Big Crowds To Welcome Hampton Film Festival Back To Full Capacity

EAST HAMPTON, NY — Hollywood comes to the Hamptons for 10 days. The Hamptons International Film Festival starts with the Oct. 7 opening night.

The festival, marking its 30th anniversary, will premiere a handful of films and organizers are focused on screening dozens of movies from various genres.

"In the past, we've been five days typically," Mark Nugent, the festival's artistic director, told Patch AM. "This year we expanded to 10, so there's going to be a lot more changes for people to see stuff throughout the festival."

Nugent lost track of the total number of movies getting screened, but said 69 features will have an audience and approximately 60 shorts.

One movie with a world premiere at the festival is "Who Invited Charlie?" Nugent said it was all shot on East End.

More than movies, the event also features conversations with filmmakers and others. Chelsea Clinton will discuss her new Apple series "Gutsy."

They will have the acclaimed director and playwright Martin McDonagh in a conversation about his career. His latest movie "The Banshees of Inisherin" will be screened.

Three, free morning panels are also on the docket.

Director Chris Columbus will talk about his films and "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" actress Mariska Hargitay will receive the annual Dick Cavett award.

"It's also fun because we also have a movie about Dick Cavett. Dick Cavett, who moved out of the area not too long ago, is coming back to talk about his movie--one of the world premieres-- his relationship with comedian Groucho Marx," Nugent said.

After virtual, drive-in and reduced capacity for the last few years, "this is really like the first festival that will look more like they looked pre-pandemic," he said.