3 interesting indie filmmakers to check out - Hong Sang-soo (By the Stream), Blake Calhoun (Casey Makes A Mixtape), Lav Diaz (Magellan) - trailers, links
Hong Sang-soo has become the ultimate indie filmmaker - making and releasing his movies largely by himself (key crew positions are now done by him) since around 2021 or so. And his most recently theatrically released movie (by the time you read this article he could release something new - he works fast) By the Stream is an excellent indie film. It's somewhat Slow Cinema-ish, so you have to hang back and let it work its magic on you - go with it. Here's the trailer (movie should be available to rent or buy soon from Cinema Guild):
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Which indie filmmaker is crazy enough to make a period movie, on a micro-budget, with teenagers? Apparently Blake Calhoun. He mixes iPhone photography with footage from a larger camera and delivers an observational comedy-drama about an important summer in the life of a 13 year old character named Casey. And the movie went on to receive a 9/10 review from Film Threat - which is kind of amazing. A micro-budget, real indie triumph - check out the trailer (you can rent the movie at Apple TV and Amazon - links here):
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When did indie, micro-budget, minimalist filmmakers start making movies about explorers - historical action dramas? Lav Diaz's Magellan may be the first movie of its kind - one that combines a Slow Cinema, minimalist, micro-budget filmmaking sensibility with telling a story about colonialism, about the explorer Magellan. Better to not know too much about this movie, go in and let the epic roll over you - like the waves of the endless Pacific Ocean that Magellan and crew had to wrestle with. Diaz has made a very unique movie - ultimately one that's like Jarmusch's Dead Man - with a significant amount of focus on native culture. Trailer (movie comes out in US theaters in January 2026 from Janus Films):
