Our friends at SundanceNOW have been generous to Popdose the past couple of years, offering giveaways to readers of some of the thoughtful and thought provoking films streaming on their website. So when they asked me to post an announcement about the IFC films that were recently nominated for Independent Spirit Awards, I said, “You betcha.”

SundanceNOW is the digital sister to Sundance Selects. It’s a place where independent film fans can download, watch instantly and discuss a broad range of independent films from around the globe. You can stream, download to own or rent a broad range of American and foreign independent films in all genres. SundanceNOW operates independently of the non-profit Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival but shares the overall Sundance mission of encouraging artistic freedom of expression.

The nominees for the 29th annual celebration of independent film were announced on November 26 and the list includes 8 nominations for 5 of this year’s IFC Films titles! Those nominations are:

Blue Caprice (nominated for Best First Feature)

Blue is the Warmest Color (Best International Film)

Crystal Fairy (nominated for Best Female Lead; Gaby Hoffmann & the John Cassavetes Award)

Frances Ha (nominated for Best Feature & Best Editing)

Una Noche (Best Editing, Best First Feature)

IFC thingBlue is the Warmest Color and Una Noche are currently playing in select theaters. However, the other three films are available now to rent and stream on SundanceNOW. Below are the links to get to the other three films.

BLUE CAPRICE: http://www.sundancenow.com/film/blue-caprice/1206

Official synopsis from the Blue Caprice website:

The striking feature film debut of writer-director Alexandre Moors, Blue Caprice is a harrowing yet restrained psychological thriller about an abandoned boy lured to America into the shadows of a dangerous father figure. Inspired by true events, Blue Caprice investigates the notorious and horrific Beltway sniper attacks from the point of view of the two killers, whose distorted father-son relationship facilitated their long and bloody journey across America.

Marked by captivating performances by Isaiah Washington and Tequan Richmond, lyrical camerawork, and a unique and bold structure, Blue Caprice documents the mechanisms that lead its subjects to embrace physical violence. Blue Caprice paints a riveting portrait of 21st-century America and a haunting depiction of two cold-blooded killers that will endure long after the lights come up.

CRYSTAL FAIRY: http://www.sundancenow.com/film/crystal-fairy/1190

Synopsis from the IFC Crystal Fairy page:

On a trip through Chile a boorish American expat named Jamie (Michael Cera) and three Chilean brothers plan to set off in search of the prized San Pedro cactus and its promise of beachy hallucinations. But in the previous night’s drunken stupor Jamie invites a free- spirited fellow American (Gaby Hoffmann) along on their mescaline-driven road trip, and her devil-may-care worldview gives them more of an adventure than any of them had bargained for.

FRANCES HA: http://www.sundancenow.com/film/frances-ha/1241

Synopsis from the IFC Frances Ha page:

Frances (Greta Gerwig) lives in New York, but she doesn’t really have an apartment. Frances is an apprentice for a dance company, but she¹s not really a dancer. Frances has a best friend named Sophie, but they aren’t really speaking anymore. Frances throws herself headlong into her dreams, even as their possible reality dwindles. Frances wants so much more than she has but lives her life with unaccountable joy and lightness. FRANCES HA is a modern comic fable that explores New York, friendship, class, ambition, failure, and redemption.

For more information about these films and how to rent/stream or download them, be sure to head on over to SundanceNOW. You can also visit the SundanceNOW Blog. For the latest news and updates about SundanceNOW’s titles, don’t forget to like the SundanceNOW Facebook Page and follow SundanceNOW on Twitter.

About the Author

Scott Malchus

Scott Malchus is a writer, filmmaker and die hard Cleveland Indians fan. His memoir, “Basement Songs,” is available in paperback and Kindle. He wrote and directed the film “King's Highway." His family is heavily involved in fund raising to find a cure for cystic fibrosis. Scott Malchus is an employee of Cartoon Network and Turner Broadcasting. The opinions expressed on Popdose are his own and do not reflect those of his employer. Email: Malchus@popdose.com. Follow him @MrMalchus

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