Scarlet Johansson stepped out onto the red carpet in a gorgeous navy and white look to celebrate the premier of her directorial debut. Johansson’s film, "Eleanor the Great”, follows the quirky story of 94 year old Eleanor on her quest to make new connections, finding an unlikely friend in a 19 year old student.

Photos courtesy of Laurent Hou

Photos courtesy of Laurent Hou

Photos courtesy of Laurent Hou

“ON THE EDGE” GETS A BOLD NEW VISION: OCTAVIO RODRIGUEZ JOINS AS DIRECTOR, STUDIO 100 FILM REVEALS FIRST LOOK

The upcoming animated feature “On the Edge” is boldly redefining its creative vision with the addition of acclaimed director Octavio Rodriguez (“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”, “Ron’s Gone Wrong”, “Incredibles 2”, “Coco”).

Director Octavio Rodriguez brings personal resonance and passion to the film. He shares: “I want this film to push the boundaries of animation so our audience can fall in love with these endangered, quirky misfits. It’s a story for the underdog – about resilience, survival, and finding where we truly belong. As an Afro-Latino in the industry, I’ve always embraced the underdog spirit, and this film reflects that journey. Oh, and let’s not forget – there’s a high-stakes heist/kidnapping that kicks off Donnie’s mission and leads to unexpected growth and self-discovery.”

The film follows Donnie, a cynical but lovable Cuban solenodon, who takes on an outrageous mission: to avoid extinction by rebranding himself as a panda – one of the world's most beloved endangered species. Alongside an eccentric band of equally overlooked animals, Donnie's wild journey evolves into a heist-fueled, action-packed tale of identity, belonging, and survival. 

Balancing irreverent humor, heartfelt emotion, and kinetic action, “On the Edge” offers a family-friendly viewing experience that entertains while naturally sparking curiosity about biodiversity and conservation. The story challenges the idea that only the “cute and cuddly” are worth saving – celebrating nature’s quirky, lesser-known misfits and highlighting that every species matters.

Studio 100 Film, who manages worldwide sales, will present the first look at the new creative direction at Marché du Film at its office apartment: 6B2 in Résidence Le Gray d’Albion, 32 bis Rue des Serbes, Cannes. “On the Edge” is planned for delivery by Q4 2026, targeting children and family audiences worldwide.

Production partners: On The Edge Animation A.I.E., Able & Baker and affiliate Monkeys & Dinos, Telegael, Studio 100 International and On the Edge (The Organization).

Studio 100 Film is handling world sales rights. Viva Pictures, a Los Angeles-based production studio and distributor, will oversee distribution in North America.

About Studio 100 Film

Studio 100 Film is an independent sales agency for exceptional family movies. Based in Munich, the company is a subsidiary of Studio 100 International. With more than 10 years of experience, Studio 100 Film has successfully marketed and sold animation feature films such as “Giants of La Mancha”, the “Maya the Bee” trilogy, “Mia and me – The Hero of Centopia” and numerous other Studio 100 International titles. In addition, it also acts as a sales agency for selected third-party films such as, most recently, “200% Wolf”, “North”, and “Miss Moxy”. Studio 100 Film’s focus is on representing a well-selected portfolio of films globally with the recognition they deserve.

www.studio100film.com

About Able & Baker

Able & Baker is a leading animation studio based in Spain. For

Antti Tuomainen is one of my favourite living writers – the Finn writes magnificently quirky stories which tend to see fairly dull lead characters’ mundane lives suddenly being thrown out of kilter by some unfortunate event and then them wrestling to try to bring things back under control. In Little Siberia, the fairly dull lead […]

The post Little Siberia first appeared on movie-wave.net.

“Our lineup reflects our two main focuses this year: international and independent voices”; 73% of the Festival’s 245 films are currently without US distribution and feature titles from 74 countries/regions around the globe communicating in 63 different languages 

SIFF announced today the lineup of films screening at the 51st Seattle International Film Festival, to be held May 15-25 at venues across the Seattle area and followed by a week of select encore screenings on the SIFF Channel May 26-June 1. This year, the Festival will screen 245 films from 74 countries/regions around the globe communicating in 63 different languages including 83 features, 122 short films in 14 different programs, 35 documentaries, three archival features, and two secret films.

“At a time when the cultural cornerstones of discovery and diversity that make art so important are being threatened, SIFF is doubling down on bringing those stories to the screen,” says SIFF Artistic Director Beth Barrett. “Our lineup reflects our two main focuses this year: international and independent voices. A large majority of these films are currently without distribution, and may not return to theatres. Discovery and connection are at the very core of who we are, and we hope these 10 days are an escape into new worlds and bold, audacious artistic visions. With more than 60% of films coming from new voices, you might meet your next favorite filmmaker.”

The Festival slate includes 19 world premieres, 27 North American premieres, and 13 US premieres. Nearly 51% of our filmmakers are female or nonbinary-identifying, 37% identify as a BIPOC director, and 20% identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. 60% of the feature films are from first- or second-time filmmakers, and 73% of films don’t currently have US distribution and may not screen commercially in the United States.

The Festival will open with Darren Thornton’s heartwarming Irish intergenerational comedy Four Mothers, starring James McArdle and Fionnula Flanagan. The film, which premiered at the BFI London Film Festival, will screen at 7:00pm at The Paramount Theatre with Thornton in attendance and be followed by the Opening Night afterparty in the theater and outdoors on Ninth Avenue. 

Closing Night will feature Eva Victor’s Barry Jenkins produced seriocomic drama Sorry, Baby from A24. The film will screen at 6:00pm at SIFF Cinema Downtown, followed by an audience Q&A with writer/director Eva Victor. After the film and Q&A, a Closing Night Party will be held at the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) to celebrate the culmination of the Festival.

Additional highlights of the Festival include new restorations of The Glass Web in 3-D and Scarecrow in a Garden of Cucumbers at SIFF Cinema Downtown; the Festival fan favorite Secret Fest, ​​which includes two confidential and unannounced screenings that require each viewer to sign an NDA prior to attending; and the 10th anniversary 4th World Media Lab, a year-long fellowship for emerging and mid-career Indigenous filmmakers.

The Festival will be a hybrid experience, with in-person screenings of all films at venues across the Seattle area, including SIFF Cinema Uptown, SIFF Film Center, SIFF Cinema Downtown, AMC Pacific Place 11, The Paramount Theatre, and Shoreline Community College Theater. The Festival will be followed by a week of select films streaming on the SIFF Channel from May 26-June 1.

A variety of film and event passes and ticket packs are on sale now. Tickets for individual screenings go on sale to SIFF members on April 23 and to the general public on Ap