On Sunday, October 1, the Rehoboth Beach Film Society held a fundraiser in advance of the 20th Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival. The event was held in the screening room of the Cinema Art Theater in Lewes, Delaware. The program book for this year’s festival was handed out exclusively. Executive Director Sue Early moderated the event. She previewed 12 of the 35 films that will be playing at the festival next month. The majority of the movies are foreign-language or documentaries.
Early revealed that the headliner this year will be The Divine Order, a Swiss film about women’s suffrage in 1971 and how a housewife pushed for equality through protests. Switzerland was one of the last European countries to grant women the right to vote. This film is also the official submission to the 90th Academy Awards from Switzerland in the category of Best Foreign Language Film.
In alphabetical listing, the other 11 films that were previewed include After Love, a French drama starring Oscar-nominee Bérénice Bejo (The Artist) about a separated couple on the verge of divorce but whom still live together.
Bye Bye Germany is a German film about a Jewish entertainer in post-World War II who is suspected of being a Nazi collaborator.
I Dream in Another Language is a Mexican film about a young linguist who attempts to reunite the last two speakers of Zikril, a lost language, but discovers the two have a secret, love affair.
In Between is an Israeli film about three, young women in Tel Aviv from different backgrounds who have to learn to live together.
Lucky is the last leading role for the late Harry Dean Stanton (Alien and Twin Peaks) about a 90-year-old atheist contemplating his mortality.
Menashe is about the Hasidic community in New York City and a single father trying to maintain custody of his son. It’s one of the few films in Yiddish.
The Odyssey is about Jacques Cousteau and his invention of the aqualung, as well as his exploration of the sea.
The Teacher concerns a Communist Party member in the 80’s who pressures the parents of her students to do her bidding.
Conduct! Every Move Counts is the documentary set at the Frankfurt Opera House and focuses on five people in the Sir Georg Solti Conductors’ Competition.
The Good Postman is the documentary about a postal worker in Bulgaria who decides to run for mayor, specifically to address the Syrian refugees coming into his country from neighboring Turkey.
Winnie is the documentary about Winnie Mandela, one of the most intriguing and also one of the most controversial, female political figures in modern history.
These are just some of the titles. There are plenty more interesting movies to see. The festival runs November 2 to November 12. Tickets go on sale on Monday, October 16.
Purchasing tickets requires a festival pass, which must be bought first and retained for entry into theater. Rush tickets can be purchased without a pass, but only 10 minutes before start of film, if the film isn’t sold out. Rush tickets are $15, exact cash only.
For more information, go to http://rehobothfilm.com/festival_pass.html
