Louisville's International Festival of Film is back with some big movies. What to know

Get ready for your close-up, Louisville. Independent filmmakers from all over the world are heading to Derby City this weekend to take part in the 14th annual Louisville's International Festival of Film.

Founded by veteran actor and Louisville native Conrad Bachmann, this year's festival, held in person Oct. 6-8 and virtually Oct. 8-15, includes 15 films that spotlight stories and issues that are sweeping the world.

“We are overwhelmed by the support we have received over the years for this festival," said Bachmann. "We have reached our 14th year and every year I am amazed at the submitted films."

Notable films from past festivals have included "The Burning Plain" starring Louisville native and Academy Award-winner Jennifer Lawrence and "Le Ride" directed by Emmy Award-winner and host of "The Amazing Race," Phil Keoghan.

Conrad Bachmann poses for a photo on the Derby red carpet.  Maggie Huber/Special to Courier-Journal May 07, 2022
Conrad Bachmann poses for a photo on the Derby red carpet. Maggie Huber/Special to Courier-Journal May 07, 2022

The annual event has grown each year and now includes 3D films, animated features, documentary features and shorts, horror features and shorts and feature-length films. Screenings during the 2022 event will be held at Holiday Inn Express Downtown, Kentucky Science Center, and Muhammad Ali Center.

The festival kicks off Thursday with "Corsicana," a fictionalized account of Bass Reeves, a formerly enslaved person from Arkansas who went on to become a storied deputy United States Marshal in the latter part of the 19th century. Actor Isaiah Washington, ("Grey’s Anatomy") directed and stars in "Corsicana" as Marshal Reeves.

The film also stars New Albany, Indiana, native Major Dodge. The actor, writer and producer is best known for his critically acclaimed independent film "Bomb City"

"I can’t wait to come home to Louisville and bring some of my Corsicana family with me," the actor said. "When 'Bomb City' headlined the festival in 2017, my dad said it was a great movie, but it would be cooler if you did a Western. So here we are."

"Corsicana'' will be screened at Kentucky Science Center on Thursday at 6 p.m., followed by an after-party at the Muhammad Ali Center, 144 N. Sixth St.

Also included in the festival's line up, "Live Out Loud," a documentary by Louisville filmmaker Melissa Gregory Rue. Shot over one year, the feature highlights the transformative power of filmmaking. Rue's documentary tells the stories of three people experiencing homelessness in Portland, Oregon who are empowered and begin to heal from childhood trauma by learning to make films in a grant-funded class.

Rue’s mission is to inspire other cities to rethink their approaches to connecting with and uplifting people experiencing homelessness. Of course getting people into housing, with food and water are vital first steps, but in her film Rue shows there’s another side to solving this crisis—restoring self-esteem.

"Live Out Loud" screens at the Louisville International Film Festival Friday at 4:40 p.m. atKentucky Science Center, 727 W. Main St.

"Someone once said that anything is possible in films with the right script, the right cast, and the right production team," Bachmann said. "We hope that we have brought you this exciting combination in our selection of films this year."

Tickets for the Opening Night Film and Party are $25. All weekend passes and day passes are $10. For a full schedule of the weekend events and tickets visit louisvillefilmfestival.org.

Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville’s International Festival of Film opens with "Corsicana"