaoudene, Ana Blagojevic, Lucie Gallo. France

FAREWELL AMOR
After 17 years apart, a reunited Angolan family faces a struggle to assimilate while holding onto their culture and finds the distances that have formed between them impossible to bridge. DIR Ekwa Msangi. SCR Ekwa Msangi. CAST Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Zainab Jah, Jayme Lawson, Joie Lee, Marcus Scribner, Nana Mensah. USA

HOPPER/WELLES
Each having turned their generation of moviemaking on its head, Orson Welles and Dennis Hopper share a monumental extended conversation, traversing an impossible-to-predict range of topics, from equally incendiary, opposite perspectives. DIR Orson Welles. CAST Dennis Hopper, Orson Welles. USA

I CARRY YOU WITH ME
Director Heidi Ewing cleverly blends fictional characters with their real-life counterparts in this artful love story that spans decades, crosses borders and artfully weaves in poignant commentary on immigration, injustice and homophobia. DIR Heidi Ewing. SCR Heidi Ewing, Alan Page Arriaga. CAST Armando Espitia, Christian Vázquez, Michelle Rodríguez, Ángeles Cruz, Raúl Briones, Arcelia Ramírez. Mexico, USA

INDUSTRY
In the latest drama series from HBO, an ambitious group of graduates compete for a permanent role at a top London bank. DIR Lena Dunham, Tinge Krishnan, Ed Lilly. SCR Mickey Down, Konrad Kay, Sam H. Freeman, Kate Verghese. CAST Myha’la Herrold, Marisa Abela, Harry Lawtey, David Jonsson, Nabhaan Rizwan, Conor MacNeill. USA, UK

MY DONKEY, MY LOVER AND I
When Antoinette’s secret lover cancels their romantic getaway for a preplanned six-day hike with his wife and daughter in the French mountains, Antoinette impulsively decides to follow and surprise him. DIR Caroline Vignal. SCR Caroline Vignal. CAST Laure Calamy, Benjamin Lavernhe, Olivia Côte. France

MY LITTLE SISTER
Berlin-born twin siblings Lisa (Nina Hoss) and Sven (Lars Eidinger) have a lifelong shared passion for theater. When Sven is diagnosed with leukemia, Lisa begins to dramatically re-evaluate her life. DIR Stéphanie Chuat, Véronique Reymond. SCR Stéphanie Chuat, Véronique Reymond. CAST Nina Hoss, Lars Eidinger, Marthe Keller, Jens Albinus, Thomas Ostermeier. Switzerland – Switzerland’s Best International Feature Film Submission

NEW ORDER (NUEVO ORDEN)
The social order has combusted. The gulf between the haves and have-nots has reached incendiary proportions in this brilliant and harrowing tale of a revolutionary attempt set against the backdrop of a society wedding. DIR Michel Franco. SCR Michel Franco. CAST Naian González Norvind, Diego Boneta, Mónica del Carmen, Fernando Cuautle, Darío Yazbek, Eligio Meléndez. Mexico

OUT OF THE BLUE
This 4K restoration of Dennis Hopper’s too-long unavailable punk-rock masterpiece is a raw image of teenage rebellion that surpasses cult credentials and stands as a monument to the late Linda Manz. DIR Dennis Hopper. SCR Leonard Yakir, Brenda Nielson. CAST Linda Manz, Dennis Hopper, Sharon Farrell, Don Gordon, Raymond Burr. USA

SOUND OF METAL
A recovering drug addict and heavy-metal drummer begins to lose his hearing and must face the complicated changes to his identity and passion. DIR Darius Marder. SCR Darius Marder, Abraham Marder. CAST Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci, Lauren Ridloff, Mathieu Almaric. USA

THERE IS NO EVIL (SHEYTAN VOJUD NADARAD)
Banned from making films since 2017, Iranian auteur Mohammad Rasoulof’s Golden Bear-winning four-part anthology is an epic examination of morality under an oppressive regime. DIR Mohammad Rasoulof. SCR Mohammad Rasoulof. CAST Ehsan Mirhosseini, Kaveh Ahangar, Mahtab Servati, Mohammad Valizadegan, Shaghayegh Shourian, Alireza Zareparast. Germany, Iran

TRAGIC JUNGLE (SELVA TRÁGICA)
A Belizean woman desperately trying to get away from a white British landowner heads deep into the Mayan rainforest, but will her presence awaken a mythical spirit, Xtabay, who seeks revenge on those who have harmed the land? DIR Yulene Olaizola. SCR Rubén Imaz, Yulene Olaizola. CAST Indira Andrewin, Gilberto Barraza, Mariano Tun Xool, Lázaro Gabino Rodríguez, Eligio Meléndez. Mexico, France, Colombia

UNCLE FRANK
When a death in the family strikes, Beth and her uncle Frank set out on a road trip to their hometown to confront their family and their pasts. DIR Alan Ball. SCR Alan Ball. CAST Paul Bettany, Sophia Lillis, Carson Holmes, Peter Macdissi, Steve Zahn, Judy Greer. USA

UNDER THE OPEN SKY
Masao Mikami (Koji Yakusho) is released from prison and struggles to find his place in today’s everchanging Japan. Veteran director Miwa Nishikawa’s drama is a heartfelt exploration of redemption. DIR Miwa Nishikawa. SCR Miwa Nishikawa. CAST Koji Yakusho, Taiga Nakano, Masami Nagasawa. Japan

WANDER DARKLY
A troubled relationship is further shaken by a traumatic event. New parents Adrienne (Sienna Miller) and Matteo (Diego Luna) retrace pivotal moments of their romance from a surreal perspective and a time-bending narrative structure. DIR Tara Miele. SCR Tara Miele. CAST Sienna Miller, Diego Luna, Beth Grant, Aimee Carrero, Tory Kittles, Vanessa Bayer. USA

WOLFWALKERS
Robyn befriends wild girl Mebh while exploring the magical forest outside an Irish town’s walls and undergoes a transformation in this adventurous animated film from THE SECRET OF KELLS creators, Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart. DIR Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart. SCR Will Collins. CAST Honor Kneafsey, Eva Whittaker, Sean Bean, Simon McBurney, Tommy Tiernan, Maria Doyle Kennedy. Luxembourg, Ireland, USA

New Auteurs

A platform for new voices and new stories, these exciting narrative works push the boundaries of contemporary cinema.

APPLES
A deadpan amnesiac attempts to navigate a world where memory loss is spreading virally, suddenly and without warning. Director Christos Nikou’s debut feature is a somber, surreal and soulful meditation on recollection and grief. DIR Christos Nikou. SCR Christos Nikou, Stavros Raptis. CAST Aris Servetalis, Sofia Georgovasili, Anna Kalaitzidou, Argiris Bakirtzis. Greece, Poland, Slovenia

THE BOY BEHIND THE DOOR
Twelve-year-old Bobby and best friend Kevin have been kidnapped, but proving ever-resourceful, Bobby escapes and now must rescue his friend in this cunningly assembled thriller that upends tropes and expectations. DIR David Charbonier, Justin Powell. SCR David Charbonier, Justin Powell. CAST Lonnie Chavis, Ezra Dewey, Kristin Bauer van Straten, Micah Hauptman, Scott Michael Foster, Rich Ceraulo Ko. USA

EYIMOFE (THIS IS MY DESIRE)
Passports, visas and other travel documents are the mainstay of this engaging Nigerian immigration drama, which weaves a compelling tale of two families in Lagos in a strikingly inventive and compassionate fashion. DIR Arie Esiri, Chuko Esiri. SCR Chuko Esiri. CAST Tomiwa Edun, Jude Akuwudike, Cynthia Ebijie, Temiloluwa Ami-Williams. Nigeria

THE INTRUDER
A would-be relaxing holiday for voice actor Inés (Érica Rivas) is cut short by an unexpected horror. As she readjusts to her former routine, her sense of reality becomes increasingly precarious. DIR Natalia Meta. SCR Natalia Meta. CAST Érica Rivas, Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, Cecilia Roth, Daniel Hendler. Argentina, México

JUMBO
JUMBO tells the story of Jeanne who falls in love with a carnival ride. Director Zoé Wittock delivers a compassionate and heartfelt retelling of this quirky inspired-by-a-true-story tale. DIR Zoé Wittock. SCR Zoé Wittock. CAST Noémie Merlant, Emmanuelle Bercot, Sam Louwyck. France, Belgium, Luxembourg

LUXOR
Hana, a British aid worker, arrives in ancient Luxor seeking solace after working on the Syrian border. Upon running into a former lover, Hana’s nostalgic trip becomes a meditative journey on trauma and choices. DIR Zeina Durra. SCR Zeina Durra. CAST Andrea Riseborough, Karim Saleh. Egypt, UK

NASIR
For Nasir, the minor setbacks of the day to day are surmountable, but he lives in Tamil Nadu, a state in southern India where Hindu nationalism is pervasive and violent extremism is on the rise. DIR Arun Karthick. SCR Arun Karthick. CAST Koumarane Valavane, Sudha Ranganathan, Yasmin Rahman, Sabari, Bakkiyam Sankar. India, Netherlands

NINE DAYS
A science fiction thriller with a spiritual bent in which a mysterious man (Winston Duke) interviews five unborn souls in a quest to determine which one of them will be given life on Earth. DIR Edson Oda. SCR Edson Oda. CAST Winston Duke, Zazie Beetz, Benedict Wong, Tony Hale, Bill Skarsgård, David Rysdahl. USA

PIEDRA SOLA
In the remote Argentinian mountainside, a llama herder whose stock is being annihilated by an unseen puma must embark upon a spiritual journey to present the puma with an offering. DIR Alejandro Telémaco Tarraf. SCR Alejandro Telémaco Tarraf, Lucas Distefano. CAST Ricardo Tolaba, Lucia Bautista, Mayco Tolaba, Gregorio Ramos. Argentina

RIVAL (RIVALE)
RIVAL (RIVALE) weaves a compelling narrative largely from the perspective of a child. A suspenseful tale of a young Ukrainian boy, his mom and her German employer takes unexpected twists and turns. DIR Marcus Lenz. SCR Marcus Lenz, Lars Hubrich. CAST Yelizar Nazarenko, Maria Bruni, Udo Samel. Germany

SHADOW IN THE CLOUD
A World War II pilot (Chloë Grace Moretz) with top secret cargo boards a bomber with an all-male crew and a sinister stowaway in this exciting horror film. DIR Roseanne Liang. SCR Roseanne Liang. CAST Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson, Callan Mulvey. New Zealand

SHE PARADISE
A Trinidadian girl’s world is upended when she meets a group of Soca dancers in this engaging and vibrant coming-of-age film about sisterhood and the joy of dance. DIR Maya Cozier. SCR Maya Cozier, Melina Brown. CAST Onessa Nestor, Kimberly Crichton, Chelsey Rampersad, Denisia Lactchman, Kern Mollineau, Michael Cherrie. Trinidad, USA. World Premiere

SHOULD THE WIND DROP (SI LE VENT TOMBE)
Alain, an airport auditor, is sent to evaluate the airport in a small breakaway country and becomes enmeshed with the lives of the local people, making his job more complicated than he anticipated. DIR Nora Martirosyan. SCR Nora Martirosyan, Emmanuelle Pagano, Olivier Torres, Guillaume André. CAST Grégoire Colin, Hayk Bakhryan. Armenia, France, Belgium

WILDLAND
A destructive familial cycle of crime is explored in this engrossing Danish gangster thriller centered on a teenage girl who goes to live with her maternal, but menacing, aunt and a trio of violent cousins. DIR Jeanette Nordahl. SCR Ingeborg Topsøe. CAST Sandra Kampp, Sidse Babette Knudsen, Joachim Fjeldstrup, Elliott Grosset Hove, Besir Zeciri. Denmark

Documentary
A presentation of the most engaging and powerful real-life stories depicted in global nonfiction cinema that enlighten, educate and entertain.

40 YEARS A PRISONER
In this timely and urgent documentary, Tommy Oliver revisits the 1978 confrontation between the Black liberation group MOVE and the Philadelphia Police Department and follows Michael Davis Africa, Jr. on his quest for justice. DIR Tommy Oliver. SCR Tommy Oliver. FEATURING Mike Africa Jr. USA

76 DAYS
January 23, 2020: Wuhan, China, a city of 11 million, goes on complete lockdown to combat COVID-19. Filming inside Wuhan’s hospitals, 76 DAYS provides an unforgettable look at a city’s fight for survival. DIR Hao Wu, Weixi Chen, Anonymous. China

THE AMERICAN SECTOR
The fall of the Berlin Wall marked the end of the Cold War. Thirty years later, two filmmakers comb the U.S. in search of fragments of the wall and what it represents. DIR Courtney Stephens, Pacho Velez. USA

BELUSHI
Using previously unheard audiotapes from friends, family and collaborators, documentary filmmaker R.J. Cutler captures the spirit of an American icon in this portrait of the too-short life of John Belushi. DIR R.J. Cutler. SCR R.J. Cutler. FEATURING John Belushi, Jim Belushi, Chevy Chase, Carrie Fisher, Dan Aykroyd, Penny Marshall. USA

THE BIG SCARY “S” WORD
A fascinating blend of historical and contemporary documentary storytelling, THE BIG SCARY “S” WORD re-examines socialism in a U.S. context and finds it to be as American as apple pie. DIR Yael Bridge. FEATURING Adaner Usmani, Eric Foner, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, Cornel West, Vivek Chibber, John Nichols. USA

CITIZEN PENN
Avoiding the pitfalls of the celebrity-as-savior portrait, this stirring documentary focuses on Sean Penn’s nonprofit Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) and its multi-year relief work in Haiti following the country’s devastating 2010 earthquake. DIR Don Hardy. SCR Don Hardy. FEATURING Sean Penn, Anderson Cooper, Ann Lee. USA

COLLECTIVE (COLLECTIV)
When a fire at the Colectiv nightclub in Bucharest, Romania, killed 27 people in 2015, the tragedy was just beginning. This riveting documentary uncovers the truth behind the deadly government scandals that followed. DIR Alexander Nanau. SCR Antoaneta Opriș. FEATURING Cătălin Tolontan, Camelia Roiu, Tedy Ursuleanu, Mirela Neag, Vlad Voiculescu, Răzvan Luțac. Romania, Luxembourg

DOWNSTREAM TO KINSHASA
Filmmaker Dieudo Hamadi follows a group of severely injured survivors of Congo’s Six-Day War on a harrowing journey down the Congo River to the capital as they seek government compensation for their injuries. DIR Dieudo Hamadi. SCR Dieudo Hamadi. Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Belgium

JACINTA
The camera follows Jacinta, mid-twenties, everywhere – in prison, at the sober house and in the car looking to score. This beautifully crafted, slice-of-life documentary will leave you shaken and profoundly moved. DIR Jessica Earnshaw. USA

THE NEW CORPORATION: THE UNFORTUNATELY NECESSARY SEQUEL
The filmmakers behind 2003’s penetrating documentary THE CORPORATION return with an incredibly timely and urgently needed sequel that lays bare the psychosis of the corporation and what can be done about it. DIR Joel Bakan, Jennifer Abbott. SCR Joel Bakan. FEATURING Charles Officer (narrator). Canada

NO ORDINARY MAN
NO ORDINARY MAN is an in-depth look at the life of musician and trans culture icon Billy Tipton. Complicated, beautiful and historically unrivaled, this groundbreaking film shows what is possible when a community collaborates to honor the legacy of an unlikely hero. DIR Aisling Chin-Yee, Chase Joynt. SCR Aisling Chin-Yee, Amos Mac. Canada

NOTTURNO
Gianfranco Rosi follows up his Academy Award®-nominated FIRE AT SEA with this breathtaking masterpiece, the culmination of a three-year cinematic journey through war-torn Iraq, Kurdistan, Syria and Lebanon. DIR Gianfranco Rosi. SCR Gianfranco Rosi. Italy, France, Germany

ON THE RECORD
Presented in association with AFI FEST’s tribute to Kirby Dick, this free showing of the powerful documentary ON THE RECORD gives voice to former A&R executive Drew Dixon, who alleges sexual abuse by hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons. DIR Kirby Dick, Amy Ziering. SCR Kirby Dick, Sara Newens, Amy Ziering. FEATURING Drew Dixon, Sil Lai Abrams, Sheri Sher. USA

SISTERS WITH TRANSISTORS
A glorious ode to the women who helped shape electronic music and the contemporary soundscape as we know it, using poetic narration and extraordinary archival footage to trace the unsung history of electronic music. DIR Lisa Rovner. SCR Lisa Rovner. NARRATED BY Laurie Anderson . USA, UK. World Premiere

WHIRLYBIRD
In the 1980s and ‘90s, Marika Gerrard and Zoey Tur (known then as Bob) flew high above Los Angeles in their own news helicopter, redefining “action” journalism but at a huge personal cost. DIR Matt Yoka. SCR Matt Yoka. FEATURING Zoey Tur, Marika Gerrard, Katy Tur, James Tur, Lawrence Welk III. USA

Cinema’s Legacy

The Cinema’s Legacy section is devoted to celebrating the history of the motion picture. It is a unique opportunity to discover lesser known titles for the first time, as well as to recognize and revisit significant films from the diverse and expansive history of filmmaking. Guest curated by Racquel Gates.

DEAD PRESIDENTS
The Hughes Brothers’ classic 1995 crime thriller centers on a young Black Vietnam vet who returns home to the Bronx and finds it hard to find make his way, turning to crime out of desperation. DIR Allen Hughes, Albert Hughes. SCR Michael Henry Brown, Allen Hughes, Albert Hughes. CAST Larenz Tate, Keith David, Chris Tucker. USA

JUST ANOTHER GIRL ON THE I.R.T.
Growing up middle-class in Brooklyn in the ‘90s, 17-year-old Chantal is on the road to fulfilling her med school ambitions, but her upward trajectory is derailed when she receives unwelcome news. DIR Leslie Harris. SCR Leslie Harris. CAST Ariyān A. Johnson, Kevin Thigpen, Ebony Jerido, Jerard Washington, Chequita Jackson, Kisha Richardson. USA

POSSE
Mario Van Peebles directs this rousing tribute to African American heroes of the Old West, re-envisioning and reclaiming the western to reflect historical reality, where a third of the population was Black. DIR Mario Van Peebles. SCR Sy Richardson, Dario Scardapane. CAST Stephen Baldwin, Lawrence Cook, Richard Gant, Pam Grier, Isaac Hayes, Robert Hooks. USA

THE WATERMELON WOMAN
Aspiring filmmaker Cheryl is embarking on a documentary project tracing the unwritten history of a Black actress spotted in a number of films from the ‘30s and ‘40s. DIR Cheryl Dunye. SCR Cheryl Dunye. CAST Cheryl Dunye, Valarie Walker, Guinevere Turner, Lisa Marie Branson, Irene Dunye. USA

Short Film Competition

Curated from thousands of entries, these short films highlight unique voices from around the world. These films are from emerging and established filmmakers pushing the form of storytelling in inventive, challenging and sometimes hilarious ways — all in 40 minutes or less.

A 1984 PERIOD PIECE IN PRESENT DAY
2020 USA 17 MIN – DIRECTOR Sean Glass
A couple stop through a motel in unfamiliar territory. An unreliable memory reveals the irrelevance of identity.

BLACK GOAT
2019 USA | Nepal 11 MIN – DIRECTOR Yi Tang
Pasang, a new girl at a nunnery, has her first period after hearing a late-night ghost story. She keeps it secret until she bleeds at a prayer session. She believes that she has been cursed and needs to sacrifice a black goat to avoid further misfortune.

BLOCKS
2020 USA 11 MIN – DIRECTOR Bridget Moloney
An existential comedy about the mother of two young children who begins to spontaneously vomit toy blocks.

BREAKING GROUND
2020 Rwanda 13 MIN – DIRECTOR Ines Girihirwe
Mistreated in her relationship, a young woman decides to change the course of her life, let go for once and do as she pleases.

THE CHICKEN
2020 USA 13 MIN – DIRECTOR Neo Sora
On an unseasonably hot day in November, a Japanese immigrant in New York City and his visiting cousin decide to butcher a live chicken for dinner.

CHILD OF THE LAND (KAMA’ĀINA)
2019 USA 16 MIN – DIRECTOR Kimi Howl Lee
After suffering abuse from her stepfather, a queer 16-year-old girl, Mahina, must navigate life on the streets until she eventually finds refuge at Hawaiʻi’s largest organized homeless encampment.

CHINESE WALL
2020 Argentina 17 MIN – DIRECTOR Santiago Barzi
Fernando receives some baffling news which upsets him profoundly, but when he shares it with his loved ones, their reactions are not as he expected. An odd debate ensues, affecting everyone involved.

CLAIRE AT SEVEN MONTHS
2019 USA 19 MIN – DIRECTOR Jacob Halpren
A pregnant woman heads down to her family’s beach condo in Florida to get away for the weekend.

CORRESPONDENCIA
2020 Spain | Chile 19 MIN – DIRECTOR Carla Simón, Dominga Sotomayor
Two young filmmakers discuss present and past family, heritage, maternity and film. The personal and profound reflections are suddenly echoed by the political emergency of a country.

DAVID
2020 USA 11 MIN – DIRECTOR Zach Woods
David needs help.

DUSTIN
2020 France 20 MIN – DIRECTOR Naïla Guiguet
In a warehouse club we meet Dustin, a young transgender and their crew. As the night draws on, collective hysteria morphs into sweet melancholy and euphoria into yearning for tenderness.

THE END OF SUFFERING (A PROPOSAL)
2020 Greece 14 MIN – DIRECTOR Jacqueline Lentzou
Sofia is panicky, again. The Universe decides to contact her. An other-wordly dialogue. A planet symphony.

THE FEELING
2019 USA 17 MIN – DIRECTOR Bridey Elliott
Brandi and Alex are sibling realtors at the top of their game… until they meet their biggest fan and everything they care about is put in jeopardy.

FOREVER
2020 USA 7 MIN – DIRECTOR Mitch McGlocklin
AI judgement causes a period of introspection.

GRAMERCY
2019 USA 22 MIN – DIRECTOR Pat Heywood, Jamil McGinnis
A young New Jersey native returns to his hometown where his ongoing battle with depression becomes a poetic exploration of brotherhood and personal struggle.

HEADING SOUTH (雁南飞)
2020 USA | China 12 MIN – DIRECTOR Yuan Yuan
Eight-year-old Chasuna travels from her home on grassland to visit her father in the big city. During her father’s birthday party, Chasuna finds out he has remarried to a Chinese woman.

IN FRANCE MICHELLE IS A MAN’S NAME
2020 USA 12 MIN – DIRECTOR Em Weinstein
Michael, a young trans man, returns home to the rural American West after years of estrangement from his parents.

IN SUDDEN DARKNESS
2020 USA 13 MIN – DIRECTOR Tayler Montague
A slice of life film set in the Bronx, New York. A working-class family tries to stay afloat in the midst of a city-wide blackout.

L.A. ROLL
2019 USA 17 MIN – DIRECTOR Helki Frantzen
L.A. ROLL follows members of Sk8 Mafia, a crew of Los Angeles-based dance skaters, as they reflect on the closure of their beloved home rink and seek out a new rink despite adversity and setbacks.

LITTLE CHIEF
2019 USA | Seneca | Cayuga Nation 11 MIN – DIRECTOR Erica Tremblay
It’s just another typical day at a rural elementary school on a reservation in Oklahoma. It’s a world that is stacked against them, but Sharon shows up each day to guide her fifth grade students through it.

LONELY BLUE NIGHT
2020 USA 15 MIN – DIRECTOR Johnson Cheng
The consequences of a mother’s decision to leave her daughter in the care of an American homestay family are unearthed when they reunite for a dinner on one lonely blue night.

MAALBEEK
2020 France 15 MIN – DIRECTOR Ismaël Joffroy Chandoutis
Sabine is looking for a missing image: a day that has left its mark forever and that everyone remembers but her. But maybe this absence is what allows her to move on with her life?

NOUR
2020 TUNISIA 14 MIN – DIRECTOR Rim Nakhli
Nour and Adem set off in search of their father who they have not seen him for a long time. They cross the city to arrive at the appointment place.

PILLARS
2019 USA 18 MIN – DIRECTOR Haley Elizabeth Anderson
One Sunday at church, 12-year-old Amber experiences her first kiss, a moment of innocence that triggers a series of awakenings: sexual, emotional and religious.

POSTPARTUM (WOCHENBETT)
2020 Germany 4 MIN – DIRECTOR Henriette Rietz
The animated film POSTPARTUM is about the chaotic phase in the life of a new mother. Pumped up with hormones and lacking sleep, this intense time has burned deep into the protagonist’s heart.

RUBBED IN PINK
2019 Colombia 11 MIN – DIRECTOR Kathy Esquenazi Mitrani
The daughter of a fashion photographer is starting to discover her femininity. When she follows her mother’s footsteps, she notices an unexpected change in her body.

SWIMMER (BADAREN)
2020 Sweden 13 MIN – DIRECTOR Jonatan Etzler
There’s a man floating around in an indoor swimming pool. The police order him to get out, to be arrested, but the man refuses. SWIMMER is a humorous short film about a dramatic arrest that turns into an anticlimax.

T
2019 USA 14 MIN – DIRECTOR Keisha Rae Witherspoon
A film crew follows three grieving participants of Miami’s annual T Ball, where folks assemble to model R.I.P. T-shirts and innovative costumes designed in honor of their dead.

THERE’S CAKE (SENSE POSTRE)
2020 Spain 13 MIN – DIRECTOR Clàudia Vernis
Marina is surrounded by food, and it also occupies many of her passing thoughts. Today is Saint John – and the hottest and longest day of the summer. Her mother has made chocolate cake to celebrate.

THEY SALIVATE (ILS SALIVENT)
2020 France 19 MIN – DIRECTOR Ariane Boukerche
THEY SALIVATE is the story of a kiss. A couple kiss each other in their deserted living room. The party begins and one guest drinks the couple’s last kiss.

TIGER AND OX (호랑이와 소)
2019 South Korea 8 MIN – DIRECTOR Seunghee Kim
What does divorce mean to women in Korean patriarchal society? Is a fatherless family a failure? In order to find the answer to these questions, a single mother and her daughter start a conversation.

UMBILICAL
2019 USA 6 MIN – DIRECTOR Danski Tang
An animated documentary exploring how the filmmaker’s mother’s abusive relationship with her father shaped her own experiences in a boarding school in China.

THE VISIT
2019 Iran 14 MIN – DIRECTOR Azadeh Moussavi
After six months, Elaheh is finally allowed to visit her husband, who is a political prisoner. Elaheh and her little daughter Tara have one single day to prepare for this important meeting.

Meet The Press Film Festival at AFI FEST
A partnership with NBC’s Meet the Press, this showcase of short documentaries features a wide range of compelling stories and highlights some of the most pressing issues facing our society. Each shorts program has a Q&A moderated by an NBC News journalist.

BLACKFEET BOXING: NOT INVISIBLE
2020 USA 29 MIN – DIRECTOR Kristen Lappas, Tom Rinaldi
As the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women epidemic affects tribal communities, a group of Blackfeet women tackle the threat head-on by practicing and training in self-defense.

BREACH OF TRUST
2019 USA 24 MIN – DIRECTOR Mishal Mahmud
BREACH OF TRUST explores the University of Southern California’s institutional cover-up involving the sexual misconduct of former full-time gynecologist George Tyndall. The story is anchored by the survivors, who after being wronged by the university continue their fight for institutional change.

CHURCH AND THE FOURTH ESTATE
2020 USA 32 MIN – DIRECTOR Brian Knappenberger
A reporter uncovers a file that reveals a shocking series of child-abuse allegations in Idaho’s Boy Scouts, which rattles the community and implicates the Mormon church. The story reveals long-running crimes that threaten to bankrupt the Boy Scouts.

DO NOT SPLIT
2020 USA | Norway 20 MIN – DIRECTOR Anders Hammer
During the 2019 protests in Hong Kong, a series of evening demonstrations escalate into conflict when heavily armed police appear on the scene.

GAMES OF SURVIVAL: A CULTURE PRESERVED IN ICE
2019 USA 16 MIN – DIRECTOR Nicholas Natale
The events at the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics — like the Four Man Carry and the Knuckle Hop — won’t be familiar to most Americans in the Lower 48, but they are rooted in traditional Eskimo culture and pure Americana.

GLOVES OFF
2020 USA 15 MIN – DIRECTOR Ugonna Okpalaoka, Nadine Natour
GLOVES OFF follows the story of Tiara Brown, a young police officer who forges new ways to serve her community by day, then laces up and fights to make a name for herself in the boxing ring by night.

LIONS IN THE CORNER
2019 USA 9 MIN – DIRECTOR Paul Hairston
In Virginia, Scarface started Streetbeefs in his backyard to combat gun and knife violence in the area. Soon, it turned into something much more.

THE LOST ASTRONAUT
2019 USA 12 MIN – DIRECTOR Ben Proudfoot
In 1963, Ed Dwight Jr. was poised to be NASA’s first African-American astronaut, until suddenly he wasn’t.

MY BROTHER’S KEEPER
2020 UK 21 MIN – DIRECTOR Laurence Topham
MY BROTHER’S KEEPER is about the remarkable friendship between former Guantánamo detainee, Mohamedou Ould Salahi, and his one-time American prison guard, Steve Wood, who gradually became convinced of his innocence.

OIL & WATER
2020 Canada 14 MIN – DIRECTOR Anjali Nayar
Facing imminent takeover of ancestral lands, the women in the Turkana region of Kenya stand up against oil giant Tullow. Despite resistance from the men in their community, they continue to fight for their way of life.

A PRAYER FOR JOSHUA JACKSON
2018 USA 21 MIN – DIRECTOR Ryan Heffernan, Grayson Schaffer and Kahlil Hudson
What do you do when someone says your dream is over? Race car driver Joshua Jackson went through something that would break even the toughest of souls, but Jackson managed to come out even more determined.

STATUS PENDING
2020 USA 26 MIN – DIRECTOR Priscilla Gonzalez Sainz
With immigration law under attack, five first-generation immigration lawyers — who call themselves “The Tribe” — strive to help immigrants obtain safety and status in the United States.

SUSTAINED OUTRAGE
2019 USA 26 MIN – DIRECTOR Gabriela Cavanagh
Eight months after the family-owned Charleston Gazette-Mail won the Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting, the Gazette-Mail grappled with a painful reality: bankruptcy ahead of a sale.

TALL TALES WITH TRUE QUEENS
2020 USA 10 MIN – DIRECTOR Kristina Budelis, Leandro Badalotti
Drag Queen Story Hour features drag queens reading stories to kids in libraries and schools. Amidst a building controversy, we learn that kids and drag queens have more in common than you might think.

TANGLED ROOTS
2020 USA 19 MIN – DIRECTOR Samantha Knowles
TANGLED ROOTS follows Kentucky State Representative Attica Scott as she fights to pass a bill that would dismantle a system of discrimination against black people who are penalized for something seemingly innocuous — their hair.

THE TORTURE LETTERS
2020 USA 12 MIN – DIRECTOR Laurence Ralph
One of Laurence Ralph’s first memories of the police is when a plainclothes officer harassed his family. Now a Princeton anthropology professor, Ralph traces his story to the entrenched practices of torture by the Chicago Police.

UNITED STATES OF JOE’S
2019 USA 21 MIN – DIRECTOR Peter Mortimer, Nick Rosen
In rural Utah, a valley of world-class bouldering is nestled among a conservative community of Mormons, cowboys and coal miners. When punk rock climbers show up, cultures clash, but the story doesn’t end there.

VOTE NEIL
2020 USA 18 MIN – DIRECTOR Honora Talbott
Neil is a first-time politician running for State House. Mike is his fiancé and campaign manager searching for purpose. An intimate portrait about politics, the Southern LGBTQ experience and one incredible love story.

WHEN THE NEWS HITS HOME: A YEAR INSIDE THE CAPITAL GAZETTE
2019 USA 21 MIN – DIRECTOR Moises Saman
The 2018 shooting at the Capital Gazette newspaper left five people dead, exposing not only the danger many journalists face but reminding the public of the essential role local journalism plays in communities large and small.

AFI Conservatory Showcase
A collection of 15 short fiction films from the most recent graduates of the AFI Conservatory.

DÍA DE LAS CARPAS
A group of boys help an undocumented girl get to the beach to reunite with her family, unaware of her magical secret that will change their lives forever. DIR João Dall’Stella. SCR Marina Kato Hoag. CAST Tony Garcia, Camila Olivera, Hector Atreyu Ruiz. USA

ELLE
In the midst of her sexual awakening, 16-year-old Elle finds herself in love with her best girlfriend who is about to move out of town. DIR Nicole Vanden Broeck. SCR Asher Jelinsky, Nicole Vanden Broeck. CAST Sarah Sawyer, Ron Dadon. USA

FLECK
An Asian-American teenager at a traditional prep school longing to fit in is forced to choose between her morality or belonging to the school’s elite. DIR Jing Ai Ng. SCR Jing Ai Ng. CAST Stacy Chu, Alyssa Latson, Sami Sandzimier. USA

FURTHEST FROM
In 1999, Novato, California, Jessie is enjoying what little time she has left with her best friend, Lucas. The trailer park they live in will be forced to evacuate as a result of MTBE water contamination. DIR Kyung Sok Kim. SCR Rex Xavier Reyes II. CAST Amanda Christine, Tucker Chandler. USA

JULIET
A transgender teenager battles prejudice and her own self-doubt to audition for the female lead in her high school’s play. DIR Ira Storozhenko. SCR Wilandrea Blair. CAST Reise Alexander, Marc Hills, Trew Mullen. USA

LUCE
In a synesthesia of classical music, death and sex, Adriano finds love in a time of grief. DIR Ciro Apicella. SCR Ciro Apicella. CAST Josh Brodis, Elise Silver, Peter Elbling. USA

MI AMIGO
A hitman attends the funeral of the crime associate and best friend he executed as he searches for forgiveness. After being taunted by his corpse victim in a living room death tableau, he instead finds street justice. DIR Darius Dawson. SCR Veronica Felicity Johnson. CAST Leonardo Santiati, Michael Flores, Cesar Hernandez. USA

THE SPEECH
May 2003, Beijing, China. Under pressure from the WHO, the Chinese government announced the SARS outbreak is real. During the ensuing lockdown, three eight-year-old girls have to find a way to make sense of the world. DIR Haohao Yan. SCR Haohao Yan. CAST Harmonie He, Gloria Xiong, Chedi Chang. USA

A STRANGE CALM
When 12-year-old Rosie and Miles encounter a strange man on the 4th of July in 1974, their journey to watch the fireworks on the outskirts of town becomes an unexpected fight for survival. DIR Austin Rourke. SCR Austin Rourke. CAST Giovanna Bush, Jacob Sandler, Price Carson. USA

TAPE
A 16-year-old ice hockey player on an all girls’ high school team tries to repair her relationship with her teammate, while preparing for the team’s pre-qualifying game. DIR Jojo Erholtz. SCR Shuhan Fan. CAST Brittany Giles, Sarah Sawyer, Joe Coffey. USA

TIL LIFE DO US PART
Two 70-year-old best friends with a pact to kill themselves by their 71st birthday learn that life is worth living with a great friend. DIR Aaron Goldenberg. SCR Ariane Hahusseau, Aaron Goldenberg. CAST G.W. Bailey, Miles Anderson. USA

VEIL
When Leila, a Muslim teenager, shows up to her senior prom in a conservative and modest dress, her beliefs, culture and sense of identity gets tested. DIR Zahra Golafshani. SCR Zahra Golafshani. CAST Jennalyn Ponraj, Danielle Larracuente, Christopher Avila. USA

WITCHIN
Ridiculed in the witch world and sent to the human world to find the elusive BDE, a young witch confronts her biggest tormentor – her kind spirit. DIR Christina Diamantara. SCR Christina Diamantara. CAST Madeleine Coghlan, Genevieve Kennedy, Keli Daniels. USA

THE WORLD AS SHE KNOWS IT
Mia’s father is having an affair. She does not know whether to confront her father, tell her mother, or keep the secret to herself. DIR/SCR Chris Kingsleigh. CAST Alyssa Latson, Jhey Castles, Joshua McHugh. USA

YOUR ONE AND ONLY
Returning home after an abortion, Sophie finds her husband cheating on her. Overwhelmed, she invites his mistress to lunch in order to take her revenge. DIR Olesia Biletska. SCR Olesia Biletska. CAST Caitlin Gerard, Travis Hammer, Chloe Ray Warmoth. USA

AFI FEST 2020 presented by Audi runs online Oct. 15-22. Get passes and tickets at FEST.AFI.com.

(Source: AFI News Release

Posted by Larry Gleeson

Having experienced AFI SUMMIT 2019’s  Indie Contenders Roundtable with Scott Fienberg, The Erasure of LatinX with Eva Longoria and Dr. Stacy Smith as well as the 2018 Doc Roundtable, I wholeheartedly recommend the AFI Summit and can say without reservation each and every panel has the potential to enlighten, inform and broaden even the tiniest of horizons.

Passes are now available for the AFI SUMMIT 2020 at FEST.AFI.com. Tickets on sale Oct. 7.

This year’s AFI Summit lineup includes a conversation with Academy Award® nominee, producer, director, and writer Ava DuVernay in a conversation about elevating and supporting BIPOC filmmakers through her company Array; The Hollywood Reporter’s Indie Contenders Roundtable moderated by Scott Feinberg; EW’s The Awardist moderated by Maureen Lee Lenker; the Doc Roundtable moderated by producer and film festival curator Caroline Libresco; a panel led by Dr. Stacy L. Smith on the portrayal of characters with mental health conditions in film and television; a discussion with the director and cast of SOUND OF METAL with members of the Deaf community; and a conversation about grassroots activism and visual storytelling with directors Lisa Cortes (ALL IN: THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY and Samantha Knowles (TANGLED ROOTS).

 

Learn more about the festival here: FEST.AFI.com.

CENTERING CHARACTERS WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS IN FILM AND TELEVISION
All too often in Hollywood movies or television programs, characters with mental health conditions are portrayed disparagingly, stereotypically, or erased from the screen entirely. Dr. Stacy L. Smith of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, who has documented the gaps and shortcomings in these portrayals, leads a deep dive conversation with mental health experts, filmmakers, and creative executives who are looking to center characters facing mental health issues and to portray their situations in more authentic and humane ways. Panelists include Kelly Oxford (SCR and DIR PINK SKIES AHEAD), Jessica Barden (PINK SKIES AHEAD), Noopur Agarwal, Vice President of Social Impact for the ViacomCBS Entertainment & Youth Group, and Dr. Christine Moutier, Chief Medical Officer, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

DOC ROUNDTABLE
Leading directors behind some of the most talked-about and acclaimed documentaries of the year discuss the art of documentary and the creative challenges faced in bringing these extraordinary stories to light including Ramona S. Diaz (A THOUSAND CUTS), David France (WELCOME TO CHECHNYA), Liz Garbus (ALL IN: THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY), Ron Howard (REBUILDING PARADISE), Kirsten Johnson (DICK JOHNSON IS DEAD), Bao Nguyen (BE WATER), Dawn Porter (THE WAY I SEE IT), and Elyse Steinberg (THE FIGHT). Moderated by producer and film festival curator Caroline Libresco.

ELEVATING BIPOC FILMMAKERS: A CONVERSATION WITH ARRAY
When Ava DuVernay founded the collective that would become ARRAY in 2011, she and company president Tilane Jones set out to boldly, proudly, and courageously set their endeavor apart from other distributors. Their commitment to amplify and advocate for independent films by Black artists, filmmakers of color, and women directors of all kinds was the center of their mission — and still is. As the company approaches its 10th anniversary, DuVernay and Jones invite a group of ARRAY supported filmmakers to discuss the strong vision that has guided this Black women-led organization to shift the paradigm around media production and distribution. 

EW’S THE AWARDIST: A CONVERSATION WITH DIRECTOR JULIA HART AND RACHEL BROSNAHAN
Entertainment Weekly continues their series of conversations with contenders for the year’s biggest awards with an in-depth discussion exploring this year’s unique film landscape with director Julia Hart and leading actress Rachel Brosnahan of the Amazon Original film I’M YOUR WOMAN.  Moderated by EW’s Maureen Lee Lenker.

FINDING YOUR VOICE: SOUND OF METAL STRIKES A CHORD WITH THE DEAF COMMUNITY
A profoundly moving exploration of both the experience and culture of deafness, SOUND OF METAL (AFI FEST 2020) spotlights a powerful performance by Riz Ahmed as a heavy-metal drummer who loses his hearing. Rather than focus solely on the character’s isolation as a result of his loss of hearing, however, director/writer Darius Marder illustrates the support and belonging that is possible to find in the Deaf community. Darius Marder, Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Chelsea Lee, Paul Raci, and Shaheem Sanchez from SOUND OF METAL engage in a spirited conversation with members of the Deaf community about the issues raised by the film and beyond.

FROM THE STREETS TO THE LEGISLATURE: A CONVERSATION WITH THE FILMMAKERS AND SUBJECTS OF ALL IN: THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY AND TANGLED ROOTS
On the eve of one of the most important elections in U.S. history, directors Lisa Cortes (ALL IN: THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY) and Samantha Knowles (TANGLED ROOTS) explore the powerful connection between social protest, citizen-led democracy, and visual storytelling with two inspirational subjects from their films: Desmond Meade, Executive Director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, and Rep. Attica Scott, the first Black woman elected to the Kentucky legislature in the 21st Century.

INDIE CONTENDERS ROUNDTABLE
Presented by The Hollywood Reporter and moderated by columnist and blogger Scott Feinberg, this annual panel favorite features a discussion with talent from the AFI FEST 2020 lineup and recent releases. Panelists include Riz Ahmed (SOUND OF METAL), Rachel Brosnahan (I’M YOUR WOMAN), Winston Duke (NINE DAYS), Julia Garner (THE ASSISTANT), Vanessa Kirby (PIECES OF A WOMAN), Elisabeth Moss (THE INVISIBLE MAN and SHIRLEY), Carey Mulligan (PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN), Andy Samberg (PALM SPRINGS).

(Source: AFI News Release)

Posted by Larry Gleeson

Larry Gleeson, left, with NashFilm filmmaker at the 50th Nashville Film Festival (Photo courtesy of HollywoodGlee)

NashFilm Virtual Festival – October 1-7, 2020

The 51st Nashville Film Festival is a virtual online event taking place from October 1-7, 2020. This year’s festival will be the most accessible version to audiences yet, as both filmmakers and film lovers will be given unique opportunities to connect and enjoy digital screenings, panels, filmmaker Q&As and other original content online. The Nashville Film Festival is delivering hundreds of the world’s best new films with filmmaker Q&As, panels, and more.

2 Ways to See the Festival

Buy a VIP badge (in my opinion, the best option) to gain access all the films and to the Creator’s Conference this weekend or purchase individual tickets for all the film and music programs.

I attended last year with family members and witnessed the magic of the Nashville Film Festival Experience.  Check out the schedule here and get ready for some of the finest music and film programs! You’ll be glad you did…..

Kate and Jan Rogers at the 50th Nashville Film Festival (Photo by Larry Gleeson)

The Berry Family on the red carpet at the 50th Nashville Film Festival (Photo courtesy of NashFilm)

After party at the 50th Nashville Film Festival (Photo courtesy of NashFilm)

Jeezy aLauren Jenkins on the red carpet at the 50th Nashville Film Festival (Photo courtesy of NashFilm)

Jeezy and Bubba Sparxxx on the red carpet at the 50th Nashville Film Festival (Photo courtesy of NashFilm)

IT ALL BEGINS WITH A SONG: THE STORY OF THE NASHVILLE SONGWRITER

 

 

Posted by Larry Gleeson

Passes go on sale Sept. 28.

AFI FEST 2020 presented by Audi has announced four Tributes at this year’s reimagined virtual festival. Sofia Coppola, Kirby Dick, Rita Moreno, and Mira Nair will each be honored with an evening of conversation celebrating their distinguished careers with and will stream live online during the festival, Oct. 15-22. Mark your calendars now!

Sofia Coppola exploded onto the festival scene with her directorial debut, THE VIRGIN SUICIDES (1999) which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. With her second film, LOST IN TRANSLATION, Coppola earned more accolades, including the Academy Award^® for Best Original Screenplay and nominations for Best Director and Best Picture. In 2017, she made history as only the second woman to win Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival with her film THE BEGUILED. Coppola returns to the screen this autumn with the release of ON THE ROCKS, the first co-production between Apple and A24 starring Bill Murray, Rashida Jones, and Marlon Wayans.

Kirby Dick (AFI Conservatory Class of 1983) is a two-time Academy Award^® nominated and  Emmy^® award-winning investigative filmmaker behind some of the most groundbreaking documentaries today with his creative partner Amy Ziering. His most recent projects directly impacted American politics and culture, resulting in real-world change. THE INVISIBLE WAR (2012) exposed the epidemic of rape in the US military leading to multiple congressional hearings and dozens of policy reforms in Congress. THE HUNTING GROUND (2015) created a national discussion of sexual assault on college campuses and sweeping reform policies at hundreds of institutions. THE BLEEDING EDGE (2018) unearthed the fast-growing medical device industry’s corruption and malfeasance, catalyzing devices removed from shelves. With the release earlier this year of his latest documentary, ON THE RECORD, Dick presented the haunting story of music executive Drew Dixon as she struggles with her decision to be the first woman of color to come forward within the #MeToo movement. Past films of Dick’s include TWIST OF FAITH, THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED, SICK and OUTRAGE.

Mira Nair’s accomplished filmmaking has earned her accolades around the world. With her directorial debut, SALAAM BOMBAY! (1988), Nair won the Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and later went on to earn an Academy Award^® nomination for Best Foreign Language film. Since then she has become a modern cinema master with films such as MISSISSIPPI MASALA (1991), MONSOON WEDDING (2001) and THE NAMESAKE (2006).  AFI FEST salutes director and activist Mira Nair this year with a special conversation followed by the US premiere screening of the six-hour series A SUITABLE BOY, based on Vikram Seth’s classic novel.

Rita Moreno’s career began with a Broadway debut at 13 years old. Since then she has won all four of the most prestigious awards in show business – an Oscar^®, a Tony^®, two Emmys^®, and a Grammy^® – as well as a Peabody Award and a Kennedy Center Honor. Moreno has also been recognized with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush and the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama. Moreno received an Honorary Degree from the AFI Conservatory in 2016. Her latest work includes co-starring and serving as Executive Producer in the Steven Spielberg remake of WEST SIDE STORY, scheduled for release summer of 2021, and starring in the popular Latino remake of Norman Lear’s classic sitcom, ONE DAY AT A TIME.

Learn more about the festival here: FEST.AFI.com.

*From AFI news release

Posted by Larry Gleeson

It seems at every film festival, there is always the one that got away for a variety of sundry reasons. At AFI FEST 2019, that one film was I AM WOMAN. I fondly recalled in 1972, Mrs. Mary Newton’s 7th Grade Class at Holy Angels Grade School in East St. Louis, having to not only listen to Helen Reddy’s feminist-leaning anthem of the same title but actually write about what the song meant! And probably just as memorable, my cousin, M Walsh Keeley, a burly and bearded redheaded Irishman, performed the song “I Am Woman” in karaoke at Hennessey’s Pub located in the Soulard Neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri to a raucous standing ovation! Without further ado, I’m happy to share with you the AFI Interview with the filmmaker Unjoo Moon.

Premiering in the U.S. at AFI FEST in 2019, Unjoo Moon’s I AM WOMAN depicts the life of singer and feminist icon Helen Reddy who wrote and sang the song “I Am Woman,” which became the anthem for the women’s movement in the 1970s. The film marks the narrative feature directorial debut of Moon (AFI Class of 1998) whose previous credits include the feature documentary THE ZEN OF BENNETT and THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY, a PSA on gun violence which she collaborated on with spoken word artist In-Q. Moon was also the recipient of the prestigious Franklin J. Schaffner Directing Award during her time at the AFI Conservatory.

AFI spoke with her about her journey in developing I AM WOMAN, why she felt it was important to release the film in the current climate and what her experience was like as a Directing Fellow at the Conservatory.

AFI: How did you first become involved with the project and connect with screenwriter Emma Jensen?

Unjoo: I had just finished a documentary that I’d made with Tony Bennett, and I had it in my mind that I was not going to do another music film. I attended the G’Day Australia Ball – which is an annual event that celebrates Australia achievements in Los Angeles. I went to my table and I saw a woman sitting there. I thought “I know who this woman is,” but I just couldn’t put my finger on it. When I realized it was Helen Reddy, I just remembered growing up on the Northshore of Sydney and the way her music had impacted my mother and her friends. I talked with Helen so I could understand and ask her how she felt about the impact she’d had. By the end of our conversation, I was convinced her story was already a movie.

Later, I watched all her videos – from THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL, THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW, and THE HELEN REDDY SHOW to her concerts in Las Vegas. I couldn’t believe that no one had ever made a feature about her. I spent time with Helen to convince her that this could be a movie, and it was a year before I brought on a writer. It was hard to find someone when I already had a very clear vision for what the movie should be. In the end, I knew I needed someone who not only understood how to write a biopic – Emma had previously written 2017’s MARY SHELLEY adaptation – but also was a great collaborator. I pitched Emma the story, read her material, and really felt like she was the right person to go on this journey with together.

AFI: How did you go about casting the lead role? What was it about Tilda Cobham-Hervey that you knew she was right for the part and had the capability to play Helen at various stages of her life?

Unjoo: As with any movie, there’s always pressure to cast a star or someone who is marketable. I needed to know that the actor could fully embrace the role, but also that the person had some quality about them that would remind people of the real Helen Reddy. I started to realize casting a star in the role would mean that it wouldn’t be as easy for audiences to invest in the character, rather than just thinking of that person playing Helen Reddy.

Tilda wasn’t on any of the casting lists I’d seen. I just happened to see a photo of her standing in the street, and her posture made me think of Helen. I found out she was Australian and that she’d already had an amazing film career at her young age. I realized Tilda had a lot of qualities that she could draw on that would help her embrace this character. Helen grew up in a Vaudeville family and had a very unconventional life. So did Tilda – her mother was a ballet dancer, her dad was a theater lighting director. She’d traveled all around the world – putting on shows from a young age – and she had just moved to the U.S. and was starting her American career at that stage. There were a lot of parallels.

Once Tilda was cast, we did aging tests to see if she could pull that off since she was 22 at the time. The makeup and clothes certainly helped, but so much of it is about her performance and the way you’re telling the story to get people invested in the character’s emotional journey.

AFI: You shot most of the film in Sydney. Can you talk about the challenges you faced during a short production shoot to transform Sydney into New York City and LA and how you managed to create the specific time periods?

Unjoo: The whole movie was shot in Sydney except two and a half days that we shot in Los Angeles for exteriors. What really helped to create that authenticity was that Dion [I AM WOMAN cinematographer and Moon’s husband] and I have lived in America for so long now that we knew exactly what we were recreating. We know New York really well too, and I also went to the Women’s March in D.C. I stood there and looked at all those people in the same place that Helen did at the Lincoln Memorial.

Our production designer, Michael Turner, actually has a background as an architect. We knew that in Sydney we didn’t have the budget to be rebuilding a lot of places. It just meant that a lot of the architectural choices we were making on location had to really reflect the cities we were replicating. I think between Michael, Dion, and I, we had a very clear idea of how each of those cities needed to look.

AFI: You use the Equal Rights Amendment as a significant backdrop throughout the film. With the 2020 election approaching in November, what do you hope viewers take away from the film?

Unjoo: That was a very important part of the message of this movie. We were all set to roll out this spring, but then, of course, the pandemic hit, and we had to shut down cinemas. Everybody kept waiting thinking that cinemas would reopen, and then it reached the stage where we thought “ok, we’ll put the film out next year.” But I just felt really strongly that, considering the message of the movie and that it’s an uplifting story, we should release it now. I hope it’s a movie that inspires peoples, especially women, to want to make a change – maybe for themselves, or something bigger than themselves.

Right now, there are so many important decisions being made about the world and, especially with the upcoming election, I was really happy that all my distributors agreed that this was a film that should come out now. The movie was made for the big screen – we used these incredible 6K cameras that were designed for creating beautiful images in a cinema – but if it meant people had to watch it safely at home, at least they get to see it in this moment.

AFI: What did you learn at AFI that you still carry with you in your career?

Unjoo: I had such a great two years at AFI, and that time was really dear in my life. I learned how to live and work in LA going to AFI. The way the program is structured, you just really learn to understand the city and the industry. When I was there, there was no handholding, and it was really about motivating yourself and relying on your instincts and what you need to do to make something. I found that incredibly invaluable because, moving to Los Angeles, I realized that you are the driver, you are the person creating your destiny. On a more specific scale, the storytelling exercises gave me the freedom to explore and really look for the kind of stories I wanted to tell. It allowed me the space to try different things and that’s a real gift as a filmmaker.

I was so glad to screen I AM WOMAN at AFI FEST last year. I have such good memories at AFI and, the fact that I could celebrate the movie there, it was just so special. Helen has a big fan base of people who remember her so clearly, but there’s a whole new generation who hasn’t heard of her. I’m really glad not only that I was able to tell her story, and also tell what happened with the women’s movement and the Equal Rights Amendment. I am excited that we were able to give Helen a legacy for her career.

I AM WOMAN is available to watch on VOD and in virtual theaters currently.

*From AFI News

Posted by Larry Gleeson

In 42, screen icon Chadwick Boseman steps into the shoes of Jackie Robinson in this incredible story of the baseball legend who became the first black player in the Major League. Chadwick Boseman was directing an off-Broadway play in New York City but happened to be visiting Los Angeles when auditions were held for 42. According to writer/director Brian Helgeland, Chadwick Boseman was only the second person to read for the part – and immediately set the bar. Helgeland has since said that no one could have played the part better than Boseman – and that no matter if the story is remade 100 times, no one ever will.

Filmmakers collaborated with Jackie Robinson’s widow, Rachel Robinson, on the making of 42. The production wanted to ensure the authenticity of her late husband’s story. According to Chadwick Boseman, Jackie Robinson’s widow challenged him to bring his best to the part and not take the role lightly. He said she told him that, “if we had made this movie when I wanted to make this movie, Sidney Poitier would have played your role. And then Denzel [Washington] was supposed to play it. And now we have you. Who are you?” Boseman responded that he would put his entire self into the role. Chadwick Boseman trained for 42 for almost five months – working with coaches from college and the Major Leagues. According to Boseman, practices would be taped every few weeks so that he could compare his own batting, fielding, and base running with Jackie Robinson’s, in order to perfect Robinson’s techniques. AFI Life Achievement Award recipient Harrison Ford co-stars as Brooklyn Dodgers’ owner Branch Rickey in this triumphant tour de force.

Most of the baseball action in 42 was filmed in Engel Stadium in Chattanooga, TN. Production designers added a 40-foot-high, 1,200-foot-long green screen around the field’s outfield and foul areas. The giant green screen allowed filmmakers to bring the Brooklyn Dodgers’ Ebbets field back to life. The production also filmed at Rickwood Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama – which was built in 1910 and is the oldest professional baseball park in the United States.

Jackie Robinson first became a Major League ballplayer on April 15, 1947. Jackie Robinson won Rookie of the Year in 1947 and Most Valuable Player in 1949. He not only stole a home base in Game One of the 1955 World Series, which the Dodgers won but also was a six-time All-Star and was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. In 2004 with the help of Jackie Robinson’s daughter Sharon and wife Rachel, Major League Baseball honored the date by naming it Jackie Robinson Day. On that day, there’s an annual celebration at every Major League ballpark and every player, coach, manager, and umpire wear Jackie’s #42 to honor the legend for his accomplishments on and off the field. In 1997, Major League Baseball retired Jackie Robinson’s jersey #42 from all teams. Those players that were wearing the number at the time were allowed to continue to wear it, but by 2014 the last player wearing the number – Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera – had retired.

Jackie Robinson’s widow, Rachel Robinson started The Jackie Robinson Foundation in 1973, the year after her husband died. Originally operated out of her kitchen, it has since grown into a powerful arm of Jackie’s legacy, administering four-year college scholarships to disadvantaged students of color.

The movie doesn’t end at the credits:

Join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram now using #AFIMovieClub. Or post your responses in the comment section below.

-Why is Jackie Robinson’s legacy important not only to the history of baseball but also to today’s society?

-Why does Branch Rickey choose Jackie to break the color barrier in baseball?

-What characteristics of Jackie helped him get through the blatant racism that occurred on and off the field?

-Branch Rickey asked Jackie Robinson to have the guts not to fight. Why do you think Rickey would ask that of Jackie?

-The moment where teammate Pee Wee Reese ran over to Jackie Robinson and put his arm around him in front of the crowd was commemorated with a statue in Brooklyn, NY. Why was this moment so important?

-In memory of actor Chadwick Boseman, who the world lost way too early – what is a moment in his career that has inspired you, made you smile, or brought a moment of positivity into your life.

-How would you rate 42?

About AFI Movie Club

I hope the AFI Movie Club brings some inspiration and entertainment during this uncertain time. AFI has created a global, virtual gathering of those who love the movies where each day’s film – announced by a special guest – is accompanied by fun facts, family-friendly discussion points, and material from the AFI Archive to bring the viewing experience to life. As a non-profit, AFI Movie Club is a member-powered organization, dependent upon the support of its movie fans. To support AFI Movie Club please consider becoming a member or donating.

AFI Movie Club is a newly launched free program to raise the nation’s spirits by bringing artists and audiences together – even while we are apart. AFI shines a spotlight on an iconic movie each day, with special guests announcing the Movie of the Day. Audiences can “gather” at AFI.com/MovieClub to find out how to watch the featured movie of the day with the use of their preexisting streaming service credentials. The daily film selections will be supported by fun facts, family discussion points, and exclusive material from the AFI Archive to enrich the viewing experience.

(Source: AFI News Release)

Posted by Larry Gleeson

Los Angeles, CA – September 17, 2020 – The American Film Market announced today that RightsTrade, the film and TV industry’s online sales platform, has signed on as a Premier Sponsor of AFM 2020 Online. This year’s market will take place wholly online over five days, Monday, November 9 – Friday, November 13.

RightsTrade’s presence at AFM 2020 Online is designed to further expand its footprint and give back to the industry. The company will offer a complimentary trial subscription for the market’s sales and production company exhibitors providing them the opportunity to use the RightsTrade platform and its tools for AFM 2020 and through the end of the year.

The trial gives companies the ability to experience RightsTrade’s core set of functionality including integrated video conferencing with video asset streaming within calls, calendaring, messaging, and a self-serve content hub where each seller can list and manage their market titles including metadata, key art, video assets and more.

In addition, the main exhibit hub for sales companies on the AFM 2020 Online platform will be called the Industry Offices presented by RightsTrade. It will showcase the online booths for hundreds of sales, production and distribution companies, and international organizations.

Bill Lischak, recently appointed CEO of RightsTrade said,

“The AFM is one of the crown jewels of film markets and we couldn’t be more pleased to support the industry at this year’s event. In 2020, we’ve turned our focus towards expanding our online platform capabilities to serve an ever-growing need for online markets and to give back to those in the content business. We look forward to further expanding our reach and unique offering via the AFM.”

 

Jonathan Wolf, AFM Managing Director said, “We look forward to connecting the world’s sales companies with the RightsTrade platform as a valuable resource for further enhancing their sales and efforts.”

For online registration and information, visit AmericanFilmMarket.com.

About RightsTrade

RightsTrade is the industry’s leading online marketplace for film, television and digital media distribution rights. By connecting distributors with content owners, RightsTrade’s global marketplace makes it easier, faster and more cost-efficient for buyers and sellers to license content rights, Studios, content owners, distributors and sales agents already trust RightsTrade to promote, screen and sell 6,000+ titles to a growing community of 30,000+ industry executives in over 125 countries.

RightsTrade’s leadership team focuses on developing commercial and backend solutions for leading film and television companies, with decades of experience implementing back-end and front-end solutions for more than 50 leading media and entertainment companies. RightsTrade has recently been providing “virtual market” functionality to the industry, including having built and powered FILMART Online’s market platform, along with meeting and screening tools for the NATPE International Budapest market.

About the American Film Market® (AFM®)

AFM is the most efficient film acquisition, development, and networking event in the world. More than US$1 billion in production and distribution deals are closed every year — on both completed films and those in every stage of development and production. Over five days in November, 7,000+ professionals from 70+ countries access the entire global catalog of available films and projects, attend world-class conferences, and connect with decision-makers. The AFM is produced by the Independent Film & Television Alliance.

*Press release provided by Jennifer Garnick, VP Communications

 

 

Posted by Larry Gleeson

MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA is an epic drama that follows a young woman who must navigate the social terrain as a geisha in pre-World War II Japan. The film was produced by AFI Life Achievement Award winner and AFI Board of Trustees member Steven Spielberg – with a score composed by AFI Life Achievement Award recipient John Williams. MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA won three of its six Oscar^® nominations – Best Art Direction, Cinematography and Costume Design.

MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA marked costume designer Colleen Atwood’s sixth Academy Award^® nomination and her second win. She has a staggering total of 12 Oscar® nominations to date. Atwood worked with director Rob Marshall one time prior – on CHICAGO (2002) – which resulted in her first Oscar® win.

MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA is based on a 1997 novel of the same name by Arthur Golden. Its screen rights were optioned not long after publication for $1 million. After the publication of Arthur Golden’s “Memoirs of a Geisha” in Japan, he was sued by one of the women he interviewed for the novel. By naming her in the book’s acknowledgments, Golden violated the traditional geisha code of silence and anonymity. The informant, Mineko Iwasaki, later went on to tell her own story in an autobiography that contradicted Golden’s account. While the three main female characters are Japanese in the movie, they were cast with Chinese actresses – Ziyi Zhang, Gong Li and Michelle Yeoh – prompting criticism from the Asian community. Due to hostilities between the two countries, China withheld the film from its initial release and Japanese audiences were lukewarm in their reception, leading to average box-office receipts in the country where the film was set.

Steven Spielberg originally planned to direct MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA as a follow-up to SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. However, when his involvement was postponed by other production commitments, Rob Marshall stepped in to direct while Spielberg still maintained a producer credit. MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA cinematographer Dion Beebe had his work cut out for him, depicting delicate lighting of Japanese seasons while filming in Southern California. To achieve the right effect, he hung a massive layer of silk over an entire five-block “town,” and created controls to change the amount of light let in. For this extraordinary feat, he won the Best Cinematography Oscar^®.

The movie doesn’t end at the credits: Family-friendly Discussion Questions

Join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram now using #AFIMovieClub. Or post your responses in the comment section below.

-MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA tackles the controversial subject of geishas – “comfort women” or prostitutes who were sold into human trafficking. Can you empathize with the characters, and do you feel their struggle is relatable to other types of life challenges? Does it make sense that MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA is also a romance, when the women do not possess ownership of their own sexuality? 

-MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA follows the story of young Japanese women who are sold into sexual servitude to support their impoverished families. However, the filmmakers were predominantly white, male and American. Do you think this impacts the authenticity of the film? Why or why not? 

-MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA received objections from critics for casting Chinese actresses (Ziyi Zhang, Gong Lu and Michelle Yeoh) in the roles of Japanese women. Do you believe it is important to represent characters onscreen with performers that share a similar ethnicity or cultural background as the roles they play? Why do you think the filmmakers chose women from China to play Japanese characters? Were you conscious of this issue in representation when you were watching the movie? 

-MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA was hailed for its heightened design and visual appeal, but it was also scrutinized for its representation of Asian culture by Western artists that evokes stereotypes and colonialism. How did you interpret the visual experience of watching MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA? Did you find the imagery seductive and intoxicating, or did it appear cliched? Do you think the filmmakers created an authentic or fantastical image of Japanese society, and how does this impact your impression of the story? 

-How would you rate MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA? 

About AFI Movie Club

I hope the AFI Movie Club brings some inspiration and entertainment during this uncertain time. AFI has created a global, virtual gathering of those who love the movies where each day’s film – announced by a special guest – is accompanied by fun facts, family-friendly discussion points and material from the AFI Archive to bring the viewing experience to life. As a non-profit, AFI Movie Club is a member-powered organization, dependent upon the support of its movie fans. To support AFI Movie Club please consider becoming a member or donating.

AFI Movie Club is a newly launched free program to raise the nation’s spirits by bringing artists and audiences together – even while we are apart. AFI shines a spotlight on an iconic movie each day, with special guests announcing the Movie of the Day. Audiences can “gather” at AFI.com/MovieClub to find out how to watch the featured movie of the day with the use of their preexisting streaming service credentials. The daily film selections will be supported by fun facts, family discussion points and exclusive material from the AFI Archive to enrich the viewing experience.

(Source: AFI News Release)