TUNKHANNOCK — Movie-goers will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in new worlds of place, culture, art, relationships and journeys of the mind during the Dietrich Theater’s first ever Winter Fest, running from Friday, Feb. 12 through Thursday, Feb. 25. The festival will feature a diverse selection of new foreign and independent films, beginning with “Grandma” and “Meet the Patels” during the Opening Night Gala.
“Grandma” features Lily Tomlin in a witty story of relationships and what one will do to help the people she loves. “Meet the Patels” showcases eye-opening and comical journey into the custom of arranged marriage. The Opening Night Gala will also include popcorn, beer, wine and a brownie a la mode dessert. Tickets are $25 and can be reserved by calling 570-996-1500.
A dozen more foreign and independent films will be shown in the following two weeks, to make 14 films in 14 days. Excluding the Opening Night Gala, tickets to all other Winter Fest films are $8.50 each. The event is sponsored by the Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau and PS Bank.
For those who wish to discuss the movies with fellow film enthusiasts, a Post Festival Film Discussion will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26.
The complete list of films and show times is as follows:
“99 Homes”
A single father and his family who are evicted from their home by a ruthless businessman and the only way for him to get back what he lost is to team up with the very man who took everything away.
Rating: R
Run time: 112 min
Director: Ramin Bahrani
Stars: Andrew Garfield, Michael Shannon, Laura Dern
Show times: 7 p.m. Feb. 17, 9:15 p.m. Feb. 20, 12 p.m. Feb. 21, 12 p.m. Feb. 23 and 4:30 p.m. Feb. 25
“Grandma”
Elle’s granddaughter shows up out of the blue, needing money. What follows is a search for the cash from old friends that leads to hilarious and unexpected consequences.
Rating: R
Run time: 79 min
Director: Paul Weitz
Stars: Lily Tomlin, Julia Garner, Marcia Gay Harden
Show times: Opening Night Gala Feb. 12, 7 p.m. Feb. 14, 5:15 p.m. Feb. 16, 12 p.m. Feb. 20, 7 p.m. Feb. 22, 5 p.m. Feb. 23 and 12 p.m. Feb. 24
“Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own Words”
Three-time Academy Award-winner Ingrid Bergman is known as one of the most talented actresses of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Through never-before-seen private footage, this documentary presents a personal portrait and behind the scenes look at her life.
Rating: NR
Run time: 114 min
Director: Stig Björkman
Stars: Ingrid Bergman, Roberto Rossellini, Pia Lindström
Show times: 12 p.m. Feb. 13, 2:30 p.m. Feb. 18 and 9:45 p.m. Feb. 19
“Labyrinth of Lies”
The story of an idealistic public prosecutor who is determined to bring an Auschwitz commander, now a teacher to justice. He finds his efforts frustrated because many former Nazis serve in the government. What follows is an examination of the very system that is supposed to protect and serve used to cover up one of the most devastating crimes in history.
Rating: R
Run time: 124 min
Director: Giulio Ricciarelli
Stars: André Szymanski, Alexander Fehling, Friederike Becht
Show times: 7 p.m. Feb. 13, 2:45 p.m. Feb. 16, 2:15 p.m. Feb. 19 and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 23
“Learning to Drive”
A comedy about the unlikely friendship that develops between two very different New Yorkers. She is an author who is inspired to embrace her independence and learn how to drive. Her teacher is a gentle Indian cab driver with an impending arranged marriage. As he teaches her how to drive, they both learn lessons in the value of friendship.
Rating: R
Run time: 90 min
Director: Isabel Coixet
Stars: Patricia Clarkson, Ben Kingsley, Grace Gummer
Show times: 2:15 p.m. Feb. 14, 12 p.m. Feb. 17, 4:30 p.m. Feb. 20 and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 24
“Meet the Patels”
A feel-good film about tradition, societal change and one man’s journey to find love. Actor Ravi Patel is in his 30s, but he is not married, to the chagrin of his traditional parents who had an arranged marriage. He agrees to make a serious effort to find a marriage partner and in so doing, discusses his experiences and feelings about the process.
Rating: PG
Run time: 88 min
Director: Geeta Patel, Ravi Patel
Stars: Ravi Patel, Geeta Patel, Russell Peters, Josh Greenbaum
Show times: Opening Night Gala Feb. 12, 12 p.m. Feb. 14, 5 p.m. Feb. 18, 7 p.m. Feb. 20, 12 p.m. Feb. 22 and 2:15 p.m. Feb. 25
“Room”
Nominated for three Golden Globe Awards, “Room” is based on the critically-acclaimed novel of the same name. It is the story of a 5-year-old Jack and his mother who escape from the captivity that Jack has known his entire life. After the escape the boy makes a startling discovery: the outside world.
Rating: R
Run time: 118 min
Director: Lenny Abrahamson
Stars: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Sean Bridgers
Show times: 9:30 p.m. Feb. 13, 2:30 p.m. Feb. 17, 7 p.m. Feb. 18, 2:15 p.m. Feb. 22 and 7:15 p.m. Feb. 25
“The Second Mother”
This comedy of social politics follows an endearing woman who spends years working as a nanny for a well off family in Brazil. She lives with the guilt of having left her daughter to be raised by relatives, but her life will change when her grown daughter arrives to finally live with her.
Rating: R
Run time: 112 min
Director: Anna Muylaert
Stars: Regina Casé, Helena Albergaria, Michel Joelsas
Show times: 2:45 p.m. Feb. 15, 12 p.m. Feb 18, 2 p.m. Feb. 20 and 4:30 p.m. Feb. 24
“Suffragette”
A drama about the women who were willing to lose everything in their fight for equality in early-20th-century Britain. The story centers on a working wife and mother whose life is forever changed when she is secretly recruited to join the suffragette movement.
Rating: PG-13
Run time: 106 min
Director: Sarah Gavron
Stars: Carey Mulligan, Anne-Marie Duff, Helena Bonham Carter
Show times: 4:45 p.m. Feb. 13, 7 p.m. Feb. 15, 12 p.m. Feb. 19 and 7 p.m. Feb. 23
“Taxi”
A docudrama from acclaimed director Jafar Panahi, who was banned from making movies by the Iranian government. He poses as a taxi driver and makes a movie about social challenges in Iran.
Rating: NR
Run time: 82 min
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Jafar Panahi
Show times: 4:30 p.m. Feb. 14, 5 p.m. Feb. 17 and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 21
“Truth”
A true story that rocked the news media and the world. “Truth” is a look at the newsroom drama that unfolded in 2004 with 60 Minutes reporting on President George W. Bush’s military service, and the subsequent criticism that cost Dan Rather and Mary Mapes their careers.
Rating: R
Run time: 125 min
Director: James Vanderbilt
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Robert Redford, Dennis Quaid
Show times: 2:15 p.m. Feb. 13, 7:15 p.m. Feb. 16, 7:15 p.m. Feb. 19 and 7 p.m. Feb. 21
“Vermeer and Music”
Filmed at the National Gallery in London this film provides a look at artist Johannes Vermeer, painter of the famous “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” and many other masterpieces. This film goes beyond the exhibition to tell the entire story of Vermeer’s life; and, in doing so, reveals in detail many of the artist’s captivating works.
Rating: NR
Run time: 85
Director: Phil Grabsky, Ben Harding
Stars: Tim Marlow
Show times: 5 p.m. Feb. 15 and 4:30 p.m. Feb. 22
“The Winter’s Tale”
A production of Shakespeare’s timeless tragi-comedy.
Rating: NR
Run time: 200 min
Director: Rob Ashford, Kenneth Branagh
Stars: Judi Dench, Kenneth Branagh
Show times: 11 a.m. Feb. 16 and 7 p.m. Feb. 24
“The Wonders”
The story of a family of beekeepers living in the beautiful Tuscan countryside who find their household disrupted by the simultaneous arrival of a silently troubled teenage boy and a reality TV show intent on showcasing the family.
Rating: NR
Run time: 110 min
Director: Alice Rohrwacher
Stars: Alba Rohrwacher, Maria Alexandra Lungu, Sam Louwyck
Show times: 12 p.m. Feb. 15, 5 p.m. Feb. 19, 4:30 p.m. Feb. 21 and 12 p.m. Feb. 25.
