George Lucas and Steven Spielberg to present the 50th AFI Life Achievement Award to Francis Ford Coppola
George Lucas and Steven Spielberg will present the 50th AFI Life Achievement Award to Francis Ford Coppola. Gia Coppola, Roman Coppola, Robert De Niro, Adam Driver, Harrison Ford, Morgan Freeman, Dustin Hoffman, Ron Howard, C. Thomas Howell, Diane Lane, Spike Lee, Ralph Macchio, and Al Pacino will be among the guests and presenters. The Gala Tribute will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, CA, on April 26, 2025.
“There is only one Francis Ford Coppola,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO. “And it is AFI’s honor to gather the art and entertainment communities, along with his family, friends and colleagues to celebrate cinema – all of it – and the very best of it.”
Mandy Fabian’s comedy-drama film Jess Plus None on VOD on April 29
The ensemble comedy-drama feature Jess Plus None written and directed by Mandy Fabian, will be available to rent/own on all North American digital HD internet, cable, and satellite platforms, as well as on DVD, starting April 29, 2025 via Freestyle Digital Media.
The ensemble cast features Abby Miller(Home Before Dark, Justified), Marielle Scott (Ladybird), Rory O’malley (Hamilton, Book of Mormon), Alexis Krause (Jersey Boys), Tate Ellington (Lessons in Chemistry), Shalim Ortiz (Grand Hotel), Scout Durwood (Mary + Jane), Scott Speiser (the Tick) and Matt Walsh (Veep).
Jess Plus None, tells the story of a reluctant maid-of-honor who attends an off-the-grid wedding in the woods and must confront her perfect ex-girlfriend, her more successful college friends, and every single one of her life choices. Jess is bereft. The love of her life, Samantha, broke up with her and won’t return calls. Now, Jess must ditch the guy she’s shame-dating before she sees Sam again at her best friend’s camp wedding–although are they still friends? Jess hasn’t heard from Melanie in months and worse, Mel is marrying a frat-boy hedge-fund managing bro, when she used to be a feminist. Melanie hopes to heal old wounds by forcing everyone into the woods—no cell phones, no Google, just warm fireside chats and pooping in camp toilets. Wendy is psyched to support Melanie and get a break from her life as a prisoner…er, mother. Peter’s missed his friends but never misses a party, to the chagrin of his boyfriend. Hugh, the former dork turned rockstar, made it in the music business but never made it with Wendy…something he hopes to fix.
“With Jess Plus None, I wanted to explore ideas about adult friendships, imperfect love stories, and how women are supposed to behave in order to be worthy of empathy,” said filmmaker Mandy Fabian. “I wanted to make a rom-com with humor as the way in, and where female sexuality of all kinds is celebrated.”
Watch the official trailer for Jess Plus None.
Watch New Clip from ‘The Trouble With Jessica,’ Matt Winn’s dark comedy film
Watch a new clip from The Trouble With Jessica, the dark comedy film starring Alan Tudyk, Rufus Sewell, Shirley Henderson, Olivia Williams, and Indira Varma.
Directed by Matt Winn, it opens in Theaters on April 25, 2025.
Here is the synopsis: Married couple Sarah (Shirley Henderson) and Tom (Alan Tudyk) are in terrible financial trouble. On the brink of losing everything, they’ve managed to find a buyer for their stylish London home. When their best friends Richard (Rufus Sewell) and Beth (Olivia Williams) come over for a final dinner, an uninvited old friend, Jessica (Indira Varma), tags along.
After a seemingly trivial argument at dinner, Jessica disappears. She has the temerity to hang herself in the garden, totally oblivious to the adverse consequences for Sarah and Tom’s real estate sale. The only solution: Sarah and Tom must convince Richard and Beth to help take care of this little inconvenience. If they’re clever enough about it, what could possibly go wrong?
Watch the new clip for The Trouble With Jessica.
Anthony Bawn’s LGBTQ Drama-Musical ‘Midnight in Phoenix’ will be released on May 27
Midnight in Phoenix, the latest film from acclaimed LGBTQ filmmaker Anthony Bawn will be released on May 27, 2025 via Breaking Glass Pictures.
The drama-musical follows the journey of Levi, a charismatic drag queen, and Ezra, the man who unexpectedly sweeps her off her feet – only for their whirlwind romance to take a dangerous turn when they become accidental fugitives.
Written and directed by Anthony Bawn, Midnight in Phoenix stars Dueal Andrews (Levi/Jax Diamonds), Richardson Pierre (Ezra), Brentley Willis (Oliver), Lydia Corbin (Aunt Ida), and Tyree Ballard (Tony).
When a fateful night leads Levi and Ezra into a chaotic misunderstanding at a robbery scene, they find themselves on the run, navigating a series of unexpected twists and colorful encounters. As they evade the law, their bond deepens, reminding them—and the audience—of the power of love, loyalty, and embracing one’s true self.
“Rich Wolff and Breaking Glass Pictures has allowed me as a filmmaker the space to express my stories in a way I can only see fit! Rich has encouraged me to do whatever ‘within means’ lol, which makes the partnership just that great!” — Anthony Bawn
Watch the official trailer for Midnight in Phoenix
Courtroom drama ‘Finding Nicole’ directed by Harley Wallen out on VOD on May 6
Finding Nicole, the inspirational courtroom drama directed by Harley Wallen will be available to rent/own on all North American digital HD internet, cable, and satellite platforms, as well as on DVD, starting May 6, 2025 via Freestyle Digital Media.
ombats domestic violence and reclaims herself and her children and finds a way to begin thriving.
Finding Nicole was written by Geoffrey D. Calhoun, Nicole Beverly, and Harley Wallen. Finding Nicole was produced by Harley Wallen, Kaiti Wallen, Joe Williamson, and Nicole Beverly. The ensemble cast features Kaiti Wallen (‘Nicole Beverly’), Shawn Whalen (‘Cameron Banks’), Richard Tyson (‘Judge Carter’), Mari G. (‘Warren Beverly’), Shawtay Dalon (‘Shonda Wright’), Debra Lamb (‘Susan’), Blanca Blanco (‘Katarina Lopez’), Marcus Woods (‘Officer Griffin’), Pierre Aristide (‘Officer Bobby’), Allyssa Caswell (‘Jessica’), Michael James Alexander (‘Baz’), Vida Ghaffari (‘Mary Ann/NPR Reporter’) and Deon Hunt (‘Adam’).
Finding Nicole is based on the true-life story of Nicole Beverly and her two children surviving and learning to thrive after going through horrific domestic violence as initially presented on the HLN television series Inside Evil With Chris Cuomo episode “Til Death Do Us Part” — and in Nicole’s own top-selling book Finding Nicole. The story traces Nicole’s tale of survival as she c
“Making Finding Nicole was a very emotional journey for us,” said filmmaker Harley Wallen. “At times being on set was therapy, and at times it was educational as our ensemble became a family with something big to say and to make a difference with Nicole’s story. We are grateful to be able to share Nicole’s journey, that’s unfortunately far too common in today’s world.”
Watch the official trailer for Finding Nicole
Matty Hannon’s award-winning adventure documentary The Road to Patagonia to be released in the UK
The award-winning adventure documentary The Road to Patagonia directed by Matty Hannon will premiere exclusively on the Icon Film Channel for one month from 30th May, before hitting UK cinemas on 27th June via Kaleidoscope Entertainment.
Follow ecologist Matty Hannon on an incredible solo adventure as he leaves his life in the city behind for the great outdoors. Surfing his way along the west coast of the Americas, his ambitious voyage takes him from the Alaskan wilderness to the tip of Patagonia. But just as the dangers and isolation of such a trip take their toll, he meets the girl of his dreams, a permaculture farmer, Heather Hillier, who throws caution to the wind and joins Matty on his 50,000km odyssey.
Riding south on motorbike and horseback, worlds collide as the duo encounter Zapatista rebels, Amazonian shamans and Mapuche leaders whose salient words crack the adventurers’ cultural veneer, leaving them with many existential questions. Shot over 16 years, the result is a beautiful documentation of the untouched natural world that few get to experience, offering a thrilling new perspective on our place within it.
The film has won multiple awards including Best Film at Byron Bay Film Festival, Best Documentary at Paris Surf Skate Snow Film Festival, Jury awards at Maui Film Festival and Surf Film Festival, and Audience Choice awards at Melbourne Documentary Film Festival and Florida Surf Film Festival.
Speaking on the importance of truth within documentary filmmaking, Director Matty Hannon said “As a verité documentary The Road to Patagonia includes 16 years of footage from my life. Some moments were difficult to include, being so personal and vulnerable. However, overall they were incredibly privileged times to have documented, and despite investigating themes of colonialism and globalisation, the film aims to instil an uplifting sense of hope and positivity in the audience. In a way, I hope it’s a small antidote to the heaviness of the world in recent years.”
Watch the trailer for The Road to Patagonia.
Rachel Noll James’ sci-fi drama film ‘Ingress’ out on VOD on April 29
Beyond grief, beyond time, beyond reality
The sci-fi drama film Ingress directed by Rachel Noll James will be released on Digital and on Demand on April 29, 2025. Starring in the film are Rachel Noll James, Christopher Clark, Tim DeKay (White Collar), and Johnny Ferro.
According to the synopsis: A woman with the ability to travel between parallel realities is devastated when she loses her husband in a tragic accident. Overcome with grief, she journeys through the multiverse in search of a reality where he’s still alive.
Watch the trailer for Ingress.
Scott Chambers’ slasher horror film Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare gets UK release on April 28
The British independent slasher film Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare directed by Scott Chambers will be released on DVD, Blu-ray and digital in the UK and Ireland from April 28th.
The film stars Megan Placito as Wendy Darling and Martin Portlock as the title character, with Kit Green, Peter DeSouza-Feighoney, Teresa Banham, Olumide Olorunfemi, Campbell Wallace, and Nicholas Woodeson in supporting roles. It follows Wendy as she embarks on a quest to find her younger brother Michael, who has been abducted by Peter Pan and Tinker Bell to be taken to Neverland.
Here is the synopsis: Follow Wendy Darling as she strikes out in an attempt to rescue her brother Michael from “the clutches of the evil Peter Pan.” Along the way she meets Tinkerbell, who in this twisted version of the story will be seen taking hard drugs, convinced that it’s pixie dust.
Watch the trailer for Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare.
Male Friendship: After Dark – Watch the night vision interview with Friendship director Andrew DeYoung and stars Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd, and Eric Rahill
Watch the official one-of-a-kind night vision interview with Friendship writer-director Andrew DeYoung and stars Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd, and Eric Rahill.
The film opens in select theaters on May 9, everywhere on May 23.
In the film which also stars Kate Mara, suburban dad Craig falls hard for his charismatic new neighbor, as Craig’s attempts to make an adult male friend threaten to ruin both of their lives.