The Independent’s Senior Film Critic, Kurt Brokaw, was at this year’s New York Film Festival. In this article, he reviews his favorites in the narrative drama and documentary genres. Read about the films that captured Kurt’s attention.
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.
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.
Kaufman’s Game is the award-winning, full-length drama by first time Writer/Directer Helier Bissell-Thomas. The film stars Jye Frasca as Stanley, an unemployed man with a passion for boxing, who becomes drawn into the violent operations of a powerful organization. The Independent’s editor caught up with Bissell-Thomas to discuss the film’s production and its influences.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
Senior Film Critic Kurt Brokaw reviews Water and Sugar, a ten-film retrospective on the life and work of Director Carlo Di Palma. Brokaw examines highlights of Di Palma’s biography, connecting these to the artist’s unique and celebrated output. Water and Sugar shows at the Walter Reade theater in Lincoln Center from Friday, July 28th through Thursday, August 3rd.