With the arrival of autumn comes chilling, thrilling, and captivating new releases in theaters and on streaming sites. From drama and documentary to edgy horror, this month offers plenty of variety for every type of film lover.
As is to be expected, October will see a number of horror films debut just in time to spread the Halloween spirit. Maritte Lee Go’s “Black as Night” (October 1) blends action and horror as a group of teenagers fight against vampires trying to take over New Orleans. Frida Kempff’s thriller “Knocking” (October 8) will keep audiences in suspense as mysterious knocking and screaming haunts a woman recovering from a traumatic event. “The Manor” (October 8), from Axelle Carolyn, follows a resident uncovering a supernatural terror in her nursing home.
Two of the year’s biggest festival successes, “Titane” (October 1) and “Passing,” (October 27) are set for release this month. Julia Ducournau’s follow-up to cannibal coming-of-age story “Raw,” “Titane” follows a dancer, model, and serial killer with a sexual attraction to cars. The revenge story won Cannes’ Palme d’or, making Ducourneau the second woman director to ever take home the fest’s most prestigious prize. “Passing” marks actress Rebecca Hall’s directorial debut. The adaptation of Nella Larsen’s 1929 novel sees Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga playing childhood friends who reconnect as adults. An exploration of race, class, and friendship, the drama premiered at Sundance, where it was acquired by Netflix for $15 million.
The United States observes National Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month during the first half of October. First founded as a celebratory week in 1968, it expanded into a month in 1989, starting September 15 and lasting through October 15. Highlights from Latinx creatives this month include Mexican-Canadian filmmaker Gigi Saul Guerrero’s “Bingo Hell” (October 1), Peruvian director Claudia Llosa’s “Fever Dream” (October 13), the Latinx horror film “Madres” (October 8), co-written by Marcella Ochoa, and “Last Night in Soho” (October 29), starring Argentinian actress Anya Taylor-Joy.
Documentaries releasing this month include intimate looks at public figures: “Karen Dalton: In My Own Time” (October 1) offers a portrait of the late blues and folk singer, and Rachel Fleit’s “Introducing, Selma Blair” (October 15) takes viewers behind the scenes of the actress’ experiences with Multiple Sclerosis.
A newly restored version of “Hester Street” (October 1), Joan Micklin Silver’s 1975 debut feature, also arrives this month. Adapted from Abraham Cahan’s 1896 novella “Yekl: A Tale of the New York Ghetto,” the acclaimed drama follows a Jewish family who immigrate to the Lower East Side in New York during the late 19th century.
Here are the women-centric, women-directed, and women-written films debuting this October. All descriptions are from press materials unless otherwise noted.
October 1
“Titane” – Written and Directed by Julia Ducournau (In Theaters)
“Titane”
Titane: A metal highly resistant to heat and corrosion, with high tensile strength alloys, often used in medical prostheses due to its pronounced biocompatibility.
“Mayday” – Written and Directed by Karen Cinorre (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
Ana (Grace Van Patten) finds herself transported to a dreamlike and dangerous coastline. Once there, she joins a female army engaged in a never-ending war where the women lure men to their deaths with radio signals, like 20th century sirens. Though Ana finds strength in this exhilarating world, she comes to realize she is not the killer they want her to be.
“Black as Night” – Directed by Maritte Lee Go (Available on Amazon Prime Video)
A resourceful teenage girl leaves childhood behind when she battles a group of deadly vampires in “Black as Night” an action-horror hybrid with a strong social conscience and a biting sense of humor. Fifteen years after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, a new threat leaves its mark on the Big Easy in the form of puncture wounds on the throats of the city’s vulnerable displaced population. When her drug-addicted mom becomes the latest victim of the undead, 15-year old Shawna (Asjha Cooper) vows to even the score. Along with three trusted friends, Shawna hatches a bold plan to infiltrate the vampire’s mansion in the historic French Quarter, destroy their leader, and turn his fanged disciples back to their human form. But killing monsters is no easy task, and soon Shawna and her crew find themselves caught in a centuries-old conflict between warring vampire factions, each fighting to claim New Orleans as their permanent home.
“Karen Dalton: In My Own Time” (Documentary) (In Theaters)
“Karen Dalton: In My Own Time”
Blues and folk singer Karen Dalton was a prominent figure in 1960s New York. Idolized by Bob Dylan and Nick Cave, Karen discarded the traditional trappings of success and led an unconventional life until her early death. Since most images of Karen have been lost or destroyed, the film uses Dalton’s dulcet melodies and interviews with loved ones to build a rich portrait of this singular woman and her hauntingly beautiful voice.
“Stop and Go” – Directed by Mallory Everton and Stephen Meek; Written by Whitney Call and Mallory Everton (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
Sisters Blake (Mallory Everton) and Jamie’s (Whitney Call) big plans for the year come to a screeching halt when they are forced to rescue their grandmother and her beloved dog from her nursing home before their reckless sister can get there first. They embark on a hilarious cross-country race against time while contending with a deranged dog breeder, a highly inappropriate nine-year-old, and a clueless Romeo, all in the name of family.
“Witch Hunt” – Written and Directed by Elle Callahan (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
In a modern America where magic is real and witches are persecuted by U.S. authorities, teenager Claire (Gideon Adlon) and her family are part of an intricate network that helps these women escape across the border to seek asylum in Mexico. However, when their mode of transport is disrupted by federal witch hunters, trouble befalls the family as they struggle to hide two young witches within the walls of their home. As witch hunters close in and strange magic begins haunting the family, Claire discovers that she may have more in common with these witches than she could have ever imagined.
“Bingo Hell” – Directed by Gigi Saul Guerrero; Written by Gigi Saul Guerrero, Shane McKenzie, and Perry Blackshear (Available on Amazon Prime Video)
“Bingo Hell”
When a sinister figure threatens the residents of a low-income community, a feisty senior citizen tries to stop him in “Bingo Hell,” a wickedly original horror movie with a fiendishly funny twist. After 60-something neighborhood activist Lupita (Adriana Barraza) discovers that her beloved local bingo hall has been taken over by a mysterious businessman named Mr. Big (Richard Brake), she rallies her elderly friends to fight back against the enigmatic entrepreneur. But when her longtime neighbors begin turning up dead under grisly circumstances, Lupita suddenly discovers that gentrification is the least of her problems. Something terrifying has made itself at home in the quiet barrio of Oak Springs, and with each new cry of “Bingo!” another victim falls prey to its diabolical presence. As the cash prizes increase and the body count steadily rises, Lupita must face the frightening realization that this game is truly winner-takes-all.
“What Breaks the Ice” – Written and Directed by Rebecca Eskreis (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
“What Breaks the Ice” starts as a sweet, idyllic coming-of-age story about female empowerment and friendship and soon takes a dark and powerful turn. As the socio-political landscape is turned on its head, two girls from different worlds form an unlikely friendship in the sweltering summer heat. Their fun and carefree days quickly turn cold as they find themselves at the center of a murder that rocks an idealistic East Coast community.
“Hester Street” (Restoration) – Written and Directed by Joan Micklin Silver (In Theaters)
Among the great cinematic portraits of Jewish life in America, Joan Micklin Silver’s debut feature is anchored by her own screenplay (adapted from Abraham Cahan’s 1896 novella “Yekl: A Tale of the New York Ghetto”) and an unforgettable, Oscar-nominated performance by Carol Kane. Kane stars as Gitl, one half of an Eastern European Jewish couple alongside Yankel (Steven Keats). Upon arriving in New York’s Lower East Side in the late 19th century, Gitl finds that her husband, who’d come to America before her with their young son, has acclimated to their new country fairly well — but he has also begun an affair with a dancer, and Gitl finds herself in an unenviable situation in a strange new place. “Hester Street” meticulously reconstructs this bygone haven for Jewish immigrants to masterfully paint one woman’s journey to assimilation and her arrival at the crossroads of tradition and modernity. (NYFF)
“Swallow” – Written by Sefi Atta and Kunle Afolayan (Available on Netflix)
Waylaid by life’s pressures in 1980s Lagos, Nigeria, Tolani (Niyola) becomes involved in drug smuggling with her streetwise friend and must face the fallout.
“Val” – Written by Victoria Fratz and Aaron Fradkin (In Theaters; Available on VOD October 5)
Fin (Zachary Mooren) is a criminal on the run, wanted for the murder of his boss and the accidental shooting of an officer. He breaks into the home of a high-class escort only to discover that you get more than you bargained for with Val (Misha Reeves), short for “Valefar” — a demon who offers to make all his problems disappear if he agrees to follow her rules. But in Val’s world there are no accidents, and as Fin meets her other “customers,” he learns that Val was expecting him all along, and it isn’t easy to escape Val’s dungeon.
“Diana: The Musical” (Recorded Theater Performance) (Available on Netflix)
“Diana: The Musical”
“Diana: The Musical” tells the story of one of the most beloved women of modern times. Engaged to a prince she barely knows, 19-year-old Diana Spencer (Jeanna de Waal) is thrust onto the world stage and, overnight, becomes the most famous woman in the world. As she struggles to navigate her way within the rigid structure of the royal family, Princess Diana finds herself trapped in a loveless marriage, eventually finding her voice by devoting herself to those in need. Forced to endure a media spotlight brighter than the world has ever known, Princess Diana defies all expectations to emerge as her own woman and create a legacy that will endure forever.
“Falling for Figaro” (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
Millie (Danielle Macdonald) is a brilliant young fund manager who leaves her unfulfilling job and long-term boyfriend to chase her lifelong dream of becoming an opera singer — in the Scottish Highlands! She begins intense vocal training lessons with renowned but fearsome singing teacher and former opera diva Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop (Joanna Lumley). It is there she meets Max (Hugh Skinner), another of Meghan’s students who is also training for the upcoming “Singer of Renown” contest. What begins as a brutal competition between Millie and Max slowly turns into something more
“Venom: Let There Be Carnage” – Written by Kelly Marcel (In Theaters)
Venom (Tom Hardy) springs into action when notorious serial killer Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson) transforms into the evil Carnage.
“Implanted” (Available on VOD)
A struggling young woman is implanted with an experimental AI chip. She must fight to survive when it takes control.
October 5
“Spring Blossom” – Written and Directed by Suzanne Lindon (Available on VOD)
Suzanne (Suzanne Lindon) is 16. She is bored with people her own age. From the outside, everything appears lovely in her charmed world, but the everyday monotony of school and her relationships with friends and family feel completely uninspired. Every day on her way to high school, she passes a theater. There, she meets a 35-year-old actor named Raphaël (Arnaud Valois). Despite their age difference they find in each other an answer to their ennui and develop a strong connection. Immersed in the world of grown-ups and adult choices, Suzanne begins questioning the pitfalls of blossoming too quickly and missing out on life – the life of a 16-year-old, which she had struggled so much to enjoy in the same way as her peers.
“Not Going Quietly” (Documentary) – Written by Amanda Roddy and Nicholas Bruckman (Available on VOD)
Ady Barkan’s life is upended when he is diagnosed with ALS, but a confrontation with a powerful senator catapults him to national fame and ignites a once-in-a-generation political movement.
October 6
“V/H/S/94” – Directed by Chloe Okuno, Jennifer Reeder, Ryan Prows, Simon Barrett, and Timo Tjahjanto; Written by Chloe Okuno, Jennifer Reeder, Ryan Prows, Simon Barrett, David Bruckner, and Timo Tjahjanto (Available on Shudder)
After the discovery of a mysterious VHS tape, a brutish police SWAT team launches a high intensity raid on a remote warehouse, only to discover a sinister cult compound whose collection of pre-recorded material uncovers a nightmarish conspiracy.
October 8
“The Rescue” (Documentary) – Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin (In Theaters)
“The Rescue” chronicles the enthralling, against-all-odds story that transfixed the world in 2018: the daring rescue of 12 boys and their coach from deep inside a flooded cave in Northern Thailand. Academy Award-winning directors and producers Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin keep viewers on the edge of their seats as they use a wealth of never-before-seen material and exclusive interviews to piece together the high stakes mission, highlighting the efforts of the Royal Thai Navy SEALs and U.S. Special Forces and details the expert cave divers’ audacious venture to dive the boys to safety. “The Rescue” brings alive one of the most perilous and extraordinary rescues in modern times, shining a light on the high-risk world of cave diving, the astounding courage and compassion of the rescuers, and the shared humanity of the international community that united to save the boys.
“Delphine’s Prayers” (Documentary) – Directed by Rosine Mbakam (In Theaters)
“Delphine’s Prayers”
“Delphine’s Prayers” is the story of Delphine – a young Cameroonian woman – and her life in Belgium. Through a series of confessions from Delphine, a powerful portrait emerges of a generation of women lost to the dream of a better world in Europe. Through her courage, Delphine exposes the patterns of domination that continue to oppress some African women.
“Prism” (Documentary) – Directed by Eléonore Yameogo, An van. Dienderen, and Rosine Mbakam (In Theaters)
“Prism”
In “Prism,” filmmakers Eléonore Yameogo of Burkina Faso, An van. Dienderen of Belgium, and Rosine Mbakam of Cameroon examine biases and racism in the cinematic technology. The filmmakers deconstruct the camera’s objectivity, exposing its inherent power imbalance. At the same time, they work together collaboratively to construct and reconstruct. Like a chain letter, “Prism” brings interviews, monologues, and images on the racism of cinematic technology into emotional, aesthetic, and intellectual dialogue.
“Jacinta” (Documentary) – Directed by Jessica Earnshaw (In Theaters and Available on Hulu)
“Jacinta”
Shot over three years, the film begins at the Maine Correctional Center where Jacinta, 26, and her mother Rosemary, 46, are incarcerated together, both recovering from drug addiction. As a child, Jacinta became entangled in her mother’s world of drugs and crime and has followed her in and out of the system since she was a teenager. This time, as Jacinta is released from prison, she hopes to maintain her sobriety and reconnect with her 10-year-old daughter, Caylynn, who lives with her paternal grandparents. Despite her desire to rebuild her life for her daughter, Jacinta continually struggles against the forces that first led to her addiction. With unparalleled access and a gripping vérité approach, director Jessica Earnshaw paints a deeply intimate portrait of mothers and daughters and the effects of trauma over generations.
“The Manor” – Written and Directed by Axelle Carolyn (Available on Amazon Prime Video)
A malevolent force preys upon the residents of a sleepy nursing home in “The Manor,” a gothic tale of terror with a modern twist. When a mild stroke diminishes her ability to care for herself, Judith Albright (Barbara Hershey) moves to Golden Sun Manor, an assisted living facility with a sterling reputation. But despite the best efforts of the staff, and a budding friendship with fellow senior Roland (Bruce Davidson), strange occurrences and nightmarish visions convince Judith that a sinister presence is haunting the massive estate. As residents begin to die mysteriously, Judith’s frantic warnings are dismissed as fantasy. Even her devoted grandson Josh (Nicholas Alexander) thinks her fears are the result of dementia, not demons. With no one willing to believe her, Judith must either escape the confines of the manor, or fall victim to the evil that dwells within it.
“Knocking” – Directed by Frida Kempff; Written by Emma Broström (In Theaters; Available on VOD October 19)
“Knocking”
After suffering a traumatic incident, Molly (Cecilia Milocco) moves into a new apartment to begin her path to recovery, but it’s not long after her arrival that a series of persistent knocks and screams begin to wake her up at night. Molly’s new life begins to unravel as the screams intensify and no one else in the building believes or is willing to help her.
“Madres” – Written by Marcella Ochoa and Mario Miscione (Available on Amazon Prime Video)
Beto (Tenoch Huerta) and Diana (Ariana Guerra), a young Mexican-American couple expecting their first child, move to a small town in 1970s California where Beto has been offered a job managing a farm. Isolated from the community and plagued by confusing nightmares, Diana explores the rundown company ranch where they reside, finding a grisly talisman and a box containing the belongings of the previous residents. Her discoveries will lead her to a truth much stranger and more terrifying than she could have possibly imagined.
“Suzanna Andler” (In Theaters)
“Suzanna Andler”
Suzanna Andler (Charlotte Gainsbourg) visits a spacious villa on the French Riviera. She wants to rent it for the summer, but has doubts. And not just about the house. Forty-year-old Suzanna is at a crossroads in life. Married to a millionaire who has been cheating on her for years, she has recently taken a lover herself and has arranged to meet him here. Her children have stayed in Paris, and her husband is elsewhere – she doesn’t know where. Suzanna and her lover have a decision to make about their future. How long can she keep up the lying?
“The Faithful” (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Annie Berman (In Theaters)
Elvis, Princess Diana, and Pope John Paul II are undoubtedly still alive today, thanks to their devoted followers who love, admire, and consume them. Literally. “The Faithful” powerfully explores fandom, memorabilia, and the magnetic appeal of three of the most influential cultural icons of our time. This documentary, 20 years in the making, leads viewers on an emotional journey leaving them looking inwards, reflecting on their own lives and the connections they cherish. A Pope John Paul II lollipop. An Elvis Presley shower curtain. A Princess Diana teacup. These are just some of the countless pieces of memorabilia that these pop culture icons’ most devoted fans collect and cherish — but why? Berman profiles these figures’ biggest fans and makes numerous pilgrimages to Vatican City, Graceland, and Kensington Palace. As the years go by, the film itself becomes increasingly entwined with Berman’s daily life and identity, much like how these officially-licensed knick-knacks define the fans she filmed.
“No Time to Die” – Written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Neal Purvis, and Robert Wade (In Theaters)
In “No Time To Die,” James Bond (Daniel Craig) has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
“Aileen Wuornos: American Boogeywoman” (Available on VOD)
“Aileen Wuornos: American Boogeywoman” focuses on serial killer Aileen Wuornos (Peyton List). Based on Wuornos’ early life in 1976, the film follows America’s most notorious female serial killer in Florida when she marries an older wealthy Yacht Club president only to inflict mayhem within her new family and Florida’s high society.
October 13
“Fever Dream” – Directed by Claudia Llosa; Written by Claudia Llosa and Samanta Schweblin (Available on Netflix)
“Fever Dream”
Told from a decidedly feminine perspective, this hallucinatory tale explores the interconnected nature of love and fear in motherhood. A woman named Amanda (María Valverde) vacations in a sleepy Argentine village with her young daughter Nina (Guillermina Sorribes Liotta). Ever-concerned with her daughter’s welfare, Amanda constantly calculates the “rescue distance” needed to protect her child. She soon discovers that things around her are not as they seem. A local boy named David interrogates Amanda, as she struggles to make sense of her surroundings. The beauty of the bucolic countryside is a striking counterpoint to an eerie story of dark forces, powerful emotions, and pervasive dangers.
October 14
“Crutch” (Documentary) – Directed by Sachi Cunningham and Chandler Evans (Available on discovery+)
“Crutch” provides an intimate look into award-winning dancer and cutting-edge performance artist Bill Shannon. Born with a degenerative hip condition, Shannon developed a way to express himself through dancing and skateboarding on crutches. Two decades of exclusive access, plus a lifetime of archival footage, depict Shannon’s extraordinary journey through medical odyssey, his struggles with chronic pain, as well as the evolution of his crutch dancing and skating. As Shannon rises to become a world-renowned performance artist he transforms from an angry skate punk to an international hero.
October 15
“Introducing, Selma Blair” (Documentary) – Directed by Rachel Fleit (In Theaters; Available on discovery+ October 21)
“Introducing Selma Blair”
“Introducing, Selma Blair” is director Rachel Fleit’s deeply intimate and powerful feature of one woman’s journey of personal acceptance and resilience, which follows the singular actress as she reckons with the next chapter of her life after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. The film explores complex issues ranging from dissecting deep-rooted myths about beauty, and the collective fear around disability and mortality. Complete with her trademark wit and humor, the documentary follows Blair as she reconciles a journey of monumental transition.
“Bergman Island” – Written and Directed by Mia Hansen-Løve (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
A filmmaking couple living in America, Chris (Vicky Krieps) and Tony (Tim Roth), retreat to the mythical Fårö island for the summer. In this wild, breathtaking landscape where Bergman lived and shot his most celebrated pieces, they hope to find inspiration for their upcoming films. As days spent separately pass by, the fascination for the island operates on Chris and souvenirs of her first love resurface. Lines between reality and fiction will then progressively blur and tear our couple even more apart.
“Freeland” – Written and Directed by Kate McLean and Mario Furloni (In Theaters)
Devi (Krisha Fairchild) has been breeding legendary pot strains for decades on the remote homestead she built herself. But when cannabis is legalized, she suddenly finds herself fighting for her survival.
“The Blazing World” – Directed by Carlson Young; Written by Carlson Young and Pierce Brown (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
“The Blazing World”
Margaret (Carlson Young) has been plagued with dreams of a strange world since she was a little girl. After a mysterious man with a map visits her one night, she decides to give in to the incessant calls of The Blazing World.
“The Last Duel” – Written by Nicole Holofcener, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon (In Theaters)
“The Last Duel” is a cinematic and thought-provoking drama set in the midst of the Hundred Years War that explores the ubiquitous power of men, the frailty of justice, and the strength and courage of one woman willing to stand alone in the service of truth. Based on actual events, the film unravels long-held assumptions about France’s last sanctioned duel between Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) and Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver), two friends turned bitter rivals. Carrouges is a respected knight known for his bravery and skill on the battlefield. Le Gris is a Norman squire whose intelligence and eloquence make him one of the most admired nobles in court. When Carrouges’ wife, Marguerite (Jodie Comer), is viciously assaulted by Le Gris, a charge he denies, she refuses to stay silent, stepping forward to accuse her attacker, an act of bravery and defiance that puts her life in jeopardy. The ensuing trial by combat, a grueling duel to the death, places the fate of all three in God’s hands.
“Halloween Kills” (In Theaters and Available on Peacock)
Minutes after Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), her daughter Karen (Judy Greer), and granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) left masked monster Michael Myers caged and burning in Laurie’s basement, Laurie is rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, believing she finally killed her lifelong tormentor. But when Michael manages to free himself from Laurie’s trap, his ritual bloodbath resumes. As Laurie fights her pain and prepares to defend herself against him, she inspires all of Haddonfield to rise up against their unstoppable monster. The Strode women join a group of other survivors of Michael’s first rampage who decide to take matters into their own hands, forming a vigilante mob that sets out to hunt Michael down, once and for all. Evil dies tonight.
“Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy” (In Theaters)
“Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy”
In this evocative meditation — three taut stories set in Tokyo about the mysteries and depths of women’s desires — coincidence seems as natural as the passing of time, and both are depicted in equal measure as whimsical and sharp: A fashion model discovers her friend is dating the ex who may have been her true love; a college student attempts to avenge humiliation by enlisting his lover to lure his sadistic professor into a “Me Too” situation; two middle-aged women make a poignant, enigmatic connection.
October 18
“Women Is Losers” – Written and Directed by Lissette Feliciano (Available on HBO Max)
“Women Is Losers”
In 1960s San Francisco, a once-promising Catholic schoolgirl, Celina Guerrera (Lorenza Izzo), sets out to rise above the oppression of poverty and invest in a future for herself that sets new precedents for the time. Inspired by real women and the Janis Joplin song of the same title.
October 19
“Mothers of the Revolution” (Documentary) – Directed by Briar March (Available on VOD)
“Mothers of the Revolution”
“Mothers of the Revolution” tells the story of one of the longest protests in history, when between 1981 and 2000, thousands of women from around the world came together at Greenham Common to take a committed stand against nuclear proliferation. Minimized by the media, the film reveals the women as the Cold War heroes they were, who persisted in the face of arrests, condemnation, and scorn, took on a superpower, and changed the world.
October 20
“Found” (Documentary) – Directed by Amanda Lipitz (Available on Netflix)
“Found” is a feature documentary that follows the story of three American teenage girls — each adopted from China — who discover they are blood-related cousins on 23andMe. Their online meeting inspires the young women to confront the burning questions they have about their lost history. When they meet for the first time, they embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to China in search of answers.
October 22
“At the Ready” (Documentary) – Directed by Maisie Crow (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
Ten miles from the Mexican border, students at Horizon High School in El Paso, Texas, are enrolling in law enforcement classes and joining a unique after-school activity: the criminal justice club. Through mock-ups of drug raids and active-shooter takedowns, they inch closer to their desired careers in Border Patrol, policing, and customs enforcement. We follow Mexican American students Kassy and Cesar and recent graduate Cristina as they navigate the complications inherent in their chosen path and discover their choices may clash with the values and people they hold most dear.
“Attica” (Documentary) – Directed by Traci Curry and Stanley Nelson (In Theaters; Premieres November 6 on Showtime)
“Attica” recounts in vivid detail the five-day 1971 prison rebellion at the Attica Correctional Facility in upstate New York, which took the lives of 29 inmates and 10 hostages – the deadliest single day of violence Americans inflicted on each other since the Civil War. Through original interviews with former inmates, family members of the hostages, and other witnesses, the documentary brings us back to a moment in history that resonated for decades, utilizing hundreds of hours of footage and never-before-seen archival tapes from inside the prison. The film captures the personalities, politics, emotions, and tragedy that stand as a wake-up call — then and now — about the need for prison reform and the responsibilities of justice.
October 27
“Passing” – Written and Directed by Rebecca Hall (In Theaters; Available on Netflix November 10)
“Passing”
Adapted from the celebrated 1929 novel of the same name by Nella Larsen, “Passing” tells the story of two Black women, Irene Redfield (Tessa Thompson) and Clare Kendry (Ruth Negga), who can “pass” as white but choose to live on opposite sides of the color line during the height of the Harlem Renaissance in late 1920s New York. After a chance encounter reunites the former childhood friends one summer afternoon, Irene reluctantly allows Clare into her home, where she ingratiates herself to Irene’s husband (André Holland) and family, and soon her larger social circle as well. As their lives become more deeply intertwined, Irene finds her once-steady existence upended by Clare, and “Passing” becomes a riveting examination of obsession, repression, and the lies people tell themselves and others to protect their carefully constructed realities.
“Hypnotic” – Directed by Suzanne Coote and Matt Angel (Available on Netflix)
A young woman (Kate Siegel) seeking self-improvement enlists the help of a renowned hypnotherapist (Jason O’Mara), but after a handful of intense sessions, discovers unexpected and deadly consequences.
October 29
“The Souvenir Part II” – Written and Directed by Joanna Hogg (In Theaters)
“The Souvenir Part II”
In the aftermath of her tumultuous relationship with a charismatic and manipulative older man, Julie (Honor Swinton Byrne) begins to untangle her fraught love for him in making her graduation film, sorting fact from his elaborately constructed fiction. Joanna Hogg’s shimmering story of first love and a young woman’s formative years, “The Souvenir Part II” is a portrait of the artist that transcends the halting particulars of everyday life — a singular, alchemic mix of memoir and fantasy.
“A Mouthful of Air” – Written and Directed by Amy Koppelman (In Theaters)
“Mouthful of Air”
Julie Davis (Amanda Seyfried) writes bestselling children’s books about unlocking your fears, but has yet to unlock her own. When her daughter is born, that trauma is brought to the fore, and with it, a crushing battle to survive.
“13 Minutes” – Written and Directed by Lindsay Gossling (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
In “13 Minutes,” the day starts out as usual for residents in the small Heartland town of Minninnewah. It’s springtime and big storms are typically no cause for concern – until the largest tornado on record threatens to ravage the town, leaving the inhabitants with only thirteen minutes to find shelter, search for their loved ones, and fight for their lives. In the wake of total devastation, four families must overcome their differences and find strength in themselves and each other in order to survive.
“Last Night in Soho” – Written by Krysty Wilson-Cairns and Edgar Wright (In Theaters)
“Last Night in Soho”
Eloise (Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie), an aspiring fashion designer, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer, Sandie (Anya Taylor-Joy). But the glamour is not all it appears to be and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something far darker.
“Keyboard Fantasies: The Beverly Glenn-Copeland Story” (Documentary) – Directed by Posy Dixon (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
As a sci-fi obsessed woman living in near isolation, Beverly Glenn-Copeland wrote and self-released “Keyboard Fantasies” in Huntsville, Ontario, back in 1986. Recorded in an Atari-powered home studio, the cassette featured seven tracks of a curious folk-electronica hybrid, a sound realized far before its time. Three decades on, the musician – now Glenn Copeland – began to receive emails from people across the world, thanking him for the music they’d recently discovered. Courtesy of a rare-record collector in Japan, a reissue of “Keyboard Fantasies” and subsequent plays by Four Tet, Caribou, and more, the music had finally found its audience two generations down the line. “Keyboard Fantasies: The Beverly Glenn-Copeland Story” sees the protagonist commit his life and music to screen for the first time — an intimate coming of age story spinning pain and the suffering of prejudice into rhythm, hope, and joy. Half aural-visual history, half DIY tour-video, the film provides a vehicle for our newly appointed queer elder to connect with youth across the globe. A timely lullaby to soothe those souls struggling to make sense of the world.
“Speer Goes to Hollywood” (Documentary) – Directed by Vanessa Lapa; Written by Vanessa Lapa and Joëlle Alexis (In Theaters)
Albert Speer is an enigma. The highest-ranking Nazi in Nuremberg to be spared the death sentence, Speer was one of Hitler’s closest confidants and his chief architect, tasked with rebuilding Berlin as the capital of a global empire. As Reichsminister of Munitions, Speer was responsible for 12 million slave laborers. And yet, even now, he has the reputation of being “the good Nazi” – a myth he carefully constructed himself. “Speer Goes to Hollywood” meets its protagonist in 1971, while Speer was working on a screenplay for Paramount Pictures, based on his bestselling wartime memoir “Inside the Third Reich.” Based on months of audio cassettes, recorded by screenwriter Andrew Birkin, it features Speer’s callous attempt to whitewash his past in a feature film. The audio narrative is supplemented by rare archival footage, taken before and during World War II and later, during Speer’s retirement as a semi-reclusive country gentleman.
“Snakehead” (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
Sister Tse (Shuya Chang) comes to New York through a Snakehead, a human smuggler. She gains favor with the matriarch of the family of crime and she rises the ranks quickly. Soon Tse must reconcile her success with her real reason for coming to America.
