Ari Aster and Murray Bartlett Among the Honorees at the Provincetown International Film Festival

      The Provincetown International Film Festival will commemorate its 27th year with notable honorees such as Ari Aster, Murray Bartlett, Eva Victor, and River Gallo. It will kick off with Linus O’Brien’s documentary Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror and conclude with Michael Koehler’s Spiritus: No Business Like Dough Business.

      Consistently recognized as one of the 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee, the event is scheduled for June 11-15. More information, including ticketing details, can be accessed here.

      Ari Aster will be honored as the “Filmmaker on the Edge” for 2025 in anticipation of his upcoming film, Eddington, which A24 will release on July 18. The director of Hereditary, Midsommar, and Beau Is Afraid is set to receive this accolade during a conversation with renowned artist and film icon John Waters on Saturday, June 14.

      “Ari Aster’s films interlace themes of grief, beauty, and dread into truly unforgettable cinematic experiences,” remarked Anne Hubbell, PIFF’s executive director. “We are thrilled to host Ari in Provincetown for an engaging discussion about his dynamic filmography.”

      Local to Provincetown, Emmy winner Murray Bartlett will receive this year’s Excellence in Acting Award. The actor, known for his roles in The White Lotus and HBO’s The Last of Us, appears in Ponyboi, which will be showcased at PIFF this year. His recognition will occur during a conversation with Academy Award nominee and former PIFF Filmmaker on the Edge honoree Christine Vachon on Saturday, June 14.

      “Murray Bartlett has established himself as an extraordinary talent, bringing authenticity and depth to every role,” stated Andrew Peterson, PIFF’s director of programming. “From Ponyboi to The Last of Us to Welcome to Chippendales, along with his Emmy-winning work in The White Lotus, Murray exhibits a rare ability to resonate with audiences through vulnerability, humor, and strength. We are excited to honor him this year.”

      Eva Victor and River Gallo will be recipients of the Next Wave Awards this year. Victor is a writer, director, and actor recognized for their feature directorial debut Sorry Baby, which will be screened at PIFF. Gallo is a GLAAD Award-winning filmmaker, actor, writer, model, and intersex rights activist, known for writing, starring in, and producing Ponyboi.

      “Eva Victor and River Gallo embody the essence of independent artistry. With our Next Wave Awards, we are immensely proud to celebrate their diverse talents as both creators and compelling leads in their original debut features,” said PIFF artistic director Lisa Viola.

      Strange Journey explores the evolution of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, tracing its journey from a London fringe theater play to becoming perhaps the most significant cult film in history. Spiritus focuses on one of Provincetown's oldest family-run establishments, Spiritus Pizza and Ice Cream, highlighting the challenges faced by the business and the queer community during the AIDS crisis and the repressive attitudes of the 1970s and 1980s.

      This year’s spotlight selections feature Jimpa, directed by returning filmmaker Sophie Hyde; Annapurna Sriram’s F—toys; and Hurricanna, directed by Francesca Gregorini, which recounts the final days of Anna Nicole Smith as its World Premiere.

      The complete festival lineup for this year is as follows:

      OPENING NIGHT

      STRANGE JOURNEY: THE STORY OF ROCKY HORROR – directed by Linus O’Brien

      CLOSING NIGHT

      SPIRITUS: NO BUSINESS LIKE DOUGH BUSINESS – directed by Michael Koehler

      SPOTLIGHT SELECTIONS

      F—TOYS – directed by Annapurna Sriram

      HURRICANNA – directed by Francesca Gregorini

      JIMPA – directed by Sophie Hyde

      NARRATIVE FEATURES

      THE BALTIMORONS – directed by Jay Duplass

      CACTUS PEARS (SABAR BONDA) – directed by Rohan Kanawade

      DREAMING OF LIONS – directed by Paolo Marinou-Blanco

      DREAMS (SEX LOVE) – directed by Dag Johan Haugererud

      EAST OF WALL – directed by Kate Beecroft

      FAMILIAR TOUCH – directed by Sarah Friedland

      JIMMY – directed by Yashaddai Owens

      MESSY – directed by Alexi Wasser

      OH, HI! – directed by Sophie Brooks

      OPERATION TACO GARY’S – directed by Michael Kvamme

      PLAINCLOTHES – directed by Carmen Emmi

      PONYBOI – directed by Esteban Arango

      QUEENS OF THE DEAD – directed by Tina Romero

      QUEERPANORAMA – directed by Jun Li

      SAUNA – directed by Mathias Broe

      SISTERS – directed by Susie Yankou

      SOR