Lucía Garibaldi’s Dystopian Sci-Fi A Bright Future to World Premiere at Tribeca

Posted on May 28, 2025 by admin

Award-winning Uruguayan director Lucía Garibaldi returns with her second feature, A Bright Future (Un futuro brillante), set to premiere in the Viewpoints section of the 2025 Tribeca Festival, running June 4–14 in New York City.

Building on the acclaim of her Sundance-winning debut The Sharks, Garibaldi presents a dystopian sci-fi tale centered on Elisa, an 18-year-old girl chosen to journey to the elusive “North”—a supposed promised land no one has ever returned from. As Elisa prepares for her departure, doubts emerge, especially after a mysterious nurse’s arrival disrupts her tightly controlled world. What unfolds is a defiant coming-of-age story about resistance, agency, and the myth of a better future.

Starring newcomer Martina Passeggi in a standout role, alongside Soledad Pelayo, Sofía Gala Castiglione, and Alfonso Tort, A Bright Future paints a stylized yet eerily familiar world where youth is a commodity and escape comes at a cost. The film blends bleak sci-fi vision with ironic clarity and emotional depth, offering a sharp critique of generational sacrifice and institutional control.

Garibaldi’s bold narrative and visually immersive world mark her as a leading voice in Latin American cinema, with A Bright Future positioned as a festival standout.

Cannes 2025: ‘It Was Just an Accident’ Wins Palme d’Or Amid Strong Year for Global Cinema

Posted on May 24, 2025 by admin

The 78th Cannes Film Festival concluded with Iranian director Jafar Panahi winning the Palme d’Or for It Was Just an Accident, a tense moral thriller inspired by his own imprisonment in Iran. The film, which follows a group of former detainees confronting their alleged torturer, marked Panahi’s first in-person appearance at Cannes in over two decades. His emotional return and the film’s urgent themes of oppression and justice drew widespread acclaim and a standing ovation at the ceremony.

Panahi, long banned from leaving Iran, dedicated the prize to artists exiled from their home countries. His win also extended indie distributor Neon’s streak to six consecutive Palme d’Or victories, including previous titles like Parasite and Anora.

Beyond Panahi’s triumph, the festival showcased a wide range of standout films. Joachim Trier won the Grand Prix for Sentimental Value, while the Jury Prize was split between Óliver Laxe’s Sirât and Mascha Schilinski’s Sound of Falling. Brazil’s The Secret Agent took home Best Director for Kleber Mendonça Filho and Best Actor for Wagner Moura. Best Actress went to Nadia Melliti for The Little Sister.

The Camera d’Or for best first film was awarded to Hasan Hadi’s The President’s Cake, the first Iraqi film to win at Cannes. A special award was given to Bi Gan for Resurrection.

Despite a power outage affecting the region hours before the ceremony, the festival concluded without major disruption, ending what many considered one of Cannes’ strongest years in recent memory.

SFFILM Announces Golden Gate Award and Audience Award Winners at the 68th San Francisco International Film Festival

Posted on May 1, 2025 by admin

L to R, top row: New Directors Awardee: INK WASH, Global Visions Awardee: ALL THAT’S LEFT OF YOU. L to R, bottom row: Cine Latino Awardee: BELOVED TROPIC, Kirby Walker Documentary Award Awardee: SEEDS Seeds. Courtesy of SFFILM and rights holders.

Today, SFFILM announced the winners of the juried Golden Gate Awards competition and the Audience Awards at the 68th San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM Festival). Since the Festival’s first edition in 1957, the prestigious Golden Gate Awards have served as a launching pad for internationally renowned filmmakers who are early in their careers and have grown to include Audience Awards as well as serving as a qualifier for films under 40 minutes for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). In 2025, Academy Award-qualifying honors presented at the Festival included Narrative Short, Documentary Short, and Animated Short.

Golden Gate Awards were given in the feature film categories of New Directors–Ink Wash, Global Visions–All That’s Left of You, Cine Latino–Beloved Tropic, and the newly named Kirby Walker Documentary Award–Seeds.

Honoring the best documentary feature, the Kirby Walker Documentary Award celebrates the legacy of Kirby Walker, beloved Bay Area activist and filmmaker, whose profound curiosity about the lives of others and the world in general sparked a lasting love and respect for documentary filmmaking that allows audiences to develop their own informed viewpoint.
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SFFILM Announces the Lineup for the 68th San Francisco International Film Festival

Posted on March 29, 2025 by admin

L to R top row: Josh O’Connor, Lily LaTorre in REBUILDING. Nicole Beharie, André Holland in LOVE, BROOKLYN. Asia Kate Dillon, Ridley Asha Bateman in OUTERLANDS. L to R, bottom row: filmmaker Chris Columbus, and actor André Holland. Top row photos and A. Holland headshot courtesy of rights holders. C. Columbus photo courtesy of Netflix; photo by Giles Keyte.

Today, SFFILM announced the full lineup for the 68th San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM Festival), the longest-running film festival in the Americas. Taking place April 17-27, the Festival returns to its full 11-day run bringing the best of this year’s global filmmaking to Bay Area audiences in theaters across San Francisco’s Marina and Presidio neighborhoods, the Mission, and in Berkeley. The festival lineup includes over 150 films from more than 50 countries including 11 World Premieres, 10 International Premieres, 10 North American Premieres, and six US Premieres. All feature films in competition, special events, and Marquee sections are California premieres. In addition to many filmmakers returning to the Festival, the program also includes 11 SFFILM Supported titles which are projects that received support from the organization’s youth education and artist development programs as grants, residencies, or funding, reflecting the year round mission of SFFILM.

“I am over the moon that we are back with 11 days of screenings, special Tributes, Awards, free talks, our annual Industry Days Conference, parties, city tours, and much more. It has been a delight to curate over 150 films for this year’s festival and we cannot wait to welcome local and international creatives to the city by the Bay,” said Jessie Fairbanks, SFFILM’s Director of Programming. “The program is packed with discovery titles, emerging storytellers, buzzy new films, A-list talent, and a special horror retrospective—that will be sure to delight audiences and filmmakers alike.”

The Festival opens with Max Walker-Silverman’s Rebuilding, a poignant exploration of communal love and resilience in the wake of devastating wildfires. This intimate, timely drama stars Josh O’Connor (Challengers, La Chimera, The Crown) as a man determined to restore his family’s ranch and rediscover his purpose. The Centerpiece presentation is Rachael Abigail Holder’s Love, Brooklyn, a layered romantic comedy exploring urban isolation and Black life in the modern age. Executive produced by Steven Soderbergh and starring André Holland, Nicole Beharie, and DeWanda Wise, the film generates plenty of sparks and humor. The Centerpiece film is presented alongside a Festival Tribute celebrating the career and craft of André Holland (Selma, Moonlight, Passing) who has been dazzling audiences on stage, television, and screen over the past two decades. Alongside the Centerpiece film, Holland offers a remarkable performance in Andre Gaines’s The Dutchman in the Marquee spotlight.
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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.”

“Anora” Dominates Oscars With 5 Academy Awards

Posted on March 2, 2025 by admin

“Anora” was the top movie at the 2025 Academy Awards, taking home five Oscars including best director for Sean Baker.

Sean Baker, who who also edited, wrote and co-produced “Anora”, in total won four Oscars at Sunday’s ceremony. He ties Walt Disney’s record for the most Academy Awards won by a single person in one year.

“Anora,” also previously won the Palme d’Or-winner at the Cannes Film Festival last year.

Adrien Brody (“The Brutalist”) and Mikey Madison (“Anora”) took the leading acting honors. Brody won previusly for “The Pianist”.

“I grew up in Los Angeles, but Hollywood always felt so far away from me. To be here, standing in this room today, is really incredible,” Madison said.

See the full list of winners below.
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2025 Slamdance Film Festival Announces Award Winners

Posted on February 26, 2025 by admin

The 31st Slamdance Film Festival this evening announced the winners of their annual Sparky Awards in Audience and Jury categories for 2025. The festival also announced the recipient of their AGBO Fellowship from Slamdance alumni Joe and Anthony Russo, a curated Acting Award, and the second annual Summer Chastant Episodic Award. All winners were announced during the in-person awards ceremony on February 26th at the DGA Theater Complex in Los Angeles, CA.

“Our first year in Los Angeles hasn’t just been a new chapter—it’s been a breakthrough,” said Taylor Miller, Slamdance Director. “These award-winning films don’t just stake a claim; they redefine what cinema can be. These filmmakers have cemented their place in the future of cinema, proving that Slamdance isn’t just moving—it’s evolving. And we’re just getting started.”

A celebration of emerging filmmaking talent from around the world, this year’s lineup consisted of 146 films – 21 of which are World Premiere features. The fully accessible lineup included 33 features, 104 shorts, and five episodics. For the second year in a row, Slamdance continues to champion female filmmakers, with women directing 55% of this year’s lineup – marking a powerful shift in independent filmmaking. The full Slamdance lineup is still available online on the Slamdance Channel through March 7th.
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“Under The Burning Sun” Premiere At 2025 Slamdance Film Festival

Posted on February 17, 2025 by admin

“Under The Burning Sun” is written and directed by Yun Xie. Produced by Aaron Linjun Yu and Jera Wang. Cinematography by Tianyi Wang. Edited by Bowei Yue and Christopher Ma. Music by Dong Liu. A Narval Films production.

Says the film’s synopsis: In a barren, desolate land where abortion is outlawed, Mowanza struggles with an unwanted pregnancy. When she hears of a distant land with a lenient abortion policy, Mowanza, armed with only a half-empty water bottle and a battered car, embarks on a journey across the desert towards the lush land of Iropus.

“Our protagonist, Mowanza, never had the agency to make choices about her own body,” says Yu Xie.

“She is trapped in a cycle of anguish and anger, with freedom always just out of reach—like a distant oasis she can never quite grasp. Through Mowanza’s journey, the world we’ve crafted, and the struggles she endures, I hope we can inch closer to understanding the complex realities of womanhood—ones that remain unresolved, but deserve to be told.”

“Under The Burning Sun” is set to have its world premiere at 2025 Slamdance Film Festival where it plays on these dates:
Saturday Feb 22 – 1:30pm at LA Times Theater – Quixote Studios
Monday Feb 24 – 3:45pm at LA Times Theater – Quixote Studios

2025 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Program Award Winners Announced

Posted on January 28, 2025 by admin

Tonight the nonprofit Sundance Institute awarded the prizes for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Program at the Short Film Awards Ceremony & Party Presented by Vimeo. Filmmakers from across all 57 shorts selected for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival gathered at The Park in Park City, Utah, for a private event celebrating short-form storytelling. Most award-winning short films are available online nationwide January 30 through February 2 for audiences to view from home. Visit festival.sundance.org for all details. The 2025 Festival, taking place now through February 2, has featured world premieres, screenings, talks, events, and more in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Grand Jury Prize went to The Flowers Stand Silently, Witnessing (International Nonfiction). Short Film Jury Awards were presented to Trokas Duras (U.S. Fiction), Grandma Nai Who Played Favorites (International Fiction), We Were The Scenery (Nonfiction), and Como si la tierra se las hubiera tragado (Animation).

Two Special Jury Awards were also presented: Short Film Special Jury Award for Animation Directing to The Eating of an Orange (Animation) and Short Film Special Jury Award for Directing to Tiger (Nonfiction).
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Jennifer Lopez At :Kiss of Spider Woman” Sundance Premiere

Posted on January 26, 2025 by admin

Kiss of the Spider Woman premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 26, 2025, where it received a standing ovation. It was held at the Eccles Center Theatre in Park City, with star Jennifer Lopez and director Bill Condon in attendance.

Lopez, in attendance, sparkled in a bedazzled see-through black long-sleeve gown in the shape of a spider web.

In “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” Lopez stars in the titular role, alongside Diego Luna and Tonatiuh. She plays Aurora, a mysterious and enchanting actress. The films is directed by Bill Condon.

It’s based on the 1976 novel of the same name by Manuel Puig. It was first adapted for the screen in 1985 which starred William Hurt, Raul Julia and Sonia Braga, wherein Hurt won the Oscar for best supporting actor. It was also turned into a Tony-winning Broadway musical in 1993.

The film’s synopsis reads: “Lopez is an astonishing scene-stealer in a career-highlight performance as Luna/Aurora, with showstopping musical numbers that underscore the exuberant prowess of her dancing and voice. Diego Luna delivers unrelenting revolutionary conviction as Valentín, and Tonatiuh gives his Molina a tenderhearted power and theatrical flair.”

Photos: aipimaging.com