With the 2016 festival less than three weeks away, HIFF today announced the Saturday and Sunday Centerpiece films—MANCHESTER BY THE SEA and 20TH CENTURY WOMEN, respectively—and the Southampton Opening Night Film, STRANGE WEATHER, starring Holly Hunter.
“We are so proud to showcase films made by New York-based, independent film directors, and it is an exceptional pleasure to showcase their works in these coveted festival slots,” said HIFF Executive Director Anne Chaisson. “For 24 years our mission has been to celebrate independent voices, and the films of Katherine Dieckmann, Mike Mills and Kenneth Lonergan embody what the word independent truly means.”
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
Director/Writer: Kenneth Lonergan
Saturday Centerpiece: October 8, 2016
In his most powerful and raw performance yet, Casey Affleck stars as Lee Chandler, a brooding handyman who reluctantly returns home in Kenneth Lonergan’s critically acclaimed masterpiece MANCHESTER BY THE SEA. As the unexpected guardian to his teenage nephew (Lucas Hedges), Lee is slowly forced to confront a past tragedy head on. With the impeccable Michelle Williams and Kyle Chandler in supporting roles, Lonergan delivers a deeply felt tale of a New England family dealing with unimaginable loss. Building on subtle and beautifully nuanced moments of human connection, finding humor amidst sorrow and regret, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA is at once heartbreaking and heartwarming.
Co-stars Lucas Hedges and Kara Hayward are both on the 2016 Variety 10 Actors to Watch list and will be recognized at the festival. Amazon Studios and Roadside Attractions will release MANCHESTER BY THE SEA in limited theaters on November 18. Hayward will be in attendance at the festival.
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20TH CENTURY WOMEN
Director Mike Mills
Sunday Centerpiece: October 9, 2016
The remarkable Annette Bening stars as Dorothea Fields, a single mother devoted to raising her son Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann) into a decent man in Mike Mills’s heartwarming comedy 20TH CENTURY WOMEN. Set in 1979 Santa Barbara, Dorothea assembles a makeshift family, including Greta Gerwig as a punk artist, Billy Crudup as a carpenter renovating their sprawling bohemian house, and Elle Fanning as Jamie’s rebellious friend. With a sensitive touch and attention to period detail, writer/director Mills (BEGINNERS, THUMBSUCKER) delivers a rich and charming portrait of the group as they try to teach the boy, and ultimately themselves, about men, women, love, and freedom.
Director Mike Mills will be in attendance at the festival and A24 will release 20TH CENTURY WOMEN in limited theaters on December 21.
STRANGE WEATHER
U.S. Premiere
Director: Katherine Dieckmann
Southampton Opening Night Film: October 7
STRANGE WEATHER is a portrait of an unconventional woman (Holly Hunter) discovering what it takes to change your life mid-stream. A lyrical, emotionally rich drama, STRANGE WEATHER tracks a strong southern woman as she travels the deep south with her best friend (Carrie Coon), looking for answers to the unanswerable. Beloved actress Holly Hunter (THE PIANO, BROADCAST NEWS) soars in this gripping story about how to be fully alive in the face of tragedy, about forgiveness, grace, redemption and the power of moving on.
The film also stars Kim Coates and Glenne Headly. Holly Hunter will be in attendance at the festival.
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“Our Southampton Opening Night and Centerpiece Films bring an array of talented filmmakers, actors, and diverse storylines to HIFF this year,” said HIFF Artistic Director David Nugent. “We are thrilled at the opportunity to screen these bodies of work.”
Join us at HIFF 2016: October 6–10. Passes and packages are on sale now. Individual tickets go on sale September 26.
