10 must-see movies at 2024 NH Film Festival in Portsmouth

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PORTSMOUTH — The excitement is building for the 2024 New Hampshire Film Festival. Over the course of four days, film enthusiasts will dart between Portsmouth venues, buzzing about the latest independent long and short movies they’ve just experienced.

The 22nd festival takes place Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 17-20, with more than 100 new films set to screen.

There will be a variety of full-length and short films, and the festival remains an Academy Award-qualifying event for the Short Film Awards. The festival brings a mix of international cinema and local talent, with films coming straight from top festivals like Cannes, Sundance, and Toronto. Several will make their world premiere, and more than 30 films produced or directed by New Hampshire filmmakers will also be featured.

The festival’s 119 films will screen at The Music Hall’s Historic Theater, The Music Hall Lounge, 3S Artspace and St. John’s Episcopal Church. The festival headquarters, located at the Gallery at Jimmy’s at 135 Congress St., will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. each day (closing at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20).

Festival passes and a complete lineup are available at NHFilmFestival.org.

Here are ten films festival organizers recommend as must-sees this year:

1. Nightbitch

Director: Marielle Heller | Starring: Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Zoë Chao

“Nightbitch” offers a darkly comedic and surreal take on motherhood. Amy Adams stars as a former career woman who becomes a stay-at-home mom, only to find herself undergoing a bizarre transformation. This unique and captivating story promises to leave audiences talking long after the credits roll.

2. Magpie

Director: Sam Yates | Starring: Daisy Ridley, Shazad Latif, Matilda Lutz

“Magpie” takes viewers on an intense journey of love and obsession. When Ben and Anette’s daughter is cast alongside a glamorous movie star, Ben finds himself pulled into a world of desire and intrigue. As tensions build, the film explores the impact of infidelity and fame on a fragile marriage.

3. Bob Trevino Likes It

Director: Tracie Laymon | Starring: Barbie Ferreira, John Leguizamo, French Stewart

Inspired by a true story, “Bob Trevino Likes It” follows Lily Trevino, a lonely 20-something who forms a surprising online friendship with a man who shares her estranged father’s name. This quirky and heartfelt comedy explores themes of family, identity, and finding connection in unexpected places.

4. Eephus

Director: Carson Lund | Starring: Keith William Richards, Cliff Blake, Ray Hryb

For baseball enthusiasts, “Eephus” is a nostalgic journey set against the backdrop of a small-town New England baseball field facing demolition. As two local rec-league teams play their final game, the film captures the beauty of camaraderie, nostalgia, and the bittersweet passage of time.

5. La Cocina

Director: Alonso Ruizpalacios | Starring: Raúl Briones Carmona, Rooney Mara, Anna Díaz

Set in the bustling kitchen of a Manhattan restaurant, “La Cocina” follows the story of Pedro, an undocumented cook accused of theft. As he strives for legal status and grapples with love, ambition, and betrayal, the film presents a powerful exploration of identity and the American Dream.

6. Luther: Never Too Much

Director: Dawn Porter | Starring: Jamie Foxx, Mariah Carey, Richard Marx

Musician Luther Vandross began his career backing legendary artists like David Bowie and Bette Midler before achieving his own stardom. This documentary captures his rise to fame, his battles to be recognized beyond the R&B charts, and the lasting impact of his voice on the music world.

7. Bird

Director: Andrea Arnold | Starring: Barry Keoghan, Franz Rogowski, Jasmine Jobson

“Bird” tells the coming-of-age story of 12-year-old Bailey, who lives with his single father and brother in a squat in North Kent. As Bailey navigates the challenges of adolescence and seeks connection in a world that seems indifferent, Andrea Arnold delivers a raw, tender portrait of family life.

8. The Ride Ahead

Director: Samuel Habib and Dan Habib l Producers

“The Ride Ahead” is the true story of Samuel Habib, a typical 21-year-old excited to start his adult life: build a career, date and move out of his family’s New Hampshire home. However, Samuel also has a rare genetic disorder that causes unexpected seizures. And he needs a wheelchair to get around. This important documentary explores how a community of disabled adults help Samuel build a roadmap for the future.

The film (which won an Emmy as a short film in its initial iteration) tackles disability justice and the challenges disabled young people face as they transition to adulthood. The New Hampshire father/son filmmaking team gives us a compelling, first-hand look at what most of us take for granted in our lives – simply gaining independence.

9. The Lost North End; A Tale of Wreckage and Resilience

Director: Scott Maclin I Producers: Laura Pope, Massimo Morgia, Robyn Aldo, Julie Gagne

The documentary supported by Portsmouth NH 400 chronicles the local fallout from urban renewal in the 1960s and the forced demolition of a tight-knit, Italian neighborhood in Portsmouth. Despite their displacement, the former residents manage to retain their culture, friendships and community traditions. History comes alive through compelling storytelling, photographs, and interviews with those who experienced the destruction of their homes. It’s a story of resilience as we see those community members keep their heritage alive and share the lessons learned from a post-World War II program that had a massive impact on Portsmouth.

10. Inheritance

Director: Matt Moyer, Amy Toensing

Filmed over 11 years, the documentary follows Curtis, a young boy growing up in rural Appalachia in a family and community plagued by poverty and addiction. “Inheritance” is a raw, authentic look at survival in a rural environment with real people and a sensitive, honest portrayal of the opioid crisis and its destruction. And while it’s difficult to watch, the story does have an element of hope as Curtis matures and grows into a young man.

Alan Ruck of ‘Succession’ and ‘Ferris Bueller’ to appear at festival

The festival will present a special evening with veteran actor Alan Ruck, known for his roles in the widely popular TV series “Succession” and films such as “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “Speed.” Ruck will appear on Friday, Oct. 18 for a Q&A session.

“The caliber of our special guests and the levels of creativity and diversity in our film program astound me. And more than half of this year’s feature films are directed by women,” says Tina Sawtelle, president and CEO of the New Hampshire Film Festival and The Music Hall.

The festival’s comedy panel is always a standing-room-only event. This year’s panel is led by Eliza Coupe, best known for her leading role on the ABC hit comedy series, “Happy Endings.” Other familiar faces include screen actor John Michael Higgins, who audience members will recognize from “Pitch Perfect” and “Best in Show,” plus comedian and actor Adam Pally and actor/viral social media creator Briana Venskus. The panel, which will be held at 3S Artspace on Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m.

In addition to the comedy panel, there’s a full roster of discussions featuring industry professionals who provide unique insights into the world of film. Among the highlights is a new session led by professional stunt coordinator/performer Amy Greene, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the stunt industry through demonstration, discussion, and Q&A. Other panel topics include working in New England’s production field, producing content for public television, improving the filmmaking industry in the Granite State, strategies for getting films to different audiences, and an intimate chat with some of this year’s filmmakers.