The Twin Cities Film Fest (TCFF) celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2024. One of Minnesota’s largest recurring cinema events, TCFF balances local and independent filmmakers with studio releases steeped in awards-season buzz. The festival will showcase 140 movies between October 17 and October 26, screening both in-person and online in a hybrid format. I’ve been attending the TCFF for over a decade, and it’s always been a great place to discover something new, engage with Minnesota’s rich film enthusiast community, and support cinema. Whether you’re keen to catch the season’s awards frontrunners or plan to nurture local creatives making their festival debuts, there’s something for everyone. 

This year’s opening night film is Focus Features’ widely praised Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini, and John Lithgow. The thriller, directed by Edward Berger (2022’s All Quiet on the Western Front), involves the frantic race to select a new pope and expose a conspiracy that could upend the Catholic Church. Already hailed as one of 2024’s best films, Conclave will debut after the festival on October 25. 

Other major and mini-major studio films include Searchlight Pictures’ Nightbitch, about a beleaguered mother (Amy Adams) who believes she’s turning into a dog at night. Amazon MGM Studios has two major films at the festival, both set to release theatrically in December: Unstoppable, a sports biopic about Anthony Robles, and Nickel Boys, a harrowing and experimental drama about a horrific chapter of American history. Jesse Eisenberg both stars in and directs A Real Pain, appearing opposite Kieran Culkin in this story of family tensions from Searchlight Pictures. And the latest from auteur director Steve McQueen (Widows), Blitz, an Apple TV+ drama starring Saoirse Ronan, set during the German attack on London during World War II, will close out the festival before hitting theaters on November 1. 

Like most years, TCFF will offer many series, including the “Changemaker” series that focuses on a wide range of pressing social issues, offering films that address addiction, affordable housing, veteran support, homelessness, education, mental health, and more. Others include the “Out” series, featuring LGBTQ+ films; the “Code Red” series, with documentaries about climate change; the “Empower” series that champions BIPOC filmmakers; the “Her” series with films “by women, about women, for women”; and “Black on Screen,” a series dedicated to giving Black filmmakers and subjects a voice. These series promise to shine a light on important social issues and under-represented voices in the medium.

Unique to the festival is a special event hosted by Mystery Science Theater 3000 creator and Minnesota native Joel Hodgson, who will be introducing one of his favorite films: Fred Coe’s 1965 feature, A Thousand Clowns, about a former writer (Jason Robards) determined to live an unconventional lifestyle. 

As has become customary in recent years, TCFF and its Executive Director, Jatin Setia, want the festival experience to be accessible for everyone. To this end, the festival offers weekday matinee screenings and discounted tickets for students and seniors at the Marcus West End Cinemas. More than 70 films are also available for online streaming at twincitiesfilmfest.org, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

DFR’s festival coverage will feature full-length reviews and dispatches on several titles playing at TCFF 2024. Check out the full lineup here.