In NEW STRAINS, Kallia and Ram have just begun their first vacation as a couple, and they’re already bickering. Though a strange new illness is on the brink of exploding into a pandemic, and despite Ram’s protestations, Kallia insists that they are going to have a fun week in New York City. Within hours of their arrival, a nation-wide lockdown is announced, ruining their plans. Over the course of their stay, they descend to absurd depths of jealousy and co-dependence. Is their childish behavior simply the result of cabin fever, or is it something more?
Shot during the COVID-19 lockdown in New York City, Artemis Shaw and Prashanth Kamalakanthan —a married filmmaking couple who both teach in addition to their creative filmmaking, often collaborating in numerous capacities and roles— relied on improvised dialogue, a decades-old camcorder, no operator, and a full cast of non-professional talent. Shaw and Kamalakanthan wrote, starred, directed, shot, and edited the feature that been praised as “a glimmering indie diamond” (Screen Slate). NEW STRAINS was produced by Shaw and Kate Stahl for Parori Productions. The film world premiered at the 2023 Rotterdam International Film Festival, where it took home a Special Jury Award in the Tiger Competition. Most recently, it screened at the inaugural Los Angeles Festival of Movies and MoMI’s First Look film festival in NYC.
New Strains is screening in New York City, Brooklyn, and Los Angeles This Month, and arriving on Digital-On-Demand Friday, July 19th.
SCREENING DETAILS
Thursday, June 13 — The Roxy Cinema New York
With directors in attendance for the Thursday, One-Night-Only 7pm showing, Q&A moderated by filmmaker Tayarisha Poe (THE YOUNG WIFE, SELAH AND THE SPADES)
Saturday June 15 - Sunday June 16 — Nitehawk Cinema Williamsburg
With directors in attendance for the Sunday, 11:45am showing, Q&A moderated by filmmaker Graham Mason (INSPECTOR IKE), Co-Presented by NoBudge
Friday, June 21 - Saturday, June 22 — Now Instant Image Hall
With directors in attendance for all showings, with Q&As moderated by director Raven Jackson (ALL DIRT ROADS TASTE OF SALT), Creston Brown (Presidium Overactive), director Josephine Decker (MADELINE’S MADELINE), and producer Sarah Winshall (I SAW THE TV GLOW)
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