Talent, ambition, and love collide in this off-beat romance set in the high-pressure world of a piano competition. Paul (Richard Dreyfuss) is a serious-minded musician who wants to take one last shot at fame before settling down into the security of a permanent teaching job. When he re-connects with Heidi (Amy Irving), an old friend and competitor who just might be more gifted than he, Paul does not want romance to distract him from winning. Inevitably the two find themselves in a love affair that threatens the outcome of the competition. With a critically acclaimed performance from Irving, the film was nominated for two Academy Awards in 1981.
The Competition
The Competition
Presented on 35mm—Q&A with Actress Amy Irving moderated by JBFC Board Member Kenneth Bowser
Tickets: $15 (members), $20 (nonmembers)
"Dreyfuss and Amy Irving have a real charm and rapport as the two lovers, especially in the scenes where they argue that love has absolutely no place in a piano competition...[The Competition] has the nerve to tell a story about serious, interesting, complicated people, who are full of surprises."
SPECIAL EVENTS
Q&A with Actress Amy Irving moderated by JBFC Board Member Kenneth Bowser
Saturday, Nov. 7 2026, 1:00
- Amy Irving first came to prominence with breakthrough screen roles in Brian DePalma’s Carrie and The Fury, and stage performances of Romeo and Juliet with the Los Angeles Free Shakespeare Society and Broadway’s Amadeus. Nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in Yentl, Irving has captivated audiences with beloved starring roles in films like Crossing Delancey, Honeysuckle Rose, The Competition, and Micki and Maude. Shifting from acting into music with her 2023 debut album, Born In A Trunk, her sophomore album Always Will Be was released in 2025.
- Kenneth Bowser is a director of documentaries, films and television In addition to Phil Ochs, There But For Fortune, he is the writer, producer and director of NBC's Emmy nominated, Live From New York, The First Five Years of Saturday Night Live, He also worked on the SNL network specials for the 80's, 90's and 2000s. Bowser wrote and produced the Emmy nominated John Ford/John Wayne, The Filmmaker and The Legend for PBS's American Masters, which was an official selection of the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. His documentary, EasyRiders/Raging Bulls which was an official selection at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. He produced and directed the Emmy Award winning documentaries, Preston Sturges: The Rise And Fall Of An American Dreamer, and Frank Capra's American Dream . Bowser has produced, directed and written for ABC News Productions and is also the writer, director and producer of the feature film, In A Shallow Grave. In addition, Bowser was the director and writer of Hollywood, DC, A Tale of Two Cities.
Tickets: $15 (members), $20 (nonmembers)
This film is part of the Starring Amy Irving series.
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Starring Amy Irving
Oct. 24–Jan. 9: Tickets on Sale Now