The FSLC's FILM COMMENTS SELECTS series for 2013 gets underway this Monday

It's that time of year again, when, in New York City, a bunch of generally very-good movies from around the world that don't quite fit well-enough into any marketable niche (and thus have so far gone mostly undistributed and unseen here in the USA) get their day -- sometimes two! -- in the sun.

above and top, both from Miss Lovely (no U.S. distribution yet)

The event -- an annual series -- is called FILM COMMENT SELECTS and draws its title from the movie magazine FILM COMMENT, published by The Film Society of Lincoln Center, which also sponsors this series. This year the FCS series -- which begins this coming Monday, February 18 -- presents 21 films, 16 of them new, with five oldies-but-goodies filling out the program.

from Nights With Theodore (no U.S. distribution yet)

Already this year, five of the new films have been picked up, for U.S. distribution (which probably means eventually release via DVD, streaming and/or VOD, in addition to theatres), with more probably to come. So real film buffs might want to concentrate their efforts on seeing those films that do not have (and may never get) U.S. distribution.

from Motorway (no U.S. distribution yet)

As usual, too, these films come from all around the world -- Hong Kong to France, Britain to Japan, the U.S. to Bollywood -- and includes filmmaker just coming into their own, as well as newcomers and old-timers.

from Sightseers, from IFC Midnight

True this year, as almost every year, genre films make their appearance in this series, as does the occasional experimental oddity (we have two this time around), together with a movie by a storied filmmaker that for some reason (and rather embarrassingly, if you ask me) has not been picked up yet.

from Dormant Beauty (no U.S. distribution yet)

In that last category is the new and quite wonderful movie from Marco Bellocchio -- Dormant Beauty -- that explores his country's reaction to euthanasia and which was given quite the "dis" by Michael Mann at last year's Venice Film Fest. (Mr. Mann, I might add has not given us a film with any worthwhile content in more than a decade.) I'll have a review up of the new Bellocchio very soon. Meanwhile, put it on your list.

from White Epilepsy (no U.S. distribution yet)

Highly experimental movies this year include those by Philippe Grandrieux (whose films often make me want to yell, "Turn on the fucking light!")....

from Stemple Pass (no U.S. distribution yet)

...and James Benning (who gives us lengthy scenes of a certain house that belonged to a certain person of interest).

from The We and the I (via Paladin & 108 Media)

Art-film favorite Michel Gondry is back, too, with a film that appears to divide audience rather thoroughly, and which opens here soon. We shall see....

from Wish You Were Here (no U.S. distribution yet)

There is often that odd and excellent movie that seems to have slipped somehow between the cracks for no good reason. I'm wondering if Australia's Kieran Darcy-Smith has this year's example.

from Simon Killer (via IFC)

Antonio Campos, who gave us the strange, stirring and under-seen AfterSchool is back with his new one, too....

from 3 (not the recent German movie -- and no U.S. distribution yet)

Remember that lovely Uruguayan film Whisky? One of its two filmmakers is back this year with another film that sounds equally smart and small and real (and stylish).

from Call Girl (no U.S. distribution yet? You're kidding!)

What FCS series would be complete without that movie about a really sleazy subject, done stylishly and sexily? I suspect Mikael Marcimain's movie mixing politics, prostitution and a real-life Swedish scandal fills this bill.

from In the Fog (from Strand Releasing)

World War II? Present and accounted for in the new film from the acclaimed director of My Joy, Sergei Loznitsa.

from Penance (no U.S. distribution yet)

After a four-year hiatus, Kiyoshi Kurosawa is back with a five-part, made-for-Japanese-TV psychological drama/murder mystery that tests viewer endurance, and, promises the FSLC, "truly rewards it."

from Gebo and the Shadow (no U.S. distribution yet)

Another famous filmmaker, perhaps the oldest living one still working, Manoel De Oliveira, is here with his latest film.

from Here Comes Devil (via Magnet/Magnolia)

Lastly, Argentina's bizarre fright specialist Adrián García (the unique Penumbra) has another little scary movie at the ready -- which genre fans won't want to miss.  

You can see the entire schedule, order you tickets, and perhaps do all sort of other fun things by clicking here and then clicking on whatever movies and their links interest you.