News

Severin Launches New Seasonal Ghost Story Series On Shudder This December: "From boutique label Severin Films and renowned author, producer and filmmaker Kier-La Janisse comes new annual series The Haunted Season.

Created by Janisse and executive produced by Severin Films, new episodes of The Haunted Season will arrive on Shudder each December with chilling short form horror tales in the tradition of telling ghost stories for Christmas. Future episodes will be announced each year as the holiday season approaches.

The first of these original commissioned productions comes from director Sean Hogan, called To Fire You Come at Last.

In 17th century England, near a rural village where unquiet spirits gather, a grieving Squire hires three local men to help carry his son’s coffin to a graveyard across the countryside. But as darkness descends upon their journey, disturbing secrets will be revealed. Violence will rise to the surface. And as...

Exclusive: Truth Or Dare and Scream 4 star Lucy Hale is set to channel Alien‘s Ellen Ripley and The Thing‘s R. J MacReady in sci-fi-thriller White Mars.

Set in an isolated Aquila Research Facility in Antarctica, White Mars follows microbiologist Sammie (Hale), as she fights to save her fellow crew members from a malevolent entity whose sole intention is to extinguish them all.

Martin Owen (Above The Below) is directing from a script by Matt Mitchell, Vicki Sargent, and Roo Berry. The film is set to start principal photography on November 11, 2024, at Cinecittà Studios in Rome and will be shot entirely in a virtual production environment.

Future Artists Entertainment’s Matt Williams will produce alongside Neil Jones with Steve Griffith and Steve Jelley from Singularity Entertainment. XYZ Films is co-financing with Singularity and is handling worldwide sales at this week’s American Film Market.

White Mars is the first...

Production is now underway on writer/director Ted Evans’ debut thriller “Retreat,” starring Anne Zander, James Boyle and Sophie Stone, with Ace Mahbaz and Anna Seymore rounding out the cast.

The film, featuring an all-deaf principal cast (Evans is also deaf), is set in an isolated deaf community, where cracks begin to appear in Matt’s (Boyle) seemingly idyllic world when the arrival of enigmatic outsider Eva (Zander) forces him to question the realities of his identity. Is Matt prepared to discover what lies beneath the surface of his supposedly utopian community and the costs demanded to maintain it?

XYZ Films is handling worldwide sales on “Retreat” as a part of their New Visions slate of films, an initiative designed to spotlight the boldest new voices alongside established talent striking a new path in the international space. It will be introducing the film to buyers at the upcoming American Film Market.

Variety is reporting that The Ritual — a new horror film starring Al Pacino and Dan Stevens — has been sold to numerous outlets in the international market by XYZ Films. Both Pacino and Stevens will be portraying priests in the exorcism movie, while Ashley Greene and Abigail Cowen join them in the cast. David Midell is helming the film. Midell directs from a script written by himself and is co-written by Enrico Natale. The film is produced by Andrew Stevens, Mitchell Welch and Natale. The Ritual plans for release sometime in 2025.

The plot synopsis, according to Variety, says the movie is based on a true story and “follows two priests — one questioning his faith (Stevens) and one reckoning with a troubled past (Pacino) — who must put aside their differences to save a possessed young woman through a difficult and dangerous series of exorcisms. The film is an authentic portrayal of Emma Schmidt,...

“The Ritual,” the upcoming exorcism horror in which Al Pacino and Dan Stevens play troubled priests, has sold out for most international territories by XYZ Films.

From director David Midell, the film was written by Midell and Enrico Natale, and produced by Andrew Stevens, Mitchell Welch and Natale. Ashley Greene and Abigail Cowen round out the cast.

XYZ, which has been quietly growing its own releasing arm on top of its sales operations, is planning a U.S. theatrical release in 2025.

Based on a true story, “The Ritual” follows two priests — one questioning his faith (Stevens) and one reckoning with a troubled past (Pacino) — who must put aside their differences to save a possessed young woman through a difficult and dangerous series of exorcisms. The film is an authentic portrayal of Emma Schmidt, an American woman whose demonic possession culminated in harrowing exorcisms. Her case remains the most thoroughly documented exorcism in American history.

Japanese director Tanigaki Kenji has completed production in Bangkok, Thailand, on his upcoming film “The Furious,” intended as an elite-level Asian martial arts actioner.

Written by Mak Tin Shu, the film follows a simple tradesman (portrayed by mainland Chinese star Xie Miao) who fights his way through a complex web of criminals and evil agents in a frantic attempt to win back his kidnapped daughter by any means necessary.

(For full Bangkok set report see here.)

Produced by the region’s top producer Bill Kong, Frank Hui and Shan Tam, the film features a pan-Asian cast that also includes Indonesian’s Joe Taslim, Thai star Jeeja Yanin (“Chocolate”), Yang Enyu, Brian Le, Joey Iwanaga and Yayan Ruhian.

Michael J. Werner, former principal at Fortissimo Films, joins Todd Brown and Aram Tertzakian of XYZ Films as an executive producer.

Kong’s Edko Films is financing the movie and will distribute in Hong Kong,...

Exclusive: Zachary Levi (Hotel Tehran) and Naya Desir-Johnson (The Equalizer) are toplining Sarah’s Oil, a new theatrical drama from Amazon MGM Studios that has wrapped production.

Others in the cast include Sonequa Martin-Green (Star Trek: Discovery), Garret Dillahunt (Raising Hope), Bridget Regan (Jane the Virgin), Kenric Green (The Walking Dead), Adyan Copes (Who Is Christmas Eve?), Stelio Savante (The Cleaning Lady) and Mel Rodriguez (The Last Man on Earth).

Inspired by Tonya Bolden’s book Searching for Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America, Sarah’s Oil tells the true story of Sarah Rector, an African American born in Oklahoma Indian Territory in the early 1900s, who believes there is oil beneath the barren land she’s allotted and whose faith is proven right. As greedy oil sharks close in, Sarah turns to her family, friends and some Texas wildcatters to maintain control of her oil-rich land, eventually becoming one...

There's been an ongoing conversation about superhero fatigue for the last couple of years, with both Marvel and DC underperforming at the box office. However, Shazam! Fury of the Gods star Asher Angel doesn't blame superhero fatigue for the Dceu film's failure.

2019's Shazam! was quite a success at the box office. Because of that, Warner Bros. granted a sequel, which arrived four years later. However, the film wasn't as successful as the studio had hoped and bombed at the box office. But Shazam! Fury at the Gods wasn't exactly at fault, because 2023 was a rough year for superhero films.

Related Shazam! Star Zachary Levi Joins Upcoming Action Thriller From Longtime Quentin Tarantino Collaborator Shazam! star Zachary Levi boards the upcoming action thriller, Free Fall, which will be directed by one of Quentin Tarantino's oldest collaborators.

Asher Angel addressed Dceu's struggle to perform in a new conversation with ComicBook. The actor played the lead character,...

‘The Big Bang Theory’ star Kunal Nayyar has joined the cast of Gurnder Chadha’s festive offering ‘Christmas Karma’ from True Brit Entertainment, Bend It Films, Maven Screen Media and Civic Studios.

Inspired by Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol, Nayyar will lead the cast as Scrooge with a further cast including Eva Longoria, Boy George, Billy Porter, Hugh Bonneville, Leo Suter, Charithra Chandran, Pixie Lott, Danny Dyer, Bilal Hasna, Allan Corduner, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Rufus Jones, Eve, Nitin Ganatra.

On his casting Nayyar stated; “To explore a beloved holiday tale through the eyes of an immigrant story (much like my own) is exactly the kind of movie that I believe will resonate with so many of us who are searching for the meaning of home. It takes a visionary like Gurinder to take a chance on a story like this, and I am humbled to be a part of it.”

Also in...

Apple TV+ has debuted a set of first-look images alongside announcing that ‘Sunny,’ its ten-episode mystery thriller with a darkly comic bent, is set to premiere globally with the first two episodes on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, followed by new episodes every Wednesday through September 4.

The show stars Rashida Jones as Suzie, an American woman living in Kyoto, Japan, whose life is upended when her husband and son disappear in a mysterious plane crash. As “consolation” she’s given Sunny, one of a new class of domestic robots made by her husband’s electronics company. Though at first, Suzie resents Sunny’s attempts to fill the void in her life, gradually they develop an unexpected friendship, as together they uncover the dark truth of what really happened to Suzie’s family, becoming dangerously enmeshed in a world Suzie never knew existed.

Also in news – Zachary Levi set for action-thriller ‘Free Fall’

Created by Katie Robbins,...

‘Shazam’ actor, Zachary Levi, has been cast in the rock climbing action thriller ‘Free Fall’.

The project tells the story of a father’s attempt to reconcile with his estranged daughter on a rock-climbing trip that turns deadly as an accident leaves them stranded hundreds of feet in the air.

Zoë Bell, a renowned stuntwoman and stunt coordinator, is all set to take up the directorial duties for the upcoming film project. The movie has been penned by Sean Finegan and Gregg Maxwell Parker. The project is expected to be a thrilling and action-packed adventure that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

Also in news – Keanu Reeves set for ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ 3 as the voice of Shadow

Tom Hern and Nua Finau of Tavake are producing, with Navid McIlhargey and Erik Olsen executive producing alongside Finegan, Parker and Levi.

Production is set to start later this year in New Zealand.

With his time playing the superhero Shazam seemingly in the rearview mirror, actor Zachary Levi has set his sights on new projects. This includes the rock-climbing action thriller Free Fall, which he will headline for XYZ Films.

According to Variety, Free Fall "tells the story of a father's attempt to reconcile with his estranged daughter on a rock-climbing trip that turns deadly as an accident leaves them stranded hundreds of feet in the air." The screenplay was written by Sean Finegan and Gregg Maxwell Parker. Production will begin later this year in New Zealand with stunt coordinator Zöe Bell directing, Tom Hern and Nua Finau of Tavake producing, and Navid McIlhargey and Erik Olsen executive producing alongside Finegan, Parker, and Levi.

Related Zachary Levi Brings Drawings to Life in Harold and the Purple Crayon Trailer Zachary Levi's new film, Harold and the Purple Crayon, has debuted its first trailer.

Free Fall...

After appearing in what seems to be his final DC movie in 2023's Shazam: Fury of the Gods, Zachary Levi has signed on for another project. A new report from Variety revealed that Levi will play the lead role in Free Fall, a rock-climbing action thriller. Distinguished stuntwoman and coordinator Zoë Bell, who previously worked with Quentin Tarantino on Django Unchained, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Inglourious Basterds, and more will make her directorial debut. Bell has also worked with Marvel on Taika Waititi's Thor movies and Iron Man 3.

Stunt double / stunt coordinator Zoe Bell – who has also built up a solid acting career over the years, including a prominent and memorable role (as herself) in Quentin Tarantino’s Grindhouse movie Death Proof – is set to make her feature directorial debut with the rock-climbing thriller Free Fall, and Variety reports that Zachary Levi of the Shazam movies and the TV series Chuck is on board to star in the film.

Scripted by Sean Finegan and Gregg Maxwell Parker, Free Fall will tell the story of a father’s attempt to reconcile with his estranged daughter on a rock-climbing trip that turns deadly as an accident leaves them stranded hundreds of feet in the air. Production is set to take place in New Zealand later this year.

Tom Hern and Nua Finau of Tavake are producing the film, with Levi and the screenwriters serving as executive producers alongside Navid McIlhargey and Erik Olsen.

A stuntwoman, stunt coordinator and actor, Zoë Bell (Kill Bill, Death Proof) is on board to direct the upcoming action-survival thriller Free Fall, Variety has reported this morning.

Zachary Levi (Shazam) will star in the upcoming film. From XYZ Films, Free Fall “tells the story of a father’s attempt to reconcile with his estranged daughter on a rock-climbing trip that turns deadly as an accident leaves them stranded hundreds of feet in the air.”

Sean Finegan and Gregg Maxwell Parker wrote the screenplay.

“This script is the perfect combo of heartfelt and heart-stopping,” Zoë Bell said in a statement shared by Variety. “Between the producing team, the cast and the New Zealand crews, words don’t do justice to how thrilled I am to be bringing this film home.”

Producers Tom Hern and Nua Finau said, “We are stoked to be teaming up with the guys at XYZ again...

“Shazam” star Zachary Levi is set to headline rock-climbing action thriller “Free Fall” for XYZ Films, with acclaimed New Zealand stuntwoman and stunt coordinator Zoë Bell tapped to direct.

The film — written by Sean Finegan and Gregg Maxwell Parker — tells the story of a father’s attempt to reconcile with his estranged daughter on a rock-climbing trip that turns deadly as an accident leaves them stranded hundreds of feet in the air. Production is set to start later this year in New Zealand. Tom Hern and Nua Finau of Tavake are producing, with Navid McIlhargey and Erik Olsen executive producing alongside Finegan, Parker and Levi.

Bell began her career as a stunt performer on “Xena: Warrior Princess” and then alongside Quentin Tarantino as a stunt woman and coordinator over a decades-long relationship. She has worked on films such as “The Hateful Eight,” “Django Unchained,” “Kill Bill,” “Inglourious Basterds,” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,...

"Free Fall" showcases Neal's conman skills and dynamic with Peter, setting the tone for White Collar's excellent writing and performances. "Shot Through The Heart" twists Neal's future, while "Point Blank" ramps up the tension and mystery in season 2. "Borrowed Time" kicks off the final season with action and intrigue, setting up a thrilling conclusion for Neal and Peter's story.

White Collar had a spectacular series run with six seasons and 81 episodes, but some of the episodes stood out more than others. White Collar began airing on the USA Network in 2009, where it continued to release new episodes until 2014. The series follows FBI special agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay), and his criminal informant, Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer).

Throughout the series, the unlikely duo frequently clash, with Caffrey struggling to leave behind his life of crime, and Burke slowly developing a friendship with a man he hunted for years before capturing and convicting.

Tomorrow x Together are fearless in the music video for their latest single, “Deja Vu,” released alongside their album, Minisode 3: Tomorrow. The visual, written and directed by Yu Kwang Goeng, finds each member of the five-piece group overcoming individual trials to maintain their connection to one another.

Even as Txt admits to often running away from their problems, they make a commitment to embracing bravery in the face of cosmic forces. “In the flaming rain that’s burning me / Within that long, eternal journey / The sadness we shared is...

Get ready for one of the biggest electronic music concerts of the year.

Illenium, whose real name is Nicholas Miller, is preparing for a concert series in Las Vegas.

The celebration concerts will be held in Las Vegas on February 10 & 12; March 9, 22 and 30; April 5 and 13; May 16, 18, 24, 25 and 31; and, June 8, 15, 22 and 29.

>Get Illenium Concert Tickets Now!

On January 24, Illenium partnered with End Overdose to raise funds for overdose prevention.

“With the third Trilogy coming up I’ve been reflecting on all the things that had to go right in my life to make this possible – least of all escaping an addiction to opioids,” Illenium wrote in his Instagram post. “I’m grateful every day that I was given the opportunity for a second chance and to be in a position where I can help others have that second chance as well.”

Illenium added that End Overdose will be present at his Trilogy shows to anyone interested.

Disney's Star Wars franchise has expanded beyond movies and embraced other mediums like audiobooks, with 111 titles available on Spotify Premium in the US. The Star Wars audiobooks on Spotify include novelizations, canon novels, and Legends novels, providing a wide range of storytelling within the Star Wars universe. The addition of the latest release, Eye of Darkness by George Mann, to Spotify's collection of Star Wars audiobooks offers fans easy access to the most current content in the franchise.

111 Star Wars audiobooks are currently available on Spotify Premium in the United States. Disney has evolved Star Wars into a trailblazing transmedia franchise, not least by introducing the High Republic Era - a period some 200 years before the events of the Skywalker saga, when the Jedi Order was at its height. But, in truth, this was a natural evolution; Star Wars has always embraced the potential of other mediums, with the first...

Bad Bunny is back at number-one on the Billboard 200. His new release “Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana” became his third album to top the chart in tracking week that ended on October 19. Read all about this week’s chart here at Billboard.com.

“Nadie Sabe” got started with 184,000 equivalent album units based on its combined record sales, individual track sales and online streaming performance. The heavy majority of its units came from streaming: 176,000, equaling 239.56 million overall streams of the collection’s 22 tracks. It follows his previous number-ones “El Último Tour Del Mundo” (2020), which debuted with 116,000 album units, and “Un Verano Sin Ti” (2022), which debuted with 274,000 units. “Un Verano” ended up spending 13 weeks at number-one and became Billboard’s number-one album of the year.

SEEBillboard Hot 100: Every #1 song of 2023

Dropping one spot to second place was Drake‘s “For All the Dogs,” which achieved 164,000 units in its second week,...

Audiovisual from Spain, an umbrella brand created to support Spanish content producers and distributors, is organizing the first Brand New Spanish Content Breakfast, an invitation-only sales event for international buyers,

It’s unclear what’s being served but if it’s a typical Spanish breakfast, then expect some pinchos de tortilla, café con leche and some bollos (buns), at least. What is guaranteed is a widely diverse range of shows, from period dramas to thrillers, romcoms and children’s fare.

The Oct 17 event at the Seaview Producers Hub in Cannes will showcase the latest content from the most prominent Spanish distributors, led by such heavy hitters as Rtve, Moviestar +, Filmax, Atresmedia, Plano a Plano and Onza.

Acquisition execs attending will have pre-scheduled meetings based on their selections.

Audiovisual from Spain’s Mipcom participation is coordinated by Spanish trade institute Icex, with the support of the Spain Audiovisual Hub of the...

Global Gen Z Icons Tomorrow X Together released their highly-anticipated collaborative single “Back for More (with Anitta)” with Brazilian superstar and global sensation Anitta today. The iconic collaboration between the global music scene’s most in-demand artists serves as a pre-release track ahead of the quintet’s 3rd Studio Album The Name Chapter: Freefall, slated for release on October 13.

Along with the release, a performance version of the collaborative track was unveiled on the same day. This will be followed by three additional versions of “Back for More (with Anitta)” including “Back for More (Txt Ver.),” house remix and afrobeats remix due out on September 18.

“Back for More (with Anitta)” is a disco track with a groovy baseline and playful whistling sounds, adorned with the colorful hues of trendy Latin pop. As enchanting miracles can be woven into the ordinary moments of our lives, “Back for More (with Anitta)” encapsulates...

Global Gen Z Icons Tomorrow X Together released their highly-anticipated collaborative single “Back for More (with Anitta)” with Brazilian superstar and global sensation Anitta today. The iconic collaboration between the global music scene’s most in-demand artists serves as a pre-release track ahead of the quintet’s 3rd Studio Album The Name Chapter: Freefall, slated for release on October 13.

Along with the release, a performance version of the collaborative track was unveiled on the same day. This will be followed by three additional versions of “Back for More (with Anitta)” including “Back for More (Txt Ver.),” house remix and afrobeats remix due out on September 18.

“Back for More (with Anitta)” is a disco track with a groovy baseline and playful whistling sounds, adorned with the colorful hues of trendy Latin pop. As enchanting miracles can be woven into the ordinary moments of our lives, “Back for More (with Anitta)” encapsulates...

Following a high-energy performance of the track at this week’s VMAs, Tomorrow X Together and Anitta have officially released their collaborative single, “Back for More.” Stream it below.

The K-pop act made a splash Tuesday night on Mvt with a performance that included dynamic water visuals, upbeat choreography with the Brazilian superstar, and the group’s ever-reliable live vocals. The live take on the track — and their first time performing at this awards ceremony — began with a solo introduction from Beomgyu, and later saw all five members launch into a dance break with details and flourishes that felt inspired by Michael Jackson. Earlier in the night, Txt also took home a VMA, snagging the 2023 trophy for Push Performance of the Year.

“Back for More” arrives ahead of a new album from Txt, our spring cover stars — The Name Chapter: Freefall will be arriving next month, on October 13th. It...

Belén Rueda stars in drama about demanding national gymnastics coach.

Spanish sales company Film Factory has boarded Laura Jou’s Free Falling, which is being produced by Juan Antonio Bayona and stars Belén Rueda.

Bayona, who directed Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and The Impossible, is producing Free Fall alongside his regular producers Sandra Hermida and Belén Atienza at Suspense Entertainment, who are both behind Bayona’s upcoming The Society of Snow for Netflix. Free Fall is also co-produced by Oriol Maymó Corte at Confección de Películas.

Free Falling is Jou’s second feature after Life Without Sara Amat, which won plaudits from local reviewers.

Belén Rueda stars in drama about demanding national gymnastics coach.

Spanish sales company Film Factory has boarded Laura Jou’s Free Fall, which is being produced by Juan Antonio Bayona and stars Belén Rueda.

Bayona, who directed Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and The Impossible, is producing Free Fall alongside his regular producers Sandra Hermida and Belén Atienza at Suspense Entertainment, who are both behind Bayona’s upcoming The Society of Snow for Netflix. Free Fall is also co-produced by Oriol Maymó Corte at Confección de Películas.

Free Fall is Jou’s second feature after Life Without Sara Amat, which won plaudits from local reviewers.

The Free Fall, starring Shawn Ashmore, Andrea Londo (Narcos), and Jane Badler (V). Directed by Adam Stilwell, the horror film hits theaters & VOD on January 14th from Gravitas Ventures.

After attempting to take her own life, a young woman must wrestle with an overbearing husband.

Over at Rotten Tomatoes, the film sits at 80%. Dread Central’s take: “People who like psychological horror and unreliable protagonists should absolutely seek out The Free Fall.”

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_free_fall

“The Free Fall is a deep dive into the brutal confusion of a manipulative relationship. A horrific look at obsession and the gas-lighting that can possess us when we’re at our very worst. It’s an important story and I’m really excited for audiences to experience it,” said director Adam Stilwell.

The film was produced by Paul Holbrook, Sean E. Demott, Gill Gayle and Patrick Rizzotti. Executive producers were Heisman Holbrook,...

Exclusive: TNT is developing Unknown, a one-hour drama based on the 2011 Liam Neeson action-thriller boxoffice hit. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and produced by Dark Castle Entertainment, the film told the story of Martin Harris (Neeson), a doctor who lost his memory after a car accident and woke up to find his identity taken and the target of mysterious assassins.

Collet-Serra is attached to direct and executive produce the series, which would pick up after the events of the film and follow a new lead character that is thrust into a mind-bending adventure full of twists and turns.

Sean Finegan (Free Fall) will write the pilot and will executive produce. Karl Gajdusek (Stranger Things) and Speed Weed (Arrow) will serve as executive producers and showrunners. Ethan Erwin, Alex Mace and Hal Sadoff of Dark Castle are also executive producers, alongside Erik Olsen (The Dirt) and Neeson.

TNT has had recent success with series based on movies.

Hen

After premiering two new titles in 2018, for what will technically be his 8th feature, Hungary’s György Pálfi moves into the pen with the intriguing Hen, a Hungarian-Mexican co-production presented as a project in the San Sebastian Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum. Palfi’s crew has yet to be announced. Pálfi’s 2002 debut Hukkle went to TIFF and San Sebastian (where he won a Special Mention as Best New Director) and then his 2006’s Taxidermia premiered in Un Certain Regard at Cannes. He’s competed twice in Karlovy Vary, first with I Am Not Your Friend (co-directed by Zsofia Ruttkay and Attila Rethly) then in 2014 with Free Fall, which won Best Director and the Special Prize of the Jury.…...

On November 24, 1971, a man calling himself Dan Cooper hijacked Northwest Orient Airlines flight 305 from Portland to Seattle (a trip known as a “milk run” due to the short distance involved). A few minutes into the voyage, he got the attention of a flight attendant and made it known that he had a bomb that he intended to use unless his demands were met. What did he want? $200,000 in unmarked bills and four parachutes.

After the plane was on the ground in Seattle, the passengers were let go, the plane was refueled, and Cooper was granted his money and chutes. He instructed the pilot to head towards Mexico City, making it clear that the wing flaps were to remain at 15 degrees and landing gear to stay deployed, the cabin remain depressurized, and that the craft was not to exceed an altitude of 10,000 feet.

Some time after the trip to Mexico City began,...

Three of Argentina’s foremost auteurs – “Rojo’s” Benjamin Naishtat, “The Third Side of the River’s” Celina Murga, and “Two Shots Fired’s” Martin Rejtman – will present new movie projects at a 9th Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum, the industry centerpiece at this year’s San Sebastian Film Festival.

They will be joined by up-and-coming directors such as “The Heiresses’” Marcelo Martinessi, “The Sharks’” Lucia Garibaldi and “The Future Perfect’s” Nele Wohlatz in a lineup that is long on strong and fairly established Argentine talent, has a clutch of new Colombian directors, and presses the urgent social-issue concerns that have come to characterize Latin American cinema.

Catapulted to fame when Martin Scorsese executive produced “The Third Side of the River,” Murga will present “The Smell of Freshly Cut Grass,” a high-concept gender drama starring “Paulina’s” Dolores Fonzi and co-written with partner and fellow film director Juan Villegas (“Las...

Poe Dameron’s criminal backstory in The Rise of Skywalker surprised a lot of people. For Latinx fans who found casting Oscar Isaac as a drug-runner an offensive stereotype and comic book readers interested in Poe’s New Republic days, the backstory just didn’t seem to fit. Unfortunately, Poe Dameron: Free Fall, the new Ya novel by Alex Segura, expands on the spice runner backstory with dull sincerity, producing a functional space adventure that doesn’t particularly feel like it’s about Poe or even Star Wars.

Stream your Star Wars favorites right here!

The son of Rebel heroes, Poe grew up on Yavin IV, site of the climactic battle in A New Hope. What had been an eye-opening place full of adventure and danger for Luke Skywalker is now a boring small town for Poe. He lives with his father Kes, who yells a lot in an effort...

Following on from a July where they added a large number of horror titles to their catalogue, Hulu have now made available even more great outings from the genre. As with all the major streaming players, keeping subscribers happy with new content during this Covid-19 year has been crucial, especially given the new competitors that have sprung up in recent months, further splintering film rights. Hulu are usually pretty reliable in terms of diversity, though, and have added some particularly strong horror titles for August.

Among the highlights for new movies is the original 1988 Child’s Play, which introduced the murderous Chucky to the world in a film that arguably remains the high-point of the franchise. A reasonably realistic setting, a convincing child performance and some excellent effects work make Child’s Play a classic of the period and more than worth a rewatch. And with the Chucky series on the way,...

Hulu is out with its list of everything new arriving in August and everything leaving at the end of the month.

Highlights include “Ordinary Love,” a 2019 movie about how a couple endures a breast cancer diagnosis, and “Peanut Butter Falcon,” Shia Labeouf’s 2019 movie about a young man with Down syndrome who runs away from a nursing home to attend the wrestling school of his idol, the Salt Water Redneck.

Hulu Originals to look out for next month include Season 3 of “Find Me in Paris” and the Hulu Original premiere of “The Binge.”

Leaving at the end of the month are 2007’s “3:10 to Yuma,” 1973’s “Charlotte’s Web,” 1988’s “Rain Man,” and “The X-Files.”

Also Read: 'The Crown' Season 5 Won't Premiere Until 2022

Aug. 1

Monchhichi: Complete Season 1B (Cartoon Network)

The Pier (El Embarcadero): Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (BetaFilm)

UniKitty: Complete Season 2B (Cartoon Network)

71 (2015)

3:10 to Yuma (2007)

A Good Woman...

We’re only just over halfway through July, but let’s hop ahead a couple of weeks into the future and take a look at what’s coming to Hulu in August. Next month will see the streaming service add an enormous list of movies and TV shows, with numerous classics amongst them, and everyone from horror to action to romance fans and even family audiences should be pleased with what’s coming.

The first day of the month, for example, brings the opening installments in two major horror franchises that kicked off in the late 80s – 1987’s Hellraiser and 1988’s Child’s Play. Sticking with the 80s, August 1st likewise sees 1986’s Top Gun added to the library, too. Not to mention 1981’s My Bloody Valentine.

For you romance lovers out there, meanwhile, Australia and Four Weddings and A Funeral drop the same day, and family audiences can enjoy Cats & Dogs,...

If you were concerned about there being a content drought in August due to the coronavirus pandemic shutting down Hollywood, you were…absolutely right in those concerns.

For its new releases in August 2020, Hulu is following Apple, Disney, and even Peacock’s lead in taking things nice and slowly. The vast majority of the notable offerings here are of the library variety. Hulu adds classic movies like Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Rain Man, and Top Gun on August 1. Those go along with the very much still-holds-up Casino Royale on August 31.

Hulu also has room for some interesting recent indie movies like Ordinary Love (Aug. 3) and Peanut Butter Falcon (Aug. 6). But when it comes to Hulu original content there’s not much going on. The unheralded Find Me in Paris debuts its third season on August 21. That is followed by original comedy The Binge on August 28. And that’s about it!

As we’re now at the halfway point of July, it’s time to begin looking ahead to what all the various streaming services will be bringing us in August. And while some of the big guns, like Netflix and Amazon Prime, have yet to announce their slate, Hulu has emerged first out of the gate today, dropping a massive line-up for next month.

Seen down below, there’s truly something for everyone here. As usual, the platform has every genre covered, pulling films and TV shows from all over to put together a meaty list of content for their subscribers to get stuck into next month. And you can see the entire line-up of what’s heading to Hulu down below.

Released August 1

Monchhichi: Complete Season 1B (Cartoon Network)

The Pier (El Embarcadero): Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (BetaFilm)

UniKitty: Complete Season 2B (Cartoon Network)

71 (2015)

3:10 to Yuma (2007)

A Good Woman...

The protracted chill between Moscow and the West might be putting a Cold War-style freeze on diplomatic relations globally, but all signs in recent years point toward a Russian film industry drawing closer to its counterparts across the world, with international co-productions steadily on the rise.

The Russian government’s announcement last year of a cash rebate of up to 40% signaled its intent to woo foreign producers to the country; so did a decision by the culture ministry to support Russian minority co-productions for the first time. “Something has changed, and we’re really happy that it’s changing now,” says producer Anna Gudkova.

Gudkova is the curator of the co-production section of the Key Buyers Event: Digital Edition, a virtual platform to present Russian projects to international buyers organized by Russian film promotion body Roskino. The event takes place June 8-15.

Not since the early 2010s has the Russian...

Netflix Film has kicked off the new year by previewing the 21 original feature films confirmed for 2020 releases as of January 3. This list will surely grow as Netflix acquires content out of film festivals such as Sundance later this month, but for now Netflix has a 2020 slate chock full of auteur-driven original dramas. Netflix is coming off of its most lucrative year in cinema yet thanks to Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” and Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story,” among other titles, and it looks like the streaming giant will continue to soar in 2020 with works from David Fincher, Spike Lee, Dee Rees, Ben Wheatley, Charlie Kaufman, Gina Prince-Bythewood, and more.

Perhaps Netflix’s most anticipated 2020 feature film is “Mank,” the first feature directorial effort from David Fincher since the 2014 release of “Gone Girl.” The movie is expected to launch in the fall as one of the streamer’s top Oscar contenders.

Instead of births, Althusser seeks unforeseen and stupefying eruptions. Autobiography becomes a kind of science fiction. Philip K. Dick might have dreamed up these memoirs without memory, without genesis or origin. More than a philosopher’s account of his life, replicants with mnemonic implants come to mind – as do the vertiginous temporalities that provide the framework for novels such as Ubik and The Man in the High Castle. This conception of temporality extending from future to the past – where the origins amounts to either a lure or an agent of chaos – evokes Dick’s theories, according to which the commonplace understanding of History is only a fiction, and the world we inhabit just one version of reality among others.—Nicolas Bourriaud, The ExformGyörgy Pálfi thrives on low budgets. Rather than a masochistic personal choice intended to sharpen his artistic sensibilities, the tight purse strings are more the result of limited...

Max Riemelt uBio on ‘How I Became An Actor’ by Uinterview Max Riemelt is a German actor. His German audiences know him for roles in The Wave and Freier Fall. He is best known to international audiences as Wolfgang Bogdanow in Sense8. This Max Riemelt bio will let the actor tell his story in his […]

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Chris Cummins Nov 24, 2019

D.B. Cooper leapt into history one Thanksgiving weekend in 1971. Here's a look at the mysterious skyjacker's pop culture impact.

“You hijack the flight and disappear into the night. Captain’s voice sounds tight: “be calm and it’ll be all right.” The passengers all eyes, a growing fear inside them. Vapor trails and light, all we see tonight but it’s all right.”– Everything is Fine, “Vapor Trails and Light”

On November 24, 1971, a man calling himself Dan Cooper hijacked Northwest Orient Airlines flight 305 from Portland to Seattle (a trip known as a “milk run” due to the short distance involved). A few minutes into the voyage, he got the attention of a flight attendant and made it known that he had a bomb that he intended to use unless his demands were met. What did he want? $200,000 in unmarked bills and four parachutes.

After the plane...

Rural Russian film takes top prize at Poland’s New Horizons International Film Festival.

Russian director Alexander Fedorchenko’s Celestial Wives of the Meadow Mari received the Grand Prix and a €20,000 ($27,000) cash prize at the 13th New Horizons International Film Festival (July 18-28) in Wroclaw.

The decision by the International jury, headed by Hungary’s Bela Tarr and including Polish film-maker Joanna Kos-Krauze and Berlinale Forum director Christoph Terhechte, was announced ahead of the Polish premiere of Malgorzata Szumowska’s In The Name Of on Saturday evening.

Fedorchenko’s film had its world premiere at last year’s Rome Film Festival.

Review: Celestial Wives of the Meadow Mari

In June, it won three awards - best script, best cinematography and the Prize of the Russian Guild of Film Scholars and Film Critics - at the Kinotavr “Open Russian” Film Festival in Sochi.

The $2m production by Fedorchenko’s 29 February Film Company explores the myths of the Russian...

Since 1985, Wolfe Releasing has been the largest exclusive distributor of Lgbt films. Its catalogue got even bigger this week at Frameline 37, San Francisco International Lgbt Film Festival, where Wolfe acquired the rights to four films. It acquired the U.S. and Canadian rights to Bruno Barreto's "Reaching For The Moon," Yen Tan's "Pit Stop," and Stephen Lacant's "Free Fall," as well as worldwide rights to Chris Mason Johnson's "Test." "Reaching For The Moon" tells the tale of the tumultuous yet romantic relationship between poet Elizabeth Bishop (Miranda Ott) and architect Lota de Macedo Soares (Gloria Pires). In addition to the Audience Award at Frameline, it won the Audience Award for Best Feature at the 2013 Toronto Inside Out Lesbian and Gay Film and Video Festival. Set in 1985, "Test" stars Scott Marlowe and Matthew Risch in a love story that coincides with the burgeoning AIDS epidemic. "Free Fall," also known as "Freier Fall,...