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.

Lionsgate Pushes ‘The Furious’ Back Two Weeks to June 12

Posted on April 13, 2026 by admin

Lionsgate’s martial arts action thriller “The Furious” is getting a release date shift. The studio has moved the film from May 29 to June 12, 2026.

Directed by Kenji Tanigaki, the film follows Wang Wei (Xie Miao), a father whose daughter is kidnapped by a criminal network. When the corrupt police won’t help, he takes matters into his own hands. His only ally is Navin (Joe Taslim), a journalist whose wife has mysteriously disappeared. Together, they go on a violent hunt to take down the kidnappers.

The cast includes Xie Miao, Joe Taslim, Yang Enyou, Brian Le, and Joey Iwanaga. The screenplay comes from Mak Tin Shu, Lei Zhilong, Shum Kwan Sin, and Frank Hui. Bill Kong, Shan Tam, and Frank Hui produce.

The film clocks in at 113 minutes and carries an R rating for strong bloody violence and language.

The two-week delay likely gives Lionsgate more breathing room in the crowded summer lineup. For action fans looking for something grounded and brutal, this one’s now landing mid-June instead of the Memorial Day corridor.

Canadian Indie Thriller “Hunting Matthew Nichols” Heads to 1,000+ Screens After Surprise Mystery Screenings

Posted on April 8, 2026 by admin

A Vancouver Island-shot supernatural thriller is about to get a wide theatrical release most indie filmmakers can only dream of.

*Hunting Matthew Nichols*, the debut feature from director Markian Tarasiuk, opens April 10 on more than 1,000 screens across the US and Canada. That includes AMC, Regal, Cinemark, Marcus Theatres, and Cineplex, a reach that’s rare for an independently made film.

The film already tested the waters this week as a “Monday Mystery Movie” (or “Scream Unseen” in some markets) at 1,400 screens. Major chains screened it without revealing the title beforehand, a bold move that apparently paid off with strong audience reactions.

The story follows Tara Nichols, an aspiring documentary filmmaker trying to solve her brother’s decades-old disappearance on Vancouver Island. When new evidence surfaces, she and her film crew dig into the case, only to uncover something darker than expected. Critics have praised the film’s blend of true crime documentary style with horror, and Steven Soderbergh called it “a sneaky, simmering take on the true crime folk horror genre that boils over and becomes truly unnerving.”

What makes this release notable is how it got here. Tarasiuk, writer Sean Harris Oliver, and their producing partners at Dropshock Pictures and Moon7 Films are self-distributing the film. In 2025, they took it on a cross-country tour, meeting with executives at major chains to pitch their strategy. They brought in former National Association of Theater Owners President John Fithian and his consulting firm to help navigate the theatrical landscape.

The film stars Miranda MacDougall, Markian Tarasiuk, Ryan Alexander McDonald, and Christine Willes. It’s a BC production through and through, shot entirely on Vancouver Island with a local crew. Cinematographer Justin Sebastian and editor Jonathan Mathew round out the key creative team.

*Hunting Matthew Nichols* premiered at Newport Beach Film Festival, played Blood in the Snow, and earned a Borsos Award nomination for Best Canadian Feature at Whistler Film Festival. It’s racked up awards on the festival circuit since.

Special screenings are planned for Vancouver (The Park, April 2) and Los Angeles (Landmark Sunset with Film Independent, April 6) before the wide release.

For a debut feature from a new production company, landing this kind of theatrical footprint is a big deal. It’s proof that indie filmmakers willing to hustle, build relationships, and take control of their own distribution can still break through in a crowded market.

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.

Tubi Greenlights R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead 2 Following Streaming Success

Posted on March 21, 2026 by admin

Tubi from Pumpkinhead

Tubi has officially greenlit a sequel to its hit original film, R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead, with the follow-up set to premiere during the platform’s “Terror on Tubi” event in October 2026.

The announcement follows the strong performance of the first film, which debuted in October 2025 and ranked on Variety’s Streaming Original Movies Chart, highlighting its popularity among viewers.

Inspired by R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour, the series blends horror and adventure for younger audiences. The upcoming sequel will continue expanding the story’s mythology, centered on a cursed town where pumpkin-headed figures rise during a harvest festival.

The original film’s success also contributed to a surge in engagement for Tubi’s annual Halloween programming, which drew over 100 million hours of viewing time in 2025.

The sequel will once again be produced by Front Street Pictures, with Jem Garrard returning as writer and director.

Holy Days Brings Heartfelt Road Trip Comedy to Theaters This March

Posted on March 18, 2026 by admin

Photon Films and Media and Blue Fox Entertainment

The comedy-drama Holy Days, starring Judy Davis, Miriam Margolyes, and Jacki Weaver, is set for a North American theatrical release on March 27, 2026.

Directed by Nat Boltt in her feature debut, the film follows three unconventional nuns on a road trip across New Zealand as they fight for their independence. Along the way, they form an unexpected bond with a young Māori boy, leading to a journey shaped by friendship, faith, and self-discovery.

The film premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and will also feature special event screenings, including appearances by Boltt.

Based on the novel by Dame Joy Cowley, Holy Days blends humor and emotion, exploring themes of connection, loss, and second chances against the backdrop of New Zealand’s landscapes.