International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) 2025 unveiled the first selections for the Short & Mid-Length strand including ten world premieres and two international premieres.
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IFFR Unveils First Titles in Short & Mid-Length Strand + Matthew Lax and Timoteus Anggawan Kusno Focus Programs
a river holds a perfect memory directed by Hope Strickland (courtesy IFFR)
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RIP. Mary Bernice McGee, Motorsports Pioneer and Star of ‘Motorcycle Mary’ Documentary Dead at 87
Mary McGee in February 1961. (Photo courtesy of The Family of Mary McGee.) Mary Bernice McGee, the legendary motorsports pioneer, and star of the documentary Motorcycle Mary died on Wednesday, November 27, at the age of 87.
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Werner Herzog’s ‘Theater of Thought’ Documentary into the Science of the Mind to Finally Open in Theaters | Trailer
Theater of Thought (Courtesy of Argot Pictures) Originally premiered in 2022, legendary filmmaker and documentarian Werner Herzog’s latest work, Theater of Thought, is set for its U.S. theatrical debut this December. The documentary delves into the study and technology of the human mind, following Herzog and Columbia professor Rafael Yuste as they travel across the country to meet innovators in cerebral research and bioethics.
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Fang Li’s ‘The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru’ WWII Documentary + China’s Oscar Entry Begins Theatrical Run | Trailer
The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru by Fang Li (screenshot) Following its North American premiere at the Asian World Film Festival, Fang Li’s feature documentary The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru opened for an Oscar-qualifying theatrical run in U.S. theaters. The film chronicles the search for the wreckage of the Lisbon Maru, a Japanese freighter carrying British POWs that was unknowingly torpedoed by a U.S. submarine in 1942.
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‘Sujo’ Trailer – Orphaned Son of Cartel Sicario Struggles after Father’s Death in Mexico’s Oscars Submission
Sujo by Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez (screenshot / The Forge) Chosen to represent Mexico in the 2025 Academy Awards Best International Feature category, Sujo is a coming-of-age film telling the journey of the son of a cartel gunman trying to find his identity after his father’s passing.
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‘From Ground Zero’ Trailer – 22 Palestinian Filmmakers Capture their Lives in Gaza in Revealing Anthology Film
From Ground Zero – Sorry Cinema, Ahmed Hassouna (Watermelon Pictures) Selected as the official entry for Palestine for the 2025 Academy Awards Best International Feature category, Above Ground Zero is an anthology film made by 22 Palestinian filmmakers telling the story of their homeland and its people during the Israel-Gaza war.
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Malcolm Washington, RaMell Ross, ‘Nickel Boys’ Among African American Film Critics Association Award Honorees
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and director RaMell Ross on the set of Nickel Boys (Photo credit: L. Kasimu Harris | Amazon Content Services LLC) The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) announced the honorees for its 2025 Special Achievement Awards and 16th Annual AAFCA Awards.
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‘Inheritance’ Trailer – Phoebe Dynevor and Rhys Ifans Star in Neil Burger’s Espionage Thriller
Phoebe Dynevor in Inheritance (screenshot / IFC Films) From Neil Burger, the director of Limitless and Divergent, Inheritance is an espionage thriller film starring Phoebe Dynevor (Bridgerton, Fair Play) as a woman unraveling the mystery of her father who she finds out to be a former spy.
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‘Silent City Driver’ Wins Top Award at 28th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival | Full List of Winners
Silent City Driver directed by Sengedorj Janchivdorj (courtesy PÖFF) Sengedorj Janchivdorj’s Silent City Driver was awarded the Grand Prix for Best Film along with the Best Production Design Award at the 28th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. The Mongolian film follows a man who, after enduring 14 brutal years in prison, lives in isolation with his only companions, the stray dogs he has rescued over time. His life takes an unexpected turn when he finds work as a hearse driver and encounters two people who will reshape his existence.
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‘Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story’ Documentary to Make Streaming Debut on HBO/Max
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (courtesy Sundance) Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, the award-winning documentary chronicling the inspiring life of celebrated actor, will have its streaming debut on HBO and Max.
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‘Conclave’ Leads Nominations for AARP Movies For Grownups Awards
Conclave (Focus Features) AARP The Magazine unveiled the official nominees for their annual Movies For Grownups (MFG) Awards, lead by Conclave with 6 nominations including Best Picture/Best Movie for Grownups, Best Director for Edward Berger, Best Actor for Ralph Fiennes, Best Supporting Actress for Isabella Rossellini, Best Supporting Actor for Stanley Tucci, and Best Screenwriter for Peter Straughan.
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‘Better Man’ and ‘The Penguin Lessons’ Bookend 36th Palm Springs International Film Festival Lineup
The Penguin Lessons directed by Peter Cattaneo Better Man directed by Michael Gracey will open the 36th Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) taking place from January 2-13, 2025. The film is based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams.