Emma Thompson will be honored by the Locarno Film Festival where her latest film, Brian Kirk’s action thriller “The Dead of Winter” – which she executive produced – will have its world premiere. Thompson, who is the only person in Academy Awards history to have won Oscars both for acting (“Howard’s End”) and screenwriting (“Sense and […]

 

The new Spike Lee Joint first premiered in theaters on Tuesday, May 20th, as part of the out-of-competition Cannes premiere section of the festival. Reimagining Akira Kurosawa's critically acclaimed masterpiece High and Low, Spike Lee's Highest 2 Lowest sees the story take place in modern-day New York City, where David King, a titan in the music industry, receives a call that his son has been taken and is being held for ransom. Catapulted into this moral dilemma where lives are at stake, he must make a fast decision! The film stars Denzel Washington (David King), Jeffrey Wright (Paul Christopher, David's friend and chauffeur), Ilfenesh Hadera (David's Wife), A$AP Rocky (Yung Felon, an up-and-coming artist), and Aubrey Joseph (Trey King, David's son). At the directing helm sits Spike Lee, an infamous director with countless classics to his name, such as: Do the Right Thing(1989), Jungle Fever(1991), Malcolm X(1992), and BlacKkKlansman(2018), this marks Spike's first feature-length film in five years since Da 5 Bloods in 2020.

There is nothing inherently bad about the film; it's an interesting plot, most of the performances are good, and the cinematography is fine, but it lacks much of what Spike Lee is famous for. This is a film that could've been directed by almost any working actor today, and for a man like Spike, who built his fame off of each of his movies looking and feeling like they've come right from Spike himself, this film is a letdown. However, as previously stated, it's not bad by any means; it just lacks all the flavor and pizazz that the director is known for, and that is a bit disappointing. Maybe it's the fact that it's produced by Apple, or maybe Spike has lost his relatability with the common man after so many years of being famous, but this just felt like another movie. There is no way that this was made by one of the greatest filmmakers in the past thirty years, starring one of the greatest actors in the last thirty years, and the story was a reimaging of one of the greatest films of all time, something just feels off, everything in this film feels gentrified. There will be people who love this movie, but no one will ever say that this is Spike Lee's best film, or this is Denzel Washington's best performance, and this will never be compared to the original High and Low.

All that aside, this was still a pretty fun film, with a surprising performance by A$AP Rocky and some cool scenes that felt like Spike Lee had some impact on them. Not going into specifics, but there is one scene in particular that involves a rap battle between two titular characters and the way the lyrics are written in a way that Spike Lee's influence is felt. Also, the last scene in the film is very timely and on point for what would happen today if the film took place in real life, and that's impressive considering how many films and filmmakers don't understand the world around them once they get too popular. Not coming from an acting background, A$AP Rocky is surprisingly good as Yung Felon, however, he should stick with music because he's much better at it, but if he ever wanted to get more into acting, this film shows that he could. Denzel is good in this, but it's a little underwhelming for a man with two Academy Awards under his belt. There was never a point in this film where his performance was impressive, not to say that he wasn't cool in the film, he was, but the film leaves the audience expecting more out of the main character of the film, and that's a large theme with the movie, expecting more. The film was fine, nothing special, but when incredible minds who are known for doing such amazing work come together to reimagine a masterpiece, it s

Filmmaker Eugene Jarecki has been awarded the first-ever Cannes Golden Globe Prize for Documentary, Presented by Artemis Rising Foundation.

 

Jarecki is a two-time winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize, as well as multiple Emmy and Peabody Awards. His latest film, “The Six Billion Dollar Man”, premieres at Cannes on 21st May.

 

The Golden Globe prize honours a filmmaker for their contribution in shaping the documentary genre and challenging the way audiences see the world. The prize jury is : President of Golden Globes, Helen Hoehne; award-winning Founder & CEO of Artemis Rising Foundation, Regina K. Scully; Academy Award winning producer and Co-Founder of Impact Partners, Geralyn White Dreyfous; and, Actor & Producer Tessa Thompson.

 

In deciding to award Jarecki, the jury highlighted how “his films combine the skills of a journalist with the voice of a poet.” They commended him for “balancing penetrating analysis with fearlessness, compassion and empathy” - emphasising particularly “he helps us broaden our view of what is right and wrong,” and that “he is not afraid to look ‘under the hood’ of society and expose what is being rewired without our consent.” They felt overall that “Jarecki's films deeply challenge our perspectives, and inspire us to defend our most fundamental freedoms.”

 

The jury said: “Eugene Jarecki embodies the very spirit of what this prize was created to honor. His documentaries are fearless, unflinching, and profoundly human - they don’t just inform, they transform. At a time when truth is under pressure, Eugene’s work reminds us of the power of storytelling to provoke, enlighten, and ultimately defend democracy itself. We are proud to recognise his extraordinary contribution with the first-ever Cannes Golden Globe Prize for Documentary.”

 

The prize winner was announced by Thompson at a special Marché du Film event. In her remarks, Thompson said, “I think in exposing the vigor required in pursuit of truth, we cannot assume any government is interested in our proximity to it. The art and power of documentary is to show the ultimate cost and sacrifice of those who work to expose the truth - and how hugely important it is to continue to dig, question, and protect both the truth and the people and institutions who devote themselves to it.”

 

The prize launch highlights the Golden Globes’ and Artemis Rising Foundation’s joint commitment to recognising and elevating the importance of documentary filmmaking, together with supporting partner Think-Film Impact Production.

 

About Golden Globes

As a premier entertainment awards show since 1944, the annual Golden Globes has honored achievements in both television and film. Over the last three decades, the Golden Globes has enabled donations of more than $55 million to entertainment-related charities including scholarship programs, film restoration projects and humanitarian efforts. This funding has also supported diverse programs in partnership with advocacy groups aimed at promoting greater access in Hollywood for underserved communities. Dick Clark Productions is the owner and producer of the Golden Globes. For more information on the Golden Globe Awards, please visit

It was announced that the award-winning film SUNSHINE (2000) will screen at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025 as a Cannes Classics Selection. Academy Award winning director István Szabó will be in attendance with award winning producer Robert Lantos at the special screening. The film recently celebrated its 25th anniversary and stars Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Rosemary Harris, Jennifer Ehle, Molly Parker, Deborah Kara Unger, William Hurt and Mark Strong. SUNSHINE was a Canada / Germany / Hungary co-production. It was recently restored by the NFI (National Film Institute Hungary), under the supervision of cinematographer Lajos Koltai.

 

SUNSHINE follows three generations of a Hungarian-Jewish family as they navigate anti-Semitism, assimilation, fascism, war, communism and revolution -- with Ralph Fiennes playing his own son and grandson across all three eras. Sunshine debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival before going on to play in theatres across the world. It was nominated for three Golden Globes, including Best Picture, won three European Film Awards and Canada’s Genie Award for Best Picture.

 

“We are survivors of the tragedies of the 20th century in Central Europe, children and grandchildren of the persecuted and persecutors. This is the story of the Sunshine family,” says director István Szabó. “This film also gave me a friend, producer Robert Lantos, who read the script on a long flight and called me on the phone as soon as he landed: ‘We're going to make this film together.’ I'm delighted that the National Film Institute’s film lab and film archive has restored Sunshine.”

**Quote in Hungarian below.

 

“In the 1990s, signs of resurgent Jew hatred surfaced throughout the Western World. This is what motivated Oscar winning director István Szabo and I to make a cautionary tale about the events that preceded World War II and paved the way for the Shoah,” says producer Robert Lantos. “For self-evident reasons, this screening at Cannes could not be any more timely.”

István Szabó and Robert Lantos

 

** A 20. század közép-európai sorstragédiáinak túlélői vagyunk, gyerekei, unokái üldözötteknek, üldözőknek. A Napfény íze családtörténete erről akar beszámolni.

Ez a film nekem egy barátot is adott ajándékba, Robert Lantos producert, aki egy hosszú repülőúton elolvasta a forgatókönyvet, és leszállva felhívott telefonon: „Ezt a filmet együtt megcsináljuk.”

Nagy öröm számomra, hogy az NFI filmlaboratóriuma és filmarchívuma felújította a Napfény ízét.

 

ABOUT ISTVÁN SZABÓ

István Szabó is the most celebrated Hungarian director of all time. In 1981, he wrote and directed the film Mephisto, which went on to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It was also nominated for the Cannes Palm D’Or, where Szabó won for best screenplay. This was followed in 1985 by critical success Colonel Redl, which was also nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Aca

Award-winning Bollywood superstar Kangana Ranaut (Emergency, Queen, Fashion) is set to star in the new horror-drama Blessed Be The Evil, marking Ranaut’s first lead in a Hollywood mainstream feature.  Inspired by true Indian folklore, the film will co-star Tyler Posey (“Teen Wolf,” Truth or Dare) and Scarlet Rose Stallone (Gunslingers, “Tulsa King”).  The announcement came today from Gatha Tiwary, President and Founder of Lions Movies.  Producers are meeting with sales executives and worldwide buyers to present the film at the upcoming Cannes Film Market.

 

Anurag Rudra (New Me, Tailing Pond) will direct from a screenplay written by Rudra and Tiwary, who will both also produce. Casting is by Lisa London and Catherine Stroud of London/Stroud Casting. Award-winning cinematographer Wade Muller (Millennium Films’ Elephant White, and Saban Films’ Occupation: Rainfall) is confirmed as Director of Photography.

 

The production has made the decision to shoot in the U.S. to avoid running into any uncertainties stemming from the recently announced Trump industry tariffs. Filming will begin this summer in New York.

 

Blessed Be The Evil synopsis reads: After a devastating miscarriage, a Christian couple tries to move forward by buying an abandoned farm with a dark past. Soon their love and faith are tested by a malevolent presence.

 

“Being born and spending my childhood in rural India, I was told stories that got embedded in my mind and heart,” said Rudra. “This folklore was so special that I truly believed in all the stories, and wanted to showcase them internationally through the art of cinema - the strongest and most beautiful way to connect to dreams and reality.”

 

“A story like Blessed Be The Evil is very rare. Lions Movies has developed a spine-chilling narrative with unprecedented suspense and drama,” commented Tiwary. “It also has great potential for international markets, both in streaming and selling.” 

 

Kangana Ranaut is a multi-award winning renowned Indian actress, filmmaker, and politician, best known for portraying strong, unconventional female characters in Hindi cinema. Ranaut gained critical acclaim for her roles in Fashion, Queen and Tanu Weds Manu Returns, with the latter two securing her consecutive National Film Awards for Best Actress. Ranaut wrote, directed and produced the period drama, Emergency, in which she portrays Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and is set during one of the most controversial periods of post-Independence Indian history. The film received a worldwide theatrical release in January 2025. Ranaut has received multiple awards including four National Film Awards (India’s equivalent of the Academy Award), and four Filmfare Awards, honouring artistic and technical excellence in Indian cinema, among other numerous accolades. In 2020, Kangana was honoured with the ‘Padma Shri,’ India's fourth-highest civilian award, for her contributions to the arts. Beyond her film career, Ranaut serves as a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha in India, entering office as a first-time member in 2024.

 

Tyler Posey’s breakout role came as the lead Scott McCall on MTV’s “Teen Wolf,” which earned him several Teen Choice and ALMA Awards, and its revival film - Teen Wolf: The Movie, which Posey also produced.  Additional credits include the slasher-horror Truth or Dare, co-starring Lucy Hale, The CW’s smash hit series “Jane the Virgin&rdqu

David Dastmalchian (Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and The Dark Knight, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, Apple TV+’s upcoming “Murderbot”) and Georgina Campbell (Barbarian, The Watchers) are set to star in the horror-thriller The Shepherd, it was announced today. The film is directed by John Hyams (Sick, Alone, HBO’s documentary The Smashing Machine) and written by Alexander Gustaveson. Anton is handling worldwide rights and co-repping North American rights with UTA Independent Film Group and Cinetic, launching sales at the Marche du Film.

 

Reuniting the producers behind the box-office hit Late Night with the Devil - which also starred Dastmalchian - The Shepherd is produced under the Spooky Pictures – Image Nation partnership with Steven Schneider (Paranormal Activity, Insidious, Split) and Roy Lee (It franchise, Barbarian, A Minecraft Movie) for Spooky Pictures (Strange Darling, Chloe Okuno’s Watcher); Ben Cornwell, Jordan Foley and Nick Smith for Paperclip Ltd. (Alone, Snack Shack) along with Jonathan Rosenthal (Alone, The Abandon); and Sébastien Raybaud (Fuze, Greenland: Migration, Greenland, The Night House) for Anton. The film is executive produced by David Dastmalchian under his Good Fiend Films banner, Georgina Campbell, Ben Ross and Derek Dauchy for Image Nation, Rami Yasin for Spooky Pictures, and Yeardley Smith for Paperclip Ltd.

 

Anton and Image Nation are financing the film, with production set to start on The Shepherd in the fall, 2025.

 

In the desolate Nevada night, a young woman in labor fleeing an abusive past, has her escape hijacked by a mysterious stranger, who hides an ominous threat in the back of her car.

 

Ben Ross, CEO of Image Nation, said: “Following the success of Late Night with the Devil, we’re excited to be working with David Dastmalchian once again on The Shepherd. David brings a distinctive energy and depth to every project he’s part of, and this film marks another strong collaboration in our ongoing partnership with Spooky Pictures.”

 

"Once I turned the first few pages of The Shepherd I was hooked. I immediately wanted to see this high-octane, horrifying world brought to life and John is the perfect person to make it happen. After collaborating with Roy and Steven on Late Night with the Devil, I have been looking forward to getting back in the sandbox with them and I can't wait to bring the genre force of Good Fiend Films into the equation," added David Dastmalchian.

 

The Shepherd is part of a slate of upcoming projects from Spooky Pictures and Image Nation including Charlie Polinger’s The Plague starring Joel Edgerton, which will premiere in Cannes’ prestigious Un Certain Regard competition, Randall Okita’s Menace starring Isabel May, and Damian Mc Carthy’s Hokum starring Adam Scott.   

David Dastmalchian starred in Christopher Nolan’s Academy Award-winning Oppenheimer alongside Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt and Robert Downey Jr. He made his feature film debut in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight and went on to star in Marvel Studio’s Ant-Man and its sequels Ant-Man and The Wasp and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania alongside Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly. Additional credits include James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad with Margot Robbie and Viola Davis and Warner Bros.’ Dune with Timothée Chalamet and Rebecca Ferguson. He can be seen next in Apple TV+’s new sci fi series “Murderbot.”

 

Georgina Campbell is known for her starring roles in 20th Century’s horror-thriller Barbarian alongside Bill Skarsg

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