BFF FILM & FESTIVAL BLOG
Top Five TV Series You Need to Watch
Television this year has been more exciting than ever, with shows pushing boundaries in storytelling, character development, and visual spectacle. From the historical intrigues of feudal Japan to the dark, chilling mysteries of Alaska, viewers have a rich selection to choose from. Whether you're into the raw, unpolished world of espionage, complex diplomatic negotiations, or adventures that stretch the limits of science fiction, there’s something for everyone. Let's dive into the five standout series that have captured the imagination of audiences and critics alike, making them must-sees for any TV enthusiast.
Written by: Emily Vella
3-Body Problem
Television this year has been more exciting than ever, with shows pushing boundaries in storytelling, character development, and visual spectacle. From the historical intrigues of feudal Japan to the dark, chilling mysteries of Alaska, viewers have a rich selection to choose from. Whether you're into the raw, unpolished world of espionage, complex diplomatic negotiations, or adventures that stretch the limits of science fiction, there’s something for everyone. Let's dive into the five standout series that have captured the imagination of audiences and critics alike, making them must-sees for any TV enthusiast.
1. Shōgun
Shogun.
Shogun tops my list as the standout TV show of the past year, setting a new standard for world-building, character development, cinematography, and mise-en-scène within television. Every detail, from the breathtaking costumes to the meticulously crafted sets, showcases a remarkable dedication to authenticity. Against the backdrop of feudal Japan, the series charts the journey of English sailor John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) as he makes landfall on Portuguese-claimed territory. His arrival ignites tensions, with both Catholic Portuguese and Japanese forces viewing the Protestant Englishman as a threat. Amidst political upheaval, Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) forms an unlikely alliance with Blackthorne to evade death. Their fates intertwine with Mariko (Anna Sawai), an outcast from a notorious family tasked with translating for Blackthorne. The dynamic interplay among these characters, combined with the shocking twists at every turn, keeps viewers eagerly craving each new episode. Shogun is a true testament to the power of storytelling, offering a riveting and immersive experience that is not to be missed.
Photo Credit: IMDb
Streaming: Hulu & Disney+
Release Date: Feb 27th, 2024
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAN5uspO_hk
2. Slow Horses
SLow Horses.
Slow Horses offers a refreshing departure from the glamorous facade often associated with spy dramas. Season three, which premiered in November 2023, further solidifies its status as a must-watch series. To truly appreciate its depth, it's essential to start from the beginning and delve into seasons one (Apr 2022) and two (Dec 2022), where the groundwork for the characters and their tumultuous world is laid. What sets Slow Horses apart is its unflinching portrayal of the unseen underbelly of MI5—the rejects relegated to the dismal confines of Slough House. Each character inhabits this purgatory for a reason—they've messed up, big time. Gary Oldman's portrayal of Jackson Lamb, far from the suave James Bond archetype, is gritty and repulsive, a past-his-prime relic. Yet, it's precisely these flaws that make the characters so compelling; despite their mediocrity, you find yourself rooting for them. The series weaves a meticulously crafted plotline, peppered with laugh-out-loud moments and grounded in gritty realism. Unlike the glossy portrayal of action heroes in typical spy flicks, Slow Horses offers a raw and unfiltered look into the messy world of MI5, where moral ambiguity reigns supreme. It's not about the heroes we want, but perhaps the ones we deserve—imperfect, flawed, and undeniably human.
Photo Credit: IMDb
Steaming: Apple TV+
Release Date: S1: Apr 2022; S2: Dec 2022; S3: Nov 2023
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9ZJChzPn0U
3. The Diplomat
The Diplomat.
The Diplomat emerges as a captivating addition to the television landscape, offering a compelling glimpse into the intricacies of international diplomacy. Set against the backdrop of the US ambassadorship to the UK, the series kicks off with a riveting first episode that deftly establishes the myriad moving parts at play. As Kate (Kerri Russell) grapples with the demands of her new role, she finds herself navigating a delicate dance of balancing foreign relations, her marriage to Hal (Rufus Sewell), and the egos of heads of state. However, unbeknownst to her, the people around her are already positioning her for the vice presidency—a revelation that adds an intriguing layer of tension to an already complex narrative. The Diplomat distinguishes itself with its quick-witted dialogue and masterful storytelling, with some of its best episodes confined to a single location. This only serves to accentuate the dynamic interactions and evolving storylines, ensuring that viewers remain captivated from start to finish. With its sharp writing, stellar performances, and an unflinching exploration of power and ambition, The Diplomat proves to be a must-watch for fans of intelligent and thought-provoking television.
Photo Credit: IMDb
Streaming: Netflix
Release Date: April 2023
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV6sJlBbhPs
4. 3 Body Problem
3-Body Problem.
The "3-Body Problem" stands out as a beacon of originality and intrigue, captivating audiences with its seamless blend of genres and compelling storytelling. For those who love their sci-fi with a healthy dose of mind-bending concepts, high stakes, and a slow burn that explodes into pure sci-fi brilliance, this show is an absolute must-watch. Its narrative unfolds with a tantalizing mix of mystery and suspense, drawing viewers into a world where an enigmatic phenomenon confounds the world's leading physicists. Ambitious and towering, the "3-Body Problem" packs each episode with big ideas about intellectual curiosity, exploration, and humanity's place in the universe, all while managing to tell intimate stories about human relationships with depth and nuance. It channels the atmospheric tension of Kiyoshi Kurosawa's techno-horror film, "Pulse," the friendship dynamics of John Hughes' "The Breakfast Club," and elements of many alien invasion narratives. This genre-blending approach not only kept me on the edge of my seat but also offered a fresh and innovative take on familiar tropes, making the "3-Body Problem" a standout in the television landscape.
Photo Credit: IMDb
Streaming: Netflix
Release Date: March 21st, 2024
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mogSbMD6EcY
5. True Detective: Night Country
"True Detective: Night Country" beckons viewers into the chilling depths of mystery, unfolding amidst the desolate wilderness of Ennis, Alaska. The icy remoteness of Season 4's Alaskan locale during the polar night adds a palpable sense of unease, heightened by eerie visions and unexplained phenomena that plague the town. As Danvers (Jodie Foster) and Navarro (Kali Reis) confront their own personal demons, including shadowy family tragedies, the narrative unearths the festering dark side of Ennis. The investigation into the disappearance of a group of scientists from a local research lab brings to light an unsolved case: the murder of Annie Kowtok.
Despite garnering mixed reviews online, "True Detective: Night Country" deserves a fairer assessment. Amidst the pitch-black setting, the series offers a compelling exploration of complex female leads who defy traditional archetypes while respectfully representing indigenous culture in the modern world. The show subtly acknowledges current and pertinent issues affecting indigenous peoples: water contamination, mining waste, mental health crises, and more. It strives to balance the logic and reason aspect of police detective work while staying true to the spiritual and supernatural elements central to Iñupiat culture. Whether or not you believe it lives up to the previous seasons, "True Detective: Night Country" promises an immersive narrative teeming with spine-tingling revelations, inviting audiences to embark on a journey of justice and uncover the truth hidden within the ice.
Photo Credit: IMDb
Streaming: HBOmax
Release Date: Jan 14th, 2024
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkL7cpG2UhE
About The Author
Emily Vella, a New York City-based professional immersed in the film and media industry, brings expertise in Cinema Studies and Producing. In her downtime, she enjoys watching the latest films and TV shows.
Diarra from Detroit: A BET+ Series Blending Comedy, Drama, and Detroit's Essence
Last week, we had the privilege of previewing Diarra from Detroit, a captivating new series premiering on BET+ on March 21. The series is written, created, and stars Diarra Kilpatrick, one of our very own Bushwick Film Fest alumni and 2019 Rising Star Award winner. The show is the inaugural project of BET Studios, which launched in 2021 to support the growing demand for content by Black creators.
Written by Donaldo Prescod
WATCH DIARRA FROM THE DETROIT TRAILER
Last week, we had the privilege of previewing Diarra from Detroit, a captivating new series premiering on BET+ on March 21. The series is written, created, and stars Diarra Kilpatrick, one of our very own Bushwick Film Fest alumni and 2019 Rising Star Award winner. The show is the inaugural project of BET Studios, which launched in 2021 to support the growing demand for content by Black creators.
Conversation with Diarra Kilpatrick and Kela Walker hosted by BET and Paramount in NYC
After the screening, Diarra sat with the wonderful Kela Walker for a discussion. She fondly recalled childhood nights spent nestled under her grandma’s loving arms as they watched programs like Matlock, Magnum PI, or Murder, She Wrote — a time in television when a good murder mystery had tens of millions of viewers glued to the box every week. Being influenced by these classic television series, Diarra has made her own crime-solving, private eye series, her way — a way that is so stooped with the flavor, nuances, and essence of Detroit. She described her experience creating the show as “one of the biggest manifestations of her life” and she hopes it empowers other creators to believe that it’s possible for them too.
Diarra from Detroit is a comedy-drama that kicks off with our protagonist (Diarra), a schoolteacher going through a divorce. With Morris Chestnut (Swa) playing the husband, one could understand why she is taking the split so hard. What follows, in a Stella getting her groove back fashion, Diarra goes on a very successful Tinder date with Chris (Shannon Wallace) which abruptly ends when she is ghosted. But our protagonist wants answers and ventures to Chris’ house only to find out that there was, in fact, a very strange and peculiar reason why she was ghosted.
Heeding the Issa Rae warning of regrettably naming the lead after herself, so much of Diarra and Detroit is steeped in this show so the name stays. With risk-taking cinematic flare coupled with characters (including our protagonist) constantly making you laugh, wince, or hold your breath in anticipation; this new series undoubtedly keeps you on your toes from beginning to end. And this is the mark of good writing, and a good television show, one where even you, the audience, have no clue on what happens next.
DomiNque Perry, Bryan Terrell Clark, and icons like Phylicia Rashad round out the ensemble of this new series which Detroiters can proudly call their own with the motor city so beautifully being represented.
“I hope that people feel empowered. This is the biggest manifestation of my life. I had a dream and it came true. If anyone has a dream, I promise, it's possible.” - Diarra Kilpatrick
Donaldo Prescod is an award-winning filmmaker. As a writer, Donaldo has written numerous plays for the late-night episodic #serials@theflea as part of the award-winning Flea Theater in Tribeca including The 1’s and 2’s, now a full-length which had its NY premiere at The Tank, and 2014 semifinalist for the Eugene O’Neill center’s National Playwright Conference. His film Black People Are Dangerous won Best Narrative Short at the Urban Film Festival and the Honorable Mention Award at the 10th Annual Bushwick Film Festival.
As a filmmaker, Donaldo wrote and directed Black People Are Dangerous, and will soon release his documentary, “Last Night an Artist Saved My Life,” a story about Black female painters.
Rising Star Rachel Sennott Wins 2023 Stonestreet Studios Granite Award!
Emma Seligman, Rachel Sennott, Alyssa Rallo Bennett
Rachel Sennott
At the Bushwick Film Festival, we're all about celebrating the success of talented filmmakers, and Rachel Sennott is a perfect example of this. Her story is one that many aspiring artists dream of. We first noticed Rachel with her short film "Shiva Baby," which was originally set to be part of our festival in 2021. However, something amazing happened – the film got a deal to be turned into a feature and we were thrilled! This is exactly what we hope for our filmmakers: opportunities that launch their careers to new levels.
Since then, Rachel's journey in the film industry has been nothing short of inspiring. She's gone on to make waves with her roles in movies like "Bottoms," "The Idol," and "Bodies, Bodies, Bodies." Her ability to bring characters to life with both depth and humor is remarkable.
Rachel's talents were recently recognized with the prestigious . Stonestreet Studios, founded by the filmmaking duo of Alyssa Rallo Bennett and Gary O. Bennett, is the exclusive independent film studio partner of the NYU Tisch Drama program. Its Granite Award is bestowed upon actors and multi-hyphenates who have developed meaningful work, reflective of Stonestreet’s socially conscious and diverse films, including Rain Without Thunder, The Pack, ReRUN, and, soon to be released, The Arrival. Winning the Granite Award means Rachel is seen as someone who's making a real impact in the industry. She's now in the company of other incredible actors who have won this award before, like Rachel Brosnahan and Miles Teller.
Rachel's start at Stonestreet Studios, where she took part in the Screen Acting & Production Residency Program, laid the foundation for her success. This experience gave her the tools she needed to grow as an actress and prepare for the amazing opportunities that lay ahead.
Today, Rachel is represented by William Morris Endeavor Entertainment and Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment. Her performance in "Bottoms," which premiered at SXSW, got a lot of attention and praise. It's clear that Rachel is on an upward path in her career. As we celebrate Rachel's achievements, especially her Granite Award, we're excited to see what she does next. Her dedication to her craft and her ability to connect with audiences are truly special. We're proud to have been able to witness her journey and can't wait to see her continue to shine in the film industry.
Rachel's story is a great example of what can happen when talent, hard work, and a supportive community come together. She's an inspiration to all the aspiring filmmakers and actors out there, showing that with passion and perseverance, anything is possible in the industry!
Zac Branciforte, Michael Kirshner, Mike Munari, Monique Ford, Emma Seligman, Rachel Sennott, Alyssa Rallo Bennett, Elizabeth Bunnell, Lauren Montes, Toon de Melker, Clara Spannaus, Brayden Wlech, Luis Amaducci Quero, Amelia Annen, Kirby Ann Seely (Stonestreet staff and faculty)
Filmmaker Tess Harrison: From Inspired Shorts to Her Feature Debut, The Light Upstate
Bushwick Film Festival alumna Tess Harrison discusses her short film work and her upcoming feature debut.
Written by Marisa Bianco
Photo Credit by filmmaker Tess Harrison
“I think I am terrified of losing someone - so finding a way to visualize that space in between life and death is comforting to me,” says Bushwick Film Festival alumna Tess Harrison about her upcoming film, The Light Upstate, which explores grief and its myriad of complexities. Harrison is a filmmaker and actor whose momentum is on the rise. Her work in short narrative film and music videos shows her capacity to tell visually and narratively exciting stories in just a few short minutes. Soon we’ll have the opportunity to see what Harrison can do with the feature-length format in her directorial debut, The Light Upstate, an adaptation of her 2018 short Take Me Out with the Stars, an official selection of the 11th Annual Bushwick Film Festival.
Across Harrison’s directorial work is a talent for capturing setting and character in harmony. The worlds in which her films take place feel real, and the characters feel as if they are in and of those worlds. In her first short, 2015’s DOG, a group of teenagers sit around a bonfire, playing truth or dare. The conversation is silly and innocent enough until one character, Alex, admits a dark secret. It's a startling change in the tone of the conversation, but it works because the film’s visual style remains constant. In the beginning, the smiles and laughter of the bantering teens don’t match the ominous shadows of the flames moving across their faces. It is almost a relief when Alex tells his secret—it diffuses this tension, the mismatch between visuals and dialogue, that Harrison so expertly builds. We’re left with the melancholy of watching these teens’ relationships change before our eyes. The camera lingers on one girl, who is realizing, perhaps for the first time, that we don’t always know people as well as we think we do.
Harrison returns to the bonfire setting from DOG in her 2018 short Take Me Out with the Stars. The short follows two adult siblings as they struggle with the fact that their dying father fled the hospital he was staying in. In the end, the siblings sit at a bonfire, looking up at a stop-motion animated yellow star, representing their father’s spirit, that somehow they can both see. Harrison reveals that she “wanted the star to feel like it was in between the world of the film and the world of the audience.” She says that “the movement of [animator Zuzu Snyder’s] figures really spoke to me,” and “stop motion in particular has such a material presence on screen, especially against a live-action background.” Harrison uses the star to shift focus, which she suggests “allows for the audience to feel that sense of dizziness that you experience in grief - that sense that the world is moving under your feet.”
Take Me Out with the Stars is the type of short that tells a complete narrative, yet draws you into its world so skillfully that I couldn’t help but yearn to know more about the characters and their relationships—with each other and with their father. I want to live in the magical realism a little longer, where we can see the love and the spirits of those we grieve animated across our skies.
Photo Credit by filmmaker Tess Harrison
In The Light Upstate, the siblings are portrayed by Harrison and her real-life brother, Will. Harrison wrote the film for herself and her brother, and “though we are definitely not the characters in the film, we share a shorthand as actors and siblings that created an inimitable tension on screen.” Tess and Will Harrison previously acted together in Tess’s 2015 award-winning short It’s Perfect Here. Describing their experience making the feature, she says, “It was super challenging and rewarding to work on this material together, so hopefully that creates a unique experience for an audience.” In the feature, the missing parent is instead the mother, “a renowned children’s book author and illustrator.” The literal connection to childhood in this character allows the film’s tone to be “steeped in this childlike, magical imagery.” Tess’s character, Eve, “is burying herself in her mother’s art as a way of accessing and staying in the magic of her childhood, while the reality of her mother’s death is pressing on her.” Harrison focuses on the character’s “minute changes,” expressing her hope that “those little shifts in self-awareness are as moving for an audience as they are for me as the writer, director and actress.”
Harrison also has an impeccable sense of how to use music and sound design in visual storytelling. In Take Me Out with the Stars, the titular animated star skips across the screen, seemingly enlivened by the spritely score. The yellow star and its music provide a warm balance to the cool winter tones and the characters’ dark grief. Standout sound design is further apparent in her 2017 short film Things Break In, an official selection of the 10th Annual Bushwick Film Festival. At certain moments we hear the gentle, folksy score, punctuated by short swells of strings and piano, while at other moments we hear the sounds of the farm and nature, whose musical cadence seems like an extension of the score. Then, when a thunderstorm comes, nature and score come together like a serendipitous symphony, just as the two characters come together.
Photo Credit by filmmaker Tess Harrison
In addition to her short film work, Harrison co-directed a narrative podcast series produced by and starring Cole Sprouse called Borrasca in 2020. Written by Rebecca Klingel, whose credits include The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor, Borrasca is a horror story and mystery reminiscent of Stephen King’s It and Nic Pizzolattos’ True Detective. The congruity of dialogue, sound effects, and music makes this story an immersive auditory experience. Harrison describes directing a podcast as “like theatre in a lot of ways. Moves fast, you can play around with the performances and clock the tiniest changes in delivery when you are only working with the voice.”
What’s next for this emerging writer, director, and actor? This fall, Harrison will participate in the Nostos Screenwriting Retreat in Italy, where she’ll work on the film The French Movie, “about an American teenager studying abroad in the south of France in 2005,” which explores “themes of sexuality, coming of age and national identity.” She is also working on an adaptation of her short film, Things Break In. You can see all of Tess Harrison’s work on her website.
9 films and TV shows that shine a spotlight on the LGBTQ+ community, its challenges, and achievements! #IDAHOT
In celebration of International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, here are 9 films and TV shows to watch that shine a spotlight on the LGBTQ+ community, its challenges, and achievements. From dramas to comedies, we truly appreciate every story and its significance. Click the image for trailers. Happy IDAHOT day!
POSE
The category is…jaw dropping, heart warming, get out of your seat and start snapping at the TV goodness. You might start voguing down your halls after watching this pivotal show set in 1987, following the ball culture, like the iconic film Paris Is Burning (Livingston, 1990). The show juxtaposes the lively underground with upper class white executives, who work for Trump.
The show features 5 trans people of color - setting a record in TV history as the first show ever to feature these radiant performers. Showrunner, Ryan Murphy decided to donate his earnings to not-for-profit organizations in the LGBT community (intersex, trans and gender non-conforming) after hearing lived experiences while researching for the show. Season two premieres this June. This show is about connection, respect and love in your adopted community and ultimately being your true self.
MILK
A biopic about LGBT rights politician Harvey Milk’s rise to office. This film gives us a look at his leadership of hope, courage and bravery as the first elected openly gay California politician in 1978. Sean Penn wins an Oscar for Best Actor in this role.
TANGERINE
What do you do when you get out of jail and your bestie tells you that your cheating pimp boyfriend has a new cis-girlfriend? This comedy drama follows transgender sex worker, Sin-Dee’s search to find this woman in question and the many confrontations on her journey to redemption. Underneath that plot is a story truly about two best friends, Sin-Dee and Alexandra, both trans women who are strong, vivacious and have each other’s back. Alexandra even skipped her own phone bill to pay for Sin-Dee’s rent while she was in jail, that is a real friend! Seeing these trans characters as multi faceted, not just two dimensional stereotypes, was refreshing at its time. The film was shot with three iPhone 5S smartphones. This was before films and technology advanced as it has today. This was really a standout film at its time. In fact, one of the iPhones used has now been donated to the Academy of Motion Pictures. Locked in history.
DYKES IN THE STREET
The anticipated Inside Out Film Festival (May 23- June 2)l in Toronto celebrates the vibrant LGBT community. In this year’s festival, a documentary about the Dyke March, a staple during Pride Week, will have its World Premiere. Director, Almerinda Travassos, takes you on a journey from the past marches from 1981, 1991, 1996 and 2016 and shows you how these marches have made an impact in the political and cultural arena in Toronto. Thus asking the big question of what has been accomplished from these marches and what is next?
GAY CHORUS DEEP SOUTH
You may recall this title as we featured it as a must see at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. Rodrigues features 300 singers on tour in the deep south. Frankly, sounds like a logistic nightmare but I digress. The choir travels to states like North Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee to a series of church performances where they encounter anti-LGBT laws and homophobia. A really powerful example of how sharing stories can change lives of others and the storytellers themselves. This film will have it’s Canadian Premiere at Toronto’s LGBT Film Festival, Inside Out.
WHEN WE RISE
A mini-series drama about LGBT struggle for equality over the last 40 years. It also documents the growth of activists like Cleve Jones and Roma Guy throughout different times in their lives. Each character is played by two actors at different ages, highlighting just how powerful and long they fought for these rights. It was created by the writer of MILK (Van Sant, 2008) and Dustin Lance Black. This moving show stars trans actor, Ivory Aquino, and other notable faces like Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie O’Donnell, Mary-Louise Parker, Guy Pearce and David Hyde Pierce. This timely show debuted in 2017, just as Trump announced roll-back of transgender bathroom protections.
BREAKING FREE
The filmmaker introduces the documentary as a personal project and gives insight to the LGBT experience and laws against homosexuality in India. You quickly recognizes that social injustice, brutality from officials and victimization of individuals is a worldwide issue for all LGBT people. The film does include positive coming out stories, political fights and an empowered future for the next generation. This film was shot from 2007-2014.
WILL & GRACE
There was nothing like it at the time. Originally a side story for another show, the Will and Grace characters shined so brightly, the network wanted creators, Max Mutchnick and David Kohan to develop their storyline. Though this sitcom may not seem like an important pick for LGBTQ+ rights, look again at the wide access of representation on a national network, prime time slot that gives this show a place on this list. It not only has won awards but showcases the first gay kiss on network television! That episode, titled “Acting Out”, was only in their second season. There is no doubt its reboot was brought back to a time where our culture, again, needs to be reminded of the visibility of a gay lead.
FREEDOM TO MARRY
This documentary shares the historical look at the social political climb towards same-sex marriage in the US. This inspiring film follows activist, Evan Wolfson, in his fight for the equal rights of same-sex marriage. His passion for equal rights has empowered this whole movement leading the countdown to the Supreme Court favoring the ruling of same-sex marriage. This film has won 8 Best Documentary awards and has been screened at over 20 film festivals.
This article was written by BFF contributing writer Amanda Lederle. Amanda is a film enthusiast that has dedicated her life to mental health awareness, CreateBeing.com. Amanda has a background in Film Studies and lives with their partner and their chinchilla, Chewbacca in Toronto, Canada.