On the second night of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Judith Godrèche told the mostly female crowd assembled on a beach next to the Palais, “This film is for you!” The French actor-director was presenting her short “Moi Aussi,” a last-minute addition to the festival lineup that covers sexual misconduct in the French film industry. Godrèche has become something of an ambassador to the fledgling movement after she came forward in February with claims that she was preyed upon and groomed as a minor by directors Benoît Jacquot and Jacques Doillon, allegations they both deny. The beach screening kicked off what many hope will be a sweeping French #MeToo reckoning.
But the festival and its accompanying film market also will feature several men who have been the subject of #MeToo allegations that range from sexual harassment, sexual assault and domestic violence. The awkward presence of such actors as Shia Labeouf and James Franco,...
But the festival and its accompanying film market also will feature several men who have been the subject of #MeToo allegations that range from sexual harassment, sexual assault and domestic violence. The awkward presence of such actors as Shia Labeouf and James Franco,...
- 5/17/2024
- by Tatiana Siegel
- Variety Film + TV
It’s the day of the 2024 Academy Awards and we’ll be bringing you all of the red carpet photos right here!
Hundreds of celebs are expected to step out for the biggest night in entertainment on Sunday (March 10) at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
The show will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and there are so many incredible stars expected to present throughout the show. Oppenheimer leads with 13 nominations and we have the full list of nominations ready for you to see!
Make sure to keep checking back all night long as we’ll be updating this post live as the red carpet arrivals continue throughout the evening.
Head inside to check out photos of every celeb on the red carpet…
Keep scrolling to see every celeb on the red carpet and check out the full guest list…
Vanessa Hudgens (Red Carpet Correspondent)
Fyi: Vanessa is wearing a Vera Wang...
Hundreds of celebs are expected to step out for the biggest night in entertainment on Sunday (March 10) at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
The show will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and there are so many incredible stars expected to present throughout the show. Oppenheimer leads with 13 nominations and we have the full list of nominations ready for you to see!
Make sure to keep checking back all night long as we’ll be updating this post live as the red carpet arrivals continue throughout the evening.
Head inside to check out photos of every celeb on the red carpet…
Keep scrolling to see every celeb on the red carpet and check out the full guest list…
Vanessa Hudgens (Red Carpet Correspondent)
Fyi: Vanessa is wearing a Vera Wang...
- 3/10/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Exclusive: Beau Knapp (Seven Seconds) is joining Bravo Team as a new series regular for the upcoming seventh and final season of Paramount+’s military drama Seal Team.
Starring David Boreanaz, Seal Team follows the professional and personal lives of the most elite unit of Navy SEALs as they train, plan and execute the most dangerous, high-stakes missions.
Knapp will play Drew Franklin, a Chief Petty Officer with a checkered history at Command whose placement on Bravo Team is a sign of their problem-child status in the eyes of the Devgru powers that be. A smooth talker who exploits every angle to his own advantage, Drew revels in the mystery and rumors that surround him.
Neil Brown Jr., Aj Buckley, Toni Trucks and Raffi Barsoumian also star.
The series is produced by CBS Studios and exec produced by Spencer Hudnut, Christopher Chulack, David Boreanaz, Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly and Mark Owen.
Starring David Boreanaz, Seal Team follows the professional and personal lives of the most elite unit of Navy SEALs as they train, plan and execute the most dangerous, high-stakes missions.
Knapp will play Drew Franklin, a Chief Petty Officer with a checkered history at Command whose placement on Bravo Team is a sign of their problem-child status in the eyes of the Devgru powers that be. A smooth talker who exploits every angle to his own advantage, Drew revels in the mystery and rumors that surround him.
Neil Brown Jr., Aj Buckley, Toni Trucks and Raffi Barsoumian also star.
The series is produced by CBS Studios and exec produced by Spencer Hudnut, Christopher Chulack, David Boreanaz, Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly and Mark Owen.
- 12/12/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Kevin Turen, the producer of HBO shows Euphoria and The Idol, died from multiple heart issues, according to a medical examiner’s report.
The official cause of death was acute cardiac dysfunction and hypertrophic heart disease, with coronary artery disease also cited.
Turen was driving his Tesla on a California freeway when stricken. His 10-year-old son managed to stop the car and take it to the side of the road. Turen was then taken to the hospital and died there.
Turen first produced Larry Clark’s Wassup Rockers, and later went on to work with Sam Levinson to produce Malcolm and Marie, Trey Shultz’s Waves, Nicholas Jarecki’s Arbitrage, Nate Parker’s The Birth of a Nation, Kornel Mondruczo’s Pieces of a Woman, Ramin Bahrani’s 99 Homes, and Ti West’s X trilogy.
The 44-year-old producer is survived by his wife, Evelina, and his two sons, Jack and James.
The official cause of death was acute cardiac dysfunction and hypertrophic heart disease, with coronary artery disease also cited.
Turen was driving his Tesla on a California freeway when stricken. His 10-year-old son managed to stop the car and take it to the side of the road. Turen was then taken to the hospital and died there.
Turen first produced Larry Clark’s Wassup Rockers, and later went on to work with Sam Levinson to produce Malcolm and Marie, Trey Shultz’s Waves, Nicholas Jarecki’s Arbitrage, Nate Parker’s The Birth of a Nation, Kornel Mondruczo’s Pieces of a Woman, Ramin Bahrani’s 99 Homes, and Ti West’s X trilogy.
The 44-year-old producer is survived by his wife, Evelina, and his two sons, Jack and James.
- 12/2/2023
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Rustin is a biographical drama film directed by George C. Wolfe, from a screenplay by Julian Breece and Dustin Lance Black. The Netflix film is based on the life of civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, who helped Martin Luther King Jr. and others organize the 1963 March on Washington. The film shows us how history erased him from the civil rights movement he helped build just because an openly gay Black man. Rustin stars Colman Domingo in the lead role of Bayard Rustin, with Chris Rock, Jeffrey Wright, Aml Ameen, Lilli Kay, and Johnny Ramey starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the Netflix film here are some similar movies you could watch next.
Selma Credit – Paramount Pictures
Synopsis: Selma is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition.
Selma Credit – Paramount Pictures
Synopsis: Selma is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition.
- 11/19/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Kevin Turen, producer of Euphoria and The Idol, has died. He was 44.
Turen died suddenly over the weekend. His cause of death is not known at this time. The producer is survived by his wife, Evelina, and his two sons, Jack and James.
His father Edward Turen said in a statement Sunday night: “Kevin was so incredibly special, this world is going to be less without him.”
Turen first produced Larry Clark’s Wassup Rockers and later went on to work with Sam Levinson and produce Malcolm and Marie, Trey Shultz’s Waves, Nicholas Jarecki’s Arbitrage, Nate Parker’s The Birth of a Nation, Kornel Mondruczo’s Pieces of a Woman, Ramin Bahrani’s 99 Homes and Ti West’s X trilogy.
Turen’s work in television included Levinson’s Euphoria and The Idol as well as Olivier Assayas’a Irma Vep.
Jay Penske, CEO of Deadline’s parent...
Turen died suddenly over the weekend. His cause of death is not known at this time. The producer is survived by his wife, Evelina, and his two sons, Jack and James.
His father Edward Turen said in a statement Sunday night: “Kevin was so incredibly special, this world is going to be less without him.”
Turen first produced Larry Clark’s Wassup Rockers and later went on to work with Sam Levinson and produce Malcolm and Marie, Trey Shultz’s Waves, Nicholas Jarecki’s Arbitrage, Nate Parker’s The Birth of a Nation, Kornel Mondruczo’s Pieces of a Woman, Ramin Bahrani’s 99 Homes and Ti West’s X trilogy.
Turen’s work in television included Levinson’s Euphoria and The Idol as well as Olivier Assayas’a Irma Vep.
Jay Penske, CEO of Deadline’s parent...
- 11/13/2023
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Need a break from the summer heat? Before the barbecue and fireworks extravaganza, cue up one of these 10 Fourth of July movies. Some are patriotic favorites, while others deliver summer vibes in spades. All are guaranteed to keep you entertained for a couple of hours.
‘Born on the Fourth of July’
Tom Cruise earned an Oscar nomination for his performance as paralyzed Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic in Oliver Stone’s Born on the Fourth of July. Based on the real-life story of Kovic, the movie follows him from his childhood through his time as a Marine in Vietnam to his return to the U.S. and embrace of anti-war activism.
Born on the Fourth of July is streaming on Netflix.
‘Top Gun’ and ‘Top Gun: Maverick’
In the mood for some lighter Tom Cruise fare? Top Gun delivers a hefty dose of action and romance with its story of a...
‘Born on the Fourth of July’
Tom Cruise earned an Oscar nomination for his performance as paralyzed Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic in Oliver Stone’s Born on the Fourth of July. Based on the real-life story of Kovic, the movie follows him from his childhood through his time as a Marine in Vietnam to his return to the U.S. and embrace of anti-war activism.
Born on the Fourth of July is streaming on Netflix.
‘Top Gun’ and ‘Top Gun: Maverick’
In the mood for some lighter Tom Cruise fare? Top Gun delivers a hefty dose of action and romance with its story of a...
- 7/3/2023
- by Megan Elliott
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Distribution deals between theaters and streaming services are a fairly new innovation, though they are gaining in popularity. In March, Apple announced that it would spend up to $1 billion every year to start distributing its films theatrically, and Amazon committed to a similar sum to produce up to 15 movies a year for theater chains.
30-Day Free Trial $8.99 / month amazon.com
But Mansa is doing those other streamers one better. According to Deadline, the service — which was founded David Oyelowo, Nate Parker and Chiké Okonkwo along with tech entrepreneur and film financier Zak Tanjeloff, and focuses on Black culture— has announced a deal with AMC Theaters to have its original movies shown in cinemas across the United States.
“A fundamental aspect of our business is to lift up underrepresented voices that have long been left out of traditional entertainment circles and distribution models,” said Mansa Chief Commercial Officer Chris Yates. “With this partnership in place,...
30-Day Free Trial $8.99 / month amazon.com
But Mansa is doing those other streamers one better. According to Deadline, the service — which was founded David Oyelowo, Nate Parker and Chiké Okonkwo along with tech entrepreneur and film financier Zak Tanjeloff, and focuses on Black culture— has announced a deal with AMC Theaters to have its original movies shown in cinemas across the United States.
“A fundamental aspect of our business is to lift up underrepresented voices that have long been left out of traditional entertainment circles and distribution models,” said Mansa Chief Commercial Officer Chris Yates. “With this partnership in place,...
- 5/25/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
Mansa, a free, ad-supported streaming service centered on Black culture, has struck a distribution deal with AMC Theatres to have its original features and series exhibited in theaters nationwide.
The deal comes as specialty distributors and streamers continue to refine their strategies for maximizing the benefit of theatrical runs, which are still emerging from the chaos of Covid. Exhibitors who survived the pandemic are increasingly looking to alternative sources of content as some questions remain about traditional distributors’ level of commitment to theaters. The unique DNA of Mansa, which was founded by filmmakers and actors David Oyelowo, Nate Parker and Chiké Okonkwo along with tech entrepreneur and film financier Zak Tanjeloff, also contributed to the unusual agreement.
“A fundamental aspect of our business is to lift up underrepresented voices that have long been left out of traditional entertainment circles and distribution models,” Mansa Chief Commercial Officer Chris Yates said in a press release.
The deal comes as specialty distributors and streamers continue to refine their strategies for maximizing the benefit of theatrical runs, which are still emerging from the chaos of Covid. Exhibitors who survived the pandemic are increasingly looking to alternative sources of content as some questions remain about traditional distributors’ level of commitment to theaters. The unique DNA of Mansa, which was founded by filmmakers and actors David Oyelowo, Nate Parker and Chiké Okonkwo along with tech entrepreneur and film financier Zak Tanjeloff, also contributed to the unusual agreement.
“A fundamental aspect of our business is to lift up underrepresented voices that have long been left out of traditional entertainment circles and distribution models,” Mansa Chief Commercial Officer Chris Yates said in a press release.
- 5/25/2023
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Jonathan Majors’ Magazine Dreams was a no-show at CinemaCon.
Searchlight and Disney steered clear of any mention of the film during Disney’s presentation at the annual gathering of theater owners in Las Vegas as Majors awaits a May 8 court date in New York on assault charges. Normally, the powerhouse specialty would have used CinemaCon to promote the movie, which is scheduled for a Dec. 8 release in theaters, during the heart of awards season.
The movie’s premise — an aspiring bodybuilder who flies into bouts of rage and violence — is a complicating factor given the allegations of assault against the actor, who has denied wrongdoing. One scene features his character on a date with a woman who becomes so uncomfortable she flees the restaurant. Majors is already experiencing career blowback, with Entertainment 360 and PR firm The Lede Company dropping him.
Majors’ rise from Yale Drama School to Hollywood star has been meteoric.
Searchlight and Disney steered clear of any mention of the film during Disney’s presentation at the annual gathering of theater owners in Las Vegas as Majors awaits a May 8 court date in New York on assault charges. Normally, the powerhouse specialty would have used CinemaCon to promote the movie, which is scheduled for a Dec. 8 release in theaters, during the heart of awards season.
The movie’s premise — an aspiring bodybuilder who flies into bouts of rage and violence — is a complicating factor given the allegations of assault against the actor, who has denied wrongdoing. One scene features his character on a date with a woman who becomes so uncomfortable she flees the restaurant. Majors is already experiencing career blowback, with Entertainment 360 and PR firm The Lede Company dropping him.
Majors’ rise from Yale Drama School to Hollywood star has been meteoric.
- 4/26/2023
- by Pamela McClintock
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It’s been a tough couple of weeks for fame, whether you’re Donald Trump, Jonathan Majors, or Gwyneth Paltrow.
Anyone living in the spotlight faces the potential for a public reckoning and with that, collateral damage. After Majors was arrested and charged with assault and harassment, the news cycle cast immediate uncertainty on his future. Now, as various Majors projects let him go, the fallout exposes a film-business fallacy. When you build projects around movie stars, you create a liability.
Majors’ attorney claims evidence of his innocence, but his agency and publicity team dropped the actor this month. So did a number of upcoming projects, including Protagonist Pictures’ adaptation of the Walter Mosley novel “The Man in My Basement,” a series of ads for the Texas Rangers baseball team, and an unannounced Otis Redding biopic from Fifth Season.
Marvel hasn’t budged yet on Majors’ future as supervillain Kang the Conquerer,...
Anyone living in the spotlight faces the potential for a public reckoning and with that, collateral damage. After Majors was arrested and charged with assault and harassment, the news cycle cast immediate uncertainty on his future. Now, as various Majors projects let him go, the fallout exposes a film-business fallacy. When you build projects around movie stars, you create a liability.
Majors’ attorney claims evidence of his innocence, but his agency and publicity team dropped the actor this month. So did a number of upcoming projects, including Protagonist Pictures’ adaptation of the Walter Mosley novel “The Man in My Basement,” a series of ads for the Texas Rangers baseball team, and an unannounced Otis Redding biopic from Fifth Season.
Marvel hasn’t budged yet on Majors’ future as supervillain Kang the Conquerer,...
- 4/22/2023
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
A streaming service that centers Black culture and content is emerging out of stealth. Mansa, which has raised $8 million in seed funding, is led by a group of actors and entrepreneurs that includes Emmy nominee David Oyelowo.
At launch, Mansa’s library includes more than 1,500 hours of licensed content. The platform blends several different content formats in one place: Mansa is a cross between a VOD service, a free ad-supported television (Fast) hub, a social network, and a short-form video app.
Film financier Zak Tanjeloff co-founded Mansa alongside actors Oyelowo, Chiké Okonkwo, and Nate Parker. He told TechCrunch that the platform is a “streaming platform for curated global Black culture” that will be delivered “to the world for free.”
Rather than competing with Black-oriented subscription services like BET+ and Allblk, Mansa is catering to consumers in the Fast lane. It has pointed to a 2021 Nielsen study, which found that Black...
At launch, Mansa’s library includes more than 1,500 hours of licensed content. The platform blends several different content formats in one place: Mansa is a cross between a VOD service, a free ad-supported television (Fast) hub, a social network, and a short-form video app.
Film financier Zak Tanjeloff co-founded Mansa alongside actors Oyelowo, Chiké Okonkwo, and Nate Parker. He told TechCrunch that the platform is a “streaming platform for curated global Black culture” that will be delivered “to the world for free.”
Rather than competing with Black-oriented subscription services like BET+ and Allblk, Mansa is catering to consumers in the Fast lane. It has pointed to a 2021 Nielsen study, which found that Black...
- 4/18/2023
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
In the tiny pocket of relief between Oscar campaigns and nominations, the Sundance hot takes begin.
The questions blur together: After two years of a virtual festival, does anyone still want to hustle in the snow? Why bother making the trek when you can stream most of the lineup from the non-icy confines of a couch? With the outcry over last year’s embarrassing “Jihad Rehab” debacle still fresh — dear lord, can we move on yet? — have progressive politics ruined the whole process? Now that every movie without Tom Cruise or Na’vi faces dire prospects at the box office, what are doing here anyway?
Sundance hype is performative. Once again, it’s viable to pretend that movies dominate the culture. Above all, much as dazzling red carpets at Cannes sustain the fantasy that international arthouse cinema commands the world stage, so too does Sundance make it possible to believe...
The questions blur together: After two years of a virtual festival, does anyone still want to hustle in the snow? Why bother making the trek when you can stream most of the lineup from the non-icy confines of a couch? With the outcry over last year’s embarrassing “Jihad Rehab” debacle still fresh — dear lord, can we move on yet? — have progressive politics ruined the whole process? Now that every movie without Tom Cruise or Na’vi faces dire prospects at the box office, what are doing here anyway?
Sundance hype is performative. Once again, it’s viable to pretend that movies dominate the culture. Above all, much as dazzling red carpets at Cannes sustain the fantasy that international arthouse cinema commands the world stage, so too does Sundance make it possible to believe...
- 1/19/2023
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
"What are we gonna do?!" Rlje has revealed a trailer for a thriller titled A Lot of Nothing, marking the feature directorial debut of actor Mo McRae. Arriving in theaters and on VOD to watch in February. James and Vanessa are ostensibly the perfect married couple – beautiful, successful, and smart. Their lives spiral out of control when they decide to seek justice against a neighbor they saw commit a crime on the evening news. Starring Y'lan Noel, Cleopatra Coleman, Justin Hartley, Shamier Anderson, and Lex Scott Davis. "A Lot of Nothing acts as a funhouse mirror to reflect the best and worst of humanity - and how our experiences of race, class, family, fear, love, and happiness drive our choices today. Mo McRae dazzles in his feature directorial debut, with a keen visual eye and a fresh, compelling voice." Reminds me of Nate Parker's film American Skin, a very similar plot,...
- 1/11/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Click here to read the full article.
Fairly or not, three of awards season’s acting contenders might be judged on more than just their performances.
On March 27, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, refused to leave the ceremony, accepted the award for best actor and then went out partying, sparking a tremendous uproar that led Smith to resign from the Academy and the organization’s board to ban him from its events for a decade (he remains eligible for Oscar recognition). Smith has since apologized to Rock multiple times, and Apple decided to move up from 2023 to December 2022 the release of a movie Smith produced and stars in, Emancipation, clearly hoping for awards recognition.
Brad Pitt was accused by ex-wife Angelina Jolie, in legal papers filed Oct. 4 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, of physically assaulting her and two of their children in 2016, when they were still married,...
Fairly or not, three of awards season’s acting contenders might be judged on more than just their performances.
On March 27, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, refused to leave the ceremony, accepted the award for best actor and then went out partying, sparking a tremendous uproar that led Smith to resign from the Academy and the organization’s board to ban him from its events for a decade (he remains eligible for Oscar recognition). Smith has since apologized to Rock multiple times, and Apple decided to move up from 2023 to December 2022 the release of a movie Smith produced and stars in, Emancipation, clearly hoping for awards recognition.
Brad Pitt was accused by ex-wife Angelina Jolie, in legal papers filed Oct. 4 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, of physically assaulting her and two of their children in 2016, when they were still married,...
- 11/21/2022
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Theo Rossi has joined the Netflix Amblin Jaume Collet-Serra directed feature thriller Carry On opposite Jason Bateman, Taron Egerton and Sofia Carson.
The pic centers around Ethan Kopek, a young Tsa agent who gets blackmailed by a mysterious traveler to let a dangerous package slip through security and onto a Christmas Day flight. Deadline first told you about the project.
Tj Fixman penned the first draft of the screenplay, with Michael Green doing the most recent polish. Dylan Clark will produce. The film marks the first production to come out of the overall deal Amblin signed with Netflix last June.
Holly Bario, Amblin’s President of Production, will oversee the project on behalf of the studio. Brian Williams will exec produce via Dylan Clark Productions as will Scott Greenberg and Seth William Meier.
Rossi is coming off his highly critically acclaimed role as the male lead opposite Aubrey Plaza...
The pic centers around Ethan Kopek, a young Tsa agent who gets blackmailed by a mysterious traveler to let a dangerous package slip through security and onto a Christmas Day flight. Deadline first told you about the project.
Tj Fixman penned the first draft of the screenplay, with Michael Green doing the most recent polish. Dylan Clark will produce. The film marks the first production to come out of the overall deal Amblin signed with Netflix last June.
Holly Bario, Amblin’s President of Production, will oversee the project on behalf of the studio. Brian Williams will exec produce via Dylan Clark Productions as will Scott Greenberg and Seth William Meier.
Rossi is coming off his highly critically acclaimed role as the male lead opposite Aubrey Plaza...
- 10/4/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Clea DuVall (The First Lady), Shane Paul McGhie (American Skin), Angel Desai (NCIS: New Orleans), newcomer Jasmine Aiyana Garvin and Leslie Silva (Women of the Movement) have joined the cast of Peacock’s Poker Face, a mystery drama series starring Natasha Lyonne, from Rian Johnson, his T-Street banner and MRC Television.
Details of their roles, as well as plot details of the 10-episode anthology-like series are being kept under wraps.
2021-22 Peacock Pilots & Series Orders
In addition to Lyonne, the five join previously announced cast Adrien Brody, Audrey Corsa, Benjamin Bratt, Charles Melton, Chloë Sevigny, Danielle MacDonald, Dascha Polanco, Ellen Barkin, Jameela Jamil, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Judith Light, Lil Rel Howery, Niall Cunningham, Nicholas Cirillo, Nick Nolte, Ron Perlman, S. Epatha Merkerson, Simon Helberg, Stephanie Hsu, Tim Blake Nelson and Tim Meadows.
This marks the first TV series for Knives Out and Star Wars filmmaker Johnson who is the creator,...
Details of their roles, as well as plot details of the 10-episode anthology-like series are being kept under wraps.
2021-22 Peacock Pilots & Series Orders
In addition to Lyonne, the five join previously announced cast Adrien Brody, Audrey Corsa, Benjamin Bratt, Charles Melton, Chloë Sevigny, Danielle MacDonald, Dascha Polanco, Ellen Barkin, Jameela Jamil, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Judith Light, Lil Rel Howery, Niall Cunningham, Nicholas Cirillo, Nick Nolte, Ron Perlman, S. Epatha Merkerson, Simon Helberg, Stephanie Hsu, Tim Blake Nelson and Tim Meadows.
This marks the first TV series for Knives Out and Star Wars filmmaker Johnson who is the creator,...
- 8/29/2022
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
What would movies be about if not for love? Since well before the days of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in “Casablanca,” romance has driven countless classic stories, setting up some of the highest highs in cinematic history to follow. Be it Cary Grant and Grace Kelly seeing stars in “To Catch a Thief” or Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal disturbing diner patrons in “When Harry Met Sally,” the 20th century was chock full of iconic romances that helped humanity fall in love with the movies. Of course, those titles were dominated by white artists telling largely heteronormative tales — meaning many (but not all) of the best and most inclusive romances have arrived this millennium.
Now, the best romance movies of the 21st century both resonate and surprise, showing audiences characters they might recognize from their own lives in new and surprising ways. Yes, finding “the one” is exceedingly well-frequented thematic territory,...
Now, the best romance movies of the 21st century both resonate and surprise, showing audiences characters they might recognize from their own lives in new and surprising ways. Yes, finding “the one” is exceedingly well-frequented thematic territory,...
- 7/1/2022
- by Alison Foreman, Christian Zilko and Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
From a cramped hotel suite in a luxury Cannes hotel, a pair of film executives are trying to pull off an unlikely feat: Sell distribution rights to Kevin Spacey’s comeback film. On May 17, Vantage Media International, or Vmi, a Hollywood-based company that sells movies primarily to foreign markets, screened a finished print of the noir drama Peter Five Eight to would-be buyers willing to take a gamble on the two-time Oscar winner’s first leading role since his career came to a grinding halt in 2017 amid accusations of sexual misconduct.
- 5/25/2022
- by Tatiana Siegel
- Rollingstone.com
Exclusive: Brett Gray (On My Block), Kara Young (The Punisher), Allius Barnes (Cruel Summer) and Olivia Washington (Lee Daniels’ The Butler) have been cast as series regulars opposite lead Jharrel Jerome in Prime Video’s absurdist dark comedy series I’m a Virgo, created, written, directed and executive produced by Sorry to Bother You writer-director Boots Riley. Mike Epps and Carmen Ejogo are set to recur in the project, which is a co-production between Media Res and Amazon Studios.
“Our cast is hard as hell. Our cast slaps everyone else’s cast around on the playground. Sorry. I’ve spoken with the principal about this and there’s nothing more I can do,” Riley said about assembling the principal cast of the show.
I’m a Virgo is described as a radical coming-of-age joyride about Cootie (Jerome), a 13-foot-tall young Black man who lives in Oakland, CA.
Character descriptions are not being released,...
“Our cast is hard as hell. Our cast slaps everyone else’s cast around on the playground. Sorry. I’ve spoken with the principal about this and there’s nothing more I can do,” Riley said about assembling the principal cast of the show.
I’m a Virgo is described as a radical coming-of-age joyride about Cootie (Jerome), a 13-foot-tall young Black man who lives in Oakland, CA.
Character descriptions are not being released,...
- 2/22/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
“Selma” star David Oyelowo has played spies, saints, and even a guy who drowns a dog in “Chaos Walking,” but you’ve never seen him in a role quite like Svengali-esque architect Edward in “The Girl Before,” which premieres on HBO Max on Feb. 10. It’s based on the 2016 novel of the same name by J.P. Delaney, who adapted it for television.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw stars as Jane, who’s trying recover from a tragic loss. She applies to live rent-free at One Fulgate House, an ultra-modern, minimalist house designed by Edward, who has some very strict rules for his tenants. Jane encounters his rarely-given approval, and he soon makes his romantic intentions towards her clear. He becomes her lover as well as her landlord, but when she learns the previous female tenant, Emma (Jessica Plummer) – who looked remarkably like her – died in the house, she wonders if she can really trust him.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw stars as Jane, who’s trying recover from a tragic loss. She applies to live rent-free at One Fulgate House, an ultra-modern, minimalist house designed by Edward, who has some very strict rules for his tenants. Jane encounters his rarely-given approval, and he soon makes his romantic intentions towards her clear. He becomes her lover as well as her landlord, but when she learns the previous female tenant, Emma (Jessica Plummer) – who looked remarkably like her – died in the house, she wonders if she can really trust him.
- 2/10/2022
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
On October 20, the Sundance Institute will present the 2021 Vanguard Award to filmmakers Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Siân Heder.
Thompson is being recognized for the documentary Summer Of Soul, with which he made his directorial debut, with Heder being honored for her groundbreaking festival hit, Coda.
The honorary award created in 2012 is given annually to artists whose innovative, original works spotlight the art of storytelling and embody creative independence. It was expanded this year to recognize works across fiction and non-fiction. Past recipients include Benh Zeitlin, Ryan Coogler, Damien Chazelle, Marielle Heller, Nate Parker, Dee Rees, Boots Riley, Lulu Wang, and Radha Blank.
The Sundance Institute’s Vanguard Award ceremony, featuring conversations with Thompson and Heder, is open to the public. It is free to attend. Fans and supporters of indie cinema can register for the event by clicking here.
“We are especially...
Thompson is being recognized for the documentary Summer Of Soul, with which he made his directorial debut, with Heder being honored for her groundbreaking festival hit, Coda.
The honorary award created in 2012 is given annually to artists whose innovative, original works spotlight the art of storytelling and embody creative independence. It was expanded this year to recognize works across fiction and non-fiction. Past recipients include Benh Zeitlin, Ryan Coogler, Damien Chazelle, Marielle Heller, Nate Parker, Dee Rees, Boots Riley, Lulu Wang, and Radha Blank.
The Sundance Institute’s Vanguard Award ceremony, featuring conversations with Thompson and Heder, is open to the public. It is free to attend. Fans and supporters of indie cinema can register for the event by clicking here.
“We are especially...
- 9/23/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The Sundance Institute will present the 2021 Vanguard Award to “Coda” filmmaker Siân Heder and “Summer of Soul” director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, the institute announced Thursday.
The Vanguard Award honors artists whose work highlights storytelling and creative independence, and this year, it expanded to both fiction and nonfiction storytellers.
Previous recipients of the award, which was created in 2012, include Ryan Coogler, Damien Chazelle, Marielle Heller, Nate Parker, Dee Rees, Boots Riley, Lulu Wang, Benh Zeitlin and Radha Blank. Leadership Vanguard honorees have included Glenn Close, Roger Ebert, George Gund, Alejandro González Iñárritu and Quentin Tarantino.
“We are especially honored to recognize the visionary and award-winning directors Siân Heder and Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson with the Vanguard Award,” Michelle Satter, Sundance Founding Senior Director, Artist Programs, said in a statement. “We were thrilled to bring enthusiastic audiences together at our Festival to experience the humanity, originality, and independent spirit of their culture-changing films.
The Vanguard Award honors artists whose work highlights storytelling and creative independence, and this year, it expanded to both fiction and nonfiction storytellers.
Previous recipients of the award, which was created in 2012, include Ryan Coogler, Damien Chazelle, Marielle Heller, Nate Parker, Dee Rees, Boots Riley, Lulu Wang, Benh Zeitlin and Radha Blank. Leadership Vanguard honorees have included Glenn Close, Roger Ebert, George Gund, Alejandro González Iñárritu and Quentin Tarantino.
“We are especially honored to recognize the visionary and award-winning directors Siân Heder and Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson with the Vanguard Award,” Michelle Satter, Sundance Founding Senior Director, Artist Programs, said in a statement. “We were thrilled to bring enthusiastic audiences together at our Festival to experience the humanity, originality, and independent spirit of their culture-changing films.
- 9/23/2021
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
The Sundance Institute has found its newest Vanguards.
The nonprofit has announced that Coda filmmaker Siân Heder and Summer of Soul musician-turned-filmmaker Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson have been selected to each receive a Vanguard Award during a virtual celebration set for Oct. 20. Presented by Acura, the prize has been expanded this year to spotlight a fiction and a nonfiction storyteller “whose work highlights the art of storytelling and creative independence.” Since its creation in 2012, Vanguard Awards have been doled out to Benh Zeitlin, Ryan Coogler, Damien Chazelle, Marielle Heller, Nate Parker, Dee Rees, Boots Riley, Lulu Wang and Radha Blank....
The nonprofit has announced that Coda filmmaker Siân Heder and Summer of Soul musician-turned-filmmaker Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson have been selected to each receive a Vanguard Award during a virtual celebration set for Oct. 20. Presented by Acura, the prize has been expanded this year to spotlight a fiction and a nonfiction storyteller “whose work highlights the art of storytelling and creative independence.” Since its creation in 2012, Vanguard Awards have been doled out to Benh Zeitlin, Ryan Coogler, Damien Chazelle, Marielle Heller, Nate Parker, Dee Rees, Boots Riley, Lulu Wang and Radha Blank....
- 9/23/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Exclusive: Tl Thompson (Straight White Men), Cory Jeacoma (Power Book II: Ghost), Ireon Roach (School Girls; or the African Mean Girls Play), Derrick A. King (Call Your Mother) and newcomer Autumn Best are set as series regulars in 4400 (formerly known as The 4400), the CW’s reimagining of the 2004 USA Network sci-fi drama series.
4400 hails from Riverdale co-executive producer Ariana Jackson and Anna Fricke, who successfully rebooted Walker, Texas Ranger for the CW.
In the new version, 4400 overlooked, undervalued or otherwise marginalized people who vanished without a trace over the last hundred years are all returned in an instant, having not aged a day and with no memory of what happened to them. As the government races to analyze the potential threat and contain the story, the 4400 themselves must grapple with the fact that they’ve been returned with a few…upgrades, and the increasing likelihood that...
4400 hails from Riverdale co-executive producer Ariana Jackson and Anna Fricke, who successfully rebooted Walker, Texas Ranger for the CW.
In the new version, 4400 overlooked, undervalued or otherwise marginalized people who vanished without a trace over the last hundred years are all returned in an instant, having not aged a day and with no memory of what happened to them. As the government races to analyze the potential threat and contain the story, the 4400 themselves must grapple with the fact that they’ve been returned with a few…upgrades, and the increasing likelihood that...
- 5/24/2021
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
“American Skin,” the film written, directed by and starring actor Nate Parker, will land on BET+ next week following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival in 2019 and an on-demand run through Vertical Entertainment. The film will debut on the streaming platform April 15.
“American Skin” stars Parker and Omari Hardwick and follows a Black Iraq War veteran, Lincoln Jefferson (Parker), who after being denied a fair trial following the shooting death of his teenage son by a white police officer, desperately seeks justice and accountability for his son’s death.
Parker is the director of “The Birth of a Nation,” which was released at the height of #OscarsSoWhite and won the top prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2016 for its depiction of Nat Turner’s slave rebellion. It was bought by Fox Searchlight for a festival record $17.5 million and was expected to be a major Oscar contender.
But the...
“American Skin” stars Parker and Omari Hardwick and follows a Black Iraq War veteran, Lincoln Jefferson (Parker), who after being denied a fair trial following the shooting death of his teenage son by a white police officer, desperately seeks justice and accountability for his son’s death.
Parker is the director of “The Birth of a Nation,” which was released at the height of #OscarsSoWhite and won the top prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2016 for its depiction of Nat Turner’s slave rebellion. It was bought by Fox Searchlight for a festival record $17.5 million and was expected to be a major Oscar contender.
But the...
- 4/8/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Exclusive: American Skin is coming to BET+ next week.
The Nate Parker directed, penned and starring drama will debut on the ViacomCBS-owned streaming service on April 15, I have learned.
This move online for American Skin comes after a lucrative Vertical Entertainment distributed run for the Spike Lee executive produced film on PVOD starting January 15. It also follows a chorus of public support for The Birth of a Nation director Parker’s sophomore feature and its critical focus on the criminal justice system and institutional racism from the likes of LeBron James and Selma star David Oyelowo.
A chorus the Tyler Perry and BET-backed BET+ is clearly adding its voice and platform to.
“While BET+ is a platform for promoting Black stories, it’s also a place for championing Black culture and advocating for our community,” said BET+ EVP and General Manager, Devin Griffin today. “When we first learned of the film’s ambitions,...
The Nate Parker directed, penned and starring drama will debut on the ViacomCBS-owned streaming service on April 15, I have learned.
This move online for American Skin comes after a lucrative Vertical Entertainment distributed run for the Spike Lee executive produced film on PVOD starting January 15. It also follows a chorus of public support for The Birth of a Nation director Parker’s sophomore feature and its critical focus on the criminal justice system and institutional racism from the likes of LeBron James and Selma star David Oyelowo.
A chorus the Tyler Perry and BET-backed BET+ is clearly adding its voice and platform to.
“While BET+ is a platform for promoting Black stories, it’s also a place for championing Black culture and advocating for our community,” said BET+ EVP and General Manager, Devin Griffin today. “When we first learned of the film’s ambitions,...
- 4/8/2021
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
The Santa Barbara Film Festival will open with the world premiere of Aaron Maurer’s documentary Invisible Valley, which profiles the stories of the disparate people that make up the Coachella Valley. It kicks off a festival that will run March 31-April 10 with a hybrid edition that includes online elements and screenings at a pair of pop-up beachside drive-in venues.
The full lineup revealed Tuesday features 47 world premieres and 37 U.S. premieres from 45 countries alongside the fest’s annual tributes featuring the likes of Bill Murray, Carey Mulligan, Sacha Baron Cohen and Amanda Seyfried which will be livestreamed online.
Every film screening will be offered for free this year, with a ticketed online component that will showcase the entire film lineup along with the tributes, industry panels and filmmaker Q&As.
The fest will close with a series of short documentaries by local filmmakers.
Here’s the trailer for Invisible Valley,...
The full lineup revealed Tuesday features 47 world premieres and 37 U.S. premieres from 45 countries alongside the fest’s annual tributes featuring the likes of Bill Murray, Carey Mulligan, Sacha Baron Cohen and Amanda Seyfried which will be livestreamed online.
Every film screening will be offered for free this year, with a ticketed online component that will showcase the entire film lineup along with the tributes, industry panels and filmmaker Q&As.
The fest will close with a series of short documentaries by local filmmakers.
Here’s the trailer for Invisible Valley,...
- 3/9/2021
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Former Luke Cage star Theo Rossi is set as a series regular opposite Kevin Hart and Wesley Snipes in the Netflix limited series True Story, written and executive produced by Narcos: Mexico executive producer Eric Newman and produced by Hart’s HartBeat Production.
Philadelphia-born comedian Hart will play a version of himself in the fictional True Story, which centers on his character Kid and Kid’s older brother Carlton, played by Snipes. A tour stop in Kid’s hometown of Philadelphia becomes a matter of life and death for one of the world’s most famous comedians when the consequences of a lost evening with his wayward older brother threaten to destroy everything he’s built.
Rossi will play Gene, an excitable, wildly enthusiastic super-fan who follows The Kid (Hart) around on every leg of his comedy tour.
Hart executive produces through his HartBeat Prods., Newman via his Grand Electric.
Philadelphia-born comedian Hart will play a version of himself in the fictional True Story, which centers on his character Kid and Kid’s older brother Carlton, played by Snipes. A tour stop in Kid’s hometown of Philadelphia becomes a matter of life and death for one of the world’s most famous comedians when the consequences of a lost evening with his wayward older brother threaten to destroy everything he’s built.
Rossi will play Gene, an excitable, wildly enthusiastic super-fan who follows The Kid (Hart) around on every leg of his comedy tour.
Hart executive produces through his HartBeat Prods., Newman via his Grand Electric.
- 3/1/2021
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Just as the Super Bowl traditionally inhibits studios from releasing new titles to theaters, there were few fresh films available on home platforms. As a result, four titles — all previously ranked #1 on multiple charts — took the top spots again. The exception was Netflix, which debuted “Malcolm & Marie” February 5. Starring Zendaya and John David Washington, it immediately became the streamer’s most-watched film.
Long-running, still-Premium VOD titles “Greenland” and “News of the World,” along with $5.99 rentals “Tenet” and “Let Him Go,” are this week’s chart toppers. “News” and “Tenet” made all four lists (as did “The War with Grandpa”). “Let Him Go” failed to make Spectrum’s top 10, with its price reduction coming too late to impact the list.
There were a few surprises. Why is “2067,” an Australian science-fiction film starring Ryan Kwanten and Kodi Smit McPhee, available for $0.99 at Apple? (It’s more expensive elsewhere.) “Promising Young Woman,...
Long-running, still-Premium VOD titles “Greenland” and “News of the World,” along with $5.99 rentals “Tenet” and “Let Him Go,” are this week’s chart toppers. “News” and “Tenet” made all four lists (as did “The War with Grandpa”). “Let Him Go” failed to make Spectrum’s top 10, with its price reduction coming too late to impact the list.
There were a few surprises. Why is “2067,” an Australian science-fiction film starring Ryan Kwanten and Kodi Smit McPhee, available for $0.99 at Apple? (It’s more expensive elsewhere.) “Promising Young Woman,...
- 2/9/2021
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Exclusive: In the wake of receiving two Golden Globe nominations for its Sia-directed movie Music, Vertical Entertainment can boast that its Nate Parker feature American Skin has become one of the distributor’s highest grossing titles on PVOD with $4M over two weeks. American Skin debuted on Jan. 15 in select cinemas and on on-demand platforms such as Apple, Amazon, Vudu, and Google Play. American Skin‘s two-week figure bests the $2.5M+ that it accumulated over ten days for last summer’s Capone, a previous Vertical Entertainment high point.
I’m told that American Skin‘s PVOD success is largely due to a strategized social media initiative which received great support from the Black community who embraced the film with tastemakers such as Lebron James, Diddy, E40, David Oyelowo, and more.
In the spirit of Sidney Lumet’s 12 Angry Men and Dog Day Afternoon, American Skin follows a Black Iraqi War Vet,...
I’m told that American Skin‘s PVOD success is largely due to a strategized social media initiative which received great support from the Black community who embraced the film with tastemakers such as Lebron James, Diddy, E40, David Oyelowo, and more.
In the spirit of Sidney Lumet’s 12 Angry Men and Dog Day Afternoon, American Skin follows a Black Iraqi War Vet,...
- 2/6/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Eagle Pictures, a leading Italian distribution and production company, has signed a home entertainment distribution deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment Italia. Kicking off April 1, the deal covers the distribution of feature films and TV series on DVD and Blu-ray Discs in Italy.
Eagle Pictures already boasts distribution deals with Paramount Pictures International and MGM to release their movies in Italy. Presided by Tarak Ben Ammar and headed by Andrea Goretti, Eagle Pictures also handles home entertainment releases for fellow Italian distribution companies such as Leone Film Group, Lucky Red, Notorious Pictures and Rai Cinema.
Upcoming Sony Pictures titles include “Ghostbusters: Afterlife”, “Peter Rabbit 2,” “Uncharted,” the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters films “Morbius” and “Venom 2: Let There Be Carnage” and the third film in the “Spider-Man: Homecoming” series (pictured).
Sony Pictures Entertainment’s vast library comprises titles such as “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, “Blade Runner 2049...
Eagle Pictures already boasts distribution deals with Paramount Pictures International and MGM to release their movies in Italy. Presided by Tarak Ben Ammar and headed by Andrea Goretti, Eagle Pictures also handles home entertainment releases for fellow Italian distribution companies such as Leone Film Group, Lucky Red, Notorious Pictures and Rai Cinema.
Upcoming Sony Pictures titles include “Ghostbusters: Afterlife”, “Peter Rabbit 2,” “Uncharted,” the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters films “Morbius” and “Venom 2: Let There Be Carnage” and the third film in the “Spider-Man: Homecoming” series (pictured).
Sony Pictures Entertainment’s vast library comprises titles such as “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, “Blade Runner 2049...
- 2/3/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
This week offered little new on VOD. Did anticipation of “The Little Things” debuting on HBO Max as well as in theaters make others avoid the week? It left room for two titles to continue flying high with “Tenet” at $5.99, and “News of the World” at $19.99. Like last week, each placed #1 on two of the four charts we track.
Ongoing interest in Christopher Nolan’s film may seem ironic as it was the last major Warners release to see a traditional rollout. The studio reportedly recoups 70 percent of VOD rental; if there were 1 million rentals in a week, at the current price of $5.99, it would generate nearly $4.2 million. That would justify delaying a move to HBO Max.
As a PVOD, Universal sees a more generous revenue share of 80 percent on “News of the World” rentals. For a $4 million return — a nice bounty for a film with a reported $38 million budget...
Ongoing interest in Christopher Nolan’s film may seem ironic as it was the last major Warners release to see a traditional rollout. The studio reportedly recoups 70 percent of VOD rental; if there were 1 million rentals in a week, at the current price of $5.99, it would generate nearly $4.2 million. That would justify delaying a move to HBO Max.
As a PVOD, Universal sees a more generous revenue share of 80 percent on “News of the World” rentals. For a $4 million return — a nice bounty for a film with a reported $38 million budget...
- 2/1/2021
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Little has changed on the VOD charts this week. “News of the World” and “Tenet” still placed #1 on two of the charts we follow, although this week “News” ranked higher overall, placing #2 and #3 elsewhere. “Tenet” is on the lower half of two lists.
“News” at #1 at revenue-based FandangoNow, which has six premium-priced titles leading its list. It’s also the top title at Spectrum Channel, which ranks by transactions, and near the top at Amazon TV and Google Play. That suggests Universal has another breakout success with its strategy of providing three weeks in theaters before PVOD.
“Tenet,” which opened in theaters in September, continues to add revenues at $5.99. “News,” now in its fifth weekend in theaters, was #4 at the box office this weekend with a total of $9.6 million so far. (Netflix bought its international territories.) With a reported budget of $38 million before marketing, the studio may see a decent profit all in.
“News” at #1 at revenue-based FandangoNow, which has six premium-priced titles leading its list. It’s also the top title at Spectrum Channel, which ranks by transactions, and near the top at Amazon TV and Google Play. That suggests Universal has another breakout success with its strategy of providing three weeks in theaters before PVOD.
“Tenet,” which opened in theaters in September, continues to add revenues at $5.99. “News,” now in its fifth weekend in theaters, was #4 at the box office this weekend with a total of $9.6 million so far. (Netflix bought its international territories.) With a reported budget of $38 million before marketing, the studio may see a decent profit all in.
- 1/25/2021
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Following a long theatrical run and a month at $19.99, “Tenet” is now thriving at $5.99 and holds the top spot at all three lists that rank by purchases. At FandangoNow, which ranks by revenue, it is #6, the highest among standard-price entries. Best of all for Warner Bros., its normal share of a VOD release is around 70 percent. That compares to the 63 percent it demanded from theaters.
“Tenet” held off two significant new PVOD entries from Universal and Focus, “News of the World” and “Promising Young Woman.” Paul Greengrass’ Tom Hanks western led Apple TV for three days and placed second to “Tenet” at Google Play over the weekend. This comes as Universal’s “The Croods: A New Age” continues its strong presence at $19.99. “News” is #1 at FandangoNow, with “Promising” at #3 on their PVOD-dominated list.
“American Skin,” the first film from Nate Parker after “The Birth of a Nation,” priced at $6.99, placed...
“Tenet” held off two significant new PVOD entries from Universal and Focus, “News of the World” and “Promising Young Woman.” Paul Greengrass’ Tom Hanks western led Apple TV for three days and placed second to “Tenet” at Google Play over the weekend. This comes as Universal’s “The Croods: A New Age” continues its strong presence at $19.99. “News” is #1 at FandangoNow, with “Promising” at #3 on their PVOD-dominated list.
“American Skin,” the first film from Nate Parker after “The Birth of a Nation,” priced at $6.99, placed...
- 1/19/2021
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
New strand will include a prize for best film.
The Venice Film Festival is to introduce a new strand at its 78th edition in September, replacing its Sconfini section with a new Horizons strand.
Horizons Extra will be an extension of the competitive Horizons strand, focusing on new trends in world cinema. The section will comprise a selection of titles “less constrained by standards of length and format”, as long as they last more than 60 minutes. A jury comprising audience members will award a prize to the best film in the section, with further details of how this will work currently in discussion.
The Venice Film Festival is to introduce a new strand at its 78th edition in September, replacing its Sconfini section with a new Horizons strand.
Horizons Extra will be an extension of the competitive Horizons strand, focusing on new trends in world cinema. The section will comprise a selection of titles “less constrained by standards of length and format”, as long as they last more than 60 minutes. A jury comprising audience members will award a prize to the best film in the section, with further details of how this will work currently in discussion.
- 1/18/2021
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
The Venice Film Festival is tweaking its sections as it gears up for its upcoming 78th edition in September.
After announcing that “Parasite” director Bong Joon Ho will preside over the main jury, the Lido on Monday opened up for film submissions and said in a statement that the fest’s Sconfini section — which had been scrapped last year to free up more space for the socially-distanced screenings — is being replaced by a new section called Horizons Extra.
Horizons Extra will be an extension of Venice’s competitive Horizons (Orrizonti) section that focuses on new trends in world cinema, but will be “less constrained by standards of length and format,” the Venice statement said. The new sidebar is for “works with no limits of genre, duration and destination, as long as they last more than 60 minutes,” it added. Prizes will be decided by a jury of audience members “following criteria and procedures to be announced.
After announcing that “Parasite” director Bong Joon Ho will preside over the main jury, the Lido on Monday opened up for film submissions and said in a statement that the fest’s Sconfini section — which had been scrapped last year to free up more space for the socially-distanced screenings — is being replaced by a new section called Horizons Extra.
Horizons Extra will be an extension of Venice’s competitive Horizons (Orrizonti) section that focuses on new trends in world cinema, but will be “less constrained by standards of length and format,” the Venice statement said. The new sidebar is for “works with no limits of genre, duration and destination, as long as they last more than 60 minutes,” it added. Prizes will be decided by a jury of audience members “following criteria and procedures to be announced.
- 1/18/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
If there are any milestones worth noting this week, it’s that the Focus Features thriller Promising Young Woman crossed the $3 million in its fourth week in theaters. This weekend the Emerald Fennell-directed pic starring Carey Mulligan played in 1,333 theaters and added an estimated $430K to its box office till this weekend and is on track to earn $518K for the four-day Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend to bring its cume to about $3.4 million. The film, which landed at #6 in the top 10 this weekend, continues to garner buzz as it became available for rental on-demand this weekend. Promising Young Woman has earned numerous accolades from various critics associations across the country including Best Actress and Best Screenplay from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards.
New titles for the weekend include Nate Parker’s drama American Skin which quietly opened in 51 theaters this weekend to earn an estimated...
New titles for the weekend include Nate Parker’s drama American Skin which quietly opened in 51 theaters this weekend to earn an estimated...
- 1/17/2021
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
While moviegoers cope with being shut indoors, HBO Max has a film that could have you feeling even more stir-crazy. “Locked Down” sequesters audiences for nearly two hours with an unhappy couple (played by Anne Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor), who vent for a time, before hatching a plan to steal a huge diamond from Harrods. While hardly the antidote for confinement, it’s a creative response to the limitations Covid has placed on the world — which extends to how the film was shot, with big names like Ben Stiller and Ben Kingsley supplying cameos via Zoom.
With plenty of indoor time ahead on this long holiday weekend, why not fill it with a new movie or two? Amazon has timed the Prime Video release of Regina King’s acclaimed “One Night in Miami…” to Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The film — which imagines a 1964 reunion of old friends Cassius Clay,...
With plenty of indoor time ahead on this long holiday weekend, why not fill it with a new movie or two? Amazon has timed the Prime Video release of Regina King’s acclaimed “One Night in Miami…” to Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The film — which imagines a 1964 reunion of old friends Cassius Clay,...
- 1/16/2021
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Several years ago, after his success debuting “The Birth of a Nation” at film festivals, it seemed that Nate Parker was bound to become one of the most exciting filmmakers in America. However, when past sexual assault charges resurfaced from his days in college, the buzz seemed to dissipate from ‘Birth.’ Now, years later, writer-director-star Nate Parker returns with a new film, “American Skin.”
Read More: Nate Parker Calls ‘American Skin’ A “Call To Action” & Defends Film Against Negative Reviews
As seen in the trailer for “American Skin,” the film tells a story that feels like it could be ripped from the headlines, as a Black man is pulled over by white cops and witnesses one of them shooting his teenage son for seemingly no reason.
Continue reading ‘American Skin’ Trailer: Nate Parker Returns With A Drama About Police Brutality at The Playlist.
Read More: Nate Parker Calls ‘American Skin’ A “Call To Action” & Defends Film Against Negative Reviews
As seen in the trailer for “American Skin,” the film tells a story that feels like it could be ripped from the headlines, as a Black man is pulled over by white cops and witnesses one of them shooting his teenage son for seemingly no reason.
Continue reading ‘American Skin’ Trailer: Nate Parker Returns With A Drama About Police Brutality at The Playlist.
- 12/9/2020
- by Charles Barfield
- The Playlist
Vertical Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Nate Parker’s police brutality drama “American Skin,” which world premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2019 and won the Sconfini section’s best film award.
Vertical is planning a theatrical and digital release for January 2021, which would make the movie eligible for the Oscars. Parker directed, wrote and stars in the film as an Iraq War vet who seeks justice after his only son is killed by a white police officer. Omari Hardwick, Theo Rossi and Beau Knapp complete the cast.
The film was independently financed by Mark Burg and Tarak Ben Ammar’s Eagle Pictures, and is being presented by Spike Lee.
“American Skin” earned a warm critical response and standing ovation at Venice, but its inclusion in the festival’s lineup stirred controversy. Parker was accused and acquitted of raping a woman in 2001. The scandal resurfaced four years ago after his feature debut,...
Vertical is planning a theatrical and digital release for January 2021, which would make the movie eligible for the Oscars. Parker directed, wrote and stars in the film as an Iraq War vet who seeks justice after his only son is killed by a white police officer. Omari Hardwick, Theo Rossi and Beau Knapp complete the cast.
The film was independently financed by Mark Burg and Tarak Ben Ammar’s Eagle Pictures, and is being presented by Spike Lee.
“American Skin” earned a warm critical response and standing ovation at Venice, but its inclusion in the festival’s lineup stirred controversy. Parker was accused and acquitted of raping a woman in 2001. The scandal resurfaced four years ago after his feature debut,...
- 12/8/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
"Why are we the only people in this country that are expected to do things without violence?" Vertical Ent. has released an official trailer for American Skin, a new film written & directed by Nate Parker (of The Birth of a Nation). After a controversy surrounding his behavior, Parker quietly went out and filmed this feature and brought it to the Venice Film Festival last year. It will now open on VOD in January coming up soon. A Spike Lee presentation, from director Nate Parker, American Skin is a story about an Iraq War Vet named Lincoln 'Linc' Jefferson who decides to take matters into his own hands when his son is killed by a police officer. He decides to take over a police station and hold a trial right there in hopes of getting justice for his son's murder. This stars Omari Hardwick, Theo Rossi, Beau Knapp, AnnaLynne McCord, and Nate Parker.
- 12/7/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The Sundance Institute is honoring “The Forty-Year-Old Version” filmmaker Radha Blank with the 2020 vanguard award.
The award honors the artistic achievement of her feature film directorial debut, “The Forty-Year-Old Version,” which premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival — where it earned her a directing award — and was developed at the Institute’s Labs.
The Institute will hold a free special event to celebrate the award on Dec. 2, hosted on Sundance Collab. Octavia Spencer, who was an advisor to Blank at the Labs, will attend the event, which will include a conversation between Blank and 2019 vanguard award recipient Lulu Wang.
Sundance support for “The Forty-Year-Old Version” included development at the Screenwriters Lab, Directors Lab, Creative Producing Summit and Catalyst Forum. Blank recently received two Gotham Award nominations — for the Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award and best screenplay — and was named as one of Variety‘s 10 Directors to Watch in 2020.
Blank directed, wrote,...
The award honors the artistic achievement of her feature film directorial debut, “The Forty-Year-Old Version,” which premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival — where it earned her a directing award — and was developed at the Institute’s Labs.
The Institute will hold a free special event to celebrate the award on Dec. 2, hosted on Sundance Collab. Octavia Spencer, who was an advisor to Blank at the Labs, will attend the event, which will include a conversation between Blank and 2019 vanguard award recipient Lulu Wang.
Sundance support for “The Forty-Year-Old Version” included development at the Screenwriters Lab, Directors Lab, Creative Producing Summit and Catalyst Forum. Blank recently received two Gotham Award nominations — for the Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award and best screenplay — and was named as one of Variety‘s 10 Directors to Watch in 2020.
Blank directed, wrote,...
- 11/19/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
The Sundance Institute is set to honor critically acclaimed multi-hyphenate Radha Blank with the 2020 Vanguard Award, which is given annually to an artist whose work highlights the art of storytelling and creative independence.
The award honors the artistic achievement of her feature film directorial debut The Forty-Year-Old Version, which bowed earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival and was developed by Blank at the Institute’s Labs.
To celebrate Blank’s achievement, Sundance Collab, a community platform for creators from around the world, will host a special event on December 2. The free event will feature Octavia Spencer, who was an advisor to Blank at the Labs, and a conversation between Blank and fellow Vanguard winner Lulu Wang (The Farewell), who received the honor in 2019.
“Radha’s singular vision, unique voice and comedic tone were immediately captivating,” said Sundance Feature Film Program Founding Director Michelle Satter. “We were proud to...
The award honors the artistic achievement of her feature film directorial debut The Forty-Year-Old Version, which bowed earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival and was developed by Blank at the Institute’s Labs.
To celebrate Blank’s achievement, Sundance Collab, a community platform for creators from around the world, will host a special event on December 2. The free event will feature Octavia Spencer, who was an advisor to Blank at the Labs, and a conversation between Blank and fellow Vanguard winner Lulu Wang (The Farewell), who received the honor in 2019.
“Radha’s singular vision, unique voice and comedic tone were immediately captivating,” said Sundance Feature Film Program Founding Director Michelle Satter. “We were proud to...
- 11/19/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
From VancouverFilm.Net, here is the Vancouver Film Production Update for November 2020, with local productions responding individually, based on best practices for businesses and employers from the 'BC Centre for Disease Control', to stop the spread of Covid-19:
Feature
Bonfire
Local Production Company: No Clocks Productions Ltd.
Producer: Jim Whitaker, Joe Roth
Director: David Lowery
Change Of Pace
Local Production Company: Change Of Pace Film, Inc.
Producer: Graham Fraser
Director: Stephen Campanelli
Ellington
Local Production Company: Swan Song BC Productions Inc.
Director: Ben Cleary
Hello, Goodbye And Everything In Between
Local Production Company: Hello Goodbye Productions Inc.
Producer: Brian Robbins, Matt Kaplan, Kelsey Jackson
Director: Michael Lewen
Love Hard
Local Production Company: Love Hard Films Canada, Inc.
Producer: McG, Mary Viola
Director: Hernan Jimenez Garcia
Solitary
Local Production Company: Windor Productions BC Inc.
Producer: Aaron Gilbert, Nate Parker, Christina Lee Storm, David Oyelowo, Kevin Turen
Director: Nate Parker
Untitled...
Feature
Bonfire
Local Production Company: No Clocks Productions Ltd.
Producer: Jim Whitaker, Joe Roth
Director: David Lowery
Change Of Pace
Local Production Company: Change Of Pace Film, Inc.
Producer: Graham Fraser
Director: Stephen Campanelli
Ellington
Local Production Company: Swan Song BC Productions Inc.
Director: Ben Cleary
Hello, Goodbye And Everything In Between
Local Production Company: Hello Goodbye Productions Inc.
Producer: Brian Robbins, Matt Kaplan, Kelsey Jackson
Director: Michael Lewen
Love Hard
Local Production Company: Love Hard Films Canada, Inc.
Producer: McG, Mary Viola
Director: Hernan Jimenez Garcia
Solitary
Local Production Company: Windor Productions BC Inc.
Producer: Aaron Gilbert, Nate Parker, Christina Lee Storm, David Oyelowo, Kevin Turen
Director: Nate Parker
Untitled...
- 11/2/2020
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Ten years ago, Aaron L. Gilbert was a music licensing expert in Canada with no Hollywood dreams. A decade later, Bron Studios, the company Gilbert started with his wife Brenda, has become one of the most prolific financing entities in the film business. (The company’s name is a combination of “Brenda” and “Aaron.”). In 2018, Bron signed a $100 million co-financing deal with Warner Bros., an arrangement that culminated the following year with its role in “Joker,” which grossed over $1 billion worldwide.
Now, the Vancouver-based entity is juggling a wide range of projects through a blend of studio co-financing deals and in-house productions that run the gamut from hot potential blockbusters like “Ghostbusters,” “Candyman,” and the Kevin James comedy “Fatherhood,” to the Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect” and the Black Panthers drama “Judas and the Black Messiah.”
Bron also supported Tom Hanks’ recent Apple-released submarine thriller “Greyhound,” and one of the...
Now, the Vancouver-based entity is juggling a wide range of projects through a blend of studio co-financing deals and in-house productions that run the gamut from hot potential blockbusters like “Ghostbusters,” “Candyman,” and the Kevin James comedy “Fatherhood,” to the Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect” and the Black Panthers drama “Judas and the Black Messiah.”
Bron also supported Tom Hanks’ recent Apple-released submarine thriller “Greyhound,” and one of the...
- 9/22/2020
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
David Oyelowo Forms Creative Partnership With Nate Parker — David Oyelowo and director Nate Parker are once again collaborating on Parker’s new film Solitary, a drama where Oyelowo will play a wrongfully convicted man released after seven years of solitary confinement. Solitary will also star Olivia Washington, Barry Pepper and Jimmie [...]
Continue reading: Solitary: David Oyelowo Forms Creative Partnership With Nate Parker and Defends Him Through Controversy...
Continue reading: Solitary: David Oyelowo Forms Creative Partnership With Nate Parker and Defends Him Through Controversy...
- 9/19/2020
- by Scott Mariner
- Film-Book
David Oyelowo and director Nate Parker are collaborating again on the drama “Solitary.”
The film also stars Olivia Washington, Barry Pepper and Jimmie Fails. Oyelowo will play a wrongfully imprisoned man who’s been released after seven years of solitary confinement. Washington will portray his fiancé. Production starts next week in Vancouver for Bron Studios.
Parker is also directing Oyelowo in “Sweet Thunder,” a biopic about boxing great Sugar Ray Robinson. During a conversation as part of Variety’s Virtual TIFF Studio, Oyelowo defended his decision to work with Parker, saying, “He is a good person beyond his fallibility, beyond the mistakes he made. And I believe in redemption.”
During the 2016 promotion for Parker’s “Birth of a Nation,” reports emerged that Parker and his “Birth of a Nation” co-writer Jean McGianni Celestin were accused of rape in 1999. Parker was acquitted and Celestin’s conviction was overturned on appeal. Their...
The film also stars Olivia Washington, Barry Pepper and Jimmie Fails. Oyelowo will play a wrongfully imprisoned man who’s been released after seven years of solitary confinement. Washington will portray his fiancé. Production starts next week in Vancouver for Bron Studios.
Parker is also directing Oyelowo in “Sweet Thunder,” a biopic about boxing great Sugar Ray Robinson. During a conversation as part of Variety’s Virtual TIFF Studio, Oyelowo defended his decision to work with Parker, saying, “He is a good person beyond his fallibility, beyond the mistakes he made. And I believe in redemption.”
During the 2016 promotion for Parker’s “Birth of a Nation,” reports emerged that Parker and his “Birth of a Nation” co-writer Jean McGianni Celestin were accused of rape in 1999. Parker was acquitted and Celestin’s conviction was overturned on appeal. Their...
- 9/18/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Given the controversies and allegations surrounding Nate Parker, many were surprised by the announcement that he would be directing David Oyelowo’s film “Sweet Thunder,” a biopic about boxing great Sugar Ray Robinson.
During a conversation as part of the Toronto Film Festival, Oyelowo defended his decision to work with the filmmaker.
“I have a pretty good discernment when it comes to good people,” Oyelowo said at Variety’s Virtual TIFF Studio presented by Canada Goose while promoting his directorial debut “The Water Man.” “He is a good person beyond his fallibility, beyond the mistakes he made. And I believe in redemption. I believe in forgiveness and he is someone I have been around enough to know that in my opinion he is worthy of that.”
Parker’s career came to a screeching halt just as he was earning major Oscar buzz in 2016 for “Birth of a Nation,” his directorial...
During a conversation as part of the Toronto Film Festival, Oyelowo defended his decision to work with the filmmaker.
“I have a pretty good discernment when it comes to good people,” Oyelowo said at Variety’s Virtual TIFF Studio presented by Canada Goose while promoting his directorial debut “The Water Man.” “He is a good person beyond his fallibility, beyond the mistakes he made. And I believe in redemption. I believe in forgiveness and he is someone I have been around enough to know that in my opinion he is worthy of that.”
Parker’s career came to a screeching halt just as he was earning major Oscar buzz in 2016 for “Birth of a Nation,” his directorial...
- 9/15/2020
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
While California wildfires are giving British Columbia's Vancouver some of the worst air pollution in the world, from VancouverFilm.Net, here is the Vancouver Film Production Update for September 2020, including "Batwoman", "Day Of The Dead", "Motherland: Fort Salem" and a whole lot more, all previously suspended due to the 'Covid-19' virus pandemic:
Feature
Bonfire
Local Production Company: No Clocks Productions Ltd.
Producer: Jim Whitaker, Joe Roth
Director: David Lowery
3/8/2021 - 6/30/2021
Change Of Pace
Local Production Company: Change Of Pace Film, Inc.
Producer: Graham Fraser
Director: Stephen Campanelli
9/28/2020 - 10/16/2020
Ellington
Local Production Company: Swan Song BC Productions Inc.
Director: Ben Cleary
12/1/2020 - 3/17/2021
Hello, Goodbye And Everything In Between
Local Production Company: Hello Goodbye Productions Inc.
Producer: Brian Robbins, Matt Kaplan, Kelsey Jackson
Director: Michael Lewen
10/5/2020 - 11/9/2020
Love Hard
Local Production Company: Love Hard Films Canada, Inc.
Producer: McG, Mary Viola
Director: Hernan Jimenez Garcia
10/5/2020 - 11/24/2020
Solitary
Local Production Company: Windor Productions BC Inc.
Feature
Bonfire
Local Production Company: No Clocks Productions Ltd.
Producer: Jim Whitaker, Joe Roth
Director: David Lowery
3/8/2021 - 6/30/2021
Change Of Pace
Local Production Company: Change Of Pace Film, Inc.
Producer: Graham Fraser
Director: Stephen Campanelli
9/28/2020 - 10/16/2020
Ellington
Local Production Company: Swan Song BC Productions Inc.
Director: Ben Cleary
12/1/2020 - 3/17/2021
Hello, Goodbye And Everything In Between
Local Production Company: Hello Goodbye Productions Inc.
Producer: Brian Robbins, Matt Kaplan, Kelsey Jackson
Director: Michael Lewen
10/5/2020 - 11/9/2020
Love Hard
Local Production Company: Love Hard Films Canada, Inc.
Producer: McG, Mary Viola
Director: Hernan Jimenez Garcia
10/5/2020 - 11/24/2020
Solitary
Local Production Company: Windor Productions BC Inc.
- 9/13/2020
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
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