A24, Neon, IFC and More Unite to Rescue the “Lost Films of COVID”

While it’s not fun looking back at the dark days of COVID lockdowns, now five years passed, it’s worth noting the underrated films that got shafted by basically being thrown on VOD instead of getting a well-merited theatrical rollout.

Here’s some good news: indie distributors are teaming up to deliver theatrical screenings for 2020 and 2021 releases that had their big-screen runs “impeded or nixed” by pandemic restrictions. “Lost Films of COVID” is coming to select locations in December, looking to celebrate these lost gems.

The series will feature seven titles from five indie studios (A24, IFC, Neon, GKids, Film Movement). First thing I thought was: “just seven films?” There were so many more. I wish they could have stretched out this lineup a little more. But first, here are the ones selected for the series:

• “Red Rocket”

• “Pig”

• “First Cow”

• “The Painter and the Thief”

• “Wolfwalkers”

• “Relic”

• “The Wild Goose Lake”

It’s true, in the 20+ years I’ve been covering movies, I don’t think I endured a worse year in terms of quality than 2020. I tend to rely on quality films coming from Cannes, Venice, Toronto, and Telluride. Two of those fests were outright canceled, and the other two had mediocre lineups from filmmakers who didn’t mind having their films screened digitally as well as “in-person” (with 50% capacity attendance).

2021 was slightly better but still felt rather off. Some theaters were still closed in major markets until March 2021. Many states had capacity limits (25–50%) and distancing rules. Major chains were open in many regions but operating at reduced hours or with limited screens. There was no return to normalcy for exhibitors until “Spider-Man: No Way Home” in December.

That said, a bad movie year can still deliver plenty of worthy films, and the above seven just scratch the surface. Plenty of filmmakers will no doubt be haunted with thoughts of “what could have been?” when it comes to 2020 and 2021.

Some additional worthy titles: “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” “Lovers Rock,” “Mangrove,” “Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets,” “Beginning,” “Bacurau,” “Pieces of a Woman,” “Quo Vadis, Aida?,” “The Nest,” “Sundown,” “The Killing of Two Lovers,” and “White Lie.”