Between festivals, series, and special screenings, there was something for everyone to attend this June at the Film Society.
The 28th Human Rights Watch Film Festival kicked off on June 9th, bringing 20 topical and provocative feature documentaries and panel discussions. Some prevalent themes of this year’s films included the international refugee crisis, the issues with U.S. police and justice institutions, as well as the need to hold governments accountable, globally. In addition to the films, there was an exclusive From Audience to Activist panel with filmmakers, activists, and journalists, which addressed the various practices, materials, and guidance on how to safely and effectively distribute media.
On June 19th, the Film Society of Lincoln Center hosted A Night for Film in Education, a fundraising event with all proceeds supporting the Film Society’s Film in Education program. This program works with students in both local schools and at our theaters. The evening kicked off with a presentation of the world premieres of the various short films created by the students. Presenters included Steve Buscemi, Oliver Platt, Susan Kelechi Watson (NBC’s This Is Us), and filmmaker Rebecca Miller (Maggie’s Plan). Following the screenings and award presentations, guests were invited to a reception with food and refreshments provided by Le Pain Quotidien. A Night for Film in Education was generously sponsored by the Gary Winick Foundation​, which honors the legacy of late New York filmmaker Gary Winick by supporting the next generation of filmmakers.
The following night the Film Society hosted Academy Award-winning writer/director Sofia Coppola, fresh off of her Best Director win at this year’s Cannes Film Festival for her new film, The Beguiled. Based on Thomas Cullinan’s 1966 Southern Gothic novel, the movie tells the story of a Union soldier found behind Confederate lines in Virginia and taken in by the sheltered women at an all-female boarding school. The evening began with a pre-reception sponsored by The Family Coppola and Stella Artois, followed by a conversation with the esteemed filmmaker. She discussed the work that has inspired and influenced her career, and took questions from the audience. See the whole conversation here!
