Tangerine When: July 10 Where: Theaters Director: Sean Baker Starring: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor Why We’re Excited: Film Independent Fellow and Spirit Award Winner Sean Baker’s latest film reminds us why we love indie movies–and in so many different ways. Tangerine was one of the most talked about films at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. Audiences were shocked to discover the film was shot using three 5S iPhones and an $8 app called Filmic Pro. But Baker’s innovative methods are are only part of the story. He also introduces us to characters we rarely get to see on screen. Casting unknown actors he discovered through the Los Angeles LGBT Center, the drama follows a transgender prostitute on Christmas Eve as she searches for the pimp who broke her heart. Film Independent Fellows Darren Dean and Shih-Ching Tsou produced the film, which is sure to inspire future filmmakers who dare to tell original stories without limitations.
Jimmy’s Hall When: Now Playing Where: Theaters Director: Ken Loach Starring: Barry Ward, Francis Magee Why We’re Excited: Award-winning filmmaker Ken Loach’s latest period drama gives audiences a protagonist to stand up and cheer. Barry Ward delivers a breakthrough performance as Jimmy Gralton, a political activist who is deported from 1930’s Ireland during the country’s “Red Scare.” A perfect date movie, Jimmy’s Hall is both a heroic tale of a passionate young man fighting for what he believes in and a bittersweet romance. The film premiered in the main competition at the Cannes Film Festival and played the Los Angeles Film Festival last month.
Merchants of Doubt When: July 7 Where: DVD/VOD Director: Robert Kenner Why We’re Excited: Inspired by the acclaimed book, Merchants of Doubt brings global issues like pharmaceuticals, climate change and toxic chemicals front and center, and puts group of pundits-for-hire under the spotlight. It’s the latest documentary from Academy Award and Spirit Nominated filmmaker and Film Independent Member Robert Kenner. If you’ve seen Food, Inc., you know Kenner isn’t afraid of pushing boundaries, asking tough questions and exposing the harsh truths of the subjects he investigates. Science and man go head-to-head in this informative expose, which will leave you plenty to ponder.
Amy When: July 10 Where: Theaters Director: Asif Kapadia Starring: Amy Winehouse Why We’re Excited: For those who loved Amy Winehouse, the fear that the world could lose such an exceptionally gifted singer/songwriter always existed. Her demons, struggles with fame, and battle against addiction are all captured in this emotionally charged new documentary from Asif Kapadia. Fans are likely to cry from start to finish as they are get an up-close look inside Winehouse’s world.
Meet Me in Montenegro When: July 10 Where: Theaters & VOD Directors: Alex Holdridge & Linnea Saasen Starring: Alex Holdridge & Linnea Saasen Why We’re Excited: This loosely-autobiographical indie is not your stereotypical rom-com. Spirit Award Winner Alex Holdridge (In Search of a Midnight Kiss) co-writes, co-directs and co-stars alongside newcomer Linnea Saasen in a film about finding love and maintaining romantic relationships. The trans-continental love story features footage that was captured before the screenplay was even written. The script was then adapted from the images, and additional filming followed. We suggest snuggling up with your significant other when you catch it.
Boulevard When: July 10 Where: Theaters Director: Dito Montiel Starring: Robin Williams Why We’re Excited: In his final role, beloved actor Robin Williams plays a married man living a double life. Despite being a devoted husband to his wife, Williams’ character faces the emotional earthquake that develops when he grows tired of all the secrets, begins confronting his homosexuality, finds strength to be who he really is. Filmmaker and Spirit Award nominee Dito Montiel has a knack for creating compelling characters and telling relatable stories about the human condition.
Ex-Machina When: July 14 Where: DVD/VOD Director: Alex Garland Starring: Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleason, Alicia Vikander Why We’re Excited: If you missed Alex Garland’s taught, tension-filled thriller in theaters, now is your chance to catch one of the year’s most talked about movies. Spirit Award nominee Oscar Isaac plays the mad genius behind Ava, the world’s first true artificial intelligence, which takes the form of a beautiful female robot.
The Stanford Prison Experiment When: July 17 Where: Theaters (and IFC VOD July 24) Director: Kyle Patrick Alvarez Starring: Ezra Miller, Billy Crudup, Olivia Thirlby Why We’re Excited: We had a feeling Film Independent Fellow Kyle Patrick Alvarez was going to be someone to watch, when he took home an Independent Spirit Award for his debut feature Easier with Practice in 2009. His latest film is a psychological thriller based on Dr. Philip Zimbardo’s controversial real-life study involving a group of Stanford University students instructed to act out dangerous situations as both prisoners and guards. When it premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, the film took home both the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award.
The Young Kieslowski When: July 24 Where: Theaters Director: Kerem Sanga Starring: Ryan Malgarini, Haley Lu Richardson Why We’re Excited: You’ve gotta love a good indie that captures all of the awkwardness and insecurity of being a dorky teenage virgin. In Kerem Sanga’s new comedy, two nerdy teenagers get drunk, hook up and face the consequences when they discover they may be in love and unexpectedly starting a family. Not your typical tale of young love, the film won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the 2014 Los Angeles Film Festival.
The End of the Tour When: July 31 Where: Theaters Director: James Ponsoldt Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Jason Segel, Anna Chlumsky Why We’re Excited: Another film from Sundance that got people talking is the latest drama from Film Independent Fellow James Ponsoldt. Funny man Jason Segel takes a break from big-budget comedies and sinks his teeth into a more challenging role as famed author David Foster Wallace. Academy and Spirit Award nominee Jesse Eisenberg shares the screen with Segel as Rolling Stone journalist David Lipsky, who is sent to interview Wallace during his book tour for Infinite Jest. You may want to put your thinking caps on for this one; the film (based on Lipsky’s book) uses words as weapons and sets out to prove dialogue is action. Chris Lombardi / Film Independent Blogger Key Film Independent Fellow or Member Los Angeles Film Festival Alum Spirit Award Winner First-time Filmmaker Microbudget Female Filmmaker Filmmaker or Lead Characters of Color LGBT Filmmaker or Lead LGBT Characters
title: “Don T Miss Indies What To Watch In July” ShowToc: true date: “2024-05-08” author: “William Bowman”
MARLINA: THE MURDERER IN FOUR ACTS
When You Can Watch: Now Where You Can Watch: Theaters (Limited) Director: Mouly Surya Cast: Marsha Timothy, Egy Fedly, Dea Panendra, Yoga Pratama Why We’re Excited: The UK’s Guardian newspaper billed this female-driven revenge drama thusly: “Leone meets Tarantino in Indonesia,” referring to the clear influence of Sergio Leone’s Spaghetti-Western mise-en-scène in the scorching plains of Sumba in eastern Indonesia, where much of Marlina’s (Timothy) struggle take place. A co-production between Indonesia, France, Malaysia and Thailand, the story is partitioned into four sharply divided acts: “Robbery,” “The Journey,” “The Confession” and “The Birth.” Nominated in 2017 at Cannes for the Queen Palm Award, the film follows newly widowed Marlina, who must fight off seven bandits after they arrive at her decrepit homestead to rob and rape her—audaciously demanding to be served with coffee, betel nut and chicken soup first. Lacing the soup with some “special” seasoning, Marlina eventually poisons the lot and exacts bloody revenge, with particular limb-chopping ire saved for Egy Fedly’s lead bandit, Markus.
SORRY TO BOTHER YOU
When You Can Watch: July 6 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: Boots Riley Cast: Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Patton Oswalt, Danny Glover, Armie Hammer Why We’re Excited: For a biting dose of social commentary on what it’s like to be Black in an alternate-dimension Oakland, look no further. This lightly sci-fi comedy from influential rapper-and-producer Boots Riley. Dejected and unemployed, 30-something Cassius Green (Stanfield) is living in his uncle’s garage when he reluctantly stumbles into a telemarketing job. Problem is, nobody wants what he’s selling… until elderly colleague Langston (Glover) gives him some advice: “You wanna make some money here? Use your ‘White Voice.’” It works. Soon, Cassius shoots up the ranks to become one of the company’s “power callers,” grabbing the attention of his coke-snorting CEO (Hammer), who offers him an unbelievable sum to suppress his moral compass. Director Riley’s feature directorial debut premiered to acclaim at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and two of the film’s producers—Nina Yang Bongiovi and Kelly Williams—are Film Independent Members.
GAUGUIN: VOYAGE TO TAHITI
When You Can Watch: July 11 Where You Can Watch: Theaters (Limited) Director: Edouard Deluc Cast: Vincent Cassel, Tuheï Adams, Malik Zidi, Pernille Bergendorff Why We’re Excited: Convinced that he can no longer find inspiration for his art in Paris (“There’s no more face or landscape worth painting here”), French Post-Impressionist master Paul Gauguin (Cassel) abandons his Danish wife (Bergendorff) and their five children to rediscover his joie de vivre far from the soul-sucking din of modern—eg. 1890s—Paris. Winding up in Tahiti, he meets a young local girl Tehura (Adams), who soon becomes his muse. Filmed in both French and Polynesian/Tahitian, the artful quasi-biopic has nonetheless been criticized for glossing over the fact that in real life, Tehura was just 13 when she was offered to Gauguin as a bride (actress Tuheï Adams was 17 years old when the film was shot.) The film premiered in Europe last year and previously played the San Francisco Film Festival.
DARK MONEY
When You Can Watch: July 13 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: Kimberly Reed Why We’re Excited: Kimberly Reed’s sophomore documentary delves into the impact of the Supreme Court’s landmark 2010 ruling “Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310,” which conferred First Amendment free speech rights to corporations, unleashing the terrifying era of the Super PACs (Political Action Committees.) The protagonist of this 2018 Sundance hit is John S. Adams, an investigative reporter of the Montana Free Press, who “follows the money” in Montana politics over several years to examine the ramifications of the ruling. As former FEC Commissioner Ann Ravel laments in the film: “When I first got to the FEC, I thought we would work together on disclosure. [But] The FEC will not enforce the law.” The documentary will soon air on PBS as part of its POV docu-series. Film Independent Member Rick Rosenthal is one of the film’s executive producers.
DON’T WORRY HE WON’T GET FAR ON FOOT
When You Can Watch: July 13 Director: Gus Van Sant Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara, Jack Black Why We’re Excited: Already garnering awards buzz for Phoenix—a 2015 Film Independent Spirit Award winner as part of Inherent Vice’s Robert Altman Award for ensemble cast—this (somewhat) uplifting biopic is based on the true story of controversial Portland cartoonist and quadriplegic John Callahan (Phoenix.) Callahan was paralyzed at just 21 years old in a car accident, when a drinking buddy smashed his Volkswagen into a utility pole at 90 miles per hour. Adapting the story from Callahan’s 1989 memoir of the same title, acclaimed indie film veteran Gus Van Sant (another Spirit Award winner) chose to focus on the addiction-recovery aspects of the cartoonist’s life. Jack Black, Rooney Mara and Jonah Hill co-star. The film’s producers include Film Independent Member Steve Golin.
EIGHTH GRADE
When You Can Watch: July 13 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: Bo Burnham Cast: Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton, Daniel Zolghadri Why We’re Excited: Nominated in the US Dramatic Competition section at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, this insightful dramedy about modern teenage angst is the writing-and-directing debut of actor, comedian and occasional YouTube star Bo Burnham (whom you may remember from his appearance in 2017’s Spirit Award winner The Big Sick.) The film follows 13-year-old Kayla (Fisher, earning reams of praise for her heartbreakingly relatable performance), who can’t wait for the last week of what has been a dreadful eighth-grade year to finally be done with. If she can only make it through this week, she thinks, she’ll be on her way to a cooler, better, way more super-awesome existence as a popular high school student. Sigh. If only that were true…
BLINDSPOTTING
When You Can Watch: July 20 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: Carlos López Estrada Cast: Daveed Diggs, Rafael Casal, Janina Gavankar Why We’re Excited: Director Estrada’s debut feature is a revealing snapshot of life in Oakland, CA as seen through the eyes of screenwriters Casal and Diggs (the latter, a Tony Award winner for his role as Thomas Jefferson in the Broadway smash Hamilton), examining several powder-keg issues plaguing cities across the US: racial tension, police violence and gentrification. Written over nine years, the screenwriting duo wanted the film to offer a more authentic cinematic take on life in the city of their youth—and one of their tools is weaving a lot of rap music into the story. But don’t take our word for it: Diggs and Casal will in person to discuss the project at Film Independent’s July 10 screening of the Film at the WGA Theater in Beverly Hills. What’s more, Film Independent Member Keith Calder is one of the film’s producers.
GENERATION WEALTH
When You Can Watch: July 20 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: Lauren Greenfield Cast: Limo Bob, Florian Homm, Tiffany Masters Why We’re Excited: After 25 years of studying America’s fixation on material fortune and status through her photography, The Queen of Versailles director Greenfield’s latest project focuses on narcissistic obsession and the unquenchable desire for more, more, more—this time spanning around the globe. Her first-person interviews with celebrities from all walks of life in LA, Moscow, Dubai, China and elsewhere pose a cautionary tale for a global society drowning in ultra-decadence. As journalist, writer and Presbyterian minister Chris Hedges says in the film: “It’s like the end of Rome. The pyramids were built at the moment of precipitous Egyptian decline. And that’s what always happens, society accrues the greatest wealth at the moment that they face death.” Yikes! Film Independent Member Danielle Renfrew Behrens is one of the consulting producers on the film.
HOT SUMMER NIGHTS
When You Can Watch: July 27 Where You Can Watch: Theaters (Limited) Director: Elijah Bynum Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Maika Monroe, Alex Roe, Maia Mitchell Why We’re Excited: Elijah Bynum’s feature directorial debut is based on his own 2013 Black List script, following an introverted teenager Daniel’s (Chalamet, a recent Spirit Award winner for Best Male Lead for Call Me By Your Name) summer vacation on Cape Cod in the blistering summer of 1991. Daniel wastes no time in selling drugs to vacationing partiers alongside mercurial small-time drug dealer Hunter (Roe.) Things get even more heated when he finds out that the girl he has fallen for, Mykayla (Monroe), is Hunter’s little sister. Things heat up from there. If that wasn’t enough, one of the executive producers is Film Independent Member Jasmine Daghighian.
MCQUEEN
When You Can Watch: July 20 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: Ian Bonhôte, Peter Ettedgui Cast: Alexander McQueen, Gary James McQueen, Janet McQueen Why We’re Excited: Directors Bonhôte and Ettedgui bring us the rags-to-riches tale of the British couture designer who took his own life at age 40 in 2010. A working class boy from London’s poor Stratford region, the former chief designer for Givenchy never shied away from reflecting his inner torment in his work, no matter how controversial— including his brusquely titled early collections, like 1992’s “Jack the Ripper Stalks His Victims” and 1995’s “Highland Rape.” Through conversations with friends, family and those who knew his work best, the film begins to unravel the demons that had always haunted the young artist. Film Independent Member Carolina Groppa worked on the project as one of the film’s line producers.
KEY
Film Independent Fellow or Member
LA Film Festival Alum
Film Independent Spirit Award Winner or Nominee
First-time Filmmaker
Microbudget
Female Filmmaker
Filmmaker or Lead Characters of Color
LGBT Filmmaker or Lead LGBT Characters
title: “Don T Miss Indies What To Watch In July” ShowToc: true date: “2024-05-02” author: “Patricia Wright”
OPHELIA
When You Can Watch: Now Where You Can Watch: Theaters (Limited), VOD Director: Claire McCarthy Cast: Daisy Ridley, Naomi Watts, Tom Felton, George McKay
THE OTHER STORY
When You Can Watch: Now Where You Can Watch: Theaters (Limited) Director: Avi Nesher Cast: Maayan Blum, Maya Dagan, Sasson Gabai Why We’re Excited: Israeli director Avi Nesher (Past Life, The Wonders, The Matchmaker) also co-wrote the script of this intense family drama, which attempts to dissect and contrast Israel’s secular Jews against their ultra-Orthodox counterparts. Two disaffected young women—one seeking refuge in the controlled and predictable environment of faith, the other desperate to escape the confines of her harsh religious upbringing—cross paths unexpectedly… with dire ramifications. After its debut at TIFF last year and in Chicago last fall, the film went on to garner respectable box office success in its native Israel before a limited theatrical release was secured by Strand Releasing stateside.
OUR TIME (NUESTRO TIEMPO)
When You Can Watch: Now Where You Can Watch: Theaters (Limited) Director: Carlos Reygadas Cast: Natalia López, Phil Burgers, Carlos Reygadas Why We’re Excited: Debuting at the 2018 Venice Film Festival, Mexican auteur Reygadas’ first film in six years—his last film being the contentious, abstract drama Post Tenebras Lux, in 2012—takes a deep dive into marriage and the scourge of jealousy. Esther and husband Juan live in Tlaxcala, in the Mexican countryside, managing a ranch together raising fighting bulls. Despite their seemingly progressive open marriage, everything begins to fall apart when Esther falls in love with gringo “horse breaker” Phil (Burgers) and attempts to hide the affair from Juan. Besides helming the drama, Reygadas (a Spirit Award nominee for 2008’s Silent Light) also stars in the film as Juan, alongside López, his IRL wife, as Esther. Talk about complicated
MIDSOMMAR
When You Can Watch: July 3 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: Ari Aster Cast: Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper, Vilhelm Blomgren, Archie Madekwe Why We’re Excited: Shot in Budapest in the summer and fall of 2018 hot on the heels of Aster’s acclaimed horror debut Hereditary—a multiple Spirit Award nominee—this American/Swedish co-production is set against the backdrop of a fabled mid-summer festival that only occurs once every 90 years. After enduring a crushing family tragedy, young American couple Christian (Pugh) and Dani (Reynor) decide to visit a remote Swedish village for the festival with some friends in hopes of reviving their troubled relationship. Their idyllic vacation in the sublime, picaresque village soon takes a turn, thanks to some violent and sinister pagan rituals. The Hollywood Reporter described the terrifying film as “”The horror equivalent of a destination wedding.”
THE FAREWELL
When You Can Watch: July 12 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: Lulu Wang Cast: Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, Diana Lin, Zhao Shuzhen, Lu Hong, and Jiang Yongbo Why We’re Excited: Chinese-American Billi’s (Awkwafina, of Crazy Rich Asian fame) grandmother, Nai Nai, has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in China, and is not long for this world. Deciding to keep the diagnosis a secret from the matriarch, Nai Nai’s family decides to contrive a “fake” wedding as an excuse to give everyone a chance at one final full family gathering. Adapted from a story Wang originally told on The American Life, the film is based on the director’s own experiences dealing with her grandmother’s illness. Shot primarily in Wang’s ancestral hometown of Changchun, China, the bilingual family drama debuted at the 2019 Sundance Festival before being acquired by A24 for $7 million. The producing team includes Film Independent Members Anita Gou, Peter Saraf and Marc Turtletaub.
BETHANY HAMILTON: UNSTOPPABLE
When You Can Watch: July 12 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: Aaron Lieber Featuring: Bethany Hamilton Why We’re Excited: Unless you were living under a rock in 2003, you probably heard the news story about the teenage surfer whose arm was torn off in a shark attack in Hawaii. Well, not only did she survive the attack, Bethany Hamilton in fact returned to professional surfing a mere two years after the incident. Surf specialist and director Aaron Lieber followed Hamilton around for four years to amass an impressive quilt of interviews with Bethany’s friends and family, with plenty of archival footage gathered throughout the years—including the publishing of her 2004 memoir Soul Surfer, which was turned into a feature film in 2011. Unstoppable producers Penny Edmiston and Jane Kelly Kosek are also Film Independent Members. The film screened at the 2018 LA Film Festival.
DAVID CROSBY: REMEMBER MY NAME
When You Can Watch: July 19 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: A.J. Eaton Featuring: David Crosby, Cameron Crowe, Neil Young, Graham Nash Why We’re Excited: The latest in a string of musician and music-centric offerings to pepper the doc space (including past Don’t-Miss Indies picks Echo in the Canyon and Amazing Grace), David Crosby: Remember My Name is unflinchingly brutal about the consequences of overindulging in the excesses of the 1960s Sex, Drugs and Rock n’ Roll scene. Still standing at 100% “fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes six months after it debuted at Sundance in January, A.J. Easton’s debut nonfiction feature finds Crosby being intimately frank about how lucky he is to still be here: “I should be dead,” he says. He talks about all, from drugs, to liver transplants and heart stents. The film’s a who’s who of Crosby’s musical peers, plus Remember My Name producer Cameron Crowe.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD
When You Can Watch: July 26 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: Quentin Tarantino Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Emile Hirsch, Timothy Olyphant Why We’re Excited: Two-time Spirit Award-winning auteur Quentin Tarantino’s latest feature (his ninth) is a deeply personal lettre d’amour to the bygone era of Hollywood’s late-1960s Golden Age. In dusty Los Angeles, aging TV star Rick Dalton’s (DiCaprio) career has been on the wane for years. Alongside his best friend and longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Pitt), the duo grasp at every chance for a comeback. Meanwhile, they stumble into the Mansion family cult and its infamous attack on Sharon Tate and company, when Tate (Robbie) and husband Roman Polanski move into the house next door to Dalton’s. Shot between June-November 2018, Hollywood is also the last film actor Luke Perry completed before his untimely death in March of this year.
MIKE WALLACE IS HERE
When You Can Watch: July 26 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: Avi Belkin Featuring: Mike Wallace Why We’re Excited: Known for asking the tough questions but actually willing to listen to the answers, the formidable journalist—Mike Wallace, of CBS’s iconic newsmagazine 60 Minutes—has got a few things to teach the current barrage of journalist wannabes in this current age of cable news mayhem. In a career-spanning over seven decades, the late Mr. Wallace was unflinching in his quest for the truth, with bold yet thoughtful inquiries, whether staring down at daunting heads of state the likes of Vladimir Putin of Russia or the Imperial Wizard of the KKK. In an interview with a Vietnam vet admitting to an alleged massacre, the old-school newsman asked very matter-of-factly: “How do you shoot babies?” Rather than a biographical look at Wallace’s life, director Belkin is more interested in using Wallace as an instrument of study to analyze how broadcast journalism—once a respectable line of work—has descended into the muddled morass that it is today.
JAY MYSELF
When You Can Watch: July 31 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: Stephen Wilkes Featuring: Jay Maisel Why We’re Excited: In Wilkes’ feature documentary debut, the photographer-turned-filmmaker paints an intimate portrait of his mentor and fellow photographer, Jay Maisel. In 1966, Maisel purchased a six-story, 35,000-square-foot building in the Bowery neighborhood of New York called “The Bank.” The 72-room building would become his home, studio and “museum,” housing a collection of unique and random objects he has collected over half a decade and inspired his work. However, in February 2015, the artist sold this structure in the largest private real estate deal in NYC history and found himself forced to relocate his collection. The film takes us through this Herculean effort as Maisel reflects on his life and work for the camera of his protégé.
KEY
Film Independent Fellow or Member
Film Independent Spirit Award Winner or Nominee
First-time Filmmaker
Microbudget
Female Filmmaker
Filmmaker or Lead Characters of Color
LGBT Filmmaker or Lead LGBT Characters
LA Film Festival Alum (Header: Midsommer)
title: “Don T Miss Indies What To Watch In July” ShowToc: true date: “2024-05-30” author: “Walter Sherwood”
Phew! Now, with that bit of cautious responsibility out of the way, let’s go ahead and dig into this month’s super-sized list of Don’t-Miss Indies.
FALSE POSITIVE
When You Can Watch: Now Where You Can Watch: Theaters, Hulu Director: John Lee Cast: Ilana Glazer, Justin Theroux, Pierce Brosnan, Sophia Bush Why We’re Excited: James Bond fans might be surprised to find Pierce Brosnan playing against type in longtime TV comedy director John Lee’s (Wonder Showzen, Broad City, Inside Amy Schumer) new pregnancy thriller, False Postitive, which was inspired by his family’s own infertility treatment experiences 15 years ago. Set in New York City, copywriter Lucy (Broad City‘s Glazer) and husband Adrian (Theroux, of HBO’s supernatural mystery The Leftovers) have been trying to conceive for some time when they finally get some help in the form of charismatic–albeit creepy–fertility doctor, Dr. Hindle (Brosnan). Lucy is inseminated with a technique invented by Dr. Hindle, and after the procedure, she grows suspicious that the good doctor may have done something to her unborn baby, and what’s worse–that Adrian may be involved, too. The film’s co-producer is Film Independent Member Jon Read.
SUMMER OF SOUL
When You Can Watch: July 2 Where You Can Watch: Theaters, Hulu Director: Questlove (Ahmir Thompson) Why We’re Excited: Winner of the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at this year’s Sundance, this part-documentary, part-concert-film chronicles the 1969 Harlem Music Festival in Mount Morris Park, New York, which lasted six–six!–whole weeks. Initially recorded by television producer Hal Tulchin, 40+ hours of footage from the historic event (which numbered 300,000 attendees) had been hidden away in a basement for five decades until director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson finally took up the project. Luckily, now viewers can enjoy rarely-seen performances by music greats such as Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Mahalia Jackson and B.B. King. Produced by Searchlight Pictures (formerly Fox Searchlight), the film is distributed worldwide through Disney Plus.
GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE
When You Can Watch: July 14 Where You Can Watch: Netflix Director: Navot Papushado Cast: Karen Gillan, Lena Headey, Carla Gugino, Michelle Yeoh, Angela Bassett, Paul Giamatti Why We’re Excited: Touted as “a combination of John Wick and Kill Bill” by Collider, Israeli director Papushado’s new revenge thriller centers on a group of female assassins who work for a shadowy organization called The Firm. Years ago, top British assassin Scarlet (Lena Headey, Game of Throne) was forced to leave her daughter, Sam, behind. Sam grows up to be a hitwoman as well (played by Gillan, of Guardians of the Galaxy and Jumanji) and now–15 years later–the mother-daughter assassin duo must reunite to save the life of an eight-year-old girl caught up in a gang war. Channeling the anachronistic décor and story world feel of the John Wick series, these women also get some much-needed assistance from a team of kickass veterans dubbed “The Librarians”: Madeleine (Gugino), Anna May (Bassett) and Florence (Yeoh).
PIG
When You Can Watch: July 16 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: Michael Sarnoski Cast: Nicolas Cage, Alex Wolff, Adam Arkin Why We’re Excited: For his feature film debut, TV veteran Sarnoski (Olympia, Fight Night Legacy) has chosen–what else?–a revenge thriller about a truffle-sniffing pig. Based on a script co-written by Sarnoski and Vanessa Block, the feature centers on reclusive Oregonian woodsman and truffle forager Rob (two-time Film Independent Spirit Award nominee Nicolas Cage), who sets out to find his prized hog after she’s stolen. But as he trudges through his old stomping grounds in the Oregonian wilderness, Rob is forced to confront his mysterious past. Shot in Portland, the film reportedly ignited a bidding war in March 2020, just two weeks after much of the world was paralyzed by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
HOW IT ENDS
When You Can Watch: July 20 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: Zoe Lister-Jones, Daryl Wein Cast: Zoe Lister-Jones, Cailee Spaeny, Olivia Wilde, Fred Armisen, Helen Hunt Why We’re Excited: As a world-ending asteroid barrels through space towards Earth, everyone in Los Angeles scrambles to make the best of their final remaining hours. Single, loner tech whiz Liza (Lister-Jones, Band Aid) is totally fine facing the end in peace and on her own. But after being pushed to make amends with her family and friends, she’s forced to traverse through an eerily quiet Tinseltown, engaging with strangers from all walks of life along the way. Billed as a “feel-good apocalyptic comedy” by IMDb, the film was shot entirely during the COVID-19 lockdown period by the husband-and-wife filmmaking team of Lister-Jones and Wein, who share writing and directing credits.
OLD
When You Can Watch: July 23 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: M. Night Shyamalan Cast: Gael García Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Embeth Davidtz, Alex Wolff Why We’re Excited: In this month’s second movie featuring indie-horror darling Alex Wolff, M. Night Shyamalan’s latest supernatural thriller is based around a Father’s Day gift from his daughter: a copy of the 2010 graphic novel Sandcastle, by Pierre Oscar Levy and Frederik Peeters. Shot in the Dominican Republic in the fall of 2020, the film takes us on what should be a sublime family vacation in the perfect tropical vacation destination. But when travelers stumble onto a dead body on the beach that rapidly decomposes, odd things begin to happen. Within hours of arriving at the secluded beach, they all age exponentially, reducing their entire lives into a single day.
AILEY
When You Can Watch: July 23 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: Jamila Wignot Why We’re Excited: Peabody and Emmy-award winning director Jamila Wignot’s new project is an intimate portrait of dancer, choreographer and modern dance pioneer Alvin Ailey, who discovered theater when he was 14 and later founded New York’s Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958. Largely told through his own words via audio interviews captured in the autumn of Ailey’s life and archival footage of his performances uncovered by producer Rebecca Kent, the film features a performance of a brand-new dance inspired by the dancer’s life. “I had my own ideas, not just to do a step, but to feel something,” the dancer once said. Premiering at this year’s Sundance, the film’s team includes executive producer and Film Independent Member Regina K. Scully.
THE LAST LETTER FROM YOUR LOVER
When You Can Watch: July 23 Where You Can Watch: Netflix Director: Augustine Frizzell Cast: Shailene Woodley, Felicity Jones, Callum Turner, Joe Alwyn Why We’re Excited: A Spirit Award nominee for her 2018 directorial debut Never Goin’ Back, director Agustine Frizzell’s newest feature is a romantic drama based on the Jojo Moyes (Me Before You) novel by the same title. The film focuses on two stories transpiring 30 years apart. In modern day London, journalist Ellie (Jones, On The Basis of Sex) sets out to solve the mystery of a long-ago affair when she discovers a collection of love letters in the archives of the media outlet where she works. The letters are dated from the 1960s and addressed to an American expat living in London at the time, Jennifer (Woodley, Big Little Lies)–who was married but having a secret affair with Anthony (Turner, Fantastic Beasts.) As Ellie digs deeper into the mystery, her own connection to Jennifer’s quandary begins to unravel.
THE GREEN KNIGHT
When You Can Watch: July 30 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: David Lowery Cast: Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Sarita Choudhury Why We’re Excited: Based on the 14th century poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, this medieval fantasy adventure is a retelling of the classic King Arthur legend. In this rendition by writer-director Lowery (Pete’s Dragon, and a John Cassavetes Spirit Award nominee for A Ghost Story), King Arthur’s handsome, reckless and cantankerous nephew Sir Gawain (Patel) fights ghosts, giants, thieves and schemers to prove his worth to his family and kingdom; his quest culminating in a confrontation with the gargantuan, green-skinned and tree-like creature, the titular “Green Knight.” Film Independent Fellows involved with the project include 2014 Producers Award winner Toby Halbrooks and cinematographer Andrew Droz Palermo, a 2013 Documentary Lab participant. The producing team also includes Film Independent Members Tim Headington, Theresa Steele Page and EP Aaron Gilbert.
STILLWATER
When You Can Watch: July 30 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: Tom McCarthy Cast: Matt Damon, Camille Cottin, Abigail Breslin Why We’re Excited: Slated to premiere at next month’s Cannes Film Festival, four-time Spirit Award winner Tom McCarthy’s latest is a thriller that takes roughneck oil worker Bill (Damon) from arid Oklahoma to Marseille, France to save his estranged daughter Allison (Breslin), who has been accused of murdering her girlfriend during her semester abroad. When he is told that she has exhausted all legal options, he moves to France to exonerate her, even though he doesn’t speak a word of the language or have any familiarity with that country’s legal system. Fortunately, Bill finds help from a local woman Virginie (Cottin), who assists him in navigating linguistic and cultural barriers as he attempts to build a new life, leaving no stones unturned in his plight to clear his daughter’s name.
PROGRAMMER’S PICK ROADRUNNER: A FILM ABOUT ANTHONY BOURDAIN
When You Can Watch: July 16 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: Morgan Neville Cast: Anthony Bourdain, David Chang, David Choe, Eric Ripert Why We’re Excited: From Film Independent Senior Programmer Jenn Wilson: “Three-time nominee and one-time winner (Won’t You Be My Neighbor, 2018) for Best Documentary at the Spirit Awards, director Morgan Neville takes on the challenge of profiling enigmatic recovering heroin addict/chef/author/TV personality Anthony Bourdain in his new film Roadrunner. The archival footage in this film is prolific and Neville puts it to incredible use, as we follow Bourdain and his meteoric rise to success with a bestselling novel, Kitchen Confidential, and then a hit food show for television called Parts Unknown. Terrific interviews with Bourdain’s friends and family fill in some of the gaps on Bourdain’s background and personality. Especially interesting is the interview with David Choe, a Korean-American artist who suffers from some of the same addiction and mental health issues as Bourdain. Choe and Bourdain did a famous Parts Unknown episode together at the Sizzler steak house in Choe’s childhood neighborhood of Koreatown in Los Angeles. Of course, there are no real answers as to why Bourdain suddenly and shockingly committed suicide in 2018, but the movie provides enough information for viewers to come up with that answer for themselves. Highly watchable (I’ve seen it twice already!) and incredibly moving, Roadrunner is looking to be one of the best documentaries of the year.
KEY
Film Independent Fellow or Member
LA Film Festival Alum
Film Independent Spirit Award Winner or Nominee
First-time Filmmaker
Microbudget
Female Filmmaker
Filmmaker or Lead Characters of Color
LGBT Filmmaker or Lead LGBT Characters (Header: False Positive)
title: “Don T Miss Indies What To Watch In July” ShowToc: true date: “2024-04-29” author: “Peggy Moore”
POSER
When You Can Watch: Now Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: Noah Dixon, Ori Segev Cast: Sylvie Mix, Bobbi Kitten, Abdul Seidu, Rachel Keefe, Aujolie Baker Why We’re Excited: Directing duo Noah Dixon and Ori Segev make an exciting debut with Poser, a drama that premiered and made waves at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival. The Oscilloscope Laboratories-distributed film tells the story of Lennon Gates, played by Sylvie Mix, who is desperately looking to become a part of the thriving local Columbus indie music scene in any way possible. Her attempt to assimilate into the community she is so deeply infatuated with comes in the form of starting a podcast featuring live music and interviews with the artists she loves. Gates crosses paths with Bobbi Kitten (member of real-life Columbus electro-pop act Damn the Witch Siren, playing a loose version of herself) who unwittingly becomes entangled in Lennon’s dark web of obsession. IndieWire’s Kate Erbland describes the film as “Single White Female with a punk edge” in her review from June 2021, that gives great praise to Sylvie Mix in her first starring role.
THE BEAR, SEASON ONE
When You Can Watch: Now Where You Can Watch: Hulu Creator: Christopher Storer Cast: Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Jon Bernthal, Molly Ringwald Why We’re Excited: Producer, director and writer Christopher Storer (who has enjoyed plenty of success in television projects such as Ramy and multiple collaborations with Bo Burnham, including 2018 Film Independent Spirit Award winner Eighth Grade) is back with a new show for Hulu, The Bear. The show follows a young chef from the fine dining world played by Jeremy Allen White (Shameless) who returns to Chicago to run his family’s sandwich shop and explore a very different side of the culinary world. The show prides itself on being a realistic depiction of life in the kitchen, enlisting former Jon & Vinny’s chef Courtney Storer, sister of Christopher Storer, to serve as culinary producer for the show. Canadian chef and internet personality Matty Matheson also serves as a producer for the show and has a supporting role as Neil Fak.
RUTHERFORD FALLS, SEASON TWO
When You Can Watch: Now Where You Can Watch: Peacock Creators: Ed Helms, Sierra Teller Ornelas, Michael Schur Cast: Ed Helms, Michael Greyeyes, Jane Schmieding, Jesse Leigh, Dustin Milligan Why We’re Excited: Season One of Rutherford Falls was a Film Independent favorite, earning Spirit Award acting nominations for stars Michael Greyeyes and Jane Schmieding. And now it’s back for Season Two! Joining those actors in the main roles once again are Ed Helms (The Office‘s immortal Andy Bernard), Jesse Leigh and Dustin Milligan. Sierra Teller Ornelas and Michael Schur co-created the Peacock series with Helms centering on two lifelong friends, Nathan Rutherford (Helms) and Regan Wells (Schmieding) who have their relationship put to the test when a crisis hits the small town where they live. Mayor Regan decides to move a statue of Nathan’s white ancestor (since cars keep crashing into it) but Nathan has other ideas and wants it to stay. Reagan is put in a difficult place, juggling her loyalties to her friend Nathan and to her people, the Minishonka Nation.
CLARA SOLA
When You Can Watch: July 8 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: Nathalie Álvarez Mesén Cast: Wendy Chinchilla Araya, Ana Julia Porras Espinoza, Daniel Castañeda Rincón, Flor María Vargas Chavez Why We’re Excited: Costa Rican-Swedish writer/director Nathalie Álvarez Mesén’s debut feature Clara Sola has already received high praise, including a Cannes 2021 premiere and Costa Rica’s selection for Best International Film at the 94th Academy Awards. Clara Sola also cleaned up at the Guldbagge Awards, presented by the Swedish Film Institute, winning five major awards including Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Sound/Sound Design. The film comes to US theaters via Oscilloscope Laboratories on July 8 in limited release. Forty-year-old Clara (Wendy Chinchilla Araya) is living in a remote Costa Rican village when she has a sexual awakening following a lifetime of repression under religious and social norms. Clara Sola is the debut on-screen acting role for Araya, also a professional dancer. Nathalie Álvarez Mesén co-wrote the film with Maria Camila Arias and has previously had her short films screen at prominent festivals including Telluride and Venice.
BOTH SIDES OF THE BLADE
When You Can Watch: July 8 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Creators: Claire Denis Cast: Juliette Binoche, Vincent Lindon, Grégoire Colin, Bulle Ogier, Mati Diop Why We’re Excited: Prolific, renowned French auteur (and 1998 Spirit Award winner!) Claire Denis follows up 2018’s High Life with yet another collaboration with actor Juliette Binoche as well as her first pairing with Vincent Lindon, fresh off his awe-inspiring performance in last year’s Titane. Both Sides of the Blade (formerly titled Fire in English markets) is a romantic drama based on a 2018 novel by Christine Agnot, Un tournant de la vie. The 15th Denis feature, the film premiered in February at the Berlin International Film Festival where it competed for the Golden Bear award and won Denis the Silver Bear for Best Director. Hana Magimel, daughter of Binoche and actor Benoît Magimel, makes her debut in the film that also features French acting legend Bulle Ogier (The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, Céline and Julie Go Boating). Denis also brings back frequent collaborators including actor Grégoire Colin (Beau Travail, 35 Shots of Rum) and English rock band Tindersticks to compose the score.
SHE WILL
When You Can Watch: July 15 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: Charlotte Colbert Cast: Alice Krige, Malcolm McDowell, Kota Eberhardt, John McCrea, Rupert Everett Why We’re Excited: She Will marks the feature film directorial debut for Franco-British director Charlotte Colbert. The IFC Midnight release appears to be in capable hands with producers including giallo genre god Dario Argento (Suspiria, Deep Red) as Executive Producer and veteran producer Edward R. Pressman, who worked on the Brian DePalma thrillers Sisters and Phantom of the Paradise in addition to The Crow and American Psycho, among many others. The score, too, comes from another accomplished name in the thriller genre composer, Clint Mansell (Black Swan, Requiem for a Dream, Moon). The British psychological horror comedy-drama film centers on a former film star played by Alice Krige who goes to a healing retreat in Scotland with her nurse (Kota Eberhardt) after undergoing a double mastectomy. The refuge has a past that is anything but tranquil, as women were once burned alive there for alleged witchcraft many years ago. A Clockwork Orange’s Malcom McDowell has a leading role in the movie that also features John McCrea, Rupert Everett and Amy Manson.
DON’T MAKE ME GO
When You Can Watch: July 15 Director: Hannah Marks Cast: John Cho, Mia Isaac, Kayla Scodelario, Josh Thomson, Jemaine Clement Why We’re Excited: Though she has yet to turn 30, Hannah Marks has already demonstrated quite a bit of versatility while carving out a successful acting and directing career. Marks was included in Rolling Stone’s 2017 “25 Under 25 Artists Changing the World” and has lived up to that distinction. Don’t Make Me Go is the second film she has directed on her own, following up 2021’s Mark, Mary + Some Other People, and stars past Spirit Award nominee John Cho as a single father with a terminal disease who takes his reluctant teenage daughter (Mia Isaac, in her debut film role) on a cross-country road trip to find her estranged mother. In the adventure dramedy written by Vera Herbert, Cho’s character feels as though he must cram the remainder of his life lessons for his daughter into a single trip, since his time is limited. Don’t Make Me Go was shot on location in New Zealand, making the supporting role by Flight of the Conchords own Jemaine Clement a very fitting, fun treat. Also, producers Leah Holzer and Peter Saraf are both Film Independent Fellows.
NOPE
When You Can Watch: July 22 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: Jordan Peele Cast: Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun, Brandon Perea, Michael Wincott Why We’re Excited: Jordan Peele was a big winner at the 2018 Spirit Awards–taking home Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Feature for Get Out. He quickly followed that up with 2019’s smash-hit Us and is back again with his heavily anticipated third feature, Nope. Peele reunites with Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya (who he said he specifically wrote the script for) and enlists Keke Palmer (Hustlers) and Steven Yeun (Minari, Sorry to Bother You, Burning) for the first time. The film focuses on ranch-owner siblings OJ and Emerald Haywood (Kaluuya and Palmer) who attempt to capture video evidence of an unidentified flying object that may be related to the death of their father. The project is the first to utilize trainees from Universal Filmed Entertainment Group’s California Below-the-Line Traineeship for individuals seeking careers behind the camera which seeks to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion within all areas of production. Nope hits theaters July 22!
HOUSE PARTY
When You Can Watch: July 28 Where You Can Watch: HBO Max Director: Calmatic Cast: Jacob Latimore, Allen Maldonado, Tosin Cole, D.C. Young Fly, Bill Bellamy Why We’re Excited: Sometimes a shot of nostalgia is exactly what you need, and “Old Town Road” music video director Calmatic is here to deliver just that to you with a direct remake of the 1990 cult classic House Party. The 2022 version, also titled House Party, brings an entirely revamped cast to the table, but does feature a supporting role for 1990s MTV VJ Bill Bellamy for good measure. Calmatic earned eight MTV Video Music Awards nominations for the “Old Town Road” music video and now turns his attention to feature film directing for the first time. If you’ve forgotten the plot to House Party, it’s quite straightforward: the story of a higher schooler who sneaks out of his house to attend his friend’s house party. A wild night filled with antics, hip-hop, dancing and fun ensues. Milwaukee actor, singer and dancer Jacob Latimore leads the film that also features Allen Maldonado (Curtis from television show Black–ish) and Tosin Cole (Dr. Who, The Cut).
VENGEANCE
When You Can Watch: July 29 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: B.J. Novak Cast: B.J. Novak, Boyd Holbrook, Dove Cameron, Ashton Kutcher, Issa Rae, John Mayer Why We’re Excited: B.J. Novak, who we know and love as Ryan from The Office, makes his directorial debut with the black comedy Vengeance, coming to theaters July 29 from Focus Features. Novak also stars and wrote the film, the second this month to prominently feature a podcaster and/or Office alum. Journalist (Novak) travels from New York City to West Texas to investigate the death of a woman he had a casual romantic relationship with and the ambiguous circumstances of her demise. Ashton Kutcher (who has not acted in feature films much since his starring role in 2013’s Jobs) and Issa Rae headline the supporting cast that also includes Boyd Holbrook, Dove Cameron and a small role by musician John Mayer. Singer-songwriter, producer and Billie Eilish brother Finneas O’Connell composed the score for the film, produced by Get Out Spirit Award winners Blumhouse Productions. The film premiered in June at the Tribeca Film Festival. Editor Andy Canny is a Film Independent Member.
PROGRAMMERS PICK QUEEN OF GLORY
When You Can Watch: July 15 Where You Can Watch: Theaters Director: Nana Mensah Cast: Nana Mensah, Meeko Gattuso, Madeline Weinstein, Ward Horton Why We’re Excited: From Film Independent Senior Programmer Jenn Wilson: “Sarah Obeng (Nana Mensah) is preparing to leave her Columbia University PhD program to follow her married college professor boyfriend to Ohio when tragedy strikes and her mother unexpectedly dies. She’s frustrated, thinking that her mother’s untimely death is keeping her from her goals. But the process of going back to her old Bronx neighborhood, settling her mom’s affairs, holding funeral services and dealing with her extended family from Ghana all combine to reveal some real questions about her life’s choices. Are her issues a result of alienation from her culture? Or has her culture caused her complicated relationship with friends/family? Nana Mensah pulls triple-duty as the lead of the film as well as the writer/director. Her work earned her a 2022 Spirit Awards nomination for Best First Feature, and her co-star Meeko Gattuso a nomination for Best Supporting Male performance. Both actors are so terrific and the film so well-written and executed that it’s hard to believe this is Mensah’s first feature.” Arts Circle Member Anya Migda is one of the film’s producers. Producer Kelley Robins and Cinematographer Cybel Martin are both General Members.
KEY
Film Independent Fellow or Member
Film Independent Presents Screening, Q&A
Microbudget
Filmmaker or Lead Characters of Color
Film Independent Spirit Award Winner or Nominee
Female Filmmaker
LGBT Filmmaker or Lead LGBT Characters
First-time Filmmaker (Header: Queen of Glory)
title: “Don T Miss Indies What To Watch In July” ShowToc: true date: “2024-04-23” author: “Mary Stough”
FLAMIN’ HOT
When You Can Watch: Now Where You Can Watch: Hulu, Disney+ Director: Eva Longoria Cast: Jesse Garcia, Annie Gonzalez, Dennis Haysbert, Emilio Rivera, Tony Shalhoub Why We’re Excited: Most famous for her role as feisty and stunning Latina housewife Gabrielle Solis in the ABC megahit Desperate Housewives, Eva Longoria’s directorial debut is a biographical dramedy based on Richard Montañez’s (admittedly disputed) memoir, A Boy, a Burrito and a Cookie: From Janitor to Executive. The film follows Richard (Garcia), a janitor at Frito Lay, who leans into his Mexican-American background to turn the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos into a popular snack phenomenon. Written by Film Independent Fellow Linda Yvette Chávez (Netflix’s Gente-fied), the movie screened as part of the Film Independent Presents series last month, followed by a panel discussion with the cast and filmmakers.
MAMA BEARS
When You Can Watch: Now Where You Can Watch: PBS online, Independent Lens (PBS) Director: Daresha Kyi Why We’re Excited: A Film Independent Fellow twice over thanks to the 2020 Documentary Lab and Fast Track programs, director Daresha Kyi’s newest nonfiction feature chronicles a cross section of women representing the “Mama Bear” community. Conservative Christian moms Sara Cunningham and Kimberly Shappley grew up as evangelicals, but later found themselves turning into passionate advocates for the queer community when they have to fight for their LGBTQIA+ children. While Kimberly tackles political systems on behalf of her transgender daughter, Kai, Sara embraces her gay son, Parker, and becomes a positive fixture of support in the larger queer community. The film also follows a young Black lesbian, Tammi Terrell Morris, and her relationship with her mother for an additional point of view. The film premiered in June as part of PBS’s prestigious Independent Lens series and is currently streaming on the PBS app. Producer Laura Tatham is also a 2020 Doc Lab Fellow.
I’M A VIRGO
When You Can Watch: Now Creator: Boots Riley Cast: Jharrel Jerome, Olivia Washington, Mike Epps, Carmen Ejogo, Walton Goggins, Brett Gray
GEORGE & TAMMY
When You Can Watch: Now Where You Can Watch: Showtime Creator: Abe Sylvia Cast: Jessica Chastain, Michael Shannon, Steve Zahn, Tim Blake Nelson Why We’re Excited: Creator Abe Sylvia is one of the co-writers behind Chastain’s Oscar-winning turn in the 2021 biopic The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Here, the duo collaborates once more on a project that calls for the two-time Spirit Award nominee Chastain to test her vocal virtuosity: as one-half of the legendary (and legendarily troubled) country music power couple, Tammy Wynette and George Jones (Spirit Awards alum Shannon). We begin as the couple first meets in 1967, when the immensely talented Tammy is a housewife chasing after a dream and George is already established. Hired to open for the self-destructive older singer on tour, Tammy drags her three children and freeloader husband along on the road. Both leads deliver sublime musical performances as they belt out mesmerizing and heart-wrenching country ballads that chart the couple’s tumultuous relationship. The pilot screened last month at the Landmark as part of Film Independent Presents series—check out the post-screening Q&A with the two leads and the series’ music producer, Rachael Moore.
BIOSPHERE
When You Can Watch: July 7 Where You Can Watch: Theaters (Limited), VOD Creator: Mel Eslyn Cast: Sterling K. Brown, Mark Duplass Why We’re Excited: A three-time Spirit Awards alum, writer-director Mel Eslyn co-wrote this, her feature directorial debut, with lead actor and two-time Spirit Award nominee Mark Duplass. After an unspecified global catastrophe, Billy (Duplass) and his fellow resident in an apartment-sized biodome, Ray (Brown, This is Us), are the only humans left alive on Earth. A brilliant scientist, Ray had designed the biodome to contain everything needed to sustain life on a planet that no longer works—the world outside their biodome is perpetually dark because the sun literally no longer exists. Later, we get a hint that Billy might have had a hand in whatever had led to Earth’s ruin, among other secrets (he might have been America’s President at one point?).
EARTH MAMA
When You Can Watch: July 7 Where You Can Watch: Theaters (Limited) Director: Savanah Leaf Cast: Tia Nomore, Erika Alexander, Doechii, Keta Price Why We’re Excited: A London-born volleyball player who was raised in California’s Bay Area, writer-director Leaf competed in the 2012 Olympics before expanding her considerable talents to filmmaking, directing a series of music videos and short films. Based on her own 2020 nonfiction short The Heart Still Hums (co-directed with Taylor Russell), her feature debut follows young single mother Gia (newcomer Nomore), who is pregnant with her third child after her older children land in foster care. Between court-mandated counseling classes and her job at a portrait studio, she does her best to make ends meet in mid-2000s Oakland. The A24 release premiered at Sundance earlier this year.
AFIRE
When You Can Watch: July 14 Where You Can Watch: Theaters (Limited) Director: Christian Petzold Cast: Thomas Schubert, Paula Beer, Langston Uibel, Enno Trebs Why We’re Excited: In his third collaboration with actress Paula Beer following the critically-acclaimed Transit and Undine, German director Petzold’s latest offering is a relationship drama wrapped up in social commentary and climate change. When novelist Leon (Schubert) is pressured by a deadline to deliver his second novel, he retreats to a remote cabin by the Baltic coast with best friend, Felix (Uibel). When they arrive, the men are surprised to find the cabin already occupied by a carefree and lively young woman, Nadja (Beer), who cooks scrumptious meals and plays music late into the evening before frolicking with local lifeguard, Devid (Trebs). Meanwhile, wildfires breakout nearby but the quartet are too wrapped up in their own drama, failing to heed the warnings until it is too late …
THEATER CAMP
When You Can Watch: July 14 Where You Can Watch: Theaters (Limited) Directors: Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman Cast: Molly Gordon, Ben Platt, Jimmy Tatro, Amy Sedaris, Ayo Edebiri Why We’re Excited: Gordon and Lieberman’s directing debut is a feature adaptation of their 2020 short film by the same name. Acquired by Searchlight Pictures for $8 million after this year’s Sundance premiere, the comedy follows an eccentric group of budding performers and staff at a scrappy theater camp in upstate New York. When the founder Joan (Sedaris) falls into a coma, her clueless son, Troy (Tatro), must join forces with instructors, Rebecca-Diane (Gordon) and Amos (Platt), to keep the outfit from turning into a financial disaster. The feature also costars recent Spirit Award winner, Ayo Edebiri.
20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL
When You Can Watch: July 21 Where You Can Watch: Theaters (Limited), PBS Director: Mstyslav Chernov Why We’re Excited: A co-production of Frontline PBS and The Associated Press, Ukrainian journalist and director Chernov’s film documents the 20 days he and his colleagues spent in Mariupol as the city was besieged by Russian forces during the early days of the invasion of Ukraine. Winning the Sundance World Cinema Documentary Competition earlier this year, the film follows Chernov, photographer Evgeniy Maloletka, and field producer Vasilisa Stepanenko, who offered the world an unflinching account of the invasion from inside the conflict zone. Bearing witness to the atrocities first-hand, their coverage of the bombings of apartment buildings and a maternity ward has since been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.
STEPHEN CURRY: UNDERRATED
When You Can Watch: July 21 Where You Can Watch: Theaters, Apple TV+ Director: Peter Nicks Why We’re Excited: Emmy-winning doc filmmaker Nicks—a 2012 Film Independent Truer Than Fiction Award winner for 2012’s The Waiting Room—incorporates cinéma verité and plenty of archival footage to present an intriguing coming-of-age story of one of the most famous players in NBA history. The Apple Original Films and A24 collaboration documents how the undersized North Carolina native defied expectations and rose from Division I underdog to four-time NBA champion. Premiering at Sundance earlier this year, the film’s producing team includes 2014 Spirit Award winner for Fruitvale Station, director Ryan Coogler.
KEY
Film Independent Fellow or Member
Film Independent Presents Screening, Q&A
Microbudget
Filmmaker or Lead Characters of Color
Film Independent Spirit Award Winner or Nominee
Female Filmmaker
LGBT Filmmaker or Lead LGBT Characters
First-time Filmmaker (Header: I’m a Virgo)
