HIFF Announces Spotlights, Closing Night, Conversations, World Cinema, Short Films and More

Today the Hamptons International Film Festival announced the remainder of their 2015 lineup, including Spotlight Films, World Cinema and Shorts programs. Emily Blunt, Michael Moore and Dan Rather will be in attendance to take part in A Conversation With… for the 23rd installment. The Festival will close with Steven Spielberg’s BRIDGE OF SPIES on Monday, October 12, at Guild Hall in East Hampton.

(Browse the HIFF 2015 Film Guide.)

“Our Spotlight and World Cinema films, from all around the world and right here in the Hamptons, make up the heart of our Festival’s lineup, and we are so proud of this year’s selections,” said HIFF Artistic Director David Nugent. “In addition, it is an honor for us to close our 23rd festival with Steven Spielberg’s new film, as he was a part of our very first edition.”

Royal-Night-Out-650 I-Saw-the-Light-650 Louder-Than-Bombs-650 Lady-in-the-Van-650 Anomalisa-650 MacBeth-650

This year’s Spotlight Films include the North American Premiere of A ROYAL NIGHT OUT, the US Premieres of I SAW THE LIGHT, THE LADY IN THE VAN, LOUDER THAN BOMBS, the East Coast Premieres of ANOMALISA and MACBETH, and a Sneak Preview of BORN TO BE BLUE. The Spotlight Films will also feature SUFFRAGETTE, WHEN I LIVE MY LIFE OVER AGAIN, BROOKLYN, EXPERIMENTER, MEADOWLAND, and WHERE TO INVADE NEXT, directed by Michael Moore, who will attend the festival along with taking part in A Conversation With… on Sunday, October 11, at noon at Bay Street Theater.

Bridge-of-Spies-650

The Festival’s closing night film is three-time Academy Award® winner Steven Spielberg’s BRIDGE OF SPIES, a dramatic thriller set against the backdrop of a series of historic events. BRIDGE OF SPIES is the story of James Donovan (two-time Academy Award® winner Tom Hanks), a Brooklyn lawyer who finds himself thrust into the center of the Cold War when the CIA sends him on a near-impossible task to negotiate the release of a captured American U-2 pilot. Written by Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen, BRIDGE OF SPIES stars three-time Tony Award® winner Mark Rylance, Scott Shepherd, Academy Award nominee Amy Ryan, Sebastian Koch, and Academy Award nominee Alan Alda. The Walt Disney Studios and Touchstone Pictures film will release in theaters on October 16, 2015.

“We have a strong slate this year, which includes 72 features and 59 shorts representing a total of 41 countries,” said HIFF Executive Director Anne Chaisson. “It is a privilege to bring once again a diverse and sophisticated line-up to our audiences as we see our Festival continue to thrive on such rich programs.”

class-divide-650 C-Word-650 Harry-Benson-Shoot-First-650 By-Sidney-Lumet-650 Bolshoi-Babylon-650 sherpa-650

This year’s World Cinema Documentary titles include the World Premieres of THE C WORD, CLASS DIVIDE, HARRY BENSON: SHOOT FIRST, the North American Premiere of BY SIDNEY LUMET, an American Masters Film, the US Premieres of BOLSHOI BABYLON, and the East Coast Premiere of SHERPA. Other films in the section include CROCODILE GENNADIY, DREAM/KILLER, HARRY & SNOWMAN, HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO, IN TRANSIT, PALIO, and THE RUSSIAN WOODPECKER, among others.

Preppie-Connection-650 Room-650  45-Years-650 disorder-200 Dheepan-650Cafe-Derby-650

The World Cinema Narrative films include the World Premiere of THE PREPPIE CONNECTION, the North American Premieres of CAFÉ DERBY, BABAI and A MONSTER WITH A THOUSAND HEADS, the US Premieres of 11 MINUTESALL ABOUT THEM, DHEEPAN, DISORDER, and the East Coast Premieres of 45 YEARS, ROOM, and THE WAVE. The section also includes THE CLUB, KRISHA, and SON OF SAUL, among others.

Claude-Lanzmann-Spectres-of-the-Shoah-650 Many-Sad-Fates-of-Mr-Toledano-650 It's-Me-Hilary-650

HIFF will present 10 programs of short films this year, including the Narrative Short Film and Documentary Short Film Competition programs, the New York Women In Film and Television: Women Calling The Shots program, the Ahoy! Shorts for All Ages program, and the Crafted program, which features three short films about auteur Claude Lanzmann and artists Phil Toledano and Hilary Knight.

Best-of-EnemiesThe Festival is also proud to present a special screening of Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon’s BEST OF ENEMIES, as the film won the 2015 SummerDocs Audience Award, sponsored by Candescent Films.

(Browse the HIFF 2015 Film Guide.)