Four films will form this year’s Gala Premieres section of the 9^th Odesa International Film Festival.

Four films directed by acclaimed and debutant filmmakers which previously competed in the film festivals of Cannes, Berlin, Sundance and South by Southwest, will be featured in 2018 edition of Odesa International Film Festival Gala Premieres.

In details the Gala Premieres are:

Climax by Gaspar Noé. The latest extreme work by one of the most recognized controversial directors of today was sold out and became one of the most discussed films at Cannes this year after its premiere at the Directors' Fortnight. A musical horror shock scandalous film. Set in the mid-90s, a group of 20 dancers is meeting in a facility on the edge of a forest. They will stay there for a three-day rehearsal to share one last dance. While partying around a last bowl of sangria, the atmosphere changes. After accidentally ingesting psychedelics, everyone is experiencing a bad and unexpected trip setting them between hell and paradise. Winner of the C.I.C.A.E. Award at Cannes.

Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot by Gus Van Sant. Starring Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara, the tragicomedy, that premiered at Berlinale’s Official Competition, and is based on the true story of John, who after a life-changing accident, who led him to alcoholism he intends to give up drinking. He enters treatment with the encouragement of his girlfriend and a sponsor he discovers the healing power of art, willing his injured hands into drawing hilarious, often controversial cartoons, which bring him a new lease on life.

Wildlife the directorial debut by known actor Paul Dano. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Milligan is an adaptation of Richard Ford’s novel of the same name. Fourteen-year-old Joe is the only child of Jeanette and Jerry - a housewife and a golf pro - in a little town in Montana in the 1960s. Nearby, an uncontrolled forest fire rages close to the Canadian border, and when Jerry loses his job he decides to join the cause of fighting the fire, leaving his wife and son to fend for themselves. Suddenly forced into the role of an adult, Joe witnesses his mother’s struggle as she tries to keep her head above water. The film had its premiere at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and was also screened as the opening night film in International Critics' Week at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

Hot Summer Nights by debut director Elijah Bynum. A heart-boiled drama follows a shy teenager Daniel who during one scorching summer, gets in over his head flipping weed with the neighbourhood rebel while pursuing his new business partner’s enigmatic sister. With a hurricane looming in the wings, tensions rise against a backdrop of drive-ins, arcades, and crashed parties as the stakes (and temperatures) grow ever higher. Premiere at South by Southwest.

The 9^th Odesa International Film Festival is running from 13 to 21 July 2018.