By Vicki A. Lee, Kara Headley, and Rachel Montpelier
All synopses are courtesy of press materials, unless otherwise noted.
Film and TV Premieres
June 1
“Julia Scotti: Funny That Way” (Documentary) – Directed by Susan Sandler (Available on VOD)
Decades ago, Julia Scotti performed as Rick Scotti, and appeared on bills with Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock. Now, the trans comedian returns to the stage as “the crazy old lady of comedy” in this tender, funny, and triumphant comeback story.
“Changing the Game” (Documentary) – Written by Amanda C. Griffin, Michael Barnett, and Michael Mahaffie (Available on Hulu)
“Changing the Game” illuminates what many have called the civil rights issue of our time: transgender inclusion in sports. It takes us into the lives of three high school athletes — all at different stages of their athletic seasons, personal lives, and unique paths as transgender teens. Their stories span across the U.S. — from Sarah, a skier and teen policymaker in New Hampshire, to Andraya, a track star in Connecticut openly competing on the girls track team. The film centers on Mack Beggs, who made headlines when he became the Texas State Champion in girls wrestling — as a boy.
“It’s Not A Burden: The Humor and Heartache of Raising Elderly Parents” (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Michelle Boyaner (Available on VOD)
“It’s Not A Burden: The Humor and Heartache of Raising Elderly Parents” is a feature-length documentary that provides an intimate look, presented with humor and heart, at the relationships between aging parents and the adult children who care for them, examining the challenges they face and the solutions they discover along the way.
“Bullied” (Film) – Written and Directed by Angela How (Available on VOD)
“Bullied” tells the tale of 12-year-old Charlotte (Jacinta Klassen) who, despite her best efforts to stand up for herself, continues to be tormented by Brenda the bully (Lulu Fitz). When attacked in the park late one night, Charlotte fights back hard, knocking Brenda to the ground. The bully falls, hits her head, and stops moving. Charlotte is suddenly in crisis mode — she must now hide the body, or face the consequences of her action.
“The Sound of Identity” (Documentary) (Available on VOD)
“The Sound of Identity” is a unique, history making, feature length documentary, featuring the first-ever transgender woman performing an opera lead in the U.S. with a professional company, in a standard work. And, it happened in Tulsa. Playing Don Giovanni, Lucia Lucas breaks archaic social barriers, making way for other trans opera performers.
“Deadly Illusions” (Film) – Written and Directed by Anna Elizabeth James (Available on VOD)
Novelist Mary Morrison (Kristin Davis), suffering from writer’s block, hires innocent yet beautiful caregiver Grace (Greer Grammer) to watch over her children as she dangerously indulges into the fantasies of her new bestseller. Everything changes when Mary becomes spellbound by Grace, who soon becomes her muse. As their relationship blossoms, the line between the life she’s writing and the one she’s living becomes blurred.
“Spare Parts” (Film) (Available on VOD)
While traveling on their first American tour, Ms. 45, an all-girl punk band, is drugged and kidnapped. They awaken to find their limbs removed and replaced with crude weaponry, and are forced to fight as Gladiators for a sadistic town.
“The Falconer” (Documentary) – Directed by Annie Kaempfer (Premieres on WORLD Channel)
One of only a handful of African American falconers in the country, Rodney Stotts is on a mission to build a bird sanctuary and provide access to nature for his stressed community. This is a story of second chances: for injured birds of prey, for an abandoned plot of land, for a group of teenagers who have dropped out of high school, and for Rodney himself.
June 2
“Carnaval” (Film) – Written by Luisa Mascarenhas, Audemir Leuzinger, and Leandro Neri (Available on Netflix)
After a breakup, an influencer takes her friends on a free trip to Bahia’s vibrant Carnival, where she learns life’s not just about social media likes.
June 3
“Tove” (Film) – Directed by Zaida Bergroth; Written by Eeva Putro (In Theaters)
Helsinki, 1945. The end of the war brings a new sense of artistic and social freedom for painter Tove Jansson (Alma Pöysti), whose desire for liberty is tested when she meets theater director Vivica Bandler (Krista Kosonen). Tove’s love for Vivica is electric and all-consuming, but she realizes that the love she truly yearns for has to be reciprocated. As she struggles with her personal life, her creative endeavors take her in an unexpected direction. The exploits of the Moomins, infused with inspiration from her own life, bring Tove international fame and financial freedom.
“Dancing Queens” (Film) – Directed by Helena Bergström; Written by Helena Bergström and Denize Karabuda (Available on Netflix)
A dancer who gets a job cleaning at a struggling drag club dreams of being in the show and her talent catches an ambitious choreographer’s eye.
“Meltdown in Dixie” (Documentary) – Directed by Emily Harrold (Available on Topic; Premieres June 8 on WORLD Channel)
In the wake of the 2015 Charleston Massacre, a battle erupts in Orangeburg, South Carolina, between the Sons of Confederate Veterans and an ice cream shop owner forced to fly the Confederate flag in his parking lot. “Meltdown in Dixie” explores the broader role of Confederate symbolism in 21st century America and the lingering racial oppression which these symbols help maintain.
“Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal The Movie” (Film) – Directed by Chiaki Kon (Available on Netflix)
When a dark power enshrouds the Earth after a total solar eclipse, the scattered Sailor Guardians must reunite to bring light back into the world.
“We Are Lady Parts” (Series) – Created, Written, and Directed by Nida Manzoor (Premieres on Peacock)
Muslim female punk band Lady Parts is on a mission to find a lead guitarist and maybe, just maybe, get a proper gig. The music comedy series shows the highs and lows of the band as seen through the eyes of Amina Hussein (Anjana Vasan) – a geeky microbiology PhD student recruited to be their unlikely lead guitarist. Amina has never, ever met girls like this before, and soon gets swept up in their joyful, anarchic energy and punk spirit. Will she be the key to the band’s success? And – will she finally find a husband?
“Claressa Shields” (Docuseries) (Premieres on ESPN+)
“Claressa Shields” gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at Shields’ quest to become the greatest two-sport athlete of all time, maintaining her dominance in boxing while making her debut in mixed martial arts. A two-time boxing Olympic Gold Medalist and the first professional boxer – male or female – to win world titles in two separate weight divisions in the four-belt era, Shields has now set her sights on an MMA championship as part of her goal to be the undisputed greatest woman in combat sports.
June 4
“Spirit Untamed” (Film) – Directed by Elaine Bogan; Written by Kristin Hahn and Aury Wallington (In Theaters)
Lucky Prescott’s (Isabela Merced) life is changed forever when she moves from her home in the city to a small frontier town and befriends a wild mustang named Spirit.
“Knots: A Forced Marriage Story” (Documentary) – Directed by Kate Brewer (Available on VOD)
“Knots” explores forced and child marriages, which are occurring legally across the United States every day. Director Kate Brewer reveals the disturbing truth about this problem in modern America through the complicated experience of three forced marriage survivors. Nina Van Harn, Sara Tasneem, and Fraidy Reiss share intimate details of their personal journeys of surviving, escaping, and ultimately becoming powerful voices in the historic fight to end the human rights abuse of forced marriage.
“Undine” (Film) (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
Undine (Paula Beer) works as a historian lecturing on Berlin’s urban development. But when the man she loves leaves her, the ancient myth catches up with her. Undine has to kill the man who betrays her and return to the water.
“Slow Machine” (Film) (In Virtual Cinemas; Available on VOD June 11)
Stephanie (Stephanie Hayes), a restless and vibrant actress, meets Gerard, an NYPD counter-terrorism specialist who’s an aficionado of experimental theater — and maybe out of his mind. Flirtation ensues, ends disastrously, and forces Stephanie to the ramshackle upstate home of musician Eleanor Friedberger, yet this supposed escape is infected by violent memories of her past life.
“The Ancient Woods” (Documentary) – Written by Gintė Žulytė and Mindaugas Survila (In Theaters)
In Lithuania, one of Europe’s last remaining old growth forests is the setting of this immersive, lyrical, often surprising cine-poem, shot over a 10-year period. Wolves trot casually through the snow; snakes slither and attack mice; eagles, ravens, and, most startlingly, owls, compete, eat, feed their young, mate, and preen. Ants, bees, and spiders live side-by-side with a yawning dormouse who looks ready for cartoon stardom. The astounding variety of nature – its mysterious, cruel, and shockingly beautiful moments – are recorded to the natural sounds of this deep, dark forest.
“Trippin’ with the Kandasamys” (Film) – Directed by Jayan Moodley; Written by Jayan Moodley and Rory Booth (Available on Netflix)
To rekindle their marriages, best friends-turned-in-laws Shanthi and Jennifer plan a couples’ getaway. But it comes with all kinds of surprises.
“The Carnivores” (Film) (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
Alice (Tallie Medel) and Bret’s (Lindsay Burdge) dog Harvey is dying, and he’s ruining everything. What had been a bright little family is quickly getting consumed by clouds of self-doubt, suspicion, and a disturbing amount of ground beef.
“Chasing Wonders” (Film) – Written by Judy Morris (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
A coming-of-age story set across the lush wine country of both Australia and Spain, a young man explores the nature of father-son relationships and the pathway toward understanding and forgiveness.
“Lisey’s Story” (Miniseries) (Premieres on Apple TV+)
Based on the best-selling novel by Stephen King, “Lisey’s Story” is a deeply personal thriller that follows Lisey Landon (Julianne Moore) two years after the death of her husband, famous novelist Scott Landon (Clive Owen). A series of unsettling events causes Lisey to face memories of her marriage to Scott that she has deliberately blocked out of her mind.
“The New York Times Presents: Who Gets to Be an Influencer?” (Documentary) - Directed by Lora Moftah (Premieres on FX and Hulu)
"Who Gets to Be an Influencer?" chronicles the rise of Collab Crib, one of the first mainstream Black creator mansions, exclusively documenting their whirlwind drive to achieve social media stardom in 90 days. The intimate, character-based film captures the influencers wrestling with a nagging, and profound, challenge: how can they succeed in a nascent industry that seems tilted to their disadvantage? For a growing number of Gen Z'ers, the quest to become a social-media influencer isn't just a passing fad: this is their preferred path to making it big. And for Black creators, the stakes and hurdles are even higher in a social-media ecosystem that has been dominated by white influencers.
June 6
“Little Birds” (Miniseries) - Created by Sophia Al Maria; Directed by Stacie Passon (Premieres on Starz)
A modern tale of a young ingénue abroad, losing and then finding herself. Lucy (Juno Temple) discovers a world in flux, a country quivering on the cusp of independence, and a provocative dominatrix (Yumna Marwan) who captures her imagination. Based on Anaïs Nin’s infamous collection of erotic short stories.
“Domina” (Miniseries) (Premieres on Epix)
Filmed in Rome, “Domina” follows the extraordinary rise of Emperor Augustus Caesar’s third wife, Livia Drusilla (Kasia Smutniak). The series will bring to life the exploits, affairs, and battles for political clout that surrounded this power couple who sat at the heart of the Roman Empire.
June 8
“To the Ends of the Earth” (Film) (Available on VOD)
Yoko (Atsuko Maeda) travels with a small crew to Uzbekistan to shoot an episode of her travel reality show. In front of the camera, her persona is carefree and happy-go-lucky, but behind the scenes she is cautious and introverted. Despite her best efforts, the filming of the television series ends unsuccessfully, and frustrated by the failure, she sets off into the mysterious country. Lost in the streets of Tashkent, she finds herself adrift and alone, confronting her deepest fears and hidden aspirations.
June 9
“Tragic Jungle” (Film) – Directed by Yulene Olaizola; Written by Yulene Olaizola and Rubén Imaz (Available on Netflix)
1920, on the border between Mexico and Belize. Deep in the Mayan jungle, a lawless territory where myths abound, a group of Mexican gum workers cross paths with Agnes (Indira Rubie Andrewin), a mysterious young Belizean woman. Her presence incites tension among the men, arousing their fantasies and desires.
“Awake” (Film) (Available on Netflix)
Global hysteria ensues after a mysterious catastrophe wipes out all electronics and takes away humanity’s ability to sleep. Scientists race against the clock to find a cure for the unexplained insomnia before its fatal effects eliminate the human race. When Jill (Gina Rodriguez), a former soldier, discovers her young daughter may be the key to salvation, she must decide whether to protect her children at all costs or sacrifice everything to save the world.
“Loki” (Series) - Directed by Kate Herron (Premieres on Disney+)
Loki (Tom Hiddleston) resumes his role as the God of Mischief in a new series that takes place after the events of “Avengers: Endgame.”
June 10
“Starstruck” (Series) - Directed by Karen Maine; Written by Rose Matafeo and Alice Snedden (Premieres on HBO Max)
“Starstruck” follows Jessie (Rose Matafeo), a millennial living in East London juggling two dead-end jobs and navigating the awkward morning-after-the-night-before when she discovers the complications of accidentally sleeping with famous movie star Tom (Nikesh Patel). What she thought would become an amusing anecdote soon turns into something more, as the couple realize they can't keep away from each other.
“Trese” (Series) (Premieres on Netflix)
In Manila, where dark supernatural forces pervade the criminal underworld, it’s up to Alexandra Trese to keep the peace — but there’s a storm brewing.
“Moloch” (Series) - Written by Marion Festraëts and Arnaud Malherbe (Premieres on Sundance Now)
In a labyrinthine industrial seaside town in the north of France, random people spontaneously combust for no reason. Suicide? Murder? Supernatural phenomenon? To investigate this mystery, Louise (Marine Vacth), an ambitious and troubled young journalist, joins forces with Gabriel (Olivier Gourmet), a respected psychiatrist who carries the grief of his son's death. Soon, six fiery letters start to turn up as graffiti on the city walls like a signature adjacent to the deaths: "MOLOCH," the ancient god of sacrifice. Louise and Gabriel must embark on a terrifying journey to the heart of their own personal hell, in order to get to the truth -- at the risk of getting burned themselves.
June 11
“In the Heights” (Film) – Written by Quiara Alegría Hudes (In Theaters and Available on HBO Max)
The scent of a cafecito caliente hangs in the air just outside of the 181st Street subway stop. The likeable, magnetic bodega owner Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) saves every penny from his daily grind as he hopes, imagines, and sings about a better life.
“Censor” (Film) – Directed by Prano Bailey-Bond; Written by Prano Bailey-Bond and Anthony Fletcher (In Theaters; Available on VOD June 18)
Film censor Enid (Niamh Algar) takes pride in her meticulous work, guarding unsuspecting audiences from the deleterious effects of watching the gore-filled decapitations and eye gougings she pores over. Her sense of duty to protect is amplified by guilt over her inability to recall details of the long-ago disappearance of her sister, recently declared dead in absentia. When Enid is assigned to review a disturbing film from the archive that echoes her hazy childhood memories, she begins to unravel how this eerie work might be tied to her past.
“Skater Girl” (Film) – Directed by Manjari Makijany; Written by Manjari Makijany and Vinati Makijany (Available on Netflix)
Set in a remote village in Rajasthan, India, the film follows Prerna (Rachel Saanchita Gupta), a local teen living a life bound by tradition and duty to her parents. But when London-bred advertising executive Jessica (Amy Maghera) arrives in the village to learn more about her late father’s childhood, Prerna and the other local children are introduced to an exciting new adventure thanks to Jessica and her old friend (Jonathan Readwin) who cruises into town on a skateboard.
“Holler” (Film) – Written and Directed by Nicole Riegel (In Theaters)
Ruth (Jessica Barden), a bright but rebellious teen, joins a dangerous scrap metal crew to pay for her education. Will the job be a ticket out of her small town or the mistake that holds her back?
“Asia” (Film) – Written and Directed by Ruthy Pribar (In Theaters)
Asia’s (Alena Yiv) motherhood has always been an ongoing struggle rather than an obvious instinct. Becoming a mother at a very early age has shaped Asia’s relationship with her teenage daughter Vika (Shira Haas). Despite living together, Asia and Vika barely interact with one another. Asia concentrates on her job as a nurse while Vika hangs out at the skate-park with her friends. Their routine is shaken when Vika’s health deteriorates rapidly. Asia must step in and become the mother Vika so desperately needs. Vika’s illness turns out to be an opportunity to reveal the great love within this small family unit.
“In My Blood It Runs” (Documentary) – Directed by Maya Newell (Available on OVID.tv)
An intimate and compassionate observational documentary from the perspective of a 10-year-old Aboriginal boy in Alice Springs, Australia, struggling to balance his traditional Arrernte/Garrwa upbringing with a state education.
“So Pretty” (Film) – Written and Directed by Jessie Jeffrey Dunn Rovinelli (Available on OVID.tv)
Four queer and trans youth in New York City struggle to maintain their proto-utopian community against the outside world as their lives curiously merge with the 1980s German novel “So Schön” by Ronald M. Schernikau.
“Queen Bees” (Film) (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
While her house undergoes repairs, fiercely independent senior Helen (Ellen Burstyn) moves into a nearby retirement community ― just temporarily. Once behind the doors of Pine Grove Senior Community, she encounters lusty widows, cutthroat bridge tournaments, and a hotbed of bullying “mean girls” the likes of which she hasn’t encountered since high school, all of which leaves her yearning for the solitude of home. But somewhere between flower arranging and water aerobics Helen discovers that it’s never too late to make new friends and perhaps even find a new love.
June 13
“Blindspotting” (Series) (Premieres on Starz)
“Blindspotting” centers on Ashley (Jasmine Cephas Jones), who is living in Oakland until her partner and father of their son is incarcerated, leaving her to navigate an existential crisis.
June 14
“The Republic of Sarah” (Series) (Premieres on The CW)
The bucolic tranquility of Greylock, New Hampshire is upended when a massive vein of coltan – an incredibly valuable mineral used in tech – is discovered under the town. State-backed mining company Lydon Industries swoops in with plans to extract the mineral — plans that include wiping Greylock off the map. With her friends and family in danger of losing their homes, rebellious high school teacher Sarah Cooper (Stella Baker) vows to stop Lydon’s bulldozers. Sarah enlists her friends in the fight, but there seems to be no way to stop the town’s impending demise — until Sarah proposes an oddly intriguing solution: Greylock could declare independence.
June 15
“No Ordinary Love” (Film) – Written and Directed by Chyna Robinson (Available on VOD)
Lines between romantic ideals and control become blurred when Tanya’s (DeAna Davis) husband can no longer handle the stress of his career as a police officer. His warm kisses turn cold, and she is left to fight for her life. At the same time, Elizabeth’s (April Hartman) idyllic life is marred when her charming husband manipulates her into believing she is going insane. Both women plot to leave, but the escape they seek may turn deadly.
June 17
“iCarly” (Series) (Premieres on Paramount+)
The 13-episode season picks up nearly 10 years after the original show ended, and finds Carly Shay (Miranda Cosgrove), the original influencer, and her friends navigating work, love, and family in their 20s. In addition to Cosgrove, it will feature original series stars Jerry Trainor (Spencer Shay) and Nathan Kress (Freddie Benson). The trio will be joined by new additions Laci Mosley, who plays Carly’s roommate and best friend, and Jaidyn Triplett, who portrays Freddie’s social media-obsessed stepdaughter.
June 18
“Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It” (Documentary) – Directed by Mariem Pérez Riera (In Theaters)
Over a 70+ year career, Rita Moreno defied both her humble upbringing and relentless racism to become a celebrated and beloved actor, one of the rare EGOT Award Winners of our time. Born into poverty on a Puerto Rican farm, Moreno and her seamstress mother immigrated to New York City when Moreno was five years old. After studying dance and performing on Broadway, Moreno was cast as any ethnic minority the Hollywood studios needed filled, be it Polynesian, Native American, or Egyptian. “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It” illuminates the humor and the grace of Moreno, as well as lesser-known struggles faced on her path to stardom, including pernicious Hollywood sexism and abuse, a toxic relationship with Marlon Brando, and serious depression a year before she emerged an Oscar winner.
“Working Girls” (Film) (Restoration) – Directed by Lizzie Borden; Written by Lizzie Borden and Sandra Kay (In Theaters)
Sex work is portrayed with radical nonjudgment in Lizzie Borden’s immersive, richly detailed look at the rhythms and rituals of society’s most stigmatized profession. Inspired by the experiences of the sex workers Borden met while making her underground feminist landmark “Born in Flames,” “Working Girls” reveals the textures of a day in the life of Molly (Louise Smith), a photographer working part-time in a Manhattan brothel, as she juggles a steady stream of clients, balances relationships with her coworkers with the demands of an ambitious madam, and above all fights to maintain her sense of self in a business in which the line between the personal and the professional is all too easily blurred.
“Les Nôtres” (Film) – Directed by Jeanne Leblanc; Written by Jeanne Leblanc and Judith Baribeau (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
In the face of many provincial dramas, the tight-knit community of Sainte-Adeline, Québec, has always remained united. But when a shockwave engulfs this sleepy community, the townsfolk are forced to confront their contradictions. When it’s discovered that popular high school sophomore Magalie (Emilie Bierre) is pregnant, she refuses to reveal the identity of the father. The ensuing scandal rocks Sainte-Adeline, where appearances are deceptive and the layers of a carefully maintained social varnish eventually crack.
“A Crime on the Bayou” (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Nancy Buirski (In Theaters)
“A Crime on the Bayou” is the story of Gary Duncan, a Black teenager from Plaquemines Parish, a swampy strip of land south of New Orleans. In 1966, Duncan tries to break up an argument between white and Black teenagers outside a newly integrated school. He gently lays his hand on a white boy’s arm. The boy recoils like a snake. That night, police burst into Duncan’s trailer and arrest him for assault on a minor. A young Jewish attorney, Richard Sobol, leaves his prestigious D.C. firm to volunteer in New Orleans. With his help, Duncan bravely stands up to a racist legal system powered by a white supremacist boss to challenge his unfair arrest. Their fight goes all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, and their lifelong friendship is forged.
“Truman & Tennessee: An Intimate Conversation” (Documentary) – Directed by Lisa Immordino Vreeland (In Theaters and Virtual Cinemas)
The work, lives, and personal journeys of two iconic American artists coalesce with creative combustion in this innovative dual-portrait documentary.
“Sweat” (Film) (In Theaters)
Beloved fitness influencer Sylwia (Magdalena Koleśnik) seemingly has it made: hundreds of thousands of social media followers, endorsement deals, photo spreads in magazines. But as she starts to share more and more online, the rising pressure from concerned sponsors and increasingly obsessive fans forces her to confront her deepest insecurities and the exhaustive demands of her lifestyle.
“Physical” (Series) – Created by Annie Weisman (Premieres on Apple TV+)
Set in the idyllic but fragile beach paradise of sunny 1980s San Diego, “Physical” is a half-hour dark comedy following Sheila Rubin, a quietly tortured, seemingly dutiful housewife supporting her smart but controversial husband’s bid for state assembly. But behind closed doors, Sheila has her own darkly funny take on life she rarely lets the world see. She’s also battling a complex set of personal demons relating to her self-image — that is, until she finds release through the unlikeliest source: the world of aerobics. At first hooked on the exercise itself, Sheila’s real road to empowerment comes when she discovers a way to merge this newfound passion with the burgeoning technology of videotape to start a revolutionary business.
“The Rational Life” (Series) (Premieres on Netflix)
A career-driven 30-something must contend with a cutthroat workplace, a love triangle, and her nagging mom.
“Rise Again: Tulsa and the Red Summer” (Documentary) – Directed by Dawn Porter (Premieres on National Geographic)
“Rise Again: Tulsa and the Red Summer” comes 100 from the two-day Tulsa Massacre in 1921 that led to the murder of hundreds of Black people and left thousands homeless and displaced. Award-winning Washington Post journalist and Oklahoma native DeNeen Brown is at the heart of the film, reporting on the search for a mass grave in her native state. Digging into the events that led to one of the worst episodes of racial violence in America’s history, Brown reveals insights into racial conflict incidents that erupted in the early 20th century.
June 20
“Kevin Can F**k Himself” (Series) – Created by Valerie Armstrong (Premieres on AMC)
Allison McRoberts (Annie Murphy), is a woman we all grew up believing we knew: the prototypical Sitcom Wife. She’s beautiful and can take a joke — though she’s usually the butt of them. And she’s married to a guy who must’ve won some sort of marriage lottery, because she looks the way she does and he’s… funny. But what happens when we follow Allison out of her husband’s domain? When she finally wakes up to — and revolts against — the injustices in her life?
June 22
“Clairevoyant” (Film) – Written and Directed by Micaela Wittman and Arthur De Larroche (Available on VOD)
Claire Rivers (Micaela Wittman) is a spoiled rich girl who hires a camera crew to document her journey as she attempts to shed her ego and attain enlightenment. After a particularly mind-blowing yoga session, 21-year-old Claire realizes she’s the only one with most of the answers to all of life’s questions and that she’s the best-suited person to answer the rest. Her yoga teacher (Heidi Fecht) once said that yoga was Indian, so, that’s where she’ll start. But, after realizing that the Indian Art Center is actually Native American, the Indian Embassy has no Buddhists, and the Buddhist temple has no Indians, she embarks on a wild goose chase, interviewing a myriad of “spiritual” teachers, most of whom are more concerned with sliding Claire’s Mastercard than anything else.
“Jack & Yaya” (Documentary) – Directed by Mary Hewey (Premieres on WORLD Channel)
From a young age, Yaya and Jack saw each other as they truly were, a girl and a boy, even though most of the world didn’t see them that way. As they grew older, they supported each other as they both came out as transgender. “Jack & Yaya” follows these two friends for a year and explores their unique, 30-year relationship.
June 23
“Good on Paper” (Film) – Directed by Kimmy Gatewood; Written by Iliza Shlesinger (Available on Netflix)
Andrea Singer (Iliza Shlesinger) always put her stand-up career first, and while dating came easy, love wasn’t a priority — that is until she meets Dennis (Ryan Hansen), a quirky nerd with disarming charm who coaxes her into letting her guard down. Her best friend Margot (Margaret Cho) isn’t convinced he’s all he seems and she urges Andrea to embark on a wild goose chase to uncover who Dennis really is.
June 24
“Sisters on Track” (Documentary) – Directed by Corinne van der Borch and Tone Grøttjord-Glenne (Available on Netflix)
“Sisters on Track” chronicles the coming-of-age story of the Sheppard sisters: Tai (12), Rainn (11), and Brooke (nine), who were propelled into the national spotlight in 2016 with their first-time wins at the Junior Olympics. The resulting media storm landed the trio on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s Kids of the Year and they were able to move from shelters into their own home. The film offers a rare intimate glimpse into a tight-knit Brooklyn family’s journey to recover from trauma and tragedy. With the support of their mother, Tonia Handy, and the guidance of coach Jean Bell, the Sheppard sisters aim to beat the odds, dream big, and aspire to higher education as they are finding their voices as athletes and students – all while processing the growing pains of adolescence.
“Epstein’s Shadow: Ghislaine Maxwell” (Docuseries) – Directed by Barbara Shearer (Premieres on Peacock)
In this three-hour documentary, we investigate the powerful, connected, and mysterious Ghislaine Maxwell, who was once the heiress to the Maxwell fortune but whose life takes a sordid downturn when she meets Jeffrey Epstein, the serial sex offender. An investigative series that reveals a complicated story of power, sex, and money and leads to Ghislaine Maxwell’s arrest awaiting trial in the fall of 2021.
June 25
“I Carry You With Me” (Film) – Directed by Heidi Ewing; Written by Heidi Ewing and Alan Page (In Theaters)
Heidi Ewing’s debut as a narrative filmmaker, “I Carry You With Me,” follows a tender romance spanning decades. Starting in provincial Mexico and continuing as first Iván (Armando Espitia), then Gerardo (Christian Vazquez), journey towards sharing a life together in New York City, the film traces both men’s lives from their childhoods in Mexico, through the decisions that lead them into adulthood. Iván, an aspiring chef and young father, hopes to secure a spot in a restaurant’s kitchen while supporting his child. But the discovery of his relationship with Gerardo causes conflict, and in despair, he makes the arduous choice to cross the border into the United States, promising his son and his soulmate Gerardo that he will return.
“False Positive” (Film) – Written by Ilana Glazer and John Lee (Available on Hulu)
After months of trying and failing to get pregnant, Lucy (Ilana Glazer) and Adrian (Justin Theroux) finally find their dream fertility doctor in the illustrious Dr. Hindle (Pierce Brosnan). But after becoming pregnant with a healthy baby girl, Lucy begins to notice something sinister through Hindle’s gleaming charm, and she sets out to uncover the unsettling truth about him, and her own “birth story.” As if getting pregnant weren’t complicated enough.
“God Exists, Her Name is Petrunya” (Film) – Written and Directed by Teona Strugar Mitevska (In Theaters and Virtual Cinemas)
“God Exists Her Name is Petrunya” is based on a true story. It takes place in Stip, a small town in Macedonia. Every 19th of January for the holiday of Epiphany, the throwing of the cross event takes place in almost all the Orthodox world of Eastern Europe. The local priest throws a wooden cross into the river and hundreds of men dive after it. Good fortune and prosperity are guaranteed to the man who retrieves it. This time, the young woman Petrunya dives into the water on a whim and manages to grab the cross before the others. Her competitors are furious, the local population as well as religious establishments are outraged as women aren’t allowed to take part in the ritual. All hell breaks loose, but Petrunya holds her ground.
“Mary J. Blige’s My Life” (Documentary) – Directed by Vanessa Roth (Available on Amazon Prime Video)
Nine-time Grammy-winning recording artist and Academy Award-nominated singer and actress Mary J. Blige set the music world on fire with her trailblazing 1994 LP “My Life,” a collection of powerful confessionals about her battles with abuse, depression, and addiction that forged a profound and enduring connection with millions of fans around the globe. In Oscar-winning filmmaker Vanessa Roth’s documentary “Mary J. Blige’s My Life,” the singer, producer, and actress reveals the demons and blessings that inspired the record and propelled her from the soul-crushing world of New York’s housing projects to international stardom. In the process, she celebrates the 25th anniversary of her most influential work by performing the album live for the first time.
“Too Late” (Film) – Directed by D.W. Thomas (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
Violet Fields (Alyssa Limperis) works a thankless job as the assistant to Bob Devore (Ron Lynch), famed comedian and host of the live variety show “Too Late.” But what only Violet knows is that Bob is a monster both literally and figuratively. Resigned to her fate, Violet is caught by surprise when she meets aspiring comedian Jimmy Rhodes (Will Weldon) and sparks fly. But as her feelings for Jimmy grow and Bob starts to doubt her loyalty, she and Jimmy could end up as Bob’s next meal.
“Chasing Childhood” (Documentary) – Directed by Margaret Munzer Loeb and Eden Wurmfeld (In Virtual Cinemas)
“Chasing Childhood” is a feature documentary exploring the unintended consequences of overparenting. What if all this well-intended hovering, fear, and over-scheduling has backfired? The film takes us to three communities that are trying to shift culture to create room for play and independence with the hope of raising kids to become competent, healthy, and happy adults.
“Kenny Scharf: When Worlds Collide” (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Malia Scharf and Max Basch (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
Along with friends Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kenny Scharf grew from a graffiti artist into a major force in the 1980s NYC art scene. Obsessed with garbage, cartoons, and plastic, this playful Peter Pan’s roller coaster career flourished despite the decimation of the AIDS crisis and the fickle tastes of the art world. From street art to museums, Scharf continues to create colorful, complex work that puts him at the forefront of where popular culture meets fine art.
“The New Bauhaus” (Documentary) – Directed by Alysa Nahmias; Written by Alysa Nahmias and Miranda Yousef (Available on VOD)
When radical Hungarian artist László Moholy-Nagy moved to Chicago in 1937, he spearheaded “The New Bauhaus,” a movement descended from the famous German school. An original Bauhaus member, Moholy-Nagy, took a pioneering interdisciplinary mixed-media approach to art and design that was vastly ahead of its time. Featuring intimate interviews with Moholy-Nagy’s daughter and an in-depth exploration of his groundbreaking work, “The New Bauhaus” offers an illuminating portrait of a visionary teacher and thinker.
“Fathom” (Documentary) (Available on Apple TV+)
Regarding intelligence, emotionality, language, and culture, the study of whales challenges our most basic assumptions about what it is to be human. “Fathom,” a feature documentary, will follow some of the world’s most immersed whale researchers — Dr. Ellen Garland and Dr. Michelle Fournet — to explore their groundbreaking work and how a life among whales has shaped them personally.
“Werewolves Within” (Film) – Written by Mishna Wolff (In Theaters; Available on VOD July 2)
When a proposed oil pipeline creates hostilities between residents of a small town, a newly-arrived forest ranger must keep the peace after a snowstorm confines the townspeople to an old lodge; but when a mysterious creature begins terrorizing the group, their worst tendencies and prejudices rise to the surface, and it is up to the ranger to keep the residents alive, both from each other and the monster which plagues them.
“Sex/Life” (Series) – Created by Stacy Rukeyser (Premieres on Netflix)
A woman’s (Sarah Shahi) daring sexual past collides with her married-with-kids present when the bad-boy ex she can’t stop fantasizing about crashes back into her life.
June 29
“The Perfect Candidate” (Film) – Directed by Haifaa Al Mansour; Written by Haifaa Al Mansour and Brad Niemann (Available on VOD)
“The Perfect Candidate” follows Maryam (Mila Al Zahrani), a determined young doctor who runs for city council after the male incumbent repeatedly ignores her request to fix the muddy road leading to her clinic. Despite her father and her community’s struggle to accept her as their town’s first female candidate, Maryam’s creative and ambitious campaign builds momentum, becoming a symbol for a larger movement.
“The Legend of the Underground” (Documentary) – Directed by Nneka Onuorah and Giselle Bailey (Premieres on HBO and HBO Max)
“The Legend of the Underground” is a searing and timely look at the struggle against rampant discrimination in Nigeria today, as seen through the lens of several bold and charismatic non-conformist youth who fight to live life out loud. Through social media, celebrity, and creative expression, they spark a cultural debate that challenges the ideals of gender conformity and human rights in Nigeria.
June 30
“Zola” (Film) – Directed by Janicza Bravo; Written by Janicza Bravo and Jeremy O. Harris (In Theaters)
Zola (Taylour Paige), a Detroit waitress, is seduced into a weekend of stripping in Florida for some quick cash — but the trip becomes a sleepless 48-hour odyssey involving a nefarious friend, her pimp, and her idiot boyfriend.
Returning Series
“Why Women Kill” (Anthology) (Paramount+, June 3)
“Feel Good” – Created and Written by Mae Martin and Joe Hampson (Netflix, June 4)
“Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries” – Created by Deb Cox and Fiona Eagger (Acorn TV, June 7)
“Sistas” (BET, June 9)
“Betty” – Directed by Crystal Moselle (HBO and HBO Max, June 11)
“Flack” (Amazon Prime Video, June 11)
“Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce)” – Created by Phoebe Lim, Yu Jun, and Lee Seung-hoon (Netflix, June 11)
“Home Before Dark” – Created by Dana Fox and Dara Resnik (Apple TV+, June 11)
“Love, Victor” – Created by Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker (Hulu, June 11)
“Tuca & Bertie” – Created by Lisa Hanawalt (Adult Swim, June 13)
“Workin’ Moms” – Created by Catherine Reitman (Netflix, June 15)
“The Gift” (Netflix, June 17)
“Hospital Playlist” – Created by Lee Woo-jung and Shin Won-ho (Netflix, June 17)
“Evil” – Created by Michelle King and Robert King (Paramount+, June 20)
“I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” (Docuseries) – Directed by Elizabeth Wolff (HBO and HBO Max, June 21)
“Motherland: Fort Salem” (Freeform, June 22)
“In the Dark” – Created by Corinne Kingsbury (The CW, June 23)
“The Good Fight” – Created by Michelle King, Robert King, and Phil Alden Robinson (Paramount+, June 24)
“Central Park” – Created by Nora Smith, Loren Bouchard, and Josh Gad (Apple TV+, June 25)
“The A List” – Created by Nina Metivier and Dan Berlinka (Netflix, June 25)
“A Discovery of Witches” (AMC, June 27)
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