2023 Naples International Film Festival
Narrative
All Happy Families
2023, NR, U.S., Comedy, 90 min
Florida Premiere
Filmmakers in Attendance
Juried Film
Director: Haroula Rose
Producers: Liz Cardenas, Ian Keiser, Mary Munez, Coburn Goss
Writers: Haroula Rose, Coburn Goss
Cast: Josh Radnor, Becky Ann Baker, Rob Huebel, Chandra Russell, John Ashton, Colleen Camp, David Pasquesi, Eliza Shin, Rodney Crowell, Antoine McKay
When news breaks of Will's (played by Rob Huebel) on-set misconduct allegations, his brother Graham (Josh Radnor) and his parents, Roy (John Ashton) and Sue (Becky Ann Baker), begin to unravel. As the family reconvenes in Chicago for the weekend, the recent exposé threatens to tear them apart.
Saturday, October 28, 7:30pm
Sunday, October 29, 11am
Narrative
Duelers
2023, NR, U.S., Musical Drama, 99 min
World Premiere
Filmmakers in Attendance
Director: Christian Cicerone
Producers: Danny Mooney, Drew De Four, Christian Cicerone
Writer: Drew De Four
Cast: Elisa Carlson, Tom McGovern, Drew De Four, Danny Korzelius, Shelby Winfrey, Kin Curran, Vince Orlandi
It’s the last night at a dueling piano bar, and nobody knows it. Five performers, known as “duelers,” start their night as they always do: with lots of shots, problems and a whole lot of music. But their nightly routine quickly crumbles into an epic crisis as the news circulates that the club has been sold.
Friday, October 27, 7:30pm
Saturday, October 28, 4:45pm
Narrative
Everybody Wants to Be Loved
2022, PG-13, Germany, Dramedy, 80 minutes
English and German with English Subtitles
Director: Katharina Woll
Producer: Markus Kaatsch
Writers: Florian Plumeyer, Katharina Woll
Cast: Anne Ratte-Polle, Lea Drinda, Ulrike Willenbacher, Urs Jucker, Hassan Akkouch, Jonas Hien
On a blisteringly hot summer day, psychotherapist Ina notices something is wrong with her—but she doesn't have time to worry about it. Ina is busy trying to please everyone else: her waiting patients, her moody daughter, her boyfriend and her self-centered mother celebrating her 70th — but she’s reaching her breaking point.
Friday, October 27, 11am
Sunday, October 29, 1:45pm
Narrative
Grey Matter
2023, PG-13, U.K., Drama, 100 minutes
U.S. Premiere
Filmmakers in Attendance
Director: Arabella Burfitt-Dons
Producer: Nicola Barrell
Writer: Elizabeth Hrib
Cast: Eloise Smyth, Stephanie Beacham, Elizabeth Berrington, Harry Kirton, Kierston Wareing, Paul Brennen, Sunetra Sarker, Brooke Burfitt
Chloe has never been close with her nan, Peg. But when Peg gets diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and moves into the family home, Chloe becomes her stay-at-home caregiver overnight. After realizing how precious their time together is, Chloe helps her nan come up with a ‘f***-it list,’ and they decide to make Peg’s last memorable summer unforgettable.
Friday, October 27, 5:30pm
Saturday, October 28, 11am
Opening Night Presentation
Hard Miles
2023, PG-13, U.S., Drama, 108 minutes
East Coast Premiere
Filmmakers in Attendance
Director: RJ Daniel Hanna
Producers: Scott Sander, Christian Sander
Writers: RJ Daniel Hanna, Christian Sander
Cast: Matthew Modine, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams, Sean Astin, Jahking Guillory, Jackson Kelly, Zachary T. Robbins, Damien Diaz, Leslie David Baker
Hard Miles tells the inspirational true story of the cycling team at Ridgeview Academy, a medium-security correctional school in Colorado. This is the story of how a group of troubled young men were able to shift gears on their life through the power of sport, led by social worker and cycling coach Greg Townsend (Matthew Modine).
Opening Night Presentation
Thursday, October 26
6pm Red Carpet Walk, 7pm Film Presentation
Narrative
Heightened
2023, NR, U.S., Comedy, 98 minutes
Florida Premiere
Filmmakers in Attendance
Director: Sara Friedman
Producers: John Hermann, Matt Ratner, Sara Friedman
Writer: Sara Friedman
Cast: Sara Friedman, Dave Register, Mike Mitchell, Xander Berkeley, Sarah Clarke
After a particularly bad panic attack, Nora returns home to live with her parents in Maine, As part of her psychiatric treatment, Nora is assigned to volunteer at her local state park. There, she meets Dusty — her neurotic new supervisor who dreams of becoming a real park ranger — and romantic feelings bloom.
Saturday, October 28, 5:45pm
Sunday, October 29, 2pm
Narrative
Karaoke
2022, NR, Israel, Comedy, 100 minutes
Hebrew with English Subtitles
Director: Moshe Rosenthal
Producer: Efrat Cohen
Writer: Moshe Rosenthal
Cast: Lior Ashkenazi, Sasson Gabay, Rita Shukrun
Karaoke follows Tova and Meir — an old married couple with 46 years of marriage and two grown daughters. They live a comfortable life, with Meir currently on sabbatical from his academic professorship and Tova running a boutique shop. Their lives get a jolt of excitement when their new upstairs neighbor, Itzik, invites them to his penthouse for a karaoke night. An enigmatic and charismatic bachelor, Tova and Meir fall hard for Itzik’s energetic lifestyle and irresistible charm. Before long,
they find themselves competing against their other neighbors — and even each other — as everyone tries to win Itzik’s prized attention.
Friday, October 27, 2:45pm
Sunday, October 29, 4:30pm
Narrative
La Syndicaliste
2023, NR, France, Investigative Thriller, 122 minutes
French with English Subtitles
Director: Jean-Paul Salomé
Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Grégory Gadebois, François-Xavier Demaison
La Syndicaliste follows the true story of Maureen Kearney (Isabelle Huppert), the head union representative of a French nuclear powerhouse who becomes a
whistleblower when she discovers international backroom dealings. Surrounded by powerful enemies and unable to trust anyone, Maureen must stand up for justice and fight against the targeted suspicion cast on her name.
Friday, October 27, 4:45pm
Sunday, October 29, 5:30pm
Narrative
Long December
2023, NR, U.S., Musical Drama, 80 minutes
Florida Premiere
Filmmakers in Attendance
Director: Thomas Torrey
Producers: Thomas Torrey, Brad Jayne
Writer: Thomas Torrey
Cast: Stephen Williams, Charley Koontz, John Mark McMillan, Maximiliano Hernández, Emily Althaus
Long December is a drama that follows a struggling artist pursuing his dream of music. Channeling the spirit of singer/songwriter musicals like Once and A Star is Born — and embracing the melancholy hue of the holidays in America — Long December is a story about music, dreams and the heavy hopes we carry.
Friday, October 27, 7:45pm
Saturday, October 28, 2pm
Narrative
Mr. Blake at Your Service!
2023, NR, France, Comedy, 110 minutes
East Coast Premiere
French and English
Director: Gilles Legardinier
Writer: Gilles Legardinier
Cast: John Malkovich, Emilie Dequenne, Fanny Ardant, Philippe Bas, Eugenie Anselin, Al Ginter, Anne Brionne, Christel Henon, Konstantin Rommelfangen, Hugo Malpeyre, Philippe Meyrer
When Mr. Blake signs up to be a butler at Domaine de Beauviller estate in France, he’s hoping for a peaceful fresh start — but he finds the rundown manor and its colorful residents to be in even worse shape than he is. Will Mr. Blake be able to help the manor and its residents find a new lease on life?
Saturday, October 28, 8:45pm
Sunday, October 29, 4pm
Narrative
The Problem of the Hero
2023, NR, U.S., Drama, 85 minutes
Florida Premiere
Filmmakers in Attendance
Juried Film
Director: Shaun Dozier
Producers: Ayana Johnson, Gravel Films
Writers: James A. Hodge, Ian Finley
Cast: J. Mardrice Henderson, David zum Brunnen, Derrick Ivey, Brandon Haynes, Josephine Hall, Charlie Cannon, Alex Yeames, Annie McElroy, Lex Wilson
It’s March of 1941, and Richard Wright is teaming up with playwright Paul Green to create a stage adaptation of his bestselling book. But as opening night inches closer, the writers are battling over issues of race, social justice, politics and creative agency. The argument threatens to ruin the show — and their friendship.
Friday, October 27, 1:30pm
Saturday, October 28, 8:15pm
Narrative
Scrap
2022, NR, U.S., Drama, 105 minutes
Florida Premiere
Filmmakers in Attendance
Juried Film
Director: Vivian Kerr
Writer: Vivian Kerr
Cast: Vivian Kerr, Anthony Rapp, Lana Parrilla, Beth Dover, Khleo Thomas
Beth has recently been laid off and struggles to maintain the appearance of a successful middle-class lifestyle as she bounces around Los Angeles. Hoping to land a new job and change her situation before her estranged older brother Ben finds out, Beth must confront her own pride and reconnect with her brother in order to provide for her young daughter, Birdy. Meanwhile, Ben and his wife, Stacy, consider a third round of IVF. Stacy, a successful attorney, must reevaluate her own conflicted relationship with motherhood.
Friday, October 27, 8pm
Saturday, October 28, 1:30pm