Mubi has unveiled next month’s streaming lineup, featuring recent releases such as Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Monster, Tynan DeLong’s Dad & Step-Dad, and Rachel Lambert’s Sometimes I Think About Dying. Additional highlights include Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Passion, Abbas Kiarostami’s Certified Copy, Alex Thompson’s Saint Frances (ahead of the release of Ghostlight), as well as a spotlight on the Ross Brothers following Mubi’s streaming release of Gasoline Rainbow at the end of this month.
“Everybody’s raising this Rashomon thing, but I feel that it’s fundamentally different from Rashomon, because in Rashomon, each character, when they go back through the story again, they actually end up being a different character within the film, within the story, whatever specific story it is,” Hirokazu Kore-eda told us last fall regarding Monster. “Whereas with this, the people don’t change, but the monster who appears, appears in different places.
“Everybody’s raising this Rashomon thing, but I feel that it’s fundamentally different from Rashomon, because in Rashomon, each character, when they go back through the story again, they actually end up being a different character within the film, within the story, whatever specific story it is,” Hirokazu Kore-eda told us last fall regarding Monster. “Whereas with this, the people don’t change, but the monster who appears, appears in different places.
- 5/21/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Chicago – Closing Night for the 2024 Chicago Critics Film Festival (Ccff) is Thursday, May 9th, and the final film centerpiece is “Ghostlight,” directed by Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson. For the full schedule, info and tickets, click Ccff Closing Night. For individual films, click titles below.
Ghostlight
Writer/Co-Director Kelly O’Sullivan (inset) of ‘Ghostlight’
Photo credit: ChicagoCriticsFilmFestival.com
Dan (Keith Kupferer) is a middle-aged construction worker grieving a family tragedy, and has cut himself off from his devoted wife Sharon (Tara Mallen) and talented but troubled daughter Daisy (Katherine Mallen Kupferer). Through an accidental circumstance, Dan finds comfort and community in a misfit company of amateur actors. While performing for the first in a low-rent production for one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies, Dan is forced to confront his buried emotions.
Capsule Review: The premise has sitcom-like plot drivers to get the reluctant Dan on stage, but the path...
Ghostlight
Writer/Co-Director Kelly O’Sullivan (inset) of ‘Ghostlight’
Photo credit: ChicagoCriticsFilmFestival.com
Dan (Keith Kupferer) is a middle-aged construction worker grieving a family tragedy, and has cut himself off from his devoted wife Sharon (Tara Mallen) and talented but troubled daughter Daisy (Katherine Mallen Kupferer). Through an accidental circumstance, Dan finds comfort and community in a misfit company of amateur actors. While performing for the first in a low-rent production for one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies, Dan is forced to confront his buried emotions.
Capsule Review: The premise has sitcom-like plot drivers to get the reluctant Dan on stage, but the path...
- 5/9/2024
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
"The lines are the easy part. The hard part is the emotional journey." IFC Films has revealed the trailer for Ghostlight, an acclaimed indie drama that first premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. I caught it there and I have to say - this really is a gem, it surprised & moved me in many unexpected ways. Co-directors Alex Thompson & Kelly O'Sullivan's previous film, Saint Frances, received widespread praise on the regional festival circuit & national stage, including noms from the Indie Spirit Awards and The Gotham Awards. This is their latest film creation. When melancholic construction worker Dan finds himself drifting from his wife and daughter, he discovers community and purpose in a local theater's production of Romeo & Juliet. As the drama onstage starts to mirror his own life, he and his family are forced to confront a personal loss. Stars newcomer Keith Kupferer as Dan,...
- 5/6/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
One of our early favorites of 2024, Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson’s Saint Frances follow-up Ghostlight premiered at Sundance and stopped by SXSW before coming to theaters next month from IFC Films. Ahead of the June 14 theatrical release, the first trailer has now arrived.
Here’s the synopsis: “When melancholic construction worker Dan finds himself drifting from his wife and daughter, he discovers community and purpose in a local theater’s production of Romeo and Juliet. As the drama onstage starts to mirror his own life, he and his family are forced to confront a personal loss.”
John Fink said in his review, “A masterfully crafted work with nearly no false notes, Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson’s Ghostlight is a tender drama bearing profound moments of humor and small triumphs. The smartly constructed script by O’Sullivan buries the lede, revealing new narrative information with each layer as...
Here’s the synopsis: “When melancholic construction worker Dan finds himself drifting from his wife and daughter, he discovers community and purpose in a local theater’s production of Romeo and Juliet. As the drama onstage starts to mirror his own life, he and his family are forced to confront a personal loss.”
John Fink said in his review, “A masterfully crafted work with nearly no false notes, Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson’s Ghostlight is a tender drama bearing profound moments of humor and small triumphs. The smartly constructed script by O’Sullivan buries the lede, revealing new narrative information with each layer as...
- 5/6/2024
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
When Chicago-based filmmakers Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson first came across our radar with their charming “Saint Frances,” it was clear we were witnessing the birth of a powerhouse pair of indie filmmakers. Even in that first film, which marked Thompson’s feature directorial debut and that O’Sullivan both wrote and starred in, what would become their signature was obvious: a canny combination of heart and humor that go beyond basic loglines.
“Saint Frances” was eventually nominated for three Gotham Awards and the Indie Spirits’ vaunted John Cassavetes Award, and when chatting with IndieWire about their delightful gem, the pair even admitted that simple plotlines don’t quite do their works justice. “Saint Frances” comes with what seems like a downer of a description: “After an accidental pregnancy turned abortion, a deadbeat nanny finds an unlikely friendship with the 6-year-old she’s charged with protecting.” As the duo told...
“Saint Frances” was eventually nominated for three Gotham Awards and the Indie Spirits’ vaunted John Cassavetes Award, and when chatting with IndieWire about their delightful gem, the pair even admitted that simple plotlines don’t quite do their works justice. “Saint Frances” comes with what seems like a downer of a description: “After an accidental pregnancy turned abortion, a deadbeat nanny finds an unlikely friendship with the 6-year-old she’s charged with protecting.” As the duo told...
- 5/6/2024
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
A masterfully crafted work with nearly no false notes, Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson’s Ghostlight is a tender drama bearing profound moments of humor and small triumphs. The smartly constructed script by O’Sullivan buries the lede, revealing new narrative information with each layer as we watch a nuclear family slowly come apart and, later, find solace in the wake of their son’s suicide. Anchored by a real-life family, the film feels as if it’s been meticulously workshopped with the same intimate collaboration that gave O’Sullivan and Thompson’s last feature, Saint Frances, its authentic nuances.
Dan Muller (Keith Kupferer) is first presented to us as a small-town construction worker with a short temper and family drama. He has a rebellious 15-year-old daughter Daisy (Katherine Mallen Kupferer) and his marriage to Sharon (Tara Mallen) is on the rocks. Love holds the family together, and following an...
Dan Muller (Keith Kupferer) is first presented to us as a small-town construction worker with a short temper and family drama. He has a rebellious 15-year-old daughter Daisy (Katherine Mallen Kupferer) and his marriage to Sharon (Tara Mallen) is on the rocks. Love holds the family together, and following an...
- 3/13/2024
- by John Fink
- The Film Stage
Visit Films has added Sundance premiere Ghostlight, Latin music biopic Jenni and New York-set comedy Late Bloomers to its slate for next week’s European Film Market.
Visit will represent international sales rights for Ghostlight, directed by Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson. Keith Kupferer, Tara Mullen, Katherine Mallen Kupfererv and Dolly de Leon star in the story of a construction worker who joins a local theater production of Romeo and Juliet.
IFC Films and Sapan Studio recently acquired North American rights to the film, which is produced by Ian Keiser, Alex Wilson, Pierce Cravens, Eddie Linker, Chelsea Krant and Alex Thompson.
Visit will represent international sales rights for Ghostlight, directed by Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson. Keith Kupferer, Tara Mullen, Katherine Mallen Kupfererv and Dolly de Leon star in the story of a construction worker who joins a local theater production of Romeo and Juliet.
IFC Films and Sapan Studio recently acquired North American rights to the film, which is produced by Ian Keiser, Alex Wilson, Pierce Cravens, Eddie Linker, Chelsea Krant and Alex Thompson.
- 2/9/2024
- ScreenDaily
IFC Films and Sapan Studio have acquired the North American rights to “Ghostlight,” the second film from “Saint Frances” directors Alex Thompson & Kelly O’Sullivan which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
The film stars Keith Kupferer as Dan, a melancholic construction worker who unexpectedly joins a local theater’s production of ‘Romeo and Juliet.’ When the drama onstage starts to mirror his own life, he and his family are forced to address a recent tragedy.
Kupfarer stars alongside his wife, Tara Mallen, and their daughter Katherine Mallen Kupferer, who recently starred in the film adaptation of “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” “Triangle of Sadness” star Dolly De Leon rounds out the main cast.
“Alex and I have long admired IFC Films’ fierce championing of independent cinema and are thrilled to be partnering with a leader in the space along with Sapan Studio to release ‘Ghostlight,” O’Sullivan said in a statement.
The film stars Keith Kupferer as Dan, a melancholic construction worker who unexpectedly joins a local theater’s production of ‘Romeo and Juliet.’ When the drama onstage starts to mirror his own life, he and his family are forced to address a recent tragedy.
Kupfarer stars alongside his wife, Tara Mallen, and their daughter Katherine Mallen Kupferer, who recently starred in the film adaptation of “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” “Triangle of Sadness” star Dolly De Leon rounds out the main cast.
“Alex and I have long admired IFC Films’ fierce championing of independent cinema and are thrilled to be partnering with a leader in the space along with Sapan Studio to release ‘Ghostlight,” O’Sullivan said in a statement.
- 1/25/2024
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
IFC Films and Sapan Studio have acquired the North American rights to “Ghostlight” following its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival, where the tender-hearted drama drew strong reviews.
The film is the sophomore feature from Alex Thompson and Kelly O’Sullivan and follows their critically acclaimed 2019 debut “Saint Frances.” It stars a real-life family of actors — Keith Kupferer, Tara Mallen and their daughter Katherine Mallen Kupferer — as well as Golden Globe nominee Dolly De Leon, a breakout for her turn in “Triangle of Sadness.” IFC Films plans to release the film in theaters later this year.
“Ghostlight” centers around Dan, a melancholic construction worker who unexpectedly joins a local theater’s production of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” But as the onstage drama mirrors his own life, Dan and his family are forced to grapple with a recent tragedy. In his Variety review, Peter Debruge wrote that the story was “beautifully told,...
The film is the sophomore feature from Alex Thompson and Kelly O’Sullivan and follows their critically acclaimed 2019 debut “Saint Frances.” It stars a real-life family of actors — Keith Kupferer, Tara Mallen and their daughter Katherine Mallen Kupferer — as well as Golden Globe nominee Dolly De Leon, a breakout for her turn in “Triangle of Sadness.” IFC Films plans to release the film in theaters later this year.
“Ghostlight” centers around Dan, a melancholic construction worker who unexpectedly joins a local theater’s production of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” But as the onstage drama mirrors his own life, Dan and his family are forced to grapple with a recent tragedy. In his Variety review, Peter Debruge wrote that the story was “beautifully told,...
- 1/25/2024
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Live theater serves a therapeutic role for the actors involved in “Ghostlight,” an emotional “let’s put on a show”-style indie that, fittingly enough, came together during last year’s actors strike. The sensitive — but also considerably more conservative — follow-up project for “Saint Frances” screenwriter Kelly O’Sullivan and co-director (and partner) Alex Thompson celebrates the healing power of art, as a family shaken by its eldest son’s suicide uses a community theater production of “Romeo and Juliet” to work through emotions they haven’t been able to discuss openly at home.
O’Sullivan has a natural storytelling gift, coupled with a knack for comedy. Here, she takes elements that feature regularly in Sundance Film Festival dramas — grieving families, difficult teens, small-town communities — and rearranges them into a surprising and moving narrative. (Small wonder that the film was invited to premiere in Park City.) Some might reject that approach as being manipulative,...
O’Sullivan has a natural storytelling gift, coupled with a knack for comedy. Here, she takes elements that feature regularly in Sundance Film Festival dramas — grieving families, difficult teens, small-town communities — and rearranges them into a surprising and moving narrative. (Small wonder that the film was invited to premiere in Park City.) Some might reject that approach as being manipulative,...
- 1/19/2024
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Most reviews of Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson’s tender dramedy “Ghostlight” are likely to start with a definition of the title, but we’ll try to subvert that expectation a bit here.
Instead, we’ll open with a quote from this publication (and this very writer) on the pair’s uncanny knack for making gems that have loglines that don’t (that can’t) do justice to the tales they spin. The pair’s first feature, the similarly winning “Saint Frances,” packed what seemed like a downer of a description: “After an accidental pregnancy turned abortion, a deadbeat nanny finds an unlikely friendship with the 6-year-old she’s charged with protecting.” As the duo told IndieWire in 2021, “We struggled with that line too. It’s so funny, every time we describe the movie, we just want to say like, ‘We know, but—’” (that’s O’Sullivan), with Thompson cutting in,...
Instead, we’ll open with a quote from this publication (and this very writer) on the pair’s uncanny knack for making gems that have loglines that don’t (that can’t) do justice to the tales they spin. The pair’s first feature, the similarly winning “Saint Frances,” packed what seemed like a downer of a description: “After an accidental pregnancy turned abortion, a deadbeat nanny finds an unlikely friendship with the 6-year-old she’s charged with protecting.” As the duo told IndieWire in 2021, “We struggled with that line too. It’s so funny, every time we describe the movie, we just want to say like, ‘We know, but—’” (that’s O’Sullivan), with Thompson cutting in,...
- 1/19/2024
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Park City – Sometimes, the star of the movie isn’t the cast or the director. It’s not the cinematography or the score. Sometimes, you watch a film and realize you’re experiencing the unfurling of a pretty fantastic screenplay. That’s the case with “Ghostlight,” which debuted at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival today and was written by uber-talented screenwriter Kelly O’Sullivan.
Read More: Sundance 2024: The 23 Most Anticipated Movies To Watch
Co-directed by O’Sullivan and her “Saint Frances” collaborator Alex Thompson, “Ghostlight” shines a spotlight on Dan (Keith Kupferer), a blue-collar construction worker who can barely focus on his job.
Continue reading ‘Ghostlight’ Review: A Family Finds Solace In Community Theater [Sundance] at The Playlist.
Read More: Sundance 2024: The 23 Most Anticipated Movies To Watch
Co-directed by O’Sullivan and her “Saint Frances” collaborator Alex Thompson, “Ghostlight” shines a spotlight on Dan (Keith Kupferer), a blue-collar construction worker who can barely focus on his job.
Continue reading ‘Ghostlight’ Review: A Family Finds Solace In Community Theater [Sundance] at The Playlist.
- 1/18/2024
- by Gregory Ellwood
- The Playlist
With their upcoming pic Ghostlight premiering this weekend at the Sundance Film Festival, filmmaker duo Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson have landed new reps signing with Gersh.
The film, which O’Sullivan wrote and co-directed with Thompson, who also produced, debuts in the Premiere section of Sundance on January 18.
Their previous film, Saint Frances, starring and written by O’Sullivan, and directed by Thompson premiered at SXSW in 2019, winning a Special Jury Prize for “Breakthrough Voice” and the Audience Award for Narrative Feature. Released in 2020, the film was one of the most acclaimed independent films of the year and was nominated for three Gotham Awards, an Independent Spirit Award, and named by the National Board of Review as one of the Top Ten Independent Films of the year.
O’Sullivan and Thompson will next collaborate on Mouse, a dramatic coming-of-age comedy written by O’Sullivan, which they will also co-direct...
The film, which O’Sullivan wrote and co-directed with Thompson, who also produced, debuts in the Premiere section of Sundance on January 18.
Their previous film, Saint Frances, starring and written by O’Sullivan, and directed by Thompson premiered at SXSW in 2019, winning a Special Jury Prize for “Breakthrough Voice” and the Audience Award for Narrative Feature. Released in 2020, the film was one of the most acclaimed independent films of the year and was nominated for three Gotham Awards, an Independent Spirit Award, and named by the National Board of Review as one of the Top Ten Independent Films of the year.
O’Sullivan and Thompson will next collaborate on Mouse, a dramatic coming-of-age comedy written by O’Sullivan, which they will also co-direct...
- 1/16/2024
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Up, up and away! The Sundance Film Festival has announced the lineup for its 40th edition, which will take place in Park City, Utah, from Jan. 18–28, with the online component starting Jan. 25. The program includes Christopher Reeve doc “Super/Man,” two films apiece from indie darlings Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg, plus fresh projects from a handful of directors who launched their careers at Sundance years ago.
The veteran contingent includes Richard Linklater (who’ll bring both “Hit Man” and an episode of the “God Bless Texas” anthology series), the Zellner Brothers (whose starry “Sasquatch Sunset” winks to their low-budget 2011 Sundance short “Sasquatch Birth Journal 2”) and Steven Soderbergh.
Also on hand will be director Christopher Nolan, set to collect the inaugural Sundance Institute Trailblazer Award, an honor meant to boost his award-season profile while reminding the world that the “Oppenheimer” helmer brought “Memento” to Park City, Utah, way back in...
The veteran contingent includes Richard Linklater (who’ll bring both “Hit Man” and an episode of the “God Bless Texas” anthology series), the Zellner Brothers (whose starry “Sasquatch Sunset” winks to their low-budget 2011 Sundance short “Sasquatch Birth Journal 2”) and Steven Soderbergh.
Also on hand will be director Christopher Nolan, set to collect the inaugural Sundance Institute Trailblazer Award, an honor meant to boost his award-season profile while reminding the world that the “Oppenheimer” helmer brought “Memento” to Park City, Utah, way back in...
- 12/6/2023
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Fusion Entertainment has signed on to manage Joanna Arnow, an acclaimed acclaimed writer, director, actor and editor whose narrative feature debut “The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed” impressed audiences and critics when it debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in the Directors Fortnight section. The film was later acquired by Magnolia Pictures. It will be released domestically in 2024 after having its U.S. premiere this week at the New York Film Festival
This puts Arnow under the same management team as “Red Rocket” and “The Florida Project” filmmaker Sean Baker, who was an executive producer on the film.
Arnow also joins a roster of notable multi-hyphenates including “She Dies Tomorrow” filmmaker Amy Seimetz, “Cha Cha Real Smooth” director, writer and star Cooper Raiff, and”Saint Frances” writer and star Kelly O’Sullivan. Other notable Fusion management clients include: “Triangle of Sadness” breakout Dolly De Leon; writer-directors-producers Greg Kwedar and Clint Benley,...
This puts Arnow under the same management team as “Red Rocket” and “The Florida Project” filmmaker Sean Baker, who was an executive producer on the film.
Arnow also joins a roster of notable multi-hyphenates including “She Dies Tomorrow” filmmaker Amy Seimetz, “Cha Cha Real Smooth” director, writer and star Cooper Raiff, and”Saint Frances” writer and star Kelly O’Sullivan. Other notable Fusion management clients include: “Triangle of Sadness” breakout Dolly De Leon; writer-directors-producers Greg Kwedar and Clint Benley,...
- 10/5/2023
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Yellow Veil Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to “The Becomers,” a genre-bending comedy written and directed by Zach Clark. The company will launch the film at the Marche Du Film in Cannes this week. “The Becomer” tells the story of a body-snatching alien who comes to Earth, reconnects with their partner, and tries to find their way in modern America.
“During the pandemic, I binged the original ‘Star Trek’ series for the first time and then I made this movie” Clark said about his latest film. “It felt like life as we knew it was ending, but then again, it also felt like that might not be the worst thing either. ‘The Becomers’ is a story of love, longing, and alienation. A kitsch-soaked, pathos-laden melodrama about our sad, sad planet. It’s the weirdest thing I’ve ever made and I can’t think of anyone better than Yellow Veil...
“During the pandemic, I binged the original ‘Star Trek’ series for the first time and then I made this movie” Clark said about his latest film. “It felt like life as we knew it was ending, but then again, it also felt like that might not be the worst thing either. ‘The Becomers’ is a story of love, longing, and alienation. A kitsch-soaked, pathos-laden melodrama about our sad, sad planet. It’s the weirdest thing I’ve ever made and I can’t think of anyone better than Yellow Veil...
- 5/18/2023
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Ninjababy Ninjababy, 12.05am, Film4, Tuesday, March 8
This Norwegian comedy drama uses animation to accentuate the emotional experience of the hard partying Rakel (Kristine Kujath Thorp), who gets a shock when she discovers she is heavily pregnant. She starts chatting to her "stealthy ninjababy", who appears in animated form as she grapples with what to do next in a film that offers comedy and poignancy in equal measure. Loosely adapted with an offbeat fluidity from the graphic novel by Inga Sætre, Yngvild Sve Flikke's film has a thoroughly modern take on potential motherhood that isn't scared to acknowledge it is not for everyone. If you liked Baby Done or Saint Frances, it offers a similar vibe.
Phantom Thread, 11.15pm, BBC2, Tuesday, March 8
Jennie Kermode writes: Featuring the last film performance by Daniel Day-Lewis, who announced his retirement shortly before it was released in 2018, Paul Thomas Anderson’s sumptuously presented drama has echoes of.
This Norwegian comedy drama uses animation to accentuate the emotional experience of the hard partying Rakel (Kristine Kujath Thorp), who gets a shock when she discovers she is heavily pregnant. She starts chatting to her "stealthy ninjababy", who appears in animated form as she grapples with what to do next in a film that offers comedy and poignancy in equal measure. Loosely adapted with an offbeat fluidity from the graphic novel by Inga Sætre, Yngvild Sve Flikke's film has a thoroughly modern take on potential motherhood that isn't scared to acknowledge it is not for everyone. If you liked Baby Done or Saint Frances, it offers a similar vibe.
Phantom Thread, 11.15pm, BBC2, Tuesday, March 8
Jennie Kermode writes: Featuring the last film performance by Daniel Day-Lewis, who announced his retirement shortly before it was released in 2018, Paul Thomas Anderson’s sumptuously presented drama has echoes of.
- 3/7/2022
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Chris Evans and Adam Kersh have launched Fusion Management, an artist-driven management company that will focus on actors, filmmakers and creators.
Their initial management roster features a number of notable clients with a particular focus on indie multi-hyphenates and auteurs. The list includes Sean Baker, who earned raves for “Red Rocket”; filmmaker and actor Amy Seimetz, the co-creator of “The Girlfriend Experience” on Starz and the star of “No Sudden Move”; Cooper Raiff, a writer, director, producer and actor whose film “Cha Cha Real Smooth” premiered at Sundance this week to critical acclaim; and Kelly O’Sullivan, the writer and star of the award-winning “Saint Frances.”
Evans, formerly a manager at One Entertainment, and Kersh, co-founder of Brigade Marketing, bring more than two decades of combined experience within the entertainment industry. The two want Fusion to be a landing ground for both established creators and emerging talent both in front of and behind the camera.
Their initial management roster features a number of notable clients with a particular focus on indie multi-hyphenates and auteurs. The list includes Sean Baker, who earned raves for “Red Rocket”; filmmaker and actor Amy Seimetz, the co-creator of “The Girlfriend Experience” on Starz and the star of “No Sudden Move”; Cooper Raiff, a writer, director, producer and actor whose film “Cha Cha Real Smooth” premiered at Sundance this week to critical acclaim; and Kelly O’Sullivan, the writer and star of the award-winning “Saint Frances.”
Evans, formerly a manager at One Entertainment, and Kersh, co-founder of Brigade Marketing, bring more than two decades of combined experience within the entertainment industry. The two want Fusion to be a landing ground for both established creators and emerging talent both in front of and behind the camera.
- 1/25/2022
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
After receiving tons of accolades for his feature debut film Saint Frances, filmmaker Alex Thompson began the year shooting an under-the-radar sophomore feature in Chicago. A dramatic thriller with a hospital backdrop, Thompson cast the film pairing of Namir Smallwood (and actor making his debut and was schooled by the Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre) and Sidney Flanigan (who broke out in Eliza Hittman’s Never Rarely Sometimes Always). titled Rounding, Thompson reunited with cinematographer Nate Hursellers, and yes, Kelly O’Sullivan who co-wrote Saint Frances is also in the fold as a supporting player.
Gist: This follows a driven young medical resident (Smallwood) who transfers to a rural hospital for a fresh start.…...
Gist: This follows a driven young medical resident (Smallwood) who transfers to a rural hospital for a fresh start.…...
- 11/24/2021
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
Exclusive: Independent streaming company Cinedigm has taken all North American rights on Our Father, the feature debut of director-writer-actor Bradley Grant Smith that debuted at SXSW earlier this year.
The deal marks the first Cinedigm acquisition slated to be released as an exclusive on the company’s independent streaming service Fandor.
The film finds estranged sisters Beta (Baize Buzan) and Zelda (Allison Torem) on a last-ditch effort to preserve a familial bond by a shared desire in finding their mysterious, seemingly vanished Uncle Jerry.
Director Smith previously acted in pics such as Saint Frances (2019) and The Last Shift (2020). He is also known as a musician, whose song Help Yourself was featured in the Academy Award nominated film Up in the Air (2009).
The deal was negotiated by Manager of Acquisitions Brandon Hill on behalf of Cinedigm and Bill Straus at Bridge Independent on behalf of the filmmakers, Bradley Grant Smith and Alex Thompson.
The deal marks the first Cinedigm acquisition slated to be released as an exclusive on the company’s independent streaming service Fandor.
The film finds estranged sisters Beta (Baize Buzan) and Zelda (Allison Torem) on a last-ditch effort to preserve a familial bond by a shared desire in finding their mysterious, seemingly vanished Uncle Jerry.
Director Smith previously acted in pics such as Saint Frances (2019) and The Last Shift (2020). He is also known as a musician, whose song Help Yourself was featured in the Academy Award nominated film Up in the Air (2009).
The deal was negotiated by Manager of Acquisitions Brandon Hill on behalf of Cinedigm and Bill Straus at Bridge Independent on behalf of the filmmakers, Bradley Grant Smith and Alex Thompson.
- 10/4/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Arthouse sequels are a rare breed, as is British director Joanna Hogg, who brings her distinctive vision to Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight with The Souvenir Part II. A follow up to 2019’s lauded, semi-autobiographical drama The Souvenir, it once again stars Honor Swinton Byrne as Julie, now mourning the loss of her boyfriend Anthony (Tom Burke), a drug addict who claimed to work for the Foreign Office. His spectre looms large as Julie drifts through film school, eventually making a film about her experiences with Anthony with the help of her peers.
Like Hogg films Unrelated, Archipelago and The Souvenir, this favors long takes and understated dialogue and explores the world of the privileged. Julie only has to ask her mother once, meekly, for £10,000 so she can make her film. Byrne’s real-life mother and Cannes stalwart Tilda Swinton puts in a generous, gently amusing turn as one half of a...
Like Hogg films Unrelated, Archipelago and The Souvenir, this favors long takes and understated dialogue and explores the world of the privileged. Julie only has to ask her mother once, meekly, for £10,000 so she can make her film. Byrne’s real-life mother and Cannes stalwart Tilda Swinton puts in a generous, gently amusing turn as one half of a...
- 7/8/2021
- by Anna Smith
- Deadline Film + TV
Covid-19 dominated the news cycle this past year, but it was also a season of thought-provoking cinema that reflected various political and sociological themes from “The Trial of the Chicago 7” to “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.” Variety asked some of its editors and critics to answer three questions about this past year in film and discuss its standout moments.
1. How do you rate the 2020 slate against previous years?
2. What was the biggest scandal or most talked-about issue of
the year?
3. What aspect of film this year made you stand up and cheer?
Peter Debruge
Chief Film Critic
1. It’s not really fair to compare. This has been such an exceptional year that nearly the entire slate — from a studio standpoint, at least — has been delayed or shelved till the coast is clear for theaters to reopen. Or, to put it in blockbuster speak: No match for Covid, James Bond declared 2020 “No Time to Die,...
1. How do you rate the 2020 slate against previous years?
2. What was the biggest scandal or most talked-about issue of
the year?
3. What aspect of film this year made you stand up and cheer?
Peter Debruge
Chief Film Critic
1. It’s not really fair to compare. This has been such an exceptional year that nearly the entire slate — from a studio standpoint, at least — has been delayed or shelved till the coast is clear for theaters to reopen. Or, to put it in blockbuster speak: No match for Covid, James Bond declared 2020 “No Time to Die,...
- 4/23/2021
- by Owen Gleiberman, Jenelle Riley, Tim Gray and Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
The last major awards show before the Oscars has finally arrived, the 36th Independent Spirit Awards. The virtual ceremony aired Thursday, April 22 on IFC at 7 p.m. Pt/10 p.m. Et and was hosted by “Saturday Night Live” star Melissa Villaseñor. The Spirit Awards celebrated the best in indie filmmaking for the 2020 calendar year, and this year they invited TV shows to the party, too. Don’t forget, only American-made fare with budgets under $20 million were eligible for consideration. Winners were chosen by all of Film Independent’s eligible members, including industry insiders and any movie fans who signed up for membership.
Heading into the ceremony, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” was the nominations leader with seven overall bids. “Minari” came in right behind it with six noms, followed by “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “Nomadland” (the Oscar front-runner) with five bids each. On the TV side, both “Little America” and...
Heading into the ceremony, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” was the nominations leader with seven overall bids. “Minari” came in right behind it with six noms, followed by “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “Nomadland” (the Oscar front-runner) with five bids each. On the TV side, both “Little America” and...
- 4/23/2021
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
The 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards are finally upon us, after the nominations were announced three months ago, and the ceremony is taking place just a few days ahead of the Academy Awards. This year, the Spirit Awards won’t be held midday in a hangar in Santa Monica, but will instead live-stream on IFC on Thursday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m. Pt/10:00 p.m. Et. In addition to the linear broadcast, the Spirit Awards will also stream simultaneously on AMC+. Following the broadcast, the full awards ceremony will be made available on demand across AMC+ and IFC platforms starting Friday, April 23. This year’s ceremony will be hosted by “Saturday Night Love” comedian Melissa Villaseñor.
If you’re cord cutter who doesn’t have cable, you can watch IFC live with one of these streaming services, many of which offer a free trial: Philo, fuboTV, Sling TV, YouTube TV,...
If you’re cord cutter who doesn’t have cable, you can watch IFC live with one of these streaming services, many of which offer a free trial: Philo, fuboTV, Sling TV, YouTube TV,...
- 4/21/2021
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
The independent film community is not assembling under a billowy white tent for the 36th Independent Spirit Awards on the Saturday before the Oscars. Mounting a live awards show on the Santa Monica beach just wasn’t going to happen. Yes, the Oscars will give it a try April 25 via two Los Angeles hubs and another dozen or so satellite feeds around the world, but the Academy has millions to spend on safety protocols. Nonprofit arts organization Film Independent will hold the annual awards ceremony as a IFC primetime live broadcast April 22 at 7pm Pt, 10pm Et.
More people voted for the Spirits this year than ever before: Film Independent has grown to over 7,000 members, adding more international voters. Spirits have a $22.5 million budget cap; international film qualification is based on the writer, director, and producer’s country of origin. A foreign-language with an American story is not an international film; nor is “The Father.
More people voted for the Spirits this year than ever before: Film Independent has grown to over 7,000 members, adding more international voters. Spirits have a $22.5 million budget cap; international film qualification is based on the writer, director, and producer’s country of origin. A foreign-language with an American story is not an international film; nor is “The Father.
- 4/21/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
The independent film community is not assembling under a billowy white tent for the 36th Independent Spirit Awards on the Saturday before the Oscars. Mounting a live awards show on the Santa Monica beach just wasn’t going to happen. Yes, the Oscars will give it a try April 25 via two Los Angeles hubs and another dozen or so satellite feeds around the world, but the Academy has millions to spend on safety protocols. Nonprofit arts organization Film Independent will hold the annual awards ceremony as a IFC primetime live broadcast April 22 at 7pm Pt, 10pm Et.
More people voted for the Spirits this year than ever before: Film Independent has grown to over 7,000 members, adding more international voters. Spirits have a $22.5 million budget cap; international film qualification is based on the writer, director, and producer’s country of origin. A foreign-language with an American story is not an international film; nor is “The Father.
More people voted for the Spirits this year than ever before: Film Independent has grown to over 7,000 members, adding more international voters. Spirits have a $22.5 million budget cap; international film qualification is based on the writer, director, and producer’s country of origin. A foreign-language with an American story is not an international film; nor is “The Father.
- 4/21/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Chicago – Getting his debut film – “Our Father” – into the 2021 South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival was a major achievement for writer/director Bradley Grant Smith, and puts the spotlight on his emerging talent and perspective. Smith is also a musician … he provided the soundtrack for the film as well.
This film has a Chicago connection, as it is populated with theater folk from the Windy City and Goodman Theatre, which includes writer/director Smith. It’s the story of two sisters, Zelda (Allison Torem) and Beta (Baize Buzan), who are reunited when their father commits suicide. This begins a cavalcade of circumstances, including a bizarre encounter with their half brothers. The film takes place in a dream-like state, in which all the sister’s encounters become fodder for their status as women, and the men they come across. The great character actor Austin Pendleton makes a cameo as a key relative,...
This film has a Chicago connection, as it is populated with theater folk from the Windy City and Goodman Theatre, which includes writer/director Smith. It’s the story of two sisters, Zelda (Allison Torem) and Beta (Baize Buzan), who are reunited when their father commits suicide. This begins a cavalcade of circumstances, including a bizarre encounter with their half brothers. The film takes place in a dream-like state, in which all the sister’s encounters become fodder for their status as women, and the men they come across. The great character actor Austin Pendleton makes a cameo as a key relative,...
- 3/23/2021
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
You may recognize Bradley Grant Smith as an actor from recent indie gems such as The Last Shift (2020) and Saint Frances (2019); you might know him as musician “Sad Brad Smith,” whose song “Help Yourself” was featured in Up in the Air (2009). Now, you’ll recognize him as writer/producer/director/composer of his first feature Our Father, which premiered at SXSW this past week.
Our Father follows a mismatched pair of sisters: Beta (Broadway’s To Kill a Mockingbird’s Baize Buzan) and Zelda (breakout Allison Torem). After their father’s suicide, the sisters rekindle their relationship and seek out their “religious nut” Uncle Jerry (Catch 22’s Austin Pendleton)—whom the rest of the family believes to be dead.…...
Our Father follows a mismatched pair of sisters: Beta (Broadway’s To Kill a Mockingbird’s Baize Buzan) and Zelda (breakout Allison Torem). After their father’s suicide, the sisters rekindle their relationship and seek out their “religious nut” Uncle Jerry (Catch 22’s Austin Pendleton)—whom the rest of the family believes to be dead.…...
- 3/23/2021
- by Dylan Kai Dempsey
- IONCINEMA.com
Namir Smallwood and Sidney Flanigan will star in “Rounding,” a new dramatic thriller from “Saint Frances” director Alex Thompson. “Rounding” follows a driven young medical resident (Smallwood) who transfers to a rural hospital for a fresh start. There, the demons of his past start to catch up to him when he becomes consumed by the case of a young asthma patient (Flanigan). The film was shot in secret in Chicago and just wrapped production.
Smallwood is an ensemble member at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company. He has also appeared in the television shows “Rust” and “Chicago Fire.” This is his feature film debut. Flanigan had critics raving with her work in “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” a drama about a young woman’s efforts to obtain an abortion. She was nominated for an Independent Spirit nomination for best female lead and won prizes from the Boston Society of Film Critics and the New York Film Critics Circle.
Smallwood is an ensemble member at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company. He has also appeared in the television shows “Rust” and “Chicago Fire.” This is his feature film debut. Flanigan had critics raving with her work in “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” a drama about a young woman’s efforts to obtain an abortion. She was nominated for an Independent Spirit nomination for best female lead and won prizes from the Boston Society of Film Critics and the New York Film Critics Circle.
- 3/5/2021
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Variety's Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars from Film Awards Editor Clayton Davis. Following Academy Awards history, buzz, news, reviews and sources, the Oscar predictions are updated regularly with the current year's contenders in all categories. Variety's Awards Circuit Prediction schedule consists of four phases, running all year long: Draft, Pre-Season, Regular Season and Post Season. Eligibility calendar and dates of awards will determine how long each phase lasts and will be displayed next to revision date.
To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Collective
Draft>>>Pre Season>>>Regular Season>>>Post Season
2021 Oscars Predictions:
Best Cinematography
Updated: Mar. 4, 2021
Awards Prediction Commentary: Łukasz Żal got into this race for “Cold War” and this category never has just newcomers so expect his work for “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” to make some headway, perhaps even with American Society of Cinematographers.
To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Collective
Draft>>>Pre Season>>>Regular Season>>>Post Season
2021 Oscars Predictions:
Best Cinematography
Updated: Mar. 4, 2021
Awards Prediction Commentary: Łukasz Żal got into this race for “Cold War” and this category never has just newcomers so expect his work for “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” to make some headway, perhaps even with American Society of Cinematographers.
- 3/4/2021
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
A critical hit that has been praised by audiences for its unvarnished look at abortion rights, Eliza Hittman’s drama “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” hit the Sundance festival last year after years of research and input from Planned Parenthood.
The film is one of the few American films to tackle abortion access head on in a straightforward manner, sloughing off overly emotional drama and divisive politics.
The idea for the film, which follows the journey of 17-year-old Autumn and her cousin Skylar from small-town upstate Pennsylvania to New York City in order for Autumn to get an abortion without parental consent, came to Hittman around 2012 when the story of Savita Halappanavar made international Headlines. Halappanavar, a 31-year-old doctor living in Ireland, died from septicemia, which she contracted after she was denied an abortion during a miscarriage. She wanted to explore the state of reproductive rights, which vary drastically from state to state.
The film is one of the few American films to tackle abortion access head on in a straightforward manner, sloughing off overly emotional drama and divisive politics.
The idea for the film, which follows the journey of 17-year-old Autumn and her cousin Skylar from small-town upstate Pennsylvania to New York City in order for Autumn to get an abortion without parental consent, came to Hittman around 2012 when the story of Savita Halappanavar made international Headlines. Halappanavar, a 31-year-old doctor living in Ireland, died from septicemia, which she contracted after she was denied an abortion during a miscarriage. She wanted to explore the state of reproductive rights, which vary drastically from state to state.
- 3/2/2021
- by Carole Horst
- Variety Film + TV
Guatemalan Oscar submission title La Llorona named best foreign language film.
UK stars Riz Ahmed and Carey Mulligan have won top acting awards for Sound Of Metal and Promising Young Woman as the National Board of Review (Nbr) announced its 2020 winners.
Spike Lee was named best director and Da 5 Bloods best film in Tuesday’s (January 26) announcement.
Minari, which earlier in the day picked up six Spirit Award nominations, earned Youn Yuh-jung the best supporting actress gong, and Lee Isaac Chung best screenplay.
Jayro Bustamente’s Guatemalan Oscar submission title La Llorona was named best foreign language film.
Chadwick Boseman...
UK stars Riz Ahmed and Carey Mulligan have won top acting awards for Sound Of Metal and Promising Young Woman as the National Board of Review (Nbr) announced its 2020 winners.
Spike Lee was named best director and Da 5 Bloods best film in Tuesday’s (January 26) announcement.
Minari, which earlier in the day picked up six Spirit Award nominations, earned Youn Yuh-jung the best supporting actress gong, and Lee Isaac Chung best screenplay.
Jayro Bustamente’s Guatemalan Oscar submission title La Llorona was named best foreign language film.
Chadwick Boseman...
- 1/26/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Guatemalan Oscar submission title La Llorona named best foreign language film.
British stars Riz Ahmed and Carey Mulligan won top acting awards for Sound Of Metal and Promising Young Woman as the National Board of Review (Nbr) announced its 2020 winners.
Spike Lee was named best director and Da 5 Bloods best film in Tuesday’s (January 26) announcement.
Minari, which earlier in the day picked up six Spirit Award nominations, earned Youn Yuh-jung the best supporting actress gong, and Lee Isaac Chung best screenplay.
Jayro Bustamente’s Guatemalan Oscar submission title La Llorona was named best foreign language film.
Chadwick Boseman...
British stars Riz Ahmed and Carey Mulligan won top acting awards for Sound Of Metal and Promising Young Woman as the National Board of Review (Nbr) announced its 2020 winners.
Spike Lee was named best director and Da 5 Bloods best film in Tuesday’s (January 26) announcement.
Minari, which earlier in the day picked up six Spirit Award nominations, earned Youn Yuh-jung the best supporting actress gong, and Lee Isaac Chung best screenplay.
Jayro Bustamente’s Guatemalan Oscar submission title La Llorona was named best foreign language film.
Chadwick Boseman...
- 1/26/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Guatemalan Oscar submission title La Llorona named best foreign language film.
British stars Riz Ahmed and Carey Mulligan won top acting awards for Sound Of Metal Promising Young Woman as the National Board of Review announced its 2020 winners.
Spike Lee was named best director and Da 5 Bloods best film in Tuesday’s (January 26) announcement.
Minari, which earlier in the day picked up six Spirit Award nominations, earned Youn Yuh-jung the best supporting actress gong, and Lee Isaac Chung best screenplay. Jayro Bustamente’s Guatemalan Oscar submission title La Llorona was named best foreign language film.
Chadwick Boseman is posthumously...
British stars Riz Ahmed and Carey Mulligan won top acting awards for Sound Of Metal Promising Young Woman as the National Board of Review announced its 2020 winners.
Spike Lee was named best director and Da 5 Bloods best film in Tuesday’s (January 26) announcement.
Minari, which earlier in the day picked up six Spirit Award nominations, earned Youn Yuh-jung the best supporting actress gong, and Lee Isaac Chung best screenplay. Jayro Bustamente’s Guatemalan Oscar submission title La Llorona was named best foreign language film.
Chadwick Boseman is posthumously...
- 1/26/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
The National Board of Review (Nbr) is often one of the first groups to announce its picks for the best films and performances of the year, but the 2020-21 awards season is a season like no other. At this point in the awards season, the Gotham Awards have already declared “Nomadland” the best film of the year, while the NYFCC went with “First Cow” and Lafca chose Steve McQueen’s “Small Axe” anthology series. The Nbr went with ‘Da 5 Bloods’ for 2021. The organization is made up of a group of film enthusiasts, industry professionals, academics, and filmmakers.
Last year, the National Board of Review honored Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” with its top prize for Best Film. The gangster drama went on to score 10 Academy Award nominations. Nearly every Nbr winner for Best Film this decade has earned an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, including “The Post,” “Manchester by the Sea,...
Last year, the National Board of Review honored Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” with its top prize for Best Film. The gangster drama went on to score 10 Academy Award nominations. Nearly every Nbr winner for Best Film this decade has earned an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, including “The Post,” “Manchester by the Sea,...
- 1/26/2021
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
The National Board of Review selected Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods as its best film of 2020 on Tuesday, handing the Netflix drama three honors overall in its annual voting of the year’s best in movies. Lee won best director, and the film also took the ensemble award.
Chadwick Boseman was posthumously honored with with Nbr Icon Award. He featured in Da 5 Bloods in one of his final roles alongside a cast that included Delroy Lindo, Isiah Whitlock Jr, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis and Jonathan Majors. The pic centers on a close-knit group of Vietnam veterans who return to find the remains of their fallen squad leader and the buried treasure they hid there.
“Da 5 Bloods is not only a unique portrait of the experience and lingering trauma of Black Vietnam War veterans, but also a moving story of enduring friendship, a suspenseful jungle treasure hunt, and...
Chadwick Boseman was posthumously honored with with Nbr Icon Award. He featured in Da 5 Bloods in one of his final roles alongside a cast that included Delroy Lindo, Isiah Whitlock Jr, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis and Jonathan Majors. The pic centers on a close-knit group of Vietnam veterans who return to find the remains of their fallen squad leader and the buried treasure they hid there.
“Da 5 Bloods is not only a unique portrait of the experience and lingering trauma of Black Vietnam War veterans, but also a moving story of enduring friendship, a suspenseful jungle treasure hunt, and...
- 1/26/2021
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Minari earns six nods including feature, director, two for supporting actress.
Focus Features’ Never Rarely Sometimes Always led the Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations with six nods on Tuesday (January 26) including best film and director, and female lead.
A24’s Minari placed second on six nods including best feature in a field that includes Nomadland, First Cow, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and Never Rarely Sometimes Always.
Women dominated the directing category as Eliza Hittman (Never Rarely Sometimes Always), Chloe Zhao (Nomadland), Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman), and Kelly Reichardt (First Cow) picked up nods alongside the sole male, Lee Isaac Ching for Minari.
Focus Features’ Never Rarely Sometimes Always led the Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations with six nods on Tuesday (January 26) including best film and director, and female lead.
A24’s Minari placed second on six nods including best feature in a field that includes Nomadland, First Cow, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and Never Rarely Sometimes Always.
Women dominated the directing category as Eliza Hittman (Never Rarely Sometimes Always), Chloe Zhao (Nomadland), Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman), and Kelly Reichardt (First Cow) picked up nods alongside the sole male, Lee Isaac Ching for Minari.
- 1/26/2021
- ScreenDaily
Minari earns six nods including feature, director, two for supporting actress.
Focus Features’ Never Rarely Sometimes Always led the Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations with six nods on Tuesday (January 26) including best film and director, and female lead.
A24’s Minari placed second on six nods including best feature in a field that includes Nomadland, First Cow, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and Never Rarely Sometimes Always.
Women dominated the directing category as Eliza Hittman (Never Rarely Sometimes Always), Chloe Zhao (Nomadland), Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman), and Kelly Reichardt (First Cow) picked up nods alongside the sole male, Lee Isaac Ching for Minari.
Focus Features’ Never Rarely Sometimes Always led the Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations with six nods on Tuesday (January 26) including best film and director, and female lead.
A24’s Minari placed second on six nods including best feature in a field that includes Nomadland, First Cow, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and Never Rarely Sometimes Always.
Women dominated the directing category as Eliza Hittman (Never Rarely Sometimes Always), Chloe Zhao (Nomadland), Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman), and Kelly Reichardt (First Cow) picked up nods alongside the sole male, Lee Isaac Ching for Minari.
- 1/26/2021
- ScreenDaily
The 2021 Independent Spirit Awards nominations were announced Tuesday, January 26. So who made the cut at these kudos, which celebrate the best in American independent films? Scroll down to see the full list of nominees for the 2021 Indie Spirits. Remember, only American-made movies with budgets under $20 million were eligible for consideration.
These Spirit contenders were decided by nominating committees that included film critics, film programmers, producers, directors, writers, cinematographers, editors, actors, past nominees and winners, and members of Film Independent’s Board of Directors.
Winners will be chosen by all of Film Independent’s eligible members, including industry insiders and any movie fans who sign up for membership starting at $95 per year.
These awards have come to be a significant preview of the Oscars as the motion picture academy embraces more independent films. Five of the last 10 Spirit champs for Best Feature went on to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
These Spirit contenders were decided by nominating committees that included film critics, film programmers, producers, directors, writers, cinematographers, editors, actors, past nominees and winners, and members of Film Independent’s Board of Directors.
Winners will be chosen by all of Film Independent’s eligible members, including industry insiders and any movie fans who sign up for membership starting at $95 per year.
These awards have come to be a significant preview of the Oscars as the motion picture academy embraces more independent films. Five of the last 10 Spirit champs for Best Feature went on to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
- 1/26/2021
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The 2020-21 awards season got its first prominent awards ceremony with the 30th Annual Gotham Awards. Eleven competitive awards were given out to the best films, performances, and television series of the previous year. Feature films with multiple nominees included “First Cow,” “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” “Nomadland,” and “Saint Frances.” All of this year’s Best Feature nominees were films directed by women, a first in the 30-year history of the Gotham Awards.
In addition to the 11 competitive categories, the 30th Gotham Awards awarded five Tribute honors throughout the ceremony, including the late Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis (Actress Tribute), Steve McQueen (Director Tribute), Ryan Murphy (Industry Tribute), and the inaugural Ensemble Tribute to the cast of Aaron Sorkin’s “The Trial of the Chicago 7.”
The first award of the night went to “One Night in Miami” breakout Kingsley Ben-Adir, who appeared on camera from a hotel in London. The...
In addition to the 11 competitive categories, the 30th Gotham Awards awarded five Tribute honors throughout the ceremony, including the late Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis (Actress Tribute), Steve McQueen (Director Tribute), Ryan Murphy (Industry Tribute), and the inaugural Ensemble Tribute to the cast of Aaron Sorkin’s “The Trial of the Chicago 7.”
The first award of the night went to “One Night in Miami” breakout Kingsley Ben-Adir, who appeared on camera from a hotel in London. The...
- 1/12/2021
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
The Gotham Awards for the best in independent film kicked off this unusual awards season on Monday night, January 11. Presented by the Independent Filmmaker Project, these kudos are usually handed out in early December but were pushed back (as were many awards events) due to the Covid-19 pandemic. So who won? Scroll down for the complete list of winners, updated live as they were announced.
SEEGotham nominee John Magaro (‘First Cow’) on how Cookie and King-Lu are ‘almost soulmates’ [Exclusive Video Interview]
These awards are limited to American films (apart from Best International Feature ) made with an economy of means, which means no budgets higher than $35 million. Nominees and winners were decided by juries of film experts and insiders. And for the first time in the awards’ history, all five of the nominees for Best Feature were directed by women: “The Assistant” by Kitty Green, “First Cow” by Kelly Reichardt, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” by Eliza Hittman,...
SEEGotham nominee John Magaro (‘First Cow’) on how Cookie and King-Lu are ‘almost soulmates’ [Exclusive Video Interview]
These awards are limited to American films (apart from Best International Feature ) made with an economy of means, which means no budgets higher than $35 million. Nominees and winners were decided by juries of film experts and insiders. And for the first time in the awards’ history, all five of the nominees for Best Feature were directed by women: “The Assistant” by Kitty Green, “First Cow” by Kelly Reichardt, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” by Eliza Hittman,...
- 1/12/2021
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
The 2020 Gotham Awards have already made history, with all of this year’s best feature nominees directed by women. The ceremony, which will livestream on the Independent Filmmaker Project and Variety’s Facebook pages beginning at 8 p.m. Et, is sure to offer more of the same.
The 30th Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards contenders are led by Kelly Reichardt’s “First Cow,” which received all four major noms: best feature, screenplay, actor and breakthrough actor. Eliza Hittman’s “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland,” Kitty Green’s “The Assistant” and Natalie Erika James’s “Relic” are also nominated for best feature.
In the best actor category, Chadwick Boseman received a posthumous nomination for his role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” The other nominees in the category include Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”), Jude Law (“The Nest”), John Magaro (“First Cow”) and Jesse Plemons (“I’m Thinking of Ending Things...
The 30th Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards contenders are led by Kelly Reichardt’s “First Cow,” which received all four major noms: best feature, screenplay, actor and breakthrough actor. Eliza Hittman’s “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland,” Kitty Green’s “The Assistant” and Natalie Erika James’s “Relic” are also nominated for best feature.
In the best actor category, Chadwick Boseman received a posthumous nomination for his role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” The other nominees in the category include Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”), Jude Law (“The Nest”), John Magaro (“First Cow”) and Jesse Plemons (“I’m Thinking of Ending Things...
- 1/11/2021
- by Natalie Oganesyan
- Variety Film + TV
The Gotham Awards for independent film are being handed out tonight, January 11. More than 1,200 Gold Derby users have been predicting the winners since nominations were announced in October, and their predictions have been combined to generate our official racetrack odds. Scroll down to see our forecasts in 10 categories, with the nominees listed in order of their odds and our projected winners highlighted in gold.
SEE2021 Gotham Awards nominations: All 5 Best Feature nominees directed by women
“Nomadland” is the favorite to win Best Feature at these awards, which it would add to its already abundant pile of plaudits. It has already been named the best film of the year by critics in Boston, Chicago, Indiana and Greater Western New York, not to mention the Alliance of Women Film Journalists and the National Society of Film Critics.
But this wouldn’t be the first time director Chloe Zhao claimed this prize. Her...
SEE2021 Gotham Awards nominations: All 5 Best Feature nominees directed by women
“Nomadland” is the favorite to win Best Feature at these awards, which it would add to its already abundant pile of plaudits. It has already been named the best film of the year by critics in Boston, Chicago, Indiana and Greater Western New York, not to mention the Alliance of Women Film Journalists and the National Society of Film Critics.
But this wouldn’t be the first time director Chloe Zhao claimed this prize. Her...
- 1/11/2021
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Filmmakers Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson know the official log line for their charming dramedy “Saint Frances” isn’t exactly inspiring: “After an accidental pregnancy turned abortion, a deadbeat nanny finds an unlikely friendship with the six-year old she’s charged with protecting.”
“That log line, yeah,” O’Sullivan said with a laugh during a recent interview with Thompson. “We struggled with that line too. It’s so funny, every time we describe the movie, we just want to say like, ‘We know, but—'”
Thompson cut in: “It’s funny! It’s good!”
But that’s the sneaky power of the movie, starring and written by O’Sullivan and directed by Thompson, her partner both in work and life. The pair readily admit the log line smacks of cliche, but underneath that so often lurks the truth, one pulled directly from O’Sullivan’s own life. “It’s not...
“That log line, yeah,” O’Sullivan said with a laugh during a recent interview with Thompson. “We struggled with that line too. It’s so funny, every time we describe the movie, we just want to say like, ‘We know, but—'”
Thompson cut in: “It’s funny! It’s good!”
But that’s the sneaky power of the movie, starring and written by O’Sullivan and directed by Thompson, her partner both in work and life. The pair readily admit the log line smacks of cliche, but underneath that so often lurks the truth, one pulled directly from O’Sullivan’s own life. “It’s not...
- 1/7/2021
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
The road for Alex Thompson’s “Saint Frances” began on March 11, 2019, at the South by Southwest Film Festival where it won the audience award and a special jury prize for breakthrough voice. Written by and starring Kelly O’Sullivan, the film was picked up by Oscilloscope Laboratories and released in theaters on Feb. 28, just weeks before the Covid-19 pandemic forced a nationwide lockdown. Since then, it’s picked up two nominations at the Gotham Awards, including breakthrough actor for O’Sullivan and the Bingham Ray breakthrough director prize for Alex Thompson. The film remains in the conversation for the awards season.
“Saint Frances” has been beloved by critics and journalists, garnering a 99% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Variety‘s Peter Debruge named it his second favorite film of 2020 saying in part, “Saint Frances wasn’t directed by a woman, though its candid comedic voice is every bit the creation of screenwriter-star Kelly O’Sullivan,...
“Saint Frances” has been beloved by critics and journalists, garnering a 99% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Variety‘s Peter Debruge named it his second favorite film of 2020 saying in part, “Saint Frances wasn’t directed by a woman, though its candid comedic voice is every bit the creation of screenwriter-star Kelly O’Sullivan,...
- 12/28/2020
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
The Surrogate, All I Can Say, Driveways also sell.
Ryan Kampe’s Visit Films has announced a slew of deals following the virtual AFM and Ventana Sur markets.
Tribeca selection Lorelei (pictured) starring Pablo Schreiber and Jena Malone, has been sold to HBO Europe for Eastern Europe. A US announcement is imminent on the film.
SXSW drama The Surrogate has gone to Studio Soho Distribution for UK and Ireland and HBO Europe for Eastern Europe, with Starz picking up US cable rights.
The film opened in the US through a virtual theatrical release orchestrated by Visit’s sister company Monument Releasing,...
Ryan Kampe’s Visit Films has announced a slew of deals following the virtual AFM and Ventana Sur markets.
Tribeca selection Lorelei (pictured) starring Pablo Schreiber and Jena Malone, has been sold to HBO Europe for Eastern Europe. A US announcement is imminent on the film.
SXSW drama The Surrogate has gone to Studio Soho Distribution for UK and Ireland and HBO Europe for Eastern Europe, with Starz picking up US cable rights.
The film opened in the US through a virtual theatrical release orchestrated by Visit’s sister company Monument Releasing,...
- 12/7/2020
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
In a normal year, you’d only expect one, maybe two of the nominees in the Gotham Awards’ Best Feature category to also end up nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, and two or three of the acting nominees to repeat with the Academy. But 2020 is anything but a normal year, so the feeling was that things might be different this year when the Independent Filmmaker Project announced the Gotham nominees on Thursday.
After all, the Academy has been forced in a more indie direction for this year’s Oscars, simply because so many mainstream, commercially-minded movies had fled from the release schedule to await the time when theaters could reopen.
But when the Gotham nominations came out, guess what? Of the five films nominated in the top category, there’s one, Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland,” that’s likely to land a Best Picture nod. And of the 15 people nominated...
After all, the Academy has been forced in a more indie direction for this year’s Oscars, simply because so many mainstream, commercially-minded movies had fled from the release schedule to await the time when theaters could reopen.
But when the Gotham nominations came out, guess what? Of the five films nominated in the top category, there’s one, Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland,” that’s likely to land a Best Picture nod. And of the 15 people nominated...
- 11/13/2020
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
I've long held a pet theory that one of the reasons women (often) aren't fully prepared for menstruation, pregancy, childbirth, and the postpartum time, is because of how messy it is. If we knew (at least about the childbearing and immediate time after), there would be a lot fewer children in the world. Move that to modern times, when we're expected to not only have kids but careers and manage it all in a perfect balance because of all the 'help' we have ... yes, it's all just messy. Luckily we've had a couple of recent films that deal with abortion. The SXSW 2019 audience award winner, Saint Frances, takes a look at not only abortion, but postpartum depression,...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 11/12/2020
- Screen Anarchy
‘Nomadland’ and ‘Never Rarely Sometimes Always’ secure two nominations each.
Kelly Reichardt’s First Cow leads the nominations for the 30th IFP Gotham Awards, in which the nods for best feature are all directed by women.
Period drama First Cow, first seen at Telluride 2019 and released by A24, secured four nominations for best feature, screenplay and actor, for John Magaro, as well as breakthrough actor, for Orion Lee.
Scroll down for full list of nominations
Titles that scored two nominations included Chloe Zhao’s Venice Golden Lion winner Nomadland, for best feature and actress Frances McDormand; and Eliza Hittman’s Never Rarely Sometimes Always,...
Kelly Reichardt’s First Cow leads the nominations for the 30th IFP Gotham Awards, in which the nods for best feature are all directed by women.
Period drama First Cow, first seen at Telluride 2019 and released by A24, secured four nominations for best feature, screenplay and actor, for John Magaro, as well as breakthrough actor, for Orion Lee.
Scroll down for full list of nominations
Titles that scored two nominations included Chloe Zhao’s Venice Golden Lion winner Nomadland, for best feature and actress Frances McDormand; and Eliza Hittman’s Never Rarely Sometimes Always,...
- 11/12/2020
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
This year’s awards season, delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, finally got underway with the announcement of the 2021 Gotham Awards nominations on November 12 (last year’s big reveal was on Oct. 24). These awards are presented by the Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) and honor the best of the year as determined by small committees of film journalists and festival programmers. The five Best Feature nominees, which were all directed by women, are: “The Assistant,” “First Cow,” “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” “Nomadland” and “Relic.” Scroll down to see the complete list of contenders.
Will these awards preview the Oscars? Perhaps. Last year’s Best Feature award went to “Marriage Story,” which did go on to reap a Best Picture bid. However, that was the exception rather than the rule. Indeed, its rival Gotham Awards nominees — “The Farewell,” “Hustlers,” “Uncut Gems” and “Waves” — were all snubbed by the Academy Awards.
Why is this?...
Will these awards preview the Oscars? Perhaps. Last year’s Best Feature award went to “Marriage Story,” which did go on to reap a Best Picture bid. However, that was the exception rather than the rule. Indeed, its rival Gotham Awards nominees — “The Farewell,” “Hustlers,” “Uncut Gems” and “Waves” — were all snubbed by the Academy Awards.
Why is this?...
- 11/12/2020
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
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