Header photo courtesy of Millennium Mambo (2001) / Dir. Hou Hsiao-hsien
Staying safe at home this season? Finished everything on your Netflix queue and need something to watch? Our staff put together a list of streaming content—from FTW creators to classics by underrepresented filmmakers—to give you more options to enjoy these next couple weeks.
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)
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)
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
