The 19th edition of the Leffest brings to Lisbon “the great directors, actors, and artists of our time,” as stated by the organization, presenting a program with “many of the most anticipated and awarded films of the year, some of which are strong contenders for the Oscars.”
The opening, at Cinema São Jorge, features the latest film by Jim Jarmusch, awarded this year in Venice, intertwining three stories about family ties, starring Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Mayim Bialik, Charlotte Rampling, and Cate Blanchett.
Also honored in Venice, the film “The Voice of Hind Rajab” by Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania, about a Palestinian girl killed by the Israeli army, joins the Leffest lineup.
Founded by producer Paulo Branco, the festival will also showcase films such as “Blue Moon” by Richard Linklater featuring Ethan Hawke, “Hamnet” by Chloé Zhao, “Die my love” by Lynne Ramsay, and “The Wizard of the Kremlin” with Jude Law portraying Russian President Vladimir Putin, with filmmaker Olivier Assayas attending in Lisbon.
Among the guests are Brazilian actor Wagner Moura, honored by the festival, American artists Kim Gordon and Laurie Anderson, Hungarian director Ildikó Enyedi, and American director Hal Hartley, who will have a retrospective of his work presented.
In Portuguese cinema, Leffest honors actress Isabel Ruth, synonymous with the Novo Cinema Português, and will feature the national premieres of “As meninas exemplares” by João Botelho, “Entroncamento” by Pedro Cabeleira, and “Maria Vitória” by Mário Patrocínio.
The 19th edition runs until November 16 in various venues across Lisbon, including cinemas São Jorge and Nimas, Teatro do Bairro, and for the first time, in Amadora.
