Additional Spotlight films announced include A Real Pain, Blitz, Memoir of a Snail and Rebel Nun
NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Film Society (NOFS) has announced the addition of five curated films to the in-person lineup for the 35th annual, Oscar®-qualifying New Orleans Film Festival (NOFF), including the event’s Closing Night film Conclave, from director Edward Berger (Oscar®-winning All Quiet on the Western Front), a Vatican-set drama about a group of cardinals selecting the next pope, starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini and John Lithgow.
Other Spotlight Films announced include an impressive slate sure to be part of awards season conversations, including:
- A Real Pain, a comedy drama written, directed and produced by Jesse Eisenberg, starring Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin as mismatched cousins who reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother.
- Blitz, the new feature from Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave), an exploration of London during World War 2, starring Saoirse Ronan.
- Memoir of a Snail, a stop-motion animated tragicomedy from Oscar®-winning director Adam Elliot.
- Rebel Nun, a documentary about Louisiana-based Sister Helen Prejean, whose story was the inspiration for the Academy Award®–winning feature film Dead Man Walking.
In-person screenings will take place between October 16 – 22 at The Broad Theater, Contemporary Art Center and The Prytania Theatres (plus, virtually October 16 – 27 through the NOFF Virtual Cinema, available globally). Festival tickets will be on-sale on October 2 (member pre-sale begins September 25) after the full film schedule is announced later this month. All Access Passes are currently available to purchase at neworleansfilmsociety.org/attend/. To view the full lineup of films showing at this year’s fest, visit https://neworleansfilmsociety.org/lineup-events/.
“The New Orleans Film Festival continues to be an important stop on the awards season tour for many films,” said New Orleans Film Society Artistic Director Clint Bowie. “These titles will be coming to New Orleans from prior screenings at top-tier fests like Telluride and Toronto, and we’re excited to provide our audiences with an early look at these sure-to-be awards contenders.”
Festival organizers previously announced the event’s Opening Night film, as well as all features and shorts screening in competition. This year’s opening night selection, A King Like Me (directed by Matthew O. Henderson), follows members of the Zulu Club, New Orleans’ first Black Mardi Gras krewe, as they work to bring the Zulu parade back to the streets for Mardi Gras Day 2022, in the face of a global pandemic, Hurricane Ida, and the loss of members due to COVID and gun violence. The film will have its Louisiana Premiere on October 16 at the Orpheum Theater (time TBD).
Among other highlights is the North American premiere of Blue: The Life and Art of George Rodrigue (Dir. Sean O’Malley), about the life and legacy of the famed Louisiana Blue Dog artist, and the world premiere of the documentary film Ghetto Children (Dir. Zac Manuel), following the sons of legendary Southern rap music icons Juvenile, B.G., and Soulja Slim.
For more information on the 35th Annual New Orleans Film Festival, visit https://neworleansfilmfestival.org.
Closing Night Film: October 22, Contemporary Arts Center (Time TBD)
Conclave
Dir. Edward Berger, Prod. Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell, Michael A. Jackman, Robert Harris, Alice Dawson
From director Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front), Conclave follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events – selecting a new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence finds himself at the center of a conspiracy and discovers a secret that could shake the very foundation of The Church.
Spotlight Films:
Blitz
Dir. Steve McQueen, Prod. Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Steve McQueen, Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan, Anita Overland, Michael Schaefer, Adam Somner
Sir Steve McQueen’s “Blitz” follows the epic journey of George (Elliott Heffernan), a 9-year-old boy in World War II London whose mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan) sends him to safety in the English countryside. George, defiant and determined to return home to his mom and his grandfather Gerald (Paul Weller) in East London, embarks on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril, while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son.
Memoir of a Snail
Dir. Adam Elliot, Prod. Adam Elliot
In 1970s Australia, Grace’s life is troubled by misfortune and loss. When her family unit falls to pieces and she is separated from her twin brother, Gilbert, she turns to hoarding ornamental snails to ease her loneliness. Grace finds hope when she strikes up a friendship with an elderly eccentric woman called Pinky, who gives her the courage to come out of her shell and step away from the things that overcrowd her home and her mind. From Academy Award-winning animation writer and director Adam Elliot, Memoir of a Snail is a poignant, heartfelt, hilarious chronicle of the life of an outsider finding her confidence and silver linings amongst the clutter of everyday life.
A Real Pain
Dir. Jesse Eisenberg, Prod. Dave McCary, Ali Herting, Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg, Jennifer Semler, Ewa Puszczynska
A Real Pain follows mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) as they reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the odd-couple’s old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.
Rebel Nun
Dir. Dominic Sivyer, Prod. Dominic Sivyer
Sister Helen Prejean was a humble nun from Louisiana who embarked on a controversial battle that changed the world. Now 84 years old, Sister Helen is currently fighting to stop the execution of a Death Row inmate in Oklahoma who even lawmakers are convinced is innocent. A Universal
KEY DATES (All times in CST)
- Summer Presale on All Access Passes: Now through August 29, 2024
- All Pass Types on Sale: August 30 at 12 PM
- Film Schedule Announced: September 20 at 12 PM
- NOFS Member Presale on Festival Tickets: September 25 at 12 PM
- Schedule Release: September 20
- Festival Tickets on sale: October 2 at 12 PM
- In-Person Festival Dates: October 16-22, 2024
- Virtual Festival Dates: October 16-27, 2024
HOW TO ATTEND NOFF2024
For the full NOFF experience, Festival Goers can purchase an All Access Pass, good for admission and priority entry to all screenings (in-person and virtually), parties, receptions, and the VIP Lounge.
All Access Passes are currently available at a fantastic Summer Presale Rate (NOFS Members $270 | general $320) —NOFS Members save $80 off general full priced All Access Pass!—before the price goes up August 30 (NOFS Members $300 | general $350). Purchase All Access Passes here: neworleansfilmsociety.org/attend/
Now is the best time to become a NOFS member and receive the biggest discount on this exciting annual celebration of independent film in New Orleans! Sign up for membership here: neworleansfilmsociety.org/become-a-member/
Film lovers also have the option to buy a Virtual Pass to watch films from October 16-27, a Six Film Pass to watch any six films virtually or in-person, or buy individual tickets. Students and teachers can purchase a discounted $60 All Film Pass for access to all virtual and in-person screenings. All festival transactions will be contactless; cash or check payments will not be accepted–– acceptable forms of payment include credit and debit cards, and Apple and Google Pay. Click here for more details.
The New Orleans Film Festival strives for equitable access to our programs. For details on our accessibility services, visit our website. Contact us at info@neworleansfilmsociety.org for specific inquiries or additional accommodations.
SUPPORT FOR THE 35th NEW ORLEANS FILM FESTIVAL COMES FROM…
The 35th New Orleans Film Festival’s Marquee sponsors include the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF), the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, and The National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.Producing sponsors include Gilead and The Helis Foundation. Feature sponsors include the Greater New Orleans Foundation LGBTQ Fund and Louisiana Entertainment. Supporting sponsors include James Douglas Hislop, Jones Walker LLP, Portrait, Positive Vibrations Foundation, Reel Security, Tulane University Roger Thayer Stone Center for Latin American Studies, and the Tulane University Cuban and Caribbean Studies Institute.
Media partners include The New Orleans Advocate – Times-Picayune, New Orleans Magazine, 4WWL TV, WWNO, and WGSO.
ABOUT THE NEW ORLEANS FILM SOCIETY
The New Orleans Film Society (NOFS) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to promote, nurture, and amplify the diverse voices of filmmakers and to facilitate conversations through film and film-related programming that inspire, educate, challenge and entertain our audiences.
Founded in 1989, NOFS produces the Oscar®-qualifying New Orleans Film Festival annually and invests year-round in building a vibrant film culture in the South to share transformative cinematic experiences with audiences, and connect dynamic filmmakers to career-advancing resources. Year-round programming includes free and low-cost screenings for members and the broader community of cinephiles in New Orleans, a 27-year running French Film Festival featuring contemporary and classic French cinema, and filmmaker professional development programs created to nurture diverse voices in filmmaking in the American South. NOFS is a 501(c)(3) organization.
The New Orleans Film Society is supported by grants from the Ford Foundation; The National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; Perspective Fund; and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The City of New Orleans supports NOFS’s programs through a Community Arts Grant administered by Arts New Orleans.
Instagram.com/NewOrleansFilmSociety
Facebook.com/NewOrleansFilmSociety
###