Filmmaker Spotlight
A TRIP THROUGH L.A. WITH MAMITAS FILMMAKER NICHOLAS OZEKI (4/25/2012)
One of 2011 Los Angeles Film Festival’s biggest standout screening was Nicholas Ozeki’s Mamitas, which went on to receive a Spirit Award nomination this past February. Ozeki took to the streets of Echo Park to tell the story of Jordin, a cocky but charming Latino -- continue reading →
FIVE FILMS: WHAT’S IT LIKE TO BE UNDER HOUSE ARREST? (4/13/2012)
What’s it like to be under house arrest if you’re a prominent Manhattan attorney who has been convicted of orchestrating a $700 million Ponzi scheme? Marc Simon’s documentary Unraveled ventures inside the Upper East Side penthouse apartment of Marc Dreier to find out. As his -- continue reading →
PRODUCTION SPOTLIGHT: THE MIRACLE MILE PARADOX (4/02/2012)
Film Independent fellow Angela Salamanca, Project Involve 2008, is very real and embarking on a very real Kickstarter campaign. It’s the project for which she is raising funds that I have questions about. Ask just about anyone what Transmedia is and you’ll get an empty -- continue reading →
FIVE QUESTIONS WITH GREGG ARAKI- 20 YEARS OF NEW QUEER CINEMA (3/29/2012)
This year is the 20th Anniversary of Gregg Araki’s The Living End and the birth of New Queer Cinema as a whole. Outfest’s Legacy Project has preserved Araki’s films, as well as the work of several New Queer directors, including Swoon! After a screening of -- continue reading →
PRODUCTION SPOTLIGHT: THE MAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE (3/26/2012)
Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett have been making films for a long time. The team behind Little Manhattan has a hit web series and they’re ready to take it to the big screen. Time to raise some funds, right? Whose afraid of crowdfunding? Not them! -- continue reading →
MAKING A NATURAL SELECTION WITH ROBBIE PICKERING (3/16/2012)
Writer/director Robbie Pickering has settled into the Film Independent family in more ways than one over the past six years and this Friday is a bit of a graduation ceremony as his film, Natural Selection, makes it’s way to theaters across the country. Pickering has -- continue reading →
THE FREEDOM OF BEING DARDENNE: DOUG JONES INTERVIEWS THE DARDENNE BROTHERS (3/12/2012)
In recent years, “Dardenne-like” has become a favorite descriptor of international film critics. If a film features an economical, but emotionally complex narrative, a naturalistic approach to filmmaking and a penchant for lower class protagonists brought to life mostly by non-professional actors, you can bet -- continue reading →
FIVE FILMS BY WOMEN (3/08/2012)
In observance of International Women’s Day, we bring you films to see from our illustrious female Film Independent fellows and alums. Amreeka Writer / director Cherien Dabis is a Film Independent Fellow Amreeka chronicles the adventures of Muna, a single mother who leaves the West -- continue reading →
FIVE COMING OF AGE FILMS WITH DIRECTOR TAIKA WAITITI (3/01/2012)
We are excited for the US release of Taika Waititi’s Boy, can you tell? His short film Two Cars One Night is our short fix of the week, and now we’ve asked him to participate in one of our favorite features; Five Films. In keeping -- continue reading →
HITFIX: FIVE GREAT INDIE PERFORMANCES THAT OSCAR MISSED (2/29/2012)
This week for the Directors Close Up we’re talking performance and getting great performances from your actors. It being awards season and all Gregory Ellwood at HitFix gave us the rundown on a few great performances that went overlooked by the Academy when it came -- continue reading →
