The 22nd annual New Orleans Film Festival starts Friday (Oct. 14), with more than 180 films slated to unspool over seven days at 14 venues around town. Here are five be-there-or-be-square screenings on tap. For a full schedule, visit the New Orleans Film Society web site. You can also check back for daily best bets for the run of the festival:
2. The Big Fix — Local filmmaker Josh Tickell and his wife and filmmaking partner, Rebecca Harrell Tickell, focus their lens on the BP oil spill and the cozy corporate and regulatory relationships that they say are responsible for it. Whether you agree or disagree with them, prepare to be angered by what the Tickells have to say.
The Tickells will attend Friday night’s (Oct. 14) screening — the film’s North American premiere — at 8:45 at the Prytania. An encore screening is scheduled for Wednesday (Oct. 19) at 7 p.m. at the Chalmette Movies.
1. The Artist — A crowd-pleasing silent film starring Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo and local guy John Goodman, it gets things started Friday (Oct. 14) at 6:40 at the Prytania. It’s the one film on this list that I haven’t seen yet, but its reputation precedes it. I’ll be there on Friday — and you should, too.