SAG-AFTRA Concludes 2025 National Convention in Los Angeles

Posted on October 27, 2025 by admin

SAG-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.

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

Posted on October 24, 2025 by admin

Sundance 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.

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

Posted on October 23, 2025 by admin

The 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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Picturehouse Acquires ‘The King of Color,’ Documentary on Pantone Creator Lawrence Herbert

Posted on October 22, 2025 by admin

Picturehouse has acquired all North American distribution rights to The King of Color, a new documentary from director Patrick Creadon (Wordplay, Hesburgh) that explores the life and legacy of Lawrence Herbert, the creator of the Pantone Matching System. The film will premiere October 24 at AFI Fest before opening in limited theatrical release on December 12.

At 96, Herbert remains one of the most influential yet underrecognized figures in modern design. His invention of the Pantone Matching System (PMS) transformed the way artists, manufacturers, and brands communicate color across industries worldwide. The film features an in-depth interview with Herbert, offering a rare look into the mind that standardized color itself.

“Pantone is a language that connects artists, designers, and brands across the globe,” said Bob Berney, CEO of Picturehouse. “We’re proud to bring The King of Color to audiences everywhere and to honor Larry Herbert’s legacy of innovation and influence. Patrick Creadon has crafted a film that is as vibrant and inspiring as its subject.”

Creadon, best known for his acclaimed documentary Wordplay (a Sundance breakout), is known for illuminating the creative forces behind seemingly everyday phenomena. His directing credits also include If You Build It, ESPN’s 30 for 30: Catholics vs. Convicts, Hesburgh, and Ski Bum: The Warren Miller Story.

The King of Color traces Herbert’s journey from Depression-era Brooklyn to global innovation, spotlighting how one man’s vision turned color from a subjective art into a universal language that bridges creativity and commerce.

Spike Lee, Ryan Coogler, Tessa Thompson Among Honorees for Critics Choice’s Celebration of Black Cinema & Television

Posted on October 21, 2025 by admin

The Critics Choice Association has announced honorees for its 8th Annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Television, taking place December 9 in Los Angeles. Jay Pharoah returns as host, and STARZ is back as official media partner, with the ceremony airing in early 2026.

Spike Lee will receive the Career Achievement Award for his four-decade career, most recently Highest 2 Lowest. David Alan Grier earns the Vanguard Award for his acclaimed work across stage and screen, including St. Denis Medical. Ryan Coogler will be honored with the Director Award for Sinners, his record-breaking IMAX 70 mm feature for Warner Bros.

Reginald Hudlin and Shola Lynch take the Documentary Award for Apple TV’s Number One on the Call Sheet. Janelle James wins the Comedy Award for Abbott Elementary. Tessa Thompson, Sterling K. Brown, and Jurnee Smollett are recognized for Hedda, Paradise, and Smoke, respectively.

The Ensemble Award goes to Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and Chase Infiniti for One Battle After Another. Damson Idris earns Supporting Actor – Film for F1, and Skye P. Marshall wins Supporting Actress – Series for Matlock, receiving STARZ’s #TakeTheLead honor. Tenika Davis (Spartacus: House of Ashur) is named Breakthrough Performer, and Naya Desir-Johnson (Sarah’s Oil) takes Rising Star.

Singer-songwriter Aiyana-Lee will perform her song from Highest 2 Lowest. “It’s truly an honor to continue our tradition of celebrating excellence in Black cinema and television,” said executive producer Shawn Edwards.

SAG-AFTRA, OpenAI, and Bryan Cranston Collaborate on Voice and Likeness Protections in Sora 2

Posted on October 20, 2025 by admin

SAG-AFTRA, OpenAI, and actor Bryan Cranston have reached a collaborative agreement to strengthen voice and likeness protections in OpenAI’s generative video model Sora 2, following early reports that Cranston’s likeness was generated without authorization during the model’s invite-only release.

The collaboration also includes the Association of Talent Agents (ATA), United Talent Agency (UTA), and Creative Artists Agency (CAA), all uniting to ensure performers’ rights are safeguarded in the era of synthetic media.

OpenAI confirmed it has reinforced its opt-in protocol, requiring explicit consent for any replication of a performer’s voice or likeness. The company also pledged to respond swiftly to any complaints or misuse, aligning its framework with the principles of the pending NO FAKES Act, federal legislation aimed at preventing unauthorized digital replication.

“I was deeply concerned not just for myself, but for all performers whose work and identity can be misused in this way,” Cranston said. “I am grateful to OpenAI for strengthening its guardrails and respecting our right to manage replication of our voice and likeness.”
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Ben Kalina’s “Plan C for Civilization” to World Premiere at DOC NYC

Posted on October 19, 2025 by admin

Award-winning filmmaker Ben Kalina (Shored Up, Can We Cool the Planet?) returns with Plan C for Civilization, a riveting new documentary that confronts one of the most controversial ideas in climate science: solar geoengineering. The film will make its world premiere at DOC NYC on Thursday, November 13 (6:30 p.m.) and Saturday, November 15 (1:00 p.m.) at Village East by Angelika, with an online screening available from November 14 to 30.

In Plan C for Civilization, physicist David Keith explores whether reflecting sunlight back into space could cool the planet and buy humanity time against climate catastrophe. But his early experiments spark fierce global debate, inspiring rogue start-ups like Make Sunsets, whose DIY launches raise urgent questions about science, ethics, and control in a warming world.

Kalina captures this unfolding tension across continents, examining the promise and peril of manipulating Earth’s atmosphere as climate solutions falter. “If we value the ecosystems and humanity of this planet,” Kalina says, “how could we ignore any tool with so much power to cool the planet, quickly?”

Produced by Mangrove Media, the film continues Kalina’s exploration of humanity’s uneasy relationship with nature, following his acclaimed documentaries on climate and coastal resilience.

Luis Buñuel’s “Viridiana” Returns in New 4K Restoration at Film Forum

Posted on October 18, 2025 by admin

Janus Films will release a new 4K restoration of Luis Buñuel’s Palme d’Or-winning classic Viridiana (1961), opening November 14 for a one-week engagement at Film Forum in New York City.

Banned in Franco-era Spain and condemned by the Vatican upon release, Viridiana remains one of cinema’s most provocative works. The film follows a novice nun (Silvia Pinal) whose idealistic faith collides with corruption and hypocrisy when she moves in with her uncle, played by Fernando Rey, in a narrative that skewers religious dogma and human weakness.

Winner of the Palme d’Or at the 1961 Cannes Film Festival, the film has long been regarded as one of Buñuel’s masterpieces. Co-written with Julio Alejandro and photographed by José F. Aguayo, the restoration showcases the film’s bold imagery and subversive wit for a new generation of audiences.

Viridiana runs November 14 to 20, 2025, exclusively at Film Forum.

Vertical Acquires Sundance Winner “Atropia” Starring Alia Shawkat and Callum Turner for December Release

Posted on October 16, 2025 by admin

Alia Shawkat | Courtesy: Vertical

Vertical has acquired North American rights to Hailey Gates’ feature directorial debut “Atropia,” winner of the U.S. Grand Jury Prize for Dramatic Feature at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. The film, starring Alia Shawkat (Severance) and Callum Turner (Masters of the Air), will open in theaters this December.

The ensemble cast includes Chloë Sevigny, Jane Levy, Tim Heidecker, Lola Kirke, Zahra Alzubaidi, and Jamie McShane. Produced by Luca Guadagnino, Naima Abed, Emilie Georges, Lana Kim, and Jett Steiger, the film marks Gates’ transition from documentary to narrative storytelling.

In Atropia, an aspiring actress (Shawkat) working at a simulated military training facility falls for a soldier (Turner) cast as an insurgent, blurring the line between reality and performance. Inspired by real-life desert role-play camps, Gates conceived the idea after visiting similar installations in California.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled that it’s found a home with Vertical, a company that takes bold creative swings,” said Gates. Vertical Partner Peter Jarowey added, “Hailey has created an impressive debut led by an outstanding cast and set in a world rarely seen on screen.”

The deal was negotiated by Jarowey and Tony Piantedosi for Vertical, with UTA Independent Film Group and WME Independent representing the filmmakers.

Sundance Institute Partners With Rolex to Support Feature Film Program

Posted on October 15, 2025 by admin

The Sundance Institute has announced a new multi-year partnership with Rolex, naming the Swiss watchmaker as its Official Partner and Exclusive Timepiece. The collaboration will provide direct support and funding to the Institute’s Feature Film Program, one of the organization’s cornerstone initiatives.

For more than four decades, Sundance’s Feature Film Program has championed independent filmmakers through its Screenwriters and Directors Labs, Screenwriters Intensive, and year-round ELEVATE professional development track. The new partnership will expand those efforts, providing emerging storytellers with creative resources, mentorship, and access to Sundance Collab, the Institute’s global online learning platform.

Rolex’s support comes through its Perpetual Arts Initiative, which promotes artistic excellence and mentorship across disciplines. “We are incredibly grateful to Rolex for collaborating with us to uplift artists and their stories,” said Michelle Satter, Founding Senior Director of Artist Programs at Sundance Institute. “Together, we’re empowering a new generation of independent filmmakers to bring bold, original work to life.”

Since its founding by Robert Redford, the Institute has helped nurture leading filmmakers including Ryan Coogler, Chloé Zhao, Taika Waititi, Lulu Wang, and The Daniels, continuing its legacy as a vital incubator for independent voices.