Festivals

Documentarian Gabriela Cowperthwaite is no stranger to danger stemming from upsetting those in powerful and moneyed positions. Her 2013 film Blackfish, which detailed the systemic abuse of captive orcas at SeaWorld, and involved no small amount of clandestine shooting, brought plenty of threats her way.

Spanning nineteen years, The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone reveals the memories of Georgie Stone, an Australian transgender teen as she helps change laws, affirms her gender, finds her voice, and emerges into adulthood. Australian director Maya Newell – whose 2013 documentary, Gayby Baby, followed four children of LGBQTI families –  began filming Georgie and her family six years ago, after hearing about her advocacy and wanting to document the teenager’s point of view.

The Joker, the longtime foil of superhero Batman both in comic books and onscreen, is known for his anarchic sense of humor. But an independent film made much in that same spirit, writer-director-star Vera Drew’s outrageously imaginative The People’s Joker is finding its attempted fair-use satirical exploitation of that same character muffled.

Japanese writer and director Kôji Fukada is no stranger to international film festivals. In 2016, his film Harmonium was selected to be presented at the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard.

Three-time Golden Globe winner Jennifer Lawrence returns to her indie roots in the upcoming drama Causeway, taking on roles both in front of and behind the camera as leading lady and producer.   More recently known for such mainstream fare as Silver Linings Playbook, The Hunger Games and X-Men franchises, American Hustle, Passengers, and Red Sparrow, Lawrence began her career in the critically acclaimed indie film Winter’s Bone, in 2011.

A profound and stirring drama, The Father (2019) received 4 Golden Globe nominations including Best Picture Drama, Best Actor-Motion Picture Drama (Anthony Hopkins), Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture (Olivia Colman), and Best Screenplay Motion Picture (Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller). Just three years after his sensational debut on the silver screen, writer and director Florian Zeller and his writing companion, Christopher Hampton, are back with a new film, The Son, in competition in the 79th Venice International Film Festival.

It started with Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Toni Collette, and Hugh Jackman. And moves like The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Muriel’s Wedding and Strictly Ballroom.

As the Darren Aronofsky film, The Whale, begins, Brendan Fraser’s voice is heard during a Zoom call. The camera is off.

Light is the first thing that is seen on screen when the movie Blonde begins. It is not natural sunlight, but a bright, cold artificial spotlight, so strong that it could blind anyone who was caught in it.

Billy Eichner was adamant. He needed several more minutes and didn’t want to miss out.