Films from WFF 2025 to Catch This Month

Written by R.S. Nason-Regan & Jack DeAngelis for the Woodstock Film Festival

RENTAL FAMILY - COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT - SENTIMENTAL VALUE

With so many incredible films screening at this year’s Woodstock Film Festival, you may feel like you didn’t get a chance to see them all. Fear not! Here’s a collection of impactful movies from WFF 2025 that you can catch in theaters or on streaming platforms today.

1. RENTAL FAMILY – Directed by HIKARI, Starring Brendan Fraser

   In modern Tokyo, struggling American actor Phillip Vanderploeug is faced with uninspiring work and an existential crisis. He finds new meaning when he is approached for an acting job as a stand-in for Japanese family members, helping people through various stages of their lives. An inspiring and emotional journey, RENTAL FAMILY explores themes of grief, family, and acceptance.

   Now Playing in Select Theaters.

2. CO-EXISTENCE, MY ASS! – Directed by Amber Fares

   Comedian and actor Noam Shuster Eliassi used to work for the U.N., trying to create peace between conflicting countries. Though she has left the world of traditional political work behind her, her goal remains the same. In this documentary, Noam challenges perspectives regarding peace and conflict in the Middle East, all while evolving her own understanding of the world through her work. Noam Shuster Eliassi is smart, unfairly funny, and provocative in this carefully crafted comedic documentary.

   Now Screening in Select Theaters.

3. BUGONIA – Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, Starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons
   When a down-and-out factory worker for a major pharmaceutical company becomes convinced the CEO of the company is not only responsible for all of the hardships in his life, but also an alien invader collecting information for her mothership, he takes drastic measures, abducting and interrogating her in the basement of his family’s farmhouse. What ensues is a story about perception, grief, and closure that is dark, surreal, and disturbingly funny. Director Yorgos Lanthimos holds the funhouse mirror up to society, showing us a warped, yet eerily accurate reflection of our own world.

   Nominated for Best Feature at the 2025 Gotham Film Awards.

   Now Playing in Select Theaters.

4. SENTIMENTAL VALUE – Directed by Joachim Trier, Starring Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, and Elle Fanning

   Sisters Nora and Agnes Borg have processed their upbringing in different ways. Left to find themselves after their father, a once iconic filmmaker, abandoned them, Nora became a driven stage actor, while Agnes found solace in a life of routine with her family. The tenuous status quo is disrupted when their father returns with a new script about his family in an attempt to revive both his career and his relationship with his daughters. 

   Now Playing in Select Theaters.

5. BLUE MOON – Directed by Richard Linklater, Starring Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, and Andrew Scott
   Before Rodger and Hammerstein revolutionized Broadway with their hit musical “Oklahoma,” it was Rodger and Hart that lit up the airwaves with hits like “The Lady Is a Tramp” and “Blue Moon.” Told from the perspective of spurned lyricist and writer Lorenz Hart, BLUE MOON is a sharp-witted exploration of forlorn love and missed opportunity.
   Now Playing in Select Theaters. 

6. RIVER OF GRASS – Directed by Sasha Wortzel
   An often misunderstood environment, the Everglades are an essential component of Florida’s ecosystem, and they are under attack. From man-made obstructions disrupting the natural flow of water, to toxic smoke from sugar cane poisoning villages, to invasive species, and ravaged native communities, this documentary shines a light on the multi-pronged assault this once diverse ecosystem has endured for decades, and the activists that have led the fight to save this environment through generations.

   Now Playing in Select Theaters.

7. LOVE+WAR – Directed by Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin

   A visceral experience in photojournalism, Love+War shows the audience the life of Pulitzer Prize-winning Lynsey Addario. Balancing the importance of her work as a wartime journalist and her commitment to motherhood, Addario provides a perspective of humanity and work-life balance that is extreme, yet all too relatable. 

   Now Streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

8. THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR – Directed by Geeta Gandbhir
   This documentary, made almost entirely from bodycam and security footage, depicts the events as they unfolded leading up to, and after the murder of Ajike Owens. A mother of four, Owens’ children often played outside in their town of Ocala, Florida, much to the dismay of their neighbor, Susan Lorincz. Lorincz, constantly accusing the children of trespassing, eventually began recording the children at play and reporting them to the police at an increasing rate. Tragedy eventually struck when Lorincz gunned down Owens, leaving four children without a mother and a community in terrified awe.
   Now Streaming on Netflix. 

9. MR. SCORSESE – Directed by Rebecca Miller
   With in-depth interviews and behind-the-scenes access, granting the viewer insight into one of the greatest minds in filmmaking history, MR. SCORSESE is a cinephile's dream come true. This documentary series not only delves into the work and creative mind of this impactful creator but also takes great care in telling the story of the man on his journey to greatness. MR. SCORSESE will have you looking at your favorite Marty filmography highlights with an entirely new perspective. 
   Now Streaming on Apple TV.

10. COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT – Directed by Ryan White

    This heartfelt, moving tribute to celebrated poet Andrea Gibson won this year’s Festival Favorite Award at Sundance. Interwoven with a recitation of Gibson’s honest, vulnerable poetry, this documentary paints an intimate portrait of their life with wife Megan Falley while battling ovarian cancer. This extraordinary story is sure to touch the most tender parts of the soul, reminding viewers how delicate, complex, and remarkable our lives truly are.

    Streaming on Apple TV.

FREEMAN VINES - FOREVERGREEN - COUNTRY DOCTOR

The Woodstock Film Festival is also an Academy-Awards® qualifying festival in the categories of Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, and Documentary Short Film. Here are 5 short films from WFF 2025 you can watch right at home:

1. FREEMAN VINES – Directed by Tim Kirkman
   Imbued with the pain of the civil rights movement in America, Freeman Vines handcrafted guitars his entire life. This short documentary highlights interviews with Freeman Vines before his passing, touching on his philosophies on life, music, and what makes the perfect guitar. The film crescendos with a close examination of one particular section of his collection: the guitars that were crafted from a local lynching tree.

   Now Streaming on Switchboard Magazine’s YouTube Channel.

2. PORELESS – Directed by Harris Doran, Starring Akbar Hamid

   A tongue-in-cheek satire on beauty trends and internet culture, Akram has poured his life savings into developing the perfect skincare product. He is on the verge of success when he gets a chance to pitch his product to the vain, mildly racist executives at “Beaute.” Employing the help of his siblings, Akram navigates the world of impersonal influencers on his way to fame and financial success.
   Now Streaming on Switchboard Magazine’s YouTube Channel.

3. COUNTRY DOCTOR – Directed by Shari M. Cookson, Nick E. Doob

   With an American Healthcare system that is in decay, some rural areas are left with just one doctor per 2,500 residents. COUNTRY DOCTOR tells the story of Dr. James Graham, as he does house calls, takes us through the minimally staffed hospital and nursing homes, and attempts to provide enough aid to his friends and neighbors, many of whom he has looked after for their entire lives.

   Now Streaming on HBO Max.

4. THE DREAM MACHINE – Directed by Jimmy Marbles 

   A surrealist animated journey through the subconscious. Reminiscent of Strindberg’s “A Dream Play”, THE DREAM MACHINE takes the audience through a stunning visual landscape that evolves with a fluidity powered by REM. 

   Watch Now on VIMEO.

5. FOREVERGREEN – Directed by Nathan Engelhardt, Jeremy Spears

   This emotional, animated story about a bear and its adopted parent, an evergreen tree, looks at the delicate balance between plant and animal, man and nature, and love and defiance.

   Streaming Exclusively on YouTube for 10 days beginning Friday, Nov. 21.

The annual Woodstock Film Festival returns next year, October 14th – 18th, 2026. For news and updates, including submissions for filmmakers and upcoming events, sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.