IU Alum Hannah Fidell Returns to IU as part of “Directed by Women” Series
Post by IU Newsroom intern Tori Lawhorn:
Director Hannah Fidell will visit the IU Cinema at 3 p.m. Sept. 12 for a presentation and special screening of her dramatic romance “6 Years” as part of the Directed by Women and International Arthouse Series. This event is free, but tickets must be obtained in advance.
Director Hannah Fidell. Photo courtesy of Lauren Logan Photography.
“IU Cinema is incredibly fortunate to once again be hosting independent filmmaker and IU alumna Hannah Fidell,” said Brittany D. Friesner, associate director of the IU Cinema. “When Hannah offered us the opportunity to hold a special screening of her newest film and to be in attendance, we knew this was the kind of unique opportunity we wanted to offer students.
“Her fresh perspective on filmmaking and generous spirit of engagement will certainly make for a one-of-a-kind screening, one that we hope students will take advantage of.”
There will be a question-and-answer session following the screening that will be moderated by IU junior and co-president of the IU Student Cinema Guild, Benjamin Nichols.
The film follows a couple of six years, Melanie and Dan, through their post college graduate lives, taking them down a path that may threaten the future they planned together.
Taissa Farmiga of “American Horror Story” and Ben Rosenfield of “Boardwalk Empire” star in the film which made its debut at the SXSW Film Festival in March.
Soon after, Netflix purchased the global distribution rights for $1 million. This was the first major feature film deal of the 2015 SXSW Film Festival. It was also nominated for the Grand Jury Award for Narrative Feature at the festival.
Ben Rosenfield, left, and Taissa Farmiga star in “6 Years.”
The film is mostly improvised. Only a 40-page scriptment, a less extensive form of a script, exists.
Fidell has directed two feature films and several short films. Her first feature film, “A Teacher,” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013 and was later picked up for a television series by HBO.
The film followed a female high school teacher’s illicit sexual relationship with a male student that eventually turned into a dangerous obsession.
Her third feature film, “The Road,” is set to premiere later this year.
Fidell was named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film in 2012. She studied film theory at IU from 2003 to 2007.
Tags: 6 years, Ben Rosenfield, Hannah Fidell, IU Cinema, SXSW Film Festival, Taissa Farmiga
