“Balloon Animal” Trailer Debut

Posted on March 9, 2023 by admin

First Bloom Films production has recently released the trailer for its latest film “Balloon Animal”. The film is set to be available on VOD on Friday, April 7, 2023 (U.S. & U.K.) in Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Comcast/Xfinity, Charter, Cox, etc.

Written and directed by Em Johnson, the drama film s Katherine Waddell, Ilia Volok, Erin Li, Dani Baez, and Michael David Wilson.

“Balloon Animal” follows Poppy Valentine, a young circus performer who has grown up in her family’s traveling circus, begins dreaming of what life would be like outside of its fences.

Now in her mid-20s and with more unwelcomed responsibility weighing her down, she’s desperate to figure out if this life is for her. As she slowly begins to take time for herself, finding independence and even love, she strains her relationship with those around her in the tight-knit circus community. Amidst her overprotective father, stressful circus expectations, and a blossoming curiosity for a life of her own, Poppy must decide if the risk is worth leaving everything she’s ever known behind.

A First Bloom Films production, “Balloon Animal” is written and directed by Em Johnson. Cinematography by Megan Stacey. Produced by Ruvi Leider, Monica O’Hara, and Katherine Waddell. Composed by Alexa L. Borden and Connor Cook. Edited by Gregory Tuzin.

The Makers of “Sharknado” Brings “Methgator”

Posted on February 28, 2023 by admin

In the tradition of the season’s surprise hit “Cocaine Bear”, comes a new film that’s similarly going viral: “Methgator”.

“Hold our bear…I mean, beer. Coming for your life this summer,” as posted from the official twitter page of The Asylum, the film studio behind the film.

In a 2019 news bulletin, police warned residents to refrain from flushing methamphetamine down the toilet to prevent “meth-gators.” Down in Sweet Water Point, Florida, they didn’t listen.

Starring Robbie Rist (Oliver from The Brady Bunch) and Patrick Labyorteaux (Little House on the Prairie), the recently recently wrapped production in the swamps of Florida, “Methgator” is set to be released this summer.

From the creators of “Sharknado”, The Asylum has long been known for their mockbusters. This year, the company kicked off their 25th Anniversary by throwing a private party on the Santa Monica Pier, attracting thousands of industry VIPs… and also a full power outage.

XYZ Films Sets Release of Jason Trost’s FP-4EVZ

Posted on February 15, 2023 by admin

XYZ Films is set to release Jason Trost’s FP-4EVZ, a film about a legendary family of rhythm game warriors that must battle their way deep into the future to save what remains of a booze fueled humanity.

The film will be released on VOD and digital platforms on February 23, 2023.

FP-4EVZ was written and directed by Jason Trost (All Superheros Must Die, The FP, FP2:Beats of Rage).

The film also stars Tallay Wickham (All Super Hero’s Must Die 2: The Last Super Hero), Art Hsu (Crank: High Voltage, The FP), Lib Campbell (All Super Hero’s Must Die 2: The Last Super Hero), Ryan Gibson (Kangaroo Jack FP3: Escape From Bako), Mike O’Gorman (Vice Principals, FP3: Escape From Bako), Bru Muller (All Super Hero’s Must Die 2: The Last Super Hero, FP3), Sean Whalen (Halloween II, The FP) and Leigh Myles.

Here’s the film’s official synopsis:

FP- 4EVZ A legendary family of rhythm game warriors must battle their way deep into the future to save what remains of a booze fueled humanity from a horrific calamity that threatens to turn them all stone cold sober 4 EVZ.

All About Documentary Feature: “A House Made Of Splinters”

Posted on February 8, 2023 by admin

Starting at Sundance last year, where the film won the Directing Award, “A House Made Of Splinters” has gone on to be nominated for: a Film Independent Spirit Award, IDA Awards for Best Documentary, Best Director and Cinematography, Cinema Eye Honors for Production and Cinematography, and a European Film Award for Best Documentary.

The documentary is a poignant and deeply intimate documentary three kids temporarily removed from their parents find friendship and flickers of hope inside the worn walls of a remarkable orphanage in Eastern Ukraine, as a group of dedicated social-workers create moments of joy and respite from childhoods all but lost.

In this war-worn and impoverished corner of Eastern Ukraine where addiction casts a long shadow, there sits a safe haven for children temporarily removed from their parents. A House Made of Splinters follows three kids awaiting their fate: will they go back or move on to a new home, while as a group of dedicated social-workers create small moments of joy and respite from childhoods all but lost.

The film is ffilmmaker Simon Lereng Wilmont’s follow-up to his acclaimed first feature, The Distant Barking of Dogs, offering a unique look into how the long-term consequences of war on a society already under strain impacts the most vulnerable. His is a poignant and deeply intimate portrait of a remarkable way station filled with care, support, and trust for a group of kids who are in desperate need of more.

See the trailer below for “A House Made Of Splinters”:

“Joonam” Sets World Premiere In U.S. Documentary Competition

Posted on January 12, 2023 by admin

“Joonam”, the documentary from director, editor, cinematographer Sierra Urich is set to premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Urich is a Persian-American interdisciplinary visual artist and filmmaker based in Vermont. The film features Behjat Samimi, Mitra Samimi-Urich, and Sierra Urich.

Named for a Farsi term of endearment, Joonam is infused with humor and heart like only a film about family could be.

Official film synopsis:
Spurred by a provocative family memory and a lifetime of separation from the country her mother left behind, a young filmmaker delves into her mother and grandmother’s complicated pasts, and her own fractured Iranian identity.

For screening times, go to programs list at festival.sundance.org.

“The Unsettling” Trailer Debut And Release Date Announced

Posted on January 12, 2023 by admin

Dark Sky Films is set to bring the release of thriller film “The Unsettling” to theaters and VOD/digital on February 10th.

Written and directed by Harry Owens, the film stars Zephani Idoko, Bambadjan Bamba, Libby Munro, Benedikt Sebastian, Chloë Caro, Rojawn Khoshnam.

The film tells the story of Abena and Kwame, a Ghanaian couple, whho are struggling to recover from a devastating tragedy. They travel to Los Angeles for a vacation that they hope will help them find their way back to one another.

Instead, during an awkward dinner with estranged friends, Vivian and Anthony, Abena is increasingly terrorized by an evil possessing the house. The house that was meant to provide refuge slowly stalks her, consuming her sorrow and trapping her in a nightmare. As her terror grows, it ultimately engulfs all four with horrifying consequences.

See the trailer below for “The Unsettling”.

Sundance to honor Luca Guadagnino with International Icon Award

Posted on December 15, 2022 by admin

Today the nonprofit Sundance Institute announced that Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Luca Guadagnino will receive the International Icon Award at Opening Night: A Taste of Sundance presented by IMDbPro on January 19 in Park City. Guadagnino will join previously announced honorees of the evening, Ryan Coogler, W. Kamau Bell, and Nikyatu Jusu. The 2023 Sundance Film Festival will take place January 19–29, 2023, in person in Park City, Salt Lake City, and the Sundance Resort, along with a selection of films available online across the country January 24–29, 2023.

The Award recognizes an international auteur who creates distinctive cinematic universes and has made a lasting impact on filmmaking, most notably through a commitment to storytelling and an unwavering creative vision. Guadagnino is the writer, director, and producer of several celebrated films who most recently directed Bones and All. He has strong roots in the Sundance community going back over a decade.

He made his Sundance debut at the 2010 Festival with his film I Am Love, which he wrote, directed, and produced. In 2017, Guadagnino made his return to the Festival with the premiere of his Academy Award-winning film, Call Me By Your Name, starring Timothée Chalamet. Guadagnino also produced the documentary The Truffle Hunters, which played at the Festival in 2020. He has won and been nominated for several awards, including Venice Film Festival, Golden Lion BAFTA Award for Best Direction, and Nastro d’Argento for Best Director.
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Dark Sky’s Sci-Fi Thriller “Landlocked” Sets Release

Posted on December 14, 2022 by admin

Directed by Paul Owens, “Landlocked” is set for release in select theaters, VOD and digital platforms on January 6, 2023.

The sci-fi thriller is the directorial debut of Owens, who also served as writer and producer.

The film incorporates actual found footage in the form of childhood home movies, and features a cast of real life family members playing fictionalized versions of themselves.

Here is the film’s official synopsis:

Summoned to his soon-to-be demolished childhood home, Mason discovers an old VHS camera that can see into the past, driving him to record as many memories as possible before the doomed house is destroyed. Utilizing the director’s own home movies, filming in the actual locations where he spent his youth and casting real-life family members to play fictionalized versions of themselves, LandLocked combines narrative and documentary with horror and sci-fi to create a movie unlike any other…

Taking ten years to complete, LANDLOCKED is the feature directorial debut of Paul Owens. Owens creatively incorporates actual footage in the form of childhood home movies and delivered a unique film that has been adored adored by critics on the festival circuit. Hailed as, “…one of the most intriguing films to come out of Nightstream 2021” by the Daily Dead and a “remarkable lo-fi creeper…” by Fangoria, LANDLOCKED is among the many highly anticipated genre releases of 2023.

Festival Hit “Night Of The Bastard” Release Date And Trailer Released

Posted on December 6, 2022 by admin

Dark Sky is set to release the festival fan favorite “Night of the Bastard” on January 13th, 2023.

The savage cultist siege film is directed by Erik Boccio (Funny or Die’s Weirdfellas, Brutal Realty, Inc. Blood Bath) and starring London May (The Dark Knight Rises, Verotika).

Also in the horror thriller are Mya Hudson (A Wall Away, upcoming F*ck, Kill Mary), Hannah Pierce (Flock of Dudes, The Hunted), Henry Mortensen (Crimson Tide)

“Night of the Bastard” is set for releasee to select theaters, digital & VOD on January 13, 2023.

Here’s the film’s official synopsis:

Disgruntled hermit Reed lives a solitary life in the desert. After chasing away a group of youths trying to party near his home, Reed’s peaceful life is violently upheaved when a goup of savage cultists lay siege to his house.

Forced to partner up with one of the party-goers, Reed and his newfound colleague must defend themselves into the night, all while long-buried and disturbing secrets are revealed to him as part of the cult’s evil plan.

Oscar Contender “Hidden Letters” Sets US Release

Posted on December 4, 2022 by admin

Oscar contender “Hidden Letters” is set to open this Friday, December 9 in select U.S. theaters.

The film is directed by Violet Du Feng and Zhao Qin.

Spanning between past and present, Hidden Letters follows two millennial Chinese women who are connected by their fascination with a secret language of sisterhood, and their desire to protect it against a perpetually patriarchal society.

Here’s the film’s official synopsis:
For centuries in China, the once-secret written language of Nüshu was calligraphed on folded fans and handkerchiefs as hidden letters so women could share stories and express solidarity in a repressive era when many women were denied literacy. Confronting patriarchy, two modern women find solace in Nüshu, rediscovering connections between traditional Chinese womanhood and contemporary feminism.