The Big Apple Film Festival is set to take over Look Dine-In Cinemas in Manhattan from November 18 to December 12, celebrating its 21st anniversary with a dynamic selection of films and industry events. The festival will present an international lineup, featuring dramas, comedies, and other compelling genres, along with exclusive Q&A sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.

First Short Horror Film Block

DEATH WISH

After losing his grandfather and job to COVID-19, an enraged deliveryman decides to do the only logical thing: hunt down and kill every plague spreader who won’t wear a damn mask.

That Which Binds Us

Widower Jeff Brenner is hiding a deadly secret. An unimaginable terror awaits for anyone he becomes intimate with.

Twist The Knife

“Hurgar la Herida” (Twist The Knife) is a mystery-drama that follows Henry and his newly-blind daughter, Sonia, on their journey to scatter the ashes of his late wife and her beloved mother. Unbeknownst to them, the cathartic ceremony has thrown an ominous veil over them in the woods.

The Monitor

Melissa and Todd are away from each other for the first time since the birth of their baby. While checking in on Melissa and the baby from their baby monitor he notices that there is someone(or something) else in the house.

Bathed In The Night

A girl and a cat wait out the apocalypse in a New York City apartment, until a lone light draws her out, leading her to face the darkest parts of the dystopian city below on a journey to face her fears.

Come On Up

Will You Please Hit Me?

At a quiet country bookstore, yoga teacher Lisa accidentally runs into Tanya, the woman who destroyed her marriage and nearly got her killed, only to find that there is now one more thing Tanya would like from her: physical punishment. Told through a series of escalating flashbacks, Will You Please Hit Me?’s distinct dark comedic tone and characters were born of a devising process involving stories from the actors lives, abstract movement, and improvisation.

BRETT WAS A F*CK

When a police officer shows up at the front gate of a Yale secret society after receiving a noise complaint about “someone screaming,” the alumni brothers gathered there for a reunion allow her to enter their rarefied space to investigate. But someone knows more than they’re letting on – specifically about the dead body in the back room. And as the officer conducts her investigation, we’ll learn that the question of who killed Brett might not be as simple as it seems. After all, Brett was a f*ck.

Jump Cut

A directionless fifty-something gets lost in his head as he retreats again and again to his favorite spot in the woods. A brief romance brings him joy, but when it ends, he plunges full force into a twisted inner world. Here, he comes face to face with the witch preying on his inner hunger. (Inspired by “Hansel and Gretel.”)

The Crime Family

A hard-working mother comes home to find her husband playing games. Obviously, she is not happy about it. Find out who is the head of this family in this shocking, suspenseful East Coast Western Horror Comedy Thriller Noir Mystery Family Movie. A mother’s work is never done!

Second Short Horror Film Block

Last to Leave

Grandma, May I

An ancient, cunning spirit posing as a kindly grandmother offers solace and dark wishes to lonely children on Mischief Night. When a heartbroken boy stumbles into her grasp, she sees the perfect opportunity to fulfill his deepest desires—but at a chilling cost that will bind him to her forever.

Stalker

After a vicious assault at a party, a young woman flees the scene. And as she walks back home on a gloomy and threatening Paris night, she can’t shake the feeling that she’s being followed. As she gets closer to her residence, the presence becomes more and more bold and aggressive. And it is only by confronting her deepest inner fears that she will be able to survive the ominous threat.

Staycation

How is the world affected by a catastrophic event? Everyday people live through a government mandated quarantine during a global pandemic while desperate scientists race to find a cure before it’s too late. Lead virologist Edward Bellows races to find a cure to the Nix virus as the world collapses under the weight of this worldwide horror. Meanwhile, roommates Britt and Marnie, are forced to live together, while a couple, Matt and Cathy, separated between continents, must all deal with their newfound realities.

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The festival is home to a wonderful showcase of short horror films. Two full blocks

This year’s lineup showcases a diverse selection of films, ranging from thought-provoking dramas to compelling comedies. The lineup includes the following films:

Presumed Incompetent, NYC Premiere– (United States) Directed by Cynthia Gibby. Chance, a non-speaking autistic teen, has spent 15 years unable to communicate, often misunderstood by his family and peers. Due to apraxia, his body’s erratic movements hide his true thoughts and feelings, leading doctors and teachers to assume he is cognitively impaired. But when his mother discovers a new spelling method, they realize Chance is a brilliant, sensitive soul. Now, his family must help others see beyond his disabilities and embrace him for who he truly is. “Presumed Incompetent” is inspired by the real-life story of Wynston Browne, who stars as Chance.

I Hope This Helps! NYC Premiere– (United States) Directed, Written, and Produced by Daniel M. Freed. From executive producer Matthew Modine, “I Hope This Helps!” is a humorous, genre-bending hybrid documentary that invites viewers to ponder the evolving relationship between humanity and technology. In the film, investigative journalist Daniel Freed enlists the help of Google’s AI chatbot, Bard, to collaborate on a documentary…about AI. Appearing in the blue, furry form it requested, Bard helps Freed explore the benefits and risks of this world-changing innovation.

ANXIOUS, NYC Premiere– (United States) Directed, written, and starring Nida Chowdhry, with Anwar Molani, Amira Mertaban, Marissa Vonn, and Emma Croft, ANXIOUS. is a surreal dark comedy about Ruby, a woman who experiences an anxiety attack and spirals into the depths of her mind, encountering versions of herself that take control of her life.

The Cost Of Something Priceless, USA Premiere– (United States) Directed by Adam Silva. Starring Lina Maya, Steven Staine Fernandez, Jessica Krueger, and Davone Swain. In the heart-pounding action thriller, “The Cost of Something Priceless”, Carmen is a determined mother on a relentless quest to reclaim her stolen child from her ruthless Romanian arms-dealing boyfriend, Andrei. Navigating a perilous world of deceit and danger, Carmen masterfully manipulates those around her, double-crossing allies and charming powerful men to achieve her goals.

Everything’s Kosher, World Premiere– (United States) Directed by and starring Adam Fried. Jewish father originally from Chicago, embarks on a journey to fulfill a promise to his only daughter never to abandon her. Living in a small, German town steeped in the shadows of Antisemitism and Nazi history, Adam attempts to open a Jewish deli, to establish a link to his upbringing and try to find comfort and connection in his town.

Lady Parts, NYC Premiere– (United States) Directed by Nancy Boyd, and starring Valentina Tammaro, Amy Lyndon, Peter Larney, and Lars Midthun. Lady Parts is a dramedy feature film where a young woman’s sex life becomes a family affair when she has to undergo a vulvar vestibulectomy. Her loving, but overbearing parents help her through recovery (despite her cringing) and learn that saying “vagina” loud and proud is the first step to advocating for herself in all aspects of her life.

Roughhead, USA Premiere– (Switzerland) Directed by Aurelio Marco Galfetti and starring Carina Braunschmidt and Clovis Kasanda. Ela and Anao are united by their hard work on the farm. In the solitude of the foothills of the Alps, their partnership of convenience develops into love. A love that doesn’t stand a chance. When Ela discovers Anao’s secret, it is too late and the sinister surroundings become increasingly threatening. A threat that Ela confronts until …

The Swan Way, NYC Premiere– (United States) Directed by Raymond Turturro and starring Alicia Wilcox, Robert Sebastian Webb, Taylor Brandon, and Agnes Artych. Feeling lost in today’s society, a nostalgic man, filled with grief and confusion, begins an immense journey of self-discovery and self-healing as he tries to enlighten people, recapture the past, and change his dismal environment back to how it used to be. All in his own bold, yet peculiar way…the swan way.

Anna Comes Home, NYC Premiere– (United States) Directed by Amber Paulette Suzor and starring Bella Newman, Raina Morris, Charlie McElveen, Cindy Newman, Hugh Newman, Stephan Suzor, Isabella Chayet. Anna is an awkward, deeply inquisitive young woman living in Berkeley who is riddled with questions of existence. When her old high school crush connects with her on a dating app, she quickly rekindles her infatuation with him. She seizes the opportunity to follow him back to Marin, under the guise of coming home to see her terminally ill Aunt. Anna’s ulterior motive becomes apparent as she lies her way deeper into every situation that comes her way. Confronted with the consequences of her actions, Anna is forced to face the underlying emptiness she’s been avoiding all along.

HWANGTAE, New York State Premiere– (Korea, Republic of) Directed by Hyoil Ahn starring Gwangsan Keum and Gihyeon Kim. Amid the fierce winds that sweep through Jinburyeong year-round, the Hwangtae drying field rests quietly in Yongdaeri village, Gangwon Province. (Hwangtae is pollack, transformed by the winter’s cold embrace, frozen and thawed into a dried state). Underneath the racks, they lie in wait for the rare blessing of rain, mouths open wide. In the knife-like wind, frozen solid, they clatter together, a symphony of survival. One, with its jaw cut by a sharp rope, shrinks away, struggling desperately to remain with its kin. This was its final winter. Daepung, the protagonist, envisions a life intertwined with these resilient beings.

Breed Of Greed, New York State Premiere– (United States) Directed by Ralph Hemecker, starring Gina Gershon, Andrew Boszhardt, Sam Ashby, Adrian Enscoe, Chelsea Gilligan and Madison Lewis. Following the mysterious death of their patriarch, the Wendolyn family, mired in scandal from their pharma fortune, is too busy fighting for their inheritance to realize that they’ve fallen prey to an ancient curse that feeds on greed. The preternatural terror builds as the family falls apart and members begin to drop like flies.

My Last Words, World Premiere– (United States) Directed by Adam Kiss, starring Nicole Benoit, Jessi Clayton, and Christina Kiss. After learning that his wife is going to leave him and that he doesn’t have long to live, a novelist decides to isolate himself to try to write his masterpiece in the seclusion of a family friend’s guest house. Once there, his failed attempt at suicide leads to his meeting a mysterious young woman who changes his life forever and with whom he becomes romantically involved. As time goes by he begins to notice more strange and inexplicable details about her and we begin to wonder what is fantasy and what is reality. The film is an exploration of life, love, and relationships: the difference between the reality of relationships and the ideal fantasy of relationships.

Appalachian Dog, World Premiere– (United States) Directed by Colin Henning, starring Georgia Morgan, Hayleigh Hart Franklin, and Brooke Elizabeth. Appalachia, 1946– a seamstress welcomes home her tailor husband, only to find they are not the team they were. Trying to stitch back together their old life, time and again it threatens to fall apart– with each of them pulling at the thread.

BOUND, MIdtown Premiere– (United States) Directed by Isaac Hirotsu Woofter, starring Ramin Karimloo, Jessica Pimentel, Alexandra Faye Sadeghian, Bryant Carroll, Pooya Mohseni, Alok Tewari, and Josh Alscher. In order to escape her overprotective drug-dealing stepfather, a young introvert flees to NYC with her pet pocket squirrel. After successfully reinventing herself, she realizes she must confront her dark past, to truly be free.

BLOODSPAWN, MIdtown Premiere– (United States) Directed by David Rotan starring Raw Leiba, Roger Willie, Bill Oberst Jr., R. Keith Harris, Eboh Ajeroh, Sara Romanello, and Evanna Parker..A frontier-era gang of misfits are trapped and surrounded by an evil ravenous creature of Cherokee folklore. The unlikely allies must put aside their differences to battle this ancient hell beast before it’s too late.

Explaining Elizabeth, World Premiere– (United States) Directed by Trevor Siegel, starring Kieran Lomboy, Anja Vasa, Monroe Lemaire, Rebecca Ho, Vincent Snyder, Maya Grace Small, Craig Cosentino, Steve Pasch, Ashley Pelham, Masha Sokolova. Featuring eight original songs and a powerful score, “Explaining Elizabeth” tells the story of a boy named Erik who understands the world through musical theater. Following his older sister’s sudden death, Erik devises a theatrical production about her life in an attempt to understand her unexpected passing.

The Road To Ruane, NYC Premiere– (United States) Directed by Scott Evans and Michael Gill. A filmmaker’s journey to capture the storied life of 90s indie music impresario Billy Ruane becomes an examination of the human condition.

Banned Together, NYC Premiere– (Norway) Directed by Kate Way, and Tom Wiggin. A diverse cast of visionary teenagers and intriguing characters, stirring public protests, private threats, criminal charges, and drama-filled school board meetings: this is the world of the explosive new feature documentary, BANNED TOGETHER. The film pulls back the curtain on two of the most controversial issues in America today: book bans and curriculum censorship in public schools, and the political forces driving them. BANNED TOGETHERfollows three teenage activists as they fight book bans in their schools, speak with national politicians, bestselling/banned authors, constitutionalscholars, PEN America, and more, as the film’s scope widens to include the larger national picture.

Movie With All My Friends, NYC Premiere– (United States) Directed by and starring Ayden Skye, with Michael Louis Curcio, Mike Cefalo, Cory Censoprano, Joe Zarowin, Peter Zachwieja, Chase Peacock, Steve Babino, Robert Bailey, Paul Borghese. Deena keeps getting rejected from film school, and it’s driving her (and her 8 best friends) bananas. So, after getting her admissions decision from her very last school, she realizes there’s only one thing left to do: make her own movie.

MUNDIJE, US Premiere– (Albania, Germany,United States) Directed by Fatmir llir Bardhoci, starring Eric Roberts, George Lazenby, Michael Pare, Robert Miano, Eugenia Kuzmina, Robert La Sardo, Al Sapienza. A cinematic and artistically crafted action/drama unfolds, drawing inspiration from real-life events: Ilir Luma, a master of martial arts trained in the ancient Pelasgian discipline of “MUNDIJE,” embarks on a solitary escape from the iron grip of the communist regime at a tender age of 14. Set against the backdrop of 1988 Albania, he is propelled by a harrowing encounter with the hanging of a poet in Kukes, nurturing a fervent desire to taste the sweet freedom of the United States.

Orphanhood, NYC Premiere– (Canada) Directed by Paige K Boudreau, starring Kyla Ferrier, Trudy Godden, and Zander Widynowski. Orphanhood tells the often overlooked story of our final coming of age moment- becoming an adult orphan after losing both parents. Sophie grapples with the realities of this as she puts her father to rest and realizes how little she ever knew of her mother, forcing her to learn to say hello before saying goodbye.

Staycation, World Premiere– (United States) Directed by Russ Emanuel, starring Olivia d’Abo, Sean Kenney, Kelli Maroney, Laurene Landon, Tracee Cocco, Catherine LaSalle, Lilly Ivring, Bailey Sorrel, Gilles Stricher, and Eileen Dietz. How is the world affected by a catastrophic event? Everyday people live through a government mandated quarantine during a global pandemic while desperate scientists race to find a cure before it’s too late. Lead virologist Edward Bellows races to find a cure to the Nix virus as the world collapses under the weight of this worldwide horror. Meanwhile, roommates Britt and Marnie, are forced to live together, while a couple, Matt and Cathy, separated between continents, must all deal with their newfound realities.

The Italians, US Premiere– (United States) Directed by Michelle Danner, starring Abigail Breslin, Matthew Daddario, Rob Estes, Lainie Kazan, Olivia Luccardi,Perrey Reeves, and David DeLuise. A traditional Italian-American family meets their sons new girlfriend, who is NOT Italian.

The Bridge, Eastcoast Premiere– (United States) Directed by Evan Jackson Leong, starring Michelle Yeoh, Michelle Kwan, Jeanie Buss, Don Felder, Cai Guo-Qiang, Janet Yang, Jeffrey Deitch, Elise Buik, Andrew Cherng, Peggy Cherny, Xu Bing, Jeffrey Deitch. Fifty years ago, our country grappled with widespread discrimination. In Los Angeles, neighborhood leaders challenged these barriers by establishing a community-focused bank, aiming to deliver the American dream to all. The East West Bank Foundation commissioned director Evan Leong to create The Bridge, which explores the struggles, perseverance, and successes of this remarkable journey.

Go To The People, US Premiere– (United States) Directed by Rory Duffy. Inspired by childhood memories of accompanying his father, a family physician, on house calls, and his mother, a nurse, on home-care visits, Dr. Jim Withers began providing medical care to Pittsburgh’s unsheltered homeless population in 1992.

A Fragile Piece: Brexit and Northern Ireland, US Premiere– (United States) Directed by Brexit and Northern Ireland follows three people from Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom and an American Congressman as they try to maintain peace in this politically uncertain time.

Personal Courage, NYC Premiere– (United States) Directed by Lucian Read, starring Jeffrey Derma, Rebecca Gonzalez. tells the intimate story of Army veteran, Jeffrey Derma, and his wife, Rebecca Cristina, as their marriage reaches a crossroads. Beginning in the final days of Jeff’s military service and continuing through the next two and a half years, the film captures their relationship as they reacclimate to one another and work to reestablish what it means to live life together, as a family. From eager anticipation, to naive optimism, from inner turmoil to a love rooted in patience and respect, Jeff and Rebecca take us on their journey with unflinching access. PERSONAL COURAGEcaptures the trials and triumphs we all face in our lives, powerfully bringing them home through a window into one American family. An inspiring story of pain and grace, love and redemption.

IT’S A to Z: The Art of Arleen Schloss (United States) Directed by Stuart Ginsberg. A feature-length documentary about Arleen Schloss, an underground artist, director, and curator who became an influential figure in the downtown New York art scene from the 1970s through the 1990s.

Good Men, Northeastern Premiere– (United States) Directed by Bobby Roth. Filmmaker Bobby Roth embarks on a thought-provoking journey seeking candid answers to questions on masculinity, femininity, and whether we have the power to change.

In addition to film screenings, the festival will host the Agents and Managers Conference from December 3 to 10. This event aims to connect writers and filmmakers with top industry professionals, including representatives from The Gersh Agency, William Morris Endeavor, and 3 Arts Entertainment. Informational sessions will guide attendees on securing representation and navigating the entertainment industry.

Full program details and event schedules can be found at bigapplefilmfestival.com. As a long-standing supporter of cinematic arts, the Big Apple Film Festival continues to provide a vital platform for filmmakers to share their work and engage with the film community.

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