31st Edition of the Hamptons International Film Festival Announces Full 2023 Slate

HamptonsFilm announced today the full slate of programming for the 2023 edition of the Hamptons International Festival (HIFF), including the Closing Night presentation of Bradley Cooper’s MAESTRO, additional Signature Programming including “A Conversation with…” Series with Paul Simon, and the full film programming lineup including additional films to screen within the Spotlight section, Documentary and Narrative Competition titles, short film sections, as well as Signature Programs including Views From Long Island; Conflict and Resolution; and Air, Land & Sea. The Festival also announced filmmaker Celine Song will attend the festival for a Special Screening of her latest narrative feature PAST LIVES, and will receive the festival’s Breakthrough Artist Award. The 31st edition of the festival will feature a lineup of films that are 49% female-directed and represent 42 countries from around the world. The festival had a record number of submissions this year and will screen 70 features and 46 shorts with 8 World Premieres, 3 North American Premieres, 11 US Premieres, 13 East Coast Premieres, and 8 New York Premieres.

MAESTRO is a towering and fearless love story chronicling the lifelong relationship between Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein. A love letter to life and art, Maestro at its core is an emotionally epic portrayal of family and love. The film marks Bradley Cooper’s second directorial film after A STAR IS BORN (2018). Cooper stars in the film alongside Carey Mulligan, Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, and Sarah Silverman. The film will screen on October 12 as the Closing Night presentation, and is set to be released by Netflix later this year.

“MAESTRO is a beautifully crafted, raw, and heartfelt film. We look forward to sharing this glimpse into the love story between Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein,” said HamptonsFilm Executive Director Anne Chaisson. “We are thrilled to have Bradley Cooper’s next directorial outing after A STAR IS BORN as the closing film of our 31st edition.”

From Saturday, October 7th through Monday, October 9th, the festival will also host a series of “A Conversation With…” discussions, sponsored by The Macallan. Along with the previously announced conversation with Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Todd Haynes, who will attend the festival on behalf of Netflix’s MAY DECEMBER, and will receive the festival’s Achievement in Directing Award. The festival will also host a discussion with documentary subject and Grammy Award-winning musician Paul Simon, who will attend on behalf of Alex Gibney’s IN RESTLESS DREAMS: THE MUSIC OF PAUL SIMON, screening as this year’s Centerpiece presentation, sponsored by UBS and Purist Magazine.

HIFF has also announced director Celine Song will receive the 2023 Breakthrough Artist Award during a Q&A on October 11, following a special screening of PAST LIVES, which follows two deeply connected childhood friends who drifted apart after one’s family emigrated from South Korea, as they reunite for one fateful week as they confront notions of love and destiny. PAST LIVES marks Song’s debut feature film which premiered at Sundance 2023. The film was released by A24 in the U.S. in June to critical and audience acclaim, and will be released globally throughout the year. Her play Endlings received its world premiere in 2019 at American Repertory Theater and had its New York premiere in 2020 at New York Theatre Workshop. She has been a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and a semifinalist for the American Playwriting Foundation’s Relentless Award.

Additional programming announced includes:

Newly announced Spotlight titles, sponsored by AUDI, include the New York Premiere of Sony Picture Classics’ A LITTLE PRAYER, directed by Angus MacLachlan, following a man who tries to protect his daughter-in-law when he discovers his son is having an affair; the East Coast Premiere of MGM Studios’ AMERICAN FICTION, Cord Jefferson’s directorial debut, which confronts our culture’s obsession with reducing people to outrageous stereotypes; the New York Premiere of A24’s DREAM SCENARIO, written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli, following a hapless family man who finds his life turned upside down when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams; NEON’s EILEEN, directed by William Oldroyd, following a young woman’s friendship with an intoxicating woman that entangles her in a shocking crime; the North American Premiere of EX-HUSBANDS, directed by Noah Pritzker, following a man going through a crisis when his parents divorce after 65 years, his own wife leaves him, and his two sons face struggles in their own lives; the the East Coast Premiere of Apple Original Films’ FINGERNAILS, directed by Christos Nikou, which follows a couple, Anna and Ryan, who have found true love, proven by a controversial new technology. When Anna takes a position at above testing institute, she meets Amir, an instructor who makes her questions her result; there’s just one problem: Anna still isn’t sure; the East Coast Premiere of Focus Features’ THE HOLDOVERS, directed by Academy Award®-winning director Alexander Payne, which follows the story of a curmudgeonly instructor at a New England prep school, who is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break with the handful of students with nowhere to go, as he gradually forms an unlikely bond with brainy troublemaker and the school’s head cook; and the US Premiere of Hulu’s QUIZ LADY, directed by Jessica Yu, which follows a brilliant but tightly wound, game show-obsessed young woman and her estranged, train-wreck of a sister as they work together to help cover their mother’s gambling debts. Previously announced Spotlight titles include ALL OF US STRANGERS, AVENUE OF THE GIANTS, FRESH KILLS, I’LL BE RIGHT THERE, MAY DECEMBER, RUSTIN, and THE ZONE OF INTEREST.

“It is with great excitement that we are able to share the final additions to our well-rounded and diversified programming, including our Signature Programs, and additional spotlight and competition selections,” said HamptonsFilm Artistic Director David Nugent. “It is an honor to host so many talented filmmakers and artists as they share their stories with our film-loving community, including the legendary Paul Simon and accomplished filmmaker Celine Song.”

The Narrative Competition section of this year’s festival, sponsored by Silvercup Studios, will include the US Premiere of Utopia’s RED ROOMS, directed by Pascal Plante, which exposes the underbelly of the internet through an unflinching critique of our society’s fascination with violent crime; the East Coast Premiere of Sony Picture Classics’ SHAYDA, directed by Noora Niasari, following a young Iranian mother and her six-year-old daughter who find refuge in an Australian women’s shelter during the two weeks of the Iranian New Year (Nowruz); Magnolia Picture’s THE FEELING THAT THE TIME FOR DOING SOMETHING HAS PASSED, directed by Joanna Arnow, following the life of a woman as time passes in her long-term casual BDSM relationship, low-level corporate job, and quarrelsome Jewish family; the New York Premiere of TIGER STRIPES, directed by Amanda Nell Eu, following an 11-year-old girl who is carefree until she starts to experience horrifying physical changes to her body; and the New York Premiere of Film Movement’s 20,000 SPECIES OF BEES, directed by Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren, following an eight-year-old and her mother who experience revelations that will change their lives forever while living in a village house linked to beekeeping in the summer.

The Documentary Competition section of this year’s festival, sponsored by Silvercup Studios, will include the East Coast Premiere of ANGEL APPLICANT, directed by Ken August Meyer, which tells the story of a man who discovers empathetic wisdom on how to cope with his deadly autoimmune disease within the colorful expressive works of the late Swiss-German modern artist, Paul Klee; Sideshow/Janus Films’ ORLANDO, MY POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY, directed by Paul B. Preciado, which tells stories of transition through unique reenactments and visual interpretations of Virginia Woolf’s Orlando; the New York Premiere of Greenwich Entertainment’s SMOKE SAUNA SISTERHOOD, directed by Anna Hints, following a multigenerational group of women who embark on a smoke sauna tradition known as “savvusanna kombõ,” as they come together in protective darkness to share secrets and wash off the shame that has accumulated in their bodies; the East Coast Premiere of THIS WORLD IS NOT MY OWN, directed by Petter Ringbom and Marquise Stillwell, which vividly brings to life the dynamic story of Nellie Mae Rowe, the daughter of a former slave who made brilliant art in obscurity for her entire life, until she met wealthy gallerist Judith Alexander; as well as previously announced TELL THEM YOU LOVE ME.

As part of the Signature Programs, the Conflict and Resolution section, sponsored by MUBI, will include A REVOLUTION ON CANVAS, directed by Sara Nodjoumi, working with co-director and husband, Till Schauder, for her directorial debut with this personal film, diving into the mystery surrounding the disappearance of more than 100 “treasonous” paintings by her father, seminal Iranian modern artist Nickzad “Nicky” Nodjoumi; BEYOND UTOPIA, directed by Madeleine Gavin, which is a suspenseful look at the lengths people will go to gain freedom, embedded with a courageous pastor as he works tirelessly to guide various individuals attempting to flee one of the most oppressive places on Earth: North Korea; INVISIBLE NATION, directed by Vanessa Hope, which is a living account of the election and tenure of Tsai Ing-wen, the first female president of Taiwan, and her tightrope walk as she balances the hopes and dreams of her nation between the colossal geopolitical forces of the U.S. and China; the East Coast Premiere MTV Documentary Films’ of MOURNING IN LOD, directed by Hilla Medalia, which follows the fates of three families that are inextricably intertwined in a vicious cycle of violence in the city of Lod, Israel, where Israelis and Palestinians live side by side; and the US Premiere of THE OLD OAK, directed by Ken Loach, about the

As part of the Signature Programs, the Views from Long Island section will include the World Premiere of MARY HEILMANN: WAVES, ROADS, & HALLUCINATIONS, directed by Matt Creed, which invites viewers into the extraordinary life of artist Mary Heilmann, who ranks amongst the most influential American abstract painters of her generation; and the World Premiere of THESE DAYS, directed by Junior Gonzalez, a docudrama about Jay, a 15-year-old talented artist trying to understand his own journey in life; as well as previously announced FRESH KILLS. With support from the Suffolk County Film Commission.

As part of the Signature Programs, the Air, Land, and Sea section, sponsored by HC&G, will include COMMON GROUND, directed by Josh Tickell and Rebecca Tickell, which profiles a hopeful and uplifting movement of white, black, and indigenous farmers who are using alternative “regenerative” models of agriculture that could balance the climate, save our health, and stabilize America’s economy—before it’s too late; the World Premiere of SILENT FALLOUT: BABY TEETH SPEAK, directed by Hideaki Ito, which unveils the shocking legacy of nuclear testing in the US and the ongoing policy decisions shaping our future with a post-screening discussion led by HamptonsFilm board member Alec Baldwin; and the East Coast Premiere of HBO’s TREES AND OTHER ENTANGLEMENTS, directed by Irene Taylor, following the entangled lives of people and trees they love grow in a contemporary tale of time and our connections to the natural world and one another.

In the World Cinema Documentary section, sponsored by Dragon Hemp, the slate includes the New York Premiere of IFC Films’ THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SHERE HITE, directed by Nicole Newnham, which shines a light on a forgotten feminist figure who was ahead of her time, silenced by Americans unwilling to confront the honesty of women’s sexual agency and desire; the US Premiere of FOUR DAUGHTERS, directed by Academy Award®-nominated Tunisian Kaouther Ben Hania, which reconstructs the story of Olfa Hamrouni and her four daughters, two of whom were radicalized by Islamic extremists; Zipporah Films’ MENUS-PLAISIRS – LES TROISGROS, directed by Frederick Wiseman, which centers on the day-to-night operations of the legendary restaurant Troisgros, founded 93 years ago and currently being passed down to the 4th generation in a family of chefs; the New York Premiere of National Geographic’s THE MISSION, directed by Emmy-winning documentarians Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine, which examines the fateful journey John Chau took to bring Christianity to the isolated indigenous people of North Sentinel Island; Apple Original Films’s THE PIGEON TUNNEL, directed by Academy Award-winning documentarian Errol Morris, which pulls back the curtain on the storied life and career of former British spy David Cornwell, better known by his pen name John le Carré; the US Premiere of PRAYING FOR ARMAGEDDON, directed by Tonje Hessen Schei and Michael Rowley, which reveals the power and influence of U.S. fundamentalist Evangelicals as they aim to fulfill the prophecy of a Holy War that will trigger the Second Coming of Christ; RON DELSENER PRESENTS, directed by Jake Sumner, which takes audiences on a tour through a half-century of live music with music business pioneer Ron Delsener; RULE OF TWO WALLS, directed by David Gutnik, which is an intimate look at the war in Ukraine, as seen through the eyes of Ukrainian artists who remained in their country to make art as a defiant act in the face of aggression; the US Premiere of SONGS OF EARTH, directed by Margreth Olin, who embarks on a yearlong existential journey, reconnecting with her aging parents as they reflect on both their long and happy marriage and their place in the natural world; the US Premiere of SUMMER QAMP, directed by Jen Markowitz, following a group of LGBTQ+ youth at an idyllic lakeside camp in Alberta, Canada where campers enjoy the traditional summer camp experience in a safe, affirming environment deepening their connections with their community and themselves; as well as the previously announced World Premieres of STORY & PICTURES BY, and THEY CALLED HIM MOSTLY HARMLESS.

In the World Cinema Narrative section, sponsored by Naturopathica, the slate includes NEON’s Palme d’Or winning ANATOMY OF A FALL, directed by Justine Triet, following a woman who becomes the main suspect when her husband falls to his death in a remote town in the French Alps, with their young son as the only witness; the US Premiere of CHUCK CHUCK BABY, directed by Janis Pugh, a film of love, loss, music, and female friendship set in and around the falling feathers of a chicken processing plant in industrial north Wales; Janus/Sideshow Film’s EVIL DOES NOT EXIST, directed by Academy Award winner Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, which follows Takumi and his daughter Hana, who live in a village threatened by a plan to build a glamping site near Takumi’s house that would damage the environment; MUBI’s FALLEN LEAVES, directed by Award-winning filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki, a timeless, hopeful and ultimately satisfying love story about two lonely souls’ path to happiness – and the numerous hurdles they encounter along the way; FANCY DANCE, directed by Erica Tremblay, which follows a Native American hustler who kidnaps her niece from her white grandparents after her sister’s disappearance and sets out for the state powwow in hopes of keeping what is left of their family intact; GREEN BORDER, directed by three-time Academy Award nominee Agnieszka Holland, following the dangers faced by asylum seekers along European borders while reflecting the moral choices that fall to ordinary people every day; NEON’s

LA CHIMERA, directed by Academy Award nominee Alice Rohrwacher, taking place in 1980s Tuscany, where Arthur leads a band of tombaroli, thieves of ancient Etruscan relics and archaeological wonders, while also searching the mythological afterlife for Beniamina, the woman he has lost; the US Premiere of MONSTER, directed by Kore-eda Hirokazu, which unfolds through the eyes of a mother, teacher, and child following a mother who notices her son is acting strangely and discovers that a teacher may be responsible; the US Premiere of THE PEASANTS, directed by DK Welchman and Hugh Welchman, which tells the story of Jagna, a young woman determined to forge her own path within the confines of a late 19th century patriarchal Polish village; NEON’s PERFECT DAYS, directed by Academy Award-nominated director Win Wenders, following Hirayama, a toilet cleaner living in Tokyo, whose restrained, structured life is disrupted when he strikes up an unexpected friendship with a young girl; the East Coast Premiere of Sony Picture Classics’ THE PERSIAN VERSION, directed by Maryam Keshavarz, which tells the story of Iranian-American Leila, who navigates her relationships at arm’s length in an effort to balance her opposing cultures; the East Coast Premiere of Magnolia Pictures’ THE PROMISED LAND, directed by Nikolaj Arcel, which follows the impoverished Captain Ludvig Kahlen in 1755 as he sets out to conquer a vast uninhabitable land to cultivate valuable crops and build a colony for the King in exchange for a desperately desired royal name for himself; RADICAL, directed by Christopher Zalla, based on a true story of a frustrated teacher in a Mexican border town plagued by neglect, corruption, and violence, who tries a radical new method to break through his students’ apathy and unlock their curiosity, their potential, and maybe even their genius; NEON’s ROBOT DREAMS, directed by Pablo Berger, based on the popular graphic novel by the North American writer Sara Varon, following the adventures and misfortunes of Dog and Robot in NYC during the ’80s; the North American Premiere of Netflix’s SOCIETY OF THE SNOW, directed by J.A. Bayona and telling the true story of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, which in 1972 crashed in the heart of the Andes and trapped a team of rugby players in one of the most hostile and inaccessible environments on the planet; IFC Films’ THE TASTE OF THINGS, directed by Tran Anh Hung, set in France in 1889, following Dodin Bouffant, a chef living with his personal cook and lover Eugénie; the East Coast Premiere of Sony Pictures Classics’ THE TEACHER’S LOUNGE, directed by İlker Çatak, which tells the story of an idealistic new teacher decides to get to the bottom of a series of thefts at a German high school when students point fingers at their Turkish classmate and tensions rise; and TÓTEM, directed by Lila Avilés, which follows a

HIFF also announced nine programs of short films this year, including Narrative Competition, Documentary Competition, New York Women in Film & Television: Women Calling the Shots, the University Short Films Showcase, Fly! Shorts for All Ages, Fish Out of Water!, Without a Roadmap, State of the Union, and the Views From Long Island shorts program.

In addition, the festival has announced the jury members for the 2023 festival. The Narrative Jury will include Arianna Bocco, considered one of the most seasoned and powerful content strategy and distribution leaders in the independent film industry, most recently serving as the President of IFC Films, leading the acquisition of over 600 films and developing long-lasting relationships with renowned, award-winning filmmakers; David Koepp, American film director and screenwriter who has written or co-written the screenplays for more than thirty films, best known for writing JURASSIC PARK directed by Steven Spielberg, THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, IINDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL, and SPIDER-MAN directed by Sam Raimi; and Matt Singer, the editor and film critic of ScreenCrush.com, and the current chair of the New York Film Critics Circle. Caryn Coleman, the founder of The Future of Film is Female, a non-profit organization that amplifies the work of all women and non-binary filmmakers through its short film fund, commitment to exhibition, and community building programs; Marie Therese Guirgis, the Head of Documentary at Play/Action Pictures, with producing and EP credits including 2022 Academy Award-winner SUMMER OF SOUL by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson; MLK/FBI and THE LEAGUE, both by Sam Pollard; TOTALLY UNDER CONTROL by Alex Gibney, and more; and Carlos Sandoval, Emmy-nominated and Sundance award-winning filmmaker, best known for AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, CLASS APART, and FARMINGVILLE; will make up this year’s Documentary Jury.

As previously announced, the festival will open with the East Coast Premiere of Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi’s narrative feature debut, Netflix’s NYAD on October 5. The film, which stars Academy Award® nominee Annette Bening, Academy Award® winner Jodie Foster, and Rhys Ifans, tells the remarkable story of American marathon swimmer Diana Nyad (Bening), and is based on Nyad’s 2015 autobiography Find a Way. The festival will also host the New York Premiere of IN RESTLESS DREAMS: THE MUSIC OF PAUL SIMON as this year’s Centerpiece Film, set to screen on October 6. Directed by Alex Gibney, the documentary is the definitive portrait of Paul Simon that follows him inside the studio as he makes his new album Seven Psalms, while also looking back on his six-decade, Grammy Award-winning career with countless musical peaks from Sounds of Silence to Graceland. The previously announced Compassion, Justice & Animal Rights Signature Program, sponsored by Dragon Hemp, will include documentary features ROWDY GIRL and WILDING, as well as documentary short HAPPY.

The 31st Annual Hamptons Film Festival will run October 5-12, 2023. HIFF thanks sponsors and supporters for this year’s festival, including returning Premiere Sponsor Audi; Lead Sponsor The Macallan; Signature Sponsors King & Spalding, and UBS; Supporting Sponsors Naturopathica, Dragon Hemp, Silvercup, and Regal Cinemas; as well as official Media Sponsors Variety, WNBC, The Purist, The East Hampton Star, Signature Sponsor The Atlantic, and new supporting sponsor MUBI; Contributing Sponsors Assemble Media, Montauk Brewing Company, Natural Geographics, Netflix, Owl’s Brew, Wolffer Estate Vineyard, and long term support from New York State Council on the Arts, and Suffolk County Film Commission. For more information, please visit www.hamptonsfilmfest.org.

2023 Hamptons International Film Festival Lineup:

OPENING NIGHT FILM

Sponsored by Naturopathica

ANATOMY OF A FALL

dir. Justine Triet (France), 2023

When Samuel (Samuel Theis) falls to his death in a remote town in the French Alps, his wife Sandra (Sandra Hüller, 2006 HIFF Rising Star) becomes the main suspect and their young son Daniel (MiloMachado Graner) is the only witness. Winner of this year’s prestigious Palme d’Or at Cannes, director Justine Triet skillfully spins an investigation of the circumstances surrounding Samuel’s death into anunsettling psychological journey through the depths of a conflicted marital dynamic. ANATOMY OF A FALL is a legal thriller about perception, deceit, and the elusive nature of truth. A NEON release.

CHUCK CHUCK BABY

US Premiere

dir. Janis Pugh (UK), 2023

Nestled amongst the falling feathers of a chicken factory in industrial North Wales—and featuring the perennially uplifting music of Neil Diamond, Janis Ian, and Minnie Riperton—CHUCK CHUCK BABY followsHelen (Louise Brealey), a thirty-something woman packaging poultry by night and caring for her dying ex-mother-in-law by day. Her mundane routine is jolted when Joanne (Annabel Scholey), her secretchildhood crush, returns home. As they reconnect, their romance begins to flourish, but can they move on from the weight of their pasts? With plenty of heart, director Janis Pugh delivers a joyful, honest storyabout finding the courage to let go and allow love to prevail.

EVIL DOES NOT EXIST

dir. Ryûsuke Hamaguchi (Japan), 2023

Directed by Academy Award® winner Ryûsuke Hamaguchi (DRIVE MY CAR, HIFF 2021), EVIL DOES NOT EXIST is an empathetic, simmering slow burn. In the rural Japanese village where Takumi (Hitoshi Omika) and his young daughter live, tensions rise when two agents arrive with plans to build a glamping site for tourists. As villagers react to the catastrophic ecological damage they believe would result, the agents attempt to change their minds, while also wrestling with their own culpability. Punctuated by Eiko Ishibashi’s melancholy score, this profound drama asks the viewer to contend with both the growingthreat of environmental capitalism and the costs to those tasked with the dirty work. A Sideshow/Janus Films release.

FALLEN LEAVES

dir. Aki Kaurismäki (Finland/Germany), 2023

Masterful Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki (LE HAVRE, THE OTHER SIDE OF HOPE) returns with a timeless and hopeful love story about two lonely souls who meet by chance and find a path to happiness.Their journey is filled with life’s natural obstacles big and small, including alcoholism, lost phone numbers, and not knowing each other’s names or addresses. Winner of the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, Kaurismäki’s playful and idiosyncratic FALLEN LEAVES is a tender tragicomedy punctuated by deadpan humor and a heartwarming conclusion. A MUBI release.

FANCY DANCE

dir. Erica Tremblay (USA), 2023

Native American hustler Jax (Lily Gladstone, KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON) searches tirelessly for her missing sister while caring for her niece Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson). When child services places Roki under the care of her white grandparents (Shea Whigham, Audrey Wasilewski), Jax and Roki run away together in hopes of reuniting their family at the state powwow. Director Erica Tremblay delivers an affecting, accomplished debut feature full of heart, which premiered to critical acclaim at Sundance. Anchored by tender, powerful performances from Gladstone and newcomer Deroy-Olson, FANCY DANCE captures both the devastation of loss and the resilience of those left behind.

GREEN BORDER

dir. Agnieszka Holland (Poland/France/Czech Republic/Belgium), 2023

Three-time Academy Award® nominee Agnieszka Holland’s (THE SECRET GARDEN, EUROPA EUROPA) eye-opening new feature immerses audiences in the dangers faced by asylum seekers along European borders while reflecting the moral choices that fall to ordinary people every day. Set in the treacherous

forests that make up the so-called “green border” between Belarus and Poland, the lives of a Syrian family, a young Polish border guard, and a newly minted activist intersect in this thorough examination of themigrant crisis. Thrillingly shot and emotionally gripping, GREEN BORDER unveils the humanity, resilience, and sorrow unfolding within today’s greatest geopolitical conflict.

LA CHIMERA

dir. Alice Rohrwacher (France/Italy/Switzerland), 2023

In 1980s Tuscany, Arthur (Emmy Award® winner Josh O’Connor, The Crown) leads a band of tombaroli, thieves of ancient Etruscan relics and archaeological wonders, while also searching for Beniamina (YileYara Vianello), the woman he has lost. To find her, he must go inside the earth in search of the door to the mythological afterlife. Academy Award® nominee Alice Rohrwacher (HAPPY AS LAZZARO, HIFF 2018) returns with this vivid, adventurous journey, using her signature magical realism to excavate the intertwined worlds of the living and the dead. Featuring brilliant performances from O’Connor, IsabellaRossellini, and Alba Rohrwacher, LA CHIMERA is an expertly crafted, mystical story interrogating what it means to strive for the unattainable. A NEON release.

MONSTER

US Premiere

dir. Hirokazu Kore-eda (Japan), 2023

When young Minato (Kurokawa Soya) starts to behave strangely, his mother Saori (Ando Sakura) searches for an explanation. She demands answers from her son’s school, and in the process unwittinglydiscovers an unexpected dynamic between the teachers and their students. Winner of the Award for Best Screenplay at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, MONSTER intricately unfolds through the intertwinedperspectives of mother, teacher and child. Palme d’Or winner Kore-eda Hirokazu (SHOPLIFTERS, HIFF 2018) imbues the film with deep social commentary about acceptance and humanity, and raises thequestion—what makes someone a monster? A Well Go USA release.

THE PEASANTS

US Premiere

dir. DK Welchman & Hugh Welchman (Poland/Serbia/Lithuania), 2023

Simultaneously lush and harrowing, THE PEASANTS is the latest accomplishment from DK Welchman and Hugh Welchman, the visionary directors of the Academy Award®-nominated LOVING VINCENT.Through meticulously hand-painted animation, the film introduces Jagna (Kamila Urzędowska), a young Polish woman determined to forge her path within the confines of late 19th-century patriarchy. In hervillage, a hotbed of gossip and ongoing feuds, Jagna finds herself caught between the conflicting desires of the village’s most affluent farmer and his eldest son, putting her on a tragic collision course with thecommunity around her. Contains a scene featuring sexual violence.

PERFECT DAYS

dir. Wim Wenders (Japan), 2023

Legendary Academy Award®-nominated director Wim Wenders (PARIS, TEXAS; WINGS OF DESIRE) returns to HIFF with his latest poetic meditation on everyday beauty, following Hirayama (Koji Yakusho), a toilet cleaner living a restrained, structured life in Tokyo. His quiet routine—guided by his appreciation for music, books, and the natural world—is disrupted when he strikes up an unexpected friendship with ayoung girl. PERFECT DAYS is a gentle, shining testament to the small joys of life, featuring a tender, brilliant performance from Yakusho, who won the Best Actor Award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. ANEON release.

THE PERSIAN VERSION

East Coast Premiere

dir. Maryam Kesharvarz (USA), 2023

Punctuated by a bright color palette, snappy comedic relief, and vibrant dance numbers, Sundance award-winner THE PERSIAN VERSION tells the story of Iranian-American Leila (Layla Mohammadi), whonavigates her relationships at arm’s length in an effort to balance her opposing cultures. When her family reunites for her father’s heart transplant, Leila’s secret romantic life is unceremoniously exposed, and so are the distinct parallels between her life and that of her mother Shireen (Niousha Noor). Writer-director Maryam Kesharvarz joyfully crafts a universal and timely story about family, belonging, and theundeniable influence of pop music. A Sony Pictures Classics release.

THE PROMISED LAND

East Coast Premiere

dir. Nikolaj Arcel (Germany/Denmark/Sweden), 2023

In 1755 Denmark, the impoverished Captain Ludvig Kahlen (a formidable Mads Mikkelsen) receives a seemingly impossible assignment from the King: cultivate valuable crops in a vast, uninhabitable land inexchange for a royal name he desperately desires. Upon his arrival, he finds a merciless adversary in Frederik De Schinkel (Simon Bennebjerg), a landowner who clings to power over the local people byresisting Kahlen’s efforts at progress. Director Nikolaj Arcel (THE ROYAL AFFAIR, HIFF 2012) reteams with a magnetic Mikkelsen for this brutal, thrilling period Western, in which outcasts and rulers fight for power and vengeance against the backdrop of an inhospitable wasteland. A Magnolia Pictures release.

RADICAL

dir. Christopher Zalla (USA), 2023

In a Mexican border town plagued by neglect, corruption, and violence, frustrated teacher Sergio (Eugenio Derbez, CODA) experiments with inventive new methods to break through his students’ apathy and unlock their curiosity and potential. Based on a true story, RADICAL is a playful and honest look at how children can discover the joy of learning, even when the odds are stacked against them. Highlighting Derbez’s signature comedic charm in a heartfelt performance and rounded out by a wonderful ensemble of young actors, writer-director Christopher Zalla’s inspiring new film earned the Festival Favorite Award at Sundance.

ROBOT DREAMS

dir. Pablo Berger (Spain/France), 2023

In the bright and bustling world of 1980s New York City, a lonely dog living in Manhattan builds himself a robot as a companion. Their bond soon grows into a beautiful friendship, until one summer night whenthey become separated at the beach. In his animation debut, award-winning Spanish director Pablo Berger tells a delightful, touching story based on the beloved graphic novel of the same name by Sara Varon.Critically lauded after its premiere at Cannes this year, this family-friendly adventure uses vivid, playful animation to tell a deeply human story about the meaning of friendship. A NEON release.

SOCIETY OF THE SNOW

North American Premiere

dir. J.A. Bayona (Spain), 2023

In 1972, Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, which had been chartered to fly a rugby team to Chile, crashed in the heart of the Andes. Only 29 of its 45 passengers survived the accident. Trapped in one of the most hostile and inaccessible environments on the planet, they have to resort to extreme measures to stay alive.

THE TASTE OF THINGS

dir. Tran Anh Hung (France), 2023

Set against the deliciously vibrant backdrop of 1889 France, THE TASTE OF THINGS follows the life of Dodin Bouffant (Benoît Magimel, THE PIANO TEACHER), a brilliant chef living with his personal cook and lover Eugénie (Academy Award® winner Juliette Binoche). When Eugénie refuses to marry Dodin, he decides to do something he has never done before: cook for her. Winner of the Best Director Award atCannes, Tran Anh Hung tells the story of a couple tied together by gastronomy and love, immersing audiences in a romantic, sumptuous visual feast in this celebration of the way food brings us together. AnIFC Films Release.

THE TEACHERS’ LOUNGE

East Coast Premiere

dir. Ílker Çatak (Germany), 2023

When a series of thefts occur at a German high school and students point fingers at their Turkish classmate, idealistic new teacher Carla Nowak (Leonie Benesch) decides to get to the bottom of it. Tensions mount between outraged parents, opinionated colleagues, and aggressive students, and the more desperately Carla tries to mediate, the more she threatens to break. Director İlker Çatak’s THE TEACHERS’ LOUNGE is a nuanced study of power relations and racism within the structures of a rigid institution, anchored by a riveting breakout performance from Benesch. A Sony Pictures Classic release. Germany’s Academy Award® submission for Best International Feature.

TÓTEM

dir. Lila Avilés (Mexico/Denmark/France), 2023

Seven-year-old Sol (Naíma Sentíes) spends the day at her grandfather’s home, helping her aunts prepare a birthday party for Sol’s mysteriously absent father, Tonatiuh (Mateo García Elizondo). As the day goes on, Sol and the rest of the family grapple with a difficult truth: Tonatiuh has terminal cancer, and this birthday

party is likely his last. Through atmospheric, intimate cinematography and outstanding performances from an ensemble cast, Berlinale Award-winning debut director Lila Alivés shapes an honest portrait of

complex family dynamics, inviting audiences into the eyes and heart of a child embracing the essence of letting go. A Janus/Sideshow release.

SPECIAL SCREENING

PAST LIVES

dir. Celine Song, (USA/Korea), 2023

Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), two deeply connected childhood friends, are torn apart after Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea to Canada. Two decades later, with Nora in a long-termrelationship with Arthur (John Magaro), they are reunited in New York for one fateful week as they confront notions of destiny, love, and the choices that make a life. With PAST LIVES, acclaimed writer-director Celine Song (HIFF 2023 Breakthrough Artist) crafts an elegantly written, visually enrapturing modern romance, which premiered at Sundance earlier this year to widespread critical acclaim. An A24 release.

NARRATIVE SHORT FILM COMPETITION

BOGOTÁ STORY

US Premiere

dir. Esteban Pedraza (Colombia/USA), 2023

In 1992, as Colombia faces an era of drug violence, car bombs, and daily power outages, a young mother in Bogotá receives an opportunity in the US and must decide between her dreams and her family.

EEVA

New York Premiere

dir. Lucija Mrzljak & Morten Tšinakov (Croatia/Estonia), 2022

It’s pouring down rain at the funeral. A lot of crying, too much wine, several woodpeckers and a couple of dreams fill in the gaps.

THE GOLDEN WEST

East Coast Premiere

dir. Tom Berkeley & Ross White (Ireland/UK), 2023

Having fled the Great Famine, two warring Irish sisters search for gold in the mountains of North Wales. But with winter approaching and nothing to show for their efforts, their age-old feud soon threatens tobecome deadly.

NOBODY WANTS THE NIGHT

New York Premiere

dir. Remi Itani (Lebanon/Germany), 2023

Accompanied by her best friend, pregnant Layal drives through the night to a clandestine abortion clinic in present-day Beirut.

XIAOHUI AND HIS COWS

North American Premiere

dir. Xinying Lao (China/USA), 2023

Xiaohui lives with his grandfather, a mother cow and her calf in a Chinese village. When Grandpa intends to sell the calf, Xiaohui goes to great lengths to hide the pair in the mountains.

DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM COMPETITION

BREAKING SILENCE

New York Premiere

dir. Amy Bench & Annie Silverstein (USA), 2023

A portrait of a Deaf activist and his formerly incarcerated daughter, who build new bonds through their experiences in the criminal justice system.

MERMAN

dir. Sterling Hampton IV (USA), 2023

A 59-year-old black, queer man speaks his truth about his life as an emergency nurse, leather enthusiast, husband and Civil Rights advocate.

TIERRA DE LECHE “Land of Milk”

dir. Milton Guillén & Fiona Guy Hall (USA/Nicaragua), 2023

An interrogation of capitalism and the American dream through the lenses of migrant labor, new technologies, and dairy cows.

THE WAITING

US Premiere

dir. Volker Schlecht (Germany), 2023

Researcher Karen Lips observes frogs while living in a tiny shack in Costa Rica. When she returns to the cloud forest after a short time, the frogs are gone. Karen sets out to find them—and encounters a horrible truth.

WILD SUMMON

East Coast Premiere

dir. Karni Arieli & Saul Freed (UK), 2023

A natural history fantasy film following the dramatic life cycle of the wild salmon in human form. Narrated by Marianne Faithfull.

NEW YORK WOMEN IN FILM & TELEVISION: FILMMAKERS CALLING THE SHOTS

BLACK GIRLS PLAY: THE STORY OF HAND GAMES

dir. Michèle Stephenson & Joe Brewster (USA), 2023

Discover the origins of the hand games that young Black girls have played for generations, and their influence on music, dance, and community across the American creative landscape.

FLOWER

dir. Lauren Finerman (USA), 2023

Starring and produced by world-renowned ballerina and African-American icon Misty Copeland, this movement-based piece seeks to highlight intergenerational struggles and the effects of the housing crisis.

GOLDILOCKS

New York Premiere

dir. Meryl Jones (USA), 2023

Two siblings learn a painful lesson when one secretly pursues the other into the woods in search of an elusive mountain lion.

HALMONI’S POT (GRANDMA’S POT)

dir. A. Lauren Lee (USA), 2023

A loving grandma (halmoni) reluctantly agrees to buy pot for her grandson. But pay full price? Never!

HONOLULU

New York Premiere

dir. Maya Tanaka (USA), 2022

Flaming lobsters, menstruation woes, sunburns, and family scuffles plague 12-year-old Yuki’s doomed Hawai’ian beach vacation with her aloof father and her elegant grandmother.

2023 UNIVERSITY SHORT FILMS SHOWCASE

AS THEY SAY (ASÍ DICEN)

New York Premiere

dir. Natalia Luque (Chile/USA), 2023

Rumors spread like wildfire in a small Chilean town, as an aborted fetus is found floating on a lake.

CLASSMATES

World Premiere

dir. Major Dorfman (USA), 2022

When an apathetic teenager is dropped off on the outskirts of town to work on a project with the school outcast, the pair form an unlikely connection.

DAYDREAMING SO VIVIDLY ABOUT OUR SPANISH HOLIDAYS (LA HERIDA LUMINOSA) New York Premiere

dir. Christian Avilés (Spain), 2022

Sun-starved teenagers take a dreamy trip to the Balearic islands in the pursuit of light and warmth to bring back to their heavy, clouded kingdom.

FIRST, I DREAM (PRIMERO, SUEÑO)

East Coast Premiere

dir. Andrés Lira (USA), 2023

An insightful look into the working lives of undocumented farmworkers in America and their experiences with migration, exploitation, and poverty.

ME & AYDRAROUS

New York Premiere

dir. Sara Balghonaim (Saudi Arabia/USA), 2023

Set in Saudi Arabia, a gutsy young woman sneaks off for a date, only to butt heads with her chaperoning chauffeur.

FLY! SHORTS FOR ALL AGES

BLEWISH

dir. Ezra Edmond (USA), 2022

Ezra, who is Black and Jewish (aka Blewish) struggles to fit in; can he manage to embrace his whole identity?

POND (TÜMPEL)

New York Premiere

dir. Lena von Döhren & Eva Rust (Switzerland), 2023

One small herring gets separated from the shoal during a seagull attack and must join forces with other sea creatures for protection.

RACHEL

dir. Toko Shiiki (USA), 2022

Animator Rachel Reid exudes joy as she talks about being an animator, encouraging others to follow in her footsteps.

THE SOCIAL CHAMELEON

dir. Alex Ross (USA), 2022

When Cosmo the chameleon doesn’t fit in with the other animals, he must learn to stay true to his own colors.

STARLING

dir. Mitra Shahidi (USA), 2023

The spirit of a little girl shoots down from the heavens to spend her birthday with her family.

THE TURNIP (NAERIS)

dir. Piret Sigus & Silja Saarepuu (Estonia), 2022

A twist on a Slavic folktale told from the perspective of some underground critters!

WINTER IN A DAY

New York Premiere

dir. Liddy Salter (USA), 2022

When Bear dreams of experiencing winter instead of going into hibernation, her best friend Fox creates winter in a day, just for her.

WITCHFAIRY

dir. Cedric Igodt & David Van de Weyer (Belgium), 2022

Rosemary, a young fairy, leads a boring life at the fairytale castle. She packs her bags and sets off to the mysterious witch forest.

FISH OUT OF WATER!

THE BREAKTHROUGH

dir. Daniel Sinclair (USA), 2023

Jane and Teddy are on the brink of divorce—but just when their marital problems come to a sticking point, they have an unexpected breakthrough.

THE LEE FAMILIES

North American Premiere

dir. Seo Jeong-mi (South Korea), 2023

The Lee family’s grandfather passes away, leaving behind a country house, an inheritance that turns out to be anything but simple.

MY EYES ARE UP HERE

dir. Nathan Morris (UK), 2022

A disabled woman sets off on a mission to get the morning-after pill. The only thing in her way is… everything.

PILLOW FORTRESS

dir. Zander Coté (USA), 2022

When Lana’s new boyfriend Bart and her friend Tommy realize they knew each other as young children, the two men clash over their memories of a specific, trivial event.

SWEET REFUGE

dir. Maryam Mir (USA), 2022

A passionate baklava baker encounters a savvy ladoo maker on the streets of Brooklyn.

WITHOUT A ROADMAP

AN AVOCADO PIT (UM CAROÇO DE ABACATE)

dir. Aryn Zara (Portugal), 2022

Larissa, a trans woman, and Cláudio, a cis man, meet one night in the streets of Lisbon, dancing their differences away till morning light.

BLUE BOY

dir. Tyler Riggs (USA), 2022

Insecure New Jersey bodybuilder Joey Rossi—aka Joey Muscles—starts doing steroids in a last ditch effort to go pro.

ESSEX GIRLS

International Premiere

dir. Yero Timi-Biu (UK), 2023

Flipping the “Essex Girl” trope, this coming-of-age film explores Black British girlhood and magical female friendships in 2009 Essex.

HELP ME UNDERSTAND

New York Premiere

dir. Aemilia Scott (USA), 2023

Six women come to a consensus.

SHADOW BROTHER SUNDAY

dir. Alden Ehrenreich (USA), 2023

A down-on-his-luck musician returns home on the day of his younger brother’s movie premiere to steal his brother’s computer and sell it to the paparazzi.

STATE OF THE UNION

THE ABC’S OF BOOK BANNING

World Premiere

dir. Trish Adlesic & Naz Habtezghi (USA), 2023

A love letter to reading and education that begs us to consider what gets lost as books continue to be banned across the country.

THE DADS

New York Premiere

dir. Luchina Fischer (USA), 2023

Fathers who love and support their LGBTQ children break barriers of prejudice, embrace diversity, and highlight the power of important conversations.

HOW WE GET FREE

dir. Geeta Gandbhir & Samantha Knowles (USA), 2022

Over the course of two years, Elisabeth Epps works to abolish cash bail in Colorado and put an end to the criminalization of poverty.

UNDER G-D

dir. Paula Eiselt (USA), 2023.

The lived experiences of women impacted by the Dobbs decision are interwoven with the various lawsuits Jewish and interfaith leaders are currently launching to challenge the overturning of Roe v. Wade, state by state.

VIEWS FROM LONG ISLAND SHORTS PROGRAM

FORGOTTEN FOUNDERS: DAVID HEMPSTEAD, SENIOR

dir. Sam Hamilton & Julian Alvarez (USA), 2023

In showcasing David Hempstead, Sr.’s journey from slavery to freedom on Long Island’s East End, this insightful short also follows the Plain Sight Project, uncovering legacies of people of color in the region.

MERV

East Coast Premiere

dir. Sam Roebling (USA), 2023

Simon is unexpectedly summoned to his grandmother’s house to meet her new boyfriend, Merv (Hal Linden), who upends Simon’s understanding of love, loss, and Chinese takeout.

THE PEDESTRIAN

dir. Nora DeLigter & Claire Read (USA), 2022

A pedestrian sets off on a nine-day walk from Brooklyn to Montauk

ABOUT HAMPTONSFILM

HamptonsFilm, home of the Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) was founded in 1992 to celebrate the art of film and to introduce a unique and varied spectrum of international films and filmmakers to our audiences. A non-profit organization with year-round screenings of global narrative and documentary films, an annual Screenwriters Lab, a summer documentary showcase, and extensive educational initiatives, HamptonsFilm offers programs that enlighten, educate, and provide invaluable exposure for filmmakers, while also providing the East End of Long Island with an educational and cultural experience that enriches the lives of its citizens and contributes to the local economy. HIFF, celebrating its 31st year, is an annual premiere film event in New York State, and an intimate showcase of some of the year’s best offerings in contemporary cinema from around the world. Awarding prizes to filmmakers in cash and goods and services of over $130,000, each year, with over $5 million awarded in competition funds and services over the decades, our program continues to play an important role during awards season. For more information, please visit hamptonsfilmfest.org.