Pano is closing out Pride Month with our third and final Pride watchlist. This list features films that revolve around the theme of romance. All four flicks are directed by LGBTQ+ filmmakers and contain realistic portrayals of queer relationships. Closeted or out, polyamorous or monogamous, all queer love deserves to be celebrated equally. It is crucial that we uplift our LGBTQ+ peers, not just this month but all year long.

Saving Face directed by Alice Wu
A Chinese-American lesbian and her pregnant mother are hesitant to go public with secrets that defy cultural expectations.

Nowhere directed by Gregg Araki
This independent film follows a day in the life of college student Dark and his group of sexually fluid friends as they navigate relationships in Los Angeles.

Bound directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski
Written and directed by the Wachowskis, this neo-noir thriller features Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly as lovers Corky and Violet, an ex-con and a mafioso’s girlfriend who plot to steal millions from the mob.

Nitrate Kisses directed by Barbara Hammer
Hammer’s Nitrate Kisses is an experimental documentary weaving portraits of gay and lesbian couples with historical footage and imagery of queer culture. #weekendwatchlist ...

The second Pano Pride Month watchlist is themed around perseverance. All four of these films focus on strong LGBTQ+ characters that overcome obstacles to achieve their goals. Whether it be getting back into stand-up comedy after transitioning or leading the first LGBTQ+ political party in the Philippines, these protagonists persevere through gender and sexuality-based discrimination to find inner-peace and happiness. We hope you can take inspiration from these brave real and fictional characters.

A Fantastic Woman directed by Sebastián Lelio
This drama centers around transgender protagonist and nightclub singer Marina, who must process the passing of her older lover while enduring scrutiny from his family members.

Julia Scotti: Funny That Way directed by Susan Sandler
In this documentary film, Sandler captures the inspiring story of Julia Scotti, delving into her career as a stand-up comedian and her experience of starting to transition at age forty-seven.

Moonlight directed by Barry Jenkins
This Academy Award-winning film focuses on three significant chapters in the life of Chiron, a queer, black man raised in Miami during the height of the crack epidemic.

Out Run directed by S. Leo Chiang and Johnny Symons
Out Run follows a group of ambitious transgender women that lead the Ladlad Party, the only LGBTQ political party in the world, as they rally to elect a trans woman to the Philippine Congress. #weekendwatchlist ...

This month, Pano is celebrating pride with three watchlists featuring LGBTQ+ filmmakers and protagonists. The first watchlist centers around the theme of gender expression. For many LGBTQ+ folks, it takes time to cultivate the self while living in a culture that strictly enforces the gender binary. These four films critique and deconstruct the gender binary by featuring complex, queer identities. Stay tuned for more pride watchlists throughout June!

But I’m A Cheerleader directed by Jamie Babbit
After a lesbian teen is outed by her family, she finds love in an unexpected place: a conversion therapy facility.

Tongues Untied directed by Marlon Riggs
Riggs’ experimental documentary explores the gay black identity through poetic language, personal narrative, and historical depictions of black men.

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar directed by Beeban Kidron
Three larger-than-life drag queens take a road trip across America, eventually making their mark on a conservative small town.

I am Divine directed by Jeffrey Schwarz
This documentary details the life and career of the drag queen Divine, known for starring in cult classic John Waters films like “Hairspray” and “Polyester.”

#panonetwork #diversevoices #pridemonth #queerfilm #weekendwatchlist ...

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Pano has curated a watchlist of films that realistically portray multiple facets of mental illness. At the start of the pandemic, people from all around the world were impacted mentally. According to the World Health Organization, in the first year of the pandemic, the “global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by a massive 25 percent.” Unlike some physical illnesses, the symptoms of a mental illness can be treated and minimized, but the illness itself can not be cured. This month, it is important to spread the word about mental health in order to educate others and work towards destigmatizing mental illness.

If you or a loved one are struggling, please use this as a sign to reach out for help. Click the #linkinbio for the CDC’s list of mental health resources.

Short Term 12 directed by @destindaniel

In this independent drama, Grace, a 20-something supervising staff member of a residential treatment facility, navigates the turbulent nature of work alongside her co-worker and longtime boyfriend.

Running from Crazy directed by @barbarakopple

This documentary follows the granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway, Mariel Hemingway, as she searches for a greater understanding of her famous family’s history of mental illness.

Sweetie directed by #JaneCampion

Campion’s 1989 debut feature focuses on the relationship between dysfunctional sisters and the impact that psychological trauma has on their family dynamic.

The Virgin Suicides directed by #SofiaCoppola

In 1970s America, five teenage sisters explore sexuality and struggle with their mental health while living in a repressive household, narrated by a teenage boy who is infatuated with them. #weekendwatchlist #mentalhealthawareness ...

Happy Earth Day! Check out this #weekendwatchlist of films that inspire viewers to celebrate and protect the planet. Earth Day serves as a reminder of environmental protection and began in 1970 with a series of public events in cities throughout the U.S. This Friday, we encourage our members to participate in earth-centered events, clean up local areas, plant trees, and take part in other eco-friendly activities!

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind directed by @hayaomiyazaki
Based on Miyazaki’s 1982 manga, warrior and pacifist Princess Nausicaä desperately struggles to prevent two warring nations from destroying themselves and their dying planet.

Angry Inuk directed by #AletheaArnaquq-Baril
This documentary captures seal hunting’s crucial role in the lives of the Inuit people.

The Burning Season directed by #CathyHenkel
The Burning Season is a 2008 documentary about the burning of rainforests in Indonesia to develop palm oil plantations.

Sea of Life directed by #JuliaBarnes
Follow filmmaker Julia Barnes on an underwater adventure to discover the truth about the threats facing the ocean.
Check out the Pano website for more watchlists!

#panonetwork #womeninfilm #earthday ...

This April, we are celebrating Autism Acceptance Month with a new #weekendwatchlist featuring films with protagonists that are on the autism spectrum. This month is important to our community because we align with the Autism Society of America’s “Celebrate Differences” slogan. According to the organization’s 2020 study, 1 in 54 children are diagnosed with autism. It is beneficial to promote autism acceptance rather than awareness in order to emphasize inclusivity and the differences that make people unique. On the change from Autism Awareness Month to Autism Acceptance Month, President of the Autism Society of America Christopher Banks says “As many individuals and families affected by autism know, acceptance is often one of the biggest barriers to finding and developing a strong support system.” We hope to break some of those barriers by embracing the community and promoting their distinct voices.

@MaryAndMaxMovie directed by #AdamElliot
In this animated film, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Toni Collette are the voices of Mary & Max, two misfits who form a close friendship spanning twenty years and two continents.

Her Name is Sabine directed by #SandrineBonnaire
This documentary is a moving portrait of Sabine, a 38-year-old autistic woman, filmed by her sister, French actress and director Sandrine Bonnaire.

Temple Grandin directed by #MickJackson
A biopic of Temple Grandin, an autistic woman who has become one of the top scientists in the humane livestock handling industry.

Please Stand By directed by #BenLewin
A young autistic woman runs away from her caregiver in an attempt to submit her 500-page manuscript to a "Star Trek" writing competition at Paramount Pictures.

For more Pano-curated films, check out our watchlists at the #linkinbio! ...

In honor of Women’s History Month, we have compiled a shortlist of documentary films directed by women that depict a wide range of inspiring stories. We hope that these films will empower and motivate you throughout the end of March. For more Pano-curated films, check out our #weekendwatchlist here!

@missrepresentation - Directed by #jennifersiebelnewson
Miss Representation exposes how mainstream media and culture contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America.

@periodendofsentence - Directed by #raykazahtabchi
Women in a rural village outside Delhi, India fight the stigma surrounding menstruation when they learn to manufacture sanitary pads.

Union Maids - Directed by Julia Reichert, Jim Klein, and Miles Mogulescu
This film features interviews with three courageous women from Chicago that were featured in the labor history book Rank and File by Staughton Lynd and Alice Lynd.

Chisholm '72 - Unbought & Unbossed - Directed by @sholalynch
Chisholm 72’ centers around Brooklyn Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm and her campaign for the Democratic Party presidential nomination in 1972. Reflecting Chisholm's wit, spirit, and charisma, the film chronicles her adventures on the Chisholm Trail.

#panonetwork #femalefilmmakerfriday #WomensHistoryMonth #femalefilmmakers #womeninfilm ...

Check out these festive film & tv recommendations for this weeks #weekendwatchlist! And check out more holiday-themed films all month long! What are you excited to see?

#DashAndLily - Based on the book by @RachelCohnbooks, Episodes directed by @PamelaRomanowsky, Written by Rachel Cohn, Lauren Moon & Carol Barbee
On Christmas Eve, a young boy builds a snowman that comes to life and takes him to the North Pole to meet Father Christmas.

@HappiestSeason - Directed by @officialCleaD, Written by DuVall & @MaryHollandaise
A holiday romantic comedy that captures the range of emotions tied to wanting your family's acceptance, being true to yourself, and trying not to ruin Christmas.

#TheHolidayMovie - Written & Directed by @NMeyers
Two women troubled with guy-problems swap homes in each other's countries, where they each meet a local guy and fall in love.

#MixedNutsMovie - Directed by Nora Ephron, Written by Ephron & Delia Ephron
The events focus around a crisis hotline business on one crazy night during the Christmas holidays. ...

Check out four fantastic films for this weeks #weekendwatchlist! And check out more films by #IndigenousFilmmakers all month long! What are you excited to see?

@DrunktownsFinest - Written & Directed by @SydneyFreeland
Three young Native Americans strive to escape the hardships of life on an Indian reservation.

#TheSecretHistoryOfTheWildWest - Created by Julian Black Antelope, with episodes directed by @GeorginaLightning, Berkley Brady, Braden Croft, Michael Peterson and Julian Black Antelope
This 13-part series unearths to shine a light on the legendary heroes and villains that shaped the Canadian West, and the mystical and metaphysical influences behind them.

ćəsna?əm: The City Before The City - Directed by @ElleMaijaTailfeathers
We live our lives on land that was never ceded or sold by those who were living here at "first contact" and yet we know precious little about the Lower Mainland before real estate.

#ClubNativeFilm - Written & Directed by @TraceyDeer
Tracey Deer reveals the divisive legacy of more than a hundred years of discriminatory and sexist government policy to expose the lingering "blood quantum" ideals, snobby attitudes and outright racism that threaten to destroy the fabric of her community. ...

Check out four fantastic films for this weeks #weekendwatchlist! And check out more films by #IndigenousFilmmakers all month long! What are you excited to see?

@NightRaidersFilm - Written & Directed by @DanisGoulet
A mother joins an underground band of vigilantes to try to rescue her daughter from a state-run institution.

#OlderThanAmerica - Directed by @GeorginaLightning, Written by Lightning & Christine K. Walker
A woman's haunting visions reveal a Catholic priest's sinister plot to silence her mother from speaking the truth about the atrocities that took place at her Native American boarding school.

@TheMeaningofEmpathyFilm - Written & Directed by @ElleMaijaTailfeathers
An intimate view of community members with substance-use disorder, first responders, and health professionals in the Kainai First Nation as they bring hope and change through harm reduction to Blackfoot people.

#TheMayorsOfShiprock - Written & Directed by @Reelindian
In the small town of Shiprock, New Mexico a group of young Navajo leaders work to bring hope and change into their once thriving community. ...

Check out these fantastic film & tv recommendations for this weeks #weekendwatchlist! And check out more films by #IndigenousFilmmakers all month long! What are you excited to see?

@TheBodyRemembersFilm - Written & Directed by @Kathleen.Hepburn & @ElleMaijaTailfeathers
After a chance encounter on the street, a woman tries to encourage a pregnant domestic abuse victim to seek help.

@Rezdogsfxonhulu - Created by Sterlin Harjo & Taika Waititi, with episodes directed by Harjo, @sydneyfreeland, @Tazbah & Blackhorse Lower
Four Native American teenagers grow up on a reservation in eastern Oklahoma.

@MohawkGirlstv - Created by @TraceyDeer & Cynthia Knight
Four 20-something Mohawk women trying to figure out how to be Mohawk in the 21st century, and find their places in the world.

Indian Alley - Written & Directed by Pamela Peters
This short documentary shares the history of the alley and the artistic visuals of six Native American artist that are using their art to share not only the history, but the existence of American Indians in Los Angeles, California. ...

Check out these fantastic films for this weeks #weekendwatchlist! And check out more films by #IndigenousFilmmakers all month long! What are you excited to see?

#DeidraAndLaneyRobATrain - Directed by @SydneyFreeland & Written by @ShelbyFallsDown
After their mother ends up in jail, two sisters turn to train robbery in order to support their family.

@Beansthefilm - Directed by @TraceyDeer, Written by Deer and @MereVuch
Based on true events, Tracey Deer's debut feature chronicles the 78-day standoff between two Mohawk communities and government forces in 1990 in Quebec.

Without a Whisper: Konnon:kwe - Directed by #KatsitsionniFox
The film follows Mohawk Bear Clan Mother Louise Herne and Professor Sally Roesch Wagner as they seek to correct the historical narrative about the origins of women’s rights in the United States.

@SistersRisingMovie - Directed by @WillowOferal & Brad Heck
Native American survivors of sexual assault fight for tribal sovereignty in order to end the rape of Indigenous women against the backdrop of an ongoing legacy of violent colonization. ...

This #Halloweekend we’re offering a fresh new #femalefilmmakerfriday #weekendwatchlist with 10 of our favorite #womeninhorror films from the past few years, curated by our own horror filmmaker and board member @crooklyncat! Swipe through to see the full list! Have you seen them all? Any we missed? What are some of your faves? Let us know!

@CandymanMovie - #NiaDaCosta, 2021
@CensorMovie - @PranoBaileyBond, 2021
#Nocturne - #ZuQuirke, 2020
@SheDiesTomorrow - #AmySeimetz, 2020
@12HourShiftFilm - @BreaGrant, 2020
#TheOtherLamb - @Szumowska.m, 2019
@KnivesAndSkinFilm - @TheJenniferReeder, 2019
#SatanicPanicFilm - #ChelseaStardustPeters, 2019
#TheWindFilm - @ET_snaps, 2018
#TigersAreNotAfraid - @issitalopez, 2017 ...

Check out these fantastic sci-fi films for this weeks #weekendwatchlist! And check out more films by #GenreFilmmakers all month long! What are you excited to see?

#IThinkWereAloneNowFilm - Directed by @ReedMorano, Written by Mike Makowsky
The apocalypse proves a blessing in disguise for one lucky recluse -- until a second survivor arrives with the threat of companionship.

@LittleJoeFilm - Directed by Jessica Hausner, Written by Hausner & Géraldine Bajard
Alice, a single mother, is a dedicated senior plant breeder at a corporation engaged in developing new species. Against company policy, she takes one home as a gift for her teenage son and names it after him but soon starts fearing it.

#MakingMrRightFilm - Directed by @desperately_seeking, Written by Floyd Byars & Laurie Frank
A reclusive scientist builds a robot which looks exactly like Dr. Ulysses, a scientist set to go on a long-term space mission.

#TankGirlFilm - Directed by @rtalalay, Written by Tedi Sarafian, based on the comic by Alan Martin & Jamie Hewlett
A girl is among the few survivors of a dystopian Earth. Riding a war tank, she fights against the tyranny of a mega-corporation that dominates the remaining potable water supply of the planet. ...

Check out these fantastic sci-fi films for this weeks #weekendwatchlist! And check out more films by #GenreFilmmakers all month long! What are you excited to see?

#EmbersFilm - Written by @Clairesquarecarre & Charles Spano, Directed by Carré
After a global neurological epidemic, those who remain search for meaning and connection in a world without memory.

#HalfLifeFilm - Written & Directed by @JenniferPhang
As troubling signs of global cataclysms accelerate, a brother and sister react to their father's desertion and the powerful presence of their mother's new boyfriend.

#AlteredPerceptionFilm - Written by Jennifer Blanc-Biehn, Jon Huertas & Travis Romero, Directed by @myfabuloushollywoodlife
A drug that alters perceptions during trauma and stress, is being advertised as a cure for socio-political tensions. Several couples volunteer for human trials but end up with more than they bargained for.

#DeepImpactFilm - Directed by @Mimi.Leder
A comet is discovered to be on a collision course with Earth. As doomsday nears, the human race prepares for the worst. ...

Check out these incredibly moving films for this weeks #weekendwatchlist! And check out more films by #HispanicFilmmakers all month long! What are you excited to see?

#EverythingElseFilm - Written & Directed by #NataliaAlmada
A poetic and lyrical story about a woman's second coming of age as she reawakens to her self at sixty-three

#XXYFilm - Written & Directed by @Lucia.Puenzo, based on the short story Cinismo by Sergio Bizzio
The story of an intersex fifteen-year-old. She lives with her parents, who have to cope with the challenges of her medical condition.

#Zama - Directed by #LucreciaMartel, Written by Martel and Antonio Di Benedetto
Based on the novel by Antonio Di Benedetto written in 1956, on Don Diego de Zama, a Spanish officer of the seventeenth century settled in Asunción, who awaits his transfer to Buenos Aires.

#TheSecondMotherFilm - Written & Directed by @AnnaMuylaert
When the estranged daughter of a hard-working live-in housekeeper suddenly appears, the unspoken class barriers that exist within the home are thrown into disarray. ...

Check out these great picks for this weeks #weekendwatchlist! And check out more films by #HispanicFilmmakers all month long! What are you excited to see?

#HowToGetOverABreakupFilm - Directed by #JoannaLombardi & #BrunoAscenzo, Written by #MaríaJoseOsorio & #MaraPescio
A heartbroken ad copywriter living in Lima, Peru, is inspired to write a blog about life as a single woman and is surprised by her website's success.

@EverybodyLovesMovie - Written & Directed by #CatalinaAguilarMastretta
A single, successful career woman asks her co-worker to pose as her boyfriend at a family wedding back home in Mexico. Her situation gets complicated when her ex shows up at the ceremony.

@BirdsOfPassageMovie - Directed by #CristinaGallego, #CiroGuerra & Written by #MariaCamilaArias, #JacquesToulemondeVidal & Cristina Gallego
During the marijuana bonanza, a violent decade that saw the origins of drug trafficking in Colombia, Rapayet and his indigenous family get involved in a war to control the business that ends up destroying their lives and their culture.

#SandDollarsFilm - Written & Directed by @Israel_Cardenas_ & @LaurameliaGuzman
An older European woman becomes enchanted with a young Dominican woman who must struggle to make ends meet. Love brings a flow of entanglements in a drama which unfolds like palm trees in an irresistible storm. ...

Check out these incredible documentaries for this weeks #weekendwatchlist! And check out more films by #HispanicFilmmakers all month long! What are you excited to see?

#TheTiniestPlace - Written & Directed by #TatianaHuezo
The inhabitants of a small town in El Salvador relive their life experiences during the civil war while remembering their loved ones.

@SouthwestofSalem - Directed by @Deb_Esquenazi
A documentary that follows the struggle for exoneration of four Latina lesbians who were wrongfully convicted of gang rape against two young girls.

@bellasdenoche_ - Written & Directed by @MariaJoseCuevas
An honest portrait of five women who go through the night looking for other possibilities of beauty, while discovering the passing of time, lost youth, the mirage that is fame and the chance for happiness.

#TheEdgeOfDemocracy - Directed by @PetraCostal
Political documentary and personal memoir collide in this exploration into the complex truth behind the unraveling of two Brazilian presidencies. ...