Film Fest 2020 extravaganza! - What I learned and can recommend from NYFF, Hamptons and AFI Fest

Many moons ago I was in need of some extra money and was digging through Craigslist classifieds and came upon a job listing for Tribeca Film Festival. Although I was certainly aware that film festivals existed, particularly due to my Oscars obsession with the likes of “Pulp Fiction” and “The Piano” which both won the Palme d’or at Cannes, I truly didn’t understand them, even after moving to New York City in 2001. That year my best friend had taken me to see “Elvira’s Haunted Hills” at NewFest in 2001 for my birthday, but I honestly was just along for the ride. I got that job at Tribeca, which began a journey that continues to this day. Working the box office, managing a team, becoming a screener, covering East Coast fests for Awards Daily and eventually becoming a head programmer, film festivals have been an intricate part of the fabric of my life.

This year…this very complicated and emotional year…my festival experience began with Oxford Film Festival. In March, I was preparing to fly down to Mississippi to experience what should have been my best festival experience to date. My film directorial debut, “The Golden Years,” was set to premiere, and I had a wonderful group of LGBTQIA+ films to show, including a World Premiere that I was very thrilled to land, “A Dim Valley.” When the gravity of COVID led our executive director to postpone ( and eventually cancel) our physical festival, we all at Oxford very quickly adjusted to a virtual festival, and everyone else soon followed.

For me, I have found this to be a wonderful transition. At Oxford we had the opportunity to have longer live Q&As that delved even deeper into the films as well as how we were all feeling and coping as artists. I was also able to attend New York Film Festival, Hamptons Film Festival and NewFest for the first time since leaving NYC as well as AFI Fest and Outfest.

Let’s take a look at some of my favorites from those festival, many of which will be quite available for those of you not living in a city like NYC or Los Angeles.

NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL

ON THE ROCKS

Let’s start with Sofia Coppola’s new film “On the Rocks.” One of the things that is happening with the films that have decided to stay on the 2020, early 2021 calendar is that many of the films are beings sold to online distributors and “One the Rocks” is one of those, currently available on AppleTV+. I can’t think of a Coppola film I don’t love. “Lost in Translation” is one of my favorite films of all time and “Somewhere” was very high on my Top 10 the year it came out.

The trailer makes it seem like it’s going to be a buddy comedy, and it is to some extent, but Coppola’s films are singularly hers. Sure, it’s a detective buddy comedy…a NYC story…a family dramedy, but these descriptors truly don’t do it justice.. I wonder if the Academy will respond to it. Who knows? Either way, I hope that you will check it out.

NOMADLAND

“Nomadland” is Chloe Zhao’s follow up to the critically adored “The Rider,” and a film that miraculously lived up to its expectations. Searclight Pictures is releasing the film theatrically on December 4th and will be hoping for yet another Best Picture win. Most people are saying that “Mank” is in the lead, but that’s having not seen it. Having actually seen “Nomadland,” I can say it’s absolutely one of the best films of 2020. More than likely, “Mank” will appeal via escapism, but “Nomadland” strikes the zeitgeist of 2020 in a way no other film I have seen has done so (other than “Boys State,” which is also one of my faves and available now via Apple TV+). With themes like the struggle with being ok lonely v/s loneliness, needing connection even when you don’t want it…even what homelessness or unhoused actually means for those living it and how outsiders perceive and judge…it’s a must see, stunningly shot film. And while most of the year end “big” movies have moved (other than “Wonder Woman 1984” for now, at least) “Nomadland” is poised to be the arthouse indie darling saving itself for that theatrical experience.

FRENCH EXIT

“French Exit” closed the festival, and all the buzz going in was about Michelle Pfeiffer and her overdue Oscar. Coming out of the film, there were basically two reactions. One was very negative. The other was positive, anchored by a love for Pfeiffer. I for one, adored the film. It is not perfect. It is tonally inconsistent and at times, oddly shot, but I found the story to be highly engaging. Pfeiffer is phenomenal and absolutely deserving of an Oscar nomination. And Valerie Mahaffey is simply amazing giving us some of the year’s best, much needed laughs. You will have to wait a little longer for this one as the film is being released in February of 2021, just in time for the extended Oscar deadline.

HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

My favorite festival I have ever attended is the Hamptons International Film Festival. Although I look forward to attending again in person, I managed to see a couple of films I really loved.

SOUND OF METAL

“Sound of Metal” will certainly be near the top of my favorite films of the year. The acting is superb, led by Riz Ahmed and equally met in skill by both Olivia Cooke and Paul Raci. If Amazon plays their cards right (and they have struggled with films like “Beautiful Boy,” missing out on a no-brainer nomination for Timothee Chalamet, for example) they could get an Oscar nomination for Raci. The film is about a heavy metal drummer who very suddenly loses his hearing. The kicker for me is that both Cooke and Ahmed’s characters are in recovery from drug addiction, and although I will not spoil it here, writer/director Darius Marder makes a choice in regard to Ruben’s (Ahmed) recovery that I found not only remarkable but also groundbreaking.

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI

Already the buzz for this film seems to have waned, but I want to sing its praises. Do not listen to the people who say this is a “filmed play,” because it is not. Please take it from me, someone who has directed plays and films and is currently adapting a play into a film, when I say first time director Regina King, with screenwriter Kemp Powers have made an intimate FILM about… “one incredible night where icons Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown gathered discussing their roles in the civil rights movement and cultural upheaval of the 60s.” When the movie first screened Twitter was abuzz about King joining a building list of women who could be nominated for an Oscar. The film is being released theatrically by Amazon on December 25th and will be on Prime January 15th. Unfortunately Amazon has an uphill battle in regard to the Academy, but perhaps this is the year they live up to their early success from 2017 when “Manchester By the Sea” won 2 Oscars and “The Salesman” won the studio’s third.

AFI FEST

WANDER DARKLY

My favorite film of AFI Fest was probably “Wander Darkly,” a supernatural tale of or marriage and loss, which played to me like “The Lake House” meets “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” It is a meticulously constructed film that moves very quickly, but worth the speed as it is anchored by another Oscar nomination worthy performance by Sienna Miller! Still on the 2020 calendar, this film will join “Nomadland” as one of the indie films not to miss!

UNCLE FRANK

I won’t be writing about NewFest of Outfest films, not because I didn’t love them, but because I loved them too much! Many of them I’m considering for Oxford Film Fest, so I will save those for another day. A queer film I thoroughly enjoyed but won’t be programming is “Uncle Frank.” Why not for Oxford, well, my loss is your gain as it will be available on Prime Video November 25th. And it’s the perfect Thanksgiving holiday film.

Accompanied by his teenage niece, a gay literature professor reluctantly returns home to attend his father's funeral. The teen is “It” star Sophia Lillis and the Uncle himself is Paul Bettany. Bettany is incredible in the film as are Peter Macdissi and Cole Doman. For some, the ending has been a critical point, but for me it solidifies why I loved the film. Queer films often lean into the tragedy, and this film has it, no doubt, but it is also filled with hope. Something we all, particularly queers, could use.

I’M YOUR WOMAN

There is a theme here already, and it seems to be women worthy of Oscar nominations! Rachel Brosnahan anchors literally every scene of another Amazon film, “I’m Your Woman.” This was the film that opened AFI Fest, and like “French Exit” it is remarkably unique, although better executed. It’s a slow revealing mystery that takes some unexpected, but earned turns. I knew nothing going in, and that’s exactly how I suggest you view this film. You can watch it in theaters December 4th and on Prime December 11th.

THE REST!

There are other films I suggest you keep your eye on, including the certainly to be controversial “The Boy Behind the Door,” a film that takes a taboo, yet very real subject and makes a highly entertaining horror film out of it. Many people enjoyed “Jumbo,” and while I can appreciate the elements, I was left mostly unimpressed by the sum of its parts. It is still very much worth the time. The last film I watched was “My Little Sister,” a difficult sit about a sister who has left Berlin and theatre to be with her family only to return when her actor brother is diagnosed with terminal cancer.