If there is one piece of advice I have held with me over 25 years of working and attending film festivals, it is to get lost.
Think of navigating events like the Berkshire International Film Festival, which returns to The Triplex for its 19th year this Friday, like setting out on a road trip. Pick a few destinations to help guide you through the weekend—I am personally looking forward to movies like the French period piece “Girl for a Day,” based on the life of intersex Anne Grandjean in the 18th century; “Anxiety Club,” a documentary exploring the ways comedians manage their mental health struggles; and “Notification,” a short film from Gregory Boover, a mainstay in the Berkshire theater scene.
But filling your schedule with “need to see” screenings can not only stress you out but rob you of the joy of exploration. Film festivals are one of your best chances to experience a film on its own merits. No trailer, no marketing, no reviews—just you and the movie.
So if you are going to BIFF this weekend, I encourage you to get lost a little. Go into a screening with nothing more than a title, and be open to whatever plays on the screen. It may feel like a risk, but it is the perfect way to discover your new favorite film or director and have some of the best film-going experiences of your life.
Now Playing
“Bad Shabbos”
A dark comedy of biblical proportions.
An accidental death—or was it a murder?—sends a Shabbat dinner off the rails in “Bad Shabbos,” a new comedy coming to The Triplex for a Limited Engagement starting on May 23. Winner of the Audience Award at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival, “Bad Shabbos” follows David and his Catholic fiancée Meg as they gather their families together to meet for a dinner that becomes a comedy of biblical proportions.
Held over until June 12! Continues after BIFF.
“Pride & Prejudice”
The Jane Austen adaptation returns for its 20th anniversary.
Featuring the “hand flex” that inspired a thousand memes, Joe Wright’s “Pride & Prejudice” comes to The Triplex next week! Celebrating its 20th anniversary, catch this electric adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic story of love, longing, and stubborn misunderstanding starring Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFayden and featuring Rosamund Pike and Carey Mulligan in breakout roles.
Continues this week after BIFF.
“Lilo & Stitch”
The beloved story of a fugitive alien who finds an unlikely home in Hawaii, Disney’s live-action adaptation of “Lilo & Stitch” comes to The Triplex for Memorial Day weekend! When Stitch, AKA experiment 626 (voiced by series creator Chris Sanders), escapes the clutches of the United Galactic Federation, he hides from his would-be-captors by posing as the rescue dog of Lilo, an outcast little girl struggling to fit in following the passing of her parents. Starring newcomers Maia Kealoha and Sydney Elizebeth Agudong alongside a cast that includes Zach Galifnakis, Courtney B. Vance, and Billy Magnussen, “Lilo & Stitch” is a madcap adventure that celebrates the messiness of family.
Continues this week.
Coming Soon
“The Killing Fields”
A powerful piece of cinema that remains relevant over 40 years after its release, we are honored to have Sam Waterston join us to discuss his Oscar-nominated role in Roland Jaffe’s “The Killing Fields” on June 7!
When the U.S. Army pulls out of the Cambodian Civil War in 1975, interpreter Dith Pran (Haing S. Ngor, in an Oscar-winning role) decides to remain to help American reporter Sydney Schanberg (Waterston) and photographer Al Rockoff (John Malkovich) report on the arrival of the Khmer Rouge. As the regime takes hold, the trio struggles to survive while finding a way through the violence sweeping the country.
After the movie, Sam will sit down with Triplex board member Matthew Penn to discuss the film, how its message resonates with the modern political climate, and his legendary 60-year-long career on the stage, screen, and television.
June 7, at 3 p.m.
“The Phoenician Scheme”
The story of a family, their family business, and the complications it causes, Wes Anderson’s “The Phoenician Scheme” comes to The Triple on June 6! Packed to the brim with an ensemble led by Benecio Del Toro and featuring Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Willem Dafoe, Riz Ahmed, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, and many more, “The Phoenician Scheme” follows Del Toro’s businessman Zsa-zsa Korda as he appoints his only daughter, a nun (Threapleton), as sole heir to his estate, making them the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists, and determined assassins.
Starts June 6.
“Pavements”
A “semiotic experiment” that combines elements of documentary, biopic, and spoof, Alex Ross Perry’s “Pavements” is unlike any other band movie you have seen. Incorporating interviews with Stephen Malkmus and other members of the seminal ’90s indie rock group with a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a fictional film adaptation of their lives and a jukebox musical titled “Slanted! Enchanted! A Pavement Musical,” Pavements is the perfect tribute to the last band that you would ever expect to have a biopic.
Part of our Limited Engagement Series, “Pavements” plays for one week from June 6 to 12.
A “Mamma Mia!” Celebration!
Sing, dance, and shout along with our “Mamma Mia!” Celebration on June 14! Each ticket includes a celebration packet of confetti, glow sticks, and other themed items along with a cue sheet to create a one-of-a-kind interactive event celebrating the sublime experience of watching Meryl Streep sing ABBA.
June 14, at 8:30 p.m.
