Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” Screening As HIFF Friday Centerpiece

Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman will serve as the 2019 Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) Friday Centerpiece film, screening on October 11, 2019 at Guild Hall in East Hampton.

Based on the novel I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt, the film takes a look at the life of mob hitman Frank Sheeran. The cast encompasses Academy Award-winning actors Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci.

“The lineup for the 27th edition of the festival includes some of this year’s most anticipated films, as well as a number of exciting new voices,” said David Nugent, Artistic Director of the Hamptons International Film Festival. “The films in this year’s competition sections highlight the industry’s best emerging talent with new and innovative works.”

2019 Spotlight films will include Academy Award-nominated director Terrence Malick’s A Hidden Life, which tells the story of Austrian Franz Jägerstätter, a World War II conscientious objector. The film stars August Diehl and Valerie Pachner, and was the final performance of the late Michael Nyqvist and Bruno Ganz. Also set during World War II, Academy Award-nominated-director Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit follows a lonely, young German boy, whose sole ally is his imaginary friend Hitler. His worldview is shaken to the core when he learns that his single mother is safeguarding a young Jewish girl in their attic. The film stars Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Rebel Wilson, Stephen Merchant, and Alfie Allen, with Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, and Waititi. Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story revolves around a marriage on the rocks. Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver star alongside Laura Dern, Alan Alda and Ray Liotta. Academy Award-nominated director Fernando Meirelles and three-time Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Anthony McCarten’s The Two Popes delves into one of the most dramatic power transitions of the last 2,000 years.

World Cinema Narrative will showcase Neon and Hulu’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire.

“Our commitment to gender parity in storytelling continues to remain a priority in our programming,” Anne Chaisson, Executive Director of Hamptons International Film Festival, added. “For the second year in a row we are pleased to have a competition lineup that is 50% female and 50% male directed films, bringing a diverse array of stories and filmmaking.”

HIFF’s narrative competition will highlight Mati Diop’s Atlantics, winner of the Grand Prix at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, Anke Blonde’s The Best of Dorien B., Jan Ole Gerster’s Lara, Andrew Patterson’s The Vast of Night, and Hlynur Pálmason’s A White, White Day, while the documentary competition will include Alexander Nanau’s Collective, Alla Kovgan’s Cunningham, Sung-a Yoon’s Overseas, Patrick Bresnan and Ivete Lucas’ Pahokee, and Suhaib Gasmelbari’s Talking About Trees.

The 27th annual Hamptons International Film Festival will take place Columbus Day Weekend (October 10 through October 14).

For more information, visit hamptonsfilmfest.org.