The New Orleans Film Society (NOFS)has announced its Closing Night, Centerpiece and additional Spotlight Films for the 36th annual New Orleans Film Festival (NOFF), taking place in-person October 23-27 and virtually October 23-November 2 through the NOFF Virtual Cinema (available globally). All Access Passes, Six Film Passes, Student/Teacher Passes and Virtual Passes are now available for purchase, with Individual tickets on sale to NOFS members October 9 (12 PM CST) and general public on October 16 (12 PM CST). To view the complete NOFF film guide, visit neworleansfilmsociety.org/lineup-events.  

• NOFF’s Closing Night Film, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (dir. Rian Johnson, prod. Rian Johnson, Ram Bergman, Katie McNeill), is the third installment of the Oscar-nominated Knives Out film series starring Daniel Craig as world-renowned detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), returning for his most dangerous case yet. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last week. 
• The festival’s Centerpiece Film is Jay Kelly, the latest from acclaimed director Noah Baumbach. Fresh off premieres at the Venice and Telluride Film Festivals, where it drew ecstatic acclaim, the film stars George Clooney in a career-defining turn as legendary movie star Jay Kelly who is joined by his loyal manager Ron (Adam Sandler) as he embarks on an unexpectedly profound journey across Europe that blurs the line between public persona and private truth.
• Other high-profile Spotlight Films announced include Bradley Cooper’s Is This Thing On?, which follows Alex (Will Arnett), who seeks new purpose in the New York comedy scene as he navigates a divorce from wife Tess (Laura Dern); Hedda from director Nia DaCosta and starring Tessa Thompson in the titular role; and HIKARI’s Rental Family, starring recent Oscar winner Brendan Fraser. 
• The festival also unveiled 16 features and shorts that will screen out of competition in a Special Presentations section, representing festival favorites, notable new voices and films with deep connections to the city. Highlights include: World premiere of Shelby (dir. Daniel Fiore), which follows one Louisiana man’s adventures underwater logging and treasure hunting; North American premiere of In Hell With Ivo (dir. Kristina Nikolova), a profile of provocative Bulgarian queer artist and songwriter Ivo Dimchev; Lovers (dir. Taylor McFadden), executive produced by Nathaniel Rateliff, follows two women who return to their hometown for the funeral of a friend and includes New Orleans–based musician Sabina McCalla in a supporting role. *Special performance by Rateliff at screening.

READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH NOFF ARTISTSIC DIRECTOR CLINT BOWIE

The International Dance Festival New Orleans (IDFNOLA) returns for its third year from September 4–7th, bringing together global contemporary dance and local artistry.  IDFNOLA gives attendees three exciting pathways of participation:

• Open-level masterclasses from featured guest artists during the day at Tulane University. 
• World-class performances in the evening at The New Marigny Theatre 
• A festival within a festival! The Dance Film Festival at the Broad Theatre on Saturday, September 6th.

This year, the festival is expanding its international reach, welcoming a diverse lineup of artists from around the world alongside returning local talent. Performing and teaching artists include Charlemagne Kevin Kabore (Burkina Faso), Evelyn Tejeda (Dominican Republic), Nicole Curtis (Lafayette), Kayla Farrish (New York), Diogo de Lima (Brazil), Amalia Najera (New Orleans), Madeline Lorio (New Orleans), Claire Olberding (Portland, OR), jeremy de’jon guyton (Los Angeles), Chloe Roberts (New Orleans), and Patricia Solorzano (Mexico).

See the The International Dance Festival New Orleans (IDFNOLA) website for more details. 

The New Orleans Film Society (NOFS) is thrilled to announce the first wave of titles for the 35th annual, Oscar®-qualifying New Orleans Film Festival (NOFF), which will showcase over 150 films in-person 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). This year’s opening night film, 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).
VIEW THE FULL LIST OF ANNOUNCED FILMS HERE