Indie summer counter-programming: ‘The Invite’ and 3 other films that could be poised for awards runs

While ginormous studio tentpoles like Toy Story 5, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Minions & Monsters, and The Odyssey will dominate the summer box office, a quartet of indie releases is engaging in some savvy counter-programming.

Bypassing the traditionally crowded fall slate, acclaimed films Rosebush Pruning, The Invite, Her Private Hell, and Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma are rolling out over the next few weeks to provide cinephiles with palate cleanser from the glut of popcorn movies — and to get a jump on the awards season.

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Here’s a look at each of the films and how they being positioned by their respective distributors, Mubi, Neon, and A24.

Rosebush Pruning

Rosebush Pruning turned heads with its audacious tone upon its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival in February. Mubi acquired the film, a satirical family saga that follows a wealthy American family moving to Spain, and slated it for a July 24 release. While the film will be up against The Odyssey and the new Spider-Man, there’s no doubt it will draw attention with an enviable ensemble cast that reads like a Vanity Fair “Young Hollywood” cover: Callum Turner, Riley Keough, Elle Fanning, Lukas Gage, and Jamie Bell. Pamela Anderson cameos as the family matriarch opposite Tracy Letts as the father.

Karim Aïnouz, who directed the script by Efthimis Filippou (a frequent collaborator of Yorgos Lanthimos), admits that the racy, darker material scared away talent during the casting process. “When we started casting, I have to tell you that I did talk to other actors, and everybody was really excited. And then when they read the script, they were like, ‘Oh, I’m not sure,'” the filmmaker recently told Variety. “Ultimately, I was really interested in actors who were not judging these characters.”

While not likely Oscar bait, Rosebush Pruning is the kind of film that could reap some Independent Spirit Award nods.

The Invite

A24’s The Invite is earning rave reviews after becoming the toast of this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Serving as Olivia Wilde’s third directorial effort, the comedy features a powerhouse cast of Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, and Edward Norton. Penned by writing duo Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, the story follows a couple on the verge of a breakup whose lives are upended when they invite their upstairs neighbors over for a fateful dinner.

With a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 81 “universal acclaim” rating on Metacritic, the film is on the midyear shortlist of 2027 Oscar contenders, with a strong shot at nominations for original screenplay and its scene-stealing supporting actors Cruz and Norton.

Her Private Hell

Nicolas Winding Refn’s Her Private Hell kicked off its awards campaign with a splashy Cannes premiere, securing the festival’s requisite standing ovation (with clocked reports ranging anywhere from seven to 12 minutes).

The psychological thriller, opening on July 24, stars Sophie Thatcher as a tortured actress forced to confront severe family trauma when her best friend marries her father. As if that psychological minefield weren’t enough, a mysterious figure known as “The Leather Man” simultaneously embarks on a brutal killing spree. Charles Melton co-stars as an Army private who takes it upon himself to hunt down the killer.

While we don’t see Her Private Hell being Refn’s ticket to the Oscar nomination that has eluded the director of Drive and The Neon Demon, he remains a Letterboxd favorite who has gotten nods from BAFTA, the Critics Choice Association, the Indie Spirits, and various critics groups, so don’t be shocked if this films gets some play among the second tier of awards.

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma

Following a buzzy world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, A24’s Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is poised to be the summer’s next horror sensation. Directed by Jane Schoenbrun, the meta-slasher made waves in the Un Certain Regard section, walking away with the prestigious Queer Palm prize and a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score.

Arriving on Aug. 7, the film stars Hannah Einbinder (Hacks) as an aspiring filmmaker hired to direct a new installment of a legendary slasher franchise. This leads her to Billy Preston (played by Gillian Anderson), the franchise’s original lead actress who has since chosen a reclusive life within the film’s universe. While an Oscar nod would be a longshot, this is the kind of meta film that should be in contention at the Indie Spirits and for critics groups.

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