Independent Film Festival Boston Returns for Fall

The Independent Film Festival Boston kicked off its annual Fall Focus series on Oct. 31, and ran through Nov. 3 at the iconic Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square. Known for its spring festival, IFFBoston’s Fall Focus brought an exclusive selection of critically acclaimed films from this year’s global festival circuit, offering Boston audiences a unique preview of films that are generating awards buzz and conversation.

This year’s Fall Focus opened on Halloween with Marielle Heller’s “Nightbitch,” a darkly magical exploration of motherhood and identity starring Amy Adams as a woman grappling with suburban isolation and a yearning to reconnect with her wild self. Heller’s film set the stage for a captivating lineup that included a mix of intense dramas, international gems, and thought-provoking comedies.

Amy Adams in Marielle Heller's newest film, "Nightbitch." By Courtesy of IMDB

Notable highlights included Mohammad Rasoulof’s “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” released on Nov. 2. The film is a gripping social drama and Germany’s entry for the 2025 Academy Awards that depicts a lawyer entangled in the moral complexities of his work amid Iran’s turbulent protests. Also screening was Andrea Arnold’s “Bird,” which follows a young girl as she finds solace in nature while facing family upheaval. RaMell Ross’s “Nickel Boys,” showing on Nov. 3, offered a powerful adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s novel about two Black teens navigating life in a brutal 1960s reform school in Florida.

Kiernan Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg in "A Real Pain." By Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

Boston’s cinephiles will be excited for the theatrical release of “A Real Pain,” which closed the festival this year. This is writer-director Jesse Eisenberg’s second feature film, in which he also stars alongside Kieran Culkin. This movie follows two estranged cousins reconnecting on a road trip through Poland, examining family history against the landscape of intergenerational trauma.

Divya Prabha as Anu in Payal Kapadia's "All We Imagine as Light." By Courtesy of Cannes Film Festival

Additional screenings featured some of the best in international cinema, including Payal Kapadia’s “All We Imagine as Light,” the Cannes Grand Prix winner; Rungano Nyoni’s “On Becoming a Guinea Fowl”; and Gints Zilbalodis’s animated feature “Flow,” Latvia’s official submission for the 2025 Academy Awards. Each film brought its own unique narrative style and perspective to this year’s eclectic lineup, adding to the series’ reputation for delivering the best of contemporary cinema.

Setareh Maleki, Mahsa Rostami, and Soheila Golestani in Mohammad Rasoulof's "The Seed of the Sacred Fig." By Courtesy of Cannes Film Festival

In its tenth year, the Fall Focus expanded to a four-day event, with 12 films carefully curated to reflect the breadth of global and indie filmmaking. As Boston’s independent film scene continues to flourish, the Fall Focus provided a perfect forum for students and Boston residents to explore the art of cinema, often with filmmakers and industry experts in attendance for Q&As and discussions.

IFFBoston’s Fall Focus gave attendees an invaluable opportunity to see films from celebrated directors like Rasoulof and Eisenberg, alongside emerging voices in international cinema.

—Staff writer J.J. Moore can be reached at [email protected].