Never Rarely Sometimes Always leads the nominations for the 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards with 7 nominations including Best Feature, Best Director for Eliza Hittman and Best Female Lead for Sidney Flanigan. Minari was close behind with 6 nominations including Best Feature, Best Director for Lee Isaac Chung and Best Male Lead for Steven Yeun. Other Best Feature nominees included First Cow, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and Nomadland.
The psychological thriller Reunion starring Julia Ormond (The Walking Dead: World Beyond, My Week with Marilyn) will open in theaters and digital/VOD on February 5th from Dark Sky Films.
“Nomadland” by Chloé Zao and “Promising Young Woman” by Emerald Fennell tied for the top honor of Best Film at the Kansas City Film Critics Circle’s James Loutzenhiser Awards. “Nomadland” also received awards in the Best Director and Adapted Screenplay categories, while “Promising Young Woman” won Best Actress and Original Screenplay. They were the only films to win multiple awards.
YouTube Originals released the first trailer today for the documentary, “Life In A Day 2020,” launching February 6 on the film’s YouTube channel. “Life In A Day 2020” premieres virtually at the Sundance Film Festival on February 1.
The new trailer debuted today for Sex, Drugs & Bicycles, a topnotch documentary that digs deep into the nightmare of paid vacations, universal healthcare and windmills. Directed by Jonathan Blank, Sex, Drugs & Bicycles will air as part of PBS’ Link Voices series on February 26th, 2021
Kino Lorber released the official trailer for the indie psychological thriller Test Pattern set against the backdrop of much of the recent conversations surrounding health care and policing, the #metoo movement, and race in America. The film starring Brittany S. Hall, Will Brill, Gail Bean, and Drew Fuller will be released In theaters and virtual cinemas February 19, 2021.
Remi Weekes’ chilling debut His House, which received 16 British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) nominations in total, won two awards in craft categories: Best Effects (for Pedro Sabrosa and Stefano Pepin) and Best Production Design for Jacqueline Abrahams who was previously nominated for the award in 2017 for Lady Macbeth.
Dark Star Pictures released the official trailer for Jumbo, the bizarre “love story” indie film that premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Written and directed by Zoé Wittock in her feature directorial debut, Jumbo stars Noémie Merlant, Emmanuelle Bercot and Sam Louwyck; and will open in theaters on February 19th, 2021, and VOD on March 16th, 2021.
George C. Wolfe’s Netflix drama Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was named Best Film of Year for the 10th annual Black Film Critics Circle Awards. Regina King’s One Night in Miami was among the big winners with honors for best director for King, in a tie with Chloé Zhao for Nomadland; best supporting actor for Leslie Odom, Jr. and best ensemble for the cast.
Now in its 5th year, the MidWest WeirdFest taking place March 5 -7, 2021 at the Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, announced its first programming wave of films.
HBO released the trailer for the documentary Fake Famous debuting Tuesday, February 2 (9:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT), from first-time director and veteran journalist Nick Bilton, that explores the industry of social media influencers through an innovative social experiment. The film’s journey into this world is driven by the casting of three people in Los Angeles who all have relatively small social followings and the attempt to grow them into famous influencers. By purchasing fake followers and an army of bots to “engage” with their social media, the newly made “influencers” discover both the wonders and costs of this unlikely, immersive lifestyle.
Voice of Freedom is a new documentary about singer Marian Anderson, whose talent broke down barriers around the world. Hailed as a voice that “comes around once in 100 years” and widely celebrated by both white and Black audiences at home, her fame wasn’t enough to insulate her from the indignities and trauma of racism and segregation. On Easter Sunday, 1939, she stepped up to a microphone in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Inscribed on the walls of the monument behind her were the words “all men are created equal.” Barred from performing in Constitution Hall because of her race, Anderson would sing for the American people in the open air. Narrated by Renée Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton), Voice of Freedom interweaves Anderson’s rich life story with this landmark moment in history, exploring fundamental questions about talent, race, fame, democracy and the American soul. Produced by Rob Rapley and executive produced by Cameo George, Voice of Freedom premieres Monday, February 15, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET on American Experience on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS Video App.