Upcoming Indie Films You Definitely Need To See

The Miseducation Of Cameron Post (FilmRise, August 2018 (US), September 2018 (UK))

The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a drama based off the 2012 novel of the same title by Emily M. Danforth. Kick-Ass and Carrie's Chloë Grace Moretz stars as Cameron, a teenager who is discovering and exploring her homosexuality in a conservative town that doesn't understand. The plot of the movie will stir a sense of deja-vu if you're a fan of the 1999 hit But I'm A Cheerleader; after being found with the Prom Queen the main character gets shipped off to participate in Christian conversion therapy and befriends others who are also being told their sexuality is a sin. This is an indie that is set to be a hit and has received praise from Sundance for its wry sense of humour and criticism of gay conversion therapy. It hits the big screens in the US on 3rd August and premieres in the UK on 7th September.

BlacKkKlansman (Focus Features, August 2018)

Spike Lee is back after a long break from his writing pad—his new feature BlacKkKlansman is based on the true story of a black police officer who went undercover and infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in 1979. Like Lee's other films, BlacKkKlansmans looks promising as itexamines some of the key socio-political issues experienced in the 70s (which are also relevant today) whilst incorporating a sense of humour. John David Washington, son of Denzel Washington, plays the lead as Ron Stallworth; other mentionable cast members include Alec Baldwin, Star Wars' Adam Driver and That 70's Show's Topher Grace. The dramedy comes to US screens on August 10th and UK screens on August 24th.

Skate Kitchen (Magnolia Pictures, August 2018 (US), September 2018 (UK))

Skate Kitchen was a stand-out indie at this year's Sundance Film Festival—it's set to be a wild ride which follows the life of a teenage skateboarder who becomes part of a New York City-based all-female skateboarding crew. What makes it unique is that the cast of Skate Kitchen are actually playing themselves, and The Skate Kitchen is the name of their real-life skateboarding crew. The story is about the power of friendship, conflicting relationships, budding sexuality, and promotes the powerful message that no woman should be afraid to pursue a sport that is primarily male-oriented. The film is directed by Crystal Moselle, director of The Wolfpack (2015), and stars newcomer Rachelle Vinberg and Jaden Smith as her character's love interest. It hits US cinemas on 10th August and UK Cinemas on 28th September.

Madeline's Madeline (Oscilloscope Laboratories, August 2018)

Madeline's Madeline is quirky, surrealistic and is said to have a "mainstream feel". The film depicts the life of the confident but conflicted Madeline (fresh face Helena Howard) who joins a theatre workshop, and as she becomes involved in a theatre production the workshop director starts to become inappropriately close to Madeline and begins to incorporate the young girl's real life story into the production. A spanner is thrown into the works, disrupting Madeline's life inside and outside the theatre, and her mental stability and relationships are tested particularly between herself and her mother (played by indie goddess Miranda July). If you're a fan of bold, hallucinatory cinematography with interwoven drama, this is a must-see, and you can catch it in US cinemas on 10th August.

We The Animals (The Orchard, August 2018)

Gritty and mystifying, this film adaptation of the 2011 novel of the same name by Justin Torres shines a light on the contrast between the innocent nature of three children and the volatility of the broken home they are growing up in. Three brothers—Manny, Joel and Jonah—live with their parents who have an abusive relationship and escape this toxic reality by venturing outside their home to play in the wilderness surrounding their rural hometown. As they mature, Jonah, the oldest brother, begins to feel disconnected from his two brothers, who are becoming more masculine like their father whilst Jonah adopts a more attentive and emotionally intuitive outlook on life. It has been praised by IndieWire as "this year's Moonlight" and is showing in cinemas on 17th August in the USA.

Life Itself (Amazon Studios, September 2018)

Amazon Studios really have been getting busy with their films over the last couple of years, with successful releases such as The Big Sick and Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot. Their latest release is Life Itself, which boasts a talented cast including Oscar Isaac, Olivia Wilde, Annette Bening, and Antonio Banderas. The story begins with its focus on a young New Yorkian couple who fall pregnant and then begins to incorporate the diverse life stories of characters from separate generations and continents. The characters, although from very different walks of life, times and places, are all connected by one event. You can enjoy the ups and downs of this colourful dramedy on September 21st.

Assassination Nation (NEON, September 2018 (US), November 2018 (UK))

At first glance of the trailer, Assassination Nation looks like your typical high-school chick flick distributed by a major studio—however, on further inspection there is definitely an unconventional, non-mainstream edge to this thriller-comedy, including some smartphone cinematography. Plus, it is being distributed by NEON, a small film company who launched at Sundance in January 2017. This film will take you on an electrifying journey into the lives of four high school girls living in Salem, Massachusetts, who seek revenge after their darkest secrets are exposed via social media. The film is current, fempowering, gory and examines a number of sociopolitical issues. You can catch it at US cinemas on 21st September and UK cinemas on 23rd November.

Peppermint (STX Films, September 2018)

Speaking of female empowerment, Peppermint is also centred on a protagonist who takes the law into her own hands and seeks justice for her husband and daughter after they are murdered in a drive-by shooting. Jennifer Garner plays the lead in this action-thriller by the director of Taken, Pierre Morel, and the film is one of many recent releases with a female lead. It has been compared to Charlize Theron's Atomic Blonde, and fans of the revenge-thriller genre will no doubt be excited to see Jennifer Garner taking on the role as a killing machine who manages to sneak under the noses of the FBI to avenge her daughter and husband. It hits big screens around the US on 7th September and can be watched at UK cinemas on 21st September.

Beautiful Boy (Amazon Studios, October 2018 (US), January 2019 (UK))

Beautiful Boy is the upcoming film adaptation of the acclaimed memoirs by David Sheff and his son Nic Sheff. The drama is an honest and heartbreaking portrayal of the devastating effects of addiction on family relationships and the life of the addict. Timothée Chalamet, the youngest nominee for Best Actor at the Oscars this year, stars as Nic Sheff, the son who is struggling with methamphetamine addiction—acting alongside him is Steve Carell as his father, who is known better for light-humoured roles rather than heavy ones (if you have seen him in Little Miss Sunshine, you will know he can master both types of character perfectly). The film chronicles Sheff's addiction from the eyes of both the father and the son as together they experience their world changing around them dramatically. Beautiful Boy can be seen in US cinemas from October 12th and in the UK on 18th January 2019.