This bookis part of the "Directory of World Cinema" series. It includes contributions from some of the leading academics in the field. There are 150 reviews of American independent films from cult classics to recent releases and new sections devoted to "brutal youth," religion, and war movies. It features full colour illustrations and interviews with influential directors. It features comprehensive filmography as an index. American independent cinema has undergone several incarnations since its emergence as an underground movement in the 1960s. Today, with high-profile Academy Award nominations and an increasing number of big-name actors eager to sign on to promising projects, these films garner more interest than ever before. Newly revised and expanded, the "Directory of World Cinema: American Independent 2" extends its chronicle of the independent sector's rise. In addition to essays on such genres as African American films, documentary, and queer cinema, this volume features new sections devoted to "brutal youth," religion, and war movies. It also includes one hundred and fifty reviews of significant American independent films - ranging from such cult classics as "Faces", and "Supervixens" to recent releases like "Drive", and "Win Win". "Directory of World Cinema: American Independent 2 "includes interviews with and profiles of influential directors, colour illustrations and a range of suggested research resources. At a time when independent films are enjoying considerable cultural cachet, this easy-to-use yet authoritative guide will find an eager audience among media historians, film studies scholars, and movie buffs alike.