2022 Lineup + Events

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After receiving over 3,600 submissions from 103 countries for the 33rd anniversary of the festival, our seasoned team of programmers selected a slate of 138 films in competition that represent a wealth of perspectives, with 24 world premieres and 7 US premieres. Overall, films directed by women and gender non-conforming directors account for 57% of the lineup, and films helmed by directors of color make up 56% of the lineup. Films made in the American South represent 50%, and Louisiana-made films represent 22% of the lineup, and the directors of selected films represent 35 different nationalities.

Learn about our Programming Practices and Meet our Programmers.

View 2022 New Orleans Film Festival film guide.

NOFF 2022 Filmmaker Conference panels are free and open to the public and will take place in the FotoKem Theater at Second Line Stages (800 Richard St, New Orleans).

Friday, November 4

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Production Case Study: The Inspection

Join producer Effie Brown and director Elegance Bratton in conversation as they speak to the journey of bringing the story of this Gotham Award–nominated story to screen.

Panelists: 

Elegance Bratton, director of The Inspection 

Effie Brown, producer of The Inspection 

Moderator: 

Zandashé Brown, filmmaker and NOFF programmer

The conversation is supported by

Saturday, November 5

12:00 PM – 12:45 PM

Community as Infrastructure: Strengthening Independent Media Arts at a Regional and National Level

Join members of the Independent Media Arts Group (IMAG), a collaborative project of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Sundance Institute, as they reflect on their work over the last three years and look ahead to the future. This interactive event will include the release of an IMAG briefing that highlights recent successes and upcoming opportunities for the field. Members of the offshoot group Indie Media Arts South will talk about what regional organizing has meant to them, as they harness the power of their networks to create an infrastructure that supports their work.

Panelists: 

Maggie Bowman, Facilitator, Independent Media Arts Group

Jax Deluca, National Endowment for the Arts

Anjanette Lavert, Indie Media Arts South

Kat Schulze, Sundance Institute 

Cydney Tucker, Filmmaker

The conversation is supported by

3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Healing Informed Practices and Community Care in Documentary Filmmaking

How do we center healing and care in our documentary filmmaking practices? Panelists will discuss various initiatives working to develop values and guidelines for ethical documentary filmmaking and share best practices from their own experiences in filmmaking. 

Panelists: 

Dr. Kameelah Mu’Min Rashad, Psy.D, Founding President, Muslim Wellness Foundation and Documentary Accountability Working Group member

Veronica Rutledge, director of A Place on the Edge of Breath

Bhawin Suchak, director of Outta the Muck and Documentary Accountability Working Group member and 

Dawn Valadez, Filmmaker and Director of Youth and Artistic Development Programs, BAVC

Moderator: 

Kiyoko McCrae, NOFS Director of Documentary Programming and Filmmaker Labs

The conversation is supported by

Sunday, November 6

2:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Music, Memory, and Movements

How does music play a role in supporting social movements and reshaping narratives? This panel discussion will feature artists whose films in this year’s lineup explore the role of music in our collective imagination. 

Panelists: 

Mirissa Neff, director of This Is National Wake

Marcus Pontello, director of Friday I’m in Love

Charnelle Quallis, co-producer and editor of A Taste of Heaven: The Ecstatic Song & Gospel of Maestro Raymond Anthony Myles

Music artist Akeem ‘GUAP’ Hayes, writer and protagonist of Stoop Kid

Moderator: 

Zuri Obi, filmmaker and NOFF programmer

The conversation is supported by

Monday, November 7

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

Cinema and the Collective Lens

This panel discussion will feature filmmakers whose documentary and narrative films featured in this year’s lineup weave together different storylines to shape a communal narrative. They will reflect on the challenges and inspirations for how their works push the boundaries of traditional film structures in collective storytelling. 

Panelists: 

Dwayne LeBlanc, director of CIVIC

Maria Luisa Santos, producer and editor of Stay Here Awhile

Marta Gomez, co-director of In Ruins 

Missy Malek, director of We’re Too Good For This 

Moderator: 

Amada Torruella, filmmaker and NOFF programmer

The conversation is supported by

2:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Healing as Documentary Process

As storytellers, how can different healing practices play a guiding role in the development of documentaries around our own families? What types of long term care can we provide protagonists and our film teams throughout the lengthy process of producing a documentary? 

Panelists: 

Aurora Brachman, director of Still Waters

Tracey Arcabasso Smith, director of Relative

Jasmin Mara López, director of Silent Beauty

Moderator: 

Amada Torruella, filmmaker and NOFF programmer

The conversation is supported by

South Pitch

Since 2011, South Pitch has provided a unique opportunity for filmmakers from across the American South to pitch their next film production to a panel of industry judges. This year’s program will feature two tracks: South Pitch Narrative presented by Warner Bros. Discovery and South Pitch Documentary. The winning narrative pitch will receive an ‘invitation only’ opportunity to apply for an artist grant from Warner Bros. Discovery’s content innovation hub, OneFifty. The winning documentary pitch will receive a $10,000 cash prize.

NOFF 2022 South Pitch is free and open to the public and will take place at the New Orleans Jazz Market (1436 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, New Orleans).

Friday, November 4

1:30 PM – 3:30 PM

South Pitch Documentary

Finalists and the projects they will pitch include:

• Andy Sarjahani – Iranian Hillbilly (Documentary Feature)

• Carl Harrison Jr. – Eve’s Garden (Documentary Short)

• Colleen Thurston & Niketa Reed – Drowned Land (Documentary Feature)

• Gabriela Díaz Arp – Matininó (Documentary Feature)

• Matthew Hashiguchi & Anjanette Levert – The Only Doctor (Documentary Feature)

• Rebekah Fergusson – God Sent Us Alan (Documentary Feature)

South Pitch Documentary presented by

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

South Pitch Narrative presented by Warner Bros. Discovery

Finalists and the projects they will pitch include:

• Asad Farooqui – Boundaries (Narrative Feature)

• Chris Molina – Fallen Fruit (Narrative Feature)

• Ebony Blanding – Hallelujah Night (Narrative Feature)

• Elo Santa Maria – Moonbeams (Narrative Short)

• Luke Harris – Tambou (Narrative Feature)

• Maya Pen – Flammable Water (Narrative Feature)

South Pitch Narrative presented by

Thursday, November 3 – Opening Night Party

9:00 PM – 12:00 AM

Location: Second Line Stages (718 Richard St)

Open to All Access passholders and Opening Night film ticket holders.

Kickoff #NOFF2022 in one of Second Line Stages new sound stages with specialty cocktails, beer, wine; an Iconic 360 Photobooth; bites provided by The Lakehouse; and music from the ultimate party starter, DJ Keith Scott! And maybe a special guest or two…

Friday, November 4 – City Of New Orleans Reception

9:00 PM – 11:00 PM

Location: New Orleans Jazz Market (1436 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, New Orleans)

Open to All Access passholders.

A jazzy evening with Grammy award-winning Adonnis Rose while you enjoy Creole bites provided by Pigeon Caterers and specialty cocktails. Valet parking ($10/car) starts at 7 PM so come early for the film.

Saturday, November 5 – Saturday Night Party

10:00 PM – 1:00 AM

Location: Da Empire (2222 Poydras St, New Orleans)

Open to All Access passholders.

Take in NOLA’s newest most exclusive entertainment venue with tunes by DJ Red Stylez, acrobatics by Acrodite and Ama May, and specialty cocktails. Bottle service available!

Sunday, November 6 – Filmmaker Awards Brunch

10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Location: New Orleans Jazz Market (1436 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, New Orleans)

Open to Filmmakers and Industry passholders only.

Featuring a keynote address by Maya Cade (Black Film Archive, Criterion Collection).

Sunday, November 6 – Celebrating Florida Films Receptions

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Location: The Broadside (600 N Broad St, New Orleans)

Open to All Access passholders.

Enjoy the outdoors and mingle with speciality cocktails and light bites provide from Codey’s NOLA.

Fun tip! Following the reception, there will be a Fais Do Do from 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM before the 8:00 PM screening of Roots of Fire (included with the ticket to the screening!). Performers include Jourdan Thibodeaux and Wilson Savoy, who are featured in the film.

Monday, November 7 – Monday Night Happy Hour

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Location: Pythian Market (234 Loyola Ave, New Orleans)

Open to All Access passholders.

Join us for a speciality cocktail at this casual happy hour-type event before the Saints game and enjoy a snack from La Cocinita!

Tuesday, November 8 – Closing Night Party

10:00 PM – 1:00 AM

Location: New Orleans Jazz Market (1436 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, New Orleans)

Open to All Access passholders and Closing Night film ticket holders.

Featuring special performances from the Tremé Brass Band, Little Freddie King, and Marley Marsalis (granddaughter of the late Ellis Marsalis)—plus speciality cocktails, beer, wine, and light bites provide from Codey’s NOLA.