The rain stayed away from Santa Monica Beach on Sunday (February 25) as Past Lives was named best film and Celine Song best director at the 39th annual Spirit Awards.
While the legacy studio and streamer contenders have dominated much of the big-ticket awards shows this season like Saturday night’s SAG Awards, last weekend’s Baftas, the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, this was a good opportunity for the Oscar-nominated A24 romance and Song to earn gongs for a film which has done well among critics groups since its world premiere at Sundance just over one year ago.
Jeffrey Wright...
While the legacy studio and streamer contenders have dominated much of the big-ticket awards shows this season like Saturday night’s SAG Awards, last weekend’s Baftas, the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, this was a good opportunity for the Oscar-nominated A24 romance and Song to earn gongs for a film which has done well among critics groups since its world premiere at Sundance just over one year ago.
Jeffrey Wright...
- 2/26/2024
- ScreenDaily
The 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards on Sunday awarded A24’s Past Lives its Best Feature and the film’s Celine Song the Best Director in a ceremony on the beach in Santa Monica, giving the indie romantic drama a boost as it heads toward the Oscars where it is up for Best Picture.
Past Lives topped a marquee Best Feature category that included Netflix’s May December, Amazon MGM Studios’ American Fiction, Searchlight’s All of Us Strangers, Sony Pictures Classics’ We Grown Now and Mubi’s Passages.
“There is a concept in our film, an Eastern concept, and it’s called inyeon,” Song, making her feature directorial debut, said in her acceptance speech with her producers and cast. “It is about how just by being in the same space and time in this life, it means we actually knew each other for many, many lives that came before this one.
Past Lives topped a marquee Best Feature category that included Netflix’s May December, Amazon MGM Studios’ American Fiction, Searchlight’s All of Us Strangers, Sony Pictures Classics’ We Grown Now and Mubi’s Passages.
“There is a concept in our film, an Eastern concept, and it’s called inyeon,” Song, making her feature directorial debut, said in her acceptance speech with her producers and cast. “It is about how just by being in the same space and time in this life, it means we actually knew each other for many, many lives that came before this one.
- 2/26/2024
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
The Film Independent Spirit Awards have been dutifully assigned to their worthy recipients, thus putting a button on yet another great year of indie film and innovative visual storytelling. And as awards prognosticators now ponder their Oscar futures with this new data set and the tent falls around our knees, we want to shout out one more time all of the producers, writers, directors, performers and more who made this such a special experience.
This year’s ceremony streamed live on IMDb’s YouTube and across other social platforms, including Film Independent’s own YouTube channel and Twitter (or “X” if you’re being pedantic). The full livestream (see below) will remain available to watch On Demand for the next eight weeks, which highlights, behind-the-scenes moments, arrival carpet interviews and more will are available at filmindependent.org and wherever fine entertainment journalism prevails.
Best Supporting Performance
Da’Vine Joy Randolph
The Holdovers...
This year’s ceremony streamed live on IMDb’s YouTube and across other social platforms, including Film Independent’s own YouTube channel and Twitter (or “X” if you’re being pedantic). The full livestream (see below) will remain available to watch On Demand for the next eight weeks, which highlights, behind-the-scenes moments, arrival carpet interviews and more will are available at filmindependent.org and wherever fine entertainment journalism prevails.
Best Supporting Performance
Da’Vine Joy Randolph
The Holdovers...
- 2/23/2024
- by Film Independent
- Film Independent News & More
Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.
Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:
Oscars | Emmys | Grammys | Tonys
2023 Emmy Predictions:
Outstanding Documentary of Nonfiction (Series) “Harry & Meghan” was directed by Liz Garbus.
Weekly Commentary: A tight race ensues for acclaimed documentaries. Ken Burns’ powerful “The U.S. and the Holocaust” which premiered at Telluride 2022 before hitting television screens, is a favorite in the category.
Read: Variety’s...
Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:
Oscars | Emmys | Grammys | Tonys
2023 Emmy Predictions:
Outstanding Documentary of Nonfiction (Series) “Harry & Meghan” was directed by Liz Garbus.
Weekly Commentary: A tight race ensues for acclaimed documentaries. Ken Burns’ powerful “The U.S. and the Holocaust” which premiered at Telluride 2022 before hitting television screens, is a favorite in the category.
Read: Variety’s...
- 8/28/2023
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
A scene from ‘Dear Mama’ with Tupac Shakur (Photo Cr: FX)
FX’s critically acclaimed Dear Mama premiered to the largest audience of any unscripted series in FX’s history. The docuseries comes from executive producer, writer, and director Allen Hughes and focuses on the lives of Tupac Shakur and his mother, Afeni.
Dear Mama debuted on April 21, 2023, with new episodes of the five-episode series airing on Fridays at 10pm Et/Pt.
“It’s only fitting that Allen Hughes’ definitive piece on Tupac and Afeni Shakur delivered a record performance for us, and it speaks to Tupac’s enduring legacy,” stated Nick Grad, President, FX Entertainment. “Allen’s examination of Tupac viewed through the prism of his mother Afeni is a fascinating take that really gets beneath the education and experience that shaped his life and inspired him to become one of the greatest artists ever.”
Additional executive producers include writer Lasse Järvi,...
FX’s critically acclaimed Dear Mama premiered to the largest audience of any unscripted series in FX’s history. The docuseries comes from executive producer, writer, and director Allen Hughes and focuses on the lives of Tupac Shakur and his mother, Afeni.
Dear Mama debuted on April 21, 2023, with new episodes of the five-episode series airing on Fridays at 10pm Et/Pt.
“It’s only fitting that Allen Hughes’ definitive piece on Tupac and Afeni Shakur delivered a record performance for us, and it speaks to Tupac’s enduring legacy,” stated Nick Grad, President, FX Entertainment. “Allen’s examination of Tupac viewed through the prism of his mother Afeni is a fascinating take that really gets beneath the education and experience that shaped his life and inspired him to become one of the greatest artists ever.”
Additional executive producers include writer Lasse Järvi,...
- 4/28/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
FX’s docuseries Dear Mama set a new ratings high for an unscripted series debut on the Disney-owned outlet.
The chronicle of the lives of Tupac and Afeni Shakur, which premiered April 21, passed Welcome to Wrexham as FX’s most watched unscripted debut in cross-platform viewers. The full cross-platform figures aren’t being released, per FX policy, but the majority of Dear Mama’s audience likely streamed the show on Hulu.
The two-episode premiere of Dear Mama, directed by Allen Hughes, averaged about 185,000 viewers for its on-air debut (episode one drew 196,000). That trailed Welcome to Wrexham’s linear premiere in August 2022 (it averaged 271,000 viewers for its first two episodes), but Dear Mama made up the difference with streaming and other delayed viewing. Streaming often makes up the majority of viewing for series that originate on ad-supported and premium cable outlets.
“It’s only fitting that Allen Hughes’ definitive piece on...
The chronicle of the lives of Tupac and Afeni Shakur, which premiered April 21, passed Welcome to Wrexham as FX’s most watched unscripted debut in cross-platform viewers. The full cross-platform figures aren’t being released, per FX policy, but the majority of Dear Mama’s audience likely streamed the show on Hulu.
The two-episode premiere of Dear Mama, directed by Allen Hughes, averaged about 185,000 viewers for its on-air debut (episode one drew 196,000). That trailed Welcome to Wrexham’s linear premiere in August 2022 (it averaged 271,000 viewers for its first two episodes), but Dear Mama made up the difference with streaming and other delayed viewing. Streaming often makes up the majority of viewing for series that originate on ad-supported and premium cable outlets.
“It’s only fitting that Allen Hughes’ definitive piece on...
- 4/28/2023
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
FX’s latest docuseries opened on a high note, the network reveals. According to multi-platform ratings, the “Dear Mama” debut scored FX’s most watched premiere for an unscripted series ever. The show opened on FX on April 21 and became available to stream the following day on Hulu, which combined for the record setting performance.
From director Allen Hughes, the five-part docuseries explores the lives and legacies of mother and son, Afeni and Tupac Shakur. A renowned revolutionary, Afeni became a feminist figure of the ’70s, a female leader in the movement amidst the macho milieu of the Black Panther Party. Tupac, a rapper and poet, also became a political visionary, philosopher and one of the greatest rap artists of all time. “Their story chronicles the possibilities and contradictions of the United States from a time of revolutionary fervor to Hip Hop culture’s most ostentatious decade,” reads the official description.
From director Allen Hughes, the five-part docuseries explores the lives and legacies of mother and son, Afeni and Tupac Shakur. A renowned revolutionary, Afeni became a feminist figure of the ’70s, a female leader in the movement amidst the macho milieu of the Black Panther Party. Tupac, a rapper and poet, also became a political visionary, philosopher and one of the greatest rap artists of all time. “Their story chronicles the possibilities and contradictions of the United States from a time of revolutionary fervor to Hip Hop culture’s most ostentatious decade,” reads the official description.
- 4/28/2023
- by BreAnna Bell
- Variety Film + TV
FX is touting record performance for the premiere of its new docuseries Dear Mama.
The premiere episode, which debuted on April 21, is now FX’s most-watched unscripted series premiere in this history of the network when accounting for both same-day viewing on FX and next-day viewing on Hulu. FX didn’t disclose exact viewership numbers, as is typical when streaming is involved.
“It’s only fitting that Allen Hughes definitive piece on Tupac and Afeni Shakur delivered a record performance for us and it speaks to Tupac’s enduring legacy,” said Nick Grad, President, FX Entertainment. “Allen’s examination of Tupac viewed through the prism of his mother Afeni is a fascinating take that really gets beneath the education and experience that shaped his life and inspired him to become one of the greatest artists ever.”
Directed by Allen Hughes, Dear Mama dives into the personal relationship of mother and son,...
The premiere episode, which debuted on April 21, is now FX’s most-watched unscripted series premiere in this history of the network when accounting for both same-day viewing on FX and next-day viewing on Hulu. FX didn’t disclose exact viewership numbers, as is typical when streaming is involved.
“It’s only fitting that Allen Hughes definitive piece on Tupac and Afeni Shakur delivered a record performance for us and it speaks to Tupac’s enduring legacy,” said Nick Grad, President, FX Entertainment. “Allen’s examination of Tupac viewed through the prism of his mother Afeni is a fascinating take that really gets beneath the education and experience that shaped his life and inspired him to become one of the greatest artists ever.”
Directed by Allen Hughes, Dear Mama dives into the personal relationship of mother and son,...
- 4/28/2023
- by Katie Campione
- Deadline Film + TV
April 18, 2023 was certainly an honorable day for the late rapper Tupac Shakur! The world premiere of FX’s “Dear Mama” was held at The Ted Mann Theatre in Los Angeles. The new docuseries will premiere on Friday, April 21, 2023, at 10 p.m. Et/Pt and stream on Hulu the next day.
Gold Derby’s associate editor Latasha Ford hit the red carpet, going behind-the-scenes with executive producers, directors, writers: Allen Hughes, Lasse Järvi, Jamal Joseph, ex-nba player Matt Barnes and star De’Aundre Bonds (“Skully” from the hit FX TV series “Snowfall”).
The 5-part docuseries delves into the legacy of the late, prolific rapper, Tupac, and his mother Afeni Shakur. Allen Hughes, Lasse Järvi, Staci Robinson, Nelson George, Charles D. King, Jamal Joseph, Ted Skillman, Adel Nur and Steve Berman served as executive producers on the uniquely curated documentary. Glo Cox, Snoop Dogg, Mutulu, Chopmaster J and Ray Luv are among the...
Gold Derby’s associate editor Latasha Ford hit the red carpet, going behind-the-scenes with executive producers, directors, writers: Allen Hughes, Lasse Järvi, Jamal Joseph, ex-nba player Matt Barnes and star De’Aundre Bonds (“Skully” from the hit FX TV series “Snowfall”).
The 5-part docuseries delves into the legacy of the late, prolific rapper, Tupac, and his mother Afeni Shakur. Allen Hughes, Lasse Järvi, Staci Robinson, Nelson George, Charles D. King, Jamal Joseph, Ted Skillman, Adel Nur and Steve Berman served as executive producers on the uniquely curated documentary. Glo Cox, Snoop Dogg, Mutulu, Chopmaster J and Ray Luv are among the...
- 4/19/2023
- by Latasha Ford
- Gold Derby
The FX docuseries Dear Mama is set to premiere on April 21 at 10 p.m. Et/Pt and will stream the following day via Hulu. The premiere will include the first two episodes of the 5-part series, with one new episode each subsequent week.
From Allen Hughes, Dear Mama dives into the personal relationship of mother and son, Afeni and Tupac Shakur, a revolutionary and one of the most influential artists of all time.
For Tupac superfans, Hughes promises there will be never seen before audio and video footage.
“Wherever possible, we tried to find archival footage that hadn’t been seen so there’s a lot that we have in the five parts,” said Hughes during FX’s TCA presentation on Thursday. “There’s also audio that’s never been heard. And not just some of his acapellas and vocals, there is a lot of stuff of Tupac from his...
From Allen Hughes, Dear Mama dives into the personal relationship of mother and son, Afeni and Tupac Shakur, a revolutionary and one of the most influential artists of all time.
For Tupac superfans, Hughes promises there will be never seen before audio and video footage.
“Wherever possible, we tried to find archival footage that hadn’t been seen so there’s a lot that we have in the five parts,” said Hughes during FX’s TCA presentation on Thursday. “There’s also audio that’s never been heard. And not just some of his acapellas and vocals, there is a lot of stuff of Tupac from his...
- 1/12/2023
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
FX’s most acclaimed rap-themed comedy series, now that “Atlanta” has ended, returns for its third season this spring. Season 3 of “Dave” premieres April 5 on Fxx, the network announced during the Television Critics Association winter press conference January 12.
In addition, FX set the dates for two new “New York Times Presents” specials. “Sin Eater” premieres March 10 simultaneously on FX and Hulu, while “The Legacy of J Dilla” is set for April 7. A new docuseries about Tupac Shakur, “Dear Mama,” premieres on FX April 21.
Created by and starring comedy rapper David Burd, known by his stage name Lil Dicky, “Dave” presents a fictionalized version of Burd as he attempts to make it as a hip-hop star. Season 3 sees him and his entourage of friends — played by GaTa, Andrew Santino, Travis Bennett, and Christine Ko — as they leave Philadelphia for Dave’s first headlining tour. Burd executive produces the series with his co-creator Jeff Schaffer,...
In addition, FX set the dates for two new “New York Times Presents” specials. “Sin Eater” premieres March 10 simultaneously on FX and Hulu, while “The Legacy of J Dilla” is set for April 7. A new docuseries about Tupac Shakur, “Dear Mama,” premieres on FX April 21.
Created by and starring comedy rapper David Burd, known by his stage name Lil Dicky, “Dave” presents a fictionalized version of Burd as he attempts to make it as a hip-hop star. Season 3 sees him and his entourage of friends — played by GaTa, Andrew Santino, Travis Bennett, and Christine Ko — as they leave Philadelphia for Dave’s first headlining tour. Burd executive produces the series with his co-creator Jeff Schaffer,...
- 1/12/2023
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
During its presentation at the Winter 2023 Television Critics Association Press Tour, FX announced premiere dates for four of its upcoming projects: “Dave” Season 3, “Dear Mama,” “Sin Eater” and “The Legacy of J Dilla.”
“Dave” returns to FX with two episodes on April 5.
In Season 3, Dave (series co-creator Dave Burd aka Lil Dicky) is headlining his first-ever tour, and looking for love along the way. But as he and the gang crisscross America, they discover firsthand how diverse the cultural landscape of the United States really is – and how often fame puts pressure on love and friendship. The cast also includes GaTa, Andrew Santino, Taylor Misiak, Travis Bennett and Christine Ko.
Burd co-created “Dave” with Jeff Schaffer. Both executive produce along with Luvh Rakhe, Vanessa McGee, Kris Eber, Rob Rosell, Kevin Hart via Hartbeat Productions, Scooter Braun, Marty Bowen, Mike Hertz and Sb Projects’ James Shin and Scott Manson. The series is produced by FX Productions.
“Dave” returns to FX with two episodes on April 5.
In Season 3, Dave (series co-creator Dave Burd aka Lil Dicky) is headlining his first-ever tour, and looking for love along the way. But as he and the gang crisscross America, they discover firsthand how diverse the cultural landscape of the United States really is – and how often fame puts pressure on love and friendship. The cast also includes GaTa, Andrew Santino, Taylor Misiak, Travis Bennett and Christine Ko.
Burd co-created “Dave” with Jeff Schaffer. Both executive produce along with Luvh Rakhe, Vanessa McGee, Kris Eber, Rob Rosell, Kevin Hart via Hartbeat Productions, Scooter Braun, Marty Bowen, Mike Hertz and Sb Projects’ James Shin and Scott Manson. The series is produced by FX Productions.
- 1/12/2023
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
Balisa Balaban has been promoted to VP Original Documentaries. The streaming service has been ramping up its Hulu Original Documentary films slate with recent titles including Ask Dr. Ruth, The Amazing Johnathon and the Emmy-winning Crime + Punishment.
Balaban joined Hulu in 2017 as Director of Original Content and helped to launch originals Minding The Gap and Fyre Fraud.
The news comes as Hulu recently announced two new high-profile original documentaries to stream in 2020: Hillary, its four-part docuseries about Hillary Clinton that debuts at the Sundance Film Festival, and Greta, a feature charting the rise of climate activist Greta Thunberg.
Prior to joining Hulu, Belisa was Head of Original Programming at Pivot, where she oversaw all original series and documentaries including Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s HitRecord. That stint followed posts at Actual Reality Pictures (Showtime’s Freshman Diaries), Comedy Central and started at Fox.
She...
Balaban joined Hulu in 2017 as Director of Original Content and helped to launch originals Minding The Gap and Fyre Fraud.
The news comes as Hulu recently announced two new high-profile original documentaries to stream in 2020: Hillary, its four-part docuseries about Hillary Clinton that debuts at the Sundance Film Festival, and Greta, a feature charting the rise of climate activist Greta Thunberg.
Prior to joining Hulu, Belisa was Head of Original Programming at Pivot, where she oversaw all original series and documentaries including Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s HitRecord. That stint followed posts at Actual Reality Pictures (Showtime’s Freshman Diaries), Comedy Central and started at Fox.
She...
- 1/22/2020
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Landing a film like Bollywood Hero in the wake of the aftershocks that Slumdog Millionaire left on moviegoers and Oscar voters might seem like perfect timing on a scale that only a Nasa pilot could coordinate.
Executive producers Ted Skillman and Belisa Balaban said the idea isn't just right for its time. It was also ahead of its time, four years ahead of time to be exact.
"The project was initially conceived of four years ago, but the script was written before we'd seen ever Slumdog," Balaban said. "When we first came up with the idea, very few people were talking about Hindi cinema and we got a lot of blank stares at first."
Now audiences across the country will get a re-education on the Bollywood machine when their three part miniseries starring Saturday Night Live alum Chris Kattan airs at 10 p.m. Pacific/Eastern on Aug. 6, 7 and 8 on IFC.
Executive producers Ted Skillman and Belisa Balaban said the idea isn't just right for its time. It was also ahead of its time, four years ahead of time to be exact.
"The project was initially conceived of four years ago, but the script was written before we'd seen ever Slumdog," Balaban said. "When we first came up with the idea, very few people were talking about Hindi cinema and we got a lot of blank stares at first."
Now audiences across the country will get a re-education on the Bollywood machine when their three part miniseries starring Saturday Night Live alum Chris Kattan airs at 10 p.m. Pacific/Eastern on Aug. 6, 7 and 8 on IFC.
- 8/6/2009
- by Danny Gallagher
- Aol TV.
The cast of Slumdog Millionaire are to reunite for a three-night musical miniseries. Much of the show's production team worked on the Oscar-winning film, and the executive producers behind IFC's Bollywood Hero programme Belisa Balaban and Ted Skillman are hoping to interest Us audiences with the Indian stage performance. The programme will tell the story of an actor who is struggling to get cast in a Hollywood film so goes to Mumbai to find fame in Bollywood, reports Billboard. "There's (more)...
- 7/31/2009
- by By Jenni Marsh
- Digital Spy
Little is known about Bollywood -- India's counterpart to Hollywood -- by the vast majority of Americans. But Belisa Balaban and Ted Skillman, the executive producers behind IFC's "Bollywood Hero" three-night musical miniseries that debuts at 10 p.m. on August 6, are betting on the goodwill generated by best picture winner "Slumdog Millionaire" will intrigue viewers.
"There's an assumption amongst TV buyers, primarily, that Americans aren't interested in shows that take place outside of the States," Skillman says. "We've always wanted to tell stories that are more outward looking, that focus more on the world. And Bollywood, in particular, was interesting to us because it's simultaneously exotic and outward looking and yet has kind of a familiarity to it."
With this notion in mind, Balaban and Skillman came up with "Bollywood Hero," the journey of an actor who is having difficulty landing a lead "heroic" role in Hollywood. After being offered...
"There's an assumption amongst TV buyers, primarily, that Americans aren't interested in shows that take place outside of the States," Skillman says. "We've always wanted to tell stories that are more outward looking, that focus more on the world. And Bollywood, in particular, was interesting to us because it's simultaneously exotic and outward looking and yet has kind of a familiarity to it."
With this notion in mind, Balaban and Skillman came up with "Bollywood Hero," the journey of an actor who is having difficulty landing a lead "heroic" role in Hollywood. After being offered...
- 7/29/2009
- by By Rachel Helman, Billboard
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IFC is going for laughs with its 2009-10 slate, which includes projects starring "Saturday Night Live" alum Chris Kattan and punk food princess Thu Tran.
"We're making huge strides in the comedy genre by creating nontraditional original series that appeal to our core base of men 18-34," said Jennifer Caserta, executive vp and Gm of IFCtv.
IFC's new original series include "Food Party," which premieres June 9, a surreal mixture of puppets, weird special effects and cooking hosted by Tran.
The previously announced "Bollywood Hero," which airs Aug. 6-8, is an original three-part comedy miniseries centering on Kattan, who plays himself as he moves to India, where he's been promised a starring role in a Bollywood film.
The mini, which co-stars Julian Sands, Neha Dhupia, Ali Fazal and Pooja Kumar, is co-produced by Starz Media and executive produced by Kattan and Snackaholic's Ted Skillman and Belisa Balaban.
"Monty Python: Almost...
"We're making huge strides in the comedy genre by creating nontraditional original series that appeal to our core base of men 18-34," said Jennifer Caserta, executive vp and Gm of IFCtv.
IFC's new original series include "Food Party," which premieres June 9, a surreal mixture of puppets, weird special effects and cooking hosted by Tran.
The previously announced "Bollywood Hero," which airs Aug. 6-8, is an original three-part comedy miniseries centering on Kattan, who plays himself as he moves to India, where he's been promised a starring role in a Bollywood film.
The mini, which co-stars Julian Sands, Neha Dhupia, Ali Fazal and Pooja Kumar, is co-produced by Starz Media and executive produced by Kattan and Snackaholic's Ted Skillman and Belisa Balaban.
"Monty Python: Almost...
- 4/29/2009
- by By Nellie Andreeva
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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