Festival Programmers Pick Their Favorite 2025 Films Without Wide Release

Now in its third year, The Popcorn List (TPL), an annual survey of acclaimed feature films currently without wide release, is offering up 25 films recommended by film festival programmers from across the United States. Those titles include some of our favorite films of the year, like Annapurna Sriram’s “Fucktoys,” Brittany Shyne’s “Seeds,” and Ian Bell’s “WTO/99.”

Founded in 2024 as a discovery and visibility project to amplify independent films that deserve a wider audience, TPL has quickly grown. To date, its lists have targeted 60 independent films, with TPL tracking each film’s distribution journey along the way (two of the 19 films from the 2025 List and 10 of 20 films from the 2024 List are now widely available).

TPL exists as both an open, online database (check out its website right here) and as a Pop Up Series, bringing “fresh, hot films” to audiences around the country via sneak-peek screenings at art house cinemas and through a virtual format.

This year, TPL reached out to 68 film festival programmers, 40 of whom responded with 35 film recommendations. Some stats: four films were recommended by more than one programmer, and 10 are included as Special Mentions (due to their distribution and release plans, or other mitigating factors). Of this year’s official recommendations, 12 are narrative films and 13 are documentaries, 17 are feature directorial debuts, and 14 are directed by women. The films on the list premiered all over the festival circuit, from SXSW to Sundance, TIFF to Tribeca, Berlin to Venice.

“As more filmmakers confront the flaws of the traditional system, TPL has likewise evolved its understanding of what ‘distribution’ can mean. And that could look more like a choose-your-own-adventure model,” said TPL co-founder Lela Meadow-Conner in an official statement. “We’ve expanded our thinking around what ‘wide release’ means to TPL: has the average viewer in any given U.S. city had access to your film at their local theater, on broadcast or VOD? If the answer is no, you’re eligible for the List. We applaud filmmakers who are taking matters into their own hands, and recognize the value of their work.”

Also of note: TPL’s Pop Up Series will also return in the summer of 2026. “The opportunity to work with eight film teams to bring their films to audiences across the U.S. was a natural extension of TPL’s mission,” said Kathy Susca, of The Film Collaborative, TPL’s partner in the series and its fiscal sponsor.) “We’re taking our learnings and adapting the Series — aiming for more films, more art house theaters, and more audiences for these fantastic films. We’re emphasizing building the TPL brand for general audiences as a marker of quality, independent films that they can’t find anywhere else.”

2026 Official Recommendations

You can also check out the Official List for full film information, festival programmer statements, festival premiere and awards, trailers, reviews, contact information, and more.

“ADULT CHILDREN,” Dir. Rich Newey (Drea Clark, Bentonville Film Festival)

When a crisis provides Morgan the rare opportunity to spend time with her significantly older half-siblings, she hopes they’ll be able to shed some light on what it means to be an adult, only to discover that they’re all faking it.

“BEEN HERE STAY HERE,” Dir. Davd Usui (Caitlin Boyle, Middlebury New Filmmakers)

On a remote island in the Chesapeake Bay, a deeply rooted Christian fishing community confronts the erosion of land and tradition, as their centuries-old way of life, anchored in faith, approaches a turning point.

“BURT,” Dir. Joe Burke, (Jason Carney, Phoenix Film Festival; Patrick Schweiss, Sedona Intl. Film Festival)

Burt, a delightful and spirited 69-year-old street musician with Parkinson’s has his daily life shaken up when, Sammy, a wayward young man from New York shows up claiming to be his son. Having always dreamt of being a dad, Burt embraces Sammy, inviting him to stay for the weekend at the house he shares with his irritable landlord Steve.

“CREEDE, U.S.A.,” Dir. Kahane Corn Cooperman (Sky Sitney, DC/DOX)

Welcome to Creede a remote mining town with no stop light, a theater company and 300+ folks at 9,000 feet. This unlikely setting — with its miners, ranchers and theater people — offers an unexpected lens on divisions felt by Americans everywhere.

“CRYSTAL CROSS,” Dir. Richie Follin (Barbara Morgan, Austin Film Festival)

A quirky Christian singer and a suicidal dad drive cross-country, forging an unlikely bond through bad decisions, bizarre roadside attractions, and an all-original soundtrack. “Crystal Cross” is a hilarious, bittersweet road trip about two lost souls finding comfort (but not salvation) in each other’s messes.

“CYCLE,” Dir. Laura Dyan Kezman, William Howell (Cara Ogburn, Milwaukee Film Festival)

When a Black teenager is executed by police on Juneteenth and no evidence remains to contest the official account, CYCLE reveals the widening rift between what the system claims and what a mother’s relentless pursuit of truth exposes.

“FUCKTOYS,” Dir. Annapurna Sriram (Andrew Peterson, Provincetown Film Festival.; Brian Hu, San Diego Asian Film Festival; Allegra Madsen, Frameline; Lauren Thelen, Nashville Film Festival)

A cursed young woman sets out on a wild fundraising adventure through Trashtown, USA, after she’s told by multiple psychics that she can break the curse by paying them $1,000.

“LAST NIGHT I CONQUERED THE CITY OF THEBES,” Dir. Gabriel Azorín (Dennis Lim, NYFF)

On a cold winter afternoon, António and Jota return from the front with their friends, looking for an ancient Roman thermal bath. They joke with each other while wading through swamps, recounting past tactical glories. The baths have reappeared after a long time spent under the water of a reservoir, and people of all ages curious about the discovery come to spend the day. But there is something mysterious about these thermal springs — the waters seem to exert an influence on the mood of the men, giving them the courage to say things they have never told anyone. As day turns to night, they confess their feelings and their fears of losing their best friend forever.

“LEGACY: APARTHEID’S SHADOW,” Dir. Tara Moore (Melissa Randle, Pan African FIlm Festival)

Apartheid may have fallen, but its shadow still lingers. ​South African filmmaker Tara Moore delivers a landmark documentary on one of history’s most brutal regimes, revealing how its dark legacy ​continues to shape the nation today.

“LINDA,” Dir. Mariana Wainstein (Diana Cadavid, LALIFF)

Linda, a captivating housemaid with a unique charm and beauty unveils a family’s secrets and erotic fantasies. The attraction that she sparks in each member of the family leads her to exercise power over them. Behind their seemingly happy lives, lies unexpected complexity.

“LOVE CHAOS KIN,” Dir. Chithra Jeyaram (Sapana Sakya, CAAMFest)

An unexpected pregnancy compels an Indian immigrant mother to help her adopted twin daughters reconnect with their White birth mother and estranged Native American father, exposing raw class divides while transforming their understanding of identity and belonging.

“PAPER BAG PLAN,” Dir. Anthony Lucero (Isaac Zablocki, Reel Abilities Film Festival)

Winner of 13 festival awards including six Jury Awards and four Audience Awards, Paper Bag Plan tells the inspirational story of a father who trains his son with cerebral palsy the skills of bagging groceries in the hopes of him landing his first job and a path to independence.

“RACEWALKERS,” Dir. Phil Moniz, Kevin Claydon (Peter Baxter, Slamdance)

A struggling racewalking coach and a washed-up pro baseball player with a surprisingly natural stride team up to take on the best walker in the sport.

“RAOUL’S, A NEW YORK STORY,” Dir. Greg Olliver & Karim Raoul (Kristin McCracken, Hamptons Intl. Film Festival)

“Raoul’s, A New York Story” is a very unique look at one of New York City’s most iconic restaurants — Raoul’s Restaurant — an unassuming cozy spot on Prince Street that’s been a French bistro mainstay for the last fifty years. It’s a family story. An immigrant story. A New York story. And it’s a story about a filmmaker turned accidental restaurateur who is making a documentary about his father who is a filmmaker turned accidental restaurateur.

“REMAINING NATIVE,” Dir. Paige Bethmann (Sunrise Tippeconnie, deadCenter Film Festival)

“Remaining Native” is a coming-of-age documentary told from the perspective of Kutoven (Ku) Stevens, a 17-year-old Native American runner, struggling to navigate his dream of becoming a collegiate athlete as the memory of his great-grandfather’s escape from an Indian boarding school begins to connect past, present, and future.

‘Seeds’Brittany Shyne

“SEEDS,” Dir. Brittany Shyne (Stephanie Owens, Sundance Film Festival; Javier Chavez, AFI)

“SEEDS” is a portrait of centennial farmers in the American South. Using lyrical black and white imagery, this meditative film examines the decline of generational Black farmers and the significance of owning land.

“SPEAK.,” Dir. Jen Tiexiera and Guy Mossman (Rebecca Schankula, Traverse City Film Festival)

“SPEAK.” follows five bold young voices on a high-stakes quest to win the Super Bowl of public speaking. Against a backdrop of a world divided, these teens rise with fire, wit, and unshakable humanity – delivering a masterclass in courage, conviction, and the kind of hope that refuses to be silenced.

“SUMMER’S CAMERA,” Dir. Divine Sung (Beth Barrett, SIFF)

Summer captures her first crush through her late father’s camera — only to uncover photographs that reveal his hidden past, sending Summer on a journey that transforms her understanding of love and family.

“THE FISHERMAN,” Dir. Zoey Martinson (Paul Sloop, Cordillera Intl. Film Festival; Clint Bowie, New Orleans Film Festival)

In this Venice Film Festival-winning feast of magical realist comedy — aging Ghanaian Atta Oko sets his sights on finally having his own boat and becoming the envy of his village, he’ll just need help from a dead talking fish.’

“THE OTHER PEOPLE,” Dir. Chad McClarnon (Michael Rabehl, Cinequest)

In a town plagued with sudden deaths and missing persons, a troubled eight-year-old girl befriends a boy that lives in the shadows, and her new stepmom learns why things that live in the dark don’t want to be seen.

“TRASH BABY,” Dir. Jacy Mairs, (Ariana Farina, Dances with Films Festival)

“Trash Baby” is a coming-of-age drama that follows 12-year-old Stevie as she navigates growing up, getting out, and the art of finding beauty in the ugliest of places.

“UNLESS SOMETHING GOES TERRIBLY WRONG,” Dir. Kaitlyn Schwalje, Alex Wolf Lewis (Sean Flynn. Camden Intl. Film Festival)

As America’s aging wastewater system begins to fail, one plant does all it can to stay afloat. Plant manager Dustin Price, together with his dedicated team, battle aging infrastructure, “forever chemicals” and the misconceptions of an odor averse public to keep Portland, Maine clean and healthy.

“VIVA VERDE!,” Dir. Yvonne Russo (Claudia Puig, CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival)

“VIVA VERDI!” is an intimate glimpse into the lives of the celebrated opera singers and musicians currently living out their ‘third act’ while mentoring international music students who live among them at Milan’s unique retirement home, Casa Verdi, built by Giuseppe Verdi in 1896.

“WTO/99,” Dir. Ian Bell (Ben Delgado, ReFocus Film Festival)

An archival documentary that depicts the 4-day clash between the then-emerging World Trade Organization (WTO) and the 40,000+ people who took to the streets of Seattle in 1999 to protest the WTO Conference and the WTO’s impact on human rights, labor, and the future effects of continued globalization.

“YOUR TOUCH MAKES OTHERS INVISIBLE,” Dir. Rajee Samarasinghe (Neha Aziz, Austin Asian American Film Festival)

In war-torn Northern Sri Lanka, a Tamil mother searches for her son, taken by a supernatural presence, as her quest intertwines with testimonies of women whose loved ones vanished under military rule.

2026 Special Mentions

• “IT ENDS,” Dir. Alex Ullom (Tim Anderson, Florida Film Festival, Neon)
• “KITES,” Dir. Walter Thompson-Hernandez (Faridah Gbadamosi, Tribeca Festival)
• “LIFE AFTER,” Dir. Reid Davenport (Beth Seymour, ACT Human Right Festival, PBS)
• “LONE WOLVES,” Dir. Matt Foss (Mallory Martin, Cleveland International Film Festival)
• “MUSTACHE,” Dir. Imran Khan (Nate Shu, Boston Asian American Film Festival)
• “MOTHERLAND,” Dir. Evan Matthews, (James Faust, Dallas International Film Festival, Vertical)
• “NORA,” Dir. Anna Campbell (Michael Rabehl, Cinequest, Suncatcher/Veeps)
• “SHE DANCES,” Dir. Rick Gomez, (Selin Sevinç, Bend Film Festival, Ekkl Entertainment)
• “THE EYES OF GHANA,” Dir. Ben Proudfoot (Greg Sorvig, Heartland Film Festival)
• “THE SCOUT,” Dir. Paula Andrea González-Nasser (Maria Akay, New York Latino Film Festival)

The following film festival professionals participated in creating the 2025 list: Allegra Madsen (Frameline), Andrew Peterson (Provincetown Film Festival), Ariana Farina (Dances with Films), Barbara Morgan (Austin Film Festival), Ben Delgado (Refocus Film Festival), Beth Barrett (SIFF), Beth Seymour (ACT Human Rights Film Festival), Brian Hu (San Diego Asian Film Festival), Caitlin Boyle (Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival), Cara Ogburn (Milwaukee Film Festival), Claudia Puig (CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival), Clint Bowie (New Orleans Film Festival), Dennis Lim (New York Film Festival), Diana Cadavid (LALIFF), Drea Clark (Bentonville Film Festival), Faridah Gbadamosi (Tribeca Festival), Greg Sorvig (Heartland Film Festival), Isaac Zablocki (ReelAbilities Film Festival), James Faust (Dallas International Film Festival), Jason Carney (Phoenix Film Festival), Javier Chavez (AFI), Kristin McCracken (Hamptons International Film Festival), Lauren Thelen (Nashville Film Festival), Mallory Martin (Cleveland International Film Festival), Maria Akay (New York Latino Film Festival), Melissa Randle (Pan African Film Festival),  Michael Rabehl (Cinequest), Nate Shu (Boston Asian-American Film Festival), Neha Aziz (Austin Asian American Film Festival), Patrick Schweiss (Sedona International Film Festival), Paul Sloop (Cordillera International Film Festival), Peter Baxter (Slamdance), Rebecca Schankula (Traverse City Film Festival), Sapana Sakya (CAAMFest), Sean Flynn (Camden International Film Festival), Selin Sevinç (Bend Film Festival), Sky Sitney (DC/DOX), Stephanie Owens (Sundance Film Festival), Sunrise Tippeconnie (deadCenter Film Festival), Tim Anderson (Florida Film Festival).

The Popcorn List and Pop Up Series are programs of mamafilm in partnership with The Film Collaborative, with support from Ted Hope’s Hope for Film, Facet, Product of Culture, Eventive, and Simple DCP.