Welcome to Me When: May 1 Where: Theaters Director: Shira Piven Starring: Kristen Wiig, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tim Robbins Why We’re Excited: After premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, buzz quickly built for this zany dramedy, mainly due to Kristen Wiig’s performance as a woman with borderline personality disorder who wins the mega-millions and spends the money on producing her own talk show. It’s always exciting when a film puts the spotlight on a strong female lead, especially if the character isn’t one we’ve often come across. Actress, writer and director Shira Piven’s second feature tackles the subject of mental illness and feature some heavy material, but we with Wigg in the lead we’re pretty sure there will be some laughs in store. Ride When: May 1 Where: Theaters Director: Helen Hunt Starring: Helen Hunt, Luke Wilson, Brenton Thwaites Why We’re Excited: It’s great to see Oscar and Spirit Award winning actress Helen Hunt getting behind the camera again, as well as in front. Delivering her second feature as writer-director, Hunt plays an overbearing mother who discovers her son has dropped out of college to become a surfer. After traveling cross-country to California to try and talk some sense into him, she’ll soon discover there may be a lot she can learn from him as well. Perfectly timed for Mother’s Day, this life-affirming comedy refreshingly puts the focus on a sexy, strong, middle-aged woman. Go Helen. I Am Big Bird: The Carol Spinney Story When: May 6 Where: Theaters/ITunes Directors: Dave LaMattina, Chad N. Walker Why We’re Excited: Since 1969, Carol Spinney has been warming the hearts of American families as Sesame Street’s beloved Big Bird. This documentary introduces audiences to the 78-year-old man in the bird suit, revealing interesting facts you probably didn’t know about one of television’s longest running shows. Made on a shoestring budget, partially consisting of fan donations, the film was a favorite at lasts year’s Los Angeles Film Festival. Every Secret Thing When: May 15 Where: Theaters Director: Amy Berg Starring: Diane Lane, Elizabeth Banks, Dakota Fanning Why We’re Excited: Another film showcasing the artistry of many talented women is this gripping crime drama based on Laura Lippman’s page-turning novel. Academy Award nominated filmmaker Amy Berg directs an all-star cast, including Spirit Award nominee Diane Lane and Elizabeth Banks as a detective investigating the link between missing children and an infant’s death some years prior. The mysterious thriller was written by Spirit Award Winner Nicole Holofcener and premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Slow West When: May 15 Where: Theaters/VOD Director: John Maclean Starring: Ben Mendelsohn, Michael Fassbender, Kodi Smit-McPhee Why We’re Excited: Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, John Maclean’s feature debut is an action-packed western thriller that just so happens to be funny and a romantic tale of young love. Kodi Smit-McPhee stars as a 19-year-old boy traveling across the 19th-century frontier with a mysterious stranger, as he searches for the love of his life. It’s always fun when a good western comes along. It also doesn’t hurt to have the ever-cool Michael Fassbender starring. All the Wilderness When: May 18 Where: DVD/VOD Director: Michael James Johnson Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Virginia Madsen, Danny DeVito Why We’re Excited: Michael James Johnson makes his feature film debut with this coming-of-age drama about a restless teenager who is struggling with the absence of his father and rebelling against his single mother. The film premiered at SXSW and features a brave performance from rising star Kodi Smit-McPhee (also seen in Slow West), as well as Spirit Award Winner Virginia Madsen. Aloft When: May 22 Where: Theaters Director: Claudia Llosa Starring: Jennifer Connelly, Cillian Murphy Why We’re Excited: Another unconventional option for Mother’s Day is Claudia Llosa’s latest drama. Featuring two actors who never seem to shy away from awesome indie, Jennifer Connelly stars as a faith healer with a dark past, and Cillian Murphy is the son she abandoned 20 years ago. Mysteries surrounding the desertion are revealed and emotions are in high gear when mother and son are reunited. The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival where it was nominated for the Golden Berlin Bear. Sunshine Superman When: May 22 Where: Theaters Directors: Marah Strauch Why We’re Excited: Another documentary to check out this month comes from Film Independent Fellow Marah Strauch who worked on the film in our Doc Lab. In her first film, Strauch takes audiences to great heights while working with a very small budget and introduces audiences to Carl Boenish. Boenish is the zealous skydiver who is also known as the father of the BASE jumping movement. Results When: May 29 Where: Theaters, VOD & ITunes Director: Andrew Bujalski Starring: Guy Pearce, Kevin Corrigan, Cobie Smulders Why We’re Excited: When you throw love, sex, money, marriage and divorce into a blender, you’re bound to get some chaotic and hilarious results. In the latest comedy from Spirit Award winning filmmaker and Film Independent Fellow funny guy Andrew Bujalski, a personal trainer and the owner of the gym where she works experience some unexpected changes in their personal lives upon the arrival of a new wealthy client. The film, which was a winner of our Arri grant, premiered at Sundance, where it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize and featured the talents of Film Independent Fellows Houston King, who produced the film and Matthias Grunsky, the director of photography. 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 of Color LGBT Filmmaker
