The 33rd annual Boston Film Festival is on its way and chock full of must-see movies: with world premieres, star-studded casts, and lots of local names. We’ve rounded up the five features you need to see.
Kids in a British-American rock band drop out of college and chase their dreams to the Sunset Strip in this haunting flick—which will hit theaters on October 13. Living out of a van and running out of funds, the band is taken in by an enigmatic stranger who swindles them into a devilish deal that will change their destinies. Keep your eyes peeled for familiar faces including John Bradley, Game of Thrones’ Samwell Tarly, Drake Bell, and Denise Richards. September 22 at 9 p.m., AMC Loews Boston Common, 175 Tremont St., 617-423-5801
Liam Neeson narrates the extraordinary life of Nobel Prize winning John Hume in this documentary, which will kick off the festival. Inspired by Martin Luther King, Hune rose from the riot-torn streets of Northern Ireland and secured peace for his home country by enlisting the aid of U.S. Presidents. Featuring interviews with said presidents, as well as other political figures and even Bono, the film is a timely example of the importance of international cooperation. September 21 at 7 p.m., AMC Loews Boston Common, 175 Tremont St., 617-423-5801
Written and directed by a Massachusetts local, Dabka follows a rookie journalist who embeds himself among Somali pirates; getting a close-up at how they live, who they are, and what drives them. Stars include Al Pacino, Evan Peters, Melanie Griffith, and Barkhad Abdi. September 23 at 9:15 p.m., AMC Loews Boston Common, 175 Tremont St., 617-423-5801
This battle-of-the-sexes feature will have you laughing out loud. Misfit and slacker Stensland finds himself caught in a love triangle between Morgan, played by Cristina Applegate, and her alpha male husband. What was a one-night stand quickly turns into so much more. September 24 at 7:15 p.m., AMC Loews Boston Common, 175 Tremont St., 617-423-5801
Damascus Cover stars legendary actor John Hurt in his final performance. Making its World Premiere at the Boston Film Festival, the film follows a veteran spy undercover in Syria after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The mission: smuggle out a chemical weapons scientist and his family. But when the job starts to go wrong, plans change. September 23 at 7p.m., AMC Loews Boston Common, 175 Tremont St., 617-423-5801