At the start of “The Inheritance” — an experimental film about the formation of a Black collective, set in the early ’90s — Julian (Eric Lockley) rummages through a wooden crate of books he found in the West Philadelphia row house his grandmother left him. In it is a trove of poetic and political thought circa the late ’60s and beyond: There’s Malcolm X and Alice Walker, James Baldwin and Toni Morrison, as well as Charles Mingus and a stack of Ebony magazines.
In the next scene, Julian’s friend, maybe girlfriend, Gwen (Nozipho Mclean) helps him tug and shove the crate across the floor of the near empty abode. He asks her to move in. She reminds him that the last time they saw each other was at least a month ago. They’d gone to see Andrei Tarkovsky’s “The Sacrifice”;” he cried and grew quiet. No wonder they...
In the next scene, Julian’s friend, maybe girlfriend, Gwen (Nozipho Mclean) helps him tug and shove the crate across the floor of the near empty abode. He asks her to move in. She reminds him that the last time they saw each other was at least a month ago. They’d gone to see Andrei Tarkovsky’s “The Sacrifice”;” he cried and grew quiet. No wonder they...
- 3/11/2021
- by Lisa Kennedy
- Variety Film + TV
HBO is celebrating Black History Month by making many of its most popular black-driven TV shows and movies available to stream for free online. It’s part of the network’s “Black History Is Our History” spotlight page, which aims to highlight HBO’s “diverse and expansive slate of content” and “rich history of amplifying Black stories and talent.”
Among the HBO shows and films available to stream online free: select episodes of Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You, the critically-acclaimed Lovecraft Country, the Serena Williams documentary Being Serena,...
Among the HBO shows and films available to stream online free: select episodes of Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You, the critically-acclaimed Lovecraft Country, the Serena Williams documentary Being Serena,...
- 2/4/2021
- by Tim Chan
- Rollingstone.com
John Legend and Mike Jackson co-founded their production company, Get Lifted Film Co., alongside the singer-songwriter’s longtime manager Ty Stiklorius eight years ago. Their projects have included “La La Land,” “Southside With You,” David E. Talbert’s “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey,” Netflix’s “Rhythm + Flow,” “40 Years a Prisoner” on HBO Max as well as the upcoming film “Monster” and the sports drama “Signing Day” with Steph Curry’s Unanimous Media for Sony Pictures.
On Tuesday, Feb. 2, Legend and Jackson will be honored with the Producer’s Award during the Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Black Cinema hosted by Bevy Smith. Following an invite-only live stream, the event will air as a 90-minute special in Los Angeles on Ktla on Feb. 6.
Others being honored and presenting during the ceremony include Zendaya, John David Washington, Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Taraji P. Henson, Jesse Williams, Shaka King, George C. Wolfe,...
On Tuesday, Feb. 2, Legend and Jackson will be honored with the Producer’s Award during the Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Black Cinema hosted by Bevy Smith. Following an invite-only live stream, the event will air as a 90-minute special in Los Angeles on Ktla on Feb. 6.
Others being honored and presenting during the ceremony include Zendaya, John David Washington, Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Taraji P. Henson, Jesse Williams, Shaka King, George C. Wolfe,...
- 2/1/2021
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
Remember when the 2014 docudrama “Selma” came up surprisingly short at the Oscars, only earning nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Song and nothing for writing, directing or acting? Star David Oyelowo, who played Martin Luther King Jr. in that film, came forward to say that Oscar voters rejected the film because the cast and crew wore “I Can’t Breathe” shirts to protest police brutality. What a difference six years makes. In the wake of yet more instances of police violence, there are numerous films in the awards conversation questioning whether cops should really be the heroes of all our narratives.
See‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ producer Charles D. King on the ‘divine’ timing of telling this story amid the BLM movement [Exclusive Video Interview]
The “Selma” team was protesting the murder of Eric Garner by NYPD officers, who choked him to death for allegedly selling loose cigarettes while he told them he couldn’t breathe.
See‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ producer Charles D. King on the ‘divine’ timing of telling this story amid the BLM movement [Exclusive Video Interview]
The “Selma” team was protesting the murder of Eric Garner by NYPD officers, who choked him to death for allegedly selling loose cigarettes while he told them he couldn’t breathe.
- 1/30/2021
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Thursday released its official entries for 2021 Oscars in the categories of Documentary Feature, Animated Feature and International Films. The takeaway: As expected, the eligible Documentary Feature lineup shatters the record for the most ever.
A total of 238 features are eligible for consideration in the Doc Feature category, breaking the previous record of 170 set in 2017. Last year, by contrast, 159 feature documentaries qualified. The Academy relaxed eligibility rules in light of Covid-19, so that any film that could make a claim of an intended theatrical release was deemed eligible. Earning awards from film festivals was an alternative way to qualify.
For the International Feature race, Lesotho, Sudan and Suriname are first-time entrants among the 93 eligible titles, the same total as last year. Earlier this year, the Academy’s Board of Governors boosted the number of films eligible for the shortlist from 10 to 15. Under the new rules,...
A total of 238 features are eligible for consideration in the Doc Feature category, breaking the previous record of 170 set in 2017. Last year, by contrast, 159 feature documentaries qualified. The Academy relaxed eligibility rules in light of Covid-19, so that any film that could make a claim of an intended theatrical release was deemed eligible. Earning awards from film festivals was an alternative way to qualify.
For the International Feature race, Lesotho, Sudan and Suriname are first-time entrants among the 93 eligible titles, the same total as last year. Earlier this year, the Academy’s Board of Governors boosted the number of films eligible for the shortlist from 10 to 15. Under the new rules,...
- 1/28/2021
- by Patrick Hipes and Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Film producer and President of the Latinx arts advocacy group Nosotros Joel M. Gonzales has been named Senior Vice-President and Head of Latinx Content at Confluential Films. In his new role, Gonzales will work alongside Confluential Films founder, Tommy Oliver; Executive Vice President, Mel Jones; and Head of Development, Jonny Paterson on the diverse development of non-stereotypical Latinx storytelling for Confluential Films.
“What Tommy Oliver has been accomplishing through Confluential Films is groundbreaking,” said Gonzales. “I am honored and excited to be a part of it. Until our voices are properly conveyed they will never truly be heard.”
“We’re beyond thrilled to add Joel to the Confluential team as Head of Latinx content,” said Oliver. “Latinx content is a major priority for our company and having someone as talented as Joel at the helm will only supercharge our efforts to deliver authentic, entertaining, and moving content.”
For the past 12 years,...
“What Tommy Oliver has been accomplishing through Confluential Films is groundbreaking,” said Gonzales. “I am honored and excited to be a part of it. Until our voices are properly conveyed they will never truly be heard.”
“We’re beyond thrilled to add Joel to the Confluential team as Head of Latinx content,” said Oliver. “Latinx content is a major priority for our company and having someone as talented as Joel at the helm will only supercharge our efforts to deliver authentic, entertaining, and moving content.”
For the past 12 years,...
- 1/26/2021
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
The Oscars Best Documentary Feature race, which set a new record for entries in December when it passed the previous record of 170, has now left all previous years in the dust with 240 eligible films.
An additional 25 documentary features were placed in the members-only online screening room devoted to the category on Saturday, in what the Academy told voters would be “the final batch” of this year’s entries. It was the last of seven groups of documentaries that qualified and were placed into the screening room: 25 in July, 12 in August, 16 in September, 33 in October, 36 in November, a huge group of 93 in December and now 25 in January.
Academy rules put in place because of the Covid-19 pandemic made it easier than usual for documentaries to qualify for the Oscars this year, which opened the door for a field that obliterated the previous record, which was set in 2017. Films could qualify simply...
An additional 25 documentary features were placed in the members-only online screening room devoted to the category on Saturday, in what the Academy told voters would be “the final batch” of this year’s entries. It was the last of seven groups of documentaries that qualified and were placed into the screening room: 25 in July, 12 in August, 16 in September, 33 in October, 36 in November, a huge group of 93 in December and now 25 in January.
Academy rules put in place because of the Covid-19 pandemic made it easier than usual for documentaries to qualify for the Oscars this year, which opened the door for a field that obliterated the previous record, which was set in 2017. Films could qualify simply...
- 1/17/2021
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Gold Derby senior editor Joyce Eng recently conducted fascinating, in-depth discussions with the directors and/or producers of eight of the leading contenders for Best Documentary at many major awards in 2021, including the Oscars. Watch her one-on-one chats with each creator plus group roundtable talks about the creative challenges they all faced while making their films.
Discussions include “Rebuilding Paradise” Nat Geo; “Miss Americana” Netflix; “Boys State” Apple TV+; “40 Years a Prisoner” HBO; “All In: The Fight for Democracy” Amazon Prime Video; “On the Record” HBO; “Kingdom of Silence” Showtime; and “A Most Beautiful Thing” 50 Egg Films.
Discussions include “Rebuilding Paradise” Nat Geo; “Miss Americana” Netflix; “Boys State” Apple TV+; “40 Years a Prisoner” HBO; “All In: The Fight for Democracy” Amazon Prime Video; “On the Record” HBO; “Kingdom of Silence” Showtime; and “A Most Beautiful Thing” 50 Egg Films.
- 12/26/2020
- by Tom O'Neil
- Gold Derby
The Academy has added 93 more films to the members-only screening room devoted to entries in the Best Documentary Feature category, bringing the total number of eligible contenders to a record-shattering 215.
The previous record for entries was 170 in 2017. And this year’s crop of nonfiction films is expected to pass that number by an even bigger margin — at least 50 — once a final, smaller group of films is added to the screening room in January.
New eligibility rules that were passed in the wake of the Covid-19 theater closings made it easier for documentaries to qualify this year by allowing them to do so by playing at film festivals, even virtual ones, and by easing requirements for theatrical runs. In an email to members detailing the new additions, the Academy said, “The Documentary Branch Executive Committee felt it was important to be inclusive and supportive of documentary filmmakers in this unprecedented and challenging year.
The previous record for entries was 170 in 2017. And this year’s crop of nonfiction films is expected to pass that number by an even bigger margin — at least 50 — once a final, smaller group of films is added to the screening room in January.
New eligibility rules that were passed in the wake of the Covid-19 theater closings made it easier for documentaries to qualify this year by allowing them to do so by playing at film festivals, even virtual ones, and by easing requirements for theatrical runs. In an email to members detailing the new additions, the Academy said, “The Documentary Branch Executive Committee felt it was important to be inclusive and supportive of documentary filmmakers in this unprecedented and challenging year.
- 12/22/2020
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
“Speaking truth to power, social justice documentaries are really part of a cutting edge of documentary,” argues filmmaker Kirby Dick about the wave of investigative nonfiction films we’ve seen in recent years, including those from our “Meet the Experts” documentary panelists. Watch our group discussion with those directors above.
SEEWatch our chats with top cinematographers, costume designers, documentary filmmakers and other crafts leaders
Dick and Amy Ziering exposed sexual abuse in the music business in “On the Record.” Rick Rowley investigated the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in “Kingdom of Silence.” Tommy Oliver followed a man’s journey to free his parents from an unjust prison sentence in “40 Years a Prisoner.” And Mary Mazzio explored racial inequality through the eyes of a team of high school rowers in “A Most Beautiful Thing.”
“All of the films here on this panel are great examples of what has been core...
SEEWatch our chats with top cinematographers, costume designers, documentary filmmakers and other crafts leaders
Dick and Amy Ziering exposed sexual abuse in the music business in “On the Record.” Rick Rowley investigated the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in “Kingdom of Silence.” Tommy Oliver followed a man’s journey to free his parents from an unjust prison sentence in “40 Years a Prisoner.” And Mary Mazzio explored racial inequality through the eyes of a team of high school rowers in “A Most Beautiful Thing.”
“All of the films here on this panel are great examples of what has been core...
- 12/22/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
“The things move fought against 40 years ago — police brutality, wrongful incarceration, systemic racism — were the same things we were fighting against when I started, and sadly the same things we’re fighting against today,” explains director Tommy Oliver about the modern echoes of his HBO documentary “40 Years a Prisoner,” which premiered December 8. It recounts how the Philadelphia justice system targeted a group of predominantly Black and brown activists in the 1970s. Oliver joined us for our “Meet the Experts” documentary panel to discuss the film. Watch our entire interview above.
The incident at the heart of the story is the 1978 police raid on a house that was the headquarters for the activist group Move. A police officer was killed during the raid, leading to the convictions of nine members of the organization. Oliver focuses on Mike Africa Jr., the son of two of the convicted activists who was actually “born in prison.
The incident at the heart of the story is the 1978 police raid on a house that was the headquarters for the activist group Move. A police officer was killed during the raid, leading to the convictions of nine members of the organization. Oliver focuses on Mike Africa Jr., the son of two of the convicted activists who was actually “born in prison.
- 12/22/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Mike Africa Jr. and Tommy Oliver explained why their new film 40 Years A Prisoner is still relevant today in a new uInterview. The documentary follows Africa Jr.’s more than 25-year-long fight to exonerate his parents after they were arrested in a police raid in 1978 on the activists organization Move’s home in Philadelphia. Police arrested […]
The post Mike Africa Jr. & Tommy Oliver Explain Why ’40 Years A Prisoner’ Resonates With BLM Today appeared first on uInterview.
The post Mike Africa Jr. & Tommy Oliver Explain Why ’40 Years A Prisoner’ Resonates With BLM Today appeared first on uInterview.
- 12/12/2020
- by Marie Fiero
- Uinterview
Six top film documentary directors will reveal the secrets behind their projects when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with key 2021 guild and Oscar contenders this month. Each person will participate in two video discussions to be published on Tuesday, December 15, at 5:00 p.m. Pt; 8:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our senior editor Daniel Montgomery and a group chat with Daniel and all of the group together.
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 guild and Oscar contenders:
“All In: The Fight for Democracy” (Amazon Prime): Liz Garbus
Garbus is a two-time Oscar nominee for “What Happened, Miss Simone?...
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 guild and Oscar contenders:
“All In: The Fight for Democracy” (Amazon Prime): Liz Garbus
Garbus is a two-time Oscar nominee for “What Happened, Miss Simone?...
- 12/8/2020
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
This weekly feature is in addition to TVLine’s daily What to Watch listings and monthly guide to What’s on Streaming.
With more than 530 scripted shows now airing across broadcast, cable and streaming, it’s easy to forget that a favorite comedy is returning, or that the new “prestige drama” you anticipated is about to debut. So consider this our reminder to set your DVR, order a Season Pass, pop a fresh Memorex into the Vcr… however it is you roll.
More from TVLineWhat's New on Netflix in DecemberFreeform's 25 Days of Christmas Schedule110+ TV Shows That Ended in 2020:...
With more than 530 scripted shows now airing across broadcast, cable and streaming, it’s easy to forget that a favorite comedy is returning, or that the new “prestige drama” you anticipated is about to debut. So consider this our reminder to set your DVR, order a Season Pass, pop a fresh Memorex into the Vcr… however it is you roll.
More from TVLineWhat's New on Netflix in DecemberFreeform's 25 Days of Christmas Schedule110+ TV Shows That Ended in 2020:...
- 12/5/2020
- by Ryan Schwartz
- TVLine.com
Oscar© 2020 Entry for Best Doc: ‘Forty Years a Prisoner’ directed by Tommy Oliver : Interview
‘‘Four Years a Slave’ and ‘40 Years a Prisoner’ have more in common than their name. Modern day slavery, systemic to the U.S…
Continue reading on SydneysBuzz The Blog »...
‘‘Four Years a Slave’ and ‘40 Years a Prisoner’ have more in common than their name. Modern day slavery, systemic to the U.S…
Continue reading on SydneysBuzz The Blog »...
- 11/2/2020
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
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