FTW STAFF PICKS: YOUR WATCH GUIDE FOR THE END OF 2020

Andrew Espindola (Creative Editorial Assistant)

This here's a wide array of films that I've come to enjoy. Good narratives, underlying messages, and worlds to take you on an adventure.

"Clapping for the Wrong Reasons" (LINK)

Artist: Donald Glover

Directed by Hiro Murai

Penguin Highway (LINK)

Directed by Hiroyasu Ishida

Guava Island (LINK)

Directed by Hiro Murai

"Lavender" (LINK)

FTW Creator/Director: Matthew Puccini

Tuca & Bertie (LINK)

Created by Lisa Hanawalt

"FUN!" (LINK)

Artist: Vince Staples

FTW Creator/Director: Calmatic

Charia Rose (Social Media Manager)

When I wasn't drowning myself in Real Housewives and Big Brother reruns, I watched a few narrative things that made my heart sing. I hope some of these picks warm your heart, open your eyes, and give you hope that we can empower ourselves by hearing the beauty in our own voices and stories. If you need a break, Season 6 of Real Housewives of Atlanta, Season 9 of Real Housewives of NY, and seasons 6,7, and 10 of Big Brother are the perfect palette cleansers. Sending all the love and good energy to you and yours, Char <3

Beau Travail (LINK)

Directed by Claire Denis

Disclosure (LINK)

FTW Creator/Director: Sam Feder

If Beale Street Could Talk (LINK)

Directed by Barry Jenkins

I May Destroy You (LINK)

Directed by Michaela Coel

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (LINK)

Directed by George C. Wolfe

Miss Juneteenth (LINK)

Directed by Channing Godfrey Peoples

On My Block (LINK)

Directed by Lauren Lungerich

Portrait of A Lady On Fire (LINK)

Directed by Céline Sciamma

P-Valley (LINK)

FTW Creator/Director/Writer: Katori Hall

Selah and the Spades (LINK) Directed by Tayarisha Poe

Chloe Coover (Community Manager)

Here's an eclectic selection of films, TV shows, music videos, art exhibits and photo books to feast upon throughout the cold winter—including Gossip Girl because duh! It's required viewing before it leaves Netflix on December 31st. And as a shameless plug, if you need an excuse to tune out from family drama, you can always catch up on any episodes of our podcast miniseries "The Future, Through Our Eyes" that you missed this year. You know you love me…xoxo, Chloe

Equal (Documentary Miniseries) (LINK)

FTW Creator/DP: Ava Benjamin Shorr

Gossip Girl (LINK)

Created by Stephanie Savage & Josh Schwartz

"Pain" (LINK)

Artist: King Princess

FTW Creator/Director: Quinn Wilson

Lingua Franca (LINK)

FTW Creator/Director: Isabel Sandoval

Pleasure Garden (Art Exhibit) (LINK)

FTW Creator/Artist: Tourmaline

Selah and the Spades (LINK)

Directed by Tayarisha Poe

Under The Skin (LINK)

FTW Creator/Composer: Mica Levi

Veneno (Miniseries) (LINK)

Created by Javier Ambrossi & Javier Calvo

Women (Photo Book) (LINK)

FTW Creator/Photographer: Nadia Lee Cohen

"Kerosene" (LINK)

Artist: Yves Tumor

Directed by Cody Critcheloe

María Alvarez (Creative Editor)

A collection of films and shorts that I either discovered or rewatched in 2020. These masterpieces made me feel inspired, comforted, or seen in a year that was extremely difficult to live through, let alone be creative.

Do the Right Thing (LINK)

Directed by Spike Lee

Fish Tank (LINK)

Directed by Andrea Arnold

In the Mood for Love (LINK)

Directed by Wong Kar Wai

Little Women (LINK)

Directed by Greta Gerwig

Moonlight (LINK)

Directed by Barry Jenkins

Small Axe: Lovers Rock (LINK)

Directed by Steve McQueen

The Rider (LINK)

Directed by Chloé Zhao

"Pillars" (LINK)

FTW Creator/Director: Haley Elizabeth Anderson

Water Lilies (LINK)

Directed by Céline Sciamma

"When I Get Home" (LINK)

Directed by Solange Knowles

Pamala Buzick (COO/Director of Partnerships)

Two picks that were way ahead of their time, two that are long overdue—these are the four that made me think long after I had finished the series. And if you want to have the ground rocked from underneath you, I encourage you to check out Coel's speech.

Lovecraft Country (LINK)

Created by Misha Green

Michaela Coel's James MacTaggart Lecture (LINK)

Speech by Michaela Coel

Ramy (LINK)

Created By Ramy Youssef

FTW Creator/Director: Cherien Dabis

FTW Creator/Writers: Minhal Baig & Colleen McGuinness

Sense 8 (LINK)

Created By The Wachowskis

FTW Creator/Composer: Emer Kinsella

The Watermelon Woman (LINK)

Directed by Cheryl Dunye

Tara Aquino (Head of Content)

Comfort, validation, inspiration, escapism, and anything that could make me feel anything in this WTF year. If any of these ring true for you, too, here you go. Let's exchange theories about The Wilds, spiral into "Fainting Spells," nerd out over Celine Sciamma (like the rest of this team apparently), and debate whether or not watching Normal People is a masochistic act. But seriously, stay home (if you can), stay safe, and indulge in the things that make you happy.

The Wilds (LINK)

Created by Sarah Streicher

FTW Creators/Directors: Sydney Freeland, Haifa al Mansour, Susanna Fogel

Additional directors: Alison McLean, Cherie Nolan, Tara Nicole Weyr, and more

"Fainting Spells" (LINK)

Directed by Sky Hopinka

Crip Camp (LINK)

Directed by James Lebrecht & Nicole Newnham

Feel Good (LINK)

Created by Mae Martin

FTW Creator/Director: Allie Pankiw

Time (LINK)

Directed by Garrett Bradley

Girlhood (LINK)

Directed by Celine Sciamma

"Charcoal Baby" (LINK)

Artist: Blood Orange

FTW Creator/Director: Akinola Davies

Millennium Mambo (LINK)

Directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien

Normal People (LINK)

Written by Sally Rooney and Alice Birch

Directed by Lenny Abrahamson and Hettie Macdonald

"San Miguel" (LINK)

FTW Creator/Director: Cris Gris