Now a federal holiday, Juneteenth (June 19) commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. Although this day marks just the beginning of an ongoing battle for equality, Juneteenth represents an opportunity to celebrate the joy of the Black experience as much as the hardship. And TheWrap’s got a great list of films to get that celebration started.
Once you’ve checked out some of the more educational Juneteenth-related fare, like “13th” or “I Am Not Your Negro,” consider adding some of these flicks to your streaming list.
“Soul” (Disney+)
“Soul,” Pixar’s first film to feature an African-American protagonist, follows Joe Gardener, a middle school music teacher with dreams of becoming a jazz star. When Joe dies prematurely before receiving his big break, he gets a second chance at his fantasy when accidentally enters the Great Before — a place that prepares unborn souls for real life. Not only...
Once you’ve checked out some of the more educational Juneteenth-related fare, like “13th” or “I Am Not Your Negro,” consider adding some of these flicks to your streaming list.
“Soul” (Disney+)
“Soul,” Pixar’s first film to feature an African-American protagonist, follows Joe Gardener, a middle school music teacher with dreams of becoming a jazz star. When Joe dies prematurely before receiving his big break, he gets a second chance at his fantasy when accidentally enters the Great Before — a place that prepares unborn souls for real life. Not only...
- 2/7/2023
- by Loree Seitz and Alex Noble
- The Wrap
The 2022 Tribeca Festival has named its jury totaling more than five dozen members across 18 categories with Alan Zweibel, Aidan Quinn, Anne Archer, Rose Troche and Oge Egbuonu judging the U.S. Narrative Feature Competition.
Jessica Alba, Darren Aronofsky and Daryl Hannah are among jurors for the 2022 Human/Nature Prize, a new award this year going “to the project that best illuminates the pressing environmental issues of our time.”
The Nora Ephron Award, created to honor the spirit and vision of the legendary filmmaker and writer and presented for the tenth year, will be juried by Pam Grier along with Amandla Stenberg and Lisa Addario.
Rosanna Arquette, Lucy Boynton, Anthony Edwards and Nikki Karimi are the jury for International Narrative Feature.
Also set to select projects in categories including film, audio storytelling and games are Debra Winger, Andre Holland, Niecy Nash, Alex Winter, Lucy Boynton, Nanfu Wang, Sheila Nevins of MTV Documentary Films...
Jessica Alba, Darren Aronofsky and Daryl Hannah are among jurors for the 2022 Human/Nature Prize, a new award this year going “to the project that best illuminates the pressing environmental issues of our time.”
The Nora Ephron Award, created to honor the spirit and vision of the legendary filmmaker and writer and presented for the tenth year, will be juried by Pam Grier along with Amandla Stenberg and Lisa Addario.
Rosanna Arquette, Lucy Boynton, Anthony Edwards and Nikki Karimi are the jury for International Narrative Feature.
Also set to select projects in categories including film, audio storytelling and games are Debra Winger, Andre Holland, Niecy Nash, Alex Winter, Lucy Boynton, Nanfu Wang, Sheila Nevins of MTV Documentary Films...
- 6/2/2022
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Director and producer Oge Egbuonu, who directed the buzz-generating documentary (In)Visible Portraits for OWN, has signed with CAA.
Egbuonu’s directorial debut was introduced by Oprah Winfrey last year at a virtual premiere amid the Black Lives Matter movement. The documentary, which Egbuonu also wrote and produced, highlights the “otherizing” of Black women in America and tells stories from their perspective while celebrating their extraordinary heritage.
Egbuonu spent nearly three years working on the film, and interviewed dozens of young women between the ages 5 and 22 to help share their stories. She previously produced Loving, the 2016 drama starring Ruth Negga and ...
Egbuonu’s directorial debut was introduced by Oprah Winfrey last year at a virtual premiere amid the Black Lives Matter movement. The documentary, which Egbuonu also wrote and produced, highlights the “otherizing” of Black women in America and tells stories from their perspective while celebrating their extraordinary heritage.
Egbuonu spent nearly three years working on the film, and interviewed dozens of young women between the ages 5 and 22 to help share their stories. She previously produced Loving, the 2016 drama starring Ruth Negga and ...
Director and producer Oge Egbuonu, who directed the buzz-generating documentary (In)Visible Portraits for OWN, has signed with CAA.
Egbuonu’s directorial debut was introduced by Oprah Winfrey last year at a virtual premiere amid the Black Lives Matter movement. The documentary, which Egbuonu also wrote and produced, highlights the “otherizing” of Black women in America and tells stories from their perspective while celebrating their extraordinary heritage.
Egbuonu spent nearly three years working on the film, and interviewed dozens of young women between the ages 5 and 22 to help share their stories. She previously produced Loving, the 2016 drama starring Ruth Negga and ...
Egbuonu’s directorial debut was introduced by Oprah Winfrey last year at a virtual premiere amid the Black Lives Matter movement. The documentary, which Egbuonu also wrote and produced, highlights the “otherizing” of Black women in America and tells stories from their perspective while celebrating their extraordinary heritage.
Egbuonu spent nearly three years working on the film, and interviewed dozens of young women between the ages 5 and 22 to help share their stories. She previously produced Loving, the 2016 drama starring Ruth Negga and ...
Filmmaker Oge Egbuonu, who directed the buzz-generating documentary (In)Visible Portraits, has signed with Sugar23, the company founded by Oscar-winning producer and manager Michael Sugar, for representation.
Egbuonu was previously an executive at Raindog Films, the shingle run by Ged Doherty and Colin Firth, and served as an associate producer on Loving, the 2016 drama starring Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton.
She made her directorial debut with Portraits, a documentary that examines the experiences of Black women and telling stories from their perspective while also deconstructing myths and their “otherizing.” Egbuonu, who also wrote and produced the film, spent three years making ...
Egbuonu was previously an executive at Raindog Films, the shingle run by Ged Doherty and Colin Firth, and served as an associate producer on Loving, the 2016 drama starring Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton.
She made her directorial debut with Portraits, a documentary that examines the experiences of Black women and telling stories from their perspective while also deconstructing myths and their “otherizing.” Egbuonu, who also wrote and produced the film, spent three years making ...
- 3/19/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Filmmaker Oge Egbuonu, who directed the buzz-generating documentary (In)Visible Portraits, has signed with Sugar23, the company founded by Oscar-winning producer and manager Michael Sugar, for representation.
Egbuonu was previously an executive at Raindog Films, the shingle run by Ged Doherty and Colin Firth, and served as an associate producer on Loving, the 2016 drama starring Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton.
She made her directorial debut with Portraits, a documentary that examines the experiences of Black women and telling stories from their perspective while also deconstructing myths and their “otherizing.” Egbuonu, who also wrote and produced the film, spent three years making ...
Egbuonu was previously an executive at Raindog Films, the shingle run by Ged Doherty and Colin Firth, and served as an associate producer on Loving, the 2016 drama starring Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton.
She made her directorial debut with Portraits, a documentary that examines the experiences of Black women and telling stories from their perspective while also deconstructing myths and their “otherizing.” Egbuonu, who also wrote and produced the film, spent three years making ...
- 3/19/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Geena Davis’s BFFoundation (Bff) has set dates for the 2021 Bentonville Film Festival and have officially opened submissions. The 7th annual fest that amplifies the voices of diverse storytellers will take place on August 3-8 in Bentonville, Arkansas.
This year’s Bentonville Film Festival will be a hybrid festival, featuring digital and in-person events as well as drive-in screenings. The full program will be unveiled in July.
“During this last year of uncertainty across all sectors of the entertainment industry, and throughout our organization’s history, Bff has remained unwavering in its commitment to support groups and people historically underrepresented in the media,” said Wendy Guerrero, President of BFFoundation and Bentonville Film Festival. “As we move further into 2021, we continue to learn and to hone our focus on creating positive social change, an increased support base, and more measurable impact. With all of this in mind, our 7th annual film...
This year’s Bentonville Film Festival will be a hybrid festival, featuring digital and in-person events as well as drive-in screenings. The full program will be unveiled in July.
“During this last year of uncertainty across all sectors of the entertainment industry, and throughout our organization’s history, Bff has remained unwavering in its commitment to support groups and people historically underrepresented in the media,” said Wendy Guerrero, President of BFFoundation and Bentonville Film Festival. “As we move further into 2021, we continue to learn and to hone our focus on creating positive social change, an increased support base, and more measurable impact. With all of this in mind, our 7th annual film...
- 1/27/2021
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Monday, Nov. 9 Jordan Peele ‘Horror Event’ Film Slated
Universal Pictures has scheduled its untitled “Jordan Peele Horror Event” movie for July 22, 2022, without revealing any plot details.
The studio has seen Peele’s two horror films — 2017’s “Get Out” and 2019’s “Us” — generate $510 million in worldwide box office as each grossed $255 million. Peele received an Academy Award for original screenplay for “Get Out.”
Universal made the announcement Monday, shortly after Warner Bros. said it would open “Fantastic Beasts 3′ on July 15, 2022.
Oprah Winfrey Network Buys ‘(In) Visible Portraits’
OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network has the documentary “(In)Visible Portraits” from first-time director Oge Egbuonu and plans to air the film in 2021.
The documentary focuses on Black women sharing their stories of struggle and resilience, and beyond. It’s aimed at celebrating exceptional Black women and igniting hope for the next generations.
“(In)Visible Portraits” was released digitally through Vimeo On Demand on Juneteenth,...
Universal Pictures has scheduled its untitled “Jordan Peele Horror Event” movie for July 22, 2022, without revealing any plot details.
The studio has seen Peele’s two horror films — 2017’s “Get Out” and 2019’s “Us” — generate $510 million in worldwide box office as each grossed $255 million. Peele received an Academy Award for original screenplay for “Get Out.”
Universal made the announcement Monday, shortly after Warner Bros. said it would open “Fantastic Beasts 3′ on July 15, 2022.
Oprah Winfrey Network Buys ‘(In) Visible Portraits’
OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network has the documentary “(In)Visible Portraits” from first-time director Oge Egbuonu and plans to air the film in 2021.
The documentary focuses on Black women sharing their stories of struggle and resilience, and beyond. It’s aimed at celebrating exceptional Black women and igniting hope for the next generations.
“(In)Visible Portraits” was released digitally through Vimeo On Demand on Juneteenth,...
- 11/9/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network has acquired the highly evocative and timely documentary, OWN Spotlight: (In)Visible Portraits from Loving producer and first-time director Oge Egbuonu. Set air in 2021, the docu is described as a powerful celebration of Black women sharing their stories of struggle, resilience, and beyond.
The pic aims to shatter the too-often invisible otherizing of Black women in America and reclaims the true narrative as told in their own words. The film illuminates the history of how we got here, dismantles the false framework of the present-day reality, and celebrates the extraordinary heritage of exceptional Black women who have come before as well as igniting hope for the next generations.
“Oge’s artistry and visionary storytelling in this beautiful film will deeply resonate with our viewers,” said Tina Perry, OWN president. “I am so proud to showcase its important message which so perfectly aligns with OWN...
The pic aims to shatter the too-often invisible otherizing of Black women in America and reclaims the true narrative as told in their own words. The film illuminates the history of how we got here, dismantles the false framework of the present-day reality, and celebrates the extraordinary heritage of exceptional Black women who have come before as well as igniting hope for the next generations.
“Oge’s artistry and visionary storytelling in this beautiful film will deeply resonate with our viewers,” said Tina Perry, OWN president. “I am so proud to showcase its important message which so perfectly aligns with OWN...
- 11/9/2020
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Narrative has hired publicists Maria Herrera and Rachael Reiss, who were recently vice presidents at Rogers & Cowan Pmk.
Together, Herrera and Reiss’ client list include Olivia Wilde, James Gunn, Chris Miller and Phil Lord. They also represent Hiro Murai (“Atlanta”), producer Brad Fuller (“A Quiet Place”), producer Andrew Form (“A Quiet Place”), Nahnatchka Khan, John Francis Daley and Johnathan Goldstein, Adele Lim (“Crazy Rich Asians”), Katie Silberman (“Booksmart”), Matt Kaplan’s Ace Entertainment (“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”) and Gary Janetti (“Vicious”).
Herrera most recently served as VP of Entertainment Strategies at Rogers & Cowan Pmk. She works with talent, filmmakers and showrunners, and has run awards campaigns for some of the industry’s top directors and writers. Reiss most recently served as VP of Entertainment Strategies, and has been representing creatives in film and television for 15 years.
Narrative was founded in 2017 by Heidi Lopata, Liz Mahoney, Megan Moss Pachon and Bryna Rifkin.
Together, Herrera and Reiss’ client list include Olivia Wilde, James Gunn, Chris Miller and Phil Lord. They also represent Hiro Murai (“Atlanta”), producer Brad Fuller (“A Quiet Place”), producer Andrew Form (“A Quiet Place”), Nahnatchka Khan, John Francis Daley and Johnathan Goldstein, Adele Lim (“Crazy Rich Asians”), Katie Silberman (“Booksmart”), Matt Kaplan’s Ace Entertainment (“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”) and Gary Janetti (“Vicious”).
Herrera most recently served as VP of Entertainment Strategies at Rogers & Cowan Pmk. She works with talent, filmmakers and showrunners, and has run awards campaigns for some of the industry’s top directors and writers. Reiss most recently served as VP of Entertainment Strategies, and has been representing creatives in film and television for 15 years.
Narrative was founded in 2017 by Heidi Lopata, Liz Mahoney, Megan Moss Pachon and Bryna Rifkin.
- 9/1/2020
- by Kate Aurthur
- Variety Film + TV
It has already been a banner year for Black women filmmakers, with historic achievements like Nia DaCosta set to become the first Black woman to direct a Marvel film with “Captain Marvel 2” and Ava DuVernay selected as the first female filmmaker to receive the prestigious Dorothy and Lillian Gish prize. And film fans should add “(In)Visible Portraits” director Oge Egbuonu on the list of names to know.
“It’s unprecedented. I can’t remember a time where so many Black women were given an opportunity and a platform to tell their stories in such a beautiful and unapologetic and organic way. It’s a very beautiful thing to witness and to be a part of,” Egbuonu tells Variety ahead of a special presentation of her documentary at the Bentonville Film Festival.
“It’s very empowering for me as a Black woman to see these women who I consider to...
“It’s unprecedented. I can’t remember a time where so many Black women were given an opportunity and a platform to tell their stories in such a beautiful and unapologetic and organic way. It’s a very beautiful thing to witness and to be a part of,” Egbuonu tells Variety ahead of a special presentation of her documentary at the Bentonville Film Festival.
“It’s very empowering for me as a Black woman to see these women who I consider to...
- 8/10/2020
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: After unveiling its lineup for the sixth edition of the Bentonville Film Festival (Bff), the Bentonville Film Foundation has set panels, events and jury for the hybrid virtual/in-person event. The fest will take place August 10-16.
The panels for this year’s fest include “If She Can See It, She Can Be It” with Geena Davis, Oge Egbuonuvisible Portraits) and Katori Hall (P-Valley creator). The panel spotlights the best practices for executives and creators who have successfully created or worked with female-driven content.
Isabella Gomez (One Day At A Time), Sonay Hoffman (For Life), Marie Jacobson (Spt’s Gemstone Studios), Mary Molina (Party of Five) and Esta Spalding (On Becoming a God in Central Florida) will be panelists for “What’s Your Story? And Why We Need It Now More Than Ever”, which will feature a conversation of the importance of fresh, distinctive voices on TV.
The panels for this year’s fest include “If She Can See It, She Can Be It” with Geena Davis, Oge Egbuonuvisible Portraits) and Katori Hall (P-Valley creator). The panel spotlights the best practices for executives and creators who have successfully created or worked with female-driven content.
Isabella Gomez (One Day At A Time), Sonay Hoffman (For Life), Marie Jacobson (Spt’s Gemstone Studios), Mary Molina (Party of Five) and Esta Spalding (On Becoming a God in Central Florida) will be panelists for “What’s Your Story? And Why We Need It Now More Than Ever”, which will feature a conversation of the importance of fresh, distinctive voices on TV.
- 8/5/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
The Bentonville Film Festival set the lineup for its sixth edition Tuesday, with the festival co-founded by Geena Davis unveiling its spotlight and competition program of indie feature films, shorts and episodic titles.
The fest is set to run August 10-16 in the Arkansas city and is being engineered as a hybrid event because of coronavirus concerns, with digital screenings, panels and events to run alongside some on-the-ground premieres and conversations.
This year’s lineup includes four Spotlight pics including the U.S. premiere of Misbehaviour, starring Keira Knightley and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, which tells the true story of protest and controversy at 1970 Miss World contest, and Parkland Rising, a documentary that looks at the students of Parkland, Fl, who started an international movement to call attention to the need for better gun laws.
As per usual, this year’s lineup focuses on underrepresented voices in film. Of the 68 titles, more...
The fest is set to run August 10-16 in the Arkansas city and is being engineered as a hybrid event because of coronavirus concerns, with digital screenings, panels and events to run alongside some on-the-ground premieres and conversations.
This year’s lineup includes four Spotlight pics including the U.S. premiere of Misbehaviour, starring Keira Knightley and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, which tells the true story of protest and controversy at 1970 Miss World contest, and Parkland Rising, a documentary that looks at the students of Parkland, Fl, who started an international movement to call attention to the need for better gun laws.
As per usual, this year’s lineup focuses on underrepresented voices in film. Of the 68 titles, more...
- 7/22/2020
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Leave it to Hollywood producer and actor Sarah Jones to combine improv, comedy and current events. Known for her one-woman multi-character stage shows, the Tony award-winning writer and performer is bringing her favorite characters to life to discuss what it means to be Black in America on her new Instagram Live series “#YesImSarahJones.” New episodes of the show are released every Wednesday on Sarah’s Instagram @yesimsarahjones.
“I hope Hollywood wakes up to the reality that it has been an engine of white supremacist ideology since D.W. Griffith,” Jones told WrapWomen, referring to the early-20th-century director of films like “Birth of a Nation.” “If the industry really wants to show it believes that Black Lives Matter, studios are going to have to reckon with the voices they’ve been marginalizing, including all of mine.”
During a recent interview with WrapWomen, Jones — who has performed several times for Barack and...
“I hope Hollywood wakes up to the reality that it has been an engine of white supremacist ideology since D.W. Griffith,” Jones told WrapWomen, referring to the early-20th-century director of films like “Birth of a Nation.” “If the industry really wants to show it believes that Black Lives Matter, studios are going to have to reckon with the voices they’ve been marginalizing, including all of mine.”
During a recent interview with WrapWomen, Jones — who has performed several times for Barack and...
- 7/2/2020
- by Emily Vogel
- The Wrap
Producer-turned-director Oge Egbuonu is reclaiming the narrative of Black women in her new documentary “(In)visible Portraits.” The film, which she describes as, “a love letter to Black women,” features Black female scholars and authors sharing stories of struggle and celebration throughout American history.
“Telling the stories of everyday women was the most important thing for me; giving people who we perceive to be everyday women a platform to tell their stores in the hope that they inspire others to do the same,” Egbuonu told WrapWomen.
During a recent interview, Egbuonu opened up about her 3-year experience making the timely and necessary film, which was released on Juneteenth (June 19), a holiday that celebrates the 1865 emancipation of slaves.
Also Read: 'Self Made' Co-Showrunner Elle Johnson Calls on Hollywood to Greenlight More Projects About Black Women from American History
Tell us about your journey in making “(In)visible Portraits.” What did you learn in the process?...
“Telling the stories of everyday women was the most important thing for me; giving people who we perceive to be everyday women a platform to tell their stores in the hope that they inspire others to do the same,” Egbuonu told WrapWomen.
During a recent interview, Egbuonu opened up about her 3-year experience making the timely and necessary film, which was released on Juneteenth (June 19), a holiday that celebrates the 1865 emancipation of slaves.
Also Read: 'Self Made' Co-Showrunner Elle Johnson Calls on Hollywood to Greenlight More Projects About Black Women from American History
Tell us about your journey in making “(In)visible Portraits.” What did you learn in the process?...
- 6/20/2020
- by Emily Vogel
- The Wrap
Producer-turned-filmmaker Oge Egbuonu’s remarkable directorial debut, “(In)Visible Portraits,” was always going to debut during a fraught time in history. Three years in the making, the “Loving” and “Eye in the Sky” producer’s first documentary has been entirely crafted in the wake of numerous recent traumas inflicted on the Black community, from the continued killings of Black men by police to the deep pessimism and fear surrounding the current presidential administration, and that was before the historic protests of the last few weeks. Now, the documentary seems wildly prescient and urgent, providing
The trick, of course, is that “(In)Visible Portraits” could have been made at nearly any time in recent history, as Egbuonu and her many subjects unpack a litany of harmful labels, conspiracy theories, and even their enduring hopes for the future over the course of just 92 minutes. Centered around the experience of Black women — particularly...
The trick, of course, is that “(In)Visible Portraits” could have been made at nearly any time in recent history, as Egbuonu and her many subjects unpack a litany of harmful labels, conspiracy theories, and even their enduring hopes for the future over the course of just 92 minutes. Centered around the experience of Black women — particularly...
- 6/19/2020
- by Kate Erbland
- Thompson on Hollywood
Producer-turned-filmmaker Oge Egbuonu’s remarkable directorial debut, “(In)Visible Portraits,” was always going to debut during a fraught time in history. Three years in the making, the “Loving” and “Eye in the Sky” producer’s first documentary has been entirely crafted in the wake of numerous recent traumas inflicted on the Black community, from the continued killings of Black men by police to the deep pessimism and fear surrounding the current presidential administration, and that was before the historic protests of the last few weeks. Now, the documentary seems wildly prescient and urgent, providing
The trick, of course, is that “(In)Visible Portraits” could have been made at nearly any time in recent history, as Egbuonu and her many subjects unpack a litany of harmful labels, conspiracy theories, and even their enduring hopes for the future over the course of just 92 minutes. Centered around the experience of Black women — particularly...
The trick, of course, is that “(In)Visible Portraits” could have been made at nearly any time in recent history, as Egbuonu and her many subjects unpack a litany of harmful labels, conspiracy theories, and even their enduring hopes for the future over the course of just 92 minutes. Centered around the experience of Black women — particularly...
- 6/19/2020
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Producer Oge Egbuonu’s directorial debut “(In)Visible Portraits” arrives having perhaps committed the first-feature error of wanting to say everything. Even so, the documentary’s emotional generosity and mindful elegance impress. A rumination on Black women in America, the film’s release was moved up from fall 2020 to June 19. The timing couldn’t be more resonant. The spirit of the documentary sways and marches to chants like “Say Their Names” and “Justice for Breonna Taylor.”
There is a poetic justice to releasing the film on Juneteenth, the holiday that celebrates emancipation even as it reminds us how diabolical racism was — and remains. (The date marks the moment slaves in Texas learned that they’d been freed by the Emancipation Proclamation — signed nearly three years earlier.) With the assist of a number of female scholars, the film dives into the traumatic legacy of slavery but also pays tribute to the fortitude of Black women,...
There is a poetic justice to releasing the film on Juneteenth, the holiday that celebrates emancipation even as it reminds us how diabolical racism was — and remains. (The date marks the moment slaves in Texas learned that they’d been freed by the Emancipation Proclamation — signed nearly three years earlier.) With the assist of a number of female scholars, the film dives into the traumatic legacy of slavery but also pays tribute to the fortitude of Black women,...
- 6/18/2020
- by Lisa Kennedy
- Variety Film + TV
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