When one looks back on a director’s early works, you can usually see the beginnings of whatever will become their signature POV or narrative approach. In The Land of Lost Angels is the first feature film from writer/director Bishrel Mashbat,… Read More ›
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Discover surrealist artist Reine Paradis in the VOD documentary “Queen of Paradis.”
The tale of Reine Paradis begins with the story of how the French-born artist came to the United States to pursue her dream of being an artist. After being fired as a photographer’s assistant, she had to make a decision,… Read More ›
Jimmy Olsson’s short “Alive” teaches a straightforward lesson, confronting biases about romance and sex.
Swedish writer and director Jimmy Olsson, who is known for short films like Repressed (2011) and 2nd Class (2018), examines some difficult subjects in his latest short, Alive. Running at just twenty-three minutes, Alive deals with ableism and relational boundaries… Read More ›
Heather Young’s “Murmur” Explores Aging, Addiction, and Animal-Human Connection. [Slamdance Film Festival]
Heather Young’s Murmur (2019) explores aging, addiction, loneliness, and the emotional pull of the animal-connection, through one woman’s experience while working in an animal shelter for court-mandated community service. This first full-length feature film directed by Young (Fish) won the… Read More ›
Indie drama “Enthusiastic Sinners” strips its characters bare physically and emotionally.
In all aspects of films, the trickiest part is categorizing it. What genre does it fall into? Who does it target? To whom does the film speak? It’s easy to do with most superhero films, while prestige pictures more often… Read More ›
Awkward anti-comedy “Tapeworm” checks all the boxes for quirky indie flick. [Slamdance Film Festival]
The Slamdance Film Festival, which runs at the same time and in the same city as the more widely known Sundance Film Festival, gives new and aspiring filmmakers the chance to showcase their work in front of other industry professionals…. Read More ›
New documentary “To Kid Or Not To Kid” explores the diverse perspectives of having kids.
The question of whether or not to have children is faced by the majority of people at a certain point in their lives. Depending on factors such as each individual’s cultural background or socio-economic standing, there may be varying responses… Read More ›
Andrew de Burgh’s “The Bestowal” is a journey of self–reflection through the examination of humanity.
When most films are focused on action, there’s something to be said for a film more interested in dialogue over everything else. A stripped down, bare bones, minimalistic tale where the audience sits and listens as ideas are presented and… Read More ›
Robin McKenna’s documentary “Gift” is a thoughtful and sincere piece of work, all wrapped up in a nice package.
Receiving a gift can be a really special thing. All the hard work or all the good will you put in can be worth it because one day you’ll get something special in return. The latest documentary Gift, directed by Robin McKenna,… Read More ›
“Luke & Jo” utilizes the right place/right time trope as a jumping off point to examine internal struggles.
Loneliness is a universal condition. It begins as a notion that tickles in the back of our minds before drilling deep into the bones, settling in our soul. The shame is that one does not need to be alone to… Read More ›
Mitch McLeod’s “Silhouette” packs big budget tension in a small budget film.
No matter the genre, the most compelling stories are the ones which tap into something primal in the audience. Fear, delight, rage, and joy are ingrained in us as a means of survival in an uncontrollable cosmos. A good writer… Read More ›
Six Must-See Films at the 2019 DC Black Film Festival
The DC Black Film Festival returns on Thursday, August 15th, 2019 when it kicks-off with a screening of Solace at The Miracle Theatre. Over the course of its three-day run, the DC BFF will host viewings of features and documentaries short and… Read More ›
Documentarian Pamela B. Green and her team unearth the legacy of Alice Guy-Blaché in “Be Natural: The Untold Story Of Alice Guy-Blaché”.
It’s not going to surprise anyone to read that the amount we don’t know frequently outweighs the vast amounts of information we think we do. Sometimes it’s hubris which makes us think this way, but more often than not, it’s… Read More ›
“The Spy Behind Home Plate” explores baseball player Moe Berg’s life as a spy during World War II.
The new documentary The Spy Behind Home Plate, written, directed, and produced by Aviva Kempner, depicts the incredible true story of Morris “Moe” Berg, a notably successful Major League Baseball athlete who played for five different teams over the course… Read More ›
Documentary “Origin Story” presents a raw and emotional journey for closure.
Imagine that you’re 14 years old, your parents are constantly fighting and you find yourself frequently in the middle of one of their arguments. You’re still in your formative years and this kind of persistent angst is routine in your… Read More ›
Documentary “Nothing Changes: Art for Hank’s Sake” immortalizes the artist, not the art.
Why do we do what we do? What drives us? What inspires us to get out of bed each morning and tackle the day? This is the core question of director Matthew Kaplowitz’s documentary Nothing Changes: Art for Hank’s Sake,… Read More ›
Documentarians Chris Ghelfi and Laura Sheehy’s chronicle the highs and lows of Kinsale King’s career in “Chasing The Win”.
The industry that is horse racing certainly isn’t the beast it once was. What used to be an event for the elite and commoner alike, has now become more of a status symbol than anything else. While horse racing doesn’t… Read More ›
Documentary “Free Trip to Egypt” presents the adventure of seven U.S. citizens on a cultural experience of a lifetime.
The premise of Free Trip to Egypt on its own is enough to grab any person’s attention who is remotely aware of the state of our world’s societal and political issues. A Muslim man of Egyptian heritage, Tarek Mounib, sets… Read More ›
Documentary “Father The Flame” brings the fading art of pipe-making into vibrant focus.
If a viewer were to visit director Chad Terpstra’s Father The Flame website, the About page contains a lovely adaptation of the René Magritte line from “The Treachery of Images” now-reading “Ceci n’est pas un filme de pipe,” or “This is… Read More ›
Writer/director Sarah Pirozek’s teenage noir “#Like” pulses with the energy of a ‘70s thriller. [Brooklyn Film Festival]
There’s a constant argument between generations about who had it worse vs. who had it better. The “always on” digital generation may scoff at the concept of their predecessors’ reliance on books for information, while the analog generation derides their… Read More ›