Film-Forward

Family drama

1985

A young gay man with HIV/AIDS comes home to Texas for Christmas with the intent of coming out to his conservative, deeply religious, working-class parents.

For Izzy | NewFest 2018

two families growing into one in this part faux-documentary, part-sincerest of drama.

Life & Nothing More

The struggling everyday life of a working-class African American family in Northern Florida.

Menashe

A wistful look at the difficulties of conformity.

20th Century Women

Director Mike Mills pays sympathetic tribute to his mother’s life in this comedy/drama set in the late 1970s.

Fences

A classic family drama and the first feature film version of a play by August Wilson.

Manchester by the Sea

It’s hard to imagine another American film this year with as many fine acting moments. Watching actor Casey Affleck, who looks like an eternally youthful choir boy, fight his inner demons is worth the price of admission alone.

Trash Fire

With more than a touch of Grand Guignol horror, this indie desperately wants to be a midnight movie,

Mia Madre

John Turturro has a high old time chewing the scenery as an egomaniacal American actor who blows his lines and delights in trolling everyone around him.