A scene from The Nana Project | Photo via SIFFNYC
NEW YORK – The excitement is building up as the SOHO International Film Festival (SIFFNYC) prepares to roll out its red carpet again on its opening night on September 14 through 21 at the Village East by Angelika at 12th Street and 2nd Avenue in the heart of New York City. This iconic venue will be the backdrop for the festival’s creativity, innovation, and cultural diversity showcase.
With over 110 films lined up, which includes a record-breaking number of premieres, The Nana Project will first grace the silver screen to open this year’s festival promise of an extraordinary cinematic experience. Robin Givens directed the movie with an ensemble cast led by Mercedes Ruehl, Nolan Gould, Will Peltz, Tony Todd, and Morgan Fairchild.
A mockumentary set primarily at a retirement home, the film follows a documentary crew who develop an interest in a “star” resident, a feisty chess master, Helen “Nana” Lewis, played by Ruehl.
The festival’s US Features category includes the Northeast premiere of the film Little Brother, a gripping drama about two estranged brothers and the journey they embark on, starring J.K. Simmons, Polly Draper, Natsuko Ohama, Phillip Ettinger, and Daniel Diemer.
SIFFNYC will also feature the World Premieres of Jon Delgado’s Queen of Knives, a film shot entirely in Brooklyn, NY, about a modern, eccentric family of two generations, and Jhett Tolentino’s feature directorial debut, Asian Persuasion, which stars Dante Basco, KC Concepcion, Paolo Montalban, and Kevin Kreider.
New York Premieres include Vivian Kerr’s feature film Scrap, where she stars along with Anthony Rapp and Lana Parrilla, a SIFFNYC selection as a short film in 2019. The World Features include Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagñalan’s Blue Room (Philippines), Jihane El Bahhar’s Triple A (Morocco), Antonella Spirito’s The House That Stood (Italy), Bobby Barbacioru’s A Frame of Mind (Romania) and Apollo Bakopoulos‘ “Aligned” (Greece). Other categories include Documentaries, Series Pilots, Animated Films, and US/World Shorts, all setting the stage for a week of exceptional storytelling and artistic exploration.
For a complete festival program, movie buffs can check it out at www.sohofilmfest.com.
Special programs on the lineup include a screening of films and panel presented by the New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) and the world premiere of short films featuring Juilliard Drama Division actors from the classes of 2022 and 2023, produced as part of Juilliard’s new initiative to provide students with practical experience working on camera.
“The SOHO International Film Festival is a celebration of the art of storytelling and the power of visual expression,” said Sibyl Reymundo-Santiago, executive director and head of programming. “Our carefully curated selection of films aims to captivate, inspire, and provoke meaningful conversations. With a blend of premieres, debuts, and diverse perspectives, we invite everyone to immerse themselves in the magic of cinema.”
Past festival attendees include Octavia Spencer, Pierce Brosnan, Bobby Cannavale, Armand Assante, Luis Guzman, Sean Young, Kevin Jonas, Adam Brody, Carrie Preston, Josh Lawson, Michael Imperioli and Richard Kind.
This year’s festival is presented by the SOHO Film Forum, a 501(c)(3) organization. Founded in 2009 by Jorge Ballos, SIFFNYC continues to celebrate cutting-edge digital technology while honoring traditional forms of storytelling by encouraging new and seasoned filmmakers from New York City and worldwide to create and send in their fresh and innovative cinematic pieces.
For sponsorship inquiries, contact info@sohofilmfest.com. For more information about the festival, visit www.sohofilmfest.com or contact executiveoffice@sohofilmfest.com.
–With Ricky Rillera/PDM
