Reflecting on her career, Lena Waithe says, “I think about legacy a lot.” The writer-producer-actor, whose body of work includes creating Showtime drama The Chi and BET’s Twenties, has been on a steady upward trajectory since winning a primetime Emmy Award in 2017 for outstanding writing on Netflix’s Master of None. But for Waithe, success raised questions about where she was headed. “I didn’t know what I was actually trying to build. I wanted to have real agency over my career, but it was also not just about me, it’s about who I can work with.”
Together with Rishi Rajani, a studio exec who honed his skills at 20th Century Fox, UTA, Paradigm, and Studio 8, Waithe has created a multi-platform entertainment company that accomplishes both. At Hillman Grad Productions, Waithe and Rishi develop projects that often go against the industry grain, while also hiring up-and-coming talent...
Together with Rishi Rajani, a studio exec who honed his skills at 20th Century Fox, UTA, Paradigm, and Studio 8, Waithe has created a multi-platform entertainment company that accomplishes both. At Hillman Grad Productions, Waithe and Rishi develop projects that often go against the industry grain, while also hiring up-and-coming talent...
- 5/19/2024
- by Carita Rizzo
- Deadline Film + TV
A still from ‘The Greatest Night in Pop’ by Bao Nguyen, an official selection of the Episodic Program at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. (Courtesy of Sundance Institute)
The 2024 Sundance Film Festival has added The Greatest Night in Pop, a documentary that explores the creation of the collaborative “We Are the World” song and video, to its lineup.
“We’re thrilled to be adding to our program a special screening of The Greatest Night in Pop, taking us behind the scenes of how ‘We Are the World’ came together, followed by a conversation with Lionel Richie, filmmaker Bao Nguyen, and producer Julia Nottingham,” stated Kim Yutani, Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming. “Our robust film lineup will be rounded out by a wide range of conversations touching upon themes in the programming and featuring some of today’s most inspiring creators and leaders.”
The festival also announced the 2024 Beyond Film schedule,...
The 2024 Sundance Film Festival has added The Greatest Night in Pop, a documentary that explores the creation of the collaborative “We Are the World” song and video, to its lineup.
“We’re thrilled to be adding to our program a special screening of The Greatest Night in Pop, taking us behind the scenes of how ‘We Are the World’ came together, followed by a conversation with Lionel Richie, filmmaker Bao Nguyen, and producer Julia Nottingham,” stated Kim Yutani, Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming. “Our robust film lineup will be rounded out by a wide range of conversations touching upon themes in the programming and featuring some of today’s most inspiring creators and leaders.”
The festival also announced the 2024 Beyond Film schedule,...
- 1/5/2024
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
The 2024 Sundance Film Festival has unveiled its Beyond Film programming, including discussions with leading auteurs and rising stars.
A trio of annual series — Power of Story, Cinema Café presented by Audible, and The Big Conversation — have shared their respective filmmaker lineups, with the festival also launching special 40th anniversary celebration events and a New Frontier conversation about artificial intelligence in film. The 2024 Sundance Film Festival runs January 18 to 28, with the talks taking place January 19 to 26. Select Beyond Film offerings available beginning January 25 on the digital platform.
The Beyond Film speakers series includes discussions with Steven Soderbergh, Jesse Eisenberg, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sue Bird, Lucy Lawless, Nzingha Stewart, and Debra Granik, who also serves on the festival jury. For the 40th edition of the festival, alums like Richard Linklater, Dawn Porter, Miguel Arteta, and Christine Vachon will participate in “Power of Story: Four Decades of Taking Chances,” a talk about the importance of independent filmmaking.
A trio of annual series — Power of Story, Cinema Café presented by Audible, and The Big Conversation — have shared their respective filmmaker lineups, with the festival also launching special 40th anniversary celebration events and a New Frontier conversation about artificial intelligence in film. The 2024 Sundance Film Festival runs January 18 to 28, with the talks taking place January 19 to 26. Select Beyond Film offerings available beginning January 25 on the digital platform.
The Beyond Film speakers series includes discussions with Steven Soderbergh, Jesse Eisenberg, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sue Bird, Lucy Lawless, Nzingha Stewart, and Debra Granik, who also serves on the festival jury. For the 40th edition of the festival, alums like Richard Linklater, Dawn Porter, Miguel Arteta, and Christine Vachon will participate in “Power of Story: Four Decades of Taking Chances,” a talk about the importance of independent filmmaking.
- 1/5/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Updated: This story was originally published on November 1, 2023, and has now been updated to include new honorees.
The 2024 Sundance Film Festival will honor actress and filmmaker Kristen Stewart; filmmakers Christopher Nolan, Maite Alberdi, and Celine Song; and journalist and producer Pat Mitchell with awards at its annual opening night gala and fundraiser.
The fundraiser will take place January 18, 2024 on the opening night of next year’s Sundance, this year celebrating 40 years of the film festival.
Stewart, who will appear in two films at this year’s Sundance, including U.S. Dramatic Competition title “Love Me” and Midnight movie “Love Lies Bleeding,” will receive the Visionary Award “in recognition of her work as an uncompromising artist and contributions to the field of independent film.”
“Oppenheimer” director Nolan will receive a new prize from Sundance called the Sundance Institute Trailblazer Award. Nolan’s “Memento” from 2001 played at Sundance that year. Meanwhile, Song...
The 2024 Sundance Film Festival will honor actress and filmmaker Kristen Stewart; filmmakers Christopher Nolan, Maite Alberdi, and Celine Song; and journalist and producer Pat Mitchell with awards at its annual opening night gala and fundraiser.
The fundraiser will take place January 18, 2024 on the opening night of next year’s Sundance, this year celebrating 40 years of the film festival.
Stewart, who will appear in two films at this year’s Sundance, including U.S. Dramatic Competition title “Love Me” and Midnight movie “Love Lies Bleeding,” will receive the Visionary Award “in recognition of her work as an uncompromising artist and contributions to the field of independent film.”
“Oppenheimer” director Nolan will receive a new prize from Sundance called the Sundance Institute Trailblazer Award. Nolan’s “Memento” from 2001 played at Sundance that year. Meanwhile, Song...
- 12/14/2023
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Updated: Former Sundance Institute Board Chair and trustee Pat Mitchell, the first woman president of CNN Productions and PBS, has joined the list of honorees for the Sundance Gala that includes Christopher Nolan, Celine Song and Maite Alberdi. Mitchell will receive the Vanguard Award for Philanthropy for her commitment to the Institute’s support and to philanthropy for social impact.
The upcoming Opening Night Gala: Celebrating 40 Years Presented by Chase Sapphire will be held on Jan. 18 at the DeJoria Center in Kamas, Utah.
“Beyond being a stalwart champion of the role of media and storytelling as an agent for social change, Pat is a fierce advocate for gender and racial equality, and in all her diverse roles and responsibilities — as a journalist, documentary producer, and media executive — has supported the stories and ideas that move us forward toward a more equitable future. Pat’s career and commitments of her time...
The upcoming Opening Night Gala: Celebrating 40 Years Presented by Chase Sapphire will be held on Jan. 18 at the DeJoria Center in Kamas, Utah.
“Beyond being a stalwart champion of the role of media and storytelling as an agent for social change, Pat is a fierce advocate for gender and racial equality, and in all her diverse roles and responsibilities — as a journalist, documentary producer, and media executive — has supported the stories and ideas that move us forward toward a more equitable future. Pat’s career and commitments of her time...
- 11/16/2023
- by Jaden Thompson
- Variety Film + TV
Christopher Nolan, Celine Song and Maite Alberdi will be feted at a gala fundraiser on the opening night of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, the nonprofit Sundance Institute said Wednesday.
The Jan. 18 gathering, which will take place at the DeJoria Center, will “raise critical funds to support independent artists year-round through labs, grants and public programming that nurture artists globally.”
Nolan, who started in indie film before becoming the director of large-scale studio blockbusters like this year’s Oppenheimer, will be honored with the first-ever Sundance Institute Trailblazer Award. Song, the writer and director of this year’s Past Lives, and Alberdi, who helmed this year’s documentary The Eternal Memory, will each receive the Vanguard Award, Song for fiction and Alberdi for nonfiction.
Meanwhile, former Sundance Institute Board Chair and trustee Pat Mitchell will receive the Vanguard Award for Philanthropy.
“As we step into the 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival,...
The Jan. 18 gathering, which will take place at the DeJoria Center, will “raise critical funds to support independent artists year-round through labs, grants and public programming that nurture artists globally.”
Nolan, who started in indie film before becoming the director of large-scale studio blockbusters like this year’s Oppenheimer, will be honored with the first-ever Sundance Institute Trailblazer Award. Song, the writer and director of this year’s Past Lives, and Alberdi, who helmed this year’s documentary The Eternal Memory, will each receive the Vanguard Award, Song for fiction and Alberdi for nonfiction.
Meanwhile, former Sundance Institute Board Chair and trustee Pat Mitchell will receive the Vanguard Award for Philanthropy.
“As we step into the 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival,...
- 11/1/2023
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Sundance Institute will honor Christopher Nolan with the first-ever Sundance Trailblazer Award. The Opening Night Gala: Celebrating 40 Years Presented Chase Sapphire, on January 18, 2024 at the DeJoria Center in Utah, will also present the annual Vanguard Award to “Past Lives” writer/director Celine Song and “The Eternal Memory” writer/director Maite Alberdi. Their 40th annual film festival will take place from January 18 through January 28, 2024, as well as online from January 25 to January 28.
“As we step into the 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival, it is a distinct honor to recognize Christopher Nolan, a prodigious artist whose singular talent and remarkable body of work have made him one of the most respected filmmakers of our time. We are looking forward to spotlighting the unique voices of both Celine and Maite, storytellers we have been supporting and deeply believe in. All three of these storytellers represent Sundance’s values,” said Sundance Institute CEO Joana Vicente.
“As we step into the 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival, it is a distinct honor to recognize Christopher Nolan, a prodigious artist whose singular talent and remarkable body of work have made him one of the most respected filmmakers of our time. We are looking forward to spotlighting the unique voices of both Celine and Maite, storytellers we have been supporting and deeply believe in. All three of these storytellers represent Sundance’s values,” said Sundance Institute CEO Joana Vicente.
- 11/1/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
March is a big month for Lena Waithe and her Hillman Grad production banner. Yet, Waithe’s four films, all debuting within weeks of one another — “A Thousand and One,” “Kokomo City,” “Being Mary Tyler Moore,” and “Chang Can Dunk” — have virtually nothing in common. They range from a Sundance drama to an experimental documentary to a biographical HBO doc to a Disney+ teen movie, wavering widely in genre, tone, studio, and subject matter.
Well, almost nothing in common. All four films are the feature debuts of their directors. Incubating talent and giving them a shot has become an ethos for Waithe and Hillman Grad, something that has allowed the company and Waithe’s brand to blossom since launching in 2015.
Waithe’s producing success dates back to 2014, when her first project as a producer on 2014’s “Dear White People” also happened to be the debut film of Justin Simien and...
Well, almost nothing in common. All four films are the feature debuts of their directors. Incubating talent and giving them a shot has become an ethos for Waithe and Hillman Grad, something that has allowed the company and Waithe’s brand to blossom since launching in 2015.
Waithe’s producing success dates back to 2014, when her first project as a producer on 2014’s “Dear White People” also happened to be the debut film of Justin Simien and...
- 3/10/2023
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Film Independent has announced the presenters for the Film Independent Spirit Awards.
Among others who will be revealed before the show, the lineup of presenters will include Austin Butler, Beatrice Grann, Sharon Horgan, Michaela Jae Rodriguez, Troy Kotsur, Haley Lu Richardson, Melanie Lynskey, Taylour Paige, and Jenny Slate. They will join Chloé Zhao and Siân Heder, Academy Award winners and Fellows of Film Independent, who were earlier named Honorary Co-Chairs.
Read More: ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ Leads Spirit Award Noms
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with The Wallis, bringing to their stage our signature programs Film Independent Presents and Directors Close-Up on the eve of the Film Independent Spirit Awards,” said Josh Welsh, President of Film Independent. “Like the Spirit Awards themselves, this year’s line-up is a true confluence of bold, original filmmakers who are creating the most provocative and imaginative work today.”
Previous Dcu panellists have included Ben Affleck,...
Among others who will be revealed before the show, the lineup of presenters will include Austin Butler, Beatrice Grann, Sharon Horgan, Michaela Jae Rodriguez, Troy Kotsur, Haley Lu Richardson, Melanie Lynskey, Taylour Paige, and Jenny Slate. They will join Chloé Zhao and Siân Heder, Academy Award winners and Fellows of Film Independent, who were earlier named Honorary Co-Chairs.
Read More: ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ Leads Spirit Award Noms
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with The Wallis, bringing to their stage our signature programs Film Independent Presents and Directors Close-Up on the eve of the Film Independent Spirit Awards,” said Josh Welsh, President of Film Independent. “Like the Spirit Awards themselves, this year’s line-up is a true confluence of bold, original filmmakers who are creating the most provocative and imaginative work today.”
Previous Dcu panellists have included Ben Affleck,...
- 2/21/2023
- by Aashna Shah
- ET Canada
Just one year after Maggie Gyllenhaal (“The Lost Daughter”) became the second woman to win the Directors Guild of America’s First-Time Film Director award, Charlotte Wells (“Aftersun”) is set to follow her as the category’s third female champ. The 35-year-old Scottish filmmaker, who helmed three narrative shorts between 2015 and 2017, has already been heavily feted for her feature directing (and writing) debut with accolades such as the Cannes French Touch Prize and the Gotham Award for Best Breakthrough Director. Now, the fact that a whopping 96 of Gold Derby’s 2023 DGA Awards predictions odds-makers have her as their top choice in the rookie race should translate to a decisive win.
This category’s current lineup is the only one in its eight-year history to include just one male nominee. Last year’s unprecedented field of six consisted of two men and four women, including Gyllenhaal. Our odds show Wells far outpacing female contenders Alice Diop,...
This category’s current lineup is the only one in its eight-year history to include just one male nominee. Last year’s unprecedented field of six consisted of two men and four women, including Gyllenhaal. Our odds show Wells far outpacing female contenders Alice Diop,...
- 1/27/2023
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
The Sundance Institute has named the participants and projects set for the 2023 editions of a pair of its flagship programs: the Screenwriters Lab and Screenwriters Intensive.
Lab participants will include Joseph Sackett (Cross Pollination), Sean Wang (Dìdi (弟弟)), Abinash Bikram Shah (Elephants in the Fog), Gabriela Ortega (Huella), Walter Thompson-Hernández (If I Go Will They Miss Me), Hadas Ayalon (In a Minute You’ll Be Gone), Bernardo Cubría, John Hibey & Joshua Penn Soskin (Kill Yr Idols), Dania Bdeir & Bane Fakih (Pigeon Wars), Rashad Frett & Lin Que Ayoung (Ricky), Farida Zahran (The Leftover Ladies), Masami Kawai (Valley of the Tall Grass) and Audrey Rosenberg (Wild Animals).
Those set for the Intensive are Keisha Rae Witherspoon & Jason Fitzroy Jeffers (Arc), Shireen Alihaji (Blue Veil), Spencer Cook & Parker Smith (Lame), Jesahel Newton-Bernal (Leche), Cynthia Lowen (Light Mass Energy), Rebin Zangana (Qareen), David Liu (Santa Anita), Urvashi Pathania (Skin), Ciara Leina`ala Lacy (Untitled...
Lab participants will include Joseph Sackett (Cross Pollination), Sean Wang (Dìdi (弟弟)), Abinash Bikram Shah (Elephants in the Fog), Gabriela Ortega (Huella), Walter Thompson-Hernández (If I Go Will They Miss Me), Hadas Ayalon (In a Minute You’ll Be Gone), Bernardo Cubría, John Hibey & Joshua Penn Soskin (Kill Yr Idols), Dania Bdeir & Bane Fakih (Pigeon Wars), Rashad Frett & Lin Que Ayoung (Ricky), Farida Zahran (The Leftover Ladies), Masami Kawai (Valley of the Tall Grass) and Audrey Rosenberg (Wild Animals).
Those set for the Intensive are Keisha Rae Witherspoon & Jason Fitzroy Jeffers (Arc), Shireen Alihaji (Blue Veil), Spencer Cook & Parker Smith (Lame), Jesahel Newton-Bernal (Leche), Cynthia Lowen (Light Mass Energy), Rebin Zangana (Qareen), David Liu (Santa Anita), Urvashi Pathania (Skin), Ciara Leina`ala Lacy (Untitled...
- 1/13/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
As Natalie Portman famously pointed out at the Golden Globes in 2018, “here are the all-male nominees” for the 2023 Directors Guild of America Awards.
In the main category for feature film, the group nominated Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert(“Everything Everywhere All at Once”), Todd Field (“Tár”), Joseph Kosinski (“Top Gun: Maverick”), Martin McDonagh (“The Banshees of Inisherin”) and Steven Spielberg (“The Fabelmans”).
Despite critically acclaimed movies from female directors like Sarah Polley (“Women Talking”), Gina Prince-Bythewood (“The Woman King”), Chinonye Chukwu (“Till”) and Maria Schrader (“She Said”), the DGA voters failed to recognize their achievements. This comes after the Golden Globes gave Spielberg its directing prize on Tuesday, where no women were nominated.
Also missing from the lineup are James Cameron for “Avatar: The Way of Water” and Baz Luhrmann for “Elvis,” both considered very competitive in the directing races.
While the DGA fumbled in the top category, they made...
In the main category for feature film, the group nominated Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert(“Everything Everywhere All at Once”), Todd Field (“Tár”), Joseph Kosinski (“Top Gun: Maverick”), Martin McDonagh (“The Banshees of Inisherin”) and Steven Spielberg (“The Fabelmans”).
Despite critically acclaimed movies from female directors like Sarah Polley (“Women Talking”), Gina Prince-Bythewood (“The Woman King”), Chinonye Chukwu (“Till”) and Maria Schrader (“She Said”), the DGA voters failed to recognize their achievements. This comes after the Golden Globes gave Spielberg its directing prize on Tuesday, where no women were nominated.
Also missing from the lineup are James Cameron for “Avatar: The Way of Water” and Baz Luhrmann for “Elvis,” both considered very competitive in the directing races.
While the DGA fumbled in the top category, they made...
- 1/11/2023
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
The Oscar races for best picture, director and the four acting categories will be put into focus.
On Wednesday, Jan. 11, the SAG Awards will kick things off with their unveiling of its nominees in film and television (Variety has shared its final predictions).
Afterward, the Directors Guild of America will reveal the five directorial achievements for this year’s upcoming 75th ceremony, scheduled to take place on Saturday, Feb. 18, the day before the BAFTA Awards.
You can’t talk about the director race without Steven Spielberg being a part of it, even with the BAFTA snub from the longlist. This year, Spielberg, who won the Oscar prize twice for helming — “Schindler’s List” (1993) and “Saving Private Ryan” (1998) — finds himself in one of his most substantial positions yet for his deeply personal drama “The Fabelmans.” With three DGA wins and 12 nominations, Spielberg is both the most awarded and most nominated filmmaker in history.
On Wednesday, Jan. 11, the SAG Awards will kick things off with their unveiling of its nominees in film and television (Variety has shared its final predictions).
Afterward, the Directors Guild of America will reveal the five directorial achievements for this year’s upcoming 75th ceremony, scheduled to take place on Saturday, Feb. 18, the day before the BAFTA Awards.
You can’t talk about the director race without Steven Spielberg being a part of it, even with the BAFTA snub from the longlist. This year, Spielberg, who won the Oscar prize twice for helming — “Schindler’s List” (1993) and “Saving Private Ryan” (1998) — finds himself in one of his most substantial positions yet for his deeply personal drama “The Fabelmans.” With three DGA wins and 12 nominations, Spielberg is both the most awarded and most nominated filmmaker in history.
- 1/10/2023
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
The Sundance Institute on Friday announced the lineup for the 2023 Sundance Film Festival Beyond Film conversations, all of which are open to the public.
Made up of three series called Power of Story, Cinema Café, and The Big Conversation, Beyond Film rounds out the Festival experience, providing a place for the community to engage through artist conversations, filmmaker panels, and audience discourse. Beyond Film will take place in-person from January 19–23, 2023, with the Beyond Film offerings becoming available to audiences across the country on the online Festival Platform starting January 24, 2023. The Festival also shared details about additional free conversations and events from Sundance Collab and our Festival partners available in person and online.
Beyond Film speakers will include talent from Festival films, such as Barry Jenkins, Dakota Johnson, Jonathan Majors (“Magazine Dreams”), Randall Park (“Shortcomings”), Ruth Reichl (“Food and Country”), and Adrian Tomine (“Shortcomings”), as well as compelling speakers including Dr.
Made up of three series called Power of Story, Cinema Café, and The Big Conversation, Beyond Film rounds out the Festival experience, providing a place for the community to engage through artist conversations, filmmaker panels, and audience discourse. Beyond Film will take place in-person from January 19–23, 2023, with the Beyond Film offerings becoming available to audiences across the country on the online Festival Platform starting January 24, 2023. The Festival also shared details about additional free conversations and events from Sundance Collab and our Festival partners available in person and online.
Beyond Film speakers will include talent from Festival films, such as Barry Jenkins, Dakota Johnson, Jonathan Majors (“Magazine Dreams”), Randall Park (“Shortcomings”), Ruth Reichl (“Food and Country”), and Adrian Tomine (“Shortcomings”), as well as compelling speakers including Dr.
- 1/6/2023
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
The Sundance Institute has announced the lineup for the 2023 Sundance Film Festival Beyond Film conversations, all of which are open to the public. Made up of three series called Power of Story, Cinema Café, and The Big Conversation, Beyond Film rounds out the festival experience, providing a place for the community to engage through artist conversations, filmmaker panels, and audience discourse. Beyond Film will take place in-person from January 19–23, with the Beyond Film offerings becoming available to audiences across the country on the online festival platform starting January 24.
Beyond Film speakers will include talent from festival films, such as Barry Jenkins, Dakota Johnson, Jonathan Majors (“Magazine Dreams”), Randall Park (“Shortcomings”), Ruth Reichl (“Food and Country”), and Adrian Tomine (“Shortcomings”), as well as compelling speakers including Dr. Orna Guralnik, Marlee Matlin, and Lisa Taddeo.
More details about the lineup are below, with language courtesy of the festival.
Power Of Story
Power of Story: On Intimacy
Sunday,...
Beyond Film speakers will include talent from festival films, such as Barry Jenkins, Dakota Johnson, Jonathan Majors (“Magazine Dreams”), Randall Park (“Shortcomings”), Ruth Reichl (“Food and Country”), and Adrian Tomine (“Shortcomings”), as well as compelling speakers including Dr. Orna Guralnik, Marlee Matlin, and Lisa Taddeo.
More details about the lineup are below, with language courtesy of the festival.
Power Of Story
Power of Story: On Intimacy
Sunday,...
- 1/6/2023
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
The Sundance Institute has unveiled its lineups of Beyond Film and Partner Programming for the hybrid 2023 Sundance Film Festival, the in-person component of which is taking place in Utah from January 19-29.
The Beyond Film program consists of chats with notable creatives across three separate series: Power of Story, Cinema Café, and The Big Conversation. Some of the artists taking part this year include Barry Jenkins, Dakota Johnson, Jonathan Majors, Randall Park, Marlee Matlin and W. Kamau Bell — most of whom have films premiering at Sundance 2023. The program will take place in-person from January 19–23, with Beyond Film offerings to become available via the online Festival Platform starting on the 24th.
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Ryan Coogler (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) and Oscar-winning Summer of Soul helmer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson are just a couple of the A-listers set for panels to be put on by Festival partners between the 19th and the 24th...
The Beyond Film program consists of chats with notable creatives across three separate series: Power of Story, Cinema Café, and The Big Conversation. Some of the artists taking part this year include Barry Jenkins, Dakota Johnson, Jonathan Majors, Randall Park, Marlee Matlin and W. Kamau Bell — most of whom have films premiering at Sundance 2023. The program will take place in-person from January 19–23, with Beyond Film offerings to become available via the online Festival Platform starting on the 24th.
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Ryan Coogler (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) and Oscar-winning Summer of Soul helmer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson are just a couple of the A-listers set for panels to be put on by Festival partners between the 19th and the 24th...
- 1/6/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The Sundance Institute has revealed the inaugural edition of Opening Night: A Taste of Sundance, presented by IMDbPro, which will take place on January 19, 2023 in Park City, Utah during the Sundance Film Festival. The evening will kick off the festival by honoring inspiring and breakout storytellers whose journeys have been connected to Sundance throughout the years while raising funds and awareness for the Institute. Proceeds raised will be used to support the Institute’s year-round artist programs, granting, and other initiatives.
The evening will honor Ryan Coogler (this year’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”) with the first annual Sundance Institute | Variety Visionary Award. The award recognizes a notable Sundance Institute alum’s career. Coogler cut his teeth at the Sundance Institute, participating in the Feature Film Lab, where he developed his 2013 feature directing debut “Fruitvale Station.” The film went on to win both the U.S. Grand Jury Prize for...
The evening will honor Ryan Coogler (this year’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”) with the first annual Sundance Institute | Variety Visionary Award. The award recognizes a notable Sundance Institute alum’s career. Coogler cut his teeth at the Sundance Institute, participating in the Feature Film Lab, where he developed his 2013 feature directing debut “Fruitvale Station.” The film went on to win both the U.S. Grand Jury Prize for...
- 11/21/2022
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Madeleine George, playwright and writer on Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, has been newly selected as the 2021 recipient of the Hermitage Major Theater Award, a national jury-selected prize that offers one of the largest non-profit theater commissions in the country.
George will receive a cash prize of 35,000, as well as a residency at the Hermitage in Sarasota County, Florida, as well as a developmental workshop in a major arts capital such as New York, Chicago, or London in the fall of 2023.
“I was surprised and thrilled to get the news about the Hermitage Major Theater Award,” said George in a statement. “It’s such an honor to be joining in the Hermitage’s awe-inspiring family of artists, and I’m excited to have resources and time to put towards my commissioned play, which has been on my mind for a while and which I’m eager to share with the world.
George will receive a cash prize of 35,000, as well as a residency at the Hermitage in Sarasota County, Florida, as well as a developmental workshop in a major arts capital such as New York, Chicago, or London in the fall of 2023.
“I was surprised and thrilled to get the news about the Hermitage Major Theater Award,” said George in a statement. “It’s such an honor to be joining in the Hermitage’s awe-inspiring family of artists, and I’m excited to have resources and time to put towards my commissioned play, which has been on my mind for a while and which I’m eager to share with the world.
- 9/7/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Last Friday, to escape the New York heatwave, I decided to revisit The Costume Institute’s extensive two-part exhibition, In America: A Lexicon of Fashion and In America: An Anthology of Fashion, which turned the Met’s American Wing over to nine directors: Martin Scorsese, Tom Ford, Chloé Zhao, Radha Blank, Sofia Coppola, Janicza Bravo, Autumn de Wilde, Julie Dash, and Regina King. For the exhibition, curated by Andrew Bolton, the filmmakers conjured up scenes mainly inspired by American domestic lives and installed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s period rooms ranging in time between 1805 and the teens of the 20th century.
From George Washington’s brown wool broadcloth coat to a Shaker retiring room, to the Battle of Versailles fought in the air, to the gild of the Gilded Age, and on to a delightfully elegant funeral party in the Frank Lloyd Wright room, where...
From George Washington’s brown wool broadcloth coat to a Shaker retiring room, to the Battle of Versailles fought in the air, to the gild of the Gilded Age, and on to a delightfully elegant funeral party in the Frank Lloyd Wright room, where...
- 7/24/2022
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Kevin Hart’s multi-platform media company Hartbeat today announced the return of its screenwriting fellowship and talent development initiative Women Write Now, created to champion the next generation of Black women in comedy through mentorship, advocacy, production and exhibition. The fellowship developed in partnership with the Sundance Institute will support three writers in developing short comedic scripts under the guidance of some of the most influential Black women in comedy.
With the support of Hartbeat executives and veteran industry mentors, this year’s fellowship recipients will earn the opportunity to bring their projects to life at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, where they will premiere at a private screening. Following their premiere, the films will be distributed across HartBeat’s Lol Network. Following the fellowship, the selected writers will also receive a year-long first-look deal with Hartbeat to submit original projects for production consideration with Hartbeat, and distribution across its Lol Network.
With the support of Hartbeat executives and veteran industry mentors, this year’s fellowship recipients will earn the opportunity to bring their projects to life at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, where they will premiere at a private screening. Following their premiere, the films will be distributed across HartBeat’s Lol Network. Following the fellowship, the selected writers will also receive a year-long first-look deal with Hartbeat to submit original projects for production consideration with Hartbeat, and distribution across its Lol Network.
- 5/19/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Nearly three decades after making her film acting debut at age 14, Maggie Gyllenhaal has now added her first feature writing and directing credits to her resume. Since its Venice International Film Festival premiere last September, her “The Lost Daughter” has won her numerous accolades, from the festival’s Golden Osella to the Independent Spirit Awards for Best Feature, Best Director and Best Screenplay. Gyllenhaal is also nominated for the Directors Guild of America’s First-Time Film Director award. According to our DGA Awards odds, she is widely expected to prevail and thereby become only the second woman to receive the honor.
This particular glass ceiling was broken by Alma Har’el, who took the 2020 prize for helming “Honey Boy.” Since the category’s establishment in 2015, 11 women and 25 men have vied for the award, making for a 1:2.3 ratio. The first female contender was inaugural nominee Marielle Heller. Aside from her and Har’el,...
This particular glass ceiling was broken by Alma Har’el, who took the 2020 prize for helming “Honey Boy.” Since the category’s establishment in 2015, 11 women and 25 men have vied for the award, making for a 1:2.3 ratio. The first female contender was inaugural nominee Marielle Heller. Aside from her and Har’el,...
- 3/10/2022
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Independent film supporter Rooftop Films announced the 2022 Filmmaker Fund winners February 28, exclusively on IndieWire.
The prestigious Water Tower Feature Film Cash Grant was awarded to “The 40-Year-Old Version” writer-director-producer-star Radha Blank, for her upcoming untitled dark dramedy.
Environmental director Eleanor Mortimer also won a Water Tower grant for an untitled deep sea taxonomy documentary, which “follows biologists through the intricate process of discovering deep-sea species as they piece together the unknown ecosystems of the largest biome on the planet.”
The $15,000 grants are made possible by generous support from the Laurence W. Levine Foundation.
The Rooftop Filmmakers Fund grants are available to Rooftop Films alumni directors who have previously had their work screened during the annual Summer Series in New York City. Blank screened her debut feature, “The Forty-Year-Old Version,” with Rooftop Films in 2020 at the Queens Drive-In. Mortimer screened her award-winning short film “Territory” at Rooftop Films in 2016.
This year,...
The prestigious Water Tower Feature Film Cash Grant was awarded to “The 40-Year-Old Version” writer-director-producer-star Radha Blank, for her upcoming untitled dark dramedy.
Environmental director Eleanor Mortimer also won a Water Tower grant for an untitled deep sea taxonomy documentary, which “follows biologists through the intricate process of discovering deep-sea species as they piece together the unknown ecosystems of the largest biome on the planet.”
The $15,000 grants are made possible by generous support from the Laurence W. Levine Foundation.
The Rooftop Filmmakers Fund grants are available to Rooftop Films alumni directors who have previously had their work screened during the annual Summer Series in New York City. Blank screened her debut feature, “The Forty-Year-Old Version,” with Rooftop Films in 2020 at the Queens Drive-In. Mortimer screened her award-winning short film “Territory” at Rooftop Films in 2016.
This year,...
- 2/28/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
In recent years, there has been a campaign of sorts to stress the universality of so-called “Black stories.” One reason for that pitch is it’s meant to draw non-Black audiences and eschew the more-reductive “Black films” categorization.
IndieWire spoke to multiple Black filmmakers, on and off the record, about the “Black film” terminology: Is it limiting? Does it pigeonhole creators? The responses were as varied as the people who answered the questions. Some embraced being identified as “Black artists,” defined by a shared experience that’s inextricable from who they are. Others found it limiting, preferring to foreground their creativity over race or ethnicity.
As conversations go, it’s a minefield. Many are unwilling to tread on that ground, but perhaps that’s exactly why it needs to be had.
Black filmmakers — or, filmmakers who happen to be Black — have been and remain restricted in terms of the kinds...
IndieWire spoke to multiple Black filmmakers, on and off the record, about the “Black film” terminology: Is it limiting? Does it pigeonhole creators? The responses were as varied as the people who answered the questions. Some embraced being identified as “Black artists,” defined by a shared experience that’s inextricable from who they are. Others found it limiting, preferring to foreground their creativity over race or ethnicity.
As conversations go, it’s a minefield. Many are unwilling to tread on that ground, but perhaps that’s exactly why it needs to be had.
Black filmmakers — or, filmmakers who happen to be Black — have been and remain restricted in terms of the kinds...
- 2/28/2022
- by Tambay Obenson
- Indiewire
After a stampede of awards announcements that include Ace Eddies, Producers Guild and Writers Guild of America Awards, the prestigious Directors Guild of America Awards has finally weighed in with their own set of nominees that recognizes achievements in directing.
In the motion pictures category, the group nominated Kenneth Branagh for “Belfast” (Focus Features), Jane Campion for “The Power of the Dog” (Netflix), Paul Thomas Anderson for “Licorice Pizza” (MGM/United Artists Releasing), Steven Spielberg for “West Side Story” (20th Century Studios) and Denis Villeneuve for “Dune” (Warner Bros).
Notable snubs included Joel Coen (“The Tragedy of Macbeth”), Adam McKay (“Don’t Look Up”), Siân Heder (“Coda”), Guillermo del Toro (“Nightmare Alley”) and Ryûsuke Hamaguchi (“Drive My Car”).
Campion is the second woman ever to receive a second nod from the Directors Guild. Her first came nearly 20 years ago for “The Piano” (1993), for which she went on to become the second...
In the motion pictures category, the group nominated Kenneth Branagh for “Belfast” (Focus Features), Jane Campion for “The Power of the Dog” (Netflix), Paul Thomas Anderson for “Licorice Pizza” (MGM/United Artists Releasing), Steven Spielberg for “West Side Story” (20th Century Studios) and Denis Villeneuve for “Dune” (Warner Bros).
Notable snubs included Joel Coen (“The Tragedy of Macbeth”), Adam McKay (“Don’t Look Up”), Siân Heder (“Coda”), Guillermo del Toro (“Nightmare Alley”) and Ryûsuke Hamaguchi (“Drive My Car”).
Campion is the second woman ever to receive a second nod from the Directors Guild. Her first came nearly 20 years ago for “The Piano” (1993), for which she went on to become the second...
- 1/27/2022
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Guillermo del Toro, Jane Campion, Nicole Holofcener, Danny Strong, Jeymes Samuel, and Ashley Lyle & Bart Nickerson are the honorees for screenwriting excellence at the 17th annual Final Draft Awards, which will be presented in a virtual ceremony March 16.
Two-time Oscar-winning filmmaker del Toro, whose current film is Nightmare Alley, will be presented with the Hall of Fame Award, honoring a writer whose body of work has had a profound influence on the industry. The inaugural Trailblazer Award will go to Oscar-winning filmmaker Campion who is currently winning much acclaim for her latest film The Power of the Dog; the honor recognizes a writer whose career exudes excellence and who consistently tells compelling and bold stories.
Two Storyteller Awards will be presented recognizing writers who consistently maintain a level of excellence and surpass expectations. Academy Award nominee Holofcener will receive the Storyteller Award (Film) for The Last Duel, on which she...
Two-time Oscar-winning filmmaker del Toro, whose current film is Nightmare Alley, will be presented with the Hall of Fame Award, honoring a writer whose body of work has had a profound influence on the industry. The inaugural Trailblazer Award will go to Oscar-winning filmmaker Campion who is currently winning much acclaim for her latest film The Power of the Dog; the honor recognizes a writer whose career exudes excellence and who consistently tells compelling and bold stories.
Two Storyteller Awards will be presented recognizing writers who consistently maintain a level of excellence and surpass expectations. Academy Award nominee Holofcener will receive the Storyteller Award (Film) for The Last Duel, on which she...
- 1/26/2022
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline Film + TV
Final Draft shared the honorees for the 17th Annual Final Draft Awards today, lauding some of the most influential writers currently working in the entertainment industry. Dedicated to recognizing exceptional and elevated storytelling, the awards will be held in a virtual ceremony March 16, 2022.
This year’s batch of awardees include several major award contenders with regard to both the Oscars and Emmy Awards, among them:
Academy Award winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (“Nightmare Alley”) who will receive the Final Draft Hall of Fame Award, which recognizes an artist whose body of work has left a lasting influence on the industry Academy Award winning filmmaker Jane Campion (“The Power of the Dog”), who will be the inaugural recipient of the Final Draft Trailblazer Award, which honors a storyteller who has established a career-long commitment to crafting evocative and audacious stories Academy Award nominee Nicole Holofcener (“The Last Duel”) will be recognized...
This year’s batch of awardees include several major award contenders with regard to both the Oscars and Emmy Awards, among them:
Academy Award winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (“Nightmare Alley”) who will receive the Final Draft Hall of Fame Award, which recognizes an artist whose body of work has left a lasting influence on the industry Academy Award winning filmmaker Jane Campion (“The Power of the Dog”), who will be the inaugural recipient of the Final Draft Trailblazer Award, which honors a storyteller who has established a career-long commitment to crafting evocative and audacious stories Academy Award nominee Nicole Holofcener (“The Last Duel”) will be recognized...
- 1/26/2022
- by Libby Hill
- Indiewire
Denzel Washington has two Oscars, a SAG award and over 270 other accolades. One honor he doesn’t have yet over his 40-year career is a single nomination from the BAFTA Awards. With somewhat of a home-field advantage for taking on the words of the Brits’ greatest dramatist William Shakespeare, could Washington finally receive his first nom for “The Tragedy of Macbeth”?
BAFTA is continuing to make a conscious effort to widen their net for diversity, both within its own membership and the films it honors. However, with a new voting method introduced last year following the results of their diversity review, the group threw the awards season for a loop with surprise selections. Instituting a jury into the voting process, performances such as Radha Blank (“The Forty-Year-Old Version”) and Adarsh Gourav (“The White Tiger”) managed to make the cut in favor of “safer” picks like eventual Oscar nominees Carey Mulligan...
BAFTA is continuing to make a conscious effort to widen their net for diversity, both within its own membership and the films it honors. However, with a new voting method introduced last year following the results of their diversity review, the group threw the awards season for a loop with surprise selections. Instituting a jury into the voting process, performances such as Radha Blank (“The Forty-Year-Old Version”) and Adarsh Gourav (“The White Tiger”) managed to make the cut in favor of “safer” picks like eventual Oscar nominees Carey Mulligan...
- 1/3/2022
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
If Radha Blank can get her game face on breaking out her feature film debut when belonging to the 40-something club, then that late bloomer logic might apply here for Norwegian helmer Kjersti Helen Rasmussen. Working in commercials, writing the feature The Tunnel (2019) and directing short films that would be selected for genre film fests, for her feature debut she bed sheet tied Eili Harboe – the lead from Joachim Trier’s Thelma. The Nightmare (Marerittet) is essentially a tale about becoming a mother and the ordeal of getting a proper night’s sleep. So we can expect it to hit that sweet spot that Norwegians a re good at in terms of Midnight divertissement.…...
- 11/24/2021
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
Julia Oh has been hired by 2Am, the full-service production and management company founded by Christine D’Souza Gelb, David Hinojosa and Kevin Rowe, as a producer.
Oh will be based in NY with the company’s production team, working alongside Hinojosa and Zach Nutman.
2Am’s film and TV production division, overseen by Hinojosa, is currently in post-production on Halina Reijn’s English-language debut, Bodies Bodies Bodies, starring Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Rachel Sennott, and Pete Davidson, and on Emmy winner Billy Porter’s directorial debut, What If?, at Orion Pictures. It’s also finishing principal photography on Past Lives, a feature drama written and directed by Celine Song.
The company’s management division represents such acclaimed writers and directors as Amalia Ulman (El Planeta), Radha Blank (The Forty-Year-Old Version), Ari Aster (Hereditary), Janicza Bravo (Zola), Jeremy O. Harris (Slave Play), Kota Eberhardt (X-Men: Dark Phoenix), Leilah Weinraub (The Shakedown...
Oh will be based in NY with the company’s production team, working alongside Hinojosa and Zach Nutman.
2Am’s film and TV production division, overseen by Hinojosa, is currently in post-production on Halina Reijn’s English-language debut, Bodies Bodies Bodies, starring Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Rachel Sennott, and Pete Davidson, and on Emmy winner Billy Porter’s directorial debut, What If?, at Orion Pictures. It’s also finishing principal photography on Past Lives, a feature drama written and directed by Celine Song.
The company’s management division represents such acclaimed writers and directors as Amalia Ulman (El Planeta), Radha Blank (The Forty-Year-Old Version), Ari Aster (Hereditary), Janicza Bravo (Zola), Jeremy O. Harris (Slave Play), Kota Eberhardt (X-Men: Dark Phoenix), Leilah Weinraub (The Shakedown...
- 11/11/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
On October 20, the Sundance Institute will present the 2021 Vanguard Award to filmmakers Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Siân Heder.
Thompson is being recognized for the documentary Summer Of Soul, with which he made his directorial debut, with Heder being honored for her groundbreaking festival hit, Coda.
The honorary award created in 2012 is given annually to artists whose innovative, original works spotlight the art of storytelling and embody creative independence. It was expanded this year to recognize works across fiction and non-fiction. Past recipients include Benh Zeitlin, Ryan Coogler, Damien Chazelle, Marielle Heller, Nate Parker, Dee Rees, Boots Riley, Lulu Wang, and Radha Blank.
The Sundance Institute’s Vanguard Award ceremony, featuring conversations with Thompson and Heder, is open to the public. It is free to attend. Fans and supporters of indie cinema can register for the event by clicking here.
“We are especially...
Thompson is being recognized for the documentary Summer Of Soul, with which he made his directorial debut, with Heder being honored for her groundbreaking festival hit, Coda.
The honorary award created in 2012 is given annually to artists whose innovative, original works spotlight the art of storytelling and embody creative independence. It was expanded this year to recognize works across fiction and non-fiction. Past recipients include Benh Zeitlin, Ryan Coogler, Damien Chazelle, Marielle Heller, Nate Parker, Dee Rees, Boots Riley, Lulu Wang, and Radha Blank.
The Sundance Institute’s Vanguard Award ceremony, featuring conversations with Thompson and Heder, is open to the public. It is free to attend. Fans and supporters of indie cinema can register for the event by clicking here.
“We are especially...
- 9/23/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The Sundance Institute will present the 2021 Vanguard Award to “Coda” filmmaker Siân Heder and “Summer of Soul” director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, the institute announced Thursday.
The Vanguard Award honors artists whose work highlights storytelling and creative independence, and this year, it expanded to both fiction and nonfiction storytellers.
Previous recipients of the award, which was created in 2012, include Ryan Coogler, Damien Chazelle, Marielle Heller, Nate Parker, Dee Rees, Boots Riley, Lulu Wang, Benh Zeitlin and Radha Blank. Leadership Vanguard honorees have included Glenn Close, Roger Ebert, George Gund, Alejandro González Iñárritu and Quentin Tarantino.
“We are especially honored to recognize the visionary and award-winning directors Siân Heder and Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson with the Vanguard Award,” Michelle Satter, Sundance Founding Senior Director, Artist Programs, said in a statement. “We were thrilled to bring enthusiastic audiences together at our Festival to experience the humanity, originality, and independent spirit of their culture-changing films.
The Vanguard Award honors artists whose work highlights storytelling and creative independence, and this year, it expanded to both fiction and nonfiction storytellers.
Previous recipients of the award, which was created in 2012, include Ryan Coogler, Damien Chazelle, Marielle Heller, Nate Parker, Dee Rees, Boots Riley, Lulu Wang, Benh Zeitlin and Radha Blank. Leadership Vanguard honorees have included Glenn Close, Roger Ebert, George Gund, Alejandro González Iñárritu and Quentin Tarantino.
“We are especially honored to recognize the visionary and award-winning directors Siân Heder and Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson with the Vanguard Award,” Michelle Satter, Sundance Founding Senior Director, Artist Programs, said in a statement. “We were thrilled to bring enthusiastic audiences together at our Festival to experience the humanity, originality, and independent spirit of their culture-changing films.
- 9/23/2021
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
The Sundance Institute has found its newest Vanguards.
The nonprofit has announced that Coda filmmaker Siân Heder and Summer of Soul musician-turned-filmmaker Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson have been selected to each receive a Vanguard Award during a virtual celebration set for Oct. 20. Presented by Acura, the prize has been expanded this year to spotlight a fiction and a nonfiction storyteller “whose work highlights the art of storytelling and creative independence.” Since its creation in 2012, Vanguard Awards have been doled out to Benh Zeitlin, Ryan Coogler, Damien Chazelle, Marielle Heller, Nate Parker, Dee Rees, Boots Riley, Lulu Wang and Radha Blank....
The nonprofit has announced that Coda filmmaker Siân Heder and Summer of Soul musician-turned-filmmaker Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson have been selected to each receive a Vanguard Award during a virtual celebration set for Oct. 20. Presented by Acura, the prize has been expanded this year to spotlight a fiction and a nonfiction storyteller “whose work highlights the art of storytelling and creative independence.” Since its creation in 2012, Vanguard Awards have been doled out to Benh Zeitlin, Ryan Coogler, Damien Chazelle, Marielle Heller, Nate Parker, Dee Rees, Boots Riley, Lulu Wang and Radha Blank....
- 9/23/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
After a hiatus where New York’s theaters closed during the pandemic, we’re delighted to announce the return of NYC Weekend Watch, our weekly round-up of repertory offerings. While many theaters are still focused on a selection of new releases, a handful of worthwhile repertory screenings are taking place.
Anthology Film Archives
Breathe easy: Anthology is back, marking their resurrection with screenings of Paul Sharits’ dual-projection Razor Blades.
Paris Theater
Yet another return! To coincide with The Forty-Year-Old Version, filmmaker Radha Blank has organized a series of her influences: Cassavetes on Friday, Wilder and Tap on Saturday, Waiting for Guffman and The Last Detail on Sunday.
Museum of the Moving Image
2001 shows on 70mm this Friday, Dcp on Sunday, while Eyes Wide Shut and Fear and Desire have screenings; on the non-Kubrick front, Ran and The Age of Innocence have screenings.
Film at Lincoln Center
Mo’ Better Blues...
Anthology Film Archives
Breathe easy: Anthology is back, marking their resurrection with screenings of Paul Sharits’ dual-projection Razor Blades.
Paris Theater
Yet another return! To coincide with The Forty-Year-Old Version, filmmaker Radha Blank has organized a series of her influences: Cassavetes on Friday, Wilder and Tap on Saturday, Waiting for Guffman and The Last Detail on Sunday.
Museum of the Moving Image
2001 shows on 70mm this Friday, Dcp on Sunday, while Eyes Wide Shut and Fear and Desire have screenings; on the non-Kubrick front, Ran and The Age of Innocence have screenings.
Film at Lincoln Center
Mo’ Better Blues...
- 8/5/2021
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
While Netflix is far from being a haven for admirers of classic cinema, they thankfully are backing strong repertory programming in New York City. After acquiring The Paris Theater, located on 58th Street in Manhattan, and briefly reopening with some runs of Netflix features and other specialty programming, they are now officially opening their doors again on August 6 with a more substantial slate of classic cinema.
Featuring two programs, one curated by Radha Blank and another by the theater’s programmer David Schwartz, the reopening lineup features work by John Cassavetes, Kathleen Collins, Luis Buñuel, Mira Nair, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Ingmar Bergman, Terence Davies, and much more––with many on film prints.
One can also enter to win a pass for Schwartz’s series “The Paris is For Lovers,” with a newly-unveiled scavenger hunt tied to Ira Deutchman’s new documentary Searching for Mr. Rugoff, which opens on August 13 and is part of the lineup.
Featuring two programs, one curated by Radha Blank and another by the theater’s programmer David Schwartz, the reopening lineup features work by John Cassavetes, Kathleen Collins, Luis Buñuel, Mira Nair, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Ingmar Bergman, Terence Davies, and much more––with many on film prints.
One can also enter to win a pass for Schwartz’s series “The Paris is For Lovers,” with a newly-unveiled scavenger hunt tied to Ira Deutchman’s new documentary Searching for Mr. Rugoff, which opens on August 13 and is part of the lineup.
- 7/28/2021
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
The Paris Theater, a beloved arthouse cinema in New York City, is reopening its doors next month.
To celebrate its return on Aug. 6, filmmaker Radha Blank is curating a slate of repertory titles to screen alongside her directorial debut “The Forty-Year-Old Version.” Her movie, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival, is playing through Aug. 12.
The Paris opened in 1948 and is the only single-screen movie theater in Manhattan. Netflix acquired the 545-seat venue in 2019 and, prior to Covid-19, held premieres, special events and screenings of its films in the storied institution, which is just south of Central Park.
“I made ‘Forty-Year-Old Version’ in 35mm Black & White in the spirit of the many great films that informed my love of cinema,” says Blank. “I’m excited to show the film in 35mm as intended and alongside potent films by fearless filmmakers who inspired my development as a storyteller and expanded my vision...
To celebrate its return on Aug. 6, filmmaker Radha Blank is curating a slate of repertory titles to screen alongside her directorial debut “The Forty-Year-Old Version.” Her movie, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival, is playing through Aug. 12.
The Paris opened in 1948 and is the only single-screen movie theater in Manhattan. Netflix acquired the 545-seat venue in 2019 and, prior to Covid-19, held premieres, special events and screenings of its films in the storied institution, which is just south of Central Park.
“I made ‘Forty-Year-Old Version’ in 35mm Black & White in the spirit of the many great films that informed my love of cinema,” says Blank. “I’m excited to show the film in 35mm as intended and alongside potent films by fearless filmmakers who inspired my development as a storyteller and expanded my vision...
- 7/28/2021
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
The Paris Theater — New York City’s longest-running art house cinema that was rescued by Netflix — will reopen permanently on August 6.
The streamer signed a lease in November 2019 saving the landmark single-screen cinema from permanent closure. Like other theaters, the Paris was subsequently forced to turn off its lights because of the Covid-19 pandemic. This past spring, the streamer temporarily used the locale to showcase several of its awards films.
In celebration of the official reopening, filmmaker Radha Blank has been selected to program a week-long series of repertory films alongside her critically acclaimed 2020 feature directorial ...
The streamer signed a lease in November 2019 saving the landmark single-screen cinema from permanent closure. Like other theaters, the Paris was subsequently forced to turn off its lights because of the Covid-19 pandemic. This past spring, the streamer temporarily used the locale to showcase several of its awards films.
In celebration of the official reopening, filmmaker Radha Blank has been selected to program a week-long series of repertory films alongside her critically acclaimed 2020 feature directorial ...
- 7/28/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
The Paris Theater — New York City’s longest-running art house cinema that was rescued by Netflix — will reopen permanently on August 6.
The streamer signed a lease in November 2019 saving the landmark single-screen cinema from permanent closure. Like other theaters, the Paris was subsequently forced to turn off its lights because of the Covid-19 pandemic. This past spring, the streamer temporarily used the locale to showcase several of its awards films.
In celebration of the official reopening, filmmaker Radha Blank has been selected to program a week-long series of repertory films alongside her critically acclaimed 2020 feature directorial ...
The streamer signed a lease in November 2019 saving the landmark single-screen cinema from permanent closure. Like other theaters, the Paris was subsequently forced to turn off its lights because of the Covid-19 pandemic. This past spring, the streamer temporarily used the locale to showcase several of its awards films.
In celebration of the official reopening, filmmaker Radha Blank has been selected to program a week-long series of repertory films alongside her critically acclaimed 2020 feature directorial ...
- 7/28/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lena Waithe has been advocating for supporting marginalized storytellers for years, but now she has real money behind that mission. In a new partnership between her company Hillman Grad Productions and global job listings site Indeed, Waithe has launched the Rising Voices initiative, which aims to uncover, invest in, and share stories created by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (Bipoc) filmmakers. The initial 10 short films produced by the initiative came out of a $1 million investment from the partnership.
All of those short films made their world premieres during a special Tribeca Film Festival event at Pier 76 this week, with Waithe and Indeed CEO Chris Hyams in attendance. In an interview with IndieWire shortly before the screenings, Hyams and Waithe explained how the partnership emerged from the wider goals of Indeed itself.
“Our mission was to help people get jobs and see how important a job is in a person...
All of those short films made their world premieres during a special Tribeca Film Festival event at Pier 76 this week, with Waithe and Indeed CEO Chris Hyams in attendance. In an interview with IndieWire shortly before the screenings, Hyams and Waithe explained how the partnership emerged from the wider goals of Indeed itself.
“Our mission was to help people get jobs and see how important a job is in a person...
- 6/18/2021
- by Tambay Obenson
- Indiewire
Filmmaking rarely travels a straight path, but for “Monster” it was exceptionally twisty. After the legal drama starring Kelvin Harrison Jr. premiered at Sundance in 2018 in the U.S. Dramatic Competition, it’s seen a title change, its first distribution deal fall through, and the original title restored. Producers Tonya Lewis Lee and Nikki Silver say it was all worth it: The movie premiered on Netflix May 7 and was among the top 10 Netflix titles in the U.S. last week.
“It has been a long journey, but it has been a really good journey,” Lee said. “It didn’t go the way we thought it would, but ultimately we landed where we were supposed to land. People are seeing it, they’re feeling it, and they’re responding to it.”
“Monster” is based on the 1999 YA novel by Walter Dean Myers, which follows a high school honor student (Harrison) who...
“It has been a long journey, but it has been a really good journey,” Lee said. “It didn’t go the way we thought it would, but ultimately we landed where we were supposed to land. People are seeing it, they’re feeling it, and they’re responding to it.”
“Monster” is based on the 1999 YA novel by Walter Dean Myers, which follows a high school honor student (Harrison) who...
- 5/20/2021
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
Anthony Mandler’s “Monster” has burnt through the bulk of its running time before the first-time filmmaker opts to finally do away with any subtleties. The messy drama has already played fast and loose with time and perspective, shifting between bleak courtroom-set scenes and more emotive flashbacks that explain how budding teenage filmmaker Steve Harmon (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) has ended up on trial as an accessory to armed robbery and murder. Finally, however, it seems as if Mandler just gives up and goes for the nuclear option: the “Rashomon” choice.
Given the film’s bent toward the most literal of cinematic tropes and tricks — Steve tries to dream his way out of his horrible predicament by frequently pretending it’s all just a screenplay he’s writing in his head — it’s not the most shocking of choices, but it’s certainly a blunt one. While that storytelling conceit likely...
Given the film’s bent toward the most literal of cinematic tropes and tricks — Steve tries to dream his way out of his horrible predicament by frequently pretending it’s all just a screenplay he’s writing in his head — it’s not the most shocking of choices, but it’s certainly a blunt one. While that storytelling conceit likely...
- 5/7/2021
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Filling the void left by much of Hollywood when it comes to sharing stories told by Black artists, streamers like Netflix and Amazon have recently had an impressive output. The former company has now revitalized a film stuck in limbo with Monster, adapted from a novel of the same name and directed by Anthony Madler, which had its premiere at Sundance Film Festival in 2018. Unfortunately, the film falters with a clumsy script by Radha Blank, Cole Wiley, and Janece Shaffer that fails to dramatically justify the harrowing images of Black trauma being portrayed.
Kelvin Harrison Jr. is an actor destined for greatness, but he’s often stuck playing all-too-familiar roles. Much like the subsequently-shot Waves, Harrison plays a determined and gifted high schooler making the wrong choices at the wrong time. Steve Harmon (Harrison) is a young filmmaker, and son to a successful graphic artist (Jeffrey Wright) and a mom...
Kelvin Harrison Jr. is an actor destined for greatness, but he’s often stuck playing all-too-familiar roles. Much like the subsequently-shot Waves, Harrison plays a determined and gifted high schooler making the wrong choices at the wrong time. Steve Harmon (Harrison) is a young filmmaker, and son to a successful graphic artist (Jeffrey Wright) and a mom...
- 5/7/2021
- by Erik Nielsen
- The Film Stage
The New York City courtroom in which 17-year-old honors student Steve Harmon stands accused of felony murder isn’t the customary dark wood and tan walls affair. “Monster” there’s a reason beyond stylish production design for the palette of grays. For the involving, nuanced drama — a Sundance 2018 competition title starring Kelvin Harrison Jr. — explores the gray areas of guilt, innocence and criminal justice, especially as they pertain to young Black men, who are too often seen as guilty till proven otherwise. Innocent is likely too much to ask of a system in which young men like Steve are seen as the beasts, as the monsters of the movie’s title.
Streaming on Netflix, “Monster” is based on the 1999 young adult novel by Walter Dean Myers (who died in 2014). The themes of the award-winning book remain timely and are made even more so by screenwriters Radha Blank, Colen C. Wiley and Janece Shaffer.
Streaming on Netflix, “Monster” is based on the 1999 young adult novel by Walter Dean Myers (who died in 2014). The themes of the award-winning book remain timely and are made even more so by screenwriters Radha Blank, Colen C. Wiley and Janece Shaffer.
- 5/6/2021
- by Lisa Kennedy
- Variety Film + TV
If you’re nowhere near a television and want to know the winners of the 36th Independent Spirit Awards as they happen, you’ve come to the right place. Follow along with Gold Derby’s Indie Spirits live blog 2021 to see who won all of the night’s film and TV prizes, who presented what categories, and how Melissa Villaseñor (“Saturday Night Live”) did as host. The virtual ceremony aired Thursday, April 22 on IFC at 7 p.m. Pt/10 p.m. Et.
SEE2021 Independent Spirit Awards: Winners list in all film and TV categories
This year’s Spirit Awards celebrated the best in indie filmmaking for the 2020 calendar year, with a little bit of television thrown in for good measure. Remember, only American-made fare with budgets under $20 million were eligible for consideration. Winners were chosen by all of Film Independent’s eligible members, including industry insiders and any movie fans who signed up for membership.
SEE2021 Independent Spirit Awards: Winners list in all film and TV categories
This year’s Spirit Awards celebrated the best in indie filmmaking for the 2020 calendar year, with a little bit of television thrown in for good measure. Remember, only American-made fare with budgets under $20 million were eligible for consideration. Winners were chosen by all of Film Independent’s eligible members, including industry insiders and any movie fans who signed up for membership.
- 4/23/2021
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
The last major awards show before the Oscars has finally arrived, the 36th Independent Spirit Awards. The virtual ceremony aired Thursday, April 22 on IFC at 7 p.m. Pt/10 p.m. Et and was hosted by “Saturday Night Live” star Melissa Villaseñor. The Spirit Awards celebrated the best in indie filmmaking for the 2020 calendar year, and this year they invited TV shows to the party, too. Don’t forget, only American-made fare with budgets under $20 million were eligible for consideration. Winners were chosen by all of Film Independent’s eligible members, including industry insiders and any movie fans who signed up for membership.
Heading into the ceremony, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” was the nominations leader with seven overall bids. “Minari” came in right behind it with six noms, followed by “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “Nomadland” (the Oscar front-runner) with five bids each. On the TV side, both “Little America” and...
Heading into the ceremony, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” was the nominations leader with seven overall bids. “Minari” came in right behind it with six noms, followed by “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “Nomadland” (the Oscar front-runner) with five bids each. On the TV side, both “Little America” and...
- 4/23/2021
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
It’s all come down to this. The longest awards season is drawing to a close, after an excruciating pandemic year that nearly destroyed the movie business. History looks to be made at the Oscars, with women and people of color getting recognition — but there’s also room for a surprise or two.
In the winners tally, “Nomadland” is expected to be the leading film winner with four including best picture followed by “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” with three including Chadwick Boseman.
Netflix is presumed to be the leading studio with a predicted six wins, an increase from last year’s tally of four. The good news is that the streaming giant has a 50/50 shot in four additional races, which could bring them to a double-digit tally, which would be a record in the modern era (Metro-Goldwyn Mayer dominated the 1930s and 1940s).
Here are my final predictions for the 93rd Oscars.
In the winners tally, “Nomadland” is expected to be the leading film winner with four including best picture followed by “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” with three including Chadwick Boseman.
Netflix is presumed to be the leading studio with a predicted six wins, an increase from last year’s tally of four. The good news is that the streaming giant has a 50/50 shot in four additional races, which could bring them to a double-digit tally, which would be a record in the modern era (Metro-Goldwyn Mayer dominated the 1930s and 1940s).
Here are my final predictions for the 93rd Oscars.
- 4/21/2021
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
The independent film community is not assembling under a billowy white tent for the 36th Independent Spirit Awards on the Saturday before the Oscars. Mounting a live awards show on the Santa Monica beach just wasn’t going to happen. Yes, the Oscars will give it a try April 25 via two Los Angeles hubs and another dozen or so satellite feeds around the world, but the Academy has millions to spend on safety protocols. Nonprofit arts organization Film Independent will hold the annual awards ceremony as a IFC primetime live broadcast April 22 at 7pm Pt, 10pm Et.
More people voted for the Spirits this year than ever before: Film Independent has grown to over 7,000 members, adding more international voters. Spirits have a $22.5 million budget cap; international film qualification is based on the writer, director, and producer’s country of origin. A foreign-language with an American story is not an international film; nor is “The Father.
More people voted for the Spirits this year than ever before: Film Independent has grown to over 7,000 members, adding more international voters. Spirits have a $22.5 million budget cap; international film qualification is based on the writer, director, and producer’s country of origin. A foreign-language with an American story is not an international film; nor is “The Father.
- 4/21/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
The independent film community is not assembling under a billowy white tent for the 36th Independent Spirit Awards on the Saturday before the Oscars. Mounting a live awards show on the Santa Monica beach just wasn’t going to happen. Yes, the Oscars will give it a try April 25 via two Los Angeles hubs and another dozen or so satellite feeds around the world, but the Academy has millions to spend on safety protocols. Nonprofit arts organization Film Independent will hold the annual awards ceremony as a IFC primetime live broadcast April 22 at 7pm Pt, 10pm Et.
More people voted for the Spirits this year than ever before: Film Independent has grown to over 7,000 members, adding more international voters. Spirits have a $22.5 million budget cap; international film qualification is based on the writer, director, and producer’s country of origin. A foreign-language with an American story is not an international film; nor is “The Father.
More people voted for the Spirits this year than ever before: Film Independent has grown to over 7,000 members, adding more international voters. Spirits have a $22.5 million budget cap; international film qualification is based on the writer, director, and producer’s country of origin. A foreign-language with an American story is not an international film; nor is “The Father.
- 4/21/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Chloé Zhao’s Oscar frontrunner “Nomadland” won best film and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” was named best LGBTQ Film at the Dorian Awards (Galeca: The Society Of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics) during a virtual ceremony.
“Nomadland” was also named most visually striking film, and Zhao took home the award for best director.
The three-hour Dorians Film Toast was broadcast on LGBTQ+ streaming platform Revry. Karel served as the ceremony’s host.
The late Chadwick Boseman continued with his posthumous honors, winning best actor for his role as Levee in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Co-star Colman Domingo accepted on his behalf, saying: “[He was] such an incredible human, scholar, humanitarian and a really wonderful actor. Creating complex roles about the African American experience, and about people who are marginalized in society and trying to stand up and have a strong voice, fighting for representation—that is Chadwick Boseman’s legacy.”
Carey Mulligan won best actress.
“Nomadland” was also named most visually striking film, and Zhao took home the award for best director.
The three-hour Dorians Film Toast was broadcast on LGBTQ+ streaming platform Revry. Karel served as the ceremony’s host.
The late Chadwick Boseman continued with his posthumous honors, winning best actor for his role as Levee in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Co-star Colman Domingo accepted on his behalf, saying: “[He was] such an incredible human, scholar, humanitarian and a really wonderful actor. Creating complex roles about the African American experience, and about people who are marginalized in society and trying to stand up and have a strong voice, fighting for representation—that is Chadwick Boseman’s legacy.”
Carey Mulligan won best actress.
- 4/19/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
The 21st Annual Black Reel Awards took place today with Warner Bros’ rousing drama, Judas and the Black Messiah, taking the marquee Outstanding Film award. In addition, stars Daniel Kaluuya and Dominique Fishback were bestowed with the Outstanding Supporting Actor and Outstanding Supporting Actress award, respectively. Producers Charles King, Ryan Coogler, and Shaka King become the first all-African American team to win Outstanding Picture.
The late Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom star Chadwick Boseman was honored with the Outstanding Actor award, giving him the distinction of becoming the first posthumous winner in Black Reel Awards history. Viola Davis also took home the Outstanding Actress for performance as Ma Rainey.
Amazon’s One Night in Miami was the big winner of the night in terms of numbers, picking up five awards, including Outstanding Director and Outstanding Emerging Director for Regina King as well as wins for Outstanding Ensemble, Outstanding Breakthrough Actor for Kingsley Ben-Adir,...
The late Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom star Chadwick Boseman was honored with the Outstanding Actor award, giving him the distinction of becoming the first posthumous winner in Black Reel Awards history. Viola Davis also took home the Outstanding Actress for performance as Ma Rainey.
Amazon’s One Night in Miami was the big winner of the night in terms of numbers, picking up five awards, including Outstanding Director and Outstanding Emerging Director for Regina King as well as wins for Outstanding Ensemble, Outstanding Breakthrough Actor for Kingsley Ben-Adir,...
- 4/12/2021
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
The Ee BAFTA Film Awards officially took place on 11 April 2021, just a few months ahead of the television awards ceremony, which will be held later this year. On 9 March, the nominees for each film category were announced, including the highly anticipated Rising Star award, which previously saw Top Boy star Michael Ward take the win back in 2020.
Strong contenders for this year's awards ceremony included Nomadland and coming-of-age drama Rocks both with seven nominations, followed by Minari with six total nominations. Riz Ahmed's Sound of Metal was nominated for three awards, including a nomination for Ahmed himself as best actor.
On 10 April, a number of the award winners, including casting, costume design, and British short animation, were announced in a small ceremony hosted by Clara Amfo.
Check out the full list of winners ahead.
Best Film
Winner: Nomadland
The Father
The Mauritanian
Promising Young Woman
The Trial of the...
Strong contenders for this year's awards ceremony included Nomadland and coming-of-age drama Rocks both with seven nominations, followed by Minari with six total nominations. Riz Ahmed's Sound of Metal was nominated for three awards, including a nomination for Ahmed himself as best actor.
On 10 April, a number of the award winners, including casting, costume design, and British short animation, were announced in a small ceremony hosted by Clara Amfo.
Check out the full list of winners ahead.
Best Film
Winner: Nomadland
The Father
The Mauritanian
Promising Young Woman
The Trial of the...
- 4/11/2021
- by Navi Ahluwalia
- Popsugar.com
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