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Exclusive: Producer Daniela Taplin Lundberg’s Stay Gold Features has secured a new round of funding from undisclosed private investors — $10 million that will go toward the in-house development and production of film and TV projects.

This comes on the heels of Stay Gold’s second round funding, another $10M, on which we were first to report in February 2020. Based in New York, Taplin Lundberg launched the company in 2016 with funding from a dozen private investors. She’ll manage Stay Gold Film Fund III alongside L.A.-based head of development Vanessa Mendal, with whom she oversees the entirety of Stay Gold’s slate.

Among the upcoming projects on Stay Gold’s slate is a feature adaptation of the esteemed graphic novel Tumor, written and to be directed by Will Bridges, who sold his first film All of You to Apple in late 2024. There’s...

A film without a cast is, miraculously, still a film. However, a cast—even if it’s just one or two actors—has undoubtedly become an integral part of a film, and for good reason. Films offer a variety of adventures that can be both so relatable and not so relatable. It’s the faces on the screen who the audience attaches themselves to, whether it’s to deliver a humane message or thrilling escapism, these faces help bring the audience to the film’s home stretch. Hence, who these actors are is of much importance, and who better to assist a filmmaker’s decision-process than a casting director.

On January 28, Film Independent Education held the annual panel and networking event spotlighting some of the top casting directors working in independent film today. The event marked Film Independent’s first of 2025, and was hosted at the company headquarters. It was moderated by Sunday Boling Kennedy,...

Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale in ‘Poker Face’ season 2 (Photo by: Peacock)

There’s finally official content available for the much-anticipated second season of Peacock’s Poker Face starring Natasha Lyonne. While the streamer didn’t announce a season two premiere date, it teased that the 12-episode new season will arrive this spring.

“Charlie Cale is back on the run, and in season two we’ve taken her journey to the next level one murder mystery at a time. From minor league baseball to big box retail, from funeral homes to alligator farms and even a grade school talent show, Charlie navigates her crime-solving existential road trip with deadpan wit, human empathy, and her signature uncanny lie-detecting ability,” wrote series creator, writer, director, and executive producer Rian Johnson and series star director, writer, and executive producer Natasha Lyonne in a joint statement released with the first photos.

Johnson and Lyonne...

Natasha Lyonne and Rian Johnson's hit streaming series, Poker Face, is set to return this year. And, well? The list of people they've finagled to guest star in Season 2 is actually unhinged. Like, the list of people who are going to be on this show is truly outrageous and unfathomable to someone like me, a person who does not cast television shows. But if I did? And I managed to pull this off? I'd be screaming it from the rooftop, folks. Because this cast list? It's truly the best of the best of the funniest, most talented people currently working in Hollywood.

And it seems that Lyonne and Johnson recognize that, sending along a note with the press release teasing the series' forthcoming slate of episodes. And though we don't know the exact premiere date yet — all it says is "Spring 2025" — we do know the 12, 60-minute-long episodes will feature Many very,...

Natasha Lyonne and Rian Johnson's hit streaming series, Poker Face, is set to return this year. And, well? The list of people they've finagled to guest star in Season 2 is actually unhinged. Like, the list of people who are going to be on this show is truly outrageous and unfathomable to someone like me, a person who does not cast television shows. But if I did? And I managed to pull this off? I'd be screaming it from the rooftop, folks. Because this cast list? It's truly the best of the best of the funniest, most talented people currently working in Hollywood.

And it seems that Lyonne and Johnson recognize that, sending along a note with the press release teasing the series' forthcoming slate of episodes. And though we don't know the exact premiere date yet — all it says is "Spring 2025" — we do know the 12, 60-minute-long episodes will feature Many very,...

Peacock has revealed exciting news about the second season of Poker Face. New images have also provided a first look at the new episodes.

Poker Face Season 2 is set to premiere on Peacock in Spring 2025. New photos share a sneak peek at Natasha Lyonne in the second season along with some of the various guest stars. While a specific premiere date has still yet to be announced, the Spring 2025 release window is good news for fans who have been waiting for the second season to arrive. For now, the new images can be viewed below.

RelatedPoker Face Season 2 Guest Stars Include Justified & The Office Actors

A new trio of familiar actors have signed on for the second season of the acclaimed Peacock series.

"Charlie Cale is back on the run, and in Season 2 we’ve taken her journey to the next level one murder mystery at a time," series creator,...

Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” was a poster child for the power of inclusion when it broke box office records in 2023, but the $1.45 billion-grossing movie is only the 119th most inclusive film made in the past five years, according to the Inclusion List.

The annual list — presented by Dr. Stacy L. Smith and the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, in collaboration with the Adobe Foundation — is a data-driven ranking that identified the 150 most inclusive films from 2019 to 2023 and ranks a single year’s films across gender, race/ethnicity, LGBTQ+, disability and age representation.

“Our goal with the Inclusion List is to celebrate those who are showcasing and working with exceptional talent from all backgrounds,” stated Dr. Smith in a press release announcing the researchers’ findings. “In the second year of its release, the newest iteration of the Inclusion List spotlights films, filmmakers, and distributors who clearly demonstrate that inclusion...

Earlier this year, while talking about a movie called Let Go, I came to the realization that emotional family dramas scare me more than some of the most grotesque horror flicks out there. To be a little more specific, in order to align this review with the topic of today’s discussion, I’m alright with deciphering the underlying themes and messages in horror movies about pretty much everything related to what women have to go through. Baby Ruby was a haunting look at postpartum depression. Birth/Rebirth saw Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein through the lens of motherhood. Clock came down hard upon IVF. Immaculate highlighted the connection between religion and the bodily autonomy of women. Mother! confused me a lot, but I eventually came around to its commentary on the relationship between humans and Mother Earth. And, yes, these impacted me deeply. But I was even more moved by films like Together Together,...

Quick Links Where Does May Calamawy Appear in Gladiator II? How May Calamawy Is Wasted in Gladiator II

The following contains spoilers for Gladiator II, now playing in theaters.

As casting news for Ridley Scott's Gladiator II trickled out, fans of Marvel Studios were ecstatic to see May Calamawy has been offered a role. She was a tour de force in Moon Knight, where she played Layla, Marc Spector's wife. Together with Moon Knight, she became a hero. May turned into an avatar for Taweret, aka the Scarlet Scarab.

As Scarlet Scarab, Layla helped Moon Knight stop Ethan Hawke's Arthur Harrow and the cult of Ammit, an evil crocodile god. May had tremendous chemistry with Oscar Isaac and proved -- with her wings and acrobatic combat style -- she was just as effective and action-oriented as the Falcon. Unfortunately, Scott's sequel narrowed her role down significantly, which...

Goodrich had its L.A. premiere at the AMC The Grove 14, where Michael Keaton, Mila Kunis, and the film stars celebrated its presentation.

The comedy film, written and directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer, stars Keaton as Andy Goodrich, an older art gallery proprietor whose wife suddenly leaves him with their nine-year old twins for a 90-day stint in rehab.

Kunis plays Keaton’s pregnant daughter, Grace Goodrich, whom he turns to for help raising his kids.

The film also stars Andie MacDowell, Carmen Ejogo, Kevin Pollak, Michael Urie, Laura Benanti, Danny Deferrari, Jackie Sandler, Poorna Jagannathan, and Vivien Lyra Blair.

Hallie Meyers-Shyer (Home Again) is aboard as writer director. Jason Cloth and Dave Caplan’s C2 Motion Picture Group (Babylon) financed and produced alongside Daniela Taplin Lundberg (The Kids Are All Right) of Stay Gold Features and Kevin Mann.

Amy Pascal (Spider-Man: No Way Home) serves as executive producer alongside Keaton and Kunis.

Exclusive: Jason Biggs (American Pie franchise) is making his directorial debut on Getaway, an action comedy, in which he also stars.

Others on board for roles opposite Biggs include Meaghan Rath (Hawaii Five-0), Arturo Castro (Broad City), Justin H. Min (The Umbrella Academy) and Anna Konkle (PEN15).

Currently in production in Ontario, Canada, Getaway centers on Kevin Stanwell (Biggs), an actor famous for being the mascot for erectile dysfunction ads. With his marriage on the rocks, he attempts to salvage the relationship with his wife Suzie (Rath) by planning a trip for them to the Adirondacks. Kevin recruits an actor friend, Ernie Guerra (Castro), to stage a home invasion to make Kevin look like a hero, but when the plan goes awry, the couple find themselves caught up in a murder investigation.

Jamie Napoli and Joshua Paul Johnson scripted the project, which hails from Motion Picture Corporation of America. Mpca CEO Brad Krevoy,...

From premieres to existing classics, there’s something for everyone to enjoy on Paramount+ this month.

The legendary RuPaul Charles is upping the stakes with all-new franchise of the Emmy-winning “RuPaul’s Drag Race” with the premiere of “RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars.” In this new show, 12 queens from all around the globe will compete for a grand prize and a place in the international pavilion at the Drag Race Hall of Fame.

And that’s not the only beloved property giving something new. The final season of the Paramount+ original series “Seal Team” is also set to hit the streamer this month.

Along with the new content, there are loads of existing films and shows coming to the platform, including family favorites like “We Bought a Zoo” and “Hotel for Dogs.” Staple movies like “Pulp Fiction” and “The Big Short” will also be available to watch.

See the full...

In the "Star Trek: Voyager" episode "In the Flesh" the U.S.S. Voyager encounters a mysterious space station that contains a perfect simulation of Starfleet Academy back on Earth. The simulation contains familiar faces from Starfleet Academy, including the friendly groundskeeper Boothby (Ray Walston). Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) is suspicious of the simulation, and some investigation finds that the "humans" she encounters inside are actually genetically altered members of Species 8472, vicious aliens from an alternate dimension full of fluid. Species 8472 is convinced that humans intend to invade their dimension and take over, and they are using simulations to better know a potential enemy.

Armed with this knowledge, Janeway enters into negotiations with Species 8472, hoping to end the hostilities between them and the Voyager. The negotiations are held with Boothby, a woman named Commander Valerie Archer (Kate Vernon), and the grumpy Admiral Bullock (Tucker Smallwood). 

Tucker Smallwood will be familiar to most viewers,...

For those who remember, the game show Press Your Luck relied a lot on good timing. In a very roulette-like manner, contestants would watch squares on a board randomly be highlighted until they prompt it to stop in order to get the prize it halted on. An amazing episode in 1984 would have a contestant endlessly receiving good luck as he won big money every time he called, “Stop!” His fortune would be called into question as he would get accused of cheating on the show. Deadline has now shared the first look at Press Your Luck — a movie that will depict the events of that episode and all the controversy surrounding it, starring Paul Walter Hauser as the fateful contestant.

The synopsis, according to Deadline, reads,

“Set in 1984, the film follows Ohio resident Michael Larson, who steps on to the set of game show Press Your Luck harboring a secret:...

Exclusive: Comedic multi-hyphenate Julio Torres (A24’s Problemista) has struck a deal with Ars Nova, the Off-Broadway, non-profit theater in NYC, that will see them partner to identify, develop, and commission full-length projects from early-career comedy artists.

The collaboration further expands Ars Nova’s two-decade commitment to new comedy at a time when support systems for NYC-based artists have decreased. Under the partnership, Torres and Ars Nova will look to provide comedians with opportunities for development and production outside of the traditional model of sketch shows and 10-minute sets. They’ll offer funding up front to create brand new, uniquely theatrical shows, while providing mentorship and development resources to the artists involved, the first set for a commission being Ars Nova Vision Residency Alum River L. Ramirez. Others will be announced at a later date.

To celebrate the alliance, Torres will return to the Ars Nova stage on October 26 to host Showgasm.

Anyone who knows and loves a theater kid understands that they can be… a little much. To their credit, theater kids accept and embrace this reputation. Both the excessiveness of theater kids and their willingness to celebrate their extremities can be seen in the comedy Theater Camp, directed by Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman. After winning over critics and earning a strong, if limited, return in theaters, Theater Camp has come to Hulu.

Based on a short film that Gordon and Lieberman made with Ben Platt and Noah Galvin, Theater Camp features a group of theater kids trying to save their camp from the founder’s jerky son, who wants to sell it off for something more profitable. Both self-aware and sincere, Theater Camp is a love letter to the over-the-top nerds who can sing every word of A Chorus Line and know that Andrew Rannells was in Street Sharks.

Production wrapped recently in Canada.

Elliot Page and Hillary Baack have been unveiled as the stars of Close To You from Bafta-winning writer and director Dominic Savage.

Krishnendu Majumdar and Richard Yee developed the project under their Me + You Productions label in the UK and produce alongside Daniel Bekerman and Chris Yurkovich of Good Question Media in Canada, and Savage and Page, who conceived and co-wrote the story.

Kindred Spirit is co-financing the feature and Anita Gou and Sam Intili (I Saw The TV Glow) serve as executive producers alongside Rolling Dice’s Nia Vazirani (The Trial Of The Chicago 7...

Academy Award nominee Elliot Page (The Umbrella Academy) is set to star opposite Hillary Baack (Sound of Metal) in Close to You, a new film from BAFTA-winning writer-director Dominic Savage (I Am…), which has wrapped production in Canada.

Pic follows Sam (Page), who has a chance encounter with an old friend (Baack) on his way home to a dreaded family reunion that forces him to confront long-buried memories.

Producers include Krishnendu Majumdar and Richard Yee, who developed the project under their UK banner, Me + You Productions; Daniel Bekerman and Chris Yurkovich of Good Question Media in Canada; and Savage and Page, who together conceived and co-authored the story. Kindred Spirit is co-financing with Anita Gou and Sam Intili (I Saw the TV Glow) exec producing alongside Rolling Dices Nia Vazirani (The Trial of Chicago 7), as well as Matt Jordan Smith of Page’s PageBoy Productions.

Exclusive: Michael Urie (Shrinking), Laura Benanti (Gossip Girl) and Danny Deferrari (Oppenheimer) will round out the cast of the comedy Goodrich toplined by Michael Keaton and Mila Kunis, which is currently in production in Los Angeles. No details on their roles have been disclosed.

The film set in contemporary Los Angeles during the holidays tells the story of art dealer Andy Goodrich (Keaton), a man whose life is upended when his younger second wife leaves him and enters a 90-day rehab program while also threatening divorce. Andy takes charge of their nine-year-old twins, thrusting him into the world of modern parenthood for which he is deeply unprepared. With his career falling by the wayside, Andy leans on his grown and pregnant daughter Grace (Kunis) for support, and ultimately evolves into the father Grace never had. With all his relationships being put to the test, Andy learns the true meaning of having it all.

Exclusive: Michael Keaton’s “modern comedy” Goodrich is launching sales at the EFM for Black Bear International, we can reveal.

Fresh off Golden Globe, Emmy, Critics Choice and SAG wins for Hulu series Dopesick, Goodrich is set to return Oscar nominee Keaton to his more comedic roots.

Set in contemporary LA during the holidays, the film tells the story of art dealer Andy Goodrich (Keaton), a man whose life is upended when his younger second wife leaves him and enters a 90-day rehab program while also threatening divorce. Goodrich takes charge of their nine-year-old twins, thrusting him into the world of modern parenthood for which he is deeply unprepared. With his career falling by the wayside, he leans on his grown and pregnant daughter Grace for support, and ultimately evolves into the father Grace never had.

As we previously revealed, Hallie Meyers-Shyer (Home Again) is aboard as writer director. In the reconfigured package,...

Searchlight Pitures has won a fierce bidding war for one of the buzziest Sundance crowd-pleasers. The Disney-owned distributor has closed a worldwide rights deal for the well-reviewed and well-received “Theater Camp,” with distribution rights going for around 8 million, according to an insider with knowledge of the deal.

The feature adaptation of Nick Lieberman’s 2020 short film of the same name will receive a theatrical release. It premiered in the dramatic competition on Saturday afternoon at the Eccles Theater in Park City and received a standing ovation.

The mockumentary stars comedic ensemble Gordon, Ben Platt (“Pitch Perfect”), Noah Galvin (“Booksmart”), Jimmy Tatro (“American Vandal”), Patti Harrison (“Together Together”), and Ayo Edebiri (“The Bear”). Penned by Galvin, Gordon, Lieberman and Platt, and based on their short film, the film was produced by Will Ferrell, Galvin, Gordon, Lieberman, Platt, Erik Feig, Samie Kim Falvey, Julia Hammer, Ryan Heller, Maria Zuckerman, and Jessica Elbaum.

Directed by Sarah Adina Smith and co-written with Joshua Leonard, The Drop dumps a cold bucket of water on a couple who believe they're ready for parenthood. When Lex drops Baby Ani at a destination wedding in Mexico, her husband is convinced that the mortifying accident was out of her control. However, Mani can't help but question his wife's maternal instincts when the group doubts how the drop really occurred. While the baby is unharmed, Lex's friendships and her marriage to Mani may be a cause for concern.

Anna Konkle plays Lex in the dark-cringe comedy and is most notably known for creating and starring in the Hulu original series, PEN15. Konkle has also been featured in projects such as Rosewood, Together Together, and The Afterparty. Jermaine Fowler, Jillian Bell, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Robin Thede, Aparna Nancherla, Joshua Leonard, Jennifer Lafleur, and Elisha Henig are also included in the main cast.

HBO has greenlit comedy series “Little Films” (working title) from creator, director, star and executive producer Julio Torres.

Over six episodes, Torres tells the tale of when he lost a little golden oyster. The people he encounters as he searches for it, and the musings he has along the way, become points of departure for introspective, often eerie comedic stories about outsiders navigating an increasingly corporate and rapidly dysfunctional New York City.

Irony Point, Fruit Tree and 3 Arts Entertainment produce “Little Films.” The series will begin production in February. Along with Torres, executive producers include Dave McCary and Emma Stone for Fruit Tree; Alex Bach and Daniel Powell for Irony Point; and Olivia Gerke for 3 Arts. Ali Herting serves as co-executive producer for Fruit Tree and Charles Miller produces.

Other cast members have yet to be announced.

“We here at Julio™️ are so excited to be joined by many...

Continuing a tradition that began in 1985, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Thursday named four individuals and one writing team as the final winners for the 2022 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting.

Jennifer Archer from Springwater, Ontario, and Timothy Ware-Hill of Orange, NJ, took two of the spots. The other three went to winners from Southern California including Sam Boyer, J.M. Levine, and the team of Callie Bloem and Christopher Ewing. Each individual and the writing team will receive a 35,000 prize and mentorship opportunities from an AMPAS member for their fellowship year.

A live read of selected scenes from all five of the winning scripts will be performed November 9 during the formal awards ceremony at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

The Nicholl Fellowships was established in 1985 through the support of Gee Nicholl in memory of her husband Don Nicholl.

A total of 5,526 scripts from 85 countries were submitted for this year’s competition.

Exclusive: Producer Daniela Taplin Lundberg’s Stay Gold Features has announced the launch of Hollywood Gold, a new talk show podcast that will pull back the curtain on the making of some of the industry’s most iconic movies, through interviews with notable producers and filmmakers.

The series will profile a wide range of films and feature conversations with such producers as Fred Roos (The Outsiders), Callie Khouri (Thelma & Louise), Ron Shelton (Bull Durham), Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa (Election), and Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks (American Beauty). From stories of how the Weinsteins refused to approve the infamous Scream mask, to how The Princess Diaries inspired Julie Andrews’ return to film after a 10 year hiatus and launched Anne Hathaway’s career, to unknown filmmaker Martin Scorcese discovering Robert De Niro in the casting process for Mean Streets, the podcast will shine a light on the often unseen and...

Click here to read the full article.

Bleecker Street has unveiled an exclusive output deal with indie distributor levelFILM for the Canadian market.

As the Toronto Film Festival kicked into gear, Bleecker Street said levelFILM will release north of the border films for which the U.S. partner has North American or worldwide rights. The first title set to be released under the new joint venture will be Catherine Hardwicke’s action comedy Mafia Mamma, starring Toni Collette and Monica Belucci, which is set for a domestic release in 2023.

Bleecker Street’s Kent Sanderson negotiated the output agreement with Avy Eschenasy, while John Bain and Dave Hudakoc negotiated on behalf of levelFILM.

Bleecker Street and levelFILM previously collaborated on the Canadian release of Emma Holly Jones’ Mr. Malcolm’s List, with Freida Pinto; Sundown, starring Tim Roth and Charlotte Gainsbourg; and Together Together, with Ed Helms and Patti Harrison.

Bleecker...

Bleecker Street and LevelFILM announced today an exclusive output deal that will see the latter handle distribution of the films to which the former holds North American or worldwide rights.

“Mafia Mamma,” the action-comedy directed by Catherine Hardwicke and starring Toni Colette and Monica Belucci, is the first title to be released through the new partnership. The film is set to premiere in 2023.

The deal follows a series of collaborations between the two companies, including “Mr. Malcolm’s List,” “Sundown,” “Together Together,” “The World to Come,” “The Assistant” and “Save Yourselves!”

Also Read:

South Korean Crime Thriller ‘Project Wolf Hunting’ Lands North American Deal Ahead of TIFF Premiere

In addition to forming the new venture, Bleecker is showcasing a number of titles at the Toronto International Film Festival, which kicked off yesterday. Frances O’Connnor’s “Emily,” starring Emma Mackey, will open the Platform Program with its debut this week. Other upcoming films are “Golda,...

Bleecker Street has signed an exclusive output deal with Canadian distributor LevelFilm.

The partnership will see LevelFilm handle the Canadian distribution to Bleecker Street’s films where they control the North American or worldwide rights. The first movie that will be released under the new joint venture is Catherine Hardwicke’s action comedy “Mafia Mamma,” which stars Toni Collette and Monica Belucci.

The film is set for a nationwide release in 2023.

Bleecker Street’s Kent Sanderson negotiated the output agreement with Avy Eschenasy, while John Bain and Dave Hudakoc negotiated on behalf of LevelFilm.

Bleecker Street and LevelFilm previously collaborated on several titles including Emma Holly Jones’ “Mr. Malcolm’s List” with Freida Pinto, “Sundown” starring Tim Roth and Charlotte Gainsbourg, “Together Together” with Ed Helms and Patti Harrison, “The World to Come” with Katherine Waterston and Vanessa Kirby, Kitty Green’s “The Assistant” and Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson...

First release is action-comedy Mafia Mamma.

Bleecker Street has announced an exclusive output deal with Canadian distributor, levelFILM heading into TIFF, where Bleecker has Frances O’Connor’s Emily playing in Platform.

The partnership will see levelFILM handle Canadian distribution on Bleecker Street films where the latter controls North American or worldwide rights.

The first title to be released under the joint venture will be Catherine Hardwicke’s action-comedy Mafia Mamma starring Toni Collette and Monica Belucci, set for nationwide release in 2023.

Bleecker Street and levelFILM previously collaborated on Emma Holly Jones’ Mr. Malcolm’s List with Freida Pinto, Sundown (pictured...

Gravitas Ventures, of Canada-based Anthem Sports & Entertainment, has acquired the North American rights to the Diane Keaton-starring comedy film “Mark & Rita” — set to premiere Aug. 12 — as it expands into a new theatrical release label Gravitas Premiere.

The label will acquire four to six “cast-driven, high production value films” per year, releasing them wide theatrically, according to the company’s announcement.

“We are delighted to launch Gravitas Premiere with the acquisition of ‘Mack & Rita,’ which solidifies our commitment to championing the cinematic in-theater experience,” said Gravitas Ventures Founder and CEO Nolan Gallagher. “People love going to the movies and this film is an excitingly fresh and insightful comedy that needs to be experienced on the big screen. ‘Mack & Rita’ is the type of high-quality, independently-produced story we are seeking to acquire through Gravitas Premiere, and we look forward to collaborating with our exhibition partners in bringing the...

(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)

The Movie: "Together Together"

Where You Can Stream It: Hulu, Kanopy

The Pitch: Successful forty-something Matt (Ed Helms) has decided to have a baby, but he doesn't have a partner. Twenty-something Anna (Patti Harrison) is a barista who's estranged from her family. She applies to be Matt's surrogate, and when she successfully gets pregnant, the two begin a delicate, convention-defying relationship. This tender comedic drama from writer-director Nikole Beckwith takes place across the course of Anna's...

The post The Daily Stream: Together Together Is A Rare Platonic Love Story appeared first on /Film.

The 37th Annual Independent Spirit Awards took place on Sunday, returning to an in-person format following last year’s virtual ceremony. Many of the biggest names in the independent film community made the trek out to the beach in Santa Monica with the hopes of taking home the most coveted prizes in indie film. While the Spirit Awards typically take place the week before the Oscars, this year’s unique Covid-influenced awards season calendar meant that they were held nearly a month in advance. Hollywood couple Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally served as emcees of the proceedings.

This year’s class of nominees draws from films largely shut out from the Oscars, with indie hits like Oscar nominee “The Lost Daughter,” “C’mon C’mon,” and “Zola” racking up the most nominations. “The Lost Daughter” cleaned up, with three wins for Netflix including Best Feature and Best Director Maggie Gyllenhaal. Oscar no-show...

Who were the big winners at the 37th Independent Spirit Awards, presented on Sunday, March 6, at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California? Scroll down for the complete list of results in all categories, updated throughout the ceremony as the awards were handed out.

SEE2022 Oscars guild awards scorecard: ‘King Richard’ reigns over SAG and Ace Eddies to grab early lead

These awards are unique in that they are limited to American films made for under $20 million; films made outside the United States are eligible for Best International Feature. And the awards are decided in two stages. In the first round, committees of film professionals, experts, and critics choose the nominees. In the second round, the entire Film Independent membership gets to vote for the winners. Members include industry insiders, but also anyone in the general public who wish to pay yearly dues starting at $95 per year.

The Oscars...

The 37th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards were handed out Sunday at the Santa Monica Pier, with comedy power couple Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally serving as hosts.

There weren’t too many surprises throughout the night. Troy Kotsur won the first award of the evening, Best Supporting Male Actor for “Coda,” very much as predicted. Taylour Paige took home Best Female Lead Actor, for “Zola,” while Simon Rex, of “Red Rocket,” walked away with Best Male Lead. Ruth Negga won Best Supporting Female Actor for “Passing,” beating out Jessie Buckley from “The Lost Daughter.”

But Maggie Gyllenhaal’s adaptation of the Elena Ferrante book won the three other categories in which it was nominated — Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Feature — and was the night’s biggest victor. Gyllenhaal gave three effusive thank you speeches, spreading her appreciation around to her cast, crew, financiers, publicist, husband and mother. “Women in film!

Three awards ceremonies are taking place the weekend of March 5. On Saturday, a double dose of the Art Directors Guild (Adg) and American Cinema Editors Awards (Ace Eddies), and on Sunday, the Film Independent Spirit Awards, airing on IFC.

Paying special attention to Adg and Ace Eddies since there’s Oscar crossover, we’re expecting a couple of surprises at both. On the Adg side, “Dune” and “Nightmare Alley” should reign triumphant, but “Don’t Look Up” may overcome fellow Netflix property “The Lost Daughter.”

At Ace Eddies, there’s a possible upset on the drama side in the favor of “King Richard’s” Pamela Martin, besting Joe Walker for “Dune.” On the other hand, “Tick, Tick … Boom!” is expected to sneak past “Licorice Pizza.”

What’s most interesting is that there is very little to no presence of the presumed Oscar frontrunners this weekend, including Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog,...

Almost 2,000 Gold Derby readers have made their Indie Spirit predictions in advance of Sunday’s ceremony. Scroll down to see our official odds in all 13 movie categories based on those combined predictions. Our projected winners are highlighted in gold.

SEEOscars 2022: 20 movie reunions we would love to see happen on the ceremony, including ‘The Godfather,’ ‘Titanic,’ ‘Harry Potter’ and more

The Indie Spirit Awards winners are voted on by members of Film Independent. Membership is open to any movie fans who pay $95 in yearly dues, which often leads to the highest-profile Oscar contenders winning top prizes against less widely publicized films. But this year Film Independent snubbed many of the Oscar front-runners; this is only the second time in the last 13 years that there are no Best Picture Oscar nominees among the Spirit contenders for Best Feature.

The black comedy “Zola” led the nominations with seven including Best Feature, Best...

Former Paramount Pictures head Kyle Davies has joined Bleecker Street as President of Distribution. In his new role, the veteran distribution executive will be responsible for spearheading the company’s theatrical distribution strategies, planning and execution as well as managing the wider distribution team.

Upcoming wide releases from Bleecker Street that he will oversee include Infinite Storm with Naomi Watts on March 25th; Montana Story with Haley Lu Richardson on May 13th; Emma Holly Jones’ Mr. Malcolm’s List with Freida Pinto on July 1st; James Ponsoldt’s Summering on July 15th; Dale Dickey’s A Love Song on July 29th; Abi Damaris Corbin’s 892 with John Boyega on August 26th; and Academy Award-winning director Guy Nattiv’s Golda starring Academy Award winner Helen Mirren, which has been slated for release later this year.

Davies was previously at Paramount Pictures, where he most recently served as President of Domestic Distribution.

Exclusive: Vertical Entertainment has acquired North American and UK/Ire rights to the political comedy The Hater, from writer-director Joey Ally, in which she stars alongside Bruce Dern, Meredith Hagner, D’Angelo Lacy (aka musical artist Black Gatsby), Ian Harding, Ali Larter, and Nora Dunn. The independent distributor has slated it for a day-and-date release on March 18.

In the film, Ally plays Dorothy, a liberal speechwriter on a U.S. Senate campaign, who finds herself unemployed and living back in her conservative Texas hometown with her estranged grandfather (Dern), after a political protest goes wrong. Dorothy soon learns that her childhood nemesis, Brent (Harding), is running for office as the sole Republican candidate. Determined to thwart him at any cost,...

Former Saturday Night Live writer Julio Torres, co-creator and star of HBO’s Los Espookys, has signed a first-look deal with HBO and HBO Max. Under the two-year pact, he has two half-hour comedies in the works: Little Films (working title), written, executive produced and headlined by Torres, which has received a series order by HBO; and Lucky, co-written and executive produced by Torres, which is in development at HBO.

The deal expands on Torres’ existing relationship with HBO stemming from the Spanish-language comedy Los Espookys, which also streams on HBO Max. The series, which has been renewed for a second season, was created by and stars Torres, Fred Armisen and Ana Fabrega who also.

In Little Films, Torres tells the tale of when he lost a golden oyster. The people he encounters as he searches for it and the musings he has along the way become points of departure for little films,...

Showtime and Bleecker Street have struck an exclusive three-year output deal for the distributor’s movies.

Under the pact, which is effective from March, Showtime will carry Bleecker Street movies on air, on demand and via its streaming services within five months of their initial release.

The announcement was made by Kent Sevener, executive VP of content acquisition at Showtime, and Bleecker Street CEO Andrew Karpen.

The agreement will span up to 12 films per year, all of which will be released theatrically by Bleecker Street. Movies included in the deal are “Infinite Storm” (releasing March 25), “Montana Story” (May 13), “Mr. Malcolm’s List” (July 1), “Summering” (summer), “892” (summer), “Golda” (first quarter of 2022), and “Mafia Mamma” (2023). (More info on these titles follows below.)

Recent films from Bleecker Street include “Mass,” which won the Robert Altman Award at the Film Independent Spirit Awards, “I’m Your Man,” “Together Together,” “Dream Horse,” “Supernova” and “The World to Come.

Showtime Networks Inc. and Bleecker Street have entered into a new and exclusive three-year output agreement, effective in March.

Showtime will get access to Bleecker movies for on-air, on demand and streaming premium services. Each movie will hit Showtime within five months of their initial release. The deal comprises 12 titles a year, all of which will be released theatrically by Bleecker Street.

The new deal replaces Bleecker Street’s previous output agreement with Hulu.

Included in the deal are such movies as:

Infinite Storm – Malgorzata Szumowska and Michal Englert’s survival thriller, based on a true story, stars Oscar nominee Naomi Watts, Billy Howle and Dennis O’Hare. Opening March 25.

Montana Story – Directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, the western drama premiered at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival and stars Haley Lu Richardson and Owen Teague. Opening May 13.

Mr. Malcolm’s List – Directed by Emma Holly Jones and based on...

Exclusive: The Farewell and Honey Boy producer Kindred Spirit is expanding with the appointment of Sam Intili who joins the company as Head of Creative after departing Animal Kingdom.

Intili will be responsible for “cultivating materials and talent relationships”, with an eye towards strengthening Kindred Spirit’s foothold in the international space. In addition, Caroline Clark has been promoted to Development and Production Executive.

Both roles will report into Kindred Spirit founder Anita Gou as the company gears up on Agnieszka Smoczynska’s English-language debut Silent Twins starring Letitia Wright and Tamara Lawrance. The movie is now in post with Focus Features.

At Animal Kingdom, Intili sourced financing and distribution for emerging filmmakers. Exec producer credits include Andrew Cummings’ The Origin and Joaquin del Paso’s The Hole in the Fence. Intili is producing Jane Schoenbrun’s feature I Saw The TV Glow with Fruit Tree, A24, and Sarah Winshall,...

“Belfast,” “Coda,” “King Richard,” “House of Gucci,” “West Side Story” and “The Power of the Dog” are among the films nominated for the 37th Annual Artios Awards, presented by the Casting Society of America.

The awards honor casting directors’ contribution to film, television and theatre. Winners will be revealed on March 17 via a virtual ceremony.

Among the animated features nominated are “Encanto,” “Luca,” “The Mitchells Vs. The Machines,” “Raya and the Last Dragon” and “Vivo.”

Lucy Bevan, Avy Kaufman, Carmen Cuba, Nina Gold and Cindy Tolan are just some of the casting directors who landed nominations. While the Academy has had a casting branch for the past eight years, it has yet to establish an Oscar for casting.

View the nominations in full below:

Animation

“Encanto” – Jamie Sparer Roberts, Grace C. Kim (Associate)

“Luca” – Kevin Reher, Natalie Lyon, Kate Hansen-birnbaum (Associate)

“The Mitchells Vs The Machines” – Tamara Hunter

“Raya And The Last Dragon...

The 2021 auditions are over, and the Casting Society of America has unveiled the feature nominees for its 37th annual Artios Awards.

Music plays a huge role in several of this year’s hopefuls in the marquee categories including the musicals West Side Story and In the Heights, along with making-of-a-musical pic tick, tick…Boom! Also in the Artios mix are tune-filled toons Luca, Encanto and Vivo.

Winners will be announced during a virtual ceremony on March 17. See the full list of Artios Awards nominations below, and check out the TV, theater and short-film nominees here.

The casting crews for House of Gucci, King Richard, The Power of the Dog, Tick, Tick…Boom! and West Side Story will vie in the marquee Big Budget – Drama category. In the running for Big Budget – Comedy are Cruella, Don’t Look Up, The French Dispatch, In the Heights and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the...

The casting branch of the academy is only eight years old and doesn’t have an Oscar category of its own. However, the Casting Society of America has been handing out the Artios Awards for 37 years (“Artios” is from the ancient Greek meaning “perfectly fitted.”).

Nominees for feature films were announced on February 1 (the last day of Oscar nominations voting). Many of the leading Academy Awards contenders reaped bids across the various categories according to production cost. Winners will be revealed a virtual ceremony on March 17, which is the first day of final Oscar voting.

Last year’s big budget winners were the comedy “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” and the drama “The Trial of the Chicago 7 ” while “The Forty-Year-Old Version” and “One Night in Miami” took the equivalent prizes in the independent division. “Minari” won the low budget and “The Surrogate” the micro budget prizes while “Soul” claimed the animation award.

The Casting Society of America has nominated 100 casting directors for 39 different films for the 37th annual Artios Awards, which honor the work of casting directors in eight different feature categories.

“Don’t Look Up” and “The French Dispatch” were among the nominees in the Big Budget Comedy category, “King Richard” and “The Power of the Dog” for Big Budget Drama, “”The Tender Bar,” “Belfast” and “Coda” in the Studio or Independent categories and “The Humans” and “Shiva Baby” in Low Budget and Micro Budget.

With categories covering every genre and budget level, most of the top contenders for this year’s film awards were included, with the exception of “Dune,” “Licorice Pizza,” “Nightmare Alley,” “Being the Ricardos” and “The Tragedy of Macbeth.”

Winners will be announced on March 17, though the planned in-person ceremony has been canceled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The nominees:

Animation

Encanto - Jamie Sparer Roberts, Grace C. Kim...

Sandra Bullock is a romance novelist in distress in the new action-adventure comedy from Adam Nee and Aaron Nee, “The Lost City,” previously titled “The Lost City of D.” Channing Tatum co-stars as the hunky cover model of her books, while Daniel Radcliffe plays a kooky billionaire who kidnaps her in hopes that she might be the key to some lost treasure. Paramount Pictures releases the film March 25. Below, watch the official trailer.

Here’s the synopsis, courtesy of Paramount: “Brilliant, but reclusive author Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) has spent her career writing about exotic places in her popular romance-adventure novels featuring handsome cover model Alan (Channing Tatum), who has dedicated his life to embodying the hero character, ‘Dash.’ While on tour promoting her new book with Alan, Loretta is kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) who hopes that she can lead him to the ancient lost city...

A24 is the leading film distributor with 13 nominations, followed by Neon and Netflix on nine.

Janicza Bravo’s Zola led the Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations with seven nods, followed by Lauren Hadaway’s The Novice with five and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Lost Daughter on four.

All three are competing for best feature and best director, with Ninja Thyberg for Pleasure and Mike Mills for C’mon C’mon rounding out the latter category. It’s the second year in a row that four women have been nominated for best director.

The other best feature nominees are C’mon C’mon...

The 2022 Independent Spirit Awards nominations were announced Tuesday, December 14. So who made the cut at these kudos, which celebrate the best in American independent films? Scroll down to see the full 2022 Indie Spirits nominations list. 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. Six of the last 10 Spirit champs for Best Feature went on to win the Oscar for Best Picture including last year’s double dipper “Nomadland,...

Distributor A24 and Zola led nominations as the Film Independent Spirit Awards revealed their 37th annual nods in a pre-taped presentation hosted by Beanie Feldstein, Regina Hall and Naomi Watts. The Spirit Awards are skedded for Sunday, March 6, 2022 — live and in-person this year back on the beach in Santa Monica, and broadcast on IFC.

A24’s Zola, by Janicza Bravo and based on a Twitter chain from a riotous road trip, was recognized for Best Feature Director, Screenplay, Cinematography, Editing, Female Lead and Supporting Male. Mike Mills’ C’mon C’mon with Joaquin Phoenix took four nods including feature, director and screenplay. Accolades were rounded out by two nominations for Sean Baker’s Red Rocket, for Best Male Lead, Simon Rex ,and Best Supporting Female, Suzanna Son. The Humans, directed by Stephen Karam based on his one-act play, was nominated in cinematography.

Netflix and Neon took nine nods each, with...