Hamptons International Film Festival Hosting Friday Evening Doc Screenings At Southampton Arts Center Throughout May

The Hamptons International Film Festival’s (HIFF) Now Showing series will focus on Exhibition on Screen, a project that brings the world’s greatest art exhibitions and artists to the big screen, this May at Southampton Arts Center (SAC).

The first three Fridays in May will offer an exhilarating look at a trio of renown artists.

“Thrilled to be continuing with HIFF year round weekly screenings, we bring to our Southampton partner, the Southampton Arts Center, three documentary films focusing on internationally knows artists; Rembrandt, Picasso and Degas,” Anne Chaisson, Hamptons International Film Festival Executive Director, noted. “These documentaries offer a cinematic immersion into the world’s best loved art, accompanied by insights from the world’s leading historians and arts critics. We felt this subject matter would provide a perfect backdrop to what the Southampton Arts Center does best – providing multidisciplinary arts for their constituents with exhibits, film, dance and a whole host of incredible arts exposure all year long.”

The screenings kick off with Degas: Passion for Perfection on Friday, May 3 at 8 p.m. Directed by David Bickerstaff, the film utilizes extraordinary access to rare and diverse pieces, and also explores the artist’s quest for perfection.

Phil Grabsky’s Young Picasso will screen on Friday, May 10 at 8 p.m. The film takes a look at the often overlooked early years of Picasso, with a focus on two major early periods – the so-called Blue Period and Rose Period.

The viewings will wrap up with Rembrandt on Friday, May 17 at 8 p.m. Director Kat Mansoor was given remarkable access to London’s National Gallery and Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum as they prepared for an eagerly awaited new Rembrandt exhibition. The film also delves into Rembrandt’s life story and notable works.

“This brilliant, brave blockbuster reveals the true Rembrandt,” The Guardian lauded, while The Independent lauded, “He is a man demonstrating the range of his techniques…and a sheer humanity that will captivate the public.”

“We are happy to welcome HIFF back to SAC for another series of screenings,” Amy Kirwin, Southampton Arts Center Artistic Director, added. “Exhibitions on Screen allow the audience to experience artwork that they might not otherwise be able to view in person, and it always looks second best on the big screen.”

Tickets to the screenings are $15 and $10 for Friends of SAC and HIFF Members.

Southampton Arts Center is located at 25 Jobs Lane in Southampton. For more information, visit hamptonsfilmfest.org.