Presenting Partner
Signature Partners
New York Premiere
Luce
| USA | 109 MINUTESDrama, Thriller
High schooler Luce (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) overcame a nightmarish past as a child soldier in Eritrea to become the definition of the All American teenager. As a valedictorian, track star, and all-around popular kid, his life seems set until he suddenly finds himself at odds with an overbearing teacher Ms. Wilson (Octavia Spencer). When his loving adoptive parents (Naomi Watts and Tim Roth) become entangled in the suspicions of this teacher, complex questions of prejudice suddenly bubble to the surface, threatening to expose the ugly truths about all involved.
Boasting a revelatory central performance by Harrison (who also appears this year in Gully) and nuanced work from an electrifying ensemble, director and co-writer Julius Onah twists this tale (adapted with JC Lee from his own play) into unexpected shapes, forcing the audience to examine the characters from every imaginable angle. Tension pulls at the screen, allegiances shift, and the viewer’s own biases are used to deepen the storytelling in masterful ways.
—Loren Hammonds
After the Premiere Screening: Join us in honoring the virtuosic ensemble cast of Luce with an empowering conversation led by Naomi Watts, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Andrea Bang, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Tim Roth, and director Julius Onah, discussing their expansive careers and the indelible roles that led each cast member to Luce.
Boasting a revelatory central performance by Harrison (who also appears this year in Gully) and nuanced work from an electrifying ensemble, director and co-writer Julius Onah twists this tale (adapted with JC Lee from his own play) into unexpected shapes, forcing the audience to examine the characters from every imaginable angle. Tension pulls at the screen, allegiances shift, and the viewer’s own biases are used to deepen the storytelling in masterful ways.
—Loren Hammonds
After the Premiere Screening: Join us in honoring the virtuosic ensemble cast of Luce with an empowering conversation led by Naomi Watts, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Andrea Bang, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Tim Roth, and director Julius Onah, discussing their expansive careers and the indelible roles that led each cast member to Luce.
Cast & Credits
Directed by
Julius Onah
Julius Onah is a Nigerian American filmmaker based in New York City. His work has screened at festivals around the world including Sundance, Berlin, London, Dubai, Los Angeles, Melbourne and Camerimage. He’s currently exploring storytelling around the world through his multimedia project Open Continents.
Director
Julius Onah
Producer
John Baker, Julius Onah, Andrew Yang
Screenwriter
JC Lee, Julius Onah
Panelists
Andrea Bang
Andrea Bang was born and raised in Burnaby, B.C. She is best known for her work on CBC’s Kim’s Convenience, for which she was nominated for Best Actress in a Comedy Series at the Canadian Screen Awards. Other credits include Adventures in Public School, Convos with My 2-Year-Old and Running with Violet. Outside of acting, Andrea also writes, crafts and watches too much TV.
Rebecca Carroll
Julius Onah
Julius Onah is a Nigerian American filmmaker based in New York City. His work has screened at festivals around the world including Sundance, Berlin, Tribeca, London, Dubai, Los Angeles, Melbourne and Camerimage. He’s currently exploring storytelling around the world through his multimedia project Open Continents. Headshot Credit: Matthew Mendelson
Naomi Watts
Naomi Watts is a multiple Academy Award® and Screen Actors Guild® Award nominee, as well as a Golden Globe® nominee. She has been directed twice by David Lynch, starring in the critically acclaimed film Mulholland Drive and the recent 18-part limited series Twin Peaks for Showtime. This year, she is starring in Showtime’s The Loudest Voice and on the big screen, she will also star in Luce and Ophelia. Her feature film credits include The Impossible, 21 Grams, I Heart Huckabees, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), St. Vincent, The Ring, King Kong, Eastern Promises, Fair Game, J. Edgar, The International and The Painted Veil.
Marsha Stephanie Blake
Marsha Stephanie Blake will be celebrating three films at this year’s 2019 Tribeca Film Festival including See You Yesterday for Netflix, Luce and Goldie. Other credits for Blake include Matt Ruskin’s Crown Heights, Orange is the New Black, HBO’s Getting On and upcoming projects, Ava DuVerney’s When They See Us, Stella’s Maghie’s The Photograph and Netflix’s The Laundromat. A staple in the NY Theatre community her on-stage Broadway credits include Merchant of Veniceand The Crucible as well as Othello for New York Theatre Workshop.
Kelvin Harrison Jr.
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* Rush Tickets available at venue except for
Beacon Theatre
Beacon Theatre
Rush will be offered when advanced tickets for a screening or event are no longer available at venues
other than Beacon Theatre.
The Rush system functions as a standby line that will form at the venue approximately one hour prior to scheduled start time. Admittance is based on availability and will begin roughly 10 minutes prior to program start time. Rush Tickets are the same price as advance tickets and are payable upon entry.
The Rush system functions as a standby line that will form at the venue approximately one hour prior to scheduled start time. Admittance is based on availability and will begin roughly 10 minutes prior to program start time. Rush Tickets are the same price as advance tickets and are payable upon entry.
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