Narrative Feature
World Cinema Narrative
99 min
While worshiping at a temple, soft-spoken doctor Naveen (Karan Soni) meets Jay (Tony Award winner Jonathan Groff), a white man adopted by Indian parents. When Naveen finally brings Jay home to meet his family as his fiancé, they must contend with accepting his white artist boyfriend and help the couple plan the Indian wedding…
Directed By Roshan Sethi
Narrative Feature
World Cinema Narrative
115 min
Winner of this year’s Cannes Grand Prix, director Payal Kapadia’s mesmerizing second feature follows Mumbai nurse Prabha (Kani Kusruti), whose routine is interrupted when she receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband. Meanwhile, her younger roommate Anu (Divya Prabha) tries in vain to find a clandestine spot in the…
Directed By Payal Kapadia
Narrative Feature
Spotlight
138 min
HIFF alum Sean Baker (THE FLORIDA PROJECT, 2017) returns with the story of a young sex worker (Mikey Madison) from Brooklyn who gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and impulsively marries the son of an oligarch (Mark Eydelshteyn). Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as his parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled. Winner of the Cannes Palme d’Or, ANORA is a whirlwind ride through clashing class worlds, featuring Baker’s signature humor and empathy and a fantastic breakthrough lead performance from Madison. A Neon release.
Directed By Sean Baker
Narrative Feature
Narrative Competition
117 min
North American Premiere
When defamed actress Elisabeth (Renate Reinsve, THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD) is abruptly called into a parent-teacher meeting after hours, she is presented with scathing allegations against her son that trigger a tangled web of accusations between parents and faculty. As Elisabeth struggles to uncover the truth amid the empty…
Directed By Halfdan Ullman Tøndel
Narrative Feature
Views from Long Island
116 min
World Premiere
Garrett Hedlund (MUDBOUND, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS) stars as a grieving father with a violent past who is shattered by the tragic death of his young son. Consumed with the need for answers, he kidnaps the child (Christian Convery) he believes is responsible for his son's death, igniting a frenzied manhunt fueled by the kidnapped…
Directed By Evan Ari Kelman
Narrative Feature
Spotlight
119 min
New York Premiere
Twelve-year-old Bailey (newcomer Nykiya Adams) lives with her single dad Bug (Academy Award nominee Barry Keoghan, THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN) and brother Hunter (Jason Buda) in a squat in North Kent. Bug doesn’t have much time for his kids, and Bailey, who is approaching puberty, seeks attention and adventure elsewhere. One…
Directed By Andrea Arnold
Narrative Feature
Spotlight
120 min
Set in London during World War II, BLITZ follows the epic journey of George (Elliott Heffernan), a defiant 9-year-old whose mother Rita (Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan) sends him to safety in the English countryside. Determined to return to his mother and grandfather (Paul Weller), George embarks on the perilous way home,…
Directed By Steve McQueen
Narrative Feature
World Cinema Narrative
102 min
New York Premiere
Lily Trevino (Barbie Ferreira, Euphoria) longs for familial connection, having been abandoned by her erratic and self-centered father Bob (French Stewart). When Lily stumbles across another Bob Trevino (Emmy Award winner John Leguizamo) online who is as lonely as she is, the two strike up an unexpected friendship that quickly…
Directed By Tracie Laymon
Narrative Feature
Views from Long Island
106 min
North American Premiere
On Christmas Eve, the Balsano family gathers for what could be their last holiday in their ancestral home on Long Island. As the night wears on and generational tensions arise, teenager Emily (Matilda Fleming) and her cousin Michelle (Francesca Scorsese) sneak out with their friends to claim the wintry suburb for their own. In…
Directed By Tyler Taormina
Narrative Feature
Spotlight
120 min
New York Premiere
In his highly anticipated follow-up to ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT, Academy Award® winner Edward Berger delves into one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events—selecting...
Directed By Edward Berger