Films

FICTION FEATURE

A BANQUET

Director: Ruth Paxton Producers: Leonora Darby, Mark Lane, Nik Bower, James Harris, Laure Vaysse Cast: Sienna Guillory, Jessica Alexander, Ruby Stokes, Kaine Zajaz, Lindsay Duncan UK, 97 min In Ruth Paxton’s haunting new feature A BANQUET, widowed mother Holly (Sienna Guillory) is radically tested when her teenage daughter Betsey (Jessica Alexander) experiences a profound enlightenment and insists that her body is no longer her own, but in service to a higher power. Bound to her newfound faith, Betsey refuses to eat but loses no weight. In an agonizing dilemma, torn between love and fear, Holly is forced to confront the boundaries of her own beliefs . A BANQUET is the story of a family confronting the horrors lurking beneath the comforts they take for granted . Friday, October 22, 8:15pm, Clairidge 4 Sunday, October 24, 8:00pm, Clairidge 5

FICTION FEATURE

BELFAST

Director: Kenneth Branagh Producers: Laura Berwick, Kenneth Branagh, Becca Kovacik, Tamar Thomas Cast: Caitríona Balfe, Judi Dench, Jamie Dornan, Ciarán Hinds, Colin Morgan, Jude Hill UK, 97 min The Troubles of 20th century Northern Ireland, which saw the nation divided between Republicans, seeking unification with Ireland, and the Loyalists, seeking to preserve Northern Ireland’s relationship to the United Kingdom, provide the backdrop for BELFAST, the new film written and directed by Academy Award® nominee Kenneth Branagh. Told through the lens of a child’s perspective, one which reflects Branagh’s own experiences as a young boy in Northern Ireland, BELFAST is a poignant story of love, laughter and loss in one boy’s childhood, amid the music and social tumult of the late 1960s . Friday, October 29, 7:30pm, Clairidge 2

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION

BERNSTEIN’S WALL

Director: Douglas Tirola Producer: Susan Bedusa USA, 100 min BERNSTEIN’S WALL explores Leonard Bernstein’s legacy as one of America’s key musical figures and his lifelong fight to create social change and inspire political activism through his work . The son of a Russian Jewish immigrant who rose to become Conductor of the New York Philharmonic, Bernstein towered over the worlds of classical music, Broadway, and television . Douglas Tirola’s stirring documentary features newly discovered archival footage, personal photos, letters, and candid audio moments with his family, as well as highlights of his spectacular career to create an intimate look at one of the 20th century’s most prominent icons . Presented in partnership with Out Montclair

Wednesday, October 27, 7:30pm, Clairidge 2 Thursday, October 28, 6:00pm, Clairidge 5

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

CARTERLAND

Directors: The Pattiz Brothers Producers: Will Pattiz, Jim Pattiz USA, 123 min One of the most misunderstood presidents in American history, Jimmy Carter was a leader ahead of his time, advocating for social change and sacrifice while leading the nation through a series of unprecedented crises . Carter confronted climate change and championed social justice at home and abroad, all while advocating for peace and moral integrity as the cores of American leadership . In their feature film debut, CARTERLAND, the Pattiz Brothers examine the tragic, yet inspiring story of Jimmy Carter, drawing on archival footage, experts, and insiders to reveal how Carter’s selfless leadership and moral integrity ultimately cost him the presidency . Sunday, October 24, 4:00pm, Clairidge 1 Monday, October 25, 7:30pm, Clairidge 2 FICTION FEATURE

A CHIARA

Director: Jonas Carpignano Producers: Julie Billy, Paolo Carpignano, Jon Coplon, Eva Jakobsen, Katrin Pors, Carole Scotta, Ryan Zacarias Cast: Carmela Fumo, Claudio Rotolo, Carmelo Rotolo, Swamy Rotolo Italy/France, 121 min In Jonas Carpignano’s stunning A CHIARA, the Guerrasio family gathers to celebrate Claudio and Carmela’s oldest daughter’s 18th birthday . But when the party’s over and morning arrives, everything changes for the family; Claudio disappears, leaving the family to confront the reality of the life they have built together . 16-year-old Chiara decides to investigate the story of her father’s unexpected absence, and as she gets closer to the truth, confronts a world that has always been there, just below the surface, forcing her to decide what kind of future she wants for herself .

FUTURE/NOW COMPETITION

CLARA SOLA

Director: Nathalie Álvarez Mesén Producers: Nima Yousefi, Alan McConnell, Géraldine Sprimont, Anne-Laure Guégan, Karina Avellán Troz, Marcelo Quesada Mena Cast: Wendy Chinchilla Araya, Daniel Castañeda Rincón, Ana Julia Porras Espinoza, Flor María Vargas Chaves Costa Rica/Sweden/Belgium/Germany, 106 min Clara (played by the wonderful Wendy Chinchilla Araya, in her first role), is believed to have special powers as a “healer.” She sustains a family and a village in need of hope, while finding solace in her relationship with the natural world. After years of being controlled by her mother’s repressive care, Clara’s sexual desires are stirred by her attraction to her niece’s new boyfriend . The stunning CLARA SOLA is the story of this newly awakened force, following Clara to unexplored territory, pushing the boundaries that have shaped her life, both physical and mystical . Saturday, October 23, 3:00pm, Clairidge 5 Tuesday, October 26, 4:30pm, Clairidge 2

FICTION FEATURE

C’MON C’MON

Director: Mike Mills Producers: Chelsea Barnard, Lila Yacoub, Andrea Longacre-White Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann, Scoot McNairy, Molly Webster, Jaboukie Young-White, Woody Norman USA, 108 min Shot in beautiful black and white, C’MON C’MON is the story of a radio documentary creator named Johnny (Joaquin Phoenix) who is working on a story about the dreams and aspirations of children in cities across America . But when his sister Viv (Gaby Hoffmann) calls in need of support in caring for her young son, Johnny travels to LA to join his nephew (Woody Norman), forging a tenuous but transformational relationship in this delicate and deeply moving film about the connections between adults and children, the past and the future, from writer-director Mike Mills . Saturday, October 23, 7:30pm, MKA Upper School

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION

A COP MOVIE

Director: Alonso Ruizpalacios Producers: Daniela Alatorre, Elena Fortes Acosta Cast: Mónica Del Carmen, Raúl Briones, María Teresa Hernández Cañas Mexico, 107 min Alonso Ruizpalacios’ inventive, genre-bending documentary takes us deep into the Mexican police force . Following family tradition, Teresa and Montoya join the force, only to find their convictions and hopes crushed by a corrupt system . Through an experimental style of narrative and documentary storytelling, A COP MOVIE propels the viewer into an unusual cinematic world, giving voice to one of Mexico’s and the world’s most controversial institutions . Playing with the performative boundaries of nonfiction, A COP MOVIE immerses the audience into the challenges of police work within a dysfunctional system . Saturday, October 23, 4:00pm, Clairidge 1 Monday, October 25, 7:00pm, Clairidge 1 DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

COW

Director: Andrea Arnold Producer: Kat Mansoor UK, 94 min In her documentary debut, acclaimed director Andrea Arnold (AMERICAN HONEY) turns her lens towards a dynamic subject of few words—an English dairy cow named Luma. We meet Luma during the birth of her calf, and from there, we watch with hypnotic fascination as their lives unfold . Arnold’s contemplative style lends itself beautifully to the study of this magnificent creature as she asks us to meaningfully acknowledge her services and understand her realities . The daily life of a cow is by no means glamorous, but certainly thought-provoking, within this particular examination, which moves us closer to nature .

Tuesday, October 26, 4:00pm, Clairidge 1 Wednesday, October 27, 5:30pm, Clairidge 2

FICTION FEATURE

DRIVE MY CAR

Director: Ryûsuke Hamaguchi Producer: Teruhisa Yamamoto Cast: Hidetoshi Nishijima, Tôko Miura, Masaki Okada, Reika Kirishima, Park Yurim, Jin Daeyeon Japan, 179 min In the beautiful, moving DRIVE MY CAR, Yusuke Kafuku (Hidetoshi Nishijima), a stage actor and director, is happily married to Oto (Reika Kirishima), a screenwriter . But when an unforeseen tragedy strikes the couple, secrets are exposed that will change Kafuku’s life forever . Two years later, Kafuku receives an offer to direct Chekov’s UNCLE VANYA at a theater festival and drives to Hiroshima with his car . There, he meets Misaki (Toko Miura), a reticent woman assigned to become his chauffeur. As they spend time together, Kafuku finally begins to confront the haunting mystery of his wife.

Saturday, October 30, 6:00pm, Clairidge 5

FICTION FEATURE

THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN

Director: Will Sharpe Producers: Guy Heeley, Ed Clarke, Adam Ackland, Leah Clarke Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Claire Foy, Andrea Riseborough, Toby Jones UK, 111 min Will Sharpe’s delightful new film THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN tells the extraordinary true story of eccentric British artist Louis Wain (Benedict Cumberbatch), whose playful, sometimes even psychedelic pictures helped to transform the public’s perception of cats forever. Moving from the late 1800s through to the 1930s, the film follows the incredible adventures of this inspiring, unsung hero, as he seeks to unlock the “electrical” mysteries of the world and, in so doing, to better understand his own life and the profound love he shares with his wife Emily Richardson (Claire Foy) . Saturday, October 23, 1:00pm, MKA Upper School

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION

THE FIRST WAVE

Director: Matthew Heineman Producers: Matthew Heineman, Jenna Millman, Leslie Norville USA, 93 min With exclusive access to one of New York’s hardest-hit hospital systems, Oscar®-nominated and Emmy® Award-winning director Matthew Heineman (CARTEL LAND) spotlights the everyday heroes at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic . Leaving a devastating trail of death and despair, this once-in-a-century pandemic changed the very fabric of daily life and exposed long-standing inequities in our society. Heineman documents those harrowing first four months, embedding with a group of doctors, nurses and patients on the frontlines as they all navigate the emerging crisis . Sunday, October 24, 7:00pm, Clairidge 1

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION

FLEE

Director: Jonas Poher Rasmussen Producers: Signe Byrge Sørensen, Monica Hellstrøm Executive Producers: Riz Ahmed, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau Denmark/France/Sweden/Norway, 90 min Told through a mix of animation and archival footage in order to protect the anonymity of the protagonist, FLEE follows Amin, an Afghan refugee who recounts how he escaped his native country as a teen, his years-long perilous journey through multiple countries, and his constant pursuit of a place in which he could freely explore his identity and feel a sense of belonging. Now on the verge of marriage, Amin decides to reveal his hidden past for the first time, which threatens to ruin the life he has built for himself outside of Afghanistan . Presented in partnership with Out Montclair Monday, October 25, 8:00pm, Clairidge 4 Tuesday, October 26, 6:00pm, Clairidge 5

FICTION FEATURE COMPETITION

GREAT FREEDOM

Director: Sebastian Meise Producers: Sabine Moser, Oliver Neumann, Benny Drechsel Cast: Franz Rogowski, Georg Friedrich, Anton von Lucke, Thomas Prenn Austria/Germany, 117 min In postwar Germany, the Allies’ liberation does not mean freedom for everyone . Under Paragraph 175, Hans (Franz Rogowski) is spied on and imprisoned again and again, solely because of his sexuality . Throughout the years, the one steady relationship in his life proves to be the combative one he has with his cellmate Viktor (Georg Friedrich), a convicted murderer serving a life sentence . What begins as revulsion blossoms into something far more tender . Sebastian Meise’s GREAT FREEDOM is a revelation, a poignant tour-de-force anchored by Rogowski’s mesmerizing performance. Presented in partnership with Out Montclair Saturday, October 23, 7:30pm, Clairidge 2 Thursday, October 28, 7:00pm, Clairidge 1 FICTION FEATURE COMPETITION

A HERO

Director: Asghar Farhadi Producers: Alexandre Mallet-Guy, Asghar Farhadi Cast: Amir Jadidi, Mohsen Tanabandeh, Fereshteh Sadrorafaii, Sahar Goldoust, Sarina Farhadi, Saleh Karimai Iran, 127 min Celebrated filmmaker Asghar Farhadi (A SEPARATION, THE SALESMAN)’s latest film follows Rahim (Amir Jadidi) who is separated from his wife and child and imprisoned due to an unpaid debt . When he is granted two days of leave from prison, Rahim attempts to turn his life around, but instead spirals even deeper into despair, weaving a seemingly inescapable web of deceit . A HERO (winner of the Cannes 2021 Grand Prix) is an intricate tale of human morality, exploring the fragility of justice and how even the sincerest of intentions can somehow lead to tragedy . Tuesday, October 26, 7:30pm, Clairidge 2 Wednesday, October 27, 5:00pm, Clairidge 5

FUTURE/NOW COMPETITION

THE INNOCENTS

Director: Eskil Vogt Producer: Maria Ekerhovd Cast: Rakel Lenora Fløttum, Alva Brynsmo Ramstad, Mina Yasmin Bremseth Asheim, Sam Ashraf Norway/Sweden/Denmark/UK, 117 min THE INNOCENTS follows four children who become friends during the bright Nordic summer, when the days are long and tensions can seemingly rise from nowhere . Out of sight of the adults, the children discover they have hidden powers . While exploring their newfound abilities in the nearby forests and playgrounds, their innocent play takes a dark turn and strange things begin to happen . Eskil Vogt’s thrilling new film explores the interconnected nature of childhood experience, and the horror of power in the hands of children whose sense of morality is tethered to their self-interest . Friday, October 29, 6:30pm, Clairidge 5 Saturday, October 30, 7:00pm, Clairidge 1 FICTION FEATURE

JOCKEY

Director: Clint Bentley Producers: Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Nancy Schafer Cast: Clifton Collins Jr., Molly Parker, Moisés Arias USA, 95 min An aging jockey (Clifton Collins Jr .), hopes to win one last title for his longtime trainer (Molly Parker), who has acquired what appears to be a championship horse . But the years – and injuries – have taken a toll on his body, throwing into question his ability to continue his lifelong passion . And the arrival of a young rookie rider (Moisés Arias), who claims to be his son, and whom he takes under his wing, further complicates the path to fulfilling his dream. Saturday, October 30, 7:30pm, MKA Upper School

NJ FILMS COMPETITION

KILI BIG

Director: Ida Joglar Producers: Ida Joglar, Sam Kretchmar USA, 90 min A group of plus-sized women from around the world attempt to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest freestanding mountain on the planet . They call themselves the Curvy Kili Crew, 20 women determined to conquer the roof of Africa and, in doing so, make way for others like them, who have been told their body types do not belong on a mountain . KILI BIG follows the group from training through the climb, all the while exploring themes of fatness, representation, self-acceptance, and everyday acts of courage that push these climbers to the limit . Saturday, October 23, 12:00pm, Clairidge 5 Sunday, October 24, 5:00pm, Clairidge 5

NJ FILMS COMPETITION

LIFE OF CRIME 1984–2020

Director: Jon Alpert Producers: Jon Alpert, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller USA, 121 min Shot over the course of 36 years on the streets of Newark, NJ, Jon Alpert’s LIFE OF CRIME 1984-2020 is a devastating look at the toll taken by addiction and the war on drugs . Following the lives of hustlers working to earn enough money to feed their addictions, the film is a harrowing portrait of the cycles of criminality, imprisonment, and drug use that spirals ever-downward, destroying the lives and relationships of the film’s subjects through the power of relentless need. Alpert’s film is a compassionate examination that never flinches from their reality. Thursday October 28, 4:00pm, Clairidge 1 Friday, October 29, 4:00pm, Clairidge 1 DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

LISTENING TO KENNY G

Director: Penny Lane Producer: Gabriel Sedgwick USA, 97 min Kenny G is the best-selling instrumentalist of all time, and LISTENING TO KENNY G examines why that makes certain people so angry . This inventive and thought-provoking documentary, directed by Penny Lane (HAIL SATAN?) looks at how our artistic tastes shape our personal identities . Through intimate moments with Kenny as he works on a new album, rare archival footage, and conversations with music critics, record executives, radio personalities, market researchers, and Kenny’s fans, LISTENING TO KENNY G will challenge your preconceptions about music . Thursday, October 28, 7:30pm, Clairidge 2 Friday, October 29, 7:00pm, Clairidge 1

FICTION FEATURE

THE LOST DAUGHTER

Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal Producers: Charlie Dorfman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Osnat Handelsman-Keren, Talia Kleinhendler Cast: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dagmara Dominczyk, Peter Sarsgaard, Dakota Johnson, Ed Harris, Paul Mescal, Alba Rohrwacher USA/Greece/UK/Israel, 121 min Alone on a seaside vacation, Leda (Olivia Colman) becomes consumed with a young mother and daughter as she watches them on the beach . Unnerved by their compelling relationship, (and their raucous and menacing extended family), Leda is overwhelmed by her own memories of the terror, confusion and intensity of early motherhood . An impulsive act shocks Leda into the strange and ominous world of her own mind, where she is forced to face the unconventional choices she made as a young mother and their consequences . Maggie Gyllenhaal’s THE LOST DAUGHTER is a stunning directorial debut . Sunday, October 24, 4:30pm, MKA Upper School

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

MAURICE HINES: BRING THEM BACK

Director: John Carluccio Producers: John Carluccio, Tracy E . Hopkins USA, 92 min MAURICE HINES: BRING THEM BACK is a portrait of the charismatic song-and-dance man Maurice Hines, following him from his tap-dancing childhood to today. Maurice and friends—Chita Rivera, Mercedes Ellington and Debbie Allen—tell tales from his seven-decade career, including Broadway shows, a co-starring role in Francis Ford Coppola’s THE COTTON CLUB and his loving yet complex relationship with his superstar brother, the late Gregory Hines . Ever battling the challenges of being a gay, black man in show biz, Maurice shares his story with humor and grace. Presented in partnership with Out Montclair Saturday, October 23, 1:00pm, Clairidge 2 Sunday, October 24, 4:30pm, Clairidge 2

NJ FILMS COMPETITION

MAYOR MOHAMED

Director: Jeffrey M . Togman Producers: Jeffrey M . Togman, Joshua Atesh Litle, Pierre Defendini USA/Syria/Turkey, 86 min In this quintessential film about the Muslim-American immigrant experience, Mayor Mohamed Khairullah risks his life to bring humanitarian relief into Syria while simultaneously fighting the forces of Islamophobia in the United States. When a conservative local politician in his small New Jersey town runs a campaign to unseat him as mayor, his own political survival, and a particular view of what it means to be American, is on the line . Jeffrey M . Togman’s MAYOR MOHAMED explores the fragility of our democratic values with dignity and keen insight into the issues that frame our collective identity . Saturday, October 23, 4:30pm, Clairidge 2 Thursday, October 28, 8:15pm, Clairidge 4

FICTION FEATURE COMPETITION

MEMORIA

Director: Apichatpong Weerasethakul Producers: Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Diana Bustamante, Simon Field, Keith Griffiths, Charles de Meaux, Michael Weber, Julio Chavezmontes Cast: Tilda Swinton, Elkin Díaz, Jeanne Balibar Colombia/ Thailand/ United Kingdom/ France/ Germany/ Mexico, 136 min From the extraordinary mind of Palme d’Or winning director Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and starring Academy Award® winner Tilda Swinton, MEMORIA is a bewildering drama about a Scottish woman, who, after hearing a loud ‘bang’ at daybreak, begins experiencing a mysterious sensory syndrome while traversing the jungles of Colombia . Filled with Weerasethakul’s gorgeous, languid takes and exploring the metaphysical themes that have shaped his work for years, MEMORIA nevertheless takes his storytelling in a bold, new direction, with brilliant sound design and Swinton’s performance creating an unsettling atmosphere that culminates in a startling conclusion . Wednesday, October 27, 8:00pm, Clairidge 5 Saturday, October 30, 7:30pm, Clairidge 4

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

NORTH BY CURRENT

Director: Angelo Madsen Minax Producer: Felix Endara USA, 85 min After the inconclusive death of his young niece, filmmaker Angelo Madsen Minax returns to his rural Michigan hometown, preparing to make a film about a broken criminal justice system . Instead, he pivots to excavate the depths of generational addiction, Christian fervor, and trans embodiment . NORTH BY CURRENT is a visual rumination on the understated relationships between mothers and children, truths and myths, losses and gains . Presented in partnership with Trans Affirming Alliance Sunday, October 24, 12:00pm, Clairidge 4 NJ FILMS COMPETITION

ONE PINT AT A TIME

Director: Aaron Hosé Producers: Aaron Hosé, Brigitte Hosé USA, 89 min Craft beer generates tens of billions of dollars annually for the US economy . Despite beer’s Egyptian and African heritage, these traditions have been mostly forgotten and are rarely found in American brewing culture . Today, Black-owned breweries make up less than 1% of the nearly 9,000 breweries in operation . Eager to shift the historical perception of who makes and drinks beer, Black brewers, brand owners and influencers across the country are reshaping the craft beer industry and the future of America’s favorite adult beverage . ONE PINT AT A TIME surveys the black craft beer landscape with rich insights . Tuesday, October 26, 8:15pm, Clairidge 4 Wednesday, October 27, 6:00pm, Clairidge 4

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

PAPER & GLUE

A JR Project Producers: Sara Bernstein, Justin Wilkes, Dallas Brennan Rexer, Marc Azoulay France/USA, 94 min From acclaimed French street artist JR (FACES PLACES), and featuring collaborator Ladj Ly (LES MISÉRABLES), PAPER & GLUE showcases some of JR’s most monumental projects, starting with early illicit graffiti videos captured on nighttime Paris rooftops . From the US-Mexico border to the favelas of Rio de Janeiro to a current collaboration at a California supermax prison, JR turns photographs of residents into eye-catching, immersive aerial installations . Magnetic and insightful, JR’s art re-centers the narrative on some of the most overlooked members of society, with awe-inspiring results .

Saturday, October 23, 6:45pm,

Clairidge 1

Tuesday, October 26, 5:30pm,

Clairidge 4

FICTION FEATURE

PARIS, 13TH DISTRICT

Director: Jacques Audiard Producers: Jacques Audiard, Valérie Schermann Cast: Lucie Zhang, Makita Samba, Noémie Merlant, Jehnny Beth France, 106 min Adapted from the illustrated stories of the acclaimed New York cartoonist Adrian Tomine, Jacques Audiard’s PARIS, 13TH DISTRICT is the story of young lovers and the rollercoaster of sex, emotion, and friendship that defines contemporary romance . Filmed in beautiful black and white in the City of Lights, PARIS, 13TH DISTRICT tells the story of Émilie (Lucie Zhang) and Camille (Makita Samba) who meet when Camille answers Émilie’s ad seeking a new roommate . But when sparks begin to fly, new relationships and attractions create tensions that re-frame the romantic orbits that define their lives. Tuesday, October 26, 7:00pm, Clairidge 1 Wednesday, October 27, 7:00pm, Clairidge 1

FICTION FEATURE

PASSING

Director: Rebecca Hall Producers: Nina Yang Bongiovi, Forest Whitaker, Margot Hand, Rebecca Hall Cast: Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, André Holland, Alexander Skarsgård, Bill Camp USA, 98 min Adapted from the celebrated 1929 novel of the same name by Nella Larsen, PASSING tells the story of two Black women, Irene Redfield (Tessa Thompson) and Clare Kendry (Academy Award® nominee Ruth Negga), who can “pass” as white but choose to live on opposite sides of the color line during the height of the Harlem Renaissance in late 1920s New York . As their lives become more deeply intertwined, Irene finds her once-steady existence upended by Clare, and PASSING becomes a riveting examination of obsession, repression and the lies people tell themselves and others to protect their carefully constructed realities .

Saturday, October 23, 8:00pm, The Wellmont

FICTION FEATURE

PETITE MAMAN

Director: Céline Sciamma Producers: Bénédicte Couvreur Cast: Joséphine Sanz, Gabrielle Sanz, Nina Meurisse, Stéphane Varupenne, Margot Abascal France, 70 min After the passing of her grandmother, 8-year-old Nelly (Joséphine Sanz) returns with her parents to her mother’s childhood home to begin clearing out the house . While wandering the surrounding woods, Nelly discovers a secret that unlocks her mother’s past . With PETITE MAMAN, Céline Sciamma (PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE) once again brings forth a magical quietude, this time through the exploration of the emotional bonds between mothers and daughters . Sciamma’s luscious, cinematic poetry takes pleasure in confronting the spirit of imagination and the power of memory through the eyes of a child . Presented in partnership with Out Montclair Saturday, October 23, 8:30pm, Clairidge 5 Monday, October 25, 5:30pm, Clairidge 2 FUTURE/NOW COMPETITION

POPPY FIELD

Director: Eugen Jebeleanu Producer: Velvet Moraru Cast: Conrad Mericoffer, Alexandru Potocean, Radouan Leflahi, Cendana Trifan Romania, 82 min Planning to spend a romantic weekend with his longdistance boyfriend, Cristi’s tender reunion is cut short when he is called in to handle a crisis at work . Cristi is a member of the Bucharest police force, and his unit is sent to quell a protest at a local movie theater, where a far-right group has interrupted the screening of a queer film. As tensions mount, Cristi, closeted to his fellow officers, begins to spiral out of control when he spots a former fling in the crowd, blurring the line between authority and the truth . Presented in partnership with Out Montclair Friday, October 22, 6:30pm, Clairidge 5 Monday, October 25th, 4:00pm, Clairidge 1

FICTION FEATURE

PRAYERS FOR THE STOLEN

Director: Tatiana Huezo Producers: Nicolás Celis, Jim Stark Cast: Ana Cristina Ordóñez González, Marya Membreño, Mayra Batalla Mexico/Germany/Brazil/Qatar, 110 min In a mountain town, where corn and poppies grow, the girls wear boyish haircuts and have hiding places underground to escape the threat of being kidnapped by the cartels that control the area . Ana and her two best friends grow up together, discovering what it means to be women in a community marked by violence. Their mothers train them to flee death, and to escape those who would turn them into slaves or ghosts . PRAYERS FOR THE STOLEN is a powerful drama that looks into the dark heart of the narco war in Mexico .

Thursday, October 28, 4:30pm, Clairidge 2 Saturday, October 30, 2:00pm, Clairidge 4

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION

PRESIDENT

Director: Camilla Nielsson Producers: Signe Byrge Sørensen, Joslyn Barnes Denmark/USA/Norway, 115 min With PRESIDENT, director Camilla Nielsson returns to Zimbabwe to find the country is again at a crossroads. The new leader of the opposition party MDC Alliance, the young and charismatic Nelson Chamisa, is challenging the ZANU-PF, which in its heyday led the decolonization struggle. Represented by the acting president Emmerson Mnangagwa, ZANU-PF is determined to hang on to power. Can a free, fair and transparent election that reflects the will of the people proceed? PRESIDENT shows the international push for electoral integrity in a country desperate to build its democratic institutions . Friday, October 29, 5:30pm, Clairidge 4 Saturday, October 30, 3:00pm, Clairidge 5

FICTION FEATURE

RED ROCKET

Director: Sean Baker Producers: Sean Baker, Alex Coco, Samantha Quan, Alex Saks, Shih-Ching Tsou Cast: Simon Rex, Bree Elrod, Suzanna Son, Brenda Deiss USA, 128 min RED ROCKET is Sean Baker’s (THE FLORIDA PROJECT) examination of a small-time hustler looking to create his own version of the American Dream . Mikey (Simon Rex) returns to his small, Texas hometown after spending years in California working in the adult film industry. Down on his luck, but unwilling to take any responsibility for his ongoing misfortunes, he talks his way back into the life of his estranged wife Lexi (Bree Elrod) . But when Mikey meets a teenage cashier at his local donut shop, he hatches a plan to do whatever it takes to get back on top . Sunday, October 24, 7:30pm, Clairidge 2 DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

RIVER

Directors: Jennifer Peedom, Joseph Nizeti Producers: Jennifer Peedom, Jo-Anne McGowan, John Smithson Narrator: Willem Dafoe Australia, 75 min Throughout history, rivers have shaped our landscapes and our journeys, and flowed through our cultures and dreams. RIVER takes its audience on a journey through space and time, spanning six continents and showing rivers on scales and from perspectives never seen before . Its union of image, music and sparse, poetic script creates a film that is both dream-like and powerful, honoring the wildness of rivers but also recognizing their vulnerability. Featuring an ethereal score interpreted by the Australian Chamber Orchestra and music from Jonny Greenwood & Radiohead, merged with Willem Dafoe’s narration - RIVER is a cinematic and musical odyssey that will leave you spellbound . Friday, October 22, 7:00pm, Clairidge 1 Saturday, October 23, 5:30pm, Clairidge 4

FICTION FEATURE COMPETITION

THE SOUVENIR PART II

Director: Joanna Hogg Producers: Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Emma Norton, Luke Schiller Cast: Honor Swinton Byrne, Tilda Swinton, Ariane Labed, Jaygann Ayeh, Richard Ayoade UK, 108 min The much-awaited follow up to her mesmerizing 2019 masterpiece, Joanna Hogg’s THE SOUVENIR PART II follows Julie (Honor Swinton Byrne) in the aftermath of her tumultuous relationship with Anthony (Tom Burke), a charismatic and manipulative older man. As Julie begins to untangle her fraught love for him in the making of her graduation film, she deliberately sorts fact from his elaborately constructed fiction. The hypnotic and enchanting story of this young woman’s complicated reaction to a formative first love is also a portrait of an artist that transcends the halting particulars of everyday life. Saturday, October 23, 6:00pm, Clairidge 5 Sunday, October 24, 1:30pm, Clairidge 2

FICTION FEATURE

SPENCER

Director: Pablo Larraín Producers: Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín, Paul Webster, Jonas Dornbach, Janine Jackowski Cast: Kristen Stewart, Timothy Spall, Sally Hawkins, Sean Harris Germany/UK, 111 min When Pablo Larraín’s hypnotic new film SPENCER begins, the marriage of Princess Diana and Prince Charles has long since grown cold . Though rumors of affairs and a divorce abound, peace is ordained for the Christmas festivities at the Queen’s Sandringham Estate; tradition continues as always, as the royals enjoy a holiday of eating and drinking, shooting and hunting. Diana knows the game, but this year, things will be profoundly different. SPENCER, featuring a mesmerizing performance from Kristen Stewart as Diana, is a new imagining of what might have happened during those few, fateful days . Sunday, October 24, 7:30pm, MKA Upper School

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

THIS IS JESSICA

Director: Andrea Meyerson Producers: Marsha Naify, Andrea Meyerson USA, 81 min From her earliest years, when Jessica Bair was being raised as a boy named Jonathan, she knew she was a girl . But born into the Mormon church, she also knew that saying so out loud could cause her to lose everything—her family, her faith, her life on earth and her eternal soul. Terrified to reveal her true self, young Jessica / Jonathan instead set about creating the perfect life of a young Mormon man . THIS IS JESSICA paints an intimate, emotional portrait of a woman forced to make a heartwrenching decision in order to save herself . Presented in partnership with Trans Affirming Alliance Sunday, October 24, 3:00pm, Clairidge 4

FUTURE/NOW COMPETITION

WE’RE ALL GOING TO THE WORLD’S FAIR

Director: Jane Schoenbrun Producers: Daniel Patrick Carbone, Hannah Dweck, Abby Harri, Mila Matveeva, Theodore Schaefer, Sarah Winshall, Carlos Zozaya Cast: Anna Cobb, Michael J Rogers USA, 86 min Casey (Anna Cobb) is obsessed with a dark, twisted online game that features a progressively more dangerous series of creepy physical challenges . But as she immerses herself in the stories and community of the game, she undergoes a transformative personal change she could never have foreseen . Jane Schoenbrun’s provocative WE’RE ALL GOING TO THE WORLD’S FAIR is a one of a kind thriller that explores Casey’s interior world with a probing curiosity that highlights the uncertainty at her core . Presented in partnership with Trans Affirming Alliance Sunday, October 24, 8:30pm, Clairidge 4 FUTURE/NOW COMPETITION

WHAT DO WE SEE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SKY?

Director: Alexandre Koberidze Producer: Mariam Shatberashvili Cast: Ani Karseladze, Giorgi Bochorishvili, Oliko Barbakadze, Giorgi Ambroladze, Vakhtang Panchulidze, Sofio Tchanishvili Germany/Georgia, 150 min It’s love at first sight when Lisa and Giorgi meet by chance on a street in the Georgian city of Kutaisi . Love hits them so suddenly, they even forget to ask each other’s names . Before continuing on their way, they agree to meet the next day, but little do they know that an evil eye has cast a spell on them . Will they meet again? And if they do, will they know who they are? Alexandre Koberidze’s shapeshifting romance WHAT DO WE SEE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SKY? is a magical fable of love and missed connections . Thursday, October 28, 5:00pm, Clairidge 4 Saturday, October 30, 4:00pm, Clairidge 1

FICTION FEATURE

THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD

Director: Joachim Trier Producers: Thomas Robsahm, Andrea Berentsen Ottmar Cast: Renate Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie, Herbert Nordrum Norway/France/Sweden/Denmark, 127 min Julie (Renate Reinsve) is restlessly cycling through career paths, relationships and the taxing realities of existence . As she goes hurtling into her 30s, she’s left wondering: when will life really begin, and what is her true purpose? Framed around Julie’s delightful indecisiveness, the film follows four years of ups and downs, important relationships, and what ifs. This darkly comedic journey from director Joachim Trier (OSLO, AUGUST 31) is a biting take on the cinematic romance in the modern age, and earned Reinsve the Best Actress Prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Friday, October 29, 8:00pm, Clairidge 4 Saturday, October 30, 5:00pm, Clairidge 2