HIFF Closing Night Showcases Director Bradley Cooper’s MAESTRO

HamptonsFilm announced today the full slate of programming for the 2023 edition of the Hamptons International Festival (HIFF), including the Closing Night presentation of Bradley Cooper’s MAESTRO, additional Signature Programming including “A Conversation with…” Series with Paul Simon, and the full film programming lineup including additional films to screen within the Spotlight section, Documentary and Narrative Competition titles, short film sections, as well as Signature Programs including Views From Long Island; Conflict and Resolution; and Air, Land & Sea. The Festival also announced filmmaker Celine Song will attend the festival for a Special Screening of her latest narrative feature PAST LIVES, and will receive the festival’s Breakthrough Artist Award.

MAESTRO is a towering and fearless love story chronicling the lifelong relationship between Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein.  A love letter to life and art, Maestro at its core is an emotionally epic portrayal of family and love. The film marks Bradley Cooper’s second directorial film after A STAR IS BORN (2018). Cooper stars in the film alongside Carey Mulligan, Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, and Sarah Silverman. The film will screen on October 12 as the Closing Night presentation, and is set to be released by Netflix later this year.

“MAESTRO is a beautifully crafted, raw, and heartfelt film. We look forward to sharing this glimpse into the love story  between Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein,” said HamptonsFilm Executive Director Anne Chaisson. “We are thrilled to have Bradley Cooper’s next directorial outing after A STAR IS BORN as the  closing film of our 31st edition.”

HIFF has also announced director Celine Song will receive the 2023 Breakthrough Artist Award during a Q&A on October 11, following a special screening of PAST LIVES, which follows two deeply connected childhood friends who drifted apart after one’s family emigrated from South Korea, as they reunite for one fateful week as they confront notions of love and destiny. PAST LIVES marks Song’s debut feature film which premiered at Sundance 2023. The film was released by A24 in the U.S. in June to critical and audience acclaim, and will be released globally throughout the year. Her play Endlings received its world premiere in 2019 at American Repertory Theater and had its New York premiere in 2020 at New York Theatre Workshop. She has been a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and a semifinalist for the American Playwriting Foundation’s Relentless Award.

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