Festival’s 5th edition set to return to full in-person lineup in North Bend, WA August 4-7, 2022
NBFF to honor Mali Elfman with the Dulac Vanguard Filmmaker Award, host the US premiere of Quentin Dupieux’s INCREDIBLE BUT TRUE, and present a lineup of boundary-pushing contemporary cinema.
The North Bend Film Festival returns in-person to the historic North Bend Theatre on August 4 – 7, 2022. This year’s strong and diverse lineup of feature-length and short films offers unique voices and compelling perspectives that the festival has become known for.
Opening the festival in outrageous fashion is the Patton Oswalt starrer, I LOVE MY DAD. Writer/director James Morosini stars opposite Oswalt in this shockingly autobiographical story, in which a desperate father catfishes his estranged, suicidal son in order to stay in touch with him.
The Closing Night film is up-and-coming filmmaker Amanda Kramer’s vibrant musical PLEASE BABY PLEASE featuring a star-studded cast including the iconic Demi Moore, Andrea Riseborough (MANDY, POSSESSOR), Harry Melling (HARRY POTTER franchise, The Queen’s Gambit) and Karl Glusman (WATCHER, LOVE, Devs). Set in 1950s Manhattan, it explores themes of sexual identity and emotional fragility, accompanied by a wild neon aesthetic and hyper-stylized, choreographed performances.
This year’s first Centerpiece film comes from filmmaker Mali Elfman, who is also the recipient of the festival’s Dulac Vanguard Filmmaker Award. The award, named for French filmmaker, film theorist, and activist Germaine Dulac, whose 1928 film THE SEASHELL AND THE CLERGYMAN is regarded as the defining first film of the surrealist movement, honors extraordinary achievement in filmmaking from a director as seen in their first or second feature.
In Elfman’s directorial debut feature NEXT EXIT, a scientist proves the existence of an afterlife, causing two deeply tormented strangers to travel cross-country together to take part in the study and voluntarily end their lives.
“Elfman has gifted us with a compassionate work of genre fiction, taking a bold premise and balancing terror, humor and empathy with a graceful hand,” says Senior Programmer Joseph Hernandez. “Dedicating her career to a love of genre film, championing female filmmakers and building a separate body of work in the medium of immersive experiences, Mali Elfman is the kind of multi-disciplinary artist that completely embodies the spirit of North Bend Film Festival. We’re elated to award her the second-ever Dulac.”
The second Centerpiece film is SWALLOWED from director Carter Smith (THE RUINS). This disturbing tale of two best friends mixes drug smuggling, bugs and horrific intimacy that will leave audiences’ skin crawling. Returning to collaborate with Smith in this dirty and disturbing nightmare is Jena Malone, with an unforgettable supporting performance from the queer horror icon Mark Patton, as well.
While Elvis is currently making a splash in mainstream cinema, the North Bend Film Festival will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Don Coscarelli’s BUBBA HO-TEP, the real story (or is it?) of Elvis and JFK. This totally bizarre cult-comedy is proudly presented at the festival for attendees to discover or rediscover on the big screen.
Rounding out the feature lineup is the US premiere of INCREDIBLE BUT TRUE, the latest surreal vision from French auteur Quentin Dupieux; SIRENS, a standout documentary about the Middle East’s first all-female thrash metal band; RAQUEL 1:1, Mariana Bastos’ tense tale of religious fanaticism; and supernatural buddy comedy THE CIVIL DEAD.
The shorts programs are once again highlighted by three different blocks; Home Transmissions, featuring shorts from filmmakers in the PNW, Something Strange, bolstering short films that are wonderfully weird, and Cinema Vista, which highlights genre-bending shorts.
On the events side, the popular Strange Storytelling Hour returns, hosted by Seattle-based storyteller, comedian, and weirdo Emmett Montgomery. For those looking for something more on the spooky side, there is Ghost Hunting 101, an introduction to paranormal investigation, ghost hunting with local area haunts also explained.
The North Bend Film Festival badges are now on sale. Unlike last year, the four-day event has returned to a completely in-person event. Attendees can purchase a Vista Badge, which includes tickets to 10 films, and access to select events and meetups. 12-film Industry Badges are also available for those who are a part of the entertainment, media or immersive tech industries and are subject to approval.
Early pass holder selection begins today with individual tickets going on sale Friday at noon, including the popular locals-only discount! Press can now also apply for festival accreditations on the website here.
To buy a pass, visit: https://northbend2022.eventive.org/passes/buy
More information on the 2022 North Bend Film Festival can be found at www.northbendfilmfest.com
