The Film Society of Lincoln Center has announced Parker Posey and Salma Hayek as two additional guests for the popular FREE Film Society Talks series, sponsored by HBO. The upcoming events will include a combination of clips, trailers, and extended conversations, with questions also taken from the audience. Additional information on moderators and more will be announced at a later date, so stay tuned and visit filmlinc.com for details. Talks will take place in the Amphitheater at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, 144 West 65th Street.

Actress Parker Posey will discuss her latest film, Woody Allen’s Irrational Man, on Monday, July 13. Posey plays Rita, a lonely professor who wants colleague Abe Lucas (Joaquin Phoenix) to rescue her from an unhappy marriage. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this spring and opens in theaters on Friday, July 17. On Wednesday, August 5, actress and filmmaker Salma Hayek will be discussing the stunning animated feature Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, which she produced. She also lent her voice to one of its title characters, opposite characters voiced by Liam Neeson and Quvenzhané Wallis. The film, based on the 1923 best-selling philosophical masterpiece by Lebanese poet Kahlil Gibran, opens on Friday, August 7.

Free tickets will be distributed at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center box office (144 West 65th Street, between Broadway and Amsterdam) on a first-come, first-served basis starting one hour prior to the talks. Limit one ticket per person, subject to availability.

For those unable to attend, video from the event will be available online at filmlinc.com.

DESCRIPTIONS & SCHEDULE

July 13:

Parker Posey (Irrational Man)
Parker Posey joins Summer Talks on the occasion of the July 17 release of her latest film, Woody Allen’s Irrational Man, in which she stars opposite Jamie Blackley, Joaquin Phoenix, and Emma Stone. The film centers on a tormented philosophy professor who finds a will to live when he commits an existential act. At rock bottom emotionally, Abe Lucas (Phoenix) arrives at a small-town college to teach and becomes involved with two women: Rita (Posey), a lonely professor who wants him to rescue her from an unhappy marriage, and Jill (Stone), his best student, who becomes his closest friend.

Parker is notable for her string of roles in indie films like Dazed and Confused, Personal Velocity, Basquiat, Clockwatchers, The Daytrippers, Party Girl, and The House of Yes, as well as roles in studio movies like Scream 3 and Superman Returns. On television she has been featured in As the World Turns, the miniseriesHell on Heels: The Battle of Mary Kay (which earned her a Supporting Actress Golden Globe nomination in 2003), Inside Amy Schumer, Portlandia, and Granite Flats. Posey will discuss her role in Irrational Man as well as her career over the past 25 years.
Monday, July 13, 6:30pm

August 5:
Salma Hayek (Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet)
Salma Hayek will appear at the Film Society for an informal chat in the Amphitheater about her latest project, the animated feature Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, on which she served as a producer and lent her voice. Based on the book of the title (which has sold over 100 million copies in 40 languages since its publication in 1923), the film, opening August 7, intersperses Gibran’s elegant poetry with stunning animated sequences by Tomm Moore (Song of the Sea), Nina Paley (Sita Sings the Blues), Bill Plympton (Guide Dog), and a host of other award-winning animators from around the world. Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet is set in a Mediterranean seaside village where Kamila (Hayek) cleans house for the exiled artist and poet Mustafa (Liam Neeson), but the more difficult job is keeping her free-spirited young daughter, Almitra (Quvenzhané Wallis), out of trouble. The trio embark on a journey meant to end with Mustafa’s return home—but first they must evade the authorities who fear that Mustafa’s words will incite rebellion.

Hayek is well known for her work in front of the camera with roles in Dogma, Desperado, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Savages, Wild Wild West, and Frida (which earned her an Oscar nomination) and small-screen appearances on 30 Rockand Ugly Betty. Hayek also works extensively behind the camera, where she has served as both director and producer (and as executive-producer of Ugly Betty). In 2003, Hayek produced and directed the Showtime film The Maldonado Miracle, for which she won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing in a Children/Youth/Family Special. Hayek will talk about her work both as an actress and a filmmaker.
Wednesday, August 5, 6:30pm

For more information, visit www.filmlinc.com.

I bumped into David Ninh, the press agent at Film Society of Lincoln Center, while picking up my press credentials for the Tribeca Film Festival. “I have something special for you,” David teased and “voila” - I checked my inbox and there was advance information on the returning NEW YORK AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL at the Film Society of Lincoln Center (May 6-12).

This will be the 22nd edition. This festival is regarded one of the nation’s premiere film festivals. It brings the best of African cinema and this year, the Opening Night film will be “Cold Harbour" by Carey McKenzie. The Centerpiece film is “Red Leaves” by Bazi Gete, and the Closing Night film will be “Mossane" by Safi Faye.

It’s an interesting note, that this year marks the African Film Festival, Inc.’s silver anniversary.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center (FSLC) embraces diversity throughout the year. The joining of the African Film Festival, Inc. (AFF) and the New York African Film Festival (NYAFF) is just one example of their commitment to storytellers, around the world.

The May event (6-12) is under the banner of the United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent (2015–2024).

This year, the festival presents a diverse crop of 15 features and 13 short films from Africa and the Diaspora.

Isa Cucinotta, Film Society of Lincoln Center Programmer stated: "We are thrilled by this year’s selection of films exploring the breadth and depth of the African experience both on the continent and beyond. Through comedy, drama, and documentary, the striving of a people on the move is vibrantly expressed. We are happy to be able to share the dreams and hard work of today’s artists."

“As we reach our anniversary, it is clear that on many levels we have achieved all we set out to do some 25 years ago in creating a festival to challenge the prevailing narrative about Africa through the cinematic arts,” said AFF Executive Director and NYAFF Founder Mahen Bonetti. “As we revisit our mission this year, we see that our community has not only helped bring our masters to the attention of global audiences but that we continue to push to the forefront new voices that celebrate Africa in this important moment in our history.”

To get the party started, a preview town hall event will take place, Friday, May 1st at WNYC’s Jerome L. Greene Performance Space. African artists living in the Diaspora will discuss how living outside of the Continent, but occupying a space where they are still “of the continent” influences their work and lives.

The event will feature live musical performances by Les Nubians and hip-hop artist Blitz the Ambassador, as well as a reading from a literary work by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond. Popular international journalist and Upworthy curator Femi Oke will then moderate a discussion with these artists and director Andrew Dosunmu.

Following its opening leg at Film Society of Lincoln Center, NYAFF then heads to Maysles Cinema Institute in Harlem (May 14-17) and concludes over Memorial Day Weekend (May 22-25) at the Brooklyn Academy of Music BAMcinématek as part of its popular dance and music festival DanceAfrica.

Screenings will take place at the Walter Reade Theater, 165 West 65th Street (north side, upper level, between Broadway and Amsterdam) and the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, 144 West 65th Street (south side, between Broadway and Amsterdam). Tickets for the New York African Film Festival will go on sale to the general public on April 23 at the Film Society’s box offices and online at filmlinc.com. Pre-sale to Film Society members begins on April 21. Single screening tickets are $14; $11 for students and seniors (62+); and $9 for Film Society members. See more for less with a 3+ Film Discount Package starting at $33; $27 for students and seniors (62+); and $24 for Film Society members.

To find out all of the details go to filmlinc.com.

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