Synopsis

An Almost Christmas Story follows Moon, a curious young owl who unexpectedly finds himself stuck in a Christmas tree destined for Rockefeller Plaza. In his attempts to escape the bustling city, Moon befriends a lost little girl named Luna. Together, they embark on a heartwarming adventure, discovering the magic of the holiday season and forming an unlikely bond as they journey back home to their parents.

Screening as part of Industry Days

Keynote Conversation and Screening: Cinematic Storytelling with Director David Lowery
Friday, Oct 18 | 12:45pm

Join a moderated conversation with David Lowery, the acclaimed filmmaker (The Green Knight, Pete’s Dragon, A Ghost Story) whose diverse filmography spans a wide range of genres, characterized by his singular sense of heightened naturalism. Lowery will also screen and discuss his latest project, An Almost Christmas Story, a Disney+ animated short meant to evoke cardboard art, and the latest entry in producer Alfonso Cuarón’s series following award-winners Le Pupille and The Shepherd. Lowery is currently in post-production on A24’s highly anticipated epic pop melodrama Mother Mary, starring Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel.

Learn more about Industry Days and register to attend…

Synopsis

Directed by Pablo Larraín (ChicagoIFF selections Spencer, Jackie, Neruda, The Club) and starring Academy Award®-winner Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as La Callas negotiates the blurred boundaries between her public image and private self. The film also stars Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Haluk Bilginer and Kodi Smit-McPhee.

Synopsis

Better Man is based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Under the visionary direction of Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), the film is uniquely told from Williams’ perspective, capturing his signature wit and indomitable spirit. It follows Robbie’s journey from childhood, to being the youngest member of chart-topping boyband Take That, through to his unparalleled achievements as a record-breaking solo artist – all the while confronting the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can bring.

Synopsis

Escaping postwar Europe, visionary architect László Toth (Adrien Brody) arrives in America to rebuild his life, his work, and his marriage to his wife Erzsébet (Felicity Jones) after being forced apart by shifting borders and regimes during wartime. On his own in a strange new country, László settles in Pennsylvania, where the wealthy and prominent industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce) recognizes his talent for building. But power and legacy come at a heavy cost.

This film will be screened in 35mm.

Synopsis

Elwood Curtis’s college dream shatters alongside a two-lane Florida highway. Bearing the brunt of an innocent misstep, he’s sentenced to the netherworld of Nickel Academy, a brutal reformatory sunk deep in the Jim Crow South. There, he encounters another ward, the seen-it-all Turner. The two Black teens strike up an alliance: Turner dispenses fundamental tips for survival, and Elwood clings to his optimistic worldview. Backdropped by the burgeoning civil rights movement, Elwood and Turner’s existence appears worlds away from Rev. Martin Luther King’s burnished oratory. Despite Nickel’s brutality, Elwood strives to hold onto his humanity, awakening a new vision for Turner.