Emmy-Winning Filmmaker Nick Davis Explores Acts of Courage in Documentary “This Ordinary Thing”

this-ordinary-thingEmmy-winning filmmaker Nick Davis brings together an extraordinary cast to tell a story of courage and compassion in his new documentary This Ordinary Thing, opening December 5 at Cinema Village in New York City, with a wider theatrical and VOD release to follow.

The film revisits the real stories of non-Jewish individuals who risked their lives to save Jewish people across Europe during the Holocaust. Blending archival footage with readings performed by some of the world’s most celebrated actors, the documentary illuminates acts of quiet heroism from those who never considered themselves heroes at all.

The ensemble cast includes Helen Mirren, F. Murray Abraham, Jeremy Irons, Ellen Burstyn, Carrie Coon, Stephen Fry, and more than thirty others, collectively representing dozens of Oscars, Emmys, and Tonys. Each voice performs excerpts from original testimonies that reveal moments of moral clarity amid overwhelming fear.

This Ordinary Thing poses a question that still resonates today: What would you have done? With music composed by Tony Award winner Adam Guettel, the film underscores the power of empathy and the capacity for good in the darkest of times.

Directed by Nick Davis (You Had to Be There) and executive produced by Albert M. Tapper, the film joins a growing body of contemporary Holocaust documentaries focused on individual moral choices and human connection.

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Tiffany Hsiung Joins Documentary Feature Spring After Spring as Executive Producer

Spring-After-SpringAcclaimed filmmaker Tiffany Hsiung has joined Jon Chiang’s debut feature documentary Spring After Spring as Executive Producer. The film will have its world premiere at the Vancouver Asian Film Festival on November 7, followed by a theatrical run timed to Lunar New Year 2026 and a later broadcast on Knowledge Network.

Produced by Chifa Studios, Spring After Spring follows three Chinese Canadian sisters who defy their late mother’s wishes to become dancers. After her death, they reunite to lead Vancouver’s Chinatown Parade and must decide how to honor their heritage while forging their own paths.

“Spring After Spring captures something profoundly human in how grief and love intertwine,” said Hsiung, whose credits include The Apology, Sing Me a Lullaby, and Apple TV’s JANE. “It speaks to the courage of redefining legacy while carrying the weight of expectation.”

Director Jon Chiang, a Chinese-Peruvian filmmaker based in Vancouver, said the story grew from his own reflections on culture and identity. “In Chinese-Canadian culture, emotions are often private, yet Lunar New Year becomes the most public expression of them,” he explained. “Working with Tiffany is a privilege. Her perspective and experience mirror the heart of this film.”

The film is written, directed, and produced by Jon Chiang, with Joanna Wong producing and Lynn Booth and Tiffany Hsiung serving as Executive Producers. The cast features Anabel Ho, Val Ho (Ms. Vee), Lisa Ho, and Maria Mimie Ho.

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Rising Sun Media Brings Yakutian Cinema to Amazon Prime Video with Four Landmark Films

Rising-Sun-MediaFour acclaimed films by Yakutian filmmaker Stepan Burnashev (Black Snow, Our Winter, Cursed Land-Fate, and Aita) are now streaming globally on Amazon Prime Video through Rising Sun Media, marking a milestone for Sakhawood, the independent film movement from Russia’s Sakha Republic in Siberia.

Known for their emotional depth, poetic realism, and Indigenous storytelling, Burnashev’s works are often created on small budgets with local non-professional actors. His films explore survival, identity, and spiritual resilience set against the stark Siberian landscape.

Among the four titles, Aita stands out for its political resonance. It was banned in Russia in 2023 for being “contrary to the principles of the unity of the peoples of Russia,” which Burnashev described as proof of the film’s power to “disturb systems of silence.”

“This is what independent filmmaking is about,” said Nadav Streett of Rising Sun Media. “Creating despite the odds and finding new audiences who are ready to listen to voices from the periphery.”

Founded in 2007 in Los Angeles, Rising Sun Media is known for bringing bold international and independent films to major digital platforms.

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True Crime Documentary American Skyjacker Revisits 1972 DB Cooper Copycat Hijacking

american-skyjackerThe upcoming true crime documentary American Skyjacker explores the extraordinary real-life story of Martin McNally, who hijacked a 727 in 1972 and parachuted from the plane with $500,000 — a daring act inspired by the infamous DB Cooper case just six months earlier.

Written and directed by Eli Kooris and Joshua Shaffer, the film blends first-hand interviews with McNally and cinematic reenactments to recount one of the most astonishing yet lesser-known crime stories in American history. Produced independently by Pegalo Pictures, the feature expands on the creators’ popular podcast of the same name.

American Skyjacker opens in select theaters October 10–30, 2025, and will be available on Digital and VOD beginning November 17, 2025.

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

serious-peopleSundance 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.

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

picturehousePicturehouse 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.

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Horror Short ‘Terroir’ Screens at Festivals Across October

terroirThe new short horror film Terroir, written, directed, produced, and edited by Casey Rogerson, is screening at multiple film festivals this October. A directing fellow at the American Film Institute Conservatory, Rogerson brings a sharp genre sensibility to the 13-minute thriller.

The film follows a young wine critic (Madison Hu) who returns to a French vineyard one year after giving it a bad review, only to find herself and her friends stalked by a masked killer. Terroir stars Madison Hu (The Brothers Sun, The Boogeyman, Bizaardvark), along with Leenya Rideout, Naomi Rubin, João Santos, and John R. Howle (Bleeding).

Terroir recently screened at the New York Shorts International Film Festival and Screamfest, and continues its festival run this month with the following showings:

San Diego International Film Festival – October 16 at 6:15 p.m. and October 19 at 11:00 a.m. (AMC UTC 14)
Vancouver Horror Show – October 17 at 2:00 p.m. (Vancouver Film School)

The film will also be shown throughout October at Amalthea Cellars, pairing screenings with wine tastings.
For tickets and screening information, visit: https://linktr.ee/terroirfilm

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Romantic Dramedy ‘I Really Love My Husband’ Sets Digital and VOD Release

i-really-love-my-husbandNight Breeze Productions and Entertainment Squad will release I Really Love My Husband, the feature debut from writer-director G.G. Hawkins, on digital and VOD platforms November 4, 2025.

Set against the lush backdrop of Bocas del Toro, Panamá, the film follows newlyweds Teresa (Madison Lanesey) and Drew (Travis Quentin Young) as cracks begin to show during their tropical honeymoon. When they meet Paz (Arta Gee), a charming expat who manages their rental, Teresa’s attraction to her upends the couple’s fragile balance, forcing her to confront the difference between the marriage she imagined and the reality unfolding before her.

Blending drama, comedy, and LGBTQ+ themes, I Really Love My Husband explores modern intimacy, self-discovery, and the quiet chaos of honesty in relationships. Produced by Elle Roth-Brunet, with co-producers Maria Ventura and Natalie LeVeck, the film also stars Lisa Jacqueline Starrett.

Described as both playful and piercing, Hawkins’ feature trusts ambiguity over easy resolutions, establishing her as a filmmaker to watch.

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

Atropia

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.

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