News: IFTA’s 30 Most Significant Films

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

For its 30th anniversary, the Independent Film & Television Alliance identified its 30 Most Significant Independent Films from around the world released during the last three decades.

In making its selection, the 27 Board of Directors of the IFTA (formerly the American Film Marketing Association) considered independently financed films for their cinematic style, awards, critical acclaim and whether they launched the careers of notable producers, directors and actors.

“From Oscar winners to controversial and visionary game changers, independent films have shaped and defined the film industry and popular culture over the last 30 years,” chairman Lloyd Kaufman said in a statement announcing the films.

The movies will be shown at the American Cinematheque’s Egyptian Theater in Hollywood starting Sept. 29 with Irish film My Left Foot, which won Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress Oscar awards for Daniel Day-Lewis (The Last of the Mohicans) and Brenda Fricker (Veronica Guerin), respectively.

IFTA’s Most Significant Films choices span genres from drama to horror and crime to fantasy. All are available on DVD, and many also have been released on Blu-ray.

Here’s the list:

1980s

Amadeus — on DVD and Blu-ray from Warner Home Video

Blue Velvet — on DVD from MGM Home Entertainment

Dances With Wolves — on DVD and Blu-ray (import) from MGM

Das Boot (The Boat) — on DVD from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Gandhi — on DVD and Blu-ray from Sony

My Left Foot — on DVD from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

A Nightmare On Elm Street — on DVD and Blu-ray from Warner

Platoon — on DVD from MGM

Sex, Lies and Videotape — on DVD and Blu-ray from Sony

The Terminator — on DVD and Blu-ray from MGM

Honorary mentions: The Killing Fields (DVD), The Last Emperor (DVD, Blu-ray) and The Toxic Avenger (DVD)

1990s

Braveheart — on DVD from Paramount Home Entertainment

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon — on DVD and Blu-ray from Sony

Fargo — on DVD and Blu-ray from MGM

Four Wedddings and a Funeral — on DVD from MGM

Life is Beautiful — on DVD from Disney

Pulp Fiction — on DVD from Disney

Reservoir Dogs — on DVD and Blu-ray from Lionsgate

The Silence of the Lambs — on DVD and Blu-ray from MGM

The Usual Suspects — on DVD and Blu-ray from MGM

Where the Day Takes You — on DVD from Anchor Bay

Honorary mentions: Basic Instinct (DVD, Blu-ray), Good Will Hunting (DVD, Blu-ray) and Trainspotting (DVD, Blu-ray)

2000s

Brokeback Mountain — on DVD and Blu-ray from Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Crash — on DVD and Blu-ray from Lionsgate

The Hurt Locker — on DVD and Blu-ray from Summit Entertainment

Inglourious Basterds — on DVD and Blu-ray from Universal

Juno — on DVD and Blu-ray from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring — on DVD and Blu-ray from Warner

Million Dollar Baby — on DVD and Blu-ray from Warner

Monster — on DVD and Blu-ray from Sony

The Pianist — on DVD from Universal

Slumdog Millionaire — on DVD and Blu-ray from Fox

Honorary mentions: Bowling for Columbine (DVD), Memento (DVD, Blu-ray) and Twilight (DVD, Blu-ray)