[Editor's Note: Read part 2 of this preview here.]

It’s a new year and a new decade. Here’s looking forward to a prosperous decade of cinema. Will it be known for a slew of sequels, comic book adaptations and funny cat videos like the '00s were? Or will it be remembered for groundbreaking and socially relevant cinema like in the 1970s? There’s a glimmer of hope for originality in film with the monumental success of Avatar and the unexpected success of Inglourious Basterds and District 9. Could they have turned the tide? Could this lead us into an era of blockbuster, auteur-driven cinema? Not likely, but one can still hope.

Let’s just focus on 2010 for now, as this year's lineup is extremely promising. Please note: There’s no guarantee the films on the list will be released in 2010. (Some haven't even begun filming yet.) The films on the list consist of festival favorites, announced summer blockbusters and overseas gems. So let’s hope all goes well and these films become widely available this year.

I worked hard on this, so you better bookmark this page for the rest of the year!

This article appears in Jan 20-26, 2010.