Editor Letter for June: All Hail the Independents!
Read the latest from our Editor, Jennifer McKee
Anyone who’s spent a significant amount of time with me knows I’m a huge movie buff, particularly an Oscar movie buff. Every January after the nominations are announced, I’m printing out my Academy Awards ballot and crossing off the movies by the ones that received the most nominations, viewing those first.
Never before has the independent film been the darling of the Academy than at the 2025 Oscars. Best Picture winner and multiple statuette grabber “Anora” was made for just $6 million. That may seem like a pretty penny, but compared to other Best Picture nominees, such as “Wicked,” at $140 million and “Dune: Part 2,” at $190 million, it’s impressive.
I’m delighted to say that my favorite Oscar 2025 movies were also independents: “FLOW,” ($3.7 million) won Best Animated Feature, “The Substance,” (yes, Demi was robbed), which won Best Makeup and Hairstyling, was made for $18 million, and “The Brutalist,” which resulted in a well-deserved Best Actor win for Adrien Brody, came in at $10 million.
That same independent spirit is alive and well in Orlando, one more plus for our fair city. Have a discussion with anyone from the University of Central Florida or Full Sail University, and you’ll get excited about films of all kinds.
But movies aren’t just made at the university level. In the last fiscal year (2023-2024), the Orlando Film Commission issued 174 permits, resulting in 317 permitted production days on public property. And that doesn’t even account for productions filmed on private property.
Learn about what’s currently going on in the Orlando film community from those who are a part of it in our story on p. 14.
Another subject I’m passionate about is brunch, and who wouldn’t be with the wealth of sweet and savory options throughout Central Florida, plus the sheer volume of cocktails available for what our writer extraordinaire Brendan O’Connor calls a “weekend reward.” Indeed. Brendan interviewed city notables for their brunch restaurant tips, offers his own suggestions and lays out a gorgeous spread (aided by our masterful art director, Milena Wambold, and photo editor, Roberto Gonzalez). Then, read all about the illustrious history of the Bloody Mary and enjoy the fruits of my labors taste-tasting them in our brunch feature, starting on p. 22.
And don’t miss our special Women Who Move the City section, highlighting some of the business, civic and education leaders who work to bring about positive change in our community, starting on p. 79.
JENNIFER MCKEE • ORLANDO MAGAZINE EDITOR
jennifer.mckee@orlandomagazine.com
