In simply its second yr in existence, The Popcorn Record — a survey of acclaimed (however nonetheless undistributed) function movies that debuted at main or regional movie festivals over the previous yr and are available extremely really helpful by pageant programmers — is already taking an enormous step ahead. Subsequent month, the creators of the record will host varied pop up screening occasions, each at theaters and just about, to indicate off the exact same movies they’ve been championing.
The Pop Up Collection consists of eight movies from the 2025 record — seven from first-time function administrators, six directed by ladies, three documentaries, and 5 fiction options — and won’t solely present an area for keen audiences to see this stellar movies, however may even provide a novel mannequin for each promotion and revenue.
The collection will provide what’s being billed as a “collective and clear mannequin,” and collaborating filmmakers (and different companions) will work from a centralized promotion technique guided by Product of Tradition, connecting their initiatives with new eyeballs and uplifting all of the movies within the collection (whereas additionally bringing consciousness to The Popcorn Record as an entire).
Along with a standard indie movie 50/50 field workplace cut up, a portion of each ticket bought will go right into a filmmaker solidarity pool, cut up evenly amongst all collaborating titles. Filmmakers retain full rights to their movies. Tax deductible donations, which is able to contribute to the marketing campaign, could be made right here by way of TFC’s Fiscal Sponsorship program.
“For any movie in as we speak’s panorama, discovering new viewers touchpoints is important — and dealing collaboratively to assist every others’ movies is an thrilling mannequin,” stated TPL co-founder Lela Meadow-Conner and Kathy Susca of The Movie Collaborative in an official assertion. “We’re grateful to all the gamers — the pageant programmers, the cinemas, our companions who’re serving to this take form and particularly the filmmakers, who’re leveraging their social capital to focus on each other’s movies along with their very own. We hope this will likely be a model constructing alternative for them as storytellers, and thrilling for audiences who’re on the lookout for new tales, now and sooner or later.”
In-person screenings will happen at varied venues — cinéSPEAK (Philadelphia), The Downer Theatre (Milwaukee), FilmScene (Iowa Metropolis), The Impartial Image Home (Charlotte), The Roxie Theater (San Francisco), Sidewalk Cinema (Birmingham), SIFF Movie Heart (Seattle), The State Theatre (Traverse Metropolis), The Nightlight Cinema (Akron), and Vidiots (Los Angeles) — September 2 – 28. All movies will embody a pre-recorded introduction from the filmmakers and the programmers who really helpful the movie to The Popcorn Record. You will get in-person tickets right here.
Digital screenings will likely be obtainable September 25 – 30 by way of Eventive. They may even embody embody a pre-recorded introduction from the filmmakers and the programmers who really helpful the movie to The Popcorn Record. These tickets can be found right here.
The next movies will likely be included within the pop up collection, with data and language supplied by TPL and the collaborating programmers:
“Ashima,” Dir. Kenji Tsukamoto (Crystal Merrill, Competition Director, Mountainfilm) VIRTUAL
“Ashima” is an intimate portrait of elite rock climber Ashima Shiraishi as she travels to South Africa to attempt to turn into the youngest individual on the planet to climb a V14 graded boulder drawback. Accompanying Ashima is Poppo, an eccentric, hermit-like, retired avant garde dancer, who additionally occurs to be her father. Emotional and rooted in character, “Ashima” is a love letter not solely to climbing, however to immigrant mother and father and the belief of the American Dream.
“Brooklyn, Minnesota,” Dir. Jessica Clean, Erik Jensen (Meira Blaustein, Govt Director, Woodstock Movie Competition) VIRTUAL
When the grandfather she by no means knew dies all of the sudden, headstrong 14-year-old Maisie and her artist dad Kurt depart the confines of their Brooklyn bubble to return to Kurt’s Minnesotan childhood residence — the place Maisie will upend outdated household patterns, fall in love, and drive her household to confront one another and themselves.
“Clocked,” Dir. Noah Salzman (Jason Hoffman, Programmer, Indy Movie Fest) VIRTUAL
Adolfo Rivera is an 18-year-old boxer from a conservative Catholic household in Miami, who’s secretly saving their winnings for the largest battle of their life: self-acceptance of their want to transition into a lady. This journey for self-acceptance fortuitously results in mentorship from the native drag group, displaying Adolfo the significance of getting the precise individuals in your nook even outdoors of the ring.
“All the things You Have Is Yours,” Dir. Tatyana Tenenbaum (Dan Brawley, Govt Director, Cucalorus) VIRTUAL
NYC-based choreographer Hadar Ahuvia interrogates the roots of the Israeli folks dances she grew up dancing along with her mom within the U.S. Confronting romanticized tales about her grandparents, settlers in Thirties Palestine, Ahuvia embarks on a private journey to reckon with the founding mythologies and transgressions of Zionism.
“If That Mockingbird Don’t Sing,” Dir. Sadie Bones (Judith Laster, Founder/Director, Woods Gap Movie Competition) IN PERSON
After being brutally dumped, 17-year-old Sydnie discovers she is pregnant. Seeing this as a chance to get her ex again and provides her life path, she decides to maintain the child. She quickly realizes that this received’t be the fast repair she had hoped for and finds herself caught in an advanced love triangle and completely misplaced.
“New Wave,” Dir. Elizabeth Ai (Sky Sitney, Co-Founder, Competition Director, DC/DOX) IN PERSON
Mile-high hair. Synthesized sounds. Teenage insurrection. Elizabeth Ai was on a mission to excavate an untold story of rebellious punks within the chaotic world of ’80s Vietnamese new wave till she uncovered a hidden previous. What begins as an exploration of the insurrection and freedom inside this subculture evolves right into a profound narrative of id, loss, and therapeutic.
“The All the things Pot,” Dir. Sherise Dorf (Paul Sloop, Director of Programming, Cordillera Worldwide Movie Competition) IN PERSON
A comedy of errors ensues when empty nester Rachel swiftly sends a present to Charlie, a former colleague, upon receiving his marriage ceremony invitation. The younger couple’s marriage ceremony will get Rachel out of her perpetual state of ennui in her personal marriage and brings sudden pleasure that inadvertently causes hypothesis of infidelity. As one domino falls after one other, cracks start to indicate of their respective relationships particularly whereas Rachel’s husband Adam turns into obsessive about getting again their marriage ceremony present: The All the things Pot.
“To Kill a Wolf,” Dir. Kelsey Taylor (Andre Seward, Programming Director, Tallgrass Movie Competition) VIRTUAL
On the fringes of the Oregon wilderness, two strangers with troubled pasts are introduced collectively when a reclusive Woodsman discovers a teenage runaway, Dani, hypothermic and barely acutely aware within the woods. After saving Dani from the weather, The Woodsman begrudgingly agrees to take the teenager to her grandmother and the 2 turn into unlikely journey companions. As they make their means throughout the state, they forge an sudden bond and check their talents to belief each other. In the end, with one another’s assist, they arrive to face the demons that hang-out them and uncover a method to begin their lives anew.
The initiative is introduced by mamafilm and The Movie Collaborative, and made attainable with beneficiant assist from Aspect, Hope for Movie, Eventive, Product of Tradition, and Easy DCP.
Try a trailer for the collection, an IndieWire unique, beneath: