Offbeat stars of the New York Film Festival

The 48th New York Film Festival (Friday-Oct. 10) is kicking off with David Fincher’s highly anticipated Facebook movie, “The Social Network,” but most of the 28 main-slate films are off the mainstream radar. Here are five movies we’re excited to see.

"Certified Copy"
Juliette Binoche stars as an antiques dealer in Tuscany who meets a man who studies forgeries in art. As the couple tours the Tuscan countryside, you wonder if they share a history that has yet to be revealed.

"LENNONYC"
Between the breakup of The Beatles in 1970 and his murder in 1980, John Lennon lived in New York City. Filmmaker Michael Epstein spotlights this chapter of Lennon’s life with new interviews and obscure footage of Lennon, who would have turned 70 next month.

"Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives"
Winner of the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, this ghost story of sorts is set in rural Thailand, where a farmer (Uncle Boonmee) communes with ghosts and mystical figures as he lays on his deathbed.

"Inside Job"
Charles Ferguson, who directed the exhaustive Iraq war documentary “No End in Sight,” now turns his attention to the economic crisis. Drawing on experts and historical context, Ferguson systematically investigates how years of economic irresponsibility led to today’s economic woes.

"Oki’s Movie"
Korean director Hong Sang-soo splits this lighthearted romance into four chapters, all revolving around a young, lovelorn director, his film professor and a girl caught in between. The short-and-sweet 80-minute film is set entirely to “Pomp and Circumstance.”

Director Q&As

David Fincher on “The Social Network” (Sat.)

Apichatpong Weerasethakul on “Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Sun.)

Julie Taymor on “The Tempest” (Sun., Oct. 3)

If you go

Visit filmlinc.com/nyff/2010/ for more information on the New York Film Festival.