The core competition contenders for Napa Valley Film Festival | Arts & Theatre

Narrative features core competition

— “American Folk” – Two strangers, both folk musicians stranded in California, embark on a road trip to New York in the days following 9/11. Starring Joe Purdy and Amber Rubarth. Directed by David Heinz. Northern California premiere.

— “The Boy Downstairs” – A young woman is forced to reflect on a past relationship when she inadvertently moves into her ex-boyfriend’s apartment building. Starring Zosia Mamet and Matthew Shear. Directed by Sophie Brooks. Napa premiere.

— “The House of Tomorrow” – The story of futurist, architect, and inventor R. Buckminster is told through one teen’s quest to join a punk band and survive high school. Starring Maude Apatow, Ellen Burstyn, Asa Butterfield, Nick Offerman, Alex Wolff. Directed by Peter Livolsi. Napa premiere.

— “I Can I Will I Did” – Ben, a dejected young man in the foster system, finds himself immobilized after a horrible accident. His recovery process is slow until he meets a fellow patient at the hospital who breathes hope into his life and introduces him to her grandfather, Taekwondo Master Kang. Starring Mike Faist, Ik Jo Kang, Ellie Lee. Directed by Nadine Truong. Northern California premiere.

— “People You May Know” – Jed, a 30-something introvert, has managed to abstain from social media until he realizes that the life he can fake is much more interesting than the life he actually leads. Starring Nicholas Rutherford, Halston Sage, Kaily Smith Westbrook, Nick Thune and Usher. Directed by Sherwin Shilati. Napa premiere.

— “The Sounding” – On a remote island off the coast of Maine, Liv, after years of silence, weaves a unique language out of Shakespeare’s words. A driven neurologist, brought to the island to protect her, commits her to a psychiatric hospital where she fights for her voice and her freedom. Starring Catherine Eaton, Teddy Sears and Harris Yulin. Directed by Catherine Eaton. Napa premiere.

— “Stuck” – A New York City subway train stops in the tunnel beneath the city with six complete strangers stuck inside the rear car. The emotions of the trapped, frustrated passengers explode, as the subway car becomes a kind of magical, musical, conduit cell. Starring Ashanti, Omar Chaparro, Arden Cho, Giancarlo Esposito and Amy Madigan. Directed by Michael Berry. Northern California premiere.

— “Tater Tot & Patton” – A wayward millennial is sent into isolation on a South Dakota ranch, derailing her uncle’s alcoholic spiral and forcing him to face his consuming grief. Starring Jessica Rothe, Forrest Weber and Bates Wilder. Directed by Andrew Kightlinger. Northern California premiere.

— “Quest” – Mills, an abused 12-year-old graffiti addict, and Tim, a humble middle school teacher, form an uneasy friendship when Tim recognizes that Mills poor behavior is merely a cry for help. Tim is willing to sacrifice his job, reputation and relationships in order to win the child’s trust. Starring Betsy Brandt, Dash Mihok, Lou Diamond Phillips and Lakeith Stanfield. Directed by Santiago Rizzo. West Coast premiere.

Documentary features core competition

— “ACORN and the Firestorm” – ACORN, America’s largest grassroots community organizing group, became a major player in the 2008 presidential election that resulted in Barack Obama’s victory. Big businesses, Republicans, and right-wing activists took issue with the group and attempted to strike back. The ensuing political drama has served as a prescient foreshadowing of today’s political climate. Directed by Reuben Atlas and Samuel D. Pollard. California premiere.

— “Catching Sight of Thelma & Louise” – The guides on this journey are female and male filmgoers who, in 1991, wrote letters sharing their thoughts and feelings about “Thelma & Louise.” Investigating themes of female friendship, personal freedom, harassment, rape and empowerment, this film revisits the filmgoers original impressions, comparing them with how they feel today. Directed by Jennifer Townsend. Northern California premiere.

— “Coyote” – The inspiring story of legendary American sailor, Mike Plant. Despite all that he accomplishes in sailing, Plant’s heart is never satisfied. His final creation, Coyote, a radically designed vessel built on the edge of speed and safety, symbolizes Plant’s course in life: running before the wind, always with an eye to the sea. Directed by Thomas Simmons. Northern California premiere.

— “A Fine Line” – Why are only 6 percent of head chefs and restaurant owners are women, when traditionally women have always held the central role in the kitchen and influenced many of the greatest male chefs? This film opens a dialogue on gender inequality, motherhood and career balance, and how this inequity in the kitchen is representative of industries across the board. Directed by Joanna James. West Coast premiere.

— “The Gateway Bug” – More than 2 billion people on earth eat insects for protein. “The Gateway Bug” explores how changing daily eating habits can feed humanity in an uncertain age, one meal at a time. Directed by Johanna B. Kelly. Napa premiere.

— “Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies” – The undisclosed story of Alan Ladd Jr., producer and former 20th Century Fox chairman, the movie mogul who gave the green light to films such as “Star Wars,” “Blade Runner” and” Alien.” Directed by Amanda Ladd-Jones (Ladd’s daughter). Northern California premiere.

— “Mighty Ground” – With the help of unlikely friendships along the way, a homeless songwriter tries to kick a hard-core crack addiction and escape the grisly streets of skid row via his love of music. Directed by Delila Vallot. Northern California premiere.

— “Skid Row Marathon” – A criminal court judge starts a running club made up of homeless drug addicts, a recovering single mom and a paroled murderer on Los Angeles’s notorious Skid Row. As they train together to run in international marathons, they learn to dream big as they are re-acquainted with their own dignity. Directed by Mark Hayes. Northern California premiere.

— “The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin” – The evolution of beloved storyteller Armistead Maupin from a conservative son of the Old South into a gay rights pioneer whose novels inspired millions to reclaim their lives. Directed by Jennifer M. Kroot. Napa premiere.