SFFILM to Honor Park Chan-wook With Career Tribute and Screening of ‘No Other Choice’

Park-Chan-wook

L to R. Director Park Chan-wook. Actor Lee Byung Hun in NO OTHER CHOICE. Photos: NEON.

San Francisco’s SFFILM will celebrate acclaimed South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook with a Career Tribute and special screening of his new film No Other Choice on November 20 at the Phyllis Wattis Theater at SFMOMA.

The event will feature an onstage conversation with Park and a showing of No Other Choice, his first film since Decision to Leave. The film, from NEON, reunites Park with Lee Byung Hun (Joint Security Area) in a darkly comic satire about a man’s descent into desperation after losing his corporate job.

“With No Other Choice, Director Park returns to the sharp social commentary of Sympathy for Lady Vengeance and Stoker,” said Jessie Fairbanks, SFFILM’s Director of Programming. “It’s a brilliantly savage look at capitalism, masculinity, and ambition—another masterful addition to his career.”

SFFILM Executive Director Anne Lai called the tribute “a deep honor,” noting Park’s global influence and the organization’s commitment to international cinema.

Park, best known for Oldboy, The Handmaiden, and Thirst, has won multiple Cannes awards and remains one of contemporary cinema’s most influential auteurs. No Other Choice, adapted from Donald E. Westlake’s The Ax, opens in select theaters December 25 via NEON and expands nationwide January 2026. Tickets: Available for SFFILM members October 30 and general audiences October 31 at sffilm.org
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Lionsgate Acquires TIFF Breakout ‘The Furious’ From XYZ Films

Furious-filmLionsgate has picked up worldwide rights (excluding mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao) to The Furious, the TIFF Midnight Madness fan favorite that drew standing ovations at its world premiere. A theatrical release is planned for 2026.

Produced by Bill Kong (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and developed with XYZ Films (The Raid franchise), the film marks the feature directorial debut of veteran action choreographer Kenji Tanigaki (Rurouni Kenshin).

The Furious follows a tradesman whose daughter’s abduction pulls him into a brutal criminal underworld. The cast includes Xie Miao, Joe Taslim (The Raid), Yayan Ruhian (John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum), and Jija Yanin (Chocolate).

“We were blown away by The Furious—it redefines martial arts action,” said Lionsgate EVP Lauren Bixby.

The deal was negotiated by Brandon Hill for Lionsgate and Pip Ngo for XYZ Films. Edko Films financed and will release the film day-and-date in Chinese territories.

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True Crime Documentary American Skyjacker Revisits 1972 DB Cooper Copycat Hijacking

american-skyjackerThe upcoming true crime documentary American Skyjacker explores the extraordinary real-life story of Martin McNally, who hijacked a 727 in 1972 and parachuted from the plane with $500,000 — a daring act inspired by the infamous DB Cooper case just six months earlier.

Written and directed by Eli Kooris and Joshua Shaffer, the film blends first-hand interviews with McNally and cinematic reenactments to recount one of the most astonishing yet lesser-known crime stories in American history. Produced independently by Pegalo Pictures, the feature expands on the creators’ popular podcast of the same name.

American Skyjacker opens in select theaters October 10–30, 2025, and will be available on Digital and VOD beginning November 17, 2025.

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Kate Beckinsale Stars in Action-Thriller WILDCAT, Coming to Theaters and Digital on November 25

wildcat-movieThe trailer and poster for WILDCAT, an upcoming action-thriller starring Kate Beckinsale, have been released ahead of the film’s theatrical and digital debut on November 25.

Directed by James Nunn (One Shot) and written by Dominic Burns (Allies), the film follows an ex–black ops team that reunites to pull off a high-risk heist and save an eight-year-old girl’s life. With only twelve hours to act, the team must navigate through the chaos of a citywide riot, deliver a ransom, and frame a dangerous criminal organization.

The cast also includes Lewis Tan (Mortal Kombat), Charles Dance (Game of Thrones), Tom Bennett (House of the Dragon), Alice Krige (Star Trek: First Contact), Edmund Kingsley (The Witcher), and Matt Willis (Missing You).

WILDCAT will be released in theaters and on digital platforms on November 25.

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SAG-AFTRA Concludes 2025 National Convention in Los Angeles

sag-aftraSAG-AFTRA’s 2025 National Convention concluded in Los Angeles on Sunday after three days of discussions, elections, and resolutions under the theme “Connect, Engage, Empower.”

President Sean Astin highlighted member participation and unity as the union prepares for continued change across the entertainment industry. Delegates debated 22 member-authored resolutions and passed 17, setting priorities for the next two years.

National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland addressed major legislative and contract developments, including progress on the federal NO FAKES Act, expanded A.I. protections, and the new Interactive Media Agreement, which followed a year-long strike.

Newly re-elected Executive Vice President Linda Powell and Secretary-Treasurer Michelle Hurd also delivered remarks, emphasizing collaboration, mentorship, and optimism about the union’s future amid industry transformation.

The next SAG-AFTRA National Convention will take place in 2027.

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Galactic Empire Unleash New Album ‘Cinemetal’ via Pure Noise Records

galactic-empire cinemetalGalactic Empire, the galaxy’s favorite Star Wars–inspired metal band, have released their fourth studio album, Cinemetal, now out via Pure Noise Records. The record finds the masked metal outfit traveling beyond their usual saga, reimagining iconic themes from Harry Potter, Back to the Future, The Lord of the Rings, Batman, Avengers and more.

Produced by Grant McFarland and Carson Slovak at Atrium Audio, Cinemetal marks the group’s most ambitious and densely layered effort yet. “After three albums of tribute to the mighty Sith Lord John Williams, we realized we had run out of Star Wars music,” said frontman Lord Sihk. “It felt prudent to pay homage to other legendary film scores. Behold the ultimate power of the Dark Side with Cinemetal!”

The band will tour the U.S. on headline dates and join Bit Brigade later this year, before setting sail with Coheed and Cambria on the S.S. Neverender cruise to Cozumel, Mexico in November. Full dates and details at galacticempireband.com
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Florence + The Machine Announce 2026 ‘Everybody Scream’ North American Tour

Florence-+-The-MachineFlorence + The Machine will return to the road next year for The Everybody Scream Tour, launching April 2026 across North America. The run includes major stops at New York’s Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center, two nights at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum, and additional cities to be announced.

The tour follows Florence Welch’s early 2026 Europe and U.K. leg and supports the band’s forthcoming sixth album, Everybody Scream, due October 31. So far, Welch has previewed two tracks, “Everybody Scream” and “One of the Greats.”

Opening acts include Rachel Chinouriri, SOFIA ISELLA, CMAT, and Mannequin Pussy on select dates. Full routing and ticket info are available at florenceandthemachine.net/tour
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Co-written and produced with Mark Bowen of IDLES, Aaron Dessner, and Mitski, the album marks Welch’s first since 2022’s Dance Fever. After undergoing life-saving surgery on that tour, Welch describes the new project as a journey through “spiritual mysticism, witchcraft and folk horror,” reflecting on womanhood, recovery, and mortality.

Across five albums, including Lungs, Ceremonials and High As Hope, Florence + The Machine have earned multiple #1s in the U.S. and U.K. and become a global festival headliner known for Welch’s transcendent stage presence.

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Sundance Comedy “Serious People” Skewers Ambition and Identity in Hollywood

serious-peopleSundance hit Serious People, the debut feature from filmmakers Pasqual Gutierrez and Ben Mullinkosson, brings a sharp comedy about ego, work, and self-replacement in the creative industry. The film opens in theaters November 14, followed by a VOD release December 16, distributed by Tribeca Films and Memory.

Written and directed by Gutierrez and Mullinkosson, the film stars Pasqual Gutierrez, Christine Yuan, RJ Sanchez, and Miguel Huerta. It follows a successful music video director who hires a double to take over his work during paternity leave, only to watch his life and career spiral out of control.

Gutierrez, known as half of the directing duo Cliqua (collaborating with Bad Bunny, Rosalía, and The Weeknd), makes his first feature with Serious People. Mullinkosson, whose past work includes The Last Year of Darkness and Don’t Be a Dick About It, brings a documentary sensibility to the film’s sharp tone. Together, they create a satire that examines ambition, burnout, and identity in modern Los Angeles.

The film premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, earning praise for its humor, originality, and inventive storytelling.

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Rosamund Pike and Matthew Rhys Star in Babak Anvari’s Psychological Thriller “Hallow Road”

Hallow-RoadGolden Globe and Emmy winner Rosamund Pike (Saltburn, Gone Girl) and Emmy and Critics Choice Award winner Matthew Rhys (The Americans) lead the cast of “Hallow Road,” the latest feature from writer-director Babak Anvari (Under the Shadow, I Came By). The film opens exclusively in AMC theaters on October 31 as part of a Halloween Double Feature presentation alongside Vincent Must Die.

Premiering at the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival in March, Hallow Road has since screened at major international festivals including Brussels, Melbourne, Munich, Leiden, New Horizons, and Neuchâtel, earning early acclaim for its unnerving atmosphere and emotional precision.

The psychological thriller follows parents (Pike and Rhys) who receive a late-night call from their daughter after she accidentally strikes another young woman while driving her father’s car. As they race to protect their family and contain the fallout, the night unravels into a series of chilling revelations that expose deeper secrets—and the fear that they may not be the only ones on Hallow Road.

Produced by Ian Henry, Lucan Toh, Aram Tertzakian, Nate Bolotin, and Richard Bolger, the film marks another step in Anvari’s exploration of guilt, dread, and human fragility through genre storytelling. The filmmaker, also attached to Paramount’s upcoming Cloverfield project, continues his distinctive blend of grounded realism and supernatural unease.

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‘American Magick’ to Premiere in Los Angeles Ahead of Global Launch on Prime Video

American-MagickThe four-part documentary miniseries American Magick, directed by Johnny Royal (Illuminated), will hold its Los Angeles red-carpet premiere on October 23 at the Laemmle Royal Theatre ahead of its worldwide streaming debut on Prime Video October 30.

The series explores the life and legacy of Poke Runyon, renowned occultist, ceremonial magician, and author, and his organization Ordo Templi Astarte (O.T.A.) and Church of the Hermetic Sciences, America’s oldest continually operating ritual magick lodge, founded in 1970. Through contemporary interviews and immersive reconstructions, American Magick follows current members of the O.T.A. on a cinematic journey toward enlightenment, inspired by the ancient initiatory system known as Crata Repoa, tracing its roots back to Egyptian mystery schools.

“American Magick is an artform—combining poetry, drama, and mythology; empowering our most creative resource, the human imagination,” said Poke Runyon.

Director Johnny Royal described the project as “a journey into the hidden architecture of belief — a cinematic exploration of how myth, ritual, and revelation shape the American soul.”

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