Behind the Screens: Film Society of Lincoln Center Programmer Florence Almozini
Film festivals tend to preach to the already converted. Even if festival-goers aren’t entirely familiar with the given focus, organizers don’t generally have to convince the audience that seeing a bunch of movies in the same place in a short period of time is a worthwhile way to spend a weekend. “My First Film Festival,” running from Thursday to Sunday at the Film Society of Lincoln Center, is a notable exception. With a focus on accessibility and diversity, Senior Programmer Florence Almozini has assembled an impressive lineup, ranging from a sneak preview of the big-budget CG animated Trolls to repertory screenings of classics like My Neighbor Totoro, The Dark Crystal, and Modern Times to new international films like Lamb, the Ethiopian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, and Miss Impossible, a French coming-of-age comedy. We spoke with Ms. Almozini to get an idea of her process, motivations, and ambitions for the festival.