Arts & Entertainment

Montclair Film Festival Announces 2016 Lineup

Guests and speakers at the iconic Montclair festival will include Stephen Colbert, Rob Reiner, Patrick Wilson and Richard Curtis.

Montclair, NJ – The Montclair Film Festival has announced its official lineup for 2016.

This year, the iconic local film festival will include more than 150 films, special events, conversations, parties and panels. In addition, more than 100 filmmakers and other guests will make appearances over the 10-day event, organizers stated in a news release.

This year’s program will include:

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  • Rob Reiner, director of Being Charlie, in conversation with Stephen Colbert
  • Margo Martindale, star of The Americans
  • Patrick Wilson & Friends
  • Live recordings of the new podcast Pure Nonfiction with Thom Powers, with special guests Rachel Grady, co-director of Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You, Kristen Johnson, director of Cameraperson, and D.A. Pennebaker/Chris Hegedus, directors of Unlocking the Cage
  • A conversation with Richard Curtis, moderated by Stephen Colbert

The festival’s opening night film on Friday, April 29, will be “Life, Animated,” the real-life story of Owen Suskind, the son of the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ron Suskind and his wife, Cornelia.

The centerpiece film, “Presenting Princess Shaw,” follows Samantha Montgomery as she cares for the elderly in one of New Orleans’ toughest neighborhoods, and will screen on Friday, May 6.

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The closing night film, “Miss Sharon Jones,” is a portrait of musician Sharon Jones and her struggle with cancer, and will screen on Saturday, May 7.

“This year’s festival marks our organization’s fifth anniversary and we are deeply honored to be able to present such a diverse, engaging program of films,” said MFF Executive Director Tom Hall. “To see how far our community has brought us in just five years—filmmakers, sponsors, donors, members, volunteers, partners, and patrons—is extraordinary. We cannot wait to introduce these filmmakers and their stories to our audiences.”

Photo: Montclair Film Festival

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