“Congratulations to those men,” said Issa Rae after announcing the 2020 Oscar nominees for Best Director on a live telecast. The “Insecure” co-creator and star was emphasizing the fact that all of the nominees in the category are — yet again — men. Her viral quote is serving as the inspiration behind a new Future of Film is Female film series set to screen at the Nitehawk Cinema in Brooklyn.
Titled “Congratulations To Those Men,” the series will highlight a number of the women-directed titles that were snubbed by the Oscars. “Not seeing women or people of color reflected in what gets recognized is inexcusable and no more so than this year with films like the ones we’re presenting,” the event page details.
Alma Har’el’s “Honey Boy,” Lorene Scafaria’s “Hustlers,” and Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell” are among the titles set to screen. All three pics are based on true stories. Inspired by the life of its screenwriter and star Shia LaBeouf, “Honey Boy” depicts a former child star struggling to make sense of his history with his abusive, alcoholic father. Based on an actual lie, “The Farewell” sees a family decide to lie to its matriarch about her terminal cancer diagnosis. “Hustlers” tells the story of strippers who set out to con their Wall Street clients.
The program also features Chinonye Chukwu’s “Clemency,” a portrait of a morally conflicted prison warden overseeing executions, Céline Sciamma’s “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” a love story about a painter and the reluctant bride she’s commissioned to paint, and Nia DaCosta’s “Little Woods,” a drama following two sisters desperate to prevent the foreclosure of their mother’s house.
“Congratulations To Those Men” will run from February 1-9. You can find more info and buy tickets over at Nitehawk Cinema’s website. A portion of ticket sales go to The Future of Film is Female, which is dedicated to the production, exhibition, and promotion of women-directed films.
