Uptown Messenger (https://uptownmessenger.com/2021/11/new-orleans-film-festival-opens-with-an-emphasis-on-new-orleans/)
New Orleans Film Festival opens with an emphasis on 'New Orleans'
By Jeanne d'Arcy, Uptown Messenger | November 7, 2021
More on events
Courtesy of New Orleans Film Society
Johnny (Joaquin Phoenix) and his nephew (Woody Norman) in "C'mon, C'mon."
The New Orleans Film Festival's gala red-carpet opening took place Saturday night (Nov. 6) at the Orpheum Theatre with the screening of "C'mon, C'mon."
The public has an opportunity to see the film today (Nov. 7) at the Broadside, 600 N. Broad St. at 7 p.m.
The final third of the film takes place in New Orleans. The main character, played by Joaquin Phoenix, travels the country interviewing children about the future, what they would change and other probing questions. The children here and in other cities are not actors, so this film is part documentary, overlaid with a fictional plot.
The action takes place around the city, and the New Orleans interviews are primarily in the Homer A. Plessy Community School in the French Quarter.
Johnny (Joaquin Phoenix) has the unexpected responsibility of caring for his 9-year-old nephew (Woody Norman) because of a family emergency, and he takes him along on his jobs. Academy Award nominated writer/director Mike Mills spoke at the opening about the film and the process of writing it. He has a 9-year-old son, and he wanted the boy's portrayal to be authentic.
Asked why he chose New Orleans as one of the locations Mills replied: "I have a friend from here, and like all other New Orleanians I have ever met, he talks a lot about New Orleans. It was an intuitive choice that I felt would make a transformational ending. As the finale, I think New Orleans was a great choice."
The film was shot in black and white. "I love black-and-white films, and I feel that presents a more 'story like' quality as well as a softness," Mills said.
Advance ticket reservations are encouraged for all Film Festival showings. Passes and individual tickets to this and other films are available online. Click here for more details.
Tribute to local music legends to close out New Orleans Film Festival (with video)
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Film festival screens a wide range of movies in Uptown venues
By Jeanne d'Arcy, Uptown Messenger | October 31, 2022
The 33rd New Orleans Film Festival will have three Uptown venues this year to present a wide variety of films, many of which cannot be seen any other way. The festival will showcase dozens of films, including short programs, at the Prytania Uptown, 5339 Prytania St.; the New Orleans Jazz Market, 1436 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.; and Second Line Stages, 800 Richard St.
New Orleans Film Festival 2022 to open at expanded Second Line Stages
By Uptown Messenger | October 24, 2022
The New Orleans Film Society will open its 33rd annual, Oscar-qualifying New Orleans Film Festival with "The Inspection," the narrative feature debut from multi-year New Orleans Film Festival alum Elegance Bratton, on Thursday, Nov. 3.