MSP Film Society announces the award-winning Yuli as the Opening Night Film of the 38th Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, which runs April 4 – 20, 2019. Festival Passes and 6-packs are on sale now at mspfilm.org, with individual ticket sales opening to MSP Film Society Members on March 14 and to the public on March 21.

Yuli is a dazzling dramatization of the early life and work of legendary Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta. Inspired by Acosta’s 2007 memoir No Way Home, which detailed his rise from the streets of Havana to the heights of classical ballet. The film was helmed by the distinguished Basque director Icíar Bollaín and adapted for the screen by her frequent collaborator Paul Laverty. MSPIFF’s Opening Night festivities will include the presentation of Yuli at St. Anthony Main Theatres on Thursday, April 4, 2019, at 7pm, and a party to follow at Jefe Urban Hacienda. Tickets to the Opening Night Film include entrance to the party.

To read the full press release click here.

MSP Film Society also announces the expansion of their Women & Film Initiative for the 38th Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival and the launch of a new Fiscal Sponsorship Program for local women filmmakers, which will charge a mere 1.9% fee, instead of the industry standard of 5- 10%.

“When we read that women accounted for only 1.9% of the directors of the 100 top-grossing US films in 2014, this statistic propelled us to find ways within our organization to begin to address this disparity and inequity,” says Susan Smoluchowski, Executive Director of the MSP Film Society. “In 2015, we developed and launched a major MSPIFF program entitled Women & Film to highlight the work of women filmmakers from around the globe. Every year since, a growing number of films directed by women and programs highlighting the work of women directors have been included in our annual MSPIFF line-up, and in 2019 we expand that commitment.”

The 38th MSPIFF will include 75+ films directed by women filmmakers spanning all programs, from the Opening Night film Yuli, directed by Icíar Bollaín, to the Nextwave program of shorts directed by aspiring teen filmmakers. The MSPIFF Luminaries Tribute to Alice Guy-Blaché on Saturday, April 13, 2019, will include a screening of the riveting documentary Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice GuyBlaché, directed by Pamela B. Green and narrated by Jodie Foster, followed by the MSPIFF Centerpiece Party at the A-Mill Artist Lofts to celebrate all the women filmmakers and special guests attending this year’s festival, including Ann Hornaday, Chief Film Critic from the Washington Post.

“The MSPIFF Luminaries Tribute Program recognizes notable filmmakers for their contributions to the medium of filmmaking and for artistic talents that have been instrumental in promoting a higher regard for the art of film around the world,” says MSPIFF Programming Director Jesse Bishop. “And no one embodies this spirit more than the pioneering French filmmaker Alice Guy-Blaché. We’re excited to also present a collection of her recently-restored films in this year’s festival.”

To read the full press release click here.