New York City hosts two diverse film festivals this month, providing creative choices for a wide variety of cinematic tastes.
The rich lineup of films in the 52nd New York Film Festival (Sept. 26–Oct. 12) is already getting that pre-award season buzz, especially on the subject of the coveted Academy Award.
Some of the “must-sees” for the NYFF festival include Dominik Graf’s “Beloved Sisters,” Alain Resnais’ “Hiroshima Mon Amour” and Abderrahmane Sissako’s “Timbuktu.”
“Timbuktu,” opening in the U.S. in 2015 (Jan. 28) but screening this month at NYFF, is directed by Sissako (“Bamako,” “Life on Earth”) and co-written by Sissako and Kessen Tal. The lush and conversational film has already won the Cannes Film Festival’s Ecumenical Jury Prize and was an Official Selection: 2014 Toronto International Film Festival, Masters Section.
Starring Ibrahim Ahmed (aka Pino), Toulou Kiki, Abel Jafri and Fatoumata Diawara, the film follows a recent jihadist takeover of northern Mali and the impact it has on a proud cattle herder and his family. The main character lives near Timbuktu, which is now ruled by the religious fundamentalists. Under their law, the people suffer. Music, laughter, cigarettes and even soccer have been banned. The women have become shadows but resist with dignity.
Also gaining strong industry buzz and screening at NYFF is “Foxcatcher,” starring Steve Carell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo (which also screened at the Cannes Film Festival and the TIFF).
Based on true and shocking events, the film is a psychological thriller about Olympic gold medal-winning brothers Mark and Dave Schultz and their tragic relationship with a multimillionaire benefactor, John du Pont. “Foxcatcher” is directed by Bennett Miller from a powerful screenplay by Dan Futterman and E. Max Frye.
For more information, visit www.nyciff.com.
The 18th annual Urbanworld Film Festival kicked off Sept. 17 in New York City, presenting 70 movies, including Zane’s “Addicted” starring Boris Kodjoe, and “Selma,” produced by Oprah Winfrey.
The five-day event began with the opening night film “Beyond the Lights,” starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nate Parker, Minnie Driver and Danny Glover, written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (“Love and Basketball”). “Beyond the Lights” tells the story of a talented young musician on the brink of superstardom struggling with the pressures of impending fame.
Sept. 19, author Zane will be joined by the men of “Addicted”: Kodjoe, Tyson Beckford, William Levy and director Bille Woodruff for a special panel discussion and exclusive look at scenes from the film. “Addicted” is an erotic thriller about desire and indiscretion.
“Our 2014 film slate reflects the significance and esteem the festival has achieved over the past 17 years,” says Gabrielle Glore, Urbanworld Film Festival executive producer and head of programming. “As the largest multicultural festival, we continue to strive to make Urbanworld ‘the’ destination for filmmakers and studios to connect with a diverse movie-going audience.
“This year, we are excited to add an even deeper variety of international films, as well as content that targets the Latino community. With BET and HBO as our partners, we are able to continue to highlight stories that the world needs to see.”
The festival’s nightlife will feature special editions of Urbanworld Music, including a performance by the eight-piece rock/soul band Condola and the Stoop Kids, featuring lead singer and Tony-nominated actress Condola Rashad, daughter of Phylicia Rashad. Urbanworld will also host free community screenings in New York City Sunday, Sept. 21 at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, the Bed-Stuy Restoration Corporation in Brooklyn and the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens.
For the full festival schedule, visit www.urbanworld.org.
