The Indie Memphis Film Festival, a beloved annual event, is set to captivate audiences once again from November 14th to 17th, with encore screenings scheduled for November 18th and 19th. This year's festival promises a diverse lineup of feature films, short films, and music videos, showcasing the talents of both local and international filmmakers.

Uncover the Gems of Independent Cinema at Indie Memphis

Pulitzer Prestige: "Nickel Boys" Shines Bright

The festival's most high-profile "prestige" film, "Nickel Boys," is an adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Colson Whitehead. Directed by RaMell Ross, whose documentary "Hale County This Morning, This Evening" was a highlight of the 2018 Indie Memphis festival, the film is a harrowing drama set in a segregated reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida. Inspired by true events, "Nickel Boys" is a powerful exploration of the injustices and horrors faced by the incarcerated youth, and is sure to leave a lasting impression on audiences.The film's screening on the festival's closing night, November 17th at 6:30 p.m. in the Crosstown Theater, is a must-see event for cinephiles and those seeking thought-provoking narratives.

Animated Gems: Exploring the Boundaries of the Medium

The Indie Memphis Film Festival is also a showcase for innovative and captivating animated features. This year's lineup includes several standouts, each offering a unique perspective on the art form."Memoir of a Snail," an eight-year-in-the-making emotion-walloper from Australia, uses anthropomorphized stop-motion gastropods to enact a multigenerational saga of "whimsical misery," according to Slant. With a voice cast led by Eric Bana and "Succession" star Sarah Snook, this R-rated film promises to be a visually stunning and emotionally resonant experience.Another animated gem is "Flow," Latvia's entry for this year's Best International Feature Film Oscar. Employing what Variety describes as "hypnotic CGI," the film depicts a dangerous journey across an apocalyptic flooded landscape, featuring a cast of animals including a cat, a capybara, some cranes, and a lemur.Rounding out the animated offerings is Julian Glander's colorful and dreamy "Boys Go to Jupiter," in which a suburban teenager encounters an extraterrestrial blob. This Pittsburgh-based filmmaker's work is sure to captivate audiences with its unique blend of surreal imagery and relatable themes.

Hometowner Highlights: Celebrating Local Talent

Indie Memphis has long been a champion of local, "Hometowner" filmmakers, providing a platform for emerging and established talents alike. This year's festival continues this tradition, showcasing a diverse array of shorts and features that offer a glimpse into the vibrant and diverse creative community of Memphis and the surrounding region.Standout Hometowner films include Thandi Cai's "Bluff City Chinese," a documentary that explores the rich history and experiences of Memphis' Chinese community, a topic that has been largely overlooked. David Goodman's "Adopting Greyhounds" follows the fates of the dogs who were among the last racers at the now-closed Southland Greyhound Park in West Memphis, shedding light on the lives of these beloved canines.Additionally, veteran Memphis filmmaker Anwar Jamison's microbudget comedy "Funeral Arrangements," which debuted at the 2009 Indie Memphis festival, makes a welcome return, promising to delight audiences with its quirky and irreverent take on the funeral industry.For those eager to catch a glimpse of the future of Mid-South filmmaking, the Memphis Youth Film Showcase is a must-attend event, presenting short films created by talented students from across the region.

Discoveries: Unearthing Cinematic Gems

One of the joys of attending a film festival like Indie Memphis is the opportunity to discover hidden cinematic gems – films that might have otherwise escaped the mainstream spotlight. This year's lineup offers several such discoveries, each promising to captivate and surprise audiences."Universal Language," an absurdist comedy-drama from director Matthew Rankin, hails from Winnipeg, Canada, and is sure to delight fans of eccentric auteurs like Guy Maddin. Rungano Nyoni's "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl," a drama set around the funeral of an abusive relative, is another intriguing discovery, showcasing the director's talent for crafting nuanced and emotionally resonant narratives.Indie Memphis also offers the opportunity to rediscover a cinematic treasure with the reissued "Moving," a 1993 film by Japanese master Shinji Sōmai. Rotten Tomatoes summarizes the film as "a prime example of the late director's talent at portraying adolescence on screen," making it a must-see for fans of world cinema.

Documentaries: Shining a Light on Untold Stories

The Indie Memphis Film Festival has always been a haven for documentary filmmakers, providing a platform for stories that might not find a home in the mainstream. This year's lineup is no exception, with a diverse array of nonfiction films that explore a range of subjects, from the rise of 1990s rap giants to the overlooked Vietnamese-American New Wave music scene of the 1980s.The opening night film, "It Was All a Dream," focuses on the lives and legacies of such iconic figures as The Notorious B.I.G., offering a glimpse into the world of 1990s hip-hop. Meanwhile, the Hometowner documentary "Marc Gasol: Memphis Made" delves into the story of the former NBA player's connection to the city of Memphis.Beyond the celebrity-driven narratives, Indie Memphis also shines a light on more obscure yet equally compelling stories. Mati Diop's award-winning "Dahomey" examines the return of looted museum treasures to Africa, while "New Wave" explores the overlooked Vietnamese-American New Wave music scene of the 1980s, shedding light on a cultural movement that has long been underappreciated.With its diverse lineup of documentaries, the Indie Memphis Film Festival promises to enlighten, inspire, and challenge audiences, offering a window into the rich tapestry of human experiences and untold stories.