DISCOVER FRESH, HOT FILMS.

The Popcorn List is an annual survey of acclaimed feature films recommended by film festival programmers across North America - not yet available in wide release.*

*wide digital & theatrical

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Popcorn List (TPL) provides an opportunity for both industry & audiences to Discover Fresh, Hot Films:

The Popcorn List: Each year, we survey film festival programmers from across the country to spotlight films that are not yet in wide distribution, but deserve a much bigger audience. We collate the recommended films in a free, open online database so that everyone can access the List without paywalls or restrictions.

Pop Up Series: In 2025, we took this a step further, and hosted a Pop Up Series featuring 8 recommended films from 2025’s List, in theaters in 10 cities across the country, and virtually on Eventive nationwide. Consider this your early warning: Pop Up Series Round 2: “Fresh, Hot Summer” is coming.

Read our origin story in the Hope For Film: Part 1 & Part 2.

Read our Substack

THE POPCORN LIST
FRESH, HOT SUMMER

Being a part of the Popcorn List’s Pop Up Series has been a dream. They’ve been an incredible partner, bringing our film to audiences who might not otherwise see it. For a film like ours, nothing beats seeing it with an audience—an experience fewer and fewer people get to have with the docs they come to love.” -Ian Bell, Director of WTO/99

For the second year in a row, The Popcorn List presents its Pop Up Series – taking place (mostly) throughout July, in 18 theaters across the country. Get a full list of the screenings below. Ticket links will be added as they become available – stay tuned to Substack and socials for updates.

First-Time Directors

Theaters

States

THEATER	CITY	STATE	DATE	FILM	TICKET LINKS
Amherst Cinema	Amherst	MA	2-June	Fucktoys	Get Tickets
Amherst Cinema	Amherst	MA	15-June	Summer’s Camera	Get Tickets
Sidewalk	Birmingham	AL	3-July	Fucktoys	Get Tickets
Palm Theatre SLO	San Luis Obispo	CA	6-July	The Fisherman	Get Tickets
Denver Film at Sie FilmCenter	Denver	CO	7-July	The Fisherman	Get Tickets
Phoenix Film Society	Phoenix	AZ	7-July	The Fisherman	Get Tickets
Texas Theater	Dallas	TX	8-July	Fucktoys	Get Tickets
Independent Picture House	Charlotte	NC	11-July	Summer’s Camera	Get Tickets
Sidewalk	Birmingham	AL	11-July	Seeds	Get Tickets
Michigan Theater	Ann Arbor	MI	11-July	WTO/99	Get Tickets
Michigan Theater	Ann Arbor	MI	12-July	Seeds	Get Tickets
Nightlight	Akron	OH	12-July	Seeds	Get Tickets
Roxie	San Francisco	CA	12-July	Remaining Native	Get Tickets
Leontine Cinema at Esquire Theatre	Cincinnati	OH	13-July	Fucktoys	Get Tickets
SIFF	Seattle	WA	13-July	Seeds	Get Tickets
Phoenix Film Society	Phoenix	AZ	14-July	Seeds	Get Tickets
Alamo Winchester	Winchester	VA	15-July	Seeds	Get Tickets
SIFF	Seattle	WA	15-July	Summer’s Camera	Get Tickets
SIFF	Seattle	WA	15-July	Trash Baby	Get Tickets
Texas Theater	Dallas	TX	15-July	Seeds	Get Tickets
cinéSPEAK	Philadelphia	PA	16-July	Fucktoys	Get Tickets
Phoenix Film Society	Phoenix	AZ	16-July	Fucktoys	Get Tickets
Denver Film	Denver	CO	18-July	Fucktoys	Get Tickets
Independent Picture House	Charlotte	NC	18-July	Remaining Native	Get Tickets
Sidewalk	Birmingham	AL	18-July	The Fisherman	Get Tickets
Nightlight	Akron	OH	19-July	Remaining Native	Get Tickets
Vidiots	Los Angeles	CA	19-July	Remaining Native	Get Tickets
Vidiots	Los Angeles	CA	19-July	Fucktoys	Get Tickets
Vidiots	Los Angeles	CA	19-July	Trash Baby	Get Tickets
Leontine Cinema at Esquire Theatre	Cincinnati	OH	20-July	Trash Baby	Get Tickets
SIFF	Seattle	WA	20-July	Remaining Native	Get Tickets
Denver Film at Sie FilmCenter	Denver	CO	21-July	Seeds	Get Tickets
Phoenix Film Society	Phoenix	AZ	21-July	WTO/99	Get Tickets
Alamo Winchester	Winchester	VA	22-Jul	Trash Baby	Get Tickets
SIFF	Seattle	WA	22-Jul	The Fisherman	Get Tickets
SIFF	Seattle	WA	22-Jul	Fucktoys	Get Tickets
Texas Theater	Dallas	TX	22-Jul	Trash Baby	Get Tickets
Phoenix Film Society	Phoenix	AZ	23-Jul	Trash Baby	Get Tickets
Roxie	San Francisco	CA	23-Jul	Remaining Native	Get Tickets
Independent Picture House	Charlotte	NC	25-Jul	Fucktoys	Get Tickets
Roxie	San Francisco	CA	25-Jul	Remaining Native	Get Tickets
Sidewalk	Birmingham	AL	25-Jul	Remaining Native	Get Tickets
Stray Cat Film Center	Kansas City	MO	26-Jul	Remaining Native	Get Tickets
Stray Cat Film Center	Kansas City	MO	26-Jul	Summer’s Camera	Get Tickets
Stray Cat Film Center	Kansas City	MO	26-Jul	Trash Baby	Get Tickets
Nightlight	Akron	OH	26-Jul	The Fisherman	Get Tickets
Leontine Cinema at Esquire Theatre	Cincinnati	OH	27-Jul	Remaining Native	Get Tickets
Palm Theatre SLO	San Luis Obispo	CA	27-Jul	Seeds	Get Tickets
Phoenix Film Society	Phoenix	AZ	28-Jul	Remaining Native	Get Tickets
Denver Film at Sie FilmCenter	Denver	CO	28-July	WTO/99	Get Tickets
Alamo Winchester	Winchester	VA	29-Jul	WTO/99	Get Tickets
cinéSPEAK	Philadelphia	PA	30-Jul	Seeds	Get Tickets
Phoenix Film Society	Phoenix	AZ	30-Jul	Summer’s Camera	Get Tickets
Michigan Theater	Ann Arbor	MI	1-Aug	Fucktoys	Get Tickets
Alamo Winchester	Winchester	VA	5-Aug	Summer’s Camera	Get Tickets
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston	Houston	TX	7-Aug	The Fisherman	Get Tickets
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston	Houston	TX	8-Aug	Summer’s Camera	Get Tickets
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston	Houston	TX	8-Aug	Seeds	Get Tickets
Austin Film Society	Austin	TX	22-Aug	Seeds	Get Tickets
Austin Film Society	Austin	TX	26-Aug	Seeds	Get Tickets
The Gotham Week	New York	NY	1-Oct	Seeds
The Gotham Week	New York	NY	1-Oct	The Fisherman