Pure, bold works distinguished by an innovative, forward-thinking approach to storytelling populate this program. Digital technology paired with unfettered creativity promises that the films in this section will shape a “greater” next wave in American cinema.
A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night and Obvious Child
Appropriate Behavior (Appropriate Behaviour)
(Country: US, UK; Year: 2014; Director: Desiree Akhavan; Writer: Desiree Akhavan; Stars: Desiree Akhavan, Rebecca Henderson, Scott Adsit, Halley Feiffer, Anh Duong, Hooman Majd, Arian Moayed, Aimee Mullins, Christopher Baker, Robyn Rikoon, Justine Cotsonas, Jake Katzman, Maryann Urbano, Daniella Rabbani, James Claude Bristow)
A young New Yorker struggles to understand herself in the aftermath of a break-up.
World premiere
Drunktown's Finest
(Country: US; Year: 2014; Director: Sydney Freeland; Writer: Sydney Freeland; Stars: Jeremiah Bitsui, Kiowa Gordon, Shauna Baker, Lora Martinez-Cunningham, Amber Midthunder, Mark Sivertsen, Debrianna Mansini, Elizabeth Frances, Tailinh Agoyo, Pierre Barrera, Luis Bordonada, James Burnett, Ryan Begay, Rulan Tangen, Nataanii Nez Means)
Three young Native Americans - a rebellious father-to-be, a devout Christian woman, and a promiscuous transsexual - come of age on an Indian reservation.
World premiere
The Foxy Merkins
(Country: US; Year: 2014; Director: Madeleine Olnek; Writer: Lisa Haas, Jackie Monahan, Madeleine Olnek; Stars: Gian Maria Annovi, Frances Bodomo, Diane Ciesla, Claudia Cogan, Dennis Davis, Lee Eaton, Betsy Farrell, Nancy Giles, Lisa Haas, Alex Karpovsky, Deb Margolin, Jackie Monahan, Jennifer Prediger, Charles Rogers, Laurie Weeks)
Two lesbian hookers work the streets of New York. One is a down-on-her-luck newbie; the other is a beautiful - and straight - grifter who's an expert on picking up women. Together they face bargain-hunting housewives, double-dealing conservative women, and each other in this prostitute buddy comedy.
World premiere
A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
(Country: US; Year: 2014; Director: Ana Lily Amirpour; Writer: Ana Lily Amirpour; Stars: Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi, Marshall Manesh, Mozhan Marnò, Dominic Rains, Rome Shadanloo, Milad Eghbali, Reza Sixo Safai, Pej Vahdat)
A lonely vampire and a young man exhausted by caring for his father come together in a nightmare city.
World premiere
Imperial Dreams
(Country: US; Year: 2014; Director: Malik Vitthal; Writer: Ismet Prcic, Malik Vitthal; Stars: Keke Palmer, De'aundre Bonds, Rotimi, John Boyega, Glenn Plummer)
A 21-year-old, reformed gangster's devotion to his family and his future are put to the test when he is released from prison and returns to his old stomping grounds in Watts, Los Angeles.
World premiere
Listen Up Philip and Appropriate Behavior
Land Ho!
(Country: Iceland, US; Year: 2014; Director: Aaron Katz, Martha Stephens; Writer: Aaron Katz, Martha Stephens; Stars: Paul Eenhoorn, Earl Lynn Nelson, Alice Olivia Clarke, Karrie Crouse, Elizabeth McKee, Emmsjé Gauti, Magnús Kr. Guðmundsson, Þrúður Kristjánsdóttir)
Two old friends take a trip to Iceland.
World premiere
Listen Up Philip
(Country: US; Year: 2014; Director: Alex Ross Perry; Writer: Alex Ross Perry; Stars: Krysten Ritter, Elisabeth Moss, Jason Schwartzman, Jonathan Pryce, Dree Hemingway, Joséphine de La Baume, Kate Lyn Sheil, Jennifer Kim, Daniel London, Joanne Tucker, Lee Wilkof, Rob Yang, Keith Poulson, Francis Benhamou, Miriam Weisbecker)
An angry writer and his relationships.
World premiere
Memphis
(Country: US; Year: 2014; Director: Tim Sutton; Writer: Tim Sutton; Stars: Willis Earl Beal, Constance Brantley, Larry Dodson, Devonte Hull, Lopaka Thomas)
A musician strives to find inspiration in a city with an overwhelming history.
World premiere
Obvious Child
(Country: US; Year: 2014; Director: Gillian Robespierre; Writer: Gillian Robespierre, Gillian Robespierre, Karen Maine, Elisabeth Holm, Anna Bean, Gillian Robespierre; Stars: Jenny Slate, Jake Lacy, Gaby Hoffmann, Gabe Liedman, David Cross, Richard Kind, Polly Draper, Paul Briganti, Cindy Cheung, Stephen Singer, Emily Tremaine, Crystal Lonneberg, Ernest Mingione, Julie Zimmer)
A struggling comedian loses her boyfriend, her home and her job, then accidentally gets pregnant from a one night stand.
World premiere
Ping Pong Summer
(Country: US; Year: 2014; Director: Michael Tully; Writer: Michael Tully, Michael Tully; Stars: Susan Sarandon, Lea Thompson, John Hannah, Amy Sedaris, Judah Friedlander, Robert Longstreet, Quinn McColgan, Logan Bennett, Maddie Howard, Emmi Shockley, Chelsea Reba, Helena May Seabrook, Joseph McCaughtry, Terry McConnaughey, Myles Massey)
1985. Ocean City, Maryland. Summer vacation. Rap music. Parachute pants. Ping pong. First crushes. Best friends. Mean bullies. Weird mentors. That awkward, momentous time in your life when you're treated like an alien by everyone around you, even though you know deep down you're as funky fresh as it gets.
World premiere
Land Ho! and Memphis
War Story
(Country: US; Year: 2041; Director: Mark Jackson; Writer: Kristin Gore, Mark Jackson; Stars: Catherine Keener, Hafsia Herzi, Ben Kingsley, Vincenzo Amato, Donatella Finocchiaro, Guido Caprino, Wejdi Trabelsi, Loredana Marino, Amalia Contarini, Luana Toscano)
A war photographer retreats to a small town in Sicily after being held captive during the conflict in Libya.
World premiere
