2 hours 5 mins | English | Fri, Oct 18, 2024 10:15 AM
ABOUT THE FILM:
A battle is brewing in the Charles Household. At the center stands a prized heirloom piano tearing two siblings apart. On one side, a brother (John David Washington) plans to build the family fortune by selling it. On the other, a sister (Danielle Deadwyler) will go to any lengths to hold onto the sole vestige of the family’s heritage. Their uncle (Samuel L. Jackson) tries to mediate, but even he can’t hold back the ghosts of the past.
Adapted from August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork, The Piano Lesson explores the intergenerational dynamics of identity, resilience and transcendence – revealing startling truths about how we perceive the past and who gets to define our legacy. The film is directed and co-written by Malcolm Washington in his feature directorial debut. From Oscar nominated producers Denzel Washington and Todd Black, and featuring an all-star cast including Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu with Danielle Deadwyler and Corey Hawkins.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER:
Malcolm Washington is a filmmaker from Los Angeles who is making his feature film directorial debut with The Piano Lesson, an adaptation of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork, for Netflix. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania and the prestigious American Film Institute, Washington went on to direct award-winning short films and music videos. In 2017, he wrote and directed the short film Benny Got Shot. For his work, he received the Filmmaker to Watch Award at the Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF). His previous credits include She’s Gotta Have It, Summer of 17, The Dispute and North Hollywood.
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1 hour 30 mins | English, Dutch | Fri, Oct 18, 2024 1:30 PM
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After the death of her mother, singer Liz decides to pay a rare visit to her half-brother Gabe and his girlfriend Joey. Liz revamps old tensions with Gabe, an aspiring writer who fears being eclipsed by his successful sibling. To make matters worse, Joey and Liz grow closer, inspiring Liz to write new songs. An awakened sense of belonging catalyzes Joey into a journey of self-discovery, while further complicating an already deteriorating family dynamic.
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Torch Song marks Jeroen Houben’s feature debut as a writer/director, with him also composing the film’s music. Jeroen’s love for cinema began during his childhood, growing up in his parents’ TV store. He made his first films at the age of seven and joined a youth theatre company. A graduate in graphic design and film, Jeroen started his career directing music videos for renowned Dutch artists. His short films, including Sorry, Home Suite Home and Plaster, have received international acclaim. In 2018, he directed the feature film Your Mother Should Know, which achieved Golden Film status.
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1 hour 37 mins | English | Fri, Oct 18, 2024 4:15 PM
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Mike Leigh, renowned for his deeply nuanced and intimate family dramas, continues to captivate audiences with his latest work, Hard Truths. At 81, the British filmmaker remains a masterful storyteller, exploring the complexities of personal relationships through his films, among them Naked, Vera Drake, and Mr. Turner. In Hard Truths, he delves into the disintegration of a Black working-class family, presenting a raw and multifaceted portrait of tragedy and comedy.
Marianne Jean-Baptiste, who was Oscar-nominated as Best Supporting Actress for her role in Leigh’s Secrets and Lies, delivers a powerful performance as a tormented woman who, in her suffering, estranges herself from her husband, son, and sister. The film is a striking blend of hard-hitting realism and absurdity, showcasing Leigh’s unparalleled ability to capture the intricacies of human experience. – Amir Bogen
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER:
Writer-director Mike Leigh’s first feature film was Bleak Moments (1971). This was followed by eight full-length television films, including Nuts In May (1976) and Meantime (1983). Other feature films are High Hopes (1988), Life is Sweet (1990), Naked (1993), Secrets & Lies (1996), Career Girls (1997), Topsy-Turvy (1999), All or Nothing (2002), Vera Drake (2004), Happy-Go-Lucky (2008), Another Year (2010), Mr. Turner (2014), Peterloo (2018) and Hard Truths (2024). Awards include the Palme d’Or at Cannes, the Venice Golden Lion, several BAFTAs, and seven Academy Award nominations. Leigh has written and directed over twenty stage plays, including Abigail’s Party (1977).
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1 hour 35 mins | English | Fri, Oct 18, 2024 7:45 PM
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Who hasn’t been subject to the dreaded quarter-life question, “What do you want to do in life?” This is the kind of question that inexplicably keeps coming up for Julian (Will Hochman), a 25-year-old former athlete who lives alone in the woods, renting out his friend’s house to an odd string of nosey characters. From an eerie couple of folks who “fix people’s troubles” to a very strange independent filmmaker, the question on everyone’s mind is, “Why are you up here?”
Upstate with no one but his imaginary mother-figure to keep him company, Julian prefers watching strangers live out pieces of their lives to the often painful and difficult task of figuring out how he wants to live his own. Serene and visually stunning, Marco Baratta’s Turning captures the moment when a young man reaches life’s first big turning point. – Richie Yeager
ABOUT THE FILMMAKER:
Marco Baratta is a writer, director, and producer from New Jersey living in Brooklyn, New York. Turning is his debut feature film as a writer/director. He spent his early film career in the NYC union production world, working in the location department on movies such as The Irishman, Joker & West Side Story, while also spending time as an assistant to writer/directors Lorene Scafaria (Hustlers) & Sean Durkin (Dead Ringers). He now runs his production company, Heroboy Productions, which has produced three feature films & numerous shorts.