Story Ave—described by writer/director Aristotle Torres as a “Film by the Bronx”—premiered as part of SXSW’s Narrative Feature Competition and won two awards. Painterly, poignant, this impressive first feature surprises despite its depiction of predictable hardship ... and reminds us to look in instead of away.

Filmmaker Edson Oda lights up when he’s talking Magic. Not the Magical Realism of his award-winning first feature, Nine Days. Not the sleight-of-hand in a twelve-year-old’s parlor tricks. Instead, he’s discussing the addictively competitive trading card game, Magic: The Gathering.

Natalie Metzger, Spirit Award-nominated producer and Vanishing Angle’s VP of Development and Production, is a name to watch—that is, if you aren’t watching already. Known for producing festival favorites like Thunder Road (2018) and Greener Grass (2019), Metzger—and Vanishing Angle—are staples on the indie circuit, returning to major fests every year with exciting new projects.

Songs About Fucking—the ballad of bathrobe-clad musician/performance artist Marc Rebillet, directed by James Gallagher—premiered to cheering crowds at Tribeca 2023. While best not to overanalyze—Songs transcends its ostensible purpose and becomes something deeper … laced with rich streaks of genuine fun.

First-time director Jane M. Wagner just won an award at Tribeca 2023 for breaking the rules.  Her astonishing screenlife doc, Break the Game, confronts timely subjects—gaming, social media, mental health, trans visibility—all through a focus on a single gamer.

In 2017, I had the privilege of spending time with the legendary 88-year old Belgian-born filmmaker Agnès Varda. She was in New York for the premiere of her latest opus, Visages Villages; I was covering NYFF (the 55th New York Film Festival) as a journalist. After our interview, I brashly asked if she’d allow a selfie. Varda agreed—but after observing my initial attempts, all hopelessly blown out by an overhead light fixture, she proclaimed “C’est nul!” (“That sucks!”) and led me firmly across the room. Suddenly, I was getting tutored in the Art of the Selfie by a New Wave Pioneer.

Back in 2008, YouTubers Dave McCary and Kyle Mooney caught the attention of Steven Spielberg. After his daughter showed him one of their videos—a parody of Spielberg’s own Hook—he sent them an encouraging note that Mooney kept in his wallet for years. They also sent a response to the filmmaker: “Steven, seems like you’re on the right track too. Keep making videos.” He took their advice.