The powerful and timely feature documentary film Don’t Be Nice, follows a New York City team of young African American, Afro-Hispanic, and queer slam poets as they fight to find the words to speak their truths to a nation awakening in Black Lives Matter protest and on the brink of a general election.
American Masters: How It Feels To Be Free, is an upcoming documentary film that tells the inspiring story of how six iconic African American female entertainers – Lena Horne, Abbey Lincoln, Nina Simone, Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson and Pam Grier – challenged an entertainment industry deeply complicit in perpetuating racist stereotypes, and transformed themselves and their audiences in the process. The film, which is slated to premiere in early 2021 on PBS and on documentary Channel in Canada, features interviews and archival performances with all six women, as well as original conversations with contemporary artists influenced by them, including Alicia Keys, an executive producer on the project, Halle Berry, Lena Waithe, Meagan Good, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Samuel L. Jackson and other luminaries, as well as family members, including Horne’s daughter Gail Lumet Buckley.
Mexican director, writer and producer Michel Franco will be awarded the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo Award at the 26th Sarajevo Film Festival, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to cinematic art as well as for his support of the Sarajevo Film Festival. Franco will also be honored with a retrospective of his works in the Festival’s Tribute to Program.
One of the boldest projects in the history of Polish animation Kill It and Leave This City, made for 14 years, will open the 20th New Horizons International Film Festival in Wrocław.
Sundance Institute officially announced the Fellows and Advisors for the five-day 2020 Creative Producing Labs, redesigned digitally to take place for the first time ever on Sundance Co//ab. The Labs begin July 27th and is a flagship convening for the Institute’s Creative Producing Program, which champions and develops current and rising generations of independent producers across fiction and nonfiction film.
Locarno 2020 – For the Future of Films will open on Wednesday August 5th with First Cow, the latest film from U.S. director and screenwriter Kelly Reichardt, who will also be one of three jurors judging the international projects in The Films After Tomorrow section.
Melina Leon’s award-winning debut feature Song Without A Name about deep corruption in 1980’s Peru will premiere on film movement August 7th and in participating theaters around the country.
Vertical Entertainment will release actor John Leguizamo’s Critical Thinking, which he stars in alongside Rachel Bay Jones (Ben is Back, Dear Evan Hansen) and Michael Kenneth Williams (The Wire, 12 Years A Slave). The film is Leguizamo’s feature directorial debut and set for release on VOD/Digital on September 4, 2020.
Venice International Film Festival announced the lineup for the 77th edition taking place from September 2 – 12, 2020. The festival will open with the Italian film Lacci, directed by Daniele Luchetti (La nostra vita, Mio fratello è figlio unico, Il portaborse).
An official selection of the Toronto International Film Festival, Entwined will open in virtual theaters August 28th, with an on demand release to follow on September 8th.
The 24th Annual Flickers’ “Virtual” Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF), running August 4-9, 2020, is a major destination on the Festival circuit and recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a Qualifying Festival in all short film categories. It is the only Festival in New England with this accolade. The Festival welcomes stellar filmmaking talents from all over the world to beautiful Providence, Rhode Island—one of America’s oldest and most beloved cities. This year, responding to the impact of COVID-19, the Festival will take a hybrid approach utilizing area Drive-In theatres with social distancing and protocols/guidance from the Rhode Island Governor’s Office and the Department of Health and for special screenings. Virtual programming will also take place online.
