The County Adaptation Film Festival was born in 2023 out of a meeting of minds between Alexandra Seay of the Regent Theatre and Sol Korngold of the Royal Hotel who continue to share a deep commitment to the future of the County and a desire to showcase it to the world County-style. Working across sectors through private-public-not-for-profit collaborations the festival is designed to create synergies and experiences for participants across the County and beyond.
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Widow Clicquot
In the midst of the Napoleonic wars, young Barbe-Nicole (Haley Bennett) marries the unconventional vintner François Clicquot (Tom Sturridge). She is unprepared to be a mother, a widow and the custodian of a failing family business before the age of 27. Her story is one of resilience and a resounding entrepreneurial triumph.
Adapted from the biography The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Chamagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It by Tilar J. Mazzeo the film represents an adaptation of both a life story and a literary work.
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Pathways to ReconciliACTION: “Six Strings” & “The Secret Path”
Embedded within the festival experience is the Pathways to ReconciliACTION event series of ticketed and public events across three locations. It begins with a ticketed screening of THE SECRET PATH at the Regent Theatre which will be preceded by a Mohawk language short film SIX STRINGS.
A traditional Mohawk welcome will be followed by a 30 minute opening concert by Tyendinaga-based singer-songwriter Jennifer Brant reflecting on Truth & Reconciliation through songs inspired by Mohawk/Kanien’kéha language, culture and traditions.
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Firebrand
Brazilian filmmaker Karim Ainouz’s first English language film, the historical drama FIREBRAND, portrays the life of Katherine Parr (Alicia Vikander) the last, and very reluctant, wife of Henry VIII.
Adapted from Elizabeth Fremantle’s novel The Queen’s Gambit, screenwriting duo Henrietta and Jessica Ashworth create an unconventional filmic reimagining of this historical time; centering on Katherine’s story and the very real dangers she faced being married to a king known for disposing of his wives.
With an unrecognizable Jude Law playing the notorious King, FIREBRAND explores Katherine’s experience of navigating the men around her in a continual game of chess.
Adaptation
Spike Jonze’s classic film. A lovelorn screenwriter (Nicholas Cage) becomes desperate as he tries and fails to adapt The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean for the screen.
Kaufman’s meta-approach to adaptation opens the door to many discussion possibilities of just what an adaptation can be.
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Ru
Based on the Governor General’s Award-winning novel by Kim Thúy, RU charts the arduous journey of a privileged family fleeing from Vietnam in 1968 and eventually settling in Quebec, told through the eyes of young Tinh.
French and Vietnamese with English subtitles.
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The Apprentice
Political journalist and screenwriter Gabriel Sherman presents a fictionalized biopic of one of the most polarizing political figures of our time. The rise of Donald Trump. Biopic as adaptation.
Taking its name from the reality television show that made Donald Trump a household name, Iranian filmmaker Ali Abassi’s film delves into Trump’s early days in New York of the 70’s and 80’s during his formative mentorship with lawyer Roy Cohn.
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