Tag: SXSW Online 2021

Directors, Female Characters, Female Filmmaker, Female Filmmakers, Female Writer, Film Festivals, Film Reviews, Indie Film, Reviews, SXSW Film Festival

SXSW Online 2021 Review: “Here Before”

Year: 2021 Runtime: 83 minutes Writer: Stacey Gregg Director: Stacey Gregg Stars: Andrea Riseborough, Eileen O’Higgins, Jonjo O’Neill, Martin McCann By Valerie Kalfrin Andrea Riseborough (TV’s “Waco” and “ZeroZeroZero”) turns in a solid performance that holds together the mystery thriller “Here Before”(2021), even as the plot’s familiarity and left-field twists nearly tear it apart. Laura (Riseborough) loses her young daughter in a car wreck not … Continue reading SXSW Online 2021 Review: “Here Before”

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Directors, Female Characters, Female Filmmaker, Female Filmmakers, Female Writer, Film Festivals, Film Reviews, Indie Film, Reviews, SXSW Film Festival

SXSW Online 2021 Review: “Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché”

Year: 2021 Runtime: 89 minutes Writers: Celeste Bell, Zoë Howe, and Paul Sng Directors: Celeste Bell and Paul Sng Stars: Celeste Bell, Marianne Elliott (Poly Styrene), Jonathan Ross, Kathleen Hanna, Thurston Moore, Neneh Cherry, Vivienne Westwood, Don Letts By Valerie Kalfrin In the intimate and moving documentary “Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché”(2021), filmmaker Celeste Bell sorts through photos, sketches, fliers, and memorabilia circa the … Continue reading SXSW Online 2021 Review: “Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché”

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Directors, Female Filmmaker, Female Filmmakers, Film Festivals, Hall of Fame, Indie Film, Reviews, SXSW Film Festival, Women in Film

SXSW Online 2021 Review: “Alien On Stage”

Year: 2020 Runtime: 86 minutes Directors: Lucy Harvey and Danielle Kummer Stars: Jason Hill, Lydia Hayward, Jacqui Roe, Carolyn White, John Elliot, Mike Rustici, Scott Douglas, Penny Thorne, Dave Mitchell, Luc Hayward, Peter Lawford By Valerie Kalfrin Anyone who loves the theatre or has felt like a deer in spotlights will get a kick out of “Alien on Stage,” an affectionate behind-the-scenes documentary about British … Continue reading SXSW Online 2021 Review: “Alien On Stage”

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Female Characters, Female Filmmaker, Female Writer, Film Festivals, Film Reviews, Indie Film, Reviews, SXSW Film Festival, Women in Film

SXSW Online 2021 Review: “Best Summer Ever”

Year: 2020 Runtime: 72 minutes Directors: Michael Parks Randa, Lauren Smitelli Writers: Michael Parks Randa, Lauren Smitelli, Will Halby, Terra Mackintosh, Andrew Pilkington            Stars: Shannon DeVido, Rickey Wilson Jr., MuMu, Bradford Haynes, Emily Kranking, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Benjamin Bratt By Valerie Kalfrin The teen musical “Best Summer Ever” has a plot we’ve seen before — and the film, to its credit, knows that and winks … Continue reading SXSW Online 2021 Review: “Best Summer Ever”

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Female Characters, Female Filmmaker, Female Filmmakers, Female Writer, Film Festivals, Film Reviews, Indie Film, Reviews, SXSW Film Festival

SXSW Online 2021 Review: “The Fallout”

Year: 2021 Runtime: 92 minutes Director: Megan Park Writer: Megan Park Stars: Jenna Ortega, Maddie Ziegler, Niles Fitch, John Ortiz, Julie Bowen, Will Ropp, Shailene Woodley, Lumi Pollack By Valerie Kalfrin Sixteen-year-old Vada (Jenna Ortega) loves cake pops and coffee on the way to high school, singing loudly, and making jokes about bodily functions. Less than 10 minutes into “The Fallout” (2021), she’s in the … Continue reading SXSW Online 2021 Review: “The Fallout”

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Female Characters, Film Festivals, Film Reviews, Indie Film, Reviews, SXSW Film Festival

SXSW Online 2021 Review: “R#J”

Year: 2021 Runtime: 91 minutes Director: Carey Williams Writers: Rickie Castaneda, Oleksii Sobolev, Carey Williams Stars: Camaron Engels, Francesca Noel, Russell Hornsby, Jacob Ming-Trent By Valerie Kalfrin What light on yonder smartphone breaks? Director Carey Williams brings Shakespeare’s classic star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet into the digital age with “R#J,” a feature that retells their forbidden romance through texts, FaceTime, and other social media touches. … Continue reading SXSW Online 2021 Review: “R#J”

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Directors, Female Characters, Female Filmmaker, Female Filmmakers, Female Writer, Film Festivals, Indie Film, Interviews, SXSW Film Festival, Women in Film

Interview: “I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking)” shows pandemic filmmaking and empathy

By Valerie Kalfrin Directors Kelley Kali and Angelique Molina never mention COVID-19 in their feature film “I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking),” but the pandemic is just as much a character as an inspiration for the project. Based in Los Angeles County, the socially conscious filmmakers wanted to spotlight homelessness without being exploitative. They created a story with fellow USC film school friend and screenwriter Roma … Continue reading Interview: “I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking)” shows pandemic filmmaking and empathy

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Female Characters, Female Filmmaker, Female Filmmakers, Female Writer, Film Festivals, Film Reviews, Reviews, SXSW Film Festival, Women in Film

SXSW Online 2021 Review: “Recovery”

Year: 2021Duration: 1h 20mDirectors: Mallory Everton, Stephen MeekWriters: Whitney Call, Mallory EvertonStarring: Whitney Call, Mallory Everton, Julia Jolley By Caz Armstrong This pandemic-based roadtrip comedy sees two sisters racing across the country to free their grandma from a covid-infested nursing home. With comic vibes and palpable chemistry reminiscent of “Booksmart” directors Mallory Everton and Stephen Meek have a very funny, very timely film. Sisters Jamie and Blake (co-writers Whitney … Continue reading SXSW Online 2021 Review: “Recovery”

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Documentaries, Film Festivals, Film Reviews, Reviews

SXSW 2021 Review: Mau

Year: 2021Runtime: 77 minutesDirectors: Benjamin Bergmann, Jono Bergmann By Joan Amenn Design: a plan or drawing; the act of conceiving a plan or drawing Bruce Mau singlehandedly expanded the definition of the word design from referencing something small like an edgy looking teapot to a plan of action on an epic scale. He revolutionized what design can be and what it can do to address … Continue reading SXSW 2021 Review: Mau

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Directors, Female Filmmaker, Female Filmmakers, Female Writer, Film Festivals, Film Reviews, Reviews, SXSW Film Festival, Women in Film

SXSW 2021 Review: Violet

Year: 2021Runtime: 90 minutesDirector: Justine BatemanWriter: Justine BatemanCast: Olivia Munn, Justin Theroux, Luke Bracey, Dennis Boutsikaris, Erica Ash, Todd Stashwick, Bonnie Bedelia By Joan Amenn Mental health is often depicted in film as a debilitating disease, perhaps because it makes for more dramatic story telling. “Violet” (2021) takes a different look at anxiety and how it may be affecting those closest to us while we … Continue reading SXSW 2021 Review: Violet

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