“Trigger Happy” Quirky Comedic Satire Inspired by the 1950s

Posted on February 12, 2025 by admin

“Trigger Happy” stars Tyler Poelle (Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS: LA), Elsha Kim (The Garcias), Christina Kirkman (All That!, Ambitions), Matt Lowe (Hart of Dixie, Blood of Zeus), Chau Long (Interior Chinatown, PEN15), Zak Steiner (Euphoria, White Men Can’t Jump), Kevin Kreider (Bling Empire, The Traitors), Jacob Wysocki (Pitch Perfect, Unfriended, Terri), and Michele Selene Ang (13 Reasons Why). The film was directed by Tiffany Kim Stevens with a screenplay by Daniel Moya and produced by Kyle Herman.

“Trigger Happy” had its World Premiere at 2024 Cinequest where it won the Audience Award for Best Sci-Fi and Thriller. It also had a sold-out screening at the Newport Beach Film Festival 2024. The film has a running time of 86 minutes and will not be rated by the MPAA. Gravitas Ventures will release “Trigger Happy” on digital platforms on February 25, 2025.

In “Trigger Happy” George Decker has a dream of escaping his life and jetting to the Bahamas, but getting there will mean finding a way to rid himself of his wife, his crushing debts, his demeaning nine-to-six job, and an American culture that he feels has been specifically designed to torture him. Annie Decker, George’s wife, has a dream, too: booking the lead role in an infomercial for the “WOW! Sponge,” which is the most watched television program in America. As Annie’s acting career approaches new heights, George’s frustrations send him plummeting towards rock bottom, and the lives of these selfish, striving people intersect in ways that are hilarious, violent, and spectacularly unpredictable.

Sideshow and Janus Films Acquire All North American Rights to Ira Sachs’s Sundance Standout PETER HUJAR’S DAY

Posted on February 5, 2025 by admin

Sideshow and Janus Films announced today that they have acquired North American rights to PETER HUJAR’S DAY, the highly acclaimed new film by Ira Sachs (PASSAGES, KEEP THE LIGHTS ON, LOVE IS STRANGE) which was a standout at the Sundance Film Festival where it screened in the Premieres section. It stars Ben Whishaw and Rebecca Hall. The film will next show at the Berlinale in Panorama. Sideshow and Janus Films are planning a Fall theatrical release for the film. SBS will be handling international sales for the film.

The deal was negotiated by Sideshow and Janus Films with WME Independent. PETER HUJAR’S DAY was produced by Jordan Drake and Jonah Disend, and co-produced by Fred Burle and Aaron Craig. The film is a Complementary Colors, Blink Productions & Primo Content Presentation in association with We Are Films & Materia Cinema, and a Jordan Drake & One Two Films Production based on the book Peter Hujar’s Day by Linda Rosenkrantz.

Ira Sachs said, “Sideshow and Janus Films represent a commitment to the kind of cinema that has meant the most to me, as audience and as filmmaker.” He continued, “To be a part of their future makes me feel both young and old, and full of hope both for this film and for the movies.”
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Berlinale: World Premiere of PUNKU by J.D. Fernández Molero

Posted on February 5, 2025 by admin

Punku, the latest film by Peruvian Rotterdam Tiger Award-winning writer-director J.D. Fernández Molero [Videophilia (and Other Viral Syndromes)], will have its world premiere in the Forum section of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, running from February 13 to 23, 2025. This one-of-a-kind, playfully genre-blending film was shot in 16mm, Super 8, and digital formats, and it will be screened on 35mm in its world premiere at the Berlinale.

Set deep in the Peruvian Amazon lowlands and the tropical city of Quillabamba in the Cusco region of Peru, Punku—which means “gateway” in Quechua—follows an unlikely pair on a foreboding journey that artfully threads together the fantasy and Surrealism of fairy tales with the harsh shadow of trauma in a shared search for belonging and safety.

Meshia, a Matsigenka Indigenous teenager, finds a young boy, Ivan, who vanished two years ago and was presumed dead. Determined to rescue him, she leads him on a journey upriver into the mountains toward the city for a surgery urgently needed to stop the infection that is progressively consuming his sight.
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Come See Me in the Good Light Wins Festival Favorite Award at 2025 Sundance Film Festival

Posted on February 2, 2025 by admin

2026 Sundance Film Festival Dates Also Revealed.

Today the Sundance Film Festival announced its final award for the 2025 edition: Come See Me in the Good Light in the Premieres category received the Festival Favorite Award, voted for by the audiences from all the new feature films presented at the 2025 Festival. Other award winners were previously announced at a ceremony at The Ray Theatre in Park City, Utah, on January 31.

Looking ahead to next year, Sundance Institute also announced today the dates for the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, taking place in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, from January 22–February 1, 2026.

“The past 11 days of the Festival have been a meaningful opportunity to connect as a community in support of independent storytelling,” said Amanda Kelso, Acting CEO, Sundance Institute. “We look forward to being reunited with audiences, artists, industry, and press next January for another edition of the Festival.”
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2025 Sundance Film Festival Award Winners Announced

Posted on January 31, 2025 by admin

Today the 2025 Sundance Film Festival awards were presented at a ceremony for the jury and audience award–winning films at The Ray Theatre in Park City, where independent storytelling was celebrated ahead of the Festival’s conclusion. The 2025 Festival, taking place now through February 2, has featured premieres, screenings, talks, events, and more in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah. All feature award-winning films are available online nationwide now through February 2. Select award-winning films will screen in person for ticketholders and passholders. Tickets can be purchased at festival.sundance.org/tickets.

Grand Jury Prizes went to Atropia (U.S. Dramatic Competition), Seeds (U.S. Documentary Competition), Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears) (World Cinema Dramatic Competition), and Cutting Through Rocks (اوزاک یوللار) (World Cinema Documentary Competition). The NEXT Innovator Award presented by Adobe was given to Zodiac Killer Project.

Audience awards for films in competition were presented by Acura to Twinless (U.S. Dramatic Competition) and André is an Idiot (U.S. Documentary Competition) and presented by United Airlines to DJ Ahmet (World Cinema Dramatic Competition) and Prime Minister (World Cinema Documentary Competition). East of Wall won the audience award for NEXT presented by Adobe. Awards for the Short Film Program Presented by Vimeo were announced at a ceremony on January 28 at The Park in Park City, Utah.
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Josh Stewart & Juddah Lewis Star In “Lifeline”

Posted on January 29, 2025 by admin

Dark Sky Films has announced the upcoming release of LIFELINE in select theaters and digital platforms on February 21st. See the trailer debut below.

Directed by Feras Alfuqaha and produced by Leal Naim, “Lifeline” is and written by Brian Price and Brady Morell.

The thriller mystery stars Josh Steward (The Collector, Criminal Minds, The Punisher, The Dark Knight Rises), Judah Lewis (Demolition, The Babysitter, The Christmas Chronicles) and Brecken Merrill (Yellowstone, This Is Us).

Here’s the film’s official synopsis:
A late-night suicide hotline operator receives a disturbing call from someone claiming to be him, knowing personal details only he would know. The caller threatens to end his life within the hour, forcing the operator into a tense, emotional race against time. As the clock ticks down, he must confront his deepest fears and uncover the truth before it’s too late to save “himself”.

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

2025 Sundance: Trailer And Poster Premiere For Thriller “The Things You Kill”

Posted on January 25, 2025 by admin

Directed and written by Alireza Khatami, “The Things You Kill” stars Ekin Koç, Erkan Kolçak Köstendil, and Hazar Ergüçlü.

Khatami’s third feature is premiering at this year’s Sundance Film Festival in the World Cinema Dramatic competition, and is considered one of the year’s best entries.

The film follows Ali, a university professor who, haunted by the suspicious death of his ailing mother, coerces his enigmatic gardener to execute a cold-blooded act of vengeance. As long-buried family secrets resurface, the police tighten their noose, and doubts begin eroding his conscience. Ali has no choice but to look into the abyss of his own soul.

Watch the intense trailer for “The Things You Kill” below:

Animated Socumentary “Endless Cookie” Premiere at Sundance

Posted on January 25, 2025 by admin

Directed by Seth Scriver and Peter Scriver, the Canadian animated documentary film premiered at 2025 Sundance Film Festival at the Egyptian Theatre, Saturday Jan 25, 2025

The film’s logline says: Through a series of vignettes – some tragic, some funny, all a little bizarre – this animated documentary explores the complex bond between two half brothers, one indigenous, one white, spanning bustling 1980s Toronto to the present day isolated First Nations community of Shamattawa.

Endless Cookie will screen on Jan. 26, Jan. 31 and Feb. 2 in Park City and on Jan. 28 in Salt Lake City, and will be available online from Jan. 30-Feb. 2.

Photos: aipimaging.com