Seán Michael's « Gem » Film List

A whimsical selection of the best modest-budget films in world cinema

Top pick for 2021:

• Where is Anne Frank? by Ari Folman (Belgium|Luxembourg|France|Netherlands|Israel-i-€17.5m) [alt]

No top pick in 2020:

• Deferring to the New Yorker (during the pandemic)

Top pick for 2019:

• Chernobyl by Johan Renck (USA-HD) [alt]

Top pick for 2018:

• The Americans by Joseph Weisberg (USA-HD) [alt]

Top pick for 2017:

• Loving Vincent by Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman (Poland | UK | USA-FS-€5m) [alt]

Opening it up in 2016:

• Netflix's Designated Survivor by David Guggenheim (USA-HD-xx)
• Possible runner-up: A Holigram for a King by Tom Tykwer (UK | France | Germany | Mexico | USA-ar35-$30m)

Up for grabs in 2015:

• The Village Voice undistributed films list

Two-way tie for 2014:

• Citizenfour by Laura Petrias (USA)
• Welcome to New York! by Abel Ferrara (France)

Top pick for 2013:

• Spring Breakers by Harmony Korine (USA-ar35-$5m) [alt]

Three-way tie for 2012:

• Iron Sky by Timo Vuorensola (Finland-HDCAM-$7.5m)
• Margin Call by J. C. Chandor (USA-$3.5m)
• Shame by Steve McQueen (UK-Red-£4.2m)

Previous picks:

• 2011: This Must be the Place by Paolo Sorrentino (Italy/France/Ireland-ar35-$25m)
• 2010: Circumstance - En Secret by Maryam Keshavarz (France/US-16mm-$1m) [alt]
• 2009: Slumdog Millionaire by Danny Boyle (UK/US/India-ar35-$15m)
• 2008: Waltz With Bashir by Ari Folman (France/Germany/Israel/etc.-xr35-$1.5m)
• 2007: The Band's Visit by Eran Kolirin (Israel/France/USA-pv35-$0.75m) [alt]
• 2006: The Lives of Others by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (Germany-cs35-$2m)
• 2005: Road to Guantanamo by Michael Winterbottom and Mat Whitecross (UK-ar35-£1.4) [alt]
• 2004: The Constant Gardener by Fernando Meirelles (UK/Germany-aa16-$25m)
• 2003: Blind Shaft by Li Yang (China/France-DV-€0.6m)
• 2002: Unknown Pleasures by Jia Zhangke (China-DV)
• 2001: The New Country by Geir Hansteen Jörgensen (Sweden-DV) DV [alt]
• 2000: In the Mood for Love by Wong Kar-wai (Hong Kong-ar35) [alt]
• 1999: The Legend of Rita by Volker Schlöndorff (Germany-xr35)