Over the last year, it’s been remarkable to see an enthusiastic fan base grow around Kino Film Collection’s library of indie, documentary, and classic films from around the world. (The critical acclaim has been nice to see too!) But perhaps nobody knows the library better than our own team. Their jobs may be to help grow our audiences, but they are avid film fans themselves. So when our staff members were asked to choose their top picks of 2024, they jumped at the chance. Here’s what they (very passionately) recommended...
Nicholas Kemp, Theatrical
The Cow Who Sang a Song into the Future
“This stunning Chilean eco-fable taps into the grand history of magic realism to tell a story of family history, climate change, and the potential for healing. Come for the haunting performances by Leonor Varela and Mia Maestro, stay for the singing cows and fish!”
Maxwell Wolkin, Theatrical
Heartworn Highways
“This is a must-watch for any fan of country music or the ‘70s singer-songwriter movement. I think it's easily one of the best music docs ever made. It puts you right there in the Austin TX scene that birthed Guy Clark, Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, David Allan Coe, and ultimately the whole Outlaw Country thing that Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings adopted. If you don't cry when Townes Van Zandt sings ‘Waiting Around to Die,’ I don't know what to tell ya.”
Haya Alghanim, Marketing
Hit the Road
“A charming, moving, heartwarming portrait of a family that's also a stunning feature debut by Panah Panahi, son of Jafar Panahi.”
Emma Winowiecki, Marketing
Scrapper
“Sweet, creative, funny, and heart-warming, Scrapper is a lovely debut from British filmmaker Charlotte Regan who captures the world through the eyes of her young protagonist perfectly. Bright, colorful, and full of heart, 12-year-old actress Lola Campbell is brilliant and Harris Dickinson who plays her father is one to watch.”
Adrian Curry, Design
The French
“An astonishing document of the golden age of tennis with Borg, McEnroe, Connors, Evert, Lendl, Yannick Noah, Ilie Năstase et al looking incredibly fresh-faced in William Klein’s sunny, dusty, fly on-the-wall verité masterpiece. Anyone familiar with Grand Slam tennis today will be astonished to see the near chaos of Roland-Garros in 1981: players crammed into tiny locker rooms, or pushing through court-invading paparazzi and hordes of teens after every match, or just sitting around watching games on crappy TVs, or talking about having to come home early from the disco at 1:30am because they have a game at noon.”
George Schmalz, Repertory
Witness in the City
“The perfect murder gone wrong, sets up a cat-and-mouse game between the always reliable Lino Ventura and the drivers and dispatch of a Parisian taxi stand. Tight, fast-paced French noir, set mostly at night, and in cars, on the streets of Paris. Great location photography.”
Reid Rossman, Digital
Metropolis
“One of the greatest sci-fi films ever made, the film has only improved during my time with Kino as new footage was discovered and the film took on a surprising new life and improved storyline. A personal sidenote: As a student I was privileged to get to know the film's young star Gustav Fröhlich, then in his mid-80s, as he spent a week travelling with our group of American students. During the week, we gradually learned of his illustrious career, including Metropolis. We called him Mr. Happy (which fröhlich translates to).”
Jess Latterman, Marketing
The Nun
“This classic French film is simmering with repression. You simply can’t look away as poor Suzanne (Anna Karina) is forced into a convent by her family and constantly fights to retain some semblance of who she is.”