2025 Film Guide
ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT by Payal Kapadia
Starring Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam, Hridhu Haroon, Azees Nedumangad
In Mumbai, Nurse Prabha’s routine is troubled when she receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband. Her younger roommate, Anu, tries in vain to find a spot in the city to be intimate with her boyfriend. A trip to a beach town allows them to find a space for their desires to manifest. 2024 Cannes’ Grand Prize Winner, All We Imagine As Light has been receiving rave reviews from all critics, maintaining 100% on Rotten Tomatoes
ANNA COMES HOME by Amber Paulette Suzor
Starring Bella Newman, Raina Morris, Charlie McElveen, Cindy Newman, Hugh Newman, Stephan Suzor, Isabella Chayet
Anna Comes Home follows an awkward, deeply inquisitive young woman as she navigates the painful transition to adulthood after being ghosted by a high school crush. Set in Marin County, the film explores privilege, identity, and self-discovery, as Anna confronts her insecurities. Facing the underlying emptiness she’s been avoiding all along, Anna learns to accept herself.
*Q&A with Director Amber Paulette Suzor
ANORA by Sean Baker
Starring Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan
Fresh off its Palme d’Or win at Cannes, this electrifying comedy by Sean Baker dives into the gritty world of Brooklyn's strip clubs with a raw and seductive style. Follow the fearless, unapologetic sex worker Anora (Mikey Madison) as she navigates a whirlwind of love, deception, and danger. When a young Russian admirer proposes, she seizes the chance for a better future, but his wealthy oligarch parents send thugs to break them apart. – Amir Bogen
ARMAND by Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel
Starring Renate Reinsve, Ellen Dorrit Petersen, Endre Hellestveit, Thea Lambrechts Vaulen
A shocking incident of alleged sexual harassment between young children is explored through the eyes of adults in this tense, thought-provoking Norwegian drama. Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel's stunning directorial debut, which earned him the Camera d’Or at Cannes, delicately navigates the complex emotions surrounding the event. Renate Reinsve delivers a powerful performance as a single mother battling for her son’s and own innocence amid growing suspicion and blame. – Amir Bogen
BLITZ by Steve McQueen | Centerpiece Film
Starring Saoirse Ronan, Harris Dickinson, Elliott Heffernan
Academy Award and BAFTA Award-winning Steve McQueen’s (Widows, 12 Years a Slave, Shame) new film 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. Defiant to return home, George embarks on an adventure finding himself in peril, while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son. Blitz will open this year’s BFI London Film Festival.
BOB TREVINO LIKES IT by Tracie Laymon
Starring Barbie Ferreira, John Leguizamo, French Stewart, Lauren "Lolo" Spencer, Rachel Bay Jones
Opening with Lily Trevino’s emotional breakdown, Bob Trevino Likes It unravels her raw, non-linear healing journey. Barbie Ferreira (HBO’s Euphoria) stars as Lily, who, seeking to reconnect with her newly estranged father on Facebook, stumbles upon a stranger’s profile with the same name, Bob Trevino (John Leguizamo). Through this unexpected bond, she finds solace… but it’s not that simple. Tracie Laymon’s film powerfully explores complex family dynamics, trauma, and the cathartic path to healing. – Monet Massac
*Q&A with Executive Producer Mike Sobiloff
BOUNDARY WATERS by Tessa Blake | U.S. Premiere
Starring Étienne Kellici, Allison Miller, Chris Jackson, Carmela Zumbado with Bill Heck and Carol Kane
In the Iron Range of Minnesota, 12-year-old Michael, played beautifully by Etienne Kellici, is just learning to flirt with girls and find his place among his friends, when one night his mother is badly hurt. Caught between his meddling and wise grandmother (Carol Kane), his reserved father, and his mother, Michael is desperate to fix what happened. Trying hard to become a man, Michael learns that some men cause harm.
*Q&A with Actors Carol Kane, Étienne Kellici, Bill Heck, Chris Jackson, Carmela Zumbado, Producer Erin Mae Miller, and Writer Jennifer Manocherian
BROOKLYN, MINNESOTA by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen | World Premiere
Starring Amy Madigan, Sadie Jensen-Blank, Erik Jensen, Cullen Moss, Jacob Moran
Brooklyn, Minnesota follows a father, Kurt (played by Erik Jensen) and his daughter Maisie (played by his real-life daughter Sadie Jensen-Blank), on a cross country trip to Kurt's childhood home. Following the death of her Grandfather she didn't know existed, Maisie uncovers a wealth of deep dark secrets that are destroying her family. Co-starring Amy Madigan (Field of Dreams) this family drama is a story of profound forgiveness and love. – Sierra Slaughter
*Q&A with Director Jessica Blank
EMILIA PÉREZ by Jacques Audiard
Starring Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, Edgar Ramírez
Through liberating song and dance and bold visuals, this odyssey follows the journey of four remarkable women in Mexico, each pursuing their own happiness. The fearsome cartel leader Emilia enlists Rita, an unappreciated lawyer stuck in a dead-end job, to help fake her death so that Emilia can finally live authentically as her true self.
THE END by Joshua Oppenheimer
Starring Tilda Swinton, George Mackay, Moses Ingram, Michael Shannon, Bronagh Gallagher, Tim McInnerny, Lennie James, Danielle Ryan, Naomi O'Garro
Academy Award-nominated Director Joshua Oppenheimer (The Look of Silence, The Act of Killing) presents The End, a Golden Age musical about one of the last families on earth, starring Academy Award-winner Tilda Swinton as Mother and Academy Award-nominee Michael Shannon as Father. After the sudden arrival of a stranger, Girl (Moses Ingram), threatens the family’s luxurious compound deep underground, and Son (George MacKay) begins to question their seemingly perfect existence.
FLOW by Gints Zilbalodis
In a world mysteriously devoid of humans, with fresh flood waters rising, a heroically brave cat finds refuge in a tiny boat, joining an odd animal menagerie who must somehow learn to survive together. A highlight of this year's Cannes Film Festival, Flow is a tale of trust lost and found, with gorgeous animation and a keen sense of the animal kingdom to capture our imagination, telling a story accessible to all. – Peter Wortmann
GAZER by Ryan J. Sloan
Starring Ariella Mastroianni, Marcia Debonis, Renee Gagner, Jack Alberts, Tommy Kang
In Gazer, a unique Jersey Noir that premiered at Cannes Film Festival, Ariella Mastroianni plays Frankie, a young mother with dyschronometria, a fatal neurological disorder making it difficult to perceive time. Out of desperation, Frankie takes on a risky job, one which she later regrets and sets off a mystery with dark consequences. – Adam Schartoff
*Q&A with Director Ryan J. Sloan and Actress Ariella Mastroianni
HARDCORE NEVER DIES by Jim Taihuttu | North American Premiere
Starring Joes Brauer, Jim Deddes, Rosa Still, Jordy Dijkshoorn, Joenoes Polnaija
17-year-old Michael dreams of a future as a pianist, but his music education is not going smoothly. In his search for inspiration, he receives help from an unexpected source: his brother Danny introduces him to the emerging Dutch “gabber” music scene. Michael is drawn into a world of hard beats, brotherhood and drugs. When Danny’s drug business reaches international proportions, the brothers must fight for their lives.
*Q&A with Actor Joes Brauer
HARD TRUTHS by Mike Leigh
Starring Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Michele Austin, Llewella Gideon
Mike Leigh continues to captivate audiences with his latest work Hard Truths, in which he delves into the disintegration of a black working-class family. Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Secrets and Lies) delivers a powerful performance as a tormented woman who estranges herself from her husband, son, and sister. The film is a striking blend of hard-hitting realism and absurdity, showcasing the British Filmmaker’s unparalleled ability to capture the intricacies of human experience. – Amir Bogen
HAZARD by Edward Russel Mensore | World Premiere
Starring Alex Roe, Sosie Bacon, Dave Davis, Steven Ogg, Kevin Sizemore
Situated in the world of Appalachian coal country, Hazard tells the story of an injured coal miner attempting to escape his addiction and to support his family. What follows is a deeply empathetic and often heartbreaking portrait of the opiate epidemic affecting working class communities across this country, leaving viewers to question if one individual can truly escape the generational cycles of poverty and addiction. – Daniel Abelow
*Q&A with Director Eddie Mensore and Actors Alex Roe and Dave Davis
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING by Oday Rasheed | World Premiere
Starring Adam Bakri, Jess Jacobs, Reed Birney, Nasser Faris
As he tries to escape the traumas of his upbringing in war-torn Baghdad, Ali struggles to adjust to life in America, all while preparing for the citizenship process and navigating his relationship with an American woman. Things go from bad to worse when Ali receives word that his best friend Dawood has been kidnapped and held for ransom back home. – Daniel Abelow
*Q&A with Director Oday Rasheed
I’M STILL HERE by Walter Salles
Starring Fernanda Torres, Selton Mello, Fernanda Montenegro
Brazil faces the tightening grip of a military dictatorship. Eunice Paiva, mother of five, is forced to reinvent herself after her family suffers a violent arbitrary act by the government. Based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva's memoir, directed by Academy Award-nominee Walter Salles (The Motorcycle Diaries, Central Station), and starring Academy Award-nominee Fernanda Montenegro as Eunice, I’m Still Here reconstructs an important part of Brazil’s hidden history.
JIPPIE NO MORE by Margien Rogaar | North American Premiere
Starring Wesley van Klink, Guido Pollemans, Aus Greidanus sr., Hannah van Lunteren, Lotte Jonker
A family film about first loves and one wedding. Jaap Peter, a lively 16-year-old boy, eagerly prepares for his older sister's wedding at their beloved grandfather's country house. As the whole family rallies together to create the perfect celebration, Jaap Peter falls in love for the first time. But when the girl of his dreams is smitten with his younger sister Joe instead, Jaap Peter is faced with a dilemma.
*Q&A with Actor Aus Greidanus
LOS FRIKIS by Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz
Starring Adria Arjona, Hector Medina, Eros de la Puente, Luis Alberto Garcia, Jorge Perugorría
A period drama from filmmakers Michael Schwartz and Tyler Nilson (The Peanut Butter Falcon), set in 1990s Cuba, follows a rebellious punk rock band that, amid extreme poverty, self-infects with HIV to gain entry into a government-run, isolated facility. Based on shocking real events, this coming-of-age story blends themes of life, death, humor, love, and music. With support from Academy Award-winning producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller, and a score by Steven Price, Los Frikis offers a powerful and unforgettable cinematic experience. – Amir Bogen
*Q&A with Directors Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz
MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE by Kyle Hausmann Stokes
Starring Sonequa Martin-Green, Natalie Morales, Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman, Gloria Reuben
What better imaginary friend is there than a spirited dead friend you used to have? From US Army veteran Kyle Hausmann-Stokes comes a dark-comedy/drama about Merit (Sonequa Martin-Green), a veteran, grieving the loss of her Army friend Zoe (Natalie Morales). Between her court-ordered group therapy, her grandfather’s (Ed Harris) newly diagnosed Alzheimer’s, and a new potential romantic entanglement, emerges a deeply emotional story about the everyday struggles of veterans and a strong message about the importance of communication. – Richie Yeager
*Q&A with Director Kyle Hausmann Stokes and Producer Paul Scanlan
NICKEL BOYS by RaMell Ross
Starring Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
Chronicles the powerful friendship between two young Black teenagers navigating the harrowing trials of reform school together in Florida.
*Q&A with Writer/Producer Joslyn Barnes and Director of Photography Jomo Fray, moderated by Roger Ross Williams
NIGHTBITCH by Marielle Heller
Starring Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Arleigh Patrick Snowden, Emmett James Snowden, Zoë Chao
The Diary of a Teenage Girl and Can You Ever Forgive Me? director Marielle Heller’s latest film stars six-time Academy Award-nominee and two-time Golden Globe-winner Amy Adams (American Hustle, Big Eyes) in a new horror comedy based on the novel by Rachel Yoder. When Roy’s and Susanne’s lives bottom out in a malaise of mundanity, despair and alienation, a glimmer of bright color may just re-awaken them to wonder.
OF DOGS AND MEN by Dani Rosenberg | North American Premiere
Starring Ori Avinoam
In the wake of the October 7th attacks, this drama follows a teenage girl searching for her lost dog amidst grief and destruction. Directed by Israeli filmmaker Dani Rosenberg, the film delicately captures raw emotions of loss and human empathy. Filmed only weeks after the tragedy, it transcends politics, offering a compassionate reflection on shared pain, praised at the Venice Film Festival for its universal, humanistic, anti-war message.
*Q&A with Director Dani Rosenberg
OH, CANADA by Paul Schrader
Starring Richard Gere, Uma Thurman, Jacob Elordi, Michael Imperioli, Zach Shaffer
Academy-Award nominated writer/director Paul Schrader’s latest film follows ailing filmmaker Leonard Fife (Richard Gere) who wants to tell his life story, unfiltered, before it’s too late. As the director of lauded documentary exposés, he has much to be proud of, but his reputed avoidance of the Vietnam War draft and his past relationships harbor thorny truths.
*Q&A with Director Paul Schrader
OUT OF MY MIND by Amber Sealey | East Coast Premiere
Starring Phoebe-Rae Taylor, Rosemarie DeWitt, Luke Kirby, Michael Chernus, Courtney Taylor, Judith Light, Jennifer Aniston
Adapted from Sharon M. Draper's bestselling book, the Disney Original Movie Out of My Mind follows sixth grader Melody Brooks, who has cerebral palsy (portrayed to perfection by newcomer Phoebe-Rae Taylor who too lives with CP) and discovers her voice beyond assistive technology. Narrated by Jennifer Aniston as Melody’s inner voice, the film immerses us in Melody's world as she battles being unheard and underestimated, making Amber Sealey’s film a touching and uplifting story of perseverance and self-discovery. – Monet Massac
*Q&A with producer Peter Saraf
THE PIANO LESSON by Malcolm Washington
Starring Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Danielle Deadwyler, Michael Potts, Ray Fisher
A family clash over an heirloom piano explodes. The battle between brother and sister - one hopes to sell it, the other refuses to give it up - unleashes haunting truths about how the past is perceived and who defines a family legacy.
A REAL PAIN by Jesse Eisenberg | Closing Night Film
Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey
In Academy Award-nominated actor Jesse Eisenberg’s sophomore directorial feature film, mismatched cousins David (Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) 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. Premiering at this year’s Sundance Film Festival where Eisenberg won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award, he also produced A Real Pain along with two-time Academy Award-winner Emma Stone.
*Q&A with Editor Rob Nassau, moderated by Kate Sanford
RUMOURS by Guy Maddin, Galen Johnson, Evan Johnson
Starring Cate Blanchett, Rolando Ravello, Charles Dance
En route to the annual G7 summit, the seven leaders of the world’s wealthiest liberal democracies get lost in the woods and face increasing peril while attempting to draft a provisional statement regarding a global crisis.
THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG by Mohammad Rasoulof
Starring Misagh Zare, Soheila Golestani, Mahsa Rostami, Setareh Maleki, Niousha Akhshi, Reza Akhlaghi, Shiva Ordooei, Amineh Arani
In this poignant family drama set against Iran’s “Woman. Life. Freedom” movement, a judge, forced to suppress protesters, clashes with his wife and two daughters, spiraling into paranoia when his gun goes missing. The film subtly reveals the regime's devastating impact on women’s lives. Directed by Mohammad Rasoulof, who defied an eight-year prison sentence to complete the film, The Seed of the Sacred Fig earned a Special Jury Award at Cannes. – Amir Bogen
SEEDS by Kaniehtiio Horn | U.S. Premiere
Starring Kaniehtiio Horn, Graham Greene, Dallas Goldtooth
Kaniehtiio Horn (Alice, Darling) stars as a social media influencer who uncovers her fertilizing client's sinister plot while housesitting in her remote indigenous community. Stripped of her digital persona, she reveals a tough-as-nails side and, with the help of her cousin and past lover, fights back against corporate greed. Horn’s directorial debut is a biting snarky horror comedy and a tale of resilience and redemption. – Amir Bogen
*Q&A with Director and Actress Kaniehtiio Horn
SEPTEMBER 5 by Tim Fehlbaum
Starring Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin
"September 5" unveils the decisive moment that forever changed media coverage and continues to impact live news today. Set during the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics, the film follows an American Sports broadcasting team that quickly adapted from sports reporting to live coverage of the Israeli athletes taken hostage. Through this lens, "September 5" provides a fresh perspective on the live broadcast seen globally by an estimated one billion people at the time.
SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE by Tim Mielants
Starring Cillian Murphy, Emily Watson, Michelle Fairley, Eileen Walsh
Cillian Murphy delivers a powerhouse performance as a devoted family man who wrestles with staying silent or speaking out in the face of wrongdoing.
*Q&A with Director Tim Mielants
THE STRANGERS’ CASE by Brandt Andersen
Starring Yasmine Al Massri, Yahya Mahayni, Omar Sy, Ziad Bakri, Constantine Markoulakis
Starring The Intouchables Omar Sy, when tragedy strikes a Syrian family in Aleppo, a chain reaction of events is set off involving five different families in four different countries. A globe trotting mystery thriller, The Stranger’s Case takes us through war-torn homelands and characters who try hard to survive against all odds. Winner of multiple awards including the Berlin International Film Festival’s Amnesty International Film Prize.
*Q&A with Director Brandt Andersen
TORCH SONG by Jeroen Houben | North American Premiere
Starring Carla Juri, Markoesa Hamer, Al Weaver
After the death of her mother, singer Liz decides to pay a rare visit to her half-brother Gabe and his girlfriend Joey. Liz revamps old tensions with Gabe, an aspiring writer who fears being eclipsed by his successful sibling. To make matters worse, Joey and Liz grow closer, inspiring Liz to write new songs. An awakened sense of belonging catalyzes Joey into a journey of self-discovery, while further complicating an already deteriorating family dynamic.
*Q&A with Director Jeroen Houben
TURNING by Marco Baratta | World Premiere
Starring Will Hochman, Helen Goldsby, Ian Duff
Who hasn’t been subject to the dreaded quarter-life question, “What do you want to do in life?” This is the kind of question that inexplicably keeps coming up for Julian, a 25-year-old former athlete who lives alone in the woods, renting out his friend’s house to an odd string of nosey strangers. Serene and visually stunning, Turning captures the moment when a young man reaches life’s first big turning point. – Richie Yeager
*Q&A with Director Marco Baratta
TWIG by Marian Quinn | U.S. Premiere
Starring Sade Malone, Brian F. O'Byrne
We’re in the forlorn housing estates of working-class Dublin. But something’s not right. Police checkpoints. Talk of gangland violence. A flash of murder within a family. In a retelling of the myth of Antigone, Twig is a powerful story of one young woman, Twig, played by a captivating Sade Malone, who risks all to dismantle a war being fought for long-forgotten reasons… and comes to change her world. – Peter Wortmann
*Q&A with Writer/Director Marian Quinn, Producer Tommy Weir, Cinematographer Declan Quinn, Composer Gerry Leonard
THE UNINVITED by Nadia Conners | East Coast Premiere
Starring Elizabeth Reaser, Walton Goggins, Pedro Pascal, Lois Smith, Eva De Dominici, Rufus Sewell
Pedro Pascal, Elizabeth Reaser, Walton Goggins, Lois Smith, and Rufus Sewell lead an outstanding ensemble in this relationship drama that premiered at SXSW. In her narrative directorial debut, Nadia Conners, known for The 11th Hour, crafts an intimate story set in a single house over one night. A gathering of friends is disrupted by an older stranger, sparking comical yet revealing moments that expose secrets, lies, love, and midlife crises. As tensions rise, the line between guest and intruder blurs. – Amir Bogen
*Q&A with Director Nadia Conners and Actor Walton Goggins
UNSTOPPABLE by William Goldenberg
Starring Jharrel Jerome, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, Anthony Robles, with Don Cheadle and Jennifer Lopez
Unstoppable is the inspiring true story of Anthony Robles (Jharrel Jerome) who was born with one leg but whose indomitable spirit and unbreakable resolve empowered him to defy the odds and pursue his dreams. With the unwavering love and support of his devoted mother Judy (Jennifer Lopez) and the encouragement of his coaches, Anthony fights through adversity to earn a spot on the Arizona State Wrestling team. But his struggle does not stop there.
THE WAKE by Brian Brightly | World Premiere
Starring Rob Yang, Michael Chernus, Ross Partridge, Julia Randall, Ryan Miller, Elizabeth Tabish
Three men grieve the loss of their best friend over the course of a tumultuous weekend; their mishaps, witnessed by a younger, female student whose thesis film captures their uncertain journey.
*Q&A with Director Brian Brightly