Postmodern attempts at genre defiance have become de rigueur for pop artists today. In a streaming-dominated world where we can type away on our laptops to ambient hip-hop in the morning, sing along to old yacht-rock hits on our afternoon commute, and dance to Edm at night, what other way is there to keep our attention than to try to give us everything everywhere all at once? We’ve gotten a few attempts to do just that in 2023, from Kara Jackson’s quietly rebellious blending of folk and R&b, to Yves Tumor’s kitchen-sink instrumentation, to 100 gecs’s audacious and absurd hyperpop assaults.
Many of the artists who appear on this list, though, no longer seem content to just break down old barriers, as they also seek to shatter interpersonal and emotional ones as well. The oft-cited isolation of modern living, heavily exacerbated by the pandemic, has compelled some...
Many of the artists who appear on this list, though, no longer seem content to just break down old barriers, as they also seek to shatter interpersonal and emotional ones as well. The oft-cited isolation of modern living, heavily exacerbated by the pandemic, has compelled some...
- 12/7/2023
- by Slant Staff
- Slant Magazine
Sreejith Edavana, who has composed many popular songs in Malayalam cinema, is making his directorial debut with a pan Indian film titled “Cicada”. The film is a survival thriller that will be released in four languages: Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. The film has a unique feature of having different songs in each language. He is the music director of Hit song starring Nivin Pauly and Nasriya, Nenjode Cherthe.
The title poster of the film was launched by actor Tovino Thomas on his social media platforms and was widely shared by many prominent film personalities. The poster shows a person with their hands tied behind their back and a large cicada on their head. The poster also reveals the names of the production company, director, and other crew members.
Cicada First Look
The film stars Rajith, who is making a comeback after 10 years, Jayas Jos Pallippadan, who is known for...
The title poster of the film was launched by actor Tovino Thomas on his social media platforms and was widely shared by many prominent film personalities. The poster shows a person with their hands tied behind their back and a large cicada on their head. The poster also reveals the names of the production company, director, and other crew members.
Cicada First Look
The film stars Rajith, who is making a comeback after 10 years, Jayas Jos Pallippadan, who is known for...
- 7/24/2023
- by amalprasadappu
- https://thecinemanews.online/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_4649
The company’s new feature Ricky, directed by Rashad Frett, is building on the short of the same name that premiered at Sundance 2023.
New York-based Ramfis Myrthil, whose credits include Independent Spirit Award-nominated Cicada, is in Cannes with the international launch of his new company Ramfis Productions.
The company’s new feature Ricky, directed by Rashad Frett, is building on the short of the same name that premiered at Sundance 2023. The team is gearing up to shoot the feature version of Ricky in the US this summer, most likely in New Jersey. The story is about an ex-offender who is...
New York-based Ramfis Myrthil, whose credits include Independent Spirit Award-nominated Cicada, is in Cannes with the international launch of his new company Ramfis Productions.
The company’s new feature Ricky, directed by Rashad Frett, is building on the short of the same name that premiered at Sundance 2023. The team is gearing up to shoot the feature version of Ricky in the US this summer, most likely in New Jersey. The story is about an ex-offender who is...
- 5/22/2023
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Fusion Entertainment has signed filmmaker Ira Sachs, actor Mya Taylor and writer-director-actor Jude Dry. The management company, which was founded this year by Chris Evans and Adam Kersh, hails the signings as an important step in bolstering their roster of LGBTQ+ talent.
Kersh and Sachs have had a long association, having worked together for a decade. Kersh helped spearhead the publicity campaigns for the Sachs’ queer-positive NYC triptych “Keep the Lights On” (2012), “Love Is Strange” (2014), and “Little Men” (2016). Sachs recently finished filming his latest feature “Passages,” which follows a gay couple living in Paris whose relationship is disrupted when one of them begins seeing a much younger woman. “Passages” stars Franz Rogowski, Ben Whishaw and Adèle Exarchopoulos.
Kersh also has a long history with Taylor, having been the chief architect of the publicity campaign for Sean Baker’s “Tangerine,” which served as Taylor’s film debut. Kersh also spearheaded the Oscar campaign for Taylor,...
Kersh and Sachs have had a long association, having worked together for a decade. Kersh helped spearhead the publicity campaigns for the Sachs’ queer-positive NYC triptych “Keep the Lights On” (2012), “Love Is Strange” (2014), and “Little Men” (2016). Sachs recently finished filming his latest feature “Passages,” which follows a gay couple living in Paris whose relationship is disrupted when one of them begins seeing a much younger woman. “Passages” stars Franz Rogowski, Ben Whishaw and Adèle Exarchopoulos.
Kersh also has a long history with Taylor, having been the chief architect of the publicity campaign for Sean Baker’s “Tangerine,” which served as Taylor’s film debut. Kersh also spearheaded the Oscar campaign for Taylor,...
- 5/13/2022
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
The 37th Annual Independent Spirit Awards took place on Sunday, returning to an in-person format following last year’s virtual ceremony. Many of the biggest names in the independent film community made the trek out to the beach in Santa Monica with the hopes of taking home the most coveted prizes in indie film. While the Spirit Awards typically take place the week before the Oscars, this year’s unique Covid-influenced awards season calendar meant that they were held nearly a month in advance. Hollywood couple Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally served as emcees of the proceedings.
This year’s class of nominees draws from films largely shut out from the Oscars, with indie hits like Oscar nominee “The Lost Daughter,” “C’mon C’mon,” and “Zola” racking up the most nominations. “The Lost Daughter” cleaned up, with three wins for Netflix including Best Feature and Best Director Maggie Gyllenhaal. Oscar no-show...
This year’s class of nominees draws from films largely shut out from the Oscars, with indie hits like Oscar nominee “The Lost Daughter,” “C’mon C’mon,” and “Zola” racking up the most nominations. “The Lost Daughter” cleaned up, with three wins for Netflix including Best Feature and Best Director Maggie Gyllenhaal. Oscar no-show...
- 3/7/2022
- by Christian Zilko and Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards: ‘The Lost Daughter’ Takes the Top Prize (Complete Winners List)
The 37th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards were handed out Sunday at the Santa Monica Pier, with comedy power couple Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally serving as hosts.
There weren’t too many surprises throughout the night. Troy Kotsur won the first award of the evening, Best Supporting Male Actor for “Coda,” very much as predicted. Taylour Paige took home Best Female Lead Actor, for “Zola,” while Simon Rex, of “Red Rocket,” walked away with Best Male Lead. Ruth Negga won Best Supporting Female Actor for “Passing,” beating out Jessie Buckley from “The Lost Daughter.”
But Maggie Gyllenhaal’s adaptation of the Elena Ferrante book won the three other categories in which it was nominated — Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Feature — and was the night’s biggest victor. Gyllenhaal gave three effusive thank you speeches, spreading her appreciation around to her cast, crew, financiers, publicist, husband and mother. “Women in film!
There weren’t too many surprises throughout the night. Troy Kotsur won the first award of the evening, Best Supporting Male Actor for “Coda,” very much as predicted. Taylour Paige took home Best Female Lead Actor, for “Zola,” while Simon Rex, of “Red Rocket,” walked away with Best Male Lead. Ruth Negga won Best Supporting Female Actor for “Passing,” beating out Jessie Buckley from “The Lost Daughter.”
But Maggie Gyllenhaal’s adaptation of the Elena Ferrante book won the three other categories in which it was nominated — Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Feature — and was the night’s biggest victor. Gyllenhaal gave three effusive thank you speeches, spreading her appreciation around to her cast, crew, financiers, publicist, husband and mother. “Women in film!
- 3/6/2022
- by Missy Schwartz
- The Wrap
Almost 2,000 Gold Derby readers have made their Indie Spirit predictions in advance of Sunday’s ceremony. Scroll down to see our official odds in all 13 movie categories based on those combined predictions. Our projected winners are highlighted in gold.
SEEOscars 2022: 20 movie reunions we would love to see happen on the ceremony, including ‘The Godfather,’ ‘Titanic,’ ‘Harry Potter’ and more
The Indie Spirit Awards winners are voted on by members of Film Independent. Membership is open to any movie fans who pay $95 in yearly dues, which often leads to the highest-profile Oscar contenders winning top prizes against less widely publicized films. But this year Film Independent snubbed many of the Oscar front-runners; this is only the second time in the last 13 years that there are no Best Picture Oscar nominees among the Spirit contenders for Best Feature.
The black comedy “Zola” led the nominations with seven including Best Feature, Best...
SEEOscars 2022: 20 movie reunions we would love to see happen on the ceremony, including ‘The Godfather,’ ‘Titanic,’ ‘Harry Potter’ and more
The Indie Spirit Awards winners are voted on by members of Film Independent. Membership is open to any movie fans who pay $95 in yearly dues, which often leads to the highest-profile Oscar contenders winning top prizes against less widely publicized films. But this year Film Independent snubbed many of the Oscar front-runners; this is only the second time in the last 13 years that there are no Best Picture Oscar nominees among the Spirit contenders for Best Feature.
The black comedy “Zola” led the nominations with seven including Best Feature, Best...
- 3/4/2022
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Nightmare Alley’, Sony’s ‘A Journal For Jordan’ also new.
Kenneth Branagh’s awards season contender Belfast is playing in all 30 open cinemas in Northern Ireland this weekend, as one of the leading new titles at the UK-Ireland box office.
Released by Universal Pictures, Belfast is opening in a huge 704 sites across the UK and Ireland – the eighth-widest release of all time in the full territory.
Shot in autumn 2020 in a gap between Covid-19 lockdowns, Belfast is inspired by Branagh’s childhood, and tells the story of a young boy and his working-class family in the tumultuous late 1960s.
Kenneth Branagh’s awards season contender Belfast is playing in all 30 open cinemas in Northern Ireland this weekend, as one of the leading new titles at the UK-Ireland box office.
Released by Universal Pictures, Belfast is opening in a huge 704 sites across the UK and Ireland – the eighth-widest release of all time in the full territory.
Shot in autumn 2020 in a gap between Covid-19 lockdowns, Belfast is inspired by Branagh’s childhood, and tells the story of a young boy and his working-class family in the tumultuous late 1960s.
- 1/21/2022
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
While certainly not a given every year, anyone complaining about a lack of good queer films in 2021 simply wasn’t paying attention. While the impending Oscar race may be missing an all-out gay romance such as “Call Me by Your Name,” that doesn’t mean queer cinephiles can’t seek out François Ozon’s sexy and rebellious “Summer of ’85.” For those who prefer their French films on the Sapphic side, not to mentions provocative enough to inspire protests, there was Paul Verhoeven’s dark lesbian nun comedy “Benedetta.” And for campy genre lovers with an eye for fashion, “Spencer” features a wrenchingly tender moment from Sally Hawkins towards Kristen Stewart’s riveting Princess Diana.
Many of this year’s Oscar contenders are enlivened by queer themes, with much more than understated subtext or a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment. Jane Campion is courting Best Director with her epic deconstructed Western “The Power of the Dog,...
Many of this year’s Oscar contenders are enlivened by queer themes, with much more than understated subtext or a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment. Jane Campion is courting Best Director with her epic deconstructed Western “The Power of the Dog,...
- 12/20/2021
- by Jude Dry and Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Andy Palmer has signed on to direct When They Come For Me as his next film, after wrapping production on the comedy The Re-Education of Molly Singer, starring Britt Robertson, Nico Santos, Jaime Pressley and Holland Roden.
The thriller from Citizen Skull Productions tells the story of six trapped locals during a lightning storm at Stonehenge that creates an electrical dome, where survival means fighting off ancient souls trying to take over their bodies.
German actors Werner Daehn and Adrienne McQueen are attached to star in the pic, which will shoot next year in Europe. Patricia Beauchamp, Alix Reeves and Adrienne McQueen wrote the script, with Liz Fuller, Matt Prater, Michael Roesch and Mark Myers set to produce for Citizen Skull.
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Exclusive: Writer-director Matthew Fifer (Strand Releasing’s Cicada) has wrapped production on Treatment, a new LGBT-themed psychological horror film produced for Shudder,...
The thriller from Citizen Skull Productions tells the story of six trapped locals during a lightning storm at Stonehenge that creates an electrical dome, where survival means fighting off ancient souls trying to take over their bodies.
German actors Werner Daehn and Adrienne McQueen are attached to star in the pic, which will shoot next year in Europe. Patricia Beauchamp, Alix Reeves and Adrienne McQueen wrote the script, with Liz Fuller, Matt Prater, Michael Roesch and Mark Myers set to produce for Citizen Skull.
***
Exclusive: Writer-director Matthew Fifer (Strand Releasing’s Cicada) has wrapped production on Treatment, a new LGBT-themed psychological horror film produced for Shudder,...
- 11/12/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Triumph Over Trauma: Fifer & Mulcare Mine Catharsis with Poignant, Intersectional Drama
The importance of representation is a concept which, like many conceits, is more easily discussed as a far-off futuristic goal than an experienced reality. Often the desired thrust of conversations and criticism for those belonging to groups or experiences rarely reflected in the moving image results in a sort of awestruck paralysis when finally confronted by them. And such is the power of Matthew Fifer and Kieran Mulcare’s directorial debut Cicada, which so gracefully navigates a complex myriad of trauma and intersectionality it jumps beyond the usual ‘first-wave’ feel these infrequent portraits feel like.…...
The importance of representation is a concept which, like many conceits, is more easily discussed as a far-off futuristic goal than an experienced reality. Often the desired thrust of conversations and criticism for those belonging to groups or experiences rarely reflected in the moving image results in a sort of awestruck paralysis when finally confronted by them. And such is the power of Matthew Fifer and Kieran Mulcare’s directorial debut Cicada, which so gracefully navigates a complex myriad of trauma and intersectionality it jumps beyond the usual ‘first-wave’ feel these infrequent portraits feel like.…...
- 10/26/2021
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
"Try not to care what the world thinks about us. Because this is real for me." Strand Releasing has unveiled an official trailer for an indie drama titled Cicada, marking the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Matt Fifer. This played at numerous LGBT film festivals last year, including Outfest, Out on Screen, OUTshine, Zinentiendo, Queer Screen Sydney, and Frameline in San Fran. Cicada follows Ben, a young bisexual man, as he comes out to the world and develops an intense relationship with Sam, a closeted man struggling with deep wounds of his own. As the summer progresses and their intimacy grows, their pasts begin to crawl to the surface. Written & directed by Matt Fifer, who also stars in the film as Ben, with Sheldon Brown, Sandra Bauleo, Cobie Smulders, Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, Michael Potts, Scott Adsit, and David Burtka. This looks quite tender and lovely, and decidedly honest about relationships and their challenges.
- 10/8/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The Austin Film Festival has announced new additions to its 2021 lineup, including the Kristen Stewart-starring “Spencer” and Stephen Karam’s “The Humans.” The festival will take place in Austin, Texas and online from Oct. 21-28.
“Spencer” will be the festival’s closing night piece. Directed by Pablo Larraín and written by Steven Knight, the biopic follows Princess Diana (Stewart) as she processes her decision to end her marriage to Prince Charles.
As the culmination of Aff’s writers’ conference, the centerpiece film will be “The Humans,” written and directed by Karam and adapted from his Pulitzer-winning play of the same name. “The Humans” takes place on Thanksgiving as a family comes together despite hidden secrets, past trauma and nightmares coming to life. Beanie Feldstein, Amy Schumer, Steven Yeun, Richard Jenkins, Jayne Houdyshell and June Squibb star.
The inaugural spotlight film slot will showcase the North American premiere of “Down With the King,...
“Spencer” will be the festival’s closing night piece. Directed by Pablo Larraín and written by Steven Knight, the biopic follows Princess Diana (Stewart) as she processes her decision to end her marriage to Prince Charles.
As the culmination of Aff’s writers’ conference, the centerpiece film will be “The Humans,” written and directed by Karam and adapted from his Pulitzer-winning play of the same name. “The Humans” takes place on Thanksgiving as a family comes together despite hidden secrets, past trauma and nightmares coming to life. Beanie Feldstein, Amy Schumer, Steven Yeun, Richard Jenkins, Jayne Houdyshell and June Squibb star.
The inaugural spotlight film slot will showcase the North American premiere of “Down With the King,...
- 10/6/2021
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
On Thursday, the Austin Film Festival unveiled its 2021 lineup, comprising 26 World, North American, and US Premieres, setting Oscar nominee Peter Hedges’ The Same Storm as its Opening Night Film.
The feature examining the tumult of the Covid-19 pandemic boasts a stacked cast, with Noma Dumezweni, Mary-Louise Parker, Sandra Oh, Elaine May, Raúl Castillo, Ato Blankson-Wood, Corey Michael Smith, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ron Livingston and Alison Pill amongst its ensemble.
Other marquee titles to look out for at the 28th edition of the festival, taking place from October 21-28, include Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch, Mike Mills’ latest A24 pic C’mon C’mon, led by Joaquin Phoenix, Joanna Hogg’s The Souvenir Part II, starring Honor Swinton Byrne, Tilda Swinton and more, and Joachim Trier’s Neon festival favorite The Worst Person in the World.
Spencer King’s Dark Star Pictures title Time Now will make its World Premiere alongside...
The feature examining the tumult of the Covid-19 pandemic boasts a stacked cast, with Noma Dumezweni, Mary-Louise Parker, Sandra Oh, Elaine May, Raúl Castillo, Ato Blankson-Wood, Corey Michael Smith, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ron Livingston and Alison Pill amongst its ensemble.
Other marquee titles to look out for at the 28th edition of the festival, taking place from October 21-28, include Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch, Mike Mills’ latest A24 pic C’mon C’mon, led by Joaquin Phoenix, Joanna Hogg’s The Souvenir Part II, starring Honor Swinton Byrne, Tilda Swinton and more, and Joachim Trier’s Neon festival favorite The Worst Person in the World.
Spencer King’s Dark Star Pictures title Time Now will make its World Premiere alongside...
- 9/23/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Peter Hedges’ drama “The Same Storm” is set to open the 2021 Austin Film Festival and Writers Conference (Aff).
Festival organizers announced Thursday that the pandemic-set movie starring Noma Dumezweni, Mary-Louise Parker, Sandra Oh, Elaine May, Raúl Castillo, Ato Blankson-Wood, Corey Michael Smith, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ron Livingston, and Alison Pill will lead off the 28th annual event, which runs from Oct. 21-28.
Aff’s full feature film slate includes 26 world, North American and U.S. premieres, including the world premiere of filmmaker Spencer King’s “Time Now” and the U.S. premiere of “Cicada,” written and directed by Chung-ryoul Lee. Other marquee presentations include Wes Anderson’s “The French Dispatch;” the Cambodian sci-fi title “Karmalink” from XYZ Films, by writers Jake Wachtel and Christopher Larsen; and “Captains of Za’atari” by writer/director Ali El Arab.
A24 is set to expand its partnership with the festival, adding Mike...
Festival organizers announced Thursday that the pandemic-set movie starring Noma Dumezweni, Mary-Louise Parker, Sandra Oh, Elaine May, Raúl Castillo, Ato Blankson-Wood, Corey Michael Smith, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ron Livingston, and Alison Pill will lead off the 28th annual event, which runs from Oct. 21-28.
Aff’s full feature film slate includes 26 world, North American and U.S. premieres, including the world premiere of filmmaker Spencer King’s “Time Now” and the U.S. premiere of “Cicada,” written and directed by Chung-ryoul Lee. Other marquee presentations include Wes Anderson’s “The French Dispatch;” the Cambodian sci-fi title “Karmalink” from XYZ Films, by writers Jake Wachtel and Christopher Larsen; and “Captains of Za’atari” by writer/director Ali El Arab.
A24 is set to expand its partnership with the festival, adding Mike...
- 9/23/2021
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
The final full day of screenings at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival ended with a statistic, which was delivered by Cannes General Delegate Thierry Fremaux on the stage of the Salle Debussy just before midnight on Friday:
Over the first 11 days of the festival and the thousands of Covid-19 tests administered on the premises each day, 70 people tested positive for the virus. For Fremaux and the festival, the stat – slightly more than the three-positive-tests-per-day estimate made earlier – was still one to celebrate, suggesting that the scaled-down Cannes managed to navigate a difficult time without turning into a superspreader event.
Of course, Fremaux’s announcement preceded the screening of Gaspar Noe’s “Vortex,” a movie about aging, illness and death, which perhaps made it a tricky moment to be celebrating all the negative tests.
The prize parade
According to the awards that have been handed out in Cannes, the festival’s top...
Over the first 11 days of the festival and the thousands of Covid-19 tests administered on the premises each day, 70 people tested positive for the virus. For Fremaux and the festival, the stat – slightly more than the three-positive-tests-per-day estimate made earlier – was still one to celebrate, suggesting that the scaled-down Cannes managed to navigate a difficult time without turning into a superspreader event.
Of course, Fremaux’s announcement preceded the screening of Gaspar Noe’s “Vortex,” a movie about aging, illness and death, which perhaps made it a tricky moment to be celebrating all the negative tests.
The prize parade
According to the awards that have been handed out in Cannes, the festival’s top...
- 7/17/2021
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Kira Kovalenko’s Russian drama Unclenching The Fists won the Grand Prize in Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard sidebar this year.
The film is produced by Ukranian-Russian super-producer Alexander Rodnyansky with Sergey Melkumov. Set in a former mining town in North Ossetia, the pic follows a young woman who struggles to escape the stifling hold of the family she loves as much as she rejects. Mubi has taken rights to the pic for North America, UK and Ireland, Latin America and India, the streamer said on Twitter.
Elsewhere, the jury led by British filmmaker Andrea Arnold awarded its Jury Prize to Sebastian Meise’s Austrian movie Great Freedom. Mubi also bought that movie, which is set in post-war Germany and tells the story of a man who is imprisoned time and time again for being homosexual, here in Cannes.
The Ensemble Prize went to Hafsia Herzi’s Bonne Mere.
The film is produced by Ukranian-Russian super-producer Alexander Rodnyansky with Sergey Melkumov. Set in a former mining town in North Ossetia, the pic follows a young woman who struggles to escape the stifling hold of the family she loves as much as she rejects. Mubi has taken rights to the pic for North America, UK and Ireland, Latin America and India, the streamer said on Twitter.
Elsewhere, the jury led by British filmmaker Andrea Arnold awarded its Jury Prize to Sebastian Meise’s Austrian movie Great Freedom. Mubi also bought that movie, which is set in post-war Germany and tells the story of a man who is imprisoned time and time again for being homosexual, here in Cannes.
The Ensemble Prize went to Hafsia Herzi’s Bonne Mere.
- 7/16/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Strand Releasing has acquired all North American rights to “Cicada,” Matthew Fifer’s Brooklyn-set debut feature, which premiered last year at several festivals, including Frameline, Outfest and BFI London.
“Cicada” was written and directed by Fifer and Kieran Mulcare. The film was inspired by events in Sheldon Brown’s and Fifer’s own lives. Fifer headlines the film alongside Brown, who also co-wrote the script.
The film follows Ben (Fifer), a young bisexual man who, after a string of unsuccessful and awkward encounters, meets Sam (Brown), a man of color struggling with deep wounds of his own. As the summer progresses and their intimacy grows, their pasts begin to crawl to the surface.
“We’re thrilled to be working on Matt’s debut feature ‘Cicada.’ It’s a thrilling and promising new voice, one that fits our family of auteurs,” said Marcus Hu of Strand Releasing.
The film also stars Cobie Smulders,...
“Cicada” was written and directed by Fifer and Kieran Mulcare. The film was inspired by events in Sheldon Brown’s and Fifer’s own lives. Fifer headlines the film alongside Brown, who also co-wrote the script.
The film follows Ben (Fifer), a young bisexual man who, after a string of unsuccessful and awkward encounters, meets Sam (Brown), a man of color struggling with deep wounds of his own. As the summer progresses and their intimacy grows, their pasts begin to crawl to the surface.
“We’re thrilled to be working on Matt’s debut feature ‘Cicada.’ It’s a thrilling and promising new voice, one that fits our family of auteurs,” said Marcus Hu of Strand Releasing.
The film also stars Cobie Smulders,...
- 6/4/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Queer drama received its UK premiere at the London Film Festival.
Peccadillo Pictures has secured UK and Ireland distribution rights to LGBTQ+ romantic drama Cicada in a deal struck directly with the producers.
Peccadillo hopes to give the US feature, directed by Matthew Fifer and Kieran Mulcare, a theatrical and digital release in spring 2021.
Cicada was meant to open BFI Flare: London Lgbtiq+ Film Festival in March but saw its world premiere postponed when the even was cancelled in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. It eventually debuted at Outfest Los Angeles in September and went on to play a raft of festivals,...
Peccadillo Pictures has secured UK and Ireland distribution rights to LGBTQ+ romantic drama Cicada in a deal struck directly with the producers.
Peccadillo hopes to give the US feature, directed by Matthew Fifer and Kieran Mulcare, a theatrical and digital release in spring 2021.
Cicada was meant to open BFI Flare: London Lgbtiq+ Film Festival in March but saw its world premiere postponed when the even was cancelled in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. It eventually debuted at Outfest Los Angeles in September and went on to play a raft of festivals,...
- 12/21/2020
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Stars: Jeffrey Ryan Kent, Cassandra Hein, Beau Crawford, Mike Nielsen, Lawrence A. Mandley | Written and Directed by David Willis
The plot of Cicada (or Cicada! as it appears on-screen) is simple: after a swarm of mutated, over-sized cicadas hatch in Los Angeles, four eccentric friends led by a disgraced baseball player must band together to defend the city from the swarm of insects who are literally out for blood. Oh and did I mention these killer cicadas are also explosive? Because they crave sugar and sugar, in high enough quantities and under the right conditions can explode… I didn’t know that but it’s an eventual key plot of of Cicada‘s story!
I’ve been on something of a low-budget filmmaker kick recently having watched a number of Sov films from the late 80s/early 90s and caught up with Mark Polonia’s more recent direct to market efforts; and honestly,...
The plot of Cicada (or Cicada! as it appears on-screen) is simple: after a swarm of mutated, over-sized cicadas hatch in Los Angeles, four eccentric friends led by a disgraced baseball player must band together to defend the city from the swarm of insects who are literally out for blood. Oh and did I mention these killer cicadas are also explosive? Because they crave sugar and sugar, in high enough quantities and under the right conditions can explode… I didn’t know that but it’s an eventual key plot of of Cicada‘s story!
I’ve been on something of a low-budget filmmaker kick recently having watched a number of Sov films from the late 80s/early 90s and caught up with Mark Polonia’s more recent direct to market efforts; and honestly,...
- 11/11/2020
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
It’s summer in New York, and for 20-something Ben, bisexual and newly out, the city, it seems, is his oyster. And his snail — to quote Hollywood’s most famous coded exchange about sexual preference. In Cicada, an Intimate and frank story of gay love and identity, little is coded. The feature debut of writer-director Matthew Fifer, who also stars, produces and edits, tackles intense personal challenges with compassion and wit and, notwithstanding the teased-out events at its core, a bracing directness.
Playing characters drawn from their own experiences, Fifer and his co-lead, Sheldon D. Brown, who also has a writing credit,...
Playing characters drawn from their own experiences, Fifer and his co-lead, Sheldon D. Brown, who also has a writing credit,...
- 10/29/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
It’s summer in New York, and for 20-something Ben, bisexual and newly out, the city, it seems, is his oyster. And his snail — to quote Hollywood’s most famous coded exchange about sexual preference. In Cicada, an Intimate and frank story of gay love and identity, little is coded. The feature debut of writer-director Matthew Fifer, who also stars, produces and edits, tackles intense personal challenges with compassion and wit and, notwithstanding the teased-out events at its core, a bracing directness.
Playing characters drawn from their own experiences, Fifer and his co-lead, Sheldon D. Brown, who also has a writing credit,...
Playing characters drawn from their own experiences, Fifer and his co-lead, Sheldon D. Brown, who also has a writing credit,...
- 10/29/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The 32nd annual NewFest, New York’s LGBTQ Film Festival is bringing queer cinema to audience’s homes this year in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The diverse offerings at this year’s virtual festival should delight LGBTQ cinephiles of many tastes. The queer film fest will offer screenings through October 27, and the following five movies are some of the best on display.
“Ammonite”
NewFest 2020 is not completely devoid of in-person events, thanks to a select few drive-in screenings. The first of which was “Ammonite,” the highest profile awards contender of the lineup. The film by Francis Lee depicts the real life relationship between paleontologist Mary Anning (Kate Winslet) and a young woman (Saorise Ronan) in the 1840s. Those in attendance at the Queen’s Drive-In were lucky enough not only to experience the sweeping period romance, but also witnessed Winslet virtually present the inaugural World Queer Visionary Award to director Francis Lee.
“Ammonite”
NewFest 2020 is not completely devoid of in-person events, thanks to a select few drive-in screenings. The first of which was “Ammonite,” the highest profile awards contender of the lineup. The film by Francis Lee depicts the real life relationship between paleontologist Mary Anning (Kate Winslet) and a young woman (Saorise Ronan) in the 1840s. Those in attendance at the Queen’s Drive-In were lucky enough not only to experience the sweeping period romance, but also witnessed Winslet virtually present the inaugural World Queer Visionary Award to director Francis Lee.
- 10/26/2020
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
Early on in “Cicada,” a secondary character drops the old maxim, attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, that art is never finished, only abandoned. It’s a pointed moment of self-awareness in a film of many. Writer-director-producer-editor-star Matthew Fifer’s debut feature processes lived experience into a cracked, anguished work of autofiction, raggedly cathartic and needfully unresolved as it sketches young queer lives in different stages of self-acceptance. Delicately tracing the first summery blush of romance between two Brooklyn men respectively hindered by their own private trauma, “Cicada” is self-indulgent in the most forgivable, even fruitful, way, with stretches of nervy improvisation and everyday poetry that feel aptly rough and bruised. Nothing here seems to have been finished, or even abandoned, with ease.
In a normal year, “Cicada” would have completed a comprehensive tour of the LGBTQ festival circuit, picking up a word-of-mouth following along the way: It was originally set...
In a normal year, “Cicada” would have completed a comprehensive tour of the LGBTQ festival circuit, picking up a word-of-mouth following along the way: It was originally set...
- 10/16/2020
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
Like nearly every other film festival in this wild year, NewFest, New York’s leading LGBTQ+ film festival, is going virtual for its 2020 edition. Running October 16 through 27, the event boasts more than 120 new movies you can watch at home from anywhere the United States, plus plenty of scintillating conversations, virtual soirees, and more in celebration of this year’s festival storytellers. Below, IndieWire rounds up 12 must-see films to get your NewFest journey started.
In additional to the virtual offerings, a few in-person events can be enjoyed from the convenience of your car. The opening night film this year is a special drive-in presentation of Francis Lee’s “Ammonite,” starring Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan, taking place at the Queens Drive-In in Corona Park. For New Yorkers, this is your chance to catch the buzzy romantic drama before it opens theatrically on November 13 from Neon.
Also receiving drive-in screenings throughout the...
In additional to the virtual offerings, a few in-person events can be enjoyed from the convenience of your car. The opening night film this year is a special drive-in presentation of Francis Lee’s “Ammonite,” starring Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan, taking place at the Queens Drive-In in Corona Park. For New Yorkers, this is your chance to catch the buzzy romantic drama before it opens theatrically on November 13 from Neon.
Also receiving drive-in screenings throughout the...
- 10/16/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio and Jude Dry
- Indiewire
The 25th Busan International Film Festival to close with animation ‘Josee, The Tiger And The Fish’.
The 25th Busan International Film Festival is set to open with the world premiere of Septet: The Story Of Hong Kong, directed by Sammo Hung, Ann Hui, Patrick Tam, Yuen Wo Ping, Johnnie To, Ringo Lam and Tsui Hark.
The omnibus film, which received a Cannes 2020 label, was initiated by To as a tribute to his home city and shot on film in honour of the golden age of Hong Kong cinema, during which all seven of the directors first emerged. The segment directed...
The 25th Busan International Film Festival is set to open with the world premiere of Septet: The Story Of Hong Kong, directed by Sammo Hung, Ann Hui, Patrick Tam, Yuen Wo Ping, Johnnie To, Ringo Lam and Tsui Hark.
The omnibus film, which received a Cannes 2020 label, was initiated by To as a tribute to his home city and shot on film in honour of the golden age of Hong Kong cinema, during which all seven of the directors first emerged. The segment directed...
- 9/14/2020
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
The fall film festival season, one unlike any other, continues on as BFI London Film Festival have announced the full lineup for their 68th edition. Featuring both virtually and physical screenings, the festival takes place between October 7-18. The physical screenings will occur at BFI Southbank and cinemas across the UK while all virtual screenings are geo-blocked to the UK, though Festival talks and Lff Expanded are available to experience for free from anywhere in the world. The lineup features Pixar’s latest animation Soul, as well as new films by Tsai Ming-liang, Francis Lee, Chloé Zhao, Steve McQueen, Garrett Bradley, Christian Petzold, Chaitanya Tamhane, Miranda July, and more.
“This has been such a period of uncertainty and change across the industry and when we embarked on a radical new plans for our 2020 edition, we stepped into unknown territory,” said Tricia Tuttle, BFI London Film Festival Director. “But we’ve...
“This has been such a period of uncertainty and change across the industry and when we embarked on a radical new plans for our 2020 edition, we stepped into unknown territory,” said Tricia Tuttle, BFI London Film Festival Director. “But we’ve...
- 9/8/2020
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
This year’s BFI London Film Festival, taking place as a hybrid of online and physical activities due to ongoing pandemic disruption, has unveiled a program of 58 titles.
A selection of screenings will take place at cinemas and others will take place in a virtual form for audiences across the UK. The films come from 40 countries. All screenings are geo-blocked to the UK, though festival talks will be available to experience for free around the world.
As previously announced, Steve McQueen’s Mangrove will open this year’s fest and Francis Lee’s Ammonite will close.
Titles include Pixar’s new movie Soul, which would’ve been at Cannes, Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland, which is set to premiere in Venice, Thomas Vinterberg’s Another Round, which was part of this year’s Cannes Label, Miranda July’s Kajillionaire, which debuted at Sundance, Bassam Tariq’s Mogul Mowgli, which was at Berlinale,...
A selection of screenings will take place at cinemas and others will take place in a virtual form for audiences across the UK. The films come from 40 countries. All screenings are geo-blocked to the UK, though festival talks will be available to experience for free around the world.
As previously announced, Steve McQueen’s Mangrove will open this year’s fest and Francis Lee’s Ammonite will close.
Titles include Pixar’s new movie Soul, which would’ve been at Cannes, Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland, which is set to premiere in Venice, Thomas Vinterberg’s Another Round, which was part of this year’s Cannes Label, Miranda July’s Kajillionaire, which debuted at Sundance, Bassam Tariq’s Mogul Mowgli, which was at Berlinale,...
- 9/8/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s pathetic that gay American moviegoers (at least this one) are still starved for representation onscreen in the mainstream. But luckily, indies are shouldering that burden, pulling gay characters often relegated to the margins or side-plots into the center of the action. Matt Fifer and co-director Kieran Mulcare’s feature debut “Cicada” is a lush, erotic, and touching New York-set drama that Fifer co-directed, wrote, produced, edited, and starred in, and it’s a standout example of a gay story done right. . But it also pinpoints the very specific plight of being a gay millennial navigating romance amid a Grindr-dominated paradigm.
Ben (Fifer) is a Brooklyn dweller patching together a life in the gig economy, holding a vaguely sketched desk job when he’s not painting houses or doing home repairs for pushy older queens who like to leer at his tight clothes (or lack thereof). His personal life is otherwise empty,...
Ben (Fifer) is a Brooklyn dweller patching together a life in the gig economy, holding a vaguely sketched desk job when he’s not painting houses or doing home repairs for pushy older queens who like to leer at his tight clothes (or lack thereof). His personal life is otherwise empty,...
- 9/1/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
While independent filmmakers have taken a hit with all the festival postponements, cancelations, and re-imaginings, there is a silver lining to upending business as usual. In the past, LGBTQ cinephiles hungry for quality films that represent the breadth and depth of queer life would have to go to a queer film festival to see the international titles or small comedies that may never make their way to Netflix. This year, they can stream some of the freshest films from all across the globe at home.
Which is why the 2020 Outfest Film Festival is more exciting than ever, with drive-ins, a streaming platform, and plenty of world premieres. In this year’s lineup, 70 percent of the films are directed by women or filmmakers of color. Beginning August 20 and lasting for 11 days, the films will be available to stream via Vimeo’s Ott platform. In addition, the festival will host six nights...
Which is why the 2020 Outfest Film Festival is more exciting than ever, with drive-ins, a streaming platform, and plenty of world premieres. In this year’s lineup, 70 percent of the films are directed by women or filmmakers of color. Beginning August 20 and lasting for 11 days, the films will be available to stream via Vimeo’s Ott platform. In addition, the festival will host six nights...
- 8/21/2020
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Outfest Los Angeles is going virtual this year and they have unveiled their stacked lineup for the 11-day festival which kicks off August 20.
The LGBTQ film fest fest will include over 160 films with 35 world premieres, 10 North American premieres and 4 U.S. premieres to Los Angeles for 2020. The fest will live on http://www.outfestla2020.com and there will also be “Outfest LA Under the Stars”, a drive-in experience will take place at the stunning Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, where for two extended weekends the Festival will be hosting a series of drive-in screenings across six-nights on two lots, including both kick-off and closing events. The drive-in screenings will start with the Sundance pic The Nowhere Inn starring musicians Annie Clark and Carrie Brownstein. Other screenings will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
Over 70% of films at Outfest LA directed by female, trans, and Poc filmmakers. The Breakthrough Centerpiece will be...
The LGBTQ film fest fest will include over 160 films with 35 world premieres, 10 North American premieres and 4 U.S. premieres to Los Angeles for 2020. The fest will live on http://www.outfestla2020.com and there will also be “Outfest LA Under the Stars”, a drive-in experience will take place at the stunning Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, where for two extended weekends the Festival will be hosting a series of drive-in screenings across six-nights on two lots, including both kick-off and closing events. The drive-in screenings will start with the Sundance pic The Nowhere Inn starring musicians Annie Clark and Carrie Brownstein. Other screenings will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
Over 70% of films at Outfest LA directed by female, trans, and Poc filmmakers. The Breakthrough Centerpiece will be...
- 8/11/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Blog Series Part 2 of 4: The Future of Distribution Through Film Festivals by Jeffrey WinterPart Two: Perspectives
This is the second installment of a series on the fate of film festivals and non-theatrical exhibition in the age of Covid-19. Please email comments and questions to festivals@thefilmcollaborative.org.
From The Film Collaborative
Recent days have lanced our hearts again, what with the postponements, cancellations and disruptions of such Industry stalwarts as Visions Du Réel (April 17 — May 2), BAMcinemaFest (mid-June), Provincetown International (June 17–21), and the 30th anniversary of Toronto’s Inside Out Lgbt Festival (May 21–31). There are still some optimistic hold-outs in the schedule (especially special screenings), but for the most part, we know what’s up now…we’re looking at a near-total cessation of regularly scheduled public programming stretching until at least the 2020 summer solstice…and hoping that the longer days to follow will shed further light on the situation.
This is the second installment of a series on the fate of film festivals and non-theatrical exhibition in the age of Covid-19. Please email comments and questions to festivals@thefilmcollaborative.org.
From The Film Collaborative
Recent days have lanced our hearts again, what with the postponements, cancellations and disruptions of such Industry stalwarts as Visions Du Réel (April 17 — May 2), BAMcinemaFest (mid-June), Provincetown International (June 17–21), and the 30th anniversary of Toronto’s Inside Out Lgbt Festival (May 21–31). There are still some optimistic hold-outs in the schedule (especially special screenings), but for the most part, we know what’s up now…we’re looking at a near-total cessation of regularly scheduled public programming stretching until at least the 2020 summer solstice…and hoping that the longer days to follow will shed further light on the situation.
- 5/5/2020
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Lgbtiq+ festival to launch BFI Flare at Home on streaming service BFI Player.
The BFI Flare: London Lgbtiq+ Film Festival is to make a raft of titles and live Q&As available online following its cancellation on Monday due to the coronavirus pandemic.
BFI Flare at Home will host several features and shorts that were due to screen at the festival on BFI Player from March 20-29.
New titles will include Levan Akin’s Cannes award-winner And Then We Danced; Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau’s chamber piece Don’t Look Down; and Daniel Karslake’s documentary For They Know Not What They Do.
The BFI Flare: London Lgbtiq+ Film Festival is to make a raft of titles and live Q&As available online following its cancellation on Monday due to the coronavirus pandemic.
BFI Flare at Home will host several features and shorts that were due to screen at the festival on BFI Player from March 20-29.
New titles will include Levan Akin’s Cannes award-winner And Then We Danced; Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau’s chamber piece Don’t Look Down; and Daniel Karslake’s documentary For They Know Not What They Do.
- 3/19/2020
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦
- ScreenDaily
BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival, which was due to run March 18-29, has been cancelled just two days before it was due to open over coronavirus concerns.
Organizers BFI said it was making the move with “heavy hearts”, but that “due to the scale and complexity of running a large international film festival with filmmakers set to travel to it from across the world” it had been forced to make the decision.
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“BFI Flare is a very special and long standing festival with a loyal and dedicated following and we realise that this is a very disappointing situation for audiences,...
Organizers BFI said it was making the move with “heavy hearts”, but that “due to the scale and complexity of running a large international film festival with filmmakers set to travel to it from across the world” it had been forced to make the decision.
More from DeadlineArnold Schwarzenegger Posts Coronavirus Message Starring Ponies Lulu & Whiskey: "Listen To The Experts, Ignore The Morons. We Will Get Through This Together"Australian TV Presenter Who Recently Met Rita Wilson Contracts CoronavirusBritish TV Shows 'Jeremy Vine' & 'Loose Women' Go Audience-Free Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
“BFI Flare is a very special and long standing festival with a loyal and dedicated following and we realise that this is a very disappointing situation for audiences,...
- 3/16/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Lgbtiq+ film festival was due to run March 18-29.
The BFI Flare: London Lgbtiq+ Film Festival has become the latest event to be cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The festival was set to run from March 18-29 and open with the world premiere of Cicada from writer, director and star Matthew Fifer and Kieran Mulcare.
But the impact on international travel as Covid-19 continues to spread around the world has led to organisers shuttering the 2020 edition. In the coming days, organisers are exploring ways to share elements of the event “digitally”, in step with some other festivals.
“It’s...
The BFI Flare: London Lgbtiq+ Film Festival has become the latest event to be cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The festival was set to run from March 18-29 and open with the world premiere of Cicada from writer, director and star Matthew Fifer and Kieran Mulcare.
But the impact on international travel as Covid-19 continues to spread around the world has led to organisers shuttering the 2020 edition. In the coming days, organisers are exploring ways to share elements of the event “digitally”, in step with some other festivals.
“It’s...
- 3/16/2020
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦
- ScreenDaily
The BFI Flare: London Lgbtiq+ Film Festival has been canceled days before it was set to launch in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
Set to open on Wednesday and run until March 29 at London’s BFI Southbank, BFI Flare is one of the world’s leading Lgbtiq+ festivals. This year’s event was due to present more than 50 features, 85 shorts and a wide range of special events and guest appearances.
The festival was set to open with the world premiere of Matt Fifer and Kieran Mulcare’s feature debut “Cicada,” and to close with the U.K. premiere of theatre director Jessica Swale’s “Summerland,” starring Gemma Arterton and Gugu Mbatha-Raw.
The BFI said that it had canceled BFI Flare “with heavy hearts” due to the scale and complexity of running a large international film festival with filmmakers set to travel from across the world as the Covid-19 pandemic rapidly evolves.
Set to open on Wednesday and run until March 29 at London’s BFI Southbank, BFI Flare is one of the world’s leading Lgbtiq+ festivals. This year’s event was due to present more than 50 features, 85 shorts and a wide range of special events and guest appearances.
The festival was set to open with the world premiere of Matt Fifer and Kieran Mulcare’s feature debut “Cicada,” and to close with the U.K. premiere of theatre director Jessica Swale’s “Summerland,” starring Gemma Arterton and Gugu Mbatha-Raw.
The BFI said that it had canceled BFI Flare “with heavy hearts” due to the scale and complexity of running a large international film festival with filmmakers set to travel from across the world as the Covid-19 pandemic rapidly evolves.
- 3/16/2020
- by Tim Dams
- Variety Film + TV
Treadstone's plots are all over the place.
Treadstone Season 1 Episode 10 -- the season finale -- had a tall task ahead of it: It had to give resolution to the central plots.
It failed miserably.
Instead of getting resolution, we got set-up for Treadstone Season 2 by jumping from character to character after a meager few scenes with each of the characters we've traveled this journey with so far.
Fakeout deaths generally don't go down well with me, but Haynes returning only to be killed for good was downright cruel.
Nothing is satisfying about a fan-favorite returning only to have them killed off them a few scenes later. It weakens a show's ability to genuinely shock the audience.
Haynes could have played a big part in Treadstone Season 2, but maybe his death was needed to allow Edwards and Tara to move on to the next phase of their plan.
Going off the...
Treadstone Season 1 Episode 10 -- the season finale -- had a tall task ahead of it: It had to give resolution to the central plots.
It failed miserably.
Instead of getting resolution, we got set-up for Treadstone Season 2 by jumping from character to character after a meager few scenes with each of the characters we've traveled this journey with so far.
Fakeout deaths generally don't go down well with me, but Haynes returning only to be killed for good was downright cruel.
Nothing is satisfying about a fan-favorite returning only to have them killed off them a few scenes later. It weakens a show's ability to genuinely shock the audience.
Haynes could have played a big part in Treadstone Season 2, but maybe his death was needed to allow Edwards and Tara to move on to the next phase of their plan.
Going off the...
- 12/18/2019
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
Update with final ranked list: The 15th annual Black List was released Monday, with Ken Kobayashi’s romance screenplay Move On leading the coveted rundown of unproduced screenplays in Hollywood with 29 votes.
The screenplay follows Teddy, who thinks he’s the only living person left in a world where humanity is frozen in time. That is until his ex-girlfriend, Leyna, shows up at his doorstep. Together, they venture to find the cause behind the freeze and in the process, confront the issues that plagued their relationship before it’s too late.
Some titles on this year’s list have already been snatched up by studios. Don’t Worry Darling, with 19 votes on today’s list, had 18 bids going for it over the summer, with New Line winning and Olivia Wilde directing and starring as exclusively reported by Deadline. Also as exclusively reported by Deadline this morning, Netflix snapped up for high six figures First Ascent,...
The screenplay follows Teddy, who thinks he’s the only living person left in a world where humanity is frozen in time. That is until his ex-girlfriend, Leyna, shows up at his doorstep. Together, they venture to find the cause behind the freeze and in the process, confront the issues that plagued their relationship before it’s too late.
Some titles on this year’s list have already been snatched up by studios. Don’t Worry Darling, with 19 votes on today’s list, had 18 bids going for it over the summer, with New Line winning and Olivia Wilde directing and starring as exclusively reported by Deadline. Also as exclusively reported by Deadline this morning, Netflix snapped up for high six figures First Ascent,...
- 12/16/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro and Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
SoYun can't be dead.
Treadstone Season 1 Episode 5 was another action-packed installment of this USA Network drama. It moved along at a brisk pace, with more high-stakes fights than before.
SoYun left her son on Treadstone Season 1 Episode 4 intending to returning home, but that's not on the cards for her.
The Cicada realized the writing was on the wall the moment she heard her journey out of North Korea, and over to China was only a one-way affair.
It was a delivery mission that was fated to be her last. The looks of anguish on her face when she realized she left her son's teddy bear behind was sad.
She understood there was no option to get back off the boat, so the only part of her son she had with her was forever lost.
Delivering the package to another country was one thing, but it was obvious she was going...
Treadstone Season 1 Episode 5 was another action-packed installment of this USA Network drama. It moved along at a brisk pace, with more high-stakes fights than before.
SoYun left her son on Treadstone Season 1 Episode 4 intending to returning home, but that's not on the cards for her.
The Cicada realized the writing was on the wall the moment she heard her journey out of North Korea, and over to China was only a one-way affair.
It was a delivery mission that was fated to be her last. The looks of anguish on her face when she realized she left her son's teddy bear behind was sad.
She understood there was no option to get back off the boat, so the only part of her son she had with her was forever lost.
Delivering the package to another country was one thing, but it was obvious she was going...
- 11/13/2019
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
Michael Ahr Oct 11, 2019
Treadstone executive producer Ben Smith joins The Fourth Wall podcast to talk about the USA Network’s Bourne prequel series.
This interview is spoiler-free for Treadstone, which premieres on October 15, 2019 on the USA Network.
With the prevalence of “cinematic universes” these days, it’s no surprise that Universal has sought to create a shared world for the Jason Bourne saga with upcoming movies starring Jeremy Renner and Dwayne Johnson. But Ben Smith, who has produced a number of Robert Ludlum adaptations for the theater, has now branched into television with a new Bourne prequel for Ucp on the USA Network entitled Treadstone. Smith talked to us for The Fourth Wall podcast about the series’ premise, which explores the origins of the sleeper assassin program that began with The Bourne Identity.
Den Of Geek: For those who may not be familiar with the Ludlum novels, what can you...
Treadstone executive producer Ben Smith joins The Fourth Wall podcast to talk about the USA Network’s Bourne prequel series.
This interview is spoiler-free for Treadstone, which premieres on October 15, 2019 on the USA Network.
With the prevalence of “cinematic universes” these days, it’s no surprise that Universal has sought to create a shared world for the Jason Bourne saga with upcoming movies starring Jeremy Renner and Dwayne Johnson. But Ben Smith, who has produced a number of Robert Ludlum adaptations for the theater, has now branched into television with a new Bourne prequel for Ucp on the USA Network entitled Treadstone. Smith talked to us for The Fourth Wall podcast about the series’ premise, which explores the origins of the sleeper assassin program that began with The Bourne Identity.
Den Of Geek: For those who may not be familiar with the Ludlum novels, what can you...
- 10/11/2019
- Den of Geek
The Flash has been teasing an incoming crisis since its very first episode, with the event always said to come in 2024. However, as an outcome of season 5, it’s been brought forward by five years and we’ll see how the fabled multiversal cataclysm goes down in this fall’s big Arrowverse crossover, “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” As you would expect though, it’s going to have some major repercussions for our heroes and their world.
In a new interview with TV Line to hype up the series’ return for its sixth season next month, showrunner Eric Wallace teased how “Crisis” will affect Team Flash, promising that it’ll turn everything upside down.
“It’s like stepping on a landmine. All of a sudden the future is today, and that turns everything upside-down. You’ll see each member of Team Flash react in their own unique, and sometimes tragic, way.
In a new interview with TV Line to hype up the series’ return for its sixth season next month, showrunner Eric Wallace teased how “Crisis” will affect Team Flash, promising that it’ll turn everything upside down.
“It’s like stepping on a landmine. All of a sudden the future is today, and that turns everything upside-down. You’ll see each member of Team Flash react in their own unique, and sometimes tragic, way.
- 9/5/2019
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
You know, I’ve often wondered why The Flash has emerged as the most popular show in the Arrowverse. Though I admittedly prefer Arrow above all others, I do love both series. In my view, The Flash probably began outshining its progenitor by blending action, mystery, science fiction, comedy and drama so well that it’s captivated even casual fans of the superhero genre. Seriously, I’m sometimes surprised to learn which people tune in regularly.
But to be quite honest, that perfect blend just laid out mostly applied to the first two seasons, which this critic will forever regard as some of the best comic book TV ever created. And while season 3 did get its share of flack for going darker than expected, I thought it to be nearly as good. Season 4, however, was downright farcical more often than not.
To my delight, season 5 recaptured the magic enjoyed by the show’s earlier years,...
But to be quite honest, that perfect blend just laid out mostly applied to the first two seasons, which this critic will forever regard as some of the best comic book TV ever created. And while season 3 did get its share of flack for going darker than expected, I thought it to be nearly as good. Season 4, however, was downright farcical more often than not.
To my delight, season 5 recaptured the magic enjoyed by the show’s earlier years,...
- 8/30/2019
- by Eric Joseph
- We Got This Covered
USA Network has released the first trailer for their upcoming Bourne spinoff series Treadstone, and it actually looks like it’s going to be an action-packed series. There are some brutal looking fight sequences teased in this first trailer.
The ten-episode series was created by Tim Kring (Heroes), and it “explores the origin story and present-day actions of a CIA black ops program known as Operation Treadstone — a covert program that uses behavior-modification protocol to turn recruits into nearly superhuman assassins.” The first season will follow sleeper agents across the globe as they’re mysteriously “awakened” to resume their deadly missions. They are part of a Treadstone program called “Cicada”.
When talking about the series, executive producer Ben Smith, who also served as producer of Jason Bourne and The Bourne Legacy, told Entertainment Weekly:
“These Cicadas have very different trajectories upon finding themselves ‘awakened’ over a decade after volunteering for...
The ten-episode series was created by Tim Kring (Heroes), and it “explores the origin story and present-day actions of a CIA black ops program known as Operation Treadstone — a covert program that uses behavior-modification protocol to turn recruits into nearly superhuman assassins.” The first season will follow sleeper agents across the globe as they’re mysteriously “awakened” to resume their deadly missions. They are part of a Treadstone program called “Cicada”.
When talking about the series, executive producer Ben Smith, who also served as producer of Jason Bourne and The Bourne Legacy, told Entertainment Weekly:
“These Cicadas have very different trajectories upon finding themselves ‘awakened’ over a decade after volunteering for...
- 8/9/2019
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Hot on the heels of news that Bloodwork will be the main villain of season 6 of The Flash, we now have some set photos of the character. The recently released trailer from San Diego Comic-Con, which you can see above, showcases Bloodwork as this season’s big bad, with Sendhil Ramamurthy in the role.
Now, new set photos have emerged via Twitter and Hollywood North of Ramamurthy as Dr. Ramsey Rosso, which show him at a cemetery in what seems to be the same introductory scene from the trailer. Going by the age on the tombstone, the photos appear to reveal that Rosso is attending the funeral of his mother Rachel, with Caitlin Snow as one of the guests.
Of course, Bloodwork is a recent addition to the Flash’s Rogues Gallery, having been created by Joshua Williamson, Pop Mhan, and Christian Duce for the 2017 run of the comic series.
Now, new set photos have emerged via Twitter and Hollywood North of Ramamurthy as Dr. Ramsey Rosso, which show him at a cemetery in what seems to be the same introductory scene from the trailer. Going by the age on the tombstone, the photos appear to reveal that Rosso is attending the funeral of his mother Rachel, with Caitlin Snow as one of the guests.
Of course, Bloodwork is a recent addition to the Flash’s Rogues Gallery, having been created by Joshua Williamson, Pop Mhan, and Christian Duce for the 2017 run of the comic series.
- 7/21/2019
- by Jessica James
- We Got This Covered
For the past few months, we’ve all been speculating who could be the big bad in The Flash‘s sixth season. Our two main suspects were the Red Death and a new version of Mirror Master because subtle hints were given in season 5, though it appears we’ll have to wait longer for either of those fellas to show up. Godspeed would’ve been another fine guess, but his return may be limited to only one episode.
As it turns out, none of us guessed correctly, as the trailer emerging from San Diego Comic-Con has revealed that Bloodwork is coming to Central City this fall. Set to be played by Sendhil Ramamurthy of Heroes fame, it’s become quickly apparent that his acting skills are leaps and bounds ahead of Chris Klein’s, whom we came to know as Cicada last season.
According to Warner Bros., Bloodwork, or Dr.
As it turns out, none of us guessed correctly, as the trailer emerging from San Diego Comic-Con has revealed that Bloodwork is coming to Central City this fall. Set to be played by Sendhil Ramamurthy of Heroes fame, it’s become quickly apparent that his acting skills are leaps and bounds ahead of Chris Klein’s, whom we came to know as Cicada last season.
According to Warner Bros., Bloodwork, or Dr.
- 7/21/2019
- by Eric Joseph
- We Got This Covered
I don’t know about you, but I felt The Flash had been reinvigorated by its fifth season. Sure, Cicada wasn’t exactly the greatest villain to ever come through the door, but the overall journey had been thoroughly entertaining and satisfying. That said, I and others have high hopes for what’s to come this fall.
Serving up quite the appetizer is that of the first trailer promoting season 6, which can be viewed at the top of this article. Revealed today at San Diego Comic-Con, it simultaneously dazzles longtime viewers and lays the groundwork for the future of the series. We won’t say too much more about it since you can check it out for yourself above, but let’s just say this next run is shaping up real nicely.
Of course, as you may have figured, the upcoming “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover event will also largely...
Serving up quite the appetizer is that of the first trailer promoting season 6, which can be viewed at the top of this article. Revealed today at San Diego Comic-Con, it simultaneously dazzles longtime viewers and lays the groundwork for the future of the series. We won’t say too much more about it since you can check it out for yourself above, but let’s just say this next run is shaping up real nicely.
Of course, as you may have figured, the upcoming “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover event will also largely...
- 7/21/2019
- by Eric Joseph
- We Got This Covered
Tribeca Film Institute (Tfi) and Pond5 have once again teamed up to offer microgrants to indie filmmakers and artists.
The grants, which go as high as $7,500, are intended to help storytellers during “in-between” phases of their projects, such as research, festival travel or community screenings. They’re the kind of unexpected costs that can lead to financial heartache for artists who are already tight on cash.
“These filmmakers shouldn’t be putting stuff on their personal credit cards and in many cases they simply can’t,” said Amy Hobby, executive director of Tribeca Film Institute. “We want to help with the things that don’t often make it into an independent film budget.”
Seven projects were selected for the awards from a pool of more than 200 applicants. Artists being honored are Erika Cohn and Angela Tucker (“Belly of the Beast”); Zoe Miranda (“Blue Hour”); Matt Fifer, Kieran Mulcare, Ramfis Myrthil...
The grants, which go as high as $7,500, are intended to help storytellers during “in-between” phases of their projects, such as research, festival travel or community screenings. They’re the kind of unexpected costs that can lead to financial heartache for artists who are already tight on cash.
“These filmmakers shouldn’t be putting stuff on their personal credit cards and in many cases they simply can’t,” said Amy Hobby, executive director of Tribeca Film Institute. “We want to help with the things that don’t often make it into an independent film budget.”
Seven projects were selected for the awards from a pool of more than 200 applicants. Artists being honored are Erika Cohn and Angela Tucker (“Belly of the Beast”); Zoe Miranda (“Blue Hour”); Matt Fifer, Kieran Mulcare, Ramfis Myrthil...
- 7/18/2019
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
The Flash season 5 had its plusses, but one way that the most recent run of the DC show let fans down was with its big bad. Unfortunately, Cicada just didn’t measure up to previous powerful villains like Reverse-Flash and Zoom. So, season 6 needs to feature a new antagonist who could really reinvigorate the series and prove a huge threat to Grant Gustin’s Scarlet Speedster. On that note, who could be a better choice than the Red Death?
Ordinarily, we’d never entertain the idea that this recent addition to the comics would appear on the show, but the character was directly name-dropped in an episode of season 5. The Flash has always referenced its next big bads before they arrived so fans are keeping their fingers crossed that this is what’s happening here, too.
But who is the Red Death and why is he such an exciting prospect?...
Ordinarily, we’d never entertain the idea that this recent addition to the comics would appear on the show, but the character was directly name-dropped in an episode of season 5. The Flash has always referenced its next big bads before they arrived so fans are keeping their fingers crossed that this is what’s happening here, too.
But who is the Red Death and why is he such an exciting prospect?...
- 6/17/2019
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
The Flash wrapped up its fifth season just last month, but it sounds like the casting process for season 6 of The CW superhero drama is already gearing up. Specifically, producers are on the look out for the next big bad of the show, who’s no doubt set to run rings around Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen.
TV Line reports that new showrunner Eric Wallace and his team are planning a “male big bad” for the upcoming sixth season and are “eyeing diverse actors for the part.” We still don’t know the identity of the next major antagonist to threaten life in Central City, but previous seasons have frequently featured references to the next big bad in their last few episodes, so season 5 might’ve given us some helpful clues.
Episode 20, for instance, saw Nora and her band of Young Rogues steal a Mirror Gun from McCulloch Industries. This...
TV Line reports that new showrunner Eric Wallace and his team are planning a “male big bad” for the upcoming sixth season and are “eyeing diverse actors for the part.” We still don’t know the identity of the next major antagonist to threaten life in Central City, but previous seasons have frequently featured references to the next big bad in their last few episodes, so season 5 might’ve given us some helpful clues.
Episode 20, for instance, saw Nora and her band of Young Rogues steal a Mirror Gun from McCulloch Industries. This...
- 6/10/2019
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
This fall, worlds will live and worlds will die as the Arrowverse finally tackles “Crisis On Infinite Earths” for its next big crossover. Monday’s Arrow season 7 finale already paved the way for the multiversal event, which means that fans went into last night’s The Flash season 5 closer with an expectation that it would similarly lay the groundwork for the biggest threat the heroes of The CW’s DC TV universe have yet faced. And, sure enough, that’s exactly what it did.
Episode 5×22, “Legacy,” ended on an emotional note. With Cicada II defeated and Grace cured, it seemed like a happy ending, but the destruction of Cicada’s dagger meant Reverse-Flash escaped from his prison in the future. Obviously, this was a huge change to the timeline and resulted in Barry and Iris’ daughter Nora vanishing from existence.
Following her disappearance, a further consequence of the alteration was revealed.
Episode 5×22, “Legacy,” ended on an emotional note. With Cicada II defeated and Grace cured, it seemed like a happy ending, but the destruction of Cicada’s dagger meant Reverse-Flash escaped from his prison in the future. Obviously, this was a huge change to the timeline and resulted in Barry and Iris’ daughter Nora vanishing from existence.
Following her disappearance, a further consequence of the alteration was revealed.
- 5/15/2019
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
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