Tetsuya Mariko’s “Dear Stranger” Sets International Premiere at Busan Film Festival

Posted on August 30, 2025 by admin

Busan International Film Festival has set the international premiere of Dear Stranger, the latest feature from Japanese director Tetsuya Mariko (Destruction Babies), for its 2025 edition in the “A Window on Asian Cinema” program.

Starring Hidetoshi Nishijima (Drive My Car) and Gwei Lun-Mei (Girlfriend, Boyfriend), the Japan-Taiwan-U.S. co-production was filmed entirely in New York and follows a couple whose lives fracture after the disappearance of their young son forces them to confront buried secrets.

The film reunites Mariko with top collaborators, including cinematographer Yasuyuki Sasaki (Asako I & II), editor Matthieu Laclau (A Touch of Sin), and Grammy-winning musician Jim O’Rourke. The project was shot with a multilingual cast and crew across English, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, and sign language.

Mariko, who won Locarno’s Best Emerging Director Award for Destruction Babies, shifts his focus from violent social critiques to an intimate immigrant drama exploring identity, family, and loss.

Hawai’i Drama Chaperone Sets Theatrical Run and Digital Release Dates

Posted on August 29, 2025 by admin

Chaperone, the debut feature from writer-director Zoë Eisenberg, will screen in Hawai’i theaters from September 11–28, 2025, before arriving on digital and VOD platforms October 3.

Set in rural Hawai’i and featuring an entirely AANHPI cast, the drama centers on 29-year-old Misha Miyamoto, who lives alone in her grandmother’s house and resists pressures from family, work, and relationships to change her unambitious lifestyle. When Misha befriends Jake, an 18-year-old athlete who mistakes her for a high school student, their growing relationship draws her into increasingly reckless behavior.

The film, which explores themes of alienation, identity, and unconventional connection, stars a predominantly local cast and features original music by Taimane. It is produced by Alison Week and Devin Murphy, with executive producers Adam Wong, Lauran Bromley, Gill Holland, and Gerard Elmore.

Eisenberg, a Hawai’i-based filmmaker, has described Chaperone as a story about “finding dangerous comfort in places that reflect what we’re running from.”

Dave Bautista and Samuel L. Jackson Face a Post-Apocalyptic World in Afterburn

Posted on August 27, 2025 by admin

The final trailer and poster for Afterburn have been released ahead of its theatrical debut on September 19, 2025. Directed by JJ Perry (Day Shift), the action film stars Dave Bautista, Samuel L. Jackson, Olga Kurylenko, and Kristofer Hivju.

Set a decade after a solar flare destroys the Earth’s eastern hemisphere, the story follows Bautista’s Jake, a treasure hunter tasked with recovering the Mona Lisa in ruined Europe. Alongside allies and rivals, he encounters mutants, pirates, and warlords in a landscape where survival is more important than relics of the past. Jackson plays Valentine, with Kurylenko as Drea.

The film is adapted from the Red 5 Comics series by Scott Chitwood and Paul Ens. Perry, a longtime stunt coordinator turned director, emphasizes large-scale set pieces and martial arts choreography.

Afterburn opens exclusively in theaters September 19.

Lily James Stars as Bumble Founder in Tech Drama Swiped

Posted on August 13, 2025 by admin

20th Century Studios has released the first trailer for Swiped, a biographical drama inspired by the rise of Bumble and its founder Whitney Wolfe Herd. The film will debut September 9 at the Toronto International Film Festival before streaming September 19 on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally.

Lily James plays Wolfe Herd, who co-founded Tinder before leaving the company to launch her own dating platform. The story follows her early career in the male-dominated tech industry, her decision to create a women-first app, and her path to becoming the youngest female self-made billionaire. The film also depicts her pivotal role in Bumble’s 2021 public offering.

Directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg and written by Goldenberg, Bill Parker, and Kim Caramele, the film’s cast includes Dan Stevens, Jackson White, Myha’la, Ben Schnetzer, Pierson Fodé, Clea DuVall, Pedro Correa, Ian Colleti, and Coral Peña. Swiped is produced by Jennifer Gibgot, Andrew Panay, and James, with 20th Century Studios and Ethea Entertainment producing.

First Look at Couture, Starring Angelina Jolie, Ahead of TIFF World Premiere

Posted on August 11, 2025 by admin

The Toronto International Film Festival will host the world premiere of Couture, a drama set during the height of Paris Fashion Week and directed by Alice Winocour. The film stars Angelina Jolie, Ella Rumpf, Anyier Anei, and Louis Garrel, and is presented in the festival’s Special Presentations program.

Written and directed by Winocour, Couture follows three women whose lives intersect against the backdrop of the fashion world. Jolie plays Maxine, a filmmaker in her forties who learns she has breast cancer and forms an unexpected bond with a longtime collaborator, played by Garrel. Anei portrays Ada, an emerging model leaving behind a predetermined future in South Sudan, while Rumpf plays Angèle, a makeup artist working behind the scenes of the catwalk.

Produced by Charles Gillibert, William Horberg, Angelina Jolie, and Zhang Xin, with Bob Xu serving as executive producer, the film explores resilience, connection, and the unspoken solidarity among women across professions and cultures.

Angelina Jolie (L), Louis Garrel (R)

Ella Rumpf (L), Anyier Anei (R)

Alex Winter’s Dark Comedy Adulthood Set for September Release

Posted on August 10, 2025 by admin

Paramount has released the trailer for Adulthood, a dark comedy thriller directed by Alex Winter and starring Josh Gad and Kaya Scodelario. The film will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival before opening in select theaters September 19, 2025, followed by a digital release on September 23.

The story follows siblings Megan (Scodelario) and Noah (Gad), who return to their childhood home after their mother is hospitalized. While cleaning out the basement, they uncover a long-buried corpse hidden in the walls. Their attempt to quietly dispose of the remains sets off a chain of escalating problems, including police involvement and blackmail from their mother’s caretaker (Billie Lourd), who claims to know the truth about the murder.

The cast also includes Anthony Carrigan, Alex Winter, Chris Candy, Jinny Wong, and Joel Lacoursiere. The screenplay is by Michael M.B. Galvin, with Winter producing alongside Michael Cho, Tim Lee, Danny Roberts, Jackie Langelier, H.S. Naji, Scott Kroopf, Russell Hollander, and Lisa Wolofsky. Executive producers include Mimi Rode, Osita Onugha, Thorsten Schumacher, Andrew Robinson, Slava Vladimirov, Ryan Fine, and Connie Tavel.

Intense Trailer for Orlando Bloom’s Gritty Boxing Drama “The Cut” Released

Posted on August 9, 2025 by admin

Republic Pictures has released the official trailer for The Cut, a gritty action drama opening in theaters September 5, 2025.

Starring Orlando Bloom, Caitríona Balfe, and John Turturro, the film follows a retired boxing champion who seizes one last chance at redemption after a career-ending defeat. To qualify for the fight, he must shed an extreme amount of weight in just six days.

Holed up in a Las Vegas room with Boz (Turturro), a notorious trainer known for brutal methods, the boxer embarks on an intense and illegal weight-cutting program. As the bout draws closer, his obsession begins to take over, pushing him to dangerous extremes and leaving his partner (Balfe) increasingly concerned for his safety. What begins as a fight for glory teeters into a spiral that could cost far more than the title.

Directed by Sean Ellis and written by Justin Bull, The Cut also features Eric D. Smith, Clare Dunne, Ed Kear, Oliver Trevena, Andonis Anthony, and Gemma Acosta. The trailer offers a tense glimpse into the physical and psychological toll of chasing victory, setting the stage for what could be one of the most hard-hitting boxing dramas in recent memory.

Documentary Highlights Wildlife and Water Challenges in the American Southwest

Posted on August 7, 2025 by admin

The official trailer has been released for The American Southwest, a visually rich documentary from Fin and Fur Films and NativesOutdoors, narrated by climate advocate and model Quannah ChasingHorse. The film takes audiences on a journey along the Colorado River, capturing the landscapes, wildlife, and human connections that define the region, while addressing urgent challenges like water scarcity, habitat loss, and climate change.

Directed by Ben Masters (The River and the Wall, Deep in the Heart), the documentary follows the river from its headwaters to its delta, featuring species such as beavers, elk, and jaguars alongside the stories of those who have lived with and stewarded the river for generations. The project was developed in collaboration with NativesOutdoors and producer Len Necefer, Ph.D., ensuring cultural and ecological perspectives are central to the narrative.

The film opens September 5, 2025, in both commercial and independent theaters across Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, California, Texas, and Colorado. Select screenings will include community events, educational programs, and Q&As with conservationists and Indigenous leaders. A digital release will follow later in the fall.

Emma Mackey Leads All-Star Cast in James L. Brooks’ Ella McCay

Posted on August 6, 2025 by admin

20th Century Studios has released the first trailer for Ella McCay, the upcoming comedy-drama from Academy Award–winning filmmaker James L. Brooks. Opening in theaters December 12, 2025, the film marks Brooks’ first feature as a director since 2010’s How Do You Know.

Emma Mackey stars as Ella, an idealistic young politician preparing to take over the role of her longtime mentor, the state’s governor. As she steps into the position, she navigates both the pressures of public office and complicated relationships with her family, including her estranged father (Woody Harrelson), brother (Spike Fearn), and aunt (Jamie Lee Curtis).

The ensemble cast also includes Albert Brooks, Rebecca Hall, Ayo Edebiri, Jack Lowden, Kumail Nanjiani, and Julie Kavner. Principal photography began in Rhode Island in February 2024 and wrapped later that spring, with additional filming completed earlier this year.

Ella McCay is written and directed by Brooks, whose previous credits include Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News, and As Good as It Gets. The film is produced by Brooks alongside Richard Sakai, Julie Ansell, and Jennifer Brooks.

Lionsgate’s “Do Not Enter” Brings Urban Exploration Horror to the Screen

Posted on August 6, 2025 by admin

Lionsgate has released the trailer, poster, and new images for Do Not Enter, an upcoming horror film based on David Morrell’s novel Creepers. The film is directed by Mark Klasfeld and written by Stephen Susco (The Grudge) along with Spencer Mandel and Dikega Hadnot.

The story follows a group of urban explorers self-dubbed the “Creepers”, as they livestream their visit to the long-abandoned Paragon Hotel in New Jersey. Known for its criminal past, ghost rumors, and urban legend of a hidden $300 million, the site quickly proves more dangerous than anticipated. As the group ventures deeper inside, they face both violent human threats and unexplained supernatural forces.

The cast includes Jake Manley, Adeline Rudolph, Francesca Reale, Shane Paul McGhie, and Javier Botet, with supporting roles from Nicholas Hamilton and Laurence O’Fuarain. The film is rated R for bloody violence and language, and has a runtime of 91 minutes. A release date is expected soon.

Do Not Enter is produced by Jordan Schur for Suretone Pictures.