Ashland Independent Film Festival (AIFF) in Ashland, Oregon announced that its 21st Annual Festival, originally scheduled for April 14 – 28, will now take place virtually on their Eventive Channel from April 1 – 10. Due to the recent circumstances and news surrounding COVID-19, the organization made the decision to postpone their Live Festival to ensure the health and safety of their patrons, in addition to the community at large.
Apple TV+ released the official trailer for the new four-part documentary series Lincoln’s Dilemma, a 21st-century examination of a complicated man in the context of his times. With never-before-heard stories about Lincoln, as well as close-up perspectives of him as a man, the docuseries shines a light on a side of Lincoln rarely seen — and provides a fresh perspective on a story that feels more timely and relevant than ever when explored alongside the events that Americans are living through today. Narrated by Jeffrey Wright, and featuring the voices of Bill Camp as Abraham Lincoln and Leslie Odom Jr. as Frederick Douglass, all four parts of Lincoln’s Dilemma will premiere globally on Friday, February 18 on Apple TV+.
ESPN Films has started production on the new multi-part documentary on Colin Kaepernick, with Spike Lee on board to direct.
Disney+ unveiled the official trailer for Gillian Jacobs-directed documentary film More Than Robots, set to premiere at the SXSW (South by Southwest) Film Festival on March 14, 2022. On Friday, March 18, the documentary will stream exclusively on Disney+.
Dune, The Power of the Dog and Belfast lead the nominations for the BAFTAs – EE British Academy Film Awards in 2022. A total of 48 feature films received nominations include Licorice Pizza, After Love, Boiling Point, Cyrano, Don’t Look Up, CODA, Drive My Car and The French Dispatch.
Here is the official trailer for Giga Agladze’s thriller The Other Me starring Jim Sturgess, Rhona Mitra, Orla Brady Antonia Campbhell-Hughes, and Andreja Pejic. The film was written and directed by Giga Agladze and executive produced by David Lynch. The Other Me opens in select theaters and on digital on February 4, 2022 by Gravitas Ventures.
AFI FEST 2022 officially announced its dates and opened the call for entries. The 36th edition of AFI FEST will take place in Los Angeles, CA, on November 2-6, 2022.
The timely documentary Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting co-directed by Aviva Kempner and Ben West (Cheyenne) will make its world premiere at California’s American Indian & Indigenous Film Festival. The festival highlights the best of current films from American Indian filmmakers, producers, directors, and actors working through Indian Country. Imagining the Indian will close out the Festival on Sunday, April 3, 2022 with a screening, Q&A, and post-screening reception.
HBO documentary Icahn: The Restless Billionaire directed by Bruce David Klein, explores the fascinating contradictions at the heart of the famed financier, Carl Icahn. Amassing close to $20 billion dollars over the last half century and at the forefront of some of the most legendary business deals of our times, Icahn, often referred to as the “Lone Wolf of Wall Street,” is a feared negotiator and master strategist in the art of corporate takeovers and investments. A polarizing figure described as both an activist investor and a ruthless corporate raider, Icahn rose from modest beginnings in Queens to become one of the richest men in the world, embodying the American Dream, whose impact on companies, products, CEOs, stock markets, and capitalism itself is vast. Yet, he openly criticizes corporate excess and the huge wealth inequality gap. In his own words and with commentary from family members, journalists, and fellow titans of industry, Icahn: The Restless Billionaire probes Icahn’s humble roots, his business acumen, and his obsessive drive to stay atop America’s corporate hierarchy.
South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference and Festivals announced the full program for the 29th edition of the SXSW Film Festival set to take place in-person from March 11-20, 2022, with select films available online.
International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) announced the competition award winners for its 51st edition with the Tiger Award going to EAMI by Paraguayan filmmaker Paz Encina. Paraguayan director Paz Encina travelled to Chaco for this film. She immersed herself in Ayoreo-Totobiegosode mythology, and listened to heartrending stories about how the people are being chased off their land. Based on the knowledge she acquired, she made a dreamy, magic-realist film about a little girl called Eami.
IFC Films released the official trailer for Huda’s Salon, Palestinian filmmaker Hany Abu-Assad’s political thriller which premiered at the 2021 Toronto Film Festival. The film starring Maisa Abd Elhadi, Manal Awad and Ali Suliman explores a dangerous clash between two women struggling to cope with life under occupation.