Amidst the global coronavirus pandemic, the 45th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, taking place September 10–19, is tailoring to fit the moment, with physical screenings and drive-ins, digital screenings, virtual red carpets, press conferences and industry talks. This year’s selection comprises a lineup of 50 new feature films, five programs of short films, as well as interactive talks, film cast reunions, and Q&As with cast and filmmakers.
Tribeca Enterprises announced the initial schedule for the “Tribeca Drive-In” series, which will feature an exciting slate of over 30 iconic films, comedy acts, and more. Events will be hosted at drive-in theaters and exclusive venues in Los Angeles; New York; Arlington, TX; Miami; and Seattle, among other cities. The limited-engagement series will provide families with a safe, comfortable entertainment experience that captivates audiences of all ages, as the nation takes steps to emerge from coronavirus lockdowns.
Hatching directed by first time Finnish filmmaker Hanna Bergholm is being acquired by IFC Midnight for release in the US. Hatching explores themes of control and keeping up appearances in a twisted coming-of-age body horror meets psychological drama, with a screenplay by Ilja Rautsi. The film stars Siiri Solalinna, Sophia Heikkilä, Jani Volanen, Reino Nordin and Oiva Ollila.
Evans Chan’s timely new documentary ‘We Have Boots’ on movements for democracy and freedom in Hong Kong will premiere in US as closing film of Filmfest DC at Home on Friday, June 26 and available through Friday, July 3. We Have Boots had its World Premiere at International Film Festival Rotterdam, UK Premiere at Sheffield Doc/Fest and will screen in the Justice Matters section of Filmfest DC 2020.
The indie thriller Homewrecker originally due for release this Friday has now been pushed to July 3, 2020. The film which will be opening in select Drive-In Theaters, released a brand-new green band trailer.
Actor and filmmaker Viggo Mortensen will receive a Donostia Award in recognition of his career at the 68th edition of the San Sebastian Festival, where he will present the film Falling, his directorial debut.
AFI DOCS 2020 concluded its five-day online festival with the Audience Award for Best Feature going to TRANSHOOD, directed by Sharon Liese and the Audience Award for Best Short going to BLACKFEET BOXING: NOT INVISIBLE, directed by Kristen Lappas and Tom Rinaldi.
The 2020 Palm Springs International ShortFest announced its juried award winners from the 332 shorts films that were part of the Official Selection and made available online to screen from June 16-22. The top prize, Best of the Festival Award went to Matriochkas directed by Bérangère Mc Neese.
Michael W. Bachochin’s highly-anticipated psychodrama/science-fiction feature film Parallax dropped the new trailer ahead of its release in theaters this summer. Starring Naomi Prentice, Nelson Ritthaler, Hattie Smith and Ted Gianopulos, Parallax opens in theaters on July 10.
11 short films from 12 countries will encompass the Official Selection of short films in Competition at the 2020 Cannes Film Festival. Five female directors are also featured in the 2020 Official Selection.
Based on a contentious, real-life “honor killing” in 2005 that shocked Germany, Sherry Hormann’s A Regular Woman, which had its World Premiere at Tribeca in 2019, offers a novel and captivating approach: the murdered woman, a 23-year-old German of Turkish-Kurdish ancestry shot point blank by her youngest brother, narrates the action both before and after her death. A Regular Woman makes its virtual cinema premiere on June 26th from Corinth Films.
OYA Media Group’s Mr. Jane and Finch documentary, which was directed, co-produced and co-written by Ngardy Conteh George and co-produced and co-written by Alison Duke, won two 2020 Canadian Screen Awards: the ‘Donald Brittain Award for Best Social/Political Documentary and Best Writing in a Documentary. The Canadian Screen Awards are a celebration of Canadian visual storytelling and the people who bring these stories to life. The CSAs recognize and champion the authentic voices and universal themes that resonate in Canada and beyond.