We head into the autumn and it is always an exciting time for film fans as we are usually treated to a range of great indie films... 2016 is going to see that fine tradition continue.
Captain Fantastic
Yes, if you are an indie film fan, you are in for a treat this September as there are a string of great indie films that you really cannot afford to miss.
We take a closer look at some of the films that are on the horizon and the indie movies that we are looking forward to the most.
- Jim: The James Foley Story - released 2nd September
If you are a documentary film fan, then Jim: The James Foley Story is one of the movies that you cannot afford to miss.
James Foley was an America journalist who was reporting on the Syrian Civil War when it was kidnapped and eventually beheaded by ISIS in August 2014.
Directed by Brian Oakes, Jim: The James Foley Story, is an in depth look at the life and works of the journalist Oakes was a childhood friend of Foley's.
The movie is the second documentary movie by Oakes, who made his debut back in 2015 with television documentary Living with Lincoln. Jim: The James Foley Story is a more personal movie for the filmmaker and is set to be one of the most emotional and powerful movies this September.
Jim: The James Foley Story is a fascinating portrait of a man who died doing the job that he loved. It is a mix of personal stories as well as tackling some wider themes of events in the Middle East.
- Anthropoid - released 9th September
Sean Ellis is set to return to the director's chair this September as he returns with his latest film Anthropoid.
Anthropoid is the fourth feature film for Ellis and his first film since the release of Metro Manila back in 2013. As well as being in the director's chair, Ellis has also teamed up with Anthony Frewin to pen the film's screenplay.
Cillian Murphy leads an all-star cast in the historical drama and is joined by Jamie Dornan, Anna Geislerová, Harry Lloyd, Toby Jones, and Charlotte Le Bon.
Anthropoid is based on the extraordinary true story of the World War II operation to assassinate SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich. Heydrich was the Reich's third in command after Hitler and Himmler, and the main architect behind the Final Solution and the leader of the occupying Nazi forces in Czechoslovakia.
Nicknamed 'The Butcher of Prague,' his reign of terror and brutal crackdown prompted Allied authorities in London to hatch a top-secret mission, codenamed Operation Anthropoid, which would change history.
The film follows two soldiers from the Czech army-in-exile, Josef Gabcík (Murphy) and Jan Kubis (Dornan), who are parachuted into their occupied homeland in December 1941. With limited intelligence and little equipment in a city locked down under Nazi occupation, they must find a way to assassinate Heydrich, the man many saw as Adolf Hitler's natural successor.
The movie premiered at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival earlier this summer and is set to be a tense watch. We are big Cillian Murphy fans here at FemaleFirst and it is always exciting to see him back in action.
- Hell Or High Water - released 9th September
Chris Pine has already had a busy summer with the release and success of Star Trek Beyond, and now he is back with indie film Hell Or High Water.
Hell Or High Water sees Pine team up with filmmaker David Mackenzie, who returns to the director's chair for his first feature since the success of Starred Up back in 2013.
Pine takes on the central role of Toby Howard and is joined on the cast list by Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges, Katy Mixon, and Gil Birmingham.
Hell or High Water premiered at the Un Certain Regard section of the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, where it was well received by both audiences and critics.
A story about the collision of the old and new West, two brothers - Toby (Pine), a straight-living, divorced father trying to make a better life for his son; and Tanner (Foster), a short-tempered ex-con with a loose trigger finger - come together to rob branch after branch of the bank that is foreclosing on their family land. The hold-ups are part of a last-ditch scheme to take back a future that powerful forces beyond their control have stolen from under their feet.
Vengeance seems to be theirs until they find themselves in the crosshairs of a relentless, foul-mouthed Texas Ranger (Bridges) looking for one last triumph on the eve of his retirement. As the brothers plot a final bank heist to complete their plan, a showdown looms at the crossroads where the last honest law man and a pair of brothers with nothing to live for except family collide.
Mackenzie made every sit up and take notice when he delivered Starred Up and he is one of the most exciting filmmakers to keep an eye on over the next couple of years.
Hell or High Water is set to be another character driven drama with some great performances at its core.
- Captain Fantastic - released 9th September
Captain Fantastic is another film that her been performing well on the festival circuit and now there's just a week or so to go until it finally hits the big screen.
The movie received its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival at the beginning of the year and marks the return of Matt Ross to the director's chair.
Captain Fantastic is only the second feature film of Ross' career and comes four years after he made his debut with 28 Hotel Rooms in 2012.
As well as being in the director's chair, Ross has also penned the film's screenplay and he teams up with actor Viggo Mortensen for the first time.
The Oscar-nominated actor takes on the central role of Ben, a devoted father of six children, and is joined on the cast list by George MacKay, Samantha Isler, Annalise Basso, Nicholas Hamilton, Kathryn Hahn, Steve Zahn, and Frank Langella.
Deep in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, isolated from society, a devoted father (Mortensen) dedicates his life to transforming his six young children into extraordinary adults. But when a tragedy strikes the family, they are forced to leave this self-created paradise and begin a journey into the outside world that challenges his idea of what it means to be a parent and brings into question everything he's taught them.
Captain Fantastic is a movie that has been winning over critics on the festival circuit and is a film that you really cannot afford to miss this September.
- Hunt For The Wilderpeople - released 16th September
Taika Waititi is a filmmaker who will see his star rocket next year after taking up the director's chair for Thor: Ragnarok. But before we see him put his own stamp on the Thor franchise, he is back with Hunt For The Wilderpeople.
Hunt For The Wilderpeople is based on the book by Barry Crump and Waititi has penned the screenplay as well as being in the director's chair.
The movie premiered In Competition at this year's Sundance Film Festival and it looks set to be one of the great sleeper hits of 2016. it is an adventure/comedy that really looks like it is going to be a whole lot of fun.
Sam Neill and Julian Dennison take on the central roles of Uncle Hec and Ricky and they are joined on the cast list by Rhys Darby, Rima Te Wiata, Rachel House, and Oscar Knightley.
Ricky, a defiant young city kid, finds himself on the run with his cantankerous foster uncle in the wild New Zealand bush after a series of misadventures befall the unlikely duo. A national manhunt ensues, and the two are forced to put aside their differences and work together in this hilarious and heartfelt adventure.
Hunt For The Wilderpeople has been met with acclaim on the festival circuit and upon release and is one of the September movies that I am looking forward to the most.
- Swiss Army Man - released 30th September
Swiss Army Man was one of the most divisive films at this year's Sundance Film Festival - some loved it while others hated it. But it is promising to be one of the most original movies to hit the big screen this September.
Swiss Army Man marks the feature film directorial debut for Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, who make the leap from shorts and television projects. As well as being in the director's chair, Kwan and Scheinert have also penned the film's screenplay.
The movie sees Paul Dano take on the central role of Hank while Daniel Radcliffe stars as corpse - yes you read that right - Manny.
Dano and Radcliffe are two of the most exciting actors around and I am looking forward to seeing them work together on this new feature. They are joined on the cast list by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Timothy Eulich, and Richard Gross.
Outrageously funny and deeply affecting, Swiss Army Man tells the tale of Hank (Dano); stranded on a deserted island and having given up all hope of ever making it home again. But one day everything changes when a corpse named Manny (Radcliffe) washes up on shore; the two become fast friends, and ultimately go on an epic adventure that will bring Hank back to the woman of his dreams.
It may have divided audiences at Sundance, but the movie has gone on to win over the critics. Kwan and Scheinert did go on to win Best Director award in the US Dramatic category at the festival.
Other indie films to watch out for this September include The 9th Life of Louis Drax, The Blue Room, and Theo and Hugo.