Provincetown Film Festival announces lineup; Luca Guadagnino, Jenny Slate, Bowen Yang are honorees

The Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF) announced today its lineup of narrative, documentary, and short films, as well as festival honorees for the Filmmaker on the Edge and Next Wave awards. The Provincetown International Film Festival runs June 15 – 19, 2022 in Provincetown, MA.

Academy Award nominated writer/director/producer Luca Guadagnino (CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, SUSPIRIA, BONES AND ALL) will be named the 2022 “Filmmaker on the Edge.” The honoree’s film SALVATORE: SHOEMAKER OF DREAMS, a documentary following the life of Italian designer Salvatore Ferragamo, will screen at the festival. Guadagnino will be in attendance to accept the award in conversation with resident artist John Waters on Sunday, June 19.

“Luca Guadagnino is a master filmmaker and a perfect example of an artist who pushes the boundaries of their craft,” said Anne Hubbell, PIFF’s Executive Director. “His complex, emotional stories and stunning visuals have left an undeniable mark on cinema, making him a natural fit for the ‘Filmmaker on the Edge’ Award. We are absolutely thrilled he’ll be joining us in Provincetown to celebrate his iconic career.” 

Additionally, actors/writers/comedians Jenny Slate (MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON, I WANT YOU BACK) and Bowen Yang (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, THE LOST CITY) will receive the festival’s “Next Wave Award” at a special ceremony in Provincetown on Thursday, June 16. The honor recognizes those who have exciting and distinctive voices, take artistic risks, and have a passionate commitment to independent film. 

Slate’s latest film, MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON, in which she co-wrote and stars, will screen at the festival. Directed by Dean Fleischer-Camp, the film follows Marcel (Slate), an adorable one-inch-tall shell who ekes out a colorful existence with his grandmother Connie (Isabella Rossellini) and their pet lint, Alan. The beloved character gets his big-screen debut in this hilarious and heartwarming story about finding connection in the smallest corners. 

Yang will be in attendance in support of his film FIRE ISLAND, which is playing at the festival in Special Presentation. Set in the iconic Pines, FIRE ISLAND is an unapologetic, modern day rom-com showcasing a diverse, multicultural examination of queerness and romance. Inspired by the timeless pursuits from Jane Austen’s classic “Pride and Prejudice,” the story centers around two best friends who set out to have a legendary summer adventure with the help of cheap rosé and their cadre of eclectic friends. Produced by JAX Media, the film is directed by Andrew Ahn and written by Joel Kim Booster, and is being released by Searchlight Pictures and premiering June 3 on Hulu. 

“We are so excited to celebrate the dynamic and multi-faceted comedic talents of both Jenny Slate and Bowen Yang as they each fully embody the spirit and energy of our Next Wave Award,” said PIFF’s Artistic Director, Lisa Viola. “We cannot wait to welcome them to Provincetown and to share their fabulous new films with our festival audience.”

It was also announced that the festival will open with Sophie Hyde’s GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE, which Searchlight Pictures is releasing on Hulu on June 27. Written by Katy Brand, two-time Academy Award winner Emma Thompson embodies the candor and apprehension of retired teacher Nancy Stokes, and newcomer Daryl McCormack personifies the charisma and compassion of sex worker Leo Grande. As Nancy embarks on a post-marital sexual awakening and Leo draws on his skills and charm, together they find a surprising human connection. The film, produced by Debbie Gray of Genesius Pictures and Adrian Politowski of Align, debuted to massive critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.

This year’s festival lineup is below: 

OPENING NIGHT

GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE – directed by Sophie Hyde 

SPOTLIGHT SELECTIONS
PINK FLAMINGOS – directed by John Waters ***50th Anniversary Presentation // World Premiere of The Criterion Collection’s 4K Restoration***
SELL/BUY/DATE – directed by Sarah Jones 
GIRL PICTURE – directed by Alli Haapasalo 

NARRATIVE FEATURES 

BOTH SIDES OF THE BLADE – directed by Claire Denis
CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH – directed by Cooper Raiff
CHRISSY JUDY – directed by Todd Flaherty
EMILY THE CRIMINAL – directed by John Patton Ford
THE GOOD HOUSE – directed by Maya Forbes, Wallace Wolodarsky
I’LL SHOW YOU MINE – directed by Megan Griffiths
KLONDIKE – directed by Maryna Er Gorbach
LONESOME – directed by Craig Boreham
A LOVE SONG – directed by Max Walker-Silverman
MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON – directed by Dean Fleischer-Camp
MIDDAY BLACK MIDNIGHT BLUE – directed by Samantha Soule, Daniel Talbott
OFFICIAL COMPETITION – directed by Mariano Cohn, Gastón Duprat
ONE SECOND – directed by Zhang Yimou
OVER/UNDER – directed by Sophia Silver
WILDHOOD – directed by Bretten Hannam

DOCUMENTARY FEATURES 

AFTER SHERMAN – directed by Jon-Sesrie Goff
ALL MAN: THE INTERNATIONAL MALE STORY – directed by Bryan Darling, Jesse Finley Reed
BAD AXE – directed by David Siev
BEBA – directed by Rebeca Huntt
DREAMING WALLS: INSIDE THE CHELSEA HOTEL – directed by Amélie van Elmbt, Maya Duverdier
ESTHER NEWTON MADE ME GAY – directed by Jean Carlomusto
FIRE OF LOVE – directed by Sara Dosa
FRAMING AGNES – directed by Chase Joynt
GIRL TALK – directed by Lucia Small
LOVING HIGHSMITH – directed by Eva Vitija
MAMA BEARS – directed by Daresha Kyi
MY NAME IS ANDREA – directed by Pratibha Parmar
MY OLD SCHOOL – directed by Jono McLeod
SALVATORE: SHOEMAKER OF DREAMS – directed by Luca Guadagnino
THE TERRITORY – directed by Alex Pritz
THREE MINUTES: A LENGTHENING – directed by Bianca Stigter

SPECIAL SCREENINGS 

FIRE ISLAND – directed by Andrew Ahn
THE INCREDIBLY TRUE ADVENTURES OF TWO GIRLS IN LOVE – directed by Maria Maggenti
SHORTBUS – directed by John Cameron Mitchell 

SHORT FILMS

NARRATIVE SHORTS

A BETTER HALF – directed by Marco Calvani
CHEEKY- NFT- DANCE – directed by Jay Critchley
DAVEY’S LULLABY – directed by Adam Douglas Deyoe
EMPTY HANDS – directed by Paolo Marinou-Blanco
FANMI – directed by Sandrine Brodeur-Desrosiers, Carmine Pierre-Dufour
FERNANDA – directed by Mary Angelica Molina
FLIGHT – directed by Louise Nessralla
HAVE A GOOD ONE – directed by Alex Edelman
L’AMOUR REBELLE – directed by Leo Crane
LEATHERBOY – directed by Jack McGreal
LITTLE SKY – directed by Jess X. Snow
MAZEL TOV – directed by Eli Zuzovsky
MONSIEUR LE BUTCH – directed by Jude Dry
NO GHOST IN THE MORGUE – directed by Marilyn Cooke
THE ONLY BEAUTIFUL THING – directed by Elizabeth Irwin
POTTERO – directed by Lindsey Martin
RATED R – directed by Reid Antin
SAY UNCLE – directed by James Cooper
SKIN & BONE – directed by Eli Powers
STARFUCKERS – directed by Antonio Marziale
TANK FAIRY – directed by Erich Rettstadt
TOO ROUGH – directed by Sean Lionadh
UNDRESSED –directed by Elina Street
WARSHA – directed by Dania Bdeir
WHERE IT HAPPENED – directed by Raissa Reis
WORK – directed by April Maxey

DOCUMENTARY SHORTS

BASKETART COURT – directed by Xray Aims
CANS CAN’T STAND – directed by Matt Nadel, Megan Plotka
DAWN: A CHARLESTON LEGEND – directed by Ron Davis
HOLDING MOSES – directed by Rivkah Beth Medow, co-directed by Jen Rainin
THE HOUSE OF LABEIJA – directed by Fredgy Noël
LOVE, BARBARA – directed by Brydie O’Connor
THE MARTHA MITCHELL EFFECT – directed by Anne Alvergue, co-directed by Debra McClutchy
THE ORIGINALS – directed by Cristina Maria Costantini, Alfie Kim Koetter
PAINT & PITCHFORK – directed by Christine Turner
REGGIE CABRAL: LARGER THAN LIFE TERRORIST – directed by Adam Golub, Sylvaine Alfaro
SOMEWHERE HIGHER – directed by Mohammad Gorjestani
STEPHEN + JAMES: BEST GIRLFRIENDS – directed by Dave Quantic

EXPERIMENTAL SHORTS

THE BLAZING – directed by Jonathan Caouette
DIA A DIA, 2020: A DAY AT A TIME — directed by Tahiel Jimenez Medina
HIS IMAGE – directed by Cam Archer
JUDY’S THOUGHTS – directed by Melody Gilbert