“We Shall Not Be Moved” Recognized as One of the Year’s Top International Films

Posted on December 11, 2025 by admin

We Shall Not Be Moved (No nos moverán), Mexico’s official submission for Best International Feature at the 98th Academy Awards®, has been named one of the year’s Best International Films by New York Film Critics Online. The recognition comes as the acclaimed debut feature from Mexican filmmaker Pierre Saint Martin continues its U.S. theatrical rollout.

Following a strong run in New York through Cinema Tropical, the dark dramedy will screen for one week at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco beginning December 18, before heading to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston in January. A U.S. streaming release is expected to be announced soon.

Shot in black and white, the film follows Socorro, a 67-year-old retired lawyer played by Luisa Huertas, whose decades-long pursuit of the soldier responsible for her brother’s death during Mexico’s 1968 Tlatelolco massacre has consumed her life and fractured her family. When a new lead emerges, she risks everything to confront the past.

The film premiered at the Guadalajara International Film Festival, winning Best Mexican Film and the Audience Award, and went on to receive four Ariel Awards, including Best First Feature and Best Actress. It has screened at more than 40 international festivals and will also represent Mexico at Spain’s Goya Awards.

Saint Martin’s debut blends dark humor with an intimate exploration of memory, trauma, and political reckoning, offering a personal lens on one of Mexico’s most painful historical chapters.

Slamdance Sets Alexandre Rockwell’s The Projectionist as Opening Night Film for 2026 Festival

Posted on December 10, 2025 by admin

The Slamdance Film Festival has named Alexandre Rockwell’s The Projectionist as the opening night film for its 32nd edition, marking the film’s world premiere. The artist-led festival returns to Los Angeles for a second year, running in person from February 19–25, 2026, with virtual screenings continuing through March 6 on the Slamdance Channel.

Produced by Quentin Tarantino and Jack Auen, The Projectionist centers on a reclusive cinema projectionist haunted by a wrongful conviction and personal loss, living in isolation inside a fading arthouse theater until his past resurfaces. The film stars Vondie Curtis-Hall, Karyn Parsons, Kasi Lemmons, David Proval, Kevin Corrigan, and Michael Buscemi.

The festival also announced a new partnership with independent studio Utopia, which will offer theatrical distribution to at least one 2026 Slamdance Grand Prize winner. Additional distribution and digital aggregation opportunities will be made available to competition films through Utopia’s platform.

Also screening in the festival’s Spotlight section is The Untitled Ruby Slippers Documentary, directed by Seth Gordon and Nikki Calabrese, a long-gestating project tied to Gordon’s early Slamdance roots.

Slamdance will once again host Market Monday on February 23, featuring panels and workshops focused on filmmaking, distribution, and audience development. The full festival lineup will be announced at a later date.

Shelly Hong to Direct and Co-Write Feature Adaptation of Getting Rid of Rosie

Posted on December 9, 2025 by admin

Filmmaker Shelly J. Hong will make her feature debut with Get Over It, a supernatural comedy based on Lynda Simmons’ novel Getting Rid of Rosie. The project, developed by Ontario-based I Crone Productions, recently completed a proof-of-concept shoot in Toronto with Tina Jung, Donald MacLean Jr., and Mimi Kuzyk. Hong co-wrote the screenplay with Simmons, expanding their partnership after the short film Ed & Alfie.

Hong, fresh from the Whistler Film Festival Screenwriters Lab, was drawn to the novel’s mix of humor and emotional depth. The film follows Samantha Choi, who must choose the life she truly wants before midnight, guided by Karma and confronted by the ghost of Rosie Fisk, the best friend who once upended everything and refuses to move on.

An award-winning Korean-Canadian filmmaker, Hong has directed four internationally screened shorts and previously worked across acting, production, writing, and directing. Her original feature script BEAST was selected for the 2025 Whistler Screenwriters Lab.

Author Lynda Simmons, known for her work with Harlequin and Penguin, transitioned into filmmaking in 2023 and partnered with Hong on Ed & Alfie. Their latest collaboration features cinematography by Lainie Knox (Children Ruin Everything, Tallboyz).

Colman, Lithgow, and Breakout Aud Mason-Hyde Anchor Tender Family Drama Jimpa

Posted on December 9, 2025 by admin

Olivia Colman and John Lithgow lead Jimpa, a new queer family drama from filmmaker Sophie Hyde. The film follows Hannah, played by Colman, as she travels with her trans nonbinary teenager Frances (Aud Mason-Hyde) to Amsterdam to visit Frances’ gay grandfather, affectionately known as Jimpa, portrayed by Lithgow. What begins as a simple family trip turns into a deeper emotional journey when Frances expresses a desire to stay abroad for a year.

The film explores the shifting dynamics across three generations as Hannah confronts the stories she has long held about her family, Frances wrestles with the disappointment of discovering their heroes aren’t perfect, and Jimpa faces the realities of aging in a community that once never imagined growing old.

Inspired by Hyde’s own experiences in a queer family, Jimpa blends humor, tenderness, and lived authenticity. Hyde directs from a script co-written with Matthew Cormack, continuing her track record of intimate character-driven storytelling seen in works like Good Luck to You, Leo Grande and 52 Tuesdays.

The cast also includes Daniel Henshall, Kate Box, Eamon Farren, and Cody Fern. The film features cinematography by Matthew Chuang, editing by Bryan Mason, and music composed by Nick Ward.

Toto, Christopher Cross & The Romantics Announce 2026 North American Summer Tour

Posted on December 8, 2025 by admin

Toto, Christopher Cross, and The Romantics will join forces for a 32-date North American tour in summer 2026. Produced by Live Nation, the run begins July 15 at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel, NY, and concludes August 30 at Toronto’s RBC Amphitheatre. Tickets go on sale Friday, Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. local time, with artist pre-sales opening Tuesday, Dec. 9.

The announcement follows a landmark year for Toto, which continues to see renewed momentum nearly five decades into its career. The band surpassed one billion streams in 2025 alone, with “Africa” passing two billion Spotify plays and earning RIAA Diamond status, while “Hold the Line” and “Rosanna” reached multi-platinum milestones. The group also notes that more than half of its streaming audience is under 35, underscoring a continued generational shift in its fan base.

Christopher Cross reunites with Toto after touring alongside the band across multiple continents over the last two years. Cross, who won the Grammy “Big Four” categories in 1981 and has sold over 12 million albums, will appear as a special guest across all dates.

Detroit rock veterans The Romantics, best known for “What I Like About You” and “Talking in Your Sleep”, will round out the tour, continuing their multi-year return to global touring.

‘One Battle After Another’ Leads 2026 Golden Globe Nominations; ‘The White Lotus’ Tops TV as Globes Expand Into Podcasts

Posted on December 8, 2025 by admin

The 2026 Golden Globe nominations were unveiled Monday morning, and the race quickly narrowed around a handful of major contenders. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another dominated the film side with nine nominations, the most of any title this year. Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value followed with eight, while Ryan Coogler’s Sinners earned seven, and Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet collected six. Frankenstein and Wicked: For Good landed five apiece.

On television, HBO’s The White Lotus led with six nominations, edging out Netflix’s Adolescence, which received five. Only Murders in the Building and Severance each secured four, continuing their awards-season consistency.

The ceremony returns to the Beverly Hilton on Jan. 11, airing live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+, with Nikki Glaser hosting. Marlon Wayans and Skye P. Marshall announced the nominees from Los Angeles, including categories for film, television, stand-up comedy, and, for the first time, the best podcast award.

This year’s podcast lineup reflects the Globes’ push toward broader media recognition, while also avoiding the political and culture-war flashpoints that have defined the category elsewhere. Titles such as Armchair Expert, Call Her Daddy, Good Hang with Amy Poehler, The Mel Robbins Podcast, SmartLess, and NPR’s Up First made the inaugural shortlist.

On the distributor front, Neon led all film companies with 21 nominations, while Netflix dominated television with 22.

The Globes also continue building out their rebranding campaign, including the launch of “Golden Eve,” a primetime special honoring this year’s career-achievement recipients: Helen Mirren (Cecil B. DeMille Award) and Sarah Jessica Parker (Carol Burnett Award).

Below is the full list of nominees:

Here’s the full list of nominees.

Motion picture – Drama
“Sinners”
“It Was Just an Accident”
“Sentimental Value”
“Frankenstein”
“Hamnet”
“The Secret Agent”

Motion picture – Musical or comedy
“One Battle After Another”
“No Other Choice”
“Marty Supreme”
“Blue Moon”
“Bugonia”
“Nouvelle Vague”

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Republic Records Founders Monte and Avery Lipman Named 2026 GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honorees

Posted on December 7, 2025 by admin

Republic Records co-founders Monte Lipman and Avery Lipman will be honored with the GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons award at the Recording Academy and Clive Davis’ 2026 Pre-GRAMMY Gala. The event is set for Jan. 31, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton, the night before the 2026 GRAMMY Awards.

The Lipman brothers launched Republic Records in 1995 and have since overseen one of the industry’s most dominant modern music operations. Under their leadership, Republic has repeatedly topped Billboard metrics, earning Hot 100 Label of the Year in 11 of the past 12 years and maintaining a high-impact presence across pop, hip-hop, alternative, and emerging genres. The pair were recently appointed to oversee Universal Music Group’s East Coast label group, which includes Island, Def Jam, Mercury, and Republic.

Beyond their commercial track record, the brothers have been active in philanthropy, supporting medical research, arts programs, and community initiatives. They have been recognized by organizations including City of Hope, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, the T.J. Martell Foundation, and UJA-Federation, among others.

The Pre-GRAMMY Gala remains one of the recording industry’s most closely watched annual events, gathering major artists, executives, and creatives for an evening that honors influential contributors to the business.

“One Battle After Another” Dominates National Board of Review Awards

Posted on December 6, 2025 by admin

Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another continued its awards-season surge, leading the 2025 National Board of Review honors with five major wins, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio, Best Supporting Actor for Benicio Del Toro, and Breakthrough Performance for Chase Infiniti.

The strong showing follows the film’s recent victories at both the Gotham Awards and the New York Film Critics Circle, positioning the Warner Bros. title as one of this season’s most formidable contenders.

Rose Byrne was named Best Actress for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, continuing her streak across multiple critics groups. Other notable winners included Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas for Sentimental Value, Ryan Coogler for Sinners (Best Original Screenplay), and Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar for Train Dreams (Best Adapted Screenplay).

NBR also recognized Arco as Best Animated Feature, It Was Just an Accident as Best International Film, and Cover-Up as Best Documentary. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning earned the group’s stunt artistry honor, while Sinners cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw received Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography.

As usual, the organization released additional top-ten lists spanning films, international selections, documentaries, and independent features, which continue to serve as an early barometer of industry consensus.

The winners will be celebrated at the NBR’s annual gala on January 13, 2026, in New York City.

AFI Announces 2025 Honorees Across Film and Television

Posted on December 5, 2025 by admin

The American Film Institute has unveiled its selections for the 2025 AFI Awards, recognizing ten films and ten television programs that the organization deems the year’s most significant artistic achievements. One additional project, It Was Just an Accident, received the annual Special Award, given to works outside AFI’s standard eligibility.

This year’s film lineup spans major studio releases, acclaimed auteurs, and international literary adaptations, with titles including Avatar: Fire and Ash, Bugonia, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Jay Kelly, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, Sinners, Train Dreams, and Wicked: For Good.

On the television side, the honorees reflect a broad mix of prestige drama, genre storytelling, and serialized world-building. The 2025 selections include Adolescence, Andor, Death by Lightning, The Diplomat, The Lowdown, The Pitt, Pluribus, Severance, The Studio, and Task.

AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale emphasized the awards’ long-standing focus on celebrating collective achievement rather than competition. Honorees will be recognized at AFI’s annual luncheon on January 9, 2026, a gathering known for bringing filmmakers and television creators together in an informal, industry-wide celebration of the year’s work.

The AFI Awards have become a consistent bellwether for awards-season momentum, often overlapping significantly with later Oscar and Emmy nominations.

Pantone Reveals Cloud Dancer as 2026 Color of the Year

Posted on December 4, 2025 by admin

Cloud Dancer, the Pantone color of the year for 2026.Pantone

Pantone has unveiled Cloud Dancer, a soft white neutral, as its official 2026 Color of the Year, marking a notable shift toward subtlety after years of saturated and expressive tones.

Described by the Pantone Color Institute as a “calming, aerated white” that embodies clarity, serenity, and creative renewal, Cloud Dancer reflects what the organization sees as a cultural move toward quiet focus and intentional simplicity. The shade is positioned as both versatile and expressive, able to harmonize with softened palettes or provide crisp contrast across fashion, interiors, product design, and digital spaces.

Pantone’s annual selection, launched in 1999, draws on global research across design, technology, culture, entertainment, and emerging visual trends. According to the Institute, Cloud Dancer represents a desire for a fresh start in a world negotiating rapid digital acceleration while seeking deeper human connection.

The announcement follows recent picks such as Mocha Mousse (2025), a warm, comforting brown, and Peach Fuzz (2024), a soft peach tone symbolizing gentleness and wellbeing.

As Pantone describes it, Cloud Dancer is a “pared-back, reflective white that encourages balance and creative expression”, a quiet statement hue chosen for a moment defined by transition.