Filmmaker Zeshawn Ali released the new official trailer for his feature directorial debut “Two Gods,” a documentary film that tells the story of Hanif, a Muslim casket maker and ritual body washer in Newark who takes two young men- Furquan and Naz- under his wing to teach them how to live better lives.
The Ashland Independent Film Festival wrapped up its 20th anniversary virtual edition on Thursday, April 29th with an Awards Celebration. The Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature went to “A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff” by Alicia J. Rose and the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature went to “American Gadfly” by Skye Wallin. The Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature went to “Small Time” by Niav Conty and the Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature went to “Missing in Brooks County” by Lisa Molomot, Jeff Bemiss.
Due to a still surging pandemic in the state of Michigan, the Board of Directors of the Traverse City Film Festival, has canceled the 2021 festival. In a letter, TCFF founder and president, Oscar-winner Michael Moore, he said, “The Board of Directors of the Traverse City Film Festival, after much discussion and after hearing from hundreds of you (our longtime supporters), has decided that the Film Festival, in the face of a still surging pandemic in the state of Michigan, cannot be held this summer.”
Olympia Dukakis, winner of the Academy Award and Golden Globe for her performance in Moonstruck (1987) and the subject of the documentary about her life, titled Olympia, died today in New York City. She was 89.
The 2021 Tribeca Festival announced the line-up for Tribeca Immersive, a leading incubator for innovation and a global stage where top creators choose to debut their latest work. With Tribeca At Home and in-person experiences at outdoor venues across New York City, Tribeca Immersive will showcase cinematic and cutting-edge virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality and participatory experiences by top artists who push the boundaries of storytelling with technology. The 2021 Tribeca Festival runs June 9-20.
The award winning documentary In Our Mothers’ Gardens, the feature film debut of director, curator and author Shantrelle P. Lewis, is being released in select cities and on Netflix beginning Thursday, May 6. The documentary film had its world premiere at the 2020 BlackStar Film Festival, winning the Shine Award for Best Film.
IFC Midnight will release the Welsh-language supernatural revenge horror The Feast, directed by BAFTA-winning television director Lee Haven Jones in his feature debut. IFC Midnight will release the film Thanksgiving 2021.
The 2021 Florida Film Festival announced the Grand Jury and Audience Awards with the Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature going to The Last Out directed by Michael Gassert and Sami Khan; and the Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature went to Materna directed by David Gutnik.
The documentary Revolution Rent, directed by Andy Señor Jr. and Victor Patrick Alvarez, follows Señor Jr. to Cuba, where he is tasked with directing a stage production of the Tony® and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, “Rent,” the country’s first Broadway musical produced by an American company in more than 50 years. Returning to his exiled parents’ homeland, Señor Jr. embarks on a personal journey, exploring his Cuban heritage and his family’s complex relationship to the country they love. Revolution Rent debuts Tuesday, June 15 (9:00–10:30 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the iconic musical’s Broadway premiere.
Momentum released the official trailer for the indie film Port Authority starring Leyna Bloom, Fionn Whitehead and McCaul Lombardi. The film is the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Danielle Lessovitz with Martin Scorsese as an executive producer.
Here is the first teaser trailer for the The Gig Is Up, Shannon Walsh’s documentary feature film on the gig economy.
The Palm Springs ShortFest will become the first film festival in the state to hold all of its screenings in-theatre in 2021 returning to the Camelot Theatres (Palm Springs Cultural Center) from June 22-28, 2021.