As I AM: The Life and Times and DJ AM (Kevin Kerslake, director of Bad Reputation)

"Adam Goldstein was friend to many in the '90s L.A. party scene, where he threw himself into a newfound life as DJ AM. Overcoming several obstacles, including a troubled familial relationship and various addictions, DJ AM quickly rose to the top of the music industry. A pioneer of the mashup movement, he became one of the most recognizable DJs in the world. However, he remained haunted by the demons of his past. After cheating death in a plane crash, a subsequent overdose lead to his untimely death. Director Kevin Kerslake presents a rousing portrait of an artist driven by passion and swallowed by fame. In detailing his meteoric rise and tragic demise, Kerslake intersperses interviews with some of the biggest names in music including Mark Ronson, Steve Aoki, Jazzy Jeff, and more, who testify to the excellence and influence of AM's deejay career. No voice is more powerful than AM's own as he posthumously narrates the film, always making clear his understanding that any day might be his last." — Loren Hammonds

Beyond the Black Rainbow (Panos Cosmatos, director of Mandy)

Panos Cosmatos brings a bold, Kubrickian vision to the screen in stunning detail in this sci-fi fable of a young woman imprisoned in an experimental laboratory and the enigmatic scientist who is her captor. Set in a futuristic 1983, Elena finds herself held against her will in a mysterious facility under the watchful eye of the sinister Dr. Barry Nyle. Pushed to her limits, Elena is left with no choice but to navigate an escape from her labyrinthine prison, in the process revealing its hidden secrets. At once creatively futuristic and hypnotically retro, Beyond the Black Rainbow evokes the spirit of classic 1970s and '80s science fiction films through its vintage-inspired chromatic cinematography, elaborate set pieces, and an authentically retro sci-fi score composed entirely on analog synthesizers by Black Mountain's Jeremy Schmidt. With all the makings of a cult classic, Beyond the Black Rainbow is sure to absorb viewers in its unique dystopian futurescape, and marks the trippy, exciting debut of a promising new talent in the science fiction world.

High Tech, Low Life (Stephen Maing, director of Crime + Punishment)

As the Chinese government expands its efforts to police the Internet and block websites in the country, the rising tide of censorship has aroused a wave of citizen reporters committed to investigating local news stories. Two such rogue bloggers include Zola and Tiger Temple. When tech-savvy Zola noticed that local newspapers were selectively reporting the news, he took matters into his own hands, posing as a curious onlooker at crime scenes and snapping photos and videos that he posts to his site. Called upon for help by rural farmers and displaced city dwellers alike, Tiger Temple bicycles around the Chinese countryside drawing attention to societal issues in communities that otherwise would not have a voice. Both relevant and timely, High Tech, Low Life probes the burgeoning world of anti-censorship rebels as they risk political persecution to become China's uncensored eyes and ears. As their numbers grow they've begun training the next generation of Internet journalists, ensuring that the truth will be documented—it's just up to the citizens to seek it out.

In the Loop (Armando Iannucci, director of The Death of Stalin)

"War is unforeseeable," announces Britain's Minister of International Development, Simon Foster (Tom Hollander), at the opening of Armando Iannucci's wicked political satire In the Loop. With allies the US and Britain secretly on the road to war with a hostile nation, the comment, vague and likely meaningless, nonetheless propels Foster and his team of associates into the center of a firestorm of international controversy. Suddenly charged with choosing alliances within the petty and farcical bureaucratic chaos, Foster attempts to balance his hilariously foul-mouthed hawkish boss on one side, an American State Department pacifist with bleeding teeth on the other, and a deteriorating municipal wall somewhere in the middle. Iannucci adapts his hit BBC comedy series The Thick of It, preserving all of the original's tongue-in-cheek insight and wit, to craft a smart political comedy that pokes fun at the absurdity and ineptitude of our highest leaders. With everyone looking out for number one, and the fate of the free world at stake (but apparently incidental), the hilarious ensemble cast of characters bumbles its way through Machiavellian political dealings, across continents, and toward comic resolutions that are, indeed, unforeseeable. The terrific ensemble cast also includes Peter Capaldi, Anna Chlumsky, Mimi Kennedy, Steve Coogan, and the late James Gandolfini.

Lola Versus (Daryl Wein, director of White Rabbit)

The great Greta Gerwig stars as Lola, a New Yorker on the verge of 30 who finds herself abruptly dumped mere weeks before her long-anticipated wedding. Single for the first time in eight years, Lola attempts to rebuild with the help of her friends, sweet and supportive Henry (Hamish Linklater) and no-nonsense chatterbox Alice (co-screenwriter Zoe Lister-Jones), only to find that suddenly navigating the unfriendly waters of dating and relationships makes letting go and moving on much more easily said than done. Breakout filmmaking duo Lister-Jones and Daryl Wein (of 2009's Breaking Upwards) infuse this post-breakup spiral story with humor and authenticity, as Lola's missteps accrue and her life begins to fray. Demonstrating how even the best intentions can backfire, likable and quirky Lola is a sympathetic anchor even as she wreaks unintended emotional havoc on her nearest and dearest (including Debra Winger and Bill Pullman as her parents). Ultimately Lola Versus is a film about moving forward, but as anyone who has been through a rough breakup can attest, sometimes moving on means hitting rock bottom first.

Meadowland (Reed Morano, director of I Think We're Alone Now)

"Sarah (Olivia Wilde) and Phil’s (Luke Wilson) son goes missing, shattering their life together. As months pass with little information, they each struggle in their own way to cope. Phil’s more traditional route leads to an unexpected friendship, but also a precarious disconnect with the responsibilities of his job as a city cop. Teacher Sarah goes even farther overboard, struggling to keep herself in check beside the students, parents, family members, and officials that interrupt her search for answers. Reed Morano took her first turn in the director’s chair with this masterfully crafted contemplation on a relationship strained to the breaking point. With virtuosity reminiscent of Kelly Reichardt, she navigates the strange and bitter moments that follow two people who only want to grieve. Wilde and Wilson capture unraveling emotions with remarkable power and persistence, alongside a cadre of exceptional supporting actors in Kevin Corrigan, John Leguizamo, Elisabeth Moss, Giovanni Ribisi, Juno Temple, and Merritt Wever." — Arthur Ryel-Lindsey

Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic (Marina Zenovich, director of Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind)

"This moving portrait of legendary comedian Richard Pryor chronicles his life from his troubled youth in Peoria, Illinois, to his meteoric rise as one of the most respected comic actors of the 20th century. Often misunderstood during the height of his celebrity, the late superstar has never been profiled this extensively. Marina Zenovich’s revealing and entertaining film lays bare the demons with which he struggled, and it reminds us just how daring and dangerous artistic freedom can be. Zenovich has created a definitive cinematic profile of the comedy icon. Featuring appearances from comedy royalty Mel Brooks, Robin Williams, Dave Chappelle, Paul Mooney and a host of others, the film offers unprecedented access to members of his family and inner circle. Totally unbiased, Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic features rarely seen footage of the artist at work and delves deeply into the public and private lives of this very complex man. Zenovich continues to exercise her methods of revelation with this remarkable film, easily engaging those who may be unaware of Pryor’s struggles and triumphs beyond the silver screen." — Loren Hammonds

Racing Extinction (Louie Psihoyos, director of The Game Changers)

Utilizing state-of-the-art equipment, Oscar-winner Louie Psihoyos (The Cove) assembles a team of activists intent on showing the world never-before-seen images that will change the way we understand issues of endangered species and mass extinction. Whether infiltrating notorious black markets with guerilla-style tactics or working with artists to create beautiful imagery with unexpected animal subjects, Racing Extinction will change the way you see the world.

Slow Learners (Don Argott, director of Believer)

"High school guidance counselor Jeff, and his platonic friend and co-worker Anne are responsible, well intentioned, kind… and boring. They frustratingly watch on as their peers find love and companionship, while they continue to fail in spectacular fashion when it comes to romance. As they reach their loneliness breaking point they make a pact to forgo their familiar, vanilla personas in exchange for their unexplored, confident alter egos. They wave goodbye to Jeff’s awkward all-male book club and Anne’s flailing attempts to catch the eye of Jeff’s sexy neighbor Max, and say hello to raucous summer nights filled with booze, dancing, and sex. Naturally things don’t exactly go according to plan. Don Argott and Sheena M. Joyce's charmingly hilarious comedy features standout performances from Adam Pally (The Mindy Project) and Sarah Burns (Enlightened), as well as a supporting cast that includes Reid Scott (Veep), Bobby Moynihan (Saturday Night Live) and Kate Flannery (The Office). With a dry-witted sensibility and snappy writing, Slow Learners is a sweet (and raunchy) crash course in discovering who you really are and ultimately who you want next to you along the way." — Liza Domnitz

Stop (Reinaldo Marcus Green, director of Monsters and Men)

A young black man is tested when his walk home is disrupted by a random stop-and-frisk in this visceral and thematically-urgent short drama.