If Columbus Day is about Europe discovering America then this Columbus Day we will see America discovering Europe through film.  The 17^th annual Hamptons International Film Festival runs from Thursday Oct. 8 – Monday October 12 and focuses not only on American independent film but a cornucopia of fascinating foreign films both narrative and documentaries which serve as a first person lense on the rest of the world.

Stars such as Sharon Stone, Pierce Brosnan, Ethan Hawke, Steve Buscemi, Cheryl Hines, and Neve Campbell are all expected on the red carpet.  Local favorites Alec Baldwin, Alan Alda, and Bob Balaban will also be appearing.

While the festival is based in East Hampton, there will also be screenings in Southampton and Montauk.

Note that the opening night is now Thursday as opposed to the traditional Wednesday with “The Greatest” directed by Shana Feste starring Susan Sarandon and Pierce Brosnan who will be at the screening.  The film explores the story of a family that is disintegrating as they deal with the death of their child and surviving son’s drug us.  The closing film gives us the last performance of Heath Ledger in “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus” directed by Terry Gilliam and also starring Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell who stepped in to assume Mr. Ledger’s role after he passed away during production.

“Conversation With…” expands this year to include up close and personal talks with Sharon Stone, Alan Alda, Steve Buscemi, and Martin Bregman interviewed by Alec Baldwin.

HIFF celebrates its 10 year partnership with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation which presents an award each year of $25,000 to films of science and technology, this year showing winner Alejandro Amenabar’s historical drama “Agora” starring Rachel Weisz.

A special addition this year is “8” a benefit evening with Mira Nair to benefit the Maisha Film Lab which she founded in East Africa to encourage filmmakers in that area.  The film is a compilation of 8 shorts by acclaimed directors including Mira Nair, Win Wenders, Jane Campion, and Gus Van Sant.  Rajendra Roy, Chief Curator of Film at MoMA will lead a post screening discussion of the film as well as a pre-screening reception being offered as part of a special package.

Highlights include the Golden Starfish Competition Films by up and coming filmmakers in the narrative, documentary, conflict and resolution, and short categories which are awarded prizes by juries of respected industry professionals.

 

Breakthrough Performers focuses on the stars of tomorrow from both the US and Europe such as in past years Blake Lively before she became Gossip Girl’s heroine.  They will be accompanying their films and also participating in a panel discussion.  This year they are: Emmy Rossum and Zach Gilford with “Dare,” Rooney Mara in “Tanner Hall,” Emma Stone in “Paper Man,” Alba Rohrwacher in “Due Partite,” and Cyron Melville in “Love and Rage.”  These lucky young actors will be mentored during the festival by Sharon Stone.

This year will also see a focus on Scandinavian films as well as Israeli Films on Tel Aviv’s 100^th.

A special section is devoted to Family Films and Youth Films and not to miss is “Crimson Wing,” the flamingo version of “March Of The Penguins.”

For those who want an inside look at the industry there is the Cinematography Master Class and panels which include Green Production, Breakthrough Performers, New York Film Critics Circle, Marking Your First Short, and screenplay readings from the Sloan Screenwriters Lab.

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