For 80 years, Western civilization has been fascinated by the cinema. From early nickelodeons to modern multiplexes, people adored movies. They want to make them and be in them, but mostly, they want to watch them.
The New Orleans Film Society embodies these types of people, and it’s their objective to share their love of film with the city – especially when they put on the New Orleans Film Festival, which runs this year from Oct. 11 to 18.
Each year the society, along with Cox Communications and the Independent Film Channel, sponsors the New Orleans Film Festival, a week of cinematographic events across the city.
The Festival showcases premier American and international films, as well as both feature-length and short films from local filmmakers. The festival also serves as a venue for many new and classic independent films, some of which you can’t see anywhere else in the area. It is a beacon in the South for the exhibition of local, regional, national and international film.
In its 18th year, the festival is primarily a competition, offering filmmakers awards in categories such as Narrative Feature, Documentary, Animation and Louisiana Filmmaker, as well as an overall Grand Prize. As such, many actors and directors attend, allowing moviegoers the opportunity to interact with the same people starring in and creating the art they’ve just watched.
Additionally, directors introduce many of their own films, which they follow with cast- and crew-led question and answer sessions.
Throughout the festival, audiences will have numerous opportunities to meet and talk with filmmakers and stars through the Film Congress, a series of discussion panels, workshops, social events and after-hours parties.
WHAT NOT TO MISS
“Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead” – Oscar-winner Phillip Seymour Hoffman (“Capote”) and Ethan Hawke star in this thriller as two brothers who rob a mom and pop jewelry store owned by their own mom and pop. Their father seeks justice, unaware that the guilty are his sons. To complicate matters, Marisa Tomei, as Hoffman’s wife, begins an affair with Hawke’s character. The film seems completely melodramatic and, therefore, wonderfully entertaining. “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead” plays Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. at Canal Place.
“Dans Paris” – Translated as “In Paris,” this film concerns a depressed and suicidal man named Paul (Roman Duris) who returns home after his marriage ends to live with his father and brother. Gradually Paul comes to understand that although life is different than he planned, he can always rely on his family. “Dans Paris” seems to be one of those movies that has you leaving the theatre feeling warm and gooey inside – that is, unless you forget to bring your reading glasses for the French subtitles. “Dans Paris” plays Oct. 14 at 1 p.m. at Canal Place.
“Left Behind: The Story of the New Orleans Public Schools” – It’s no secret that Orleans Parish public schools are among the worst in the country. This documentary follows three high school seniors enrolled in the school system before, during and after Hurricane Katrina. Denied filming access, the filmmakers snuck cameras into several schools and, through their film, unveiled unfit working conditions and a lack of classroom structure. Interviews with school board members, teachers, principals and students reveal the challenges students face. Director Vince Morelli will introduce the film and be available for any questions on Oct. 13 at 1 p.m. at Canal Place.
“Suffering Man’s Charity” – Alan Cumming directs and stars in this odd comedy about a failed composer (Cumming) working as a music teacher with a desire for young, impoverished and talented young men. When he takes in Sebastian, a struggling novelist, whose easy reputation with women around town is known to everyone but Cumming, he becomes infatuated until he learns he is the only one not sleeping with Sebastian. Although the comedy may have some pederastic qualities, Cumming is a great actor, and his talent should compensate for the awkwardness. Cumming will attend the Canal Place showing on October 13 at 5 p.m.
WHERE TO GO
Individual screenings are held at three different venues: Downtown’s Canal Place Cinema, the Contemporary Arts Center in the Warehouse District and Prytania Theatre Uptown.
All Film Congress events are at the Contemporary Arts Center and at Swelltone Labs in the Central Business District.
Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased from individual screening venues or from the Film Festival’s Web site at http://www.neworleansfilmfest.com/main.html.
An all-access pass is available for $200 and is good for all films at all three venues. Individual tickets are $7 for Film Society members and $8 for the general public. A six-film pass is also available for $45 for the general public. All Film Congress panels and workshops are free of charge and open to the public.
Justin Templet can be reached at [email protected].
