Don’t Miss Indies: What to Watch in July
We’re officially a month into summer, when the blazing sun is still bearable and the usual suspects—camping, swimming, traveling—start to pick up speed. Another activity, purposely left out to have its own spotlight of course, is moviegoing! While big budget films make their way to the front of the crowd, some indie films proudly extend and wave their arms as they very much should. Luckily, there are a few already out ready to be taken in this Fourth of July weekend. For some people, it understandably feels like a precarious time to be celebrating Independence Day, and for others national pride flows ever so naturally. This July, whether you’re feeling like you’re under the Tuscan sun or a raisin in the sun, there are enough fruitful films to feast your eyes to, and in this heat? There probably isn’t a better place to stay cool than in an air conditioned room with a silver screen.
HOT MILK
When: Now
Where: Theaters
Director: Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Cast: Emma Mackey, Fiona Shaw, Vicky Krieps
Why We’re Excited: It’s always compelling to see writers exercise their artistic visions behind the camera, especially when it’s their first time. Spirit Award Nominated (Colette, 2019) and acclaimed playwright/screenwriter Rebecca Lenkiewicz makes her directorial debut with Hot Milk. Adapted from Deborah Levy’s novel of the same name, it follows mother-daughter duo Rose (Shaw) and Sofia (Mackey) in seaside Spain in search of a cure for Rose’s mysterious illness. Sofia, who’s lived in the shadow of her mother’s illness, meets free-spirited Ingrid (Krieps) and proceeds to go down a path of self-discovery and freedom. The film’s setting and tone alone makes it a summer must-see.
VIDEOHEAVEN
When: Now
Where: Theaters (NY)
Director: Alex Ross Perry
Cast: Maya Hawke
Why We’re Excited: O video store, video store, wherefore art thou video store? Well, contrary to popular belief, some video stores are still around! However, their presence was a lot more seen and felt just shy of two decades ago, but especially in the 1980s during the rise of VHS. One of our most anticipated documentaries of the year, Spirit Award Nominated (The Color Wheel, 2013) Alex Ross Perry gives us Videoheaven, a love letter to video stores; spaces where filmmakers and film lovers could connect and share the passion for the art form. It also analyzes the greater impact video stores had on film/popular culture as a whole. With a wide range of footage to represent each talking point, how could any film lover not want to get lost in the aisles of Videoheaven? Furthermore, it’s narrated by Maya Hawke who happens to have one of the coolest speaking voices ever.
DON’T LET’S GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT
When: July 11
Where: Theaters
Director: Embeth Dadidtz
Cast: Lexi Venter, Embeth Davidtz, Zikhona Bali
Why We’re Excited: The film follows 8-year-old Bobo (Venter) during the final days of the Zimbabwean War. Growing up in Rhodesia (current day Zimbabwe), she built meaningful relationships with people on both sides of the war, leading to her internalized conflict. As a result, she attempts to make sense of her reality in a magical way. This storyline conjures the all-too-real experiences of children who fall victim to war. It’s an indubitably tragic effect that makes such films, that humanize and amplify the child’s perspective, significant to look forward to. We had the thrill of holding a Members-Only screening on July 1st, followed by an in-person conversation with writer/director/actor Embeth Davidtz moderated by Variety’s Chief Film Critic Peter Debruge.
MONK IN PIECES
When: July 15, July 24 / July 23
Where: Theaters (NY) / Piedmont Theatre (CA)
Directors: Billy Shebar, David C. Roberts
Cast: Meredith Monk, Björk, David Byrne
Why We’re Excited: Another one of our most anticipated documentaries of the year, Monk in Pieces explores the trailblazing artistry of visionary composer and performer Meredith Monk. It unpacks the biting criticism she received early in her career—since the 1960s—and how she managed to persevere and continue to create as an interdisciplinary artist to this very day. Additionally, it reveals some of her own ruminations on the state of her work upon reaching mortality. This marks the directorial debut for television and film writers/producers Billy Shebar and David C. Roberts. With interviews from other interdisciplinary artists like Björk and David Byrne, Monk’s peers, this is a worthwhile documentary for who’s lucky enough to catch it.
EDDINGTON
When: July 18
Where: Theaters
Director: Ari Aster
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Pedro Pascal, Austin Butler
Why We’re Excited: It could be said that ever since Midsommar, Ari Aster’s inescapably harrowing sophomore feature, a new release from the Spirit Award Nominated (Hereditary, 2019) auteur feels like a holiday to indie and arthouse film lovers everywhere. Eddington marks his fourth feature film, and several factors indicate that it could be his most ambitious one yet. Set in a fictional town in New Mexico at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the film follows the growing opposition between Sheriff Joe Cross (Phoenix) and Mayor Ted Garcia (Pascal). Based on real events, it explores present-day socio-political turmoil that may polarize audiences on a more sizable level, but that just adds to the appeal. With a high-profile cast to drive the story, we’re ready to buckle up and see where the journey takes us.
UNICORNS
When: July 18
Where: Theaters
Directors: Sally El Hosaini, James Krishna Floyd
Cast: Ben Hardy, Jason Patel, Sagar Radia
Why We’re Excited: The film follows the unexpected romance between Aysha/Ashiq (Patel), an openly queer drag performer, and Luke (Hardy), a heterosexual hard-working single father. Their genuine attraction to each other challenges them as individuals, who they’ve believed themselves to be, and as an unconventional pair in an unrelenting world. It’s without question that stories about marginalized groups and relationships are necessary and worth paying attention to, as the human experience is indeed not a monolith. Although it had a UK theatrical release back in 2024, Hosaini’s and Floyd’s Unicorns will finally have a US theatrical release this year. Dress to impress, and don’t forget to take a few tissues.
OH, HI!
When: July 25
Where: Theaters
Director: Sophie Brooks
Cast: Molly Gordon, Logan Lerman, Geraldine Viswanathan
Why We’re Excited: A new romance always opens the door to something exciting, with it comes the honeymoon phase. New lovers enjoy it as long as it lasts, then a serious disagreement or event naturally ensues. Well, in the case of Iris (Gordon) and Issac (Lerman) in Oh, Hi!, that serious disagreement or event goes further left than expected. Sophie Brooks’s sophomore feature is the romantic dark comedy we didn’t know we needed. It’s perfectly set to release in the summer for a lively night out with friends, or—dare it be said—date night. On July 8th, we’re delighted to hold an advanced Members-Only screening, followed by an in-person conversation with writer/director Sophie Brooks, actor/producer Molly Gordon, actors Logan Lerman and Geraldine Viswanathan moderated by Vanity Fair’s David Canfield. Click here for further details.
DICIANNOVE
When: July 25
Where: Theaters
Director: Giovanni Tortorici
Cast: Manfredi Marini, Vittoria Planeta, Zackari Delmas
Why We’re Excited: Giovanni Tortorici makes his directorial debut with Diciannove, also known as Nineteen. It follows 19-year-old Leonardo (Marini), a passionate student who sporadically pursues higher education from one path to another. He ends up in Turin where he meets a man who aids him in his understanding of life. It’s a story that rings undeniably relatable to anxious youth everywhere entering adulthood; fortunately within access to higher education, unfortunately subject to navigate a stressful transition under high pressure. Seeing as the film was produced by close collaborator and mentor Luca Guadagnino (Queer, Challengers), that makes us all the more willing and able to tune in on Tortorici’s debut.
TOGETHER
When: July 30
Where: Theaters
Director: Michael Shanks
Cast: Dave Franco, Alison Brie
Why We’re Excited: The film follows Tim (Franco) and Millie (Brie), a long-term couple whose relationship begins to crack as they start a new chapter in the country. To make matters even worse, unimaginably worse, they encounter a strange and unnatural force that works to not only damage their relationship, but also their physical selves—hint, reread the title. Eek! Alison Brie and Dave Franco, one of the film industry’s romantically-linked couples working today, have consistently collaborated prior to this project. As producers/actors on the body horror film, it’s looking to be their most ambitious project yet. Together is sure to be a memorable directorial debut from Michael Shanks, as horror has proven to be time and time again from first-time feature-length directors.
Note: We acknowledge the copyright infringement suit from the studios and producers of Better Half(2023) that’s been made against the studios and producers of Together (2025). As it’s an ongoing lawsuit, we feel it’s within reason to continue to recommend the title. Assuredly, we champion both independent filmmaking and due process of law.
PROGRAMMER’S PICK: 40 ACRES
When: Now
Where: Theaters
Director: R.T. Thorne
Cast: Danielle Deadwyler, Kataem O’Connor, Michael Greyeyes
Why We’re Excited: From Jennifer Wilson, Film Independent Senior Programmer– Canadian Director R.T. Thorne, who has amassed a number of credits directing music videos and TV series’, makes his very assured feature debut with the SXSW hit, 40 Acres. In it, Danielle Deadwyler plays post-apocalyptic farm owner, Hailey, who is trying against all odds to keep her land and her brood safe. In the film’s world, a virus killed all the livestock, and there’s no meat left for sustenance, only whatever vegetables and grains can be grown, consequently land is the most valuable asset now. But a roving band of cannibals decides to start decimating all the farms and, you guessed it…killing and eating all the farm’s inhabitants. Thorne connects Hailey’s land and ancestors to the African Americans who escaped to Canada in the Civil War. Her ties to this land, her proud heritage, and the generational wealth it will provide to her offspring are her primary motivations in this, yet her growing children have some lessons for her in how to survive in this new world. The performance of Deadwyler, Michael Greyeyes, and a supporting cast of young newcomers make this a great Summer action movie not to miss.
KEY
Film Independent Fellow or Member
Film Independent Presents Screening, Q&A
Microbudget
Filmmaker or Lead Characters of Color
Film Independent Spirit Award Winner or Nominee
Female Filmmaker
LGBT Filmmaker or Lead LGBT Characters
First-time Filmmaker
LA Film Festival Winner or Nominee
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