“Junkie” from AFI Alum William Means to World Premiere at AFI Fest 2025

JunkieAFI alum William Means will debut his feature film Junkie at the 2025 AFI Fest on October 26, followed by a conversation with Means, executive producer Patty Jenkins, and members of the cast and crew.

Produced by Rachel Weise, Thayer Juergens, and Abra Salazarte, the gritty yet darkly funny Southern drama stars newcomer Rocky Shay in a breakout performance alongside Rett Keeter, Jessica Lea Risco, Kian Morr, and Christina Reynolds. Means, known for his short films Blue Square Heart and King of the Forest, wrote and directed the project.

Junkie follows Stevie, a meth-addicted mother who escapes rehab and embarks on a chaotic odyssey through the Southern underbelly, desperate to reconcile with her estranged son before fleeing town for good. Inspired by Shay’s real-life experiences and Means’ own family struggles, the film blends physical comedy with raw honesty in exploring addiction, identity, and redemption.

Shot by cinematographer Jay Swuen and edited by Noam Klement, Junkie marks Means’ feature debut and continues AFI’s tradition of spotlighting bold new voices in American independent cinema.

Watch the AFI Fest premiere listing here.

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BayView Entertainment to Release French New Wave-Inspired Film “Everyone Asked About You”

everyone-asked-about-youBayView Entertainment, Inc. has acquired global distribution rights to Everyone Asked About You, the new independent feature from writer-director John Lacy (Rosebud Lane), inspired by the spirit of the French New Wave. The film will debut across TVOD and digital platforms throughout North America on October 28, 2025, with a global rollout to follow.

Starring Rachel Bailit (Festival in Cannes), John Lacy, Michael Wiles, Khrystyne Haje, Brea Bee, Patrick Gallagher, Werner Daehn, Kelly Mullis, and indie icon Henry Jaglom, the film examines fame, power dynamics, and identity in Hollywood through the story of a former child star confronting the industry’s exploitative systems.

Shot by Denis Maloney, ASC, and edited by Giovanni Mocibob, the feature combines vivid color cinematography with black-and-white flashbacks. The project is produced by Bailit, Lacy, and Ursula Rudorfer, with executive producer Hana Wagner.

The film screens at the Chelsea Film Festival on October 19 ahead of its digital release. BayView President Peter Castro praised the film’s message, saying its “courageous approach to shining a light on this crucial matter deeply moved us.”

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‘House of David’ Sets Digital and DVD Release Following Strong Prime Video Debut

House-of-DavidAfter drawing strong viewership on Prime Video, Lionsgate’s biblical drama House of David is expanding its reach with a digital release available now and a DVD launch set for October 28.

Created by Jon Erwin (I Can Only Imagine) and Jon Gunn, the series brings the Old Testament story of David and Goliath to life with a modern cinematic approach. The first season follows the fall of King Saul and the unlikely rise of David, a young outcast anointed to lead Israel.

Since its debut earlier this year, House of David has attracted more than 40 million viewers worldwide, including 22 million in its first 17 days on Prime Video—placing it among the streamer’s top 10 new series debuts in the U.S.

The cast features newcomer Michael Iskander as David, alongside Ali Suliman (Lone Survivor), Stephen Lang (Avatar), Ayelet Zurer (Daredevil: Born Again), Indy Lewis (Industry), and Oded Fehr (Star Trek: Discovery).

Season 2 is set to premiere exclusively for Wonder Project subscribers on Prime Video October 5, before a wider release on the platform later this year.

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Emile Hirsch, Inbar Lavi Lead Holocaust Drama “Bau, Artist at War”

bau-artist-at-warSean McNamara’s Holocaust drama Bau, Artist at War will open in theaters across the United States and Canada on September 26 through ShowBiz Direct and Republic Pictures.

Based on the memoir of Joseph Bau, the film follows the true story of a Holocaust survivor and artist who used his skills as a forger to help fellow prisoners endure life in Nazi concentration camps while finding love with fellow prisoner Rebecca.

The film stars Emile Hirsch as Bau and Inbar Lavi as Rebecca, alongside Yan Tual (Outlander), Adam Tsekhman (Legends of Tomorrow), and Josh Zuckerman (School Spirits), with Edward Foy, Chris Cope, Josh Blacker, Eugene Lipinski, Dalias Blake, Pam Kearns, and Tori Griffith rounding out the cast.

McNamara, known for Soul Surfer and Reagan, directed from a script by Deborah Smerecnik, Ron Bass, and Sonia Kifferstein. Producers include McNamara, Smerecnik, David Brookwell, Marc Griffith, and Michelle P. Griffith.

Bau, Artist at War had its world premiere on September 21 at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, where cast, crew, and special guests including Jon Voight were in attendance.

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Gabriel Byrne Confronts Mortality and Leonard Cohen’s Ghosts in Death of a Ladies’ Man

death-of-a-ladies-manGabriel Byrne headlines Death of a Ladies’ Man, Matthew Bissonnette’s surreal dramedy arriving on VOD September 26.

The film follows Samuel O’Shea (Byrne), a hard-drinking, twice-divorced professor whose life unravels after a terminal diagnosis. Haunted by visions of his long-dead father (Brian Gleeson) and strangers breaking into Leonard Cohen songs, Samuel retreats to his family’s Irish cottage where he confronts memory, regret, and the possibility of redemption through an unexpected romance (Jessica Paré).

The film blends dark humor, poetic visuals, and the music of Leonard Cohen, offering a meditation on mortality and second chances. Rounding out the cast are Antoine Olivier Pilon, Karelle Tremblay, and Suzanne Clément.

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Eric Roberts and Kenzie Ziegler Hit the Right Notes in Redemption Drama Shakey Grounds

shakey-groundsGravitas Ventures will release Shakey Grounds on digital platforms September 16, 2025.

The 82-minute feature follows a troubled musician and his band as they navigate personal demons and a chance at redemption with a disgraced record executive. Together, they confront obstacles that ultimately draw them closer through music and camaraderie.

The film stars Academy Award nominee Eric Roberts (Runaway Train, The Dark Knight), Emmy and Tony Award winner Eric Nelsen (1883), Ella Cannon (Trees of Peace), Emmy Award winner Kelly Thiebaud (General Hospital), and singer/actor Kenzie Ziegler (Dance Moms). Johnny Danks, who also stars, produced alongside Gary Dankner and Jack Sattin.

Written by Trace Slobotkin and directed by Michael Garcia, Shakey Grounds had its world premiere at WorldFest Houston International Festival, where it won a Remi Award.

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“Monsters Within” Explores a Veteran’s Return Home and a Sibling Bond, Sets October 3 Digital Release

monsters-withinMonsters Within, the debut feature from filmmaker Devin Montgomery, will be released on digital platforms October 3 via Buffalo 8, with a streaming premiere on Cineverse’s Screambox November 7.

Written, directed, produced by, and starring Montgomery, the film follows Luke Wolf, a war veteran who returns to his hometown and reconnects with his sister Elle, who has Down Syndrome. As Luke struggles with his past and his sense of identity, the bond with his sister becomes central to his journey of facing personal demons. Daniella Montgomery, the director’s real-life sister, plays Elle, anchoring the film with authenticity.

The film also features Kendall Cavener, Skeeta Jenkins, Brandon Stewart, and the late Samuel French (Killers of the Flower Moon, Fear the Walking Dead) in his final role. French’s performance has already been recognized with multiple festival awards, and the film is dedicated to his memory.

Monsters Within has screened at festivals worldwide, earning accolades including Best Feature Film at the Red Dirt International Film Festival, Audience Choice at Bare Bones International Film Festival, and acting honors for both Montgomery and French.

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Tetsuya Mariko’s “Dear Stranger” Sets International Premiere at Busan Film Festival

dear-strangerBusan International Film Festival has set the international premiere of Dear Stranger, the latest feature from Japanese director Tetsuya Mariko (Destruction Babies), for its 2025 edition in the “A Window on Asian Cinema” program.

Starring Hidetoshi Nishijima (Drive My Car) and Gwei Lun-Mei (Girlfriend, Boyfriend), the Japan-Taiwan-U.S. co-production was filmed entirely in New York and follows a couple whose lives fracture after the disappearance of their young son forces them to confront buried secrets.

The film reunites Mariko with top collaborators, including cinematographer Yasuyuki Sasaki (Asako I & II), editor Matthieu Laclau (A Touch of Sin), and Grammy-winning musician Jim O’Rourke. The project was shot with a multilingual cast and crew across English, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, and sign language.

Mariko, who won Locarno’s Best Emerging Director Award for Destruction Babies, shifts his focus from violent social critiques to an intimate immigrant drama exploring identity, family, and loss.

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Jason Bateman and Jude Law Lead Netflix Thriller Black Rabbit

black-rabbitNetflix will debut the limited series Black Rabbit on September 18, 2025. The eight-episode drama stars Jason Bateman and Jude Law as brothers caught in the chaos of New York City’s nightlife.

Law plays Jake Friedken, the owner of Black Rabbit, a high-end restaurant and lounge poised to be the city’s next hot spot. His brother Vince (Bateman) re-enters the business unexpectedly, reopening old wounds and bringing new threats that put both the family and the club in jeopardy.

The series is created by Zach Baylin and Kate Susman, with Bateman and Law among the executive producers. Episodes are directed by Bateman, Laura Linney, Ben Semanoff, and Justin Kurzel. The cast also includes Cleopatra Coleman, Amaka Okafor, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Troy Kotsur, Abbey Lee, Dagmara Dominczyk, and Odessa Young.

All episodes of Black Rabbit will be available to stream September 18 on Netflix.

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Season 4 of The Morning Show Premieres September 17 on Apple TV+

the-morning-showApple TV+ has set September 17, 2025, for the premiere of season four of The Morning Show, its Emmy-winning media drama starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. The 10-episode season will debut with a single episode, followed by weekly installments through November 19.

The new season begins in the spring of 2024, nearly two years after the events of season three. With the UBA-NBN merger complete, the newsroom faces new challenges in a climate shaped by deepfakes, conspiracy theories, and corporate cover-ups. Questions of power, loyalty, and trust once again take center stage, as characters navigate shifting alliances inside a polarized America.

Returning cast members include Aniston, Witherspoon, Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Greta Lee, Nicole Beharie, Nestor Carbonell, Karen Pittman, and Jon Hamm. New additions to the ensemble include Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Aaron Pierre, William Jackson Harper, and Boyd Holbrook.

Showrunner Charlotte Stoudt returns alongside executive producers Mimi Leder, Michael Ellenberg, Aniston, Witherspoon, and others. Season four continues the series’ pattern of reimagining the newsroom in the wake of seismic professional and political changes.

 

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