Gabriel Axel's Babette's Feast. Image courtesy of BETZER-PANORAMA FILM / DANISH FILM INST / THE KOBAL COLLECTION.

As part of the Film Society of Lincoln Center's partnership with the Hamptons International Film Festival, this Friday, July 27 will see a 25th anniversary screening of Gabriel Axel's Babette's Feast (NYFF '87) at Guild Hall in East Hampton.

Set in 19th-century Denmark, the film centers on two sisters and their housekeeper Babette who, after winning the lottery, decides to spend her winnings on a massive feast for their small village. Following Friday night's screening, Geoffrey Dummond will moderate a conversation between filmmaker/restaurateur Bob Giraldi (director of Dinner Rush) and Bob Spitz, acclaimed author of The Remarkable Life of Julia Child. 

For such a special event, it's only fitting two of New York's most special film organizations partner to present it. Film Society Executive Director Rose Kuo said, “We are thrilled to partner with Hamptons International Film Festival and Guild Hall to jump start the fun with a special screening of the 25th NYFF's Babette's Feast—a cinematic banquet for film and food lovers.” And the sentiment is certainly shared, as HIFF Executive Director Karen Arikian said, “It's a joy to be celebrating the New York Film Festival's momentous year with this impeccable film, one that exemplifies the organization’s commitment to rich, important works of cinema.”

NYFF isn't the only New York-based film festival celebrating a milestone year. This fall, the Hamptons International Film Festival will celebrate its 20th edition. The unique festival of the East End runs from October 4 – 8, packing an impressive array of great films into a long weekend.


Judy Garland in George Cukor's A Star is Born. Image courtesy of the Kobal Collection.

The first Danish film to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Babette's Feast screened here at the Film Society in 1987 as part of the 25th New York Film Festival. Twenty-five years later, as we approach the 50th edition of the New York Film Festival this fall, this screening offers audiences a chance to bone up on their knowledge of NYFF history. Also make sure to check out the lineup for our ongoing 50 Years of the New York Film Festival series, which offers weekly screenings including tomorrow night's presentation of Abbas Kiarostami's Taste of Cherry (NYFF '97) and next week's screening of Hou Hsiao-hsien's Flowers of Shanghai (NYFF '98)!

If you can't make it to this Friday's event on Long Island, don't fret! Film Society has also partnered with Guild Hall to bring you All Singin’, All Dancin’, All Judy: A Cinematic Celebration of Judy Garland. Curated by Film Society Director of Programming Richard Peña, this special series celebrating the legendary star will offer weekly screenings of classic films such as Meet Me in St. Louis and A Star is Born throughout August. 

City dwellers looking to escape the summer heat need only hop on the Jitney and head to Guild Hall every Thursday night to start their weekends right—with the dazzling energy and passion Judy Garland so brilliantly brought to the screen throughout her career.