The Popcorn List: Pop-Up Series

In a moment when many indie films struggle to find visibility post-festival run, the TPL’s Pop Up Series offers a new blueprint: one-off screenings with no rights taken, filmmaker-first economics, a community-led visibility push, and marketing support to help audiences discover fresh, hot films. The six films participating in the Series are by first-time feature film directors, all directed by women too, and have been programmed in 18 markets.

Doubling down on the art of film curation, and the critical role it plays in independent film exhibition, this year’s Series includes a slate of six films from the 2026 edition of the The Popcorn List, curated by three cinema programmers: Ouma Amadou (Programmer, Ragtag Cinema), Dr. Alicia Kozma (Director, Indiana University Cinema) and Monica Castillo (Freelance Programmer).

Films will screen for “one night only” as sneak preview/pop up screenings in select markets. The Series is presented by mamafilm and The Film Collaborative, and made possible with generous support from Product of Culture and Simple DCP.

Learn more at thepopcornlist.com.