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Disney’s curated short film program, Launchpad, features six unique features created by diverse filmmakers from different backgrounds. In the series second season, The Roof, directed by Alexander Bocchieri and written by W.A.W. Parker, which is up for Emmy consideration, tells a touching story about a queer two-spirit teenager (Phoenix Wilson) who is forced to spend time with his Northern Cheyenne Grandfather (Wes Studi) as he dangerously toils away on repairs to his leaky roof.

Here, Deadline talks to Launchpad senior manager and producer Phillip Domfeh about the powerful impact of diverse storytelling.

Deadline: How would you describe Launchpad as a program?

Phillip Domfeh:The best way to discuss Disney Launchpad is that it sits at the intersection of 100 years of storytelling expertise that resides within the Walt Disney Studios, and the next generation of storytellers that we’re trying to bring up that often come from underrepresented backgrounds, or...

A memorial fund set up for Garrison Brown has far exceeded expectations and is continuing to go through the roof. It is amazing what an impact he had on the lives of people who did not even know him. Yet, so many felt that they did as they watched him grow up for fourteen years. So, what fund was set up and how well is it doing? Read on for more details.

Garrison Brown Memorial Fund Exceeds Expectations, Through The Roof

When Garrison Brown took his own life at the age of twenty-five, viewers were shocked. It was as if they had lost a family member. He was always so sweet and level-headed plus Janelle and Christine Brown were so beloved. Hearts were broken for the family and his many siblings who had lost their brother. However, just days before this happened, Garrison made the most beautiful gesture. He shared...

Admissions to indoor screens are up, but Piazza Grande open-air screenings hit by rain.

Attendance at this year’s edition of Locarno Film Festival was 6% up on 2022 at the event’s halfway point, according to the festival’s managing director Raphael Brunschwig.

A 22% increase in admissions to the festival’s indoor screening venues up to Monday evening (Aug 7) compensated for the 12% drop in audience figures at the nightly open-air screenings on the town’s Piazza Grande due to heavy rain which dissuaded many from attending on the festival’s first two evenings.

Head of press Fiorenza Conforti confirmed that total...

Email to staff talks of ’tough choices on where to spend our investment’

Sky Deutschland is stepping back from original scripted programming from next year, in a move which will see the dissolution of its drama commissioning team.

A memo sent to staff by Devesh Raj, chief executive of Sky’s Dach territories, outlined that Sky Deutschland will cease to produce any new scripted Sky original series from 2024.

Sky Deutschland will proceed with scripted titles currently in production and post-production, with those in development or pre-production placed into “turnaround”, Screen understands.

Series unaffected by the announcement include post-apocalyptic Helgoland 513,...

Tom Cruise, the savior of movie theaters, would love it if you bought a ticket next month to see “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning.” But he’d also love it if you went out to see the other films that will be competing against it in theaters this summer, too.

On Wednesday, Cruise posted a picture of him with “Mission: Impossible 7” director Christopher McQuarrie holding tickets to see “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” which comes out on Friday, as well as Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” and Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” which come out the week after “Mission: Impossible 7”

“This summer is full of amazing movies to see in theaters,” Cruise tweeted. “Congratulations, Harrison Ford, on 40 years of Indy and one of the most iconic characters in history. I love a double feature, and it doesn’t get more explosive (or more pink) than one with Oppenheimer and Barbie.

Recording artist Deborah Cox and Chicago-based actress and singer Melody A. Betts have joined the Broadway-bound cast of The Wiz, with Cox taking the role of Glinda and Betts cast as Aunt Em and Evillene.

Cox and Betts join the previously announced cast of Wayne Brady as the Wiz, and Kyle Ramar Freeman as the Lion, Phillip Johnson Richardson as the Tinman, and Avery Wilson as the Scarecrow. Additional casting will be announced in the coming weeks.

The casting of Cox and Betts was announced today by producers Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Brian Anthony Moreland and Ambassador Theatre Group. The Wiz revival will begin a national tour this fall with a planned arrival on Broadway in spring of 2024.

Cox has reached the music charts with six top 20 Billboard R&b singles and 13 No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play Chart, including the hits “Nobody’s Supposed To Be...

Gravitas Ventures has picked up North American rights to upcoming gangland thriller MobKing, which it will release in select theaters and on demand May 26.

The deal was completed by Danielle Gasher, senior director of acquisitions at Gravitas Ventures, and Anthony Caliendo of Button Man Films.

Button Man Films has also signed with Adler & Associates Entertainment for international rights on MobKing, which will make its world market debut in Cannes.

MobKing, which first screened at the 2022 American Film Market, is based on the award-winning web series of the same name, created by and starring Ciro Dapagio (Suitcasing, Silent Partners) who reprises his role as Mike White, a gangster who has distinguished himself as a man of honor, a stand-up guy, but after being released from a lengthy prison sentence finds himself the target of Miami’s most notorious criminal organization. James Russo (Donnie Brasco) steps into the role of Dominick “Dom” Sasso,...

Miracle In Milan

Stars: Emma Gramatica, Francesco Golisano, Paolo Stoppa, Guglielmo Barnabò | Written by Cesare Zavattini | Directed by Vittorio De Sica

Films carry power, whether it’s to just merely entertain or to get an emotional reaction from the water they still gain a reaction. When a film fails the reaction they get can range from pure hatred to just pure boredom. Of course there is no reason to hate a film just because it’s bad, sure have a dislike for it but don’t waste emotion on hate, just don’t watch the film ever again. That said it’s always fun to bitch about one that truly sucks. Miracle in Milan is one that I would argue brings happiness, it’s a true feel good film.

Some films can be seen as a kind of social commentary, and this could be said about Miracle in Milan, even...

2011 was a banner year for Vittorio De Sica fans.  Kino International released four Blu-rays of his '60s work and Arrow Academy released Bicycle Thieves on Blu-ray and Il Generale Della Rovere & The Garden of the Finzi-Continis on DVD, and now they're starting off 2012 right with more De Sica.  Miracle In Milan is the first post-Bicycle Thieves film from De Sica, and one that has never been available on Us DVD, but Arrow Academy are preparing a fantastic edition on Blu-ray for the UK.  The film will be presented in HD with some great extras, including De Sica's 1956 feature Il Tetto (The Roof) which has also never made it to Us or UK DVD.  What a great way to celebrate the master!...