The media was not quick to embrace Black creatives nor has Juneteenth long been something on its radar. But as different voices enter the culturally and politically shifting landscape, the newly recognized federal holiday — which honors the emancipation of the last enslaved people here in the United States on June 19 — could, or at the very least should, pop up more on screens large and small.
Channing Godfrey Peoples made her directorial debut against the backdrop of Black Lives Matter protests in the summer of 2020 with “Miss Juneteenth“: a feature film starring Nicole Beharie and Alexis Chikaeze as a mother-daughter pair navigating their opposing dreams for the young girl’s future. Before that, “Juneteenth” was the title of Season 1, Episode 9 in Donald Glover’s beloved “Atlanta”: a boundary-breaking FX dramedy about Blackness and celebrity with a surrealist twist.
From tentpoles that changed the box-office game (see “Get Out” and...
Channing Godfrey Peoples made her directorial debut against the backdrop of Black Lives Matter protests in the summer of 2020 with “Miss Juneteenth“: a feature film starring Nicole Beharie and Alexis Chikaeze as a mother-daughter pair navigating their opposing dreams for the young girl’s future. Before that, “Juneteenth” was the title of Season 1, Episode 9 in Donald Glover’s beloved “Atlanta”: a boundary-breaking FX dramedy about Blackness and celebrity with a surrealist twist.
From tentpoles that changed the box-office game (see “Get Out” and...
- 6/18/2023
- by Tambay Obenson and Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
This may be a year in which the national mood on the Juneteenth holiday is one of outrage and anger, but the movie “Miss Juneteenth” is interested in different emotions altogether. It may be timely because of its title and its examination of an entirely African-American community, but it’s a quiet, character-driven film that lets personal stories give insight into larger issues.
Set in Texas, where the Juneteenth holiday originated, the film draws on the memories of writer-director Channing Godfrey Peoples. She grew up in Fort Worth and remembered the annual Miss Juneteenth beauty pageant where one young woman would win a full scholarship to the historically black college or university of her choice.
The pageant serves as backdrop, and also as a symbol of hope for young mother Turquoise – not hope for herself, but hope for her 14-year-old daughter, Kai. “I’m gonna make sure she’s something we ain’t,...
Set in Texas, where the Juneteenth holiday originated, the film draws on the memories of writer-director Channing Godfrey Peoples. She grew up in Fort Worth and remembered the annual Miss Juneteenth beauty pageant where one young woman would win a full scholarship to the historically black college or university of her choice.
The pageant serves as backdrop, and also as a symbol of hope for young mother Turquoise – not hope for herself, but hope for her 14-year-old daughter, Kai. “I’m gonna make sure she’s something we ain’t,...
- 6/17/2021
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Minari, Sound Of Metal deliver best supporting actor prizes.
Nomadland was named best feature and Chloe Zhao best director while Carey Mulligan and Riz Ahmed took lead acting honours at the virtual 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards on Thursday night (April 22).
Searchlight Pictures’ Nomadland won four prizes on the night including Joshua James Richards for cinematography, and editing for Zhao, who was one of four women nominated in the directing category and has enjoyed a magnificent awards season.
Amazon Studios’ Sound Of Metal earned three awards for Ahmed, supporting actor Paul Raci, and first feature for Darius Marder.
Focus Features’ Promising...
Nomadland was named best feature and Chloe Zhao best director while Carey Mulligan and Riz Ahmed took lead acting honours at the virtual 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards on Thursday night (April 22).
Searchlight Pictures’ Nomadland won four prizes on the night including Joshua James Richards for cinematography, and editing for Zhao, who was one of four women nominated in the directing category and has enjoyed a magnificent awards season.
Amazon Studios’ Sound Of Metal earned three awards for Ahmed, supporting actor Paul Raci, and first feature for Darius Marder.
Focus Features’ Promising...
- 4/23/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Spirit Awards 2021 Winners List: ‘Nomadland,’ ‘I May Destroy You,’ Riz Ahmed, Carey Mulligan Win Big
“Mank” is the big leader at the 2021 Oscars with 10 nominations, but that wasn’t the case at the 36th Film Independent Spirit Awards. The nomination leader at this ceremony was Eliza Hittman’s acclaimed “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” which the Academy shut out from the Oscars. The same goes for other beloved Spirit Award nominees like “First Cow,” “Miss Juneteenth,” and “The Assistant.” In other words, the Indie Spirit Awards were a breath of fresh air in this elongated awards season where underdog indie contenders finally get their due in the spotlight.
“Minari” also preformed strong at the Indie Spirits, earning six nominations to match its six Oscar nominations. Fellow Oscar nominees “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “Nomadland” each picked up five Spirit Award nominations. Netflix was the most nominated studio with 16 nominations, followed by Focus Features with 10 and A24 with 9.
“Nomadland” was the big winner, taking home the prizes...
“Minari” also preformed strong at the Indie Spirits, earning six nominations to match its six Oscar nominations. Fellow Oscar nominees “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “Nomadland” each picked up five Spirit Award nominations. Netflix was the most nominated studio with 16 nominations, followed by Focus Features with 10 and A24 with 9.
“Nomadland” was the big winner, taking home the prizes...
- 4/23/2021
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
“Nomadland” wins four awards, including Best Feature; “Sound of Metal” wins three and “Promising Young Woman” takes two
“Nomadland” won Best Feature at the 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards, which were announced live Thursday, and for the first time in primetime.
“Nomadland” took home four prizes, including Best Feature, Best Director for Chloé Zhao, as well as Best Editing and Best Cinematography. “Sound of Metal” also had a big night, winning Best First Feature, Best Supporting Male Paul Raci and an upset win for Best Male Lead Riz Ahmed. Carey Mulligan also won Best Female Lead for “Promising Young Woman,” and Yuh-Jung Youn won Best Supporting Female for “Minari.”
The coronavirus resulted in moving the Indie Spirits ceremony, now in its 36th year, away from its usual slot as an afternoon hangout in a tent near the Santa Monica pier on the Saturday before the Oscars to now taking place Thursday,...
“Nomadland” won Best Feature at the 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards, which were announced live Thursday, and for the first time in primetime.
“Nomadland” took home four prizes, including Best Feature, Best Director for Chloé Zhao, as well as Best Editing and Best Cinematography. “Sound of Metal” also had a big night, winning Best First Feature, Best Supporting Male Paul Raci and an upset win for Best Male Lead Riz Ahmed. Carey Mulligan also won Best Female Lead for “Promising Young Woman,” and Yuh-Jung Youn won Best Supporting Female for “Minari.”
The coronavirus resulted in moving the Indie Spirits ceremony, now in its 36th year, away from its usual slot as an afternoon hangout in a tent near the Santa Monica pier on the Saturday before the Oscars to now taking place Thursday,...
- 4/23/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
If you’re nowhere near a television and want to know the winners of the 36th Independent Spirit Awards as they happen, you’ve come to the right place. Follow along with Gold Derby’s Indie Spirits live blog 2021 to see who won all of the night’s film and TV prizes, who presented what categories, and how Melissa Villaseñor (“Saturday Night Live”) did as host. The virtual ceremony aired Thursday, April 22 on IFC at 7 p.m. Pt/10 p.m. Et.
SEE2021 Independent Spirit Awards: Winners list in all film and TV categories
This year’s Spirit Awards celebrated the best in indie filmmaking for the 2020 calendar year, with a little bit of television thrown in for good measure. Remember, only American-made fare with budgets under $20 million were eligible for consideration. Winners were chosen by all of Film Independent’s eligible members, including industry insiders and any movie fans who signed up for membership.
SEE2021 Independent Spirit Awards: Winners list in all film and TV categories
This year’s Spirit Awards celebrated the best in indie filmmaking for the 2020 calendar year, with a little bit of television thrown in for good measure. Remember, only American-made fare with budgets under $20 million were eligible for consideration. Winners were chosen by all of Film Independent’s eligible members, including industry insiders and any movie fans who signed up for membership.
- 4/23/2021
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
The last major awards show before the Oscars has finally arrived, the 36th Independent Spirit Awards. The virtual ceremony aired Thursday, April 22 on IFC at 7 p.m. Pt/10 p.m. Et and was hosted by “Saturday Night Live” star Melissa Villaseñor. The Spirit Awards celebrated the best in indie filmmaking for the 2020 calendar year, and this year they invited TV shows to the party, too. Don’t forget, only American-made fare with budgets under $20 million were eligible for consideration. Winners were chosen by all of Film Independent’s eligible members, including industry insiders and any movie fans who signed up for membership.
Heading into the ceremony, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” was the nominations leader with seven overall bids. “Minari” came in right behind it with six noms, followed by “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “Nomadland” (the Oscar front-runner) with five bids each. On the TV side, both “Little America” and...
Heading into the ceremony, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” was the nominations leader with seven overall bids. “Minari” came in right behind it with six noms, followed by “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “Nomadland” (the Oscar front-runner) with five bids each. On the TV side, both “Little America” and...
- 4/23/2021
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
The 2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards are finally upon us, after the nominations were announced three months ago, and the ceremony is taking place just a few days ahead of the Academy Awards. This year, the Spirit Awards won’t be held midday in a hangar in Santa Monica, but will instead live-stream on IFC on Thursday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m. Pt/10:00 p.m. Et. In addition to the linear broadcast, the Spirit Awards will also stream simultaneously on AMC+. Following the broadcast, the full awards ceremony will be made available on demand across AMC+ and IFC platforms starting Friday, April 23. This year’s ceremony will be hosted by “Saturday Night Love” comedian Melissa Villaseñor.
If you’re cord cutter who doesn’t have cable, you can watch IFC live with one of these streaming services, many of which offer a free trial: Philo, fuboTV, Sling TV, YouTube TV,...
If you’re cord cutter who doesn’t have cable, you can watch IFC live with one of these streaming services, many of which offer a free trial: Philo, fuboTV, Sling TV, YouTube TV,...
- 4/21/2021
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
It’s almost time for the 36th Independent Spirit Awards, which will celebrate the best in indie filmmaking for the 2020 calendar year. Remember, only American-made movies with budgets under $20 million were eligible for consideration. Winners will be chosen by all of Film Independent’s eligible members, including industry insiders and any movie fans who sign up for membership. So who will win? Read on to see what we’re predicting to prevail when this year’s trophies are handed out Thursday, April 22 in a virtual ceremony airing on IFC at 7 p.m. Pt/10 p.m. Et.
Gold Derby’s 2021 Spirit Awards odds are based on the combined forecasts of more than 2,300 Gold Derby readers, including Experts we’ve polled from major media outlets, Editors who cover awards year-round for this website, Top 24 Users who did the best predicting last year’s winners, All-Star Users who had the best prediction scores over the last two years,...
Gold Derby’s 2021 Spirit Awards odds are based on the combined forecasts of more than 2,300 Gold Derby readers, including Experts we’ve polled from major media outlets, Editors who cover awards year-round for this website, Top 24 Users who did the best predicting last year’s winners, All-Star Users who had the best prediction scores over the last two years,...
- 4/21/2021
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
The 36th Film Independent Spirit Awards are set to take place this week as a welcome reprieve to this elongated Oscar season. Unlike the Academy Awards, where David Fincher’s “Mank” reigns supreme with 10 nominations, the 2021 Indie Spirit Awards are dominated by Eliza Hittman’s “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” which was shut out of the Oscar nominations. “Never Rarely” boasts seven Spirit Award nominations this year, including Best Feature and Best Director.
Unlike the Oscars, the Spirit Awards also boast a Best First Feature category to honor the greatest directorial debuts of the last year. The 2021 nominees in this category are “I Carry You With Me,” “The 40 Year Old Version,” “Sound of Metal,” “Miss Juneteenth,” and “Nine Days.” Only “Sound of Metal” broke into the Oscars among these nominees.
As always, the budget cutoff for films to be eligible for the Spirit Awards is $22.5 million. For this reason, several high...
Unlike the Oscars, the Spirit Awards also boast a Best First Feature category to honor the greatest directorial debuts of the last year. The 2021 nominees in this category are “I Carry You With Me,” “The 40 Year Old Version,” “Sound of Metal,” “Miss Juneteenth,” and “Nine Days.” Only “Sound of Metal” broke into the Oscars among these nominees.
As always, the budget cutoff for films to be eligible for the Spirit Awards is $22.5 million. For this reason, several high...
- 4/19/2021
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Exclusive: The Black Reel Awards (BRAs), an annual event that recognizes the excellence of African-Americans, as well as the cinematic achievements of the African diaspora in the global film industry, has unveiled the nominees for its 21st annual awards ceremony. The event, hosted by the Foundation for the Augmentation of African-Americans in Film (Faaaf), will take place on April 11 virtually across several media platforms.
Leading the pack with 15 nominations is Amazon’s One Night in Miami, the directorial debut from Oscar and past Black Reel Award winner, Regina King, who also received a nom for Outstanding Director. The pic also picked up nominations for Outstanding Picture, Outstanding Actor (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Outstanding Supporting Actor, and Outstanding Screenplay (Kemp Powers).
Warner Bros’ Judas and the Messiah is not too far behind with 12 nominations including Outstanding Picture, Outstanding Actor (Lakeith Stanfield), Outstanding Supporting Actor (Daniel Kaluuya), Outstanding...
Leading the pack with 15 nominations is Amazon’s One Night in Miami, the directorial debut from Oscar and past Black Reel Award winner, Regina King, who also received a nom for Outstanding Director. The pic also picked up nominations for Outstanding Picture, Outstanding Actor (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Outstanding Supporting Actor, and Outstanding Screenplay (Kemp Powers).
Warner Bros’ Judas and the Messiah is not too far behind with 12 nominations including Outstanding Picture, Outstanding Actor (Lakeith Stanfield), Outstanding Supporting Actor (Daniel Kaluuya), Outstanding...
- 2/18/2021
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
In writer-director Channing Godfrey Peoples’ debut feature, Miss Juneteenth, Nicole Beharie stars as Turquoise Jones, a single mom to teenager Kai (Alexis Chikaeze) living in a suburb of Fort Worth, Texas. Balancing two jobs, Turquoise does her best to set high standards for her daughter, hoping Kai will stray from her own path and go off to college and seek a career. What will set Kai on that path (or so Turquoise believes) is the local Miss Juneteenth pageant, an event that honors the historic day — June 19, 1865 — when enslaved people in Texas finally learned about the Emancipation ...
In writer-director Channing Godfrey Peoples’ debut feature, Miss Juneteenth, Nicole Beharie stars as Turquoise Jones, a single mom to teenager Kai (Alexis Chikaeze) living in a suburb of Fort Worth, Texas. Balancing two jobs, Turquoise does her best to set high standards for her daughter, hoping Kai will stray from her own path and go off to college and seek a career. What will set Kai on that path (or so Turquoise believes) is the local Miss Juneteenth pageant, an event that honors the historic day — June 19, 1865 — when enslaved people in Texas finally learned about the Emancipation ...
Minari earns six nods including feature, director, two for supporting actress.
Focus Features’ Never Rarely Sometimes Always led the Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations with six nods on Tuesday (January 26) including best film and director, and female lead.
A24’s Minari placed second on six nods including best feature in a field that includes Nomadland, First Cow, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and Never Rarely Sometimes Always.
Women dominated the directing category as Eliza Hittman (Never Rarely Sometimes Always), Chloe Zhao (Nomadland), Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman), and Kelly Reichardt (First Cow) picked up nods alongside the sole male, Lee Isaac Ching for Minari.
Focus Features’ Never Rarely Sometimes Always led the Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations with six nods on Tuesday (January 26) including best film and director, and female lead.
A24’s Minari placed second on six nods including best feature in a field that includes Nomadland, First Cow, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and Never Rarely Sometimes Always.
Women dominated the directing category as Eliza Hittman (Never Rarely Sometimes Always), Chloe Zhao (Nomadland), Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman), and Kelly Reichardt (First Cow) picked up nods alongside the sole male, Lee Isaac Ching for Minari.
- 1/26/2021
- ScreenDaily
Minari earns six nods including feature, director, two for supporting actress.
Focus Features’ Never Rarely Sometimes Always led the Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations with six nods on Tuesday (January 26) including best film and director, and female lead.
A24’s Minari placed second on six nods including best feature in a field that includes Nomadland, First Cow, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and Never Rarely Sometimes Always.
Women dominated the directing category as Eliza Hittman (Never Rarely Sometimes Always), Chloe Zhao (Nomadland), Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman), and Kelly Reichardt (First Cow) picked up nods alongside the sole male, Lee Isaac Ching for Minari.
Focus Features’ Never Rarely Sometimes Always led the Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations with six nods on Tuesday (January 26) including best film and director, and female lead.
A24’s Minari placed second on six nods including best feature in a field that includes Nomadland, First Cow, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and Never Rarely Sometimes Always.
Women dominated the directing category as Eliza Hittman (Never Rarely Sometimes Always), Chloe Zhao (Nomadland), Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman), and Kelly Reichardt (First Cow) picked up nods alongside the sole male, Lee Isaac Ching for Minari.
- 1/26/2021
- ScreenDaily
“First Cow,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Minari,” “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” and “Nomadland” scored Best Feature Film nominations for the 2021 Independent Spirit Awards, with “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” leading the pack with seven nominations. “Minari” had six film nominations, and “Nomandland” wound up with five.
And for the first time Film Independent recognized the best in TV. “A Teacher,” “I May Destroy You,” “Little America,” “Small Axe” and “Unorthodox” all landed nominations for Best New Scripted Series. “Unorthodox” and “Little America” each scored three nominations.
Nominations for the 36th annual ceremony were announced Tuesday via Film Independent’s website and YouTube channel by Laverne Cox, Barry Jenkins and Olivia Wilde.
Though the awards are generally held the Saturday afternoon before the Oscars ceremony, the show has been moved up to a primetime slot on Thursday, April 22 and will air on IFC that will also be simulcast on AMC+ and...
And for the first time Film Independent recognized the best in TV. “A Teacher,” “I May Destroy You,” “Little America,” “Small Axe” and “Unorthodox” all landed nominations for Best New Scripted Series. “Unorthodox” and “Little America” each scored three nominations.
Nominations for the 36th annual ceremony were announced Tuesday via Film Independent’s website and YouTube channel by Laverne Cox, Barry Jenkins and Olivia Wilde.
Though the awards are generally held the Saturday afternoon before the Oscars ceremony, the show has been moved up to a primetime slot on Thursday, April 22 and will air on IFC that will also be simulcast on AMC+ and...
- 1/26/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
The 2021 Independent Spirit Awards nominations were announced Tuesday, January 26. So who made the cut at these kudos, which celebrate the best in American independent films? Scroll down to see the full list of nominees for the 2021 Indie Spirits. Remember, only American-made movies with budgets under $20 million were eligible for consideration.
These Spirit contenders were decided by nominating committees that included film critics, film programmers, producers, directors, writers, cinematographers, editors, actors, past nominees and winners, and members of Film Independent’s Board of Directors.
Winners will be chosen by all of Film Independent’s eligible members, including industry insiders and any movie fans who sign up for membership starting at $95 per year.
These awards have come to be a significant preview of the Oscars as the motion picture academy embraces more independent films. Five of the last 10 Spirit champs for Best Feature went on to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
These Spirit contenders were decided by nominating committees that included film critics, film programmers, producers, directors, writers, cinematographers, editors, actors, past nominees and winners, and members of Film Independent’s Board of Directors.
Winners will be chosen by all of Film Independent’s eligible members, including industry insiders and any movie fans who sign up for membership starting at $95 per year.
These awards have come to be a significant preview of the Oscars as the motion picture academy embraces more independent films. Five of the last 10 Spirit champs for Best Feature went on to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
- 1/26/2021
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Channing Godfrey Peoples has released her feature directorial debut, “Miss Juneteenth,” to universal critical acclaim. The intimate film, which she also wrote, tells the story of Turquoise Jones (Nicole Beharie), a former pageant queen living in Fort Worth, Texas who pushes her daughter to compete in the same pageant she won as a teen. The film is a personal one for Peoples, who grew up in a historically Black community in Fort Worth. “It’s like laying your soul bare for the world to see,” says Peoples in an exclusive new interview for Gold Derby. Watch the video interview above.
SEENicole Beharie interview: ‘Miss Juneteenth’
It took seven years to get “Miss Juneteenth” made, and Peoples credits the locals of Fort Worth for supporting her through that journey. “I wanted to write about this particular community and I also wanted to write about a Black woman in particular who is navigating her own dream deferred,...
SEENicole Beharie interview: ‘Miss Juneteenth’
It took seven years to get “Miss Juneteenth” made, and Peoples credits the locals of Fort Worth for supporting her through that journey. “I wanted to write about this particular community and I also wanted to write about a Black woman in particular who is navigating her own dream deferred,...
- 1/21/2021
- by Kevin Jacobsen
- Gold Derby
Our year-end coverage continues with a look at the best performances of the year. Rather than divide categories into supporting or lead or by gender, we’ve written about our thirty favorite performances from 2020, period. Check out our countdown below and start watching the ones you’ve missed here.
30. Frances McDormand (Nomadland)
Frances McDormand’s work in Nomadland is all about isolation, While she shines in the communal sequences throughout the country, particularly alongside David Strathairn, her best acting here comes from solitude. Whether she’s silently eating in her Rv, working tedious shifts at Amazon warehouses, swimming underneath waterfalls or wandering around her former house with aching melancholy, McDormand flawlessly captures the freedom and heartbreak of impermanence with just a few trembles and glances. – Logan K.
29. Cosmo Jarvis (Shadow of Violence)
The brutality of Western Ireland’s low-level criminals set against the wide-open green landscape that bridges its country...
30. Frances McDormand (Nomadland)
Frances McDormand’s work in Nomadland is all about isolation, While she shines in the communal sequences throughout the country, particularly alongside David Strathairn, her best acting here comes from solitude. Whether she’s silently eating in her Rv, working tedious shifts at Amazon warehouses, swimming underneath waterfalls or wandering around her former house with aching melancholy, McDormand flawlessly captures the freedom and heartbreak of impermanence with just a few trembles and glances. – Logan K.
29. Cosmo Jarvis (Shadow of Violence)
The brutality of Western Ireland’s low-level criminals set against the wide-open green landscape that bridges its country...
- 12/23/2020
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
With awards season offering different twists and turns, some independent distributors are using this time of influx to get their films ahead of the fray. Variety has learned exclusively that Vertical Entertainment has submitted “Miss Juneteenth” — from writer and director Channing Godfrey Peoples — for Academy Awards consideration, and put it on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences streaming platform. This marks the first time that Vertical Entertainment has submitted a film on the Academy’s streaming platforms.
“Miss Juneteenth” has received critical acclaim this year after its theatrical and VOD release in June. The film hopes to navigate an Oscar season where many movies and performances are shifting out of the eligibility year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and theater closures. The film may be able to make some headway in categories like original screenplay, or it could be a dark horse entry for star Nicole Beharie in the acting category.
“Miss Juneteenth” has received critical acclaim this year after its theatrical and VOD release in June. The film hopes to navigate an Oscar season where many movies and performances are shifting out of the eligibility year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and theater closures. The film may be able to make some headway in categories like original screenplay, or it could be a dark horse entry for star Nicole Beharie in the acting category.
- 10/2/2020
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
A Texas single mother is determined her daughter will win the local pageant to gain a college scholarship in this beautifully observed debut feature
Earlier this year, Philippa Lowthorpe’s socio-comedy Misbehaviour entertainingly addressed the intersection between sexism and racism through the bizarre real-life pageantry of the disrupted 1970 Miss World competition in London. A very different pageant plays out in Fort Worth, Texas, in this impressive debut feature from writer-director Channing Godfrey Peoples. Following a mother’s attempts to pass her own interrupted ambitions on to her teenage daughter, Miss Juneteenth is a beautifully observed and quietly powerful drama that applies its coming-of-age tropes to children, parents and politics alike.
Nicole Beharie, who played Rachel Robinson to Chadwick Boseman’s Jackie in 42, is Turquoise Jones, a former beauty queen (she keeps her crown in a box) juggling shifts at Wayman’s BBQ bar, and at the local funeral parlour. “I...
Earlier this year, Philippa Lowthorpe’s socio-comedy Misbehaviour entertainingly addressed the intersection between sexism and racism through the bizarre real-life pageantry of the disrupted 1970 Miss World competition in London. A very different pageant plays out in Fort Worth, Texas, in this impressive debut feature from writer-director Channing Godfrey Peoples. Following a mother’s attempts to pass her own interrupted ambitions on to her teenage daughter, Miss Juneteenth is a beautifully observed and quietly powerful drama that applies its coming-of-age tropes to children, parents and politics alike.
Nicole Beharie, who played Rachel Robinson to Chadwick Boseman’s Jackie in 42, is Turquoise Jones, a former beauty queen (she keeps her crown in a box) juggling shifts at Wayman’s BBQ bar, and at the local funeral parlour. “I...
- 9/27/2020
- by Mark Kermode
- The Guardian - Film News
In a story steeped in pride for Black Texan culture, a struggling single mom hopes her daughter will repeat the success she once had as a beauty queen
This debut feature from Channing Godfrey Peoples is lit with pride for Black Texan culture: the BBQ, the beauty pageants, historic black colleges and Juneteenth itself. This is the annual 19 June holiday commemorating the day in 1865, when enslaved black people in Texas were liberated, two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had outlawed slavery.
Nicole Beharie stars as Miss Juneteenth 2004 – otherwise known as Turquoise “Turq” Jones. She is a single mother who scrimps every penny she earns working at the local bar and funeral home, in the hope that her 15-year-old daughter Kai (Alexis Chikaeze) will repeat her glory days at this year’s pageant. This is more than mere vanity: the new Miss Juneteenth will have...
This debut feature from Channing Godfrey Peoples is lit with pride for Black Texan culture: the BBQ, the beauty pageants, historic black colleges and Juneteenth itself. This is the annual 19 June holiday commemorating the day in 1865, when enslaved black people in Texas were liberated, two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had outlawed slavery.
Nicole Beharie stars as Miss Juneteenth 2004 – otherwise known as Turquoise “Turq” Jones. She is a single mother who scrimps every penny she earns working at the local bar and funeral home, in the hope that her 15-year-old daughter Kai (Alexis Chikaeze) will repeat her glory days at this year’s pageant. This is more than mere vanity: the new Miss Juneteenth will have...
- 9/25/2020
- by Ellen E Jones
- The Guardian - Film News
Over here in the UK it may not be as widely known, but Juneteenth is a big deal in the States, as a day to celebrate the emancipation of the enslaved. This brilliant drama is about a Texan beauty pageant that commemorates that very day – and to mark the release of the movie we spoke to director Channing Godfrey Peoples, and impressive newcomer Alexis Chikaeze, who plays the young woman entering into the aforementioned competition.
We speak about the film’s pertinence, and how it fits into a current socio-political landscape, while we also get onto the subject of mother-daughter relationships, which is a prevalent theme within this production. Chikaeze speaks about wanting to continue performing as her career, and what it meant for her to study poet Maya Angelou for this role. Meanwhile Peoples speaks about the film industry and how she hopes it may change thanks to the BLM movement.
We speak about the film’s pertinence, and how it fits into a current socio-political landscape, while we also get onto the subject of mother-daughter relationships, which is a prevalent theme within this production. Chikaeze speaks about wanting to continue performing as her career, and what it meant for her to study poet Maya Angelou for this role. Meanwhile Peoples speaks about the film industry and how she hopes it may change thanks to the BLM movement.
- 9/23/2020
- by Stefan Pape
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The BlackStar Film Festival in Philadelphia has closed out its 9th edition by naming Channing Godfrey Peoples’ Miss Juneteenth as its best narrative feature.
The Sundance title has Nicole Beharie playing a former pageant winner focused on preparing her rebellious daughter for a “Miss Juneteenth” pageant. The ensemble cast for Godfrey People’s feature debut includes Kendrick Sampson, Alexis Chikaeze, Liz Mikel, Markus M. Mauldin, Lori Hayes, Akron Watson, Jaime Matthis and Phyllis Cicero.
Other film jury competition winners at the Philadelphia showcase for filmmakers of color include the best best feature documentary prize going to Stateless, where director Michele ...
The Sundance title has Nicole Beharie playing a former pageant winner focused on preparing her rebellious daughter for a “Miss Juneteenth” pageant. The ensemble cast for Godfrey People’s feature debut includes Kendrick Sampson, Alexis Chikaeze, Liz Mikel, Markus M. Mauldin, Lori Hayes, Akron Watson, Jaime Matthis and Phyllis Cicero.
Other film jury competition winners at the Philadelphia showcase for filmmakers of color include the best best feature documentary prize going to Stateless, where director Michele ...
- 8/27/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The BlackStar Film Festival in Philadelphia has closed out its 9th edition by naming Channing Godfrey Peoples’ Miss Juneteenth as its best narrative feature.
The Sundance title has Nicole Beharie playing a former pageant winner focused on preparing her rebellious daughter for a “Miss Juneteenth” pageant. The ensemble cast for Godfrey People’s feature debut includes Kendrick Sampson, Alexis Chikaeze, Liz Mikel, Markus M. Mauldin, Lori Hayes, Akron Watson, Jaime Matthis and Phyllis Cicero.
Other film jury competition winners at the Philadelphia showcase for filmmakers of color include the best best feature documentary prize going to Stateless, where director Michele ...
The Sundance title has Nicole Beharie playing a former pageant winner focused on preparing her rebellious daughter for a “Miss Juneteenth” pageant. The ensemble cast for Godfrey People’s feature debut includes Kendrick Sampson, Alexis Chikaeze, Liz Mikel, Markus M. Mauldin, Lori Hayes, Akron Watson, Jaime Matthis and Phyllis Cicero.
Other film jury competition winners at the Philadelphia showcase for filmmakers of color include the best best feature documentary prize going to Stateless, where director Michele ...
- 8/27/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Drama premiered at Sundance and marks feature directorial debut of Channing Godfrey Peoples.
Vertigo Releasing has secured UK and Ireland rights to Channing Godfrey Peoples’ US drama Miss Juneteenth, which debuted at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
Vertigo secured the deal directly with US producer-financer Ley Line Entertainment and plans to release the film theatrically and on digital platforms on September 18.
It will also release the film in South Africa while Rialto Distribution will handle Australia and New Zealand, through its ongoing strategic partnership with Vertigo.
The film marks the feature debut of the writer-director who was inspired by...
Vertigo Releasing has secured UK and Ireland rights to Channing Godfrey Peoples’ US drama Miss Juneteenth, which debuted at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
Vertigo secured the deal directly with US producer-financer Ley Line Entertainment and plans to release the film theatrically and on digital platforms on September 18.
It will also release the film in South Africa while Rialto Distribution will handle Australia and New Zealand, through its ongoing strategic partnership with Vertigo.
The film marks the feature debut of the writer-director who was inspired by...
- 7/14/2020
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦
- ScreenDaily
In Channing Godfrey Peoples’ affecting first feature, Turquoise Jones (Nicole Beharie) is a single mother and former beauty queen, once crowned Miss Juneteenth, who wants her teenager daughter, Kai (Alexis Chikaeze), to follow in her footsteps. It’s a film steeped in black Texan culture, starting with its namesake holiday, which marked the day — June 19, 1865 — that slaves in Texas learned they were free, as ordered by the Emancipation Proclamation more than two years earlier. And Peoples, a native of Fort Worth, imbues the film with a Texan authenticity, undoubtedly its greatest strength.
“I was literally writing a film about the places and spaces that I grew up around,” Peoples, who studied film at the University of Southern California, told IndieWire. “Miss Juneteenth” was filmed on the southside of Fort Worth, a Black community that’s being actively gentrified. “I’ve been out of Texas, but it’s a place and...
“I was literally writing a film about the places and spaces that I grew up around,” Peoples, who studied film at the University of Southern California, told IndieWire. “Miss Juneteenth” was filmed on the southside of Fort Worth, a Black community that’s being actively gentrified. “I’ve been out of Texas, but it’s a place and...
- 6/23/2020
- by Tambay Obenson
- Thompson on Hollywood
In Channing Godfrey Peoples’ affecting first feature, Turquoise Jones (Nicole Beharie) is a single mother and former beauty queen, once crowned Miss Juneteenth, who wants her teenager daughter, Kai (Alexis Chikaeze), to follow in her footsteps. It’s a film steeped in black Texan culture, starting with its namesake holiday, which marked the day — June 19, 1865 — that slaves in Texas learned they were free, as ordered by the Emancipation Proclamation more than two years earlier. And Peoples, a native of Fort Worth, imbues the film with a Texan authenticity, undoubtedly its greatest strength.
“I was literally writing a film about the places and spaces that I grew up around,” Peoples, who studied film at the University of Southern California, told IndieWire. “Miss Juneteenth” was filmed on the southside of Fort Worth, a Black community that’s being actively gentrified. “I’ve been out of Texas, but it’s a place and...
“I was literally writing a film about the places and spaces that I grew up around,” Peoples, who studied film at the University of Southern California, told IndieWire. “Miss Juneteenth” was filmed on the southside of Fort Worth, a Black community that’s being actively gentrified. “I’ve been out of Texas, but it’s a place and...
- 6/23/2020
- by Tambay Obenson
- Indiewire
Though Channing Godfrey Peoples’ directorial debut “Miss Juneteenth” is named for the holiday often called “Black Independence Day” or “Freedom Day,” the film is not a history lesson. At least not entirely. And with the film’s release on the 155th anniversary of the holiday, Peoples can’t help but find the moment a little bittersweet.
“There’s so much excitement in having the film go out into the world and people being able to see the story that’s been so near and dear to me,” Peoples tells Variety. “But we’re also in this really difficult time, especially within the Black community.”
“Thematically in the film, we’re talking about freedom and what freedom means for Black people. And here we are in 2020, still really navigating what freedom means for Black people — and that’s our freedom to survive and to be able to walk down the street...
“There’s so much excitement in having the film go out into the world and people being able to see the story that’s been so near and dear to me,” Peoples tells Variety. “But we’re also in this really difficult time, especially within the Black community.”
“Thematically in the film, we’re talking about freedom and what freedom means for Black people. And here we are in 2020, still really navigating what freedom means for Black people — and that’s our freedom to survive and to be able to walk down the street...
- 6/19/2020
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Often, when a beauty pageant is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is the film Miss Congeniality. Young white women dominate beauty contests around the world. But Miss Black America, Miss Black USA, and other similar competitions have been celebrating Black beauty, culture, and identity for more than half a century. This is where Channing Godfrey Peoples steps in with her first feature, a drama titled Miss Juneteenth. The film first premiered at Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. The director, also known as a writer for the TV series "Queen Sugar" or for her 2013 short film, Red, shines a genuine light on Black motherhood, the Miss Juneteenth pageant, and mother/daughter relationship in this heart-gripping drama. Turquoise Jones (Nicole Beharie), a single mother and a former beauty queen living Fort Worth, Texas, works all kinds of jobs while also raising her teenage daughter, Kai (Alexis Chikaeze). Kai's...
- 6/19/2020
- by Zofia Wijaszka
- firstshowing.net
The Juneteenth holiday celebrates June 19th, 1865, the day enslaved Texans finally received the message of the Emancipation Proclamation — more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the executive order that put an end to slavery in America. It’s a holiday that has been brought to the fore in recent weeks following the gruesome killing of George Floyd and protests and movements that strive to dismantle systemic racism in this country.
Long before organizations set aside Juneteeth as a paid holiday and Donald Trump’s claim that he made the day “famous,” Texas natives like Miss Juneteenth helmer Channing Godfrey Peoples have partaken in annual traditions that commemorate the holiday, from parades to cookouts, church services and other community gatherings.
“Juneteenth, for me, was something that I looked forward to every year as a kid,” said the director, who is making her feature debut with Miss Juneteenth, which is out on VOD today.
Long before organizations set aside Juneteeth as a paid holiday and Donald Trump’s claim that he made the day “famous,” Texas natives like Miss Juneteenth helmer Channing Godfrey Peoples have partaken in annual traditions that commemorate the holiday, from parades to cookouts, church services and other community gatherings.
“Juneteenth, for me, was something that I looked forward to every year as a kid,” said the director, who is making her feature debut with Miss Juneteenth, which is out on VOD today.
- 6/19/2020
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
On June 19, 1865, slavery was abolished in Texas, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It is a benchmark in Black history and is more timely now than ever as it is a day to celebrate and champion Black voices. That said, it is a good day for the debut of Channing Godfrey Peoples’ Miss Juneteenth, a film that spotlights the staple pageant associated with the day.
Directed and written by Texas native Peoples, Miss Juneteenth made its world premiere at Sundance earlier this year. The film stars Nicole Beharie, Alexis Chikaeze and Kendrick Sampson and follows Turquoise Jones (Beharie), a former beauty queen turned hard-working single mom that is preparing her rebellious teenage daughter Kai (Chikaeze) for the annual Miss Juneteenth pageant, hoping to keep her from repeating the same mistakes in life that she made.
“I grew up with Juneteenth so it was just second nature to me,” said Peoples told Deadline at Sundance.
Directed and written by Texas native Peoples, Miss Juneteenth made its world premiere at Sundance earlier this year. The film stars Nicole Beharie, Alexis Chikaeze and Kendrick Sampson and follows Turquoise Jones (Beharie), a former beauty queen turned hard-working single mom that is preparing her rebellious teenage daughter Kai (Chikaeze) for the annual Miss Juneteenth pageant, hoping to keep her from repeating the same mistakes in life that she made.
“I grew up with Juneteenth so it was just second nature to me,” said Peoples told Deadline at Sundance.
- 6/19/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
A Texas mother pushes her reluctant teen daughter to follow in her footsteps as a beauty queen. Yes, we’ve seen so many versions of this story before — but luckily, the Miss Juneteenth competition is no typical beauty pageant. It commemorates the day in 1865, some two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, when slaves in Texas were finally freed. And the movie that bears its name, set to be released on VOD on June 19th during one of the greatest racial-justice protests in history, bristles with timeliness as it celebrates young...
- 6/17/2020
- by Peter Travers
- Rollingstone.com
As the pandemic rages on and the oppressed justly fight back against police brutality across this country, it feels a bit futile to be doling out monthly movie recommendations. So, first, we’ll a number of ways you can help, with a map of places to protest, where to donate, sign petitions, and more.
Now, if you are in the headspace to watch a film, there are a number of worthwhile offerings this June, including a new feature from the director most attuned at capturing our country’s sharp racial divide. There’s also a trio of features from one of international cinema’s most prolific directors finally getting a U.S. release, plus notable documentaries, gripping character studies, and more.
See our recommendations below.
11. Judy and Punch (Mirrah Foulkes; June 5)
After premiering at last year’s Sundance Film Festival, the equally entertaining and shocking black comedy Judy & Punch will arrive this week.
Now, if you are in the headspace to watch a film, there are a number of worthwhile offerings this June, including a new feature from the director most attuned at capturing our country’s sharp racial divide. There’s also a trio of features from one of international cinema’s most prolific directors finally getting a U.S. release, plus notable documentaries, gripping character studies, and more.
See our recommendations below.
11. Judy and Punch (Mirrah Foulkes; June 5)
After premiering at last year’s Sundance Film Festival, the equally entertaining and shocking black comedy Judy & Punch will arrive this week.
- 6/1/2020
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
An official selection at Sundance and SXSW (where it picked up the Best Texan film award), Miss Juneteenth is the directorial debut of Channing Godfrey Peoples, a writer for Queen Sugar. Led by Nicole Beharie and Alexis Chikaeze, making her official film debut, the mother/daughter drama will arrive, fittingly, this June via Vertical Entertainment, and now the first trailer has landed.
The story follows Turnoise Jones (Beharie), who was set to win the crown and scholarship to college in the Miss Juneteenth pageant, but an unexpected pregnancy derailed those dreams. Now as a single mother to her daughter Kai (Chikaeze), Jones struggles to make ends meet. An opportunity to enter Kai into the same pageant arises and Jones places her aspirations on her daughter to achieve the same crown and scholarship she was forced to relinquish to escape the small Texas town they inhabit in hopes of a better life.
The story follows Turnoise Jones (Beharie), who was set to win the crown and scholarship to college in the Miss Juneteenth pageant, but an unexpected pregnancy derailed those dreams. Now as a single mother to her daughter Kai (Chikaeze), Jones struggles to make ends meet. An opportunity to enter Kai into the same pageant arises and Jones places her aspirations on her daughter to achieve the same crown and scholarship she was forced to relinquish to escape the small Texas town they inhabit in hopes of a better life.
- 5/26/2020
- by Margaret Rasberry
- The Film Stage
"I need you to focus on your studies." Vertical Entertainment has released an official trailer for the indie dramedy Miss Juneteenth, which initially premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. It also won the Lone Star Award at the SXSW Film Festival in the spring as the Best Texan Film. Marking the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Channing Godfrey Peoples, Miss Juneteenth is about a mother and a daughter in a small town in Texas. Nicole Beharie plays Turquoise, a former beauty queen and now single mom, who tries to prepare her rebellious teenage daughter for the same pageant she won. Also stars Alexis Chikaeze, Kendrick Sampson, Lori Hayes, & Liz Mikel. Looks like an authentic story about dreams. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Channing Godfrey Peoples' Miss Juneteenth, from YouTube: A former beauty queen turned hard working single mom prepares her rebellious teenage daughter for the Miss Juneteenth pageant,...
- 5/21/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Exclusive: Vertical Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Miss Juneteenth, which made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival and later won an award at SXSW in March. The debut feature of writer-director Channing Godfrey Peoples now is aimed at a June 19 release, that date marking the 155th anniversary of the Juneteenth holiday.
Vertical is hoping for a theatrical release depending on the status of theaters amid the coronavirus pandemic, but it aims to bow the film on digital on the American holiday, which commemorates the abolition of slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation — a celebration that includes an annual beauty pageant.
More from Deadline‘Miss Juneteenth’ Tells A Story Of Two Women 'Who Come Into Their Own In A Different Way' – Sundance StudioSXSW 2020 Pilot Showcase Makes Its Way To VimeoVertical Entertainment Nabs U.S. Rights To 'Run With The Hunted'; Gravitas...
Vertical is hoping for a theatrical release depending on the status of theaters amid the coronavirus pandemic, but it aims to bow the film on digital on the American holiday, which commemorates the abolition of slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation — a celebration that includes an annual beauty pageant.
More from Deadline‘Miss Juneteenth’ Tells A Story Of Two Women 'Who Come Into Their Own In A Different Way' – Sundance StudioSXSW 2020 Pilot Showcase Makes Its Way To VimeoVertical Entertainment Nabs U.S. Rights To 'Run With The Hunted'; Gravitas...
- 4/14/2020
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
A unique and authentic film that captures African American life in deep in heart of Fort Worth, Texas, Channing Godfrey People’s Miss Juneteenth is a warm and wise picture that traces a fragment mother-daughter relationship against the backdrop of an annual pageant. The film veers into familiar material as a mother, Turnouise Jones (Nicole Beharie), presses her 15-year old daughter Kai (Alexis Chikaeze) to follow in her footsteps and compete for a scholarship that will enable her to leave the small world she knows. It appears as if Kai has plans to do so, with or without Turnouise’s nudging as she shows little to no interest in the completion.
Miss Juneteenth covers this tried and true ground in with a fresh perspective as we follow Beharie’s Turnouise struggling to make ends meet. Her dreams were deferred when she gave birth to Kai, and is all but forced...
Miss Juneteenth covers this tried and true ground in with a fresh perspective as we follow Beharie’s Turnouise struggling to make ends meet. Her dreams were deferred when she gave birth to Kai, and is all but forced...
- 2/10/2020
- by John Fink
- The Film Stage
“Miss Juneteenth” richly captures the slow pace of ebbing small-town Texas life, even if you might wish there were a bit more narrative momentum to pick up the slack in writer-director Channing Godfrey Peoples’ first feature. She’s got a very relatable heroine in Nicole Beharie’s Turquoise, an erstwhile local beauty queen whose crown proved the peak rather than the kickoff to her dream of a better life — high hopes now transferred to a daughter reluctant to inherit that burden.
This portrait of a whole community dogged by debt and diminishing prospect has a basic authenticity that will ring true for many viewers unaccustomed to seeing themselves onscreen. That is, people whose aspirations toward the middle-class American Dream grow ever more remote as the middle class itself struggles to maintain its position.
Juneteenth is celebrated in many African American communities, but got its start and raison d’être in the Lone Star state,...
This portrait of a whole community dogged by debt and diminishing prospect has a basic authenticity that will ring true for many viewers unaccustomed to seeing themselves onscreen. That is, people whose aspirations toward the middle-class American Dream grow ever more remote as the middle class itself struggles to maintain its position.
Juneteenth is celebrated in many African American communities, but got its start and raison d’être in the Lone Star state,...
- 1/25/2020
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
She never tries it on herself, but it seems likely that Turquoise Jones still fits into her Miss Juneteenth dress. She’s played by Nicole Beharie, once again in a star-making role after already doing just that in films like “Shame” and shows like “Sleepy Hollow.” Channing Godfrey Peoples’ debut feature “Miss Juneteenth” opens with Turquoise staring the yellow confection down, holding it up against her body, pondering her once-shiny crown. Since winning the scholarship pageant when she was just a teenager, named in honor and in memory of the day Texas slaves learned they were emancipated (two years after the rest of the country), Turquoise’s life hasn’t turned out the way she hoped. That’s not going to happen to her daughter Kai (Alexis Chikaeze), at least not if her mother has anything to say about it.
Kai, however, has different ideas about where her dreams might take her,...
Kai, however, has different ideas about where her dreams might take her,...
- 1/25/2020
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
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