Cinemafile

WELCOME SPACE BROTHERS is a feature documentary about The Unarius Academy of Science, an extraterrestrial-channeling spiritual school and self-healing community established in the 1970s in El Cajon, California that became a wildly prolific filmmaking collective under the direction of outlandish spiritual leader and filmmaker Ruth E. Norman, AKA “Archangel Uriel.”

About the filmmaker - Jodi Wille is a filmmaker, curator, and book publisher known for her in-depth work exploring American subcultures and visionary artists. She directed and produced the acclaimed documentary THE SOURCE FAMILY (2013), which world-premiered in competition at SXSW Film Festival and had a 60-city theatrical run. WELCOME SPACE BROTHERS is her second feature documentary. Wille is an award-winning book publisher and author who recently released the coffee table book FAMILY: THE SOURCE FAMILY SCRAPBOOK (Sacred Bones/Otherworld). She has curated national museum and gallery exhibitions internationally featuring the art and films of outsider artists and alternative spiritual communities. She recently curated a major exhibition at the Museum of Sex, New York City, titled “Utopia Now! Three Centuries of Sexuality in American Cults and Communes. The exhibition has been lauded as “a force majeure on multiple fronts” by Artforum. The New York exhibition ran October 10, 2025 through April 2026 and is traveling to Museum of Sex Miami to open May 7, 2026 and run through November 30. She has been presenting the films and artwork of The Unarius Academy of Science at museums, galleries, international film festivals and cinematheques since 2014 and has been actively documenting them since 2014.

MIDDLE LIFE follows Andie, a perfectionist wedding planner in her mid-thirties and a new mother, who has meticulously crafted her life but still feels unfulfilled. Fresh off maternity leave, she saves Ryan, a blue-collar plumber, from a roadside accident. As their paths intertwine over the next year, her craving for change and his newfound perspective on life spark an unexpected connection, leading her to discover that life could be great. MIDDLE LIFE is a throwback romantic dramedy inspired by the character-driven relationship films of the 1970s and '80s, like An Unmarried Woman (Mazursky), Broadcast News (Brooks), When Harry Met Sally (Reiner), and Crossing Delancey (Silver). The film stars two acclaimed musicians from the Canadian Alt-rock band July Talk, frontman Peter Dreimanis, (Ryan) who made his big screen debut last year as Bert in Ryan Coogler's SINNERS, alongside his bandmate Leah Fay Goldstein, (Andie), who was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for her starring role in Moondi's DIAMOND TONGUES.

About the filmmaker - Writer/Director/Producer/Editor Pavan Moondi (pronounced “Pav-in”) is a Los Angeles-based writer and director originally from Toronto. He has written and directed three critically acclaimed feature films, including the Canadian Screen Award-nominated Diamond Tongues, which premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival, and Sundowners, which co-stars Tim Heidecker. In television, Pavan directed all eight episodes of the CBC single-camera comedy Four in the Morning and worked in the writers’ room on Schitt’s Creek, which was nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Comedy Series. Middle Life is his fourth feature film, which he wrote, directed, edited, and produced.

What would happen if a captive-born owl with no survival skills tried to make it on his own in New York City? In WILD INSIDE, we discover the answer is more incredible, and more consequential, than we could have ever imagined. In February 2023, a Eurasian Eagle-Owl named Flaco escapes from the Central Park Zoo and sets off on a magical odyssey through the island of Manhattan. Flaco answers the call of the wild – and discovers he was wild inside all along.WILD INSIDE is an underdog story of resilience and self determination as Flaco the Owl beats the odds and accomplishes the impossible. The remarkable story of Flaco raises some questions: is it right to keep a bird in a cage? Is there any real distinction between “zoo animals” and “wild animals”? How can we be better to our non-human neighbors?

About the director - Penny Lane has been making award-winning, innovative documentaries for over a decade. This includes 8 feature films, most recently CONFESSIONS OF A GOOD SAMARITAN(Netflix, 2023), LISTENING TO KENNY G(HBO, 2021) and HAIL SATAN? (Magnolia Pictures, 2019). A 2020 Guggenheim Fellow, Lane has received grants and awards from the Sundance Film Festival, Cinereach, Creative Capital, Chicken & Egg Pictures, Tribeca Film Institute, Wexner Center for the Arts and many others. She has been honored with mid-career retrospectives at the Museum of the Moving Image, San Francisco DocFest, Open City Documentary Festival and Cinema Moderne. She co-owns the Brooklyn-based production company Spinning Nancy and is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. And yes, Penny Lane is her real name.

Filmmaker Rustin Thompson journeys into the American West on a search for traces of what was once a center of small-town life: the movie theater. On the trip, he finds long abandoned and forgotten cinemas; movie houses that have fallen into disrepair; theaters recently closed, theaters struggling to hold on, and theaters that—thanks to their thoughtful caretakers—are not only surviving but thriving. Between the stops along the way, Rustin poetically intersperses excerpts from Peter Bogdanovich’s 1971 classic film, The Last Picture Show, as well as reflections on past and present hardships facing the film exhibition industry. The Last Picture Shows is not only a timely portrait of an industry in crisis, one facing the headwinds of consolidation, streaming, and the diminishing theatrical experience, but it also reminds viewers that even in vast cinema deserts, there are oases of community and gathering that remain, where the movie house continues to be a place of wonder, contemplation, and connection.

About the filmmaker - Director Rustin Thompson is a writer, filmmaker, and deejay based in Seattle. His recent films include The Last Picture Shows and Died Without Issue. His hybrid essay film, Slow Revolution, played in several international film festivals, and his film My Mother Was Here won Best Documentary at the Tacoma Film Festival. His very first documentary, made in 2000, 30 Frames A Second, won several Best Documentary awards, was named one of the Top Ten films of the year by the American Library Association, and one of the Best Undistributed Films of 2001 by The Village Voice. Rustin’s first book, Get Close: Lean Team Documentary Filmmaking is available from Oxford University Press. Rustin is a volunteer deejay for KBCS 91.3FM in Seattle, where he hosts Road Songs and the world music show, Night Train.

American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez chronicles how writer /playwright / director Luis Valdez illuminated the Mexican American experience on stage and screen and transformed the American cultural landscape. Born in Delano, California in 1940, Valdez wrote his first plays in grammar school, had his first play produced when he was a student at San Jose State University, and created El Teatro Campesino alongside the United Farm Workers, helping to inspire a broader Chicano theater movement. His “Zoot Suit” was the first Chicano play on Broadway. Despite critical rejection that killed the show, he persevered, creating “La Bamba”—a breakout blockbuster that authentically depicted Mexican-American life to the world

About the filmmaker - David Alvarado is an award-winning documentary filmmaker who brings to life stories of trailblazers in science, the arts, and human rights. His journey began as a high school dropout interning at Dallas PBS affiliate KERA, where he climbed from marketing to production, discovering his calling behind the camera. He co-founded Structure Films in New York City with Jason Sussberg. His feature documentaries include THE IMMORTALISTS (2014), BILL NYE: SCIENCE GUY (2017), WE ARE AS GODS (2022), and AMERICAN PACHUCO: THE LEGEND OF LUIS VALDEZ (2026). For television, he directed BLOOD SUGAR RISING (2020) for PBS, directed and produced the NOVA films WHO’S IN CONTROL (2023) and SECRETS IN YOUR DATA (2024), and produced the three-part Independent Lens series MATTER OF MIND (2023-2025). He also hosted and produced an eight-part Audible Original podcast on environmental technologist Stewart Brand. A Stanford Documentary Film MFA graduate, Alvarado has earned fellowships at the WGBH Producers Academy and Sundance’s Producers Workshop and was named one of DOC NYC’s 40 Under 40 Filmmakers to Watch. A decade-long NALIP member and Chicano filmmaker, Alvarado has dedicated his career to making the world more thoughtful through documentary storytelling, a mission that began twenty years ago when Luis Valdez showed him what was possible, at an event that ultimately culminated in this film.

Sia: Nostalgic for the Present is a bold, genre-defying experience that trades pop pageantry for pure artistry. Awe-inspiring vocals, breathtaking choreography, and iconic performances, captured cinematically and soundtracked by an unmatched catalog of hits. In 2016, Sia toured the world mirroring this film live on stage, frame for frame. Remastered for its tenth anniversary, it stands alone for the first time – not as a concert film, but as a visual masterpiece unlike anything in music since. The film which was directed by Sia and Daniel Askill features stunning performances from Maddie Ziegler, Kristen Wiig, Paul Dano, Ben Mendelsohn, Gaby Hoffmann, and Tig Notaro. Coming exclusively to select cinemas around the world from July 23rd, the limited theatrical event coincides with the ten-year anniversary of the unforgettable set in which the 9x GRAMMY® Award-nominated pop icon redefined what live music could be. siamusic.net

About the filmmaker - A multi-disciplinary creative force, Daniel Askill is known for his work as a filmmaker, visual artist, and creative director with a portfolio including film, music videos, commercials and video installations. His work, which The New York Times has described as “visually stunning,” is noted for its transportive, music-driven, and emotional visual storytelling—at times disruptive and always arresting. Askill is probably best known for his two-decade creative collaboration with Sia, which is credited with introducing a new visual language for what a popstar looks like. Their work together spans eight music videos, including “Chandelier,” “Elastic Heart”, “Cheap Thrills”, and their latest, “Beautiful People,” billions of YouTube views, a retrospective that was showcased as an installation in Semi Permanent’s headquarters in Sydney.

After her mother’s illness returns, 22-year-old Margarita, a young woman with autism, discovers the world of hobbyhorsing and sets out to prove her independence to her mother—stick horse and all. HORSEGIRLS stars breakout newcomer Lillian Carrier (“Everything's Gonna Be Okay”) and Gretchen Mol (Millers In Marriage, American Gigolo), who is featured in Taylor Sheridan’s hit Paramount+ drama series “Tulsa King.” The cast also includes Jerod Haynes (Native Son) and Tony Hale (Love Simon, Toy Story 4). Written and directed by Lauren Meyering, the film is produced by Alix Madigan (Winter’s Bone, Hold Your Breath), Michael Sherman (The Truffle Hunters, Her Smell) and Mackenzie Breeden (Dad's Dead Damnit, Praying Mantis). HORSEGIRLS premiered in competition at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival and recently led the winners at the Seattle Film Festival, taking home the Grand Jury Best Feature Film award, with Gretchen Mol awarded Best Actress and Lillian Carrier winning Outstanding Performance. Horsegirls also won the Cordillera International Film Festival Best Feature Film Audience Choice award.

About the filmmaker - Director and writer Lauren Meyering is passionate about creating content that is visually compelling, female-driven, and thought-provoking. Her work often follows characters on a “coming-of-age” journey—regardless of what that age may be. In addition to narrative work, Lauren has filmed across five continents with global nonprofits, crafting documentaries rooted in empathy and human connection. Her script Horsegirls was featured on the 2020 Black List. Lauren’s work has been recognized by the Women at Sundance Financing Initiative and screened at festivals nationally and internationally.She is a freelance writer and director based in Los Angeles, and also works as a film educator, mentoring youth across the LA and Orange County area.

Thirty years ago, Gail Ritchey, a young woman from a conservative Christian community in rural Ohio, gave birth alone and left her newborn in the woods. Now a devoted mother of three, her quiet suburban life shatters when DNA evidence links her to the infamous cold case of “Geauga’s Child. ” Arrested for murder and vilified in the media, authorities dismiss her claim that the baby was stillborn. Facing a possible life sentence, Gail and her family must confront religious stigma, community judgment, and long-buried shame in the fight for her freedom.. Directed by Jessica Earnshaw (JACINTA), BABY DOE looks beyond the headlines to reveal the human complexity of Gail’s case, exploring how women’s health, justice, and powerful outside forces shape stories like hers.

About the filmmaker - Jessica Earnshaw is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and photojournalist. Her work focuses on criminal justice, familial relationships, and women. Her photography has appeared in National Geographic, The Marshall Project, Mother Jones Magazine, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and NPR, amongst others. Her first documentary feature, JACINTA (Hulu/ABC News, 2021), won the Albert Maysles Best New Documentary Director Award at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2020. JACINTA has received nominations from the International Documentary Association for best feature documentary and best director, as well as two Cinema Eye nominations for best debut feature and a spotlight award. Her film BABY DOE (2025, Impact Partners), a feature documentary, will premiere in competition at the 2025 SXSW Film Festival. Jessica was named one of DOC NYC’s “40 under 40” in 2020, she’s a graduate of the International Center of Photography and lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Director Andy Mundy-Castle's Shoot The People is an intimate documentary capturing photographer and activist Misan Harriman’s journey documenting global protest movements that drive social change. Following Harriman as he highlights the resilience of grassroots activists fighting for equality, civil rights, and social justice, the film showcases the intersectionality of these movements and their collective power. With historical context, interviews with activists, and explorations of digital activism, the documentary reveals how Harriman’s lens brings the world’s activism to light, inspiring viewers to recognize their own power in shaping a more just society.

About the subject - Misan Harriman is a renowned photographer, filmmaker, and social activist celebrated for his powerful imagery that captures pivotal moments in contemporary history. As the first Black photographer to shoot a British Vogue cover in the magazine’s 104-year history, Misan has gained international acclaim for his work documenting social justice movements, including the Black Lives Matter protests, as well as his striking portraits of influential figures like Rhianna, Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, and Cate Blanchett. Misan’s 2023 short film ‘The After,’ produced by Nicky Bentham (Neon Films), was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. His work has been featured in Vogue, TIME, and The Guardian, solidifying his place as a leading voice in visual storytelling. Beyond his photography, Misan is a passionate advocate for change, using his platform to spotlight issues of inequality and human rights. With a keen eye for emotional depth and cultural significance, he approaches each project with a mission to inspire and provoke thought, creating images that resonate deeply with audiences around the world.

About the filmmaker - Andy is the Founder of award-winning indie production company Doc Hearts, known for producing high-end content, especially TV that authentically represents diverse communities with nuance and impact. Andy is a BAFTA- and RTS-winning producer whose credits include the critically acclaimed ‘White Nanny, Black Child’ (Channel 5/BFI), ‘Jimmy Akingbola: Handle With Care’ (ITV/ Peacock), ‘Lenny Henry: The Commonwealth Kid’ (BBC1) and The Fade (Netflix). After being a staffer at the BBC, Andy created numerous TV formats including ‘Go Green With The Grimwades’ (C5), ‘Reu & Harper’s Wonder World’ (C5), ‘The Black Lesbian Handbook’ (Channel 4), ‘Britain’s Abandoned Playgrounds’ (C4) and ‘What Did I Do Last Night?’ (Current TV / Al Jazeera) which was voted pick of MIPCOM and won best format at the Content Innovation Awards. He is currently creating his first animated IP with the former president of the Jim Henson Co. Peter Schube. Andy has an MA in Documentary Filmmaking, he was elected to the inaugural Board of the UK’s Documentary Film Council in 2024. He has also been a recipient of the Commonwealth Broadcasting Award and alumni of the IDFA Academy.

Each summer they bring together over 3,000 attendees to watch movies under the stars through their Free Summer Series at Ojai’s iconic Libbey Bowl, making it one of the largest free event series. For nearly four decades, the Ojai Film Society (OFS) has presented Free Summer Series with quality independent, foreign, documentary, and classic films to the Ojai Valley, making us one of the largest free event series in the Ojai Valley. Their audience is a true cross-section of the people who live in this community, with attendees ranging in age from infants to 96+ years of age. We welcome everyone — no matter one's age, race, gender, economic background, political views, or physical capabilities — outdoors, in community, for FREE.

About our guest - Ojai Film Society President Nicholas Weissman is an EP and director at Vacationland, a documentary studio that makes uncommon films on common ground. With over 15 years of experience in production, Weissman has led projects for major print and network news outlets. He is passionate about telling stories that help make the world make sense, collaborating with a community of award-winning filmmakers across the globe. He has worked with commercial clients such as Amex, Land Rover, Cadillac, Volvo, British Airways, Ray Ban, Visit California, Nike, Levi's, Microsoft, and Intel; and traveled to more than 20 countries to capture and share diverse perspectives and experiences. His feature, “For Ahkeem, “premiered at Berlinale Film Festival and won a 2018 Cinema Eye Honors Award. Recent films include “We the Power” for Patagonia, “Havana Libre,” “A Wonderful Kingdom,” and Soraya Simi’s “Row of Life”. He is a Sundance Producing Fellow, DOC NYC 40 under 40, and active member of the Brooklyn Filmmakers Collective.

About our guest - Ojai Film Society Vice President Brady Hahn is an award-winning consultant and Founder of The Noodle Collective. She has over fifteen years of experience advising organizations and individuals on developing and scaling impactful programs, over 150 B2B partnerships, and 800 multi-lateral activations reaching millions of professionals globally. Her client work has contributed to PRWeek and Iris Awards nominations, and a MarCom Award Honorable Mention. Brady's forthcoming book, Women of the Valley: A Biographical History of the Ojai, California, will be published in the summer of 2026. She is also the editor of the Amazon best-selling workbook, “Choose Yourself: A 12-week Journey to Becoming the God of Your Own Heart” and co-author of The Women's Professional Conference Experience & Impact Study. Her research and advocacy work has ensured 1,200 women have spoken at professional conferences and provided over 1,000 event organizers with equity tools. Brady has appeared in Inc.com, Convene Magazine, and "Your Network Is Your Net Worth" (Atria Books, 2013) and spoken for The Female Quotient, Create & Cultivate, Social Media Week, Boston University, and University of Southern California.