VIMOOZ is for lovers of independent films + foreign film + documentary + film festivals. We love championing the little films.
Uncork’d Entertainment and Dark Star Pictures released the trailer for director Zach Gayne’s dark comedy Homewrecker, starring Alex Essoe (Doctor Sleep) and Precious Chong (L.A Confidential). The film opens in select theaters June 26, and DVD/Digital/On Demand on July 7.
Ashland Independent Film Festival wrapped up its virtual 19th annual edition, with the awards celebration. Fernando Frias’s I’m No Longer Here, which had been selected for the original festival in April but, at the request of its distributor, Netflix, was not included in the virtual festival, won the award for Best Narrative Feature. A decision was made by AIFF not to penalize filmmakers whose films could not be screened online, and all original selections remained in the jury award competitions. Only virtually screened films, however, were eligible for the audience awards.
The premiere North American LGBTQ film festivals: Frameline (San Francisco), Inside Out (Toronto), NewFest (NYC), and Outfest (Los Angeles), today announced their commitment to supporting LGBTQ film and filmmakers across their markets through the formation of NAQFA: the North American Queer Festival Alliance. This alliance will work collaboratively to produce, present and expand initiatives and programming while offering support to the LGBTQ film festival sector in the US and Canada. The announcement was made today by the Executive Directors of each festival, James Woolley of Frameline, Andria Wilson of Inside Out, David Hatkoff of NewFest and Damien S. Navarro of Outfest.
Kandoo Films, the Los Angeles based full-service production and distribution company that focuses on emerging new artists will release two new indie films for first-time film directors – Michael Leoni (American Street Kid) and Drew Hale (Cut and Chop), as part of his Emerging Artist program.
The South Korean coming-of-age drama House of Hummingbird directed by Bora Kim which won the award for Best International Narrative Feature at Tribeca Film Festival will open nationwide in Virtual Cinemas on Friday June 26. The film will open in NYC at Film at Lincoln Center; and in LA at Laemmle Theatres and CGV Cinemas.
With a program lineup that travels the globe from Ireland to Argentina to Kazakhstan, the 48th edition of the Dance on Camera Festival, running July 17-20, 2020, will be presented digitally for the first time,
Onur Tukel’s provocative new film Black Magic for White Boys comes to VOD/digital on July 3. The film stars Ronald Guttman (The Hunt for Red October), Onur Tukel (Catfight, Applesauce), Lou Jay Taylor, Charlie LaRose (7 Chinese Brothers), Eva Dorrepaal (Catfight), Leah Shore, Brendan Miller (TNT’s Animal Kingdom), Brian W. Smith (Shwabby Run)
And She Could Be Next, a two-part documentary series, chronicles the story of a defiant movement of Latinx women, including Los Angeles-based Maria Elena Durazo and El Paso-based Veronica Escobar, along with other women of color who are transforming American politics from the ground up.
Four Japanese orphans team up to form a rock band in We Are Little Zombies directed by Makoto Nagahisa that World Premiere at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, and won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Originality. The film which also won a Crystal Bear – Special Mention at Berlin International Film Festival hits virtual cinemas and live cinemas and VOD July 10th. We Are Little Zombies stars Keita Ninomiya, Mondo Okumura, Satoshi Mizuno, and Sena Nakajima.
Arena Cinelounge Sunset, Hollywood’s acclaimed home for arthouse, genre, and independent cinema, announced today that it will be the first physical movie theater in Los Angeles to re-open on Friday, June 19, 2020 with special engagements of classic BAFTA and Independent Spirit Award winner The Unbearable Lightness of Being and the 2020 festival winner Babyteeth starring Ben Mendelsohn.
The life and legacy of the late Tony® Award-Winning playwright and LGBTQ activist Terrence McNally who passed away from COVID-19 complications on March 24, 2020, will be celebrated through the award-winning American Masters documentary Terrence McNally: Every Act of Life, streaming on pbs.org/americanmasters from June 15 – August 31, 2020. In addition, special virtual online discussions and talkbacks with some of Broadway’s brightest stars will take place beginning June 17 as they remember and honor the legendary McNally.
CNN Films has acquired North American broadcast rights to the documentary film Jimmy Carter Rock & Roll President. The documentary was created by the award-winning director Mary Wharton, producer Chris Farrell, and writer Bill Flanagan. Originally set to open the 19th annual Tribeca Film Festival in April, the feature will now be the closing film for AFI DOCS film festival on June 21st.