For the 44th Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, I challenged myself to watch 32 films over the course of nine days. I met the challenge!

From the preview party to closing night, my first MSPIFF was a fantastic experience. I rated several films 4.5/5, which is not a rating I give out often.

On top of the films, I appreciated the warm and welcoming atmosphere, especially having the space at Pracna open for people to sit and chat between movies. The Ang Lee event was also memorable, and it was wonderful to see two of his films on the big screen again.

Here are some quick thoughts on all the feature films I saw at MSPIFF this year:

“The Hidden Sound of Tango”
4/5
I love seeing documentaries about people’s niche interests and professions, and this film is a great example of that.

“Bushido”
4/5
This one’s for the Go fans. (The game, not the movie.)

“Come See Me in the Good Light”
4.5/5
One of the most emotionally raw documentaries I have ever seen. I laughed just as hard as I cried.

“The Legend of Ochi”
3.5/5
I need a behind-the-scenes featurette on how they created the creatures. So cute! (Full review coming soon to The Feed.)

“Meet the Barbarians”
3.5/5
A somewhat light touch on a serious subject matter that still is very moving.

“The Wedding Banquet”
4/5
I met this movie with a blend of skepticism (I love the original movie) and optimism (I adore this new cast and director). Turns out I was right to be optimistic! (Full review coming soon to The Feed.)

“Friendship”
3.5/5
Seeing it with an amped up film festival crowd at a late-night screening definitely amplified my enjoyment of this irreverent comedy that doesn’t always align with my tastes.

“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”
4.5/5 (rewatch)
My third time seeing this has elevated it to one of my favorites. It is a wonderful blend of mind-blowing action and compelling romance.

“Brokeback Mountain”
4/5 (rewatch)
This is so much more than the “gay cowboy movie.” Watching it 20 years later just makes the loss of Heath Ledger feel that much more devastating.

“Sally”
3.5/5
I learned a lot about Sally Ride that I never knew before, but I still felt this documentary was a little lacking.

“The Exiles”
4/5
I found this reflection on a mother and daughter struggling in the face of grief to be very transfixing.

“On Swift Horses”
3.5/5
A who’s who of young talent give outstanding performances in a movie that falters a bit with storytelling.

“Mr. K”
3.5/5
I’m not sure what I just watched, but I mostly enjoyed myself. What a wild ride!

“The Fun-Raiser”
3.5/5
Love to see a Minnesota-made film in the midst of American indies and world cinema! This was a fun one to watch with a local crowd and a lot of the crew in attendance.

“Somalia in the Picture”
4.5/5
This is one of those movies that I wish I had Letterboxd open while watching so I could add a treasure trove of Somali films to my watchlist. I love a good documentary that is by and for cinema lovers, and this fits that bill.

“The Surfer”
3/5
Impeccable vibes, bro. (But not much else, unfortunately.)

“Assembly”
3.5/5
It was fascinating to see all of the different parts of this amazing project come to together!

“Cactus Pears”
4.5/5
This is one of the most moving and tender love stories I’ve seen in a long time.

“The Trouble with Jessica”
3/5
Nothing groundbreaking, but it was fun to see a bunch of character actors take on this dark dramedy.

“Went Up the Hill”
3.5/5
Beautiful cinematography and set design really make the moody tension in this film feel visceral.

“Third Act”
3.5/5
Much like “Somalia in the Picture,” this documentary really made me want to seek out more of Robert Nakamura’s work!

“Samia”
3.5/5
I went into this one by accident because the theaters got switched on me, but this tale was so engrossing that I didn’t care.

“The Librarians”
4.5/5
I spent a lot of time in libraries as a kid, and I still utilize them for movies and cookbooks as an adult. Watch this documentary and support your local libraries!

“All That’s Left Is You”
4.5/5
This was a truly engrossing and heartwrenching look at the intergenerational trauma Palestinians have faced.

“Undercover”
3.5/5
My favorite character was Sua (the cat).

“John Cranko”
4/5
I want all of Sam Riley’s costumes, especially the black and white houndstooth suit and the pink corduroy suit. He should also just keep playing tortured artists.

“Singing Back the Buffalo”
4.5/5
I love that so many programs are popping up to reunite buffalo with the Indigenous peoples they used to live alongside. This documentary is a perfect blend of history, contemporary reflections and a clear call to action.

“You Are Not Alone”
3.5/5
I would’ve loved this movie without the alien part of the plot. The love story is cute and authentic.

“Who By Fire”
3.5/5
Never meet your heroes. Overall, this film is a bit long and pretentious, both in good ways and bad ways.
Good: An amazing “Rock Lobster” dance scene that feels completely natural and very cinematic at the same time.
Bad: A way too long opening car shot that gets a little nauseating at times. (They later name dropped Tarkovsky, and some sequences in this definitely reminded me of his work.)

Thanks to the MSP Film Society for giving me a pass to MSPIFF. Be sure to check out their year-round programming, which is sure to bring back a lot of these films! They are already showing some this week as part of their Best of Fest screenings.

Find more photos and content from MSPIFF 2025 in my story highlight on Instagram.