It used to be the cliché that the film festival rolled into town every fall. But by now it has long become a fixture, with much of its permanent staff living locally and any number of events taking place here year round. Always interesting, the Hamptons International Film Festival has grown up into a serious player in the world of entertainment, with premieres and early looks at films destined for awards season and critical success, as well as movies we on the East End would never otherwise have heard of that are gems in their own right.
The range is impressive. The festival opens tomorrow with feature dramas from Spain, South Korea, and Chile, and documentaries including one on the largest American flag manufacturer in the United States. The festival will span two weekends this year, ending on Oct. 16 with, among other things, a murder mystery starring Daniel Craig with a huge all-star supporting cast.
Some of the biggest screenings are already sold out, but the festival always has a “rush” line, through which a limited number of people will almost always be able to get in. But plenty of chances to see films remain, mostly at $15 a ticket — a great price for a chance to see the world, with a big bucket of popcorn on your lap, no less.