There are plenty of hotly anticipated films set to be released in 2025, but the ones that are grabbing headlines tend to be those featuring big stars or from globally famous studios. While there are plenty of dinosaur buffs who will be keen to see where the Jurassic franchise is going next, independent films can sometimes get overlooked.
The truth is, indie film fans are spoilt for choice with a raft of interesting and exciting films set to be released in 2025. Whether you are an avid film buff or only switch on the telly to see the Irish lottery results, some of the independent films are causing a stir among audiences as well as critics.
For those who like to find out how up-and-coming stars are cutting their teeth, there are a few films that are already attracting attention, including:
The History of Sound
This unexpectedly tender tale is ostensibly about an incredible project undertaken shortly after the First World War. The protagonists are two musicians who travel around rural Maine together, recording the folk songs that have been handed down from generation to generation.
The pair share this important work, developing a deepening relationship as their travels progress and the story of their romance begins to take over. This film was shown at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025 and was nominated for a Palme d’Or.
Die, My Love
The difficult and often overlooked topic of maternal mental health may not be suited to a box office smash, but the references to a potential post-partum breakdown have demonstrated that the substance of this film is open to interpretation. The film follows a couple who move out of New York to live an idyllic life in the countryside and raise their family.
However, things start to go wrong once their baby is born and their loving relationship is undermined by the huge changes that they undergo on their parenting journey. Critics were queuing up to praise the film, which made headlines with its $24 million acquisition by Mubi.
Whether the core of the film is about mental health or the pressure of maintaining a loving relationship while in the trenches of parenting, its full release is hotly anticipated.
Rebuilding
One of the benefits of indie films is that they can tell the stories of the marginalised and overlooked without needing to end on a Hollywood-friendly high, and this story is one that showcases the reality of life. A Colorado farmer loses everything when a wildfire destroys his farm and his home in one fell swoop.
The film follows his journey from the initial shock, through the devastation of an overwhelming loss, to the rebuilding of his life and home. Directed by Max Walker Silverman, this film has been eagerly anticipated by critics who will be hoping for another top-quality follow-up to his last film, A Love Song.
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
After its first showing at the Sundance festival in January, this film started the year with a bang as it received rave reviews online. Another film that focuses on the unique problems thrown up by motherhood, If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You, isn’t quite as violent as it sounds.
The story follows a woman who, through no fault of her own, finds herself on a never-ending treadmill of child-based admin and family gruntwork. Not only does she have the pressure of raising a child in the modern world, but the mysterious illness that is making her daughter ill is also taking its toll on the rest of the family, either directly or indirectly.
Add to that an apartment with a roof that has recently been relocated to the floor, and this is a fascinating portrayal of a woman on the brink.
Santosh
This is a compelling and intriguing film about a woman named Saini who, after her husband dies, takes on his job as a police officer in Northern India. She is confronted with the reality of a police investigation and realises just how hard her husband’s job must have been.
A murder investigation really gives Saini a chance to test her mettle and see if she is up to the rigours of her newfound job. As she does so, she comes across troubling behaviour, both on and off the force, and realises that she has to decide whether she wants to be part of a system that is so often unfair, either by design or simply by accident.
With so many great indie films already out, and plenty more coming as the year goes on, there is plenty of incentive to go and see something that is unlikely to even have a dinosaur in it. Whatever genre floats your boat, if you are looking for an indie film this summer, there will be something to suit your tastes.