Happy 2021 from The Bellwether Film Series!

12 min readJan 5, 2021

The Bellwether Film Series started back in 2015 with the goal showcasing some of the most interesting and innovative new work we found being made in cinema. At the center of the series was an invitation, for both filmmakers and audiences, to gather in the theater and engage in discussion about the filmmaker’s work.

Needless to say, this past year has made in-person events unrealistic and we haven’t been able to gather in a theater for the past nine months. However, in June we were able to take advantage of Amherst Cinema’s Virtual Cinema program and return to showing the Bellwether Series with online filmmaker Q&A’s. (Our Q&A’s from this year are all archived on Amherst Cinema’s Facebook page, here: https://www.facebook.com/amherstcinema/videos )

While we miss being in the same theater with you all, we are thrilled to be able to continue to bring you a program of our favorite new films, each presented by their filmmaker.

The Bellwether Film Series will continue in 2021! And our first several films will be announced soon.

In the meantime — as we all continue to spend so much time at home this winter — we wanted to share information about how you can find all the previous films from our series to stream or purchase VOD (some of the more recent films are not yet available, but we’ve included links to find our more information on them here). Enjoy!

Stay Healthy & Watch Good Films.

Wishing you all the best in 2021. Happy New Year!

All Bellwether films are free to Amherst Cinema Members! Members help sustain Amherst Cinema. For more information on becoming a member: https://amherstcinema.org/membership

Bellwether is co-curated by George Myers, Amherst Cinema’s General Manager, and Pioneer Valley-based filmmaker Luke Meyer.

The Bellwether Film Series is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.

BELLWETHER in 2020

OVERSEAS

director Sung-A Yoon

Streaming
Mubi: https://guidedoc.tv/documentary/overseas-documentary-film/
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/overseas
Find Screenings / More Info: https://yoonsunga.com/Overseas

OPUNTIA

director David Fenster

Find Screenings / More Info: http://www.david-fenster.com/soynopal

THE TWO FACES OF A BAMILEKE WOMAN

director Rosine Mbakam

Streaming
Ovid: https://www.ovid.tv/videos/the-two-faces-of-a-bamileke-woman
VOD
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/twofacesofabamilekewoman
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B08D3XNTHS
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-two-faces-of-a-bamileke-woman

CHEZ JOLIE COIFFURE

director Rosine Mbakam

Streaming
Ovid: https://www.ovid.tv/videos/chez-jolie-coiffure
VOD
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/chezjoliecoiffure
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B08DJW4HQY
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/chez-jolie-coiffure

LANDFALL

director Cecilia Aldorando

Find Screenings / More Info: https://www.landfallfilm.com/screenings

TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES

director Hannah Jayanti

Find Screenings / More Info: http://www.torcfilm.com

CRESTONE

director Marnie Ellen Hertzler

Find Screenings / More Info: https://memory.is/crestone

PIER KIDS

director Elegance Bratton

Find Screenings / More Info: https://www.facebook.com/Pierkidsmovie

THE INHERITANCE

director Ephraim Asili

VOD
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/asilitheinheritance
Find Screenings / More Info: https://grasshopperfilm.com

BELLWETHER in 2019

BISBEE 17

director Robert Greene

Streaming
Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/product/bisbee-17
Criterion Channel: https://www.criterionchannel.com/bisbee-17
Amazon Prime: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B07GK5Z6LV
VOD
Apple TV / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/bisbee-17/id1455417595?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
More Info: https://grasshopperfilm.com/film/bisbee-17/
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/bisbee-17

THE IMAGE YOU MISSED

director Donal Foreman

VOD
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/theimageyoumissed/300546148
Vudu: https://www.vudu.com/content/movies/details/The-Image-You-Missed/1412583
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-image-you-missed
More Info: http://donalforeman.com/theimageyoumissed/

THE ROYAL ROAD

director Jenni Olson

Streaming
Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/product/royal-road
Amazon Prime: https://www.amazon.com/Royal-Road-Jenni-Olson/dp/B0882NWKVW
VOD
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/theroyalroad
Apple TV / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-royal-road/id1142401638?mt=6&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Vudu: https://www.vudu.com/content/movies/details/The-Royal-Road/788505
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-royal-road
More Info: https://royalroadmovie.weebly.com

DISTANT CONSTELLATION

director Shevaun Mizrahi

VOD
Grasshopper Film: https://grasshopperfilm.vhx.tv/checkout/distant-constellation/purchase
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/distant-constellation
More Info: https://grasshopperfilm.com/film/distant-constellation/

SHORTS by SKY HOPINKA

director Sky Hopinka

Streaming
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/skyhopinka
More Info: https://www.skyhopinka.com

COMBAT OBSCURA

director Miles Lagoze

Streaming
Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/product/combat-obscura
VOD
Oscilliscope Laboratories: https://combatobscura.vhx.tv/checkout/combat-obscura/purchase
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B07N8JZG1C/ref=atv_dl_rdr?tag=justus1ktp-20
Apple TV / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/combat-obscura/id1450879590?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/combat-obscura
More Info: http://combatobscura.oscilloscope.net

VISION PORTRAITS

director Rodney Evans

Streaming
Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/product/vision-portraits
VOD
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B08DQSS5SV/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r
Apple TV / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/vision-portraits/id1485268559
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/vision-portraits
More Info: https://www.rodneyevansfilm.com

INGIRD

director Morissa Maltz

Find Screenings /More Info: https://www.ingridthemovie.com

THE INFILTRATORS

directors Cristina Ibarra & Alex Rivera

Streaming
Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/product/infiltrators
VOD
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B087WMDTKT
Vudu: https://www.vudu.com/content/movies/details/The-Infiltrators/1426343
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-infiltrators

THE HOTTEST AUGUST

director Brett Story

Streaming
Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/product/hottest-august
VOD
Apple TV / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/hottest-august/id1523890537
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-hottest-august
More Info: https://www.thehottestaugust.com

MY FIRST FILM

director Zia Anger

More Info: https://memory.is/my-first-film

I’M LEAVING NOW

directors Lindsey Cordero & Armando Croda

Streaming
Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81043647
VOD
Vudu: https://www.vudu.com/content/movies/details/Im-Leaving-Now/1470602
Apple TV / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/im-leaving-now/id1522964460
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/im-leaving-now

BELLWETHER in 2018

HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING

director RaMell Ross

Streaming
Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/product/hale-county-morning-evening-1
Amazon Prime: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B07FSSGGGY
VOD
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/halecounty
Apple TV / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/hale-county-this-morning-this-evening/id1447405062
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/hale-county-this-morning-this-evening
Find Screenings: http://www.cinemaguild.com/theatrical/halecounty.html

SHAKEDOWN

director Leilah Weinraub

Streaming
Criterion Channel: https://www.criterionchannel.com/shakedown
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/shakedown-2018
More Info: http://memory.is/shakedown

1999

director Samara Chadwick

Find Screenings / More Info: https://www.facebook.com/1999film/

95 AND 6 TO GO

director Kimi Takasue

Streaming
Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/product/95-and-6-go
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/95-and-6-to-go
More Info: http://www.95and6togo.com

MILFORD GRAVES FULL MANTIS

director Jake Meginsky and Co-Director Neil Young

Streaming
Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/product/milford-graves
Amazon Prime: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B07NGN92BP
VOD
Apple TV / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/milford-graves-full-mantis/id1451662785
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/milford-graves-full-mantis
More Info: https://www.fullmantis.com/

BLACK MOTHER

director Khalik Allah

Streaming
Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/product/black-mother-0
Criterion Channel: https://www.criterionchannel.com/black-mother
VOD
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B08F5JZX8Z
Apple TV / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/black-mother/id1456059547
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/black-mother
More Info: http://www.khalikallah.com/

FEAR ITSELF

director Charlie Shackleton

Streaming
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/142058424
More Info: https://charlie.film

BELLWETHER in 2017

THE DEPARTURE

director Lana Wilson

Streaming
Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/product/departure-0
Amazon Prime: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078H3VRN4
VOD
Apple TV / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-departure-subtitled/id1312022808
Justwatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-departure

WHOSE STREETS?

directors Sabah Folayan and Damon Davis

Streaming
Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/product/whose-streets
Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/80168085
VOD
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074QV8X2B
Apple TV / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/whose-streets/id1269784167
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/whose-streets
More Info: https://www.whosestreetsfilm.com

THE WORK

directors Gethin Aldous and Jairus McCleary and producer Eon McCleary

Streaming
Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/product/work-2
Topic: https://www.topic.com/the-work
VOD
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B077GGWH8P
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-work

THE REAGAN SHOW

directors Pacho Velez and Sierra Pettengill

Streaming
Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/product/reagan-show
Amazon Prime: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0716S6CTB
VOD
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/thereaganshow
Apple TV / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-reagan-show/id1235364594
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-reagan-show

QUEST

director Jon Olshefski

Steaming:
Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/product/quest
Ovid: https://www.ovid.tv/videos/quest
VOD
Apple TV / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/quest/id1328037235?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/quest-2017
More Info: http://quest-documentary.com/

RAT FILM

director Theo Anthony

Streaming
Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/product/rat-film
Topic: https://www.topic.com/rat-film
VOD
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/ratfilm1
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B076TMKPC3
Apple TV / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/rat-film/id1276414024
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/rat-film
More Info: https://memory.is/rat-film

PETER AND THE FARM

director Tony Stone

Streaming
Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/product/peter-and-farm-0
VOD
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B01M8Q79OE
Apple TV / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/peter-and-the-farm/id1161877359
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/peter-and-the-farm

THE PRISON IN TWELVE LANDSCAPES

director Brett Story

Streaming
Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/product/prison-twelve-landscapes-1
Criterion Channel: https://www.criterionchannel.com/the-prison-in-twelve-landscape
Topic: https://www.topic.com/prison-in-twelve-landscapes-838

VOD
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B07M659LRB
Apple TV / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-prison-in-twelve-landscapes/id1351504602
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-prison-in-twelve-landscapes
More Info: https://www.prisonlandscapes.com

BELLWETHER in 2016

DARK NIGHT

director Tim Sutton

Streaming
Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/product/dark-night-0
Amazon Prime: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B06WWFMZY6
VOD
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/darknight2
Apple TV / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/dark-night/id1208462817
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/dark-night

THOSE WHO FEEL THE FIRE BURNING

director Morgan Knibbe

JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/those-who-feel-the-fire-burning
Find Screenings & More Info: https://www.facebook.com/thosewhofeelthefireburning

KATE PLAYS CHRISTINE

director Robert Greene

Streaming
Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/product/kate-plays-christine
Criterion Channel: https://www.criterionchannel.com/kate-plays-christine
Topic: https://www.topic.com/kate-plays-christine-843
VOD
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B07R5VX1RH
Apple TV / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/kate-plays-christine/id1172556662
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/kate-plays-christine
More Info: https://grasshopperfilm.com/film/kate-plays-christine/

HOOLIGAN SPARROW

director Nanfu Wang

Streaming
Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/product/hooligan-sparrow-0
VOD
Apple TV / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/hooligan-sparrow/id1176322456
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/hooligan-sparrow
More Info: https://hooligansparrow.com

NUTS!

director Penny Lane

VOD
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/nuts/170651173
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B01L5Y1QIO
Apple TV / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/nuts/id1118233674
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/nuts-2016
More Info: http://www.nutsthefilm.com

THE RUSSIAN WOODPECKER

director Chad Gracia

Streaming
Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/product/russian-woodpecker
VOD
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/therussianwoodpecker
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B016Q1MNE2
Apple TV / iTunes: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/the-russian-woodpecker/umc.cmc.1wdgpt1ff2c1ircc91ttkibg4
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-russian-woodpecker
More Info: http://www.russianwoodpecker.com

FLORENCE, ARIZONA

director Andrea B. Scott

VOD
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/florencearizona
More Info: https://www.facebook.com/FlorenceArizonaFilm/

WESTERN

directors Bill and Turner Ross

Streaming
Criterion Channel: https://www.criterionchannel.com/western
VOD
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Western-Chad-Foster/dp/B018JG4AFW
Apple TV / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/western/id1052046468
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/western

THE VANQUISHING OF THE WITCH BABA YAGA

director Jessica Oreck

Find Screenings / More Info: http://thevanquishing.com/

CAMERAPERSON

director Kirsten Johnson

Streaming
Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/product/cameraperson
Criterion Channel: https://www.criterionchannel.com/cameraperson
VOD
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B01MT48I8A
Apple TV / iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/cameraperson/id1185774379
JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/cameraperson

OBITUARY PROJECT

director Hope Tucker

Find Screenings / More Info: http://www.theobituaryproject.org/

FIELD NIGGAS