There really has been a strong collection of indie films hitting the big screen so far this year, with more and more being released each week.

Born of War

Born of War

May is set to follow that fine trend with a collection of great movies that are not to be missed over the coming weeks.

We take a look at some of the indie film that we are looking forward to the most - with four out of the five films showcasing the great female filmmaking talent that is out there at the moment.

- Born of War - out now

Vicky Jewson is one of the rising British female filmmakers and she has returned to the director's chair this weekend with her new film Born of War. This is the second film of her directorial career and comes seven years after she made her debut with Lady Godiva.

Born of War sees Jewson turn her hand to the genre that she loves most... and that is action with a very strong female protagonist.

Sofia Black-D'Elia has been making a name for herself in recent years with the likes of Project Almanac and TV series such as The Messengers and Gossip Girl under her belt - this movie will paint her in a very different light as an actress and showcase her versatility. She is a name to watch out for over the next couple of years as she has a string of other exciting projects on the horizon.

James Frain is also on board, while Michael Brandon, Lydia Leonard, and Philip Arditti make up the cast list.

Mina (D'Elia), a young college student, has her life ripped away after her family is killed. When she finds out their murders were part of a botched kidnapping to return her to her real father - a terrorist in the Middle East - Mina works with British Intelligence to take him down...and take control of her life again.

But she quickly learns that there are two sides to every story. Mina's quest for retribution and unsteady alliance with the MI5 throws her into the war-torn Middle East. Under the strict supervision of hardened mercenary Simon (James Frain) Mina finds herself on a journey to discover her own inherent violence.

Born of War

- Girlhood - released 8th May

Céline Sciamma is a director who has been making a name for herself in recent years with Water Lilies and Tomboy and now she is back with her new movie Girlhood.

Girlhood is her first film since Tomboy back in 2011 and the third feature film of her directing career so far. As well as being in the director's chair, Sciamma has also penned the screenplay that looks set to explore the relationship between a group of girls.

There is something so raw and real about this film, with the characters and the relationships being something that many women will remember and relate to. Sciamma has always been able to get under the skin and depict honestly the difficulties of growing up a female - she does that again with Girlhood.

Sciamma has brought together a central cast that has no acting experience, and they all deliver performances that are just outstanding - you would have no idea they have had little or no acting experience prior to this film.

Fed up with her abusive family situation, lack of school prospects and the 'boys' law' in the neighbourhood, Marieme starts a new life after meeting a group of three free-spirited girls. She changes her name, her style, drops out of school and starts stealing to be accepted into the gang.

When her home situation becomes unbearable, Marieme seeks solace in an older man who promises her money and protection. Realizing this sort of lifestyle will never result in the freedom and independence she truly desires, she finally decides to take matters into her own hands.

Girlhood

- Honeytrap - released 8th May

Rebecca Johnson is another female filmmaker to watch out for this month as she makes the leap into feature film with Honeytrap. Johnson is no stranger to the director's chair with shorts Electric, Top Girl, and That Sinking Feeling under her belt and Honeytrap sees her pen the screenplay as well as at the helm.

Honeytrap is a tragic teen romance, set in Brixton and inspired by true events. It tells the story of 15-year-old Layla, who sets up the boy in love with her to be killed.

The film explores the jigsaw of elements which allow gang culture to flourish, but it's also a story on a mythic scale: set in a world with its own kings and queens, a world where obsession and jealousies loom larger than life and where status is survival itself.

Jessica Sula will take on the central role of Layla in what will be her big screen debut. Sula is best known for her roles in TV series Love & Marriage and Skins and becomes the latest star of the latter to make the leap on to the big screen.

Honeytrap has been playing well on the festival circuit at SWSX and London Film Festival and is set to be a must see if you like gritty British urban drama.

Honeytrap

- Rosewater - released 8th May

Another director who is making his debut this month is funny man Jon Stewart as he swaps The Daily Show for the director's chair.

Rosewater is set to be that debut and is based on the memoir by Iranian/Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari - who will be played by Gael García Bernal in the movie. This is a movie that has already been playing well on the festival circuit and I am looking forward to seeing what Stewart delivers with his debut.

Rosewater follows the Tehran-born Bahari, a 42-year-old broadcast journalist with Canadian citizenship living in London. In June 2009, Bahari returned to Iran to interview Mir-Hossein Mousavi, who was the prime challenger to controversial incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

As Moussavi's supporters rose up to protest Ahmadinejad's victory declaration hours before the polls closed on election day, Bahari endured great personal risk by submitting camera footage of the unfolding street riots to the BBC. Bahari was soon arrested by Revolutionary Guard police, led by a man identifying himself only as 'Rosewater,' who proceeded to torture and interrogate the journalist over the next 118 days.

We have already been treated to some great true story/biopic movies so far this year, but Rosewater looks set to be another that is not to be missed if you are a fan of this genre. While there may be elements of brutality, Rosewater looks set to explore the unbreakable human spirit.

Rosewater

- A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night - released 22nd May

Ana Lily Amirpour is on directing and writing duties at the end of the month as she makes her feature film debut with A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night.

Amirpour has written and directed shorts and documentary projects during her filmmaking career so far, but this is the first time that she has made the leap into a live action feature.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night is already whipping up a storm as the director has blended elements of horror, film noir, and Westerns with a black and white look and pumping soundtrack.

It looks like Amirpour is set to deliver one of the most original and interesting movies this May.

Strange things are afoot in Bad City. The Iranian ghost town, home to prostitutes, junkie, pimps and other sordid souls, is a place that reeks of death and hopelessness, where a lonely vampire is stalking the town's most unsavoury inhabitants. But when boy meets girl, an unusual love story begins to blossom... blood red.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night

by for www.femalefirst.co.uk
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