This year's Stony Brook Film Festival: 8 films to watch

The Stony Brook Film Festival returns for its 31st year on Thursday with dozens of foreign films and a few more American independent titles than usual.

"These are films that I think younger people will like," festival founder Alan Inkles said, adding that many of the selections are unlikely to get a theatrical or even a streaming release given the competitive nature of the movie business. "We have to remind people that they can’t see these films anywhere else," he said.

While the opening night film comes from France and the closing night movie comes from Switzerland, there are more than a half-dozen American features, including the off-kilter comedy "Crystal Cross," the experimental drama "If I Go Will They Miss Me" and a meta-thriller about a struggling filmmaker called "Bravado." The festival will also shine a spotlight on a recent local success story, "Westhampton," which last year earned a Jury Award for Directing for Christian Nilsson, of East Moriches. "Westhampton," the story of a young man facing his past during a visit back home, will hold a free screening July 26 at the Avram Theater on Stony Brook University's Southampton campus with Nilsson in attendance.

Here's a short sample of what’s playing at the festival. All times are in the evening.

ONCE UPON MY MOTHER (Thursday at 7) A French boy born with a club foot in 1963 remembers the mother who stopped at nothing to help him walk. The festival’s opening night film stars Leïla Bekhti, who earned a César nod for her performance. Based on a memoir by lawyer-turned-author Roland Perez.

DOWNBEAT (Friday, 9:30) A struggling musician (Daniel Rashid) moves in with his sister (Addie Weyrich) and strikes up a relationship with someone he shouldn’t (Arkira Chantaratananond). Danny Madden directs this Boston-based, largely improvised drama and shares writing credits with his three stars. He’ll attend the screening.

BERLIN HERO (Saturday, 7) In modern-day Berlin, a reporter gets a great story: The guy who runs the local video store is actually the unsung hero behind a daring East-to-West crossing during the days of the Berlin Wall. Just one question: Is the story true? This comedy marks the final film from director Wolfgang Becker ("Good Bye, Lenin!"), who died in 2024. Starring Leon Ullrich and Charly Hübner.

ANNE PACKARD: AN ARTIST'S RESOLVE (Monday, 7) She was 41 when her husband left her with five children, so Cape Cod painter Anne Packer began selling small canvases from her home for $15 apiece. What followed was a 50-year career, a gallery of her own and a reputation as a regional icon. Producer Stephen Kaiser-Pendergrast will be in attendance.

IF I GO WILL THEY MISS ME (Tuesday, 7) In the Los Angeles neighborhood of Watts, a 12-year-old boy grapples with his father’s return from prison. Walter Thompson-Hernández’s drama "channels elements of surrealism, modern dance and Greek mythology that have never been combined in quite this way before," according to Variety. Starring Danielle Brooks and J. Alphonse Nicholson.

HEYSEL 85 (Wednesday, July 22, 9:30)

In May 1985, the European Cup final between Juventus and Liverpool F.C. at Brussels' Heysel Stadium erupted into violence that ended with 39 people dead and hundreds injured. Director Teodora Ana Mihai combined archival footage with dramatized scenes shot on 16 mm film. She’ll attend the screening.

THE SEA (Thursday, July 23, 7) Barred from joining a school trip to the seaside, a 12-year-old Palestinian boy sets out to see it for himself. Starring Muhammad Gazawi, Khalifa Natour ("The Band’s Visit") and Marlene Bajali. This 2025 drama from Israeli writer-director Shai Carmeli-Pollak won five Ophir Awards, including Best Film.

HELLO BETTY (Saturday, July 25, 7)

The festival’s closing night film is a biopic of Emmi Creola, the Swiss advertising copywriter who in 1956 created Betty Bossi, a fictional housewife who in turn became a national icon. Starring Sarah Spale and Martin Vischer. Directed by Pierre Monnard.