The Curtain Rises On Mercy University's 26th Annual International Film Festival

DOBBS FERRY, NY — A film festival that has captured the Zeitgeist of the globe for more than a quarter century, will once again bring the spotlights to Westchester.

Mercy University in Dobbs Ferry will host its 26th Annual International Film Festival from April 21 to April 24, offering four nights of free screenings on its Westchester campus. The festival is presented by the School of Liberal Arts and is open to students, faculty, staff and neighboring communities.

All screenings begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Lecture Hall at 555 Broadway in Dobbs Ferry, according to the university. Seating is first-come, first-served, and all films will be shown with English subtitles.

"For 26 years, this festival has been a cultural cornerstone for our region," said Steven DeRosa, festival coordinator and senior lecturer for Cinema Studies at Mercy University. "We're proud to share this experience with our neighbors, offering exclusive viewings and meaningful conversations that bring our community together through the power of film."

Each evening will include an international film followed by a discussion led by guest speakers from Mercy University and other institutions. According to the university, the talks are intended to give attendees a chance to engage with contemporary cinema from around the world.

The festival opens Tuesday, April 21, with "The Girl with the Needle," a 2024 drama from Denmark, Poland and Sweden directed by Magnus von Horn. The film is in Danish with English subtitles. Dr. Caitlin Wiesner, assistant professor of history and history program director at Mercy University, is scheduled as the guest speaker.

On Wednesday, April 22, the festival will screen "Baghdad Messi," a 2023 drama from Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Iraq directed by Sahim Omar Kalifa. The film is in Arabic and Kurdish with English subtitles. The scheduled guest speaker is Othman Marzoog, a lecturer at Mercy University.

Thursday, April 23, will feature "Chinas," a 2023 Spanish drama directed by Arantxa Echevarría. The film follows three young girls of Chinese descent living in Madrid. It will be shown in Chinese and Spanish with English subtitles. Dr. Maria Bo, assistant professor of English at Stanford University, is listed as the guest speaker.

The festival closes Friday, April 24, with "Kill the Jockey," a 2024 film from Argentina, Mexico, Spain, Denmark and the United States directed by Luis Ortega. The Spanish-language film will be followed by a discussion with Dr. Paula Halperin, director of the School of Film and Media Studies at Purchase College.

More information about the festival is available through Mercy University's School of Liberal Arts. The university said people can contact DeRosa at this email address or visit the festival webpage for details.