As we continue into the fall festival season, we thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of the best movies to come out of the film festival arena over the years. Of course, there have been many and narrowing down to 50 is no easy task; but we did emphasize movies that fit the following criteria: 1. The movie was discovered on the Festival circuit, likely winning at least one award along the way. 2. This was either the filmmaker's first film, or one that really helped launch his/her career. 3. The movie was made with low budget, either financed independently, or with a modest sum by traditional Hollywood standards. One film will be added each day, culminating the week of AFI Fest in November!
Fall is the best time of the year for movie lovers, and one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world is in full swing. The Toronto Intl Film Festival has ushered in many great movies, as far back as The Big Chill, through last year's A Star is Born. In this collection, we take a trip down memory lane, presenting a diverse slate of movies coming out of Toronto that may not be on your radar, all of which scored well with audiences and went on to secure Oscar nominations.
Rom coms are back in. Thanks to last year's Crazy Rich Asians, new Netflix title Always Be My Maybe, and a slew of hit series in the genre, we're seeing a bit of a resurgence. They're even rebooting Four Weddings and Funeral as a series this year! And if you have not seen the all time champ, When Harry Met Sally, celebrating its 30th Anniversary, now is the time. To see a real classic, check out His Girl Friday with Cary Grant!
This Labor Day weekend, as we pay tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength and well-being of our country, why not celebrate through cinema. We've pulled together 10 movies, covering the spectrum, from classics (One the Waterfront) to Oscar winners (Philadelphia, Norma Rae), comedy (Bridget Jones Diary) to documentary (Roger & Me). One way or another, these selections have stories and themes that all connect back to life on the job.
As kids head Back to School, here is a collection of movies so we can all share the experience. From the wacky (Napoleon Dynamite) or raunchy (Animal House) to the trip down memory lane (The Breakfast Club), there is plenty of comedy here. If you're looking for inspirational, you can see October Sky, or celebrate the 30th anniversary of Dead Poets Society. For something socially relevant, see Starving the Beast or School Life. And for anyone looking for song and dance (Fame, Grease, High School Musical), we got you covered.
Martin Scorsese's latest movie, The Irishman, will be having its World Premiere at the New York Film Festival in September. In honor of his spectacular body of work, we're counting down our Top 10, adding a new film each week. As of August 16: 10. Mean Streets 9. The Color of Money 8. Cape Fear 7. King of Comedy 6. Casino 5. The Departed 4. Taxi Driver 3. Raging Bull
As we move closer to the fall film festival season, when many of the best new movie titles will have their World Premieres, it's worth noting that many of our top filmmakers got their start there. These 5 movies were made for under 500k, performed well on the fest circuit, and helped to launch their careers.
Since August is one of the busiest travel months of the year, we thought now would be a good time to take you on an adventure, an international movie tour. These 10 travel movies cover the territory, with something for the whole family. From Hollywood blockbusters like Raiders of the Lost Ark and Lawrence of Arabia, to the humor of Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Midnight in Paris. Embrace the indie spirit of Into the Wild, or travel to Spain with the spiritual documentary Walking the Camino.
With a lot of drama in the world these days, and on screens big and small, we're due for a laugh. And for some of us, a trip down memory lane.
Since Norma being ready for her close up in black and white (Sunset Boulevard) to celebrating talkies (Singin' in the Rain), the cynical probe by Robert Altman (The Player) to the controversial by David Lynch (Mulholland Drive), there have been many movies made on the subject of Hollywood. With Tarantino's latest, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, hitting screens this week, we thought we would share a few other perspectives, inside Hollywood.
With all the drama in the courts these days, and new docs and narratives coming to platforms, why not take a look back at some of the best movies in the genre. Whether you're into the classics (12 Angry Men or To Kill a Mockingbird) or more colorful characters (A Few Good Men or (And Justice for All), or a little humor (My Cousin Vinny), this roster covers the courts.
This well rounded sampling offers a full range of narrative, music driven movies. Classics Purple Rain and The Blues Brothers share the stage with bio pics like Walk the Line and indie favorite Once. For music in film lovers.
The American Film Institute's list of the top 100 Movies of all time, voted on by film professionals, filmmakers, historians and distinguished movie critics.
As high school teenagers, or adults looking for a laugh, we've all turned to comedy as an escape. Some of these classics will be nostalgia plays, while others may not have been on the radar for the next generation. Most are rated R, but generally because of language or small doses of harmless nudity. All the name of raunchy comedy.
From family friendly classics like Yankee Doodle Dandy or Mr. Smith Goes to Washington to the suspense of Jaws and nostalgia of Caddyshack, and their 4th of July golf tournament, we cover the bases. Speaking of America’s sport, kids love the fireworks in The Sandlot. Feeling patriotic, and want a Best Picture candidate, check out Born on the 4th of July, or go all the way with The Patriot.
Whether it's family movie night or just a chance for kids to see a fun movie, this Collection has something for all ages and interests.
Bringing two of our greatest art forms together, is better than peanut butter and chocolate.
A snapshot of the best movies connected to music for teens, either featuring teenage characters or movies that scored with this audience sector. Some are more directly connected to music by theme and performance, while others have soundtracks and storylines tied to music in a creative way.
Food movies have been trending up the last few years, especially on the reality competition and travel shows. We thought it would be fun to pull together some of the better "food" films, from narrative classics like Big Night, to the more health conscious docs, like Forks over Knives. Have a taste.
School's Out and summer is here! Many coming of age stories have graced the silver screen over the years, from high school hallways to college dorms, introducing audiences to new talents. From Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate to Sean Penn and Forrest Whitaker in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. From Kristen Stewart in Adventureland to Matthew McConaughey in Dazed and Confused, take a trip down memory lane, or discover a few festival faves that may have fallen under your radar.
Whether you're a mom who just got the kids back in school and ready for some laughter, or just looking for a comedy fix, this collection has you covered. You may have heard of Fleabag, but have you see Phoebe's prior series Crashing? Maybe you have yet to catch up on Veep, which takes raunchy politician to a new level. And for a fresh new spin on raw family humor, Better Things is laugh riot from start to finish.
This genre has been a staple in series TV for many years. With expanding digital platforms, creative avenues continue to evolve and this category seems to grow in popularity. Whether the focus is on one criminal or many, gory or white collar, this collection combines critical and audience faves of the moment.
This collection presents fun TV Series options for the family, with an emphasis on TWEENS. From classics like The Jetsons and The Addams Family, to recent hits A Series of Unfortunate Events to Modern Family, with some reality gems mixed in, these programs bring the fam together for Series Night in the living room.
Just in case you missed any of the Emmy Nominees, here is the roster from the major categories. Get ready for the big show this Sunday (Sept. 22). Game of Thrones is a favorite in many categories, but and what about Veep vs Fleabag and Maisel? Chernobyl vs How the See Us? A lot to catch up on! Binge away.
While we're seeing more Rom Com movies hit the silver screen, the TV series options continue to expand. Led by a push from Netflix, this collection should tickle your fancy.
Sci-Fi is one of the hottest TV genres, and continues to evolve. These are not your typical Sci-Fi Fantasies, but often merge with pure drama and even comedy. We've pulled together a solid list (not a ranking), a full menu from the last 15 years, with an emphasis on more recent.
