We love making lists here at IFC. That's why we decided to devote the month of July to just that — lists.

Come back every weekday to find a new list calling out the best and worst of independent culture, from the Best Bald People In Music to the 25 Best Films in Black & White.

July 1: Why NOT a space flower?: Six Killer Movie Plants (Film)
July 2: The 10 Most Important Presidential Speeches (Politics)
July 3: The Best "Man" Songs (Music)
July 4: Ten Bittersweet Patriotic Films (Film)
July 7: Coming soon
July 8: Coming soon
July 9: Coming soon
July 10: Coming soon
July 11: Coming soon
July 14: Coming soon
July 15: Coming soon
July 16: Coming soon
July 17: Coming soon
July 18: Coming soon
July 21: Coming soon
July 22: Coming soon
July 23: Coming soon
July 24: Coming soon
July 25: Coming soon
July 28: Coming soon
July 29: Coming soon
July 30: Coming soon
July 31: Coming soon

By IFC in Lists | Link | 1 Comments | Recommended (2)

Hundreds of years ago, our founding forefathers were spending their Fourth of July weekend getting ready to grant America its independence. Today, we celebrate with some time on the beach and at friends' barbecues, all of which could include sitting in massive traffic as your wallet is depleted thanks to sky-rocketing gas prices. There's a solution: pump the AC, kick up your feet and declare your own independence by tuning into IFC Saturday, July 5th and Sunday, July 6th for a weekend of films born and bred in the USA, featuring "Garden State," with Zach Braff (who also directs) as a guy going home to Jersey in an effort to figure his life out. Then check out "Stolen Summer," about a young Catholic kid plotting to convert his Jewish friend in 1970s Chicago, and a group of troublemakers just trying to get by in NY in "Hurricane Streets." Don't miss these and other films that'll take you on a trip across America without getting on a plane or having to pay a fee for your first piece of checked luggage.

Also in July, it's good guy vs. bad guy in an all out crime spree. Saturday, July 19th and Sunday, July 20th, tune in for a plethora of indie films featuring lock-ups, lockdowns and shakedowns. The line-up includes the Coen brothers' "Miller's Crossing," one of the best gangster films of all time. Taking place in the stylized 1930s, it pits two crime boss rivals against each other as they each try to take control of a city. In "Suicide Kings," ubër cool Christopher Walken gives his usual smooth performance as a Mafioso who gets kidnapped by a bunch of young, rich wanna-be criminals. And catch some cool cinematography and art direction in "Confidence," featuring Ed Burns (who's made quite a niche for himself since directing, writing and starring in his own first film — "The Brothers McMullen" — on a shoestring budget). Also on the schedule: "Trans," "State of Grace," "Never Die Alone" and "The Pope of Greenwich Village" (premiering this month).

PREMIERES TO LOOK FOR IN JULY:

• "BEE SEASON" With a hidden gem of a performance from Richard Gere, "Bee Season" offers a father cheering his daughter on to win the National Spelling Bee. Premieres Tuesday, July 1st at 6:35pm ET.


• "CAMILLA" One of Jessica Tandy's last films, "Camilla" follows a group of people, young and old, on the road (literally) to discovering themselves. Premieres Tuesday, July 8th at 7:25pm ET.


• "THE POPE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE" You can't go wrong with a film from the guy who directed Paul Newman in "Cool Hand Luke." You also can't go wrong watching Eric Roberts and Mickey Rourke play Italian-American cousins getting into a whole lot of trouble, no matter how hard they try to avoid it. Premieres Thursday, July 20th at 9pm ET.


• "JERSEY GIRL" Don't fear the dreaded "Gigli" Ben Affleck/Jennifer Lopez combo — this romantic comedy from, yes, Kevin Smith, is really about the sweetly grown-up relationship that forms between Liv Tyler, as a video store worker, and Affleck as a withdrawn single dad. Premieres Saturday, July 26th at 9pm ET.


• "TSOTSI" An Oscar and Golden Globe winner for Best Foreign Film, "Tsotsi" is the deeply emotional and engaging tale of a young criminal who ends up having to take care of a baby after a botched carjacking. Premieres Tuesday, July 29th at 7:15pm ET.

By Joanna Varikos in What to Watch on IFC | Link | 0 Comments | Recommended (2)

Tags: American cinema, Crime, Gangster, July, schedule

Oh, the horror! If our Grindhouse flick every Friday at midnight isn't enough to send you running for cover, get ready for a triple threat of thrills and exploitation every Thursday in June. Kicking off at 9pm ET, it's back to back to back thrill and chill featuring classic horror films like "Eaten Alive" (featuring a young Robert Englund, pre-Freddy Krueger in the "Nightmare on Elm Street" series), Joe Dante's "The Howling", John Carpenter's "The Fog" (which literally petrified me into thinking creatures would appear whenever the weather called for non-visible conditions after seeing it as a kid,), "Return of the Living Dead" and a slew of others that'll leave you screaming for more.

This June, IFC is also celebrating gay pride month with fabulously queer cinema every Friday night in "Out at the Movies." Boldly going where mainstream films won't, these indies don't hold back when it comes to same-sex love. Don't miss this chance to catch Christina Ricci trying to steal her brother's boyfriend in "The Opposite of Sex," a teen dealing with his crush on a male classmate in "Wild Tigers I Have Known" and a pair of boarding school girls secretly getting frisky (while a young Mischa Barton observes from afar) in "Lost and Delirious." Tune in for a double dose of girl-on-girl and guy-on-guy relations all month long.

And of course, June is also the month IFC premieres our original doc "Heavy Load," which follows four members of the UK band Heavy Load over the course of a year. Filmmaker Jerry Rothwell captures the struggle of these musicians, some with mental handicaps, as they try to fulfill their dreams of becoming successful rockers. "Heavy Load" premiered at the 2008 SxSW Film Festival, and has its first gig on IFC Monday, June 23rd at 9pm ET/10pm PT.

PREMIERING IN JUNE:

• "Made" The much-anticipated Vince Vaughn/Jon Favreau reunion after their indie darling "Swingers," "Made" takes the duo on a comedic journey into organized crime. The famous phrase "You're so money!" from their original teaming takes on new meaning in the follow-up. Saturday, June 7th at 9pm ET.
• "Body of Evidence" The one "body" of film work Madonna actually did a decent job with, this film is pure erotica as she plays a woman engaging in a dirty affair with the lawyer hired to defend her. Monday, June 9th at 9pm ET.
• "Stay" Ryan Gosling ("Half Nelson," "Lars and the Real Girl") is in it. 'Nuff said. Thursday, June 12 at 8:50am ET.
• "Mistress" While some still deny the casting couch ever existed, this one argues otherwise. A screenwriter shopping his script around to potential financiers runs into the same obstacle with them all: each wants his own mistress to star in the film. Danny Aiello and Robert DeNiro are just a few of the noteworthy performances. Friday, June 20 at 6pm ET.
• "Scanners" Eccentric director David Cronenberg takes psychosis to an extreme in this film about a man with superior mental powers on the hunt to find others just like him. Thursday, June 26 at 10:35pm ET.

By Joanna Varikos | Link | 4 Comments | Recommended (9)

Tags: Grindhouse, Heavy Load, June, schedule

The "death house" in Huntsville, Texas has had its share of highly publicized executions. In one case, it was the location of what was almost certainly the wrongful execution of Carlos DeLuna. On May 29th, IFC premieres an original doc, "At the Death House Door," which provides an inside look through the eyes of a former death house chaplain — Pastor Carroll Pickett. Directed by Steve James and Peter Gilbert, the filmmakers behind "Hoop Dreams," the documentary follows Pickett's difficult path in preparing an inmate for execution. Believing some, like DeLuna, were innocent, Pickett recalls his most intimate memories while serving as chaplain. "At the Death House Door" premiered at the 2008 SXSW Film Festival, and won the Inspiration Award at this year's Full Frame Documentary Film Festival.

Also in May, don't miss your ticket to eight days of movies that made their mark on one of the biggest film events in the world — Cannes. Nominees, winners and other films that screened at the French soirée will air on IFC all week long beginning May 17th, during this year's festival. Here's a sampling of what's on the bill: "Bowling for Columbine," the Michael Moore documentary that stirred controversy with its look at the US gun system, and David Cronenberg's "Crash," which delves into a sexually twisted underground world of car crash victims. The ticket line forms here. (And online, don't miss the exclusive IFC.com "Cannes Cam," which will provide 24-hour live webcam coverage of the Cannes red carpet, along with other special video reports from the festival.)

Memorial Day Weekend, IFC presents a series of films to honor those who bravely lived through times of war. Beginning at 1:30pm ET/4:30pm PT on Sunday, May 25th, check out movies that span hundreds of years in battle, from the Civil War to the Bosnian War.

PREMIERING ON THE NETWORK THIS MONTH:

• "Maria Full of Grace" A Spirit Award winner that takes a brutally honest look at Colombian drug trafficking.


• "Last Days" Directed by Gus Van Zant, this film is loosely based on the final hours in the life of Kurt Cobain.


• "24 Hour Party People" Revolving around the guys who created Factory Records in Manchester during the 1970s, this film not only has a kick-ass soundtrack but also serves as a history lesson in how the British town became a mecca for music.


• "Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story" How do you make a movie out of an impossible book? You make the movie about how hard it is to make the movie, in this delightful flick starring Steve Coogan as himself, sort of.


• "SubUrbia" Slacker auteur Richard Linklater directs this look at a night in the lives of five 20-somethings trapped in dead-end jobs, dreaming of escape. Sonic Youth composed the soundtrack.

By Joanna Varikos in What to Watch on IFC | Link | 0 Comments | Recommended (16)

Tags: At the Death House Door, Cannes, Cannes Cam, films, May, schedule

Starting in May, IFC presents at least one great new web series per month made by a wide range of up and coming and established creative talent. Here is what we have in store for May.

WILFRED - If modern life has taught us anything, it's that the domestic pet can have as many psychological hang-ups as its contemporary owner. Depression, anxiety, loneliness and fear of abandonment all lead to behavioral problems and an unstable home environment. WILFRED, the series, an in-depth portrait of such a pet 'behaving badly', features an owner, her new suitor and one not-so happy talking dog.

Wilfred the dog is the ultimate flawed character. Like David Brent in The Office, we are charmed by his arrogance and self-righteousness, his falsehoods and misguided passions. Insecure and manipulative, he will stop at nothing to win the love and affection he desires. Although his methods may sometimes be underhand, his innocence and purity of heart can never be questioned. Or can it?

Adam is your boy next door. He causes no trouble and trouble rarely comes his way. When Adam hooks-up with Sarah, he thinks all his Christmases have come at once.

Sarah is the ultimate package: attractive, intelligent, and with her own place. It all seems too good to be true... it is.

Sarah, like any modern single parent, is trying to create a stable life for herself and her "special little man". Sarah has a long list of failed relationships, which have left her and Wilfred jaded. Neither want to see the other hurt again and Adam has walked into an emotional mine field. So how hard can it be to make friends with a dog? That depends on the situation... and the dog.

Wilfred is a hit cult series from Australia. IFC is the first to air this demented little gem in North America. Watch for the premiere on IFC.com in early May, with new episodes every weekday.

YOUNG AMERICAN BODIES - From filmmaker Joe Swanberg (Hannah Takes The Stairs and the upcoming feature Nights and Weekends) comes a brand new season of his long-standing hit, the scripted web series Young American Bodies.

Young American Bodies is an candid, no holds barred look into the intersecting loves lives of six twenty-somethings in Chicago. It's intimate and fearless in its scope, and not surprisingly, timely is relevance and importance.

Young American Bodies premiered with a bang on Nerve.com and now, in partnership with Nerve, IFC.com brings the world premiere of season three of this powerful narrative. Seasons one and two - 20 episodes in total - begin airing on IFC.com in mid-May, rolling out over the course of the month. In late May, IFC.com premiere's season three, in twelve brand new episodes.

Watch for more news soon about more ingenious internet video content from IFC.com. We will be premiering a new web series every month all summer long (and beyond!)

By Melianthe Kines | Link | 0 Comments | Recommended (19)

The 2008 Tribeca Film Festival starts in just 23 days, and IFC is gearing up to cover every moment. Right here on IFC.com, we'll be bringing you in-depth coverage of the festival: interviews, reviews and news about this year's films and participants. We'll have online video updates from IFC News several times a day throughout the festival, too.

On the network, you can also catch daily IFC News coverage every day on the network for the duration. The festival this year runs from April 23rd to May 4th.

Right now, you can check out some of the trailers for this year's films and a look back at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival. And don't miss Alison Willmore's posts on the Indie Eye blog, starting with a list of unexpected directors with films at Tribeca this year.

By Melianthe Kines | Link | 0 Comments | Recommended (6)

Tags: tribeca 2008

Lots going on in April here at IFC. Big, BIG, BIG (did we say big?) premieres and themed nights to keep your visuals satisfied. Where to begin? How about Raging Bull, since it should've given Martin Scorsese his first Best Director Oscar back in 1980, not 27 years later for a film that failed to match this one's worth. Thankfully, Robert DeNiro did get honored with the grand prize for his outstanding performance as a violent boxer who can't control his emotions in or outside of the ring. Raging Bull premieres Sunday, April 6th, on a night of true-to-life films dedicated to people who just can't seem to shake trouble i.e. gambler Stu Ungar in High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story, and Michael Alig, club kid turned murderer, in Party Monster.

Also this month, the World War II drama The Pianist makes its debut on IFC. Adrian Brody won the Oscar in 2002 for his role in the film as a gifted musician trying to flee Nazi-occupied Warsaw, as did director Roman Polanski (though the latter, unable to enter the U.S., had to give his 'thanks' via a statement days later.)

A new genre emerged in the 1970s, when urban filmmakers began taking movies into their own hands to target black audiences. What resulted were some seriously bad ass characters followed around by some of the coolest, funkiest soundtracks to mimic their life. The fiery Foxy Brown, Coffy, Black Caesar, and Brotherhood of Death, are all on IFC. To get a history on how these and other films in the genre were made, tune into the IFC Original Doc Baadasssss Cinema, airing on the same night - Thursday, April 3rd.

And, for all you horror fiends, break out the umbrella for April Splatters. The screams, the blood, the gore, the girl in the shower that you know is about to get whacked. It all comes down Saturday, April 12th with Halloween, Dahmer, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

By Joanna Varikos in What to Watch on IFC | Link | 0 Comments | Recommended (7)

Tags: April, films, schedule

Ah, Australia. You're only a day away...literally. Boasting some of the finest waters and green lands as natural backdrops, as well as numerous film industry talent, it's no wonder Aussie movies are pretty darn impressive. From acting to the defining overall style that makes them Australian, IFC is honoring the filmmaking skills of the Land Down Under for an entire weekend beginning at noon on Saturday, March 22nd, and Sunday, March 23rd. Here are some of our faves:

• The Hard Word - An infusion of Australian wit with an edgy cops-and-robbers plotline, this film gives a first-hand lesson in Aussie slang. Getting a black eye is the difference between calling someone a "wanker" and not a "mate."
• My Brilliant Career & Picnic at Hanging Rock - Both of these were made in the 1970s, when film funding got a big boost in Australia. Picnic, directed by Peter Weir (his first feature is the classic "Cars that Ate Paris"), was a stepping stone in the impact Australian cinema had on the international market.
• Proof - A very young Russell Crowe in one of his first roles, just when those exemplary acting chops started brewing.
• Danny Deckchair - A feel-good romantic comedy about a guy who sets off to new heights when his helium-inspired balloon chair takes flight.
• Strictly Ballroom - Celebrated Aussie director Baz Luhrmann puts a comedic spin on the backstage drama of ballroom dancing.
• Garage Days - Solid confirmation that the "sex, drugs and rock n' roll" lifestyle is alive and well no matter what continent you're on.

By Joanna Varikos | Link | 0 Comments | Recommended (3)

Tags: Australia March Indies down under films

For the next 10 days, IFC will be covering the sights and sounds of this year's South by Southwest Festival on our blogs, online video reports, and on the channel. Alison Willmore will be posting reviews and interviews on the Indie Eye and Film News blogs (ably assisted by Stephen Saito), Matt Singer hosts our daily IFC News video coverage, and JIm Shearer will be joining them in Austin next week to cover the music festival for the Indie Ear blog. Plus, we'll be launching our new daily online video show, "Lunchbox", on Monday, March 10th at 12 noon ET on IFC.com.

So what's so special about this festival? The Hollywood Reporter spoke with IFC's general manager, Evan Shapiro:

IFC also takes advantage of the synergies at the festival. Both IFC Entertainment and IFC TV are major sponsors, but this year, IFC TV has turned the volume up exponentially: It is world premiering two documentaries (the punk-band-focused "Heavy Load" and the exploration of capital punishment "At the Death House Door"), hosting a panel tying in with "Death House," sponsoring a party with live performances by My Morning Jacket and Yo La Tengo, and launching a broadband show called "The Lunchbox" directly from the festival.

"In a culture where independent music has become 30%-40% of all music sold, when independent films get almost all the nominations at the Academy Awards, SXSW is reaping the benefits," explains IFC TV general manager Evan Shapiro. "In March, Austin is the center of independent culture in the world."

So come back to IFC.com every day and check out the latest from SXSW at ifc.com/sxsw. (Ordering in BBQ is optional.)

By Melianthe Kines | Link | 0 Comments | Recommended (0)

Tags: sxsw 2008