This year's will feature 50 films, a mentorship program and musical performances in April.
The annual festival announced its film lineup, which includes screenings of the ; the Louisian premiere of the musical drama "Stuck"; and "RBG," a documentary about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
The Festival opens at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, at LSU with a preview screening of the documentary ." The film investigates how policy decisions in have given rise to a powerful for-profit college industry. A post-show Q&A with director Alex Shebanow follows the screening.
The festival officially opens Thursday, April 19, with the Louisian premiere of "Blaze," a biopic of the late singer-songwriter Blaze Foley. Directed by Ethan Hawke, the film stars Ben Dickey in the title role, recent Oscar winner Sam Rockwell, Alia Shawkat and Kris Kristofferson.
Dickey, who won a Special Jury Prize at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, is also scheduled to perform a concert during the event.
"Stuck" will close the festival Sunday, April 22. The film stars Giancarlo Esposito as a mysterious homeless man among other strangers trapped on a stalled New York City subway car.
The 2018 festival continues the tradition of the Dan Ireland New Voices/New Visions competition. Named after the filmmaker and festival's founding artistic director, this block of films "showcases some of the best recent work from h filmmakers as well as a sampling of exceptional work from around the world," program director Ian Birnie said.
Films in the Dan Ireland New Voices/New Visions lineup include: "And Then I Go," "Brimstone & Glory," "The Guilty," "The Light of the Moon," "Montparnasse Bienvenue" and "Stealing Rodin."
Ten films will be screened as part of the festival's Southern Perspectives block, including "1000 Year Flood," "Urban Country," "Cut Off," "Dark Meridian," "Dead on Arrival," "Do U Want It?," "On Our Watch," "Rancher Farmer Fisherman," "Two Trains Runnin'" and "Tinker."
Gala presentations include "American Animals," a heist film starring Barry Keoghan ("Dunkirk"), Evan Peters ("American Horror Story") and Ann Dowd ("The Handmaid's Tale"); and "Hearts Beat Loud," starring Nick Offerman ("Parks and Recreation") as a single dad who wants to start a band with his daughter.
In addition to the screening of "Fail State," the festival will offer special presentations of "Mary and the Witch's Flower," "Outside In," "Pick of the Litter" and "Where is Kyra?," a character study starring Michelle Pfeiffer ("mother!") and Keifer Sutherland ("Designated Survivor").
A Celebrity Spotlight section features documentaries "Sammy Davis Jr.: I Gotta Be Me," "Itzhak," "Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami"; "RBG," "The King" and "Larger than Life: The Kevyn Aucoin Story." Aucoin is the renowned makeup artist from Lafayette who died at age 40 of a mysterious brain disease.
The Real Reel features documentary screenings of "Bending the Arc," "Boston," "Suicide: The Ripple Effect," "Through the Banks of the Red Cedar," "Getting Naked: A Burlesque Story" and "Nothing Without Us: The Women Who Will End AIDS."
Last but not least, this year's World Cinema offerings include "Back to Burgundy," "Between Land and Sea," "Custody," "Double Lover," "Gabriel and the Mountain," "Ramen Heads," Souvenir" and "Streaker."
are now available online for $10 per film and may be purchased at the cinema box office starting Thursday, April 12. Festival passes also are available for $125; student passes are $25.
A full schedule with more details on parties, performances and other special guests will be announced closer to the festival. For more information, visit .