"A blackly funny satire exploring the limits of obscenity and hateful discourse in our new mediated age"
—Sight and Sound
"A sophisticated take on over-the-top material, arch but not quite Serial Mom-style campy"
—AV Club
While our theater is closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, you can still watch newly released independent and international films at FACETS.
By purchasing a "ticket" to one of our Virtual Cinema screenings, you help support FACETS mission and filmmakers from around the world who do so much to enrich our shared film culture.
Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences. Disgruntled columnist Femke Boot (Katja Herbers, Westworld) makes that abundantly clear in this satirical revenge comedy about the pitfalls of social media obsession.
Femke is plagued day and night with death threats and vitriol from internet trolls, with the comments arriving in droves, as she obsesses over every one of them to avoid her looming book deadlines. However, when the man next door joins in on the digital harassment, this kind hearted single mother becomes a ruthless serial killer, and strangely, her writing is improved—even as Anna (Claire Porro), her rebellious teenage daughter, conducts a high school campaign for free speech. Her brimming rage turns to action and the subsequent high is so thrilling, that she will not be abandoning her grisly new hobby anytime soon. Equipped with hate in her heart and a bag full of gardening tools, Femke throws morals and caution to the wind in her bloody quest to give online bullies what they deserve.
Gleefully unhinged, The Columnist is a dark and very funny satire that is also a stark reminder of the internet's number one rule: never read the comments.
Directed by Ivo van Aart, Netherlands, 2019, 86 mins. In Dutch with English subtitles.
Pick a film to watch featured on our Virtual Cinema schedule
Click the Watch Now button on the screening page for the film you choose
Fill out the information requested by the third-party that you'll be redirected to, which will usually include registering a name/email and using a credit card to rent the film
Enjoy the film knowing your supporting FACETS and independent filmmakers across the world
What is FACETS Virtual Cinema?
While our theater is closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, you can still watch newly released independent and international films at FACETS. The Virtual Cinema offers these films through third-party websites with 50% of the proceeds go to FACETS.
By purchasing a "ticket" to one of our Virtual Cinema screenings, you help support FACETS' mission and filmmakers from around the world who do so much to enrich our shared film culture.
How long will my rental last?
This depends on the third-party site. On average you'll have 2–4 days after your purchase to watch the film. But to be safe, you should check the length for each rental you purchase through our Virtual Cinema.
Do FACETS Members get a 50% discount for the virtual cinema?
Unfortunately, discounts are on a case-by-case basis, depending on the distributor, and we can't guarantee that FACETS Members will get a discount on every rental.
What does it mean when I get redirected to another website?
The films offered at our Virtual Cinema are hosted by a third-party service. Which means you'll be redirected to another site to watch the film. Even though you're watching on a different site, 50% of the proceeds go to support FACETS.
Can I stream a film on my TV?
There are multiple ways to stream our Virtual Cinema screenings to your TV. The easiest way is to connect your computer to your TV with an HDMI cable—click here for step-by-step instructions.
You can also stream films using a smart TV (Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku), but the specific approach will depend on the third-party site. For more information, please refer to the customer service information provided by the third party.
I'm having issues with the third-party website, what should I do?
If you're having problems with the third-party streaming website, we recommend you reach out their customer support team directly to answer your question. If you've done this and are still facing an issue, feel free to reach out to us at help@facets.org.
Additional Questions?
If this page hasn't answered a question you have, feel free to contact us at help@facets.org and we'll do our best to provide you with an answer.
