With a screenplay by Lauren Pomerantz (SNL, The Ellen DeGeneres Show), wife and wife co-directors Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne refashion the romcom by placing a platonic female friendship at its centre. Now both in their early thirties, Lucy (Dakota Johnson) and Jane (Sonoya Mizuno) have been best friends since high school. It's become comfortable... Continue Reading →
Sundance 2022 Film Review: Brainwashed Sex-Camera-Power ★★★★★
Independent filmmaker Nina Menkes returns to Sundance with the explosive Brainwashed Sex-Camera-Power, based on her own lecture (Sex and Power, the Visual Language of Oppression), a compelling illustration of the pervasive objectification of women in the history of Hollywood film and its off screen, real world implications such as employment discrimination and a culture of... Continue Reading →
Sundance 2022 Film Review: Mars One/Marte Um ★★★★
UPDATE: Screens at the 40th Anniversary Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival on Thursday, July 21st at 7pm at Directors Guild of America, Theater 2. Writer-director Gabriel Martins' sophomore feature, Mars One (Marte Um), which world premiered on the opening night of Sundance 2022 and is part of the festival's World Cinema Competition, focuses on... Continue Reading →
Sundance 2022 announces festival jury & Beyond Film lineup
Ahead of Sundance 2022, taking place on the festival's online platform at Festival.Sundance.org January 20-30th (and in person at seven Satellite Screens venues around the US during the festival’s second weekend), the nonprofit Sundance Institute has announced the members of the six prize-awarding juries and the Beyond Film lineup. Among the jurors are Weekend filmmaker... Continue Reading →
LGBTQ+ highlights at Sundance 2022
UPDATE: January 5th 2022, Sundance announced that the Festival’s in-person Utah elements will be moving online. The Festival will begin Thursday January 20th 2022 as planned with screening schedule adjustments to be announced to account for an online only schedule. The seven satellite partners will host screenings for their local communities from January 28th-30th 2022. With... Continue Reading →
2022 Sundance Film Festival lineup revealed
UPDATE: January 5th 2022, Sundance announced that the Festival’s in-person Utah elements will be moving online. The Festival will begin Thursday January 20th 2022 as planned with screening schedule adjustments to be announced to account for an online only schedule. The seven satellite partners will host screenings for their local communities from January 28th-30th 2022. The... Continue Reading →
Outfest LA 2021 Film Review: Knocking (Knackningar) ★★★★
Based on the novella by Johan Theorin, Swedish filmmaker Frida Kempff's unsettling debut feature Knocking (or Knackningar in Swedish, such a delicious word) which played Outfest LA 2021 on Saturday night, is a sophisticated psychological horror and a masterclass in tension, spare dialogue, and intricate sound design. At its centre is a compelling performance by... Continue Reading →
Exclusive interview: performance artist Jibz Cameron aka Dynasty Handbag & director Mariah Garnett on Weirdo Night
Among the highlights at this year's Sundance was creator-writer-star Jibz Cameron and director Mariah Garnett’s Weirdo Night. It's a specially filmed version of the ordinarily monthly LA-based underground cabaret-style event that centres queer, female, and POC comedians, artists, and musicians, curated by Cameron and hosted with flair and a touch of filth by her performing... Continue Reading →
Exclusive Interview: Sparks “there’s element of us – artistically at least – being outsiders maybe that’s something that resonates with some members of the gay community”
BAFTA-nominated British filmmaker Edgar Wright's debut feature documentary, The Sparks Brothers, about his favourite band, Sparks, which opens in theaters Friday June 18th, offers a fascinating insight into the lives of the enigmatic bandmates and siblings, Ron and Russell Mael and their creative process, which has resulted in 25 albums over their five decade career... Continue Reading →
Exclusive Interview: queer Sundance award-winner Ma Belle, My Beauty filmmaker Marion Hill & stars Idella Johnson & Hannah Pepper “we created this really beautiful container in which desire & intimacy can live”
Writer-director Marion Hill's queer romance Ma Belle, My Beauty had its world premiere at Sundance, going on to win the Audience Award in the NEXT section of the festival. It's a gorgeously sun-drenched character-driven drama set in the South of France where Lane (Hannah Pepper) unexpectedly visits her ex-girlfriend Bertie (Idella Johnson) and Bertie's husband... Continue Reading →
