Films ranging from Prince’s 1984 autobiographical hit “Purple Rain” and Spike Lee’s 1986 breakout movie “She’s Gotta Have It” to this year’s biggest public vote getter, Kevin Smith’s 1994 “Clerks” are among the 2019 selection of 25 of America’s most influential motion pictures added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.
Georgian film director Zaza Urushadze known internationally for his film Tangerines passed away on December 7th, reportedly of heart attack, according to local news sites. He was 53.
Two new documentaries profiling iconic rock bands New Order and Duran Duran will premiere on Showtime in late December. Part concert, part documentary, New Order: Decades follows the band’s preparations in the re-staging of their acclaimed collaboration, So It Goes, with the artist Liam Gillick and the 12-piece synthesizer orchestra that captured the headlines during Manchester International Festival 2017. New Order: Decades will premiere on Friday, December 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT.
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.
In the powerful and luminous black-and-white film Heimat is a Space in Time, Thomas Heise explores “heimat,” his family home and homeland, through the upheavals of 20th-century German history. Winner of the Caligari Film Prize at the 2019 Berlin Film Festival and Best Film in the International Competition at Visions du Réel 2019, and official selections of the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival and New York Film Festival, Heimat is a Space in Time will make its U.S. theatrical debut via Icarus Films on March 13, 2020 at Anthology Film Archives in New York City, followed by engagements in Los Angeles and nationwide.
For Sama directed by Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts is the winner of the top prize for Best Feature at the 35th IDA (International Documentary Association) Awards. Other notable documentary films winning awards include Leaving Neverland for Best Multi-Part Documentary and Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé for Best Music Documentary.
The French historical drama film Portrait of a Lady on Fire by Céline Sciamma is the winner of the European University Film Award 2019. The award will be presented on Friday, December 6, at the European Film Awards Weekend in Berlin.
The Times of Bill Cunningham, Mark Bozek’s documentary on legendary New York street photographer Bill Cunningham released a delightful entertaining new trailer. In the documentary, Bill Cunningham, the legendary New York Times photographer and fashion historian, shares his life story in his own words and photographs from his remarkable archive of over 3 million images. The film opens in theaters on February 14 via Greenwich Entertainment.
The Intercept released “Drowning by Sunrise,” a short documentary focused on an investigation into the death of 16-year-old Damain Martin in Broward County, Florida.
21 short films are selected for the Ammodo Tiger Short Competition at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) with the jury consisting of Nathanja van Dijk, Safia Benhaim and Greg de Cuir Jr.
The new trailer dropped for the indie comedy Reality Queen! from director Steven Jay Bernheim, featuring Denise Richards, Mike Tyson along with the late John Witherspoon. Reality Queen! will be available on DVD and Digital as well as in select theaters across America on January 10.
