MVFF47 - RSVP Guide

After not-so-quietly quitting his restaurant job, aspiring rapper Khalid quits NYC for a paid gigolo gig in Bulgaria that he found on Facebook. Arriving in a seaside hamlet to spend some “adult time” with middle-aged Raya, he quickly discovers she’s neither available, nor alive. Undaunted, Khalid finds menial labor at the dock and gradually charms the locals with his charisma, all except for his foul-tempered boss Gyorgi. It doesn’t help that Khalid has taken a shine to Gyorgi’s winsome ex, Ina. With a winning combination of Bay Area bigheartedness, Brooklyn moxie, and a dollop of Eastern European humor, Tam High graduate Crystal Moselle (The Wolfpack) and codirector-breakout star Derrick B. Harden’s joyous fish-out-of-water tale is something to behold. With the sly sensibility of an early Jarmusch film and the ebullience and flow of a Spike Lee joint, The Black Sea is refreshing as a cool drink on a hot summer day.

Expected In Person Guest

A high school jock mistakes a 29-year-old slacker for a fellow teen in this Slamdance Breakouts grand jury prizewinner that stars an Asian American and Pacific Islander cast.

Blithe 29-year-old Misha insists that she is content as she goes through life making unorthodox choices that keep her alienated from her loved ones. Supported by a family inheritance and responsible for the neglected house her grandmother bequeathed her, Misha barely tends to its needs, as she leads a casual life free of any serious commitments. She appears self-possessed, but when a sweet, handsome 19-year-old high school athlete mistakes her for a fellow teenager Misha’s bad decisions pile up and her self-assurance begins to crack. Shot in beautiful Hilo, Hawai’i, Zoe Eisenberg’s first solo feature is a sincere portrait of the dangers that arise when aimlessness meets ambiguity.

Expected In Person Guest

In Sarah Friedland’s poetic debut feature, Kathleen Chalfant stars an octogenarian struggling to hold on to her memories and identity in a refreshing depiction of aging that celebrates the persistence of self.

This poetic debut feature by Sarah Friedland is an intimate exploration of the beauty and pain of transformation later in life. Kathleen Chalfant plays Ruth, an octogenarian struggling to hold on to her memories and identity as she transitions into an assisted living facility. As Ruth experiences cognitive decline, she balances her conflicting desires that are at once transient and immediate. Chalfant’s arresting performance reveals Ruth’s multitudes as she reaches for her past and present life. Friedland’s graceful writing and naturalistic direction paints an honest portrait of dementia that centers the person experiencing it and honors their spirit and humanity. Familiar Touch is a refreshing depiction of aging that celebrates the persistence of self and reminds us that we are always coming of age.

Expected In Person Guest