JULIA SCOTTI: FUNNY THAT WAY (2020)

Incredibly lovely and loving portrait of comedian Julia Scotti, who was born as Rick. Rick had successful career as a stand up comic  but realized he still wasn't happy. Then  in her later 40's she realized what  was wrong with her life and decided to change from being Rick and become her true self, Julia.

JULIA SCOTTI: FUNNY THAT WAY came across my desk at exactly the wrong time. My father had passed a short time before, I was declining covering films left and right and really wasn't in the mood to see anything. For some reason I clicked on the link for the trailer and it made me smile. There was something warm and sweet about the film and about Julia which perked me up so I agreed to take a look at the film.

What an absolute joy. What an absolutely magnificent portrait of one woman trying to find her happiness and bringing everyone along with her. To be honest the road was hard, marriages broke up, Scotti was estranged from her children for years and things happened, but in the end it seems, that she has found a place  where she can be happy.

The  film opens with Julia talking about how her story doesn't really matter, but it really does. Julia's story matters because in watching her go from Rick to Julia we see a beautiful story of how, if we are lucky, we too can change ourselves and our worlds for the better by following our hearts. Watching the old video and film of Rick you can see how he was shlumphy and self deprecating. You can see the sadness behind his eyes. On the other hand watching Julia now, interacting with people and performing you can see how much better she is being herself. The sadness is gone, as is the self-eviscerating  humor and it is replaced with smiles and jokes that have a warmth to them. Say what you will Julia is so much funnier.

What I love about the film is it leaves me wanting more. Not just more of the story, but it makes me want to track Julia down and just hang out with her. I want some of her joy of life to come my way. I want to go to a diner and shoot the breeze and catch up on old times- despite never having met her before. That the film does this is a testament to not only Julia but director Susan Sandler who has made not so much a film  but a personal introduction via bear hug. It's as if she has invited us over for lunch with someone one we "just had to meet" because she knew we'd be great friends. She was right and after watching the film I feel as though I now have a great friend whom I've never met.

I absolutely love this film and it's subject to pieces.

Highly recommended on the level of this is going to be "one of your most cherished films of the year" level, JULIA SCOTTI is going to be continuing on the festival circuit with the film being an official selection at Austin’s AGLIFF 2020 (All Genders, Lifestyles, and Identities Film Festival) Aug. 6-16 and will play at the Bentonville Film Festival Aug.10-16.

BENTONVILLE FILM FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES SPOTLIGHT FILMS AND COMPETITION PROGRAM FOR 2020 FILM FESTIVAL

BFF’s 6th annual film festival, co-founded by Academy Award®-winning actor Geena Davis, will be a hybrid structure, showcasing 68 films uniquely dedicated to representation in media. More than 80% of BFF’s feature film showcase is directed by women; 65% BIPOC and 40% LGBTQIA+

Los Angeles, July 22, 2020— The Bentonville Film Foundation today announced their spotlight and competition program of independent feature films, shorts, and episodic titles for the 2020 Bentonville Film Festival, August 10-16. Co-founded by Academy Award®-winning actor Geena Davis, and supported by Founding Sponsor, Walmart and Presenting Sponsor, Coca-Cola, BFF is a one-of-a-kind event, uniquely dedicated to championing underrepresented voices in film, entertainment and media. The 6th annual film festival will be presented as a hybrid structure, pairing digital screenings, panels and events alongside select on-the-ground premieres and conversations.

The program includes 68 films representing female, BIPOC (65%) and LGBTQIA+ (45%) filmmakers. More than 80% of films at the 2020 Bentonville Film Festival were directed by women, including 4 Spotlight features: Opening night film, Oge Egbounu’s acclaimed directorial debut, (In)visible Portraits, which shatters the too-often invisible otherizing of Black women in America; Philippa Lowthorpe’s Misbehavior, starring Keira Knightley and Jessie Buckley, which tells the bizarre true story of protest and controversy at 1970 Miss World contest; Parkland Rising, an inspiring look at the students of Parkland, Florida, who started an international movement to call attention to the need for better gun safety laws, by two time EMMY award-winning filmmaker Cheryl Horner McDonough; and Elegance Bratton’s Pier Kids, an intimate look at homeless queer and trans youth of color in New York City that must contend with overwhelming amounts of homophobia and abuse.

Bentonville Film Foundation Co-Founder and Chair, Geena Davis, said: “BFF’s mission to foster diversity and inclusion across the media landscape stands more important now than ever before as we continue to support filmmakers in a new and creative way. Within the context of a pandemic, and the continued fight for social justice, we renew our deep commitment to underrepresented storytellers around the world. This year’s virtual structure presents a unique opportunity that is not lost on us as we use the power of the digital world to share BFF’s messaging to far-reaching global audiences, arguably more than we ever have.”

Wendy Guerrero, President of Programming of Bentonville Film Festival said: “Our team has worked hard over the past few months to rethink and rebuild our Festival for 2020, always drawing on our mission to champion underrepresented voices, which has grown even more urgent as we continue these challenging circumstances. Our 2020 program is a celebration of art and diversity, perseverance, and talent. The films in this year’s lineup showcase what we’ve known all along: representation in media, means better content for all. We could not be prouder of this incredible slate and of the storytellers that have agreed to present their visions with BFF’s audiences around the world.”

Brittney Duke, VP of Retail Marketing at Walmart said: “At Walmart we are committed to amplifying and elevating diverse voices in media and entertainment. We couldn’t be happier to enter into a sixth year with the Bentonville Film Festival to reinforce these values at our core. We are excited to participate and shed light on these underrepresented storytellers."

Louis Martin, President Global Walmart / Sam’s Club Customer Team at Coca-Cola said: “At Coca-Cola, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values, and are an important part of our success. Our purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference, and co-sponsoring the 2020 Bentonville Film Festival is another great way to live out our purpose, which is why we are excited to present this program along with Geena Davis and our partners at Walmart.”

More lineup announcements, including Events, Panels and Jury are forthcoming. Ticket packages for the 2020 Bentonville Film Festival can be purchased HERE.

Spotlight Features