Don’t-Miss Indies: What to Watch in September
Summer’s over. Looks like it’s time to get back to work. And by work, we mean some serious movie watching. Luckily September doesn’t disappoint. We have everything from the highly-anticipated Megaopolis, the self-funded opus from Francis Ford Coppola, to the star-studded Netflix affair His Three Daughters, to the return of the king of tight, gnarly thrillers, Jeremy Saulnier, with his new one, Rebel Ridge. Oh, and a doc about psychics from a Fast-Track alum, with Lana Wilson’s Look Into My Eyes. Looks like the fall is shaping up to be quite the movie season. Now get out there and start watching!
A DIFFERENT MAN
When You Can Watch: September 20
Where You Can Watch: Theaters (Limited)
Director: Aaron Schimberg
Cast: Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, Adam Pearson
Why We’re Excited: Yet another selection in this month’s Film Independent Presents series, writer-director Schimberg’s latest offering is a black comedy/psychological thriller starring Sebastian Stan (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Hulu series Pam & Tommy) as aspiring actor Edward, who suffers from neurofibromatosis and undergoes surgery to transform his appearance. But the transformation soon unravels into a nightmare when he becomes fixated with an actor with the same medical condition who plays him in a stage production. Film Independent Members can join the filmmakers for a screening and Q&A on September 11th. The producing team includes Film Independent Member, producer Christine Vachon.
BOOGER
When You Can Watch: September 13
Where You Can Watch: Theaters (Limited) and VOD
Director: Mary Dauterman
Cast: Grace Glowicki, Garrick Bernard, Heather Matarazzo
Why We’re Excited: A Fellow in this year’s Screenwriting Lab program, writer-director Dauterman’s feature directorial debut is a body horror comedy that members can check out at a screening and in-person Q&A with the filmmakers on September 10th. After Anna (Glowicki) is bitten by her runaway cat Booger, she begins to experience unusual physical transformations whilst she grieves for the death of her best friend. Premiering last year at the Fantasia International Film Festival, the film’s large contingent of Film Independent members on the project includes: writer-director Mary Dauterman, Executive Producers Tiffany Boyle, Tim Headington, Preston Lee, Theresa Steele Page, Elsa Ramo, and Producer Lexi Tannenholtz.
MY FIRST FILM
When You Can Watch: September 6
Where You Can Watch: MUBI
Director: Zia Anger
Cast: Odessa Young, Timothy Griffin Allan, Jackson Anthony, Cole Doman
Why We’re Excited: Part of this month’s Film Independent Presents screenings, writer-director Anger’s feature debut is a semi-autobiographical film following Vita (Young), who recounts the tumultuous experience shooting her first film some 15 years ago. That film follows Vita, a young woman who leaves home after she finds out that she is pregnant. The drama will be available to stream on Mubi after premiering this spring at CPH: DOX. One of the producers, Riel Roch Decter, is a member of Film Independent. Check back later for the Q&A with Anger, which will be moderated by Film Independent’s very own Kate Mason.
REBEL RIDGE
When You Can Watch: September 6
Where You Can Watch: Netflix
Directors: Jeremy Saulnier
Cast: Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, David Denman
Why We’re Excited: 2015’s John Cassavetes Award contender for the crime thriller Blue Ruin, Saulnier wrote, produced, directed, and edited this action thriller, which was filmed in Louisiana. Terry (Pierre) tries to post bail for his cousin in a small town to keep him out of harm’s way. But when his life savings is seized by law enforcement, he is forced to confront local police chief Burnne (Johnson) and take matters into his own hands. Film Independent member Anish Savjani is one of the producers on the project. Look out for the post-screening Q&A with director Jeremy Saulnier.
OMNI LOOP
When You Can Watch: September 20
Where You Can Watch: Theaters
Director: Bernardo Britto
Cast: Mary-Louise Parker, Ayo Edebiri, Carlos Jacott, Harris Yulin
Why We’re Excited: Spirit Award winner Best Supporting Performance for FX series The Bear, Edebiri stars in writer-director Britto’s sci-fi which premiered this spring at SXSW. Quantum physicist Zoya (Parker, of Weeds fame) suddenly finds herself in a time loop with only one week left to live. And oh yes, she’s also got a black hole growing out of her chest! What none of the doctors know is the fact that she has already lived through this week over and over again, until one day, when she meets a gifted student, Paula (Edebiri), who may be able to help her out of this quandary. This is the second project premiering this month that counts Film Independent Member Christine Vachon as one of its producers.
SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY
When You Can Watch: September 21
Where You Can Watch: Theaters (Limited)
Directors: Ian Bonhôte, Peter Ettedgui
Why We’re Excited: Premiering to critical acclaim at this year’s Sundance festival, this British-American co-production was acquired for $15 million a month later by DC Studios and Warner Bros. Discovery. The documentary feature is a moving, intimate portrait of Christopher Reeve—who played the ‘Man of Steel’ in four Superman films from 1978-1987— and the tragedy that befell his family after a horse-riding accident in 1995 left him paralyzed from the neck down. With never-before-seen home movies and extended interviews with Reeve’s three children and various A-list Hollywood colleagues and friends, the film goes beyond the actor famous for his chiseled good looks and on-screen heroic portrayal to the inspirational disability rights activist who would emerge in the aftermath of the accident.
MEGALOPOLIS
When You Can Watch: September 27
Where You Can Watch: Theaters
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Cast: Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathaniel Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza
Why We’re Excited: So much has been written about legendary 85-year-old director Coppola’s first feature in 10 years long before its release this month, including the director self-financing its production to the tune of $120 million and the recent snafu over one of its trailers. But after 300 rewrites (!) and 40 years of prep, shooting began in Atlanta in 2022 for the epic sci-fi that draws parallels between the fall of the Roman Empire and the future of this country. After metropolis New Rome falls into disrepair following an accident, futuristic architect Cesar Catilina (Robert Altman Award winner for Marriage Story, Driver)—who has the ability to stop time—tries to rebuild the city even as he battles against his nemesis, Cicero (Spirit Award alum, Esposito), the arch-conservative mayor of New Rome.
LOOK INTO MY EYES
When You Can Watch: September 6
Where You Can Watch: Theaters
Director: Lana Wilson
Why We’re Excited: Directed by Fast Track alum Lana Wilson (Miss Americana, The Departure), this documentary follows a group of psychics in New York City in their intimate readings, revealing a host of issues such as loneliness and healing. Some of the clients we see on-screen include a nurse who wants to know more about a deceased patient from decades ago and a woman who is curious about her own financial prospects. Film Independent Members on the project include: Ben Cotner, Co-Executive Producer; Ruth Ann Harnisch, Executive Producer; and casting director Damian Bao.
MY OLD ASS
When You Can Watch: September 13
Where You Can Watch: Theaters
Director: Megan Park
Cast: Maisy Stella, Aubrey Plaza, Percy Hynes White
Why We’re Excited: “I feel like I’d be happier at 40,” so says 18-year-old Elliott (Stella) to her future self at 39 years old, played by Spirit Awards alum and host of the 35th Film Independent Spirit Awards, Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation, Emily the Criminal). Writer-director Megan Park’s coming-of-age dramedy follows the duo as Elliott’s “old ass” gives her younger self advice about various pitfalls to avoid throughout her own life, causing the younger Elliott to rethink everything she knows about life. The Amazon MGM Studios film premiered at Sundance earlier this year and was shot in Ontario, Canada. Film Independent Members are invited to a screening followed by an in-person Q&A with Park and Stella this Saturday.
*PROGRAMMER’S PICK* HIS THREE DAUGHTERS
When You Can Watch: September 20
Where You Can Watch: Netflix
Director: Azazel Jacobs
Cast: Natasha Lyonne, Elizabeth Olsen, Carrie Coon, Rudy Galvan
From Jenn Wilson, Film Independent Senior Programmer: Film Independent Spirit Awards alum for Best Screenplay for his 2018 film The Lovers, writer-director Jacobs’ film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Part of the Film Independent Presents screening series, this bittersweet and often funny story follows an elderly patriarch and the three grown daughters who come to be with him in his final days. Katie (Carrie Coon) is a controlling Brooklyn mother dealing with a wayward teenage daughter; free-spirited Christina (Elizabeth Olsen) is a different kind of mom, separated from her offspring for the first time; and Rachel (Natasha Lyonne) is a sports-betting stoner who has never left her father’s apartment — much to the chagrin of her half-sisters, who share a different mother and worldview.
KEY
Film Independent Fellow or Member
Film Independent Presents Screening, Q&A
Microbudget
Filmmaker or Lead Characters of Color
Film Independent Spirit Award Winner or Nominee
Female Filmmaker
LGBT Filmmaker or Lead LGBT Characters
First-time Filmmaker
(Header: My Old Ass)
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