In a city with a history and culture so immersed in music, it’s no surprise that the 31st New Orleans Film Festival has so many movies with a musical focus. Festival organizers state: “Just as the music that used to fill New Orleans streets has shifted to a digital platform, so have the films that represent this musical liviliness. The New Orleans Film Festival 2020 lineup features seven feature length films revolving around song and dance, as well as a few select shorts from varied categories such as Louisiana Shorts and Experimental films. This year’s fest features 11 music videos from domestic and international artists.”
NOFF Films on your radar this year should include:
American Reject, directed by Marlo Hunter
As Kay mourns her public elimination from America’s hottest singing competition POP STAR NOW!, she’s forced to participate in the network’s “After The Cut” filming, and is sent to her hometown to move back in with her mother and the simple life she left behind. With nothing on the horizon and a cameraman following her every move, she is reacquainted with the folks of her past and finds herself in the Easter Spectacular at the annual town fair. As it turns out, losing is her only way to win.
Starring Kathleen Monteleone, Billy Ray Cyrus, Rebecca Black, and Juvenile, the film will be shown November 10 and 12 at Lafitte Greenway and streamed virtually November 13-22. For more information, visit here.
American Reject Trailer from FullArmorFilms on Vimeo.
The Offline Playlist, directed by Brian C. Miller Richard
A first-of-its-kind concert that paired New Orleans artists on a Spotify playlist with the fans who were listening to it, live at the hallowed Preservation Hall. Starring Jon Batiste, Irma Thomas, Curren$y, Mannie Fresh, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and more New Orleans legends. Dancing Grounds, the local dance group, provides a second line tutorial video which will be presented prior to the screening of the film. You can see this project Friday, November 13 at Lafitte Greenway or virtually November 14-22. For more information, visit here.
Professor Longhair, Rugged and Funky, directed by Joshua JG Bagnall
Professor Longhair: Rugged & Funky is a comprehensive documentary about the life and times of the unsung musical genius. Known by his peers as “The Originator of Funk and Rock N’ Roll” and “The Bach of Rock,” Fess like so many black New Orleans musicians, never got his due. This film digs deep into the man behind the music and the life and culture of the city that influenced him so.
Screening November 9 at both Lafitte Greenway and Broadside; Nov 10 and 11 at Lafitte Greenway. Showtimes and tickets available here.
Via NOFF
Keyboard Fantasies: The Beverly Glenn-Copeland Story directed by Posy Dixon
Emerging from years in isolation to an enraptured crowd, a time-traveling, transgender musical genius finally finds his place in the world. Angela Tucker writes: “To know musician Beverly Glenn-Copeland is to love him— and you’re about to fall in love. After three decades of releasing album after album in relative obscurity, a Japanese record collector rediscovers and reissues Copeland’s melodic electronic music to great success. Now Copeland must embark on a tour — at the age of 74. Guiding us from his childhood in a Black Quaker home in Philadelphia to the launch of his music career, filmmaker Posy Dixon employs an experimental and lyrical style to this engaging character portrait of a transgender trailblazer who teaches us it’s never too late to become who you’re meant to be.” Available to stream November 13-22 here.
The festival lineup is now live and passes and tickets are available at neworleansfilmfestival.org
