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RaMell Ross (left), director and co-writer of the upcoming Nickel Boys, accepts the Alumni of Distinction Award; Gina Duncan (President of BAM) accepts the Cultural Impact Honor.
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On Wednesday at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, The Gotham announced the winners of the inaugural Gotham Week Honors.
Winning the U.S. Features in Development honor was Here for the Weekend, written and directed by Jane Casey Modderno. The raunchy rom-com follows three transgender best friends chasing love, success, and connection in Palm Springs, while trying desperately to keep their found-family together.
Winning the U.S. Shorts to Features honor was Thirstygirl, written and directed by Alexandra Qin, which follows two sisters on a road trip from New York to a rehab in Kentucky after one of them relapses.
The winner of the Spotlight on Documentaries honor was Matininó, directed by Gabriela Díaz Arp, a powerful portrayal of the Villanueva family, a multi-generational family of Puerto Rican women transforming their experience of violence into a fantasy film.
The winner of the Global Producer of The Year honor was Sophie Luo, producer of Valley of the Tall Grass, which sees a trashed TV/VCR combo set that survives and circulates through the lives of various Indigenous characters in an Oregon town.
The Gotham Week Honors also celebrated Gina Duncan, President of BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music), with the first-ever Gotham Week Cultural Impact Honor and filmmakers RaMell Ross and Sean Wang with the Alumni of Distinction Awards.
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RaMell Ross (left), director and co-writer of the upcoming Nickel Boys, accepts the Alumni of Distinction Award; Gina Duncan (President of BAM) accepts the Cultural Impact Honor.
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“Thou Shalt Not Steal,” an upcoming Australian series that premiered three of its eight episodes at the Toronto International Film Festival, is an entertaining road trip that cleverly tells an Aboriginal tale through use of humor and dozens of instantly recognizable Australia stereotypes. It is packaged as eight half-hour episodes that will upload to Australian […]
The Hoover family embarks on an eventful road trip to California for a junior beauty pageant in “Little Miss Sunshine.”
By Lucy Spicer
Summer is always a good time for film lovers, and Sundance’s history of July theatrical releases shows that it’s a great time for fans of indie film. Want some proof? We’ve selected five titles from the Sundance Film Festival annals, all released during the month of July, that may just inspire your next movie night. In fact, two of the films listed below — Little Miss Sunshine and Boyhood — were recently voted among the top 10 favorite Festival titles by the Sundance community.
Joining them are a meta satire revolving around an indie film set, a documentary following a blues legend’s foray into throat singing, and a screwball rom-com featuring Kyle MacLachlan as the ghost of Cary Grant.
Living in Oblivion (1995) — After screening his feature debut, Johnny Suede, at the 1992 Sundance Film Festival, writer-director Tom DiCillo returned to Sundance with Living in Oblivion, a darkly comic satire about the challenges that accompany independent filmmaking. Divided into three parts, Living in Oblivion depicts a chaotic film set helmed by director Nick Reve (Steve Buscemi), who is desperately trying to hold production together while juggling a neurotic leading lady (Catherine Keener), an egomaniacal leading man (James LeGros), and a pretentious cinematographer (Dermot Mulroney) among other issues. DiCillo’s screenplay for Living in Oblivion won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Check here for viewing options.
Genghis Blues (1999) — Renowned blind blues musician Paul Pena spent a decade teaching himself the art of Tuvan throat singing after hearing a broadcast about it on the radio. Director Roko Belic’s documentary follows Pena as he travels to Tuva to participate in a throat singing festival there after impressing Kongar-ol Ondar, a master of the craft, with an impromptu performance when the Tuvan singer was giving a stateside concert. Genghis Blues premiered at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award: Documentary. Check here for viewing options.
Touch of Pink (2004) — In writer-director Ian Iqbal Rashid’s rom-com, Alim (Jimi Mistry) is a Kenyan-born Canadian who has moved to London to escape his family’s conservative Muslim values so that he can embrace his true identity as a gay man. His life is disrupted when his mother, Nuru (Suleka Mathew), announces an unexpected visit, complete with plans to find Alim a girlfriend. Alim is forced to play it straight, but at least he’s got some help — his imaginary friend happens to be the ghost of Cary Grant (Kyle MacLachlan). Touch of Pink is Rashid’s feature debut and premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. Check here for viewing options.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006) — Directing duo Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris spent 20 years directing music videos together before embarking on their first feature, which would prove to be so influential for the in
It’s time to spotlight all of the wonderful things our #ASFFAlumni have been getting up to! Here are all of the headlines, from Duncan Cowles’ Feature-Length Debut to Stacha Hicks’ film festival win.
Duncan Cowles Premiered
Feature-Length Debut at DocFest
Silent Men is award-winning ASFF alumnus Duncan Cowles’ first full length documentary and audiences had the opportunity to watch it for the first time at DocFest! Part therapy, part road trip, the movie follows a deadpan filmmaker who asks men how they show their emotions as he confront his own struggles with opening up.
Read our Interview
Guardian Documentaries Picked
up 2023’s Listening Pitch Winner
Megan McDonough’s powerful documentary Old Lesbians joins the list of remarkable projects that have been picked up by Guardian Documentaries after winning the incredible £20,000 Aesthetica x Audible film grant. Head over to their website to watch this powerful short about reclaiming queerness and old age.
Watch the Film
Stacha Hicks Took Home
the Prize for Best Film at CBFF
Stacha Hick’s _ELICIT_ screened at Aesthetica last year. It’s a “story for the isolated, the aging and the cruciverbalists” that follows the budding romance between a librarian and a crossword maker. We were thrilled to hear that this incredible project won the main prize at this year’s Carmarthen Bay Film Festival.
Meet the Director
Yasmin Afifi Takes Her
BAFTA-Winning Film to the USA
Jellyfish & Lobster screened at last year’s festival and went on to achieve massive success – including winning the BAFTA for Best British Short Film in 2024! Now, Californian audiences will get to watch this touching story of mischief and magic at the Oscar-Qualifying Palm Springs International ShortFest.
Read our Interview
Jessi Gutch is Elected to
First-Ever DFC Board of Trustees
Members of the Documentary Film Council (DFC) have elected eight representatives and we are delighted to see that Jessi Gutch is on the board! The filmmaker has won many awards at ASFF, from the Listening Pitch grant with Blind as a Beat in 2022 to the Best of Fest Prize in the following year with Until the Tide Creeps in.
Read our Interview
Submit Your Game to be Part of #ASFF2024!
The post June: Exciting News from #ASFFAlumn
Quiver Distribution Takes North American Rights
on Terrifying New Horror Film,
DON’T TURN OUT THE LIGHTS (fka Blue Light),
From Acclaimed Director Andy Fickman (Race to Witch Mountain, The Game Plan, Heathers: The Musical, She’s The Man)
Fans of horror movies can brace themselves for a spine-chilling new film that is set to amaze audiences with a unique take on a trusted genre based on true and terrifying unexplained events, and a new hardcore ARG site, designed by the creator of “The Tinman,” where fans can put themselves in the movie.
Could sit alongside Bodies, Bodies, Bodies and Talk to Me
– The Hollywood News
Pulls off some brilliantly effective scare moments
– The Hollywood News
Plays a game with viewers and characters alike
– Projected Figures
CANNES (May 17, 2024) – Quiver Distribution acquires North American rights on Film Mode Entertainment’s spine-chilling horror film based on true and terrifying unexplained events, DON’T TURN OUT THE LIGHTS (fka BLUE LIGHT), directed by the acclaimed Andy Fickman, who has grossed nearly $1B at the worldwide box office and has had a storied career with hits like Race to Witch Mountain, Parental Guidance, The Game Plan, Heathers: The Musical and She’s The Man. The deal was negotiated between Clay Epstein of Film Mode Entertainment and Larry Greenberg of Quiver Distribution.
“We’re excited to be working with our good friends at Quiver on Don’t Turn Out The Lights,” said Clay Epstein, President of Film Mode Entertainment. “They are a fantastic group of individuals who can always be relied upon to do an amazing job.”
“It’s hard to believe that Don’t Turn Out the Lights is inspired by a real-life encounter, but we are glad that Andy Fickman made it out in one piece to be able to tell this chilling story,” said Quiver Distribution Co-Presidents Berry Meyerowitz and Jeff Sackman. “Being able to partner up again with Clay and the team at Film Mode on another film is an added benefit.”
The ensemble cast includes Bella DeLong (The Winchesters, Wuthering Heights, Twelfth Night with the Montana Shakespeare Company), Amber Janea (Lifetime’s A Predator Returns), Daryl Tofa (Two-Bit in The Outsiders on Broadway), Ana Zambrana (La Traición en la Amistad), Crystal Lake Evans (Starz’s Hightown), Jarrett Brown (Netflix’s Colin in Black and White), John Bucy (CBS/Paramount’s Frasier Reboot), and Finley Rose Slater (Days of Their Lives, The Idol) who worked previously with Fickman on Playing with Fire.
DON’T TURN OUT THE LIGHTS is a horror film based on true and terrifying unexplained events. The film follows a group of friends on a road trip who soon realize something terrifying and unworldly is threatening their lives.
Producers include Andy Fickman (Anaconda), Todd Slater (King of Killers), Grant Sla
Multi award-winning documentarian Duncan Cowles will premiere his first feature-length project at Sheffield DocFest this summer. The film is called Silent Men and it explores the stigma and taboo surrounding male mental health in the UK. It’s a project that digs deep into our notions of masculinity and how such societal pressures hold men back from opening up about their emotions. What are the consequences of keeping them bottled up? And how does it feel to express these long-suppressed feelings and receive support? Today, Duncan explores how these questions – paired with his own desire to get better at being vulnerable – served as the starting point for this documentary. Read on to learn more about his experience doing group therapy at a men’s retreat; what he wants to achieve with Silent Men as well as the personal significance of making his short Outlets (2023), which won the prize for Best Editing at ASFF 2023.
ASFF: It’s exciting to hear that Silent Men, your first feature-length film, is set to premier at DocFest this summer! Could you give us an introduction to the film?
DC: Silent Men is a (hopefully moving and entertaining) journey through male mental health. It’s part road trip, part therapy as I travel across primarily Northern parts of the UK and ask men how they deal with their emotions. I think it explores aspects of masculinity that are often little discussed in an open and honest way. The film is underpinned by my deep personal motivation to get better at opening up to my family and loved ones since it’s something I’ve always struggled with and could feel myself getting worse at as I aged. So, we also see my own personal journey as the narrative of making the film itself plays out on screen.
ASFF: What sparked the idea for this project?
DC: I think a deep frustration and worry about my own uselessness at being able to open up and show my feelings to loved ones. Around the time that the idea came about (2016-ish), there was a bit of a surge of male mental health stuff in the UK. Lots of statistics were being flagged about men and mental health. For example, research shows that avoiding or hiding your emotions can be linked to dark outcomes, such as suicide, and that suicide was the biggest killer of men under the age of 50.
Around that time, I also became aware of how many people in my own life – or who I knew in some way – had battled with these things, and had also struggled with the same issues surrounding opening up. It frightened me just how bad the statistics with men were in the UK – and so I decided to do a film about it.
ASFF: Male mental health is at the heart of this documentary. How do you approach this topic?
DC: I think the stats and themes around male mental health are very uncomfortable for people to talk about. With that in mind, I was keen to make a film that felt accessible. I wanted it to contain a lot of humour in addition to the more serious moments. So, from the get-go I wanted this film to feel fun and like something you’d actually want to watch, rather than some doom-and-gloom documentary about mental health. That way, hopefully more people will see it and it will potentially make more of an impact.
ASFF: Could you share with us some of the themes that came up after interviewing men on this road trip? What are your reflections on the experience?
DC:
Queer East returns for its fifth year with a programme of spectacular films. Established in 2020, the festival was born out of desire to create an artistic space for bold, unconventional and forward-thinking queer narratives originating from East and Southeast Asia and its diasporic communities. Over the past four years, 350 films have been screened in 42 venues across 23 cities in the UK, Europe and beyond. Today, we are thrilled to offer a peek into this year’s programme with these five films, from an exhilarating, contemporary coming-of-age story to an archival treasure from 1974.
The Last Year of Darkness | Benjamin Mullinkosson
As the city of Chengdu changes, the future of Funky Town, a beloved queer-friendly techno club, is unclear. For a vibrant group of DJs, drag performers, artists, lovers, ravers and skaters, the club is a sanctuary for underground partying and allows them to thrive after the sun sets. It’s the one place that accepts them for who they are. During the day, the regulars of Funky Town battle depression, question their sexuality and struggle to make a living. But with construction cranes looming as a metro station encroaches, the partygoers are forced to face what brought them to the club in the first place – and make the most of their remaining time there. A love letter to the Chengdu underground scene, The Last Year of Darkness is a coming-of-age documentary that celebrates the ephemerality of youth.
A Song Sung Blue | Geng Zihan
We fly to Harbin, north-east China. Here we meet 15-year-old Xian, who is forced to live with her father after her mother goes abroad for work. He is a free-spirited photographer, whom she has barely seen since her parents’ divorce. He’s in a relationship with his assistant, who has an 18-year-old Chinese-Korean daughter called Mingmei. A restless summer ensues, as the lonely, shy Xian becomes intoxicated with the extroverted, worldly Mingmei. A Song Sung Blue is an exhilarating coming-of-age story with vivid cinematography and exceptional performances from young actors Kay Huang and Jing Liang, who perfectly capture the complexities of the girls’ friendship and attraction. A testament to the innocence and impulses of youth, Geng Zihan’s debut feature signals the arrival of a powerful voice in queer cinema.
Sara | Ismail Basbeth
Sara, a trans woman in her mid-thirties, is made to return to her village in rural Indonesia to attend her father’s funeral. Arriving back home, she discovers that her mother has been severely traumatised by the bereavement: not only does she fail to accept her husband’s death, she also has no memory of Sara and treats her like a complete stranger. Seeking to help her mother, Sara resolves to play-act as her late father, the person she despises most and the reason she ran away many years ago. Centred on a stunning performance from Asha Smara Darra, this affecting family drama is about a woman desperate to break free from the past, who must nonetheless confront its enduring and wounding power.
Read more
Miami Film Festival announced its acclaimed lineup for its upcoming Festival taking place from April 5-14, 2024. The Festival will open with Thelma, directed by Josh Margolin and starring June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, and Parker Posey. The Festival will close with Ezra, directed by Tony Goldwyn, who will be in attendance on Saturday, April 13. Featuring ten World Premieres, ten North American Premieres, five U.S. Premieres, and 11 East Coast Premieres, and 42 Florida Premieres, the 2024 Miami Film Festival will celebrate more than 165 feature narratives, documentaries, and short films of all genres, from over 31 countries worldwide.
“This year’s lineup spotlights exciting narrative programming, essential documentaries, and groundbreaking shorts, bringing an unbelievable host of films to our local community,” said James Woolley, Executive Director. “The Miami Film Festival is delighted to welcome our audiences back for another year of incredible screenings and inspiring conversations.”
“We are thrilled to be bringing this incredible slate of diverse and exciting films to Miami,” said Lauren Cohen, Director of Programming. “With over 30 countries featured and nearly half of the presented features being directed by women, this lineup showcases films from some of the most prestigious festivals in the world, as well as a hugely impressive slate of works from up-and-coming filmmakers making their world, international, and North American premieres. We are so proud to have a lineup of films that will truly move audiences as we celebrate the very best in world cinema.”
MFF will open with the Magnolia Pictures film Thelma. Josh Margolin’s American comedy film follows a grandmother who embarks on a quest to recoup her money after she loses $10,000 in a phone scam. The film stars June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, and Malcolm McDowell. Director Josh Margolin and producer Zoë Worth will be in attendance to introduce the film.
The Festival will close with Bleecker Street’s Ezra, starring Bobby Cannavale, Rose Byrne, Robert De Niro, Vera Farmiga, Whoopi Goldberg, and Rainn Wilson. From director Tony Goldwyn, Ezra follows Max Bernal, a stand-up comedian living with his father, while struggling to co-parent his autistic son Ezra with his ex-wife. When forced to confront difficult decisions about their son’s future, Max and Ezra embark on a cross-country road trip that has a transcendent impact on both their lives. Ezra is an endearing and often funny exploration of a family determined to find their way through life’s complexities with humor, compassion, and heart.
Three MARQUEE screening presentations will be presented with directors in attendance for post-screening Q&As. These include:
Dear Jassi (India, directed by Tarsem Singh), following the story of a young couple who desperately want to be together, but are separated due to time, distance, and societal expectations. Directly following the Florida Premiere screening of Dear Jassi, the Festival will host a 35mm retrospective screening of Singh’s 2000 film The Cell, co-presented by Popcorn Frights.
 Read more
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