Folks, as you are probably well aware, we are knee-deep in fall film festival season. And with the end coming soon, we’re starting to see the last bit of high-profile fall films get some last-minute world premieres. And today, we have seen two of these such announcements, with George Clooney’s “The Tender Bar” and Scott Cooper’s “Antlers” both getting prime slots in upcoming festivals.
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According to the BFI London Film Festival, “The Tender Bar,” which is directed by George Clooney and stars Ben Affleck, will make its world premiere at this year’s event. The official debut will happen on October 10. This is a film that is expected to have possible awards season chances, as names like Clooney and Affleck tend to excite critics and fans.
Here’s the synopsis for “The Tender Bar”:
JR is a boy without a name and a father. At least, that’s the story according to many of the adults outside of his family. But when his mother moves back into her childhood home, JR’s charismatic bar-owning Uncle Charlie (Affleck) is determined the boy doesn’t see himself that way. Based on the memoirs of writer JR Moehringer and elegantly adapted for the screen William Monahan (The Departed), Tender Bar is a poignant reflection on the ways in which the right influence, at just the right time, can have a profound impact. Fueled by the sounds of Jackson Browne, Golden Earring and Steely Dan, and with period-perfect design from an exceptional production team, Clooney’s impressive drama also features Tye Sheridan as an older JR, reflecting back on his childhood, while newcomer Daniel Ranieri is a revelation as the budding young writer. Lily Rabe and Christopher Lloyd round out the terrific lead cast.
In addition to the BFI London Film Festival announcement, Amazon also announced that “The Tender Bar” will be arriving in theaters on December 22, but will only be exclusively on the big screen for two weeks before hitting Prime Video on January 7.
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Another major film that is getting a festival debut is Scott Cooper’s horror film, “Antlers.” Though the film has been the subject of many delays due to the pandemic, Searchlight is now settled on releasing the Guillermo del Toro-produced film on October 29. However, before that happens, “Antlers” will be the Closing Night film of this year’s Beyond Fest, with the world premiere happening on October 11.
“I made ‘Antlers’ as a communal theatrical experience for cinema lovers,” said Cooper. “I can’t think of a more apt series of screenings to launch our film before audiences across the globe –audiences whom I hope share an appreciation for horror films with a different perspective on our everyday fears and ancestral mythology.”
You can watch the trailer for “Antlers” below:
