The 2015 Independent Film Festival Boston is back in town between April 22nd and April 29th, and it’s serving up an amazing crop of films. From feature films, Sundance darlings, documentaries, and shorts, the lineup is stacked, offering up something for every film fanatic.
Which made it all the more difficult to narrow the slate down to just five that are worth seeing. Out of the entire lineup, there are multiple that I would say are worth a visit but for the sake of time, here are the five that caught my eye immediately.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl directed by: Alfonso Gomez-Rejo
The Sundance darling of 2015 and based on a best-selling book, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, is the film with the greatest advance accolades, making it’s debut in Boston. The trailer dropped last week and it looks equal parts charming, funny, and genuinely moving. Hosting a wonderful, fresh-faced lineup as the leads and a tone that seems to stray from the young adult typical narratives the film looks like it could be an instant teen classic.
Where to see it: Coolidge Corner Theater, Wednesday April 29th at 7:30. The author and screenwriter Jesse Andrews will also be in attendance.
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Look of Silence directed by: Joshua Oppenheimer
The Act of Killing directed by Joshua Oppenheimer got as close to touching true human depravity as any documentary or film ever has. With his follow up Look of Silence we can only hope the that the filmmaker once again keeps a steady hand and confident eye on revealing horrifying truths in a way that furthers the documentary medium.
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Where to see it: Brattle Theater, Sunday April 26th at 6:00
Funny Bunny directed by: Alison Bangall
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Alison Bangall’s film, The Dish and the Spoon, was a lovely, meditative look at the inbetween period of love, grief, and anger. It managed to turn gender cliche’s on their head with Greta Gerwig and Olly Alexander playing against type in these type of movies where typically, their roles would have been reversed. As a dedicated supporter of female filmmakers I’d already be interested in this film but with a director on board that has such an eye for natural beauty and honest female emotion I’m all the more excited.
Where to see it: Somerville Theater-Screen 2, Sunday April 26th at 5:30 pm.
The Tribe directed by: Miroslav Slaboshipitsky
This film isn’t going to attract every film fan, but that isn’t a bad thing. The film is set in a Ukrainian boarding school for the deaf, allowing for the entirety of the films narrative to be told through sign language. It’s a film that’s broadening our understanding on how stories can be told and it’s a bold direction for a film to take.
Where to see it: Somerville Theater-Screen 5, Friday April 24th at 9:15 pm.
Eden
Here’s another film that I don’t know a whole lot about but it’s exciting to see female filmmakers getting the spotlight. Mia Hansen-Love directed the beautiful Goodbye First Love which effortlessly tackled young romances and the effects they can have. She has an eye for scenery and subtle human emotions and I can’t see what she has to offer us in Eden.
Where to see it: Brattle Theater, Thursday April 23rd at 9:45 pm.
Of course there’s also the Sundance hit’s such as The Overnight starring Jason Schwartzman, Adam Scott and Taylor Schilling and The End of the Tour with Jason Segal. Schwartzman get’s double billing with his film 7 Chinese Brothers. There’s movies such as Slow West starring Michael Fassbender that have been making the festival rounds along with a plethora of short film options.
It’s an exciting film slate this year. Let us know in the comments what films you’re most excited to check out! To check out the schedule or purchase tickets visit iffboston.org.
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