Robert Redford, Hollywood Icon and Architect of Independent Cinema, Dies at 89

Posted on September 16, 2025 by admin

Robert Redford during the filming of The Sting (1973). Photo by Ken Dare, Los Angeles Times / Courtesy of the Dutch National Archives.

Robert Redford, the Oscar-winning actor, director, and visionary who built Sundance into the home of independent film, has died at his home in Utah. He was 89. Redford was first known as one of Hollywood’s most magnetic leading men, but his greatest impact came later, as he reshaped the future of filmmaking by giving independent voices a place to be heard.

Redford began his career in television and on Broadway before breaking through in film. His first leading role that brought him recognition was Barefoot in the Park (1967) opposite Jane Fonda. Two years later, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) made him a household name. His pairing with Paul Newman became one of the most beloved duos in film history. They reunited in The Sting (1973), which became a massive hit and earned Redford an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

An American Icon

In the 1970s, Redford wasn’t just a star. With his blond hair, windswept style, and natural charisma, he became a cultural symbol of American masculinity. But he quickly proved he was more than an image. In The Candidate (1972), Jeremiah Johnson (1972), Three Days of the Condor (1975), and All the President’s Men (1976), he pursued stories with political and social weight. By the end of the decade, he had become both a top box office draw and one of the most respected actors of his generation.

Behind the Camera

In 1980, Redford made his directing debut with Ordinary People, a family drama that went on to win four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. The film marked his transformation from leading man to accomplished filmmaker and proved he could command just as much respect behind the camera.
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“Darling” 4K Restoration to Open at Film Forum for 60th Anniversary Run

Posted on September 14, 2025 by admin

John Schlesinger’s Darling (1965), starring Julie Christie, Dirk Bogarde, and Laurence Harvey, returns to the big screen in a new 4K restoration for its 60th anniversary. The bittersweet satire of Swinging London will screen at Film Forum in New York from October 10 to October 23.

The film, which helped define the British New Wave, earned five Academy Award nominations, winning Best Actress for Christie, Best Original Screenplay for Frederic Raphael, and Best Costume Design for Julie Harris. Christie’s performance as ambitious model Diana Scott launched her to international stardom.

Darling also earned four BAFTAs and three New York Film Critics Circle Awards, cementing its place as a cultural landmark of the 1960s.

The Armory Show Returns to Javits Center September 5 to 7, 2025

Posted on September 5, 2025 by admin

The Armory Show, New York’s largest modern and contemporary art fair, opens its 2025 edition at the Javits Center with a VIP preview on September 4, followed by public days September 5 to 7.

Founded in 1994 and now organized by Frieze, the fair continues to anchor the city’s fall art season with a wide range of international exhibitors and curated programming.

This year’s edition features approximately 230 galleries from 35 countries, including more than 50 first-time participants and a number of major names returning after hiatus. Highlights include the repositioned Focus section spotlighting artists from the American South, the central Platform program of large-scale installations and sculptures, a special Solo format interspersed among gallery booths, and a grouping of works under the banner New York Sculpture. Tickets and schedule details are available at thearmoryshow.com/tickets.

Film Forum Celebrates 100 Years of Peter Sellers With Two-Week Retrospective

Posted on August 31, 2025 by admin

Film Forum will honor one of cinema’s greatest comic actors with 100 Years of Peter Sellers: From Britcoms to International Icon, running September 19–October 2. The series spans Sellers’ career from early U.K. comedies like The Ladykillers (1955) and his BAFTA-winning role in I’m All Right Jack (1959), to Hollywood landmarks including The Pink Panther series, Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove (1964), and his Oscar-nominated turn in Hal Ashby’s Being There (1979).

Eighteen features are included, alongside rare 35mm screenings of Casino Royale (1967), What’s New Pussycat? (1965), A Shot in the Dark (1964), and Sellers’ Oscar-nominated short with Richard Lester, The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film (1959).

Film critic Siddhant Adlakha will introduce the opening-night screening of Blake Edwards’ The Party (1968) on September 19.

Highlights include:

The Ladykillers (1955) – Sept 19, 21, 22, 29
I’m All Right Jack (1959) – Sept 19, 21, 26, 27, 30, Oct 1
Dr. Strangelove (1964, 35mm) – Sept 19, 20, 22, 28, Oct 1–2
Lolita (1962) – Sept 20, 21, 25, 27, Oct 2
The Pink Panther (1963) – Sept 21, 24, 30
Casino Royale (1967, 35mm) – Sept 23
Being There (1979, 35mm) – Sept 26–28, Oct 2

(Additional titles include Two Way Stretch, Only Two Can Play, Heavens Above!, The World of Henry Orient, What’s New Pussycat? and more.)

The full schedule and ticket information are available at filmforum.org.

Marion Cotillard Leads Hadžihalilović’s Surreal Drama The Ice Tower

Posted on August 30, 2025 by admin

Acclaimed French filmmaker Lucile Hadžihalilović (Innocence, Evolution, Earwig) returns with her fourth feature, The Ice Tower, which is set to open in theaters on October 3, 2025. The film stars Marion Cotillard, Clara Pacini, August Diehl, and Gaspar Noé.

Co-written with Geoff Cox, The Ice Tower premiered earlier this year at the Berlin Film Festival. The project reunites Hadžihalilović with Cotillard, who also starred in her 2004 debut feature Innocence. Known for her surreal and unsettling narratives, the director brings her distinctive style to another collaboration with long-time creative partner Noé, with whom she co-founded the production company Les Cinémas de la Zone in the early 1990s.

Hadžihalilović’s work has previously received recognition at international festivals including San Sebastián, Toronto, and Cannes. The Ice Tower continues her exploration of atmospheric, psychological storytelling, blending elements of fantasy and existential unease.

The film will be released in U.S. theaters on October 3.

Amazon Expands Kindle Colorsoft Lineup With Cheaper Model and First Kids Edition

Posted on July 25, 2025 by admin

Amazon has introduced two new versions of its color e-reader, the Kindle Colorsoft, making the device more affordable and expanding it to younger readers.

The new 16GB Colorsoft costs $249.99—$30 less than last year’s 32GB Signature Edition, which remains available at $279.99. While the cheaper model keeps the same 7-inch color display, warm light, and weeks-long battery life, it drops features like wireless charging, auto-adjusting front light, and larger storage.

Amazon is also releasing its first color Kindle for kids at $269.99. The Kids edition comes bundled with a protective illustrated cover, a two-year guarantee, and a year of Amazon Kids+, which offers access to thousands of books, comics, and audiobooks. It also includes kid-focused tools such as Word Wise, Vocabulary Builder, and the OpenDyslexic font, along with Bluetooth for listening to audiobooks.

The move broadens the Colorsoft line, which debuted last year, positioning it as a better fit for readers of graphic novels, illustrated books, and comics who want a color experience without leaving the Kindle ecosystem.

Toronto Comic Arts Festival Returns to New Venue This June

Posted on May 30, 2025 by admin

The Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF) will return on June 7–8, 2025, taking place for the first time at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Mattamy Athletic Centre. Free and open to the public, the annual event celebrates its 20+ year legacy as one of the world’s leading comic arts festivals.

TCAF 2025 will feature over 315 Canadian and international independent comic creators, with more than 28,000 attendees expected. This year’s programming highlights the political dimensions of comics, emphasizing their role in activism, expression, and global dialogue.

Leading up to the main festival weekend, satellite events include a June 3 screening of Paying for It at TIFF with a panel discussion featuring director Sook-Yin Lee and cartoonist Chester Brown, a June 5 launch event for Kate Beaton’s Ducks hosted by Drawn & Quarterly, and a June 6 panel titled Canadian Comics Now: Cartooning In a Dangerous Time.

For a full schedule and details, visit www.torontocomics.com.

Sebastião Salgado, Famed Documentary Photographer, Dies at 81

Posted on May 25, 2025 by admin

Sebastião Salgado, the celebrated Brazilian photographer known for his powerful black-and-white images of global crises and natural beauty, has died at the age of 81. His death was confirmed by Instituto Terra, the environmental organization he co-founded with his wife, Lélia Wanick Salgado.

Across a five-decade career, Salgado photographed life in over 130 countries, documenting events such as the Sahel famine, the Rwandan genocide, and the Gulf War oil fires. His final major work, Amazônia, focused on the rainforest and its Indigenous communities and was exhibited internationally.

Originally trained as an economist, Salgado turned to photography in the 1970s and later founded his own agency, Amazonas Images. He received numerous honors, including the 2024 Sony World Photography Award for Outstanding Contribution to Photography and recognition as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Salgado was also a passionate environmentalist. Through Instituto Terra, he and his wife led a major reforestation project in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, planting over three million trees.

Though praised for his artistry, Salgado also faced criticism for the way he depicted human suffering. He remained committed to using photography as a tool for social change.

He is survived by his wife and creative partner, Lélia Wanick Salgado.

The Old Guard 2: Netflix Drops Explosive Trailer, Sets July 2 Global Release

Posted on May 9, 2025 by admin

Netflix has dropped the first trailer for The Old Guard 2, confirming the long-awaited sequel will stream worldwide on July 2, 2025. The action-packed follow-up sees Charlize Theron return as Andy, the immortal warrior, alongside her team as they face new threats and unresolved betrayals.

Joining the returning cast is Uma Thurman as Discord, a mysterious First Immortal whose arrival could upend everything Andy has fought to protect. The film also stars KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Veronica Ngô, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Henry Golding.

Directed by Victoria Mahoney, the film picks up after the events of the first movie, with Andy confronting her fading immortality as Quynh (Veronica Ngô) escapes her underwater prison seeking revenge. The movie is rated R and promises intense fight sequences, dramatic confrontations, and the same gritty style that made the first film a hit.

For those interested in exploring the source material, The Old Guard graphic novels by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernández are available in trade paperback and hardcover. A special edition, The Old Guard: The Immortal Edition Vol. 1, will also release on July 2 in comic shops and on July 15 at major bookstores.

Watch the official The Old Guard 2 trailer and preview the graphic novels below.

Sundance Institute Announces Boulder, Colorado, as the New Home for the Sundance Film Festival Beginning in 2027

Posted on March 28, 2025 by admin

Sundance Institute’s Board of Trustees has announced that Boulder, Colorado, will become the Festival’s home beginning in 2027.

“This decision was informed by a detailed evaluation of the key components essential to creating our Festival. During the process, it became clear that Boulder is the ideal location in which to build our Festival’s future, marking a key strategic step in its natural evolution,” said Ebs Burnough, Sundance Institute Board Chair. “We have a profound appreciation for the finalist cities and their communities — including Boulder, Colorado, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Salt Lake City, Utah — who presented overwhelmingly strong proposals and dedicated their time, passion, and commitment every step of the way. We have deep respect and gratitude to these communities for their hard work and partnership throughout the past year. Additionally, we sincerely value the steadfast support from our staff and board as we have ventured on this exploration together.”

The Sundance Film Festival is the largest artist program of the nonprofit Sundance Institute. Its Artist Programs cultivate a vibrant ecosystem, supporting artists and connecting their work with audiences. The Festival stands as the pre-eminent gathering of original storytellers and audiences seeking new voices, fresh perspectives, and a celebration of independent film and storytelling.

“The Sundance Film Festival is a catalyst for innovation, creative expression, and the discovery of groundbreaking independent films that inspire and shape the future of storytelling. This process provided the opportunity to imagine how we design the Festival while staying true to our programming and mission. We extend our appreciation to the staff, artists, partners, volunteers, and audiences who have and continue to support that mission,” said Amanda Kelso, Sundance Institute Acting CEO. “Boulder is an art town, tech town, mountain town, and college town. It is a place where the Festival can build and flourish. This is the beginning of a bold, new journey as we invite everyone to be part of our community and to be entertained and inspired. We can’t imagine a better fit than Boulder.”