All articles tagged with #indie films
Woody Harrelson remembers Robert Redford as a legendary actor, director, and activist who was a champion of indie films and had a significant impact on Hollywood and environmental causes, following Redford's death at age 89.
The weekend's indie box office was led by the Jeff Buckley documentary 'It's Never Over,' which debuted strongly across theaters, alongside other notable releases like the animated 'Boys Are From Jupiter' and Kristin Scott Thomas's directorial debut 'My Mother’s Wedding,' reflecting diverse audience interests despite competition from major studio films.
The article highlights five lesser-known films at Tribeca 2025, including 'The Scout,' a humorous industry portrait; 'What Marielle Knows,' a German family dramedy with a Black Mirror twist; 'Bird In Hand,' a sharp coming-of-age story; 'Inside,' a bleak Australian prison drama; and 'Ride Or Die,' a fiery lesbian road trip film, showcasing diverse and impressive indie debuts beyond the festival's big-name attractions.
After nearly 40 years in Park City, the Sundance Film Festival is considering a move to a new location as its current contract expires after the 2026 festival. Organizers have opened a bid process for potential new host cities, with an emphasis on inclusivity and sustainability. While Park City remains in the mix, the festival's leadership sees the contract expiration as an opportunity to redefine its role in the digital age. The decision on a new location or renewal in Park City is expected to be announced at the end of the 2025 festival. Utah is vying to keep the festival due to its significant economic impact, but some locals express frustration and the festival's leadership has seen recent changes.
The European Film Market in Berlin is showing promise with a strong lineup of indie movies featuring A-list stars, but unresolved issues in the home entertainment market, particularly the decline in pay-one window revenue due to streaming dominance, are casting a shadow over the indie film industry. While headline-making deals from streamers like Netflix and Amazon are notable, the overall reduction in indie movie acquisitions is impacting ancillary revenues. Independent buyers with pay-one output deals are better positioned, but the future of streaming platforms and their acquisition strategies remains critical for the survival of independent film. Despite challenges, there are new opportunities in the streaming market as platforms shift away from all-rights deals, offering a glimmer of hope for indie producers.
Dakota Johnson criticizes Hollywood for being risk-averse and untrusting of creative talent, describing the industry as "bleak" and "disheartening." She laments the difficulty of getting unique projects made and expresses frustration with studio executives' fear of taking chances. Johnson's production company, TeaTime, is working on several upcoming films, including one about grief. Issa Rae also voices similar concerns, criticizing studio executives for being "scared and clueless" and attributing the industry's challenges to their lack of creativity and reliance on financial considerations.
Christopher Nolan expressed his admiration for smaller-scale dramas but stated that he's drawn to working on large-scale productions due to the responsibility of utilizing available resources effectively. Despite this, his recent film "Oppenheimer" had a smaller budget compared to his previous works, and he made significant efforts to optimize production design within the constraints. The film has garnered 13 Academy Award nominations and is a strong contender for best picture and best director.
The Sundance Film Festival is set to showcase a diverse array of films, including documentaries like "Better Angels: The Gospel According to Tammy Faye" and "Power," as well as indie films such as "Freaky Tales," "I Saw the TV Glow," "Love Me," "The Outrun," "Presence," "Sasquatch Sunset," and "Seeking Mavis Beacon." The festival will also feature the highly anticipated "Thelma," a comedy noir starring June Squibb and Richard Roundtree.
The 2024 Sundance Film Festival lineup includes highly anticipated movies such as "Super/Man," a documentary chronicling Christopher Reeve's rise to fame and his life after a tragic accident, Kristen Stewart's appearances in crime drama "Love Lies Bleeding" and sci-fi film "Love Me," and other films featuring stars like Sebastian Stan, Pedro Pascal, Saoirse Ronan, and Kieran Culkin. The lineup also includes films directed by Steven Soderbergh and Nora Fingscheidt, as well as a heartfelt documentary starring Will Ferrell and his friend Harper Steele.
The article highlights the 30 best films of 2023, including "Beau Is Afraid," "Evil Does Not Exist," "Ferrari," "Kokomo City," and "Last Stop Larrimah." Other notable films mentioned are "Perfect Days," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem," "A Thousand And One," "Rye Lane," and "Polite Society." The list also includes films like "Priscilla," "Nimona," "John Wick: Chapter 4," "Passages," "The Taste Of Things," "BlackBerry," "The Killer," "The Holdovers," "Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse," "Anatomy Of A Fall," "May December," "Barbie," "Killers Of The Flower Moon," and "Oppenheimer."
Indie films "The Zone of Interest" and "American Fiction" open in select theaters, offering unique and thought-provoking stories. "The Zone of Interest" explores the life of the commandant of Auschwitz and his family, while "American Fiction" satirically tackles cultural stereotypes. Both films have received critical acclaim and garnered Golden Globe nominations. Additionally, the music documentary "Immediate Family" and the expansions of "Poor Things" and "Maestro" are also highlighted.
The Los Angeles Film Critics Association announced the winners of the annual LA Film Critics Awards, with Jonathan Glazer's "The Zone of Interest" winning Best Picture and Best Director. Sandra Hüller was honored for her performances in "The Zone of Interest" and "Anatomy of a Fall," while Ryan Gosling received a runner-up nod for his role in "Barbie." The awards recognized a mix of blockbusters and indie films, highlighting the diverse range of films in contention for this year's Oscars.
The article lists the 20 best films of 2023, including Steven Spielberg's semi-autobiographical period drama "The Fabelmans," Emma Seligman's queer indie gem "Bottoms," and Greta Gerwig's box office hit "Barbie." Other notable films include Wes Anderson's "Asteroid City," Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon," and Ti West's horror film "Pearl." The list showcases a diverse range of genres and highlights the creativity and talent of filmmakers in 2023.
The 40th Sundance Film Festival, taking place from January 18 to 28, 2024, has announced its lineup, featuring two films, eight episodic titles, and a New Frontier interactive experience. One of the highlights is "Love Me," a sci-fi romance starring Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun, which won the 2024 Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize. The festival aims to provide a platform for independent filmmakers to showcase their bold and risk-taking work.
The nominations for the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards have been announced, with "American Fiction," "May December," and "Past Lives" leading the pack with five nominations each. The awards ceremony will take place on February 24, 2024, and the nominated films will likely gain momentum in the upcoming awards season, including the Oscars. HBO's "The Last of Us" and Boots Riley's Amazon Prime series "I'm a Virgo" tied for the most TV nominations. Notable nominees include Natalie Portman, Greta Lee, and Jeffrey Wright for Best Lead Performance. Several changes were introduced for this year's Indie Spirits, including gender-neutral acting prizes and a raised budget cap for qualifying projects.