Fall Film Festival Season 2023 Begins – 10 Most Anticipated Premieres | FirstShowing.net

Fall Film Festival Season 2023 Begins – 10 Most Anticipated Premieres

by Alex Billington
August 29, 2023

It’s that time of year again! The fall film festival season is beginning. Starting with the 80th Venice Film Festival this week in Italy, along with the 50th Telluride Film Festival in Colorado – two of the most iconic festivals both celebrating major milestones. Then the 48th Toronto Film Festival will take over in mid-September, before Fantastic Fest in Austin, TX (starting on Sept. 21) and the 61st New York Film Festival in NYC (starting on Sept. 29). This is when all the movies that they’ve been saving for the end of the year finally make their first appearance, and it’s an exciting time for cinephiles who make the voyages to these cities to discover the latest that the world of cinema has to offer us. We’ve been covering these festivals for the last 17 years – can’t miss them. In the midst of the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes (which we fully support!) the finished films must premiere anyway. I’d prefer it if there weren’t any red carpets, so we can actually focus on the films, but a few of the premieres have been given exceptions from SAG. I’ll be back in Venice to watch films during the festival – though this list contains films from all of these upcoming fests.

The challenge with film festivals nowadays is that it’s impossible to see everything at every festival, and it’s unaffordable to go to every festival all over the world (as much as I wish I could). Each of these fests has its own set of world premieres & special presentations – I decided to pick my own Top 10 Most Anticipated from among the entire set of films debuting this fall. Not just the ones at Venice or at TIFF or otherwise. Alas, I won’t be able to watch all of these listed as I won’t be able to attend the Toronto and New York Film Fests. But I still think these are some of the most interesting premieres. Choosing only 10 films is always a daunting task – I could name 50 films I want to see right now. However, this is always what’s so enticing and exhilarating about festivals, and why I always go back year after year. Let’s go watch and discover something new and discuss cinema! Let’s celebrate all of these achievements – and make sure writers and actors and the entire film crew are paid fairly & treated with respect. Anyway, enough of my rambling, onto the films…

The Holdovers – directed by Alexander Payne – TIFF

There’s something about this film that gives me a warm & fuzzy feeling. Especially with the first trailer out, I’ve got good vibe that this might just turn out wonderful. I wish it was also premiering at the Venice Film Festival, but Toronto got the scoop instead – and it’ll probably show up in Telluride, too. Not everyone is so fond of Alexander Payne much recently, after Nebraska and Downsizing, but I still think he’s a talented storyteller who makes engaging and thoughtful films. His latest, The Holdovers, seems like a wholesome, classic Americana drama with some feel good vibes – featuring Paul Giamatti turning from a grumpy ol’ teacher into a kind friend. “With no family and nowhere to go over Christmas holiday in 1970, Paul remains at school to supervise students unable to journey home. After a few days, only one student holdover remains — a trouble-making 15-year-old named Angus, a good student with bad behavior.” Joining Paul & Angus on the stay is the school’s head cook, Mary. It also stars Dominic Sessa & Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Mary.

Lee – directed by Ellen Kuras – TIFF

As a photographer myself, I’m always interested films about photographers. This is another new one and the set photos (like the one above) have also intrigued me to find out more and watch this. From TIFF: “Oscar winner Kate Winslet stars in this fascinating portrait of the talented American photojournalist Lee Miller, whose singular talent and ferocious tenacity gave us some of the 20th century’s most indelible images.” The film is the first narrative feature directed by an acclaimed cinematographer named Ellen Kuras (she was DP on Summer of Sam, Bamboozled, Blow, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Be Kind Rewind, Away We Go). I’m excited that she’s telling the story of photographer Elizabeth ‘Lee’ Miller, a fashion model who became an acclaimed war correspondent for Vogue magazine during World War II. The impressive cast also includes Alexander Skarsgård, Andy Samberg, Marion Cotillard, Noémie Merlant, Andrea Riseborough, and Josh O’Connor. There’s not much more they can say that will make me any more interested in watching this than I already am. The world premiere is at TIFF (on Sept. 10), wish I could be there for that screening.

Poolman – directed by Chris Pine – TIFF

This year’s The Beach Bum? This year’s Under the Silver Lake? Both combined? With a dash of Chinatown thrown in? Or something else entirely? We’ll find out soon! Actor Chris Pine makes his feature directorial debut with Poolman, a film he shot and starred in and co-wrote and produced – filmed in Los Angeles in 2022. The one-liner for this does make it sound like some kooky mystery fun: “A kinetic noir comedy where he plays an anxious pool cleaner who uncovers a curious conspiracy in the city of Los Angeles.” The cast also includes Annette Bening, Danny DeVito, DeWanda Wise, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Maybe I’m just hopeful, but I don’t think anyone should be writing this off yet. Sounds like it might be really good! Poolman “follows a hapless dreamer and would-be philosopher who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block in sunny LA. When he uncovers the greatest water heist, he does what he can to protect his precious LA.” Who else is sold from that? Catch everyone at the world premiere at TIFF – if you’ll be there?

Woman of the Hour – directed by Anna Kendrick – TIFF

Now what we do have here? Another surprise appearance of a fresh film playing on 2023 film festival circuit is this feature debut of the actress Anna Kendrick. She has directed a crime film called Woman of the Hour, taking us back to the 70s for a very creepy story. I’m curious to see which tone she went with for this – more thriller or dark comedy or what. Since it sounds rather unsettling. Here’s the intro for Woman of the Hour: “In the 1970s Rodney Alcala went on a murder spree, luring women by posing as a photographer looking for models. Though [he was] already a registered sex offender and recently released from prison, he infamously appeared on The Dating Game, a show that introduced a set of three new bachelors each week, hidden from view as a woman asked them amusing questions before choosing a winner to go on an all-expenses-paid trip with her.” Uh wow, okay. The film also stars Tony Hale, Daniel Zovatto, & Nicolette Robinson. Premiering at TIFF first (on Sept. 8) as a “Special Presentation” there. Keep an eye out for this.

Foe – directed by Garth Davis – NYFF

“I don’t want a robot living with my wife!” This wouldn’t have even been on my radar if not for the stellar trailer that MGM dropped last week. Foe is making a late appearance at the festivals – skipping a few others and heading straight to the New York Film Festival for its world premiere at the end of September. Then it opens in select theaters not too long after anyway. As many have already pointed out, this looks surprisingly similar to the recent “Black Mirror” episode “Beyond the Sea“, which debuted in Season 6 on Netflix. Foe is about: “Hen and Junior farm a secluded piece of land that has been in Junior’s family for generations, but their quiet life is thrown into turmoil when an uninvited stranger shows up at their door with a startling proposal.” That sci-fi proposal, revealed in the trailer, is to take the husband Junior up into space to work on a space station, and replace him with an exact android replica on Earth, to have him “be there” with his wife (even though he’s far away). It’s almost more of a prequel to this BM episode. The cast is mainly three people: Saoirse Ronan, Paul Mescal, and Aaron Pierre. I’m very much looking forward to watching it.

The Killer – directed by David Fincher – Venice

Fincher!! It’s Fincher!! Need I say anything more?? The Killer is filmmaker David Fincher’s latest feature – with a nice 1-hour-58-minute running time. His last was Mank that premiered during the early pandemic in late 2020. Netflix teamed up with Fincher yet again to let him make this film, some kind of hitman drama. Based on a graphic novel, the actual Fincher plot remains a big mystery. There is only this: “After a fateful near-miss an assassin battles his employers, and himself, on an international manhunt he insists isn’t personal.” Michael Fassbender stars as the Assassin, along with Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell, and Arliss Howard. From a screenplay by Andrew Kevin Walker, whom Fincher has been raving about. His “director’s statement” is a rather peculiar intro: “The Killer is my attempt to reconcile notions I’ve had for years about cinematic stories and their telling. I have always held: ‘What were you doing in Chinatown?… As little as possible’ — to be the single greatest evocation of backstory I’ve ever heard… I was also playfully curious about the revenge genre as a tension delivery-system.” Whatever it is, excited to find out in Venice.

The Beast (La Bête) – directed by Bertrand Bonello – Venice & TIFF & NYFF

This film was originally expected at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, but after a bit of longer wait – it’s now ready to make its mark this fall. The Beast, also known as La Bête in French, is the latest from acclaimed French filmmaker Bertrand Bonello (known for House of Tolerance, Saint Laurent, Nocturama, Zombi Child). It’s an intriguing new sci-fi film of some kind, though it seems to be more of a romantic thriller with a strong love story at its core. Léa Seydoux stars as a woman who decides to use new tech to stop having any emotions. “In the near future where emotions have become a threat, Gabrielle finally decides to purify her DNA in a machine that will immerse her in her previous lives and rid her of any strong feelings. She then meets Louis and feels a powerful connection, as if she has known him forever.” Here’s the real hype: it is set across three time periods. The film also stars George MacKay (a truly spectacular actor – always great) and Dasha Nekrasova. I have a really, really strong feeling this is going to be something special and completely win over the fall festival season this year (premiering in Venice on Sept. 3). I can’t wait to watch.

Evil Does Not Exist – directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi – Venice & TIFF & NYFF

Another mysterious fall festival surprise. Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi is already back again with not one, but two, new films this fall season. So soon after he made a splash with 4 noms total and one Oscar win for Drive My Car early in 2022, which is why it’s especially exciting to see him back. His first big premiere is Evil Does Not Exist (悪は存在しない), debuting at the Venice Film Festival (on Sept. 4) before going on to show at TIFF & NYFF. The film seems to be an eco-drama about a community in Japan. “Takumi and his daughter live in Mizubiki Village, close to Tokyo. Like generations before them, they live a modest life according to the cycles and order of nature. One day, the village inhabitants become aware of a plan to build a glamping site near Takumi’s house offering city residents a comfortable ‘escape’ to nature. When two company representatives from Tokyo arrive in the village to hold a meeting, it becomes clear that the project will have a negative impact on the local water supply, causing unrest.” Hamaguchi also has a film called Gift, that might premiere at Belgium’s Film Fest Gent in October – the two films are said to be related somehow.

Aggro Dr1ft – directed by Harmony Korine – Venice & TIFF & NYFF

Hmm. I don’t want to put this on the list, to be honest, but I have to. From cinema provocateur Harmony Korine (of Gummo, Trash Humpers, Mister Lonely, Spring Breakers, The Beach Bum), Aggro Dr1ft is filmed entirely with the infrared / thermal lenses. Yes, that’s the point, whatever it means. Whether this will work or not is part of the experience of watching this film (especially fresh at a festival before everyone else has something to say about it). I want to be clear – I am not sold on this infrared camera gimmick. I am not going to say that just because he’s tRyInG sOmEtHiNg NeW in cinema that it’s genius. It might be cool, it might be shit. But of course there is only one way to find out – and I’ll admit they really got my attention. I just have to see WTF is going on in this and if it’s any good. And it’s only 80 minutes. Korine’s director’s statement is hilarious & fascinating: “Wild days, wild nights. Wasn’t wanting to make a movie. Was wanting to make what comes after movies. Was wanting to be inside the world. More like a video game. But who’s playing who. GAMECORE. Edglrd. Something new on the horizon. Life is good. Without it we’d be dead. AGGRO DR1FT. In between worlds. Locked and loaded. An ode to the aggressive drifter.” Well, okay then.

Origin – directed by Ava DuVernay – Venice

AvaDuVernay’s got a new film ready! Origin is premiering at the Venice Film Festival near the end of the festival, on the second Wednesday. There’s not too much known about it yet, or revealed so far. The film is described simply: “Origin chronicles the remarkable life and work of Pulitzer Prize winning author Isabel Wilkerson as she investigates the genesis of injustice and uncovers a hidden truth that affects us all.” The 2-hour-10-minute drama is also produced and written by DuVernay, who last directed her own feature in 2018 with A Wrinkle in Time (which didn’t get great reviews) along with the acclaimed films 13th and Selma before, and the acclaimed series “When They See Us” and “Colin in Black & White” after. The film explores “the hierarchy of injustice that has shaped America and unflinchingly examine society and its relationships with race.” Which is still vague, so I’m extra interested in really finding out what the narrative threads are. The superb cast features Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor & Jon Bernthal (seen embracing in the one-and-only photo), Niecy Nash-Betts, Vera Farmiga, Audra McDonald, Nick Offerman, Blair Underwood, and Connie Nielsen.

There are SO many other films to see this year: Pablo Larraín’s El Conde (aka The Count) about a vampire Augusto Pinochet (trailer); Michael Mann’s Ferrari mainly to see Adam Driver; Bradley Cooper’s Maestro about composer / conductor Leonard Bernstein; Yorgos Lanthimos’ funky Poor Things with Emma Stone; Timm Kröger’s in-the-mountains philosophical thriller film The Theory of Everything (trailer); William Friedkin’s final work The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial; kooky French filmmaker Quentin Dupieux’s latest film Daaaaaali! about the artist Dali; Richard Linklater’s latest Hit Man with Glen Powell; Wes Anderson’s The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar; a little film called Sidonie in Japan feat. Isabelle Huppert in Japan; obviously Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron; another little gem – the Ross Brothers’ Gasoline Rainbow; Taika Waititi’s new soccer movie Next Goal Wins also with Fassbender; Dream Scenario feat. Nicolas Cage; the extra peculiar Dicks: The Musical (trailer); Greek director Christos Nikou’s new sci-fi romance Fingernails; French director Ladj Ly’s latest film Les Indésirables; Mexican director Michel Franco’s latest Memory; Ethan Hawke directing a new film called Wildcat; and a dark horror comedy from Montreal titled Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person.

With the Venice Film Festival beginning soon, I’ll be dedicated entirely to this festival and catching films for the next two weeks and writing about them. Venice 2023 runs from August 30th until September 9th, ending Saturday night with the awards (the Golden Lion). Follow my daily coverage and instant reactions on Twitter/X as usual @firstshowing, follow my photography posts as always on Instagram @abillington, follow my reviews on Letterboxd, and check the site for daily updates on films + reviews. Back in 2016, I wrote an essay about Why I Can’t Stop Going to Film Festivals. What I said then is still true. It always is. I’m still totally addicted film festivals, and they still fill me with so much joy and inspiration. Let’s hope some of these films turn out to be all-timers – like Dune and Tar and First Man in the years before. I’m so glad to be back, so ready to start watching and analyzing, hopeful that this fest season will be another memorable one.

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