Sundance 2026: Finding Barbara Hammer—A Late Awakening to Queer Experimentation
Barbara Hammer once said, “If we’re experimenting with our lives and the way we’re going to live, our film and our art should also be experimental. It breaks tradition, and makes you think in a broader way. It’s the way I experience the world.” I’ve been carrying that quote with me lately, especially as I […]
“Women Make the Harsher Films”: Isa Willinger Revisits a Provocation in “No Mercy”
When cult filmmaker Kira Muratova told a young Isa Willinger, “The truth is, women make the harsher films,” the statement lodged itself in Willinger’s mind like a riddle. Could this really be true? So often, women and non-binary filmmakers are framed through the language of empathy, intuition, or sensitivity — rarely through force, severity, or […]
CIFF 2024: Screen Legend Valeria Golino on Her Exhilarating Miniseries, “The Art of Joy”
Valeria Golino was 18 years old when she filmed Italian director Francesco Maselli’s “Storia d’amore,” the movie that would make her an international star. She earned the Best Actress prize in Venice, and went on to be cast in such major Hollywood releases as “Rain Man,” “Big Top Pee-Wee,” “Hot Shots!”, “Leaving Las Vegas” and […]
Sundance 40: Editor in Chief’s Top Ten Sundance Films of All Time (1984 – 2023)
This week marks the Sundance Film Festival’s 40th edition. In celebration of the Sundance Institute’s rich history, I’m spotlighting my all-time top 10 favorite films that have played at the Sundance Film Festival over its first four decades. Discover the new films that may be sliding into your top 10 by purchasing a ticket to […]
Cinema Femme at Sundance Day 4: Happening, Alice, Hatching and Nanny
Happening The two best films I’ve seen thus far in 2022 won acclaim on the festival circuit last year prior their premieres at Sundance, and both happen to be astonishingly vivid portraits of female identity: Joaquim Trier’s “The Worst Person in the World” and Audrey Diwan’s “Happening,” the latter of which won the top prize […]
The 50 best films of 2021: Part 2 (25 – 1)
This is Part 2 of our top 50 films of 2021. Here we showcase the top 25. To read more about what motivated our list and part 1, see link. #25 “Adrienne” – a documentary about filmmaker Adrienne Shelly “Adrienne” is a loving portrait of the filmmaker Adrienne Shelly, who was on her way to […]
Promising overlooked women: shining a light on female directors
Over a year ago, at Sundance 2020, pre-pandemic, Carey Mulligan spoke with Variety about how Oscar voters overlooked films with female filmmakers, meaning they did not watch these films before they cast their votes for the Best Director category. This discussion circled around her and Emerald Fennell’s “Promising Young Woman” premiere. I can’t help thinking […]