Lower East Side Film Festival to Open with Pete Ohs' ‘The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick'
'Our Opening and Closing Night films are proof that indie filmmaking packs a punch,' Roxy Hunt, LESFF Co-Director and CEO of BFD Productions, said. 'Pete Ohs and Lola Rocknrolla are true badass filmmakers, telling stories that are daring, original, and unapologetic. At a time when Hollywood is playing it safe and overlooking bold, visionary voices, independent film is where authentic stories have the freedom to break through. LESFF has always been about championing that spirit, and this year is no different.'
More from IndieWire
ADVERTISEMENT
'The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick' had its world premiere at SXSW. The film stars Zoë Chao, Jeremy O. Harris, Callie Hernandez, and James Cusati-Moyer a as friend group whose weekend retreat goes unsettlingly wrong after an ominous tick bite seems to unravel reality.
In contrast, 'The Big Johnson' tells the story of late NYC legend Dean Johnson, who was a drag queen, rock star, activist, and enigma, per the logline. 'A towering figure in the underground scene, Johnson's shocking, unsolved death remains a mystery. Was it murder? Was it an accident? One thing's for sure: Dean changed New York forever,' as the description reads.
''The Big Johnson' is thrilled to have our New York premiere at the LES Film Festival,' director Lola Rocknrolla said. 'Dean Johnson lived most of his adult life on the Lower East Side and I lived on Ludlow Street for the better part of a decade. Roxy Hunt and Tony Castle are the best festival curators I have ever worked with and they really care about keeping film and culture alive. This is our neighborhood, this is our festival and we can't freakin' wait for it.'
LESFF will take place May 1 to 5, and will have screenings at Village East by Angelika and DCTV's Firehouse Cinema. Purchase tickets to the Lower East Side Film Festival here.
'The Big Johnson'
This festival also marks the launch of its first-ever Stay Indie Project, a direct pipeline for independent filmmakers to get their projects made. Launched in collaboration with BFD Productions, the initiative connects independent filmmakers with development, financing, and production support to greenlit indie films. The first Stay Indie project to be part of the festival is feature 'Not One Drop of Blood,' which had its world premiere at Filmfort (Treefort Music Fest, Idaho) before screening at The Florida Film Festival. It will have its New York premiere at LESFF out of competition.
ADVERTISEMENT
'Not One Drop of Blood' is produced by LESFF co-directors Hunt and Tony Castle, as well as LESFF Board Member Sarah Wharton. The feature documentary film is directed by Jackson Devereux and Lachlan Hinton, and follows the decades-long mystery of unexplained cattle mutilations in rural Oregon. The doc was based on Anna King's NPR reporting; King produces the film that was financed and produced in partnership with BFD Productions, Northpoint Post, and Copperline Creative.
'With the Stay Indie Project, we're helping tear down the biggest roadblock indie filmmakers face — getting their films made,' Tony Castle, LESFF Co-Director and COO of BFD Productions, said. 'It's not enough to just celebrate independent film; we need to actively build a pipeline for bold, risk-taking storytellers to get their work out into the world. By pairing the festival with our production company, we're giving filmmakers real resources, real funding, and real momentum. But it doesn't stop at making movies — we're here to make sure they get seen. Getting indie films into actual cinemas, on the big screen, where they belong—that's what it's all about. Watching movies together, in the dark, the way they were meant to be experienced. That's the magic. That's the mission.'
'Not One Drop of Blood'
Additional Stay Indie Project features in the works include narrative film 'Our Bodies and Other Shames,' written by Malka Wallick and directed by Jenny Lester; and documentaries 'The Ark,' 'Hoop Like This,' and 'Credible Fear.'
'Our Bodies and Other Shames' stars Alysia Reiner, Micaela Diamond, Gideon Adlon, and Malka Wallick as childhood best friends who are forced to confront their past when one is diagnosed with breast cancer.
ADVERTISEMENT
'The Ark,' which is directed by Jeremy Chilnick and Viacheslav Rakovskyi, centers on a young Ukrainian family who, in the midst of war, transforms their farm into a refuge for 1,000 displaced animals.
'Hoop Like This' is directed by Shubhangi Shekhar and follows the best Indian basketball players from around the globe as they join forces to compete in the world's highest stakes basketball tournament on ESPN to prove to the world that brown men can jump.
'Credible Fear,' directed by Gabrielle Ewing, is about a chance pairing between Yojana, a Guatemalan asylum seeker, and Amy, a DC attorney, during a seven-year battle for justice inside America's broken immigration system.
The full LESFF program will be announced soon.
Best of IndieWire
Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘It' is Back and Derry-er Than Ever: HBO Series Is the Latest in Stephen King Cinematic Universe
The only other author, besides Stephen King, who can lay claim to having more of their work mined for television and film has got to be God. Show of hands of people who saw 'The Life of Chuck' earlier this year and had the 'Oh, right, that was based on a Stephen King story, of course' moment when the credits rolled. King is extremely prolific, and his myriad of tales tap into something specific about the human psyche — and most especially the innocence of childhood. Think of some of the most enduring King adaptations. 'The Shining.' 'Carrie.' 'Stand By Me.' The perspective of youth, in all its awkwardness, terror, and joy, is a persistent throughline. 'It' is the best example of this aspect of his work. The mammoth 1,000+ page 1986 novel has been memorably translated to film twice — once as the two-part Tim Curry 1990 miniseries and again as the Bill Skarsgård two-part film series (2017 and 2019). Generations of children of felt chills at the sight of rain jackets and red balloons because of these films and their source material. More from IndieWire Jay Leno Says Late Night Hosts 'Alienate' Viewers: 'I Don't Think Anybody Wants to Hear a Lecture' George Lucas Makes His First Ever Comic-Con Appearance So to make a full-fledged prequel television series out of the book makes sense. A (second) teaser for 'It: Welcome to Derry' was released July 27, which you can watch below. Warning: it may spoil whatever love you have for 'The Music Man.' What's most interesting about this trailer comes about 57 seconds in, when a bus is shown for 'Shawshank State Prison,' which is of course the setting of the King novella 'Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption and its subsequent acclaimed film adaptation 'The Shawshank Redemption,' long listed as the No. 1 film ever by IMDb users. This puts the series not only in the same universe as the most recent 'It' films, but potentially in the same world as many other King works. The connections between King's own works have been discussed for decades — at least since the 2001 book 'The Stephen King Universe' was published. Pennywise — the titular 'It' clown — and the town of Derry are mentioned in a variety of King stories and screen translations, including 'Castle Rock,' 'The Dark Tower,' Insomnia,' 'Maximum Overdrive,' and 'Gray Matter.' Carrie White — you know, 'Carrie' — is mentioned directly in the 'It' novel. I mean, even the Overlook Hotel from 'The Shining' is mentioned in his book 'Misery.' Then King wrote his own sequel to that, 'Doctor Sleep,' which also became a movie. Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe made it on to our screens, these subtle connections between Maine's favorite author's impressive catalogue was already on full display. So, right out of the gate, to include this nod and place 'Welcome to Derry' right smack nab in the Stephen King pantheon is indeed a 'welcome' move. At Comic-Con on July 27, fans were also treated to a 10-minute preview of the new show (which has not been made available online as of this writing). According to Entertainment Weekly, the scenes — set in 1962 — follow a boy who sneaks into a movie theater, is caught, and then escapes… only to hitch a ride with a mild-mannered family that turns out to be the shape-shifting 'It.' This intro echos that of its source material, which also opens on a young boy's gruesome death at the hands of Pennywise. The eight-episode 'It: Welcome to Derry' premieres on HBO and HBO Max this October. Watch the first teaser trailer, released in May, below. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie Nicolas Winding Refn's Favorite Films: 37 Movies the Director Wants You to See
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
The One Thing ‘Superman' and ‘Fantastic Four' Can Agree on? Origin Stories Are Over
[Editor's note: The following article contains some spoilers for both 'Superman' and 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps.'] It long ago became a familiar refrain for both this writer and plenty of other critics, journalists, film fans, and superhero stans: We're done with origin stories. And while the ever-expanding nature of both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the spruced-up DC version requires the seemingly constant addition of new heroes and new stories, which, in turn, mean more movies and TV shows that chronicle how these super-beings came to be, it's time to call time on those heavy-hitter origin tales. More from IndieWire Is 'Fantastic Four' a Marvel Reset or Another Step Backward? Screen Talk Reviews the Film and Previews Fall Festivals 'Monk in Pieces' Review: Billy Shebar's Vital Documentary Makes Sense of an Artist Who's Always Defied Basic Understanding We know why Batman is Batman, how Spider-Man became Spider-Man, and that Superman is an extraterrestrial. That's a lesson that both of this summer's big superheroic releases — James Gunn's delightful DC franchise reset 'Superman' and Matt Shakman's less successful MCU entry 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' — both intrinsically understand and honor. Both films open after our titular heroes have become, well, heroes. Gunn's film not only opens after his Clark Kent (David Corenswet) has crash-landed on Earth from his native Krypton, but also after he's come to terms with his powers, grappled with growing up in Smallville, become Superman as we know him, moved to Metropolis, gotten a job at the Daily Planet, met Lois Lane, told Lois Lane who he is, and set about saving the world one squirrel at a time. That's a tremendous amount of ground to cover and more than enough for its own film — or, as we've seen over the past 87 years the hero has been in the zeitgeist, more than enough for multiple films, TV series, shorts, radio plays, even a musical, and a little thing called comic books — and is simply not required anymore. Jumping into the Superman story in medias res doesn't mean that we're robbed of enjoying the building blocks of how something came to be, but that we get to enjoy the story from a different starting point. Seeing how Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan in Gunn's film) reacts to discovering that Clark and Supes are the same person? That's not nearly as interesting or fresh as watching her grapple with that dichotomy, over and over, and in different situations. Similarly, Gunn's film doesn't push any superhero-to-superhero meetings on the audience; instead, when Superman joins a fight alongside the so-called Justice Gang, we get to observe relationships that are already in place. What a relatively small touch — hey, these people know each other — that pays off big time. Gunn and company are in the midst of something of a DC reset, which affords them the opportunity to take on seemingly risky things like 'not having to remind us that Superman is literally from space and also Clark Kent,' but even before this new iteration of DC screen lore, Warner Bros. was starting to dip its rubberized wings into less origin-centric superhero stories. Matt Reeves' 'The Batman' (which is, and we're getting deep here, not actually part of the overall DC superhero franchise, but is its own thing, called the quite-chewy 'Batman Epic Crime Saga') similarly works off a baseline understanding of the Caped Crusader (Robert Pattinson). And while, yes, Bruce Wayne's beloved dead parents and their horrific deaths are included in the film, it doesn't play out as a traditional origin story. Consider it a happy side effect of the film's earliest incarnations, when Ben Affleck was going to direct and star in his own Batman movie, after his Bruce had already been 'introduced' in other DCEU films. For once, development hell has rewards. Much like 'Superman,' Shakman's 'Fantastic Four' opens four years (you get it, right?) after the titular superhero family was turned into cosmically powered individuals after a spaceflight gone bad. Because of the alternate Earth the fab four inhabit, the energetic opening of Shakman's MCU film not only gets to show off the superhero clan, but the retrofuturistic world they protect. It's the highlight of the film, a zippy and genuinely fun way to introduce the group (including Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn) within the confines of their kitschy planet (which is also, incidentally, filled to bursting with citizens who adore them). Cleverly packaged as a TV chat show introduction to the famous group, Shakman finds the space to introduce the heroes, their world, and even show off some of their exploits (from befriending Mole Man to vanquishing, as best we can tell, a bunch of super-smart apes). For fans of the comic book heroes, it's an opening full of classic storylines and some 'hey, I get that reference!' nods. For newbies, it's a whiz-bang trip through lore that sets up the story to come. Mostly, it's refreshing. Consider this year's other MCU entries, including 'Captain America: Brave New World' and 'Thunderbolts,' both of which require a high level of franchise knowledge to really stick, including the consumption of multiple movies and TV shows (and, and this is essential, a solid memory when it applies to all of them). If you're an MCU fan, that's a lot of time spent to 'get' a film or two. If you're just a casual watcher of the movies, it's nearly insurmountable. Let's stop that now. 'Superman' and 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' lead the way. That's heroics we can get behind. Both 'Superman' and 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' are now in theaters. Best of IndieWire The 16 Best Slasher Movies Ever Made, from 'Candyman' to 'Psycho' Martin Scorsese's Favorite Movies Include 'Eddington': 87 Films the Director Wants You to See The Best Thrillers Streaming on Netflix in July, from 'Vertigo' and 'Rear Window' to 'Emily the Criminal'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
‘Spinal Tap II: The End Continues' Trailer: Rob Reiner Gets the Band Back Together 41 Years Later
Spinal Tap is tapping back into the music scene, 40 years later. The highly-anticipated sequel 'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues' reunites director Rob Reiner with stars Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer for a revival of the beloved mockumentary about a faux band. The official synopsis reads: 'Forty-one years after the release of the groundbreaking mockumentary 'This Is Spinal Tap,' the now estranged bandmates David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, and Derek Smalls (McKean, Guest, and Shearer) are forced to reunite for one final concert. 'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues' also marks the resurrection of documentarian Marty Di Bergi (Reiner), who once again tries to capture his favorite metal gods as they contemplate mortality — and the hope that their 12th drummer doesn't join them in The Great Beyond. Joined by music royalty Paul McCartney and Elton John, Spinal Tap wrestles with their checkered past to put on a concert that they hope will solidify their place in the pantheon of rock 'n' roll.' More from IndieWire 'The Serpent's Skin' Review: Alice Maio Mackay Conjures 'The Craft' with Kissing in Vivid Demon Drama 'BTS ARMY: Forever We Are Young' Review: Emotional K-pop Doc Is Often Dynamite, but Lacks Depth The titular group has infamously been deemed 'England's loudest and most punctual band,' with the sequel set during their reunion after a 15-year hiatus for one final concert. Elton John, Paul McCartney, Garth Brooks, and Trisha Yearwood will appear as themselves in the film. Paul Shaffer, David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, Derek Smalls, Fran Drescher, Don Lake, John Michael Higgins, Nina Conti, Griffin Matthews, Kerry Godliman, and Chris Addison will also star in the Bleecker Street feature. Distributor Bleecker Street is also re-releasing a newly-restored edition of the 1984 original film back in to theaters this summer. That new version will also hit digital and streaming platforms, making it the first time the film has been available digitally in years. Reiner told IndieWire that 'Spinal Tap' was almost never made in the first place. 'We went to every single studio and got turned down everywhere,' Reiner said during the Filmmaker Toolkit podcast. 'Nobody wanted it. We went from studio to studio with a 16mm film can under our arms.' Thankfully, the sequel to the hit film was an easier sell: 'It's a tiny bit slicker, because Marty Di Bergi [the director played by Reiner in the original] has seen all the reality television shows and all these four-part and six-part docs,' Reiner said of the meta experience filming 'Spinal Tap II,' adding, 'But I wanted to try to do it pretty much the way we did the first one.' Bleecker Street will release 'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues' in theaters on Friday, September 12. Check out the trailer below. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie Nicolas Winding Refn's Favorite Films: 37 Movies the Director Wants You to See