Indie Film Release Guide: June 17th [An ONTD Original]

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Disney’s Lightyear lands in theaters this weekend to battle Jurassic World Dominion and Top Gun: Maverick. As the only big studio new release, it has very little other competition in the way of new releases. There are a few indies coming out, of course, and several on streaming services - check those out below.

The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Six” - Paramount, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Studios, Universal, Columbia/Sony and Disney. Note that some of the movies listed are in their first week or two of limited release in the USA, so it may take them a few more weeks (or months) to show up in your local arthouse theater or on VOD. Check out the posts from the past few weeks for more movies that may have just opened near you: June 10th, June 3rd, and May 27th.

Cha Cha Real Smooth

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Stars: Cooper Raiff, Dakota Johnson, Evan Assante, Vanessa Burghardt
Writer/Director: Cooper Raiff
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Plot: A young man who works as a Bar Mitzvah party host strikes up a friendship with a mother and her autistic daughter.
What you should know: Won the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available on Apple+



Official Competition

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Stars: Penélope Cruz, Antonio Banderas, Oscar Martinez, José Luis Gómez
Writer: Mariano Cohn, Andrés Duprat, Gastón Duprat
Director: Mariano Cohn, Gastón Duprat
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Plot: A wealthy businessman hires a famous filmmaker to help make a smash hit film.
What you should know: It’s in Spanish.
Where to watch: In select theaters, expanding soon; available August 2nd on VOD

Brian and Charles

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Stars: David Earl, Chris Hayward, Louise Brealey, Jamie Michie
Writer: David Earl, Chris Hayward
Director: Jim Archer
Genre: Comedy
Plot: After a particularly harsh winter Brian goes into a deep depression; completely isolated and with no one to talk to, Brian does what any sane person would do when faced with such a melancholic situation. He builds a robot.
What you should know: Based on a short film by the same name that screened at SXSW 2022.
Where to watch: In theaters

Cocoon

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Stars: Leonie Krippendorff, Jella Haase, Lena Klenke, Elina Vildanova
Writer/Director: Leonie Krippendorff
Genre: Drama, Romance
Plot: Berlin-Kreuzberg is Nora's microcosm. Nora, the silent observer, drifts around the monotonous housing blocks with her big sister and her friends, witnessing events that seem to cross-fade in the summer light. When she meets Romy, music is in the air, Nora's body is changing, and caterpillars are spinning their cocoons. Realistic and taking on the protagonist's perspective, this film captures a summer of change.
What you should know: It’s in German.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD

Stay Prayed Up

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Director: D.L. Anderson, Matthew Durning
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Lena Mae Perry's electrifying voice may surprise you, but the power of her gospel will never leave you in this lively celebration of a North Carolina gospel crew, their steadfast faith, and the songs that get them through.
What you should know: Picked up several wins on the film festival circuit.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available on Amazon and Apple TV July 5th.

Bitterbrush

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Director: Emelie Mahdavian
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: In the remote and rugged mountains of the American West, two young women contemplate the future as they work alone herding cattle.
What you should know: Director Emelie Mahdavian’s last feature documentary film was 2016’s After the Curtain.
Where to watch: In theaters

The Book Keepers

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Writer/Director: Phil Wall
Genre: Documentary
Plot: Carol Wall's debut memoir - about cancer, friendship, and cultivating an open heart - was a breakout success. But joy turned to tragedy when the breast cancer she wrote about returned, and she died months after its publication. Carol's husband, Dick, determined to help her life-affirming message find its audience, becomes the book's unlikely spokesperson and embarks on a nationwide book tour. He's joined by the couple's filmmaker son, Phil, who captures his dad's efforts to ensure her dream lives on. The result is an intimate portrait of love and loss - an ode to the healing power of storytelling.
What you should know: Winner of the Audience Award and Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the Austin Film Festival.
Where to watch: In theaters

Spiderhead

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Stars: Miles Teller, Chris Hemsworth, Jurnee Smollett,
Writer: Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Plot: In the near future, convicts are offered the chance to volunteer as medical subjects to shorten their sentence. One such subject for a new drug capable of generating feelings of love begins questioning the reality of his emotions.
What you should know: This marks the third collaboration between director Joseph Kosinski and actor Miles Teller with the first being Only the Brave (2017) and second being Top Gun: Maverick (2022).
Where to watch: Netflix

Father of the Bride

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Stars: Andy Garcia, Gloria Estefan, Adria Arjona, Isabela Merced
Writer: Matt Lopez
Director: Gary Alazraki
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Plot: A father's coming to grips with his daughter's upcoming wedding through the prism of multiple relationships within a big, sprawling Cuban-American clan.
What you should know: Based on the novel by Edward Streeter.
Where to watch: HBO Max

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande

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Stars: Emma Thompson, Daryl McCormack, Les Mabaleka, Lennie Beare
Writer: Katy Brand
Director: Sophie Hyde
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Plot: Nancy Stokes, a 55-year-old widow, is yearning for some adventure, human connection, and some sex--some good sex.
What you should know: The shoot for the film was 19 days, and they filmed in order to let the relationship between the leads progress naturally.
Where to watch: Hulu

More New Releases

Lightyear (Trailer) from Disney
Jerry and Marge Go Large (Trailer) on Paramount+
Poser (Trailer)
Wild Men (Trailer)
Abandoned (Trailer)

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What have you been watching lately? Seeing anything this weekend?