KC’s ‘Rush Brothers,’ Natalie Portman’s ‘Jackie’ among highlights at Kansas International Film Festival
The Kansas International Film Festival kicks off Friday, and the big name movie that night is a biopic earning Academy Awards buzz: “Jackie.” Natalie Portman stars as Jacqueline Kennedy in the days after her husband was assassinated.
And that’s just the beginning. The weeklong KIFF showcases 160 films from 32 countries. In addition to Edward Asner’s appearance for “My Friend Ed,” the event also presents numerous visiting filmmakers and performers.
Some other festival highlights and guests include:
“Feral Love”
Consummate classical musician or crazy cat lady? That’s the question posed by this documentary about Dorian Rence. At age 21, she was selected as the seventh woman ever to become part of the New York Philharmonic. Now after a 40-year career, the violist cares for a colony of untamed cats housed in the tunnels of New York City. Rence and filmmaker Markie Hancock will attend. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
“The Harrow”
This mystery thriller promises a harrowing viewing experience. A drifter (Tom McKay) who now occupies an abandoned slaughterhouse is haunted by the memory of his murdered lover. When the woman’s daughter (Sonya Harum) arrives, together they try to assemble the horrific truth regarding his past. Filmmaker Kevin Stocklin will attend. 7:35 p.m. Saturday.
“Indivisible”
This documentary puts a face on American immigration reform by following the plight of Dreamers, the children of family members who were deported. They fight to pass the DREAM Act (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) as a pathway for their own citizenship and to help reunite with their loved ones. Filmmaker Hilary Linder will attend. 5:10 p.m. Saturday.
“Occupants”
Alternate reality meets the found footage genre. Briana White and Michael Pugliese star as newlyweds who install cameras throughout their home to craft a clean-living documentary. But they capture something else: a parallel version of themselves. A threatening one, in fact. Director Russ Emanuel will attend. 2:40 p.m. Sunday.
“Rush Brothers”
“The first family of basketball in Kansas City” earn their own documentary. “Rush Brothers” reveals the behind-the-scenes downfall of former No. 1 high school standout JaRon Rush, whose younger brothers Kareem (a player at the University of Missouri) and Brandon (a player at rival University of Kansas) would both spend years competing in the NBA. What a case study in how success and failure often go hand in hand. Director Jordan Haro and Kareem Rush will attend. 7:40 p.m. Saturday.
“T-Rex”
“Meet the fiercest teenager in America,” boasts the tagline. This documentary shadows 17-year-old Claressa “T-Rex” Shields on her quest to become the first woman to win a gold medal in the newly introduced category of Olympic boxing. On her way, she must also battle the disadvantages of her upbringing in crumbling Flint, Mich. Producer Sue Jaye Johnson will attend. 7:35 p.m. Friday.
Jon Niccum is a filmmaker, freelance writer and author of “The Worst Gig: From Psycho Fans to Stage Riots, Famous Musicians Tell All.”
Going to KIFF
The 16th Annual Kansas International Film Festival runs Friday through Nov. 10 at the Glenwood Arts theater, 95th Street and Mission Road in Overland Park. Festival passes are $60, $40 for members of Film League, IFC, KCWIFTV and Film Society. Individual ticket prices range from $6.75 to $9, with a discount for seniors. Find the complete schedule and more info at KansasFilm.com.
This story was originally published November 2, 2016 at 8:00 AM with the headline "KC’s ‘Rush Brothers,’ Natalie Portman’s ‘Jackie’ among highlights at Kansas International Film Festival."