This article is sponsored by Montclair Film.
The town of Montclair is rich in history and culture. With so many talented artists and makers in the surrounding area, it’s no wonder this area is the hub for all things art. And if you’re familiar with Montclair Film — located at 505 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair — you know that its special events, filmmaker Q+As, and education classes + programs are not to be missed. The most exciting program of the year is the annual Montclair Film Festival, which will be held from October 18th to the 27th and will feature a top-notch selection of special screenings, panels, and notable events. Keep reading to learn more about the exciting lineup and how to get tickets to this year’s much-anticipated event in Montclair.
Schedule of Events
The Montclair Film Festival will kick off on Friday, October 18th, and will have tons of films and events happening through October 27th. Tickets are available for members and non-members. This year’s screenings include:
Opening Night — Friday, October 18th at 7PM
CONCLAVE at The Wellmont Theater
Directed by Edward Berger, this Focus Feature release film follows the secretive and ancient events of selecting a new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with running the covert process of gathering the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders to select a new leader. He finds himself at the center of a conspiracy theory, uncovering a secret that could shake the foundation of the church.
Family Centerpiece — Saturday, October 19th at 4PM
FLOW at the Clairidge
This Slideshow + Janus Films release, which features Gints Zilbalodis’ animated wonder FLOW, takes young viewers on a fantastical journey through a mystical world as a group of animals team up to survive the devastation of a great flood. Teaming up with a capybara, a lemur, a bird, and a dog to navigate the boat in search of dry land, the team must rely on trust, courage, and wits to survive the perils of the newly aquatic plant. A sensory-friendly screening will take place on Saturday, October 26th at 12:45PM.
Fiction Centerpiece — Saturday, October 19th at 8PM
UNSTOPPABLE at The Wellmont Theater
William Goldenberg’s UNSTOPPABLE is an Amazon MGM release that tells the inspiring true story of Anthony Robles (Jharrel Jerome), a wrestler born with one leg who defies the odds of becoming an NCAA champion. With the unwavering love and support of his mother, Judy (Jennifer Lopez), and his coaches, Anthony fights through adversity to earn a spot on the Arizona State Wrestling Team.
In Conversation with Ina Garten — Sunday, October 20th at 12PM
The Wellmont Theater
Ina Garten is a New York Times bestselling author of thirteen cookbooks and the James Beard Award-winning host of the Emmy Award-winning television shows Barefoot Contessa and Be My Guest on Food Network and Discovery+. She lives in East Hampton, New York, with her husband, Jeffrey. All tickets include a copy of her memoir Be Ready When the Luck Happens. This event will be moderated by Stephen Colbert, is presented in partnership with Watchung Booksellers, and is part of the Audible Storytellers Series.
Creator Spotlight — Friday, October 25th at 7PM
THE VALUE OF CREATOR CONTENT at Montclair Kimberley Academy Upper School
This YouTube docuseries will be the festival’s first-ever Creator Spotlight, featuring an early look at Michelle Khare’s CHALLENGE ACCEPTED: 90 DAY BLACKBELT. It follows Khare as she attempts to earn a black belt within 90 days with no prior training under the guidance of world-renowned Taekwondo Grandmaster Simon Rhee. Following the screening, the star and creator of the hit YouTube series, Michelle Khare will be joined by other members of the docuseries creative team and a YouTube executive to discuss various aspects of the craft, creative process, audience engagement strategies, and the impact of storytelling. This event is presented in partnership with Google + YouTube.
Documentary Centerpiece — Sunday, October 27th at 4PM
2073 at The Clairidge
This NEON release portrays the world in the year 2073, where the worst fears of modern life have been realized. Surveillance drones fill the burnt orange skies and militarized police roam the wrecked streets while survivors hide, struggling to remember a free and hopeful existence. This mixture of visionary science fiction and speculative nonfiction, Academy Award® winning filmmaker Asif Kapadia (AMY) transports us to a future foreshadowed by the terrifying realities of our present moment.
Closing Night — Sunday, October 27th at 5PM
THE PIANO LESSON at Montclair Kimberley Academy Upper School
The MFF comes to a close with the screening of THE PIANO LESSON. Directed by Malcolm Washington and based on August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, this film, which stars John David Washington and Danielle Deadwyler is an emotional tale that explores the importance of family legacy through the story of a brother and sister grappling with the decision to sell a cherished heirloom piano. This Netflix release screening will follow a Q+A with John David Washington and Malcom Washington moderated by Stephen Colbert. This event is a part of the Audible Storytellers Series.
The full schedule of films and events for this year’s Montclair Film Festival can be found on the Montclair Film website.
Panels + Special Events
The 2024 Montclair Film Festival will also feature a variety of panels and special events including:
– Saturday, October 19 at 9PM
Filmmaker Party at Porta
– Tuesday, October 22nd at 7PM
Montclair’s Own Series About Those Miscarriages and Other Messes I’ve Made
– Wednesday, October 23rd at 7:30PM
StorySLAM — Behind the Scenes at Cinema505
– Thursday, October 24th at 7:30PM
Montclair Improv Comedy: The Movie! at Cinema505
The festival will also present a number of free panels including:
– Sunday, October 20th at 4PM at Cinema 505
Hollywood Awards Season: Who Wins and Why It Matters
– Saturday, October 26th at 1PM at Cinema505
Annual Reports: State of the Film Industry
– Saturday, October 26th at 3:30PM at Cinema505
Artists, Audiences, & Artificial Intelligence
– Sunday, October 27th at 1PM at Cinema505
Lights, Camera, Growth: The Economic Impact of NJ Film Credits
Tickets for Events
Tickets go on sale to Montclair Film Members on September 30th, 2024 and to the general public on October 4th, 2024. Tickets can be purchased through the Montclair Film website or at the box office inside the lobby of the Hinck Building, located at 486 Bloomfield Avenue. The box office is open Monday through Saturday from 12PM to 5PM, with extended hours during the festival.
For a full schedule of events or to buy tickets to the 2024 Montclair Film Festival, visit the site.
