Twin Cities Film Fest: A Preview of the Selection

As autumn paints the Minnesota landscape with fiery hues, it's time once again to immerse ourselves in the world of storytelling through film. The Twin Cities Film Fest 2023 seeks to showcase both established and emerging talent in the world of cinema. Here are six films in this year's lineup that have me the most intrigued.

Note: Alexander Payne's The Holdovers and Christos Nikou's Fingernails are also part of the official selection. Because I saw both of these films at TIFF, they will not be included in this list.

All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt (10/21)

A decades-spanning exploration of a woman's life in Mississippi and an ode to the generations of people, places, and ineffable moments that shape us.

The film world premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January and will also screen at the New York Film Festival. A24 will release the film in theaters beginning November 03.

All of Us Strangers (10/21)

A screenwriter drawn back to his childhood home enters into a fledgling relationship with a mysterious neighbor as he then discovers his parents appear to be living just as they were on the day they died, 30 years before.

Written for the screen and directed by Andrew Haigh (45 Years). Starring Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell, and Claire Foy. The film had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival and will also screen at the New York Film Festival, London Film Festival, and Chicago Film Festival. Searchlight Pictures will release the film in theaters beginning December 22.

The Taste of Things (10/22)

It tells the story of Eugenie, an esteemed cook, and Dodin, the fine gourmet she has been working for over the last 20 years.

Director Trân Anh Hùng won the Best Director prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The film was also recently selected to represent France in the international feature film race at this year’s Oscar ceremony. An IFC release.

Foe (10/23)

Hen and Junior farm a secluded piece of land that has been in Junior's family for generations, but their quiet life is thrown into turmoil when an uninvited stranger shows up at their door with a startling proposal.

Directed by Garth Davis (Lion). Starring Saoirse Ronan, Paul Mescal, and Aaron Pierre. Amazon Studios will release the film in theaters beginning October 06.

The Teacher's Lounge (10/25)

When one of her students is suspected of theft, teacher Carla Nowak decides to get to the bottom of the matter. Caught between her ideals and the school system, the consequences of her actions threaten to break her.

The film had its world premiere at this year’s Berlin Film Festival. It later won four awards (Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Lead Actress) at the German Film Awards. It will represent Germany in the international feature film race at this year’s Oscar ceremony.

American Fiction (10/28)

Author Thelonious "Monk" Ellison is peeved because his latest offering hasn't caught fire with publishers, while a tome called We's Lives in Da Ghetto by Sintara Golden hits the bestseller lists, leaving Monk seething.

Cord Jefferson's directorial debut had its world premiere at this year's Toronto International Film Festival, winning the coveted People's Choice Award. Jefferson adapted the story from the novel by Percival Everett. Jeffrey Wright, Sterling K. Brown, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Issa Rae star.

Downtown Owl (10/28)

Based on the novel by Chuck Klosterman and partially filmed in the Twin Cities area, Downtown Owl is a sparkle-dark Reagan Era comedy set in the fictional town of Owl, North Dakota in the leading days up to the region's blizzard in Minnesota's century.

Directed by Hamish Linklater and Lily Rabe. Written for the screen by Hamish Linklater. Starring Lily Rabe, Vanessa Hudgens, Ed Harris, Finn Wittrock, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Henry Golding.