Everything you need to know about the Boston Film Festival
From a satire featuring an imaginary Hitler to a Wahlberg-produced addiction documentary, here's your viewing guide for the Boston Film Festival, which begins Sept. 19.
From a satire about nationalism featuring a little boy’s imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler, to a documentary reflecting on how one mother’s “sunshine boy” grew up to be one of the shooters responsible for the Columbine High School massacre, the films at this year’s Boston Film Festival won’t shy away from controversial subjects.
Despite a number of movies touching on taboo topics, executive director Robin Dawson said next week’s 35th annual festival (Sept. 19-22) has taken on a theme of redemption. Many of the documentaries and films, she said, are tinged with hope.
The four-day event is set to kick off Thursday with the world premiere of “American Tragedy,” a documentary in which the mother of one of the Columbine shooters tries to reconcile the boy she knew with the one he became.
The documentary will be followed by “JoJo Rabbit,” a World War II satire about a young boy (Roman Griffin Davis) in Nazi Germany whose only friend is an imaginary Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi).
“JoJo Rabbit” is one of two studio films already garnering Oscar buzz playing at the festival. The other is “A Hidden Life,” a World War II drama from acclaimed director Terrence Malick that will close the festival on Sunday.
All but one screening will be at the Showplace Icon theater in the Seaport. The only exception is “In Their Shoes,” a documentary produced by Jim Wahlberg (brother of Mark and Donnie) about addiction recovery and prison reentry that will play for free at Boston Public Library on Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets for the film, which features interviews with Mayor Marty Walsh and Congressman Joe Kennedy III, among others, will be first come, first served.
“It’s nice to be able to offer a film to the community,” Dawson said. “Particularly one that contains an important message.”
Despite its name, the Boston Film Festival doesn’t screen just movies. Saturday evening will showcase a special screening of the pilot episode of the new NBC legal drama“Bluff City Law” starring Newton native Caitlin McGee (“Grey’s Anatomy”).
Question and answer sessions after most viewings will feature directors and actors such as Tammin Sursok (“Pretty Little Liars”), David Koechner (“Anchorman”), and Jayne Atkinson (“House of Cards”). The festival will also offer panel discussions on topics such as school shootings and mental health.
After the film reels stop spinnings, audience members can cap off their evenings at festival after-parties held at venues like the Met Back Bay, Yotel, and The Grand. The full list of parties will be released via the festival’s social media accounts.
The 35th annual Boston Film Festival will run Sept. 19-22. Tickets for each screening are $10 for students, $12 for seniors, and $15 for adults. Short film tickets are sold in packages. Purchase tickets and view the complete schedule at bostonfilmfestival.org.
