Hello August

3 Aug

Summer is well and truly underway and if you need some new ideas of what to watch, read or check out in the (hopefully) sunny month of August then look no further. We have a mixed bag of recommendations here with new releases, recent loves and old favourites.

What Are We Up To?

It’s been another busy month for us here, when we came into 2020 we were filled with excitement for our Women X event. Our first film festival, celebrating women and non binary creatives within the industry. It’s been a difficult year for many film festivals, events being cancelled and moving online has caused a lot of concern for the future of events. We’re still continuing to plan for our event in Darlington on October 24th, but we will be also running an online event at the same time so international audiences can attend as well as those not comfortable with travelling.

With nobody knowing how the next few months will shape up, we’ll be updating you with any progress or changes that move forward, but we look forward to sharing with you the incredible films in our selection, whether that be at the Hippodrome or on your laptop screens! You can still enter your short film via Filmfreeway before the deadline on August 21st and we’ll be announcing the selection LIVE! On Friday 4th September. You may have seen that we’ve gathered an impressive number of partners for the event too!

The podcast had a rebrand this month! Lauren and Courtney have worked on a catchy new theme song and beautiful logo update. Alex and Joanna have helped shape our new structure and are working on an exciting mini series of interviews with women in the industry talking about their favourite films and also their guilty pleasures! So keep your eyes peeled for more news on that.

We’ve had some great episodes on the show last month too, we discussed the documentary Disclosure and the transgender representation in TV and film. We also did an episode on Asian Americans in film and how it’s taken a turning point within the past five years which caught the attention of William Yu who began the #StarringJohnCho movement. Caris also gave a heartfelt tribute episode to Naya Rivera, who sadly passed away in a tragic accident last month.

Our short film Coming out for Christmas also got into an additional two film festivals in July! Shropshire Rainbow Film Festival and Queerbee Film Festival! That makes four selections for our festive comedy. We’re looking forward to these screenings and want to thank the brilliant team that helped put this film together!

The blog certainly had a busy month with some incredible pieces from our writers. Sammy Bennett wrote on Psycho Sex Symbols in film, Neha Vyas explored the cultural important of Never Have I Ever, Kim Morrison gave us a desirable watchlist with her piece on sisterhood in horror films, we interviewed the impressive film maker Parvinder Shergill and I wrote a love letter to Celine Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire.

We’ve recently advertised that we’re looking for volunteers to assist us with some festival related duties, social media marketing and assistance with our distribution team. If you want to get involved just drop us an email to info@riannepictures.com

Our Team’s Top Picks

Film

Celebration of Sundance Film Festival: London - 7-9 August
Many of us couldn’t attend Sundance, but not to worry as there is a fantastic looking celebration online in August. You can catch some of the best of Sundance 2020 from your own home and we at Rianne Pictures are going to be covering the event. We can’t wait to dig into the films available and share our thoughts with you! You can find out more here and join in the fun by buying passes/tickets here.

Glasgow Short Film Festival - 17-23 August
An online only event, GSFF2020 will take place 17-23 August and is a revised programme of the one they planned to show in March before they had to change their plans due to COVID. Their programme looks brilliant, packed with a wide array of shorts and a filmmaker focus on Thai filmmaker Sorayos Prapapan. You can register for industry accreditation now - it is free for UK and international industry representatives. Check out their programme and find out more information here.

Open City Documentary Festival - Accreditation Open
Another festival recommendation! Open City Documentary Festival is not until 9-15 September but accreditation is open now so it’s definitely worth checking out. There are a few types of accreditations plus a discount for anyone applying for industry accreditation who is from an underrepresented group - you can find all details here. If you’re into documentaries, I highly recommend OCDF as they celebrate and champion unique non-fiction content.

The Last Black Man in San Francisco - Sky and Now TV
One of Neha’s favourite films of 2019, The Last Black Man in San Francisco is the story of Jimmie and Mont who try to reclaim the house built by Jimmie’s grandad. It’s an amazing film that gives an insightful look into gentrification in America. The cast are fantastic and the performances from Jimmie Fails and Jonathan Majors deserve way more recognition. You can now watch the film over on Sky and NOW TV.

Best Wishes, Warmest Regards: A Schitt's Creek Farewell - Netflix
The majority of our team have watched and adored Schitt’s Creek and are absolutely gutted it’s over. However, if you are missing the show as much as our team then make sure to watch the documentary on Netflix ASAP! You can find unseen footage and filming of the final table read - it’s an emotional one so make sure you are prepared and have tissues at the ready.

Disclosure - Netflix
We mentioned this documentary last month too but it’s so good we are recommending it again! We recently recorded a couple of podcast episodes on Disclosure which you can listen to here if you want to hear Caris, Neha, Ashton and I chat about it. Even more of our team have watched it since and Joanna is also singing her praises for the doc! It truly chronicles the media representations of transgender people over the years brilliantly and has some fantastic interviews too.

Knock Down The House - Netflix
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is an absolute icon, queen and powerhouse and I may have a slight crush on her - but that’s irrelevant. The fantastic documentary Knock Down the House follows AOC as well as three other women in their primary campaigns to run for Congress. It’s a heartwarming watch, showing highs and lows of the campaigns and the major struggles they are battling. Both Charlotte and I highly recommend this doc - available to watch on Netflix.

Becoming - Netflix
Our team member Charlotte has been on a bit of a documentary binge and enjoyed Becoming which you can watch on Netflix. The doc follows the ever incredible Michelle Obama, giving an intimate look into her life and the connections she makes as she tours around. If you haven’t yet read her book also called Becoming definitely check that out too as that also has shining reviews - I’m hoping to both read the book and watch the doc soon too!

Books

Love in Colour by Bolu Babalola
This highly anticipated book from Neha’s favourite tweeter, Bolu Babalola, is published on 20th August (you can pre-order now online and from many bookshops - please support independent bookshops if you can!). In Love in Colour she re-tells stories from history and mythology with a focus on West African folktales. It sounds amazing and I’ve already pre-ordered and I am eagerly awaiting the publication date!

The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
I read Akwaeke Emezi’s YA book, Pet, last month and I absolutely loved it. It was a unique and fascinating concept with amazing characters and fantastic representation - so many adjectives but they are all truly deserved! Emezi’s new book The Death of Vivek Oji takes us to the day Vivek is born, following a family trying to understand their child as he learns who he is. Their book is released on 20th August and can be found at most bookshops and online.

Tennis Lessons by Susannah Dickey
This debut novel from Susannah Dickey has been getting wonderful reviews and is written by a friend of Lauren’s! It’s a raw coming of age story and has been described as being for fans of I May Destroy You and Fleabag which is super intriguing and definitely caught my attention. If you fancy giving this a read, check it out online or ask at your local bookshop.

The One by John Marrs
One of the next books to be made into a Netflix series, this psychological thriller novel is about the dilemmas that can stem from soulmates suddenly being the norm in the dating pool and the different people that are affected. Ashton really enjoyed the story and thinks it would make a fantastic series so she is eagerly awaiting more news on that. In the meantime, check out the book and if you’re into it, go talk soulmate theories/universes with Ashton because she is obsessed with those!

TV Shows

Lovecraft Country - HBO
Many of us are really looking forward to watching Lovecraft Country which is set to premiere on August 16th on HBO. The ever fantastic Jordan Peele is Executive Producer and Courtney is particularly looking forward to seeing a Southern Gothic style TV show tackle horror and racial injustice in the Southern United States.

The Great Heist (El Robo Del Siglo) - Netflix
This is a new Colombian TV show that’s dropping on Netflix on 14th August. It’s based on the 1994 robbery of $33 million from Colombia’s central bank and Neha cannot wait for it to start streaming - it’s very up her street, so expect to hear her chat a bit about it on the podcast in a month or so!

Feel Good - Channel Four
This is an underrated little show starring Mae Martin and Charlotte Ritchie as an endearing couple, dealing with their problems in … not so great ways! Mae is a stand up comedian and recovering drug addict with self esteem issues and her girlfriend, George, is struggling with her sexuality and coming out to her friends. It’s a charming comedy with a lot of heart and I found some of the relationship issues around sexuality to be super relatable. I recommend this so, so much - and not just because I highkey have a crush on Charlotte Ritchie! You can catch Feel Good on Channel Four now.

Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story - USA Network
If you enjoyed the first season of Dirty John the second looks just as brilliant. Ashton is looking forward to watching it after loving how accurate the first season was. This adaptation looks just as wild as the first and features Amanda Peet and Christian Slater in the main roles.

Dark - Netflix
An incredible and complex German show, Dark has captivated Holly and you can catch all three seasons on Netflix! It focuses on time travel but like you’ve never seen it before - it can be chilling at times and will always keep you guessing.

Parks and Recreation - Amazon Prime
A classic favourite of American comedy, Parks and Recreation is a happy show for many of us. Our team member Laura has just finished it and can’t believe she never watched it sooner! If you haven’t yet watched it, we definitely recommend giving it a try - it’s filled with a fab array of characters all with odd but endearing quirks. You can stream it now on Amazon Prime.

Canada’s Drag Race - BBC Three
If reality TV is your thing and you love RuPaul’s Drag Race, why not check out Canada’s Drag Race, currently streaming on BBC Three. Laura has just finished All Stars Season Five and is now the middle of Canada’s Drag Race and is very much enjoying it! It can be a great fun show, perfect to lose yourself in for a while.

Good Girls - Netflix
Featuring a fab cast, this crime comedy-drama is a bit of an underrated gem. The three women the show focuses on are struggling with money and decide to plan a heist to rob a supermarket. All three seasons are available to watch on Netflix right now - Lauren is loving it, particularly the fact that it always ends on a cliffhanger!

Down To Earth with Zac Efron - Netflix
There are many reasons to check out Down to Earth with Zac Efron but Lauren’s main reason? “Zac Efron is a dote” - and she’s not wrong! He travels around the world looking at sustainable and healthy ways of living, often giving quite intimate insights into his own personal life too.

Itaewon Class - Netflix
This Korean show has caught the attention of our team member Holly. Itaewon Class is set in a Seoul neighbourhood about a man who sets up a bar to follow in his father’s footsteps and reach his ambitions. It’s an inspiring show that has a real charm to it and you can find it over on Netflix.

How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast) - Netflix
Isabelle has just finished the second season of How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast) which is a German narrative/mockumentary show about a teenage boy who starts selling drugs from his own bedroom! It’s a fun and offbeat Netflix show that’s definitely worth a watch if you’re feeling something a little different.

Music

Rainbow Boy by Keiynan Lonsdale
You may recognise him from The Flash and Love, Simon, and now the wonderful Keiynan Lonsdale has released his debut album, Rainbow Boy. It is a genuine treat of an album, celebrating Black queer identity with an amazing array of songs. My personal favourites are Gay Street Fighter, White Noise and On My Wave. They are absolute bops and I’ve had them on repeat for a good few days (no regrets!). Regardless of whatever type of music you usually listen to, I highly recommend checking out this album - as well as Keiynan Lonsdale generally because he is truly a gem of a human being!

Folklore - Taylor Swift
I’m sure you’ve seen and heard a ton about Taylor Swifts new album after she spontaneously dropped it last week but just in case you’ve somehow missed the news, we are recommending it to you here! Folklore is a a beautiful album with some brilliant songs full of heart. The style is very different to her previous albums (especially those in more recent years) and gives off vibes of walking peacefully in the forest.

Not Having It All Podcast - Rianne Pictures

Yes, another mention on the pod! But we’ve got exciting episodes coming up and we think you should really get yourself subscribed, worst case scenario you absolutely hate it and then you have something to angry tweet about it, win/win!

MISC

Cove - App
Ashton truly always has wonderful recommendations that I wouldn’t be aware of if it wasn’t for her! Cove lets you create musical journal entries - it’s styled as a shoreline and you can add rocks that are different sounds to build a peace of music to reflect your mood. It’s fun and relaxing to play around on if you have a spare minute.

Mask Guidelines

With the rules constantly changing regarding social distancing and COVID it can be stressful trying to keep up with it (especially when the advice isn’t very clear). For up to date info, please check the government website or in some cases with your local council. Stay safe and please wear a mask to protect others!

There is so much uncertainty in the world right now but sometimes the little things can help us get through - even something as simple as sticking on a few good songs and having a solo dance party to put a smile on your face. Am I speaking from experience? I’ll leave that up to you to answer.

Keep up with us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for our latest updates. Let us know what you’re looking forward to this month!

Stay safe, look after each other and keep well

Written by Sophie Duncan

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Rianne Pictures https://www.riannepictures.com