At this year’s SXSW, I’ve found that it’s easier to spot the thematic throughlines across projects. It’s a testament to the programmers for creating a line-up where the films feel in conversation with each other. Where else do you get films like “Together” and “Friendship,”–both of which explore the physical and mental toll of codependency–have

A film finally hit this year’s relatively down SXSW like a bolt of lightning, producing multiple in-film applause breaks and a standing ovation at the end. Andrew Patterson’s “The Rivals of Amziah King” is a crowd-pleasing wonder, a new classic of the American South that hums with earnest adoration for the people of this region,

Since its first season debuted in 2021, Prime Video’s “The Wheel of Time” has suffered from bloated storytelling and worldbuilding that has confused even the most fervent fantasy consumers. Despite reports that it is one of the streamer’s most popular series, it hasn’t fully garnered the attention of general audiences and the respect of devoted

Thirty-four million one hundred eighty-six thousand six hundred ninety-eight minutes is another way of saying 65 years. Over that time span, Ae-sun and Gwan-sik find more than a million ways to express their adoration, but they rarely say the words. Instead, little by little, with acts of care, loyalty, and fierce protection, they weather all

As the director of Disney+’s coming-of-age drama “Out of My Mind,” Amber Sealey was knee-deep for months in preproduction, as immersed in the creative process as she was in the technicalities that come with helming a film. But when it came to the early moments on set with first-time actress Phoebe-Rae Taylor, who plays a

The absurdist drama “On Becoming a Guinea Fowl” begins with one of the most indelible images to grace the silver screen in recent memory: a young woman, Shula (Susan Chardy, in a star-making debut performance), donning Missy Elliott’s iconic bejeweled mask and oversized inflatable black suit from her music video for “The Rain,” driving alone

The South African film industry is complete with pristine production, creativity, and thoughtfulness. To my surprise, my American friends are only familiar with Darrell Roodts’ “Sarafina” and have yet to explore South African films beyond it. As a former resident of South Africa, I have been enamored with its storytelling abilities for ten years. Now,

Fairytales do come true. For “Anora,” it came five times with wins for the film itself, Sean Baker (a record-breaking four himself for Picture, Director, Editing, and Original Screenplay) and leading lady Mikey Madison (Best Actress). The 97th Annual Academy Awards kicked off and was full of magic, showing love for the City of Angels

What if minorities helped billionaires become better people? That’s a tad reductive, but the basic premise of “Running Point,” a fictionalized take on the life of Los Angeles Lakers co-owner Jeanie Buss, is little more than a combination of “Succession” and “Ted Lasso” (with a tiny dash of “Arrested Development”), only, this time, the rich

No matter how dragged-out Oscar season can seem, I’m a fan of this time of year—mostly because the focus is on the quality of films, not how much they make at the box office. But there is one aspect of these months of build-up that can be really wearying: Once the Academy Award nominations are