The beloved annual Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF) is having a big moment with its buzzy 2025 lineup. IndieWire can announce that leading horror auteur Ari Aster will be honored with the Filmmaker on the Edge title at the festival, which will take place from June 11 to 15 in Provincetown, MA.
Aster will be in Provincetown to receive the award and participate in conversation with resident artist John Waters on Saturday, June 14, ahead of the nationwide release of his new film “Eddington” on July 18. The secretive 2020-set dark comedy “Eddington” will debut at Cannes; the feature reunites Aster with his “Beau Is Afraid” star Joaquin Phoenix, as well as Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Austin Butler, Luke Grimes, Clifton Collins Jr., and more.
“Ari Aster’s films weave grief, beauty and dread into unforgettable cinematic experiences,” Anne Hubbell, PIFF’s Executive Director, said in a press statement. “We’re excited to welcome Ari to Provincetown for a thrilling conversation about his dynamic filmography.”
PIFF will also be honoring fellow directors Eva Victor and River Gallo with the Next Wave Awards, as well as Murray Bartlett with the Excellence in Acting Award. Victor’s directorial debut “Sorry, Baby” was acquired by A24 out of Sundance 2025 after it won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award; the feature will close Cannes Directors’ Fortnight.
Gallo’s “Ponyboi” made history as the first narrative feature film created by and starring an intersex person in an intersex role. The feature premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and won NewFest’s Grand Jury Award.
“Eva Victor and River Gallo represent the very essence of independent artistry,” PIFF Artistic Director Lisa Viola said. “With our Next Wave Awards, we are incredibly proud to celebrate their diverse talents as both creators and powerful leads in each of their original debut features.”
Emmy Award-winning actor and Provincetown local Bartlett most recently starred in Gallo’s “Ponyboi,” A24 thriller “Opus,” and Searchlight’s musical drama “O’Dessa.” Bartlett will next lead the second season of “Nine Perfect Strangers” on Hulu and Kornél Mundrouczó’s “At the Sea” opposite Amy Adams. Bartlett will receive the Excellence in Acting Award from prior PIFF Filmmaker on the Edge honoree and Academy Award-nominated producer Christine Vachon on Saturday, June 14.
“Murray Bartlett has distinguished himself as a remarkable talent, bringing depth and authenticity to every role,” PIFF’s Director of Programming Andrew Peterson said. “From ‘Ponyboi’ (PIFF 2025) to ‘The Last of Us’ to ‘Welcome to Chippendales’ and his Emmy Award-winning performance in ‘The White Lotus,’ Murray demonstrates a rare ability to connect with audiences through vulnerability, humor and strength. We’re thrilled to honor him this year.”
The festival will open with Linus O’Brien’s documentary “Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror.” The U.S. premiere of Michael Koehler’s “Spiritus: No Business Like Dough Business” about the oldest family-run business in Provincetown, SPIRITUS Pizza and Ice Cream, will close PIFF. Programming highlights include “Jimpa” and the world premiere of “Hurricanna” about the final days of Anna Nicole Smith’s life.
Tickets go on sale here for pass holders and Provincetown Film Society members on May 16. General public tickets go on sale online on May 23. In-person tickets will be available at Waters Edge Cinema beginning May 24.
Check out the full lineup below.
OPENING NIGHT
STRANGE JOURNEY: THE STORY OF ROCKY HORROR – directed by Linus O’Brien
CLOSING NIGHT
SPIRITUS: NO BUSINESS LIKE DOUGH BUSINESS – directed by Michael Koehler
SPOTLIGHT SELECTIONS
FUCKTOYS – directed by Annapurna Sriram
HURRICANNA – directed by Francesca Gregorini
JIMPA – directed by Sophie Hyde
NARRATIVE FEATURES
THE BALTIMORONS – directed by Jay Duplass
CACTUS PEARS (SABAR BONDA) – directed by Rohan Kanawade
DREAMING OF LIONS – directed by Paolo Marinou-Blanco
DREAMS (SEX LOVE) – directed Dag Johan Haugererud
EAST OF WALL – directed by Kate Beecroft
FAMILIAR TOUCH – directed by Sarah Friedland
JIMMY – directed by Yashaddai Owens
MESSY – directed by Alexi Wasser
OH, HI! – directed by Sophie Brooks
OPERATION TACO GARY’S – directed by Michael Kvamme
PLAINCLOTHES – directed by Carmen Emmi
PONYBOI – directed by Esteban Arango
QUEENS OF THE DEAD – directed by Tina Romero
QUEERPANORAMA – directed by Jun Li
SAUNA – directed by Mathias Broe
SISTERS – directed by Susie Yankou
SORRY, BABY – directed by Eva Victor
TWINLESS – directed by James Sweeney
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
ARE WE GOOD? – directed by Steven Feinartz
COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT – directed by Ryan White
CREEDE U.S.A. – directed by Kahane Corn Cooperman
ENIGMA – directed by Zackary Drucker
EVERYTHING MOVES – directed by Michael Cestaro
FOLKTALES – directed by Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady
FOREVER HOME – directed by Allison Argo
HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY – directed by Sam Feder
IT’S NEVER OVER, JEFF BUCKLEY – directed by Amy Berg
KEROUAC’S ROAD: THE BEAT OF A NATION – directed by Ebs Burnough
THE LIBRARIANS – directed by Kim A. Snyder
MARLEE MATLIN: NOT ALONE ANYMORE – directed by Shoshannah Stern
MOVE YA BODY: THE BIRTH OF HOUSE – directed by Elegance Bratton
MY MOM JAYNE – directed by Mariska Hargitay
SAINTS AND WARRIORS – directed by Patrick Shannon
SALLY – directed by Cristina Costantini
SEEDS – directed by Brittany Shyne
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
John Waters Presents: PINK NARCISSUS – directed by James Bidgood
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW – directed by Jim Sharman
SHORT FILMS
NARRATIVE SHORTS
13 CEMETERY ROAD – directed by Daniel Gómez Llata
AFTER WHAT HAPPENED AT THE LIBRARY – directed by Syra McCarthy
ANYWAY, I PISS SITTING DOWN – directed by Zak Slattery
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?! – directed by Zen Pace
THE ART OF SURVIVAL (UNAFRAID) – directed by Lauren Elizabeth Wolk, Jackie Reeves
BEACH-O – directed by Karen Lawler, Leah Smith
BELLY BELLY – directed by Gabriel Carnick
CALAMITY JANE – directed by Robin Cloud
CLOSE TO THE BONE – directed by Jenny Byrne, Katy Miller
CUMING OUT – directed by Jasmine J. Johnson
EVERY OTHER WEEKEND – directed by Mick Robertson, Margaret Rose
F*CK THAT GUY – directed by Hanna Gray Organschi
YÚ CI (FISH BONES) – directed by Kevin X. Yu
GENDER REVEAL – directed by Mo Matton
GRANDMA NAI WHO PLAYED FAVORITES – directed by Chheangkea
LISBON – directed by Matthew Jacobs Morgan
LOST IN SAN FRANCISCO – directed by Brett McCarl Thomas
MANGO – directed by Joan Iyiola
NEW YORK DAY WOMEN – directed by Fredgy Noël
ONE DAY THIS KID – directed by Alexander Farah
THE PLUMBING – directed by Charlotte Istel
REMEMBER ME – directed by Claire Lory Titelman
SHOULDER SEASON – directed by Sierra Schnack
SISTER! – directed by John Onieal
STALLING – directed by Jasia A. Ka
SUSANA – directed by Gerardo Coello Escalante, Amandine Thomas
SWEET TALKING GUY – directed by Dylan Wardwell, Spencer Wardwell
TO NOVOSIBIRSK – directed by Sasha Korbut
WE SHOULD EAT – directed by Shaina Feinberg
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
ARTHUR EGELI: BEYOND THE FRAME – directed by Tess Anne Lancaster
CAMP WIDOW – directed by Laura Green, Anna Moot-Levin
DRAKE CARR’S FAVORITE THING – directed by Andrea Yu-Chieh Chung
THE FAULT LINE – directed by Brydie O’Connor
LOVE BIRDS – directed by Angel Morris, Elliot Kennerson
MOOSKA – directed by Samuel Aarnio
THE NEW YORKER THEATER: A TALBOT LEGACY – directed by Sergio Maza
RANDA – directed by Sterling Hampton IV
RICHARD NEUTRA’S MASLON HOUSE – directed by Scott Goldstein, Dave Yakir
SIGNS FROM THE MAINLAND – directed by Michael Cestaro
TIGER – directed by Loren Kasey Waters
WE’LL CARRY ON ALRIGHT – directed by Megan Rossman
ANIMATION SHORTS
404 – directed by Gina Kamentsky
A BIRD HIT MY WINDOW AND NOW I’M A LESBIAN – directed by Carmela Marie Murphy, AJ Dubler
BOOKED A ROOM – directed by Kris Lefcoe
DRAGFOX – directed by Lisa Ott
IT’S A RAINBOW – directed by Robert Davis
LITTLE SHREW (SNOWFLAKE) – directed by Kate Bush
