Hamptons International Film Festival Returns

The 2019 Hamptons International Film Festival will head back to town October 10 to 14. The film “Just Mercy,” directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, will open the festival, its East Coast premiere, at Guild Hall of East Hampton. The biographical film, based on the memoir by Bryan Stevenson, follows a young lawyer, played by Michael B. Jordan, in his history-making battle for justice. The film also stars Jamie Foxx, Rob Morgan, Tim Blake Nelson, Rafe Spall, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Karan Kendrick, and Brie Larson.

Friday’s centerpiece film will be “The Irishman,” directed by Martin Scorsese. The film explores the life of Frank Sheeran and his career as a mob hitman. It stars Academy Award-winning actors Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci.

“Ford v Ferrari,” directed by James Mangold, has been selected as the festival’s Saturday centerpiece selection. The film is based on the story of American car designer Carroll Shelby, played by Matt Damon, and the fearless British driver Ken Miles, played by Christian Bale.

The closing night film will be “Waves,” directed by Trey Edward Shults. The film follows the lives of a suburban African-American family as they navigate life following a tragic loss. It stars Renee Elise Goldsberry, Kelvin Harrison Jr.,  Lucas Hedges, Taylor Russell, and Alexa Demie.

In celebration of her role in Chinonye Chukwu’s “Clemency,” the festival will honor Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning actress Alfre Woodard with a special “A Conversation With . . .” career-spanning discussion.

“We are honored to have Alfre Woodard at this year’s festival and look forward to a captivating and engaging conversation with her, as well as our Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Brian De Palma,” said Hamptons International Film Festival Executive Director Anne Chaisson.

De Palma will also participate in a conversation with festival co-chair Alec Baldwin.

World premieres will include Treva Wurmfeld’s “Conscience Point,” a ground-level documentation of the Shinnecock Nation and their ongoing fight for recognition of their ancestral rights in Southampton, Ben Steele’s “In Memorial,” Mark Landsman’s “Scandalous,” and Anthony Baxter’s “Flint.” The spotlight film section includes “A Hidden Life,” “Jojo Rabbit,” “Marriage Story,” and “The Two Popes.”

“Each of these films tell a unique, thrilling story,” said David Nugent, Hamptons International Film Festival’s artistic director, “and we are excited to share them with our passionate audiences out east, with a truly remarkable lineup of some of the year’s most anticipated films, events, and world premiere screenings.”

The festival will also honor artist and founding chairman the Hamptons International Film Festival board, Toni Ross, the recipient of this year’s Dick Cavett Artistic Champion Award.

Passes and packages are available now, and individual tickets will go on sale October 1. Visit www.hamptonsfilmfest.org for more information.

jessica@indyeastend.com