MSG launches Natalie Portman-curated film festival

Boston Calling Events, the promoter of Massachusetts festival Boston Calling, has announced plans for its first film festival, to be held in the run-up to the 2018 event.

Boston Calling Film Festival, curated by Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman, will take place from Tuesday 22 to Thursday 24 May at the Brattle Theatre (235-cap.) in Cambridge, Mass., and showcase a series of films that “explore similar themes told from the perspective of either male or female directors”, including Lolita, Diary of a Teenage Girl, the Exorcist and I Am Not a Witch.

Portman will additionally curate and host a series of “special programming”, details of which are still to be announced, in the Boston Calling Music Festival’s indoor arena throughout the weekend of 25–27 May.

“I’m so excited to show films that I love that explore the female gaze,” says Portman (pictured). “I don’t think there is anything inherently different between male and female artists, but these are examples of great works of art in which similar storylines have female tropes that play out quite differently depending on who is telling the story.

Portman will additionally curate and host a series of special programming in the music festival’s indoor arena

“I’m looking forward to sharing these with an audience and hearing their reactions. It makes it an even more special opportunity to watch these incredible films on the big screen at one of my favourite movie theatres.”

Boston Calling Events is jointly owned by Crash Line Productions and Madison Square Garden Company, the latter of which acquired a controlling interest in the company June 2016.

Now in its ninth year, Boston Calling Music Festival will take place for the second consecutive year at the Harvard Athletic Complex in Allston, Boston, on 25–27 May 2018. Headliners are Eminem, the Killers and Jack White.

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