One thing to remember is that some of these 15 films don't have a distributor yet, so there's no guarantee you'll be seeing them. Others may even have a shot at getting a wide release ... but I'm sure you won't hold that against me. So let's take a look ahead, maybe the next The Lives of Others, Waitress, Once or Lars and the Real Girl is hiding in plain sight somewhere among this group. (Films are listed alphabetically.)

BIRDS OF AMERICA
Who's directing? Craig Lucas
Who's in it? Matthew Perry, Hilary Swank, Ben Foster, Ginnifer Goodwin
What's it about? A man bounces back and forth between his repressive career and the never-dull shenanigans of his free-spirited younger brother and sister.
Keep an eye on it because — Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip may not have survived as long as it deserved to, but it did lend some credibility to Matthew Perry's post-Friends resume. The actor still has everything to prove on the silver screen, however, and this dramedy, by playwright Craig Lucas (his second directorial effort after The Dying Gaul), may be the most ambitious tryout of his career. You think there aren't enough Perry fans to make it interesting? How about two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank (who also produces the film) and Ben Foster, who's got everyone crazy for him after his mesmerizing turn in 3:10 to Yuma? To be seen first at the Sundance Film Festival later this month.

BLINDNESS
Who's directing? Fernando Meirelles
Who's in it? Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Gael Garcia Bernal, Danny Glover, Alice Braga
What's it about? A town is mysteriously struck by and epidemic of blindness. The only woman left with her sight helps those around her while trying to understand what is happening.
Keep an eye on it because — The novel on which Blindness is based on has a lot more to it than just an awesome concept, and Brazilian prodigee Fernando Meirelles (City of God) showed us a couple of years ago what he can do with a great book and a great cast with The Constant Gardener. Expect this one to make a lot of noise. I foresee it premiering at a major showcase like Cannes, and possibly opening in wide release.

CHOKE
Who's directing? Clark Gregg
Who's in it? Sam Rockwell, Anjelica Huston, Kelly McDonald, Clark Gregg, Joel Grey
What's it about? Victor Mancini works in a colonial theme park, looks for women in sex-addict workshops, and pays his mother's hospital bills thanks to a well crafted scam in which he pretends to choke in restaurants.
Keep an eye on it because — Someone finally had the guts to adapt another Chuck Palahniuk novel, amost nine years after Fincher pulled a classic cult out of Fight Club. Unsurprisingly, Hollywood has nothing to do with it, as little known character actor Clark Gregg wrote the screenplay and is making his directorial debut with Choke. Portland, Ore.-based Palahniuk has a style that's tricky to capture cinematically, but the challenge is exciting ... especially when the lead role is in the hands of crazy actor Sam Rockwell. We'll hear some buzz soon enough, as Choke will be in competition at Sundance in a couple of weeks.

THE EDGE OF HEAVEN
Who's directing? Fatih Akin
Who's in it? Nurgül Yesilcay, Baki Davrak, Hanna Schygulla, Tuncel Kurtiz ...
What's it about? Half a dozen men and women intersect between Bremen and Istanbul, looking for someone or just escaping their past.
Keep an eye on it because — Fatih Akin is one of the young wonder boys of European cinema. The German director is not even 35 years old, but he's already grabbed major prizes in both Berlin (for Head On) and at Cannes, where he won the much deserved Prize for Best Screenplay last May. After the success of The Lives of Others last year, there is no doubt that a wonderful German film can win over critics and audiences in the United States, and the emotional journey that is The Edge of Heaven may have what it takes to do so.

GUERILLA and THE ARGENTINE
Who's directing? Steven Soderbergh
Who's in it? Benicio Del Toro, Franka Potente, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Edgar Ramirez, Jordi Molla
What's it about? The movies trace the emergence of Ernesto "Che" Guevara, legendary Argentine revolutionary, from his struggles in the Cuban jungle in the late '50s, to his execution in Bolivia in 1967.
Keep an eye on it because — Steven Soderbergh has been working on a Guevara movie with Benicio Del Toro for ages. At one point, Terrence Malick was supposed to direct (and Soderbergh produce), but when Malick left the project to make The New World, Soderbergh took back the director's chair. The film is a huge bet for the filmmaker, who ended up dividing Guevara's life into two films, shot back to back, made in Spanish and populated almost exclusively by South American or Spanish actors. This is probably Soderbergh's most ambitious project ever, so it won't go unnoticed.

HALLAM FOE
Who's directing? David McKenzie
Who's in it? Jamie Bell, Ciaran Hinds, Sophia Myles, Jamie Sives, Ewen Bremner, Claire Forlani
What's it about? A young man, disturbed by his mother death's when he was a child, spies on people's lives through his binoculars.
Keep an eye on it because — This one is a festival darling. Scottish director McKenzie got noticed a few years ago thanks to Young Adam (with Ewan McGregor), and that should give his new filmat least a shot at glowing reviews and great word of mouth. Magnolia Pictures is releasing, possibly this spring.

IN THE ELECTRIC MIST
Who's directing? Bertrand Tavernier
Who's in it? Tommy Lee Jones, Peter Sarsgaard, John Goodman, Ned Beatty, Kelly McDonald
What's it about? Detective Dave Robicheaux investigates a series of murders of young women in New Iberia, Louisiana.
Keep an eye on it because — Bertrand Tavernier is not your average "whodunit" Hollywood director. The man is one of the most renowned of French filmmakers, having directed such true European classics as The Judge and the Assassin, A Sunday in the Country, Life and Nothing But, L.627, Captain Conan and many others. Average Joe may not know him, but American film buffs certainly do. Seeing him handle a James Lee Burke adaptation — in other words, a sticky noir atmopshere in Cajun territory — is nothing short of thrilling (more so when you know that it's a French production, with no Hollywood studio having futzed with, at least as of yet, the final product). Having Tommy Lee Jones in the lead, fresh off a fantastic 2007 that included In the Valley of Elah and No Country for Old Men, only adds to the attractiveness of this one.

MARGARET
Who's directing? Kenneth Lonergan
Who's in it? Anna Paquin, Matt Damon, Mark Ruffalo, Matthew Broderick, Jean Reno, Allison Janney
What's it about? A girl witnesses a terrible traffic accident and has to cope with a feeling of guilt that upsets the lives of those living around her.
Keep an eye on it because — This might finally be the year Kenneth Lonergan's sophomore film finally gets released. In the spotlight seven years ago with his debut film, You Can Count On Me, which sparkled in arthouse theaters and gave a huge boost to the careers of Laura Linney and Mark Ruffalo, Lonergan has since struggled to get Margaret out of the blocks. The film was shot more than two years ago with a terrific cast and the support of Fox Searchlight. Since then, though, there's been no festival appearance, and no hint of theatrical release. Is this a feud between Lonergan and Searchlight? Let's hope it gets settled in the new year, and that Margaret finally gets released.

MONGOL
Who's directing? Sergei Bodrov
Who's in it? Tadanobu Asano, Honglei Sun, Khulan Chuluun
What's it about? The younger years of a Mongol lad, son of a tribal leader, who would eventually become Genghis Khan.
Keep an eye on it because — Sergei Bodrov is one of the contemporary masters of Russian cinema. His films are often in the spotlight of the greatest film festivals, earning glowing reviews, and Mongol is no exception. What makes the film particularly appealing is that it tackles the life of the greatest conquerer ever, Genghis Khan, and thus could be a hell of an epic. (Steven Seagal must not be happy, since a  Genghis Khan biopic has long been his dream project.)

RED CLIFF
Who's directing? John Woo
Who's in it? Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Chang Chen, Koyuki, Zhao Wei
What's it about? In early Third Century, at the close of the Han Dynasty, the kingdoms of Xu and Wu form a surprising alliance to counter the attacks of the Empire's army, which tries to unite all of China.
Keep an eye on it because — I know, I know, a $75 million budget doesn't exactly sound like an arthouse feature, does it? But in American theaters, films that are not in English have, well, let's say a 99 percent chance of being released on a limited scale. Maybe this one will be the exception that proves the rule. After all, John Woo went back to his Chinese roots after more than 12 years in Hollywood and a string of disappointing films (except Face/Off). A dazzling historical actioner might be just the thing to restore the faded luster of his career. Frequent Woo collaborator Chow Yun-Fat left the project, and was replaced by Tony Leung (who'd left it earlier himself), but Red Cliff is still THE Chinese event of the year.

SHINE A LIGHT
Who's directing? Martin Scorsese (!!)
Who's in it? The Rolling Stones (!!)
What's it about? Martin Scorsese was given exclusive access to a Rolling Stones show at New York City's Beacon Theater during the legendary group's Bigger Bang tour. The concert footage is interspersed with band member interviews and historical inserts that recap the group's tumultuous past.
Keep an eye on it because — It's Martin Scorsese! Shooting The Rolling Stones! How can it not be an arthouse event??!!

SUNSHINE CLEANING
Who's directing? Christine Jeffs
Who's in it? Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Steve Zahn, Alan Arkin, Mary Lynn Rajskub
What's it about? Trying to escape the dullness of their lives, two sisters create a strange business: a clean-up service for crime and suicide sites.
Keep an eye on it because — On paper, this one has tremendous potential. A pitch with room for both drama and comedy, a fresh director coming from New Zealand (she notably made a nice little film called Rain), a launch in competition at Sundance and, of course, a terrific cast, led by newly popular Amy Adams, with support from the likes of Emily Blunt, Steve Zahn and Academy Award-winner Alan Arkin. Plus, with Arkin in the cast and "sunshine" in the title, some comparisons might soon flourish.

SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK
Who's directing? Charlie Kaufman
Who's in it? Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Emily Watson
What's it about? A theater director trying to mount a revolutionnary new play in Manhattan sees his personal life, and particularly his relationships with women, encounter some serious difficulties.
Keep an eye on it because — Charlie Kaufman finally gets behind the camera. More than eight years after coming out of nowhere with the screenplay of Being John Malkovich, Kaufman decided it was time he took care of one of his own scripts. Will the shy and mysterious Kaufman be as crazy talented a filmmaker as he is a screenwriter? Every film buff certainly hopes so, and a lot of indie queens too, as the feminine cast amazes by its quality: Catherine Keener, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Emily Watson, Hope Davis, Michelle Williams, Dianne Wiest and Samantha Morton all surround Philip Seymour Hoffman, who's in yet another fascinating project after last fall's Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, The Savages and Charlie Wilson's War.

TOWELHEAD
Who's directing? Alan Ball
Who's in it? Summer Bishil, Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello, Toni Collette, Peter Macdissi
What's it about? A 13-year-old girl, raised by an American mother and a Lebanese father, undergoes a sexual awakening.
Keep an eye on it because — The man who wrote and produced both American Beauty and TV series Six Feet Under, Alan Ball, takes the plunge as a director. And, not surprisingly, he does so with a slick subject that could stir some controversy if the film's presentation at Toronto last September is any indication. Interesting note: The film's title has changed since Toronto, where it was known as Nothing is Private.

THE VISITOR
Who's directing? Tom McCarthy
Who's in it? Richard Jenkins, Hiam Abass, Haaz Sleiman, Danai Gurira
What's it about? A Connecticut widower professor comes back to New York to attend a conference, only to find a couple of illegal immigrants in his usually deserted apartment.
Keep an eye on it because — The Station Agent was a gem of an indie film. Four years later, Tom McCarthy takes another break in his acting to direct his second film. There have been some terrific early reviews for his examination of post-9/11 America through the eyes of an average white American. Among the low-profile pictures that will be released on the arthouse circuit, this one has a beautiful silhouette. And a release date: April 11.

Keep those titles in mind. Many months may pass before they get a theatrical release in the United States, but I hope I'll have drawn your attention on them. After all, there are other films besides The Dark Knight and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull that will be in theaters this year, guys. And I didn't say that to hear you respond, "You're right, Indie, there's also Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk." Next week, I'll get back to the near-future arthouse release slate. In the meantime, enjoy the first days of January. Over.

Indie Jones does not own a bullwhip. But he does look good in a fedora. Tell him what arthouse films you're most looking forward to at danceswiththearthouse@gmail.com.