sxsw 2021 – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

Emily Cohen Ibanez on FRUITS OF LABOR and Agricultural Child Labor (SXSW21) – Sarah Knight Adamson Interviews

March 31, 2021February 3, 2022 Sarah Knight Adamson documentaries, Emi;;y Cohen Ibanez, fruits of labor, sxsw 2021

The insightful film Fruits of Labor focuses on California Central Coast’s rich soil, the beautiful nature of the area, and the laborers who work the fields. Ashley, an energetic, vibrant teen, works in those fields to help provide for the family. Filmmaker Emily Cohen Ibanez met her when she was 15 years old—two years later, she filmed her senior year of High School, documenting her struggles of balancing school and her farm work.

Festivals Reviews

BEST SUMMER EVER (SXSW21) – Review by Leslie Combemale

March 31, 2021February 3, 2022 Leslie Combemale Benjamin Bratt, Best Summer Ever, disabilities, maggie gyllenhaal, Michael Parks Randa, musicals, sxsw 2021

Best Summer Ever is a weird and delightful tossed screen-salad of Crip Camp and High School Musical, with a side of Grease, where no one mentions the disabilities, and there is truly authentic disability representation. Both realistic and aspirational, Best Summer Ever is the sort of movie that may be fun and frothy, but it’s also needed in order for bigger studio films to consider more inclusive casting.

Festivals Interviews

Stacey Gregg and Andrea Riseborough on HERE BEFORE (SXSW 2021) – Leslie Combemale interviews

March 26, 2021March 27, 2021 Leslie Combemale andrea risebprpugh, here before, Niamh Dornan, northern ireland, stacey gregg, sxsw 2021

Stacey Gregg makes her narrative feature debut with Here Before, which takes place in a small town in Northern Ireland, and is about a grieving mother Laura (Andrea Riseborough) who finds in her neighbor’s daughter echoes of her own child Josie, who died in a car accident. Megan and Laura begin a complicated relationship filled with awkward, unsettling conversations and inappropriate attachments. All the characters in the film make questionable choices, for reasons that become clear as this slow burn story packs lots of surprises and keeps you in thrall to the last scene.

Commentaries Festivals

Intersectionality at SXSW 2021 – Leslie Combemale reports

March 20, 2021February 3, 2022 Leslie Combemale Angelique Molina, drover's wife, Emily Cohen Ibanēz, fruits of labor, I'm fine thanks for asking, Jennifer Holness, kellry kali, Leah Purcell, Lisette Feliciano, Luchadoras, Mari Walker, Paola Calvo, See You Then, Subjects of Desire, sxsw 2021, women is losers

This year at SXSW there are a number of powerful female filmmakers of color who are shining a light on important social issues both through narrative and documentary films, employing women of color in front of and behind the camera. They are an inspiration not only for their commitment to diverse voices, but also for creating great content worthy of our attention. Here are some of the best offerings at the fest you can see right now.

Festivals Reviews

UNDER THE VOLCANO (SXSW21) – Review by Rachel West

March 19, 2021March 21, 2021 Rachel West AIR studio, documentaries, George Martin, Gracie Otto, Karen Johnson, sxsw 2021, Under The Volcano

Director Gracie Otto’s documentary Under The Volcano isn’t just a deep dive into famed music producer George Martin’s legacy through his groundbreaking AIR recording studio in the West Indies, it’s a love letter to the people of Montserrat. Bookended with present-day footage of Montserrat and AIR which was devastated by the 1995 volcanic eruption, Under The Volcano ends on a high note of resilience, love, and affection for not just the past, but the island’s future.

Festivals Reviews

LANGUAGE LESSONS (SXSW 21) – Review by Jennifer Merin

March 19, 2021March 22, 2021 Jennifer Merin language lessons, mark duplass, Natalie Morales, pandemic productions, sxsw 2021

Language Lessons is a fine example of pandemic moviemaking at its best. Its conceit is simple, believable and appealing. There is nothing gimmicky about the production. Almost all of the action takes place via the internet — so there’s no need for social distancing and any inherent concern about or danger of contagion is eliminated. The story, essentially a tale of two characters who meet serendipitously on the internet, begins with their first encounter and follows their developing relationship as they, from afar and via the internet, offer each other support during harrowingly emotional experiences.

Festivals Reviews

OUR FATHER (SXSW 21) – Review by Ulkar Alakbarova

March 19, 2021February 3, 2022 Ulkar Alakbarova Allison Torrent, Austin Pendleton, Baize Buzan, bradley grant smith, our father, sxsw 2021

Bradley Grant Smith’s Our Father is an absolute treat from the SXSW Film Festival. We need stories like these to remind us of the familial connection we need at all stages of life. We can deny it’s existence but not run away from it. Indeed, Zelda and Beta lost their father to suicide. But will they follow the same path by killing the only thing they have left – their relationship?

Festivals Interviews

Kelley Kali and Angelique Molina on I’M FINE (THANKS FOR ASKING) and Pandemic Production – Leslie Combemale interviews

March 18, 2021March 19, 2021 Leslie Combemale Angelique Molina, I'm fine thanks for asking, kelly kali, Roma Kong, sxsw 2021, Wesley Moss

At the height of the pandemic, and frustrated by inactivity, filmmaker Kelley Kali decided to make a film, and engaged USC film school buddies Angelique Molina, and Roma Kong to write and produce it, and Angelique to co-direct it. The dangers of Covid and a non-existent budget meant they also had to use crew members for the cast, and find locations that were free and worked for their plot. Of all the issues folks were and are facing, the threat of not being able to pay rent and become houseless hit home to the writing and production team, so I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking) was born.

Festivals Reviews

I’M FINE (THANKS FOR ASKING) (SXSW 21) – Review by Valerie Kalfrin

March 18, 2021March 19, 2021 Valerie Kalfrin Angelique Molina, I'm fine thanks for asking, kelly kali, Roma Kong, sxsw 2021, Wesley Moss

The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t the crux of the story in I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking), but it adds a relatable layer to this endearing feature about a single mom’s daylong hustle to earn cash for an apartment. A small story with large stakes for its main character, I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking) reminds us there’s a lot going on in someone’s life, even when they insist all’s well. It’s an appeal for empathy with a lot of heart.

Festivals Reviews

RECOVERY (SXSW 2021) – Review by Rachel West

March 18, 2021March 20, 2021 Rachel West mallory everton, recovery, road trip, stephen meek, sxsw 2021, whitney call

Pandemic-set movies are quickly becoming a dime a dozen, but stars and writers Whitney Call and Mallory Everton bring chemistry and comedy to their COVID road trip Recovery in what is definitely one of the funniest takes in the sub-genre. Call and Everton are definitely a comedic duo we’d be lucky to see more from.

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