• Kino Lorber will Release GRACE JONES: BLOODLIGHT AND BAMI Documentary | Trailer

    Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami The documentary GRACE JONES: BLOODLIGHT AND BAMI that world premiere at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival will be released by Kino Lorber in theaters in early April, with a VOD and home media release set for Fall 2018. The film marks the second collaboration between Kino Lorber and Sophie Fiennes, following the company’s release of the director’s previous feature film, Over Your Cities Grass Will Grow. Zeitgeist Films, currently in a distribution partnership with Kino Lorber, also released two other documentaries directed by Sophie Fiennes: The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology and The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema, both featuring renowned philosopher Slavoj Zizek. Kino Lorber CEO wrote in a prepared statement: “I saw Sophie Fiennes’ Grace Jones documentary in the front row at its TIFF premiere — she was literally way larger than life. But the film and the woman are no less so in the back row … It’s a jaw-dropping experience that ricochets artfully between the intimate and galactic, the personal and the public worlds of an iconic superstar. I can’t wait to bring this unique cinematic encounter to North American audiences — one sure to engender many, many new Grace Jones fans.” Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami re-invents the music documentary as an electrifying journey through the performance, private and public worlds of pop cultural icon Grace Jones. Jones’ bold aesthetic echoes throughout the film as director Sophie Fiennes creates a powerful cinematic experience, contrasting breathtaking musical sequences with intimate personal footage, ultimately reaching beyond the iconic mask. The film also features renowned photographer and Jones’ frequent creative collaborator Jean-Paul Goude, as well as Jamaican duo Sly and Robbie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKx4Rag680g

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  • FrightFest Announces Glasgow Film Festival 2018 Line-up, Kicks off with GHOST STORIES

    [caption id="attachment_26416" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Ghost Stories Ghost Stories[/caption] FrightFest, the horror fantasy event returns to Glasgow Film Festival for its 13th year, from Thursday March 1, to Saturday March 3, 2018. This year’s bold line-up, once again housed at the iconic Glasgow Film Theatre, embraces the latest horror, fantasy and sci-fi discoveries from ten countries, spanning four continents, reflecting the world-wide popularity of the genre. Ghost Stories remains one of the scariest stage shows ever seen and on Thursday night FrightFest kicks off with a special screening of Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson’s smash hit phenomenon. Starring Martin Freedman, Paul Whitehouse, as well as Nyman, this unforgettable screen adaptation terrifies in a whole new thrilling and chilling dimension. Jeremy and Andy will be attending. This is followed by the Scottish premiere of Brian O’Malley’s supernatural romance The Lodgers, a masterful Irish set Gothic ghost story, starring Charlotte Vega and David Bradley. Friday’s line-up lunges into vampiric action with the UK premiere of Dragos Buliga’s The Wanderers: Quest of the Demon Hunter, an inspired modern twist on Transylvanian mythology. This is followed by the world premiere of writer/director Kelly Greene’s pastiche gem Attack of the Bat Monsters. If you liked The Love Witch, this is your new retro-perfect jam and Kelly will be in attendance. Next up is the UK premiere of The Ravenous, writer/director Robin Aubert’s surreal and wickedly humorous addition to the Living Dead canon. The 8.45pm presentation is the UK premiere of the powerfully gripping Cold Skin. At the vanguard of French extreme cinema, director Xavier Gens made his name with Frontiere(s) and The Divide. Now he brings us a stunning adaptation of Albert Sánchez Piñol’s acclaimed novel that’s part H.P. Lovecraft, part Joseph Conrad and Xavier will be at the festival to discuss his film. Rounding off the evening is the European premiere of Primal Rage, a creature feature that blows the lid off traditional Bigfoot mythology. Special effects guru/director Patrick Magee has created an intelligent, cunning primitive warrior being guaranteed to terrify. Getting the Saturday program off to a demonically hellish start is the UK premiere of Paul Urkijo’s visually breath-taking fantasy The Blacksmith and the Devil a vivid Basque fairy-tale, produced by Spanish legend Alex de la Iglesia, This is followed by the European premiere of supernatural chiller Pyewacket, a beautifully paced, dread-filled study of occult belief by writer/director Adam MacDonald. Next up is the UK premiere of Friendly Beast, Gabriela Amaral Almeida’s intense shocker, which explores the latent evil within us all. Climb on board for a fiendishly tense slay-ride as the evening programme kicks off with the UK premiere of director Adam Marcus’ savvy seasonal shocker Secret Santa. Marcus will be joined onstage by some of the cast and producers. Following this is the much anticipated UK premiere of Tigers Are Not Afraid, an unflinching South of the Border cautionary fable, an audacious mix of Pan’s Labyrinth and Narcos, which firmly announces director Issa López as a rising star of Mexico’s New Wave cinema. This year’s global celebration of the genre ends on an adrenalin-fuelled high with the European premiere of Neil Mackay’s ultra-violent, action-packed thriller Sixty Minutes to Midnight. Actor Arnold Sydney Junior and producer Frank Leraci will be in Glasgow to introduce the movie. Alan Jones, FrightFest co-director, said today: “With our bold choices and the quality of programming, FrightFest is once again positioned to deliver at our beloved second home in Glasgow. It’s no surprise to us that the genre has just had its biggest and most successful year. If you’ve ever attended one of our events, you’ll know exactly why. For FrightFest will always create a communal space where the pure enjoyment of the occasion is paramount and a vital shared experience. Welcome to our Pleasure Dome, FrightFest- Glasgow-style”.

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  • Directors of Documentaries “Icarus” “Abacus: Small Enough to Jail” “City of Ghosts” among 5 Nominated for Directors Guild of America Awards

    ,
    [caption id="attachment_15896" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Abacus: Small Enough to Jail Abacus: Small Enough to Jail[/caption] The directors of five documentaries have been nominated for the Directors Guild of America for the DGA award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary for 2017.  “Directors are driving the push to more distinctive television, eye-catching commercials and powerful documentaries,” said Schlamme. “From 30-second spots to multi-hour mini-series, the nominees across these nine categories are leading that charge. We are proud to honor the tremendous range of excellence found in the projects nominated today. Congratulations to all of the nominees.” The winners will be announced at the 70th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 3, 2018 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.

    Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary

    The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary for 2017 are (in alphabetical order): KEN BURNS & LYNN NOVICK The Vietnam War PBS This is Mr. Burns’ and Ms. Novick’s second DGA Award nomination. They were previously nominated in this category in 2007 for The War. BRYAN FOGEL Icarus Netflix This is Mr. Fogel’s first DGA Award nomination. MATTHEW HEINEMAN City of Ghosts Amazon This is Mr. Heineman’s second DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary in 2015 for Cartel Land. STEVE JAMES Abacus: Small Enough to Jail PBS This is Mr. James’s fourth DGA Award nomination. He won the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary in 1994 for Hoop Dreams, and was also nominated in this category in 2008 for At the Death House Door (co-directed with Peter Gilbert) and 2011 for The Interrupters. ERROL MORRIS Wormwood Netflix This is Mr. Morris’s fourth DGA Award nomination. He was nominated in this category in 1999 for Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred Leuchter, Jr. and in 2003 for The Fog of War. Mr. Morris was also nominated in the Commercials category in 2003 for “Pager” and “Alternative Fuel” (Miller), “Bernard” and “Kathryn” (Nike) and “Meanwhile” (Cisco).

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  • Alex Gibney’s New Docu Series “Dirty Money” to Debut on Netflix on January 6 | Trailer

    Dirty Money - Alex Gibney Dirty Money, from Academy Award-winning director Alex Gibney, is a thrilling six-part investigative series that provides an up-close and personal view into untold stories of scandal and corruption in the world of business. Using first-hand accounts from perpetrators and their victims, combined with rarely-seen video footage, Dirty Money is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. “Dirty Money” will debut globally on Netflix on January 26, 2018. Episodes and directors include: HARD NOx (Directed by Alex Gibney) – Gibney reveals shocking new details about VW’s corporate deceit, and exposes the unholy alliance between governments and automakers that allowed the automaker to put tens of thousands of lives at risk — all for the sake of a $500 part. PAYDAY (Directed by Jesse Moss) – Targeting unsuspecting Americans, a group of payday lenders made millions off small loans with undisclosed charges, inflated interest rates and incomprehensible rules. But the way the laws are written, is that a crime or just business? DRUG SHORT (Directed by Erin Lee Carr) – Wall Street short-sellers expose a scam that regulators overlook: how Big Pharma gouges patients in need of life-saving drugs. CARTEL BANK (Directed by Kristi Jacobson) – For decades, HSBC, one of the world’s largest banks, laundered hundreds of millions of dollars for Mexican drug cartels. Senator Elizabeth Warren, dogged journalists and prosecutors try to hold the bankers to account. But will they be judged “too big to jail?” THE MAPLE SYRUP HEIST (Directed by Brian McGinn) – In Canada, maple syrup is worth more than oil. When $20 million of syrup goes missing, the trail leads back to an epic battle between cartels and the little guy. THE CONFIDENCE MAN (Directed by Fisher Stevens) – A rollicking profile of the rise and reign of TRUMP Inc. Weaving together a tapestry of tales in real estate booms and busts, Stevens lays out how Donald Trump’s business career transformed from epic failures into a consummate branding machine that propelled him into office. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsplLiZHbj0

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  • Directors of “Lady Bird” “Patti Cake$” “Wind River” Earn Nominations for 2017 Directors Guild of America Feature Film Awards

    [caption id="attachment_19920" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Patti Cake$ Patti Cake$[/caption] Directors Guild of America President Thomas Schlamme announced the five nominees for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film, and also for First-Time Feature Film Director for 2017. “2018 marks the 70th anniversary of the DGA Awards, and filmmaking has reached new heights with each passing year. These nominees embody the excellence that comes to life when unique vision, craft and skill come together in pursuit of masterful storytelling,” said Schlamme. “Being nominated by their peers is what makes this award especially meaningful for directors, and I congratulate all of the nominees for their outstanding work.”

    Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film

    The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2017 are (in alphabetical order): GUILLERMO del TORO The Shape of Water (Fox Searchlight Pictures) Mr. del Toro’s Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: J. Miles Dale Production Manager: Dennis Chapman First Assistant Director: Pierre Henry Second Assistant Director: Tyler Delben This is Mr. del Toro’s first DGA Award nomination. GRETA GERWIG Lady Bird (A24) Ms. Gerwig’s Directorial Team: Unit Production Managers: Lila Yacoub, Danielle Blumstein, Jamin O’Brien (New York Crew) First Assistant Directors: Jonas Spaccarotelli, Cedric Vara (New York Crew) Second Assistant Directors: Brendan Lee, Dana Zolli (New York Crew) Second Second Assistant Directors: Lillian Awa, Teri Barber This is Ms. Gerwig’s first DGA Award nomination. MARTIN McDONAGH Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (Fox Searchlight Pictures) Mr. McDonagh’s Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: Bergen Swanson Assistant Unit Production Manager: Peggy Robinson First Assistant Director: Peter Kohn Second Assistant Director: Paula Case Second Second Assistant Director: Spencer Taylor This is Mr. McDonagh’s first DGA Award nomination. CHRISTOPHER NOLAN Dunkirk (Warner Bros.) Mr. Nolan’s Directorial Team: Unit Production Managers: David Witz, Christine Raspillere (France Unit), Chris Brock (UK Unit), Nicky Tüske (Netherlands Unit) First Assistant Directors: Nilo Otero, William Pruss (France Unit), Willem Quarles van Ufford (Netherlands Unit) Second Assistant Director: Eric Lasko, Nicolas Baldino (France Unit), Alexis Chelli (France Unit), Clément Comet (France Unit) Second Second Assistant Director: Alina Gatti This is Mr. Nolan’s fourth DGA Feature Film Award nomination. He was previously nominated for Inception in 2010, for The Dark Knight in 2008 and for Memento in 2001. JORDAN PEELE Get Out (Universal Pictures) Mr. Peele’s Directorial Team: Unit Production Managers: Marcei A. Brown, Rick A. Osako (Fairhope Unit) First Assistant Director: Gerard DiNardi Second Assistant Directors: Ram Paul Silbey, Marc Newland (Fairhope Unit), Jack McKenna (New York Unit) Second Second Assistant Director: Maggie Ballard Location Manager: Kurt Engler (New York Unit) This is one of two DGA Award nominations this year for Mr. Peele. He is also nominated in the First-Time Feature Film category for Get Out.

    Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Feature Film

    The nominees for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement of a First-Time Feature Film Director for 2017 are (in alphabetical order): GEREMY JASPER Patti Cake$ (Fox Searchlight Pictures) Mr. Jasper’s Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: Sara Blechman First Assistant Director: Inna Braude Second Assistant Director: Natasha Rivera Second Second Assistant Director: Lucas Isabella Additional Second Second Assistant Director: Alice Johnson This is Mr. Jasper’s first DGA Award nomination. WILLIAM OLDROYD Lady Macbeth (Roadside Attractions) Mr. Oldroyd’s Directorial Team: Production Manager: Robert K. Harm Unit Manager: Eugene Galbrath First Assistant Director: George Every Second Assistant Director: Richard Stanley Jan Harris This is Mr. Oldroyd’s first DGA Award nomination. JORDAN PEELE Get Out (Universal Pictures) Mr. Peele’s Directorial Team: Unit Production Managers: Marcei A. Brown, Rick A. Osako (Fairhope Unit) First Assistant Director: Gerard DiNardi Second Assistant Directors: Ram Paul Silbey, Marc Newland (Fairhope Unit), Jack McKenna (New York Unit) Second Second Assistant Director: Maggie Ballard Location Manager: Kurt Engler (New York Unit) This is one of two DGA Award nominations this year for Mr. Peele. He is also nominated in the Feature Film category for Get Out. TAYLOR SHERIDAN Wind River (Acacia Entertainment) Mr. Sheridan’s Directorial Team: Unit Production Manager: Christopher H. Warner First Assistant Director: Nicolas Harvard Second Assistant Director: Jason Altieri Second Second Assistant Director: Kristina Massie This is Mr. Sheridan’s first DGA Award nomination. AARON SORKIN Molly’s Game (STX Entertainment) Mr. Sorkin’s Directorial Team: Unit Production Managers: Lyn Lucibello-Brancatella, Stuart M. Besser, Michael Beugg (Los Angeles Unit) Assistant Unit Production Manager: Bart Lipton (Los Angeles Unit) First Assistant Director: Walter Gasparovic Second Assistant Directors: Penny Charter, Travis Rehwaldt (New York Unit), Paula Case (Los Angeles Unit) Second Second Assistant Directors: Conor Griff (New York Unit), Drew Ritson (New York Unit), Bryan Snodgrass (Los Angeles Unit) Location Manager: Dena Ghieth (New York Unit) This is Mr. Sorkin’s first DGA Award nomination.

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  • 14 Films to Compete in Perspektive Deutsches Kino 2018 at Berlin International Film Festival

    [caption id="attachment_26432" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Sebastian Rudolph. Whatever Happens Next. Regie/director: Gerd Conradt Whatever Happens Next[/caption] 14 films, including six full-length fiction and four documentary films, will compete for the Kompass-Perspektive-Preis, endowed with 5,000 euros, at the 2018 Berlin International Film Festival.  In addition, a neighborhood film project that focuses on Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz in Berlin will be a guest at Perspektive Deutsches Kino 2018. Sure, you can always take off. Soon. Right now. Or later. You could just be gone, just steal away from a fully furnished life. But then what happens? Everyone has thought about it but very few actually do it: leave their intended path. It’s risky, it’s exciting, it’s brave and whimsical. Paul Zeise (Sebastian Rudolph) goes for it in the debut film Whatever Happens Next (produced by The StoryBay, Salzwedel) by director Julian Pörksen. Paul travels across the country crashing funerals and parties, moves in with off-the-wall Nele (Lilith Stangenberg) for a while, and generally floats around in the wonderland we call life. A short film by director Julian Pörksen was presented at Perspektive Deutsches Kino in 2012. Whatever Happens Next is his first feature-length fiction work. Director Susan Gordanshekan is also returning to Perspektive Deutsches Kino with her debut feature Die defekte Katze (A Dysfunctional Cat, produced by Glory Film, Munich). The film tells the story of an Iranian couple who only begin to get to know each other after entering traditional marriage, and then fall short of success when faced with the challenges of life together in Germany. The story is about liberating oneself from different lifestyle ideals and giving love a second chance. The debut film Verlorene (Lost Ones, produced by VIAFILM, Munich) by Felix Hassenfratz takes us deep into provincial Baden, where everyone knows everybody and the siblings Maria (Maria Dragus) and Hannah (Anna Bachmann) live alone with their father (Clemens Schick) following the death of their mother. Director Felix Hassenfratz is well acquainted with the environment and tells a small town story where fear of the unknown is just as strong as a yearning for it. The horror/love story Luz is the graduation film by director Tilman Singer and production designer Dario Méndez Acosta from the Academy of Media Arts Cologne. Luz, a young taxi driver from Latin America, stumbles into a police headquarters with the last of her strength. She’s being pursued by a demon, who is determined to finally be close to his beloved. Tilman Singer describes the work as an erotic 16mm thriller that plays with audience perception. Three more documentary films have also been selected for the Perspektive program. In The Best Thing You Can Do With Your Life (produced by Zita Erffa, Petruvski Films, in Tegernsee, with co-production by the HFF Munich), director Zita Erffa asks her brother László about his motivation for entering a Legion of Christ monastery. Eight years after his departure, she can finally visit him and ask why he left her alone in her family. For both, the camera functions as a catalyst to find harmony. The political documentary  Impreza – Das Fest (Impreza – The Celebration, produced by DREIFILM, Munich) also takes a highly personal approach. Her aunt’s 50th wedding anniversary is an opportunity for director Alexandra Wesolowski to visit her family in Poland. But instead of being about the party, the conversations she documents soon focus completely on politics. In Überall wo wir sind (Everywhere We Are, produced by Veronika Kaserer) director Veronika Kaserer follows a family after the death of one of its members – the parents who lost a son and a sister who lost a brother. In the organisation of daily activities and the narratives of the protagonists, battling or grieving, we see the “pact with death” become a “pact with life”. The 22-minute fiction film Kein sicherer Ort (No Safe Place, produced by Filmmagnet, Munich, with co-production by the HFF Munich) by director Antje Beine supplements the mostly mid-length program with one more young protagonist. Through the eyes of 10-year-old Marie (Lucia Stickel), we see what it means when you’re not allowed to be a child in the place you call home. The series Film Wanderungen (Film Walks) completes the Perspektive Deutsches Kino program. The project was invited to Perspektive 2018 as a guest. What does “neighborhood” mean? And what is “home”? In the summer of 2017, 140 residents of the Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz area in the Mitte district of Berlin were interviewed. On the second Berlinale weekend, audiences are invited to take a trip through the living rooms of those residents to watch films together, and engage in conversation. On Berlinale Publikumstag, February 25, 2018, Perspektive Deutsches Kino will present the winning work in the fiction film competition “Max-Ophüls-Preis 2018”, and the winner of the documentary film competition First Steps Award 2017 (Ohne diese Welt, directed by Nora Fingscheidt).

    The Best Thing You Can Do With Your Life By Zita Erffa Documentary World premiere

    Die defekte Katze (A Dysfunctional Cat) By Susann Gordanshekan With Pegah Ferydoni, Hadi Khanjanpour, Henrike von Kuick, Constantin von Jascheroff, Arash Marandi Feature film World premiere

    Impreza – Das Fest (Impreza – The Celebration) By Alexandra Wesolowski Documentary German premiere

    Kein sicherer Ort (No Safe Place) By Antje Beine With Lucia Stickel, Kristina Pauls, Robin Sondermann Medium-long feature films World premiere

    Luz By Tilman Singer With Luana Velis, Jan Bluthardt, Julia Riedler, Nadja Stübiger, Johannes Benecke Feature film World premiere

    Verlorene (Lost Ones) By Felix Hassenfratz With Maria Dragus, Anna Bachmann, Clemens Schick, Enno Trebs, Meira Durand Feature film World premiere

    Whatever Happens Next By Julian Pörksen With Sebastian Rudolph, Lilith Stangenberg, Peter René Lüdicke, Christine Hoppe, Eike Weinreich Feature film World premiere

    Überall wo wir sind (Everywhere We Are) By Veronika Kaserer Documentary World premiere

    Films announced so far:

    draußen (outside) By Johanna Sunder-Plassmann, Tama Tobias-Macht Documentary World premiere

    Feierabendbier (After-Work Beer) By Ben Brummer With Tilman Strauß, Julia Dietze, Johann Jürgens, Christian Tramitz Feature film World premiere

    Kineski zid (Great Wall of China) By Aleksandra Odić With Elena Matić, Tina Keserović, Faketa Salihbegović-Avdagić, Anja Stanić, Mugdim Avdagić Medium-long feature film German premiere

    Rå By Sophia Bösch With Sofia Aspholm, Lennart Jähkel, Lars T. Johansson, Ingmar Virta, Ivan Mathias Petersson Medium-long feature film World premiere

    Rückenwind von vorn (Away You Go) By Philipp Eichholtz With Victoria Schulz, Aleksandar Radenković, Daniel Zillmann, Angelika Waller Feature film World premiere

    Storkow Kalifornia By Kolja Malik With Daniel Roth, Lana Cooper, Franziska Ponitz Medium-long feature film World premiere

    Guest Projects:

    Film Wanderungen (Film Walks) 27 participants Doc-series

    Ohne diese Welt (Without This World) By Nora Fingscheidt Documentary

    Award winner “Max-Ophüls-Preis 2018” for Best Feature Film

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  • “THE SHAPE OF WATER” Wins Most Awards + Named Best Picture at 23rd Critics’ Choice Awards

    [caption id="attachment_26427" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]The Shape of Water The Shape of Water[/caption] At the 23rd Annual Critics’ Choice Awards held last night, live from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, “The Shape of Water,” the most nominated film of the evening, took home four awards, the most of the night, including Best Picture, Best Director for Guillermo del Toro, Best Production Design for Paul Denham Austerberry, Shane Vieau and Jeff Melvin, and Best Score for Alexandre Desplat. The top film acting awards were bestowed upon Gary Oldman, who took home Best Actor for his work in “Darkest Hour,” and Frances McDormand, awarded Best Actress for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.”  McDormand’s co-star Sam Rockwell won the trophy for Best Supporting Actor, while Best Supporting Actress went to Allison Janney for her standout performance in “I, Tonya.” Gal Gadot received the #SeeHer Award, and accepted the award from her “Wonder Woman” director, Patty Jenkins.

    WINNERS OF THE 23RD ANNUAL CRITICS’ CHOICE AWARDS

    FILM:

    BEST PICTURE – “The Shape of Water” BEST ACTOR – Gary Oldman, “Darkest Hour” BEST ACTRESS – Frances McDormand, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR – Sam Rockwell, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS – Allison Janney, “I, Tonya” BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS – Brooklynn Prince, “The Florida Project” BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE – “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” BEST DIRECTOR – Guillermo del Toro, “The Shape of Water” BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY – Jordan Peele, “Get Out” BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY – James Ivory, “Call Me By Your Name” BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY – Roger Deakins, “Blade Runner 2049” BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – Paul Denham Austerberry, Shane Vieau, Jeff Melvin, “The Shape of Water” BEST EDITING (TIE) – Paul Machliss, Jonathan Amos, “Baby Driver” BEST EDITING (TIE) – Lee Smith, “Dunkirk” BEST COSTUME DESIGN – Mark Bridges, “Phantom Thread” BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP – “Darkest Hour” BEST VISUAL EFFECTS – “War for the Planet of the Apes” BEST ANIMATED FEATURE – “Coco” BEST ACTION MOVIE – “Wonder Woman” BEST COMEDY – “The Big Sick” BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY – James Franco, “The Disaster Artist” BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY – Margot Robbie, “I, Tonya” BEST SCI-FI OR HORROR MOVIE – “Get Out” BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM – “In The Fade” BEST SONG – “Remember Me” from “Coco” BEST SCORE – Alexandre Desplat, “The Shape of Water”

    TELEVISION:

    BEST COMEDY SERIES – The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Amazon BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES – Ted Danson, The Good Place, NBC BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES – Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Amazon BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES – Walton Goggins, Vice Principals, HBO BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES – Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory, CBS BEST DRAMA SERIES – The Handmaid’s Tale, Hulu BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES – Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us, NBC BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES – Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale, Hulu BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES – David Harbour, Stranger Things, Netflix BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES – Ann Dowd, The Handmaid’s Tale, Hulu BEST LIMITED SERIES – Big Little Lies, HBO BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TV – The Wizard of Lies, HBO BEST ACTOR IN A MOVIE MADE FOR TV OR LIMITED SERIES – Ewan McGregor, Fargo, FX BEST ACTRESS IN A MOVIE MADE FOR TV OR LIMITED SERIES – Nicole Kidman, Big Little Lies, HBO BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MOVIE MADE FOR TV OR LIMITED SERIES – Alexander Skarsgård, Big Little Lies, HBO BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOVIE MADE FOR TV OR LIMITED SERIES – Laura Dern, Big Little Lies, HBO BEST TALK SHOW – Jimmy Kimmel Live!, ABC BEST ANIMATED SERIES – Rick and Morty, Adult Swim BEST UNSTRUCTURED REALITY SERIES – Born This Way, A&E BEST STRUCTURED REALITY SERIES – Shark Tank, ABC BEST REALITY COMPETITION SERIES – The Voice, NBC BEST REALITY SHOW HOST – RuPaul, RuPaul’s Drag Race, VH1

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  • Writers of Indie Films CROWN HEIGHTS, GOOK, NOVITIATE Among Finalists for 43rd HUMANITAS Prize

    [caption id="attachment_20168" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Crown Heights Crown Heights[/caption] Thirty-one writers in six television, documentary and independent feature film categories have been named finalists for the 43rd Annual HUMANITAS Prize. The writers are nominated for their work in the 30-Minute, 60-Minute, Children’s Animation, Children’s Live Action, Sundance Feature Film and Documentary categories. Winners will be announced at the annual HUMANITAS Prize event on Friday, February 16, 2018 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. “In the past few years we have experienced a spectacular renaissance of television and documentary filmmaking,” observed LeRoi. “There is an embarrassment of riches in terms of both the quality and quantity of work, so choosing these finalists from among the wealth of notable submissions we received this year was a challenge — albeit a wonderful one.” “Whether it’s a deep documentary dive into a challenging subject, a hilarious half-hour sitcom episode or a heartfelt independent feature, all of the finalists used their craft to create work that is both entertaining and enlightening,” added Young. “Television and film have incredible power when it comes to inspiring empathy, compassion, forgiveness and reason, and we are proud to support work that strives to do just that.” The HUMANITAS Prize was created to honor film and television writers whose work inspires compassion, hope and understanding in the human family. Since its inception in 1974, The HUMANITAS Prize has awarded over $3 million to more than 360 deserving television and motion picture writers whose work affirms the dignity of the human person, probes the meaning of life, and enlightens the use of human freedom. The HUMANITAS Prize television and documentary finalists are:

    Documentary Category

    CRIES FROM SYRIA Directed by Evgeny Afineevsky HUMAN FLOW Directed by Ai Weiwei, Written by Chin-Chin Yap, Tim Finch & Boris Cheshirkov HEARING IS BELIEVING Directed by Lorenzo DeStefano ONE OF US Directed by Rachel Grady & Heidi Ewing

    Sundance Feature Film Category

    CROWN HEIGHTS Written by Matt Ruskin GOOK Written by Justin Chon NOVITIATE Written by Margaret Betts

    30-Minute Category

    BLACK-ISH “Lemons” Written by Kenya Barris THE BIG BANG THEORY “Long Distance Dissonance” Teleplay by Chuck Lorre & Steve Holland & Tara Hernandez, Story by Steven Molaro & Eric Kaplan & Jim Reynolds WILL & GRACE “Grandpa Jack” Written by Alex Herschlag

    60-Minute Category

    GAME OF THRONES “The Dragon and the Wolf” Written by David Benioff & D. B. Weiss MADAM SECRETARY “Good Bones” Written by Joy Gregory THE GOOD DOCTOR “Pilot” Teleplay by David Shore

    Children’s Live Action Category

    AN AMERICAN GIRL STORY “Ivy & Julie 1976: A Happy Balance” Written by May Chan DEGRASSI: NEXT CLASS “#ImSleep” Written by Matt Huether SESAME STREET “The Magical Wand Chase: A Sesame Street Special” Written by Ken Scarborough, Raye Lankford, and Jessica Carleton

    Children’s Animation Category

    DOC MCSTUFFINS “Hannah the Brave” Written by Kerri Grant SOFIA THE FIRST “The Crown of Blossoms” Written by Craig Carlisle SPLASH AND BUBBLES “Pearlene” Written by Michael Foulke

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  • 2018 Boulder International Film Festival will Open with BORG VS. MCENROE, Starring Shia LaBeouf

    Borg/McEnroe Borg/McEnroe, starring Shia LaBeouf as John McEnroe and Sverrir Gudnason as Bjorn Borg will kick off the 2018 Boulder International Film Festival. The 14th edition of the festival runs February 22 through 25, 2018 and brings films, filmmakers and fans together from around the world to beautiful downtown Boulder for a four-day celebration of the fine art of filmmaking. “We’re very excited to present this year’s opening night film Borg/McEnroe,” says Robin Beeck, Executive Director. “The film is electrifying and full of energy, and Shia LaBeouf and Sverrir Gudnason are superb as John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg. The film offers a fascinating look at the personalities of one of the greatest tennis rivalries of all time, and features a thrilling final. We’re proud to showcase this incredible film in Boulder!” Borg/McEnroe received notable accolades as the Opening Night Film at the Toronto International Film Festival and was the People’s Choice Award Winner at the Rome Film Festival. The film tells the ‘true’ story of the epic rivalry between Swedish tennis legend Björn Borg and his greatest adversary, the brash American John McEnroe. At the 1980 Wimbledon Championships, both men bring their immense talents – and inner demons – to the court as they finally face off in one of the most suspenseful events in tennis history.  As the fierce matchup between these legends in tennis is finally settled on the court, Borg/McEnroe recounts the thrilling game that had the world at the edge of its seat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdIGOV9IR5k

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  • Offscreen Panels and Events Featuring Ava DuVernay, Kevin Smith and More, at 2018 Sundance Film Festival

    Sundance Film Festival Dozens of offscreen events, including diverse and intersectional conversations on representation and bias in media, behind-the-scenes panels on the art of filmmaking and musical performances that range from intimate to raucous will all take place at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival held in Park City, Utah, January 18 to 28, 2018. The first 2018 installment of the longstanding Power of Story series, Power of Story: Culture Shift, will convene Ava DuVernay (A Wrinkle in Time), Patrick Gaspard (president of the Open Society Foundations), Issa Rae (Insecure), Megan Smith (3rd U.S. Chief Technology Officer and Former Assistant to President Barack Obama), and Christine Vachon (An Evening with Todd Haynes) will discuss their work, the power of media, and the role creative choices play in shifting culture in a conversation with Washington Post journalist Sarah Ellison on Friday, January 19. As the Festival’s Art of Film Weekend (January 26-28) celebrates the art and craft of creative storytelling, Power of Story: Indies Go Hollywood will gather Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight), Justin Lin (Star Trek: Beyond) and Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok) to talk about the advantages and myriad challenges of moving from independent filmmaking to bigger-budget endeavors with moderator John Horn (host of KPCC’s “The Frame”) on Friday, January 26. Other noteworthy conversations at the Festival include the Cinema Café daily series of informal chats, which this year will include conversations between will.i.am and Kevin Smith; Danny Elfman and Gus Van Sant; Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Nina Totenberg; Ira Glass and Miranda July; and Ethan Hawke and Rupert Everett, among others; more Cinema Café conversations will appear on sundance.org/program shortly. A Celebration of Music and Film, hosted annually by the Sundance Institute Film Music Program as the centerpiece of its music programming at the Festival, returns this year to present an evening with Rock & Roll Hall-of-Famer Joan Jett, taking the stage with The Blackhearts for one night only on January 20, in celebration of the documentary premiere Bad Reputation. Other live music at the Festival includes performances at the Sundance ASCAP Music Café (free and open to all Festival credential holders 21 and older) by Michael Franti, Brett Dennen, Mr. Hudson, Ruelle, Ethan Gruska and Striking Matches. A special “CMA Songwriter Series” lineup will include Jillian Jacqueline, Steven Lee Olsen and Tenille Townes. The annual BMI Snowball (open to all Festival credential holders) will feature Rita Wilson, Morgan Saint, Skyler Day and Craig Wedren. This year’s panelists for BMI’s composer/director roundtable includes Director of the Sundance Institute Film Music Program Peter Golub, composer Jeff Beal and director Lauren Greenfield (Generation Wealth), composer Paul Cantelon and director Susan Lacy (Jane Fonda in Five Acts), composer Miriam Cutler and director Kimberly Reed (Dark Money), composer Craig Wedren (A Futile and Stupid Gesture), composer Laura Karpman (Half The Picture & Inventing Tomorrow), composer Heather McIntosh and director Amy Scott (Hal), composer Jongnic Bontemps and director Mel Jones (Leimert Park), composer Kris Bowers (Monsters and Men), composer Dustin O’Halloran (Puzzle), composer Sam Bisbee and director Rudy Faldez (The Sentence). Day One Press Conference Thursday, January 18, 12 p.m. PT / 1 p.m. MT / 3 p.m. ET Join Sundance Institute Founder and President Robert Redford, Executive Director Keri Putnam and Sundance Film Festival Director John Cooper in conversation with Barbara Chai, head of arts and culture coverage at Dow Jones Media Group and the editor of MarketWatch Entertainment, followed by a Q&A with press in attendance. Power of Story: Culture Shift Friday, January 19, 11:00 a.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. MT / 2:00 p.m. ET At a watershed moment in which America grapples with gender, race, and the complex nature of systemic change, an illustrious group of artists: Ava DuVernay (A Wrinkle in Time), Patrick Gaspard (president of the Open Society Foundations), Issa Rae (Insecure), Megan Smith (3rd U.S. Chief Technology Officer and Former Assistant to President Barack Obama), and Christine Vachon (An Evening with Todd Haynes) talk with Washington Post journalist Sarah Ellison about their work, the power of media, and the role creative choices play in shifting culture and crystallizing the national conversation. How do storytellers transform not only the arts media fields but society at large? What’s at stake in terms of the stories we tell and who tells them, and how will these decisions shape our future? Cinema Cafe with will.i.am and Kevin Smith Friday, January 19, 10:30 a.m. PT / 11:30 a.m. MT / 1:30 p.m. ET Adaptation Friday, January 19, 1:30 p.m. PT / 2:30 p.m. MT / 4:30 p.m. ET Whether it be a beloved novel, a work of nonfiction, or even a story from somebody’s life, the adaptation from original source material to a feature film is a huge undertaking, with many creative decisions lying in the hands of the adaptor. In a conversation with Eugene Hernandez (Deputy Director, Film Society of Lincoln Center & Co-Publisher, Film Comment Magazine), writers and directors Debra Granik (Leave No Trace), Lynne Ramsay (You Were Never Really Here), Paul Dano (Wildlife) and Zoe Kazan (Wildlife) discuss this process and how they’ve transformed an original work into a new creative piece. Cinema Cafe with Danny Elfman and Gus Van Sant (Don’t Worry He Won’t Get Far On Foot) Saturday, January 20, 11:30 a.m. PT / 12:30 p.m. MT / 2:30 p.m. ET . Brave New Story Saturday, January 20, 1:15 p.m. PT / 2:15 p.m. MT / 4:15 p.m. ET As our society finds itself in increasingly entrenched positions, the relevance of radical storytelling can’t be overstated. Recognizing the power of art to reveal, artists are searching for new stories and new ways of telling them. They’re demanding more of the form, questioning how it’s used to describe the world, looking at images and representation, subverting dominant narratives and traditional ways of seeing, and discovering a new political cinema. Join Reinaldo Marcus Green (Monsters and Men), RaMell Ross (Hale County This Morning,This Evening), Brett Story (The Prison in Twelve Landscapes), Lynette Wallworth (Awavena), and others. A Celebration of Music and Film Saturday, January 20, 6:00-9:00 p.m. PT / 7:00-10:00 p.m. MT / 9:00 p.m.-midnight ET This year’s rendition of the Festival’s premier music event presents an evening with Rock & Roll Hall-of-Famer Joan Jett. In celebration of the documentary premiere for Bad Reputation, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts will take the stage at The Shop in Park City for one night only. Jett has been a trailblazer for women in the music industry, from her glam rock anthems with The Runaways to her pioneering punk performances with the Blackhearts. A beacon for multiple generations of rock musicians, Jett is not to be missed in concert. Cinema Cafe with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Nina Totenberg (NPR) Sunday, January 21, 10:30 a.m. PT / 11:30 a.m. MT / 1:30 p.m. ET Reflect: Portrait of AI as a Young Man (New Frontier) Sunday, January 21, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. PT / 12:00-1:30 p.m. MT / 2:00-3:30 p.m. ET Is the age of AI filmmaking upon us? Moderator Sandra Rodriguez (Chomsky vs. Chomsky, Do Not Track), musician and tech entrepreneur will.i.am (Omega, Masters of the Sun), writer-director Samantha Gorman (TendAR, PRY), and strategist Rachel Ginsberg (Frankenstein AI: A Monster Made by Many) look under the hood of this frequently misunderstood technology to see how storytellers can use artificial intelligence to enhance or reinvent their creative process. Fresh Faces Sunday, January 21, 1:15 p.m. PT / 2:15 p.m. MT / 4:15 p.m. ET This year’s Festival films feature a number of genuinely exciting young talents—fresh faces who have already begun to receive attention and acclaim for their remarkable work. They represent a new generation of actors, fulfilling a longtime promise of independent film: to bring rich, complex characters to life through stories. Join Dominique Fishback (Night Comes On), Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Monsters and Men), Hari Nef (Assassination Nation), and Rachelle Vinberg (Skate Kitchen). Cinema Cafe with Ira Glass (Come Sunday) and Miranda July (Madeline’s Madeline) Monday, January 22, 10:30 a.m. PT / 11:30 a.m. MT / 1:30 p.m. ET Build: The Architecture of VR Narrative (New Frontier) Monday, Jan. 22, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PT / 12:00-2:00 p.m. MT / 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET How does virtual reality technology affect the three-act structure? Moderator Maureen Fan (Invasion!, Asteroids!) will ask writer Charlotte Stoudt (Dinner Party, Homeland), writer-director Edward Robles (Dispatch, Clouds Over Sidra), animator Bruna Berford (Arden’s Wake, Henry), director Pete Billington (Wolves in the Walls, Henry), and content strategist Diana Williams (Star Wars Universe, Carne y Arena) to share their strategies for telling narratives in 360-degree spaces. Cinema Cafe with Ethan Hawke (Blaze) and Rupert Everett (The Happy Prince) Tuesday, January 23, 10:30 a.m. PT / 11:30 a.m. MT / 1:30 p.m. ET Wonder: Re-imagining Our Relationship to Space (New Frontier) Tuesday, January 23, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PT / 12:00-1:30 p.m. MT / 2:00-3:30 p.m. ET Cory McAbee’s one-man show, Deep Astronomy and the Romantic Sciences, interrogates our love affair with space. Eliza McNitt’s VR piece, SPHERES: Songs of Spacetime, ponders the beauty of colliding black holes. Elastic Time, by Mark Boulos, transports a hologram of the viewer to visit Harvard astronomer Anthony Stark. Johann Lurf’s film, called ★, chronicles images of the night sky throughout film history. Designer David Delgado, of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, will moderate. Ways of Seeing Tuesday, January 23, 1:00 p.m. PT / 2:00 p.m. MT / 4:00 p.m. ET) How we see science and its place in our world has a lot to do with who we see doing it and what’s being done. The images and representations we engage with through popular culture spark our imagination, inform our values and shape our understanding of scientists, their work, technology, the natural world and the cosmos. So it bodes well that storytellers are exploring different ways of seeing, bending those perceptions through fresh stories and innovative approaches to narrative, style and performance. Join Darren Aronofsky (SPHERES: Songs of Spacetime), Octavia Spencer (A Kid Like Jake) and Shonte Tucker (Mars 2020 Payload Verification and Validation Lead at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory) in a conversation moderated by Kerry Bishé (Halt and Catch Fire). Supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The New Climate Tuesday, January 23, 1:30 p.m. PT / 2:30 p.m. MT / 4:30 p.m. ET The impact of climate change has been felt dramatically by Native communities in the U.S. and around the world. Despite poisoned resources, corporatism, and an existential threat to their homelands, these vulnerable communities rarely fall under the spotlight, and their stories go untold. This special New Climate discussion welcomes Bartholemew Powaukee, Environmental and Water Quality Director for Utah’s Ute Tribe; Anote Tong, former president of the disappearing island of Kiribati; Tashka Yawanawá, chief of the Yawanawá; moderator Janaya Khan of Black Lives Matter, Canada and others to deconstruct histories and mythologies around climate change, discuss how story and technology can share a hidden point of view, and reveal creative initiatives to combat current trends by changing minds. Cinema Cafe with Diablo Cody Wednesday, January 24, 10:30 a.m. PT / 11:30 a.m. MT / 1:30 p.m. ET The Future of Indie TV Wednesday, January 24, 1:00 p.m. PT / 2:00 p.m. MT / 4:00 p.m. ET As the world of serialized content widens from traditional broadcast and cable television to streaming platforms, the way we consume content is changing rapidly. Where do independent voices fit into this increasingly competitive industry? There is more demand than ever for different forms of episodic content, but how do artists and investors find their audience and make a return on their investment? Join Stephanie Allain (Leimert Park), Steven Soderbergh (THE KING), Bernie Su (Chief Creative Officer, Canvas Media Studio), David Wain (A Futile and Stupid Gesture) in a conversation moderated by Michelle Satter, Founding Director of Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program, about the current state of independent television and what the opportunities are for the future. Cinema Cafe with Lauren Greenfield (Generation Wealth) and Steve James (America To Me) Thursday, January 25, 10:30 a.m. PT / 11:30 a.m. MT / 1:30 p.m. ET This is Not a Panel Thursday, January 25, 1:00 p.m. PT / 2:00 p.m. MT / 4:00 p.m. ET In what has become a tradition at the Festival, this year’s non-panel panel features Josephine Decker (Madeline’s Madeline), Jim Hosking (An Evening With Beverly Luff Linn, Tropical Cop Tales), Crystal Moselle (Skate Kitchen), and Boots Riley (Sorry to Bother You). Each filmmaker on this non panel panel was tasked with the following mission: to share objects, stories, or any sensory representation that has influenced their work and helped shape their vision as artists. Needless to say, unpredictable inspiration and surprises can be expected. Play: A World-building Workshop (New Frontier) Thursday, January 25, 12:00-1:00 p.m. PT / 1:00-3:00 p.m. MT / 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET If you could design a city from scratch, what would you include? Writer-director Lance Weiler (Frankenstein AI: A Monster Made by Many), director John Hsu (Your Spiritual Temple Sucks), and experience designer Mk Haley, of Walt Disney Imagineering, will collaborate with the audience to create a city. Afterward, panelists will discuss this feat of group stagecraft, plus share their own methods for inventing believable storyworlds. Creative Tensions: IDENTITY Friday, January 26, 10:00 a.m. PT / 11:00 a.m. MT / 1:00 p.m ET This is not your typical panel. Join us for Creative Tensions: IDENTITY with Effie Brown (Dear White People) and moderator Christopher Hibma (Sundance Institute) as we explore what we may be afraid to talk about. In a world where polemics are the norm and binaries form our views of others, how do we talk about the shades of gray? From our politics to the stories we create (or are allowed to create), what do we lose or gain by becoming a tribe of tribes? An innovative event concept created by Sundance Institute’s Theatre Program, Creative Tensions is a collective conversation expressed in movement, wherein participants reveal where they stand on an issue by virtue of where they stand in the room. A continental breakfast will be served at 11:00 a.m. This event is presented by the Sundance Institute Theatre Program and Sundance Ignite in partnership with IDEO, a global design company creating positive impact through design. Power of Story: Indies Go Hollywood Friday, January 26, 10:30 a.m. PT / 11:30 a.m. MT / 1:30 a.m. ET Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Thor: Ragnarok. Twilight. Fast & Furious. A Wrinkle in Time. Pete’s Dragon. The directors of many prominent studio films got their start at the Sundance Film Festival. From having shoestring-budget movies on the fest circuit and DIY outlooks to being handed big-budget, big-responsibility franchises, working with A-list actors, and garnering mainstream exposure—what does taking this kind of career leap mean to them creatively, professionally, and personally? A contingent of filmmakers including Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight), Justin Lin (Star Trek: Beyond) and Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok) who straddle both worlds discuss with moderator John Horn (host of KPCC’s The Frame) what motivates them to work at this new level and how they view both the advantages and myriad challenges. Cinema Cafe / participants TBA Friday, January 26, 10:30 a.m. PT / 11:30 a.m. MT / 1:30 p.m. ET Producer’s Confidential — ART OF FILM WEEKEND Friday, January 26, 1:00 p.m. PT / 2:00 p.m MT / 4:00 p.m. ET In today’s challenging marketplace, creative producers are well served by an expansive knowledge of audience building, marketing, and distribution strategy. With Columbus and Unrest, recipients of Sundance Institute’s inaugural Creative Distribution Fellowship, we examine two films that emerged from the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and chose to bypass all-rights distributors. Danielle Renfrew Behrens (Columbus), Jennifer Brea (Unrest), Giulia Caruso (Columbus), Lindsey Dryden (Unrest), Alysa Nahmias (Unrest), and moderator Chris Horton (Sundance Institute) present case studies on getting your work seen. Cinema Cafe / participants TBA Saturday, January 27, 10:30 a.m. PT / 11:30 a.m. MT / 1:30 p.m. ET Unearthing the Past — ART OF FILM WEEKEND Saturday, January 27, 1:00 p.m. PT / 2:00 p.m. MT / 4:00 p.m. ET Nonfiction filmmakers are employing increasingly innovative approaches in order to visually and artfully engage with the past. Through creative uses of archival footage, personal- and biographical-storytelling filmmakers are excavating the past in order to re-contextualize the present and interrogate notions of truth. Join Joe Bini (A Thousand Thoughts), Elan Bogarin (306 Hollywood), Jonathan Bogarin (306 Hollywood), Robert Greene (Bisbee ’17), Sierra Pettengil (Our New President), Marina Zenovich (Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind) and moderator Alissa Wilkinson (Vox.com). Film Church Sunday, January 28, 9:30 a.m. PT / 10:30 a.m. MT / 12:30 p.m. ET What could be more divine than 10 days of film watching? Finish off your Sundance Film Festival experience by sharing a near-spiritual moment with Festival director John Cooper and director of programming Trevor Groth, who will offer non-denominational talks of the Festival that was. Come confess your likes and dislikes. Joining us for the sermon will be a variety of special guests, including a few filmmakers who took home awards the night before (if they can be found the morning after!). All will be forgiven.

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  • VIDEO: Watch Trailer for VICTOR CROWLEY, Fourth Film in the Hatchet Franchise

    Victor Crowley Victor Crowley, the surprise fourth film in the fan-favorite Hatchet franchise will be released on VOD, Digital and Blu-ray and DVD on February 6, 2018. Kept tightly under wraps for over two years, the slasher reboot unexpectedly debuted this past August. The highly anticipated release was shown in theaters across the country in October as part of the “Victor Crowley Road Show.” Victor Crowley P\poster Set a decade after the events of the series’ first three films, Victor Crowley reunites Hatchet mainstays Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th 7 -X’s Jason Voorhees) and Parry Shen (Better Luck Tomorrow) for an all-new, horrifying journey into the haunted, blood-drenched bayou. In 2007, over forty people were brutally torn to pieces in Louisiana’s Honey Island Swamp. Over the past decade, lone survivor Andrew Yong’s claims that local legend Victor Crowley was responsible for the horrific massacre have been met with great controversy, but when a twist of fate puts him back at the scene of the tragedy, Crowley is mistakenly resurrected and Yong must face the bloodthirsty ghost from his past. Victor Crowley’s ensemble cast also features Laura Ortiz (2006’s The Hills Have Eyes), Dave Sheridan (Scary Movie), and Brian Quinn (truTV’s “Impractical Jokers”). Writer/director Adam Green proudly returns to the director’s chair of his series that, upon debuting in 2007, was energetically touted as a return to “old school American horror,” and whose maniacal fan-favorite villain quickly secured a place among slasher royalty. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAY1YKne0RQ

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  • VIDEO: Watch Trailer for LGBT Romantic Drama SEBASTIAN

    Sebastian LGBT romantic drama Sebastian releases on February 6, 2018 worldwide on DVD & VOD via Wolfe.  In this urban gay love story, sexy Argentinian hunk Sebastian (Alex House) arrives in Toronto on a one week visit and meets his cousin’s boyfriend, Alex (writer-director, James Fanizza). Instant attraction leads Alex to question his rocky relationship with his boyfriend. As he and Sebastian decide to explore their forbidden passion, they connect deep in emotion. Alex must confront his conflicted feelings for his boyfriend and Sebastian, as well as some surprising, long buried secrets from his past. Sebastian is a uniquely modern story – exploring the search for love in an age of instant gratification, online hookups, and the yearning for connection in an age of convenience and superficiality. It paints a nuanced portrait of 20-something queerness; that perpetual feeling of having what you want at the tip of your fingers, but not being sure if you really want to grab it. This intimate feature debut from filmmaker / actor James Fanizza features Brian “Katya” McCook from The Trixie and Katya Show & RuPaul’s Drag Race, Alex House, and acclaimed Mexican/South African actress-singer Amanda Martinez.

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