Udo Kier, the German actor celebrated for his bold, unconventional screen presence and long career in both avant-garde and mainstream cinema, has died at the age of 81. His partner, Delbert McBride, confirmed his death on November 23, 2025, in Palm Springs, California.
Apple released the official trailer for Swan Song, starring two-time Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Glenn Close, Golden Globe winner Awkwafina and Adam Beach. Written and directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Benjamin Cleary, the film will world premiere at the 2021 AFI Fest, followed by the release in theaters and streaming on Apple TV+ on December 17th 2021.
AFI FEST unveiled the full lineup for this year’s festival including Parallel Mothers, written and directed by Academy Award® winner Pedro Almodóvar, which will screen as a Red Carpet Premiere at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre on Saturday, November 13.
The 23rd edition of Sidewalk Film Festival, the Birmingham-based film festival will take place August 23-29, 2021, with Jeff Daniels’ Television Event as the Opening Night film and Jim Cummings and PJ McCabe’s The Beta Test will be the Closing Night screening.
Magnolia Pictures released the official trailer for the indie dramedy film Swan Song directed by Todd Stephens, and starring Udo Kier, Jennifer Coolidge, Linda Evans, Michael Urie, Ira Hawkins along with Stephanie McVay. Swan Song, winner of the Pride Audience Award at 2021 NewFest, New York LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, opens in theaters on August 6th, 2021 and on demand on August 13th, 2021.
The North Bend Film Festival returns this summer with a hybrid festival taking place July 15-18, 2021 with the in-person portion of the fest held at historic art deco North Bend Theatre.
Rooftop Films Summer Series returns with more than 40 outdoor screenings featuring new independent feature films, short film programs, from June 17th through mid-September. Keeping with a 25-year long tradition, the Summer Series will open with a collection of new short films on Thursday, June 17th, at Green-Wood Cemetery.
Frameline unveiled the full program for Frameline45 LGBTQ+ film festival taking place Thursday, June 10 through Sunday, June 27, 2021. The 17-day festival will feature a hybrid of in-person and virtual offerings, along with a series of special screenings at San Francisco’s historic Castro Theatre and Roxy Theater.
Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal, The Night of) will receive this year’s Excellence in Acting Award at the Provincetown International Film Festival (PIFF). His latest film, Mogul Mowgli, which he co-wrote, produced and stars in, will be screened during the festival. The film follows the story of a British Pakistani rapper who, on the cusp of his first world tour, is struck down by an illness that forces him to face his past, his family, and the uncertainty of his legacy. Ahmed will be honored in a virtual conversation during the festival. Strand Releasing will open the film in theaters on September 3.
Nantucket Film Festival (NFF) announced its lineup for the 26th annual edition, which will run from June 17-28 in a hybrid format with both online and open air screenings and conversations.
SXSW Film Festival announced the full program for the 28th edition of the festival which this year will take place online. The festival will open with Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil with Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free as Centerpiece Film and Alone Together, a documentary on popstar Charli XCX, in quarantine will World Premiere as the Closing Night Film.