The WWI epic drama Blizzard of Souls (Dvēseļu putenis), directed by Dzintars Dreibergs and Latvia’s Official Oscar Submission will open in virtual cinema in the U.S. on January 8, 2021. The film is based on the true story of young Arthur (16), enlisted in WW1’s Eastern Front; too young to fight, but old enough to die.
Stony Brook Film Festival hosted its LIVE Virtual Awards Ceremony for the 2020 festival and The Subject directed by Lanie Zipoy and written by Chisa Hutchinson, won the Jury Award for Best Feature. The Subject tells the story of a successful documentary filmmaker haunted by his last film, which captured the murder of his Subject, a black teen in Harlem; a timely film that explores the relationship between an artist and their subject and addresses the harsh reality of race and class among the privileged. The film features Jason Biggs, Aunjanue Ellis, Anabelle Acosta, Carra Patterson, Nile Bullock, and Caleb Eberhardt,
Actress Robin Wright’s directorial debut Land has been selected to world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Following its premiere, Focus Features will release the film in theaters on Friday, February 12, 2021.
The Jewish Museum and Film at Lincoln Center will present the virtual 2021 New York Jewish Film Festival (NYJFF) virtually from January 13 through 26 showcasing 17 features and seven shorts.
Sundance announced today the independent films selected for Feature Film, Short Film, Indie Series and New Frontier categories for the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. The Festival will take place digitally via a feature-rich, Sundance-built online platform and in person on Satellite Screens across the country (public health permitting) from January 28-February 3, 2021.
Apple TV+ released a new trailer for Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry, award-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler’s documentary that offers a deeply intimate look at the teenager’s extraordinary journey. The documentary will be released in theaters and on Apple TV+ on February 26
Netflix released the trailer for the documentary “Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy” directed by Stanley Nelson (The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution; Freedom Riders) that explores the complex history of crack in the 1980s. The documentary premieres on Netflix on January 11, 2021.
Librarian of Congress announced the annual selection of 25 of America’s most influential motion pictures to be inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. These films range from the innovative silent film “Suspense,” which was co-directed by a woman in 1913, and Sidney Poitier’s Oscar-winning performance in 1963’s “Lilies of the Field” to the PBS documentary “Freedom Riders” from 2010 and one of the biggest public vote getters, Christopher Nolan’s 2008 Batman film “The Dark Knight.”
Greenwich Entertainment acquired Days of Bagnold Summer the directorial debut of Simon Bird (star of The Inbetweeners) that premiered at the Locarno Film Festival. The film will be released in theaters, on virtual cinema, and on demand February 19.
Revelation Perth International Film Festival closed its 23rd annual edition with the inaugural WA Screen Culture Awards. The critically acclaimed award-winning short film Judas Collar, which made the Oscar’s Best Live Action Short Film Category Long List last year, took home five awards (and every one of their nominations).
The Boston Society of Film Critics picked Nomadland as the best film of 2020, along with Best Director for Chloe Zhao and Best Cinematography for Joshua James Richards. Other 2020 awards went to the Collective for Best Documentary and La Llorona for Best Non-English Language Film.
