2021 Provincetown Film Festival Press Release

PROVINCETOWN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL TO HONOR 

RICHARD LINKLATER WITH “FILMMAKER ON THE EDGE” AWARD,

NATALIE MORALES WITH “NEXT WAVE” AWARD

 – Festival reveals film lineup, including Opening Night Selection “In the Heights,” 

“Language Lessons,” “CODA” and Closing Night Selection “Being BeBe”

May 5, 2021 (Provincetown, MA) – The Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF) announced today it will bestow its top honor, The Filmmaker on the Edge Award, to five-time Academy Award nominee and prolific writer/director Richard Linklater. Linklater, whose illustrious filmmaking career spans decades with cherished films like BOYHOOD, BEFORE SUNSET and DAZED AND CONFUSED, will accept the award in a virtual conversation with John Waters. 

The festival also announced that actor/filmmaker Natalie Morales (PLAN B, BATTLE OF THE SEXES, DEAD TO ME) will receive the Next Wave Award, which celebrates those who have exciting, new, and distinctive voices. Her directorial debut, LANGUAGE LESSONS, which premiered in Berlin and won the Audience Award at SXSW, will screen during the festival. PIFF revealed its full slate of narrative and documentary films, including Jon M. Chu’s summer musical IN THE HEIGHTS, presented as the Opening Night selection at the Wellfleet Drive-In on June 16. The festival will close with Emily Branham’s BeBe Zahara Benet documentary, BEING BEBE. The hybrid festival runs June 16-25 virtually and in Provincetown, Massachusetts. 

“We are thrilled to present a robust slate of bold, new films from incredibly talented filmmakers – many of whom faced significant challenges in having their work be seen. We are eager to introduce these passionate stories as we continue to support emerging artists, and, with our signature awards, we are proud to honor the accomplishments of universally acclaimed filmmakers Richard Linklater and Natalie Morales,” said Lisa Viola, PIFF’s Artistic Director. 

This year’s festival will be a hybrid of virtual screenings in conjunction with safely-distanced indoor spaces and outdoor venues, including the Wellfleet Drive-In. Festival goers will also have the choice of attending limited-capacity screenings at Waters Edge Cinema or renting out the cinema for private screenings. 

“We’re excited to be welcoming filmmakers and audiences back together after the disruption of the COVID pandemic. This year, as we build back, we’re able to offer both in-person events under the guidance of a COVID compliance expert and a rich virtual experience spanning 10 days,” said Blythe Frank, PIFF’s Executive Director. 

The full film lineup is below.

OPENING NIGHT AT THE WELLFLEET DRIVE-IN (Wednesday, June 16)

IN THE HEIGHTS – directed by Jon M. Chu

CLOSING NIGHT

BEING BEBE – directed by Emily Branham

NARRATIVE FEATURES

BEANS – directed by Tracey Deer

BOY MEETS BOY – directed by Daniel Sánchez López

THE CATCH – directed by Matthew Ya-Hsiung Balzer

CODA – directed by Siân Heder

CRYPTOZOO – directed by Dash Shaw

HOW IT ENDS – directed by Zoe Lister-Jones, Daryl Wein

LANGUAGE LESSONS – directed by Natalie Morales

LUZZU – directed by Alex Camilleri

MA BELLE, MA BEAUTY – directed by Marion Hill

MARVELOUS AND THE BLACK HOLE – directed by Kate Tsang

MOGUL MOWGLI – directed by Bassam Tariq

POTATO DREAMS OF AMERICA – directed by Wes Hurley

RED RIVER ROAD – directed by Paul Schuyler

SHIT & CHAMPAGNE – directed by D’Arcy Drollinger

SUBLET – directed by Eytan Fox

SUMMER OF 85 – directed by François Ozon

SWAN SONG – directed by Todd Stephens

TOVE – directed by Zaida Bergroth

WE’RE ALL GOING TO THE WORLD’S FAIR – directed by Jane Schoenbrun

DOCUMENTARY FEATURES

AILEY – directed by Jamila Wignot

BREUER’S BOHEMIA – directed by James Crump

DEAR MR. BRODY – directed by Keith Maitland

IN THE SAME BREATH – directed by Nanfu Wang

KENNY SCHARF: WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE – directed by Max Basch, Malia Scharf

LITTLE GIRL – directed by Sébastien Lifshitz

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOY IN THE WORLD – directed by Kristina Lindström

MY NAME IS PAULI MURRAY – directed by Betsy West, Julie Cohen

NOT GOING QUIETLY – directed by Nicholas Bruckman

PLAYING WITH SHARKS – directed by Sally Aitkin

RITA MORENO: JUST A GIRL WHO DECIDED TO GO FOR IT – directed by Mariem Pérez Riera

SEARCHERS – directed by Pacho Velez

STORM LAKE – directed by Jerry Risius, Beth Levison

SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED) — directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson

TRY HARDER! – directed by Debbie Lum

YES I AM: THE RIC WEILAND STORY – directed by Aaron Bear

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

DAVID’S FRIEND – directed by P. David Ebersole, Todd Hughes

DICK JOHNSON IS DEAD – directed by Kirsten Johnson

FARGO – directed by Joel Coen

GIVE OR TAKE – directed by Paul Riccio

NARRATIVE SHORTS

A DAY WITHOUT YOU – directed by Oscar Arce Naranjo

ALL THOSE SENSATIONS IN MY BELLY – directed by Marko Dješka 

BEAUTY MARKS – directed by Gina Hackett

BEFORE THE ERUPTION – directed by Roberto Pérez Toledo

BODIES OF DESIRE – directed by Varsha Panikar

BREAK IN – directed by Alyssa Lerner

COSMOPOLITAN – directed by Moran Nakar

DAVID – directed by Zachary Woods

DOLÁPÒ IS FINE – directed by Ethosheia Hylton

FIRST LOVE – directed by Florent Gouelou

FISH – directed by Eli Powers

HEAVEN REACHES DOWN TO EARTH – directed by Tebogo Malebogo

LEAP – directed by Juan Baio, Eino Antonio 

LET’S MEET AGAIN AT THE END OF THE WORLD – directed by Todd Flaherty

NOOR & LAYLA –  directed by Fawzia Mirza 

NUDE TRIUMPHANT – directed by Leo Crane

ON MY WAY – directed by Sonam Larcin

OUTSIDE – directed by Rio Contrada

PAP’S MANIFESTO – directed by Chris Danuser, Casey Clark

PROVINCETOWN 2020 – 36 SOLAR LIGHTS – directed by Jay Critchley 

PURE – directed by Natalie Harris

READY TO DIE – directed by Peter Horgan

ROADKILL – directed by Aliza Lorraine Brugger

SIREN’S TAIL – directed by Alba Barbé i Serra

THE TAILOR – directed by Nathalie Therriault

VICTORIA – directed by Daniel Toledo

DOCUMENTARY SHORTS

A STORY OF FAITH AND RESOLVE: BOSTON’S BLACK NATIVITY – directed by Karen Mckeen

THE DISASTER DREAMS – directed by Lianne Becker

ELEVEN WEEKS – directed by Anna Kuperberg, Julie Caskey 

GIRLBOYSMIX – directed by Lara Aerts, Els van Driel

GOLDEN AGE KARATE – directed by Rachel Barth 

JUNIOR – directed by AJ Wilhelm 

KIND OF – directed by Noah Schamus

KING PHILIP’S BELT – directed by Fermin Rojas

MELTDOWN IN DIXIE – directed by Emily Harrold 

MI ARMA – directed by Jesús Pascual

NAOMI REPLANSKY AT 100 – directed by Megan Rossman

SAY HIS NAME: FIVE DAYS FOR GEORGE FLOYD – directed by Cy Dodson

SENIOR PROM – directed by Luisa Conlon 

SOMERVILLE FOR ALL – directed by Andrew Eldridge

THIS IS THE WAY WE RISE – directed by Ciara Lacy

THROUGH OUR EYES: APART – directed by Geeta Gandbhir, Rudy Valdez 

TO BE RECONCILED – directed by James Christenson 

TRADE CENTER – directed by Adam Baran 

WHITE SPACE – directed by Michael Cestaro 

Major sponsors of PIFF 2021 include: WarnerMedia, Anchor Inn Beach House, Dr. Anthony Tannous, Boston Harbor Cruises, Bubala’s By the Bay, Cape Air, Curaleaf, Fanizzi’s, Gabby Hanna & Marcy Feller, Jeanne Leszczynski & Diane DiCarlo, Lands End Inn, Mallrd Foundation, Poor Richard’s Landing, Red Thread Productions, Roderick’s Payroll, Seaglass Inn and Spa, Seamen’s Bank, The Palette Fund, Truro Vineyards of Cape Cod, and Christine & Bryan Walker. 

Please visit www.ptownfilmfest.org for more information on the lineup and for purchasing tickets and passes. 

About The Provincetown Film Society

The Provincetown Film Society (PFS) is an advocate for diverse representation in film, providing year-round programming and platforms that allow voices of all kinds to be heard via film. Locally, PFS’ work positively impacts the cultural and economic vitality of Provincetown. Nationally, its work helps shape industry discussions around parity in film. Through PFS’ work, we have an ability to better understand and appreciate human struggles and triumphs, showcasing our similarities and differences in today’s diverse culture. 

About Filmmaker on the Edge Award

PIFF’s “Filmmaker on the Edge” Award is the festival’s premier filmmaking award, presented to

celebrated filmmakers who push the boundaries of their craft. Previous recipients of the award include Greg Araki, Darren Aronofsky, Sean Baker, John Cameron Mitchell, Sofia Coppola, David Cronenberg, Mary Harron, Todd Haynes, Jim Jarmusch, Harmony Korine, Ang Lee, Guy Maddin, Todd Solondz, Quentin Tarantino, Christine Vachon, Gus Van Sant, and John Waters. The award’s polysemic title is an ode to Provincetown’s location at the outermost point of Cape Cod.

About Next Wave Award

The Next Wave Award recognizes those who have exciting and distinctive voices, take artistic risks, and have a passionate commitment to independent film. Past recipients include Mya Taylor, Jillian Bell and Aubrey Plaza. 

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Press Contacts

RJ Millard / Kory Mello

Obscured Pictures

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