Film Screening: The Asphalt Jungle from Cindependent Film Festival

The Asphalt Jungle (1950)

Before Ocean’s Eleven, before Heat, there was The Asphalt Jungle—the gritty, masterfully crafted heist film that set the gold standard for crime cinema. Directed by John Huston, this 1950 noir classic follows a group of desperate criminals as they plan the perfect jewel robbery—only to watch it unravel in spectacular fashion.

Featuring a breakout performance from a young Marilyn Monroe, razor-sharp storytelling, and shadow-drenched cinematography, The Asphalt Jungle is a tense, stylish exploration of ambition, betrayal, and the thin line between success and downfall.

Join us for this unforgettable screening and step into a world where the city never sleeps—and crime never pays.

About CindeSpotlight: Each September, Cindependent is proud to shine a spotlight on undiscovered and rising talent from across the country and the globe. And as a festival, we're especially proud to celebrte the brilliant independent filmmakers who live and work in the greater Cincinnati area. The Cindependent Spotlight series will carry that celebratory spirit across the calendar year, with 9 handpicked repertory film screenings and 4 special programs running from March to December in the black box theater at the Contemporary Arts Center.

The repertory lineup features the debut films from auteur directors, Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love and Basketball), Tim Burton (Pee Wee's Big Adventure), Sofia Coppola (The Virgin Suicides), Anna Rose Holmer (The Fits), and Brad Bird (The Iron Giant), alongside some true star making turns by the Queen City herself in films by Jon Huston (The Asphalt Jungle), John Sayles (Eight Men Out), Larry Yust (Homebodies), and William Wyler (The Best Years of Our Lives). The special programs include a first of its kind Dance Film program curated by local filmmaker and Cindependent alum, Cat Rider, in August, and a Cindependent 2025 Best of Fest program in October.

Cindependent Spotlight events will feature community partners, special guests, and unlimited opportunities to learn from and connect with industry professionals and film enthusiasts. Cindependent is set apart by our dedication to recognizing and elevating the freshest new voices in independent filmmaking and by our commitment to uplifting the Cincinnati film community in all of its many facets. We are excited to share this stirring program of breakthrough film as we continue to build together as a community.

Visit www.cindependentfilmfest.org to see more of our work.

About The Asphalt Jungle: The Asphalt Jungle (1950) is a gritty, suspenseful film noir directed by John Huston. It follows a group of criminals who plot a daring jewel heist, believing they've planned the perfect crime. But as betrayal, greed, and bad luck collide, their carefully crafted scheme begins to unravel. With standout performances from Sterling Hayden and a young Marilyn Monroe, this classic crime thriller is a tense exploration of ambition and downfall in the urban underworld.

Host or Publisher Allyson West, Cindependent Film Festival