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Kevin Costner is returning to Yellowstone, but in a way most people wouldn't expect. After his epic falling out with Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, you wouldn't blame him for never wanting to mention the word Yellowstone again, but here he is. The legendary actor is once again bringing his passion for the American West to the screen, but this time, he’s stepping into the world of documentary filmmaking. The Academy Award-winning actor recently joined The Will Cain Showto discuss his new three-part Fox Nation series, Yellowstone to Yosemite, which explores how a "force of will" can change the course of history.

Yellowstone To Yosemite Kevin Costner ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

After his exit from Yellowstone and the debacle of his ambitious three-part film series Horizon, Kevin Costner is back with a new docuseries divided into three parts. Yellowstone to Yosemite will feature the actor exploring nature and unraveling history as he stars in the limited series.

The veteran played John Dutton in Yellowstone and has been undergoing a rough patch in his personal and professional life. But this docu-series will bring him back on screen to connect with fans as himself. Here’s what we know about the release, including the premiere date and what to expect.

Yellowstone To Yosemite: When Is The Kevin Costner Starrer Docuseries Releasing

Yellowstone to Yosemite is a three-episode series that will premiere on February 8, 2025, on Fox Nation. Kevin will trace “the footsteps of the pivotal 1903 Yosemite expedition of 26th President Teddy Roosevelt and environmental advocate John Muir.

Looney Tunes features some of the most iconic cartoon creations, which continue to hold a heavy influence over popular culture. Warner Bros. amusing shorts have entertained multiple generations of people, due to their quirky roster of individuals. With Warner Bros. Animation having recently confirmed a new Looney Tunes movie, "The Day The Earth Blew Up," fans are disclosing which characters they hope to appear.

This comically violent animated series includes many colorful personalities, who deserve a place in the feature. Looney Tunes' cartoon animals, aliens, and people have delivered many laughs across several shorts, leaving a giant impression on viewers young and old. These lively individuals are sure to deliver a few classic moments for "The Day The Earth Blew Up."

K-9

Not to be confused with Doctor Who's canine companion, K-9 is Marvin The Martian's loyal friend throughout the Looney Tunes shorts. His rather naive demeanor could lead...

FBI True fans, we’ve got a fresh off the press preview for the new episode titled Horror in Yosemite; The Beltway Snipers!

Find out everything you need to know about the Horror in Yosemite; The Beltway Snipers episode of FBI True, including a full preview, videos, release date, cast information and how to watch!

FBI True Horror in Yosemite; The Beltway Snipers Preview

“FBI True” returns with a chilling episode on October 31, 2023, at 9:01 Pm on CBS. In this special episode, titled “Horror in Yosemite; The Beltway Snipers,” viewers will be taken deep into two haunting cases that shook the nation.

“Horror in Yosemite” introduces a gruesome series of events. The discovery of four women found dead in and around Yosemite National Park sends shockwaves through the nation. The FBI suspects the work of a serial killer, lurking within the breathtaking wilderness. To unravel this nightmare, the Bureau assigns...

The miniseries Wilderness features a British couple on a vacation in the United States that will change their lives, with filming locations spanning across North America. The Fairmont Banff Springs Resort in Alberta, Canada served as Liv and Will's hotel in Yosemite National Park, providing a scenic backdrop for the series. Other Canadian locations, such as Kananaskis and Whistler, were also used to depict Yosemite National Park scenes.

Amazon Prime Video released a new high-stakes thriller drama miniseries called Wilderness, which depicts a couple with newfound trust issues as they go on a vacation that will undoubtedly change their lives. As a result, the cast and crew of the television show traveled to multiple different places to capture the British newlyweds' adventure throughout the United States. However, the filming locations for the series were not limited to one country.

The cast of Wilderness includes Jenna Coleman and Oliver Jackson-Cohen as Liv and Will Taylor,...

Having watched more than my fair share of Lifetime’s thrillers, a considerable chunk of which are more of a challenge to take seriously than an experience to remember, one thing is for certain: Lifetime picks and chooses its battles. Be it the kind of sincere effort evident in the performances or the due attention given to the flow of the narrative, the quality of these cautionary tales under the guise of thrillers wildly fluctuates. Vanished in Yosemite, overcoming the stifling elements that are unavoidable in corny TV movies, dishes up a well-rounded, emotionally complex story driven by an ever-so-relevant paranoia. Will her usual lack of inhibitions finally catch up to Katrina and make her a cynic? Let’s find out what happens in Vanished in Yosemite.

Spoilers Ahead

What Happens In The Film?

Must all sisters be the complete antithesis of one another? Seeing Jennifer and Katrina try to...

Emmy winner and Oscar nominee Bryan Cranston will lend his voice to voice Experience Yosemite, an immersive virtual-reality experience on Yosemite National Park.

The Breaking Bad and Trumbo star will voice the cinematic journey through one of America’s first National Parks.

“I’ve always felt a strong sense of adventure,” said Cranston. “From a young age I wanted to explore and experience all that this world had to offer. I’ve traveled to a lot of incredible places. But when I first saw Yosemite … my mind was blown. I was awestruck by its natural beauty and felt that everyone in the world should experience it. This experience is the next best thing … it majestically captures Yosemite from discovery to sustaining its natural wonder.”

Produced by CityLights, Experience Yosemite ushers in a new multisensory cinematic experience, communicating the ancient art of storytelling through a deeper, more powerful medium, intimately connecting viewers with this awe-inspiring place.

“I’m ready to leave L.A., and I want you to come,” Lana Del Rey sings on her latest album Chemtrails Over the Country Club. “Eighty miles north or south will do.” It’s an escapist fantasy the pop singer has entertained before: stealing away from the City of Angels in a pickup truck that no one recognizes. But thankfully – for us, at least – she never acts on her wishes. On Chemtrails, her most subdued and introspective album thus far, , just as she did on her previous effort, 2019’s electrifying Norman Fucking Rockwell!

For at least a decade now, rap beats have been getting fiercer every year. The biggest producers in the genre largely abandoned traditional acoustic instrumentation, instead embracing the abrasive potential of software. As Kanye West worked on his 2010 album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, he kept a note on his wall reading, “No Acoustic Guitar In The Studio.” Producers like Lex Luger and Metro Boomin, who enjoyed dominant runs in the 2010s, took that approach to an extreme, constructing hulking beats that hit like jackhammers. The wave crested last year,...

“Sicko Mode” might be a song of the year contender, and the most popular song on Travis Scott‘s Astroworld. But real Astroheads and Travaholics know that “Yosemite,” featuring Gunna and Nav, is the album’s brightest moment. Thankfully, the holiday season can begin now that Travis has delivered his latest gift, the Nabil-directed video to “Yosemite.” Also known as the best song on Astroworld.

“Yosemite” features Travis and Gunna flying on a private jet as a young boy falls from the sky into a rainforest. The video is very...

Rap collaborations start, flourish and dramatically burn out once every few months. Young Thug and Rich Homie Quan’s transcendent mixtape Rich Gang: Tha Tour Pt. 1 is less than four years old, but it’s a landmark release, churning out stylistic offspring since it first dropped. The latest branches on the Rich Gang tree are Lil Baby and Gunna, who have paired up for an upcoming mixtape. The Atlanta rookies sound like embryonic reptiles that were born out of the Young Thug-indebted primordial ooze, with a dash of Quan’s...

When Travis Scott failed to earn a Grammy nomination for 2016’s Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight, “that was a real dark day,” says Sickamore, the rapper’s longtime A&R, who now works at Interscope Records.

Scott returned on Friday with Astroworld, an imposing LP that’s at once baroque and bludgeoning, sludgy and slick. The rapper harnessed an army of vocalists, producers and writers, more than 50 in total; guitar parts from John Mayer and harmonica riffs from Stevie Wonder; and samples from Goodie Mobb, Three Six Mafia, the Beastie...

Sometimes, it's all about the pitch, and "Zola" has a pretty good one. In his article for Rolling Stone, "Zola Tells All: The Real Story Behind the Greatest Stripper Saga Ever Tweeted," journalist David Kusher describes the tale spun by Aziah "Zola" Wells as "'Spring Breakers' meets 'Pulp Fiction,' as told by Nicki Minaj." And who wouldn't be interested in that? Certainly not James Franco. Read More: James Franco Is Everywhere: New Trailers For '11/22/63,' 'Yosemite,' And 'Every Thing Will Be Fine' The polymath has signed up to direct an adaptation of Kushner's article that will be simply titled, "Zola." It tells the wild true story, that was shared and trended on Twitter last fall, about Zola from suburban Detroit, her friend Jessica, Jessica's boyfriend, and Jessica's pimp, who all take a wild road trip to Florida that results in murder and more.

Read More: Watch: James Franco Seduces Emma Roberts in Stylish 'Palo Alto' Trailer James Franco's childhood contuse to be a bountiful source of inspiration for him as a writer, director and actor. He first recounted various anecdotes from his youth in the short story collection "Palo Alto Stories," which was later turned into a feature film by Gia Coppola. His subsequent memoir, "A California Childhood," was the starting off point for this year's "Yosemite," also starring Franco, and now the upcoming "Memoria," directed by Nina Ljeti and Vladimir de Fontenay, is the latest movie to be born out of his roots. Indiewire has an exclusive poster for the coming-of-age drama, which you can check out below. Based on both "Palo Alto" and "A California Childhood," "Memoria" follows the day-to-day struggles of teenager Ivan Cohen (played by Sam Dillon of "Boyhood"). The viewer follows...

The three vignettes that compose “Yosemite” are fraught with threats of dangers that, for the most part, never surface. The coming-of-age tales, based on short stories by James Franco and adapted by writer-director Gabrielle Demeestere (“The Color of Time”), intertwine and, after approximately 80 minutes, the end credits roll. Yet you’re left feeling as if each story needed another chapter before the film could satisfactorily close. “Yosemite” largely takes place in Palo Alto, Calif., Franco’s hometown. It’s 1985, and three fifth-grade boys are navigating school, difficulties at home, and the fluidity of friendship. Meanwhile, the city has in its midst.

"Yosemite" (January 1) (Film Page) Director: Gabrielle Demeestère Cast: James Franco, Henry Hopper, Steven Wiig, Barry Del Sherman, Tony Vella Criticwire Average: C Why is it a Must See? James Franco is one of Hollywood's most love-him-or-hate-him figures, yet there's no denying that he keeps churning out interesting work in all mediums, including books. His first novel, "Palo Alto," became an unassumingly wonderful film courtesy of Gia Coppola, and now writer-director Gabrielle Demeestère is using his second novel, "A California Childhood," for her feature debut. "Yosemite" is told in three parts and tracks the intertwining experiences of three fifth grade friends in Palo Alto during the fall of 1985. Mixing themes of adolescence and friendship, the movie is a light and sensitive venture into the nostalgia of Franco. "Chimes at Midnight" (January 1)Director: Orson...

Distracted fathers and sons left to their own devices; father surrogates and the salve of friendship — these are the themes that circle around Gabrielle Demeestere’s lovely and composed feature debut, Yosemite, which opens today in New York from Monterey Media at the IFC Center. Based on two short stories by James Franco (taken from the same collection that led to the film Palo Alto), as well as Demeestere’s own original material, Yosemite is set in 1985, when pre-adolescent dangers are symbolized by mountain lions descending from the wilds into this Northern California town, and when father-son bonding trips into […]...

Distracted fathers and sons left to their own devices; father surrogates and the salve of friendship — these are the themes that circle around Gabrielle Demeestere’s lovely and composed feature debut, Yosemite, which opens today in New York from Monterey Media at the IFC Center. Based on two short stories by James Franco (taken from the same collection that led to the film Palo Alto), as well as Demeestere’s own original material, Yosemite is set in 1985, when pre-adolescent dangers are symbolized by mountain lions descending from the wilds into this Northern California town, and when father-son bonding trips into […]...

Palo Alto 2: Demeestere Crafts Franco’s Prose for Portrait of Preadolescent Angst

Director Gabrielle Demeestere adapts James Franco’s A California Childhood for her directorial debut, Yosemite, a mid-1980s set triptych on three young boys in the suburban climes of Palo Alto. If this sounds a bit familiar, it may be because Demeestere is the second woman director to adapt Franco’s prose for a debut, following Gia Coppola’s 2013 title Palo Alto, based on Franco’s earlier short story collection Palo Alto Stories. Franco also happens to appear as a peripheral character in both. Demeestere’s film premiered at the 2015 Slamdance Film Festival, and probably won’t be assisted by the presence of Franco during its limited theatrical release due to the actor/writer/director’s multiple cinematic offerings during any given period. Still, Demeestere scores points with this low-key slow burn which features naturalistic performances from...

What is it about childhood that makes us adults so wary of who we once were? Perhaps it is that great fear of the unknown; a shadow, a whisper of adulthood, that as children scares us into submission of these impending years. Perhaps it is remembering how we felt depleted before it began. When we were seemingly asked by no one and everyone, alike, to just stop being children because you have to grow up. We all remember that desire to just let us be. Let us be whatever it is that children are without adult agendas. Gabrielle Demeestere's pivots such feelings and moods, intangible, strange and so wonderfully potent, with her feature debut Yosemite. Set in the fall of 1985 in the ever-expanding Palo...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

It’s 1985, and for three boys living in Palo Alto, CA it might just be the last year they spend as kids. There’s a mountain lion wandering suburbia, but the wild predator is the least of their concerns. Chris (Everett Meckler), his younger brother, and his father (James Franco, who also produced) go hiking in Yosemite National Park. There’s beauty here, but there’s also lessons about the birds and the bees, the sight of a burning skeleton, and the very real fear of being lost. Back in town, Joe (Alec Mansky) is dealing with a recent loss he doesn’t quite understand, and in the process he’s finding himself in all kinds of trouble. Shoplifting and classroom fights see him lectured by teachers, but the kindness of a stranger — a man who invites him to his place for comics and soda — offers Joe something of a sanctuary. Ted...

Hulu's eight-part original series "11.22.63," debuting Feb. 15, 2016, has its first teaser trailer, in which high school English teacher Jake Epping (James Franco) travels back in time to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy—and finds his mission threatened by Lee Harvey Oswald, falling in love, and the past itself. Read More: "James Franco Is Everywhere: New Trailers For '11/22/63,' 'Yosemite,' And 'Every Thing Will Be Fine'" The series, executive produced by J.J. Abrams and Stephen King, co-stars Chris Cooper, Josh Duhamel, T.R. Knight, Cherry Jones, Sarah Gadon, Lucy Fry, George MacKay and Daniel Webber. Based on King's bestselling 2011 novel, the first two episodes are directed by Kevin Macdonald ("Last King of Scotland," "State of Play"). Read More: "James Franco's Movie Column: Why 'Mustang' is the Best Film of the Year"...

Say what you will about James Franco, but man, the guy is nonstop. This week brings trailers for not one, not two, but three different Franco projects: Hulu's Kennedy-assassination time-travel mini-series 11.22.63; the coming-of-age film Yosemite, based on Franco's book of short stories; and Wim Wenders's chilly Every Thing Will Be Fine. James Franco, how do you act like you're running out of time? How do you act like you need it to survive? How do you act every second you're alive?...

When it comes to James Franco, he doesn't just give you one project at a time, there's usually a handful to choose from. And as per usual, he's got a bunch of stuff on the way, and they've all received trailers of late, so let's jump right in. The actor returns to television in the upcoming "11/22/63," and it comes with the producing powers of J.J. Abrams attached to it. The adaptation of Stephen King's book sets up a simple premise: a man is sent back in time to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. And he's given plenty of time to do it, arriving back in 1958, with five years to sort his plan. Chris Cooper, Cherry Jones and Josh Duhamel co-star in the 8-part series that will launch on Hulu on President's Day. Read More: Brian Cranston And James Franco Team For Comedy 'Why Him?' At the arthouse,...

Read More: Watch: James Franco Preaches Sobriety in Exclusive 'Yosemite' Clip In this trailer for "Yosemite," three young boys go on a hunt for mountain lions against the warnings of Phil (James Franco), who reminds them how dangerous the titular national park can be. The trailer features beautiful shots of the Yosemite landscape and the strained dynamic between Phil and his sons. "Yosemite" is directed by Gabrielle Demeestere, who was classmates with Franco at New York University. Demeestere wrote the screenplay from Franco's short story collection, "A California Childhood." The brief synopsis is as follows:  "It's the fall of 1985. The intertwining tales of three 5th grade friends, Chris, Joe and Ted, unfold in the suburban paradise of Palo Alto, as the threat of a mountain lion looms over the community." "Yosemite" is scheduled to hit theaters in January 2016. Watch the trailer above. Read More: Exclusive: James...

Stand By Me was an important movie that practically defined how the Baby Boom Generation talked about its childhood. It also had an enormous influence on subsequent literature and film, so much so that whenever a movie about the uncertainty and mystery of childhood is made, it feels impossible not to think of Rob Reiner’s classic when discussing it. Such is the case with Yosemite, a new drama from writer-director Gabrielle Demeestere based on material from James Franco’s…...

Summer may be over, but with this year marking the 35th anniversary of Friday the 13th, it's never too late to visit the lake. Ahead of the event's November 4th start date, the folks behind the Denver Film Festival have announced the first wave of programming, including a special November 13th 35mm screening of Sean S. Cunningham's monumental slasher film.

Press Release: October 9, 2015 (Denver, Colo.) - The Denver Film Festival (Dff), produced by Denver Film Society (Dfs), announced its first wave of programming. Recognized as the Rocky Mountain Region's premier film event, the festival will feature a focus on Polish Cinema, sidebars for CinemaQ, CineLatino, Late Night and Women+Film, as well as robust Shorts Packages and Music Spotlight programming.

"In keeping with our long and rich tradition of presenting the best in Eastern European cinema, we at the Denver Film Festival are proud to announce that this year's...

The distributor has picked up all Us and Canadian rights Gabrielle Demeestere’s Slamdance selection starring James Franco and Henry Hopper.

Newcomer Calum John, Alec Mansky and Everett Meckler round out the cast on the 1985-set tale of three school friends in the wealthy California local of Palo Alto.

Yosemite is based on Franco’s short stories from his collection A California Childhood. Rabbit Bandini Productions produced with The Art Of Elysium and Sam Slater and Paul Bernon of Burn Later Productions.

monterey brokered the deal with ICM Partners and plans a winter 2015 launch.

Cinedigm has acquired all North American rights to Punk’s Dead: Slc Punk 2 and will release theatrically in early 2016 followed by digital roll-out. Punk’s Dead is the sequel to 1999’s Slc Punk and follows the next generation of outcast misfits adrift in the Utah hinterlands. Cinedigm brokered the deal with Xyf Films.

Read More: Watch: James Franco Preaches Sobriety in Exclusive 'Yosemite' Clip In the latest swoop of a James Franco property, Monterey Media has announced its acquisition of all U.S. and Canadian rights to "Yosemite." Following in the footsteps of Gia Coppola's 2013 effort "Palo Alto," "Yosemite" marks the second adaptation of a James Franco short story collection. This time, the source material is Franco's second effort, "A California Childhood," which similarly tackles themes of adolescence and friendship in his hometown Palo Alto. After her debut effort "Tar," "Yosemite" is the debut feature for French writer-director Gabrielle Demeestere. Like "Palo Alto,""Yosemite" sees Franco serve as executive producer and as a featured actor.  Told in three parts, "Yosemite" tracks the intertwining experiences of three 5th grade friends -- Chris, Joe and Ted -- in Palo Alto during...

Exclusive: Spotlight Pictures has unveiled five new titles on its slate led by James Franco starrer Yosemite.

The coming-of-age drama also stars Henry Hooper and follows two young boys as they journey to the Californian national park with their father.

Franco’s Rabbit Bandini Productions produced what is the fourth collaboration with Spotlight.

Chinese family animation Polar Adventure from Ori Animation centres on a penguin who returns to his home in the South Pole in search of his missing grandfather.

The film is scheduled to open this summer in China and Spotlight is working on the English-language dub.

Rom-com Ely And Naomi’s No Kiss List stars Victoria Justice in the tale of a college freshman in love with her lifelong gay friend.

UK comedy Chicklit with John Hurt, Christian McKay, Dakota Blue Richards is about small town men who attempt to raise money to save their failing local pub by writing a woman’s erotic novel in...

Last night at Treasure Mountain Inn in Park City, the 21st edition of the Slamdance Film Festival came to a close with a packed house gathering for the awards ceremony.This festivals diverse slate of films yielded a palpable excitement in the room as festival founders and staff took the audience through each award with a lively and playful step. Nearly all big winners this year were women directors, which marks just how strong the female perspective is behind the camera in the indie world. First up, the inaugural Tangerine Entertainment Juice Fund award for best female directing went to Gabrielle Demeestere for her poignant and well observed feature debut Yosemite. The Grand Jury Prize Winner for Narrative Film went to Britni West and her enchanting...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

The 21st Slamdance Film Festival wrapped up yesterday with James Franco's "Coffee With..." event, leading into the world premiere screening of his new film "Yosemite," written and directed by Gabrielle Demeestere. "Yosemite" chronicles the intersecting stories of three 5th grade friends living in suburban Palo Alto, as the threat of a nearby mountain lion troubles the community. The event was moderated by film critic Scott Foundas.  Franco waxed poetic about Diy filmmaking, his training as an actor, and his own teaching methods. "I went to acting school for a long time, longer than I should have," he admits, before expressing his frustration with being dependent on other people to find work.  Franco teaches grad classes in NY and La, and here he describes teaching students the importance of community, and "finding your people, so you're not dependent on the gatekeepers in the insular industry." Watch the clip from...

James Franco closed out Slamdance’s 21st festival on Thursday by sitting down for its latest “Coffee With” event. His candid chat about independent filmmaking was followed by a screening of “Yosemite,” which Franco produced through his Rabbit Bandini Production company.

The film, directed by Gabrielle Demeestere, chronicles the adventures of three 5th grade friends as they and their suburban community must deal with the looming threat of a mountain lion.

Also Read: Sundance 2015’s Scene and Heard: James Franco, Ethan Hawke, Hailee Steinfeld and Nicole Kidman (Photos)

Franco’s passion for independent film has a direct correlation with what...

What is it about childhood that makes us adults so wary of who we once were? Perhaps it is that great fear of the unknown, a shadow, a whisper of adulthood that scares us as children into submission of these impending years. Perhaps it is remembering how we felt depleted before it began, when we were seemingly asked by no one and everyone, alike, to just stop being children because you have to grow up. We all remember that desire to just let us be. Let us be whatever it is that children are without those adult agendas. Gabrielle Demeestere's pivots such feelings, such moods, intangible and strange and so wonderfully potent with her feature debut Yosemite. Set in the fall of 1985 in the...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

What is it about childhood that makes us adults so wary of who we once were? Perhaps it is that great fear of the unknown, a shadow, a whisper of adulthood that scares us as children into submission of these impending years. Perhaps it is remembering how we felt depleted before it began, when we were seemingly asked by no one and everyone, alike, to just stop being children because you have to grow up. We all remember that desire to just let us be. Let us be whatever it is that children are without those adult agendas. Gabrielle Demeestere's pivots such feelings, such moods, intangible and strange and so wonderfully potent with her feature debut Yosemite. Set in the fall of 1985 in the...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Last year, Gia Coppola brought James Franco's first collection of short stories to life in the coming-of-age drama "Palo Alto." This year, two stories from Franco's second short story collection, "A California Childhood," get the big-screen treatment in "Yosemite." Written and directed by Gabrielle Demeestere, "Yosemite," follows the intertwining tales of three 5th grade friends, Chris, Joe and Ted, in the suburban paradise of Palo Alto during the fall of 1985, as the threat of a mountain lion looms over the community. As with "Palo Alto," Franco has a role in the film, and in this exclusive clip, we get a brief introduction to his character. "Yosemite" will close out the the Slamdance Film Festival on Jan. 29. Read More: How the Slamdance Film Festival Survived 20 Years of Counterprogramming Mayhem...

In today's roundup of festival news, the inaugural edition of Critics' Week Berlin, loosely modeled on the Critics' Week programs in Cannes, Venice and Locarno, will take place during the Berlinale in February. The Berlinale, in the meantime, has announced that Isabel Coixet's Nobody Wants the Night with Juliette Binoche, Rinko Kikuchi and Gabriel Byrne, will open its 65th edition. Robert Redford and George Lucas will open Sundance's Art of Film Weekend. Gabrielle Demeestere's Yosemite, an adaptation of stories by James Franco, will close Slamdance. And Emmanuel Carrère will curate Locarno's L’immagine e la parola in March. » - David Hudson...

In today's roundup of festival news, the inaugural edition of Critics' Week Berlin, loosely modeled on the Critics' Week programs in Cannes, Venice and Locarno, will take place during the Berlinale in February. The Berlinale, in the meantime, has announced that Isabel Coixet's Nobody Wants the Night with Juliette Binoche, Rinko Kikuchi and Gabriel Byrne, will open its 65th edition. Robert Redford and George Lucas will open Sundance's Art of Film Weekend. Gabrielle Demeestere's Yosemite, an adaptation of stories by James Franco, will close Slamdance. And Emmanuel Carrère will curate Locarno's L’immagine e la parola in March. » - David Hudson...

The Slamdance Film Festival has announced the latest edition of its "Coffee With" events featuring independent film champion James Franco, followed by a Special Screening of his latest film collaboration "Yosemite," directed by Gabrielle Demeestere and a Rabbit Bandini Production. This unique program will close Slamdance's 21st festival on Thursday, January 29th, 2015 and will be the World Premiere of "Yosemite," a film that chronicles the intertwining tales of three 5th grade friends which unfold in the suburban paradise of Palo Alto, as the threat of a mountain lion looms over the community.

As the premiere film festival by filmmakers for filmmakers, Slamdance's "Coffee With" events aim to discuss the various ways to sustain a successful filmmaking career from the guests’ personal experiences in their fields. “Coffee With...James Franco” will look at the actor and producer's prolific independent film work, including his new production of "Yosemite."Past “Coffee With” guests have included Chad Hurley & the Russo Brothers, Jonathan Demme & Neil Young, Ted Hope, and Vilmos Zsigmond.

“We are thrilled to have such a talented and passionate supporter of independent film sit down and share his knowledge and experience with the Slamdance filmmakers,” states Anna Germanidi, Slamdance Film Festival Director.

The 2015 Slamdance Film Festival will take place from January 23rd - 29th, 2015 in Park City, Utah at the Treasure Mountain Inn, located at 255 Main Street, Park City, Ut 84060.

About Slamdance

Slamdance is a year­-round organization and film festival that serves as a showcase for the discovery and development of emerging independent talent and innovative filmmaking. Slamdance is the only festival programmed entirely by filmmakers and is a fertile ground for new filmmakers to begin their careers. The festival began as an alternative to the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah and they continue to run concurrently.

Notable Slamdance alumni who first gained notice at the festival include: Christopher Nolan ("Interstellar"), Oren Peli ("Paranormal Activity"), Marc Forster ("World War Z"), Jared Hess ("Napoleon Dynamite"), Lena Dunham ("Girls"), Benh Zeitlin ( "Beasts of the Southern Wild"), Anthony & Joe Russo ("Captain America: The Winter Soldier"), Jeremy Saulnier ("Blue Ruin"), Seth Gordon ("Horrible Bosses") and Lynn Shelton ("Humpday"). Box Office Mojo reports alumni who first showed their work at Slamdance have accumulated over $11.5 billion in the Box Office to date.

Additional information about the Slamdance Film Festival is available at www.slamdance.com...

We all know the admittedly tired joke by now: James Franco is everywhere.The exception is that on January 29th, he'll specifically be somewhere. That'd be wrapping up the 21st Slamdance Film Festival in Park City with the world premiere of the Gabrielle Demeestere directed Yosemite. The latest collaboration from Franco's Rabbit Bandini Productions, Yosemite charts the tale of a group of 5th grade friends and the threat of a mountain lion loose in their community of Palo Alto, California. Preceeding the film, Franco will be participating in a "Coffee With" event at the fest, which in the past has seen the likes of The Russo Brothers, Ted Hope and Jonathan Demme talk independent filmmaking.A highlight of my festival going year for its eclectic showcase of...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

South by Southwest 2015 will open with Brand: A Second Coming, a feature documentary about comedian Russell Brand directed by Ondi Timoner (Dig!, We Live In Public). The doc chronicles Brand’s evolution from addict to movie star to political disruptor and will kick off a line-up that will also include Michael Showalter’s Sally Field comedy Hello, My Name is Doris, Karyn Kusama’s The Invitation, Mavis Staples doc Mavis!, Grantland Features’ Son of the Congo about NBA star Serge Ibaka, A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story, and Alex Garland’s Ex Machina starring Oscar Isaac.

Of course, that’s not all; SXSW’s typically sprawling line-up is still being finalized and won’t be revealed until February 3, with Midnighter titles revealed alongside the shorts program on February 10.

If you’re Austin-bound, get ready for a double dose of Russell Brand. SXSW already announced that the irreverent Brit will serve as a 2015 guest speaker,...

The world premiere of James Franco collaboration Yosemite directed by Gabrielle Demeestere will close the Park City festival on January 29.

Yosemite will screen as part of the Coffee With programming strand and intertwines the lives of three fifth grade friends in the Californian suburs of Palo Alto at a time when a mountain lion is roaming the area.

The Rabbit Bandini Production is the centerpiece of Coffee With… James Franco and will focus on the content creator’s prolific output.

Past Coffee With guests have included Chad Hurley & the Russo Brothers, Jonathan Demme & Neil Young, Ted Hope and Vilmos Zsigmond.

“We are thrilled to have such a talented and passionate supporter of independent film sit down and share his knowledge and experience with the Slamdance filmmakers,” said Slamdance Films Festival director Anna Germanidi.

The 21st Slamdance will run from January 23-29.

Recently James Franco directed a low-budget film adaptation of "The Road" and "No Country for Old Men' author Cormac McCarthy's novel "Child of God," a book with subject matter so dark that many though it to be essentially unfilmmable.

Nearly four years ago, Franco wanted to do something even more ambitious though - direct an adaptation of McCarthy's arguably darkest work to date - "Blood Meridian". He was so enamoured with the idea he shot a 25-minute rough test reel of a key sequence in the story, and scored actors like Mark Pellegrino, Scott Glen, Dave Franco and Luke Perry to help him pull it off over the course of a three day shoot near Yosemite.

Now, that test reel has gone online. It's rough and lacking polish, but it shows a scene where Tobin recounts how the Glanton gang met the Judge, a Satan-like character and Glanton’s right-hand man.

New York Times theater critic Ben Brantley was not the biggest fan of the latest stage incarnation of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, which stars James Franco and Chris O'Dowd. (Vulture's theater critic Jesse Green, on the other hand, was.) And James Franco is not a fan of New York Times theater critic Ben Brantley, calling him a "little bitch" and suggesting an alternate job in an Instagram post that was later edited to remove the insult. Here is a screenshot of the orginal:What part could have gotten Franco so angry? Was it this: "Though he sports a Yosemite Sam accent, Mr. Franco is often understated to the point of near invisibility." Was it this: "Neither actor overplays, which is considerate, but they do remain largely monolithic." Or was it this: "Though Mr. Franco musters a single, perfect tear for the play’s tragic climax, I only came...

Up-and-coming actor Sam Dillon has been cast alongside James Franco and Thomas Mann in the indie drama “Memoria,” TheWrap has learned. Vladimir de Fontenay and Nina Ljeti are writing and directing the movie, which Franco is executive producing under his RabbitBandini Productions banner. Franco met the filmmakers while enrolled at New York University. Dillon and Franco recently worked together on Gia Coppola’s “Palo Alto,” which was based on Franco’s book of short stories. “Memoria” is one of three feature films being adapted from Franco’s short stories, along with “Killing Animals” and “Yosemite.” It is specifically based on the short stories “Memoria,...

“Tracking Shot” is a monthly featurette here on Ioncinema.com that looks at a dozen or so projects that are moments away from lensing and this October we see a couple of items that we could certainly circle as potential Cannes 2014 bait. Thanks to our friends at Production Weekly for the helping hand in curating our list of future must see items.

Among the top foreign film productions, The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover‘s Peter Greenaway is looking at a late October, possible November start to begin filming a fragment of the great Soviet master filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein’s bio timeline. Eisenstein In Guanajuato will cover the portion of the filmmaker’s post Battleship Potemkin career, with Eisenstein landing in Mexico after Hollywood studios balked at the idea of working with him and in its place finds romance. The Girl Who Played with Fire‘s Daniel Alfredson...

Many films torture their characters (e.g. the Saw series; I Spit on Your Grave). Drew Denny, a truly beautiful woman who has written, helmed, and stars in this semi-lesbian road trip, has decided instead to scourge the audience with directorial incoherence, an abysmal screenplay, inane antics, and incessantly showing off her ultra-white teeth. At times, you’re not sure if you are watching an exploration of two women’s lives or the world’s longest Crest commercial.

The Most Fun I've Ever Had with My Pants On, an adaptation of Ms. Denny's 2011 performance piece, a heartfelt tribute to her late father, chronicles the journey of Andy (Denny), a randy, immature lesbian traveling about various scenic parts of America, including Yosemite; White Sands, New Mexico; and West Texas, to scatter her dad's ashes piecemeal. Accompanying her is her attractive, straight, childhood friend Liv (Sarah Hagan), an infantile actress with limited...