'Welcome to the Rileys' selected to open New Orleans Film Festival

The 21st Annual New Orleans Film Festival (NOFF) revealed that two Sundance favorites, Jake Scott’s “Welcome to the Rileys” and Derek Cianfrance’s “Blue Valentine,” will bookend this year’s festival.  Additionally, Danny Boyle’s “127 Hours” and Darren Aronofsky’s “Black Swan” are also on tap to screen as part the 2010 NOFF lineup.  The festival will run from October 14-21, with screenings across the city.

“Welcome to the Rileys,” the fest’s opener follows a childless couple (James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo) who adopt a young woman (Kristen Stewart) down on her luck after Gandolfini’s character meets her on a business trip to New Orleans.  The fest will close with Cianfrance’s film, which screened at Sundance and in the Un Certain Regard section of this year’s Cannes.  “Blue Valentine” tells the story of a young couple (Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams) as they try to resuscitate their disintegrating marriage.

Commenting on the lineup announced so far, New Orleans Film Society president Larry Blake noted, ““We are thrilled to bring these renowned independent films to the New Orleans community as they set a strong tone for this year’s New Orleans Film Festival. Each year the festival strives to expose the latest in independent film and movie culture to the New Orleans metropolitan area.” The New Orleans Film Society produces the annual event. 

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