Twin Cities Film Fest Unveils Its 2021 Lineup!

If you know me at all or have followed this page long enough, you’ve probably figured out that the Twin Cities Film Fest is kinda my thing.

Since attending my first TCFF in 2012 (for ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ and a few others), I have watched 500 TCFF films in-person and another 40 online in 2020; I’ve become friends with the staff and volunteers; I’ve reviewed hundreds of movies and interviewed dozens of filmmakers; I’ve become an Advisory Board member; I’ve stumbled awkwardly through Cub Foods on my way to a hotel after having one (or several) too many Stellas at the closing night celebration.

But more important than all that, I’ve developed a greater understanding and appreciation for film, and I’ve found a community of like-minded people who love and appreciate movies just as much as I do.

As much as I enjoy and appreciate streaming – and how happy I am that that’s a big part of TCFF in 2021 and the future – I’m beyond thrilled that they’re able to bring everyone back for in-person screenings as well.

In the coming weeks I’ll have a lot more content to share, but for now enjoy the announcement and the list of films coming to the Showplace Icon Theater and your living one month from today!

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TWIN CITIES FILM FEST UNVEILS STAR-STUDDED 2021 LINEUP FEATURING MORE THAN 100+ MOVIES SET TO SCREEN & STREAM IN OCTOBER — BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH HEADLINES OPENER THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN; KENNETH BRANAGH'S FESTIVAL HIT BELFAST NAMED 2021 CLOSING NIGHT SELECTION

TCFF returns next month with a hybrid program showcasing a wide-ranging catalog of acclaimed studio award contenders, memorable shorts, thought-provoking documentaries and exhilarating independent feature films. The 2021 program will showcase Minnesota-connected productions, BIPOC voices, female filmmakers and includes a special "Changemaker Series" spotlight on projects that address mental wellness.

Minneapolis, Minnesota (Sept 23, 2021) — The Twin Cities Film Fest announced its complete lineup of 2021 films and events Thursday, featuring more than 100 movies set to screen and stream in a hybrid format that will run Oct. 21-30. The festival's in-person program will return to the Showplace ICON Theaters at The Shops at West End, with some 45 screenings set to take place at the St. Louis Park venue. More than 50 films will simultaneously debut online via the TCFF STREAMS platform at www.twincitiesfilmfest.org. 2021 marks the 12th anniversary for the nationally recognized non-profit, celebrating independent stories and diverse voices through film arts.

“As we work to support and elevate emerging filmmakers, underrepresented voices and cinema that aims to inspire social change, we're aiming to be much more for this community than just a festival," says Jatin Setia, TCFF’s Executive Director. “We aspire to play an active role in the future of impact storytelling. TCFF is a diverse community of film artists, industry partners and patrons who are driven to elevate the narratives that shape our realities. When stories aren’t shared, change can’t happen. TCFF provides a platform which engages audiences in immersive film experiences enabling conversations that align and amplify the voices of our generation.”

Amazon Studios' The Electrical Life of Louis Wain is set to open the festival on Oct. 21st, telling the story of the Victorian-era artist whose widely published drawings of anthropomorphized cats transformed them from mysterious to irresistible. Director Will Sharpe’s masterful visuals and creative use of color convey Louis’s complicated mind, immeasurable talent and consuming love and loss.

This year’s closing night gala will celebrate Belfast, Kenneth Branagh’s drama featuring Jamie Dornan, Caitriona Balfe, Judi Dench, Ciarán Hinds and newcomer Jude Hill. The film, which takes place during The Troubles, sectarian conflict between Protestants and Catholics in 1969 Ireland, is a page from Branagh’s own life and his most personal film to date. The film received the coveted people’s choice award at the Toronto International Film Festival, instantly catapulting it into the Oscar conversation.

Other notable entries: Jesse Moss's documentary Mayor Pete, which follows Secretary Pete Buttigieg during his 2020 run for president and has been chosen as TCFF's official 2021 Centerpiece; C’mon C’mon, Mike Mills's black-and-white production built around a heartfelt performance from Joaquin Phoenix and a notable debut from newcomer Woody Norman; The French Dispatch, Wes Anderson's newest project featuring an all-star cast including Bill Murray, Timothée Chalamet and Tilda Swinton; Encounter, a sci-fi thriller directed by Michael Pearce and starring Riz Ahmed; The Humans, directed by Stephen Karam in his directorial debut, and based on his one-act play of the same name

starring Richard Jenkins, Jayne Houdyshell, Amy Schumer, Beanie Feldstein, Steven Yeun and June Squibb; and Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America, directed by Emily Kunstler & Sarah Kunstler and written by Jeffery Robinson

TCFF STREAMS, the festival’s proprietary online platform at TwinCitiesFilmFest.org, will feature premieres of award-winning narratives, documentaries and shorts curated from all across the country in the HER Series (films by/for/about women), MN-Connected Series, EMPOWER Series (focused on BIPOC voices) and the OUT Series (LGBTQ community).

Twin Cities Film Fest utilizes the power of film to spotlight a Social Cause each year through its Changemaker Series. In 2021, the focus will be on ‘mental wellness.’ The films in the series will bring attention to our collective emotional, psychological and social well-being.

TCFF’s complete 2021 schedule is listed below. Tickets will go on sale next week, beginning Oct. 1. To learn more about the lineup, please visit www.twincitiesfilmfest.org. Ticket prices range from $9 online to $12 in-person. Opening/Centerpiece/Closing films will all be $20 with a handful of films available to view at no cost. A ‘Streaming Pass’ is available for $50 and a ‘Hybrid Pass’ for $150.

TCFF 2021 will be following health guidelines as put forth by the State and CDC. All TCFF employees/volunteers will be vaccinated. All guests/audience members are asked to wear a mask during any in person experiences (in the theater and TCFF lounge) regardless of vaccination status. TCFF wants to ensure and prioritize safety for all attendees and use film arts as a way to continue bringing our community together.

ABOUT TWIN CITIES FILM FEST

Twin Cities Film Fest (TCFF) is a Minneapolis-based 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization founded by Executive Director, Jatin Setia. We change perspectives, transform lives, and strengthen our communities by supporting and spurring on the art of filmmaking. TCFF’s vision is to cultivate immersive experiences that amplify communities of creation, celebration, and change. To learn more about TCFF, events, film submissions or to donate, visit twincitiesfilmfest.org.

ABOUT KERASOTES SHOWPLACE ICON THEATRES AND LOBBY LOUNGE

Founded in 1909 with a single storefront nickelodeon, Chicago-based Kerasotes Showplace Theatres introduced a “new era of moviegoing” with its Showplace ICON Theatres. For more information, please visit us online at http://www.showplaceicon.com.

ABOUT THE SHOPS AT WEST END

The Shops at West End is an exciting mixed-use development located in the highly affluent suburb of St. Louis Park, just minutes from downtown Minneapolis. Located at the intersection of I-394 & 100, The Shops at West End features restaurants such as CRAVE and THE LOCAL, and various retailers. For a complete list of West End tenants, please visit www.TheShopsAtWestEnd.com.