Articles

Making No Truth Claims: Historical Complexity in Mila Turajlic’s The Other Side of Everything
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Making No Truth Claims: Historical Complexity in Mila Turajlic’s The Other Side of Everything

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Courtney Sheehan talks with Serbian Director Mila Turajlic at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. Turajilic’s new documentary, The Other Side of Everything (Druga strana svega) mines the depths of family history to offer an untold story of Yugoslavia’s past. The filmmaker shares about her process, her family’s fascinating story, and the role of documentary in representing and reflecting upon cultural complexities.

 

New Doc about Charter Schools Exposes Insidious Effects on Education Equity
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New Doc about Charter Schools Exposes Insidious Effects on Education Equity

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Backpack Full of Cash is a new documentary by Director and Activist Sarah Mondale. The film, which is co-produced by Vera Aronow, offers an unforgiving portrayal of the charter school movement in America. Marie-Emmanuelle Hartness was at the Boston screening and talks with Mondale and Aronow about making the film and about working with Nancy Carlson-Paige and her son, Matt Damon.

New York Film Festival Sept. 28-Oct. 15

New York Film Festival Sept. 28-Oct. 15

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The Independent’s Senior Film Critic, Kurt Brokaw, picks early favorites from four shorts programs at this year’s New York Film Festival (Sept. 28-Oct. 15). Read about Brokaw’s picks and where and when these great films will be showing.

All-Female Production Company Offers Tips for Emerging Filmmakers
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All-Female Production Company Offers Tips for Emerging Filmmakers

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Gloria Muñoz of Pitch Her Productions shares industry tips for emerging female filmmakers. Muñoz and her production company has just released Keep Me Posted, a comedic web series written and directed by Hillary Nussbaum. The series, which stars Maya Deshmukh, Terra Mackintosh, and Kim Blanck offers an unforgiving look at social media, notably the complexities of balancing online personas with authentic, real-world intimacy.

Ricardo Bouyett's "No Love For Fuckboys" promotional image.

On Art and Healing

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The Independent’s editor speaks with Ricardo Bouyett, filmmaker, writer, and photographer of the new short No Love For Fuckboys. The film, which won “Best Experimental Short” at the Short To The Point International Film Festival, is an exploration—at once personal and more broadly social—of the intricacies of navigating dating, friendship, love, and desire after the trauma of sexual assault.

New Documentary Shines a Light on Brooklyn Teenager Miasia Clark
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New Documentary Shines a Light on Brooklyn Teenager Miasia Clark

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The Independent catches up with Yvonne Michelle Shirley, creator of the new documentary, Miasia: The Nature of Experience. The film, which featured at BlackStar Film Festival, chronicles the life of Brooklyn teenager Miasia Clark as she navigates her everyday world and prepares to present at the first ever Black Girl Movement National Conference. Miasia is joined in this effort by members of her activist group, Girls for Gender Equity.

 

Orphan Dreams from Swaziland

Orphan Dreams from Swaziland

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Mike Sullivan reviews Liyana, a new documentary directed by Aaron and Amanda Kopp (former 10-to-watch series winners!) The film, which employs stunning animation, tells the story of five orphaned children living and dreaming in Swaziland.  Liyana premiered at the LA Film Festival in June, where it won “Best Documentary.”

 

 

 

a man sits on grass and looks at the camera
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(Dis)Ability in the Work of an Australian Filmmaker

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The Independent speaks with gough, a screen writer, director, and producer based in Australia. gough, who is legally blind, runs the successful company Beernuts Productions, which has produced a variety of documentaries, shorts, and other media content. Here gough reflects on how his disability informs his work and comedy.