Spotlight
Premieres of new narratives and documentaries by or with high profile film talents.
- Comeback Season
In this funny and unlikely buddy picture, a chance encounter brings together cheating husband Walter (Ray Liotta) and injured high-school football star Skylar (Shaun Sipos). An unlikely friendship develops, as Skylar helps Walter get his family back and Walter helps Skylar regain the confidence he needs to overcome his injury. - Five Fingers
An idealistic, Dutch pianist, Martijn travels to Morocco to start a food program for malnourished children. But a group of unorthodox terrorists abduct him at the airport and subject him to a series of horrifying mental tests. Starring Ryan Philippe and Laurence Fishburne. - The Groomsmen
Paulie (Burns) has a week of hanging out with his four groomsmen to look forward to before he marries his pregnant fiancée. But cold feet are just the tip of the iceberg for this gang of Peter Pans in this charming comedy about learning to grow up after you've already reached your 30's. Also starring, Brittany Murphy, John Leguizamo, Jay Mohr, Matthew Lillard, and Donal Logue. - I Want Someone To Eat Cheese With
Curb Your Enthusiasm's Jeff Garlin wrote, directed, and stars in this bittersweet romantic comedy about an overweight, under appreciated Chicago actor in search of a soul mate. Starring Sarah Silverman, Amy Sedaris, and Bonnie Hunt. - Lonely Hearts
Martha Beck (Salma Hayek) and Raymond Fernandez (Jared Leto), also known as the Lonely Hearts Killers, were America's most notorious murderous couple in the late '40s. Based on real events, Lonely Hearts follows two homicide detectives (John Travolta and James Gandolfini) as they try to bring Beck and Fernandez to justice. - Lunacy
For his fifth feature, Czech master Švankmajer, whose intriguing blend of animation and live action has inspired the likes of Tim Burton, the brothers Quay, and Terry Gilliam, once again shocks and delights with an inspired, self-described philosophical horror film that borrows liberally from Edgar Allan Poe and the Marquis de Sade.
Discovery
Premieres of debut works by outstanding new voices through 33 World Premieres from up-and-coming directors from eleven countries.
- Beyond The Call
In 1995, three average Americans began delivering humanitarian aid to global hot spots like Afghanistan, Albania, Chechnya, Cambodia, Rwanda, and the southern Philippines. Part Mother Teresa and part Indiana Jones, these silver-haired Knights of Malta often arrive before other aid organizations hit the ground, and they stay long after others have pulled out. - The Canary Effect
This visually powerful documentary explores the horrific abuses enacted on Native Americans throughout history, abuses which meet the U.N.'s definition of genocide. Today, reservations rank in the bottom of the nation for quality of life, and in the top for suicide. The Canary Effect forces us to confront this uncomfortable history. - Day Break
In Iran, certain crimes allow the victim's family to choose capital punishment or forgiveness for the perpetrator. This harrowing, existential film shows a convicted murderer trapped in painful purgatory as his family distances themselves from him and his victim's family repeatedly delays their ultimate decision. - The Flock of Dodos: The Evolution-Intelligent Design Circus
In the tradition of Super Size Me, Evolutionary ecologist-turned-filmmaker Dr. Randy Olson interviews everyone from poker-playing evolutionists and Harvard scientists to advocates of intelligent design and even his 82-year-old mother. Both sides of the evolution vs. intelligent design argument are presented in such a way that it is difficult to say which group is the real flock of dodos. - The Sci-Fi Boys
Science-fiction films are overwhelmingly made by guys who grew up as sci-fi movie fans. In this doc the likes of Peter Jackson, John Landis, and Stephen Sommers not only discuss their childhood memories of King Kong and War of the Worlds, but also of Famous Monsters Magazine, which impacted all of their adult cinematic endeavors. - Tierney Gearon: The Mother Project
Shot over the course of three years, this evocative and revealing documentary follows the controversial and intensely personal art photographer Tierney Gearon as she completes a new body of work that examines her relationship with her schizophrenic mother. - Word.Life
From executive producer Bruce Willis comes an inspiring documentary about New York City teenagers who transform their life stories into powerful works of art, led by a formerly homeless teen turned rap mentor. On this journey of self-discovery and empowerment, hip-hop is the key that will set them free.
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