Mickey and the Bear pairs rising star Camila Morrone with talented writer-director Annabelle Attanasio for a poignant coming-of-age story, which premiered Friday at the 27th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) following its debut in South by Southwest and Cannes either this year.
Mickey and the Bear follows Mickey (Morrone) as she copes with her father’s (James Badge Dale) opioid addiction while trying to break from of her small Montana hometown. HIFF dubbed Morrone as an official Breakthrough Artist of the Year, echoing many other reviews for her masterful turn as Mickey.
Camila Morrone as Mickey in “Mickey and the Bear”
The HIFF inclusion of Mickey and the Bear was also a homecoming for writer-director Attanasio, who was the recipient of the coveted Melissa Mathison Fund as part of the 2017 HIFF Screenwriters Lab.
The duo exclusively spoke with The Knockturnal on the red carpet for the HIFF premiere before hosting a post-screening audience Q&A.
The Knockturnal: Camila, as a festival Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Annabelle, having been part of the Screenwriters Lab, can you both tell me a little about what the path to tonight was like?
Camila Morrone: I think it really came full circle for Annabelle, which is really cool.
Annabelle Attanasio: I did the Screenwriters Lab in 2017 and won the Melissa Mathison Fund, which was so meaningful to me because it was the first recognition I had gotten for the movie. So to be bringing it here and for Cami [Morrone] to be recognized for her performance in the movie is truly the most incredible honor I could receive. To have this relationship with the Hamptons International Film Festival be continuing over the years is really something that I cherish very much.
Writer-director Annabelle Attanasio returns to the Hamptons International Film Festival
The Knockturnal: And Camila, what does this Breakthrough Artist of the Year honor mean to you?
Camila Morrone: This is my first Hamptons International Film Festival and my first Breakthrough Artist of the Year, so it’s a lot of firsts for me! But I’m excited to hear people’s reactions after the premiere and for people to see the movie.
The Knockturnal: The film has been getting amazing responses. What was the inspiration behind the intimate story?
Annabelle Attanasio: I’ve always been interested in telling a father-daughter story and telling the story of a woman’s coming of age with her father– I don’t think that’s something that is represented a ton. And then when I met Cami [Morrone], she brought so much of herself to this role, so much intellect, wisdom, and humor to it. She really infused the character with everything I could have wanted.
Camila Morrone at the HIFF premiere of “Mickey and the Bear”
The Knockturnal: Camila, what drew you to the role and what was the process of bringing the character to life?
Camila Morrone: When I first read the script, I just really liked and admired Mickey as a character. I liked her strength. I loved her relationship with her father, that it was not linear and it was super complex and multi-dimensional. I was terrified to play her and do her justice, so I took it on and it’s up to the world to decide.
For the Hamptons International Film Festival audience in attendance, the applause and cheers made it clear: Attanasio and Morrone are both stars to watch.
“Mickey and the Bear” opens in theaters November 13th.