Alicia Scherson Brings Roberto Bolaño’s “The Third Reich” to Life in “Summer War,” World Premiering at Tribeca

Posted on May 12, 2026 by admin

A tabletop wargame becomes terrifyingly real in Alicia Scherson’s “Summer War,” adapting Roberto Bolaño’s novel “The Third Reich” for its world premiere at Tribeca Festival 2026.

The Chilean director returns to Tribeca two decades after winning Best New Narrative Director for her debut “Play.” This time she’s crafted a psychological thriller set in 1989, as Pinochet’s dictatorship crumbles. It’s Scherson’s second Bolaño adaptation, following 2013’s “Il Futuro.”

Dan Beirne stars as Udo Berger, an obsessive wargame champion whose beach vacation spirals when his WWII battle simulations start bleeding into reality. After a tourist vanishes at sea, Udo faces off against a mysterious local in a match where strategy dictates what’s real.

The international cast includes Lux Pascal, David Gaete, Aline Kuppenheim, and Agustín Pardella. Scherson relocates Bolaño’s story to Chile’s fragile political transition, turning it into a meditation on masculinity, paranoia, and how simulated violence echoes real-world consequences.

For indie filmmakers wrestling with literary adaptations, Scherson proves that respecting the source while making bold creative choices pays off. Her dry, dark humor captures Bolaño’s quiet unease without losing the tension.

The film screens June 7 at AMC 19th St. East 6 in New York.

Film Forum Bringing 35mm “Third Man” Print to NYC, Old-School Photochemical Style

Posted on May 11, 2026 by admin

Film Forum is screening a new 35mm print of Carol Reed’s “The Third Man” from June 12-25, and they’re doing it the analog way.

Unlike most classic film prints made today, which are digitally restored then output to film stock, this print was created photochemically in a lab from the original 35mm elements. Haghefilm and L’Immagine Ritrovata handled the work for Studiocanal, keeping the process true to the film’s origins.

The 1949 noir, starring Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, and Orson Welles as Harry Lime, was shot across five weeks of double shifts in Vienna. Cinematographer Robert Krasker won an Oscar for his shadow work, and Anton Karas’s zither theme became a worldwide phenomenon.

Welles lit his own scenes and wrote much of his dialogue, including the famous “cuckoo clock” speech. The film won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and was named one of the 10 best-shot films of cinema’s first 50 years by American Cinematographer.

This matters because photochemical preservation is increasingly rare. Most repertory houses default to digital restorations. Film Forum’s commitment to analog processes keeps the craft alive for filmmakers and audiences who care about how classics are preserved and presented.

Hugh Jackman and Emma Thompson Lead Animated Mystery “The Sheep Detectives”

Posted on May 1, 2026 by admin

A shepherd reads detective novels to his sheep every night. He thinks they’re just listening to the sound of his voice. Turns out, they’ve been paying attention.

“The Sheep Detectives” hits theaters May 8, and Amazon MGM Studios just dropped three new clips. Hugh Jackman voices George, the shepherd who unwittingly trains his flock in the art of crime-solving. When something suspicious happens on the farm, the sheep take matters into their own hooves.

The film’s based on “Three Bags Full” by Leonie Swann and adapted by Craig Mazin, who’s proven he can handle complex storytelling. Kyle Balda directs.

The voice cast is stacked. Emma Thompson and Hong Chau join Jackman, along with Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, and Molly Gordon. Supporting roles feature Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, and Brett Goldstein.

It’s a family-friendly mystery with a PG rating, produced by Working Title and Three Strange Angels. Lindsay Doran, Tim Bevan, and Eric Fellner are producing, with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller among the executive producers.

Tickets are already on sale. For indie filmmakers watching the animation space, this is another example of studios betting on original storytelling over sequels.

SXSW Winner “Ceremony” Heads to Hot Docs Alongside Two World Premieres

Posted on April 27, 2026 by admin

Hot Docs is bringing three BC documentaries to Toronto, and they’re tackling everything from Indigenous erasure to Olympic boxing dreams.

The standout is Banchi Hanuse’s “Ceremony,” which already won the Audience Award at SXSW. It follows the Nuxalk Nation in Bella Coola as the vanished ooligan fish run exposes deeper wounds of colonial disruption. Hanuse mixes testimony, watercolor animation, and rare archival footage to immerse viewers in a Nuxalk worldview. The film screens April 30 and May 1, with more than 20 members of the Nuxalk Nation attending.

Two world premieres round out the lineup. “Constant Battles” follows Nyousha Nakhjiri’s journey to become the first Iranian-born female boxer at the Olympics. She’s number one in her weight class and uses the sport to manage ADHD and anxiety. The film also explores her mother’s past, a woman imprisoned at 16 for activism against the Islamic Republic. It screens April 25 and 26.

“təm kʷaθ nan – Namesake” documents the Tla’amin Nation’s request for Powell River to change its name. The city honors Israel Wood Powell, who established residential schools and banned the potlatch. The doc captures heated community debates around this reckoning. It screens April 29 and 30 before heading to DOXA in Vancouver.

Three stories about resilience, identity, and fighting for what’s been erased.

Spike Lee’s Apartheid Story “Apart” Heads to Tribeca

Posted on April 22, 2026 by admin

Spike Lee co-wrote an animated short about friendship under apartheid, and it’s making its world premiere at Tribeca Festival next month.

“Apart” follows two boys, Themba and Joel, whose bond is tested by the violence and racism of apartheid-era South Africa. The film was directed by Pola Maneli, a South African artist whose work has appeared on the cover of The New Yorker and hangs in the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Grammy-winning South African musician Black Coffee supervised the music, while fashion designer Laduma Ngxokolo designed isiXhosa-inspired wardrobe for the characters.

The 15-minute short blends traditional 2D animation, cutout, 3D, and 2.5D techniques. Over 600 days, a crew of 266 people produced 18,000 frames using 14 different software tools. The animation style nods to woodcut prints, the DIY art form used to spread anti-apartheid messages and evade censorship.

The entire film was made by human artists, no AI involved.

“Apart” screens twice at Tribeca as part of the Animated Shorts program curated by Whoopi Goldberg: June 6 at Spring Studios and June 13 at AMC 19th Street East.

For indie creators, it’s a reminder that handmade animation still matters, especially when telling stories rooted in history and cultural resistance.

Rachel House Makes Her Directorial Debut With “The Mountain,” a Coming-of-Age Adventure Set on New Zealand’s Sacred Peak

Posted on April 5, 2026 by admin

Rachel House, the acclaimed New Zealand actor known for her work in “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Hunt for the Wilderpeople,” and “Moana,” is stepping behind the camera for the first time with “The Mountain.”

The film follows Sam, a fearless young girl raised outside her Māori culture, who sets out to climb Mt. Taranaki in hopes the mountain can heal her from cancer. Along the way, she teams up with Mallory, a new kid desperate for friends, and Bronco, who claims to be running away from his too-busy dad. As the trio tackles the mountain’s difficult terrain, they discover what real adventure and friendship look like.

House co-wrote and co-produced the 90-minute feature, which is executive produced by Taika Waititi, her frequent collaborator. The two have worked together on multiple projects, with House serving as acting coach on “Jojo Rabbit,” “Boy,” and “Next Goal Wins.”

Early reviews are calling the film “delightful, magical, mystical… brimming with humor and tenderness,” according to InSession Film. AWFJ.org praised it as capturing “the spirit of backyard adventures writ large,” while The Film Experience noted it’s “perfectly family-friendly… it has heart and a delightful larger-than-life nature.”

The film premiered at Toronto International Film Festival and Sydney Film Festival before landing U.S. distribution with Hope Runs High, the New York indie distributor behind recent releases like “Chronicles of a Wandering Saint” and restored classics from director Lee Grant.

House brings serious credentials to her directorial debut. She studied at Prague Film School, where she won Best Director and the Audience Award for her short films. She’s also directed a Te Reo Māori version of “Troilus and Cressida” at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London, and worked as acting coach alongside Jane Campion on “The Power of the Dog” and “Top of the Lake.”

“The Mountain” opens in theaters April 17.

Bi Gan’s Resurrection Lands on Criterion Channel With Critical Acclaim

Posted on March 26, 2026 by admin

Huace Pictures

Visionary filmmaker Bi Gan returns with his most ambitious work yet, Resurrection, now streaming on the Criterion Channel.

The film, which earned the Jury Special Prize at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, blends fantasy, romance, and cinematic history into a dreamlike narrative. It follows a mysterious “dreaming monster” (played by Jackson Yee) pursued by a woman (played by Shu Qi) through a shifting world where humanity has traded dreams for immortality.

Structured as a genre-spanning journey, Resurrection moves through styles ranging from silent-era expressionism to noir and surreal fantasy, creating what critics have described as a visually striking and deeply immersive experience.

The film has received widespread acclaim, with many outlets naming it among the year’s best, praising its ambition and unique approach to storytelling.

A home video release is expected to follow, expanding access to one of the most talked-about international films of the year.

Tony Shalhoub to Appear at Lighthouse International Film Festival

Posted on March 25, 2026 by admin

Tony Shalhoub is set to attend this year’s Lighthouse International Film Festival, running June 10–14 on Long Beach Island, New Jersey.

The Emmy- and Tony-winning actor will take part in a post-screening conversation following a showing of the 1996 film Big Night, reflecting on his career and creative process. The discussion will be moderated by Jason Alexander, with co-director Campbell Scott also expected to attend.

Shalhoub is widely known for his work across film, television, and theater, including Monk, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and The Band’s Visit. His appearance adds to this year’s lineup, which highlights independent filmmaking and includes special programming like a multi-day masterclass led by Alexander.

Now in its 18th year, the festival continues to spotlight emerging voices while bringing established talent to a more intimate setting for audiences.

Charli xcx Stars in Pete Ohs’ Erupcja, Opening April 17

Posted on March 23, 2026 by admin

Charli xcx heads to the big screen this spring with Erupcja, a new anti-romantic comedy from filmmaker Pete Ohs, opening April 17 in New York and Los Angeles.

The film follows Bethany (Charli xcx), whose vacation in Warsaw takes an unexpected turn after a volcanic eruption strands her abroad. What begins as a disruption quickly becomes a turning point, as she reconnects with a childhood friend (Lena Góra) and drifts through the city’s nightlife, rethinking her relationship and sense of self.

Directed, written, and produced by Ohs, Erupcja leans into a loose, intimate style, blending romance with a more offbeat, introspective edge. The film also stars Will Madden and Jeremy O. Harris, with Harris and Góra co-writing alongside Ohs and Charli xcx.

With its mix of emotional unraveling and spontaneous connection, Erupcja positions itself as a different kind of love story—one more interested in uncertainty than resolution.

Rachel House’s The Mountain Set for Spring Release After Festival Run

Posted on March 22, 2026 by admin

Piki Films, Sandy Lane Productions, Madman Entertainment

Rachel House’s directorial debut The Mountain is heading to theaters this spring, following a strong reception on the festival circuit, including screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival and Sydney Film Festival.

The New Zealand-set film follows Sam, a determined young girl navigating a personal battle with cancer, who sets out on a journey up Mt. Taranaki in search of healing. Along the way, she teams up with two fellow outsiders, forming an unlikely bond as they venture off the beaten path.

Blending adventure with themes of identity, friendship, and cultural connection, The Mountain marks a new chapter for House, known for her work as an actor, as she steps behind the camera for her first feature.

The film is set to open in New York and Los Angeles before expanding nationwide later in the season.