CAAMFest 2024 had its own fair share of student films – and this year, we gathered up five (!) student teams to speak to one another. The roundtable consisted of generous description of “student,” including a PhD and a high schooler, MFAs and recent grads. Harleen Kaur Bal, a PhD student at Uc Davis, told us about “Unpacking Immigration,” a short film about Punjabi workers at meatpacking plants in California. UCLA grad Emory Chao Johnson recalled their graduation film, “默 (To Write from Memory),” an experimental mother-child film about gender transition. UCLA grad Jacqueline Chan's nostalgic short “Chan is Fishing” meditates upon her father, an aging Hong Kong immigrant, searching for a spot to fish in the desert. San Diego State University crew Laura Skokan, Shao Chiu Yen, and Nguyen Ha Uyen Phan recounted their experience behind “The Fanatics,” a true story-inspired tale about slipping into a Taiwanese cult. Finally, NYU-bound Kaiya...
- 5/31/2024
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
I Saw the TV Glow.Jane Schoenbrun understands the cursed records of suburban memory. Their films—A Self-Induced Hallucination (2018), We’re All Going to the World’s Fair (2021), and now I Saw the TV Glow (2024)—construct imagined archives from cultural ephemera, like internet lore, YouTube videos, and television shows. These pieces of world-building distort the concept of the transition timeline—a series of images that tracks the effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy—by undercutting the sincerity of the so-called transition “journey” with displays of disappointment and dysphoria. Whether searching for information about ghosts, ghouls, or gender, Schoenbrun’s characters struggle to self-actualize. In I Saw the TV Glow (2024), the cul-de-sacs are covered in chalk hieroglyphs for a séance with the people we might have been. Around every corner lies a new monster of the week: longing, loneliness, horniness.Other artists have used imagined archives as a way to examine desire, projection, and gender.
- 5/7/2024
- MUBI
Exclusive: Wellington Love has started the w/Love production company, and already has an inaugural slate of projects lined up.
After more than three decades working in various film business capacities — including distribution, festival direction, and publicity — Love made the leap into producing as co-producer of Lee Daniels’ The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021), for which Andra Day was an Academy Award nominee and a Golden Globe Award winner.
His latest producing project is Daniel Peddle’s feature documentary Beyond the Aggressives: 25 Years Later. Peddle’s follow-up to his groundbreaking documentary The Aggressives will debut on Paramount+ with the Paramount+ with Showtime Plan on Saturday, March 30th. Beyond the Aggressives revisits principals from the previous feature, uniting two generations of queer Bipoc in conversation and in action. Beyond the Aggressives is nominated for Outstanding Documentary Feature at this year’s GLAAD Media Awards. View exclusive clip below.
Love reflects,...
After more than three decades working in various film business capacities — including distribution, festival direction, and publicity — Love made the leap into producing as co-producer of Lee Daniels’ The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021), for which Andra Day was an Academy Award nominee and a Golden Globe Award winner.
His latest producing project is Daniel Peddle’s feature documentary Beyond the Aggressives: 25 Years Later. Peddle’s follow-up to his groundbreaking documentary The Aggressives will debut on Paramount+ with the Paramount+ with Showtime Plan on Saturday, March 30th. Beyond the Aggressives revisits principals from the previous feature, uniting two generations of queer Bipoc in conversation and in action. Beyond the Aggressives is nominated for Outstanding Documentary Feature at this year’s GLAAD Media Awards. View exclusive clip below.
Love reflects,...
- 3/26/2024
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Ethan Coen's queer roadtrip film "Drive-Away Dolls" is set in 1997, and feels like an escapee from that era, for better and for worse. On the one hand, it possesses all the impish, make-the-straights-squirm energy of a legit '90s indie lesbian farce. It is not just upfront about its queerness, but confrontationally playful about it. "Drive-Away Dolls" unapologetically and cartoonishly plunges audiences into lesbian basement make-out parties and rowdy gay bars, flinging about cunnilingus jokes, masturbation scenes, and multiple on-screen dildos with gleeful impunity. It's a lightweight, weirdly teen-friendly (but very R-rated) slumber party movie with an upbeat and liberating "be gay, do crime" vibe. It's a queer, hand grenade-shaped squeak toy.
On the other hand, however, "Drive-Away Dolls" is being released in 2024, and the very fact that it depicts queer characters having queer sex and talking about queer issues isn't nearly as confrontational as it once was. There...
On the other hand, however, "Drive-Away Dolls" is being released in 2024, and the very fact that it depicts queer characters having queer sex and talking about queer issues isn't nearly as confrontational as it once was. There...
- 2/21/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
In her debut feature, Jazmin Jones and collaborator Olivia McKayla Ross are looking for answers. They turn to the divine, the public, and, of course, the Internet for guidance. Their holy grail is Mavis Beacon, the virtual instructor who led one of the most popular learning games of all time. Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing is a font of nostalgia for those who played it in its heyday, and Black fans like Jones saw Mavis as an especially important pioneer for their digital representation.
Seeking Mavis Beacon is a more artistic and conceptual film than investigative, though Jones and Ross uncover some intriguing context about Renée L’Espérance, the model who first portrayed Beacon. As the game’s first face––and thus the blueprint for Mavis, who was henceforth a Black, female character––L’Espérance played a key role in the birth of the blockbuster game. But what does it mean...
Seeking Mavis Beacon is a more artistic and conceptual film than investigative, though Jones and Ross uncover some intriguing context about Renée L’Espérance, the model who first portrayed Beacon. As the game’s first face––and thus the blueprint for Mavis, who was henceforth a Black, female character––L’Espérance played a key role in the birth of the blockbuster game. But what does it mean...
- 1/30/2024
- by Lena Wilson
- The Film Stage
Jazmin Renée Jones’ “Seeking Mavis Beacon” isn’t your typical kind of quest movie. Premiering in the Next section at Sundance, the format-defying film follows the nonbinary Black filmmaker on an elaborate search to find — but also to better understand — someone who shaped what they thought of the world and themselves. Someone who didn’t really exist: the cover model for popular 1987 computer program “Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing.”
As past users of the bestselling software surely recall (but may never have consciously considered), Mavis Beacon was a Black woman — knowledgeable and warm, with a striking face and long, elegant fingernails — who encouraged young people to master their keyboard skills. She served as a virtual teacher and confidant for countless kids, including Jones and computer prodigy Olivia McKayla Ross.
An early example of AI, Mavis Beacon was an invention of three white male computer programmers. Why did they choose a Black woman as their avatar?...
As past users of the bestselling software surely recall (but may never have consciously considered), Mavis Beacon was a Black woman — knowledgeable and warm, with a striking face and long, elegant fingernails — who encouraged young people to master their keyboard skills. She served as a virtual teacher and confidant for countless kids, including Jones and computer prodigy Olivia McKayla Ross.
An early example of AI, Mavis Beacon was an invention of three white male computer programmers. Why did they choose a Black woman as their avatar?...
- 1/21/2024
- by Murtada Elfadl
- Variety Film + TV
February––particularly its third week––is all about romance. Accordingly the Criterion Channel got creative with their monthly programming and, in a few weeks, will debut Interdimensional Romance, a series of films wherein “passion conquers time and space, age and memory, and even death and the afterlife.” For every title you might’ve guessed there’s a wilder companion: Alan Rudolph’s Made In Heaven, Soderbergh’s remake, and Resnais’ Love Unto Death. Mostly I’m excited to revisit Francis Ford Coppola’s Youth Without Youth, a likely essential viewing before Megalopolis.
February also marks Black History Month, and Criterion’s series will include work by Shirley Clarke (also subject of a standalone series), Garrett Bradley, Cheryl Dunye, and Julie Dash, while movies by Sirk, Minnelli, King Vidor, and Lang play in “Gothic Noir.” Greta Gerwig gets an “Adventures in Moviegoing” and can be seen in Mary Bronstein’s Yeast,...
February also marks Black History Month, and Criterion’s series will include work by Shirley Clarke (also subject of a standalone series), Garrett Bradley, Cheryl Dunye, and Julie Dash, while movies by Sirk, Minnelli, King Vidor, and Lang play in “Gothic Noir.” Greta Gerwig gets an “Adventures in Moviegoing” and can be seen in Mary Bronstein’s Yeast,...
- 1/11/2024
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
Actual People.Because when I fall into the abyss, I go straight into it, head down and heels up, and I'm even pleased that I'm falling in just such a humiliating position, and for me I find it beautiful.—Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers KaramazovHumiliation is one of humanity’s cruelest jokes, one of its most repugnant punishments. The Latin root of the word, “humus,” translates to “earth,” or “dirt,” the idea that a person loses dignity and returns to something inhuman, crude and trampled on. The fear of being humiliated is a specter persuasive enough to shrink whole personalities, curtail ambitions, end life as someone knew it. Many mainstream filmmakers avoid its narrative possibilities because, maybe, to degrade a character would mean to degrade the film itself. I don’t think that’s the case. To see humiliation depicted onscreen can be like witnessing a corpse flower blooming: compelling, strange,...
- 11/14/2023
- MUBI
Based on footage Fernanda Pessoa and Adriana Barbosa recorded during Covid, this film celebrates female empowerment. It falls short of the pioneers it pays tribute to, but it’s an earnest snapshot of the pandemic
A feminist homage; a visual record of female friendship; a political collage. Fernanda Pessoa and Adriana Barbosa’s documentary is all this and more. Based in São Paulo and Los Angeles, the two film-makers are separated by geographical distance and 2020 Covid restrictions, circumstances that trigger a chain of audiovisual correspondence in lieu of texts and emails.
Explicitly inspired by the works of feminist film-makers such as Carolee Schneemann and Cheryl Dunye, Swing and Sway tries to create a cinematic haven from the rise of rightwing politics.
A feminist homage; a visual record of female friendship; a political collage. Fernanda Pessoa and Adriana Barbosa’s documentary is all this and more. Based in São Paulo and Los Angeles, the two film-makers are separated by geographical distance and 2020 Covid restrictions, circumstances that trigger a chain of audiovisual correspondence in lieu of texts and emails.
Explicitly inspired by the works of feminist film-makers such as Carolee Schneemann and Cheryl Dunye, Swing and Sway tries to create a cinematic haven from the rise of rightwing politics.
- 9/4/2023
- by Phuong Le
- The Guardian - Film News
Recently Guillermo del Toro, the Oscar-winning director behind “The Shape of Water,” “Nightmare Alley” and “Pinocchio,” said that collecting physical media, in the midst of streamers unceremoniously deleting thousands of titles, is nothing short of a “moral imperative.” And we agree. Each month new home video releases – of both classic films and newer titles – come out. And each one is cause for celebration. With that in mind, we want to highlight the very best titles of every month.
Here are the biggest and best releases for July 2023.
Paramount Pictures
“The Truman Show” (out now)
While there are no new extras on this edition of “The Truman Show,” Peter Weir’s minor masterpiece is now celebrating its 25th anniversary, with the same collection of bonus material that accompanied its previous Blu-ray release. But the movie gets a big upgrade where it counts – in both the picture quality (thanks to a new...
Here are the biggest and best releases for July 2023.
Paramount Pictures
“The Truman Show” (out now)
While there are no new extras on this edition of “The Truman Show,” Peter Weir’s minor masterpiece is now celebrating its 25th anniversary, with the same collection of bonus material that accompanied its previous Blu-ray release. But the movie gets a big upgrade where it counts – in both the picture quality (thanks to a new...
- 7/26/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
It was more than a little heartening to see Roger Corman paid tribute by Quentin Tarantino at Cannes’ closing night. By now the director-producer-mogul’s imprint on cinema is understood to eclipse, rough estimate, 99.5% of anybody who’s touched the medium, but on a night for celebrating what’s new, trend-following, and manicured it could’ve hardly been more necessary. Thus I’m further heartened seeing the Criterion Channel will host a retrospective of Corman’s Edgar Allan Poe adaptations running eight films and aptly titled “Grindhouse Gothic,” though I might save the selections for October.
Centerpiece, though, is a hip hop series including Bill Duke’s superb Deep Cover, Ghost Dog, and numerous documentaries––among them Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest, making Michael Rapaport a Criterion-approved auteur. Ten films starring Kay Francis and 21 Eurothrillers round out series; streaming premieres include the Dardenne brothers’ Tori and Lokita,...
Centerpiece, though, is a hip hop series including Bill Duke’s superb Deep Cover, Ghost Dog, and numerous documentaries––among them Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest, making Michael Rapaport a Criterion-approved auteur. Ten films starring Kay Francis and 21 Eurothrillers round out series; streaming premieres include the Dardenne brothers’ Tori and Lokita,...
- 7/19/2023
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSOn July 13, SAG-AFTRA issued a strike order, joining the WGA, who have been striking since May. In an incendiary speech, the guild’s president, Fran Drescher, said: “SAG-AFTRA negotiated in good faith and was eager to reach a deal that sufficiently addressed performer needs, but the AMPTP’s responses to the union’s most important proposals have been insulting and disrespectful of our massive contributions to this industry…Until they do negotiate in good faith, we cannot begin to reach a deal.” This Vulture Q&a with Jonathan Handel, author of Hollywood on Strike!: An Industry at War in the Internet Age, delves into the details of the work stoppage.Applications are open for Open City Documentary Festival & Another Gaze’s third annual critics’ workshop, which will take place in early September during the festival.
- 7/19/2023
- MUBI
The tension between uncovering hidden aspects of film history and respecting the lives of those contained within it form the undergirding conflict of Cheryl Dunye’s The Watermelon Woman, a film of such multitudinous interests and storytelling pursuits that it replicates the ecstasy of newfound romance. The film’s crux, beyond the blossoming lesbian relationship at its core, is Dunye’s aligning of hidden historiographies with the hassle of dating—of searching for something (or someone) that, at the surface, cannot be immediately seen with the naked eye.
Dunye establishes the problem of incomplete histories as Cheryl (Dunye) and Tamara (Valarie Walker) debate the value of, as Tamara puts it, watching “mammy shit from the ’30s.” They do so from behind the counter of a Philadelphia video store, where their employ is less driven by cinephilia—though Cheryl clearly knows her shit—than economic necessity. Unlike Kevin Smith’s Clerks,...
Dunye establishes the problem of incomplete histories as Cheryl (Dunye) and Tamara (Valarie Walker) debate the value of, as Tamara puts it, watching “mammy shit from the ’30s.” They do so from behind the counter of a Philadelphia video store, where their employ is less driven by cinephilia—though Cheryl clearly knows her shit—than economic necessity. Unlike Kevin Smith’s Clerks,...
- 7/14/2023
- by Clayton Dillard
- Slant Magazine
“Sometimes you have to create your own history,” reads a title card at the end of Cheryl Dunye’s debut feature. “The Watermelon Woman is fiction.” And it’s quite the gut punch. The film blends romance, comedy, and documentary elements around the journey of a video store clerk, Cheryl (Dunye), to uncover more information about the eponymous yet anonymous Black actress from the 1930s. Cheryl’s quest quickly proves quixotic given the dearth of information about this figure, which Dunye later reveals as an imagined refraction of her own troubles in identifying her Black lesbian cultural forebears.
Though now recognized as a landmark of New Queer Cinema, The Watermelon Woman, in an unfortunately ironic twist, spent many years languishing in a state of invisibility following its 1996 premiere. Thanks to her own confidence in celebrating the film, as well as the public consciousness catching up with its form and content,...
Though now recognized as a landmark of New Queer Cinema, The Watermelon Woman, in an unfortunately ironic twist, spent many years languishing in a state of invisibility following its 1996 premiere. Thanks to her own confidence in celebrating the film, as well as the public consciousness catching up with its form and content,...
- 7/12/2023
- by Marshall Shaffer
- Slant Magazine
At this point, it's probably not a spoiler to say that a key "Yellowjackets" character is alive and somewhat well. That character is Vanessa "Van" Palmer (Lauren Ambrose and Liv Hewton), and if we're being honest, she's kind of living the best life out of all the show's plane crash survivors. Why is that? Well, she has her own video and DVD rental business, While You Were Streaming, smack dab in the middle of an undisclosed Pennsylvanian town. If you are even the slightest bit familiar with the work we do here at Slash Film dot com, it shouldn't be a surprise that we consider this the best possible fate to have.
What also isn't surprising is that Van has very good taste in movies, and also knows a thing or two about Hollywood's bizarre queer history. That's because While You Were Streaming is filled with Easter eggs to mainstream queer cinema,...
What also isn't surprising is that Van has very good taste in movies, and also knows a thing or two about Hollywood's bizarre queer history. That's because While You Were Streaming is filled with Easter eggs to mainstream queer cinema,...
- 4/21/2023
- by Erin Brady
- Slash Film
This article contains spoilers for "Yellowjackets."
After last week's episode finally gave us our first look at Lauren Ambrose as Adult Van, episode 5 of season 2 picks up right where we left off with our favorite cinephile. We're given a tour of Van's apartment and video rental store, set to the soundtrack of "What's Up?" by 4 Non Blondes because nothing screams "Lesbian!" like the sound of Linda Perry. In a surprise to absolutely no one, Van's house is a maximalist pop culture wonderscape, further proving that if I were one of the Yellowjackets, I'd be Van (a Buzzfeed quiz also confirmed this but whatever). She's got rainbow rugs, she's got an amazing race car VHS tape rewinder, and her apartment is located conveniently above her store. Some curious youngsters are fascinated by her shop. "These boxy things are movies?" Remember kids, physical media Forever.
An eager customer comes in to return her copy of "Party Girl,...
After last week's episode finally gave us our first look at Lauren Ambrose as Adult Van, episode 5 of season 2 picks up right where we left off with our favorite cinephile. We're given a tour of Van's apartment and video rental store, set to the soundtrack of "What's Up?" by 4 Non Blondes because nothing screams "Lesbian!" like the sound of Linda Perry. In a surprise to absolutely no one, Van's house is a maximalist pop culture wonderscape, further proving that if I were one of the Yellowjackets, I'd be Van (a Buzzfeed quiz also confirmed this but whatever). She's got rainbow rugs, she's got an amazing race car VHS tape rewinder, and her apartment is located conveniently above her store. Some curious youngsters are fascinated by her shop. "These boxy things are movies?" Remember kids, physical media Forever.
An eager customer comes in to return her copy of "Party Girl,...
- 4/21/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
This year’s Sffilm, San Francisco’s long-running film festival, opened outside city limits. On Thursday, Ryan Coogler took the stage at Oakland’s Grand Lake Theater to introduce “Stephen Curry: Underrated,” the documentary he produced, and pointed to the middle of the room. “I saw my first movie right there,” he said.
For all the history around Bay Area filmmakers, from the early days of Frances Ford Coppola and George Lucas to the Pacific Film Archive, Oakland’s presence has gained traction. Beyond Coogler, there’s another filmmaker whose relationship with the scene goes much deeper.
Boots Riley rose to fame as the frontman for legendary Oakland hip hop group The Coup more than 30 years ago. He reinvented himself as a filmmaker with 2018 Sundance breakout “Sorry to Bother You,” a riotous workplace satire that doubled as a vessel for Riley’s longstanding Socialist values and investment in empowering the working class.
For all the history around Bay Area filmmakers, from the early days of Frances Ford Coppola and George Lucas to the Pacific Film Archive, Oakland’s presence has gained traction. Beyond Coogler, there’s another filmmaker whose relationship with the scene goes much deeper.
Boots Riley rose to fame as the frontman for legendary Oakland hip hop group The Coup more than 30 years ago. He reinvented himself as a filmmaker with 2018 Sundance breakout “Sorry to Bother You,” a riotous workplace satire that doubled as a vessel for Riley’s longstanding Socialist values and investment in empowering the working class.
- 4/15/2023
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
How many movies are roundly better than Martin Scorsese’s After Hours? Whatever the number (seriously: six?) it is now surely among the greatest in the Criterion Collection, which will add a 4K Uhd edition in July––sufficiently packed with features, among them a new interview between Scorsese and Fran Lebowitz, who I assume will expand on her main talking point (New York used to be different). Breathless, as established a title as they have, is also getting an upgrade that fortunately retains all features from their earlier release, while Carl Franklin’s One False Move scores 2,160 pixels.
But the most purely sizable July offering is their Budd Boetticher 4K Uhd set, Criterion’s first such, boasting five films: The Tall T, Decision at Sundown, Buchanan Rides Alone, Ride Lonesome, and Comanche Station. Cheryl Dunye’s The Watermelon Woman “only” getting Blu-ray seems small in comparison, but few restorations from...
But the most purely sizable July offering is their Budd Boetticher 4K Uhd set, Criterion’s first such, boasting five films: The Tall T, Decision at Sundown, Buchanan Rides Alone, Ride Lonesome, and Comanche Station. Cheryl Dunye’s The Watermelon Woman “only” getting Blu-ray seems small in comparison, but few restorations from...
- 4/14/2023
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Outfest is gearing up for the 20th anniversary of its Outfest Fusion Qtbipoc Film Festival.
The organization revealed on Tuesday the lineup of films that will screen during the 10-day festival as well as the news that The Inspection filmmaker Elegance Bratton has been selected to receive the Fusion Achievement Award at the opening night gala on March 24.
The honor recognizes “an individual who has made a significant contribution to LGBTQ+ visibility in stories, arts and media,” per Outfest. Bratton has been making the rounds as of late for A24’s The Inspection starring Jeremy Pope and Gabrielle Union. Inspired by his own story, The Inspection follows a gay Black man who is rejected by his mother and left with few options for his future. He then decides to join the Marines where he finds unexpected camaraderie, strength and support in this new community, giving him a hard-earned sense of...
The organization revealed on Tuesday the lineup of films that will screen during the 10-day festival as well as the news that The Inspection filmmaker Elegance Bratton has been selected to receive the Fusion Achievement Award at the opening night gala on March 24.
The honor recognizes “an individual who has made a significant contribution to LGBTQ+ visibility in stories, arts and media,” per Outfest. Bratton has been making the rounds as of late for A24’s The Inspection starring Jeremy Pope and Gabrielle Union. Inspired by his own story, The Inspection follows a gay Black man who is rejected by his mother and left with few options for his future. He then decides to join the Marines where he finds unexpected camaraderie, strength and support in this new community, giving him a hard-earned sense of...
- 3/7/2023
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Outfest has announced its feature lineup for its 2023 Outfest Fusion Qtbipoc Film Festival, which will run from March 24 through April 2.
Outfest Fusion will be celebrating its 20th anniversary by showcasing Lgbtqia+ filmmakers and their various films depicting queer and transgender stories. There will be nine features, including two 2023 Sundance documentaries, “Little Richard: I Am Everything” from Lisa Cortés and “The Stroll” from Kristen Lovell and Zackary Drucker. Cortés documentary explores how Richard “Little Richard” Penniman worked through his struggles with his sexuality, all while he made his mark on rock n’ roll. While Lovell and Drucker follow transgender women of color as they detail the community’s history of sex work in New York City.
In addition, the Outfest Fusion lineup includes Dawn Mikkelson, Keri Pickett’s “Finding Her Beat;” Fábio Leal’s “Follow The Protocol;” Timothy Harris’ “Kenyatta: Do Not Wait Your Turn;” Joseph Amenta’s “Soft;” Lorena Zilleruelo...
Outfest Fusion will be celebrating its 20th anniversary by showcasing Lgbtqia+ filmmakers and their various films depicting queer and transgender stories. There will be nine features, including two 2023 Sundance documentaries, “Little Richard: I Am Everything” from Lisa Cortés and “The Stroll” from Kristen Lovell and Zackary Drucker. Cortés documentary explores how Richard “Little Richard” Penniman worked through his struggles with his sexuality, all while he made his mark on rock n’ roll. While Lovell and Drucker follow transgender women of color as they detail the community’s history of sex work in New York City.
In addition, the Outfest Fusion lineup includes Dawn Mikkelson, Keri Pickett’s “Finding Her Beat;” Fábio Leal’s “Follow The Protocol;” Timothy Harris’ “Kenyatta: Do Not Wait Your Turn;” Joseph Amenta’s “Soft;” Lorena Zilleruelo...
- 3/7/2023
- by Charna Flam
- Variety Film + TV
The Woman King that edged out all of the competition at The Black Reel Awards this year. With six wins out of the fourteen nominations, The Woman King nabbed wins for outstanding film, outstanding director, outstanding ensemble, breakthrough actress, outstanding score and outstanding editing.
Gina Prince-Bythewood’s sweeping epic that focused on the women warriors of Dahomey, narrowly overtook Marvel’s superhero film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever which garnered 5 Black Reel wins of its own. Going into the night, Wakanda Forever was tied with The Woman King with fourteen award nominations. With her third Black Reel Award win for Outstanding Costume Design for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the fantastic Ruth E. Carter became the most decorated technical award winner in Black Reel history.
Actress Angela Bassett also made Black Reel history, becoming the first woman ever to win an acting and honorary award in the same year. Ms. Bassett won...
Gina Prince-Bythewood’s sweeping epic that focused on the women warriors of Dahomey, narrowly overtook Marvel’s superhero film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever which garnered 5 Black Reel wins of its own. Going into the night, Wakanda Forever was tied with The Woman King with fourteen award nominations. With her third Black Reel Award win for Outstanding Costume Design for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the fantastic Ruth E. Carter became the most decorated technical award winner in Black Reel history.
Actress Angela Bassett also made Black Reel history, becoming the first woman ever to win an acting and honorary award in the same year. Ms. Bassett won...
- 2/7/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
CBS’s The Equalizer will return from a three-week break with season three episode five, “Blowback.” Directed by Cheryl Dunye from a script by Rob Hanning, episode five will air on Sunday, November 13, 2022 at 8pm Et/Pt.
Queen Latifah leads the cast as Robyn McCall. Season three also stars Tory Kittles as Detective Marcus Dante, Adam Goldberg as Harry Keshegian, Liza Lapira as Melody “Mel” Bayani, and Laya DeLeon Hayes as Delilah. Lorraine Toussaint returns as Viola “Vi” Marsette. Brett Dalton, Gabriel Sloyer, Chris Vance, and Stephen Bishop recur.
Valerie Pettiford, Danny Johnson, Malik Yoba, Destin Khari, Tyler Williams, and Robbie Sublett guest star.
“Blowback” Plot: When a smuggler being detained by the CIA must be transferred quickly to a secure debriefing site, McCall works with Carter Griffin to ensure he arrives unharmed. Also, Dante deals with the possibility of his father being released from prison.
Season 3 Episode 1 “Boom” Preview...
Queen Latifah leads the cast as Robyn McCall. Season three also stars Tory Kittles as Detective Marcus Dante, Adam Goldberg as Harry Keshegian, Liza Lapira as Melody “Mel” Bayani, and Laya DeLeon Hayes as Delilah. Lorraine Toussaint returns as Viola “Vi” Marsette. Brett Dalton, Gabriel Sloyer, Chris Vance, and Stephen Bishop recur.
Valerie Pettiford, Danny Johnson, Malik Yoba, Destin Khari, Tyler Williams, and Robbie Sublett guest star.
“Blowback” Plot: When a smuggler being detained by the CIA must be transferred quickly to a secure debriefing site, McCall works with Carter Griffin to ensure he arrives unharmed. Also, Dante deals with the possibility of his father being released from prison.
Season 3 Episode 1 “Boom” Preview...
- 10/24/2022
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Kevin Smith's latest film, "Clerks III," catches up with the characters of Dante (Brian O'Halloran) and Randall (Jeff Anderson) after their brief dalliance with low-level employment at a burger joint in 2006's "Clerks II." At the end of that film, Dante and Randall found themselves directionless after spending their 40s in minimum-wage jobs. Dante left his fiancée, and the pair found themselves in jail with the perpetual stoners Jay and Silent Bob (Jason Mewes and Smith). Dante and Randall found that their way out of their rut was to go back. Using weed money from Jay and Silent Bob, Dante and Randall merely bought the convenience store they felt trapped in back in the original "Clerks."
It was a happy ending for Dante and Randall, but also a declaration from Smith. Staying put (critics might say stagnating) was, Smith declared, a form of triumph.
In "Clerks III," however, Dante...
It was a happy ending for Dante and Randall, but also a declaration from Smith. Staying put (critics might say stagnating) was, Smith declared, a form of triumph.
In "Clerks III," however, Dante...
- 9/15/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Coined by the film historian and critic B. Ruby Rich in 1992 to give voice to the explosion in queer film she was witnessing on the burgeoning film festival circuit, the New Queer Cinema’s influence on independent film cannot be overstated. The ‘80s saw films like Jim Jarmusch’s “Stranger Than Paradise” and Steven Soderbergh’s “Sex, Lies, and Videotape” explode the idea of what film could be, in turn inspiring a new generation of radical queer filmmakers to pick up the camera and crack the whole thing wide open.
As Hollywood churned out blockbusters like “Terminator 2” and “Jurassic Park,” anyone paying attention could see that the real fun was being had way below budget. Sundance was still a new little gathering in Park City, where someone fresh out of film school could show a film and meet likeminded artists. Throughout the decade, Sundance gradually established itself as the...
As Hollywood churned out blockbusters like “Terminator 2” and “Jurassic Park,” anyone paying attention could see that the real fun was being had way below budget. Sundance was still a new little gathering in Park City, where someone fresh out of film school could show a film and meet likeminded artists. Throughout the decade, Sundance gradually established itself as the...
- 8/17/2022
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Summer has ended, and school is in session as Quinta Brunson and Abbott Elementary taught a masterclass at the 6th Annual Black Reel TV Awards presented by idobi.
Brunson and her freshman comedy, Abbott Elementary proved that it’s just simple math as they racked up seven wins at this year’s Black Reel Television Awards. She won four awards on her own as she received Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for Abbott Elementary and Outstanding Guest Actress for A Black Lady Sketch Show. Brunson triumphed in a surprise upset of the comedy actress category over Issa Rae, the sentimental favorite, in her farewell season of Insecure.
While Glover led the pack in individual nominations with five, he was able to take home one win for Outstanding Actor, Comedy Series for Atlanta.
HBO cashed in on their record 40 nominations this...
Brunson and her freshman comedy, Abbott Elementary proved that it’s just simple math as they racked up seven wins at this year’s Black Reel Television Awards. She won four awards on her own as she received Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for Abbott Elementary and Outstanding Guest Actress for A Black Lady Sketch Show. Brunson triumphed in a surprise upset of the comedy actress category over Issa Rae, the sentimental favorite, in her farewell season of Insecure.
While Glover led the pack in individual nominations with five, he was able to take home one win for Outstanding Actor, Comedy Series for Atlanta.
HBO cashed in on their record 40 nominations this...
- 8/15/2022
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Industry stalwarts including director Cheryl Dunye (“Bridgerton”), actor, writer, director Romola Garai, producer Elizabeth Karlsen (“Mothering Sunday”) and Sky Comedy commissioning editor Tilusha Ghelani have joined the illustrious roster of mentors at The Writers Lab U.K. & Ireland.
Now in its second year in the territory, the lab, which supports women and non-binary writers over 40, is set up to discover new writing voices from across Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The initiative is produced by Untamed Stories’ Julia Berg and Ruth Spencer and Twl co-founders Elizabeth Kaiden and Nitza Wilon.
It is presented with support from Dirty Films, the independent production company headed by Cate Blanchett, Andrew Upton, Coco Francini and Georgie Pym. The Writers Lab U.K. & Ireland is in association with Birds’ Eye View, Dancing Ledge Productions, Curzon Cm Development Fund, Maisie Williams’ production company Rapt, London-based film and TV agency Dench Arnold, Screen Scotland, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland,...
Now in its second year in the territory, the lab, which supports women and non-binary writers over 40, is set up to discover new writing voices from across Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The initiative is produced by Untamed Stories’ Julia Berg and Ruth Spencer and Twl co-founders Elizabeth Kaiden and Nitza Wilon.
It is presented with support from Dirty Films, the independent production company headed by Cate Blanchett, Andrew Upton, Coco Francini and Georgie Pym. The Writers Lab U.K. & Ireland is in association with Birds’ Eye View, Dancing Ledge Productions, Curzon Cm Development Fund, Maisie Williams’ production company Rapt, London-based film and TV agency Dench Arnold, Screen Scotland, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland,...
- 8/12/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)
The Movie: "The Watermelon Woman"
Where You Can Stream It: Fubo, Kanopy, Fandor, and Showtime streaming
The Pitch: This 1996 indie follows Cheryl, a Black lesbian in her 20s who's working at a video store alongside her friend Tamara (Valarie Walker). After Cheryl discovers an old black-and-white movie featuring a (fictional) Black actress credited only as "The Watermelon Woman," she begins a documentary project in hopes...
The post The Daily Stream: The Watermelon Woman Questions Film History, and Makes it Too appeared first on /Film.
The Movie: "The Watermelon Woman"
Where You Can Stream It: Fubo, Kanopy, Fandor, and Showtime streaming
The Pitch: This 1996 indie follows Cheryl, a Black lesbian in her 20s who's working at a video store alongside her friend Tamara (Valarie Walker). After Cheryl discovers an old black-and-white movie featuring a (fictional) Black actress credited only as "The Watermelon Woman," she begins a documentary project in hopes...
The post The Daily Stream: The Watermelon Woman Questions Film History, and Makes it Too appeared first on /Film.
- 7/26/2022
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
“Bridgerton” has been applauded for diverse casting across age, race, and body types, all while keeping the Regency era love stories as steamy as possible.
The Shonda Rhimes-produced Netflix series especially focused on breaking down racial stereotypes, according to director Cheryl Dunye.
In an interview with Insider, Dunye shared that she had a clear vision for how to capture the frustrations of boxer-turned-gentlemen’s-club-owner Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe) onscreen. During the finale, Will confronts schemer Jack (Jack Featherington) for trying to scam patrons. While Jack belittles the club, Will remains calm, which Dunye felt strongly about capturing for the character.
“It was so interesting directing those scenes because — on the page, and from his body and stature, and what we understand about Black men and the way that they are portrayed in film, Black boxer body, etc.— you’re thinking: ‘Use your body, use your strength, and use your power,...
The Shonda Rhimes-produced Netflix series especially focused on breaking down racial stereotypes, according to director Cheryl Dunye.
In an interview with Insider, Dunye shared that she had a clear vision for how to capture the frustrations of boxer-turned-gentlemen’s-club-owner Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe) onscreen. During the finale, Will confronts schemer Jack (Jack Featherington) for trying to scam patrons. While Jack belittles the club, Will remains calm, which Dunye felt strongly about capturing for the character.
“It was so interesting directing those scenes because — on the page, and from his body and stature, and what we understand about Black men and the way that they are portrayed in film, Black boxer body, etc.— you’re thinking: ‘Use your body, use your strength, and use your power,...
- 4/14/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Sandra Oh and Stephanie Beatriz will receive special honors at the 2022 Outfest Fusion Qtbipoc Film Festival.
Oh will be presented with the James Schamus Ally Award, which recognizes a great ally to the LGBTQ community, while Beatriz receives the Fusion Achievement Award, which recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to LGBTQ stories, arts, and media visibility. The honors will be bestowed at the film festival’s opening gala on April 8. The in-person portion of the festival runs from April 8-13, with the program moving online from April 13-17.
With the award, Outfest Fusion recognizes Oh’s work on screen and her public advocacy for the LGBTQ community. Oh has been a longtime supporter of the festival, having attended Outfest Los Angeles for multiple programs, including appearing at the Outfest Honors Gala to benefit their Legacy Project for LGBTQ film preservation and presenting close-friend Alec Mapa with his...
Oh will be presented with the James Schamus Ally Award, which recognizes a great ally to the LGBTQ community, while Beatriz receives the Fusion Achievement Award, which recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to LGBTQ stories, arts, and media visibility. The honors will be bestowed at the film festival’s opening gala on April 8. The in-person portion of the festival runs from April 8-13, with the program moving online from April 13-17.
With the award, Outfest Fusion recognizes Oh’s work on screen and her public advocacy for the LGBTQ community. Oh has been a longtime supporter of the festival, having attended Outfest Los Angeles for multiple programs, including appearing at the Outfest Honors Gala to benefit their Legacy Project for LGBTQ film preservation and presenting close-friend Alec Mapa with his...
- 3/31/2022
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
The Oscar-nominated “Flee” took home the top prize at the 15th annual Cinema Eye Honors on Tuesday evening at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York.
Going into the evening, Neon and Participant Media’s “Flee” led the field with a total of seven nominations, while “Summer of Soul (…Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” followed with six.
Filmmaker Cheryl Dunye also received the organization’s legacy award during the ceremony. The director was honored for her landmark 1996 independent feature “The Watermelon Woman.” After accepting the legacy award on stage, Dunye presented the category of audience choice prize.
See the full list of film winners and nominees below.
Outstanding Nonfiction Feature
“Ascension”
“Faya Dayi” (Directed and produced by Jessica Beshir)
“Flee” (Winner)
“The Rescue”
“Summer of Soul”
“The Velvet Underground”
Outstanding Direction
“Ascension”
“Faya Dayi”
“Flee”
“In the Same Breath”
“Procession” (Winner)
“Summer of Soul”
Outstanding...
Going into the evening, Neon and Participant Media’s “Flee” led the field with a total of seven nominations, while “Summer of Soul (…Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” followed with six.
Filmmaker Cheryl Dunye also received the organization’s legacy award during the ceremony. The director was honored for her landmark 1996 independent feature “The Watermelon Woman.” After accepting the legacy award on stage, Dunye presented the category of audience choice prize.
See the full list of film winners and nominees below.
Outstanding Nonfiction Feature
“Ascension”
“Faya Dayi” (Directed and produced by Jessica Beshir)
“Flee” (Winner)
“The Rescue”
“Summer of Soul”
“The Velvet Underground”
Outstanding Direction
“Ascension”
“Faya Dayi”
“Flee”
“In the Same Breath”
“Procession” (Winner)
“Summer of Soul”
Outstanding...
- 3/2/2022
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s animated documentary “Flee” has been named the best nonfiction film of 2021 at the 15th annual Cinema Eye Honors, which were presented on Tuesday night in New York City. “The Rescue,” about the efforts to retrieve a Thai youth soccer team from a flooded cave, won the Audience Choice Prize.
The Neon release “Flee,” which uses animation to give anonymity to a young gay man who escaped Afghanistan as a teenager and made his way to Denmark, also won the award for graphic design and animation. It is nominated for Oscars in the documentary, animated-feature and international-feature categories.
Robert Greene won the directing award for “Procession,” while Matthew Heineman, Jenna Millman and Leslie Norville took the producing prize for “The First Wave.”
Jessica Kingdon’s “Ascension” won the most Cinema Eye awards, three, taking the prizes for debut feature, cinematography and score.
Other winners included “Summer of Soul...
The Neon release “Flee,” which uses animation to give anonymity to a young gay man who escaped Afghanistan as a teenager and made his way to Denmark, also won the award for graphic design and animation. It is nominated for Oscars in the documentary, animated-feature and international-feature categories.
Robert Greene won the directing award for “Procession,” while Matthew Heineman, Jenna Millman and Leslie Norville took the producing prize for “The First Wave.”
Jessica Kingdon’s “Ascension” won the most Cinema Eye awards, three, taking the prizes for debut feature, cinematography and score.
Other winners included “Summer of Soul...
- 3/2/2022
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Seymour Wishman, a longtime producer, writer, legal expert and president of First Run Features, died on Jan. 29 at a family home in Bridgewater, Conn., his daughter Samantha confirmed to Variety. He was 79.
Over the past 38 years, Wishman had served as president of First Run Features. During his time at the N.Y.-based independent film distribution company, Wishman brought Michael Apted’s “28 Up” (and later the entire “Up” series) to the United States and helped Ross McElwee finish and release “Sherman’s March” — as well as McElwee’s other films, including “Bright Leaves” and “Six O’Clock News.” Wishman also released Spike Lee’s “Joe’s Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads” (the director’s first feature film and his graduate school thesis), Cheryl Dunye’s “The Watermelon Woman,” Jan Svankmajer’s “Alice” and many other independent pictures.
On the production side, Seymour co-directed and produced “Sex & Justice,” a documentary on...
Over the past 38 years, Wishman had served as president of First Run Features. During his time at the N.Y.-based independent film distribution company, Wishman brought Michael Apted’s “28 Up” (and later the entire “Up” series) to the United States and helped Ross McElwee finish and release “Sherman’s March” — as well as McElwee’s other films, including “Bright Leaves” and “Six O’Clock News.” Wishman also released Spike Lee’s “Joe’s Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads” (the director’s first feature film and his graduate school thesis), Cheryl Dunye’s “The Watermelon Woman,” Jan Svankmajer’s “Alice” and many other independent pictures.
On the production side, Seymour co-directed and produced “Sex & Justice,” a documentary on...
- 2/14/2022
- by Wyatte Grantham-Philips
- Variety Film + TV
The Sundance Institute today unveiled the 2022 Sundance Film Festival’s Beyond Film line-up of events that are free to the public. Speakers will include such artists from this year’s program as La Guerra Civil director Eva Longoria Bastón, Dual star Karen Gillan, Cha Cha Real Smooth and Am I Ok? star Dakota Johnson, Alice star Keke Palmer and Lucy & Desi director Amy Poehler.
Beyond Film events will range from artist talks to daily meetups and immersive experiences. Additional programming will include the daily talk show How to Fest: Daily; a solo performance by multiple Emmy–winning artist, Lynette Wallworth; a sneak peek at the film Oscar’s Comeback about Black film pioneer Oscar Micheaux and a conversation with its directors; Artist Spotlights with Xr/VR/new media creators showing work in the New Frontier section; a talk centered on the climate crisis, and more.
The in-person, Park City component...
Beyond Film events will range from artist talks to daily meetups and immersive experiences. Additional programming will include the daily talk show How to Fest: Daily; a solo performance by multiple Emmy–winning artist, Lynette Wallworth; a sneak peek at the film Oscar’s Comeback about Black film pioneer Oscar Micheaux and a conversation with its directors; Artist Spotlights with Xr/VR/new media creators showing work in the New Frontier section; a talk centered on the climate crisis, and more.
The in-person, Park City component...
- 1/13/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Spider is among the From the Collection shorts streaming Sundance Institute has announced its Short Film line-up for January's edition of the festival that will run form January 20 to 30. The 59 films will all screen in programs or preceding features in-person in Utah, the majority of them will screen online along with the 40th collection, and a small collection will screen in person at seven Satellite Screens venues around the country during the Festival’s second weekend.. The Festival takes place from January 20-30, 2022.
The shorts were selected from an all-time-high 10,374 submissions. Of these submissions, 4,701 were from the US and 5,673 were international. The 2022 program represents work from 26 countries.
The 40 “From the Collection” shorts have all screened in Park City previously and include early works from Garrett Bradley, Destin Daniel Cretton, Cheryl Dunye, Nash Edgerton, Tamara Jenkins and Taika Waititi. This selection will play on demand on the festival’s online platform.
The shorts were selected from an all-time-high 10,374 submissions. Of these submissions, 4,701 were from the US and 5,673 were international. The 2022 program represents work from 26 countries.
The 40 “From the Collection” shorts have all screened in Park City previously and include early works from Garrett Bradley, Destin Daniel Cretton, Cheryl Dunye, Nash Edgerton, Tamara Jenkins and Taika Waititi. This selection will play on demand on the festival’s online platform.
- 12/10/2021
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
The 2022 Sundance Film Festival has unveiled its short film program, curated from an all-time high of 10,374 submissions.
The films — encompassing categories like domestic and international live-action as well as animation — will screen throughout the hybrid festival in person, at satellite venues, and online.
“Short films are such a vital part of the independent storytelling culture that Sundance Institute has consistently put its full support behind. We’re all happy for the opportunity this year’s hybrid in-person and online,” said Kim Yutani, director of programming at Sundance.
In addition to the new crop of shorts, Sundance will also roll out a retrospective titled “From The Collection,” celebrating four decades of its notable past creators. These include works from the likes of Garrett Bradley, Destin Daniel Cretton, Cheryl Dunye, Nash Edgerton, Tamara Jenkins and Taika Waititi.
“The films selected for the ‘From the Collection’ program run the stylistic and subject matter gamut,...
The films — encompassing categories like domestic and international live-action as well as animation — will screen throughout the hybrid festival in person, at satellite venues, and online.
“Short films are such a vital part of the independent storytelling culture that Sundance Institute has consistently put its full support behind. We’re all happy for the opportunity this year’s hybrid in-person and online,” said Kim Yutani, director of programming at Sundance.
In addition to the new crop of shorts, Sundance will also roll out a retrospective titled “From The Collection,” celebrating four decades of its notable past creators. These include works from the likes of Garrett Bradley, Destin Daniel Cretton, Cheryl Dunye, Nash Edgerton, Tamara Jenkins and Taika Waititi.
“The films selected for the ‘From the Collection’ program run the stylistic and subject matter gamut,...
- 12/10/2021
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
The Sundance Institute today unveiled the Short Film program for the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, as well as the “From the Collection” program—a lineup of 40 shorts from festivals past that will be available for streaming online, in celebration of the nonprofit’s 40th anniversary.
This year’s festival slate comprises work from 26 countries, with 59 shorts selected for from a record 10,374 submissions. All shorts will screen in programs or preceding features in-person in Utah, with most also screening online as part of the 40th anniversary collection, and an assortment screening in person at seven Satellite Screens venues around the country during the second weekend of the festival, taking place from January 20-30.
The “From the Collection” program will feature early works from notable directors including Garrett Bradley, Destin Daniel Cretton, Cheryl Dunye, Nash Edgerton, Tamara Jenkins and Taika Waititi, among others. It will play on demand on Sundance’s online platform,...
This year’s festival slate comprises work from 26 countries, with 59 shorts selected for from a record 10,374 submissions. All shorts will screen in programs or preceding features in-person in Utah, with most also screening online as part of the 40th anniversary collection, and an assortment screening in person at seven Satellite Screens venues around the country during the second weekend of the festival, taking place from January 20-30.
The “From the Collection” program will feature early works from notable directors including Garrett Bradley, Destin Daniel Cretton, Cheryl Dunye, Nash Edgerton, Tamara Jenkins and Taika Waititi, among others. It will play on demand on Sundance’s online platform,...
- 12/10/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The Cinema Eye Honors has announced the nominations for its 15th annual awards. “Flee” leads the field with seven nominations, while “Summer of Soul (…Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” followed with six.
Written and directed by Jonas Poher Rasmussen, the animated documentary “Flee” landed nominations in outstanding nonfiction feature, direction, production, original score, graphic design and animation, audience choice prize and this year’s new category for outstanding achievement in sound design. The film follows the story of Awin Nawabi, an Afghan refugee who is suddenly forced to face the life-altering effects of a secret that he has kept for 20 years.
“Summer of Soul” is nominated for outstanding nonfiction feature, direction, editing, sound design, audience choice prize and debut. The documentary about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival is the first directorial effort by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson.
Other films with multiple nominations include “Ascension,” “Faya Divi” and “The Rescue” with five nominations,...
Written and directed by Jonas Poher Rasmussen, the animated documentary “Flee” landed nominations in outstanding nonfiction feature, direction, production, original score, graphic design and animation, audience choice prize and this year’s new category for outstanding achievement in sound design. The film follows the story of Awin Nawabi, an Afghan refugee who is suddenly forced to face the life-altering effects of a secret that he has kept for 20 years.
“Summer of Soul” is nominated for outstanding nonfiction feature, direction, editing, sound design, audience choice prize and debut. The documentary about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival is the first directorial effort by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson.
Other films with multiple nominations include “Ascension,” “Faya Divi” and “The Rescue” with five nominations,...
- 11/10/2021
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
Cinema Eye Honors, an influential bellwether in the race for documentary awards, kicked off its 15th year with non-fiction award-winners announced at its annual Los Angeles lunch attended by many top filmmakers. Steve James’ five-part Chicago series “City So Real,” and Spike Lee’s filmed portrait of David Byrne’s Broadway show “American Utopia” lead the Cinema Eye Honors broadcast nominations list with three nods apiece. “David Byrne’s American Utopia” is one of five films up for Outstanding Broadcast Film, while “City So Real” joins five other series in the Nonfiction Series category. Both projects were nominated for Outstanding Broadcast Editing and Cinematography.
“It is notable that both of this year’s most nominated Broadcast entries are part of the creative legacy of Diane Weyermann,” said Cinema Eye Founding Director Aj Schnack. The beloved documentary veteran, who died last week, was an Executive Producer on both “City So Real” and “American Utopia.
“It is notable that both of this year’s most nominated Broadcast entries are part of the creative legacy of Diane Weyermann,” said Cinema Eye Founding Director Aj Schnack. The beloved documentary veteran, who died last week, was an Executive Producer on both “City So Real” and “American Utopia.
- 10/20/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Cinema Eye Honors, an influential bellwether in the race for documentary awards, kicked off its 15th year with non-fiction award-winners announced at its annual Los Angeles lunch attended by many top filmmakers. Steve James’ five-part Chicago series “City So Real,” and Spike Lee’s filmed portrait of David Byrne’s Broadway show “American Utopia” lead the Cinema Eye Honors broadcast nominations list with three nods apiece. “David Byrne’s American Utopia” is one of five films up for Outstanding Broadcast Film, while “City So Real” joins five other series in the Nonfiction Series category. Both projects were nominated for Outstanding Broadcast Editing and Cinematography.
“It is notable that both of this year’s most nominated Broadcast entries are part of the creative legacy of Diane Weyermann,” said Cinema Eye Founding Director Aj Schnack. The beloved documentary veteran, who died last week, was an Executive Producer on both “City So Real” and “American Utopia.
“It is notable that both of this year’s most nominated Broadcast entries are part of the creative legacy of Diane Weyermann,” said Cinema Eye Founding Director Aj Schnack. The beloved documentary veteran, who died last week, was an Executive Producer on both “City So Real” and “American Utopia.
- 10/20/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
The Rockaway Film Festival in Queens, N.Y. has announced its 2021 lineup for the Sept. 12-19 edition.
Coinciding with the opening of a new outdoor theater, the first in Rockaway in over 20 years, the festival will play 12 feature films and 38 short films with a focus on highlighting filmmakers from the Rockaway Peninsula and elsewhere in New York City. 2021 Sundance standouts like Jane Schoenbrun’s “We’re All Going to the World’s Fair,” Amalia Ulman’s “El Planeta” and Shaka King’s “Judas and the Black Messiah” will be featured, as well as a short film from King called “Mulignans.” On top of the newer films presented, the lineup also includes several older films, such as Cheryl Dunye’s 1996 film “The Watermelon Woman” and Ted Kotcheff’s 1989 film “Weekend at Bernie’s,” plus the 24-hour loop of the film cut by Jon Dieringer.
The feature lineup is below.
Features
“Sam and Mattie Make a Zombie Movie,...
Coinciding with the opening of a new outdoor theater, the first in Rockaway in over 20 years, the festival will play 12 feature films and 38 short films with a focus on highlighting filmmakers from the Rockaway Peninsula and elsewhere in New York City. 2021 Sundance standouts like Jane Schoenbrun’s “We’re All Going to the World’s Fair,” Amalia Ulman’s “El Planeta” and Shaka King’s “Judas and the Black Messiah” will be featured, as well as a short film from King called “Mulignans.” On top of the newer films presented, the lineup also includes several older films, such as Cheryl Dunye’s 1996 film “The Watermelon Woman” and Ted Kotcheff’s 1989 film “Weekend at Bernie’s,” plus the 24-hour loop of the film cut by Jon Dieringer.
The feature lineup is below.
Features
“Sam and Mattie Make a Zombie Movie,...
- 9/3/2021
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will publish catalogues devoted to the work of Spike Lee, Hayao Miyazaki and Pedro Almodovar, who are all subjects of inaugural exhibitions at the museum, which is set to open on Sept. 30.
Co-published with DelMonico Books and distributed worldwide by D.A.P. Artbook, the series will start out with the volume devoted to Japanese animator Miyazaki. Published in partnership with Studio Ghibli, “Hayao Miyazaki” will be available starting Sept. 7 and is set to include hundreds of original production materials, including artworks never seen outside of Studio Ghibli’s archives.
Bill Kramer, director and president of the Academy museum, said, “These first Academy museum publications are a lasting record of our extraordinary exhibitions and our dynamic collaborations with Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli and filmmakers Spike Lee and Pedro Almodovar. Like the exhibitions, these catalogues will bring readers closer to the filmography, art, influences...
Co-published with DelMonico Books and distributed worldwide by D.A.P. Artbook, the series will start out with the volume devoted to Japanese animator Miyazaki. Published in partnership with Studio Ghibli, “Hayao Miyazaki” will be available starting Sept. 7 and is set to include hundreds of original production materials, including artworks never seen outside of Studio Ghibli’s archives.
Bill Kramer, director and president of the Academy museum, said, “These first Academy museum publications are a lasting record of our extraordinary exhibitions and our dynamic collaborations with Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli and filmmakers Spike Lee and Pedro Almodovar. Like the exhibitions, these catalogues will bring readers closer to the filmography, art, influences...
- 8/3/2021
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
Filmmaker, curator, author and LGBT film historian Jenni Olson will be receiving the 35th special Teddy Award at the 71st Berlinale on Friday, June 18. An award dedicated to outstanding work in queer filmmaking that improves the social and political condition of the LGBT community, Olson will be joining past recipients such as Tilda Swinton and Cheryl Dunye in holding the honor. Known for her stylistically unique 16 millimeter films depicting urban landscapes with voiceover essays, Olson is responsible for The Blue Diary, which premiered at the Berlinale in 1998, and whose The Joy of Life (2005), and The Royal Road […]
The post “By Reconnecting Us to Our Humanity, I Believe Nostalgia Could Be the Very Thing That Saves Us”: Jenni Olson on Receiving the 35th Special Teddy Award first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “By Reconnecting Us to Our Humanity, I Believe Nostalgia Could Be the Very Thing That Saves Us”: Jenni Olson on Receiving the 35th Special Teddy Award first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 6/17/2021
- by Sally McGee
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Filmmaker, curator, author and LGBT film historian Jenni Olson will be receiving the 35th special Teddy Award at the 71st Berlinale on Friday, June 18. An award dedicated to outstanding work in queer filmmaking that improves the social and political condition of the LGBT community, Olson will be joining past recipients such as Tilda Swinton and Cheryl Dunye in holding the honor. Known for her stylistically unique 16 millimeter films depicting urban landscapes with voiceover essays, Olson is responsible for The Blue Diary, which premiered at the Berlinale in 1998, and whose The Joy of Life (2005), and The Royal Road […]
The post “By Reconnecting Us to Our Humanity, I Believe Nostalgia Could Be the Very Thing That Saves Us”: Jenni Olson on Receiving the 35th Special Teddy Award first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “By Reconnecting Us to Our Humanity, I Believe Nostalgia Could Be the Very Thing That Saves Us”: Jenni Olson on Receiving the 35th Special Teddy Award first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 6/17/2021
- by Sally McGee
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
“It just felt like a family drama, but it felt in-depth, it felt rich. And then Shoggoths jump out. So I’m like, I want to be a part of this,” remembers actress Wunmi Mosaku about her reaction to reading the complex characterizations and eldritch horrors in the “Lovecraft Country” pilot script. But those monstrous demon Shoggoths were just the beginning of where the story took Mosaku. Watch our exclusive video interview with her above.
Mosaku plays Ruby Baptiste, a singer in 1950s Chicago who has a strained relationship with her sister Leti (Jurnee Smollett) and also becomes dangerously close to Christina (Abbey Lee), a woman who introduces her to magic. Among that magic is a potion that transforms her into a white woman, giving her an opportunity to learn what it would be like to live her life without the constant burdens of racism. It threw Mosaku for a...
Mosaku plays Ruby Baptiste, a singer in 1950s Chicago who has a strained relationship with her sister Leti (Jurnee Smollett) and also becomes dangerously close to Christina (Abbey Lee), a woman who introduces her to magic. Among that magic is a potion that transforms her into a white woman, giving her an opportunity to learn what it would be like to live her life without the constant burdens of racism. It threw Mosaku for a...
- 6/1/2021
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Every June, a barrage of LGBTQ media and news coverage arrives to announce the beginning of Pride month. The final season of FX’s groundbreaking drama “Pose” debuted in May, and Hulu’s adorable teen coming out story “Love, Victor” will return in two weeks. But for those seeking an engaging and accessible history lesson in the LGBTQ movement, FX’s six-part docuseries “Pride” is a delightful and substantive addition to the canon of Pride-related content. By giving queer filmmakers full creative control, “Pride” goes way beyond the conventional narrative of LGBTQ history.
Part political history, part cultural record, each of “Pride’s” six episodes follow a single decade, beginning with the McCarthyism of the 1950s and ending with the growing mainstream acceptance of the 2000s. Produced by FX, Vice, and Killer Films, each episode is directed by different queer filmmakers who were given full creative license on what to feature.
Part political history, part cultural record, each of “Pride’s” six episodes follow a single decade, beginning with the McCarthyism of the 1950s and ending with the growing mainstream acceptance of the 2000s. Produced by FX, Vice, and Killer Films, each episode is directed by different queer filmmakers who were given full creative license on what to feature.
- 5/29/2021
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Hollywood history is littered with awkward moments from interviews with Black talent. When race and gender divisions are introduced, some truly uncomfortable scenarios result. Consider Dick Cavett asking an unwitting Eddie Murphy, during a TV interview, if he was offended by the word “nigger” in Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Or when a news anchor confused Samuel L. Jackson with Laurence Fishburne. The “all Black people look alike” motif has, sadly, been a recurring one in Hollywood and beyond.
Black artists are starting to react to the questions coming their way. Assuming that there will be a proliferation of film and television work from Black talent in the years ahead, here are a few handy assists for those who will be covering it, a guide to questions you should not ask and some thoughts about what you should.
“The White Gaze”
Last week, in anticipation of the release...
Black artists are starting to react to the questions coming their way. Assuming that there will be a proliferation of film and television work from Black talent in the years ahead, here are a few handy assists for those who will be covering it, a guide to questions you should not ask and some thoughts about what you should.
“The White Gaze”
Last week, in anticipation of the release...
- 5/20/2021
- by Tambay Obenson
- Indiewire
“The story has many elements of filmmaking and storytelling that matches with my timeline as a filmmaker about race, about gender, about sexuality, about, you know, being on the margins,” says Cheryl Dunye about the “Lovecraft Country” episode “Strange Case,” which she directed. This season she also helmed an episode of the FX documentary series “Pride,” about the fight for LGBT rights throughout the 20th century. Watch our exclusive video interview with Dunye above.
Marginalization is a major theme in “Lovecraft Country,” which explores anti-Black racism in 1950s America through the lens of supernatural horror. And Dunye’s episode was an especially unique exploration of that subject, following Ruby (Wunmi Musaku) after magic gives her the opportunity to experience the world as a white woman. Those fantasy elements “allowed me to elevate the storytelling” and “allowed me to put another layer on the messages that I wanted to already speak.
Marginalization is a major theme in “Lovecraft Country,” which explores anti-Black racism in 1950s America through the lens of supernatural horror. And Dunye’s episode was an especially unique exploration of that subject, following Ruby (Wunmi Musaku) after magic gives her the opportunity to experience the world as a white woman. Those fantasy elements “allowed me to elevate the storytelling” and “allowed me to put another layer on the messages that I wanted to already speak.
- 5/18/2021
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Almost 35 years on, Howard the Duck still holds the crown of Marvel’s weirdest movie to date.
“Over 20 years before Iron Man kick-started what’s now the Marvel Cinematic Universe—the pop-culture juggernaut that devours so much of the box office—another Marvel hero got his chance to save the world. Big difference, though: the star of Howard the Duck didn’t exactly set the world on fire with his efforts.”
Read more at Gizmodo.
Few novels are as universally loved as Pride and Prejudice, but even Jane Austen’s most famous work had its contemporary critics.
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that few books are as beloved as Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, which was published on January 28, 1813. It appears on best-loved literature lists across the globe, is a fixture in high school classrooms, and has spawned a rabid fan base and countless film and television adaptations.
“Over 20 years before Iron Man kick-started what’s now the Marvel Cinematic Universe—the pop-culture juggernaut that devours so much of the box office—another Marvel hero got his chance to save the world. Big difference, though: the star of Howard the Duck didn’t exactly set the world on fire with his efforts.”
Read more at Gizmodo.
Few novels are as universally loved as Pride and Prejudice, but even Jane Austen’s most famous work had its contemporary critics.
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that few books are as beloved as Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, which was published on January 28, 1813. It appears on best-loved literature lists across the globe, is a fixture in high school classrooms, and has spawned a rabid fan base and countless film and television adaptations.
- 5/17/2021
- by Ivan Huang
- Den of Geek
It’s a truism that coming of age as a young queer person is a challenge in part because one’s own cultural heritage is not, in the mainstream, commonly taught. The AIDS epidemic wiped out so much life, so much culture, and so many potential guides; before that, the private lives of queer people looked unintelligible to those in the position to record history.
Into this gap strides FX’s “Pride,” a series of six documentaries. All running around 45 minutes, these films, together, attempt to tell the story of LGBTQ life in America in the late 20th century through the early 21st century. It’s an earnest goal, met with talent, ingenuity and seriousness of purpose. Only the reactions from cis and straight people have changed. Queer and trans Americans have always been here.
The six films, produced by Vice and Christine Vachon’s Killer Films, each appraise a different decade,...
Into this gap strides FX’s “Pride,” a series of six documentaries. All running around 45 minutes, these films, together, attempt to tell the story of LGBTQ life in America in the late 20th century through the early 21st century. It’s an earnest goal, met with talent, ingenuity and seriousness of purpose. Only the reactions from cis and straight people have changed. Queer and trans Americans have always been here.
The six films, produced by Vice and Christine Vachon’s Killer Films, each appraise a different decade,...
- 5/14/2021
- by Daniel D'Addario
- Variety Film + TV
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSAbove: Killers of the Flower Moon (2021)From Osage News, the first official image from Martin Scorsese’s upcoming Killers of the Flower Moon, featuring Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio. Recommended VIEWINGFollowing the release of his series The Underground Railroad, Barry Jenkins has also released The Gaze, a 50-minute non-narrative video piece that captures the show's background actors in moments of stillness. The film challenges the notion of the "white gaze" by pursuing what Jenkins refers to as "the Black gaze; or the gaze distilled." Shudder has released an official trailer for George A. Romero's The Amusement Park, a restoration of the long-lost 1973 film. Originally a commissioned work by the Lutheran Society, The Amusement Park was shelved for its terrifying depiction of elder abuse. The film will premiere on Shudder on June 8. Over at Ecstatic Static,...
- 5/12/2021
- MUBI
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