In its 35th year, MSPIFF's mission remains the same: hosting international box-office breakers and sleeper hits, representing local filmmakers and exciting new discoveries, mixing experimental cinema with groundbreaking documentaries. There are 330-plus titles in this year's mix. Here's a breakdown:
Global views: This is the most diverse collection yet of international features, with scores of films set in various nations. That includes 19 Asian films, 22 Latino, 16 Nordic, nine African and scores more in any geographic subset you enjoy.
Local color: Minnesota natives and Minnesota-based creators are well represented. This year's juried competition entries are four feature films and 11 documentaries.
Something for everyone: Want to bring the kids? There are eight shorts and six features for young audiences. Want to leave them home? There's a scary lineup of 11 horror movies and shorts, all showing after dark.
Showplaces: MSPIFF is expanding to five locations this year, screening at the St. Anthony Main Theatre and Uptown Theatre in Minneapolis, McNally Smith College of Music and Metropolitan State University in St. Paul and a weeklong run at Rochester's Wehrenberg Galaxy 14 Cine.
Colin Covert
