#FIRSTLOOK: WHAT TO WATCH MARCH 2021 – “ALLEN v. FARROW”, “SUPERVILLAIN: THE MAKING IF TAKESHI 6IX9INE”, “GINNY & GEORGIA”, “IT’S A SIN”, “MOXIE”, “COMING 2 AMERICA”, “COUNTRY COMFORT”, “

While things have slowed-down a bit in terms of new releases, we have a few watches which just might be worth your time! See our thoughts on these new releases, available now to stream.

ALLEN v. FARROW (CRAVE/HBO)

This four-part Documentary Series from HBO uncovers with first-hand accounts and never-seen-before footage, the sexual abuse allegations against American Film legend Woody Allen. Directors Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering explore in great detail the gray territory between Allen‘s wide critical acclaim and adoration in his craft, but also the very dark and disturbing trail of destruction he left behind. While Allen refused to respond or participate in the project and vehemently denies any wrong-doing, the evidence is compelling and upsetting. I mean, what could be expected of a man who took on his adopted daughter Soon-Yi Previn, as his lover? While it could be perceived as one-sided, using excerpts only from his Memoir to speak for him, the Documentary Series offers an empathetic lens to Farrow and family who experienced something devastating and not to be believed about it is even more hurtful. At 85 years of age Allen has escaped legal ramifications for his actions, though his career has been halted of late by a call for his “cancellation” post-#MeToo. It will be interesting to see the impact of the Series and what comes of this, especially seeing the public’s renewed interest in Britney Spears‘ conservatorship and a call to action following the arrival of FRAMING BRITNEY SPEARS (which also is available now on Crave). New episodes arrive weekly on Crave at 9 PM ET.

SUPERVILLAIN: THE MAKING OF TEKASHI 6IX9INE (CRAVE)

This Showtime Docu-Series, now available on Crave, takes a look at Tekashi 6ix9ine, who made headlines after snitching-out out against his former associates after pleading guilty to an array of conspiracy to commit murder and armed robbery charges. Now completing his term on house arrest due to COVID-19, the three-part Series looks at his poverty and trauma-ridden childhood, which led him to take on the “supervillain” persona. He cites The Joker as his inspiration, stating good guys always die and villains don’t. We get interviews with his family and ex-girlfriend and learn of his obsession with gaining clout on Social Media, ultimately mastering it and using it as a platform for his own celebrity, no matter the costs and little regard for consequences – including child exploitation charges resulting from the use of a minor in one of his Music Videos. The Series isn’t so much about glorifying the character as it is about seeking to understand why he has been so intriguing with 23 million Instagram followers. And in that regard is ably does so as a statement about a new order where clout and worth are measured by followers. SUPERVILLAIN: THE MAKING OF TEKASHI 6IX9INE is available now on Crave.

GINNY & GEORGIA (NETFLIX)

This ten-episode Series has already proven a hit for Netflix, claiming the #1 spot, so expect more time come. The Dramedy centers on Georgia (Brianne Howley) and her daughter Ginny (Antonia Gentry), who arrive in New England to begin a new life. Georgia is a hustler, relying on her charm which more often than not works, but acts often on impulse. Ginny however is level-headed, navigating being the outspoken new girl at school and balancing boys. She also is conscious of not making the same mistakes her mom made having her at such an early age. The Series rests on Georgia always barely make it out ahead, getting herself into some tricky situations, but also offers a bit of sympathy as we flash back in time and see that who she is, has been a result of her being a survivor. Engaging performances from our two leads, particularly Howley who keeps things fun as the Series is still figuring out its balance between lighthearted and heavy. GINNY & GEORGIA streams now on Netflix.

IT’S A SIN (AMAZON PRIME VIDEO)

Five-part Series IT’S A SIN recounts the ’80s as London encounters the HIV/AIDS pandemic. At the center of the story are a group of gay men including Ritchie (Olly Alexander), Nathaniel (Ash Mukherjee), Roscoe (Omari Douglas) and Colin (Callum Scott Howells) experiencing independence and sexual awakening for the first time. Alongside them is their friend Jill (Lydia West). Some fantastic performances to be found here from this Ensemble, as the young men are convinced of their invincibility but things take a turn for the tragic. Things get rather emotional in this Series written by Russell T. Davies and directed by Peter Hoar. We see how promising young men were robbed of their dreams by this pandemic and how difficult it was for men in, even more so in the time period, to confide in their families about their sexuality. A compelling Series which captures the emotions and paranoia that feels authentic to the era, in large part due to a fantastic re-imagined and nostalgic Soundtrack and impeccable attention to detail. Above this, Neil Patrick Harris and Stephen Fry also make an appearance. IT’S A SIN streams now on Amazon Prime Video.

MOXIE (NETFLIX)

Funnywoman Amy Poehler makes her Feature directorial debut with Moxie, based on the Novel of the same name by Jennifer Mathieu. The Film centers on Vivian (Hadley Robinson), a teenage girl who gets inspiration from her mother (Poehler) and secretly creates a magazine which calls-out the misogyny at her high school. The magazine begins shaking things up at her school and some of the girls at school band together to fight the patriarchy and as trouble begins to stir, she finds herself trying to conceal her identity and her own unhappiness spills to other parts of her life including a blooming relationship with Seth (Nico Hiraga), with her best friend Claudia (Lauren Tsai) and mother. We begin to wonder if all of this was for the greater good after all. Some really great performances from this young and talented Ensemble Cast including our star Robinson who shows plenty of promise here. Tsai also is a scene-stealer as Patrick Schwarzenegger as the antagonist Mitchell is perhaps his most memorable performance yet. The Film smartly examines timely conversations about intersectionality, institutionalized sexism, entitlement and bullying and was a pleasant surprise, but should we expect any less of Poehler?

COMING 2 AMERICA (AMAZON PRIME VIDEO)

We revisit King Akeem Joffer (Eddie Murphy) who learns that he has fathered a son back in his days in America. With only a daughter from his wife Queen Lisa (Shari Headley) and no male successor to the throne, he visits America once again to meet his son Lavelle (Jermaine Fowler), bringing back also his mother Mary (Leslie Jones) to Zamunda. General Izzi (Wesley Snipes) hopes to pair his daughter together with Lavelle, in a powerful union which would unite the two families together, but as we see times have changed. Craig Brewer (Dolemite is My Name) reunites with Murphy to direct this follow-up to 1988’s delightfully-funny Coming to America, but even with three strong Screenwriters in Kenya Barris, Barry W. Blaustein and David Sheffield, we get something outlandish that never hits the marks its predecessor did. Part of what made the first Film so funny was that comedic and political sensibilities were a bit different 33 years ago, so penis-bathing female servant jokes landed a bit differently back than they would in the now. Add to that an abundance of misguided McDonald‘s product placements, unnecessary musical numbers and an ill-conceived subplot that examines gender inequality that never quite says what it needs to, we were left underwhelmed. That aside, Snipes‘ performance is so committed, making for one of the few rewarding bright spots in this Sequel. We had such high hopes for this. COMING 2 AMERICA streams now on Amazon Prime Video.

COUNTRY COMFORT (NETFLIX)

So thrilled Katherine McPhee is back, it’s been so long! The former American Idol alumni stars as Bailey, a Country singer whose career has hit rock bottom. She finds herself an unexpected gig as a nanny for a widower named Beau (Eddie Cibrian) and his five kids in this Sitcom. The laugh track-humour gears a bit more to grown-ups and it does admittedly feel at times a little bit too familiar. If you loved Who’s the Boss in the ’80s this definitely takes some inspiration from that Series, with a musical twist and Cibrian‘s partner LeeAnn Rimes even makes an appearance! COUNTRY COMFORT streams now on Netflix.

Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal (NETFLIX)

This is the Documentary we didn’t realize we needed. OPERATIONS VARSITY BLUES: THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SCANDAL lives up exactly to its juicy title, combining re-enactments with Matthew Modine as Rick Singer, plus interviews and footage surrounding the College Admissions scandal. As you might recall, the admissions cheating scandal landed high-profile types like Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin in jail, exposing mastermind Singer who netted more than $25 million in bribes to before pleading guilty to racketeering charges. This is riveting, journalist-style storytelling from Director Chris Smith and in all of this, lessons to be learned and an exposé of corruption in the U.S. College System which enabled “backdoor admissions”. It streams now on Netflix.

(Photo credit: Crave/Netflix/Amazon Prime Video)

#COOKING: PORK FLOSS DOUGHNUTS RECIPE

Pork Floss Doughnuts. If you love bacon on your doughnuts, you’ll love Pork Floss on it! Pork Floss is pork that’s been dehydrated and seasoned to sweet-savoury goodness. Its texture is like a coarse Candy Floss and it’s eaten as a topping, a filling or a snack on its own. We added these to our fave Ghetto Doughnuts with a vanilla icing and the results are magic! So simple! You’ll love these.

Ingredients:

1 tube of Pillsbury Country Biscuit Dough (10 Biscuits)

Topping:

2 tbsps Black Sesame Seeds, toasted
4 tbsps Pork Floss
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 tsps Brown Sugar

Coconut Oil

Icing:

1/2 cup Icing Sugar
2 tbsps Whole Milk
1/2 tsp Organic Vanilla Extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat Air Fryer at 360°F for 3 minutes.
2. Brush Biscuits with Coconut Oil.
3. Combine Pork Floss, Brown Sugar, Sea Salt and Sesame Seeds.
4. Place in batch 5 pieces at a time and fry 6-7 minutes, flipping once half-way through.
5. Transfer to platter. Brush with more Coconut Oil.
6. Prepare Icing, mixing all ingredients together till smooth.
7 Dip doughnuts into icing.
8. Sprinkle Pork Floss mixture on-top of doughnuts.
9. Allow to stand about 10 minutes before serving.

Gallery:

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(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#FIRSTLOOK: R.J. CUTLER’S “DEAR….” SEASON TWO COMING TO APPLE TV+

Hot on the success of his Documentary BILLIE EILISH: THE WORLD’S A LITLE BLURRY, Ten-part Series DEAR…. is coming later this year to Apple TV+!

Season Two will include the following esteemed thought leaders!

• Academy, Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress and producer Viola Davis
• Multi-Platinum Recording artist, actress and producer Selena Gomez
• Two-time Academy Award-winning actor, producer, New York Times Best-Selling author, and activist Jane Fonda
• Academy and Emmy Award-nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay 
• Emmy, Tony and Grammy Award-winning actor and singer Billy Porter
• Former Vogue creative director and journalist Andre Leon Talley
• Golden Globe and SAG Award winner, and Emmy Award nominated actress Sandra Oh
• Renowned Waterman Laird Hamilton
• The NBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer & Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

DEAR…. arrives on Apple TV+ later this year.

(Photo credit: Apple TV)

#NEWMUSIC: BRUNO MARS + ANDERSON .PAAK ARE SILK SONIC – “LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN”

Anderson .Paak x Bruno Mars are SILK SONIC and they have teamed-up to record an eagerly-awaited new Album together, AN EVENING WITH SILK SONIC, out later this year.

Here’s the first Single from the Disc, LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN! The tune is signature Bruno with a bit of Paak’s edge, and deeper layer of old-school Soul!

(Photo/video credit: Warner Music)

#FIRSTLOOK: “THE SERPENT” TRAILER

Fresh off his acclaimed performance in The Mauritanian, Tahar Rahim is back in THE SERPENT, an eight-episode Limited Series coming to Netflix.

Synopsis:
Inspired by real events, The Serpent reveals the story of serial conman Charles Sobhraj (Golden Globe nominee Tahar Rahim) and the remarkable attempts to bring him to justice. Posing as a gem dealer, Sobhraj and his girlfriend Marie-Andrée Leclerc (Jenna Coleman) travelled across Thailand, Nepal and India in 1975 and 1976, carrying out a spree of crimes on the Asian ‘Hippie Trail,’ becoming the chief suspects in a series of murders of young Western travellers.

When Herman Knippenberg (Billy Howle), a junior diplomat at the Dutch Embassy in Bangkok, unwittingly walks into this intricate web of crime, he – with the help of his spouse Angela (Ellie Bamber), police around the world and witnesses of Sobhraj’s devious manipulation — sets off an extraordinary chain of events that will see Sobhraj become Interpol’s most wanted man, with arrest warrants in multiple continents.

See the Trailer:

THE SERPENT arrives on Netflix Friday, April 2, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#FIRSTLOOK: “US AGAIN” PREMIERES BEFORE “RAYA & THE LAST DRAGON”

Director/writer Zach Parrish, Choreographers Keone and Mari Madrid (“World of Dance” champions) and Composer Pinar Toprak (“Captain Marvel”) team together to bring us US AGAIN, which premieres in theatres before RAYA & THE LAST DRAGON.

The gorgeous, vibrant spectacle is Disney‘s first Short Film in five years and hits all the right notes emotionally as an elderly couple rediscover what it is that made them fall in love years ago – their love of dancing. We meet them in their present date and Art’s spirts are down and getting older has gotten to him. His playful wife Dottie encourages him to get up. but he’s having none of it. Visibly hurt, Dottie steps away from the house and Art, realizing that he has hurt her knows exactly where to find her. And we are taken back to yesteryear again, witnessing the magic of young love as if we were there with them again. Art and Dottie are an inspiration to all of us, no matter how life has gotten us down, that we too can dance again. We don’t need dialogue when the emotions are spilling out the screen here!

You cannot miss this emotional triumph, which arrives on Disney+ this June! But for now you can see it right before RAYA & THE LAST DRAGON in theatres!

In case you missed it, we attended the global press conference for RAYA & THE LAST DRAGON. More here.

(Photo credit: Disney)

#FIRSTLOOK: “THUNDER FORCE” TRAILER

Ben Falcone writes and directs THUNDER FORCE, starring Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer! We need a good laugh!

Synopsis:

In a world where supervillains are commonplace, two estranged childhood best friends reunite after one devises a treatment that gives them powers to protect their city.

See the Trailer:

THUNDER FORCE arrives Friday, April 9, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#GIVEAWAY: ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A DIGITAL DOWNLOAD OF “NOTTURNO”

Short-listed for an Academy Award, Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win a Digital Download of Documentary NOTTURNO.

Synopsis:

Gianfranco Rosi’s new documentary is an immersive portrait of those trying to survive in the war-torn Middle East.

See the Trailer:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet below for an extra chance. You must be following.

Enter for a chance to #win a Digital Download of Oscar-nominated NOTTURNO!

How: https://t.co/WwnRSUZO10 pic.twitter.com/oddAxhPQFa

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 3, 2021

Rules and regulations here.

Elevation Pictures release NOTTURNO, available now on Digital and On-Demand.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

#FIRSTLOOK: APPLE TV+ SERIES “CALLS”

From Director Fede Alvarez comes CALLS, a new genre-bending Short-Form Series coming to APPLE TV+ with a superb Cast. Stories are told through 12 minute calls! There are nine episodes total.

Synopsis:

“Calls” is a groundbreaking, immersive television experience that masterfully uses audio and minimal abstract visuals to tell nine bone-chilling, short-form stories. Directed by Fede Álvarez (“Don’t Breathe”), each episode follows a darkly dramatic mystery that unfolds through a series of seemingly average, unconnected phone calls that quickly become surreal as the characters face growingly unsettling experiences.

The stellar cast assembled to bring this Apple Original series of eerie conversations to life includes Nicholas Braun (“Succession”), Clancy Brown (“The Shawshank Redemption”), Lily Collins (“Emily in Paris”), Rosario Dawson (“Jane the Virgin”), Mark Duplass (“The Morning Show”), Karen Gillan (“Avengers: Endgame”), Judy Greer (“Halloween”), Paul Walter Hauser (“Cobra Kai”), Danny Huston (“Children of Men”), Nick Jonas (“Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle”), Riley Keough (“The Girlfriend Experience”), Joey King (“The Act”), Stephen Lang (“Avatar”), Jaeden Martell (“Defending Jacob”), Paola Nuñez (“Bad Boys for Life”), Pedro Pascal (“The Mandalorian”), Edi Patterson (“The Righteous Gemstones”), Aubrey Plaza (“Parks and Recreation”), Danny Pudi (“Mythic Quest”), Ben Schwartz (“House of Lies”), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (“Tenet”) and Jennifer Tilly (“Family Guy”).

See the Trailer:

CALLS arrives on Friday, March 19, 2021 on Apple TV+.

(Photo/video credit: Apple TV)

#FIRSTLOOK: IFC FILMS UNLIMITED WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH 2021 PROGRAMMING

In celebration of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, subscription video service IFC Films Unlimited have announced a slate of women-led programming in March!

FEMALE DIRECTORS
*Titles listed by date

A Call to Spy (2020) – Drama
Director: Lydia Dean Pilcher
Starring: Sarah Megan Thomas, Stana Katic, Radhika Apte, Linus Roache
Synopsis: At the dawn of WWII, a desperate Churchill orders his new spy agency to train women for covert ops. Together, they help to undermine the Nazi regime and turn the tide of the war.

Relic (2020) – Horror
Director: Natalie Erika James
Starring: Emily Mortimer, Robyn Nevin, Bella Heathcote 
Synopsis: A daughter, mother and grandmother are haunted by a manifestation of dementia that consumes their family’s home.

Knives and Skin (2019) – Drama
Director: Jennifer Reeder
Starring: Marika Engelhardt, Grace Smith, Ireon Roach, Kayla Carter, Tim Hopper, Kate Arrington, Audrey Francis, James Vincent Meredith, Ty Olwin, Raven Whitley, Jalen Gilbert, Emma Ladji, Robert T. Cunningham, Tony Fitzpatrick, Marilyn Dodds Frank
Synopsis: What happened to Carolyn Harper? Part suburban nightmare, part neon-soaked teenage fever dream, this tantalizing mystery traces the wave of fear and distrust that spreads across a small Midwestern town in the wake of a high school girl’s mysterious disappearance. As the loneliness and darkness lurking beneath the veneer of everyday life gradually comes to light, a collective awakening seems to overcome the town’s teenage girls—gathering in force until it can no longer be contained. Unfolding in a hallucinatory haze of lushly surreal images, Knives and Skin is a one-of-a-kind coming-of-age noir that haunts like a half-remembered dream.

Sword of Trust (2019) – Comedy
Director: Lynn Shelton
Starring: Marc Maron, Jon Bass, Michaela Watkins, Jillian Bell
Synopsis: Mel (Marc Maron) is a cantankerous pawnshop owner in Alabama who spends most of his time swindling customers while trying and failing to get his man-child employee Nathaniel (Jon Bass) to do any work. When Cynthia (Jillian Bell) and her wife Mary (Michaela Watkins) try to hawk a Civil War-era sword inherited from Cynthia’s recently deceased grandfather, he tries to get the better of them. The sword, however, comes with a convoluted report from Cynthia’s grandfather claiming the relic to be proof the South actually won the war. It isn’t long before the coveted “prover item” draws the attention of overzealous conspiracy theorists and the two duos have to join forces in order to sell the sword to the highest bidder. The journey that ensues takes the ragtag bunch on a tour through the deep South and the minds of the local fanatics who inhabit it. Created from the raw talent of its cast and infused with a lot of heart and laughs, Sword of Trust takes a stab at uncovering emotional truths through moments of hilarity and hits right on the mark.

Out of Blue (2019) – Drama
Director: Carol Morley
Starring: Patricia Clarkson, Toby Jones, Jacki Weaver, James Caan, Mamie Gummer, Aaron Tveit, Yolonda Ross, Jonathan Majors, Devyn Tyler
Synopsis: The hunt for a killer draws a detective into an even larger mystery: the nature of the universe itself. Mike Hoolihan (Patricia Clarkson) is an unconventional New Orleans cop investigating the murder of renowned astrophysicist Jennifer Rockwell (Mamie Gummer), a black hole expert found shot to death in her observatory. As Mike tumbles down the rabbit hole of the disturbing, labyrinthine case, she finds herself grappling with increasingly existential questions of quantum mechanics, parallel universes, and exploding stars—cosmic secrets that may hold the key to unraveling the crime, while throwing into doubt her very understanding of reality. Awash in a dreamlike, neo-noir atmosphere, this one-of-a-kind thriller is both a tantalizing whodunnit and a rich, metaphysical mind-bender.

Furlough (2018) – Drama
Director: Laurie Collyer
Starring: Tessa Thompson, Whoopi Goldberg, Melissa Leo, La La Anthony, Drena De Niro, Azhy Robertson, Jerry Dean
Synopsis: When an inmate is granted one weekend out of prison to see her dying mother, a rookie correction officer struggles to keep her under control.

The Female Brain (2018) – Comedy
Director: Whitney Cummings
Starring: Whitney Cummings, Sofia Vergara, Cecily Strong, Toby Kebbell, James Marsden, Lucy Punch, Beanie Feldstein
Synopsis: A comedy about modern day relationships that takes us from the heart into the inner workings of brain chemistry to understand love among couples at different stages of their relationships.

Evolution (2016) – Thriller
Director: Lucile Hadžihalilović
Starring: Max Brebant, Roxane Duran, Julie-Marie Parmentier
Synopsis: In this sci-fi thriller, a remote island is inhabited by young boys who are subjected to strange medical treatments. Soon one boy makes a disturbing discovery beneath the waves.

#Horror (2015) – Horror
Director: Tara Subkoff
Starring: Sadie Seelert, Haley Murphy, Bridget McGarry
Synopsis: Inspired by actual events, a group of 12 year old girls face a night of horror when the compulsive addiction of an online social media game turns a moment of a cyber bullying to a night of insanity.

Bare (2015) – Drama, Thriller
Director: Natalia Leite
Starring: Dianna Agron, Paz de la Huerta,
Synopsis: A young girl living in a small desert town in Nevada becomes romantically involved with a female drifter who leads her into a life of drugs, stripping, and psychedelic spiritual experiences.

Slow Learners (2015) – Comedy
Director: Sheena Joyce, Don Argott
Starring: Adam Pally, Sarah Burns, Reid Scott, Catherine Reitman
Synopsis: High school teachers Jeff and Anne are work BFFs all too familiar with the woes of romance. Desperate to turn their luck around they take on new personas and embark, withgusto, on an adventurous summer of uncharacteristic encounters.

Free the Nipple (2014) – Comedy
Director: Lina Esco
Starring: Casey LaBow, Zach Grenier, Monique Coleman, Lola Kirke, Lia Esco
Synopsis: An army of passionate women launch a revolution to “Free the Nipple” and decriminalize the female body. Based on a true story, this mass movement of topless women, armed with First Amendment lawyers, graffiti installations and national publicity stunts, invade New York City to protest the backwards censorship laws in the USA.

Kelly & Cal (2014) – Comedy
Director: Jen McGowan
Starring: Juliette Lewis, Cybill Shepherd, Jonny Weston
Synopsis: A former rock chick turned suburban housewife (Juliette Lewis) rediscovers her wild side when she befriends the teenaged boy next door. Also stars Cybill Shepherd.

Beyond the Edge (2014) – Thriller, Documentary
Director: Leanne Pooley
Starring: Chad Moffitt
Synopsis: A 3D feature film about Sir Edmund Hillary’s monumental and historical ascent of Mt. Everest in 1953 – an event that stunned the world and defined a nation.

Dancing in Jaffa (2014) – Documentary
Director: Hilla Medalia
Starring: Pierre Dulaine
Synopsis: Over a ten-week period, renowned ballroom dancer Pierre Dulaine teaches Jewish and Palestinian Israeli children to dance and compete together. The film explores the complex stories of three children, all of whom are forced to confront issues of identity, segregation, and racial prejudice as they dance with their enemy.

Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me (2014) – Documentary
Director: Chiemi Karasawa
Starring: Elaine Stritch, Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey , Nathan Lane
Synopsis: What does it mean to be a performing artist – first, last and always? Broadway legend Elaine Stritch can answer that. At 87, Stritch is still here, dominating the stage in her one woman cabaret act, torturing Alec Baldwin on 30ROCK, giving us her take on aging, her struggle with alcohol and diabetes, and the fear of leaving the follow spot behind. In stolen moments from her corner room at the Carlyle, and on breaks from her tour and work, candid reflections about her life are punctuated with rare archival footage, words from friends (Hal Prince, George C. Wolfe, Nathan Lane, Cherry Jones and John Turturro) and photographs from her personal collection. By turns bold, hilarious and achingly poignant, the journey connects Stritch’s present to her past, and an inspiring portrait of a one-of-a-kind survivor emerges.

The Selfish Giant (2013) – Drama
Director: Clio Barnard
Starring: Sean Gilder, Steve Evets
Synopsis: THE SELFISH GIANT is a contemporary fable about two teenage boys who get caught up in the world of copper theft.

Dark Touch (2013) – Horror
Director: Marina de Van
Starring: Marie Missy Keating, Marcella Plunkett, Padraic Delaney, Aidan Gillen, Charlotte Flyvholm
Synopsis: One night, the furniture and objects in an isolated house runs riot against the family within, leaving only an eleven-year-old girl alive.

Una Noche (2013) (Spanish) – Drama
Director: Lucy Mulloy
Starring: Dariel Arrechaga, Anailin de la Rua de la Torre, Javier Nuñez Florian
Synopsis: Havana: Accused and desperate, Raul is forced to the edge. 90 miles of treacherous ocean stand between him and his dream: Miami.

Breaking the Girls (2013) – Thriller
Director: Jamie Babbit
Starring: Madeline Zima, Agnes Bruckner, Shawn Ashmore
Synopsis: Two college girls become more than friends when they make a pact to kill off each other’s nemesis.

The Loneliest Planet (2012) – Thriller
Director: Julia Loktev
Starring: Gael Garcia Bernal, Hani Furstenberg, Bidzina Gujabidze
Synopsis: A local guide takes a young couple through a twisted backpacking trip across the Georgian wilderness.

The Decoy Bride (2012) – Comedy
Director: Sheree Folkson
Starring: David Tenant, Kelly McDonald, Alice Eve
Synopsis: When the media descend on the remote Scottish island where a Hollywood actress is getting married, a local girl is hired as a decoy bride to put the paparazzi off the scent.

Buck (2011) – Documentary
Director: Cindy Meehl
Starring: Buck Brannaman
Synopsis: In a story about the power of non-violence, master horse trainer Buck Brannaman uses principles of respect and trust to tame horses and inspire their human counterparts.

Tiny Furniture (2010) – Comedy
Director: Lena Dunham
Starring: Lena Dunham, Laurie Simmons, Grace Dunham, David Call, Alex Karpovsky
Synopsis: 22-year-old Aura returns home after college to her artist mother’s loft with the following: a useless film theory degree, 357 hits on her YouTube page, and no shoulders to cry on. Starring Dunham and her real-life family, Tiny Furniture is tragicomedy about what does and does not happen when you graduate with no skills, no love life, and a lot of free time.

LADIES OF HORROR
*Titles listed by date

Kindred (2020) – Thriller
Director: Joe Marcantonio
Starring: Fiona Shaw, Edward Holcroft, Jack Lowden, Tamara Lawrance, Chloe Pirrie, Anton Lesser, Kiran Sonia Sawar, Michael Nardone
Synopsis: A chilling tale of one young woman slowly losing her grip on reality…or is she being brainwashed and psychologically tortured by her deceased boyfriend’s family?

The Other Lamb (2020) – Horror, Drama
Director: Malgorzata Szumowska
Starring: Raffey Cassidy, Michiel Huisman, Denise Gough.
Synopsis: A girl born into an all-female cult led by a man in their compound begins to question his teachings and her own reality.

Relic (2020) – Horror
Director: Natalie Erika James
Starring: Emily Mortimer, Robyn Nevin, Bella Heathcote 
Synopsis: A daughter, mother and grandmother are haunted by a manifestation of dementia that consumes their family’s home.

Knives and Skin (2019) – Drama
Director: Jennifer Reeder
Starring: Marika Engelhardt, Grace Smith, Ireon Roach, Kayla Carter, Tim Hopper, Kate Arrington, Audrey Francis, James Vincent Meredith, Ty Olwin, Raven Whitley, Jalen Gilbert, Emma Ladji, Robert T. Cunningham, Tony Fitzpatrick, Marilyn Dodds Frank
Synopsis: What happened to Carolyn Harper? Part suburban nightmare, part neon-soaked teenage fever dream, this tantalizing mystery traces the wave of fear and distrust that spreads across a small Midwestern town in the wake of a high school girl’s mysterious disappearance. As the loneliness and darkness lurking beneath the veneer of everyday life gradually comes to light, a collective awakening seems to overcome the town’s teenage girls—gathering in force until it can no longer be contained. Unfolding in a hallucinatory haze of lushly surreal images, Knives and Skin is a one-of-a-kind coming-of-age noir that haunts like a half-remembered dream.

Beyond the Gates (of Hell) (2016) – Thriller
Director: Jackson Stewart
Starring: Barbara Crampton, Brea Grant, Ryan Kunert
Synopsis: Dice turn deadly when two brothers fight to survive a nightmarish role-playing game run by a sinister host (Barbara Crampton) in this throwback thriller.

Anesthesia (2016) – Drama
Director: Tim Blake Nelson
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Corey Stoll, Glenn Close, Michael K. Williams, Tim Blake Nelson, Mickey Sumner, Sam Waterston
Synopsis: Multiple lives intersect in the aftermath of the violent mugging of a Columbia University philosophy professor.

The Abandoned (2016) – Horror
Director: Eytan Rockaway
Starring: Jason Patric, Louisa Krause, Mark Margolis
Synopsis: A struggling single mother works as a security guard for a corporation, where she becomes trapped in the dark catacombs of the structure and her sanity is terrorized.

The Den (2014) – Horror, Thriller
Director: Zachary Donohue
Starring: Melanie Papalia, David Schlachtenhaufen, Matt Riedy, Adam Shapiro
Synopsis: A young woman studying the habits of webcam chat users from the apparent safety of her apartment witnesses a brutal murder online and is quickly immersed in a nightmare in which she and her loved ones are targeted for the same grisly fate as the first victim.

Dark Touch (2013) – Horror
Director: Marina de Van
Starring: Marie Missy Keating, Marcella Plunkett, Padraic Delaney, Aidan Gillen, Charlotte Flyvholm
Synopsis: One night, the furniture and objects in an isolated house runs riot against the family within, leaving only an eleven-year-old girl alive.

Breaking the Girls (2013) – Thriller
Director: Jamie Babbit
Starring: Madeline Zima, Agnes Bruckner, Shawn Ashmore
Synopsis: Two college girls become more than friends when they make a pact to kill off each other’s nemesis.

Contracted (2013) – Horror, Thriller
Director: Eric England
Starring: Najarra Townsend, Caroline Williams
Synopsis: A young girl has a one-night stand with a random stranger and contracts, what she thinks is, a sexually-transmitted disease – but is actually something much worse.

The Pact (2012) – Horror
Director: Nicholas McCarthy
Starring: Caity Lotz, Casper Van Dien, Haley Hudson, Sam Ball
Synopsis: When their mother dies, sisters Annie and Nicole begin to face their disturbing childhood. Nicole visits her mother’s house to deal with the estate and vanishes.

Dead Hooker in a Trunk (2011) – Horror
Director: Jen Soska, Sylvia Soska
Starring: Rikki Gagne, Jen Soska, Sylvia Soska, CJ Wallis, John Tench
Synopsis: A Canadian grindhouse film about a group of friends, including twin sisters (who are also the directors), who somehow end up with a dead hooker in their trunk. As they try to figure out how it happened, they become chased by cops, a sleazy hotel manager, chainsaw wielding triads, a brutal serial killer, and a mysterious cowboy pimp.

The Housemaid (2011) (Korean) – Thriller
Director: Im Sang-soo
Starring: Do-yeon Jeon, Jung-jae Lee, Woo Seo, Yuh-Jung Youn
Synopsis: A remake of Kim Ki-young’s Housemaid from the 1960s. A strange housemaid joins a peaceful family only to destroy them.

Exorcismus (2011) – Horror
Director: Luis de la Madrid
Starring: Sophie Vavasseur, Stephen Billington, Douglas Bradley, Jo Anne Stockham
Synopsis: Medical tests have ruled out any illness of 15 year old daughter Suzy but she gets worse every day. Father Ellis resorts to hypnosis to help Suzy but to find out what happens during the sessions, Suzy sets up a video camera.

FEMALE CINEMATOGRAPHERS
*Titles listed by date

Furlough (2018) – Drama
Director: Laurie Collyer
Cinematographer: Berenice Eveno
Starring: Tessa Thompson, Whoopi Goldberg, Melissa Leo, La La Anthony, Drena De Niro, Azhy Robertson, Jerry Dean
Synopsis: When an inmate is granted one weekend out of prison to see her dying mother, a rookie correction officer struggles to keep her under control.

Marguerite and Julien (2016) – Romance
Director: Valérie Donzelli
Cinematographer: Céline Bozon
Starring: Anaïs Demoustier, Jérémie Elkaïm, Frédéric Pierrot
Synopsis: An aristocratic brother and sister embrace passion and hope as they flee from society. A story of desire, love and death beyond all morality.

Anesthesia (2016) – Drama
Director: Tim Blake Nelson
Cinematographer: Christina Voros
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Corey Stoll, Glenn Close, Michael K. Williams, Tim Blake Nelson, Mickey Sumner, Sam Waterston
Synopsis: Multiple lives intersect in the aftermath of the violent mugging of a Columbia University philosophy professor.

The Pact 2 (2014) – Thriller
Director: Dallas Hallam, Patrick Horvath
Cinematographer: Carmen Cabana
Starring: Camilla Luddington, Scott Michael Foster
Synopsis: Sequel to Pact. When a series of brutal murders lead authorities to believe the Judas killer is back, Annie, (Caity Lotz The Machine), returns home for the final showdown.

Errors of the Human Body (2013) – Sci-fi
Director: Eron Sheean
Cinematographer: Anna Howard
Starring: Rik Mayall, Karoline Herfurth
Synopsis: When a potentially lethal virus is created within his new lab, Dr Geoff Burton is shocked to discover he is not only the unwitting cause, but also its first victim.

The Flat (2012) (Hebrew, German, English) – Documentary
Director: Arnon Goldfinger
Cinematographer: Talia Gal’On
Starring: Arnon Goldfinger
Synopsis: At age 98, director Arnon Goldfinger’s grandmother passed away, leaving him the task of clearing out the Tel Aviv flat that she and her husband shared since immigrating to Palestine from Nazi Germany in the 1930s. In this emotionally riveting documentary, Goldfinger follows the hints they left behind in a lifetime’s collection of documents.

The Decoy Bride (2012) – Comedy
Director: Sheree Folkson
Cinematographer: Nanu Segal
Starring: David Tenant, Kelly McDonald, Alice Eve
Synopsis: When the media descend on the remote Scottish island where a Hollywood actress is getting married, a local girl is hired as a decoy bride to put the paparazzi off the scent.

House of Pleasures (2011) – Drama
Director: Bertrand Bonello
Cinematographer: Josée Deshaies
Starring: Adèle Haenel, Alice Barnole, Céline Sallette, Hafsia Herzi, Iliana Zabeth, Jasmine Trinca, Noémie Lvovsky
Synopsis: At the dawn of the XXth century, in a brothel in Paris, a man disfigures a prostitute for life. She is marked with a scar that draws a tragic smile on her face.

XX/YX (2003) – Comedy, Drama
Director: Austin Chick
Cinematographer: Uta Briesewitz
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Kathleen Robertson, Maya Stange, Petra Wright, David Thornton
Synopsis: Hot Sundance world premiere stars Mark Ruffalo; written, directed by Austin Chick. Friends begin a dangerous 3-way relationship that spirals out of control; dire consequences haunt them years later.

(Photo credit: IFC Films)