Hamptons International Film Festival

Friday, October 5--------As the Hamptons, the celebrated resort area on the eastern end of Long Island, moves into arguably its most beautiful season, the 15th edition of the Hamptons International Film Festival will bring a mix of film and glamour to complement the burnt orange and reddish hues of the Fall. The Festival begins on October 17th and runs through October 21st. This is a pivotal year for the event. Its longtime Festival Director Denise Kassel departed after being at the helm for the past decade, while Artistic Director Rajendra Roy moved into one of New York’s most prestigious film jobs, as Director of the Film Department at the Museum of Modern Art.

In this transitional year, long-time programmer Josh Koury has taken the reins of programming coordination, joined by David Nugent, who programs the Newport International Film Festival, serving as a special consultant. The Festival, which had initial growing pains in its first decade, is now firmly established as a diverse event that is a savvy mix of Hollywood glamour, independent cred and international offerings. This year, the Festival will showcase 103 films, including 17 World Premieres, 11 US Premieres, 17 East Coast Premieres and 13 New York Premieres.

The heart of the Festival has always been its Golden Starfish Award competition, which features prizes for Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary and Best Short Film. The festivities begin on October 17th with the World Premiere of  actor/director Bob Balaban’s BERNARD AND DORIS, starring Susan Sarandon and Ralph Fiennes, which tells the juicy story of the twilight years of tobacco billionairess Doris Duke and her relationship with her gay butler, to whom she left her fortune. The Festival closes 5 days later with AUGUST RUSH, a music-driven drama directed by Kirsten Sheridan, and starring Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Terrence Howard and Robin Williams. 

KINGS TURN THE RIVERI AM AN ANIMALRESOLVED

Bernard And Doris

Competing in the Golden Starfish Narrative Competition are ELVIS AND ANNABELLE (US, director: Will Geiger), JUST BURIED (Canada, Chaz Thorne), KINGS (UK, Tom Collins), TURN THE RIVER (US, Chris Eigeman) and VALERIE (Germany, Birgit Möller). Jurors include: IFC Entertainment's VP of Acquisitions and Production Arianna Bocco, former New York Times film critic Elvis Mitchell and Cinetic Media founder John Sloss. Documentaries competing for the Golden Starfish prize include: DO YOU SLEEP IN THE NUDE (US, Marshall Fine), GAHAN WILSON: BORN DEAD, STILL WEIRD (US, Steven-Charles Jaffe), I AM AN ANIMAL (US, Matthew Galkin), POOL OF PRINCESSES (US, Bettina Blümner) and RESOLVED (US, Greg Whiteley). Jurors include: Liz Ogilvie, Director of Acquisitions for Docurama and filmmaker Jamie Johnson.Sidney Lumet

A special highlight this year are two exciting Conversation With…. programs, one with the Oscar and Tony award-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave, and the other with iconic New York filmmaker Sidney Lumet. The Hamptons International Film Festival brings together legends and newcomers, industry professionals and committed film buffs, in one of the country's most glam and beautiful areas during its most dramatic season. For more information on the full Festival program, special events, professional seminars and how to buy tickets, log on to the Festival website: www.hamptonsfilmfest.org

Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Circuit Editor