Film Festivals

HBO Acquires LGBTQ Documentary WELCOME TO CHECHYNA Ahead of Sundance Premiere

Welcome to Chechnya by David France, an official selection of the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute

HBO Documentary Films has acquired the powerful and eye-opening documentary Welcome to Chechnya, from Academy Award nominated director David France (“How to Survive a Plague,” “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson”). This searing documentary shadows a group of brave activists risking their lives to confront the ongoing anti-LGBTQ persecution in the repressive and closed Russian republic of Chechnya. With unfettered access and a commitment to protecting anonymity, this documentary exposes these underreported atrocities, while highlighting an extraordinary group of heroic people confronting crushing brutality.

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Short Film LITTLE CHIEF by Indigenous Filmmaker Erica Tremblay to Premiere at Sundance 2020

Little Chief directed by Erica Tremblay

Little Chief, a narrative short film directed by Indigenous filmmaker Erica Tremblay (Seneca-Cayuga), will world premiere as part of the Shorts Selection at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. The story stars an Indigenous cast, including Starring Lily Gladstone as Sharon, Julian Ballentyne as Bear and Lily Gladstone (Certain Women, Billions); and was produced through the Sundance Institute Native Filmmakers Lab.

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Sundance Film Festival 2020 Reveals Indie Episodic, Shorts and Special Events Lineup

A Love Song For Latasha by Sophia Nahli Allison, an official selection of the Shorts Programs at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Sophia Nahli Allison

Sundance Film Festival announced the works selected across the Indie Episodic, Shorts and Special Events sections of the 2020 Festival. Of the projects announced, 48% were directed or created by one or more women, 33% were directed or created by one or more filmmaker of color, and 19% by one or more people who identify as LGBTQIA. 7 were supported by Sundance Institute in development, whether through direct granting or Labs.

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2020 Palm Springs Film Festival Announces Lineup. Opens with AN ALMOST ORDINARY SUMMER

An Almost Ordinary Summer, directed by Simone Godano

The 31st annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) will screen 188 films from 81 countries, opening with An Almost Ordinary Summer, directed by Simone Godano, on Friday, January 3, and close with Military Wives, directed by Peter Cattaneo on Sunday, January 12.

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Hulu’s Hillary Clinton Docuseries to World Premiere at Sundance

Hulu’s Hillary Clinton Docuseries to World Premiere at Sundance

Hulu announced the official premiere date for the new four-part docuseries, Hillary, about the life and 2016 presidential campaign of Hillary Rodham Clinton, which will world premiere at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.

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LIBERTÉ: A CALL TO SPY and ANTIGONE Win Audience Awards at Whistler Film Festival

Liberté: A Call to Spy

The 19th edition of the Whistler Film Festival (WFF) tagged as ‘Canada’s coolest film fest’ wrapped on Sunday night with the Audience Award going to the North American premiere of LIBERTÉ: A CALL TO SPY, an exciting true story about female spies during WWII. The film is an American title shot partly in Budapest and was produced, written by and stars Sarah Megan Thomas and was directed by Lydia Dean Pilcher.

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2020 NY Jewish Film Festival Announces Lineup

Those Who Remained directed by Barnabas Toth

The Jewish Museum and Film at Lincoln Center will present the 29th annual New York Jewish Film Festival (NYJFF), January 15 to 28, 2020.

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Sophie Deraspe’s ANTIGONE Wins Top Prizes at 2019 Whistler Film Festival

ANTIGONE directed by Sophie Deraspe

Québécois writer/director Sophie Deraspe’s feature ANTIGONE swept the coveted 16th edition of the Borsos Competition awards at the 2019 Whistler Film Festival, taking home four of the five awards including Best Canadian Feature Film. The jury stated: “ANTIGONE is a stunning, provocative film that captures the heartbreaking and complex realities of immigration, directed with a singular boldness.”

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Laura Dern will Receive Career Achievement Award at Palm Springs International Film Festival

Laura Dern in Marriage Story

Laura Dern, recently honored with the Actress Tribute at the IFP Gotham Awards, will receive the Career Achievement Award at the 31st annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF). The festival runs January 2-13, 2020.

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2020 Slamdance Film Festival Announces Feature Film Lineup

Lovemobile directed by Elke Margarete Lehrenkrauss

The 2020 Slamdance Film Festival announced the films in the Narrative and Documentary Feature Film Competition programs as well as the lineup for the Breakouts section. The 26th edition of the Slamdance Film Festival will take place in Park City, Utah January 24-30, 2020.

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Complete List of 118 Feature-length Films Selected for 2020 Sundance Film Festival

Fathia Youssouf, Medina El Aidi-Azouni, Esther Gohourou, Ilanah Cami-Goursolas, Myriam Hamma, Demba Diaw, and Maimouna Gueye appear in “Cuties” by Maïmouna Doucouré, an official selection of the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute. ‘Courtesy of Sundance Institute.’

The 2020 Sundance Film Festival revealed the 118 feature-length films, representing 27 countries and 44 first-time feature filmmakers that will be showcased at the upcoming festival. Films range from indie films to star studded cast featuring Meek Mill, Wilmer Valderrama, Elisabeth Moss, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Anne Hathaway, Ben Affleck and more. The Festival hosts screenings in Park City, Salt Lake City and at Sundance Mountain Resort, from January 23 to February 2, 2020.

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Zack Gottsagen to Receive Rising Star Award at Palm Springs International Film Festival

Zack Gottsagen in “The Peanut Butter Falcon”

Zack Gottsagen will receive the Rising Star Award at the annual Film Awards Gala of the 31st annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) for his performance in The Peanut Butter Falcon. The festival runs January 2-13, 2020.

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