Category Archives: Independent

Jane Schoenbrun’s Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma Gets First Teaser Ahead of August Release

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The first teaser has arrived for Jane Schoenbrun’s Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, opening in U.S. theaters August 7.

Written and directed by Schoenbrun (I Saw the TV Glow, We’re All Going to the World’s Fair), the film stars Hannah Einbinder (Hacks) and Gillian Anderson (The X-Files, Sex Education). The supporting cast includes Amanda Fix, Eva Victor, Zach Cherry, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Quintessa Swindell, and more.

The story centers on a struggling slasher franchise handed to an ambitious young director for revival. When she seeks out the reclusive star of the original film, the two are pulled into a surreal, blood-soaked spiral of obsession, desire, and horror.

Produced by Plan B and financed by MUBI, the film will be distributed in multiple territories including North America, the U.K., Germany, Australia, and beyond.

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Radu Jude’s Kontinental ‘25 Opens March 27 at Film Forum

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kontinentalRadu Jude’s latest feature, Kontinental ‘25, opens March 27 at Film Forum in New York.

The film had its world premiere at the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival, where Jude won the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay.

Set in the Romanian city of Cluj, the story follows Orsolya, a Hungarian immigrant and municipal employee whose routine eviction of an elderly man sets off a personal reckoning after he takes his own life. As she revisits the event through conversations with friends, family, and clergy, the film examines questions of responsibility, guilt, and the systems that shape individual choices.

Jude, known for Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn and Don’t Expect Too Much From the End of the World, continues his sharp, often uncomfortable look at contemporary European life.

Kontinental ‘25 begins its U.S. theatrical run at Film Forum on March 27.

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Jane Schoenbrun’s Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma Sets August 7 Theatrical Release

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teenage sex and death at camp miasmaJane Schoenbrun’s Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma will open in US theaters on August 7, with MUBI releasing the film and debuting first-look stills this week.

The film stars Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson and centers on a fading slasher franchise that gets handed to an ambitious young director looking to revive it. When she seeks out the original film’s reclusive star, things spiral into something darker and stranger.

This marks Schoenbrun’s third feature following I Saw the TV Glow and We’re All Going to the World’s Fair. Like their previous work, the new film leans into horror, identity, and the uneasy space between fandom and obsession.

The cast also includes Amanda Fix, Arthur Conti, Eva Victor, Zach Cherry, Sarah Sherman, Patrick Fischler, Dylan Baker, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Quintessa Swindell, Kevin McDonald, and Jack Haven. The film was produced by Plan B, with MUBI handling distribution in North America and multiple international territories.

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Franco Nero to Present Silent Life Final Cut in Hollywood

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franco-neroFranco Nero will present a special Hollywood preview of Silent Life: The Rudolph Valentino Centennial Final Cut on Monday, February 16 at the Hollywood Forever Masonic Lodge.

The screening will be followed by a Q and A moderated by film critic Leonard Maltin. The event comes days after Nero receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 12.

Directed by Vladislav Alex Kozlov, Silent Life revisits the life and legacy of silent film star Rudolph Valentino on the centennial of his death. Nero, who portrayed Valentino in 1975’s The Legend of Valentino, lends his voice to the role in the new film. The cast also includes Terry Moore, Isabella Rossellini, Sherilyn Fenn, Paul Rodriguez, and Monte Markham.

The 2026 version is described as a newly completed director’s cut. The film has previously screened at festivals including Sedona, WorldFest Houston, and Rhode Island International Film Festival. A limited number of tickets are available for the February 16 event.

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Mimics Opens in Theaters Friday, Trailer Now Online

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mimicsMimics, the directorial debut of Kristoffer Polaha, opens in theaters nationwide this Friday, February 13.

The film stars Polaha alongside Mōriah, Chris Parnell, Stephen Tobolowsky, Jesse Hutch, Jason Marsden, and Austin Basis. Written by Marc Oakley, the story follows a struggling impressionist whose shot at fame comes with unexpected consequences.

Described as a mix of comedy, romance, and darker elements, Mimics marks Polaha’s first turn behind the camera.

Watch the trailer below.

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Tough Old Broads Premieres at Santa Barbara International Film Festival

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touch-old-broadsThe documentary Tough Old Broads makes its world premiere February 10 at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, with additional screenings on February 11 and 13. The premiere screening will be followed by a Q and A with director Stacey Tenenbaum and the film’s subjects.

Directed by Canadian filmmaker Stacey Tenenbaum, the film focuses on three women whose careers reshaped the fields they entered.

Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon in 1967 and later helped push for the inclusion of the women’s marathon in the Olympic Games. Inuit leader Siila Watt-Cloutier has spent decades advocating for Indigenous rights and climate action on the global stage. Photographer Sharon Farmer broke barriers in government, becoming the first woman and first person of color to serve as Director of White House Photography.

The film follows each of them in the present day, looking at how their work and influence continue to evolve.

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Dear Lara World Premieres at Santa Barbara International Film Festival

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dear-lara-posterThe documentary Dear Lara makes its world premiere tonight, February 6, at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

The film is directed by violinist Lara St. John and centers on her decision to publicly speak in 2019 about being sexually assaulted as a teenager while studying at the Curtis Institute of Music. After her account was published in The Philadelphia Inquirer, St. John received messages from musicians around the world who shared similar experiences.

The documentary follows St. John as she meets with some of those individuals across North America and Europe. The film focuses on personal accounts from musicians who describe abuse, institutional inaction, and the professional consequences of speaking out within the classical music world.

Dear Lara is St. John’s first feature as a director. She also serves as a cinematographer on the film alongside Patrick Hamm, who produced the project. The film includes original music by St. John and is edited by Christie Herring. Blood Sweat Honey is handling sales.

Following the screening, St. John will participate in a panel discussion alongside several of the documentary’s featured subjects. The film is supported by partnerships with advocacy organizations, including Child USA, and is intended for future screenings at festivals, universities, and music institutions.

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Lou Ferrigno Returns to the Screen in Backwoods Horror The Hermit

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the-hermitLou Ferrigno is back on screen and stepping into new territory. The legendary actor best known for The Incredible Hulk makes his first-ever horror appearance in The Hermit, a backwoods thriller that leans dark, strange, and unapologetically grim.

Released by Uncork’d Entertainment, The Hermit arrives on Digital and On Demand March 3, following a Los Angeles premiere on March 2. Ferrigno stars as a reclusive pig farmer with a gruesome secret, selling jerky made from human flesh. It’s his first creature-style role in decades, and easily his most unsettling.

The film also stars Malina Weissman (A Series of Unfortunate Events) and Anthony Turpel (Love, Victor) as two teenagers whose vacation into the woods turns into a fight for survival. What starts as an uncomfortable trip quickly spirals into something far worse.

Directed by Salvatore Sclafani, The Hermit marks the filmmaker’s first English-language feature after his earlier work on Tyger Tyger. The tone walks a fine line between horror and dark absurdity, embracing its B-movie roots while pushing into more disturbing territory.

“I’ve always been a big fan of scary movies,” Ferrigno said in a statement. “I hope this one ends up on everyone’s must-watch list.”

The Hermit premieres March 3 on Digital and On Demand.

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Shame and Money Wins World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at Sundance

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shame-and-moneyVisar Morina’s Shame and Money was awarded the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, marking a major moment for the filmmaker following his earlier Sundance entry Exile.

Set between rural Kosovo and the capital, the film follows a family forced to rebuild their lives after losing their livelihood, tracing how pride, financial pressure, and quiet desperation shape everyday choices. Morina approaches the story with restraint, letting tension build through small moments rather than spectacle.

The film stars Astrit Kabashi and Flonja Kodheli, whose performances anchor the story with emotional clarity and lived-in realism. Shame and Money represents Germany and Kosovo and continues its festival run following its Sundance win.

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2026 Sundance Film Festival Announces Award Winners

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sundance-2026The 2026 Sundance Film Festival revealed its award winners during a ceremony at The Ray Theatre in Park City, Utah, honoring standout films across U.S., international, documentary, and NEXT categories ahead of the festival’s final weekend.

Top Grand Jury Prizes went to Josephine (U.S. Dramatic Competition), Nuisance Bear (U.S. Documentary Competition), Shame and Money (World Cinema Dramatic Competition), and To Hold a Mountain (World Cinema Documentary Competition). The festival’s NEXT Innovator Award, presented by Adobe, was awarded to The Incomer, while TheyDream received the NEXT Special Jury Award.

Audience Awards reflected strong viewer engagement across categories. Josephine also claimed the Audience Award for U.S. Dramatic, alongside American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez for U.S. Documentary. International audience honors went to HOLD ONTO ME (Κράτα Με) and One In A Million, with Aanikoobijigan [ancestor/great-grandparent/great-grandchild] taking the NEXT Audience Award.

This year’s festival showcased 97 feature-length projects and 54 short films, selected from more than 16,000 submissions, underscoring Sundance’s continued role as a launchpad for emerging voices and bold storytelling. Award-winning films remain available online nationwide through February 1, with select titles screening in person for passholders.

The 2026 edition also marks one of the final Sundance gatherings in Utah, ahead of the festival’s planned move to Boulder, Colorado in 2027.
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