Sundance Institute has announced the 2024 Directors, Screenwriters, and Native Labs fellows.
The Native Lab takes place in person in Santa Fe, New Mexico, from April 29–May 4 and will support four fellows and two artists in residence. The Lab focuses on centring Indigeneity in the storytelling of participants from Native and Indigenous backgrounds and will work on feature film and episodic scripts through one-on-one feedback sections and roundtable discussions with advisors.
The fellows are: Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan (writer-director) with Hum (Phil-usa); Ryland Walker Knight (writer-director) with The Lip Of The World (USA); Charine Pilar Gonzales (writer-director) with Ndn Time (USA...
The Native Lab takes place in person in Santa Fe, New Mexico, from April 29–May 4 and will support four fellows and two artists in residence. The Lab focuses on centring Indigeneity in the storytelling of participants from Native and Indigenous backgrounds and will work on feature film and episodic scripts through one-on-one feedback sections and roundtable discussions with advisors.
The fellows are: Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan (writer-director) with Hum (Phil-usa); Ryland Walker Knight (writer-director) with The Lip Of The World (USA); Charine Pilar Gonzales (writer-director) with Ndn Time (USA...
- 4/29/2024
- ScreenDaily
Sundance Institute announced today the fellows selected for the 2024 Directors, Screenwriters, and Native Labs. The Native Lab in New Mexico will support four fellows and two artists in residence, and the Directors Lab in Colorado will support the development of eight projects with nine fellows, with an additional three fellows also joining for the online Screenwriters Lab held immediately after.
For over four decades, Sundance Institute’s signature labs have provided filmmakers a nurturing, immersive environment to develop their projects and refine their artistic voice under the guidance of accomplished creative advisors.
The 2024 Native Lab, taking place in person in Santa Fe, New Mexico, from April 29–May 4, is designed for participants of Native and Indigenous backgrounds and focuses on centering Indigeneity in their storytelling. Fellows will build community and refine their feature film and episodic scripts through one-on-one feedback sections and roundtable discussions with advisors. Four fellows were selected: three who are U.
For over four decades, Sundance Institute’s signature labs have provided filmmakers a nurturing, immersive environment to develop their projects and refine their artistic voice under the guidance of accomplished creative advisors.
The 2024 Native Lab, taking place in person in Santa Fe, New Mexico, from April 29–May 4, is designed for participants of Native and Indigenous backgrounds and focuses on centering Indigeneity in their storytelling. Fellows will build community and refine their feature film and episodic scripts through one-on-one feedback sections and roundtable discussions with advisors. Four fellows were selected: three who are U.
- 4/29/2024
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
When actress Tessa Thompson met musician Arooj Aftab in London last summer, she felt like they were long-lost sisters. “I honestly can’t remember not listening to Arooj. Can’t be sure how she first came into my ears, but her music was instantly familiar and essential,” Thompson tells Rolling Stone. “Maybe I actually met her in a past life.”
It was only natural, then, that Aftab and Thompson team up for the former’s new video, “Raat Ki Rani,” the actress’s directorial debut and the musician’s first...
It was only natural, then, that Aftab and Thompson team up for the former’s new video, “Raat Ki Rani,” the actress’s directorial debut and the musician’s first...
- 4/18/2024
- by Brenna Ehrlich
- Rollingstone.com
On a recent podcast, filmmaker Steven Soderbergh pivoted the conversation to Alfred Hitchcock’s work, examining why, decades later, the auteur’s grip on audiences remains so tight. “[The reason] we still watch Hitchcock movies, and that they don’t feel as dated as some other films, is that they’re all about guilt,” Soderbergh posited. “Every Hitchcock movie is about guilt — and guilt’s not going anywhere.” If what Soderbergh says is true, then why is guilt so evergreen?
I listened to the podcast after watching Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, a masterpiece that belongs in the category of Great Art (an imperfect term, but one I stand by). I wondered why Glazer’s film — about a German family attempting to build a normal life in the shadow of Auschwitz during World War II — seemed to rise above the competition in a very strong year for movies. I believe...
I listened to the podcast after watching Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, a masterpiece that belongs in the category of Great Art (an imperfect term, but one I stand by). I wondered why Glazer’s film — about a German family attempting to build a normal life in the shadow of Auschwitz during World War II — seemed to rise above the competition in a very strong year for movies. I believe...
- 3/8/2024
- by Kishori Rajan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Amazon MGM Studios’ Orion Pictures has entered production on Hedda, its reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s famed 1891 stage play Hedda Gabler, announcing the addition of six to its cast. Newcomers include Imogen Poots (Baltimore), Tom Bateman (Thirteen Lives), Finbar Lynch (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan), Mirren Mack (The Witcher: Blood Origins), Jamael Westman (Hamilton), and Saffron Hocking (Top Boy).
The actors join an ensemble that also includes Tessa Thompson, Nina Hoss, and Nicholas Pinnock, as previously announced.
Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler revolves around Hedda Tesman, a newlywed stifled by societal norms. Frustrated and trapped, she resorts to manipulation and destructive actions. As secrets unravel, the play explores themes of power, gender roles, and the tragic consequences of societal expectations in the late 19th century.
Directing from her own script is Nia DaCosta, the filmmaker behind Uni’s newest Candyman horror pic and the acclaimed crime drama Little Woods. Producers include Plan B,...
The actors join an ensemble that also includes Tessa Thompson, Nina Hoss, and Nicholas Pinnock, as previously announced.
Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler revolves around Hedda Tesman, a newlywed stifled by societal norms. Frustrated and trapped, she resorts to manipulation and destructive actions. As secrets unravel, the play explores themes of power, gender roles, and the tragic consequences of societal expectations in the late 19th century.
Directing from her own script is Nia DaCosta, the filmmaker behind Uni’s newest Candyman horror pic and the acclaimed crime drama Little Woods. Producers include Plan B,...
- 1/8/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
1497 has selected three finalist for their Features Lab.
The Lab’s first year was held virtually, and the second year was hybrid, held virtually and in-person. For its third year, 1497 is conducting the Lab as an in-person, immersive, artistic retreat in Malibu, California, during which each Mentee will be paired with a pod of four Mentors from whom they will receive script feedback and career guidance. Mentees will also work with filmmaker and veteran script consultant Adrienne Weiss to further develop their scripts, with a particular emphasis on the emotional journey of their stories.
“We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: we started the 1497 Features Lab to empower writers in the South Asian diaspora to tell whatever stories they want to tell, regardless of the societal, industry, or stereotypical expectations that so often confine writers in our community to certain genres and cultural storylines,” Ahmed, Khan,...
The Lab’s first year was held virtually, and the second year was hybrid, held virtually and in-person. For its third year, 1497 is conducting the Lab as an in-person, immersive, artistic retreat in Malibu, California, during which each Mentee will be paired with a pod of four Mentors from whom they will receive script feedback and career guidance. Mentees will also work with filmmaker and veteran script consultant Adrienne Weiss to further develop their scripts, with a particular emphasis on the emotional journey of their stories.
“We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: we started the 1497 Features Lab to empower writers in the South Asian diaspora to tell whatever stories they want to tell, regardless of the societal, industry, or stereotypical expectations that so often confine writers in our community to certain genres and cultural storylines,” Ahmed, Khan,...
- 9/27/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
1497 has revealed the finalists of its third annual Features Lab. See their bios below.
The lab is designed to elevate and develop screenplays by writers of South Asian descent, while providing career support. It aims to empower writers in the South Asian diaspora to write whatever stories they feel compelled to tell, unbounded by genre, cultural content, geographic location, or any other stereotypical expectation.
Established in 2020 by Adeel Ahmed, Lipica Shah, and Kamran Khan, 1497 has been steadfast in its commitment to championing and empowering South Asian talent, countering their historical marginalization and year preceding colonization in what is now recognized as South Asia.
Sponsored by Final Draft, the 2023 Features Lab will guide three Mentees through a comprehensive, multi-tiered journey during a five-day retreat in Malibu. This transformative process will begin with working with Sundance filmmaker and seasoned script consultant Adrienne Weiss, to bolster the refinement of their feature film scripts.
The lab is designed to elevate and develop screenplays by writers of South Asian descent, while providing career support. It aims to empower writers in the South Asian diaspora to write whatever stories they feel compelled to tell, unbounded by genre, cultural content, geographic location, or any other stereotypical expectation.
Established in 2020 by Adeel Ahmed, Lipica Shah, and Kamran Khan, 1497 has been steadfast in its commitment to championing and empowering South Asian talent, countering their historical marginalization and year preceding colonization in what is now recognized as South Asia.
Sponsored by Final Draft, the 2023 Features Lab will guide three Mentees through a comprehensive, multi-tiered journey during a five-day retreat in Malibu. This transformative process will begin with working with Sundance filmmaker and seasoned script consultant Adrienne Weiss, to bolster the refinement of their feature film scripts.
- 8/16/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Nina Hoss (Tár) and Nicholas Pinnock (For Life) have closed deals to join the new film Hedda from MGM’s Orion Pictures. While details as to their roles haven’t been disclosed, they join an ensemble that also includes Tessa Thompson, Callum Turner and Eve Hewson, as previously announced.
An epic reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s famed 1891 stage play Hedda Gabler, Hedda will be directed by Nia DaCosta, who also wrote the script. Pic’s producers are Plan B, DaCosta, Gabrielle Nadig, and Thompson via Viva Maude. Michael Constable will exec produce alongside Kishori Rajan for Viva Maude.
Hoss most recently starred opposite Cate Blanchett in Todd Field’s Academy Award-nominated drama Tár, garnering the Santa Barbara Film Festival’s Virtuoso Award for her turn as concertmaster Sharon, along with nominations at the Gotham Awards, Independent Spirit Awards and London Critics Circle Film Awards. The actress...
An epic reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s famed 1891 stage play Hedda Gabler, Hedda will be directed by Nia DaCosta, who also wrote the script. Pic’s producers are Plan B, DaCosta, Gabrielle Nadig, and Thompson via Viva Maude. Michael Constable will exec produce alongside Kishori Rajan for Viva Maude.
Hoss most recently starred opposite Cate Blanchett in Todd Field’s Academy Award-nominated drama Tár, garnering the Santa Barbara Film Festival’s Virtuoso Award for her turn as concertmaster Sharon, along with nominations at the Gotham Awards, Independent Spirit Awards and London Critics Circle Film Awards. The actress...
- 6/14/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Nia DaCosta’s Hedda Gabler movie adaptation Hedda is adding Callum Turner.
Turner is joining Tessa Thompson, who will star as the titular character in the take on the classic Henrik Ibsen play. (DaCosta and Thompson previously worked together on the director’s feature debut, Little Woods.) Eve Hewson will also star in the project.
DaCosta wrote and will direct the movie that hails from MGM’s Orion label and Plan B, which collaborated on Sarah Polley’s Oscar-winning drama Women Talking. DaCosta and Gabrielle Nadig will produce, along with Thompson, who produces via her Viva Maude label. Executive producers are Kishori Rajan for Viva Maude and Michael Constable.
Ibsen’s original work centers on a recently married woman, the daughter of a general, who is disillusioned with both her life and marriage.
Turner, repped by WME and the U.K.’s Curtis Brown, is set for Apple’s upcoming...
Turner is joining Tessa Thompson, who will star as the titular character in the take on the classic Henrik Ibsen play. (DaCosta and Thompson previously worked together on the director’s feature debut, Little Woods.) Eve Hewson will also star in the project.
DaCosta wrote and will direct the movie that hails from MGM’s Orion label and Plan B, which collaborated on Sarah Polley’s Oscar-winning drama Women Talking. DaCosta and Gabrielle Nadig will produce, along with Thompson, who produces via her Viva Maude label. Executive producers are Kishori Rajan for Viva Maude and Michael Constable.
Ibsen’s original work centers on a recently married woman, the daughter of a general, who is disillusioned with both her life and marriage.
Turner, repped by WME and the U.K.’s Curtis Brown, is set for Apple’s upcoming...
- 6/9/2023
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Eve Hewson (Flora and Son) is set to join Tessa Thompson in Hedda, the new film to be directed for MGM’s Orion Pictures and Plan B by Nia DaCosta, who is working from her own script. Details as to the role she’s playing haven’t been disclosed.
Billed as an epic and visceral reimagination of Henrik Ibsen’s famed 1891 stage play Hedda Gabler, Hedda will be produced by Plan B, DaCosta, Gabrielle Nadig, and Thompson via Viva Maude. Michael Constable will exec produce alongside Kishori Rajan for Viva Maude.
Hewson is a rising star who drew rave reviews out of Sundance for her starring turn opposite Joseph Gordon-Levitt in John Carney’s Dublin-set musical dramedy Flora and Son, which was swooped on at the festival by Apple at a price just under $20M, and is slated for release this fall. The Irish actress is currently in production opposite Nicole Kidman,...
Billed as an epic and visceral reimagination of Henrik Ibsen’s famed 1891 stage play Hedda Gabler, Hedda will be produced by Plan B, DaCosta, Gabrielle Nadig, and Thompson via Viva Maude. Michael Constable will exec produce alongside Kishori Rajan for Viva Maude.
Hewson is a rising star who drew rave reviews out of Sundance for her starring turn opposite Joseph Gordon-Levitt in John Carney’s Dublin-set musical dramedy Flora and Son, which was swooped on at the festival by Apple at a price just under $20M, and is slated for release this fall. The Irish actress is currently in production opposite Nicole Kidman,...
- 6/5/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Fresh from her appearance in box office boxing smash hit Creed III ($265 million and counting), Tessa Thompson has been cast as a character considered one of the greatest dramatic roles in theater history.
The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Thompson is set to play Hedda Gabler in Nia DaCosta’s upcoming film Hedda for MGM’s Orion Pictures and Plan B.
Written and directed by Nia DaCosta — coming off both the success of 2021’s Candyman and her upcoming MCU debut The Marvels (the first trailer for which recently landed) — the feature is billed as an epic and visceral reimagination of Henrik Ibsen’s famed 1891 stage play, and reunites the filmmaker with Thompson after she starred in the director’s critically acclaimed 2018 debut feature Little Woods.
Producers on Hedda are Plan B, DaCosta, Gabrielle Nadig (who produced Little Woods) and Thompson, who produces via her own Viva Maude label, launched in...
The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Thompson is set to play Hedda Gabler in Nia DaCosta’s upcoming film Hedda for MGM’s Orion Pictures and Plan B.
Written and directed by Nia DaCosta — coming off both the success of 2021’s Candyman and her upcoming MCU debut The Marvels (the first trailer for which recently landed) — the feature is billed as an epic and visceral reimagination of Henrik Ibsen’s famed 1891 stage play, and reunites the filmmaker with Thompson after she starred in the director’s critically acclaimed 2018 debut feature Little Woods.
Producers on Hedda are Plan B, DaCosta, Gabrielle Nadig (who produced Little Woods) and Thompson, who produces via her own Viva Maude label, launched in...
- 4/14/2023
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
1497, the nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting South Asian filmmakers, has enlisted Mira Nair, Geeta Malik (India Sweets and Spices)and Minhal Baig (Hala) as mentors for its third Features Lab. Baig is returning after having also served as a mentor for last year’s lab, held virtually and in-person in New York.
The 2023 edition will move cross-country to Malibu for the first time, taking place Oct. 18 through 23, wherein a newly structured format each of the three Lab participants will be given a dedicated pod of experts — a filmmaker, a producer, a representative and a Lab alum — to help them with script development and career guidance. In addition, they will receive (along with seven other finalists) the latest version of software from Final Draft, which is returning as Lab sponsor.
1497 has assembled a team of industry figures descended from all eight officially recognized South Asian countries — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, The Maldives,...
The 2023 edition will move cross-country to Malibu for the first time, taking place Oct. 18 through 23, wherein a newly structured format each of the three Lab participants will be given a dedicated pod of experts — a filmmaker, a producer, a representative and a Lab alum — to help them with script development and career guidance. In addition, they will receive (along with seven other finalists) the latest version of software from Final Draft, which is returning as Lab sponsor.
1497 has assembled a team of industry figures descended from all eight officially recognized South Asian countries — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, The Maldives,...
- 4/12/2023
- by Rebecca Sun
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Peabody Award-winning HBO Original series returns for its second season when Random Acts Of Flyness: The Parable Of The Pirate And The King debuts the evening of Friday, December 9 at midnight (12:00 a.m. Et) with two episodes. The six-episode season continues with two episodes airing weekly, concluding December 23.
Logline: Artist, musician, and filmmaker Terence Nance returns for a long-awaited second season of the acclaimed series Random Acts Of Flyness. Exploring the metaphysics of Black life through avant-garde storytelling, the second season follows Terence (Terence Nance) and Najja (Alicia Pilgrim), a couple working towards healing generational wounds and reintroducing themselves to the ways of their ancestors. Each of the six episodes explores a different dimension while presenting a rich tapestry of audio and visuals to illustrate the spiritual practice of Black liberation.
Season 2 cast: Terence Nance (Terence), Alicia Pilgrim (Najja), Austin Smith (Xavier), and Ta’Neesha Murphy (Janaya).
Credits: Created...
Logline: Artist, musician, and filmmaker Terence Nance returns for a long-awaited second season of the acclaimed series Random Acts Of Flyness. Exploring the metaphysics of Black life through avant-garde storytelling, the second season follows Terence (Terence Nance) and Najja (Alicia Pilgrim), a couple working towards healing generational wounds and reintroducing themselves to the ways of their ancestors. Each of the six episodes explores a different dimension while presenting a rich tapestry of audio and visuals to illustrate the spiritual practice of Black liberation.
Season 2 cast: Terence Nance (Terence), Alicia Pilgrim (Najja), Austin Smith (Xavier), and Ta’Neesha Murphy (Janaya).
Credits: Created...
- 11/30/2022
- by TV Shows Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid - TV
Marvel stars Brie Larson and Jeremy Renner are moving in to the unscripted space.
Disney+ has ordered two non-scripted series exec produced by the Avengers: Endgame stars.
Larson is exec producing Growing Up, a series about adolescence, while Renner is behind Rennervations.
Growing Up is a hybrid docu-series that explores the challenges, triumphs, and complexities of adolescence through ten compelling coming of age stories.
The series uses narrative, experimental, and documentary filmmaking to follow one casted individual, ages 18-22, as they tell their story. They represent a wide range of lived experiences with narratives that offer a look at teenage-hood and the diverse social, familial, and internal obstacles young people face on their path to self-discovery and acceptance.
Each 30-minute episode features one young person and their experience growing up.
It comes from Culture House, the production company OWN on Onyx’s The Hair Tales.
Larson will exec produce and direct and episode.
Disney+ has ordered two non-scripted series exec produced by the Avengers: Endgame stars.
Larson is exec producing Growing Up, a series about adolescence, while Renner is behind Rennervations.
Growing Up is a hybrid docu-series that explores the challenges, triumphs, and complexities of adolescence through ten compelling coming of age stories.
The series uses narrative, experimental, and documentary filmmaking to follow one casted individual, ages 18-22, as they tell their story. They represent a wide range of lived experiences with narratives that offer a look at teenage-hood and the diverse social, familial, and internal obstacles young people face on their path to self-discovery and acceptance.
Each 30-minute episode features one young person and their experience growing up.
It comes from Culture House, the production company OWN on Onyx’s The Hair Tales.
Larson will exec produce and direct and episode.
- 2/7/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Disney Plus has ordered two unscripted series from actors in the Marvel universe: Brie Larson is behind “Growing Up,” a docuseries that looks at ten different coming-of-age tales. “Rennervations,” from Jeremy Renner, is a four-part series that follows Renner as he travels to world to help communities by “reimagining unique purpose-built vehicles.”
The news was announced on Monday by Disney Branded Television president Ayo Davis, along with new development for Disney Plus, Disney Channel and Disney Junior. Davis revealed the news during the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour. It was the first TCA presentation by Davis, who took over the job in September.
“Growing Up” will feature episodes directed by Larson, Yara Shahidi, Sydney Freeland, Elegance Bratton, Ashley Eakin, Ekwa Msangi, Smriti Mundhra, Rudy Valdez, Bernardo Ruiz, Kishori Rajan and Nicole Galovski “The series uses narrative, experimental, and documentary filmmaking to follow one casted individual, ages 18-22, as they tell their story,...
The news was announced on Monday by Disney Branded Television president Ayo Davis, along with new development for Disney Plus, Disney Channel and Disney Junior. Davis revealed the news during the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour. It was the first TCA presentation by Davis, who took over the job in September.
“Growing Up” will feature episodes directed by Larson, Yara Shahidi, Sydney Freeland, Elegance Bratton, Ashley Eakin, Ekwa Msangi, Smriti Mundhra, Rudy Valdez, Bernardo Ruiz, Kishori Rajan and Nicole Galovski “The series uses narrative, experimental, and documentary filmmaking to follow one casted individual, ages 18-22, as they tell their story,...
- 2/7/2022
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
The Gotham Awards were handed out on November 29 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. So who won at these annual indie film kudos from The Gotham Film and Media Institute, which streamed on YouTube and Facebook? Scroll down for the complete list of winners in all categories.
Netflix’s “The Lost Daughter” and “Passing” went in as the two most nominated films with five apiece, but that didn’t automatically mean they were the front-runners. Categories at these awards are judged by panels of just a handful of industry insiders, often leading to unexpected, under-the-radar winners. You can’t count anyone out at an event where unique juries review all the nominated material.
Seersvp now for November 30: Film producers panel with ‘Being the Ricardos,’ ‘Belfast,’ ‘The Power of the Dog,’ ‘tick, tick… Boom!’
That means these awards can be quite idiosyncratic — they’re independent thinkers, and not...
Netflix’s “The Lost Daughter” and “Passing” went in as the two most nominated films with five apiece, but that didn’t automatically mean they were the front-runners. Categories at these awards are judged by panels of just a handful of industry insiders, often leading to unexpected, under-the-radar winners. You can’t count anyone out at an event where unique juries review all the nominated material.
Seersvp now for November 30: Film producers panel with ‘Being the Ricardos,’ ‘Belfast,’ ‘The Power of the Dog,’ ‘tick, tick… Boom!’
That means these awards can be quite idiosyncratic — they’re independent thinkers, and not...
- 11/30/2021
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Looking to add to its series roster that includes Narcos, Lupin, Barbarians and El Presidente, Gaumont has partnered with Tessa Thompson’s Viva Maude to develop for HBO Luster, the bestselling debut by Raven Leilani.
Scripting will Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Jackie Sibblies Drury (Fairview), and Lileana Blain-Cruz, recipient of the Lincoln Center Emerging Artist Award. They are joint winners of the Obie Award for Marys Seacole, and are among the founders of the exploratory theatre collaboration, Afrofemononomy.
Edie is a young Black artist living a precarious existence in New York City when she takes a white lover in an open marriage, eventually moving in with him and his wife in the suburbs. There she not only finds herself in an increasingly tense relationship with the couple, but also becoming an unlikely mentor to their adopted Black daughter Akila. The debut novel quickly became a number one bestseller on the Nyt,...
Scripting will Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Jackie Sibblies Drury (Fairview), and Lileana Blain-Cruz, recipient of the Lincoln Center Emerging Artist Award. They are joint winners of the Obie Award for Marys Seacole, and are among the founders of the exploratory theatre collaboration, Afrofemononomy.
Edie is a young Black artist living a precarious existence in New York City when she takes a white lover in an open marriage, eventually moving in with him and his wife in the suburbs. There she not only finds herself in an increasingly tense relationship with the couple, but also becoming an unlikely mentor to their adopted Black daughter Akila. The debut novel quickly became a number one bestseller on the Nyt,...
- 10/25/2021
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
The Sundance Institute has set 10 fellows for its inaugural Producers Intensive, taking place virtually from October 21-22.
The artists and projects selected on the nonfiction side are Rachel Dickinson (Let the Little Light Shine), Alba Jaramillo (La Flaca), Rajeswari Ramanathan (The 1980 Civil Case), Chris Renteria (Chain of Rocks) and Shannon Sun-Higginson (You Lucky You Got a Mamma). Those chosen for the Fiction fellowship are Beverley Gordon (Experience), Lauren López de Victoria (forward), Breanne Thomas (In the Jackpot), Jesy Odio (Molokai’ Bound) and Ashley Chrisman (The Homesick).
The Producers Intensive was designed through a collaboration between Sundance’s Documentary Film and Feature Film Programs, as a means of providing creative, strategic and professional development support for emerging fiction and nonfiction producers from traditionally underrepresented communities.
The two-day program features interactive group sessions and round table conversations on topics including the producer/director collaboration, pitching, legal & business affairs, packaging and financing, and budgeting.
The artists and projects selected on the nonfiction side are Rachel Dickinson (Let the Little Light Shine), Alba Jaramillo (La Flaca), Rajeswari Ramanathan (The 1980 Civil Case), Chris Renteria (Chain of Rocks) and Shannon Sun-Higginson (You Lucky You Got a Mamma). Those chosen for the Fiction fellowship are Beverley Gordon (Experience), Lauren López de Victoria (forward), Breanne Thomas (In the Jackpot), Jesy Odio (Molokai’ Bound) and Ashley Chrisman (The Homesick).
The Producers Intensive was designed through a collaboration between Sundance’s Documentary Film and Feature Film Programs, as a means of providing creative, strategic and professional development support for emerging fiction and nonfiction producers from traditionally underrepresented communities.
The two-day program features interactive group sessions and round table conversations on topics including the producer/director collaboration, pitching, legal & business affairs, packaging and financing, and budgeting.
- 10/21/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
A group of 108 producers have banded together to form the Producers Union, a supervisory union and collective bargaining organization for feature film producers in the United States.
Spearheading the organization are Rebecca Green (“It Follows”) and Chris Moore (“Manchester by the Sea”). The group has elected an executive committee with Green as its president and Effie T. Brown (“Dear White People”) as vice president.
Currently, the union currently excludes documentary and TV producers, although “our goal is to eventually include documentary and television producers,” the site states. “We chose to be very specific in our work with the assumption that we could get off the ground faster if we focused on one type of producer first. Once we have industry support, we can decide whether to expand our reach.”
Under the National Labor Relations Act, producers are recognized as supervisors and excluded from the protections of federal labor law. Under legal advisement,...
Spearheading the organization are Rebecca Green (“It Follows”) and Chris Moore (“Manchester by the Sea”). The group has elected an executive committee with Green as its president and Effie T. Brown (“Dear White People”) as vice president.
Currently, the union currently excludes documentary and TV producers, although “our goal is to eventually include documentary and television producers,” the site states. “We chose to be very specific in our work with the assumption that we could get off the ground faster if we focused on one type of producer first. Once we have industry support, we can decide whether to expand our reach.”
Under the National Labor Relations Act, producers are recognized as supervisors and excluded from the protections of federal labor law. Under legal advisement,...
- 5/20/2021
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Tessa Thompson is adding to her Viva Maude.
Kishori Rajan, exec producer of HBO’s Random Acts of Flyness, has joined Thompson’s production company. She joins as Vice President of Development and Production.
This comes after the Westworld star launched the business earlier this year with a two-year first-look deal at HBO and HBO Max and two book adaptations – Who Fears Death and The Secret Lives of Church Ladies.
Rajan’s other credits include The Short History of the Long Road starring Sabrina Carpenter and Danny Trejo, The Price, American Fable, Four and Gimme the Loot as well as unscripted series including Hulu’s travel food show Eater’s Guide to the World hosted by Maya Rudolph and Topic Studios’ dance competition series Best Walk.
“Since our first meeting, it became immediately clear that Tessa and I were inspired by similar types of writers, artists and thinkers,” said Rajan.
Kishori Rajan, exec producer of HBO’s Random Acts of Flyness, has joined Thompson’s production company. She joins as Vice President of Development and Production.
This comes after the Westworld star launched the business earlier this year with a two-year first-look deal at HBO and HBO Max and two book adaptations – Who Fears Death and The Secret Lives of Church Ladies.
Rajan’s other credits include The Short History of the Long Road starring Sabrina Carpenter and Danny Trejo, The Price, American Fable, Four and Gimme the Loot as well as unscripted series including Hulu’s travel food show Eater’s Guide to the World hosted by Maya Rudolph and Topic Studios’ dance competition series Best Walk.
“Since our first meeting, it became immediately clear that Tessa and I were inspired by similar types of writers, artists and thinkers,” said Rajan.
- 4/6/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Last year’s Tribeca Film Festival winning-title The Short History of the Long Road will be hitting VOD on June 16 via FilmRise. Written and directed by Ani Simon-Kennedy, the film tells the story of Nola (Sabrina Carpenter), a teenager who grew up living out of a van with her beloved father Clint (Steven Ogg), two nomads against the world. When tragedy strikes, Nola is confronted by the reality that life as an outsider may not be her only choice.
The movie is also hoping to open in theaters on June 12 ahead of its digital release. The Short History of the Long Road won a Special Jury Mention for Best Screenplay at last year’s Tribeca.
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The movie is also hoping to open in theaters on June 12 ahead of its digital release. The Short History of the Long Road won a Special Jury Mention for Best Screenplay at last year’s Tribeca.
More from DeadlineFilmRise Nabs North American Rights To James Schamus-Produced Berlin & Tribeca Title 'Driveways'Lukas Haas Pic 'Browse' Acquired By FilmRiseAlex Wolff: Nickelodeon Boy Band Member Grows Into Indie Auteur With 'The Cat And The Moon...
- 4/6/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s film news roundup, Sabrina Carpenter’s “The Short History of the Long Road” gets a home, comedian Jo Koy’s life will become a movie, “True to the Game” is getting a sequel and Apa promotes Chris Ridenhour.
Acquisition
FilmRise has acquired Sabrina Carpenter’s coming-of-age drama “The Short History of the Long Road” and is planning a May 15 theatrical release.
The film, written and directed by Ani Simon-Kennedy, won a special jury mention for screenplay at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival. “The Short History of the Long Road” also stars Maggie Siff, Steven Ogg and Danny Trejo.
Carpenter portrays a teenager who grew up living out of a van with her beloved father. When tragedy strikes, she is confronted by the reality that life as an outsider may not be her only choice.
The film is produced by Darren Dean, Bettina Kadoorie, Kishori Rajan, Eddie Rubin, Ani Simon-Kennedy,...
Acquisition
FilmRise has acquired Sabrina Carpenter’s coming-of-age drama “The Short History of the Long Road” and is planning a May 15 theatrical release.
The film, written and directed by Ani Simon-Kennedy, won a special jury mention for screenplay at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival. “The Short History of the Long Road” also stars Maggie Siff, Steven Ogg and Danny Trejo.
Carpenter portrays a teenager who grew up living out of a van with her beloved father. When tragedy strikes, she is confronted by the reality that life as an outsider may not be her only choice.
The film is produced by Darren Dean, Bettina Kadoorie, Kishori Rajan, Eddie Rubin, Ani Simon-Kennedy,...
- 2/19/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
FilmRise has acquired the worldwide rights to “The Short History of the Long Road,” featuring singer and actress Sabrina Carpenter in her first lead role in a feature film, TheWrap has learned exclusively.
Danny Trejo, Steven Ogg and Maggie Siff also star in the film that is set for a theatrical release on May 15. Ani Simon-Kennedy wrote and directed the feature. Simon-Kennedy was the winner of the Special Jury Mention Best Screenplay Award at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival.
“The Short History of the Long Road” stars Carpenter as Nola, a teenager who grew up living out of a van with her father. When tragedy strikes, she must come to terms with the fact that living life as an outsider might not be her only choice, and she must integrate into a society she’s never known.
Also Read: 'Adventures in Babysitting' Review: Disney Delivers a Fresh and Fun...
Danny Trejo, Steven Ogg and Maggie Siff also star in the film that is set for a theatrical release on May 15. Ani Simon-Kennedy wrote and directed the feature. Simon-Kennedy was the winner of the Special Jury Mention Best Screenplay Award at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival.
“The Short History of the Long Road” stars Carpenter as Nola, a teenager who grew up living out of a van with her father. When tragedy strikes, she must come to terms with the fact that living life as an outsider might not be her only choice, and she must integrate into a society she’s never known.
Also Read: 'Adventures in Babysitting' Review: Disney Delivers a Fresh and Fun...
- 2/18/2020
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Cinereach announced the four recipients of 2019’s Producer Award, a $50,000 filmmaking prize as part of the Cinereach Producers Initiative, on Friday.
The indie film company has selected Jessica Devaney (“Always in Season”), Alexandra Lazarowich (“Fast Horse”), Kishori Rajan (“Random Acts of Flyness”) and Jamund Washington (“Tramps”) as independent producers that have demonstrated vision and integrity, contributed to the film community as mentors and leaders, and enriched the culture through their films.
“This year’s group of recipients is particularly exciting because Jessica, Alexandra, Kishori and Jamund have each created poignant, culturally thoughtful work that breaks down barriers on a multitude of platforms. Their commitment to this type of work is shifting our industry in meaningful ways,” Merrill Sterritt, head of partnerships and creative initiatives at Cinereach, said in a statement.
Also Read: How to Be a 'Real' Producer: Know Your Audience and 'Fight for Your Life'
“We are proud to...
The indie film company has selected Jessica Devaney (“Always in Season”), Alexandra Lazarowich (“Fast Horse”), Kishori Rajan (“Random Acts of Flyness”) and Jamund Washington (“Tramps”) as independent producers that have demonstrated vision and integrity, contributed to the film community as mentors and leaders, and enriched the culture through their films.
“This year’s group of recipients is particularly exciting because Jessica, Alexandra, Kishori and Jamund have each created poignant, culturally thoughtful work that breaks down barriers on a multitude of platforms. Their commitment to this type of work is shifting our industry in meaningful ways,” Merrill Sterritt, head of partnerships and creative initiatives at Cinereach, said in a statement.
Also Read: How to Be a 'Real' Producer: Know Your Audience and 'Fight for Your Life'
“We are proud to...
- 6/7/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
The 18th edition of Tribeca Film Festival will get underway next month, featuring 103 films from 124 filmmakers, with 50% women-directed films in the three competition sections. Highlights include world premieres directed by Abel Ferrara, Werner Herzog, Christoph Waltz, as well as films by Sebastian Schipper, Mary Harron, Peter Strickland, and Andrew Ahn.
Check out the lineup below for the festival taking place April 24 – May 5.
U.S. Narrative Competition
Tribeca’s U.S. Narrative Competition showcases extraordinary work from breakout independent voices and distinguished filmmaking talent. These ten world premieres will vie for the Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Actor, and Best Actress. Last year, the award for Best Narrative Feature went to Kent Jones’ Diane while Jeffrey Wright was awarded Best Actor for his role in O.G. Other previous films from this section include Reed Morano’s Meadowland (2015), Ingrid Jungermann’s Women Who Kill (2016), and...
Check out the lineup below for the festival taking place April 24 – May 5.
U.S. Narrative Competition
Tribeca’s U.S. Narrative Competition showcases extraordinary work from breakout independent voices and distinguished filmmaking talent. These ten world premieres will vie for the Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Actor, and Best Actress. Last year, the award for Best Narrative Feature went to Kent Jones’ Diane while Jeffrey Wright was awarded Best Actor for his role in O.G. Other previous films from this section include Reed Morano’s Meadowland (2015), Ingrid Jungermann’s Women Who Kill (2016), and...
- 3/5/2019
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
The Tribeca Film Festival has set its full feature slate for 2019, selecting 103 titles including world premieres of films by Jared Leto, Christoph Waltz, and Margot Robbie.
The 18th edition of the festival, which runs from April 24 to May 5, will include documentaries from Antoine Fuqua, Werner Herzog, and Abel Ferrara, and music-focused docs highlighting the lead singer of band Inxs (“Mystify: Michael Hutchence”), Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman (“The Quiet One”), and musician Linda Ronstadt (“Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice”) with Sheryl Crow performing after the premiere.
Leto’s “A Day in the Life of America” is a crowd-sourced documentary featuring footage from all 50 states on July 4, 2017. Waltz is making his directorial debut with the crime drama “Georgetown,” starring himself, Annette Bening, and Vanessa Redgrave. Robbie stars in and produces “Dreamland,” a Depression-era drama set in the Oklahoma dustbowl.
Other notable titles include “Mad Men” producer Semi Chellas making...
The 18th edition of the festival, which runs from April 24 to May 5, will include documentaries from Antoine Fuqua, Werner Herzog, and Abel Ferrara, and music-focused docs highlighting the lead singer of band Inxs (“Mystify: Michael Hutchence”), Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman (“The Quiet One”), and musician Linda Ronstadt (“Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice”) with Sheryl Crow performing after the premiere.
Leto’s “A Day in the Life of America” is a crowd-sourced documentary featuring footage from all 50 states on July 4, 2017. Waltz is making his directorial debut with the crime drama “Georgetown,” starring himself, Annette Bening, and Vanessa Redgrave. Robbie stars in and produces “Dreamland,” a Depression-era drama set in the Oklahoma dustbowl.
Other notable titles include “Mad Men” producer Semi Chellas making...
- 3/5/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
HBO has renewed sketch series “Random Acts of Flyness” for a second season.
“We couldn’t be happier with the response to ‘Random Acts of Flyness’ – it’s struck such a powerful chord with our viewers,” said Nina Rosenstein, executive vice president, HBO Programming. “We’re thrilled to bring Terence and his team back for a second season of this provocative, remarkable series.”
From Terence Nance, “Random Acts of Kindness” explores “patriarchy, white supremacy and sensuality from a new, thought-provoking perspective,” per its description.
Also Read: Damon Lindelof's 'Watchmen' Ordered to Series at HBO
Here’s more: A fluid, stream-of-consciousness response to the contemporary American mediascape, “Random Acts of Flyness” features a handful of interconnected vignettes in each episode, showcasing an ensemble cast of emerging and established talent. The show is a mix of vérité documentary, musical performances, surrealist melodrama and humorous animation. Nance and his collaborators...
“We couldn’t be happier with the response to ‘Random Acts of Flyness’ – it’s struck such a powerful chord with our viewers,” said Nina Rosenstein, executive vice president, HBO Programming. “We’re thrilled to bring Terence and his team back for a second season of this provocative, remarkable series.”
From Terence Nance, “Random Acts of Kindness” explores “patriarchy, white supremacy and sensuality from a new, thought-provoking perspective,” per its description.
Also Read: Damon Lindelof's 'Watchmen' Ordered to Series at HBO
Here’s more: A fluid, stream-of-consciousness response to the contemporary American mediascape, “Random Acts of Flyness” features a handful of interconnected vignettes in each episode, showcasing an ensemble cast of emerging and established talent. The show is a mix of vérité documentary, musical performances, surrealist melodrama and humorous animation. Nance and his collaborators...
- 8/20/2018
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
HBO has renewed “Random Acts of Flyness” for a second season, the premium cabler announced Monday.
From artist Terence Nance, the series kicked off its six-episode season on Aug. 3. The show explores evergreen cultural idioms such as patriarchy, white supremacy and sensuality.
“We couldn’t be happier with the response to ‘Random Acts of Flyness’ – it’s struck such a powerful chord with our viewers,” said Nina Rosenstein, executive vice president of HBO Programming.. “We’re thrilled to bring Terence and his team back for a second season of this provocative, remarkable series.”
A fluid, stream-of-consciousness response to the contemporary American mediascape, the show features a handful of interconnected vignettes in each episode, showcasing an ensemble cast of emerging and established talent. The show is a mix of vérité documentary, musical performances, surrealist melodrama and humorous animation. Nance and his collaborators weave together such themes as ancestral trauma, history, death,...
From artist Terence Nance, the series kicked off its six-episode season on Aug. 3. The show explores evergreen cultural idioms such as patriarchy, white supremacy and sensuality.
“We couldn’t be happier with the response to ‘Random Acts of Flyness’ – it’s struck such a powerful chord with our viewers,” said Nina Rosenstein, executive vice president of HBO Programming.. “We’re thrilled to bring Terence and his team back for a second season of this provocative, remarkable series.”
A fluid, stream-of-consciousness response to the contemporary American mediascape, the show features a handful of interconnected vignettes in each episode, showcasing an ensemble cast of emerging and established talent. The show is a mix of vérité documentary, musical performances, surrealist melodrama and humorous animation. Nance and his collaborators weave together such themes as ancestral trauma, history, death,...
- 8/20/2018
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Just a little over two weeks into its first season, HBO has given an early season 2 renewal to its critically praised late-night series Random Acts of Flyness.
Created, written and directed by artist Terence Nance (An Oversimplification of Her Beauty), Random Acts Of Flyness explores evergreen cultural idioms such as patriarchy, white supremacy and sensuality from a thought-provoking perspective. A fluid, stream-of-consciousness response to the contemporary American mediascape, the series features a handful of interconnected vignettes in each episode, featuring an ensemble cast of emerging and established talent. The show is a mix of vérité documentary, musical performances, surrealist melodrama and humorous animation, weaving together themes such as ancestral trauma, history, death, the singularity, romance and more. Random Acts of Flyness kicked off its six-episode first season Friday, August 3 at midnight Et/Pt.
Nance executive produces with Tamir Muhammad, Jamund Washington, Kishori Rajan, Kelley Robins Hicks, Chanelle Aponte Pearson, Ravi Nandan and John Hodges.
Created, written and directed by artist Terence Nance (An Oversimplification of Her Beauty), Random Acts Of Flyness explores evergreen cultural idioms such as patriarchy, white supremacy and sensuality from a thought-provoking perspective. A fluid, stream-of-consciousness response to the contemporary American mediascape, the series features a handful of interconnected vignettes in each episode, featuring an ensemble cast of emerging and established talent. The show is a mix of vérité documentary, musical performances, surrealist melodrama and humorous animation, weaving together themes such as ancestral trauma, history, death, the singularity, romance and more. Random Acts of Flyness kicked off its six-episode first season Friday, August 3 at midnight Et/Pt.
Nance executive produces with Tamir Muhammad, Jamund Washington, Kishori Rajan, Kelley Robins Hicks, Chanelle Aponte Pearson, Ravi Nandan and John Hodges.
- 8/20/2018
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
It was initially hard to understand what HBO meant when it first described “Random Acts of Flyness” as “a fluid, stream-of-conscious response to the contemporary American mediascape.” But it becomes clear exactly what that means barely two minutes into the series, a surreal shapeshifter that defies categorization with every (purposefully) jarring cut.
Under creator Terence Nance’s watchful and discerning eye, “Random Acts of Flyness” stitches everything from found footage, to satirical skits, to interviews reenacted through stop motion animation together with beautiful cinematography to create a sort of televisual collage. Together, they all reveal incisive truths about what it means to be black in America — or actually, “reveal” isn’t quite the right word, and neither is “show.” Instead “Acts of Flyness” wants to make its (white) audience feel what it means to be black in America.
A cartoon details a possibly dangerous scenario in which a black man...
Under creator Terence Nance’s watchful and discerning eye, “Random Acts of Flyness” stitches everything from found footage, to satirical skits, to interviews reenacted through stop motion animation together with beautiful cinematography to create a sort of televisual collage. Together, they all reveal incisive truths about what it means to be black in America — or actually, “reveal” isn’t quite the right word, and neither is “show.” Instead “Acts of Flyness” wants to make its (white) audience feel what it means to be black in America.
A cartoon details a possibly dangerous scenario in which a black man...
- 8/4/2018
- by Caroline Framke
- Variety Film + TV
HBO’s upcoming late-night series Random Acts of Flyness from artist Terence Nance is set to debut its six-episode season on Aug. 3. The show will air every Friday at midnight Et/Pt and give a new, thought-provoking perspective on cultural idioms such as patriarchy, white supremacy, and, as shown in the video below, sensuality.
A fluid, mind-melting stream-of-conscious response to the contemporary American mediascape, each episode of Random Acts of Flyness will feature interconnected vignettes that makes the series a unique mix of vérité documentary, musical performances, surrealist melodrama and humorous animation. Nance has collaborated with a cast of emerging talent to explore themes such as ancestral trauma, history, death, the singularity, and romance to give audiences something never seen before. Nance, who is known for his envelope-pushing films seen at Sundance, describes the series as “a show about the beauty and ugliness of contemporary American life.”
In addition to writing,...
A fluid, mind-melting stream-of-conscious response to the contemporary American mediascape, each episode of Random Acts of Flyness will feature interconnected vignettes that makes the series a unique mix of vérité documentary, musical performances, surrealist melodrama and humorous animation. Nance has collaborated with a cast of emerging talent to explore themes such as ancestral trauma, history, death, the singularity, and romance to give audiences something never seen before. Nance, who is known for his envelope-pushing films seen at Sundance, describes the series as “a show about the beauty and ugliness of contemporary American life.”
In addition to writing,...
- 7/3/2018
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Film premiered in competition at SXSW under original title Dara Ju.
Orion Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn Films have secured North American rights to first-time filmmaker Anthony Onah’s drama The Price.
The story centres on a young Nigerian-American working on Wall Street who is forced to confront himself after his ambition leads him into morally dubious waters.
Aml Ameen, Lucy Griffiths, Bill Sage and Hope Olaide Wilson star alongside Michael Hyatt, Peter Vack, and Souléymane Sy Savané.
Onah also wrote the screenplay for The Price based on his short film Dara Ju. The film premiered in competition SXSW earlier this year.
Justin Begnaud, Kishori Rajan and Onah produced the film, while Tom Dolby, Susanne Filkins, Abdi Nazemian and Lynda Weinman served as executive producers.
Jennifer 8 Lee, Greg Brockman, Peter Hess Friedland, Aston Motes, and Daniel Davila also served as executive producers.
“We are very excited to be working on Anthony Onah’s feature debut. The Price is...
Orion Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn Films have secured North American rights to first-time filmmaker Anthony Onah’s drama The Price.
The story centres on a young Nigerian-American working on Wall Street who is forced to confront himself after his ambition leads him into morally dubious waters.
Aml Ameen, Lucy Griffiths, Bill Sage and Hope Olaide Wilson star alongside Michael Hyatt, Peter Vack, and Souléymane Sy Savané.
Onah also wrote the screenplay for The Price based on his short film Dara Ju. The film premiered in competition SXSW earlier this year.
Justin Begnaud, Kishori Rajan and Onah produced the film, while Tom Dolby, Susanne Filkins, Abdi Nazemian and Lynda Weinman served as executive producers.
Jennifer 8 Lee, Greg Brockman, Peter Hess Friedland, Aston Motes, and Daniel Davila also served as executive producers.
“We are very excited to be working on Anthony Onah’s feature debut. The Price is...
- 7/12/2017
- ScreenDaily
Every week, IndieWire’s Filmmaker Toolkit rounds up the latest opportunities that can help those looking to advance projects or get a career started in the film industry. The following grants, labs, fellowships, contests, and other nonprofit opportunities could be a great way to help kickstart your movie and TV dreams.
Read More: Attention, Screenwriters: New Opportunities for Horror, TV and Women Over 40 — Indie Film Resources
Flies Collective Film Grant
Flies Collective, a New York-based production company founded by filmmakers Daniel Patrick Carbone, Zachary Shedd, and Matthew Petock, announced the launch of the inaugural Flies Collective Film Grant. Open to both established filmmakers and emerging talent in the independent space, the 2017 Flies Collective Film Grant will provide funding that allows promising, original projects to start production.
In an interview with IndieWire, Carbone explained that after the members of the collective had a good run of making money in commercial work...
Read More: Attention, Screenwriters: New Opportunities for Horror, TV and Women Over 40 — Indie Film Resources
Flies Collective Film Grant
Flies Collective, a New York-based production company founded by filmmakers Daniel Patrick Carbone, Zachary Shedd, and Matthew Petock, announced the launch of the inaugural Flies Collective Film Grant. Open to both established filmmakers and emerging talent in the independent space, the 2017 Flies Collective Film Grant will provide funding that allows promising, original projects to start production.
In an interview with IndieWire, Carbone explained that after the members of the collective had a good run of making money in commercial work...
- 4/14/2017
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
Pictured above, American Fable, which won the breakthrough performance award. Variety says about American Fable, “Anne Hamilton’s dreamy thriller should offer its director a passport to bigger things.” As it happens,...
- 10/29/2016
- by Sasha Stone
- AwardsDaily.com
Previous | Image 1 of 10 | NextMichael Peña of ‘War on Everyone’ and ‘Ant-Man.’
Chicago – That’s a wrap! After seven days of fantastic films and packed houses, the 4th Annual Chicago Critics Film Festival (Ccff) had their closing night on May 26th, 2016, with the film “Operator” – featuring Martin Starr (“Silicon Valley”), and directed by Logan Kibens. HollywoodChicago.com was at the event for all the celebrity appearances, and photographer Joe Arce got these Exclusive Portraits.
The Ccff was created by the Chicago Film Critics Association in 2013, and the 4th annual event took place at Chicago’s historic Music Box Theatre. The festival offered a selection of films comprised of recent festival favorites and as-yet-undistributed works covering a wide variety of genres, and it’s currently the only major film critics group hosting its own festival.
The only honor given at the fest is the Audience “Favorite” Award, to acknowledge the film-loving patrons at the Ccff.
Chicago – That’s a wrap! After seven days of fantastic films and packed houses, the 4th Annual Chicago Critics Film Festival (Ccff) had their closing night on May 26th, 2016, with the film “Operator” – featuring Martin Starr (“Silicon Valley”), and directed by Logan Kibens. HollywoodChicago.com was at the event for all the celebrity appearances, and photographer Joe Arce got these Exclusive Portraits.
The Ccff was created by the Chicago Film Critics Association in 2013, and the 4th annual event took place at Chicago’s historic Music Box Theatre. The festival offered a selection of films comprised of recent festival favorites and as-yet-undistributed works covering a wide variety of genres, and it’s currently the only major film critics group hosting its own festival.
The only honor given at the fest is the Audience “Favorite” Award, to acknowledge the film-loving patrons at the Ccff.
- 6/2/2016
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
The premiere post-tiff destination (September 20-25th) in the film community and a major leg up for narrative and non-fiction films in development, the Independent Filmmaker Project (Ifp) announced a whopping 140 projects selected for the Project Forum at the upcoming Ifp Independent Film Week. Made up of several sections (Rbc’s Emerging Storytellers program, No Borders International Co-Production Market and Spotlight on Documentaries), we find latest updates from the likes of docu-helmers Doug Block (112 Weddings) and Lana Wilson (After Tiller), and among the narrative items we find headliners in Andrew Haigh (coming off the well received 45 Years), Sophie Barthes (Cold Souls and Madame Bovary), Terence Nance (An Oversimplification of Her Beauty), Lawrence Michael Levine (Wild Canaries), Jorge Michel Grau (We Are What We Are), Eleanor Burke and Ron Eyal (Stranger Things) and new faces in Sundance’s large family in Charles Poekel (Christmas, Again) and Olivia Newman (First Match). Here...
- 7/22/2015
- by admin
- IONCINEMA.com
Ifp announced its 2014 slate of 133 new films in development and works in progress selected for its esteemed Project Forum at Independent Film Week. This one-of-a-kind event brings the international film and media community to New York City to advance new projects by nurturing the work of both emerging and established independent artists and filmmakers. Through the Project Forum, creatives connect with financiers, executives, influencers and decision-makers in film, television, new media and cross-platform storytelling that can help them complete their latest works and connect with audiences. Under the curatorial leadership of Deputy Director/Head of Programming Amy Dotson & Senior Director of Programming Milton Tabbot, this one-of-a-kind event takes place September 14-18, 2014 at Lincoln Center supporting bold new content from a wide variety of domestic and international artists.
“As we set to embark on our 36th Independent Film Week, we are impressed by the outstanding slate of both U.S. and international projects selected for this year’s Project Forum,” said Joana Vicente, Executive Director of Ifp. “We know that the industry will be as excited as we are with the accomplished storytellers and their diverse and boundary pushing films.”
Featured works at the 2014 Independent Film Week include filmmakers and content creators from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. From documentarians Tony Gerber ("Full Battle Rattle"), Pamela Yates ("Granito: How To Nail A Dictator"), and Penny Lane ("Our Nixon") to Michelangelo Frammartino ("Quattro Volte") and Alexis Dos Santos ("Unmade Beds"), as well as new work from critically acclaimed artists and directors Aurora Guerrero ("Mosquita y Mari"), Barry Jenkins ("Medicine for Melancholy"), Travis Matthews ("Interior. Leather. Bar") and Yen Tan ("Pit Stop").
Independent Film Week brings the international film and media community to New York City to advance new documentary and narrative works-in-progress and support the future of storytelling. The program nurtures the work of both emerging and established independent artists and filmmakers through the facilitation of over 3,500+ custom, one-to-one meetings with the financiers, executives, influencers and decision-makers in film, television, new media and cross-platform storytelling that can help them complete their latest works and connect with audiences. In recent years, it has also played a vital role in launching the first films of many of today’s rising stars on the independent scene including Rama Burshtein ("Fill The Void"), Derek Cianfrance ("Blue Valentine"), Marshall Curry ("If A Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth LIberation Front"), Laura Poitras ("The Oath"), Denis Villeneuve ("Incendies") and Benh Zeitlin ("Beasts of the Southern Wild").
For the full 2014 Project Forum slate visit Here
New For 2014
Evenly split between documentary and narrative features, selected projects hail from throughout the U.S., Europe and Canada, as well Africa, Asia, South America, and the Middle East. New this year, Ifp will be including web series in it programming, as well as spotlighting Latin & Central American artists and content with 15 projects featured across all programs in the Forum.
In a joint effort to recognize the importance of career and creative sustainability, Ifp and Durga Entertainment have partnered on a new $20,000 filmmaker grant for an alumnus of Ifp. The grant is intended for active, working filmmakers who are also balancing a filmmaking career with parenting. The grant provides a $20,000 unrestricted prize to encourage the recipient to continue on her or his career path of making quality independent films. American directors or screenwriters working in narrative film who have participated in the Ifp Filmmaker Labs or Ifp Independent Film Week's Emerging Storytellers or No-Borders International Co-Production market are encouraged to apply by the deadline of August 8, 2014.
Narrative Feature Highlights
Narrative features and webseries in Rbc’s Emerging Storytellers and No Borders International Co-Production Market sections highlight new work from top emerging and established creative visionaries on the U.S. and international independent scene.
This year’s slate includes new feature scripts featuring directors Dev Benegal ("Road, Movie"), Alexis Dos Santos ("Unmade Beds"), Jason Cortlund and Julia Halperin ("Now, Forager"), Michelangelo Frammartino ("Le Quattro Volte"),Terry George ("Hotel Rwanda"), Rashaad Ernesto Green ("Gun Hill Road"), Aurora Guerrero ("Mosquita Y Mari"), Barry Jenkins ("Medicine for Melancholy"),Alison Klayman ("Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry"), Travis Mathews ("Interior. Leather Bar"), Stacie Passon ("Concussion"), Yen Tan ("Pit Stop"), as well as up-an-coming actor/directors Karrie Crouse ("Land Ho!") and Peter Vack ("Fort Tilden""I Believe in Unicorns").
Producers and executive producers of note attached to participating projects include Jennifer Dubin and Cora Olson ("Good Dick"), Jonathan Duffy and Kelly Williams ("Hellion"),Laura Heberton ("Gayby"), Dan Janvey ("Beasts of the Southern Wild"), Kishori Rajan ("Gimme the Loot"), Adele Romanski ("The Myth of the American Sleepover"), Kim Sherman ("A Teacher"), Susan Stover ("High Art"), and Alicia Van Couvering ("Tiny Furniture").
Web Storytellers Highlights
For the first time this year, Ifp presents a dedicated spotlight within the Rbc’s Emerging Storytellers program for creators developing episodic content for digital platforms. The inaugural slate for the Web Storytellers spotlight includes new works from filmmakers Desiree Akhavan ("Appropriate Behavior", HBO’s Girls), Calvin Reeder ("The Rambler"), and Gregory Bayne ("Person of Interest"), as well as producers Elisabeth Holm ("Obvious Child"), Susan Leber ( "Down to the Bone"), and Amanda Warman ("The Outs,"Whatever This Is"). Two of the series participating are currently in post-production, and will be making their online debut in the coming months – Rachel Morgan’s Middle Americans, starring Scott Thompson, Carlen Altman, and Alex Rennie, and Daniel Zimbler and Elisabeth Gray’s Understudies, starring Richard Kind and David Rasche. [p Spotlight On Documentaries Highlights
The documentary selection includes new work from seasoned non-fiction directors such as Emmy winners Robert Bahar andAlmudena Carracedo ("Made in La"), Pamela Yates ("Granito: How to Nail a Dictator"),Ramona Diaz ("Imelda," "Don’t Stop Believin’") Gini Reticker ("Pray the Devil Back to Hell") Tony Gerber ("Full Battle Rattle"); from producers such as Court 13’s Benh Zeitlin and Dan Janvey ("Beasts of the Southern Wild"), Liran Atzmor ("The Law in These Parts"), Tim Williams ("Once In A Lifetime") and Hilla Medalia ("Web Junkie"), and follow-up second features from recent doc world “breakouts”Steve Hoover ("Blood Brother") Penny Lane ("Our Nixon"), Michael Collins ("Give Up Tomorrow"), and Michael Nichols and Christopher Walker ("Flex is Kings").
Exciting new work from debut documentary directors previously known for fiction films include Alex Sichel ("All over Me") with her personal doc The Movie about Anna, Lisa Cortés (producer, "Precious") with "Mothership: The Untold Story of Women and Hip Hop," and Daniel Patrick Carbone ("Hide Your Smiling Faces") with Phantom Cowboys.
Sponsors
Independent Film Week’s Premier sponsors are Royal Bank of Canada (Rbc) and HBO. Gold sponsors are A&E IndieFilms and SAGIndie. Silver sponsors are Durga Entertainment, Eastman Kodak Company, National Film & Video Foundation of South Africa and Telefilm Canada. Official Independent Film Week Partner is Film Society of Lincoln Center. Independent Film Week is supported, in part, by funds provided by the Ford Foundation, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council for the Arts and Time Warner Foundation.
About Ifp
The Independent Filmmaker Project (Ifp) champions the future of storytelling by connecting artists with essential resources at all stages of development and distribution. The organization fosters a vibrant and sustainable independent storytelling community through its year-round programs, which include Independent Film Week, Filmmaker Magazine, the Gotham Independent Film Awards and the Made in NY Media Center by Ifp, a new incubator space developed with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. Ifp represents a growing network of 10,000 storytellers around the world, and plays a key role in developing 350 new feature and documentary works each year. During its 35-year history, Ifp has supported over 8,000 projects and offered resources to more than 20,000 filmmakers, including Debra Granik, Miranda July, Michael Moore, Dee Rees, and Benh Zeitlin. More info at www.ifp.org.
“As we set to embark on our 36th Independent Film Week, we are impressed by the outstanding slate of both U.S. and international projects selected for this year’s Project Forum,” said Joana Vicente, Executive Director of Ifp. “We know that the industry will be as excited as we are with the accomplished storytellers and their diverse and boundary pushing films.”
Featured works at the 2014 Independent Film Week include filmmakers and content creators from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. From documentarians Tony Gerber ("Full Battle Rattle"), Pamela Yates ("Granito: How To Nail A Dictator"), and Penny Lane ("Our Nixon") to Michelangelo Frammartino ("Quattro Volte") and Alexis Dos Santos ("Unmade Beds"), as well as new work from critically acclaimed artists and directors Aurora Guerrero ("Mosquita y Mari"), Barry Jenkins ("Medicine for Melancholy"), Travis Matthews ("Interior. Leather. Bar") and Yen Tan ("Pit Stop").
Independent Film Week brings the international film and media community to New York City to advance new documentary and narrative works-in-progress and support the future of storytelling. The program nurtures the work of both emerging and established independent artists and filmmakers through the facilitation of over 3,500+ custom, one-to-one meetings with the financiers, executives, influencers and decision-makers in film, television, new media and cross-platform storytelling that can help them complete their latest works and connect with audiences. In recent years, it has also played a vital role in launching the first films of many of today’s rising stars on the independent scene including Rama Burshtein ("Fill The Void"), Derek Cianfrance ("Blue Valentine"), Marshall Curry ("If A Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth LIberation Front"), Laura Poitras ("The Oath"), Denis Villeneuve ("Incendies") and Benh Zeitlin ("Beasts of the Southern Wild").
For the full 2014 Project Forum slate visit Here
New For 2014
Evenly split between documentary and narrative features, selected projects hail from throughout the U.S., Europe and Canada, as well Africa, Asia, South America, and the Middle East. New this year, Ifp will be including web series in it programming, as well as spotlighting Latin & Central American artists and content with 15 projects featured across all programs in the Forum.
In a joint effort to recognize the importance of career and creative sustainability, Ifp and Durga Entertainment have partnered on a new $20,000 filmmaker grant for an alumnus of Ifp. The grant is intended for active, working filmmakers who are also balancing a filmmaking career with parenting. The grant provides a $20,000 unrestricted prize to encourage the recipient to continue on her or his career path of making quality independent films. American directors or screenwriters working in narrative film who have participated in the Ifp Filmmaker Labs or Ifp Independent Film Week's Emerging Storytellers or No-Borders International Co-Production market are encouraged to apply by the deadline of August 8, 2014.
Narrative Feature Highlights
Narrative features and webseries in Rbc’s Emerging Storytellers and No Borders International Co-Production Market sections highlight new work from top emerging and established creative visionaries on the U.S. and international independent scene.
This year’s slate includes new feature scripts featuring directors Dev Benegal ("Road, Movie"), Alexis Dos Santos ("Unmade Beds"), Jason Cortlund and Julia Halperin ("Now, Forager"), Michelangelo Frammartino ("Le Quattro Volte"),Terry George ("Hotel Rwanda"), Rashaad Ernesto Green ("Gun Hill Road"), Aurora Guerrero ("Mosquita Y Mari"), Barry Jenkins ("Medicine for Melancholy"),Alison Klayman ("Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry"), Travis Mathews ("Interior. Leather Bar"), Stacie Passon ("Concussion"), Yen Tan ("Pit Stop"), as well as up-an-coming actor/directors Karrie Crouse ("Land Ho!") and Peter Vack ("Fort Tilden""I Believe in Unicorns").
Producers and executive producers of note attached to participating projects include Jennifer Dubin and Cora Olson ("Good Dick"), Jonathan Duffy and Kelly Williams ("Hellion"),Laura Heberton ("Gayby"), Dan Janvey ("Beasts of the Southern Wild"), Kishori Rajan ("Gimme the Loot"), Adele Romanski ("The Myth of the American Sleepover"), Kim Sherman ("A Teacher"), Susan Stover ("High Art"), and Alicia Van Couvering ("Tiny Furniture").
Web Storytellers Highlights
For the first time this year, Ifp presents a dedicated spotlight within the Rbc’s Emerging Storytellers program for creators developing episodic content for digital platforms. The inaugural slate for the Web Storytellers spotlight includes new works from filmmakers Desiree Akhavan ("Appropriate Behavior", HBO’s Girls), Calvin Reeder ("The Rambler"), and Gregory Bayne ("Person of Interest"), as well as producers Elisabeth Holm ("Obvious Child"), Susan Leber ( "Down to the Bone"), and Amanda Warman ("The Outs,"Whatever This Is"). Two of the series participating are currently in post-production, and will be making their online debut in the coming months – Rachel Morgan’s Middle Americans, starring Scott Thompson, Carlen Altman, and Alex Rennie, and Daniel Zimbler and Elisabeth Gray’s Understudies, starring Richard Kind and David Rasche. [p Spotlight On Documentaries Highlights
The documentary selection includes new work from seasoned non-fiction directors such as Emmy winners Robert Bahar andAlmudena Carracedo ("Made in La"), Pamela Yates ("Granito: How to Nail a Dictator"),Ramona Diaz ("Imelda," "Don’t Stop Believin’") Gini Reticker ("Pray the Devil Back to Hell") Tony Gerber ("Full Battle Rattle"); from producers such as Court 13’s Benh Zeitlin and Dan Janvey ("Beasts of the Southern Wild"), Liran Atzmor ("The Law in These Parts"), Tim Williams ("Once In A Lifetime") and Hilla Medalia ("Web Junkie"), and follow-up second features from recent doc world “breakouts”Steve Hoover ("Blood Brother") Penny Lane ("Our Nixon"), Michael Collins ("Give Up Tomorrow"), and Michael Nichols and Christopher Walker ("Flex is Kings").
Exciting new work from debut documentary directors previously known for fiction films include Alex Sichel ("All over Me") with her personal doc The Movie about Anna, Lisa Cortés (producer, "Precious") with "Mothership: The Untold Story of Women and Hip Hop," and Daniel Patrick Carbone ("Hide Your Smiling Faces") with Phantom Cowboys.
Sponsors
Independent Film Week’s Premier sponsors are Royal Bank of Canada (Rbc) and HBO. Gold sponsors are A&E IndieFilms and SAGIndie. Silver sponsors are Durga Entertainment, Eastman Kodak Company, National Film & Video Foundation of South Africa and Telefilm Canada. Official Independent Film Week Partner is Film Society of Lincoln Center. Independent Film Week is supported, in part, by funds provided by the Ford Foundation, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council for the Arts and Time Warner Foundation.
About Ifp
The Independent Filmmaker Project (Ifp) champions the future of storytelling by connecting artists with essential resources at all stages of development and distribution. The organization fosters a vibrant and sustainable independent storytelling community through its year-round programs, which include Independent Film Week, Filmmaker Magazine, the Gotham Independent Film Awards and the Made in NY Media Center by Ifp, a new incubator space developed with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. Ifp represents a growing network of 10,000 storytellers around the world, and plays a key role in developing 350 new feature and documentary works each year. During its 35-year history, Ifp has supported over 8,000 projects and offered resources to more than 20,000 filmmakers, including Debra Granik, Miranda July, Michael Moore, Dee Rees, and Benh Zeitlin. More info at www.ifp.org.
- 7/25/2014
- by Peter Belsito
- Sydney's Buzz
On the heels of the 39th edition of the Toronto Int. Film Festival (Sept 4-14), Ifp’s Independent Film Week is where a plethora of fiction, non-fiction and new this year, web-based series from the likes of Desiree Akhavan and Calvin Reeder find future coin. Sectioned off as projects at the very beginning of financing to those that are nearing completion, there happens to be tons of Sundance alumni in the names below. Among those that caught our attention we have Medicine for Melancholy‘s Barry Jenkins’ sophomore feature, produced by Bad Milo!‘s Adele Romanski, Moonlight is about “two Miami boys navigate the temptations of the drug trade and their burgeoning sexuality in this triptych drama about black queer youth”. Concussion‘s Stacie Passon digs into the thriller genre with Strange Things Started Happening. Produced by vet Mary Jane Skalski (Mysterious Skin), this is about “a woman who has...
- 7/24/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Tze Chun, a 2007 25 New Face based on his great short, Windowbreaker, appears to have done a 180 follow-up to his first feature, the low-key, character-based drama Children of Invention. Cold Comes the Night stars Breaking Bad‘s Bryan Cranston, rising star Alice Eve and a missing bag of cash. But, note that I wrote “appears” in the above sentence. Last year, Kishori Rajan spoke to Chun about this movie while it was in production, and the director says it’s not entirely unlike his previous work: When his manager sent him as a writing sample a psychological thriller script by …...
- 7/24/2013
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
At Filmmaker we continuously cover the struggles of first-time directors to make their debut pictures. But the second film comes with its own set of unique challenges, issues that will be explored in this five-part series by Kishori Rajan. Below is the first installment, chronicling Filmmaker 25 New Face Tze Chun’s move from the microbudget character drama Children of Invention to a thriller with stars like Bryan Cranston. Look for further articles in the weeks ahead. — Sm The late producer Laura Ziskin once remarked that movies “aren’t made, but forced into existence,” an expression never more apt than when …...
- 12/10/2012
- by Kishori Rajan
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
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