Indie Film Weekly

Send us Fan Mail

This week on Indie Film Weekly, Glen Reynolds highlights five indie films worth knowing about: three in theaters, one on demand, and one classic.

🎥 Indie Film Reviews:
Atonement (2026)
Lady (2026)
Nickels (2026)
Men of Law (2026)
Mulholland Drive (2001)

Get the free Indie Film Weekly newsletter here - https://newsletter.CircusRoadFilms.com/

Companies:
Circus Road Films - https://www.CircusRoadFilms.com/
Just Curious Media - https://www.JustCuriousMedia.com/

Listen:
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indie-film-weekly/id1786274754
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7i8CzZ19BfM6lRfFAobxRu?si=29bf8ec6da5b44d0
Buzzsprout - https://IndieFilmWeekly.buzzsprout.com/

Watch:
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@IndieFilmWeekly

Connect:
Glen Reynolds - [email protected]
Indie Film Weekly - https://www.instagram.com/CircusRoadFilms/

#indiefilmweekly #independentfilm #indiemovies #filmreviews #movierecommendations #circusroadfilms #justcuriousmedia #glenreynolds

Send us Fan Mail

On this episode of Indie Film Weekly, Glen Reynolds and Jason Connell speak with filmmaker Karl Lentini about his indie thriller Men of Law, releasing September 29 on Amazon and other transactional VOD platforms through X4 Pictures. Lentini explains the film’s origin as a self-financeable concept he developed with Charles Gorgano, the New York–Texas character setup and Smithville, Texas locations, and inspirations such as the structure of The Untouchables. 

He discusses taking on multiple roles (co-writer, director, producer, composer, and lead actor), the challenges of run-and-gun chase scenes, editing with Sarah Radle, and directing himself. Lentini describes losing Gorgano in 2021 and the actor who played Vito in 2024, and how the film led to a Men of Law podcast exploring child trafficking with real-world guests. 

The episode also covers distribution strategy, meeting Reynolds via an Austin DVD connection, and quick-fire moviegoing questions.

00:00 Welcome and Film Setup
01:14 Origins of Men of Law
01:40 Writing Partners and Influences
04:49 Early Filmmaking Roots
05:32 Texas Locations and Casting Changes
07:21 Action Scenes and Production Challenges
08:53 Heroes or Vigilantes
09:58 Editing Choices and End Tease
12:36 Character Chemistry and Directing Yourself
14:36 Lessons Learned and Men of Law Podcast
16:33 Distribution Deal and Release Plans
20:43 Quick Cuts Theater Questions
23:10 Final Cut and Where to Watch

Get the free Indie Film Weekly newsletter here - https://newsletter.CircusRoadFilms.com/

Companies:
Circus Road Films - https://www.CircusRoadFilms.com/
Just Curious Media - https://www.JustCuriousMedia.com/

Listen:
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indie-film-weekly/id1786274754
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7i8CzZ19BfM6lRfFAobxRu?si=29bf8ec6da5b44d0
Buzzsprout - https://IndieFilmWeekly.buzzsprout.com/

Watch:
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@IndieFilmWeekly

Connect:
Glen Reynolds - [email protected]
Indie Film Weekly - https://www.instagram.com/CircusRoadFilms/

#indiefilmweekly #independentfilm #indiemovies #filmreviews #movierecommendations #circusroadfilms #justcuriousmedia #glenreynolds

Send us Fan Mail

This week on Indie Film Weekly, Glen Reynolds highlights five indie films worth knowing about: three in theaters, one on demand, and one classic.

🎥 Indie Film Reviews:
Edie Arnold Is a Loser (2026)
The Scout (2026)
The Incomer (2026)
Resynator (2024)
Big Night (1996)

Get the free Indie Film Weekly newsletter here - https://newsletter.CircusRoadFilms.com/

Companies:
Circus Road Films - https://www.CircusRoadFilms.com/
Just Curious Media - https://www.JustCuriousMedia.com/

Listen:
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indie-film-weekly/id1786274754
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7i8CzZ19BfM6lRfFAobxRu?si=29bf8ec6da5b44d0
Buzzsprout - https://IndieFilmWeekly.buzzsprout.com/

Watch:
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@IndieFilmWeekly

Connect:
Glen Reynolds - [email protected]
Indie Film Weekly - https://www.instagram.com/CircusRoadFilms/

#indiefilmweekly #independentfilm #indiemovies #filmreviews #movierecommendations #circusroadfilms #justcuriousmedia #glenreynolds

Send us Fan Mail

On this episode of Indie Film Weekly, Glen Reynolds and Jason Connell speak with writer/co-director Megan Ricco and co-director Kade Adwood about their debut feature, Edie Arnold Is a Loser, about an awkward Catholic schoolgirl who finds drumming, forms a punk band, and embraces what makes her different.

They discuss the script’s origins in Ricco’s Catholic school experiences and punk wish fulfillment, Adwood’s desire to make a low-budget film without waiting for approval, and why they chose to co-direct. They cover casting believably young actors, creating a respectful low-budget set, and developing the film’s cartoony sound effects and later-added animations that Ricco taught herself to make.

The filmmakers reflect on SXSW premiere and buzz screening, winning SIFF’s Golden Space Needle for Best Film, audience reactions, influences to avoid, and their 22-city theatrical roadshow with no current streaming plans.

00:00 Welcome and Film Intro
01:47 Origins of the Script
03:35 Choosing to Co-Direct
05:30 Why the Story Resonates
06:28 Title and Punk Influences
07:48 Casting Real Teens
10:52 Standout Performances
12:04 Sound Effects and Animation
14:28 Catholic Goth Aesthetic
15:32 Teen Movie Influences
17:50 SXSW Premiere Reactions
19:18 Screenings and Audience Surprises
22:39 Message for Teen Girls
24:15 What’s Next for Them
24:53 Quick Cuts Theater Trivia
28:07 Final Advice and Where to Watch
30:32 Closing Thanks

Get the free Indie Film Weekly newsletter here - https://newsletter.CircusRoadFilms.com/

Companies:
Circus Road Films - https://www.CircusRoadFilms.com/
Just Curious Media - https://www.JustCuriousMedia.com/

Listen:
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indie-film-weekly/id1786274754
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7i8CzZ19BfM6lRfFAobxRu?si=29bf8ec6da5b44d0
Buzzsprout - https://IndieFilmWeekly.buzzsprout.com/

Watch:
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@IndieFilmWeekly

Connect:
Glen Reynolds - [email protected]
Indie Film Weekly - https://www.instagram.com/CircusRoadFilms/

#indiefilmweekly #independentfilm #indiemovies #filmreviews #movierecommendations #circusroadfilms #justcuriousmedia #glenreynolds

Send us Fan Mail

On this episode of Indie Film Weekly, Glen Reynolds and Jason Connell speak with filmmaker Colette Ghunim about her debut feature documentary Traces of Home, which follows her taking her Mexican mother and Palestinian father back to the homes they were forced to leave as children, evolving into an exploration of displacement, intergenerational trauma, and healing. 

Ghunim explains the project’s origins in cultural-root seeking, its deepening during the 2017 refugee ban and border separations, her parents’ differing comfort levels returning, and how the camera enabled difficult family conversations, aided by her father’s 100+ hours of VHS footage and animated sequences created by Lebanese and Mexican animators. 

They discuss mentorship via Kartemquin Films, festival responses, DOC NYC Grand Jury Prize, and distribution with Watermelon Pictures.

Traces of Home begins a theatrical rollout on Sept. 16 in New York (Angelika) and Sept. 25 in Los Angeles (Laemmle), with further cities listed at tracesofhome.com.

00:00 Welcome and Setup
01:14 Meet Colette Ghunim
01:52 Origins of the Film
03:01 Convincing Her Parents
04:36 Becoming a Filmmaker
06:00 Mentors and Influences
07:17 Camera as Healing Tool
09:37 VHS Archive Deep Dive
10:31 Finding the Story in Edit
11:49 Personal Meets Political
13:43 Family Feedback and Aftermath
17:09 Animation Choices
18:41 Festivals and Audience Reactions
20:38 Distribution and Producers
22:50 What’s Next for Collette
23:54 Quick Cuts Moviegoing Game
26:28 Final Cut What Is Home
27:08 Release Dates and Farewell

Get the free Indie Film Weekly newsletter here - https://newsletter.CircusRoadFilms.com/

Companies:
Circus Road Films - https://www.CircusRoadFilms.com/
Just Curious Media - https://www.JustCuriousMedia.com/

Listen:
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indie-film-weekly/id1786274754
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7i8CzZ19BfM6lRfFAobxRu?si=29bf8ec6da5b44d0
Buzzsprout - https://IndieFilmWeekly.buzzsprout.com/

Watch:
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@IndieFilmWeekly

Connect:
Glen Reynolds - [email protected]
Indie Film Weekly - https://www.instagram.com/CircusRoadFilms/

#indiefilmweekly #independentfilm #indiemovies #filmreviews #movierecommendations #circusroadfilms #justcuriousmedia #glenreynolds

Send us Fan Mail

This week on Indie Film Weekly, Glen Reynolds highlights five indie films worth knowing about: three in theaters, one on demand, and one classic.

🎥 Indie Film Reviews:
Traces of Home (2026)
The History of Concrete (2026)
The Weight (2026)
Kneecap (2024)
My Brother’s Wedding (1983)

Get the free Indie Film Weekly newsletter here - https://newsletter.CircusRoadFilms.com/

Companies:
Circus Road Films - https://www.CircusRoadFilms.com/
Just Curious Media - https://www.JustCuriousMedia.com/

Listen:
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indie-film-weekly/id1786274754
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7i8CzZ19BfM6lRfFAobxRu?si=29bf8ec6da5b44d0
Buzzsprout - https://IndieFilmWeekly.buzzsprout.com/

Watch:
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@IndieFilmWeekly

Connect:
Glen Reynolds - [email protected]
Indie Film Weekly - https://www.instagram.com/CircusRoadFilms/

#indiefilmweekly #independentfilm #indiemovies #filmreviews #movierecommendations #circusroadfilms #justcuriousmedia #glenreynolds

Send us Fan Mail

On this episode of Indie Film Weekly, Glen Reynolds and Jason Connell speak with writer/director Michael Paradies Shoob and producer and story collaborator Joe Mealey about their new indie film, Road to Everywhere.

The film follows Los Angeles cab driver Jason Skyler as he takes Jake, a casino dealer returning to the Navajo Nation after 30 years, on a long-distance journey to see his grandson compete in a Native American rodeo.

Shoob and Mealey met at AFI and previously made the 1996 cab-driver ensemble Driven, which was shot and edited on film. They discuss returning to that world with Whip Hubley once again playing Skyler, their original plans involving Tony Todd, Shoob’s experiences driving a cab, the decision to use black-and-white with color flashbacks, and how low-budget flexibility helped shape several key scenes.

They also discuss the film’s unusual roadshow release, which paired screenings with live performances and Q&As featuring Grammy-winning musician and lead actor Robert Mirabal. The tour reached 26 theaters in 21 cities.

Road to Everywhere will be available September 15 on Amazon, Apple TV, and other TVOD platforms through Twin Engines Global.

00:00 Welcome and Setup
01:46 Origins of the Sequel
03:03 Casting Changes and Whip Returns
04:17 Cab Life Inspiration
07:37 Why Revisit Now
08:18 Partnership and Producing
10:29 Tech Shifts and Growth
12:10 Black and White Choice
14:16 DP and Shooting the Cab
16:26 Title Meaning and Themes
19:35 Roadshow Release Strategy
22:24 Distribution and Audience Impact
24:47 Quick Cuts Game
27:33 Final Cut and Wrap

Get the free Indie Film Weekly newsletter here - https://newsletter.CircusRoadFilms.com/

Companies:
Circus Road Films - https://www.CircusRoadFilms.com/
Just Curious Media - https://www.JustCuriousMedia.com/

Listen:
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indie-film-weekly/id1786274754
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7i8CzZ19BfM6lRfFAobxRu?si=29bf8ec6da5b44d0
Buzzsprout - https://IndieFilmWeekly.buzzsprout.com/

Watch:
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@IndieFilmWeekly

Connect:
Glen Reynolds - [email protected]
Indie Film Weekly - https://www.instagram.com/CircusRoadFilms/

#indiefilmweekly #independentfilm #indiemovies #filmreviews #movierecommendations #circusroadfilms #justcuriousmedia #glenreynolds

Send us Fan Mail

This week on Indie Film Weekly, Glen Reynolds highlights five indie films worth knowing about: three in theaters, one on demand, and one classic.

🎥 Indie Film Reviews:
On a String (2026)
The Condor Daughter (2026)
A Marble in the Jar (2026)
Road to Everywhere (2026)
Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Get the free Indie Film Weekly newsletter here - https://newsletter.CircusRoadFilms.com/

Companies:
Circus Road Films - https://www.CircusRoadFilms.com/
Just Curious Media - https://www.JustCuriousMedia.com/

Listen:
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indie-film-weekly/id1786274754
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7i8CzZ19BfM6lRfFAobxRu?si=29bf8ec6da5b44d0
Buzzsprout - https://IndieFilmWeekly.buzzsprout.com/

Watch:
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@IndieFilmWeekly

Connect:
Glen Reynolds - [email protected]
Indie Film Weekly - https://www.instagram.com/CircusRoadFilms/

#indiefilmweekly #independentfilm #indiemovies #filmreviews #movierecommendations #circusroadfilms #justcuriousmedia #glenreynolds

Send us Fan Mail

This week on Indie Film Weekly, Glen Reynolds highlights five indie films worth knowing about: three in theaters, one on demand, and one classic.

🎥 Indie Film Reviews:
Cocoon: One Summer of Girlhood (2026)
Barbara Forever (2026)
Chronovisor (2026)
The Wizard of the Kremlin (2026)
Donnie Darko (2001)

Get the free Indie Film Weekly newsletter here - https://newsletter.CircusRoadFilms.com/

Companies:
Circus Road Films - https://www.CircusRoadFilms.com/
Just Curious Media - https://www.JustCuriousMedia.com/

Listen:
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indie-film-weekly/id1786274754
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7i8CzZ19BfM6lRfFAobxRu?si=29bf8ec6da5b44d0
Buzzsprout - https://IndieFilmWeekly.buzzsprout.com/

Watch:
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@IndieFilmWeekly

Connect:
Glen Reynolds - [email protected]
Indie Film Weekly - https://www.instagram.com/CircusRoadFilms/

#indiefilmweekly #independentfilm #indiemovies #filmreviews #movierecommendations #circusroadfilms #justcuriousmedia #glenreynolds

Send us Fan Mail

This week on Indie Film Weekly, Glen Reynolds highlights five indie films worth knowing about: three in theaters, one on demand, and one classic.

🎥 Indie Film Reviews:
Cocoon: One Summer of Girlhood (2026)
Barbara Forever (2026)
Chronovisor (2026)
The Wizard of the Kremlin (2026)
Donnie Darko (2001)

Get the free Indie Film Weekly newsletter here - https://newsletter.CircusRoadFilms.com/

Companies:
Circus Road Films - https://www.CircusRoadFilms.com/
Just Curious Media - https://www.JustCuriousMedia.com/

Listen:
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/indie-film-weekly/id1786274754
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7i8CzZ19BfM6lRfFAobxRu?si=29bf8ec6da5b44d0
Buzzsprout - https://IndieFilmWeekly.buzzsprout.com/

Watch:
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@IndieFilmWeekly

Connect:
Glen Reynolds - [email protected]
Indie Film Weekly - https://www.instagram.com/CircusRoadFilms/

#indiefilmweekly #independentfilm #indiemovies #filmreviews #movierecommendations #circusroadfilms #justcuriousmedia #glenreynolds