Independent Films

Filmmaker Magazine

• Slamdance Film Festival Announces Feature Lineup for 2023 December 5, 2022
  Today, the Slamdance Film Festival announces its 2023 feature lineup, including programming for the Narrative Features Competition, Documentary Features Competition, Breakouts, Unstoppable, and Spotlight Screenings. The 29th annual edition of the festival will adhere to a hybrid model, with events taking place in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah from January 20-26 and online […]
  Natalia Keogan
• Oscar-winning Documentarian Julia Reichert Dies at 76 December 2, 2022
  Documentary filmmaker Julia Reichert, who won an Oscar with her partner Steven Bognar for American Factory, has died. Reichert passed away in her Ohio home on Thursday night from urothelial cancer after being diagnosed as Stage Four back in 2018. She was 76.  Reichert’s filmography has championed the plight of marginalized Americans, particularly through the […]
  Natalia Keogan
• “Copaganda,” Kiarostami and Punisher Comics: Ramin Bahrani on 2nd Chance December 2, 2022
  Richard Davis achieved redneck nirvana. The crude and quotable subject of 2nd Chance, Davis transformed in the 1970s from bankrupt pizzeria owner to small-town kingpin after inventing the bulletproof vest. The phrase “redneck nirvana” had a particular meaning for him: It meant he could suddenly afford to buy anything at the local KMart. Success soon […]
  Soheil Rezayazdi
• “Pretend Sonic Youth Composed the Score to Jaws“: Deakin and Geologist of Animal Collective on Scoring The Inspection December 2, 2022
  22 years after the release of their debut album, the Baltimore-bred quartet Animal Collective is as prolific as ever. Members Avey Tare (Dave Portner), Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), Deakin (Josh Dibb) and Geologist (Brian Weitz) released their 11th studio album this year—the delectably jammy Time Skiffs—to a wave of acclaim the band arguably hasn’t received […]
  Natalia Keogan
• Dances With Films Kicks off Its Inaugural New York Edition December 1, 2022
  Dances With Films (DWF), the Los Angeles-based independent film festival, continues to celebrate its 25th anniversary by expanding to New York City. While the LA edition of the festival took place in June, today marks the beginning of DWF’s inaugural NYC iteration, with festival screenings to be hosted at Regal Union Square from December 1 […]
  Natalia Keogan
• How the Oscar Contending Song “Brasília Bella” Is the Key to Watergate Film 18½ November 30, 2022
  In making my Watergate historical fiction film 18½, I always knew that coming up with a consistent musical soundtrack was going to be essential for balancing the tone of a film that swings from comedy to thriller to drama at breakneck speed. One genre of music, and indeed one song, “Brasília Bella,” is the key […]
  Dan Mirvish
• Columbia University Launches New Film MFA Concentration: Writing for Film & Television (Sponsored Post) November 29, 2022
  Columbia University School of the Arts Launches New Film MFA Concentration: Writing for Film & Television Columbia University School of the Arts is proud to announce a new addition to the Film MFA Program: the Writing for Film & Television concentration. This three-year program is designed specifically for students whose main focus is writing. “Columbia is […]
  Filmmaker Staff
• Everything Everywhere All at Once Wins Best Feature at 2022 Gotham Awards November 29, 2022
  Everything Everywhere All at Once was the top winner at the 2022 Gotham Awards, which took place at New York City’s Cipriani Wall Street on November 28. The film, written and directed by 25 New Face alums Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan, took home awards for Best Feature and Outstanding Supporting Performer for Ke Huy […]
  Natalia Keogan
• “It Was the Acting Olympics”: Women Talking Star Sheila McCarthy (Back To One: Episode 230) November 29, 2022
  Ever since her incredible performance in I’ve Heard The Mermaids Singing 35 years ago, Sheila McCarthy has been one of Canada’s most hardworking and reliable actors in theater, television, and film on both sides of the border. In her latest project, she joins a “murderers’ row” lineup of actresses like Judith Ivey, Claire Foy, Jessie […]
  Peter Rinaldi
• “You Don’t Find Yaks in America”: Joan Chen on Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl November 25, 2022
  An international movie star on screens both big (Bernardo Bertolucci’s Oscar-winning The Last Emperor) and small (David Lynch’s mega-hit, Twin Peaks), Joan Chen’s film career went behind the camera with her feature directorial debut, Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl. Released in the United States on May 7th, 1999 (the day the U.S. and NATO […]
  Erik Luers