See it  in theaters as part of Studio Ghibli Fest 2024, September 26 – October 3 Known worldwide as one of the most talented animation artists and directors alive today, Hayao Miyazaki left audiences in awe again with “The Boy and The Heron,” which won Best Animated Feature at the 96th Academy Awards. Twenty years ago, Miyazaki was nominated in the same category for a previous film, and despite not winning the award, the director’s “Howl’s Moving Castle” achieved significant critical acclaim. In fact, Hayao Miyazaki’s legacy is so strong that his films claim four positions of the top ten ..read more

Sitting in the movie theater surrounded by the local and vibrant queer community, chills swept over me from the unfolding narrative on the screen. “Desire Lines,” the new film directed by Jules Rosskam and starring Theo Germain and Aden Hakimi, is a bold and innovative exploration of transmasculine sexuality and history. The film’s unique premise of time travel through an LGBTQ+ archive is a powerful metaphor for delving into the layered and often hidden narratives of trans experiences. Through the protagonist’s journey, the film not only offers a personal quest for understanding but also serv ..read more

Through the years, Hollywood has produced an infinite amount of espionage films. These films have essentially all been the same: created by cisgender white directors, starring cisgender white male characters, and catering to a cisgender white male audience. The spy film genre was a humdrum until Angela Robinson stepped onto the scene in 2003 with a 10-minute action-comedy short film “D.E.B.S.,” starring an all-female cast of spies. A year later, its feature-length film “D.E.B.S.” was released. While not independently produced, “D.E.B.S.” does not follow Hollywood’s overspending trend with its ..read more

With the release of countless independent films, finding something to watch can often become overwhelming. What films are worth your time and dedication? Decision fatigue is real, and our editorial board understands the struggle. To help you decide on your next favorite watch, we’ve developed a curated list of some of our recent obsessions that we think you might love as well. Sophie’s Pick: “Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person” directed by Ariane Louis-Seize (2023) Sara Montpetit as Sasha in “Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person.” Courtesy of Reactor. Sometimes ..read more

Artist and animator Emma Varteresian says, “No one ever does stop motion the same” and her ambitious work proves as much. Varteresian has needle felted, painted, storyboarded, and animated her family’s history transforming it into a stop motion folktale. Varteresian has wanted to share the story of her great grandmother’s exile from Armenia since her freshman year of college. As she puts the finishing touches on Whispers From The Heart of A Rose, Varteresian took a moment to speak with me about her process, her inspirations, stop motion, and Armenian culture. Here is an abridged version of tha ..read more

With the upcoming 25th anniversary of iconic found footage horror movie, “The Blair Witch Project” (1999), Lionsgate and Blumhouse have announced their collaboration on a revival. According to a press release from Lionsgate: Jason Blum, CEO of Blumhouse, will be working with producer of “Blair Witch” (2016) Roy Lee. In his announcement, chairman of Lionsgate, Adam Fogelson, revealed this will be “the first film in a multi-picture pact with Blumhouse reimagining horror classics from the Lionsgate library.” The aim of these revivals is to introduce the films to a new generation of horror enthusi ..read more

“The Zone Of Interest” is the latest Oscar-winning Holocaust film, but Hollywood has long had an obsession with Jewish victimhood. Why are we so obsessed with Holocaust films? According to Rich Brownstein, author of “Holocaust Cinema Complete,” there have been almost 450 Holocaust films made by 45 countries since 1945. Compared to other topics outside the Jewish sphere, Holocaust films aren’t as prolific as they may seem, but as Brownstein explains in his book, “of the 77 American-produced or co-produced Holocaust-related feature films, 21 have won or been nominated for at least one Oscar, wit ..read more

Roger Corman, the prolific filmmaker known as the “Pope of Pop Cinema” and and “The King of Cult” passed away peacefully at the age of 98. A trailblazer in the world of independent cinema, Corman’s career spanned more than six decades, during which he produced over 300 films—directing around 50 of them—that left an indelible mark on the industry. Corman specialized in fast-paced, low-budget genre movies, mainly horror, westerns, action, and science fiction, that he wrote, produced, and occasionally directed. His debut as a producer came with the 1954 film “Monster from the Ocean Floor,” and he ..read more

American filmmaker John Waters will make his return to the big screen after twenty years for an adaptation of his debut novel, Liarmouth: A Feel-Bad Romance. The book, published in 2022, opens with con artist Marsha “Liarmouth” Sprinkle on the run following a heist she carried out with Daryl, her partner-in-crime, whom  she’s promised sex to once a year. Rumors that Aubrey Plaza would star as Sprinkle surfaced months prior in a number of news publications — however these rumors were dispelled by Waters. The filmmaker released a statement to Baltimore Sun, stating, “While I am thrilled and ..read more

There are a plethora of ways to celebrate Earth Day, like taking a walk in nature or practicing more sustainable consumption habits. Here at The Independent we’re taking a look at five independent experimental films that make us think about the intricacies of the planet itself, and those who inhabit it. These films, varying in format and genre, all share one focus, besides their experimental natures, which is maintaining respect for our planet. From documentaries providing real life examples of the ways in which the Earth provides for us, to a striking example of Earth’s birth through a black ..read more