Breakthrough Artists Announced for HIFF 2018

HIFF will continues its tradition of recognizing emerging talent by announcing this year’s Breakthrough Artists. The festival will honor actors Kayli Carter (PRIVATE LIFE), Cory Michael Smith (1985, FIRST MAN), and Amandla Stenberg (THE HATE U GIVE), who will all be in attendance at the festival.

Since 2002, for the last seventeen years, HIFF has honored distinguished talent in early stages of their careers, including award-winning actors Emily Blunt, Brie Larson, Adam Driver, Jessica Chastain, Mahershala Ali, Riz Ahmed, Alicia Vikander, Lupita Nyong’o, Emma Stone, Elisabeth Moss, Rooney Mara, Oscar Isaac, and more.

“We are delighted to continue our tradition of recognizing ‘Breakthrough Artists,’ with three remarkable actors with burgeoning talent,” said Anne Chaisson, Executive Director of the Hamptons International Film Festival.

Kayli Carter 500

Kayli Carter

Kayli Carter stars in Netflix’s PRIVATE LIFE, opposite Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti. She also will be seen in the independent film CHARLIE SAYS, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. She recently starred in Scott Frank’s Emmy nominated miniseries Godless for Netflix. Her other film credits include RINGS and Amazon’s Z: THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING. On stage, she most recently starred in the Off-Broadway play, Mary Page Marlowe, written by Tracy Letts. She was in the original cast in Mark Rylance’s Olivier-nominated comedy Nice Fish. Kayli graduated with a BFA in Performing Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design.

Cory Michael Smith 500

CORY MICHAEL SMITH

Cory Michael Smith stars as the ‘The Riddler’ on the hit Fox series Gotham. He was recently seen in two Todd Haynes’s films: CAROL, opposite Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, and WONDERSTRUCK, opposite Julianne Moore. Prior to that, he was featured opposite Frances McDormand in the HBO miniseries Olive Kitteridge, directed by Lisa Cholodenko. His performance in that role earned him a Critics Choice Award nomination. Next up, he stars in Yen Tan’s film 1985 with Virginia Madsen and Michael Chiklis, as well as Damien Chazelle’s FIRST MAN, opposite Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy.

photo credit: Erika Doss

AMANDLA STENBERG

Amandla Stenberg stars in 20th Century Fox’s THE HATE U GIVE. She can also be seen this fall in Amma Asante’s WWII drama WHERE HANDS TOUCH. Amandla’s recent film credits include THE DARKEST MINDS, EVERYTHING EVERYTHING, AS YOU ARE, COLOMBIANA, RIO 2 and THE HUNGER GAMES. She is recognized globally for her crusade towards sparking thoughtful conversation using social media to spread awareness and knowledge on topics such as cultural appropriation, intersectional feminism, mindfulness, biracial identity, sexual identity, gender and beauty standards, to name few. Amandla has been honored with Teen Choice Awards, a BET Award and NAACP Image Award.