Supermodels, local films head to the hills

Oct 16

Written By HVNY

*Still from Beyond the Gaze: Jule Campbell’s Swimsuit Issue*

Supermodel Tyra Banks will be on the very Upper West Side of the Hudson Valley – aka in the Catskills – on Friday evening for the world premiere of “Beyond the Gaze: Jule Campbell’s Swimsuit Issue” as part of the 25th Woodstock Film Festival this week.

This year’s festival takes place October 15 through October 20, 2024 at various venues throughout Ulster County – including the Orpheum in Saugerties, The Bearsville Theater, Woodstock Playhouse, Tinker Street Cinema, and the Rosendale Theater showing more than 70 feature films and 130 shorts, in addition to international and locally-made screenings, and panels including an Actors Dialogue With Amanda Seyfried (fresh off her Q&A hosting duties at the 25th anniversary screening of The Blair Witch Project at the Old Dutch Church as part of the O+ Festival) in conversation with Jennifer Carpenter.

25th WFF Highlights include: Blitz directed by Oscar®-winning director Steve McQueen, opening night film Men of War directed by Billy Corben and Jen Gatien, closing night film A Real Pain directed by Oscar®-nominee Jesse Eisenberg, Sean Baker’s Anora, Emilia Pérez directed by Jacques Audiard, Oh, Canada by Honorary Maverick recipient Paul Schrader, Ernest Cole: Lost and Found by Raoul Peck, The Seed of the Sacred Fig by Mohammad Rasoulof, The End directed by Joshua Oppenheimer, Cannes prize-winner All We Imagine As Light directed by Payal Kapadia, Sabbath Queen directed by Sandi DuBowski, Nightbitch directed by Marielle Heller, The Remarkable Life of Ibelin directed by Benjamin Ree, The Uninvited directed by Nadia Conners, The Piano Lesson directed by Malcolm Washington, The Battle for Laikipia directed by Daphne Matziaraki and Pete Murimi.

This year’s Honorary Maverick Award will be awarded to acclaimed writer and director Paul Schrader. Known for his provocative contributions to both mainstream and independent film, Schrader’s collaborations with Martin Scorsese—including Taxi Driver (Winner — Palme d'Or, Cannes Film Festival), Raging Bull, The Last Temptation of Christ and Bringing Out the Dead—are considered some of the most impactful works of screenwriting of the twentieth century. Schrader’s many writer-director credits include American Gigolo, Light Sleeper and First Reformed for which he was nominated for an Academy Award®. Other credits include Affliction, The Card Counter, Master Gardener and his latest film Oh, Canada, in which he reunites with American Gigolo star Richard Gere.

A special screening of Oh, Canada, will take place on Saturday, October 19 followed by a conversation with Schrader.

“On this 25th anniversary of the film festival, and at this pivotal time in our nation and the world, I’m thrilled to welcome the many talented filmmakers who will be arriving from near and far to attend with their extraordinary work. Their diverse voices shine a light on the complex fabric of our lives, and their gathering here will once again bring storytellers of all stripes together in celebration of creativity, innovation, and the fierce independent spirit.” - Meira Blaustein, Woodstock Film Festival Co-Founder and Executive Director

Deluxe festival passes are currently sold out but weekend passes, student tickets and individual tickets are available online or at the box office, located at 13 Rock City Road in Woodstock. https://woodstockfilmfestival.org