45 short films have been selected to screen in the 14th edition of the BFI Future Film Festival, which will take place online from February 18-21, 2021. The films, which will all be available to watch for free on BFI Player during the Festival (UK only), are eligible for the BFI Future Film Festival Awards, supported by Netflix.
BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival will hold the 35th edition of the Festival online from March 17th- 28th 2021. BFI Flare will deliver virtual festival premieres via BFI Player to UK audiences, in a dynamic and thought-provoking program of the best new LGBTIQ+ cinema from around the world, alongside a program of virtual events, which will be available to audiences for free.
Tony-, Emmy- and Grammy-winning actress Cynthia Erivo, filmmakers Julie Dash, Joshua Oppenheimer and Lana Wilson are among 22 celebrated voices across film, art and culture adjudicating this year’s awards on feature-length and short films at the Sundance Film Festival, presented at a digital ceremony taking place February 2nd.
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.
The Hong Kong International Film Festival today announced the return of multi-talented actor Aaron Kwok as its ambassador for the third consecutive year and unveiled a new key art to mark its 45th anniversary.
H.E.N.R.I. a science fiction film from award-winning Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) member, Guyanese born Canadian filmmaker, Ryan Singh, makes its world premiere at the Toronto Black Film Festival, February 10-21, 2021. Singh made H.E.N.R.I. a family affair including his six-year-old twins, Ava (Tall Boyz, Handmaid’s Tale) and Sebastian (Suits, Handmaid’s Tale, Silent) who helped write and also appear with their father in the short film. Being able to empower his children to have a voice, was a blessing for the filmmaker.
The music documentary film Bleeding Audio by Chelsea Christer on the rise and fall story on the alternative punk band from Oakland “The Matches” has been selected to screen at Slamdance Film Festival 2021. The film is one of 25 features, one of 8 documentaries, and the ONLY music documentary in the festival lineup. The virtual festival will run February 12-25, 2021 with a two-night drive-in presentation in Joshua Tree, CA open to the public February 13-14, and closing in Los Angeles February 25, 2021.
Carey Mulligan will be honored with the International Star Award at the the Palm Springs International Film Awards for her performance in Promising Young Woman.
Russian Film Week in New York rounds out its 2021 program with a final line-up from January 23 – 29, 2021. The festival will open with Tsoy by Alexey Uchitel, the road trip film reimagines the aftermath of rock star Viktor Tsoy’s death in Soviet-era Latvia.
Bleecker Street released the trailer for The World to Come, set to world premiere in the Spotlight Program of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. The film directed by Mona Fastvold; and starring Katherine Waterston, Vanessa Kirby, Christopher Abbott, along with Casey Affleck will open in theaters on February 12 and on digital Tuesday, March 2.
Director Bong Joon Ho will preside over the International Jury of the Competition at the 78th Venice International Film Festival (September 1 – 11, 2021), which will assign the Golden Lion for Best Film, as well as other official awards.
The virtual 28th edition of the New York African Film Festival (NYAFF) will open with Desmond Ovbiagele’s The Milkmaid, Nigeria’s entry for the 2021 Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Depicting the impact of extremism on the families of those it touches, the drama follows a Fulani milkmaid as she confronts the religious insurgents who kidnapped her sister.