Reviews and Events

Watch New Clip: KING OF KILLERS (Lionsgate)  on Blu-ray™ and DVD October 31st

KING OF KILLERS-US POSTER (Lionsgate)

Release Date: Available on Blu-ray™ and DVD on October 31st
Director and Writer: Kevin Grevioux
Genre:  Action
Rating: R 
Runtime: 1 hour 32 minutes 
Cast: Alain Moussi (Nobody), Marie Avgeropoulos (“The 100,” 50/50), Georges St-Pierre ( Captain America: The Winter Soldier),  Stephen Dorff (Blade, Old Henry), Frank Grillo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Kevin Grevioux (Underworld)             

Based on a graphic novel by writer-director Kevin Grevioux, King of Killers follows former Agency hit man Marcus Garan (Alain Moussi) as he attempts to unravel the mystery behind a tragic incident. When offered a $10 million contract to eliminate the world’s greatest assassin, Marcus travels to Tokyo to meet the client (Frank Grillo), but discovers other professional killers have been invited as well. Now Marcus and the others must confront this deadly, mythical assassin…or die trying. 

American Fiction: Review 

No Matter What Challenges and Stereotypes You Face in Life, You Are Not Immune from the Challenges Within Your Own Family 

Release dates: December 15, 2023 (United States)
Director:  Cord Jefferson
Screenplay:Cord Jefferson
Based on Erasure by Percival Everett
Starring: Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams,  Adam Brody, Keith David, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown
Genre: Comedy, drama
Run time: 1 hour 57 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English 

Director and writer Cord Jefferson theatrical directorial debut ‘American Fiction’, based on the 2001 novel Erasure by Percival Everett, tells the challenges of writer and academic Thelonious "Monk" Ellison   Jeffrey Wright) as he tries to comes to terms with the success and fame of writers/authors, especially  Sinatra Golden (Issa Rae) whose books are full of all the stereotypes about African American while at the same time trying to cope with family dynamic with his sister  Lisa Ellison (Tracee Ellis Ross), brother Clifford "Cliff" Ellison (Sterling K. Brown), his mother Agnes Ellison Leslie Uggams and affairs of the heart with Coraline (Erika Alexander). 

American Fiction takes you through the up and downs of family life. You can share in the tough times of loss and the good times of celebration. It shows that being educated with financial means does not shield you from life’s trials and tribulations. 

We are reminded of the importance of being seen and having our humanity acknowledged during a conversation between Monk and Cliff. 

Monk said, “what if he rejected you? Referring to their father. Cliff, “at least he would have rejected the real me.” 

Cord’s script finds a visually interesting way of bringing Monk’s characters Willey the Wonker (Keith David) along with his son, to life as he drafts his book full of African American stereotypes. It is like a live play within the film. This style used through-out brought added dimension to the film 

The beautiful setting of his home state of Massachusetts, his family home and beach house shows without words  the upper middle-class lifestyle that Monk and his family enjoyed. 

As Monk struggles to understand the value in Sinatra Golden’s successful book He has a conversation with Sinatra and refers to the potential of a writer when Sinatra said, “potential is what they see when they think a person is not good enough.”  

There is so much truth in her statement. It makes you think about the stereotype people hold that lets you know they do not think highly of the people they demean. how non-minorities think of people of color 

 About Jefferey Cord

Jefferey Cord’s T.V. credits include Succession, The Good Place, Master of None, and his 2020 Emmy winning episode This Extraordinary Being. He began his writing career with publications The Ringer, GQ, the New Yorker, and later serving as the editor of Gawker .

Production companies: Orion Pictures, MRC Film, T-Street Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment
Distributors: Amazon MGM Studios
Release dates: December 15, 2023 (United States)
Run time: 1 hour 57 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English
Director:  Cord Jefferson
Screenplay:Cord Jefferson
Based on Erasure by Percival Everett
Producers: Cord Jefferson, Jermaine Johnson, Nikos Karamigios, Ben LeClair
Starring: Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams,  Adam Brody, Keith David, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown
Cinematographer: Cristina Dunlap
Editor: Hilda Rasula
Music: Laura Karpman 

12th Annual Key West Film Festival Announces Official Lineup 

Key West Film Festival Logo

October 19, 2023, Key West, FL – The 12th Annual Key West Film Festival announces its official 2023 lineup including major falls films from Sofia Coppola, Wim Wenders, Aki Kaurasmaki, Matthew Heineman, Andrew Haigh, Lisa Cortes and Angus MacLachlan. More than 75 films will be shown during the 5-day festival, which runs November 15-19.  

As is tradition for the festival, the Opening and Closing Night films are curated by two of the top film critics in the country. Stephanie Zacharek of Time will host a discussion with David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter prior to the Opening Night screening of PRISCILLA, which was the Centerpiece Film at the 2023 New York Film Festival. Newcomer Cailee Spaeny won the best actress award at the Venice Film Festival for her breakthrough performance as Priscilla Presley in this reconsideration of a rock'n'roll fairytale, from filmmaker Sofia Coppola ("Lost in Translation").  

On Saturday night, Rooney will lead a pre-show conversation with Zacharek prior to the screening of EILEEN, which spotlights Anne Hathaway in a head-spinning performance as Rebecca, the dangerous catalyst in the quiet, desperate life of a young woman, Eileen (Thomasin McKenzie), living in small-town Massachusetts in 1964, swept up into dark circumstances in the dead of winter.  

Other spotlight films include the dark comedy DREAM SCENARIO starring Nicolas Cage and Julianne Nicholson; and A LITTLE PRAYER, starring David Strathairn and directed by Academy Award nominee Angus MacLachlan, whose two previous films (“Goodbye to All That” and “Abundant Acreage Available”) have shown at KWFF (2014 and 2017). MacLachlan will appear with the film for a Q&A. 

This year also features special spotlight distinctions. Playing in the LGBTQ Spotlight Film is Andrew Haigh’s ALL OF US STRANGERS, starring two of the UK's most popular and charismatic actors – Andrew Scott ("Fleabag") and Paul Mescal (who made an international breakthrough in 2021's "Aftersun") - in a critically acclaimed romantic fantasy that premiered at the Telluride Film Festival. The Documentary Spotlight Film is Academy Award nominee Matthew Heineman’s AMERICAN SYMPHONY, a moving and intimate portrait of two artists at a crossroads featuring multi-instrumentalist Jon Batiste and his life partner, best-selling author Suleika Jaouad, as they are suddenly faced the return of her long-dormant cancer.   

This year’s LGBTQ films, programmed with the assistance of Eugene Hernandez, Executive Director of the Sundance Film Festival, and Brian Brooks of Cinetic Media, include the CPH:DOX winner QUEENDOM, a portrait of Gena, a 21-year-old Russian transgender street performer and activist who fled the dismal countryside of her youth for the cosmopolis of Moscow to flaunt extravagant costumes and makeup that push the fashion envelope to the outer limits – and inevitably draw the attention of the government. Also playing is STUDIO ONE FOREVER, a look at the famous nightclub in Los Angeles where so many young men came of age, produced by Stephen Israel, whose previous feature “Helicopter Mom” played at KWFF 2014. Rounding out the programming is the Miami-produced fiction film, CLOCKED, about an 18 year old undefeated boxer whose true passion is for self acceptance, through his transition to a woman. The film will also be featured in the Florida Focus section of the festival. 

Documentaries take center stage at the festival this year, with music, food, sports, outer space, and even a modern day Noah’s Ark staking their claims. LA HUELLA follows a world class restaurant on the beach in a small Uruguayan town, not too dissimilar from the culinary delights of Key West, and will be accompanied by a wine tasting prior to the film. Emmy winner Jesse Moss, whose film “The Bandit” showed at KWFF 2016 when Burt Reynolds was honored, returns with THE MISSION, which uncovers the complex and troubling true story behind the 2018 death of evangelical Christian missionary John Chau. Two docs about music include MAESTRA, which takes us to the only competition in the world for women conductors, and MUSICA!, which celebrates the efforts of the nonprofit Horns to Havana as the US-based group teaches young Cubans how to maintain their instruments. Themes of exploring the unknown manifest themselves in both THE ARC OF OBLIVION, which invites us to consider which memories we choose to archive as a man in Maine build his own ark, in addition to SPACE RACE, the profoundly inspirational story of the program to send the first African American astronaut into space and the trailblazing paths laid by its pioneers. Rounding out the section is THE LIONHEART, following Susie Wheldon raising her two young boys to be racecar drivers twenty years after their father, two-time Indy 500 champion Dan Wheldon, died in a racing crash. Wheldon will appear at the festival with the film. 

International films include THREE films which are the official entries from their respective countries for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film: Japan’s PERFECT DAYS, directed by multiple Oscar nominee Wim Wenders; Finland’s FALLEN LEAVES, from Aki Kaurismaki (whose film “The Other Side of Hope” played KWFF 2017), and France’s THE TASTE OF THINGS, starring Academy Award winner Juliette Binoche. 

Florida gets its moment in the sun with the special Florida Focus section. Films include the aforementioned CLOCKED, along with RAZING LIBERTY SQUARE, produced by KWFF alumnus Kareem Tabsch (“The Last Resort,” “Dolphin Lover”) in which residents of Miami's historic Liberty Square housing project find themselves on the frontlines of climate gentrification when a $300 million revitalization plan threatens their neighborhood. Miami-shot BIG EASY QUEENS is a wild romp featuring drag performers who are regulars at the Key West clubs. And local director Michael J. Kirk will present an encore screening of 200 YEARS OF KEY WEST HISTORY. 

Special screenings this year include the “Forty Year Flashback,” featuring a 40th  Anniversary screening of Martin Scorcese’s THE KING OF COMEDY, starring Robert DeNiro and Jerry Lewis, and featuring a soundtrack from Robbie Roberston. Film critics David Fear of Rolling Stone and Sam Adams of Slate.com will have a conversation prior to the film.

Also featured will be the 72 Hour Film Challenge, a widely popular showcase of local film teams who conceive of, write, shoot and edit a film in 72 hours. 

Shorts programs at the festival this year include sections for Comedy, Documentary, International, Florida films, Student and Florida students. The Kimberly Peirce Award for Best Student Film presented by the Diana King Foundation will also be presented once again. The shorts programs and Florida feature films were curated from over 1500 submissions, with entries from nearly all 50 states and dozens of countries. 

Returning programs this year include the the 8th Annual Golden Key for Excellence in Costume Design awarded to Jacqueline Durran for her work in BARBIE, making KWFF the only such festival to annual honor this art; the 10th Annual Critics Panel, in which top film critics will join both in person to cover the seismic changes in the industry this year. Key West Citizen’s Shirrel Rhoades will moderate the panel featuring David Rooney, Stephanie Zacharek, Sam Adams and David Fear. And the 2nd Annual Golden Key for Documentary Excellence will be awarded to Oscar winner Sheila Nevins. Emmy winner Erin Lee Carr will moderate the discussion and a screening of Sheila’s THE ABCs OF BOOK BANNING, about the efforts of Florida school districts to ban books, will screen after the talk. 

After kicking off the festival with a film about Priscilla Presley, the festival will screen REINVENTING ELVIS, recounting the King’s 1968 comeback special, as its traditional final screening on Sunday night, outdoors at The Perry Hotel and Marina in Stock Island.
  
ABOUT THE KEY WEST FILM FESTIVAL 

Honoring creativity, diversity, sustainability and beauty, the Key West Film Festival is an annual celebration of film and filmmakers set to take place November 15-19, 2023.  

A diverse, entertaining and artistically rigorous selection of films will be represented through a broad array of categories that offer opportunities for filmmakers, both aspiring and established, to commune and exchange ideas while showing their work to audiences in an historic and artistically vibrant tropical paradise.   

Films that have been showcased in the last five years of the festival have amassed over EIGHTY Academy Award nominations - six of which were for Best Picture - and sixteen Oscar wins, including two for Best Picture ( Spotlight and  Shape of Water). 

For more information, visit our website: https://keywestff.com 

Twitter - @keywestfilmfest
Instagram - @keywestfilmfestival
Facebook - Key West Film Festival
#kwff #kwff2023  

October 19, 2023, Key West, FL – The 12th Annual Key West Film Festival announces its official 2023 lineup including major falls films from Sofia Coppola, Wim Wenders, Aki Kaurasmaki, Matthew Heineman, Andrew Haigh, Lisa Cortes and Angus MacLachlan. More than 75 films will be shown during the 5-day festival, which runs November 15-19.  

As is tradition for the festival, the Opening and Closing Night films are curated by two of the top film critics in the country. Stephanie Zacharek of Time will host a discussion with David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter prior to the Opening Night screening of PRISCILLA, which was the Centerpiece Film at the 2023 New York Film Festival. Newcomer Cailee Spaeny won the best actress award at the Venice Film Festival for her breakthrough performance as Priscilla Presley in this reconsideration of a rock'n'roll fairytale, from filmmaker Sofia Coppola ("Lost in Translation").  

On Saturday night, Rooney will lead a pre-show conversation with Zacharek prior to the screening of EILEEN, which spotlights Anne Hathaway in a head-spinning performance as Rebecca, the dangerous catalyst in the quiet, desperate life of a young woman, Eileen (Thomasin McKenzie), living in small-town Massachusetts in 1964, swept up into dark circumstances in the dead of winter.  

Other spotlight films include the dark comedy DREAM SCENARIO starring Nicolas Cage and Julianne Nicholson; and A LITTLE PRAYER, starring David Strathairn and directed by Academy Award nominee Angus MacLachlan, whose two previous films (“Goodbye to All That” and “Abundant Acreage Available”) have shown at KWFF (2014 and 2017). MacLachlan will appear with the film for a Q&A. 

This year also features special spotlight distinctions. Playing in the LGBTQ Spotlight Film is Andrew Haigh’s ALL OF US STRANGERS, starring two of the UK's most popular and charismatic actors – Andrew Scott ("Fleabag") and Paul Mescal (who made an international breakthrough in 2021's "Aftersun") - in a critically acclaimed romantic fantasy that premiered at the Telluride Film Festival. The Documentary Spotlight Film is Academy Award nominee Matthew Heineman’s AMERICAN SYMPHONY, a moving and intimate portrait of two artists at a crossroads featuring multi-instrumentalist Jon Batiste and his life partner, best-selling author Suleika Jaouad, as they are suddenly faced the return of her long-dormant cancer.   

This year’s LGBTQ films, programmed with the assistance of Eugene Hernandez, Executive Director of the Sundance Film Festival, and Brian Brooks of Cinetic Media, include the CPH:DOX winner QUEENDOM, a portrait of Gena, a 21-year-old Russian transgender street performer and activist who fled the dismal countryside of her youth for the cosmopolis of Moscow to flaunt extravagant costumes and makeup that push the fashion envelope to the outer limits – and inevitably draw the attention of the government. Also playing is STUDIO ONE FOREVER, a look at the famous nightclub in Los Angeles where so many young men came of age, produced by Stephen Israel, whose previous feature “Helicopter Mom” played at KWFF 2014. Rounding out the programming is the Miami-produced fiction film, CLOCKED, about an 18 year old undefeated boxer whose true passion is for self acceptance, through his transition to a woman. The film will also be featured in the Florida Focus section of the festival. 

Documentaries take center stage at the festival this year, with music, food, sports, outer space, and even a modern day Noah’s Ark staking their claims. LA HUELLA follows a world class restaurant on the beach in a small Uruguayan town, not too dissimilar from the culinary delights of Key West, and will be accompanied by a wine tasting prior to the film. Emmy winner Jesse Moss, whose film “The Bandit” showed at KWFF 2016 when Burt Reynolds was honored, returns with THE MISSION, which uncovers the complex and troubling true story behind the 2018 death of evangelical Christian missionary John Chau. Two docs about music include MAESTRA, which takes us to the only competition in the world for women conductors, and MUSICA!, which celebrates the efforts of the nonprofit Horns to Havana as the US-based group teaches young Cubans how to maintain their instruments. Themes of exploring the unknown manifest themselves in both THE ARC OF OBLIVION, which invites us to consider which memories we choose to archive as a man in Maine build his own ark, in addition to SPACE RACE, the profoundly inspirational story of the program to send the first African American astronaut into space and the trailblazing paths laid by its pioneers. Rounding out the section is THE LIONHEART, following Susie Wheldon raising her two young boys to be racecar drivers twenty years after their father, two-time Indy 500 champion Dan Wheldon, died in a racing crash. Wheldon will appear at the festival with the film. 

International films include THREE films which are the official entries from their respective countries for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film: Japan’s PERFECT DAYS, directed by multiple Oscar nominee Wim Wenders; Finland’s FALLEN LEAVES, from Aki Kaurismaki (whose film “The Other Side of Hope” played KWFF 2017), and France’s THE TASTE OF THINGS, starring Academy Award winner Juliette Binoche. 

Florida gets its moment in the sun with the special Florida Focus section. Films include the aforementioned CLOCKED, along with RAZING LIBERTY SQUARE, produced by KWFF alumnus Kareem Tabsch (“The Last Resort,” “Dolphin Lover”) in which residents of Miami's historic Liberty Square housing project find themselves on the frontlines of climate gentrification when a $300 million revitalization plan threatens their neighborhood. Miami-shot BIG EASY QUEENS is a wild romp featuring drag performers who are regulars at the Key West clubs. And local director Michael J. Kirk will present an encore screening of 200 YEARS OF KEY WEST HISTORY. 

Special screenings this year include the “Forty Year Flashback,” featuring a 40th  Anniversary screening of Martin Scorcese’s THE KING OF COMEDY, starring Robert DeNiro and Jerry Lewis, and featuring a soundtrack from Robbie Roberston. Film critics David Fear of Rolling Stone and Sam Adams of Slate.com will have a conversation prior to the film.

Also featured will be the 72 Hour Film Challenge, a widely popular showcase of local film teams who conceive of, write, shoot and edit a film in 72 hours. 

Shorts programs at the festival this year include sections for Comedy, Documentary, International, Florida films, Student and Florida students. The Kimberly Peirce Award for Best Student Film presented by the Diana King Foundation will also be presented once again. The shorts programs and Florida feature films were curated from over 1500 submissions, with entries from nearly all 50 states and dozens of countries. 

Returning programs this year include the the 8th Annual Golden Key for Excellence in Costume Design awarded to Jacqueline Durran for her work in BARBIE, making KWFF the only such festival to annual honor this art; the 10th Annual Critics Panel, in which top film critics will join both in person to cover the seismic changes in the industry this year. Key West Citizen’s Shirrel Rhoades will moderate the panel featuring David Rooney, Stephanie Zacharek, Sam Adams and David Fear. And the 2nd Annual Golden Key for Documentary Excellence will be awarded to Oscar winner Sheila Nevins. Emmy winner Erin Lee Carr will moderate the discussion and a screening of Sheila’s THE ABCs OF BOOK BANNING, about the efforts of Florida school districts to ban books, will screen after the talk. 

After kicking off the festival with a film about Priscilla Presley, the festival will screen REINVENTING ELVIS, recounting the King’s 1968 comeback special, as its traditional final screening on Sunday night, outdoors at The Perry Hotel and Marina in Stock Island.
  
ABOUT THE KEY WEST FILM FESTIVAL 

Honoring creativity, diversity, sustainability and beauty, the Key West Film Festival is an annual celebration of film and filmmakers set to take place November 15-19, 2023.  

A diverse, entertaining and artistically rigorous selection of films will be represented through a broad array of categories that offer opportunities for filmmakers, both aspiring and established, to commune and exchange ideas while showing their work to audiences in an historic and artistically vibrant tropical paradise.   

Films that have been showcased in the last five years of the festival have amassed over EIGHTY Academy Award nominations - six of which were for Best Picture - and sixteen Oscar wins, including two for Best Picture ( Spotlight and  Shape of Water). 

For more information, visit our website: https://keywestff.com 

Twitter - @keywestfilmfest
instagram - @keywestfilmfestival
Facebook - Key West Film Festival
#kwff #kwff2023  

  • October 19, 2023, Key West, FL – The 12th Annual Key West Film Festival announces its official 2023 lineup including major falls films from Sofia Coppola, Wim Wenders, Aki Kaurasmaki, Matthew Heineman, Andrew Haigh, Lisa Cortes and Angus MacLachlan. More than 75 films will be shown during the 5-day festival, which runs November 15-19.  
  • As is tradition for the festival, the Opening and Closing Night films are curated by two of the top film critics in the country. Stephanie Zacharek of Time will host a discussion with David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter prior to the Opening Night screening of PRISCILLA, which was the Centerpiece Film at the 2023 New York Film Festival. Newcomer Cailee Spaeny won the best actress award at the Venice Film Festival for her breakthrough performance as Priscilla Presley in this reconsideration of a rock'n'roll fairytale, from filmmaker Sofia Coppola ("Lost in Translation").  
  • On Saturday night, Rooney will lead a pre-show conversation with Zacharek prior to the screening of EILEEN, which spotlights Anne Hathaway in a head-spinning performance as Rebecca, the dangerous catalyst in the quiet, desperate life of a young woman, Eileen (Thomasin McKenzie), living in small-town Massachusetts in 1964, swept up into dark circumstances in the dead of winter.  
  • Other spotlight films include the dark comedy DREAM SCENARIO starring Nicolas Cage and Julianne Nicholson; and A LITTLE PRAYER, starring David Strathairn and directed by Academy Award nominee Angus MacLachlan, whose two previous films (“Goodbye to All That” and “Abundant Acreage Available”) have shown at KWFF (2014 and 2017). MacLachlan will appear with the film for a Q&A. 
  • This year also features special spotlight distinctions. Playing in the LGBTQ Spotlight Film is Andrew Haigh’s ALL OF US STRANGERS, starring two of the UK's most popular and charismatic actors – Andrew Scott ("Fleabag") and Paul Mescal (who made an international breakthrough in 2021's "Aftersun") - in a critically acclaimed romantic fantasy that premiered at the Telluride Film Festival. The Documentary Spotlight Film is Academy Award nominee Matthew Heineman’s AMERICAN SYMPHONY, a moving and intimate portrait of two artists at a crossroads featuring multi-instrumentalist Jon Batiste and his life partner, best-selling author Suleika Jaouad, as they are suddenly faced the return of her long-dormant cancer.   
  • This year’s LGBTQ films, programmed with the assistance of Eugene Hernandez, Executive Director of the Sundance Film Festival, and Brian Brooks of Cinetic Media, include the CPH:DOX winner QUEENDOM, a portrait of Gena, a 21-year-old Russian transgender street performer and activist who fled the dismal countryside of her youth for the cosmopolis of Moscow to flaunt extravagant costumes and makeup that push the fashion envelope to the outer limits – and inevitably draw the attention of the government. Also playing is STUDIO ONE FOREVER, a look at the famous nightclub in Los Angeles where so many young men came of age, produced by Stephen Israel, whose previous feature “Helicopter Mom” played at KWFF 2014. Rounding out the programming is the Miami-produced fiction film, CLOCKED, about an 18 year old undefeated boxer whose true passion is for self acceptance, through his transition to a woman. The film will also be featured in the Florida Focus section of the festival. 
  • Documentaries take center stage at the festival this year, with music, food, sports, outer space, and even a modern day Noah’s Ark staking their claims. LA HUELLA follows a world class restaurant on the beach in a small Uruguayan town, not too dissimilar from the culinary delights of Key West, and will be accompanied by a wine tasting prior to the film. Emmy winner Jesse Moss, whose film “The Bandit” showed at KWFF 2016 when Burt Reynolds was honored, returns with THE MISSION, which uncovers the complex and troubling true story behind the 2018 death of evangelical Christian missionary John Chau. Two docs about music include MAESTRA, which takes us to the only competition in the world for women conductors, and MUSICA!, which celebrates the efforts of the nonprofit Horns to Havana as the US-based group teaches young Cubans how to maintain their instruments. Themes of exploring the unknown manifest themselves in both THE ARC OF OBLIVION, which invites us to consider which memories we choose to archive as a man in Maine build his own ark, in addition to SPACE RACE, the profoundly inspirational story of the program to send the first African American astronaut into space and the trailblazing paths laid by its pioneers. Rounding out the section is THE LIONHEART, following Susie Wheldon raising her two young boys to be racecar drivers twenty years after their father, two-time Indy 500 champion Dan Wheldon, died in a racing crash. Wheldon will appear at the festival with the film. 
  • International films include THREE films which are the official entries from their respective countries for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film: Japan’s PERFECT DAYS, directed by multiple Oscar nominee Wim Wenders; Finland’s FALLEN LEAVES, from Aki Kaurismaki (whose film “The Other Side of Hope” played KWFF 2017), and France’s THE TASTE OF THINGS, starring Academy Award winner Juliette Binoche. 
  • Florida gets its moment in the sun with the special Florida Focus section. Films include the aforementioned CLOCKED, along with RAZING LIBERTY SQUARE, produced by KWFF alumnus Kareem Tabsch (“The Last Resort,” “Dolphin Lover”) in which residents of Miami's historic Liberty Square housing project find themselves on the frontlines of climate gentrification when a $300 million revitalization plan threatens their neighborhood. Miami-shot BIG EASY QUEENS is a wild romp featuring drag performers who are regulars at the Key West clubs. And local director Michael J. Kirk will present an encore screening of 200 YEARS OF KEY WEST HISTORY. 
  • Special screenings this year include the “Forty Year Flashback,” featuring a 40th  Anniversary screening of Martin Scorcese’s THE KING OF COMEDY, starring Robert DeNiro and Jerry Lewis, and featuring a soundtrack from Robbie Roberston. Film critics David Fear of Rolling Stone and Sam Adams of Slate.com will have a conversation prior to the film.

    Also featured will be the 72 Hour Film Challenge, a widely popular showcase of local film teams who conceive of, write, shoot and edit a film in 72 hours. 

  • Shorts programs at the festival this year include sections for Comedy, Documentary, International, Florida films, Student and Florida students. The Kimberly Peirce Award for Best Student Film presented by the Diana King Foundation will also be presented once again. The shorts programs and Florida feature films were curated from over 1500 submissions, with entries from nearly all 50 states and dozens of countries. 
  • Returning programs this year include the the 8th Annual Golden Key for Excellence in Costume Design awarded to Jacqueline Durran for her work in BARBIE, making KWFF the only such festival to annual honor this art; the 10th Annual Critics Panel, in which top film critics will join both in person to cover the seismic changes in the industry this year. Key West Citizen’s Shirrel Rhoades will moderate the panel featuring David Rooney, Stephanie Zacharek, Sam Adams and David Fear. And the 2nd Annual Golden Key for Documentary Excellence will be awarded to Oscar winner Sheila Nevins. Emmy winner Erin Lee Carr will moderate the discussion and a screening of Sheila’s THE ABCs OF BOOK BANNING, about the efforts of Florida school districts to ban books, will screen after the talk. 
  • After kicking off the festival with a film about Priscilla Presley, the festival will screen REINVENTING ELVIS, recounting the King’s 1968 comeback special, as its traditional final screening on Sunday night, outdoors at The Perry Hotel and Marina in Stock Island.
     
  •   
  • ABOUT THE KEY WEST FILM FESTIVAL 
  • Honoring creativity, diversity, sustainability and beauty, the Key West Film Festival is an annual celebration of film and filmmakers set to take place November 15-19, 2023.  
  •  
  • A diverse, entertaining and artistically rigorous selection of films will be represented through a broad array of categories that offer opportunities for filmmakers, both aspiring and established, to commune and exchange ideas while showing their work to audiences in an historic and artistically vibrant tropical paradise.   
  •  
  • Films that have been showcased in the last five years of the festival have amassed over EIGHTY Academy Award nominations - six of which were for Best Picture - and sixteen Oscar wins, including two for Best Picture ( Spotlight and  Shape of Water). 
  •  
  • For more information, visit our website: https://keywestff.com 
  • Twitter - @keywestfilmfest 
  • Instagram - @keywestfilmfestival 
  • Facebook - Key West Film Festival 
  • #kwff #kwff2023  

Killers of the Flower Moon: Review  Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Lily Gladstone Gives Stellar Performances 

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Director: Martin Scorsese
Screenwriters: Eric Roth, Martín Scorsese
Based on Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
Starring : Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone
Paramount Pictures Release dates May 20, 2023 (Cannes)
October 20, 2023 (United States)
Run time: 206 minutes
Genre: Western, Crime, Drama
Country: United States
Language: English

For the Love of Money

Director Martin Scorsese’s captivating new crime drama ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’, based on David Grann’s 2017 book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, tells the heartbreaking true story of the Osage Native American tribe of Osage County, Oklahoma in 1920s and the murders of its tribal members after oil is found on their land and they become wealthy over night as told through the lives of   Ernest Burkhart, Mollie's husband ( Leonardo DiCaprio),  William King Hale, Ernest's uncle (Robert De Niro), and Mollie Burkhart, Ernest's Native American wife (Lily Gladstone) and the challenges the Osage people faced getting the United States Bureau of Investigation to finally investigate the murders on their tribal land.

The superb performance by DeNiro as he lures you in with his hometown, country charm while masking the devious and depraved man that he is. You are taking through so many emotions with excellent on-screen performance between DiCaprio and Gladstone, that is the heartbeat of the film, as they navigate love, betrayal, murder and death. 

Reminded of Tulsa Massacre and the election day violence in Osocee in Florida, just to name of few of the many acts of white mob violence visited upon people of color. 

Eric Roth, Martín Scorsese’s screenplay does justice to the lives and customs of the Osage Nation capturing real, authentic representation. The use of the native Osage language and customs created an authentic depiction of actual life. Added into the mix is the late Robbie Robinson ‘s amazing yet final film score.  

The authentic recreations, by costume designer Jacqueline West, with the help of a member of the Osage Nation, Julie O’Keefe, who was the film’s costume cultural adviser, also tells their story with beauty yet without words.

The cruel, heartless, demonic behavior and the total disregard for human life stands out above all else.
Cinemtographer set on location on Osage tribal land. Beautiful, green rolling hills as far as the eye can see . It shows the importance of not dehumanizing people because it makes it too easy to plot, plan the murder of family, friends, and foes.

Killers of the Flower Moon is great film that provides good context to a significant historical event.  

A better location could have been found. Filming on location on Osage tribal land in Oklahoma brought an actual event to life. Being in the same place that these murders occurred over a 100 years ago helps bring their story full circle.

Ernest “I love money. Almost as much as I love my wife.” 

What does love have to do with it, when family and money are involved? No one is safe. Killers of Flower Moon is great film worth the 3 ½ hours of screen time. This film you do not want to miss. 

Paramount Pictures Release dates May 20, 2023 (Cannes) 
October 20, 2023 (United States) 
Director: Martin Scorsese 
Screenwriters: Eric Roth, Martín Scorsese 
Based on Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann 
Producers: Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas, Martin Scorsese, Daniel Lupi 
Starring : Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone 
Cinematographer: Robbie Robertson 
Production companies: Apple Studios, Imperative Entertainment, Sikelia Productions, Appian Way Productions 
Distributed by Apple Original Films (through Apple TV+) 
Run time: 206 minutes 
Country: United States 
Language: English 

Watch the First Official trailer from writer and director Cord Jefferson’s Theatrical Directorial Debut American Fiction Premiering in the United States December 15th 

Release dates: December 15, 2023 United States
Director:  Cord Jefferson
Screenplay:Cord Jefferson
Based on Erasure by Percival Everett
Starring: Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams,  Adam Brody, Keith David, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown
Genre: Comedy, drama
Run time: 1 hour 57 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English 

Writer and director Cord Jefferson's theatrical directorial debut American Fiction debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 8th and makes its limited theatrical release in the United States on December 15, 2023.

Cord Jefferson's romantic comedy film American Fiction shares the story of Monk, a writer , who becomes fed up with Black Americans being stereotyped in entertainment,as he goes on a quest to prove his point and writes a book full of all those kinds of  exploitation and the results it has on his life.Starring  in American Fiction is Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams,  Adam Brody, Keith David, Issa Rae, and Sterling K. Brown.

About Cord Jefferson

Cord’s T.V. credits include Succession, The Good Place, Master of None, and his 2020  Emmy winning episode This Extraordinary Being. He began his writing career with publications The Ringer, GQ, the New Yorker, and later serving as the editor of Gawker 

Release dates: December 15, 2023 (United States)
Production companies: Orion Pictures, MRC Film, T-Street Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment
Distributors: Amazon MGM Studios
Run time: 1 hour 57 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English 
Director:  Cord Jefferson
Screenplay:Cord Jefferson
Based on Erasure by Percival Everett
Producers: Cord Jefferson, Jermaine Johnson, Nikos Karamigios, Ben LeClair
Starring: Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams,  Adam Brody, Keith David, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown
Cinematographer: Cristina Dunlap
Editor: Hilda Rasula
Music: Laura Karpman
Production companies: Orion Pictures, MRC Film, T-Street Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment
Distributors: Amazon MGM Studios
Release dates: December 15, 2023 United States
Run time: 1 hour 57 minutes
Director:  Cord Jefferson
Screenplay:Cord Jefferson
Based on Erasure by Percival Everett
Producers: Cord Jefferson, Jermaine Johnson, Nikos Karamigios, Ben LeClair
Starring: Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams,  Adam Brody, Keith David, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown
Cinematographer: Cristina Dunlap
Editor: Hilda Rasula
Music: Laura Karpman  

‘Freestyle 101 Hip Hop History’ Starring Ice T, RZA, Cypress Hill, The Game, Chuck D, and many more, Opens on Digital Platforms October 24th

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Director, Writer, Editor: Frank Meyer 
Producer: Robert Juster 
Narrator: Chuck D 
Starring: Ice T, Rza, Cypress Hill, The Game, Chuck D, And Featuring Many Other Rapper and Hip Hop Stars  
Genre: Documentary 
Country: U.S. 
Language: English 
Run time: 1 hour 41 minutes

Class is in session in director’s Frank Meyers documentary Freestyle 101 Hip Hop History that gives ani informative look at the art of freestyling and how it has evolved over time as shown by film footage of times gone by and the interviews of legendary MCs and musical artists. 

The main focus of the film was on Open Mike Eagle from Los Angeles and Iron Solomon from New York and how hard they grind to make it in the business. From being their own booking agent, musical producer and distributor. Open Mike and Iron do it all to make it in this business. 

Iron Solomon: Freestyle 101 Hip Hop History
Iron Solomon: Freestyle 101 Hip Hop History

Freestyle 101 takes you to its beginning in New York during the 1970s and how freestylers were break dancers and graffiti artist who performed magic with their words, Sugarhill Gang was the start of hip hop with the release of Rappers Delight, the first hip-hop party. Meyer’s documentary would not be complete without coming to Los Angeles, CA. And hearing from people long in the game like Ice T, RZA, Cypress Hill, The Game, Chuck D, and many others as they share the ups and downs of getting into the music business and what it takes to stay there. 

Ice T: Freestyle 101 Hip Hop History
Ice T: Freestyle 101 Hip Hop History

RZA says, “Let the lyrics flow freely through you and come off your head,”

RZA’s statement helps to explain the comparison between improvisational jazz and freestyling. 

It is fascinating to hear about the ‘science of rapping and the way the mind reacts. Especially when watching the rap battles and getting a little understanding of what the freestylers are experiencing in real time.  

Open Mike Eagle: Freestyle 101 History of Hip Hop - Hero
Open Mike Eagle: Freestyle 101 History of Hip Hop - Hero

One of the rappers that stand out is Supernatural. He holds the world record for the longest freestyle that was nearly10 hours of rhyming and just a few 5-minute breaks. Supernatural gives a clinic on how to Freestyle. 

Frank Meyer’s Freestyle 101 Hip Hop History gives a crash course in the art form that leaves you knowledge and greater understanding of an often-overlooked art. Must see film. 

About the Team:

Digital Reacharound’s previous documentary Risen: The Story of Chron “Hell Razah” Smith was named Best Music Documentary at Film Threat's 2021 AwardThis!, won Best Music Documentary at New York’s People’s Film Festival, Best Documentary at Hollywood Verge Film Festival and was named an Official Selection by Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards, Los Angeles Cinefest and International Independent Film Awards.    

For more information, go to: www.freestyle101movie.com 

SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES:
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KING OF KILLERS- Available on Blu-ray™ and DVD on October 31st Lionsgate

KING OF KILLERS-US POSTER (Lionsgate)

Release Date:Available on Blu-ray™ and DVD on October 31
Genre: Action
Rating: R 
Runtime: 1 hour 32 minutes
Written & Directed by: Kevin Grevioux         
Cast: Alain Moussi (Nobody), Marie Avgeropoulos (“The 100,” 50/50), Georges St-Pierre ( Captain America: The Winter Soldier),  Stephen Dorff (Blade, Old Henry), Frank Grillo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Kevin Grevioux (Underworld)          

Based on a graphic novel by writer-director Kevin Grevioux, King of Killers follows former Agency hit man Marcus Garan (Alain Moussi) as he attempts to unravel the mystery behind a tragic incident. When offered a $10 million contract to eliminate the world’s greatest assassin, Marcus travels to Tokyo to meet the client (Frank Grillo), but discovers other professional killers have been invited as well. Now Marcus and the others must confront this deadly, mythical assassin…or die trying. 

Bobi Wine: The People’s President Movie Review 

Bobi Wine_Key Art_In Theaters July


Directors: Moses Bwayo and Christopher Sharp
Featuring: Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu and Barbara Itungo Kyagulanyi
Genre: Documentary
Country: Uganda, United Kingdon and the United States.
Language: English
Run time: 1 hour 58 minutes 

           When your passion and purpose in life meet

Directors Moses Bwayo and Christopher Sharp extraordinary documentary film “Bobi Wine: The People’s President” tells the story of Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known professionally as super star musician Bobi Wine and his wife Barbara “Barbie” Itungo Kyagulanyi, an accomplished author and human rights activist.

The films spans  a five-year period as he performs around the world and enters the world of politics and eventually becoming the leader of the biggest political opposition organization in Uganda, the National Unity Platform (NUP) and the People Power Movement and mounts a formidable challenge against Ugandan President Museveni. Providing  a portrait of the impact one individual can make and how important it is for a country’s citizens to stand together in solidarity against oppression.  
 

Bobi Wine on top of his vehicle during the 2021 presidential campaigns as he solicited for support in Nakaseke, Central Uganda on November 18, 2020. (photo credit: Lookman Kampala)
Bobi Wine on top of his vehicle during the 2021 presidential campaigns as he solicited for support in Nakaseke, Central Uganda on November 18, 2020. (photo credit: Lookman Kampala)

While watching Bobi Wine, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the 1960s in the United States and the challenges faced by African Americans and the civil rights movement and how Bobi utilizing the non-violent principles of Dr. Marting Luther King, Jr. in his fight for freedom from government oppression. Of course, the major difference is it now 2020s and Bobi was running for president against Uganda’s current dictator. 
 
Bobi Wine: The People’s President is an excellent film that uses the beautiful words and sounds of music to tell a brutal and harrowing story of torture, death, and perseverance, all in the pursuit of the human desire to be and live free. 

Bobi Wine as he took his supporters on a run on a marram road in Katakwi district in Eastern Uganda, November 14, 2020. (photo credit: Lookman Kampala)
Bobi Wine as he took his supporters on a run on a marram road in Katakwi district in Eastern Uganda, November 14, 2020. (photo credit: Lookman Kampala)

One of the many fascinating things that stood out when watching this film is how Bobi, his fans and supporters stayed united even in the face of the government of Uganda trying its best to turn people against Bobi and his wife. Only making the bond stronger. 

Director of Photography, Moses Bwayo excellent work captures the graphic scenes  of the beautiful and vibrant colors of  Ugandan life, the wonderful music, and the struggles of a people trying to overcome the hardship and poverty that goes along with a dictator government. He brings you into story and makes you feel like you are right there, up close in the car, on the car, in the crowds, with the crowds, in the mist of the struggles, seeing it all.

Paul Carlin’ editing brings it to life as the story flows effortlessly from one scene to the next. Connecting the five-years of footage into a compelling narrative.

As Bobi said, "we must get our freedom or die trying.  

The film shows the truth of his words and convictions as he and Barbi risk it all. Risking it all, not just themselves but also for their fellow citizens of Uganda. All in the pursuit of the basic human right of living free. Free from oppression, freedom to pick ones' elected representatives.

Filmed in Uganda, United Kingdom and the United States while Bobi and Barbie worked, performed and campaigned for president, the film gives a up-close look at the struggles of today’s Ugandans. Struggles that should be a thing of the past.

 Music is a universal language and the soundtrack  does a great job in helping to tell the tale and making it so much easier to take in the horrors that are experienced by the people of Uganda, Bobi and Barbie.

Bobi Wine: The People’s President is an exceptional film that shares how Bobi’s passion for music and his determination for he , his wife, family and his fellow citizens of Uganda to  live free, come together  creating a formidable husband and wife  who fight the oppression and brutality of Ugandan President Museveni. A must-see film.

VIEW TRAILER BELOW

Streaming Release Date: October 6, 2023
Distributor: National Geographic Documentary Films
Producer: Christopher Sharp and John Battsek
Directors: Moses Bwayo and Christopher Sharp
Cinematography: Sam Benstead, Moses Bwayo, Michele Sibiloni
Editor: Paul Carlin
Composer: Music Editor & Additional Orchestration: Simon Birch
Runtime: 1 hour 58 minutes
Music: Dan Jones
Co-Producer: Megan Hollinghurst
Executive Producers: Humble Lukanga, Sol Guy, Alastair Siddons 

Key West FF 2023 Announces Golden Key honors including Jacqueline Durran (Costume Design) and Sheila Nevins (Documentary Filmmaking) 

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KEY WEST FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES golden key honors for costume design and documentary 

2023 FESTIVAL RUNS NOVEMBER 15-19TH

Key West, FL - October 5, 2023 — The Key West Film Festival announced today the recipients of its 8th annual Golden Key for Excellence in Costume Design, and 2nd annual Golden Key Award for Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking.

The recipients this year are Academy Award winning Costume Designer Jacqueline Durran and Academy Award winning Executive, Director and Producer, Sheila Nevins.

Jacqueline Durran’s most recent work can be seen in the record-breaking, billion-dollar box office smash Barbie.

As part of the honor, Durran will participate in a discussion of her work, to be moderated by Stephanie Zacharek of Time. Ms. Durran will accept her award in person at the festival, which will feature a pre-recorded presentation by Oscar nominated Costume Designer, Dr. Deborah Nadoolman Landis. Past recipients of the award include Mary Zophres, Mark Bridges, Alexandra Byrne, Arianne Phillips, Jamison-Tanchuck, Paul Tazwell, and Jennifer Johnson.

Sheila Nevins, an industry icon whose recent credits include the Academy Award nominated documentary Ascension (2021) and the current Oscar contender The Eternal Memory,  will be joined by award winning director Erin Lee Carr, winner of the inaugural KWFF Documentary Award, for a conversation via satellite. Following the talk, the festival will present the Florida premiere of the short film, The ABC’s of Book Banning, directed by Nevins, which centers on the book banning efforts of a school district in central Florida.

In addition to Barbie, Jacqueline Durran previously collaborated with director Greta Gerwig on Little Women which garnered Durran the Academy and BAFTA Awards for Best Costume Design, as well as Chicago Film Critics Association and Critics’ Choice Award nominations. Durran previously won the Academy and BAFTA Award for Best Costume for Joe Wright’s Anna Karenina.

Durran’s many other collaborations with director Joe Wright comprise most recently Cyrano for which she was nominated for an Academy and Costume Designers Guild Award; Darkest Hour which garnered her both Academy and BAFTA nominations; Pan; The Soloist; Atonement for which she received Academy, BAFTA, Satellite and Costume Designers Guild Award nominations, and Pride and Prejudice for which Durran also received Academy and BAFTA Award nominations.

Sheila Nevins is an Executive Producer for MTV Documentary Films. Sheila is the former president of HBO Documentary Films and Family Programming for Home Box Office. At HBO, she was responsible for overseeing the development and production of more than 1500 programs for HBO, HBO2 and Cinemax.

She has received 32 Primetime Emmy® Awards, 35 News and Documentary Emmys® and 42 George Foster Peabody Awards.  During her tenure, HBO’s critically acclaimed documentaries won 26 Academy Awards®. She has been honored with numerous prestigious career achievement awards, including the 2018 Realscreen Legacy Award and the 2017 DOC NYC Lifetime Achievement Award.  She is the recipient of the Governors Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and is a NYU Tisch School of the Arts Honoree. Women in Film presented Sheila with a Lucy Award for her outstanding achievements in advancing documentary filmmaking and the National Board of Review presented her with the Humanitarian Award for her contribution to the advancement of social reforms and the promotion of human welfare through film.  

Michael Tuckman, Director of Programming of the Key West Film Festival, commented " Jacqueline and Sheila stand at the apex of their fields. Sheila has been a trailblazer in documentary filmmaking for over five decades, constantly pushing and redefining the boundaries of the genre, and kicking down a glass door that opened opportunities for so many women in the field in particular. Jacqueline has given particular emphasis to creating the characters of so many powerful women in film, from Anna Karenina to the March family to Barbie herself, in her many iterations. It’s an absolute honor to recognize and highlight the work of these incredible women.” 

Visit kwfilmfest.com  for full program information – which will be announced on October 19, along with a schedule of events and travel and lodging details.

ABOUT THE KEY WEST FILM FESTIVAL
Honoring creativity, diversity, sustainability and beauty, the Key West Film Festival is an annual celebration of film and filmmakers set to take place November 15-19, 2023. A diverse, entertaining and artistically rigorous selection of films will be represented through a broad array of categories that offer opportunities for filmmakers, both aspiring and established, to commune and exchange ideas while showing their work to audiences in an historic and artistically vibrant tropical paradise.  

For more information, visit our website: https://kwfilmfest.com

Twitter - @keywestfilmfest
Instagram - @keywestfilmfestival
Facebook - Key West Film Festival#kwff #kwff2023 

PR CONTACT INFORMATION:

Emma Griffiths (EG PR)/ emma@eg-pr.com