The 43rd Annual Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival

Minnesota is blessed with, not one, but two big film festivals every year highlighting unique programming and opportunities that only happen at a film festival. Up first is the annual Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF) that runs April 11 – April 25, 2024 at the Main Cinema in Minneapolis. All five screens will be running for the two week festival that will feature 200+ films from 70+ countries and cultures ranging from studio films, independents, international films, documentaries, and much more. Programming Director Jesse Bishop is part of the team that curates the festival and explains, “We travel throughout the world throughout the year to film festivals visiting with filmmakers, and we create this collection of favorites and sort out what Minnesota audiences would love.” There’s a mix of their favorites and what’s trending. Bishop noted, “There are a lot of films this year about the transformative power of art.”

Since its birth, MSPIFF has been all over Twin Cities, but it’s been at The Main Cinema for the last ten years with audiences planning their trips to the festival to take in the spring weather and staycation needs. Watching specifically curated films with an audience of film lovers is truly special, especially knowing there may be films that only play on the festival circuit and may not get wide distribution. It’s sometimes these smaller gems that have a lasting impact over the big blockbusters we’re treated to throughout the year. There will be panels, filmmaker conversations, and the bar at Pracna will be open for conversations and dialogue throughout the festival.

This year MSPIFF is honoring two-time Oscar winning cinematographer Roger Deakins (1917, Blade Runner 2049) with their MSPIFF Milgrom Tribute award. Deakins will be on site at the festival with his wife and collaborator James Ellis Deakins to talk about their career, their new photography book “Byways” and will have a pre-screening conversation before a special presentation of the Coen Bros. masterpiece, Fargo, on April 24th.

Here are a few films that I think you should check out!

STUDIO FILMS/FEATURE FILMS

1. Sing Sing, starring Colman Domingo, Paul Raci – OPENING NIGHT FILM April 11
2. The Idea of You, starring Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galatzine – April 13
3. Tuesday, starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus – April 13, 16
4. Thelma, starring June Squibb , Parker Posey – April 15, 18, 20

DOCUMENTARIES/BIOGRAPHIES

1. Luther: Never Too Much – April 14, 16
2. Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink – April 16, 18
3. Mad About the Boy: The Noël Coward Story – April 17, 23
4. Merchant Ivory – April 17, 19
5. The Fishing Hat Bandit – April 19, 20, 21

Head to their website for their full list of movies, events, and every detail you need! And watch Twin Cities Live on KSTP on Friday, April 19 for my conversation with Programming Director Jesse Bishop.