Netflix Drama ‘Nyad’ To Open Hamptons International Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE)

Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chins Nyad will be the opening night film of the Hamptons International Film Festival. The event will take place on Oct. 5, according to HamptonsFilm, which runs the festival.

It is the East Coast premiere of the Netflix release, which is shaping up to be one of the streaming services major awards season hopefuls. It has a cast of heavyweights, including Oscar-nominee Annette Bening, Oscar-winner Jodie Foster and Rhys Ifans.

The film details the quest by American marathon swimmer Diana Nyad (Bening) to complete a 53-hour, 110-mile swim from Cuba to Florida, through open ocean, without a shark cage. Vasarhelyi is scheduled to attend the festival and will participate in a post-screening conversation on the film. The premiere is sponsored by Audi.

Nyad is the narrative feature directorial debut for Vasarhelyi and Chin, who have won an Academy Award, BAFTA and Emmy Award for their documentaries. Their work includes The Rescue and Free Solo. The 31st annual edition of the Hamptons International Film Festival will take place Oct. 5-12, with in-person screenings and events across the Hamptons.

After welcoming Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chins incredible documentary film The Rescue at the 2021 edition of our festival, it is an honor to celebrate their narrative debut as this years Opening Night presentation, said HamptonsFilm Artistic Director David Nugent. Vasarhelyi and Chin are two of this generations most compelling storytellers, and Nyad is further proof that their creativity and eye for filmmaking knows no bounds. We are thrilled to share their story with our audiences.

Following another successful summer of programming, it is with great enthusiasm that we begin to unveil the lineup for this years 31st annual festival, said HamptonsFilm Executive Director Anne Chaisson. We are grateful to our audiences out East for their continued support and we look forward to bringing the community another diverse, engaging, and entertaining festival curation.

Nyad was produced by Teddy Schwarzman for Black Bear and Andrew Lazar for Mad Chance Productions. Julia Cox wrote the script.