Top 50 of 2016 (#50 – #26): KEVIN RAKESTRAW

Interestingly enough, 52% (13 out of 25) of these titles that comprise the first half of my year-end list came by way of various internet outlets. The most of which (6) were viewed via NoBudge.com; while Mubi, FestivalScope and personal Vimeo pages accounted for the other seven titles. Also, 9 out of the 25 (36%) are short films.

#50: MIDNIGHT SPECIAL directed by Jeff Nichols

#49: 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE directed by Dan Trachtenberg

#48: ARRIVAL directed by Denis Villeneuve

#47: THERE IS LAND! Directed by Ana Vaz

#46: JONNY COME LATELY directed by Francesca Coppola

#45: THUNDER ROAD directed by Jim Cummings

#44: OUCHIEMONGO directed by Corey Hughes

#43: THE INVITATION directed by Karyn Kusama

#42: SHELLY directed by Lauren Rothery

#41: DONALD CRIED directed by Kris Avidisian

#40: GOGURT directed by Hilary Bell

#39: PARTNERS directed by Joey Ally

#38: ALWAYS SHINE directed by Sophia Takal

#37: THE SPIRITUAL LIFE OF WHOLESALE GOODS directed by John Wilson

#36: SUNSET SONG directed by Terence Davies

#35: THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN directed by Kelly Fremon

#34: BADEN BADEN directed by Rachel Lang

#33: IF THERE’S A HELL BELOW directed by Nathan Williams

#32: 88:88 directed by Isiah Medina

#31: HER WILDERNESS directed by Frank Mosley

#30: PATERSON directed by Jim Jarmusch

#29: THE EXQUISITE CORPUS directed by Peter Tscherkassky

#28: COLLECTIVE: UNCONSCIOUS directed by Josephine Decker, Lily Baldwin, Daniel Patrick Carbone, Frances Bodomo, Lauren Wolkstein

#27: MICROBE AND GASOLINE directed by Michel Gondry

#26: HENRY GAMBLE’S BIRTHDAY PARTY directed by Stephen Cone