I was obsessed with seeing Sophia Takal’s Always Shine from the moment I saw the intense, perfectly cut trailer—and the final product did not disappoint. Takal has created a fabulously dark and mysterious psychological thriller—a Lynchian nightmare that would make Missoula’s most famous filmmaker proud—featuring knock-out performances from its two leads. It also serves as a bold statement on the female experience in the film industry, and on the nature of professional jealousy colliding with personal friendship. Mackenzie Davis (AMC’s Halt and Catch Fire) and Caitlin FitzGerald (Showtime’s Masters of Sex) are stunning on screen together, and the ending will have you debating the whole thing for days. Don’t miss this. – Andrew Jupin, Senior Programmer