Category Archives: Movies

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

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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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SFFILM to Honor Park Chan-wook With Career Tribute and Screening of ‘No Other Choice’

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L to R. Director Park Chan-wook. Actor Lee Byung Hun in NO OTHER CHOICE. Photos: NEON.

San Francisco’s SFFILM will celebrate acclaimed South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook with a Career Tribute and special screening of his new film No Other Choice on November 20 at the Phyllis Wattis Theater at SFMOMA.

The event will feature an onstage conversation with Park and a showing of No Other Choice, his first film since Decision to Leave. The film, from NEON, reunites Park with Lee Byung Hun (Joint Security Area) in a darkly comic satire about a man’s descent into desperation after losing his corporate job.

“With No Other Choice, Director Park returns to the sharp social commentary of Sympathy for Lady Vengeance and Stoker,” said Jessie Fairbanks, SFFILM’s Director of Programming. “It’s a brilliantly savage look at capitalism, masculinity, and ambition—another masterful addition to his career.”

SFFILM Executive Director Anne Lai called the tribute “a deep honor,” noting Park’s global influence and the organization’s commitment to international cinema.

Park, best known for Oldboy, The Handmaiden, and Thirst, has won multiple Cannes awards and remains one of contemporary cinema’s most influential auteurs. No Other Choice, adapted from Donald E. Westlake’s The Ax, opens in select theaters December 25 via NEON and expands nationwide January 2026. Tickets: Available for SFFILM members October 30 and general audiences October 31 at sffilm.org
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Lionsgate Acquires TIFF Breakout ‘The Furious’ From XYZ Films

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Furious-filmLionsgate has picked up worldwide rights (excluding mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao) to The Furious, the TIFF Midnight Madness fan favorite that drew standing ovations at its world premiere. A theatrical release is planned for 2026.

Produced by Bill Kong (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and developed with XYZ Films (The Raid franchise), the film marks the feature directorial debut of veteran action choreographer Kenji Tanigaki (Rurouni Kenshin).

The Furious follows a tradesman whose daughter’s abduction pulls him into a brutal criminal underworld. The cast includes Xie Miao, Joe Taslim (The Raid), Yayan Ruhian (John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum), and Jija Yanin (Chocolate).

“We were blown away by The Furious—it redefines martial arts action,” said Lionsgate EVP Lauren Bixby.

The deal was negotiated by Brandon Hill for Lionsgate and Pip Ngo for XYZ Films. Edko Films financed and will release the film day-and-date in Chinese territories.

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True Crime Documentary American Skyjacker Revisits 1972 DB Cooper Copycat Hijacking

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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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Kate Beckinsale Stars in Action-Thriller WILDCAT, Coming to Theaters and Digital on November 25

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wildcat-movieThe trailer and poster for WILDCAT, an upcoming action-thriller starring Kate Beckinsale, have been released ahead of the film’s theatrical and digital debut on November 25.

Directed by James Nunn (One Shot) and written by Dominic Burns (Allies), the film follows an ex–black ops team that reunites to pull off a high-risk heist and save an eight-year-old girl’s life. With only twelve hours to act, the team must navigate through the chaos of a citywide riot, deliver a ransom, and frame a dangerous criminal organization.

The cast also includes Lewis Tan (Mortal Kombat), Charles Dance (Game of Thrones), Tom Bennett (House of the Dragon), Alice Krige (Star Trek: First Contact), Edmund Kingsley (The Witcher), and Matt Willis (Missing You).

WILDCAT will be released in theaters and on digital platforms on November 25.

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Galactic Empire Unleash New Album ‘Cinemetal’ via Pure Noise Records

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galactic-empire cinemetalGalactic Empire, the galaxy’s favorite Star Wars–inspired metal band, have released their fourth studio album, Cinemetal, now out via Pure Noise Records. The record finds the masked metal outfit traveling beyond their usual saga, reimagining iconic themes from Harry Potter, Back to the Future, The Lord of the Rings, Batman, Avengers and more.

Produced by Grant McFarland and Carson Slovak at Atrium Audio, Cinemetal marks the group’s most ambitious and densely layered effort yet. “After three albums of tribute to the mighty Sith Lord John Williams, we realized we had run out of Star Wars music,” said frontman Lord Sihk. “It felt prudent to pay homage to other legendary film scores. Behold the ultimate power of the Dark Side with Cinemetal!”

The band will tour the U.S. on headline dates and join Bit Brigade later this year, before setting sail with Coheed and Cambria on the S.S. Neverender cruise to Cozumel, Mexico in November. Full dates and details at galacticempireband.com
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Rosamund Pike and Matthew Rhys Star in Babak Anvari’s Psychological Thriller “Hallow Road”

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Hallow-RoadGolden Globe and Emmy winner Rosamund Pike (Saltburn, Gone Girl) and Emmy and Critics Choice Award winner Matthew Rhys (The Americans) lead the cast of “Hallow Road,” the latest feature from writer-director Babak Anvari (Under the Shadow, I Came By). The film opens exclusively in AMC theaters on October 31 as part of a Halloween Double Feature presentation alongside Vincent Must Die.

Premiering at the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival in March, Hallow Road has since screened at major international festivals including Brussels, Melbourne, Munich, Leiden, New Horizons, and Neuchâtel, earning early acclaim for its unnerving atmosphere and emotional precision.

The psychological thriller follows parents (Pike and Rhys) who receive a late-night call from their daughter after she accidentally strikes another young woman while driving her father’s car. As they race to protect their family and contain the fallout, the night unravels into a series of chilling revelations that expose deeper secrets—and the fear that they may not be the only ones on Hallow Road.

Produced by Ian Henry, Lucan Toh, Aram Tertzakian, Nate Bolotin, and Richard Bolger, the film marks another step in Anvari’s exploration of guilt, dread, and human fragility through genre storytelling. The filmmaker, also attached to Paramount’s upcoming Cloverfield project, continues his distinctive blend of grounded realism and supernatural unease.

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

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

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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

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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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