NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The New Orleans Film Society (NOFS) announced its full list of panels, parties and events for the 36th annual, Oscar-qualifying New Orleans Film Festival (NOFF), including the NOFF Filmmaker’s Conference presented by New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Foundation, South Pitch (premier platform for emerging Southern artists to showcase their works and receive funding), Made in Louisiana Day (a celebration of homegrown talent and the state’s deep-rooted connection to independent film), Student Industry Day (a collaborative event with COOL Cooperative, introducing New Orleans’ youth to careers in film and entertainment), the New Orleans Film Society Gala (NOFS’ annual night of filmmakers, celebrities, and supporters backing NOFS’s year-round independent film programs) and so much more. Individual tickets are now available to purchase for NOFS members (general public tickets on sale Oct. 2, 12 p.m. CST), plus All Access Passes (which grant access to all parties except the NOFS Gala), Six Film Passes, Student + Teacher Passes and Virtual Passes are also now available for purchase. To view a full list of all NOFF panels, parties and events, visit neworleansfilmsociety.org/lineup-events.
NOFS is excited to host its annual Gala during the festival on Friday, Oct. 24, at the Civic Theatre and has announced its award honorees: Lucinda Williams will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for Music in Film, and Darcy McKinnon will receive the festival’s Lumière Award. Tickets to the Gala ($500) include access to the Patron Party presented by Liberty Bank (hosted by Judith Owen), tasting experiences ranging from craft cocktails to caviar and signature dishes from New Orleans’ most celebrated restaurants, a live auction and an exclusive performance (presented by Positive Vibrations Foundation) by Grammy Award–winning artist Nathaniel Rateliff, joined by special musical guests. Bringing together filmmakers, celebrities, patrons and industry leaders, this special night supports the NOFS’s year-round independent filmmaker programs. Tickets to the Gala are now available to purchase at secure.qgiv.com/event/nofsgala.
“This year’s Festival is packed with incredible parties, panels, and red carpet premieres, and the Gala is at the heart of it,” Said Dodd Loomis, interim executive director of the New Orleans Film Society. “It’s a great honor for the Film Society to gather our community to recognize the artistry of Amy Schumer, Lucinda Williams and Darcy McKinnon, especially in a year where we are forging new partnerships with some of New Orleans’ most vital cultural institutions, from universities to museums to theaters across the city.”
“This year’s Gala is a celebration of storytelling that dares to be bold and original—qualities Amy Schumer, Lucinda Williams, and Darcy McKinnon embody in their work,” said Laura Ashley, Board president of the New Orleans Film Society. “Honoring these three extraordinary women is not just a moment of recognition, but a statement about the power of comedy, music, and film to reflect and transform the world around us. We are thrilled to honor them in New Orleans.”
The festival also announced the participants selected for this year’s South Pitch program, the festival’s signature platform for Southern filmmakers to share works-in-progress, gain critical feedback, and receive funding that can propel their projects forward. Open to both industry insiders and curious audiences alike, the two-day program offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how leading decision makers evaluate films and shape their future. Over the years, South Pitch has launched dozens of Southern stories by providing artists with cash awards and invaluable guidance from top industry voices.
The program unfolds in two tracks—narrative, sponsored by MUBI, on Friday, October 24, and documentary, sponsored by Seed&Spark, on Saturday, Oct. 25. In each two-hour session, up to five filmmaking teams have five minutes to pitch their projects to a distinguished panel of funders, broadcasters, distributors, and producers, followed by ten minutes of insightful, candid feedback. Participants include:
- Narrative Projects
- A.J. Riggins – Charlotte, N.C. – Narrative Features: Look at Toine
- Ashley Shelton – Knoxville, Tenn. – Narrative Features: Shewolf
- Elsee Junior St Preux, Norcross, Ga. – Narrative Features: Saltwater Symphony
- Marena Meala – Austin, Tx. – Narrative Short: Body Shop
- Tony Oswald – Nashville, Tenn. – Narrative Features: Blind Hog
- Documentary Projects
- Cherelle Swain – Washing, D.C. – Documentary Feature: Southmont Drive
- Emily Harrold – Orangeburg, S.C. – Documentary Feature: Sister Senators
- Emily Thomas – Baltimore, Md. – Documentary Feature: The Dead Zone
- Jennifer Gerber – Hot Springs, Arkansas – Documentary Feature: Dirty Girl
- Nathan Willis – New Orleans, La. – Documentary Feature: Invertigo (working title)
Highlights for NOFF’s additional parties and events include:
- Immediately following the Opening Night screening of “Michalopoulos” at the Historic Mahalia Jackson Theater, guests are invited to continue the celebration at James Michalopoulos’ studio at 527 Elysian Fields Ave. The evening will feature food, music and a gathering in the very space that has inspired so much of his artistry.
- For the second year, NOFF will also feature a student takeover of the festival hub, on Monday, Oct. 27. The student programming will be led by the COOL Cooperative, blending hands-on film production activities with powerful cultural storytelling. Students can explore everything from motion control capture, matting, and character design to large-scale world building, while also engaging with the Blanchard House Institute’s Heritage Documentary Project, which empowers youth to preserve local history through film. In addition, the festival will host a special student screening, followed by a Q&A with filmmakers, and lunch provided by Fidelity Bank—making for a dynamic mix of learning, creativity, and inspiration.
- This year, NOFF will launch its Inaugural All College Day, expanding student engagement to New Orleans’ universities. Co-hosted by Tulane and Loyola, the program will welcome college students from across the city for an afternoon of panels with leading industry professionals, a young alumni conversation on building careers in film, and a special showcase celebrating student films selected for the festival. It’s a new opportunity for college audiences to connect, learn, and see themselves represented on the big screen.
- For the first time, the New Orleans Film Festival partners with the iconic New Orleans Jazz Museum to celebrate the electrifying intersection of music and film. Featuring conversations with composer Dominic Lewis, a panel on using production music in film, and screenings of “A Life in Rhythm: The Ray Conniff Story” and “In a Good Place Now: The Life & Music of Bobby Charles,” this collaboration spotlights the artistry and innovation where rhythm meets the screen.
- The New Orleans Film Festival will host a special Michalopoulos pop-up exhibition on display during the festival at the CAC HUB from Oct. 23-27. Catch a sneak peek of James Michalopoulos’ upcoming yearlong exhibition at the Cabildo – Michalopoulos: Mystical Expressionism – opening Nov. 21, along with a special collection of Jazz Fest studies featuring Tank and the Bangas, many never displayed to the public.
- A celebration of homegrown talent and Louisiana’s deep-rooted ties to independent film, Made in Louisiana Day will feature a town hall of local industry leaders to discuss opportunities, challenges, and resources, offering filmmakers practical guidance and highlighting the state’s role as a vital hub for storytelling.
- The festival will also feature special musical performances from Country Music Award nominee Nathaniel Rateliff as part of the Film Festival Gala and as part of the screening of “Lovers” (which he executive produced).
Highlights for NOFF’s lineup of panels and conference-related programming include:
- Fireside chat with Ben McKenzie, known for his roles on “The OC” and “Gotham,” who will be in conversation about his new film “Everyone’s Been Lying to You for Money”
- Filmmaker roundtable featuring Emmy Award winner Will Greenfield, executive producer of “Sinners” and “Euphoria”
- Workshop led by Oscar-nominated director Benh Zeitlin on directed inexperienced actors.
- Panel discussion on the toll of the reality television experience on casts, including past Survivor stars Hai Giang and Erica Durousseau.
- “Slips, Trips & Falls: A Stunts Workshop” will be led by Mike Yahn, Stunt Coordinator for “Descendants,” “Sherlock Holmes,” “Daredevil” and more).
To view the full conference and events schedule, neworleansfilmsociety.org/lineup-events.
