The Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA) announced the nominees for their top film honors of 2020 with Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland leading the field with seven total nominations. Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods, Kelly Reichardt’s First Cow and Charlie Kaufman’s I’m Thinking of Ending Things each earned six nominations, while Mank and Promising Young Woman are each recognized with five. Chadwick Boseman posthumously earns dual acting nominations for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Da 5 Bloods.
A Glitch in the Matrix, the mind-bending new sci-fi documentary from acclaimed filmmaker Rodney Ascher (Room 237, The Nightmare) that offers viewers a red or blue pill before entering the funhouse of simulation theory has been acquired by Magnolia Pictures ahead of the world premiere at 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
Show Me What You Got, the award-winning directorial debut of acclaimed cinematographer Svetlana Cvetko, will open on the Labz Live platform and via theatrical partners on February 12, and continue throughout the Valentine’s week.
Due to the current COVID-19 situation, the 71st Berlin International Film Festival has developed a new festival format for 2021. The industry platforms European Film Market, Berlinale Co-Production Market, Berlinale Talents and the World Cinema Fund will kick off the 71st Berlinale in March with an online offer. In June, there will be a summer event with numerous film screenings for the public audiences – in cinemas as well as open air.
Oscilloscope Laboratories will release Truth to Power, the feature documentary about Serj Tankian, the Grammy®-winning lead singer of System Of A Down whose music and outspoken social justice activism on and off the stage have influenced large-scale political movements. With unique and exclusive access to the man behind the music, award-winning director/writer/producer Garin Hovannisian (I Am Not Alone) captures both intimate and historic public moments, including Serj’s role in inspiring the massive peaceful protests of 2018’s Velvet Revolution in his native Armenia which successfully ousted an oligarchic regime. The film was produced by Live Nation Productions and executive produced by Academy Award® nominee Joe Berlinger (Paradise Lost trilogy, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster). O-Scope plans to bring the film to worldwide audiences on February 19, 2021.
Ahead of the world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival in the Midnight section, a teaser trailer debuted for “Knocking” from director Frida Kempff, and starring Cecilia Milocco.
IFC Films acquired Moffie, South African Oliver Hermanus’ ravishing queer war film set against the backdrop of the Apartheid-era South African Border War. IFC Films will release the critically acclaimed film in April 2021.
The true-crime documentary thriller After the Murder of Albert Lima, from director and producer Aengus James (American Harmony, Scandalous) will be released as a Crackle Original in the first quarter of 2021.
The 52nd NAACP Image Awards will broadcast live on BET Saturday, February 20, 2021, at 8:00 PM ET. Additionally, the NAACP Image Awards Dinner, which traditionally takes place the night before the telecast, will live stream over six nights February 15-19, 2021. The virtual ceremonies will recognize winners in more than 60 non-televised award categories in the fields of television and streaming, music, literature, film, and activism.
Bleecker Street acquired Nikole Beckwith’s second feature, Together Together, starring Ed Helms, Patti Harrison, Tig Notaro, Julio Torres along with Anna Konkle, Sufe Bradshaw, Rosalind Chao, Nora Dunn and Fred Melamed. The film will have its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival in the U.S. Dramatic Competition section.
IFC Films released the official trailer for No Man’s Land, modern Western inspired by the real-life “no man’s land” areas along the Texas-Mexico border, starring Jake Allyn, Frank Grillo, Jorge A. Jimenez, Esmeralda Pimentel, Andie MacDowell, George Lopez. Directed by Conor Allyn, No Man’s Land opens in Select Theaters, on Digital Platforms and VOD on January 22nd.
The WWI epic drama Blizzard of Souls (Dvēseļu putenis), directed by Dzintars Dreibergs and Latvia’s Official Oscar Submission will open in virtual cinema in the U.S. on January 8, 2021. The film is based on the true story of young Arthur (16), enlisted in WW1’s Eastern Front; too young to fight, but old enough to die.