It’s time! Ticket packages for the 2024 Hamptons International Film Festival go on sale today, and it’s not a bad idea to hop on that — this year is shaping up to be an exciting stream of thought-provoking, heartening, eye-opening stories for the screen, not to mention a brainy, star-studded, creative who’s who (and who you should get to know) of the global film industry.
While the line-up for the 32nd annual incarnation of the event won’t be officially released until Sept. 12 (suspense at its best), HIFF has announced the official closing night movie this year, comedy-horror film Nightbitch. Written and directed by Marielle Heller, this eerie, surreal story tells the tale of a woman, played by Amy Adams, who leaves a successful career to stay home with her toddler and the strange life that begins to emerge around her.
Last week, HIFF also announced this year’s duo of Spotlight Films: A Real Pain starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin and We Live in Time starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh.
There’s also much buzz around the honorees up for the festival’s annual awards: Demi Moore will receive the HIFF Career Achievement in Acting Award ; Liev Schreiber the Dick Cavett Artistic Champion Award; Malcolm Washington will receive the Breakthrough Director Award for his work on 2024’s The Piano Lesson (premiering at the festival); and Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein taking home the Achievement in Screenwriting Award for their work on Inside Out 2.
Actor and honoree Demi Moore. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images) 
Actor and honoree Liev Schreiber (Photo courtesy of Hamptons International Film Festival) 
Honoree and director of “The Piano Lesson” Malcolm Washington. (Photo courtesy of Hamptons International Film Festival) 
Writer and honoree Meg LeFauve (Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar) 
Writer and honoree Dave Holstein (Photo courtesy of Hamptons International Film Festival)
Another announcement for this year’s festival is a bittersweet one: talented and tenacious executive director Anne Chaisson is stepping down after 12 years.
“I’m so proud of the work we’ve done together, transforming HamptonsFilm from a single annual event into a vibrant year-round non-profit organization,” said Chaisson in a statement. “My tenure at HamptonsFilm has been one of the most fulfilling of my career, and the challenge to grow a non-profit in such extraordinary times is something I will forever be thankful to have taken part.
Founded in 1992, HIFF is the East End’s can’t-miss movie event, showcasing new films and documentaries from all over the globe, many of which go on to win some of the most prestigious and coveted awards in the world. In addition, the festival provides educational and career opportunities for burgeoning filmmakers and students of the art, as well as much-needed year-round programming on the East End.
The Hamptons Film Festival runs from Oct. 4 to Oct. 14. Ticket packages can be purchased here. Be sure to check the website regularly for updates to the programming and events surrounding this year’s festival.
