Indie Film Weekly [EP 32]: Folktales (2025) & Tangerine (2015)
Hey there, indie film fans—welcome back to Indie Film Weekly, where the multiplex is optional but the movies still matter. I’m Glen Reynolds from Circus Road Films, here with your weekly rundown of what’s new in theaters, on demand, and a classic worth rediscovering.
Before we jump in—please, if you can, go see these films in theaters. Indie filmmakers live and die by box office turnout, and your ticket can make the difference between momentum and obscurity. Stream later, sure—but show up first. Okay, soapbox done.
New in Theaters
First up is Folktales, from Magnolia. Directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, this immersive documentary drops you into a folk high school in the Arctic north of Norway—where teenagers spend their gap year living communally, bonding over sled dogs, folk music, and frozen solitude. It’s a coming-of-age tale that swaps angst for introspection and reminds us how formative community and nature can be.
Next is 2000 Meters to Andriivka, a gripping frontline documentary by Mstyslav Chernov, the Ukrainian filmmaker behind 20 Days in Mariupol. Here, he follows a platoon attempting to retake a key village from Russian forces. Embedded with them is a journalist, observing the tactical maneuvering, human toll, and emotional wear on soldiers who wonder if victory is even possible. It’s harrowing and essential.
And then there’s Diciannove, from Oscilloscope. This Italian feature follows Leonardo, a teenager from Palermo, as he leaves home for the first time to study in Siena. What unfolds is a messy, tender, and sometimes brutal ride through academia, self-doubt, and identity. Think early Bertolucci meets Frances Ha—with more espresso and less dancing.
That’s Folktales, 2000 Meters to Andriivka, and Diciannove—an unusually international trio of indies that all dig deep into place, purpose, and personal reckoning.
Films to Rent or Download
On TVOD this week, I’m flagging a personal favorite—18½, directed by Dan Mirvish. Set during the Watergate era, it follows a White House transcriber who stumbles onto the only copy of Nixon’s infamous missing 18½ minutes.
With vibes of The Conversation and a dash of Dr. Strangelove, it’s a tense, twisty political thriller shot on 16mm and stacked with delightful indie cameos. Part conspiracy, part absurdist farce, all rooted in one of the most fascinating what-ifs of American political lore. You can rent it now on major platforms.
Indie Classic
And finally, our classic this week: Tangerine, celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Directed by Sean Baker, this film exploded onto the scene in 2015 not just for its vibrant story but for how it was made—shot entirely on iPhones. But don’t let the tech gimmick fool you. It’s an electric, kinetic, and deeply human film about two trans sex workers navigating the streets of Los Angeles on Christmas Eve, searching for a cheating boyfriend-pimp.
It’s funny, heartbreaking, and buzzing with authenticity. Available on Hulu, Amazon, and Netflix. A must-see if you missed it—or even if you didn’t.
That wraps it for the July 25 edition of Indie Film Weekly. Whether you’re trudging through snow with sled dogs, dodging bullets in Ukraine, or just trying to get your act together in college—or, hey, you just want to dig into Nixon-era scandal or celebrate a landmark in trans representation—there’s something indie for you this week.
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