2022 Naples International Film Festival
Narrative
Acidman
2022, NR, US, Drama, 90 minutes
Florida Premiere
Filmmakers in Attendance
Juried Film
Director: Alex Lehmann
Producer: Liz Cardenas
Writers: Alex Lehmann, Chris Dowling
Cast: Thomas Haden Church, Dianna Agron
Maggie tracks down her estranged and reclusive father, Lloyd, who lives in the middle of nowhere searching for UFOs — an obsession that has taken over his life. Struggling to accept who her father has become, Maggie searches for a new way to connect with her dad so she can share a life-changing secret of her own with him.
Saturday, October 29, 7:30pm
Sunday, October 30, 11:30am
Narrative
The Big Bend
2021, R, US, Drama, 104 minutes
Florida Premiere
Filmmakers in Attendance
Juried Film
Director: Brett Wagner
Producers: Aaron Brown, Katrina Wolfe
Writer: Brett Wagner
Cast: Jason Butler Harner, Virginia Kull, Erica Ash, David Sullivan, Nick Masciangelo, Delilah Wagner, Zoë Wagner, Grae Mathews, Gavin Mathews
Two families meet for a long overdue reunion in the remote West Texas desert, and events quickly don’t go as planned. Harboring secrets and facing private crises, they explore one of the wildest places in America, testing the boundaries of marriage, friendship and parenthood — and doing their best to survive the experience.
Friday, October 28, 8pm
Saturday, October 29, 12:45pm
Narrative
Dear Zoe
2022, NR, US, Drama, 94 minutes
Florida Premiere
Filmmakers in Attendance
Director: Gren Wells
Producers: Marc Lhormer, Brenda Lhormer, Peter Phok, Christopher H. Warner
Writers: Marc Lhormer, Melissa Martin
Cast: Sadie Sink, Theo Rossi, Kweku Collins, Vivien Lyra Blair, Justin Bartha, Jessica Capshaw
A powerful coming-of-age story of love, loss, grief and resilience in which teenage Tess enlists the support of her biological father — a lovable slacker — and the charming juvenile delinquent next door in the aftermath of the death of her little sister, Zoe.
Saturday, October 29, 12:30pm
Sunday, October 30, 2pm
Narrative
Disfluency
2021, PG-13, US, Drama, 93 minutes
Filmmakers in Attendance
Juried Film
Director: Anna Baumgarten
Producers: Danny Mooney, Anna Baumgarten, Elaine Hastings Edell
Writer: Anna Baumgarten
Cast: Libe Barer, Ariela Barer, Chelsea Alden, Dylan Arnold, Travis Tope, Kimiko Singer, Ricky Wayne, Molly Hagan, Wayne David Parker
After unexpectedly failing her final college class, aspiring speech pathologist Jane retreats to her parents’ lake house in her hometown to embrace the carefree summer with her friends as she tries to sort out what to do next, piecing together what happened in order to unravel the emotional and psychological tangle that has been haunting her.
Friday, October 28, 1pm
Saturday, October 29, 5:15pm
Narrative
Food and Romance
2022, NR, Sweden, Drama, 102 minutes
Swedish with English Subtitles
Director: Annika Appelin
Producer: Cúán Mac Conghail
Writer: Anna Fredriksson
Cast: Marie Richardson, Peter Stromare
A sudden change forces Karin to reevaluate her life. With the help of friends, food and passion, she refuses to accept that life has an expiration date and takes the second chance she is given.
Friday, October 28, 3pm
Sunday, October 30, 4pm
Narrative
The Forger
2022, NR, Germany, Historical Drama, 116 minutes
Florida Premiere
German with English Subtitles
Director: Maggie Peren
Writer: Maggie Peren
Cast: Louis Hofmann, Jonathan Berlin, Luna Wedler, Nina Gummich, André Jung, Marc Limpach
Based on a true story of bravery in the face of evil, The Forger stars Louis Hofmann (Netflix’s Dark) as an audacious young man who poses as a marine officer and forges documents to help fellow Jews escape Nazi Germany.
Friday, October 28, 4:45pm
Sunday, October 30, 5:30pm
Narrative
Hard Shell, Soft Shell
2022, NR, France/Algeria, Drama, 100 minutes
French with English Subtitles
Director: Emma Benestan
Producers: Caroline Nataf - Unité
Writers: Emma Benestan, Nour Ben Salem
Cast: Yasin Houicha, Oulaya Amamra, Raphaël Quenard, Bilel Chegrani, Diong-Kéba Tacu, Tiphaine Daviot, Holy Fatma, Guillermo Guiz, Samira Sedira, Olivier Soula, Marion Guerrero, Tigrane AvedikianJuliette Cardinski, Thomas Bricmont, Roméo De Lacour, Marvin Pellegrino, Emma Benestan,Aurélien Marra, Tassadit Mandi, Atmen Kelif
Loved-up oyster farmer Az thinks he’s made it. But when an elaborate proposal goes awry and his girlfriend Jess breaks his heart, Az is forced to confront his understanding of what happiness really looks like — both hers and his own.
Friday, October 28, 12:30pm
Saturday, October 29, 8:15pm
Narrative
iMordecai
2022, NR, US, Comedy, 102 minutes
Florida Film
Filmmakers in Attendance
Director: Marvin Samel
Writer: Marvin Samel
Cast: Judd Hirsch, Carol Kane, Sean Astin
Marvin is an ambitious cigar maker trying to support his own family while still being there for his aging parents, Mordecai and Fela. When Mordecai’s ancient flip phone breaks, he starts to take lessons on his new iPhone, opening him up to all kinds of novel experiences and adventures, making him feel like a kid again.
Friday, October 28, 5:30pm
Saturday, October 29, 10:30am
Narrative
MVP
2022, NR, US, Drama, 112 minutes
Filmmakers in Attendance
Director: Nate Boyer
Producer: Sylvester Stallone
Writers: Nate Boyer, Geraint Jones
Cast: Nate Boyer, Mo McRae, Tony Gonzalez, Dina Shihabi, Jarrod Bunch, Jay Glazer, Michael Strahan, Rich Eisen, Howie Long, Christina Ocha, Talia Jackson
On the streets of Hollywood, a recently retired NFL player is saved from scandal by a homeless veteran suffering from PTSD. With their “glory days” behind them both, the two men bond in search of real purpose and identity.
Saturday October 29, 7:30pm • Artis—Naples
Sunday, October 30, 11am • Silverspot Cinema
Narrative
Playing Through
2022, NR, US, Drama, 91 minutes
Florida Film
Filmmakers in Attendance
Director: Balbinka Korzeniowska
Producer: Peter Odiorne
Writer: Curtis Jordan
Cast: Andia Winslow, Julia Rae, Sam Daly, Ronnie G. Blevins, Moses Jones, Michael Mendez, Tim Murphy
Late in her career, Ann Gregory, dubbed the Queen of Negro Golf, finds the courage to be the first woman of color to enter the USGA Women’s Amateur. She collides with Babs Whatling, a privileged white woman from the South who is searching for her own identity. This highly publicized match forever changes them and the game.
Friday, October 28, 2:15pm
Saturday, October 29, 5pm
Narrative
Róise & Frank
2022, PG, Ireland, Drama, 84 minutes
Florida Premiere
Filmmakers in Attendance
Gaeilge with English Subtitles
Directors: Rachael Moriarty, Peter Murphy
Producer: Cúán Mac Conghail
Writers: Rachael Moriarty, Peter Murphy
Cast: Bríd Ní Neachtain, Cillian Ó Gairbhí, Lorcan Cranitch, Ruadhán de Faoite
It has been two years since Róise lost the love of her life: her husband, Frank. She is now isolated in grief, cutoff from family and community. The arrival of a mysterious dog, who seems intent on connecting with Róise, heralds huge change... but is it for the better?
Friday, October 28, 10:45am
Sunday, October 30, 6:20pm
Narrative
Shudderbugs
2022, NR, US, Drama, 105 minutes
World Premiere
Filmmakers in Attendance
Director: Johanna Putnam
Producers: Johanna Putnam, Brennan Brooks, Jamie Unruh
Writer: Johanna Putnam
Cast: Johanna Putnam, Brennan Brooks
Samantha Cole returns to her childhood home when her mother suddenly passes. In place of familiar spaces and memories, Sam finds only uneasiness and confusion. Things are missing, the environment seems unnatural and the neighbor, Noah, who discovered her mom’s body is suspiciously obtuse. Isolated with these mysteries, Sam wrestles with her sanity and certainties.
Friday, October 28, 7:15pm
Saturday, October 29, 2pm
Narrative
Sweet Disaster
2021, NR, Germany, Drama, 92 minutes
German, Finnish and English with English Subtitles
Director: Laura Lehmus
Producers: Markus Kaatch, Nina Grudsky, Michael Grudsky
Writer: Ruth Toma
Cast: Friederike Kempter, Florian Lukas, Lena Urzendwosky, Mareile Blendl, Lasse Myhr
Frida unexpectedly falls pregnant, and Felix, the father of her child, breaks up with her to reunite with his ex. Although some serious health problems caused by the late pregnancy force Frida to rest, she still tries to get Felix back, using methods that are absurd, exaggerated and sometimes hilarious.
Friday, October 28, 5:45pm
Saturday, October 29, 11:15am