The 13th Annual Key West Film Festival announces its official 2024 lineup including major fall films from Pedro Almodovar, Barry Jenkins, Billy Corben, Michael Gracey, Gia Coppola and others. More than 75 films will be shown during the 5-day festival, which runs November 13-17.
As is tradition for the festival, the Opening and Closing Night films are curated by two of the top film critics in the country. Lovia Gyarkye of The Hollywood Reporter will host a discussion with Stepanie Zacharek of Time prior to the Opening Night screening of THE FIRE INSIDE, the inspiring story of two-time Olympic women’s boxing gold medalist Claressa “T-Rex” Shields and her fight for all women athletes across the world. The film is written by local hero Barry Jenkins, Miami-bred Academy Award winning writer and director of Moonlight.
On Saturday night, Zacharek will lead a pre-show conversation with Gyarkye prior to the screening of THE ROOM NEXT DOOR, which stars Academy Award winner Julianne Moore and Academy Award nominee Tilda Swinton in Pedro Almodovar’s first English language film about a best-selling writer who rekindles her relationship with her friend, a war journalist, with whom she has lost touch for a number of years.
Other spotlight films include Gia Coppola’s THE LAST SHOWGIRL, featuring a career defining performance by Pamela Anderson as a seasoned Las Vegas showgirl who must plan for her future when her show abruptly closes after a 30-year run; the inspirational true story UNSTOPPABLE, featuring Jennifer Lopez and Bobby Cannavale alongside Jharrel James (also in Moonlight), who stars as Anthony Robles, an athlete born with one leg who defies expectations to become a champion wrestler in college; and BETTER MAN, from director Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time.
Returning programs this year include the 9th annual Golden Key for Excellence in Costume Design awarded to Danny Glicker for his work in SATURDAY NIGHT, making KWFF the only such festival to annual honor this art; the 10th annual Critics Panel, in which top film critics will discuss the year’s best films and the seismic changes in the industry this year. Attending critics include David Rooney, Stephanie Zacharek, Lovia Gyarkye, David Fear and Shirrel Rhoades. And the 4th annual Golden Key for Emerging Talent will be awarded to writer/director/actor Delaney Buffett in conjunction with her feature debut ADULT BEST FRIENDS.
And as its traditional final screening on Sunday night, outdoors at the Perry Hotel and Marina in Stock Island, the festival will screen the Florida premiere of REBEL COUNTRY, a film showcasing under-represented voices in country music such as Jelly Roll, Sam Williams, Breland and Blanco Brown.
Visit https://keywestff.com for full program information.