IFFBoston is more than just a spring festival.  For more than 13 years, it has grown into the best way to experience independent film in, around, and about Boston. It starts with the main hosting venues.  The Somerville, Brattle, and Coolidge Corner Theatres are the premier independent cinemas in the area, each with their own niche of iconic offerings that make them destination moviehouses throughout the year.  These range from retrospective series at the Brattle, to the Science ...

  by Quendrith Johnson   When Ellen Page tells you she "was playing it cool on the inside" meeting with Brit Marling ("Arbitrage") and Sundance darling director Zal Batmanglij, you have to wonder what all the fuss is about.  To hear Zal tell it, "when I heard Ellen Page wanted to meet with us..." The movie in question, "The East," premiered last night in Hollywood at the ArcLight to an adoring hometown crowd, uh, hometown of Hollywood,...

For a sampling of the narrative features not already mentioned, I offer the following: While the premise of Another Earth suggests that it is a science-fiction film, it is really more of a character study with a sci-fi MacGuffin.  Lead actress/writer Brit Marling, as Rhoda, is in virtually every shot, and yet is silent for roughly the first twenty minutes.  Her ability to keep the audience engaged through facial expression and body language sets the tone for the gently unfolding plot.  Alo...