Exclusive: XYZ Films has acquired U.S. and Australia/Nz rights to distribute the TIFF sports drama Backspot, directed by first-time feature filmmaker D.W. Waterson and starring Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs) and Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld).
XYZ Films will release the film domestically and has set a theatrical release for spring of 2024.
The rights deal was negotiated by UTA Independent Film Group with James Emanuel Shapiro from XYZ Films.
In the film, an ambitious cheerleader (Jacobs) faces both new adversity and the increased drive for perfection and triumph when she and her girlfriend are selected for an all-star cheer squad with an overbearing head coach (Evan Rachel Wood).
The film was written by Joanne Sarazen with a story by D.W. Waterson, and is produced by Alona Metzer, D.W. Waterson, Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs and Martin Katz, and is executive-produced by Elliot Page, Matthew Jordan Smith, J.C. Davidson and Katisha Shaw,...
XYZ Films will release the film domestically and has set a theatrical release for spring of 2024.
The rights deal was negotiated by UTA Independent Film Group with James Emanuel Shapiro from XYZ Films.
In the film, an ambitious cheerleader (Jacobs) faces both new adversity and the increased drive for perfection and triumph when she and her girlfriend are selected for an all-star cheer squad with an overbearing head coach (Evan Rachel Wood).
The film was written by Joanne Sarazen with a story by D.W. Waterson, and is produced by Alona Metzer, D.W. Waterson, Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs and Martin Katz, and is executive-produced by Elliot Page, Matthew Jordan Smith, J.C. Davidson and Katisha Shaw,...
- 12/4/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Welcome to Paradise.
Et Canada has the exclusive trailer premiere for the new Canadian romantic drama “Midnight at the Paradise”, which explores the stages of love at a Toronto movie theatre.
Directed by Vanessa Matsui (“Ghost Bff”) and written and produced by Bill Robertson (“The Events Leading Up to My Death”), the film stars Liane Balaban, Allan Hawco (“Republic of Doyle”), Ryan Allen (“See”), TIFF Rising Star Emma Ferreira (“Learn to Swim”), Kate Trotter (“Tru Love”) and the late Kenneth Welsh in his final film role.
Read More: ‘When Time Got Louder’: A Deep Bond Between Siblings Is Tested In Exclusive Trailer
“When they were teenagers, Iris (Balaban) and Alex (Hawco) went to see the sexy French New Wave classic ‘Breathless’ and fell in love. But life had other plans. Twenty years later, Iris is married to workaholic doctor Geoff (Allen), stressed out by motherhood and caring for her dying,...
Et Canada has the exclusive trailer premiere for the new Canadian romantic drama “Midnight at the Paradise”, which explores the stages of love at a Toronto movie theatre.
Directed by Vanessa Matsui (“Ghost Bff”) and written and produced by Bill Robertson (“The Events Leading Up to My Death”), the film stars Liane Balaban, Allan Hawco (“Republic of Doyle”), Ryan Allen (“See”), TIFF Rising Star Emma Ferreira (“Learn to Swim”), Kate Trotter (“Tru Love”) and the late Kenneth Welsh in his final film role.
Read More: ‘When Time Got Louder’: A Deep Bond Between Siblings Is Tested In Exclusive Trailer
“When they were teenagers, Iris (Balaban) and Alex (Hawco) went to see the sexy French New Wave classic ‘Breathless’ and fell in love. But life had other plans. Twenty years later, Iris is married to workaholic doctor Geoff (Allen), stressed out by motherhood and caring for her dying,...
- 4/13/2023
- by Corey Atad
- ET Canada
Angela Bassett took home a pair of major honors at the 54th Annual NAACP Image Awards on Saturday night during a ceremony from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium that was telecast live on BET, earning three total: for Entertainer of the Year, film supporting actress for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and (prior to the live show) lead actress in a TV drama for Fox’s “9-1-1.” She shared top billing with Will Smith, who won his first major award since his infamous slap incident involving Chris Rock at last year’s Oscars: lead film actor for “Emancipation.”
Egot champ Viola Davis – snubbed this year at the Academy Awards – snared lead actress in a film for “The Woman King,” while “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was feted as Outstanding Motion Picture and Tenoch Huerta Mejia earned the film supporting actor prize for his role in “Black Panther.” Jalyn Hall won the Breakthrough...
Egot champ Viola Davis – snubbed this year at the Academy Awards – snared lead actress in a film for “The Woman King,” while “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was feted as Outstanding Motion Picture and Tenoch Huerta Mejia earned the film supporting actor prize for his role in “Black Panther.” Jalyn Hall won the Breakthrough...
- 2/26/2023
- by Ray Richmond
- Gold Derby
The 54th NAACP Image Awards did the thing! After its regular week-long, non-televised celebrations, the annual awards ceremony concluded with its main ceremony on Saturday night.
Hosted by Grammy, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress and producer Queen Latifah, Saturday’s ceremony included Janelle Monae, Taye Diggs, Kerry Washington, Jonathan Majors, Zendaya and more presenting awards to their peers, while also highlighting the accomplishments of political leaders and activists.
Jennifer Hudson, Quinta Brunson, Keke Palmer and more scored wins during the pre-awards festivities, while Saturday’s ceremony saw Angela Bassett, Viola Davis, Will Smith and more honoured for their artistic contributions.
Read More: 2023 NAACP Image Awards Nominations: See the Full List
This year’s Activist of the Year Award was presented to Dr. Derrick Lee Foward, president of the Dayton Unit of the NAACP and a vice president of the Ohio NAACP, and the Youth Activist of the Year Award honoured to Bradley Ross Jackson,...
Hosted by Grammy, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress and producer Queen Latifah, Saturday’s ceremony included Janelle Monae, Taye Diggs, Kerry Washington, Jonathan Majors, Zendaya and more presenting awards to their peers, while also highlighting the accomplishments of political leaders and activists.
Jennifer Hudson, Quinta Brunson, Keke Palmer and more scored wins during the pre-awards festivities, while Saturday’s ceremony saw Angela Bassett, Viola Davis, Will Smith and more honoured for their artistic contributions.
Read More: 2023 NAACP Image Awards Nominations: See the Full List
This year’s Activist of the Year Award was presented to Dr. Derrick Lee Foward, president of the Dayton Unit of the NAACP and a vice president of the Ohio NAACP, and the Youth Activist of the Year Award honoured to Bradley Ross Jackson,...
- 2/26/2023
- by Melissa Romualdi
- ET Canada
The 54th NAACP Image Awards, which aired on CBS from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium Saturday night, has wrapped. Queen Latifah hosted the proceedings, which honored the best in Black entertainment for the proceeding year. Inclusive awards that they are, the Image Awards often give a hat-tip to performers of color who aren’t Black, though: Tenoch Huerta Mejía won Best Supporting Actor for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” which also won Outstanding Motion Picture.
That film received another big award in the form of Best Supporting Actress for Angela Bassett, who is by far now the frontrunner for the Academy Award. It was one of two awards of the night for Bassett, as she also won Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her role in “9-1-1.”
Among other notable winners, Will Smith won Best Actor for his role in “Emancipation.” And “P-Valley” won Outstanding Drama Series, along with Nico...
That film received another big award in the form of Best Supporting Actress for Angela Bassett, who is by far now the frontrunner for the Academy Award. It was one of two awards of the night for Bassett, as she also won Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her role in “9-1-1.”
Among other notable winners, Will Smith won Best Actor for his role in “Emancipation.” And “P-Valley” won Outstanding Drama Series, along with Nico...
- 2/26/2023
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
Principal photography has kicked off on “Backspot,” the upcoming queer cheerleading film starring Devery Jacobs (“Reservation Dogs”) and newcomer Kudakwashe Rutendo as the leads. It will mark helmer D.W. Waterson (“That’s My DJ”) directorial feature debut. The film is expected to shoot until mid-March in the Toronto area.
The film hails from Elliot Page’s Page Boy Productions, Night is Y and Prospero Pictures, and was written by Joanne Sarazen, based on a story by Waterson. Page, Matthew Jordan Smith, John Davidson, and Katisha Shaw executive produce; Alona Metzer, Waterson, Jacobs and Martin Katz board as producers.
“Backspot” revolves around two young cheerleaders, Riley (Jacobs) and Amanda (Rutendo). Both are impressive members of their mid-level cheerleading squad until a professional coach gives them a chance to level up with The Thunderhawks. There, they must learn to “negotiate their space, find their voices, and come to an understanding with the...
The film hails from Elliot Page’s Page Boy Productions, Night is Y and Prospero Pictures, and was written by Joanne Sarazen, based on a story by Waterson. Page, Matthew Jordan Smith, John Davidson, and Katisha Shaw executive produce; Alona Metzer, Waterson, Jacobs and Martin Katz board as producers.
“Backspot” revolves around two young cheerleaders, Riley (Jacobs) and Amanda (Rutendo). Both are impressive members of their mid-level cheerleading squad until a professional coach gives them a chance to level up with The Thunderhawks. There, they must learn to “negotiate their space, find their voices, and come to an understanding with the...
- 2/15/2023
- by Amber Dowling
- Variety Film + TV
As the end of summer approaches, so does a slew of new movies and TV coming to Netflix this month.
This month, Netflix is serving up a documentary on the chaos of the ’99 Woodstock revival, Netflix’s take on “13: The Musical” and a juicy series expanding “Selling Sunset” into Orange County, California. Favorite returning Netflix series include “Never Have I Ever: Season 3,” “Queer Eye: Brazil” and the third season of “Locke and Key.”
As for library titles, the streaming service will add the “Spider-Man” trilogy, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Miss Congeniality” and “Space Jam,” as well as hallmarks of the beloved “Men in Black” and “Bridget Jones” series.
Also Read:
The 55 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now
Check out the complete list of what’s coming to Netflix this month:
August 1
Big Tree City (Netflix family)
28 Days
8 Mile
Above the Rim
The Age of Adaline
Battle: Los Angeles
Bridget Jones...
This month, Netflix is serving up a documentary on the chaos of the ’99 Woodstock revival, Netflix’s take on “13: The Musical” and a juicy series expanding “Selling Sunset” into Orange County, California. Favorite returning Netflix series include “Never Have I Ever: Season 3,” “Queer Eye: Brazil” and the third season of “Locke and Key.”
As for library titles, the streaming service will add the “Spider-Man” trilogy, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Miss Congeniality” and “Space Jam,” as well as hallmarks of the beloved “Men in Black” and “Bridget Jones” series.
Also Read:
The 55 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now
Check out the complete list of what’s coming to Netflix this month:
August 1
Big Tree City (Netflix family)
28 Days
8 Mile
Above the Rim
The Age of Adaline
Battle: Los Angeles
Bridget Jones...
- 8/20/2022
- by Loree Seitz
- The Wrap
Click here to read the full article.
Array Releasing has acquired director Iliana Sosa’s documentary What We Leave Behind.
The Peabody Award-winning distribution arm of Ava DuVernay’s narrative change collective has nabbed the U.S., Canadian, U.K., Australian and New Zealand rights to the film, which had its world premiere at this year’s SXSW Festival. The doc’s release will coincide with Mexican Independence Day and Hispanic Heritage Month, with a debut set for Sept. 16 on Netflix and select theatrical screens.
What We Leave Behind is an intimate and personal project for Sosa, who chronicles the final days of 89-year-old Julián Moreno after he decides to build a house in rural Mexico.
Tracing his decades back and forth on buses across the U.S.-Mexico border to visit his family, the documentary serves as a poetic love letter from Sosa to her grandfather Moreno. It’s...
Array Releasing has acquired director Iliana Sosa’s documentary What We Leave Behind.
The Peabody Award-winning distribution arm of Ava DuVernay’s narrative change collective has nabbed the U.S., Canadian, U.K., Australian and New Zealand rights to the film, which had its world premiere at this year’s SXSW Festival. The doc’s release will coincide with Mexican Independence Day and Hispanic Heritage Month, with a debut set for Sept. 16 on Netflix and select theatrical screens.
What We Leave Behind is an intimate and personal project for Sosa, who chronicles the final days of 89-year-old Julián Moreno after he decides to build a house in rural Mexico.
Tracing his decades back and forth on buses across the U.S.-Mexico border to visit his family, the documentary serves as a poetic love letter from Sosa to her grandfather Moreno. It’s...
- 8/19/2022
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Array Releasing, the distribution arm of Ava DuVernay’s Array, has acquired the distribution rights for indie drama “Learn to Swim” and has set a release date for Aug. 15 in select theaters and on Netflix.
“Learn to Swim” marks the feature directorial debut of Thyrone Tommy, who co-wrote the screenplay with Marni Van Dyk. Alona Metzer produced the film.
An official entry into last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, “Learn to Swim” focuses on two young jazz musicians: saxophone player Dezi (Thomas Antony Olajide) and singer Selma (Emma Ferreira). Although polar opposites — Dezi is experienced and closed off, Selma is inexperienced and spirited — sparks fly between the two, but their respective emotional baggage stands in the way between them and romance.
The contemporary jazz romance made the TIFF’s annual top 10 list in 2021 and was nominated for the Dgc Discovery Award at the Directors Guild of Canada Awards. The...
“Learn to Swim” marks the feature directorial debut of Thyrone Tommy, who co-wrote the screenplay with Marni Van Dyk. Alona Metzer produced the film.
An official entry into last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, “Learn to Swim” focuses on two young jazz musicians: saxophone player Dezi (Thomas Antony Olajide) and singer Selma (Emma Ferreira). Although polar opposites — Dezi is experienced and closed off, Selma is inexperienced and spirited — sparks fly between the two, but their respective emotional baggage stands in the way between them and romance.
The contemporary jazz romance made the TIFF’s annual top 10 list in 2021 and was nominated for the Dgc Discovery Award at the Directors Guild of Canada Awards. The...
- 8/2/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Variety Film + TV
Array Releasing, the distribution arm of Ava DuVernay’s Peabody Award-winning narrative change collective, has picked up rights to the feature drama Learn to Swim for the U.S., the UK, Australia and New Zealand, slating it for release on select screens and on Netflix on August 15.
The first feature from director Thyrone Tommy dives into the world of contemporary jazz with a musical meditation on love and loss, following the doggedly private and talented saxophone player Dezi (Thomas Antony Olajide) and a vivacious, but less experienced singer named Selma (Emma Ferreira). When the two meet, sparks fly, but their respective emotional baggage and temperaments make the road to romance bumpy at best.
An official selection of the 2021 Toronto Film Festival, Learn to Swim was written by Tommy and Marni Van Dyk, with Alona Metzer producing.
“With Array Releasing’s summer acquisition of Learn To Swim, we are thrilled to...
The first feature from director Thyrone Tommy dives into the world of contemporary jazz with a musical meditation on love and loss, following the doggedly private and talented saxophone player Dezi (Thomas Antony Olajide) and a vivacious, but less experienced singer named Selma (Emma Ferreira). When the two meet, sparks fly, but their respective emotional baggage and temperaments make the road to romance bumpy at best.
An official selection of the 2021 Toronto Film Festival, Learn to Swim was written by Tommy and Marni Van Dyk, with Alona Metzer producing.
“With Array Releasing’s summer acquisition of Learn To Swim, we are thrilled to...
- 8/2/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Just a few months ago, Netflix appeared to be on a very rough track. Then Stranger Things season 4 came around and led to a less-apocalyptic-than-expected Q2 earnings report for the streamer. With its new releases for August 2022, however, Netflix is going to have to find another hit to keep the good vibes rolling. Here are some of their best options.
Perhaps the biggest breakout candidate for Netflix this month is The Sandman on Aug. 5. Though Neil Gaiman’s classic comic has long been thought to be unadaptable, the folks behind 10-episode series are betting they’re the ones for the job. Get ready to meet Morpheus, the king of dreams and the ruler of The Dreaming.
Read more TV The Sandman First Look and Character Posters Introduce Dream, Death, and Desire By Michael Ahr Books Neil Gaiman: How The Sandman Reinvents the Audiobook Format By Rosie Fletcher
August 2022 is full...
Perhaps the biggest breakout candidate for Netflix this month is The Sandman on Aug. 5. Though Neil Gaiman’s classic comic has long been thought to be unadaptable, the folks behind 10-episode series are betting they’re the ones for the job. Get ready to meet Morpheus, the king of dreams and the ruler of The Dreaming.
Read more TV The Sandman First Look and Character Posters Introduce Dream, Death, and Desire By Michael Ahr Books Neil Gaiman: How The Sandman Reinvents the Audiobook Format By Rosie Fletcher
August 2022 is full...
- 8/1/2022
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
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