Directors, Female Characters, Female Filmmakers, Female Writer, Reviews, SXSW Film Festival, Underrepresented in Film, Women in Film, World Cinema

Sister & Sister (Las Hijas): SXSW 2023 Review

Year: 2023 Runtime: 80 minutes Director/Writer: Kattia G. Zúñiga Actors: Ariana Chaves Gavilán, Cala Rossel Campos, Fernando Bonilla, Joshua De Leon, Milagros Fernandez, Gabriela Man By Rosa Parra Latin American cinema, Central American cinema in particular, isn’t given the necessary attention and acknowledgment it deserves. “Sister & Sister” (Las Hijas) is an example of why this type of cinema should be talked about alongside the … Continue reading Sister & Sister (Las Hijas): SXSW 2023 Review

jmamennMarch 19, 2023March 18, 2023Leave a comment

Documentaries, Film Festivals, Film Reviews, Reviews, SXSW Film Festival, Uncategorized

Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life: SXSW 2023 Review

Year: 2023 Runtime: 80 minutes Director: Dan Covert Writers: Amy Dempsey, Dan Covert, Erik Auli, Tara Rose Stromberg By Joan Amenn Nominated for a Grand Jury Award at this year’s SXSW, “Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life” is an intriguing look at an artist who has managed to create ubiquitous images and yet, remain relatively unknown. Geoff McFetridge’s work can be seen everywhere from movie titles … Continue reading Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life: SXSW 2023 Review

jmamennMarch 14, 2023March 11, 2023Leave a comment

Activism, Documentaries, Female Filmmakers, Film Festivals, SXSW Film Festival, Women in Film

Pay or Die: SXSW 2023 Review

Year: 2023 Runtime: 90 minutes Directors: Rachael Dyer and Scott Alexander Ruderman By Joan Amenn Nominated for a Grand Jury Award at this year’s SXSW, “Pay or Die” is a heartrending look at the cost of insulin and the emotional, physical and financial toll it has taken on citizens of the US. It is very important to note that the horrific scenarios shown in this … Continue reading Pay or Die: SXSW 2023 Review

jmamennMarch 12, 2023March 11, 2023Leave a comment

Film Festivals, Film Reviews, SXSW Film Festival

SXSW 2022 Review: Emergency

Year: 2022 Runtime: 105 minutes Directors: Carey Williams Writers: K.D. Davila Cast: Donald Elise Watkins, RJ Cyler, Sebastian Chacon, Sabrina Carpenter, Maddie Nichols By Tom Moore Impactful conversations on racial discrimination and college party antics come together in director Carey Williams’ latest film, “Emergency”(2022), to make for a fun and funny coming of age story with a gut-punching finale. As Williams introduces “Emergency’s” main duo, … Continue reading SXSW 2022 Review: Emergency

Tom MooreMarch 29, 2022March 28, 20221 Comment

Female Writer, Film Festivals, Film Reviews, SXSW Film Festival

SXSW 2022 Review: A Lot of Nothing

Year: 2022 Runtime: 104 minutes Directors: Mo McRae Writers: Sarah Kelly Kaplan, Mo McRae Cast: Cleopatra Coleman, Y’lan Noel, Justin Hartley, Shamier Anderson, Lex Scott Davis By Tom Moore The feature directorial debut of Mo McRae, “A Lot of Nothing” (2022), tells an interesting story about black rage and frustration that’s unfortunately foiled by its approach and lack of focus. In the initial moments of … Continue reading SXSW 2022 Review: A Lot of Nothing

Tom MooreMarch 26, 2022March 26, 2022Leave a comment

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

SXSW 2022 Review: Master

Year: 2022 Runtime: 98 minutes Directors: Mariama Diallo Writers: Mariama Diallo Cast: Regina Hall, Zoe Renee, Amber Gray, Julia Nightingale, Ella Hunt By Tom Moore Mariama Diallo’s feature directorial debut, “Master”(2022), is a psychological horror trek through systemic racism in American education that presents an enticing and engaging atmosphere. As the film’s two central black women arrive at the fictional college campus of Ancaster College, … Continue reading SXSW 2022 Review: Master

Tom MooreMarch 23, 2022March 23, 2022Leave a comment

A thirtysomething woman with brown hair in an updo stands in a doorway, about to enter a room. She wears a large white T-shirt with roses airbrushed on the back. A young man in his 20s with brown hair, a mustache, and a beard stands to her left, looking at her with concern. He wears a white shirt and a loose black tie.

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

SXSW 2022 Review: “Cha Cha Real Smooth”

The winsome coming-of-age drama “Cha Cha Real Smooth” glides and twirls through the uncertainty of one postgraduate’s life in sweet and surprising ways. More in this review from film site In Their Own League. Continue reading SXSW 2022 Review: “Cha Cha Real Smooth”

Valerie KalfrinMarch 22, 2022Leave a comment

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

SXSW 2022 Review: “Split at the Root”

The documentary “Split at the Root” takes viewers alongside grass-roots advocates who worked to reunite immigrant moms with their children separated at the southern border. More in this review from film site In Their Own League. Continue reading SXSW 2022 Review: “Split at the Root”

Valerie KalfrinMarch 20, 2022Leave a comment

Film Festivals, Film Reviews, Indie Film, SXSW Film Festival

SXSW 2022 Review: Bitch Ass

Year: 2022 Runtime: 83 minutes Directors: Bill Posley Writers: Bill Posley and Jonathan Colomb Cast: Teon Kelley, Tunde Laleye, Me’lisa Sellers, Kelsey Caesaer, Sheaun McKinney, Tony Todd By Tom Moore Writer/Director Bill Posley crafts an imperfect crowd-pleaser with his feature directorial debut, “Bitch Ass”(2022), and provides the horror genre with something it lacks and desperately needs, an intriguing and fun modern black slasher. Posley and … Continue reading SXSW 2022 Review: Bitch Ass

Tom MooreMarch 20, 2022March 20, 2022Leave a comment

At a sidewalk rally in New York City, a black woman in a purple dress speaks into a megaphone. Next to her is a younger black man with sunglasses, a moustache, a beard, and a tropical shirt. Men and women -- many of them black but a few white and Asian -- stand and sit behind them, holding signs with slogans such as "Black Birth Matters."

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

SXSW 2022 Review: “Aftershock”

The documentary “Aftershock” goes behind the wrenching statistics of the America’s high maternal mortality rate to examine why black mothers have a higher risk of dying. More in this review from film site In Their Own League. Continue reading SXSW 2022 Review: “Aftershock”

Valerie KalfrinMarch 19, 2022March 19, 20221 Comment

In Their Own League

Shattering the Celluloid Ceiling

Tag: SXSW