Sally Ride appears in “SALLY” by Cristina Costantini, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by NASA.
By Lucy Spicer
We never need an excuse to watch more movies, but we’ll take the rising summer temperatures as a sign to beat the heat indoors — either in a movie theater or at home — with a watchlist of exciting new Sundance Institute–supported releases. This June is a treat for fans of documentary, with five new nonfiction titles coming to theaters and streaming services, including portraits of such fascinating individuals as The Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern and trailblazing actor Marlee Matlin. But fear not, fiction lovers — we’ve got stories for you as well, among them the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award winner from the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. And if you’re looking to incorporate movie-watching as a way to commemorate Pride this month, you’re in luck, too — read on to discover new releases centering astronaut Sally Ride, icons April Ashley and Amanda Lear, and more.
Prime Minister — In 2017 at the age 37, The Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern became the world’s youngest woman to be elected to lead a nation’s government when she was appointed prime minister of New Zealand. During her time in office, Dame Jacinda responded to crises like the Christchurch mosque shootings and the COVID-19 pandemic with monumental gun control and health care measures — and she became the world’s second elected head of government to give birth while in her position. Co-directors Michelle Walshe and Lindsay Utz’s revealing documentary gives audiences unprecedented access to Dame Jacinda’s thoughts and feelings both at the office and in her home thanks to footage shot by her family as well as insightful previously unreleased audio diaries. Prime Minister premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award: World Cinema Documentary. Coming to theaters June 13.
SALLY — As the first American woman to fly in space, Dr. Sally Ride has inspired countless people to pursue their dreams of excelling in scientific fields. Though she experienced near-constant media attention while she worked at NASA, Ride was guarded about her personal life and careful that her public responses should serve only to highlight her work. Director Cristina Costantini’s documentary combines archival footage of Ride with contemporary interviews that reveal a part of herself she felt she had to keep hidden while she was alive — her 27-year romantic relationship with Tam O’Shaughnessy. SALLY premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it was awarded the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize. Streaming on Disney+ and Hulu June 16.
Happyend — In the not-too-distant future, threats of earthquakes have become commonplace in Tokyo. Meanwhile, best friends Yuta (Hayato Kurihara) and Kou (Yukito Hidaka) are just trying to enjoy high school. When a prank of theirs results in an extensive surveillance system being installed at their school, the two teenagers reckon with differing feelings about rules, authority, and acts of protest. Written and directed by Neo Sora, Happyend was supported by Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program and Catalyst Program and premiered at the 2024 Venice International Film Festival. Coming to select theaters June 20.
Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore — In her feature directorial debut, filmmaker Shoshannah Stern sits down with Marlee Matlin, the first deaf actor to win an Academy Award and the youngest woman to win the Best Actress Oscar. In this deeply personal and insightful documentary conducted primarily in American Sign Language, Matlin recounts her experiences as a young trailblazer in Hollywood, while interviews with those close to her reveal her profound influence on them as individuals as well as the filmmaking industry and the deaf community. Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Coming to theaters June 20.
Enigma — Director Zackary Drucker (The Stroll, 2023 Sundance Film Festival) returned to the Festival in 2025 with Enigma, a documentary that chronicles the lives of two women: April Ashley and Amanda Lear. While model April Ashley embraced her status as an LGBTQ+ icon after her identity as a trans woman was revealed in the 1960s, former model and disco singer Amanda Lear has steadfastly denied being trans even while others insist that she is. Through archival footage of the two women and a contemporary interview with Lear, Drucker examines two divergent career paths and life experiences that continue to resonate today. Airing on HBO June 24.
Ponyboi — It’s Valentine’s Day in New Jersey, and intersex sex worker Ponyboi (screenwriter River Gallo) is about to have a very turbulent 24 hours. Directed by Esteban Arango, Ponyboi follows its titular character as he goes on the run after a drug deal gone wrong, all while trying to juggle relationships with his pimp (Dylan O’Brien), best friend (Victoria Pedretti), and a handsome stranger (Murray Bartlett) who could be the key to a better life. Based on Gallo’s 2019 short film of the same name and supported by Sundance Institute’s 2021 Trans Possibilities Intensive, Ponyboi premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Coming to select theaters June 27.
Sorry, Baby — In writer-director Eva Victor’s feature debut, Agnes (also played by Victor) is working as a professor at the same university where she previously attended as a graduate student. But something bad happened to Agnes while she was a student, and getting on with her life in the aftermath hasn’t been a smooth road. Luckily, there are people around to help remind her that healing isn’t linear, including her best friend (Naomi Ackie) and a well-meaning neighbor (Lucas Hedges). Sorry, Baby premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: U.S. Dramatic. Coming to theaters June 27.
Break the Game — Ten years ago, Narcissa Wright was widely known and admired in the gaming sphere for speedrunning achievements — completing video games in record time, much faster than the games’ creators intended. When Wright came out as a transgender woman, she lost the support of a huge percentage of her fans — and her community. Directed by Jane M. Wagner, Break the Game follows Wright as she shares how her life and goals have changed since coming out, all while she attempts to set a speedrunning record for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Supported by Sundance Institute’s Documentary Film Program, Break the Game premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Festival. Airing on PBS “POV” June 30.
The 2025 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour is underway! Traveling to all corners of the United States and beyond in the following months, the 100-minute program features seven short films selected from the 2025 Festival, including two Festival Award–winning titles. Check here for dates and venues; see below for dates in June.
- Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 3–5, Guild Cinema
- Austin, Texas, June 14–15, Austin Film Society
- Cincinnati, Ohio, June 20–29, Cincinnati World Cinema
- Ojai, California, June 15, Ojai Playhouse
- Sacramento, California, June 27–29, Dreamland Cinema
