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.
Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY Releasing will release the indie drama Alaska is a Drag, the feature directorial debut of writer/director Shaz Bennett and starring Martin L. Washington Jr. on Netflix on December 31.
Stony Brook Film Festival hosted its LIVE Virtual Awards Ceremony for the 2020 festival and The Subject directed by Lanie Zipoy and written by Chisa Hutchinson, won the Jury Award for Best Feature. The Subject tells the story of a successful documentary filmmaker haunted by his last film, which captured the murder of his Subject, a black teen in Harlem; a timely film that explores the relationship between an artist and their subject and addresses the harsh reality of race and class among the privileged. The film features Jason Biggs, Aunjanue Ellis, Anabelle Acosta, Carra Patterson, Nile Bullock, and Caleb Eberhardt,
Actress Robin Wright’s directorial debut Land has been selected to world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Following its premiere, Focus Features will release the film in theaters on Friday, February 12, 2021.