What To Look Forward To In Middle Coast’s Lineup For 2016
Don’t worry, you still have until April 15 to submit your film to the festival, but we wanted to share some of the great films we’ve already locked down for the 2016 festival. One of the things we love about our festival is the diversity in our genres, filmmakers and the subjects they cover, and this year is shaping up to be no different.
Many of these films screened at Sundance and are on the program at SXSW, as well as other festivals around the country. We’re looking forward to welcoming some of the cast and crew of these projects to Bloomington this summer, so there will be no shortage of talented filmmakers to meet at this year’s fest.
These are just our featured films- we still have plenty of programming space left, so submit your films by April 15.
THE FITS- Anna Rose Holmer
[THE FITS is a psychological portrait of 11-year-old Toni—a tomboy assimilating to a tight-knit dance team in Cincinnati’s West End. Enamored by the power and confidence of this strong community of girls, Toni eagerly absorbs routines, masters drills, and even pierces her own ears to fit in. When a mysterious outbreak of fainting spells plagues the team, Toni’s desire for acceptance is twisted.]
The Hollywood Reporter writes in a review: “Refreshingly, the writer-director declines to draw the usual picture of poverty, drugs, crime and lack of parental supervision that often seems obligatory with a low-income urban setting. Instead, the film remains tightly focused on Toni as she filters and processes her experiences in an environment both familiar and foreign to her.
Some of the cast and crew will visit Bloomington to share their experience of making the film with the Middle Coast audience.
MA- Celia Rowlson-Hall
This film uses no dialogue and modern dance to tell the story of a modern day virgin Mary, traveling to Las Vegas to give birth.
Variety raves: “Ma” is a specialty item even by festival standards, and yet without so much as uttering a word, this microbudget labor of love augurs an exciting new voice.
THE ALCHEMIST COOKBOOK- Joel Potrykus
[Young outcast Sean has isolated himself in a trailer in the woods, setting out on alchemic pursuits, with his cat Kaspar as his sole companion. Filled with disdain for authority, he’s fled the daily grind and holed up in the wilderness, escaping a society that has no place for him. But when he turns from chemistry to black magic to crack nature’s secret, things go awry and he awakens something far more sinister and dangerous.]
Indie Wire flagged the film as a “hidden gem” in this year’s SXSW lineup, and we love supporting filmmaker Joel Potrykus because he’s a midwest filmmaker, based in Grand Rapid, MI.
LADY PARTS- Katrina Day
We are so excited to screen episodes from the hilarious web series, Lady Parts. This feminist look at the film industry pokes fun at the sexist realities of being a woman trying to make it in the entertainment industry.
Director of the series and NYC based actress Katrina Day started a Tumblr to chronicle the sexist casting calls she found, and it morphed into the web series. The series is one of those that you’ll just binge and binge because each episode is short and funny, but in the way that that jokes are so true it’s better to laugh to keep from crying.
Day plans to attend the festival so get ready for a hilarious Q&A with this talented filmmaker.
THE PROCEDURE- Calvin Reeder
This short film is about a man forced to endure an experiment, and no big deal, it won the award for Best U.S. Fiction Short Film at SUNDANCE.
Director Calvin Reeder has experienced a lot of success with his films that defy the normal genres. His films showcase a mix of horror, existential themes and lo-fi cinematography, making his work truly unique.
