The 75th Berlin International Film Festival concluded over the weekend after 9 days of new innovative and daring cinema. The Todd Haynes-headed jury awarded this year’s Golden Bear for Best Film to Norwegian director Dag Johan Haugerud’s Dreams (Sex Love). […]

The post BERLINALE 2025 AWARD WINNERS: ‘Dreams (Sex Love)’ Takes Home the Golden Bear (Full List) appeared first on Hammer to Nail.

(Here at Hammer to Nail, we are all about true independent cinema. But we also have to tip our hat to the great films that continue to inspire filmmakers and cinephiles alike. This week, Jonathan Marlow takes a journey with […]

The post THE CURBSIDE CRITERION: QUERELLE appeared first on Hammer to Nail.

The blue carpet rolled out on Saturday and many of the year’s best independent films were recognized at the 39th Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Barbara, California. A24’s Past Lives took home Best Feature just moments after its writer-director Celine […]

The post 2024 Independent Spirit Award Winners: ‘Past Lives’ Wins Best Feature & Best Director (Full List) appeared first on Hammer to Nail.

The major box-office successes of the year notwithstanding (we see you, “Barbenheimer”), 2023 saw many outstanding independent films come out to rival (or surpass) the quality of big-studio releases. Fortunately, in this 21st-century of ours, there are many theatrical distributors […]

The post HAMMER TO NAIL’S BEST FILMS OF 2023 appeared first on Hammer to Nail.

The 39th Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations have just been announced, crowning this year’s achievements in independent film. The ceremony will be held in a few months on February 24, 2024, in its usual tent in Santa Monica. The various […]

The post 2024 INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS: ‘Past Lives,’ ‘May December,’ & ‘American Fiction’ Lead The Noms appeared first on Hammer to Nail.

The first major awards ceremony of the season kicked off tonight in Manhattan. The Gotham Awards marks the unofficial beginning of Oscar season, recognizing some of the best in independent and arthouse cinema from this year. The 33rd annual ceremony […]

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Disclosure: Melanie is serving as a juror and so can not address some films until after jury deliberation. Below are highlights outside of the competition.  Heading into their 24th festival the Sound Unseen Film + Music Festival kicks off its […]

The post It’s Time for Sound Unseen ’23 (Minneapolis) appeared first on Hammer to Nail.

Todd Haynes returns with an observation of how a national scandal is given the Hollywood treatment in his tenth feature, May December. Loosely based on the story of May Kay Letourneau, it stars Julianne Moore – in her fifth collaboration […]

The post MAY DECEMBER Trailer: Natalie Portman Observes Julianne Moore in Todd Haynes’ Dark Comedy appeared first on Hammer to Nail.

Ira Sachs was born in Memphis Tennessee and is based in New York City. The 57 year old has been making films since 1997 with his Sundance hit The Delta. Since then, Ira has been a staple in the international film festival […]

The post A Conversation with Ira Sachs (PASSAGES) appeared first on Hammer to Nail.

After announcing its Opening Night, Centerpiece, and Closing Night selections, the New York Film Festival has announced the full Main Slate lineup for its 61st edition. Presented by Film at Lincoln Center, this year’s Main Slate sections will screen the […]

The post 2023 NYFF Main Slate Lineup: New Films From Wim Wenders, Andrew Haigh, Hong Sangsoo, & More appeared first on Hammer to Nail.