At the award ceremony for this year’s online edition of the Lübeck Nordic Film Days (Nordische Filmtage Lübeck), ten prizes were handed out, and for the first time ever, the NDR Film Prize, worth 12,500 euros went to a film from Latvia, director Dace Pūce’s feature debut “The Pit” (“Bedre”).
The 33rd Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) came to a close after 10 days of physical screenings and a range of online events. The Audience Award, selected by audiences from among 32 titles chosen for the special Tokyo Premiere 2020 section, all of which were making either their world or Asian premieres at TIFF, went to the Japanese romcom Hold Me Back by director Akiko Ohku, whose Tremble All You Want won the same coveted trophy at the 30th TIFF in 2017.
More than twenty years ago, Geoffrey Canada dared to imagine a different, better future for the impoverished, vulnerable community of Central Harlem. His story – along with a group of dedicated people who’ve turned his vision into reality as the pioneering Harlem Children’s Zone – is the focus of “Harlem Rising,” a new documentary film directed by Rayner Ramirez.
The documentary “Unapologetic” directed by Ashley O’Shay, is among the 2021 International Documentary Association (IDA) Awards Best Feature shortlist. Unapologetic will screen at DOC NYC (Nov. 11-20), Black Harvest (Nov. 6-30), New Orleans Film Festival (Nov. 6 – 22), Cucalorus (Nov. 22) and more.
Calgary Underground Film Festival announced the lineup of 18 features and two shorts packages, for the upcoming CUFF.Docs Documentary Film Festival taking place online and at Globe Cinema from November 25 – December 1, 2020.
Netflix released the trailer for Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker, a new documentary from Shondaland featuring the legendary Debbie Allen. Directed by Oliver Bokelberg, the documentary drops on November 27
Samuel Goldwyn Films will release the new romantic comedy Modern Persuasion, starring Alicia Witt (I Care A Lot, “Orange Is The New Black”, Two Weeks Notice) on-demand and digital on December 18, 2020.
Bleecker Street released the official trailer for Wild Mountain Thyme starring Emily Blunt, Jamie Dornan, Jon Hamm, Dearbhla Molloy and Christopher Walken. The film, based on the play “Outside Mullingar” by John Patrick Shanley, and written for the screen and directed by John Patrick Shanley, opens in theaters and on demand December 11th, 2020.
Vertical Entertainment will release Brothers By Blood, formerly called The Sound of Philadelphia, starring Matthias Schoenaerts (Rust and Bone, Bullhead), Joel Kinnaman (Altered Carbon, The Killing), Maika Monroe (It Follows, The Guest), and Ryan Phillippe (Crash, Cruel Intentions). The film was written and directed by Jérémie Guez and is an adaptation of Pete Dexter’s 1991 novel “Brotherly Love”. The film which world premiered at Tribeca Film Festival will be released in select theaters and on VOD and digital on January 22, 2021.
HBO released an official teaser trailer for their two-part documentary TIGER which will premiere in January 2021.
The documentary Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President will premiere on television on CNN on Sunday, January 3. During his political career and following his presidency, the 39th President of the United States formed lifelong bonds with artists Willie Nelson, the Allman Brothers, Rosanne Cash, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Nile Rodgers, and many, many others. Director Mary Wharton’s engaging film explores how President Carter’s deep love of all forms of music has been both a feature and an asset for his storied life and career.
The documentary “Baby God”, debuting on HBO on Wednesday, December 2 (9:00-10:20 p.m. ET/PT), from first-time director Hannah Olson, is a shocking examination of the work of a Las Vegas fertility specialist and the many women he guided to pregnancy through use of his own sperm, often without their knowledge or consent. The documentary follows his newly-discovered offspring as they grapple with the scope of his misdeeds and the impact that his genes may have on their own identities.