National Geographic has greenlit “Sally,” a new documentary about Dr. Sally Ride, the first American woman to go to space in more than 40 years ago, the network announced Thursday at the Television Critics Association winter press tour.
From director director Cristina Costantini (“Science Fair”) and producers Dan Cogan (“Icarus”) and Lauren Cioffi (“Naomi Osaka”), the film will delve into the life of the groundbreaking astronaut and the sexism she faced as one of very few women in space exploration at the time. “Sally” (working title) will feature never-before-seen archival footage in space and on the ground, along with interviews with Ride’s fellow astronauts Anna Lee Fisher and Kathy Sullivan, friend (and one-time tennis opponent) Billie Jean King, and her life partner Tam O’Shaughnessy, the last of whom also serves as executive producer.
Ride made history as the first American woman and third woman overall to fly in space when the space shuttle Challenger,...
From director director Cristina Costantini (“Science Fair”) and producers Dan Cogan (“Icarus”) and Lauren Cioffi (“Naomi Osaka”), the film will delve into the life of the groundbreaking astronaut and the sexism she faced as one of very few women in space exploration at the time. “Sally” (working title) will feature never-before-seen archival footage in space and on the ground, along with interviews with Ride’s fellow astronauts Anna Lee Fisher and Kathy Sullivan, friend (and one-time tennis opponent) Billie Jean King, and her life partner Tam O’Shaughnessy, the last of whom also serves as executive producer.
Ride made history as the first American woman and third woman overall to fly in space when the space shuttle Challenger,...
- 2/8/2024
- by Joyce Eng
- Gold Derby
It’s an interesting month ahead on Hulu, as the streamer rolls out some of the series it’s been keeping in its back pocket for the holiday season.
On December 15, the first season of Such Brave Girls will arrive. The sitcom follows a dysfunctional family – and we mean dysfunctional! – that includes real-life sisters Kat Sadler and Lizzie Davidson. British comedian Sadler has previously written for The News Quiz, Hypothetical, and Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable, but this is her first big TV project. “Everything we joke about in the show is from a place of lived experience,” she told Funny Women. “I wish I could say this is a heart-warming show about overcoming trauma, but that would be a lie. It’s about three toxic, damaged egomaniacs manipulating the world and each other for their own personal gain, vengeance and glory…just like in Little Women.” Sounds good!
Later in the month,...
On December 15, the first season of Such Brave Girls will arrive. The sitcom follows a dysfunctional family – and we mean dysfunctional! – that includes real-life sisters Kat Sadler and Lizzie Davidson. British comedian Sadler has previously written for The News Quiz, Hypothetical, and Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable, but this is her first big TV project. “Everything we joke about in the show is from a place of lived experience,” she told Funny Women. “I wish I could say this is a heart-warming show about overcoming trauma, but that would be a lie. It’s about three toxic, damaged egomaniacs manipulating the world and each other for their own personal gain, vengeance and glory…just like in Little Women.” Sounds good!
Later in the month,...
- 12/1/2023
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
On the heels of an overwhelmingly successful virtual premiere attended by close to 6,000 people, National Geographic Documentary Films announced today that it will move forward with release plans for Rebuilding Paradise from Academy Award-winning director Ron Howard and Imagine Documentaries in virtual and physical theaters on July 31, 2020.
The documentary, which first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January to positive reviews, will open in more than 70 markets through a hybrid release. In addition to major virtual releases through Laemmle and ShowcaseNOW (National Amusements), the film will be released in select drive-ins and through individual cinemas including Jacob Burns Center in New York, Coolidge Corner in Brookline, Gene Siskel Film Center and Music Box Theatre in Chicago as well as Balboa and Vogue Theaters in San Francisco. Click here for a full list of markets.
“We knew we would have a good turnout for our premiere, but when close to...
The documentary, which first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January to positive reviews, will open in more than 70 markets through a hybrid release. In addition to major virtual releases through Laemmle and ShowcaseNOW (National Amusements), the film will be released in select drive-ins and through individual cinemas including Jacob Burns Center in New York, Coolidge Corner in Brookline, Gene Siskel Film Center and Music Box Theatre in Chicago as well as Balboa and Vogue Theaters in San Francisco. Click here for a full list of markets.
“We knew we would have a good turnout for our premiere, but when close to...
- 7/27/2020
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Fox has put in development Foxy, a single-camera comedy from writer-producers Jennifer Crittenden & Gabrielle Allan, Elizabeth Banks and Max Handelman’s Brownstone Productions and Warner Bros. Television, where Brownstone is under a deal. The project is a co-production of Warner Bros. TV and Fox Entertainment.
Written by Crittenden and Allan, Foxy is a comedy about two single women living together in Southern California in the swinging seventies: Diane, a newly divorced mom of two daughters, who is realizing she was fed a lot of bulls*t about happily ever afters, and Melanie, a promiscuous free spirit and enthusiastic early adopter of the birth control pill.
Crittenden and Allan executive produce with Brownstone’s Banks and Handelman. Brownstone’s Dannah Shinder is co-executive producer.
Crittenden and Allan served as co-executive producers on the final two seasons of HBO’s Veep and also worked as consulting producers on Divorce. They...
Written by Crittenden and Allan, Foxy is a comedy about two single women living together in Southern California in the swinging seventies: Diane, a newly divorced mom of two daughters, who is realizing she was fed a lot of bulls*t about happily ever afters, and Melanie, a promiscuous free spirit and enthusiastic early adopter of the birth control pill.
Crittenden and Allan executive produce with Brownstone’s Banks and Handelman. Brownstone’s Dannah Shinder is co-executive producer.
Crittenden and Allan served as co-executive producers on the final two seasons of HBO’s Veep and also worked as consulting producers on Divorce. They...
- 7/21/2020
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Walter Mercado gave almost half the world their daily horoscopes, drawing 120 million Latinx viewers to their televisions every evening. Each of the astrologer’s fans got a personal reading which resonated with them, even though they shared their sign’s message with millions of others. Walter didn’t even have to consult his ephemeris. Mucho Mucho Amor, which can be streamed on Netflix, is named after Walter’s signature closing. Co-directed by Cristina Costantini (Science Fair) and Kareem Tabsch (The Last Resort), and produced by Alex Fumero (I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson), it is a loving look at the beloved and revolutionary performer.
Walter was one of the first mainstream androgynous Latin American figures and has become an LGBT icon, the Liberace of astrologers. He was also one of the first astrologers since Jeane Dixon to bring the ancient art to modern audiences. Before Marianne Williamson became...
Walter was one of the first mainstream androgynous Latin American figures and has become an LGBT icon, the Liberace of astrologers. He was also one of the first astrologers since Jeane Dixon to bring the ancient art to modern audiences. Before Marianne Williamson became...
- 7/13/2020
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Premiering at Sundance back in the pre-pandemic festival days Mucho Mucho Amor is a much-needed uplift in these trying times. Co-directed and produced by Cristina Costantini (Science Fair) and Kareem Tabsch (The Last Resort), and produced by Alex Fumero (I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson), the doc, which hits Netflix today, is a fascinating odyssey into the beautifully eccentric world of Walter Mercado. Combining the fashion sense of Liberace with the relentless positivity of Tammy Faye Bakker, the Puerto Rican astrologer, psychic and defiantly nonbinary pioneer spent decades spreading his mantra of “mucho mucho amor” to an audience […]...
- 7/8/2020
- by Lauren Wissot
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Premiering at Sundance back in the pre-pandemic festival days Mucho Mucho Amor is a much-needed uplift in these trying times. Co-directed and produced by Cristina Costantini (Science Fair) and Kareem Tabsch (The Last Resort), and produced by Alex Fumero (I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson), the doc, which hits Netflix today, is a fascinating odyssey into the beautifully eccentric world of Walter Mercado. Combining the fashion sense of Liberace with the relentless positivity of Tammy Faye Bakker, the Puerto Rican astrologer, psychic and defiantly nonbinary pioneer spent decades spreading his mantra of “mucho mucho amor” to an audience […]...
- 7/8/2020
- by Lauren Wissot
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Documentary “Mucho Mucho Amor,” from Latinx filmmakers Cristina Costantini (“Science Fair”) and Kareem Tabsch (“The Last Resort”), focuses on the legacy of Walter Mercado, the iconic gender-nonconforming Hispanic astrologer who disappeared from the public eye, choosing to live off the grid in Puerto Rico, before resurfacing to prepare for the opening of a late-in-life exhibition at the HistoryMiami Museum.
Cinematographer Peter Alton had worked with Costantini on “Science Fair” and was her first choice to capture Mercado’s intimate moments for the doc, now streaming on Netflix, as the octogenarian grapples with aging and how he wants to be remembered during what prove to be the final two years of his life.
What was your awareness of who Mercado was? It was pretty minimal. I think I had seen him on TV in the ’90s. Sort of like on the Psychic Network.
What was the challenge in filming him so intimately?...
Cinematographer Peter Alton had worked with Costantini on “Science Fair” and was her first choice to capture Mercado’s intimate moments for the doc, now streaming on Netflix, as the octogenarian grapples with aging and how he wants to be remembered during what prove to be the final two years of his life.
What was your awareness of who Mercado was? It was pretty minimal. I think I had seen him on TV in the ’90s. Sort of like on the Psychic Network.
What was the challenge in filming him so intimately?...
- 7/8/2020
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
In their continued bid to lock up leading talent for their fledgling TV development-production partnership, Endeavor Content and Exile have signed a first look series deal with lauded Mexican writer-director Alejandra Marquez Abella (“Las Niñas Bien”).
The alliance recently announced first look pacts with Sebastian Hofmann, “Roma” producer Nicolas Celis and Mauricio Katz’s shingle Subtrama.
Marquez Abella’s first project is the scripted dramedy series “La Liberación,” which follows a group of estranged female entertainment industry professionals who realize they need to resolve their differences in order to better face the future together.
“We as women have been condemned to ‘divide and conquer,’ to live clashing with each other,” said Marquez Abella. “Now we’re looking at each other and we’re learning that we don’t have to fight for a spot, that we all can co-exist and thrive together in this world.”
“La Liberación” stars “Los Espookys’” Cassandra Ciangherotti,...
The alliance recently announced first look pacts with Sebastian Hofmann, “Roma” producer Nicolas Celis and Mauricio Katz’s shingle Subtrama.
Marquez Abella’s first project is the scripted dramedy series “La Liberación,” which follows a group of estranged female entertainment industry professionals who realize they need to resolve their differences in order to better face the future together.
“We as women have been condemned to ‘divide and conquer,’ to live clashing with each other,” said Marquez Abella. “Now we’re looking at each other and we’re learning that we don’t have to fight for a spot, that we all can co-exist and thrive together in this world.”
“La Liberación” stars “Los Espookys’” Cassandra Ciangherotti,...
- 3/6/2020
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Mouse House streamer Disney Plus has revealed a substantial amount of programming ahead of its March 24 U.K. and Ireland launch. This includes more than 500 films, some 350 series and a slate of 26 originals.
As expected, the Marvel universe, with more than 30 films and 50 series, including “Avengers: Endgame,” “Black Panther,” “Captain Marvel” and “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” is thoroughly represented.
The Skywalker saga will be available in force, with eight “Star Wars” films available from launch and “Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker” arriving at a later date. The entire collection of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and saga spinoff series, “The Mandalorian,” from executive producer and writer Jon Favreau, will also be available at launch.
Meanwhile, all 30 seasons of “The Simpsons” will stream, with Season 31 available beginning in November. For a period, there was a question mark hanging over the future of the show in the U.K.
As expected, the Marvel universe, with more than 30 films and 50 series, including “Avengers: Endgame,” “Black Panther,” “Captain Marvel” and “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” is thoroughly represented.
The Skywalker saga will be available in force, with eight “Star Wars” films available from launch and “Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker” arriving at a later date. The entire collection of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and saga spinoff series, “The Mandalorian,” from executive producer and writer Jon Favreau, will also be available at launch.
Meanwhile, all 30 seasons of “The Simpsons” will stream, with Season 31 available beginning in November. For a period, there was a question mark hanging over the future of the show in the U.K.
- 3/6/2020
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: El Chapo producer Exile Content Studios and Endeavor Content have closed an exclusive first-look deal with Mexican filmmaker Sebastian Hofmann.
Hofmann directed Time Share (Tiempo Compartido), the R.J Mitte-starring feature film that won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Screenwriting at Sundance Film Festival in 2018 and airs on Netflix.
Hoffman’s first project under the deal is elevated horror series Jabalí, which chronicles the disappearance of a local activist in a forgotten village in rural Mexico in the midst of the traditional feast of the boar.
Exile is focused on developing and producing long-form content for global audiences in English and Spanish. In addition to Netflix’s El Chapo, it was behind Emmy Award-winning documentary Science Fair, which won the Sundance Audience Award in 2018, and Netflix’s Who Killed Malcolm X. The company recently struck a partnership with Endeavor Content to finance, develop, and produce Spanish...
Hofmann directed Time Share (Tiempo Compartido), the R.J Mitte-starring feature film that won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Screenwriting at Sundance Film Festival in 2018 and airs on Netflix.
Hoffman’s first project under the deal is elevated horror series Jabalí, which chronicles the disappearance of a local activist in a forgotten village in rural Mexico in the midst of the traditional feast of the boar.
Exile is focused on developing and producing long-form content for global audiences in English and Spanish. In addition to Netflix’s El Chapo, it was behind Emmy Award-winning documentary Science Fair, which won the Sundance Audience Award in 2018, and Netflix’s Who Killed Malcolm X. The company recently struck a partnership with Endeavor Content to finance, develop, and produce Spanish...
- 2/27/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Rise and Shine World Sales, Cinetic represented filmmakers.
National Geographic Documentary Films has acquired recent Sundance entry Saudi Runaway ahead of its European premiere at the Berlinale tonight (25).
Susanne Regina Meures directed the film about Muna, a Saudi woman with an upcoming arranged marriage who secretly records her escape attempt from the Middle Eastern kingdom on her mobile phone.
Saudi Runaway premiered in the World Documentary Competition section in Park City last month.
“Muna is one of the strongest-willed and most courageous women I know,” said Meures. “Unprecedented, as a Saudi woman, Muna dares to speak up. She shares her...
National Geographic Documentary Films has acquired recent Sundance entry Saudi Runaway ahead of its European premiere at the Berlinale tonight (25).
Susanne Regina Meures directed the film about Muna, a Saudi woman with an upcoming arranged marriage who secretly records her escape attempt from the Middle Eastern kingdom on her mobile phone.
Saudi Runaway premiered in the World Documentary Competition section in Park City last month.
“Muna is one of the strongest-willed and most courageous women I know,” said Meures. “Unprecedented, as a Saudi woman, Muna dares to speak up. She shares her...
- 2/25/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
As Netflix reportedly nears a mid-to-high seven-figure deal for “The 40-Year-Old-Version” after its Sundance Film Festival premiere, the talks mark a realization of the streamer’s strongest needs. Netflix, whose business model hinges on viewers always coming back for more, sees potential in the film’s writer-director-producer-star Radha Blank: The acquisition is less about this one film and more about establishing a lasting relationship with a fresh new voice.
Loosely based on Blank’s experiences as a New York playwright, the film won the Sundance Directing Award Saturday. She’s unknown by a mass audience, but Netflix is betting that its 61 million Us subscribers will also respond to her — and potentially create a brand name that it can add to its lineup of exclusive deals like Ryan Murphy, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, and Shonda Rhimes. (Netflix declined comment on the impending deal.)
Festival acquisitions have become increasingly rare for Netflix,...
Loosely based on Blank’s experiences as a New York playwright, the film won the Sundance Directing Award Saturday. She’s unknown by a mass audience, but Netflix is betting that its 61 million Us subscribers will also respond to her — and potentially create a brand name that it can add to its lineup of exclusive deals like Ryan Murphy, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, and Shonda Rhimes. (Netflix declined comment on the impending deal.)
Festival acquisitions have become increasingly rare for Netflix,...
- 2/4/2020
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
Every summer, more than 1,000 teens swarm the Texas State Capitol to attend Boys State, the annual American Legion-sponsored leadership conference where these incipient politicians divide into rival parties, the Nationalists and the Federalists, and attempt to build a mock government from the ground up. In 2017, the program attracted attention for all the wrong reasons (the attendees voted for Texas to secede from the United States), which gave filmmakers Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss an idea: What would it take to orchestrate a deep dive into the subsequent next session? Is there a right way to cover the testosterone- and Ritalin-fueled event?
One of the biggest sales of the 2020 Sundance Film Festival — for a documentary, no less — “Boys State” represents a revolution in vérité filmmaking, as McBaine and Moss (who collaborated on “The Overnighters”) . Like “Spellbound” and “Science Fair,” the film is essentially the feature-length equivalent of an elimination-style reality TV show,...
One of the biggest sales of the 2020 Sundance Film Festival — for a documentary, no less — “Boys State” represents a revolution in vérité filmmaking, as McBaine and Moss (who collaborated on “The Overnighters”) . Like “Spellbound” and “Science Fair,” the film is essentially the feature-length equivalent of an elimination-style reality TV show,...
- 2/2/2020
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
A radiant documentary with the power to send Latinos into a frenzy of uplifting nostalgia, Argentine-American filmmaker Cristina Costantini and Kareem Tabsch’s “Mucho Mucho Amor” thoroughly and lovingly eulogizes revered Puerto Rican astrologer Walter Mercado, in a film that mixes celebrity cameos and heart-to-heart chats with the late icon himself.
One of the few true pan-Latino figures, ageless Mercado reached millions of households across the United States, as well as throughout Latin America (including Portuguese-speaking Brazil), and even Europe for decades on TV, radio, and print media.
Entire families hung on his every word and shushed one another to hear what he had to say about their respective futures. For those of us who interacted with his image every day, during his long stint on Univision’s “Primer Impacto” or his solo show, that’s a shared memory that evokes the comfort of familiarity. If Walter Mercado was on,...
One of the few true pan-Latino figures, ageless Mercado reached millions of households across the United States, as well as throughout Latin America (including Portuguese-speaking Brazil), and even Europe for decades on TV, radio, and print media.
Entire families hung on his every word and shushed one another to hear what he had to say about their respective futures. For those of us who interacted with his image every day, during his long stint on Univision’s “Primer Impacto” or his solo show, that’s a shared memory that evokes the comfort of familiarity. If Walter Mercado was on,...
- 1/24/2020
- by Carlos Aguilar
- The Wrap
Disney Plus has renewed “The World According to Jeff Goldblum” for a second season.
The news comes ahead of the Season 1 finale on Jan. 24. The documentary series is the streamer’s first original with National Geographic. The second season will consist of 10 episodes.
“Jeff has captured the imagination and curiosity of our audience with his distinct perspective and illuminating adventures,” said Ricky Strauss, president of content & marketing at Disney Plus. “We can’t wait to see where Jeff and our partners at National Geographic take us in season two.”
In the series, host and executive producer Goldblum travels across the country as he unravels the truths behind familiar objects people know and love. The first season explored a spectrum of topics from ice cream and sneakers to denim and RVs.
“Jeff’s genuine curiosity in the world make him a natural fit for the National Geographic brand,” said Courteney Monroe,...
The news comes ahead of the Season 1 finale on Jan. 24. The documentary series is the streamer’s first original with National Geographic. The second season will consist of 10 episodes.
“Jeff has captured the imagination and curiosity of our audience with his distinct perspective and illuminating adventures,” said Ricky Strauss, president of content & marketing at Disney Plus. “We can’t wait to see where Jeff and our partners at National Geographic take us in season two.”
In the series, host and executive producer Goldblum travels across the country as he unravels the truths behind familiar objects people know and love. The first season explored a spectrum of topics from ice cream and sneakers to denim and RVs.
“Jeff’s genuine curiosity in the world make him a natural fit for the National Geographic brand,” said Courteney Monroe,...
- 1/17/2020
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: In a competitive situation, NBC has given a script commitment with penalty to Mavenhood, a workplace drama from NCIS: Los Angeles co-executive producer Jordana Lewis Jaffe, Elizabeth Banks and Max Handelman’s Brownstone Productions, and Warner Bros. TV. where Brownstone is under an overall deal.
Written by Jaffe, in Mavenhood, when a mysterious person threatens to reveal the dark, private secrets of a group of social media entrepreneurs, it could shatter the façade of perfection that is the very core of their enviable feeds — and their business model — and ruin the lives of those they love. However, it also bonds the women together and forces them to become true friends to one another.
Jaffe executive produces with Brownstone’s Banks and Handelman. Dannah Shinder co-executive produces via Brownstone, which produces in association with Warner Bros. TV.
Jaffe is currently Co-Executive Producer on CBS’ NCIS: Los Angeles, where she...
Written by Jaffe, in Mavenhood, when a mysterious person threatens to reveal the dark, private secrets of a group of social media entrepreneurs, it could shatter the façade of perfection that is the very core of their enviable feeds — and their business model — and ruin the lives of those they love. However, it also bonds the women together and forces them to become true friends to one another.
Jaffe executive produces with Brownstone’s Banks and Handelman. Dannah Shinder co-executive produces via Brownstone, which produces in association with Warner Bros. TV.
Jaffe is currently Co-Executive Producer on CBS’ NCIS: Los Angeles, where she...
- 10/22/2019
- by Nellie Andreeva and Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
National Geographic’s Sundance award-winning documentary Sea of Shadows will make its global broadcast debut on the network on Saturday, November 9 at 9 Pm, premiering commercial free. The premiere will weigh anchor on the film’s global rollout that will see it on small screens in 172 countries and 42 languages.
It’s the latest move for the pic since National Geographic Documentary Films acquired the Richard Ladkani-directed documentary in a $3 million worldwide deal, just after it won the Sundance Audience Award for World Cinema Documentary. The film, produced by Terra Mater Factual Studios in association with Leonardo DiCaprio and Appian Way, Malaika Pictures and Wild Lens Collective, is coming off a limited theatrical release in the U.S., Mexico, the UK and Austria.
Sea of Shadows is constructed as a thriller of sorts that spotlights a rescue mission to save a collapsing ecosystem and with it, the vaquita – the most endangered and elusive whale on earth.
It’s the latest move for the pic since National Geographic Documentary Films acquired the Richard Ladkani-directed documentary in a $3 million worldwide deal, just after it won the Sundance Audience Award for World Cinema Documentary. The film, produced by Terra Mater Factual Studios in association with Leonardo DiCaprio and Appian Way, Malaika Pictures and Wild Lens Collective, is coming off a limited theatrical release in the U.S., Mexico, the UK and Austria.
Sea of Shadows is constructed as a thriller of sorts that spotlights a rescue mission to save a collapsing ecosystem and with it, the vaquita – the most endangered and elusive whale on earth.
- 10/22/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Disney+ added a bunch of non-fiction programming to its expansive slate on Friday, including a documentary about the original Disney mascot, Mickey Mouse, from “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” director Morgan Neville.
Neville will produce the untitled doc, with Jeff Malmberg directing the feature. Disney said that the film will work to decode Mickey’s deeper significance, getting to the core of what his cultural impact says about each of us, and about our world. From Tremolo Productions and Lincoln Square Productions, the film will strive to be the definitive analysis of Mickey as a cultural icon.
Disney+ has also acquired the worldwide distribution rights to the documentary, “Howard.” Directed by Don Hahn, “Howard” is the untold story of Howard Ashman, the lyricist behind Disney classics like “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid” and creator of musicals including “Little Shop of Horrors.” The film will stream exclusively...
Neville will produce the untitled doc, with Jeff Malmberg directing the feature. Disney said that the film will work to decode Mickey’s deeper significance, getting to the core of what his cultural impact says about each of us, and about our world. From Tremolo Productions and Lincoln Square Productions, the film will strive to be the definitive analysis of Mickey as a cultural icon.
Disney+ has also acquired the worldwide distribution rights to the documentary, “Howard.” Directed by Don Hahn, “Howard” is the untold story of Howard Ashman, the lyricist behind Disney classics like “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid” and creator of musicals including “Little Shop of Horrors.” The film will stream exclusively...
- 10/18/2019
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Disney Plus further fleshed out its nonfiction content slate at an International Documentary Association showcase event Friday, as the streamer, preparing for its Nov. 12 launch, continues to flesh out its programming strategy.
Among the announcements:
The streamer has acquired the global distribution rights to “Howard,” the Don Hahn-directed documentary about “Aladdin” and “Beauty and the Beast” lyricist Howard Ashman, which will stream exclusively on Disney Plus in 2020. “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” and “20 Feet From Stardom” documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville is producing an untitled Mickey Mouse documentary from Tremolo Productions and Lincoln Square Productions for the streamer, one that will “work to decode Mickey’s deeper significance” and its cultural impact. As part of an overall deal with production company Supper Club, Disney Plus has the following three projects in the works: docu-series “People & Places,” about people who “embody the Disney ethos,” David Gelb-directed “Wolfgang,” about celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck,...
Among the announcements:
The streamer has acquired the global distribution rights to “Howard,” the Don Hahn-directed documentary about “Aladdin” and “Beauty and the Beast” lyricist Howard Ashman, which will stream exclusively on Disney Plus in 2020. “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” and “20 Feet From Stardom” documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville is producing an untitled Mickey Mouse documentary from Tremolo Productions and Lincoln Square Productions for the streamer, one that will “work to decode Mickey’s deeper significance” and its cultural impact. As part of an overall deal with production company Supper Club, Disney Plus has the following three projects in the works: docu-series “People & Places,” about people who “embody the Disney ethos,” David Gelb-directed “Wolfgang,” about celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck,...
- 10/18/2019
- by Elaine Low
- Variety Film + TV
Disney+ on Friday revealed some of the new content it is adding to its nonfiction slate on or after the streaming service’s November 12 launch, including newly announced documentaries about Mickey Mouse from Morgan Neville and Marwencol‘s Jeff Malmberg, and about Wolfgang Puck, from Jiro Dreams of Sushi director David Gelb.
The streamer, which showcased its expanding slate at an event Friday at NeueHouse Hollywood sponsored by the International Documentary Association, also said it is reviving Disney’s short-form film series People & Places, which originally aired in the 1950s and ’60s.
Disney+ also acquired rights to be the exclusive streaming home of sibling Nat Geo’s Emmy-winning docu feature Science Fair and the Don Hahn-directed Howard about Disney songwriter Howard Ashman, which bowed at Tribeca in 2018.
In addition, Disney said that Gillian Jacobs, Paul Scheer, Andrew Rossi and Gelb will helm episodes of Marvel’s 616, the superhero factory...
The streamer, which showcased its expanding slate at an event Friday at NeueHouse Hollywood sponsored by the International Documentary Association, also said it is reviving Disney’s short-form film series People & Places, which originally aired in the 1950s and ’60s.
Disney+ also acquired rights to be the exclusive streaming home of sibling Nat Geo’s Emmy-winning docu feature Science Fair and the Don Hahn-directed Howard about Disney songwriter Howard Ashman, which bowed at Tribeca in 2018.
In addition, Disney said that Gillian Jacobs, Paul Scheer, Andrew Rossi and Gelb will helm episodes of Marvel’s 616, the superhero factory...
- 10/18/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Ashleigh Powell is adapting Kim Liggett’s novel The Grace Year which hits store shelves today, a project that Elizabeth Banks will direct for Universal.
Back in January, we broke the news about Banks optioning the novel to direct for Universal and produce through her and Max Handelman’s Brownstone banner alongside New Leaf Literary & Media’s Pouya Shahbazian. Liggett and Brownstone’s Alison Small will executive produce.
Powell wrote the Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms which grossed close to $174M at the worldwide box office. She is repped by 3 Arts and Eric Feig Entertainment & Media Law, Inc.
The Grace Year from Wednesday Books examines the complex and sometimes twisted relationships between girls, the women they eventually become, and the difficult decisions they make in between. Ebury/Penguin is the publisher of the book in UK, Australia and New Zealand. The translation rights to...
Back in January, we broke the news about Banks optioning the novel to direct for Universal and produce through her and Max Handelman’s Brownstone banner alongside New Leaf Literary & Media’s Pouya Shahbazian. Liggett and Brownstone’s Alison Small will executive produce.
Powell wrote the Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms which grossed close to $174M at the worldwide box office. She is repped by 3 Arts and Eric Feig Entertainment & Media Law, Inc.
The Grace Year from Wednesday Books examines the complex and sometimes twisted relationships between girls, the women they eventually become, and the difficult decisions they make in between. Ebury/Penguin is the publisher of the book in UK, Australia and New Zealand. The translation rights to...
- 10/8/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The Spanish- and English-language film and TV studio Exile has launched a creative advisory board, with Originals author Adam Grant serving as the chair. The board members include Diego Luna, Gael García Bernal, Oscar-winning Free Solo filmmaker Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and documentary star Dr. Serena McCalla, who appeared in the Emmy-winning Science Fair.
The board’s mission is to gather the top creative and business minds to help guide Exile’s future in today’s ever-changing media industry, as well as provide creative guidance, direction and input with respect to Exile’s programming slate and strategy.
“We are so proud to have Adam as the chair of our creative advisory board. Adam is an expert in the creative process and has studied for years how to foster the creation of ‘Originals’,” said Isaac Lee, founder and executive chairman of Exile.
The board’s mission is to gather the top creative and business minds to help guide Exile’s future in today’s ever-changing media industry, as well as provide creative guidance, direction and input with respect to Exile’s programming slate and strategy.
“We are so proud to have Adam as the chair of our creative advisory board. Adam is an expert in the creative process and has studied for years how to foster the creation of ‘Originals’,” said Isaac Lee, founder and executive chairman of Exile.
- 10/2/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Nat Geo boss Courteney Monroe has opened up about the network’s strategy of balancing its slate of Disney+ originals against its linear commissions, as well as why it abandoned its take on Mary Shelley and its plan to turn Barkskins and The Right Stuff into anthology series.
Nat Geo is responsible for two Disney+ originals — The World According to Jeff Goldblum and Magic of the Animal Kingdom — and Monroe revealed that its Sundance/SXSW documentary Science Fair would premiere on the forthcoming digital platform.
Monroe, president of National Geographic Global Television Networks, told Deadline that Nat Goe has a number of other projects in development for Disney+ and that working with its sister company was a “tremendous opportunity” for its brand.
“To be one of only five brands to have prominent placement on that platform and to be alongside iconic brands like Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm gives us a tremendous advantage.
Nat Geo is responsible for two Disney+ originals — The World According to Jeff Goldblum and Magic of the Animal Kingdom — and Monroe revealed that its Sundance/SXSW documentary Science Fair would premiere on the forthcoming digital platform.
Monroe, president of National Geographic Global Television Networks, told Deadline that Nat Goe has a number of other projects in development for Disney+ and that working with its sister company was a “tremendous opportunity” for its brand.
“To be one of only five brands to have prominent placement on that platform and to be alongside iconic brands like Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm gives us a tremendous advantage.
- 7/23/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Endeavor Content habla Español. The content division of Endeavor has forged an exclusive partnership with fledgling Hispanic film and TV studio Exile, launched last year in a bid to develop, package and produce premium content for Spanish and mainstream markets.
Co-founded by Isaac Lee, the former chief content officer for Univision and Televisa, Exile will also set up a fund to acquire IP and strike development deals with both prominent and emerging talent from Latin America and Spain.
Endeavor Content’s first Spanish-language deal comes at a time when demand for premium content in Spanish will far exceed supply as more streaming services, led by Netflix, have upped their commitment to producing more content in Latin America and Spain, with Netflix setting up production hubs in Mexico and Spain. Other TV services led by Amazon Prime, Spain’s pay TV giant Movistar+ and Apple are also growing their creative interests in Latin America and Spain.
Co-founded by Isaac Lee, the former chief content officer for Univision and Televisa, Exile will also set up a fund to acquire IP and strike development deals with both prominent and emerging talent from Latin America and Spain.
Endeavor Content’s first Spanish-language deal comes at a time when demand for premium content in Spanish will far exceed supply as more streaming services, led by Netflix, have upped their commitment to producing more content in Latin America and Spain, with Netflix setting up production hubs in Mexico and Spain. Other TV services led by Amazon Prime, Spain’s pay TV giant Movistar+ and Apple are also growing their creative interests in Latin America and Spain.
- 5/14/2019
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
As the cable portion of the Television Critics Assn. press tour continued, A&E looked ahead about a year to the next season of “Knightfall,” while Epix brought two big dramas set to premiere in the summer of 2019: “Pennyworth,” based on DC Comics characters, and the Ben Kingsley starrer “Perpetual Grace, Ltd.” Lifetime brought together the female directors of a number of their original movies for a rare peak behind the curtain, and National Geographic ended the day with a combination of factual programming such as the feature documentary “Science Fair” and Bear Grylls’ “Hostile Planet” and fiction, with the limited series adaptation of “The Hot Zone,” starring Julianna Margulies.
Here, Variety breaks down five things learned during TCA Day 13.
A Butler’s Origin Story
In the upcoming Epix original drama “Pennyworth,” based on DC Comics characters, the center of the story is Alfred Pennyworth (Jack Bannon), usually best known...
Here, Variety breaks down five things learned during TCA Day 13.
A Butler’s Origin Story
In the upcoming Epix original drama “Pennyworth,” based on DC Comics characters, the center of the story is Alfred Pennyworth (Jack Bannon), usually best known...
- 2/11/2019
- by Danielle Turchiano
- Variety Film + TV
“We have a President who likes to joke that climate change is not real because it’s snowing out” a TV critic attending TCA asked panelists for Nat Geo’s documentary Science Fair, wondering if the documentary has taken on an “urgency.”
“We are very aware,” co-director/producer Darren Foster acknowledged. White describing the Sundance and SXSW award winning doc as a “celebration of science” and the students as best hope for a “bright” future, he said science definitely is “under attack.”
Winner of the audience award at Sundance and SXSW, NatGeo Documentary Film’s Science Fair followed nine high-school students from around the globe who were among the 1,700 students from 78 countries navigating their way to competing at the International Science and Engineering Fair.
“No one has been more surprised than we are by what this film has become,” co-director/producer Christina Constantini told TV critics.
Noting one of the...
“We are very aware,” co-director/producer Darren Foster acknowledged. White describing the Sundance and SXSW award winning doc as a “celebration of science” and the students as best hope for a “bright” future, he said science definitely is “under attack.”
Winner of the audience award at Sundance and SXSW, NatGeo Documentary Film’s Science Fair followed nine high-school students from around the globe who were among the 1,700 students from 78 countries navigating their way to competing at the International Science and Engineering Fair.
“No one has been more surprised than we are by what this film has become,” co-director/producer Christina Constantini told TV critics.
Noting one of the...
- 2/10/2019
- by Lisa de Moraes
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Universal Pictures has optioned film rights to The Grace Year, and Elizabeth Banks will direct the adaptation of a novel by Kim Liggett that will be published by Wednesday Books in the fall. Banks and Max Handelman will produce through their Brownstone Productions banner, along with New Leaf Literary & Media’s Pouya Shahbazian.
The Grace Year examines the complex and sometimes twisted relationships between girls, the women they eventually become, and the difficult decisions they make in between. The novel has already become an international sensation, selling rights at auction into a number of territories including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia and Hungary.
After launching the Pitch Perfect franchise, Banks and Handelman have continued to be prolific. She directed, produced co-wrote and even played Bosley in the upcoming remake of Charlie’s Angeles for Sony Pictures, and they recently set the comedy Science Fair at Universal where they...
The Grace Year examines the complex and sometimes twisted relationships between girls, the women they eventually become, and the difficult decisions they make in between. The novel has already become an international sensation, selling rights at auction into a number of territories including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia and Hungary.
After launching the Pitch Perfect franchise, Banks and Handelman have continued to be prolific. She directed, produced co-wrote and even played Bosley in the upcoming remake of Charlie’s Angeles for Sony Pictures, and they recently set the comedy Science Fair at Universal where they...
- 1/30/2019
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Isaac Lee’s Exile Content and Cristina Costantini & Darren Foster’s Muck Media have announced that they are partnering to develop the first of many unscripted projects.
The news comes after the success of Costantini and Foster’s documentary Science Fair, which tells the story of nine students from around the world who are competing in the highly competitive Intel science fair as they navigate rivalries, setbacks and of course, hormones. The film was well-received on its festival run, winning the Audience Award at SXSW and the Sundance Film Festival. It recently nabbed the Critics’ Choice Award for Best First Time Directors.
Costantini and Foster will collaborate with Exile to promote and provide opportunities for emerging creatives, with the goal of engaging the next generation of young, multicultural directors. They will focus on delivering stories that have a significant cultural impact from a multitude of perspectives. Further details will...
The news comes after the success of Costantini and Foster’s documentary Science Fair, which tells the story of nine students from around the world who are competing in the highly competitive Intel science fair as they navigate rivalries, setbacks and of course, hormones. The film was well-received on its festival run, winning the Audience Award at SXSW and the Sundance Film Festival. It recently nabbed the Critics’ Choice Award for Best First Time Directors.
Costantini and Foster will collaborate with Exile to promote and provide opportunities for emerging creatives, with the goal of engaging the next generation of young, multicultural directors. They will focus on delivering stories that have a significant cultural impact from a multitude of perspectives. Further details will...
- 12/17/2018
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
“Free Solo,” the acclaimed climbing documentary about a hair-raising summit of El Capitan, has crossed the $10 million mark at the box office. It now ranks as the fourth highest grossing documentary of the year, behind “Three Identical Strangers” ($12.3 million), “Rbg” ($14 million), and “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” ($22.6 million).
The film follows Alex Honnold as he climbs a 3,000-foot vertical rock face in Yosemite without using harnesses, ropes, or other gear. Directors Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi spent years following Honnold as he meticulously planned his ascent, capturing him in intimate moments and finding new answers to the age old query “why does a man climb a mountain?”
“Alex’s climb is about living the best life you can,” Chai Vasarhelyi said. “The climb is about working through your fear.”
Shooting “Free Solo” raised ethical questions for the filmmakers. They worried they were encouraging Honnold to do something that could cost him his life.
The film follows Alex Honnold as he climbs a 3,000-foot vertical rock face in Yosemite without using harnesses, ropes, or other gear. Directors Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi spent years following Honnold as he meticulously planned his ascent, capturing him in intimate moments and finding new answers to the age old query “why does a man climb a mountain?”
“Alex’s climb is about living the best life you can,” Chai Vasarhelyi said. “The climb is about working through your fear.”
Shooting “Free Solo” raised ethical questions for the filmmakers. They worried they were encouraging Honnold to do something that could cost him his life.
- 11/30/2018
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Cristina Costantini and Darren Foster began making Science Fair, which follows nine high school students from around the world as they prepare to compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles, before Donald Trump was elected — and before the current flare of controversy over immigrants in the U.S. The filmmakers spoke to THR about the film’s newfound timeliness, the unifying nature of science and what they learned from their young subjects.
Why tell this story now?
Cristina Costantini The event has been very important to me, personally. I competed at Science Fair for two years when ...
Why tell this story now?
Cristina Costantini The event has been very important to me, personally. I competed at Science Fair for two years when ...
- 11/12/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Broadcast Film Critics and the Broadcast Television Journalists associations had a good feeling about “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” on Saturday at their third annual Critics’ Choice documentary honors event. They bestowed the evening’s top prizes, both Best Documentary and Best Director — as well as Best Editing — to Morgan Neville‘s moving portrait of beloved children’s show TV host Fred Rogers.
According to Box Office Mojo, the winner is the highest-grossing doc of the year so far, raking in $23 million.
Among the other winners at the Brooklyn-based event hosted by Bill Nye the Science Guy:
Best Sports Documentary: “Free Solo,” about the first free solo climb of El Capitan at National Yosemite Park.
Best Limited Documentary Series: “The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling”
Best Ongoing Documentary Series: “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown”
Best Political Documentary: “Rbg,” about Supreme Court Justic Ruth Bader Ginsberg
SEECheck out the...
According to Box Office Mojo, the winner is the highest-grossing doc of the year so far, raking in $23 million.
Among the other winners at the Brooklyn-based event hosted by Bill Nye the Science Guy:
Best Sports Documentary: “Free Solo,” about the first free solo climb of El Capitan at National Yosemite Park.
Best Limited Documentary Series: “The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling”
Best Ongoing Documentary Series: “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown”
Best Political Documentary: “Rbg,” about Supreme Court Justic Ruth Bader Ginsberg
SEECheck out the...
- 11/11/2018
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
Ever since the Fred Rogers documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” brought audiences to tears at the Sundance Film Festival in January, it has been the frontrunner for the Best Documentary Oscar. Sure enough, the Focus Features release, the highest-grossing biodoc of all time, took home Best Documentary and Director for Morgan Neville as well as Best Editing at the Third Annual Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards on Saturday, November 10.
Its closest competitor, NatGeo’s vertiginous climbing movie “Free Solo,” also took home three Critics’ Choice documentary awards from the Broadcast Film Critics Association (Bfca) and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association (Btja). Directed by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, “Free Solo” won Best Sports Documentary, Best Innovative Documentary, and Best Cinematography.
During the awards show hosted by Bill Nye at Bric in Brooklyn, filmmaker Michael Moore gave a rousing political speech as he accepted the Critics’ Choice Lifetime Achievement Award,...
Its closest competitor, NatGeo’s vertiginous climbing movie “Free Solo,” also took home three Critics’ Choice documentary awards from the Broadcast Film Critics Association (Bfca) and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association (Btja). Directed by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, “Free Solo” won Best Sports Documentary, Best Innovative Documentary, and Best Cinematography.
During the awards show hosted by Bill Nye at Bric in Brooklyn, filmmaker Michael Moore gave a rousing political speech as he accepted the Critics’ Choice Lifetime Achievement Award,...
- 11/11/2018
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Ever since the Fred Rogers documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” brought audiences to tears at the Sundance Film Festival in January, it has been the frontrunner for the Best Documentary Oscar. Sure enough, the Focus Features release, the highest-grossing biodoc of all time, took home Best Documentary and Director for Morgan Neville as well as Best Editing at the Third Annual Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards on Saturday, November 10.
Its closest competitor, NatGeo’s vertiginous climbing movie “Free Solo,” also took home three Critics’ Choice documentary awards from the Broadcast Film Critics Association (Bfca) and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association (Btja). Directed by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, “Free Solo” won Best Sports Documentary, Best Innovative Documentary, and Best Cinematography.
During the awards show hosted by Bill Nye at Bric in Brooklyn, filmmaker Michael Moore gave a rousing political speech as he accepted the Critics’ Choice Lifetime Achievement Award,...
Its closest competitor, NatGeo’s vertiginous climbing movie “Free Solo,” also took home three Critics’ Choice documentary awards from the Broadcast Film Critics Association (Bfca) and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association (Btja). Directed by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, “Free Solo” won Best Sports Documentary, Best Innovative Documentary, and Best Cinematography.
During the awards show hosted by Bill Nye at Bric in Brooklyn, filmmaker Michael Moore gave a rousing political speech as he accepted the Critics’ Choice Lifetime Achievement Award,...
- 11/11/2018
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The winners for the third annual Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards were announced Saturday with Morgan Neville’s Won’t You Be My Neighbor taking the top honor of Best Documentary. The winners were determined by members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA).
The Mr. Rogers documentary also nabbed Best Director for Neville as well as Best Editing. The nail-biting rock climbing documentary directed by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi also won three awards including Best Sports Documentary, Most Innovative Documentary, and Best Cinematography.
Hosted by Bill Nye at Bric in Brooklyn, the ceremony also honored Michael Moore with the Critics’ Choice Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented by Robert De Niro. In addition, Joe Berlinger renowned documentarian Stanley Nelson was honored with the Critics’ Choice Impact Award. Berlinger earned the same honor last year.
Other winners of the evening included the Ruth Bader Ginsbug pic Rbg,...
The Mr. Rogers documentary also nabbed Best Director for Neville as well as Best Editing. The nail-biting rock climbing documentary directed by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi also won three awards including Best Sports Documentary, Most Innovative Documentary, and Best Cinematography.
Hosted by Bill Nye at Bric in Brooklyn, the ceremony also honored Michael Moore with the Critics’ Choice Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented by Robert De Niro. In addition, Joe Berlinger renowned documentarian Stanley Nelson was honored with the Critics’ Choice Impact Award. Berlinger earned the same honor last year.
Other winners of the evening included the Ruth Bader Ginsbug pic Rbg,...
- 11/11/2018
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Morgan Neville’s “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” has been named the best documentary of 2018 at the Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards, which were handed out on Saturday evening at Bric in Brooklyn, New York.
The film about “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” star Fred Rogers won in a category whose other nominees were “Crime + Punishment,” “Dark Money,” “Free Solo,” “Hal,” “Hitler’s Hollywood,” “Minding the Gap,” “Rbg,” “Three Identical Strangers,” “Wild Wild Country.”
Michael Moore received a lifetime achievement award from Robert De Niro, who called him “an American hero.” Moore new film, “Fahrenheit 11/9,” was not nominated in the Best Documentary category, instead receiving a mention only in Best Political Documentary, where it lost to “Rbg.”
Also Read: 'Minding the Gap' Leads All Films in Nominations for Cinema Eye Honors
“Quincy” won the award for best music documentary, while “Free Solo” won for best sports documentary and most innovative documentary.
The film about “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” star Fred Rogers won in a category whose other nominees were “Crime + Punishment,” “Dark Money,” “Free Solo,” “Hal,” “Hitler’s Hollywood,” “Minding the Gap,” “Rbg,” “Three Identical Strangers,” “Wild Wild Country.”
Michael Moore received a lifetime achievement award from Robert De Niro, who called him “an American hero.” Moore new film, “Fahrenheit 11/9,” was not nominated in the Best Documentary category, instead receiving a mention only in Best Political Documentary, where it lost to “Rbg.”
Also Read: 'Minding the Gap' Leads All Films in Nominations for Cinema Eye Honors
“Quincy” won the award for best music documentary, while “Free Solo” won for best sports documentary and most innovative documentary.
- 11/11/2018
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Women directors and producers are consistent winners and well-represented as nominees when it comes to documentaries in awards season. Barbara Kopple is a two-time Oscar-winning documentary director; Freida Lee Mock is an Oscar winner and was the Academy’s first documentary branch governor; Laura Poitras (“Citizenfour”) and Zana Briski (“Born Into Brothels”) are the two women who’ve taken home the gold statuette as directors most recently. It’s a field in which women have made their mark in cinematography and editing, too, and are not outliers.
“Women have always been fiercely part of the documentary filmmaking movement,” says Diane Weyermann, Participant Media’s president of documentary film and TV. The barriers to entry are not as high when compared to scripted/narrative features, especially when it comes to financing. Production costs are less and crews are traditionally a fraction of the size. There’s also the longstanding tradition of...
“Women have always been fiercely part of the documentary filmmaking movement,” says Diane Weyermann, Participant Media’s president of documentary film and TV. The barriers to entry are not as high when compared to scripted/narrative features, especially when it comes to financing. Production costs are less and crews are traditionally a fraction of the size. There’s also the longstanding tradition of...
- 11/9/2018
- by Kathy A. McDonald
- Variety Film + TV
Documentaries have a reputation for being, as Jerry Seinfeld put it at the 2007 Oscars, “incredibly depressing.” But not this year.
While 2018 has seen its share of high-profile political docus, including Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 11/9” and Errol Morris’ “American Dharma,” audiences seem to be in serious need of inspirational non-fiction films that don’t deal directly with politics. The evidence is the abnormally lofty documentary box office numbers over the summer.
At the height of popcorn season, when franchises were taking over multiplexes, Morgan Neville’s “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” about Fred Rogers — the minister and famed children’s TV host — drew in more than $22 million domestically in 14 weeks. That’s the highest amount a documentary has made theatrically since 2013.
“What Mr. Rogers did with his show was to help kids navigate the fear they felt and didn’t understand,” says Neville. “And that’s exactly what he does for adults too.
While 2018 has seen its share of high-profile political docus, including Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 11/9” and Errol Morris’ “American Dharma,” audiences seem to be in serious need of inspirational non-fiction films that don’t deal directly with politics. The evidence is the abnormally lofty documentary box office numbers over the summer.
At the height of popcorn season, when franchises were taking over multiplexes, Morgan Neville’s “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” about Fred Rogers — the minister and famed children’s TV host — drew in more than $22 million domestically in 14 weeks. That’s the highest amount a documentary has made theatrically since 2013.
“What Mr. Rogers did with his show was to help kids navigate the fear they felt and didn’t understand,” says Neville. “And that’s exactly what he does for adults too.
- 11/9/2018
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
A total of 166 films have been submitted for consideration in the documentary feature category for the 91st Academy Awards.
Notable titles up for the gold include “Rbg,” “Three Identical Strangers,” “Free Solo” and “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” — which have performed strongly at the box office. Fred Rogers documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” has grossed $22.6 million domestically.
Nine of the 10 titles named as finalists for the International Documentary Association’s top feature are on the list, including “Crime + Punishment,” “Dark Money,” “Free Solo,” “Hale County This Morning, This Evening,” “Minding the Gap,” “Of Fathers and Sons,” “The Silence of Others,” “United Skates” and “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences noted that several of the 166 films have not yet had their required Los Angeles and New York qualifying runs. A shortlist of 15 movies will be announced on Dec. 17.
Nominations...
Notable titles up for the gold include “Rbg,” “Three Identical Strangers,” “Free Solo” and “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” — which have performed strongly at the box office. Fred Rogers documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” has grossed $22.6 million domestically.
Nine of the 10 titles named as finalists for the International Documentary Association’s top feature are on the list, including “Crime + Punishment,” “Dark Money,” “Free Solo,” “Hale County This Morning, This Evening,” “Minding the Gap,” “Of Fathers and Sons,” “The Silence of Others,” “United Skates” and “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences noted that several of the 166 films have not yet had their required Los Angeles and New York qualifying runs. A shortlist of 15 movies will be announced on Dec. 17.
Nominations...
- 11/8/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
The directors of 10 of the year's most outstanding documentaries — Hulu's Crime + Punishment (Stephen Maing), National Geographic's Free Solo (Jimmy Chin and Chai Vasarhelyi), Aos' In Search of Greatness (Gabe Polsky), HBO's The Price of Everything (two-time Oscar nominee Nathaniel Kahn), Netflix's Quincy (Al Hicks and Rashida Jones), Magnolia/CNN Films' Rbg (Julie Cohen and Betsy West), National Geographic's Science Fair (Cristina Costantini and Darren Foster), Zeitgeist's Studio 54 (Matt Tyrnauer), Neon/CNN Films' Three Identical Strangers (Tim Wardle) and Focus Features' Won't You Be My Neighbor? (Oscar winner Morgan Neville) — gathered on Oct. 28 at the Savannah College of Art and Design'...
- 11/5/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
The directors of 10 of the year's most outstanding documentaries — Hulu's Crime + Punishment (Stephen Maing), National Geographic's Free Solo (Jimmy Chin and Chai Vasahelyi), Aos' In Search of Greatness (Gabe Polsky), HBO's The Price of Everything (two-time Oscar nominee Nathaniel Kahn), Netflix's Quincy (Al Hicks and Rashida Jones), Magnolia/CNN Films' Rbg (Julie Cohen and Betsy West), National Geographic's Science Fair (Cristina Costantini and Darren Foster), Zeitgeist's Studio 54 (Matt Tyrnauer), Neon/CNN Films' Three Identical Strangers (Tim Wardle) and Focus Features' Won't You Be My Neighbor? (Oscar winner Morgan Neville) — gathered on Oct. 28 at the Savannah College of Art and Design'...
- 11/5/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Savannah College of Art and Design (Scad) has announced the award winners for its 21st celebration of the Scad Savannah Film Festival.
The honors were revealed during an awards brunch held at local restaurant The Olde Pink House. A key stop on the Oscar festival circuit, this year’s Scad Savannah Film Festival screened a total of 164 films, including 33 narrative films, 16 documentary films and 115 shorts, more than any year before.
Twenty-seven awards were announced from the 105 films that competed in the categories of narrative features, documentary features, professional shorts, animated shorts, and student shorts selections.
Professional Competition
Best Narrative Feature – Tomorrow Best Documentary Feature – The Human Element Best Narrative Short – Geoff Best Directing – Will Kenning & Michael Rouse – Geoff Best Editing – Hold The Night Jury Award for Acting – Skyler Samuels – Spare Room Jury Award for Screenwriting – One Cambodian Family Please For My Pleasure Jury Award, Unheard Voices – Facing The Dragon...
The honors were revealed during an awards brunch held at local restaurant The Olde Pink House. A key stop on the Oscar festival circuit, this year’s Scad Savannah Film Festival screened a total of 164 films, including 33 narrative films, 16 documentary films and 115 shorts, more than any year before.
Twenty-seven awards were announced from the 105 films that competed in the categories of narrative features, documentary features, professional shorts, animated shorts, and student shorts selections.
Professional Competition
Best Narrative Feature – Tomorrow Best Documentary Feature – The Human Element Best Narrative Short – Geoff Best Directing – Will Kenning & Michael Rouse – Geoff Best Editing – Hold The Night Jury Award for Acting – Skyler Samuels – Spare Room Jury Award for Screenwriting – One Cambodian Family Please For My Pleasure Jury Award, Unheard Voices – Facing The Dragon...
- 11/3/2018
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi‘s “Free Solo” leads the third annual Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards with six bids, including Best Documentary and Best Director. Also nabbing nominations in those two top categories is Bing Liu‘s “Minding the Gap,” which is also in the running for Best First Time Director, as well as “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?,” “Dark Money,” “Hitler’s Hollywood,” and “Three Identical Strangers.” In all 10 films were nominated for the top prize at these awards bestowed by the Broadcast Film Critics Assn. (Bfca). The other four are “Crime + Punishment,” “Hal,” “Rbg,” and “Wild Wild Country.”
Last year the Bfca nominated 16 films for this award, three of which –“Abacus: Small Enough to Jail,” “Faces Places,” and “Strong Island” — went on to contend at the Oscars. And in 2016 the Bfca shared its Best Documentary winner (“O.J.: Made in America”) with the Academy...
Last year the Bfca nominated 16 films for this award, three of which –“Abacus: Small Enough to Jail,” “Faces Places,” and “Strong Island” — went on to contend at the Oscars. And in 2016 the Bfca shared its Best Documentary winner (“O.J.: Made in America”) with the Academy...
- 10/16/2018
- by John Benutty
- Gold Derby
Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi’s “Free Solo,” which captured rock climber Alex Honnold’s hair-raising ascent of Yosemite National Park’s 3,000-foot El Capitan rock formation, led the nominations for the third annual Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards, it was revealed Monday. The film netted six nominations including best documentary and best director.
Close behind with five mentions each were “Minding the Gap” and “Wild Wild Country,” from Hulu and Netflix respectively.
Voted on by the Broadcast Film Critics and Television Journalists Assns., the awards will be presented at a gala event hosted by science educator and television personality Bill Nye on Saturday, Nov. 10 at Bric in Brooklyn, New York.
The nominees are:
Best Documentary
“Crime + Punishment” – Director: Stephen Maing (Hulu)
“Dark Money” – Director: Kimberly Reed (PBS)
“Free Solo” – Directors: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi (National Geographic Documentary Films)
“Hal” – Director: Amy Scott (Oscilloscope)
“Hitler’s Hollywood” – Director: Rüdiger Suchsland...
Close behind with five mentions each were “Minding the Gap” and “Wild Wild Country,” from Hulu and Netflix respectively.
Voted on by the Broadcast Film Critics and Television Journalists Assns., the awards will be presented at a gala event hosted by science educator and television personality Bill Nye on Saturday, Nov. 10 at Bric in Brooklyn, New York.
The nominees are:
Best Documentary
“Crime + Punishment” – Director: Stephen Maing (Hulu)
“Dark Money” – Director: Kimberly Reed (PBS)
“Free Solo” – Directors: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi (National Geographic Documentary Films)
“Hal” – Director: Amy Scott (Oscilloscope)
“Hitler’s Hollywood” – Director: Rüdiger Suchsland...
- 10/15/2018
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Variety Film + TV
The Broadcast Film Critics Association (Bfca) and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association (Btja) have announced the nominees for the third annual Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards. The winners will be presented their awards at a gala event, hosted by science educator and television personality Bill Nye, on Saturday, November 10 at Bric in Brooklyn, New York.
Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi’s “Free Solo” leads this year with six nominations and one honor, including Best Documentary, Best Directors, Best Sports Documentary, Most Innovative Documentary, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and a Most Compelling Living Subject of a Documentary honor for Alex Honnold. “Minding the Gap” and “Wild Wild Country” follow with five nominations each, with “Dark Money,” “Hitler’s Hollywood,” and “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” each earning four nods.
“We are thrilled to celebrate this year’s outstanding documentary work at the upcoming event,” said Broadcast Film Critics Association President...
Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi’s “Free Solo” leads this year with six nominations and one honor, including Best Documentary, Best Directors, Best Sports Documentary, Most Innovative Documentary, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and a Most Compelling Living Subject of a Documentary honor for Alex Honnold. “Minding the Gap” and “Wild Wild Country” follow with five nominations each, with “Dark Money,” “Hitler’s Hollywood,” and “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” each earning four nods.
“We are thrilled to celebrate this year’s outstanding documentary work at the upcoming event,” said Broadcast Film Critics Association President...
- 10/15/2018
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Isaac Lee, the former chief creative officer of Univision and Televisa, has formed an ambitious new company called Exile Content and he has acquired Mexican production services company Redrum.
Redrum founder Stacy Perskie will run Exile’s studio along with his team of partners, including Adrian Grunberg, who is currently directing “Rambo 5” and helmed Redrum’s first original in-house production, “Get the Gringo,” starring Mel Gibson. Exile Content will have offices in Mexico and Los Angeles.
Redrum has provided production services to some of the most prominent films to shoot in Mexico, including “Godzilla: King of Monsters,” “Blade Runner 2049, “Bel Canto,” “Spectre” and “Elysium.” On the TV side, it has worked on Netflix’s “Narcos: Mexico” and season two of Amazon Prime’s “Mozart in the Jungle,” among others.
“Exile is about premium content and no one in the region has more experience producing with the highest production values then Redrum,...
Redrum founder Stacy Perskie will run Exile’s studio along with his team of partners, including Adrian Grunberg, who is currently directing “Rambo 5” and helmed Redrum’s first original in-house production, “Get the Gringo,” starring Mel Gibson. Exile Content will have offices in Mexico and Los Angeles.
Redrum has provided production services to some of the most prominent films to shoot in Mexico, including “Godzilla: King of Monsters,” “Blade Runner 2049, “Bel Canto,” “Spectre” and “Elysium.” On the TV side, it has worked on Netflix’s “Narcos: Mexico” and season two of Amazon Prime’s “Mozart in the Jungle,” among others.
“Exile is about premium content and no one in the region has more experience producing with the highest production values then Redrum,...
- 10/10/2018
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Three years after making “Meru,” a documentary about a trio of mountain climbers, the risk averse husband and wife directing team of Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi are back with “Free Solo.” Their new film chronicles one man’s attempt to climb Yosemite’s El Capitan unaided. Free solo means no ropes, no safety harnesses, nothing. Alex Honnold, 33, is set on scampering up three thousand feet of nooks, crannies, edges and in places, flat slippery rock with seemingly nothing to grab onto.
“Meru” made the Oscar short list of 15 for Best Documentary. Unfortunately, despite a number of industry luncheons — one in New York was moderated by fan Tom Brokaw — the film met a mountain it couldn’t climb. It was denied an Oscar nomination. The audience award at Sundance didn’t matter to the academy.
At the recent New York premiere of “Free Solo,” fans like Ben Stiller (he...
“Meru” made the Oscar short list of 15 for Best Documentary. Unfortunately, despite a number of industry luncheons — one in New York was moderated by fan Tom Brokaw — the film met a mountain it couldn’t climb. It was denied an Oscar nomination. The audience award at Sundance didn’t matter to the academy.
At the recent New York premiere of “Free Solo,” fans like Ben Stiller (he...
- 10/9/2018
- by Bill McCuddy
- Gold Derby
Sundance doc Studio 54 played a solo New York engagement over the weekend, taking in $15K with sold out shows. The film is the second release for filmmaker Matt Tyrnauer who also had Scotty And The Secret History of Hollywood in theaters over the summer.
20th Century Fox rolled out The Hate U Give in three dozen locations, grossing a half million. Racking up the big numbers, though, was Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin’s Free Solo, topping a million over the weekend with a $590K three-day gross in 41 theaters.
Cohen Media Group bowed fellow doc The Great Buster: A Celebration with two runs, taking in $7,234. Fox Searchlight expanded Robert Redford starrer The Old Man & The Gun to 49 theaters, grossing $385K. Neon jumped Monsters And Men to 143 theaters in its second frame grossing $146K, while The Orchard planted All About Nina in 23 theaters in its second frame, taking...
20th Century Fox rolled out The Hate U Give in three dozen locations, grossing a half million. Racking up the big numbers, though, was Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin’s Free Solo, topping a million over the weekend with a $590K three-day gross in 41 theaters.
Cohen Media Group bowed fellow doc The Great Buster: A Celebration with two runs, taking in $7,234. Fox Searchlight expanded Robert Redford starrer The Old Man & The Gun to 49 theaters, grossing $385K. Neon jumped Monsters And Men to 143 theaters in its second frame grossing $146K, while The Orchard planted All About Nina in 23 theaters in its second frame, taking...
- 10/7/2018
- by Brian Brooks
- Deadline Film + TV
Alejandro Rojas Oct 5, 2018
Science Fair filmmakers, Cristina Costantini and Darren Foster, discuss what it means to be a science fair kid.
The new documentary Science Fair follows several high school students on their journey to being accepted and competing in the world’s largest pre-college science competition. Their projects include groundbreaking science, yet these young scientists do not have advanced degrees and are just as silly and full of nerves and hormones as any other high school teenager. All of which turns out to be hilarious, educational, awkward, inspiring, and highly entertaining to watch play out on the big screen.
Filmmaker Cristina Costantini describes the International Science and Engineering Fair (Isef) as “one of the most stressful, exhilarating, sublime, terrible experiences a young person could go through.”
She would know, she competed in the fair when she was a student.
“I was a science fair kid when I was in...
Science Fair filmmakers, Cristina Costantini and Darren Foster, discuss what it means to be a science fair kid.
The new documentary Science Fair follows several high school students on their journey to being accepted and competing in the world’s largest pre-college science competition. Their projects include groundbreaking science, yet these young scientists do not have advanced degrees and are just as silly and full of nerves and hormones as any other high school teenager. All of which turns out to be hilarious, educational, awkward, inspiring, and highly entertaining to watch play out on the big screen.
Filmmaker Cristina Costantini describes the International Science and Engineering Fair (Isef) as “one of the most stressful, exhilarating, sublime, terrible experiences a young person could go through.”
She would know, she competed in the fair when she was a student.
“I was a science fair kid when I was in...
- 10/5/2018
- Den of Geek
On Wednesday, October 3, in Beverly Hills, Gold Derby’s 2018 fall awards kickoff party welcomed more than 200 performers, executives, publicists and industry insiders to The Farmhouse restaurant to celebrate the launch of a new awards season. The celebs included Robert Forster (“What They Had”), David Kajganich (“Suspiria”), Adina Porter (“American Horror Story”), Vincent Rodriguez III (“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”), and Diane Warren (“Rbg”). Click through our photo gallery above to see many of the famous folk who let loose at Gold Derby’s private shindig, which included an open bar and passed hors d’oeuvres.
See‘American Horror Story: Apocalypse’ Season 8 Cast and Characters
Here’s the who’s-who list of of the various films and TV programs that were represented at our 2018 awards party (complete photo gallery above):
“American Horror Story” (Adina Porter)
“BlacKkKlansman” (Terence Blanchard)
“Blindspotting” (Rafael Casal)
“Blindspotting” (Janina Gavankar)
“Castle Rock” (Gina Welch)
“Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” (Tati Gabrielle...
See‘American Horror Story: Apocalypse’ Season 8 Cast and Characters
Here’s the who’s-who list of of the various films and TV programs that were represented at our 2018 awards party (complete photo gallery above):
“American Horror Story” (Adina Porter)
“BlacKkKlansman” (Terence Blanchard)
“Blindspotting” (Rafael Casal)
“Blindspotting” (Janina Gavankar)
“Castle Rock” (Gina Welch)
“Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” (Tati Gabrielle...
- 10/4/2018
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
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