Don't miss these 7 films at 2023 NH Film Festival in Portsmouth
PORTSMOUTH — The magic is about to happen again on the city's downtown streets. Film lovers from near and far will be scurrying from venue to venue, excitedly chatting about the film they just saw.
The 2023 New Hampshire Film Festival will take place Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 12-15 when more than 100 new independent films will be screened at four venues in downtown Portsmouth.
The festival’s films will feature names you recognize including Anne Hathaway, David Strathairn, Billy Porter, Luke Evans, Robin Weigert, Phylicia Rashad and Andrew Rannells.
The 21st annual festival will include films from around the world and closer to home. Some films are coming to the festival after screening at Cannes, Sundance, South by Southwest, Toronto and Tribeca. Several films will have their world premiere in Portsmouth. The festival will also feature more than 30 films by New Hampshire filmmakers. There are full-length films and short films. It is an Academy Award qualifying festival for the Short Film Awards.
The festival’s 132 films will screen at four downtown Portsmouth venues: The Music Hall Historic Theater, The Music Hall Lounge, 3S Artspace and The Press Room. The film festival’s headquarters will be at the Museum of New Art (MONA), 135 Congress St., and will be open 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. each day.
The festival also features panels, forums, a comedy night and parties over its four days. The SAG-AFTRA strike means actors are not able to promote their films, but industry experts will be featured including sitcom producing legend Marcy Carsey, TV personality Tom Bergeron, late night TV writer and comedian Jon Rineman, comedian Lenny Clark, radio DJ Greg Kretschmar and comedian-actress Eliza Coupe, who is from Plymouth, New Hampshire.
Festival organizers picked the seven films they feel film lovers cannot miss. Here they are, described in their words:
“Eileen”
Directed by William Oldroyd, Narrative, 97 minutes
Friday, Oct. 13, 8 p.m., Music Hall Historic Theater
Set during a bitter 1964 Massachusetts winter, young secretary Eileen (Thomasin McKenzie) becomes enchanted by Rebecca (Anne Hathaway), the glamorous new counselor at the prison where she works. Their budding friendship takes a twisted turn when Rebecca reveals a dark secret — throwing Eileen onto a sinister path. Based on the book of the same name by bestselling author, Ottessa Moshfegh.
“In The Whale”
In The Whale Sizzle from Andy Laub on Vimeo.
Directed by David Abel, Documentary, 81 minutes
Saturday, Oct. 14, 7:10 PM, Music Hall Historic Theater
“In the Whale” is a feature-length film about arguably the greatest fish story ever told, though this one is true. It’s the account of a man who survived to tell the tale of being swallowed by a whale, and what happened after he was spit out.
'This is how you die': One year later, Michael Packard recalls escape from whale
“Invisible Nation”
Directed by Vanessa Hope, Documentary, 85 minutes
Friday, Oct. 13, 3:55 p.m., Music Hall Historic Theater
With unprecedented access to Taiwan’s sitting head of state, director Vanessa Hope investigates the election and tenure of Tsai Ing-wen, the first female president of Taiwan. Thorough, incisive and bristling with tension, “Invisible Nation” is a living account of Tsai’s tightrope walk as she balances the hopes and dreams of her nation between the colossal geopolitical forces of the U.S. and China. Hope’s restrained observational style captures Tsai at work in her country’s vibrant democracy at home, while seeking full international recognition of Taiwan’s right to exist. At a time when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has demonstrated the ever-present threat of authoritarian aggression, “Invisible Nation” brings punctual focus to the struggle of Taiwan as it fights for autonomy and freedom from fear.
“A Little Prayer”
Directed by Angus MacLachlan, Narrative, 91 minutes
Saturday, Oct. 14, 9 p.m., Music Hall Historic Theater
Bill (David Strathairn), a Vietnam veteran who has lived in suburban Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for decades with his wife, Venida (Celia Weston), confronts the limits of patriarchal power while parenting his adult children, both of whom are experiencing personal difficulties. Their son David (Will Pullen), is a PTSD-stricken veteran whom Bill suspects of cheating on his wife Tammy (Jane Levy). Tammy and Bill have a special bond for a father and daughter-in-law and appear to completely understand each other, so when he believes his son has strayed, he is at a loss for how to proceed.
“Maestra”
Directed by Maggie Contreras, Documentary, 88 minutes
12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15 at the Music Hall Theater
Five incredible women from around the world who are boldly breaking glass ceilings in the male-dominated world of orchestral conducting take center stage in “Maestra.” These women gathered in Paris for 'La Maestra', the only competition in the world for female conductors, to show the world the singular talent that unites them and which, for far too long, has been considered the pursuit of only men. Personal stories of survival, passion and perseverance are woven together with the drama and excitement of this one-of-a-kind event.
“Our Son”
Directed by Bill Oliver, Narrative, 105 minutes
Saturday, Oct. 14, 5 p.m., Music Hall Historic Theater
When his husband Gabriel (Billy Porter) files for divorce, Nicky (Luke Evans) fights for custody of their 8-year-old son Owen, as he struggles to come to terms with what it means to love someone and what it means to be a father. With Robin Weigert, Phylicia Rashad, Andrew Rannells.
“Perfect Days”
Directed by Wim Wenders, Narrative, 122 minutes
Sunday, Oct. 15, 7:05 p.m., Music Hall Historic Theater
Hirayama (Kôji) Yakusho, winner of the Best Actor Prize at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, seems utterly content with his simple life as a cleaner of toilets in Tokyo. Outside of his very structured everyday routine, he enjoys his passion for music and for books. And he loves trees and takes photos of them. A series of unexpected encounters gradually reveal more of his past. A deeply moving and poetic reflection on finding beauty in the everyday world around us.
Short films at NH Film Festival can qualify for Academy Awards
The festival in 2023 is again an Academy Award qualifying festival for the Short Film Awards. Short films that receive the festival’s Live Action Shorts Jury Award and Animation Shorts Jury Award may now qualify to enter the Short Films competition for this Academy Awards season and will be eligible for consideration in the Live Action Short Film and Animation Short Film categories without the standard theatrical run.
Dan Hannon, co-founder and industry director of the N.H. Film Festival, said the festival received 1,800 submissions this year.
“The caliber of the films is amazing,” Hannon said. “The features are some of the strongest we’ve ever had.”
Hannon noted the fact that this is the second year the NHFF is a qualifier for the Academy Awards is one of the reasons.
“The shorts are highly competitive now that the word is really out,” Hannon said.
Festival puts a spotlight on New Hampshire filmmakers
N.H. Film Festival Co-Founder and Executive Director Nicole Gregg thanked the filmmakers who submitted films, the Music Hall for its help with this year’s festival and those local fans and sponsors who have supported the festival year after year at the traditional kickoff party on Sept. 28 at Thirsty Moose in Portsmouth where the festival’s trailer debuted. This year’s trailer teasing many of the festival’s films was put together by Miles Woodworth, the coordinator of the festival’s photography and videography team.
“Everyone works so hard on the festival for months and then it’s here. You get to see how all the hard work comes together and it’s magical,” Gregg said. “It’s for the locals as much as it is for the tourists, for the filmmakers. This festival could be in any town, but it’s here in Portsmouth and that’s what makes it special.”
Award-winning filmmaker Alfred Thomas Catalfo of Dover will have his ninth film, “Mars Hill Bait And Ammo,” screened in the last slot on New Hampshire Night, Thursday, Oct. 12.
“It’s a short sci-fi comedy. It’s really filled with New England humor. Juston McKinney is in it and we had lots of good people working on it,” Catalfo said. “It’s exciting that the festival is here. I’ve been to a lot of film festivals around the country and this one is exceptional. It’s really amazing that it is here and it has really, really great people running it.”
Options for buying tickets to the NH Film Festival
You can purchase tickets at nhfilmfestival.com/festival-passes-page. The festival offers passes for the whole festival weekend or by the day.
VIP passes are $275 and admit you to every screening, event and party for the entire weekend. It also gives you advanced seating before others are admitted 15 minutes before showtime. It includes a VIP only brunch on Sunday.
Festival passes are $135 and admit you to seating if space is available at every screening and event during the weekend.
Day passes are $50, except for Thursday when a day pass is $30. Entrance to screening and events is on a space available basis.
Tickets for an individual film or a block of shorts will only be available in person at the festival for $16.
You can pick up your advance purchase pass at Will Call at the festival headquarters at the Museum of New Art in Portsmouth beginning Thursday, Oct. 12 at 9:30 a.m. You can also purchase passes during the festival at headquarters and at The Music Hall Box Office at 25 Chestnut St., Portsmouth.
Festival organizers suggest getting in line early for a film or event to get the best chance of being seated.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: 2023 NH Film Festival in Portsmouth: 7 must-see films
