HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES DESCENDING ON BOSTON: FILM FESTIVAL TO OPEN ITS 42ND YEAR WITH WORLD PREMIERE OF “UNLEASHED SPIRITS: THE RISE OF THE HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES”
LINE UP INCLUDES THREE SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS FROM WARNER BROS. TELEVISION GROUP FOR BOSTON AREA COLLEGE STUDENTS
BOSTON – August 25, 2026 – The Boston Film Festival (BFF) will celebrate its 42nd season September 17 – 21, with the World Premiere of Opening Night feature film, “Unleashed Spirits: The Rise of the Hollywood Vampires” followed by a special in person Q&A with members of the band. Directed by Daniel E Catullo III, the film tells the story of how a secret 1970s drinking and social club led by Alice Cooper inspired the powerhouse supergroup known as the Hollywood Vampires with Cooper, Johnny Depp, Joe Perry, and Tommy Henriksen. “Unleashed Spirits” explores their journey from a hidden Hollywood haunt to arena rock stardom, highlighting their extraordinary collaborations with legendary talent both on and behind the stage.
Featuring a dynamic and diverse program that spotlights some of today’s most groundbreaking filmmakers, the live event also includes the World Premiere of feature films “Bolio” and “A Minor Time,” as well as documentaries “Papertown,” “My Father, Dick Allen,” “4000 Days,” “Come What May,” and “Tony Foster: Painting at the Edge.” The Closing Night presentation of Michael Mailer’s “Little Audrey” will wrap up the Festival on Monday, September 21.
Also in the Festival is a Special Presentation of “Old Man Walking Club” from local author and first-time filmmaker, Michael Connelly.
Q&A sessions with film creatives will follow all live premieres.
“We are proud to mark the 42nd Boston Film Festival by showcasing extraordinary storytelling from both bold new voices and acclaimed filmmakers,” said Boston Film Festival Executive Director Robin Dawson. “Cinema connects us across cultures and we’re honored to provide a platform for these talented storytellers whose work challenges perspectives, inspires conversation, and reminds us of the power of film. We are deeply grateful to our filmmakers, audiences, sponsors, and partners who make this possible. We look forward to another unforgettable week of discovery and creativity.”
In keeping with their commitment to providing educational opportunities for aspiring media professionals, Warner Bros. Television Group, one of the entertainment industry’s most prolific producers of original programming, will partner with Emerson College and Massachusetts College of Arts and Design to host special screenings and panel events in collaboration with the festival.
On Thursday, September 17, Warner Bros. Television Group will host a special WBTV “Next Gen” Panel at Emerson College featuring a range of talent and creatives for a conversation and recording of WBTVG’s popular podcast “A Lot More” moderated by host Jonathon Buckley. A screening of hit music competition series “The Voice,” featuring Season 29 winner Alexia Jayy and Executive Producer and Showrunner Audrey Morrissey, will follow.
On Saturday, September 19 WBTVG will present a screening and behind-the-scenes look at its hit series “Adventure Time: Side Quests” at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, featuring a conversation with series creatives Nate Cash, Victor Courtright, Keith Pakiz, and Matthew Yang.
“We’re so proud of our growing partnerships with Warner Bros. Television Group, Emerson College, and Massachusetts College of Arts and Design which bring access to these remarkable programs and dedicated talent to educate and inspire our next generation of film and television professionals,” said Dawson.
Emerson College will also host an event in conjunction with the festival on Wednesday, September 16, screening the holiday feature film “Bobo Saves Christmas,” starring Emerson alum Maria Menounos, directed by Keven Undergaro.
The special live Shorts Program will be shown on Sunday, September 20 at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, starting at 2:00 p.m. Audiences are invited to an afternoon of incredible short films celebrating emerging and established filmmakers from around the world.
Special partnerships for the season’s Boston Film Festival Animation Program includes a collaboration with FAN EXPO Boston that features a generous $500 prize to the Animation Shorts Program winner and invitation to screen their prize film at FAN EXPO Boston 2027 from December 3-5, 2027, offering a unique platform to reach thousands of fans, creators, and industry professionals. Professional 2D animation bitmap technology-based software giant TVPaint will also award the winner with a special software package.
The Boston Film Festival will also present a robust Virtual Program of feature, documentary, animated, and short films. This extends the number of films offered and provides film enthusiasts the opportunity to view from the comfort of their homes through the streaming service Eventive.
Sponsors of the 42nd Boston Film Festival include: Boch Center-Wang Theatre, Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport, Boston Harbor Studios, 10 Lives Studios, Rainmaker Entertainment, Fan Expo, TVPaint, Shelter Music Group, First Blood, Meet Boston, Dream Alley, Outfront, Patrice Vinci Salon, Shalin Liu Performance Center, Emerson College, Boston Public Library, Sip Wine Bar & Kitchen, and The Sporting Club at Omni Boston Hotel.
Scheduled to attend the 42nd Boston Film Festival:
Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, Tommy Henriksen, Daniel E Catullo III, Paul Geary, and Ernie Boch Jr. (“Unleashed Spirits: The Rise of the Hollywood Vampires”); Ryan Suffern (“Papertown”); Nate Cash, Victor Courtright, Keith Pakiz, and Matthew Yang (“Adventure Time: Side Quests”); Andy Billman, Richard “Goose” Gossage, Richard Allen Jr., Dr. David Fletcher, Sharon Pannozzo, and Jocko Sims (“My Father Dick Allen”); Tina Alexis Allen, William Sadler, Chloe Guidry, Judee Wales, and Susan Batson (“A Minor Time”); Jim Issa, Mark Donadio, Gabriel Hogan, and Emily Tarver (“Bolio”); Daniel E Catullo III, Julie & Gary DeVercelly, and TJ & Kim Burch (“4000 Days”); Edward Burns (“Beneath the Blue Suburban Skies”); Lahna Turner, David Gantz, and April May (“Come What May”); David C. Schendel and Tony Foster (“Tony Foster: Painting at the Edge”); Michael Mailer and Robert Wahlberg (“Little Audrey”); Alexia Jayy (“The Voice” season 29 winner); Audrey Morrissey (“The Voice”); Maria Menounos and Keven Undergaro (“Bobo Saves Christmas”); Michael Connelly (“Old Men Walking).
42nd Boston Film Festival Live Program Lineup:
“Unleashed Spirits: The Rise of the Hollywood Vampires” (Opening Night, Friday, September 18, at 7:00 p.m. at Boch Center-Wang Theatre) World Premiere.
A secret 1970s drinking and social club led by Alice Cooper inspired the powerhouse supergroup known as the Hollywood Vampires with Cooper, Johnny Depp, Joe Perry, and Tommy Henriksen. “Unleashed Spirits” explores their journey from a hidden Hollywood haunt to arena rock stardom, highlighting their extraordinary collaborations with legendary talent both on and behind the stage. “Unleashed Spirits” takes audiences inside their evolution as a band from the earliest rehearsals and recording sessions to increasingly ambitious performances around the globe. The film chronicles the band’s transformation from an improbable gathering of famous friends into a formidable live act capable of commanding some of the world’s biggest stages.
Stars include Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp, Joe Perry, and Tommy Henriksen. Directed by Daniel E Catullo III. Produced by Paul Geary, Ernie Boch Jr., Leslie Atkins, Steve Moss, Shep Gordon, David Kernan, and Andrew Ward.
Guests participating in a Q&A following the screening are Daniel E Catullo III, Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, Tommy Henriksen, Paul Geary, and Ernie Boch Jr. Ticket info available at Boch Center-Wang Theatre (add ticket link) and Boston Film Festival.
“Papertown” (Saturday, September 19 at 1:30 p.m. at Boston Public Library) Northeast Premiere.
When the paper mill that defined Canton, North Carolina, announced it would close, the town had just three months before its largest employer—and a core part of its identity—was gone. Filmed in real time, the documentary follows the people of Canton as they confront uncertainty, resilience, and the loss of a way of life.
Directed by Jeremy Seifert and Benjamin James Roberts. Executive Producers Dave Matthews (Grammy Award-winning musician) and Ryan Suffern. Matthews also wrote an original song for the film, featured alongside vocals by Sierra Ferrell.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Ryan Suffern. Ticket info available at Boston Film Festival.
“Adventure Time: Side Quests” (Saturday, September 19 at 2:00 p.m. at Massachusetts College of Art and Design). Special Warner Brothers Television Group Presentation.
The creative team behind “Adventure Time: Side Quests” will explore the process of bringing an animated series to life, from developing stories and characters to visual world-building and collaboration across the production team. Designed for students and aspiring artists, the discussion will provide an insider’s perspective on careers in animation, storytelling, and the many creative paths that contribute to building a successful series.
Stars include John DiMaggio, Sasha Knight, Hynden Walch, Tom Kenny, Olivia Olson, Niki Yang.
Guests attending the screening and Q&A are Nate Cash, Victor Courtright, Keith Pakiz, Matthew Yang. Ticket info available at Boston Film Festival.
“My Father, Dick Allen” (Saturday, September 19 at 4:00 p.m. at Paramount Theatre) Northeast Premiere.
For decades, the debate raged: Was Dick Allen a Hall of Famer? A prodigious slugger with a swing that produced some of the most awe-inspiring home runs of his generation, Allen was a five-tool talent who terrorized pitchers during the 1960s and 70s. Yet, his charismatic, anti-establishment persona and the controversies that often followed him left him just short of baseball’s highest honor time and again.
“My Father, Dick Allen” chronicles the long and arduous journey to Cooperstown for one of the game’s most individualistic and misunderstood superstars, culminating in his posthumous election to the Baseball Hall of Fame in the summer of 2025.
Stars include Jocko Sims and Richard “Goose” Gossage. Directed by Andy Billman. Executive Producers Dr. David Fletcher, Sharon Pannozzo, Producers John Owens, Richard Allen Jr., Willa Allen.
Guests attending are Andy Billman, Richard “Goose” Gossage, Richard Allen Jr., Dr. David Fletcher, Sharon Pannozzo, and Jocko Sims. Q&A to follow screening. Ticket info available at Boston Film Festival.
“A Minor Time” (Saturday, September 19 at 6:00 p.m. at Paramount Theatre) World Premiere.
After the sudden death of their mother, teenage sisters Bets and Laura are forced to leave everything behind to live with their estranged grandparents. As they struggle to adapt to a fractured home marked by grief, silence, and long-buried disappointments, Laura discovers an extraordinary gift for music while Bets fights to protect her sister and hold onto her own dreams. “A Minor Time” is an intimate coming-of-age drama about sisterhood, resilience, and the healing power of hope in the face of profound loss.
Stars include William Sadler, Chloe Guidry, Tina Alexis Allen, Judee Wales. Directed by Tina Alexis Allen. Producers: Tina Alexis Allen, Judee Wales Watson and Susan Batson.
Guests attending and participating in the Q&A are Tina Alexis Allen, William Sadler, Chloe Guidry, Judee Wales. Ticket info available at Boston Film Festival.
“Bolio” Centerpiece Film (Saturday, September 19 at 9:00 p.m. at Paramount Theatre) World Premiere.
Depressed high school shop teacher Dale Bolio feels trapped in a life he no longer recognizes. Hoping to win back his estranged wife and become a better version of himself, he turns to charismatic life coach Chuck Swayze, whose confidence and unconventional advice seem too good to be true. As an unlikely friendship develops and Chuck’s carefully crafted persona begins to unravel, Dale discovers that the only person who can truly change his life is himself. “Bolio” is a heartfelt comedy about self-discovery, second chances, and finding the courage to chart your own path.
Stars include Eugene Cordero, Gabriel Hogan, Tony Shalhoub, Kevin Heffernan, Tawny Newsome, Sarah Baker, Emily Tarver, Amir Talai, Brooke Adams. Directed by Jim Issa. Produced by Mark Donadio, Miriam Marcus, Jim Issa, Jamieson Shea, Eugene Cordero, Gabriel Hogan.
Guests attending and participating in a Q&A are Jim Issa, Mark Donadio, Gabriel Hogan, Emily Tarver. Ticket info available at Boston Film Festival.
“Beneath the Blue Suburban Skies” (September 20 at 1:00 p.m. at Paramount Theatre) US Premiere.
Stuck in a middle-aged rut, a working-class woman, Tina Collins (Jennifer Ehle) struggles with feelings of shame and anger she has toward her two grown children who live at home, and resentment of a husband who may have held her back. Financial problems loom and the impact of addiction and alcoholism amplify the building crisis in the life of Tina and her family.
Stars include Jennifer Ehle, Edward Burns, Hannah Dunne, Brian Wiles, Brian d’Arcy James. Directed by Edward Burns. Written by Edward Burns. Produced by Aaron Lubin, Edward Burns and William Rexer.
Guest attending and participating in the Q&A is Edward Burns. Ticket info available at Boston Film festival
“Come What May” (September 20 at 7:15 p.m. at Paramount Theatre) Boston Premiere.
“Come What May” is an intimate, unflinching portrait of beloved comedian Ralphie May, whose large personality and even larger size set him apart from the rest and helped skyrocket him to fame. This loving husband and father fell victim to enablers, addiction, and abuse, causing his bright light to burn out far too quickly. Featuring candid interviews with friends and family, alongside never-before-seen archival footage, what unfolds is a loving tribute to a flawed and complicated man who brought joy to millions, but pain and heartbreak to those who knew him best.
Featuring interviews with Lahna Turner, Jay Leno, Tiffany Haddish, Jeff Ross, Jay Mohr, Kevin Smith, Russell Peters, and others. Directed by David Gantz and Lahna Turner. Produced by Pink Beaver, LLC, Lahna Turner and Ralphie May.
Guests attending and participating in a Q&A are Lahna Turner, David Gantz, and April May. Ticket info available at Boston Film Festival.
“Old Man Walking Club” (Sunday, September 20 at 7:00 p.m. at Dedham Community Theatre) Special Presentation.
“Old Man Walking Club” follows six lifetime friends from Boston who met in kindergarten, survived adolescence together, stood beside one another at weddings, and then slowly drifted apart as careers, marriages, mortgages, and family life took over. When COVID unexpectedly brings them back together, a simple weekly walking ritual evolves into something much bigger: a lifeline. As the men approach retirement age, the film follows them through health scares, aging parents, changing identities, bucket list adventures, and the growing realization that friendship may be far more essential to survival than they ever imagined. Blending humor, vulnerability, and expert insight from bestselling author Daniel Pink and Harvard Researcher, Dr. Robert Walkdinger, “Old Man Walking Club” explores loneliness, masculinity, and the other surprising power of simply showing up for one another. Funny, intimate, and deeply human, the film asks a timely question: In an age of digital connection, we have never been more disconnected. Can old school friendship bring us back together?
Director – Michael Connelly, Supervising Producer – Mika Holliday Lentz, Producers – Patty Sunshine / Michael Connelly, Director of Photography – Tom Fahey.
Guests attending and participating in a Q&A is author and first-time director Michael Connelly. Ticket information available at Boston Film Festival.
“Tony Foster: Painting at the Edge” (September 21 at 4:00 p.m. at Shalin Liu Performance Center) East Coast Premiere.
Traveling mostly on foot, by raft or canoe, English artist Tony Foster paints landscapes in the remotest of areas to bring awareness to wilderness destruction and climate change. His adventures have resulted in 14 major exhibitions across five continents spanning over three decades. Commissioned in 2019 by the Whitney Western Museum, we follow him as he rafts, canoes, and paints landscapes of the entire length of the Green River. Part adventure film and part biography, Painting on the Edge is one of the most intimate portraits of a living artist today. Exotically beautiful scenery, personal interviews, and archival footage evoke a new understanding of humans’ place on this planet and how we might change to save it.
Stars include artist Tony Foster. Directed by David Charles Schendel.
Guests attending and participating in a Q&A are David C. Schendel, Tony Foster. Ticket info available at Boston Film Festival.
“Little Audrey” (Closing Night Film, September 21, 7:15 p.m. atShalin Liu Performance Center) Special Presentation.
Inspired by the real-life story of Audrey Santo, who died at age 23 in 2007 after she was left in a vegetative state since childhood, the film centers on a Vatican-ordered investigation into reported miracles surrounding the teenage girl with akinetic mutism.
Stars include Emily VanCamp, Jennifer Esposito, Josh Bowman, Aidan Quinn, and Robert Wahlberg. Directed by Michael Mailer. Produced by Jeff Thomas, John Buffalo Mailer, and Michael Mailer. Writer: Caitlin McCarthy.
Guests attending and participating in a Q&A are Michael Mailer and Robert Wahlberg. Ticket info available at Boston Film Festival.
For the full festival schedule, virtual program, tickets and information on BFF parties and Q&A sessions visit bostonfilmfestival.org.
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ABOUT THE BOSTON FILM FESTIVAL:
The Boston Film Festival is one of America’s longest-running and most industry-recognized film festivals. Celebrating its 42nd program in September 2026, the festival brings together an exciting selection of independent films, documentaries, shorts, animation, environmental films, fall studio releases, and more, alongside its annual awards program. Launched in Boston, Massachusetts in 1984, the renowned festival has premiered notable films including Greenbook, Don’t Worry Darling, Jo Jo Rabbit, Wild, The Last Kiss, North Country, It’s Kind of a Funny Story, Catching Hell, Earth Days, Common Ground, and Requiem for a Dream, among many others. The festival has also hosted and honored iconic talent including Sam Rockwell, George Clooney, Aaron Eckhart, Melissa Leo, Cory Hardrict, Bob Yari, Alex Gibney, Andy Garcia, Leslie Bibb, Greg Kinnear, Shane Black, Suzanne Todd, Uma Thurman, Sir Ridley Scott, Sam Mendes, Tony Goldwyn, Chris Evans, Al Pacino, Vanessa Redgrave, Annette Bening, Ellen Burstyn, Jeff Bridges, Steve Martin, Gian Carlo Esposito, and many others. https://bostonfilmfestival.org
MEDIA CONTACT:
For the Boston Film Festival:
Ashley Sandberg
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Jennifer Skorlich
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For the Hollywood Vampires:
Peggy Rose Public Relations
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