GIFF was honored to feature My Blind Brother as a centerpiece film at our 2016 Festival. Directed by Sophie Goodhart and starring Nick Kroll, Adam Scott, Zoe Kazan, Jenny Slate, and Charlie Hewson, this film is a must-see. We were lucky to have Nick Kroll, Charlie Hewson and Sophie Goodhart attend our festival and participate in a Q&A following the screening.
Nick Kroll, a native of Rye, NY, was nice enough to answer our questions for a profile that was featured in our 2016 Official Program. Read about his career below and don’t miss his new film My Blind Brother, in theaters and on-demand September 23rd.
Kroll has had a lucrative career since he first gained significant success while on the ABC sitcom, Cavemen. His generosity as a performer and willingness to adapt to the landscape of television opened the door to the opportunities in which he developed a long-lasting presence among the entertainment industry. His work has since been featured in a variety of outstanding TV sitcoms, sketches, film, and live performances that have captivated audiences across the globe, including Chappelle’s Show, Reno 911, Kroll Show, The League, and more. His recent credits include the Off-Broadway stage production of Oh, Hello, and Terrence Malick’s breathtaking allegorical opus, Knight of Cups, costarring Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, and Natalie Portman.
Kroll has traveled far for his work, yet he is no stranger to the East Coast. In fact, he was raised in Westchester County, New York, and attended Rye Country Day School. It was here that he first fostered his love for the performing arts. While in his senior year, Kroll attempted to master the art of tap dancing. He states, “I wanted to make music with my feet, but it went terribly.” It wasn’t until he was in college that Kroll found the joys of improv and sketch comedy. He claims that this discovery, “changed his life from that moment forward.” Kroll is currently developing an animated show for Netflix about his experience going through puberty while in Westchester County.
2016 has been a transformative year for Kroll. He distanced from sophisticated wit and satirizing comical sketches to tackle more dramatic screenplays in order to further his understandings of the acting craft. In addition to My Blind Brother, Kroll is also starring in Jeff Nichols’ latest film, Loving, which premiered at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. Here, Kroll portrays Bernard Cohen, the ACLU lawyer involved in the true story of Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple who were imprisoned in 1960 for their unlawful marriage in Virginia. Kroll continues to diversity his filmography, claiming he seeks projects that, “fuse both comedy and drama. [He] always believes the best art can have both elements.”
While visiting the Greenwich International Film Festival, Kroll can most likely be found at the all-you-can-eat sushi brunch at one of his favorite Japanese restaurants, Abis. Additionally, before he leaves us and returns to work, Kroll jokes that he hopes to acquire, “a lifetime supply of suits from Richards.”
Kroll’s uninhibited spirit continues to inspire those hoping to succeed in the entertainment industry. He urges all aspiring performers to, “go and make your own art.”
This profile was originally featured in our 2016 Official Program, written by 2016 Festival Coordinator Kiel Stango.
Kroll can be seen in My Blind Brother, in theaters September 23rd and in Loving, in theaters November 4th. Also, Kroll can be seen in Oh Hello on Broadway. Previews begin September 23rd before Opening Night on October 11th.
