For four decades, Los Angeles has been home to Outfest, by any standard the premier Lgbtqia+ film festival in the US. And though June technically ends this week, Outfest’s July 13-23, 2023 festival dates provide a sort of cinema-shaped pot of gold at the end of Pride Month’s long rainbow–featuring a well-curated selection of queer cinema from new, emerging and established artists with a variety of viewpoints and experiences.
Last week, Film Independent’s Festival Visions series—our ongoing spotlight of the best programming picks from regional and specialty festivals nationwide—continued, with an online showing of the doc Finding Her Beat, directed by Dawn Mikkelson and Keri Pickett, about the emerging female presence in the historically male-dominated world of Asian drumming.
Visit our events page for more details and to register for more upcoming Festival Visions screenings—which are always online and for free—and check out...
Last week, Film Independent’s Festival Visions series—our ongoing spotlight of the best programming picks from regional and specialty festivals nationwide—continued, with an online showing of the doc Finding Her Beat, directed by Dawn Mikkelson and Keri Pickett, about the emerging female presence in the historically male-dominated world of Asian drumming.
Visit our events page for more details and to register for more upcoming Festival Visions screenings—which are always online and for free—and check out...
- 6/26/2023
- by Film Independent
- Film Independent News & More
A Great Divide, a anti-Asian racism drama that stars Ken Jeong, Jae Suh Park and Emerson Min, is set to open the competitive program for Geena Davis’ Bentonville Film Festival, running June 13-18.
The feature directorial debut of Emmy-winning commercial and short film director Jean Shim, which also star Miya Cech in a lead role, will get a world premiere during the ninth edition of the Bentonville, Arkansas festival. A Great Divide follows a Korean-American family that leaves the Bay Area for a fresh start in rural Wyoming after experiencing a devastating loss.
Also getting a first look at Bentonville is director R. J. Daniel Hanna’s Hard Miles, which dramatizes the true story of a youth prison social worker who took a cycling team comprising teenage inmates on a transformative 1,000-mile ride. The film, written by Hanna and Christian Sander, stars Matthew Modine, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams, Jahking Guillory, Jackson Kelly,...
The feature directorial debut of Emmy-winning commercial and short film director Jean Shim, which also star Miya Cech in a lead role, will get a world premiere during the ninth edition of the Bentonville, Arkansas festival. A Great Divide follows a Korean-American family that leaves the Bay Area for a fresh start in rural Wyoming after experiencing a devastating loss.
Also getting a first look at Bentonville is director R. J. Daniel Hanna’s Hard Miles, which dramatizes the true story of a youth prison social worker who took a cycling team comprising teenage inmates on a transformative 1,000-mile ride. The film, written by Hanna and Christian Sander, stars Matthew Modine, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams, Jahking Guillory, Jackson Kelly,...
- 5/9/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Opening with a dramatic onstage performance, the kanji character for woman emblazoned on a huge drum, Dawn Mikkelson and Keri Pickett thrust viewers into the world of contemporary Japanese taiko in their heartwarming cross-cultural documentary, “Finding Her Beat.” Although it sometimes feels repetitive and would benefit from stronger emotional peaks, it provides a fascinating look into what taiko means literally and symbolically for women engaged in the art practice, regardless of background. On the whole, the movie engages through the juxtaposition of themes that the directors reveal more than the arc of the film itself.
“Finding Her Beat” screened at San Diego Asian Film Festival Spring Showcase
For the uninitiated, the beginning provides some contextual background to taiko by explaining how it moved from cultural unit to performance art in the aftermath of World War II, in large part due to Western influence and the commercialization of religious and cultural practice.
“Finding Her Beat” screened at San Diego Asian Film Festival Spring Showcase
For the uninitiated, the beginning provides some contextual background to taiko by explaining how it moved from cultural unit to performance art in the aftermath of World War II, in large part due to Western influence and the commercialization of religious and cultural practice.
- 5/4/2023
- by Olivia Popp
- AsianMoviePulse
Documentarian Dawn Mikkelson, known for her work on ”Finding Her Beat,” “Risking Light” and “The Red Tail,” is exploring the lives of six of the Minnesota RollerGirls in her upcoming documentary, “Minnesota Mean.”
The documentary feature will make its world premiere at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival on April 15 followed by screenings at the Florida Film Festival on April 17 and the Sunscreen Film Festival on April 29.
‘Minnesota Mean’ is a riveting human drama about the pounding heart of roller derby: powerful, self-sufficient women from all walks of life and identity,” the doc’s logline reads. “It’s a vital and relevant story of triumph, loss, strength, determination, and a search for balance between individuality and community.”
The documentary follows a year-in-the-lives of six core members of one of the most competitive roller derby teams in the world, the Minnesota RollerGirls. The roller derby athletes are seen training for...
The documentary feature will make its world premiere at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival on April 15 followed by screenings at the Florida Film Festival on April 17 and the Sunscreen Film Festival on April 29.
‘Minnesota Mean’ is a riveting human drama about the pounding heart of roller derby: powerful, self-sufficient women from all walks of life and identity,” the doc’s logline reads. “It’s a vital and relevant story of triumph, loss, strength, determination, and a search for balance between individuality and community.”
The documentary follows a year-in-the-lives of six core members of one of the most competitive roller derby teams in the world, the Minnesota RollerGirls. The roller derby athletes are seen training for...
- 4/10/2023
- by Charna Flam and Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
Outfest Fusion, LA nonprofit Outfest‘s film festival dedicated to queer Bipoc storytelling, has unveiled the full lineup of films for its 20th anniversary festival.
10 features, 93 short films, and four TV presentations will screen during the March festival in Los Angeles, including Sundance documentaries “Little Richard: I Am Everything” and “The Stroll.” Documentary “Kenyatta: Do Not Wait Your Turn,” produced by Xpedition and Al Roker, and featuring Lee Daniels, will make its North American premiere during the festival; in total, 23 films will make world premieres, five will make their U.S. premiere, four their international premieres, and three their North American premieres. Over half of all films were directed by women, non-binary, two spirit, or gender-nonconforming filmmakers.
“We are at a moment where our industry is ready to have an honest dialogue about inclusion, investment and representation of people of color and yet our entire LGBTQ+ population is facing a...
10 features, 93 short films, and four TV presentations will screen during the March festival in Los Angeles, including Sundance documentaries “Little Richard: I Am Everything” and “The Stroll.” Documentary “Kenyatta: Do Not Wait Your Turn,” produced by Xpedition and Al Roker, and featuring Lee Daniels, will make its North American premiere during the festival; in total, 23 films will make world premieres, five will make their U.S. premiere, four their international premieres, and three their North American premieres. Over half of all films were directed by women, non-binary, two spirit, or gender-nonconforming filmmakers.
“We are at a moment where our industry is ready to have an honest dialogue about inclusion, investment and representation of people of color and yet our entire LGBTQ+ population is facing a...
- 3/15/2023
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Outfest is gearing up for the 20th anniversary of its Outfest Fusion Qtbipoc Film Festival.
The organization revealed on Tuesday the lineup of films that will screen during the 10-day festival as well as the news that The Inspection filmmaker Elegance Bratton has been selected to receive the Fusion Achievement Award at the opening night gala on March 24.
The honor recognizes “an individual who has made a significant contribution to LGBTQ+ visibility in stories, arts and media,” per Outfest. Bratton has been making the rounds as of late for A24’s The Inspection starring Jeremy Pope and Gabrielle Union. Inspired by his own story, The Inspection follows a gay Black man who is rejected by his mother and left with few options for his future. He then decides to join the Marines where he finds unexpected camaraderie, strength and support in this new community, giving him a hard-earned sense of...
The organization revealed on Tuesday the lineup of films that will screen during the 10-day festival as well as the news that The Inspection filmmaker Elegance Bratton has been selected to receive the Fusion Achievement Award at the opening night gala on March 24.
The honor recognizes “an individual who has made a significant contribution to LGBTQ+ visibility in stories, arts and media,” per Outfest. Bratton has been making the rounds as of late for A24’s The Inspection starring Jeremy Pope and Gabrielle Union. Inspired by his own story, The Inspection follows a gay Black man who is rejected by his mother and left with few options for his future. He then decides to join the Marines where he finds unexpected camaraderie, strength and support in this new community, giving him a hard-earned sense of...
- 3/7/2023
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Outfest has announced its feature lineup for its 2023 Outfest Fusion Qtbipoc Film Festival, which will run from March 24 through April 2.
Outfest Fusion will be celebrating its 20th anniversary by showcasing Lgbtqia+ filmmakers and their various films depicting queer and transgender stories. There will be nine features, including two 2023 Sundance documentaries, “Little Richard: I Am Everything” from Lisa Cortés and “The Stroll” from Kristen Lovell and Zackary Drucker. Cortés documentary explores how Richard “Little Richard” Penniman worked through his struggles with his sexuality, all while he made his mark on rock n’ roll. While Lovell and Drucker follow transgender women of color as they detail the community’s history of sex work in New York City.
In addition, the Outfest Fusion lineup includes Dawn Mikkelson, Keri Pickett’s “Finding Her Beat;” Fábio Leal’s “Follow The Protocol;” Timothy Harris’ “Kenyatta: Do Not Wait Your Turn;” Joseph Amenta’s “Soft;” Lorena Zilleruelo...
Outfest Fusion will be celebrating its 20th anniversary by showcasing Lgbtqia+ filmmakers and their various films depicting queer and transgender stories. There will be nine features, including two 2023 Sundance documentaries, “Little Richard: I Am Everything” from Lisa Cortés and “The Stroll” from Kristen Lovell and Zackary Drucker. Cortés documentary explores how Richard “Little Richard” Penniman worked through his struggles with his sexuality, all while he made his mark on rock n’ roll. While Lovell and Drucker follow transgender women of color as they detail the community’s history of sex work in New York City.
In addition, the Outfest Fusion lineup includes Dawn Mikkelson, Keri Pickett’s “Finding Her Beat;” Fábio Leal’s “Follow The Protocol;” Timothy Harris’ “Kenyatta: Do Not Wait Your Turn;” Joseph Amenta’s “Soft;” Lorena Zilleruelo...
- 3/7/2023
- by Charna Flam
- Variety Film + TV
In March, Seed&Spark and Project Greenlight Digital Studios announced the world’s first crowdfunding rally. The Untold Story Crowdfunding Rally was created to find “the next great untold story in documentary,” accepting submissions in search for feature documentaries on stories and perspectives not seen before.
Read More: Exclusive: Project Greenlight Digital Studios is Launching Brand New Advisory Board
The ten finalists were announced today, and from vertical farms to Native American comedians, the chosen stories certainly are untold. The finalists had to raise $10,000 in crowdfunding money on Seed&Spark in order to qualify, and now will have the chance to will $20,000 in finishing funds for their projects, distribution in millions of homes, and $5,000 in data storage.
“We are excited not only to celebrate the finalists, but to celebrate all participants who made of the most of the rally and used it to spread the word about their unique stories,...
Read More: Exclusive: Project Greenlight Digital Studios is Launching Brand New Advisory Board
The ten finalists were announced today, and from vertical farms to Native American comedians, the chosen stories certainly are untold. The finalists had to raise $10,000 in crowdfunding money on Seed&Spark in order to qualify, and now will have the chance to will $20,000 in finishing funds for their projects, distribution in millions of homes, and $5,000 in data storage.
“We are excited not only to celebrate the finalists, but to celebrate all participants who made of the most of the rally and used it to spread the word about their unique stories,...
- 7/5/2016
- by Kate Halliwell
- Indiewire
Chances are, you’ll never have a reason to drive the long way across Montana. There isn’t much going on up there and, let’s face it, it’s a really long drive. But if you do, make a point to do as much driving as possible during daylight, as the scenery is pretty stunning. You could stop the car every couple of miles, just to take pictures of the view. Before long, you’ll start plotting on how you might be able to embrace your inner Terrence Malick out in the middle of nowhere, shooting only at magic hour. And, hey, there’s a big statue of a dinosaur in Wall, South Dakota you could always use.
But me, I was just passing through as A Year Without Rent transitioned to a West Coast phase, and my little car that could wound up having driven from coast to coast,...
But me, I was just passing through as A Year Without Rent transitioned to a West Coast phase, and my little car that could wound up having driven from coast to coast,...
- 6/11/2011
- by Lucas McNelly
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
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