Netflix released the official trailer for Concrete Cowboy, the urban Western drama film starring Idris Elba and Caleb McLaughlin which premiered at the 2020 Toronto Film Festival. Based upon the novel “Ghetto Cowboy” by G. Neri, Concrete Cowboy is directed by first-time feature filmmaker Ricky Staub. The film premieres on Netflix on April 2.
Directed by Miles Hargrove (Stanley Marcus Documentary, The Starck Club), Miracle Fishing: Kidnapped Abroad, the true story that inspired the 2000 film Proof of Life, starring Russell Crowe and Meg Ryan will premiere on discovery+ on March 25, 2021. The film was an Official Selection – 2020 Tribeca Film Festival, 2020 AFI Docs and 2020 DOC NYC
The 45th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF45) will highlight the works of a new generation of filmmakers from Iran and Italy this year. HKIFF45 will feature eight films by talented and innovative filmmakers in a curated section entitled Iranian New Cinema.
At the joint 2021 Writers Guild Awards virtual ceremony on Sunday, March 21 hosted by actor Kal Penn, the documentary The Dissident, written by Mark Monroe and Bryan Fogel won the award for Documentary Screenplay. From the Academy Award-winning director of Icarus, Bryan Fogel, the film tells the untold story of the murder that shook the world. Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was critical of his beloved Saudi Arabia and of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s policies. On October 2, 2018, Khashoggi entered the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul and never came out.
Minari dominated the Austin Film Critics Association’s 2020 awards, winning 6 prizes including Best Film, Best Foreign-Language Film, Best Director for Lee Isaac Chung, and Best Ensemble. Youn Yuh-jung won Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film.
South by Southwest (SXSW) announced the 2021 Jury and Special Award winners of the 28th SXSW Film Festival. The Fallout directed by Megan Park won the Grand Jury Award for Narrative Feature and Lily Topples the World directed by Jeremy Workman won for Documentary Feature.
Minari was a hit with the Phoenix Critics Circle (PCC) earning the honor of best picture of 2020, along with best foreign language film and best supporting actress for Youn Yuh-jung.
Writer/director Tony Stone’s genre-bending true crime drama Ted K, starring Sharlto Copley (District 9, Hardcore Henry), has been acquired by Super LTD, the boutique label from Neon, for release in the US. The film premiered to critical acclaim as part of the Panorama section at the Berlin International Film Festival.
The 6th Annual Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) announced Festival award winners with Circus of Life directed by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat, the Oscar submission from Pakistan, taking the Snow Leopard Award for Best Film.
Vertical Entertainment released the official trailer for the indie drama film Four Good Days, directed by Rodrigo García and starring Glenn Close and Mila Kunis. The film which premiered at 2020 Sundance Film Festival will be released in theaters on April 30, 2021.
HBO Max has ordered a two-part documentary about late actor Brittany Murphy to be directed by Emmy(R)-nominated Cynthia Hill (“Private Violence”), exploring the life and career and mysterious circumstances surrounding the tragic death of 90’s actress and rising star.
Florida Film Festival announced the program lineup of 164 films for the 30th Annual Festival, April 9-22, 2021, taking place online and in Maitland and Winter Park, Florida.The festival kicks off with the World Premiere of Because of Charley directed by Jon Binkowski, USA. Spotlight films include Mandibles directed by Quentin Dupieux, Mogul Mowgli directed by Bassam Tariq, Squish directed by Xavier Seron, Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street directed by Marilyn Agrelo and Together Together directed by Nikole Beckwit.