Indie Memphis Film Festival added more films to its 2022 slate including this year’s Centerpiece Presentation, Elegance Bratton’s The Inspection, fresh from its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film stars Jeremy Pope in a breakout performance as a gay black Marine who has been cast out by his mother (Gabrielle Union). This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Indie Memphis Film Festival, and will run from October 19th through 24th.

Another strong awards contender is recent Indie Memphis Black Creators Forum guest Alice Diop’s debut narrative film, Saint Omer, a drama centering on the trial of Laurence Coly, a young woman accused of killing her 15-month-old daughter. Other selections include Serge Bozon’s offbeat romantic musical Don Juan starring Tahar Rahim and Virginie Efira, which screened at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, as well as acclaimed filmmaker Stephen Frears’ The Lost King, starring Sally Hawkins and Steve Coogan (who also co-wrote).

There will also be the documentaries The Art of Eating: The Life and Appetites of M.F.K. Fisher, which chronicles the life of renowned food writer M. F. K. Fisher, and Sacha Jenkins’ Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues. Both films continue the strong tradition of films about music and food at the Memphis festival.

There is also the addition of a beautiful restoration print of Billy Wilder’s Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, introduced by Happy Hour author Marlowe Granados, in the Revivals section.

CENTERPIECE PRESENTATION

THE INSPECTION (Dir. Elegance Bratton)
Having been rejected by his mother for his sexuality, Ellis French (Jeremy Pope) seeks to build a life for himself in the US Marines. Unfortunately for him, he discovers that his peers and supervisors aren’t really that supportive of his true self either.
2022, 95 min, Drama

NARRATIVE COMPETITION

DON JUAN (Dir. Serge Bozon)
Laurent who is jilted on his wedding day and subsequently embarks upon a wild quest.
2022, 110 min, Comedy/Drama/Musical

NARRATIVE SPOTLIGHT

THE LOST KING (Dir. Stephen Frears)
An amateur historian defies the academic establishment in her efforts to find King Richard III’s remains, which were lost for over 500 years.
2022, 108 min, Drama

SAINT OMER (Dir. Alice Diop)
Young novelist Rama attends the trial of Laurence Coly, a young woman accused of killing her 15-month-old daughter by abandoning her to the rising tide on a beach in northern France. But as the trial continues, the words of the accused and witness testimonies will shake Rama’s convictions and call into question our own judgment.
2022, 122 min, Drama

DOCUMENTARY SPOTLIGHT

THE ART OF EATING: THE LIFE AND APPETITES OF M.F.K. FISHER (Dir. Gregory M. Bezat)
THE ART OF EATING: THE LIFE AND APPETITES OF M. F. K. FISHER is a feature documentary about the exciting life and lasting impact of the intrepid mid-century California food writer M.F.K. Fisher, who elevated cooking from a domestic chore to a critical study of life itself.
2022, 86 min, Documentary

LOUIS ARMSTRONG’S BLACK & BLUES (Dir. Sacha Jenkins)
Follow the life and legacy of the master and so-called founding father of jazz, America’s first pop star, and cultural ambassador.
2022, 104 min, Documentary

REVIVALS

GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES (Dir. Howard Hawks)
Two singers work their way to Paris, enjoying the company of eligible men they meet along the way. Introduced by HAPPY HOUR author Marlowe Granados.
1953, 91 min, Comedy