IndieWire, the definitive outlet for creative independence in film and TV, announced on Thursday, November 14, another edition of its Honors event focused entirely on film. Curated and selected by IndieWire’s editorial team, IndieWire Honors is a celebration of the creators and stars responsible for some of the most stellar work this season.
IndieWire, the definitive outlet for creative independence in film and TV, announced on Thursday, November 14, another edition of its Honors event focused entirely on film. Curated and selected by IndieWire’s editorial team, IndieWire Honors is a celebration of the creators and stars responsible for some of the most stellar work this season.
It may be bold to refer to the person who adapted Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel as an auteur, but with “Nickel Boys” a transfer of ownership has occurred. RaMell Ross takes an account of two young men trapped at an infamous reformatory school and composes the film in a way that provides the audience a visceral experience. Using the tools that earned him an Oscar nomination for his directorial debut, documentary “Hale County This Morning, This Evening,” the filmmaker again shepherds a project that mesmerizes viewers in unforgettable ways, proving him to be a singular voice.
It is its own accomplishment for a director to complete a “Dune” adaptation, so to see Denis Villeneuve take on the challenge of making the definitive cinematic version of Frank Herbert’s beloved sci-fi epic, and achieve such critical and commercial success, is inspirational. With “Dune: Part Two,” the Oscar-nominated director delivers on the promise of a deeper look at Arrakis, sandworms and all. Along the way he mixes everything from infrared camera techniques to wiring and practical effects, and it brilliantly captures the imagination that fans of the novels harbored for decades. The setting is a vision realized, executed by a cast of young actors on the precipice of superstardom.
A story about a superintelligent service robot raising a baby goose alongside a fox does not immediately suggest a film that absolutely drains the tear ducts of parents and children alike. Still, fair to say that the filmmaker behind projects like “Lilo & Stitch,” Chris Sanders knows how to deliver a beloved film that audiences did not know they needed. “The Wild Robot” is a confluence of all the elements that make animation special, from painterly images to a stellar voice cast and music that unlocks new levels of emotion.
World War II has been mined so often that it’s a film genre, but even now there are aspects of the global event that have been too often glossed over. With “Blitz,” director Steve McQueen and production designer Adam Stockhausen not only illuminate what life was like in London when Nazis bombed the city, but it also walks the audience through its devastation. Though the film centers on a mother and her son, the massive scale takes us away from the rubble, through infernos, and into the crowded, gilded tunnels toward safety.
Pamela Anderson’s performance in Gia Coppola’s “The Last Showgirl” beautifully reflects her own isolation through decades in Hollywood – no wonder she describes it as the role she has been waiting for her whole career. There is a richness to her Shelly that allows viewers a deep empathy and understanding after spending just 85 minutes with her. While it may seem like the end of the road for Anderson’s showgirl, Coppola’s film feels like the start of a renaissance for the actress in finding more roles that understand her talent and further her evergreen appeal.
It's a simple concept -- a day in which young girls attend a dance with their incarcerated fathers – but directors Angela Patton and Natalie Rae's “Daughters” has extraordinary depth. It's unnerving to witness the effects of America’s flawed justice system on families, but the Netflix documentary is not gloomy. Whether parent or child, many of these people are bright lights that prove everyone has a story worth telling. Although it is heartbreaking to watch them say goodbye after the climactic dance, the film leaves viewers with the hope that it can effect change, and lead to more programs rooted in keeping families connected through hardship.
After three decades of chart-topping music, movie-star roles, and producing dozens of films that appeal to viewers across generations, Jennifer Lopez is not just a star, but someone who was truly born to entertain. In Amazon’s “Unstoppable,” based on the true story of one-legged college wrestling champion Anthony Robles, Lopez opts for a lower key: She portrays his mother Judy, who is inspired by her son to pursue a fresh start that results in her own triumphs. It's a fitting role for Lopez in a career filled with them: she knows what it means to blaze her own trail, and what it takes to get there. “Unstoppable” is an apt description for this maverick performer.
When “Challengers” hit theaters in April, it satiated an audience that suffered from months of ambivalence about theatergoing. Finally, there was a high-quality film that was fun to talk about and inspired theories – not to mention giving tennis lessons a try, or buying a pair of Chanel sandals, or opening up relationships. Released outside the standard window for awards contenders, it has staying power: This Halloween, character costumes of Josh O’Connor, Mike Faist, and Zendaya were inescapable. It's the grand slam for debut screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes, producer Amy Pascal, and director Luca Guadagnino, who delivered one of the defining films of 2024.
Invitations are non-transferrable.
An RSVP does not guarantee admission. Admission is first come, first served. Capacity is limited.
It may be bold to refer to the person who adapted Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel as an auteur, but with “Nickel Boys” a transfer of ownership has occurred. RaMell Ross takes an account of two young men trapped at an infamous reformatory school and composes the film in a way that provides the audience a visceral experience. Using the tools that earned him an Oscar nomination for his directorial debut, documentary “Hale County This Morning, This Evening,” the filmmaker again shepherds a project that mesmerizes viewers in unforgettable ways, proving him to be a singular voice.
It is its own accomplishment for a director to complete a “Dune” adaptation, so to see Denis Villeneuve take on the challenge of making the definitive cinematic version of Frank Herbert’s beloved sci-fi epic, and achieve such critical and commercial success, is inspirational. With “Dune: Part Two,” the Oscar-nominated director delivers on the promise of a deeper look at Arrakis, sandworms and all. Along the way he mixes everything from infrared camera techniques to wiring and practical effects, and it brilliantly captures the imagination that fans of the novels harbored for decades. The setting is a vision realized, executed by a cast of young actors on the precipice of superstardom.
A story about a superintelligent service robot raising a baby goose alongside a fox does not immediately suggest a film that absolutely drains the tear ducts of parents and children alike. Still, fair to say that the filmmaker behind projects like “Lilo & Stitch,” Chris Sanders knows how to deliver a beloved film that audiences did not know they needed. “The Wild Robot” is a confluence of all the elements that make animation special, from painterly images to a stellar voice cast and music that unlocks new levels of emotion.
World War II has been mined so often that it’s a film genre, but even now there are aspects of the global event that have been too often glossed over. With “Blitz,” director Steve McQueen and production designer Adam Stockhausen not only illuminate what life was like in London when Nazis bombed the city, but it also walks the audience through its devastation. Though the film centers on a mother and her son, the massive scale takes us away from the rubble, through infernos, and into the crowded, gilded tunnels toward safety.
Pamela Anderson’s performance in Gia Coppola’s “The Last Showgirl” beautifully reflects her own isolation through decades in Hollywood – no wonder she describes it as the role she has been waiting for her whole career. There is a richness to her Shelly that allows viewers a deep empathy and understanding after spending just 85 minutes with her. While it may seem like the end of the road for Anderson’s showgirl, Coppola’s film feels like the start of a renaissance for the actress in finding more roles that understand her talent and further her evergreen appeal.
It's a simple concept -- a day in which young girls attend a dance with their incarcerated fathers – but directors Angela Patton and Natalie Rae's “Daughters” has extraordinary depth. It's unnerving to witness the effects of America’s flawed justice system on families, but the Netflix documentary is not gloomy. Whether parent or child, many of these people are bright lights that prove everyone has a story worth telling. Although it is heartbreaking to watch them say goodbye after the climactic dance, the film leaves viewers with the hope that it can effect change, and lead to more programs rooted in keeping families connected through hardship.
After three decades of chart-topping music, movie-star roles, and producing dozens of films that appeal to viewers across generations, Jennifer Lopez is not just a star, but someone who was truly born to entertain. In Amazon’s “Unstoppable,” based on the true story of one-legged college wrestling champion Anthony Robles, Lopez opts for a lower key: She portrays his mother Judy, who is inspired by her son to pursue a fresh start that results in her own triumphs. It's a fitting role for Lopez in a career filled with them: she knows what it means to blaze her own trail, and what it takes to get there. “Unstoppable” is an apt description for this maverick performer.
When “Challengers” hit theaters in April, it satiated an audience that suffered from months of ambivalence about theatergoing. Finally, there was a high-quality film that was fun to talk about and inspired theories – not to mention giving tennis lessons a try, or buying a pair of Chanel sandals, or opening up relationships. Released outside the standard window for awards contenders, it has staying power: This Halloween, character costumes of Josh O’Connor, Mike Faist, and Zendaya were inescapable. It's the grand slam for debut screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes, producer Amy Pascal, and director Luca Guadagnino, who delivered one of the defining films of 2024.
Invitations are non-transferrable.
An RSVP does not guarantee admission. Admission is first come, first served. Capacity is limited.
