We Are Gathered Here Today, Paul Boyd’s Covid era drama will be released on May 20, 2025
We Are Gathered Here Today, the Covid era drama written and directed by Paul Boyd, will be available on demand and on DVD, starting May 20, 2025.
The ensemble cast includes Danny Huston (‘Peter Stone’), Nicole Ari Parker (‘Nancy Stone’), Lin Shaye (‘Jean Cole’), Jenny O’Hara (‘Faye Stone’), Margaret Avery (‘Estelle Wyatt’), Phoebe Tonkin (‘Brenda Stone’), Luna Blaise (‘Susie’), Charlie Barnett (‘Mas Stone’), Clifton Davis (‘Joe Wyatt’), Bill Smitrovich (‘Jack Weir’), Peter Jason (‘Henry Stone’), Javicia Leslie (‘Jen Stone-Spitz’), Rae Dawn Chong (‘Mary Reed’), Elizabeth Rodriquez (‘Gwen Cantu’), Parker McKenna Posey (‘Keke Stone’), DaJuan Johnson (‘Docter’), Jermey Kent Jackson (‘David Spitz’), Fatimah Taliah (‘Nurse’), Kai Wener ‘(‘Ben Stone’), Navia Robinson (‘Debbie Spitz’), and Baker Powell (‘Jeremy’).
We Are Gathered Here Today is the story of a dying family patriarch who is admitted to the hospital with Covid19. His only family contact is via a video conference call. During the height of the Coronavirus pandemic, Henry Stone, the patriarch of a large inter-racial family gets admitted to hospital dying with the virus. His wife, being the first to find out, calls her son, who alerts the entire family in a chain of calls in an attempt to gather everyone on a video conference call. This being the only contact the family is permitted to have with Henry — via an iPad provided by the nursing staff. The frustrated and concerned family gather and connect on the video conference call, instead of around the hospital bed. Through disconnection and confusion on the call, family love is shared, and deep conflicts arise, leading to old secrets being revealed and death at a distance being experienced.
“Our goal for We Are Gathered Here Today was to impress the importance of prevention and preparation in the wake of future pandemics; to take this tragic loss of physical connection as a lesson that can never happen again,” said filmmaker Paul Boyd. “The Stone family was cast from a bounty of amazing actors that we were honored and humbled to work with. Each actor was isolated at home, recorded on via webcam in video conference sessions over three days. For authenticity, improvisation was used throughout.”
Watch the official trailer for We Are Gathered Here Today.
Irish crime thriller Amongst The Wolves starring Luke McQuillan and Aidan Gillen gets UK digital release
Amongst The Wolves, the crime thriller film by Irish director Mark O’Connor (Cardboard Gangsters, King of the Travellers), will be released across all major digital platforms in the UK from 2nd June.
Starring in the movie are Golden Globe® nominee Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones, Kin, Love/Hate), Luke McQuillan (Darklands, Game of Thrones), Jade Jordan (i), Louise Bourke (Let The Wrong One In), Helen Behan (This is England) and newcomer Daniel Fee.
The film follows Danny, a homeless man on the streets of Dublin, grappling with the ghosts of his past, who finds himself caught in a cycle of despair and survival. Haunted by memories of his time serving in the Royal Irish Army in Afghanistan, Danny’s life takes a turn when he encounters Will, a young teenager on the run from a dangerous drug gang. Despite his own inner turmoil, Danny takes Will under his wing, forming a fragile yet profound bond with him. With Power and his ruthless gang closing in, Danny must confront his own inner demons and battle the demons of the past in order to protect Will.
Watch the trailer for Amongst The Wolves
Tsui Hark’s 1984 romantic comedy film Shanghai Blues returns to theaters
Tsui Hark’s 1984 romantic comedy film Shanghai Blues returns to theaters beginning on June 20, 2025.
Starring in the film are Kenny Bee, Sylvia Chang and Sally Yeh.
Here is the synopsis: In 1937, after The Second Sino-Japanese War breaks out, a soldier and a young woman have an awkward meet cute in darkness under a bridge as they seek refuge during a bomb raid. Although they can’t see each other’s faces they promise to meet again after the dust settles. Ten years later the soldier, now a burgeoning songwriter and tuba-player in a marching band, is back in town desperately searching for his would-be soulmate. As fate would have it they end up living in the same building unbeknownst to each other. Through a series of mishaps he mistakes her new ingénue roommate for his love interest and wacky love triangle hijinks ensue.
Film Workshop presents a 40th anniversary 4K restoration of Shanghai Blues. Supervised from the original negative by Tsui Hark with L’Immagine Ritrovata and soundtrack remixed by One Cool Sound. This new version will premiere at Cannes Classics during the 77th Cannes Film Festival
Watch the trailer for Shanghai Blues.
American Cinematheque to present the Chung Mong-Hong Retrospective in LA
The Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles is partnering with American Cinematheque to present the Chung Mong-Hong Retrospective at Los Feliz 3 and Aero Theater starting from May 16 to 18, 2025. It will showcase four films from the director’s repertoire “Parking,” “Godspeed,” “A Sun,” and “The Embers.”
As the indisputable Golden Horse Award winner in Taiwan, Director Chung’s films have been selected three times as Taiwan’s submission to the Academy Awards’ best international film category, establishing him as a significant figure in the country’s film industry.
In a statement, American Cinematheque said “Director Chung’s oeuvre consists of genre-bending films distinguished by gripping plots, nuanced performances, and poetic cinematography. From psychological horror to crime saga, Chung explores the recurring themes of violence, memory, and reconciliation with a distinctive style.”
Chung authored and directed his first work of fiction, “Parking” (2008), which was full of black comedy and cleverly constructed with characters and narrative twists. The feature has received critical acclaim and was nominated for the Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival.
Godspeed (2016)“Godspeed” (2016), a rare road film, showcases Taiwan’s distinctive environment, culture, and vibrant society while also presenting Chung’s genuine concern for the land.
The film “A Sun” (2019), a piercing and engrossing account of a family that experiences heartbreak, extreme loss, shame, and unmet expectations tested to near ruin, was a shortlist of 15 for Best International Film at the 93rd Academy.
Chung’s recent piece, “The Embers” (2024), explores the process of personal reconciliation with Taiwan’s history and memories against the backdrop of Taiwan’s martial regime era and the years following its repeal.
The selections in this retrospective serve as a representation of all of his creations. Director Chung will participate in the Q&A sessions to discuss his filmmaking.