The film festival circuit is starting to heat up for the year, and with that comes a lot of new films, documentaries and things that are going to be great watches later on. While some may not be making it to the big screen near you just yet, there are ways you can watch some of them soon. If you’re a documentary lover like we are, you’re going to want to keep your eye on the film festivals this year and some of the great stories being told.
THERE WAS, THERE WAS NOT | Streaming Nationwide: February 17-22
“THERE WAS, THERE WAS NOT is a richly textured tapestry telling the story of Artsakh through the daily lives of four women fighting to save their homeland.”
Synopsis: THERE WAS, THERE WAS NOT follows four women living in the Republic of Artsakh, an unrecognized country reckoning with the aftermath of one war while on the precipice of another. In the midst of this uncertainty, four women build a life with the hope of making their home a better place. When war breaks out again, what began as an observational meditation on women’s roles after conflict becomes an urgent and intimate record of their lives interrupted once again by war. From taking up arms on the front lines to fleeing their homes as refugees, each woman’s life changes irrevocably. Their journey becomes the myth of a homeland lost forever, and the power of story to keep it alive.
HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE | World Premiere at True/False Film Fest 2025
HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE follows biologists as they explore the deep sea, where 70% of our planet lies hidden. As they uncover mesmerising creatures and ecosystems thriving in darkness, a looming threat emerges: the prospect of deep-sea mining in this untouched wilderness. This film weaves wonder with urgency, challenging us to balance the drive for resources with the intrinsic value of an ecosystem. As we journey through this breathtaking realm, we are left to ponder – how deep is our love?
SWEETNESS | SXSW ’25 World Premiere
When a chance encounter with her rockstar crush leads 16 year old Rylee to discover that he’s addicted to drugs, she takes it upon herself to help him, ultimately forcing her teenage fantasies into reality.
F*ckUps Anonymous | SXSW Film & TV 2025 Official Selection
Having pushed his mother to the point of last resort, rebellious teenager Joe is abducted from his bed and delivered to a therapeutic boarding school with controversial methods. Now in the unenviable position of being the new kid on his first day, he witnesses a vicious public dressing down of a fellow student at the hands of both staff and students. Joe is forced to come to an understanding of both why he’s here and what he can expect from the new set of rules that are thrust upon him. Based on writer/producer Joe Tierney’s own personal experience.
42ND STREET | World Premiere at SXSW ’25
A sensory dive into the lives of dancers and artists hungry for fame, clashing with police tactics and unorthodox views. 42ND STREET unveils a defiant counter-culture in the Dominican urban scene—all unfolding on a bold, unrelenting 600-meter 42nd street.