Happy Autumn Equinox!! 🍂 🍁

For the past decade or so, I have always associated Fall season with Twin Cities Film Fest (TCFF), an organization I’ve been privileged and honored to be a part of since its inception. 

A couple of days ago, TCFF unveiled its complete 2022 film catalog, revealing more than 140 movies that will screen Oct. 20-29 in a hybrid format. Now in its 13th year, the festival’s in-person program will again return to the Showplace ICON Theaters at The Shops at West End, with some 80 screenings set to take place at the St. Louis Park venue. More than 100 films will simultaneously debut online via the TCFF STREAMS platform at twincitiesfilmfest.org

That’s right our 2022 #festival #lineup is here and it’s packed with starr-studded #films! You do not want to miss this year’s #festival. https://t.co/PPNxajiaZS#nocompetition #movies #biggestyearyet #twincitiesfilmfest pic.twitter.com/ydqYRVFpFk

— Twin Cities Film Fest (@TCFilmFest) September 23, 2022

Widely known for balancing awards contenders from top festivals and studios with new breakthrough visions from Minnesota and Midwestern filmmakers, TCFF organizers said the nonprofit set out this year with plans to expand its slate of distinctive series and showcases. 2022 audiences will experience an eclectic and critically acclaimed mix of independent features, cutting-edge short films and provocative documentaries with a special focus on Minnesota-connected productions, BIPOC voices, female filmmakers and this year’s “Changemaker Series,” spotlighting projects that frame and address the urgent issue of climate change.

“We believe in the power of film. That’s become the Twin Cities Film Fest mantra — and again this year, as we’ve seen filmmakers’ and audiences’ resilience in reemerging from the pandemic, we’ve been overwhelmed by the originality and artistry on display in the hundreds and hundreds of submissions that flooded our office,” – TCFF Executive Director Jatin Setia

MGM’s Orion Pictures and United Artists Releasing’s TILL is set to open the festival on Thursday, Oct. 20th, telling the story of Mamie Till Mobley and her pursuit of justice for her 14-year-old son Emmett Till, who was lynched in 1955 while visiting his cousins in Mississippi. Director Chinonye Chukwu’s masterful visuals convey Till Mobley’s immeasurable dedication and her unending commitment and love for her son. TCFF will honor Deborah and Teri Watts (The Emmett Till Legacy Foundation) with the inaugural Empower Award during the post-film discussion.

This year’s closing night gala will be held on Saturday, Oct. 29, and will celebrate Empire of Light (Searchlight), Sam Mendes’s drama featuring Olivia Colman, Colin Firth, Micheal Ward, and Toby Jones. Set in an English seaside town in the early 1980s, the film is a powerful and poignant story about human connection — and the magic of cinema. Universal Pictures’ She Said, directed by Maria Schrader, is this year’s Spotlight selection and is set to screen Oct. 27. Based on the New York Times investigation and best-selling book, the film recounts how two reporters broke the story that helped propel the #MeToo movement and shattered decades of silence around the subject of sexual assault in Hollywood.

Between those tentpoles, TCFF will be showcasing projects tied to “Climate Action: Food and Fashion,” the official cause of this year’s “Changemaker Series.” Set to screen on the festival’s opening night is the acclaimed documentary Overheated, directed by Yassa Khan and featuring Billie Eilish, Finneas, Yungblud and Girl in Red, among others. The film is in part produced by Maggie Baird, mother of Billie Eilish and Finneas, who will be attending the festival alongside nationally recognized artist and local philanthropist Stephanie Dillon, both the recipients of the 2022 TCFF Changemaker Award. The duo will also be joined by key personnel from Baird’s non-profit, Support & Feed, the official TCFF Changemaker Partner. TCFF will also renew its partnership with St. Louis Park-based Rem 5 VR Lab for a one-night Immersive VR/XR Experience on Oct 25th.

This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award will go to acclaimed actor Chris Mulkey, who will be in attendance with his new film The Hand That Feeds on Saturday, Oct. 22. Jeremy Davies will be presented the Northstar Award at his film Bitcon, directed by MN filmmaker Matt Osterman on Friday, Oct 21st.

Other widely hailed entries featured in next month’s program: Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun (A24, Oct. 22), James Gray’s Armageddon Time (Focus Features, Oct. 21), The Banshees of Inisherin (Searchlight, Oct. 23), Lukas Dhont’s Close (A24, Oct. 23), Ryan White’s Good Night Oppy (Amazon Studios, Oct. 22), Elegance Bratton’s The Inspection (A24, Oct. 29), Michael Grandage’s My Policeman (Amazon Studios, Oct. 20) starring Harry Styles, Nikyatu Jusu’s Nanny (Amazon Studios, Oct. 22), Kathlyn Horan’s The Return of Tanya Tucker — Featuring Brandi Carlile (Sony Pictures Classic, Oct. 23), Trevor Frost and Melissa Lesh’s Wildcat (Amazon Studios, Oct. 29), and Sarah Polley’s Women Talking (Orion Pictures/United Artists, Oct. 28).

I personally am thrilled to see plenty of female-directed and female-led films this year, I’ll do a blog post later in October of my most-anticipated films at TCFF!

Which of these Fall movies are you most looking forward to seeing?

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