Exclusive: Mansa, the ad-supported streaming platform highlighting Black content for a global audience, has partnered with Ava DuVernay’s Array Releasing on a licensing agreement to distribute a curated selection of Array’s independent feature films directly to audiences via the Mansa Streaming Service and on the Mansa Mix Fast channel.
The platform delivers a curated selection of films, TV shows, and Fast channels that showcase Black narratives from around the world. Since launching a year ago, Mansa has amassed a library of thousands of hours of content and is accessible on a growing list of distribution partners.
“Ava DuVernay is one of my closest friends and collaborators so I can’t overstate how meaningful this partnership between Array Releasing and Mansa is to me,” said David Oyelowo, award-winning filmmaker, actor, and co-founder of Mansa. “It’s not just about distributing films; it’s about amplifying the voices of those...
The platform delivers a curated selection of films, TV shows, and Fast channels that showcase Black narratives from around the world. Since launching a year ago, Mansa has amassed a library of thousands of hours of content and is accessible on a growing list of distribution partners.
“Ava DuVernay is one of my closest friends and collaborators so I can’t overstate how meaningful this partnership between Array Releasing and Mansa is to me,” said David Oyelowo, award-winning filmmaker, actor, and co-founder of Mansa. “It’s not just about distributing films; it’s about amplifying the voices of those...
- 5/13/2024
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Rising star talent rep Sam Masaru Sekoff has joined Entertainment 360 as a manager in the literary department.
He joins from Range Media Partners where he had been since 2021. Sekoff first got his start at The Gersh Agency where he rose to agent in the television department. His clients include Paul Downs Colaizzo, Sebastian Silva, Nick Lieberman, Takeshi Fukunaga, Rachel Lambert, Phillip Youmans, Ava Coleman, Elise Brown, Adel Kamal and Blaize Ali-Watkins.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Sam to 360,” said the 360 partners in a statement. “He has a sharp eye for talent and we respect his tenacious advocacy on behalf of clients. He’s hit the ground running and quickly become an essential member of the team.”...
He joins from Range Media Partners where he had been since 2021. Sekoff first got his start at The Gersh Agency where he rose to agent in the television department. His clients include Paul Downs Colaizzo, Sebastian Silva, Nick Lieberman, Takeshi Fukunaga, Rachel Lambert, Phillip Youmans, Ava Coleman, Elise Brown, Adel Kamal and Blaize Ali-Watkins.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Sam to 360,” said the 360 partners in a statement. “He has a sharp eye for talent and we respect his tenacious advocacy on behalf of clients. He’s hit the ground running and quickly become an essential member of the team.”...
- 2/5/2024
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Updated, 2:31 p.m.: A24 and the non-profit Made in Her Image have set the inaugural cohort for their program Beyond the Screen, in support of women and non-binary Poc filmmakers.
Those chosen as mentees are Ailin Mo, Aloha Backenstose, Asari Aibangbee, Jaspreet Kaur, Tyler Newman, Rebecca Howell, Savannah-Rae Jackson, Uzo Ngwu, Vidal Thaver, Ndeye Maguette Doumbia, Nicole Pavia, Ingrid Nin, Aileen Ye, Anthea Liu, Arlyn De los Santos Aquino, Briana Richardson, Christine Lee (aka Esae Hyun), Jessica Ramirez, Kendra Lee, Kierra Usher, Kyra Saldana, Lathenia Johnson, Lauren Begay, Lofanitani Aisea, Maya Washington, Ciara Z Franklin, Kayli Joy Cooper, Sophia Hernandez, Kimberly Lopez Castellanos, Jadyn Newman and Tajianna Okechukw. More information on the Beyond the Screen program can be found below.
Previously, May 10: A24 has partnered with the non-profit Made in Her Image to launch Beyond the Screen, a new program in support of women and non-binary Poc filmmakers.
Those chosen as mentees are Ailin Mo, Aloha Backenstose, Asari Aibangbee, Jaspreet Kaur, Tyler Newman, Rebecca Howell, Savannah-Rae Jackson, Uzo Ngwu, Vidal Thaver, Ndeye Maguette Doumbia, Nicole Pavia, Ingrid Nin, Aileen Ye, Anthea Liu, Arlyn De los Santos Aquino, Briana Richardson, Christine Lee (aka Esae Hyun), Jessica Ramirez, Kendra Lee, Kierra Usher, Kyra Saldana, Lathenia Johnson, Lauren Begay, Lofanitani Aisea, Maya Washington, Ciara Z Franklin, Kayli Joy Cooper, Sophia Hernandez, Kimberly Lopez Castellanos, Jadyn Newman and Tajianna Okechukw. More information on the Beyond the Screen program can be found below.
Previously, May 10: A24 has partnered with the non-profit Made in Her Image to launch Beyond the Screen, a new program in support of women and non-binary Poc filmmakers.
- 6/1/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The nonprofit Made in Her Image has teamed with beloved indie shingle A24 for a new mentorship program that will educate 31 people on how a studio shepherds a film from production to premiere, the groups announced Wednesday. The first coterie is made up of 31 people with diverse backgrounds who have been historically hindered by systemic racial and gender inequality, with an emphasis on women and nonbinary people of color between the ages of 18-25.
The program, called Beyond the Screen, is a free, three-week immersive workshop that kicks of virtually on June 4. The three-session course will cover the business of production, post-production, and distribution. The goal is to allow those interested in film and TV careers to leave with a better understanding of how to naviagate their projects and careers.
The program will feature Q&As with “Burning Cane” director Phillip Youmans, “Insecure” producer Deniese Davis, and Netflix post-production executive Nancy Valle.
The program, called Beyond the Screen, is a free, three-week immersive workshop that kicks of virtually on June 4. The three-session course will cover the business of production, post-production, and distribution. The goal is to allow those interested in film and TV careers to leave with a better understanding of how to naviagate their projects and careers.
The program will feature Q&As with “Burning Cane” director Phillip Youmans, “Insecure” producer Deniese Davis, and Netflix post-production executive Nancy Valle.
- 6/1/2022
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
For me, Black History Month is best illustrated by my 92-year-old grandmother Ella Queen Johnson’s recall of our family stories. She shares these stories knowing that the wider world lacks a true and full recognition of the African American family legacy. For most of her long life, she has known that she should not look for depth and dimension in film and television as it relates to families like ours. This is the very reason why she told our history to us herself. My grandmother is a dynamic woman who is not formally trained as a teacher or a historian, but nonetheless, she is both. I am drawn to distributing films created by indie Black filmmakers through Array as a continuation of her calling. By supporting storytellers in the telling of their truths, I am celebrating a great legacy and making my grandmother proud.
I was a young girl...
I was a young girl...
- 2/10/2022
- by Tilane Jones
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: The just-concluded Tribeca Festival, which offered signs of the industry and culture bouncing back from the coronavirus pandemic, drew solid crowds both in person and online, according to new data from organizers.
About 100,000 people attended the 250-plus events held over 12 days, everything from screenings to performances to talks. Tribeca, whose 2020 edition was wiped out by Covid-19, became the first major North American fest to host in-person events. It opened and closed, respectively, with In the Heights and Dave Chappelle‘s untitled documentary. Like the majority of films at this year’s fest, they were both world premieres.
With limits on in-person ticket sales, the decision was made to mount an ambitious online offering, Tribeca At Home. The online hub for a wide range of features, shorts, conversations, filmmaker Q&As and other material racked up 115,000 overall views, the festival said. The streaming app was distributed on Roku and other platforms,...
About 100,000 people attended the 250-plus events held over 12 days, everything from screenings to performances to talks. Tribeca, whose 2020 edition was wiped out by Covid-19, became the first major North American fest to host in-person events. It opened and closed, respectively, with In the Heights and Dave Chappelle‘s untitled documentary. Like the majority of films at this year’s fest, they were both world premieres.
With limits on in-person ticket sales, the decision was made to mount an ambitious online offering, Tribeca At Home. The online hub for a wide range of features, shorts, conversations, filmmaker Q&As and other material racked up 115,000 overall views, the festival said. The streaming app was distributed on Roku and other platforms,...
- 6/24/2021
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Three feature projects celebrating diverse voices and stories awarded up to $50,000 each.
Filmmakers First Fund, a Los Angeles-based fund and studio space supporting full-length narrative and documentary projects in early development, has announced its first round of awards.
Fund co-founders Martin Marquet, a producer and former international publicist who produced 2020 Sundance World Cinema – Documentary grand jury prize winner Epicentro, Tony-winning Broadway producer Rebecca Gang (Hadestown), and producer/actor/artist Gale M. Harold III invited a majority women-led board to select three projects.
The awardees will each receive grants of up to $50,000, as well as 12 months of access to the Fund...
Filmmakers First Fund, a Los Angeles-based fund and studio space supporting full-length narrative and documentary projects in early development, has announced its first round of awards.
Fund co-founders Martin Marquet, a producer and former international publicist who produced 2020 Sundance World Cinema – Documentary grand jury prize winner Epicentro, Tony-winning Broadway producer Rebecca Gang (Hadestown), and producer/actor/artist Gale M. Harold III invited a majority women-led board to select three projects.
The awardees will each receive grants of up to $50,000, as well as 12 months of access to the Fund...
- 1/5/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka has released a new video for “Interlude (Loving the People),” off his most recent album, Kiwanuka.
The clip was directed by Phillip Youmans, who crafts a lush, sun-soaked portrait of youthful reverie — complete with body paint, skateboarding, and surfing — that pairs perfectly with the atmospheric, psych-tinged “Interlude.” (The track gets its parenthetical title, “Loving the People,” from a snippet of a John Lewis speech sampled at the beginning of the song.)
“Listening to ‘Interlude (Loving the People)’ feels like sunshine on my skin,” Youmans said in a statement.
The clip was directed by Phillip Youmans, who crafts a lush, sun-soaked portrait of youthful reverie — complete with body paint, skateboarding, and surfing — that pairs perfectly with the atmospheric, psych-tinged “Interlude.” (The track gets its parenthetical title, “Loving the People,” from a snippet of a John Lewis speech sampled at the beginning of the song.)
“Listening to ‘Interlude (Loving the People)’ feels like sunshine on my skin,” Youmans said in a statement.
- 12/14/2020
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
Ava DuVernay’s Array Releasing is adding to its library of inclusive narratives with the critically acclaimed drama Lingua Franca directed, written, produced, edited by and starring Isabel Sandoval. The film will debut on Netflix and open theatrically in select cities on August 26.
Lingua Franca made history at the 2019 Venice International Film Festival Venice Days program as the first film directed and starring an openly trans woman of color to screen in competition. The film follows the story of an undocumented Filipina trans woman Olivia (Sandoval) who is the live-in caregiver for Olga (the late Lynn Cohen), an elderly Russian woman in Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach neighborhood. Olivia’s main priority is to secure a green card to stay in America, but when she unexpectedly becomes romantically involved with Olga’s adult grandson Alex (Eamon Farren), issues around identity, civil rights and immigration threatens Olivia’s very existence.
“The release...
Lingua Franca made history at the 2019 Venice International Film Festival Venice Days program as the first film directed and starring an openly trans woman of color to screen in competition. The film follows the story of an undocumented Filipina trans woman Olivia (Sandoval) who is the live-in caregiver for Olga (the late Lynn Cohen), an elderly Russian woman in Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach neighborhood. Olivia’s main priority is to secure a green card to stay in America, but when she unexpectedly becomes romantically involved with Olga’s adult grandson Alex (Eamon Farren), issues around identity, civil rights and immigration threatens Olivia’s very existence.
“The release...
- 7/9/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
With almost all of Hollywood and large swaths of America and the world under stay-at-home orders because of the coronavirus pandemic, a digital conversation with some of the leading filmmakers of our time never seemed like a better idea than right now.
Which is exactly what Ava DuVernay and Array will be kicking off at 9 Am Pt today with now 60 directors participating in the its fourth filmmaker tweet-a-thon – see the full 10-hour schedule below and follow with #ARRAYNow
“We hope today’s day-long Q&a feels like a virtual group hug from filmmakers to film fans,” DuVernay told Deadline as the When They See Us helmer prepared to start the show this morning. “Everyone at Array just wanted to create a space for positivity and community during these tense times,” the Oscar nominee added. “The fact that 60 filmmakers of color and women directors answered our call is beautiful and we...
Which is exactly what Ava DuVernay and Array will be kicking off at 9 Am Pt today with now 60 directors participating in the its fourth filmmaker tweet-a-thon – see the full 10-hour schedule below and follow with #ARRAYNow
“We hope today’s day-long Q&a feels like a virtual group hug from filmmakers to film fans,” DuVernay told Deadline as the When They See Us helmer prepared to start the show this morning. “Everyone at Array just wanted to create a space for positivity and community during these tense times,” the Oscar nominee added. “The fact that 60 filmmakers of color and women directors answered our call is beautiful and we...
- 4/30/2020
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Ava DuVernay’s Array is presenting its fourth filmmaker tweet-a-thon, Array Film Fellowship. The annual daylong social media event is set to kick off on April 30 at 9 am Pt and will run for a staggering 10 hours and feature the voices of over 50 directors.
From Academy Award winners to veterans to legends to new voices the Twitter takeover will feature Guillermo Del Toro, Patty Jenkins, Jon M. Chu, Julie Dash, Jill Soloway, Patricia Cardoso, Mira Nair, George Tillman, Victoria Mahoney, Diane Paragas, Nisha Ganatra, Prentice Penny, Numa Perrier and many more.
More from DeadlineRusso Brothers To Celebrate One-Year Anniversary Of 'Avengers: Endgame' With Live Tweet RewatchSnap Surges 37%, Facebook Follows As Social Media Stocks Rally In Upbeat MarketTwitter Founder-ceo Jack Dorsey Made $1.40 In 2019, Even With Year Before
The filmmakers will wax poetic on the social media platform and share details about their craft, latest projects, take questions from film lovers...
From Academy Award winners to veterans to legends to new voices the Twitter takeover will feature Guillermo Del Toro, Patty Jenkins, Jon M. Chu, Julie Dash, Jill Soloway, Patricia Cardoso, Mira Nair, George Tillman, Victoria Mahoney, Diane Paragas, Nisha Ganatra, Prentice Penny, Numa Perrier and many more.
More from DeadlineRusso Brothers To Celebrate One-Year Anniversary Of 'Avengers: Endgame' With Live Tweet RewatchSnap Surges 37%, Facebook Follows As Social Media Stocks Rally In Upbeat MarketTwitter Founder-ceo Jack Dorsey Made $1.40 In 2019, Even With Year Before
The filmmakers will wax poetic on the social media platform and share details about their craft, latest projects, take questions from film lovers...
- 4/27/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
The 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards were handed out Saturday in recognition of the best in indie films from 2019.
Willem Dafoe won the first award, Best Supporting Male, for his role in “The Lighthouse.” “Uncut Gems” won Best Editing, while the Best Documentary award went to “American Factory.” Best Cinematography went to Jarin Blaschke for “The Lighthouse.”
Kelly Reichardt was awarded The Bonnie Award, which recognizes a mid-career female director with a $50,000 unrestricted grant. The John Cassavetes Award, given to the best feature made for under $500,000, was given to “Give Me Liberty.”
Also Read: Independent Spirit Awards 2020: Aubrey Plaza's Best Jokes (So Far)
“Parasite” won Best International Film. Zhao Shuzhen won Best Supporting Female for her role in “The Farewell.” “Marriage Story” won Best Screenplay. Adam Sandler won Best Male Lead for his performance in “Uncut Gems” and Renée Zellweger received the Best Female Lead for her role in “Judy.
Willem Dafoe won the first award, Best Supporting Male, for his role in “The Lighthouse.” “Uncut Gems” won Best Editing, while the Best Documentary award went to “American Factory.” Best Cinematography went to Jarin Blaschke for “The Lighthouse.”
Kelly Reichardt was awarded The Bonnie Award, which recognizes a mid-career female director with a $50,000 unrestricted grant. The John Cassavetes Award, given to the best feature made for under $500,000, was given to “Give Me Liberty.”
Also Read: Independent Spirit Awards 2020: Aubrey Plaza's Best Jokes (So Far)
“Parasite” won Best International Film. Zhao Shuzhen won Best Supporting Female for her role in “The Farewell.” “Marriage Story” won Best Screenplay. Adam Sandler won Best Male Lead for his performance in “Uncut Gems” and Renée Zellweger received the Best Female Lead for her role in “Judy.
- 2/8/2020
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
The stress of applying to college is one thing. The stress of applying to college during postproduction on your first feature film is entirely different.
"I was editing pretty much anywhere I could sit down for more than 30 minutes," Phillip Youmans tells THR of the drama feature that went on to garner two Independent Spirit Awards nominations. Shot over the summer of his junior year in high school in New Orleans, Burning Cane is set in the sugar cane fields of rural Louisiana and follows Helen Wayne (Karen Kaia Livers), who is navigating her religious convictions and the addictions ...
"I was editing pretty much anywhere I could sit down for more than 30 minutes," Phillip Youmans tells THR of the drama feature that went on to garner two Independent Spirit Awards nominations. Shot over the summer of his junior year in high school in New Orleans, Burning Cane is set in the sugar cane fields of rural Louisiana and follows Helen Wayne (Karen Kaia Livers), who is navigating her religious convictions and the addictions ...
The stress of applying to college is one thing. The stress of applying to college during postproduction on your first feature film is entirely different.
"I was editing pretty much anywhere I could sit down for more than 30 minutes," Phillip Youmans tells THR of the drama feature that went on to garner two Independent Spirit Awards nominations. Shot over the summer of his junior year in high school in New Orleans, Burning Cane is set in the sugar cane fields of rural Louisiana and follows Helen Wayne (Karen Kaia Livers), who is navigating her religious convictions and the addictions ...
"I was editing pretty much anywhere I could sit down for more than 30 minutes," Phillip Youmans tells THR of the drama feature that went on to garner two Independent Spirit Awards nominations. Shot over the summer of his junior year in high school in New Orleans, Burning Cane is set in the sugar cane fields of rural Louisiana and follows Helen Wayne (Karen Kaia Livers), who is navigating her religious convictions and the addictions ...
Sundance Institute has announced the 15 screenwriters who have been chosen for the January 2020 Screenwriters Lab, which will go from the 17th-22nd. Those selected will have the opportunity to develop their independent projects by immersing themselves in the creative process and working with the mentorship of Creative Advisors.
Creative Advisors are Artistic Director Scott Frank, Michael Arndt, Suha Arraf, Ritesh Batra, Andrea Berloff, D.V. DeVincentis, Gonzalo Maza, Doug McGrath, Walter Mosley, Nicole Perlman, Howard Rodman, Susan Shilliday, Zach Sklar, Dana Stevens, Joan Tewkesbury, Bill Wheeler, and Tyger Williams.
“We’re so excited to welcome this singular and bold group of artists to our January Screenwriters Lab,” said Michelle Satter, the feature film program founding director. “Our program provides a safe and protected space for writers to be rigorous in their creative process as they develop new work that’s a true reflection of their unique voice and power as storytellers.
Creative Advisors are Artistic Director Scott Frank, Michael Arndt, Suha Arraf, Ritesh Batra, Andrea Berloff, D.V. DeVincentis, Gonzalo Maza, Doug McGrath, Walter Mosley, Nicole Perlman, Howard Rodman, Susan Shilliday, Zach Sklar, Dana Stevens, Joan Tewkesbury, Bill Wheeler, and Tyger Williams.
“We’re so excited to welcome this singular and bold group of artists to our January Screenwriters Lab,” said Michelle Satter, the feature film program founding director. “Our program provides a safe and protected space for writers to be rigorous in their creative process as they develop new work that’s a true reflection of their unique voice and power as storytellers.
- 12/17/2019
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Noah Baumbach’s ‘Marriage Story’ dominated Monday’s 29th annual IFP Gotham Awards with four wins, including Best Feature and Best Actor for Adam Driver.
The ceremony, celebrating the best in indie cinema and television, was held Monday evening at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City and was presented by the Independent Filmmaker Project.
Acting awards went to Driver, to Awkwafina for “The Farewell” (Best Actress) and to Taylor Russell for “Waves” (Breakthrough Actress).
“American Factory” was named the year’s best documentary, while Laure De Clermont-Tonnerre won in the Breakthrough Director category for “The Mustang.”
In the television categories, prizes went to the Netflix miniseries “When They See Us” and the Hulu sitcom “PEN15.”...
The ceremony, celebrating the best in indie cinema and television, was held Monday evening at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City and was presented by the Independent Filmmaker Project.
Acting awards went to Driver, to Awkwafina for “The Farewell” (Best Actress) and to Taylor Russell for “Waves” (Breakthrough Actress).
“American Factory” was named the year’s best documentary, while Laure De Clermont-Tonnerre won in the Breakthrough Director category for “The Mustang.”
In the television categories, prizes went to the Netflix miniseries “When They See Us” and the Hulu sitcom “PEN15.”...
- 12/3/2019
- by Lawrence Yee and Steve Pond
- The Wrap
“Marriage Story,” a drama about a painful divorce between a loving Hollywood couple, won best feature at the Gotham Awards in downtown Manhattan on Monday night.
The annual event in early December, hosted by the Independent Filmmakers Project, resembles the Iowa caucus as the first stop on the long and tangled road of awards season. And like in Iowa, many campaigners put on a brave face — in the middle of a snowstorm this year — as they delivered carefully scripted speeches, designed to win approval and gain votes.
The biggest winner of the night was Netflix, which released “Marriage Story.” The streaming giant managed to wrestle away six trophies (out of 10 that were handed out) for a celebration that is supposed to be devoted to independent story tellers.
“Marriage Story” won four of those prizes. In addition to best feature, the movie also took home best actor for Adam Driver, best...
The annual event in early December, hosted by the Independent Filmmakers Project, resembles the Iowa caucus as the first stop on the long and tangled road of awards season. And like in Iowa, many campaigners put on a brave face — in the middle of a snowstorm this year — as they delivered carefully scripted speeches, designed to win approval and gain votes.
The biggest winner of the night was Netflix, which released “Marriage Story.” The streaming giant managed to wrestle away six trophies (out of 10 that were handed out) for a celebration that is supposed to be devoted to independent story tellers.
“Marriage Story” won four of those prizes. In addition to best feature, the movie also took home best actor for Adam Driver, best...
- 12/3/2019
- by Marc Malkin and Ramin Setoodeh
- Variety Film + TV
The 2019 Gotham Independent Film Awards honored the best in independent cinema this year. From blockbuster success stories like “Hustlers” to festival darlings such as “The Farewell” and “Uncut Gems,” this year’s nominees kept with the Gothams’ tradition for highlighting top Oscar contenders (“Marriage Story”) and indie film underdogs (“Waves”).
The Gotham Awards nominations were led by “Marriage Story,” “The Farewell,” “Uncut Gems,” and “The Last Black Man in San Francisco,” all four of which earned three nominations. The latter three were A24 releases. “Marriage Story” was produced and distributed by Netflix. Films such as “Clemency,” “Diane,” and “High Flying Bird” received two nominations each. Nominated television series include Ava DuVeray’s Netflix limited series “When They See Us” and Hulu’s breakout freshman comedy series “Pen15.”
It was a huge night for Netflix with six wins, including four for “Marriage Story.” The Noah Baumbach film won Best Feature. Other...
The Gotham Awards nominations were led by “Marriage Story,” “The Farewell,” “Uncut Gems,” and “The Last Black Man in San Francisco,” all four of which earned three nominations. The latter three were A24 releases. “Marriage Story” was produced and distributed by Netflix. Films such as “Clemency,” “Diane,” and “High Flying Bird” received two nominations each. Nominated television series include Ava DuVeray’s Netflix limited series “When They See Us” and Hulu’s breakout freshman comedy series “Pen15.”
It was a huge night for Netflix with six wins, including four for “Marriage Story.” The Noah Baumbach film won Best Feature. Other...
- 12/3/2019
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
The 2019-2020 movie awards season got underway on Monday night, December 2, with the presentation of the Gotham Awards for independent film. Presented by the Independent Filmmaker Project (Ifp), these prizes are decided by juries of industry peers and have honored Oscar winners like “Sideways” (2004), “Capote” (2005), “The Hurt Locker” (2009), “Spotlight” (2015) and “Moonlight” (2016). So who took top honors this year? Scroll down for the complete list in all 10 categories, updated live as they were announced.
“Marriage Story,” “The Farewell” and “Uncut Gems” led the nominations with three apiece. Those three films were up for Best Feature along with “Hustlers” and “Waves.”
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“Marriage Story” was the highest-profile Oscar contender among those nominees, but did that mean it was a surefire winner? The jury voting process opens the door for underdogs and left-field choices like last year’s champ “The Rider,” which beat Oscar...
“Marriage Story,” “The Farewell” and “Uncut Gems” led the nominations with three apiece. Those three films were up for Best Feature along with “Hustlers” and “Waves.”
Sign UPfor Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
“Marriage Story” was the highest-profile Oscar contender among those nominees, but did that mean it was a surefire winner? The jury voting process opens the door for underdogs and left-field choices like last year’s champ “The Rider,” which beat Oscar...
- 12/3/2019
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
As indie darlings and awards season contenders like Parasite, Jojo Rabbit, The Lighthouse, Waves and Dark Waters continue to impress, the Thanksgiving weekend has a handful of offerings when it comes to the specialty box office.
This week will see the premiere of Michael Apted’s 63 Up, the latest installment of his acclaimed Up Series. The BritBox documentary is part feature, part anthropologic study as it asks “whether or not our adult lives are pre-determined by our earliest influences and the social class in which we are raised.”
“63 Up is a landmark film and BritBox is proud to be the theatrical distributor, supporting Michael Apted and his lifetime of documentary filmmaking,” said Soumya Sriraman, President and Founder, BritBox.
The journey started in 1970 with 7 Up which spotlighted a group of British-born children. This served as the foundation for the series as Apted...
This week will see the premiere of Michael Apted’s 63 Up, the latest installment of his acclaimed Up Series. The BritBox documentary is part feature, part anthropologic study as it asks “whether or not our adult lives are pre-determined by our earliest influences and the social class in which we are raised.”
“63 Up is a landmark film and BritBox is proud to be the theatrical distributor, supporting Michael Apted and his lifetime of documentary filmmaking,” said Soumya Sriraman, President and Founder, BritBox.
The journey started in 1970 with 7 Up which spotlighted a group of British-born children. This served as the foundation for the series as Apted...
- 11/29/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Burning Cane, a hard-edged tale of rural Louisiana, now on Netflix, is a remarkable feature debut by Youmans. And he’s just 19…
What were you doing when you were 17? A lot, probably: it’s a busy time, after all. But between school, university applications and partying, chances are that making a feature film wasn’t high on your to-do list. Had it been, even greater chances are that it wouldn’t have been much cop.
New Orleans-born Phillip Youmans, on the other hand, is the obstinate exception. Now 19 and in his first year at New York University, he has a whole film under his belt, made in his final year of high school and already amply travelled and rewarded on the festival circuit. It slipped quietly on to Netflix earlier this month, with little fanfare, as if fully formed films by teenagers come along all the time and merit no special fanfare.
What were you doing when you were 17? A lot, probably: it’s a busy time, after all. But between school, university applications and partying, chances are that making a feature film wasn’t high on your to-do list. Had it been, even greater chances are that it wouldn’t have been much cop.
New Orleans-born Phillip Youmans, on the other hand, is the obstinate exception. Now 19 and in his first year at New York University, he has a whole film under his belt, made in his final year of high school and already amply travelled and rewarded on the festival circuit. It slipped quietly on to Netflix earlier this month, with little fanfare, as if fully formed films by teenagers come along all the time and merit no special fanfare.
- 11/23/2019
- by Guy Lodge
- The Guardian - Film News
Two dark and unruly films released by A24, Robert Eggers’ “The Lighthouse” and the Safdie brothers’ “Uncut Gems,” led all films in nominations for the 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards, Film Independent announced on Thursday.
In the Best Feature category, “Uncut Gems” was joined by Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell,” Terrence Malick’s “A Hidden Life,” Chinonye Chukwu’s “Clemency” and Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story.”
“Uncut Gems” was the only film nominated in both the Best Feature and Best Director categories, though “Marriage Story” was nominated in the former category and was also voted the special John Cassavetes Award, which goes to a film’s director, cast and casting director.
Also Read: 'Marriage Story,' 'The Farewell,' 'Uncut Gems' Top Gotham Award Nominations
“Honey Boy” and “Give Me Liberty” received four nominations each, while “Hustlers,” “Clemency” and “Luce” received three.
As usual, the Spirit Awards’ system of...
In the Best Feature category, “Uncut Gems” was joined by Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell,” Terrence Malick’s “A Hidden Life,” Chinonye Chukwu’s “Clemency” and Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story.”
“Uncut Gems” was the only film nominated in both the Best Feature and Best Director categories, though “Marriage Story” was nominated in the former category and was also voted the special John Cassavetes Award, which goes to a film’s director, cast and casting director.
Also Read: 'Marriage Story,' 'The Farewell,' 'Uncut Gems' Top Gotham Award Nominations
“Honey Boy” and “Give Me Liberty” received four nominations each, while “Hustlers,” “Clemency” and “Luce” received three.
As usual, the Spirit Awards’ system of...
- 11/21/2019
- by Brian Welk and Steve Pond
- The Wrap
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options—not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves–each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit platforms. Check out this week’s selections below and an archive of past round-ups here.
The Biggest Little Farm (John Chester)
After getting evicted from their apartment in Los Angeles due to taking in a stray dog, filmmaker John Chester and food writer Molly Chester decide to try and cultivate a storybook farm in The Biggest Little Farm. The latest entry into the canon of films exploring food and ecosystems, like Aube Giroux’s Modified and Andrew Grace’s Eating Alabama, the documentary works as well as it does because of a reliance on its relatable subject and the director as its narrator. – John F. (full review)
Where to Stream: Hulu
Burning Cane (Phillip Youmans)
Helen Wayne (Karen Kaia Livers) can...
The Biggest Little Farm (John Chester)
After getting evicted from their apartment in Los Angeles due to taking in a stray dog, filmmaker John Chester and food writer Molly Chester decide to try and cultivate a storybook farm in The Biggest Little Farm. The latest entry into the canon of films exploring food and ecosystems, like Aube Giroux’s Modified and Andrew Grace’s Eating Alabama, the documentary works as well as it does because of a reliance on its relatable subject and the director as its narrator. – John F. (full review)
Where to Stream: Hulu
Burning Cane (Phillip Youmans)
Helen Wayne (Karen Kaia Livers) can...
- 11/8/2019
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Even with just a 75-minute runtime, watching writer-director Phillip Youmans’ feature film debut, “Burning Cane,” a meditation on compromised faith among black Southerners, is an arduous experience. It’s dark (both narratively and visually), sluggish, and relentlessly bleak. But this all seems to be the filmmaker’s intention.
Inspired by his own upbringing in the Southern Baptist church, Youmans offers an unfiltered look at black protestant life in the hollows of Louisiana. Just as he does with each character, Youmans launches the film by dropping the audience into Helen Wayne’s (Karen Kaia Livers) story already in progress. From her lengthy opening monologue, we gather that her dog is very sick and covered with rashes, but she refuses to give up faith in his recovery.
She’s frustrated that professionals want her to put him down, or “shoot him between the eyes” as she echoes with disgust. We listen to...
Inspired by his own upbringing in the Southern Baptist church, Youmans offers an unfiltered look at black protestant life in the hollows of Louisiana. Just as he does with each character, Youmans launches the film by dropping the audience into Helen Wayne’s (Karen Kaia Livers) story already in progress. From her lengthy opening monologue, we gather that her dog is very sick and covered with rashes, but she refuses to give up faith in his recovery.
She’s frustrated that professionals want her to put him down, or “shoot him between the eyes” as she echoes with disgust. We listen to...
- 11/5/2019
- by Candice Frederick
- The Wrap
Phillip Youmans used his own savings to make his award-winning debut film, attracting the attention of Ava DuVernay
Phillip Youmans, age 19, sits in a chic downtown Manhattan restaurant drinking coffee. As recently as a year ago, when he was just another NYU undergrad, he might very well have walked by and gotten a glimpse of a tableau like this from the outside-in. That sort of thing has been happening a lot lately – finding himself on the other side of a scene he’s witnessed over and over again.
Related: Beyond Ken Loach: where have the social-realists in cinema gone?...
Phillip Youmans, age 19, sits in a chic downtown Manhattan restaurant drinking coffee. As recently as a year ago, when he was just another NYU undergrad, he might very well have walked by and gotten a glimpse of a tableau like this from the outside-in. That sort of thing has been happening a lot lately – finding himself on the other side of a scene he’s witnessed over and over again.
Related: Beyond Ken Loach: where have the social-realists in cinema gone?...
- 10/30/2019
- by Charles Bramesco
- The Guardian - Film News
If it’s a Saturday after a busy week, that can only mean one thing, right? Yes, it’s time for another review round-up to help catch us all up on some of the smaller releases hitting theaters this weekend. As per the usual, we have three very different films to look at. This time, it’s the drama Burning Cane, as well as two different science fiction outings, one being the high concept Paradise Hills, while the other sci-fi offering is the anthology tale Portals. Are any of these worth your time? Are all of them? Read on to find out what I thought… Burning Cane Marvel at this fact for a moment. Phillip Youmans, the filmmaker behind Burning Cane, is a teenager. Yes, for real. He’s nineteen years old. Consider for a moment how unwatchable most teenagers’ attempts at cinema would be. Even with the greats, many...
- 10/26/2019
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
Movie awards season is officially here!
The first nominations of the 2020 season arrived Thursday thanks to the 29th Annual Ifp Gotham Awards, which are voted on by a select group of New York City-based journalists. The awards also focus on independent films and don’t count big studio offerings in the mix.
Hustlers received a nomination for best feature after opening to critical acclaim in September. The STXFilms release exceeded expectations to open to an estimated $33.2 million across 3,250 theaters. It’s since gone to on gross over $100 million at the U.S. box office.
The movie, based on a New York Magazine article,...
The first nominations of the 2020 season arrived Thursday thanks to the 29th Annual Ifp Gotham Awards, which are voted on by a select group of New York City-based journalists. The awards also focus on independent films and don’t count big studio offerings in the mix.
Hustlers received a nomination for best feature after opening to critical acclaim in September. The STXFilms release exceeded expectations to open to an estimated $33.2 million across 3,250 theaters. It’s since gone to on gross over $100 million at the U.S. box office.
The movie, based on a New York Magazine article,...
- 10/25/2019
- by Ale Russian
- PEOPLE.com
The 2019-2020 movie awards season is underway with the 2019 Gotham Award nominations, which were announced on October 24. These awards are presented by the Independent Filmmaker Project (Ifp) and honor the best indie achievements of the year as decided by small committees of film journalists and festival programmers. Their nominees for Best Feature are “The Farewell,” “Hustlers,” “Marriage Story,” “Uncut Gems” and “Waves.” Scroll down to see the complete list of contenders.
Ifp executive director Jeffrey Sharp said in a statement, “We congratulate the 2019 Ifp Gotham Award nominees and are excited to recognize these artists on December 2nd here in New York, a city known for its great tradition of independent storytelling. This year has been filled with brilliant performances and dynamic work across film and television and we look forward to celebrating these achievements together.”
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The winners will be presented...
Ifp executive director Jeffrey Sharp said in a statement, “We congratulate the 2019 Ifp Gotham Award nominees and are excited to recognize these artists on December 2nd here in New York, a city known for its great tradition of independent storytelling. This year has been filled with brilliant performances and dynamic work across film and television and we look forward to celebrating these achievements together.”
Sign UPfor Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
The winners will be presented...
- 10/24/2019
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Also up for best feature are Lorene Scafaria’s Hustlers and Trey Edward Shults’ Waves.
Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story, the Safdie brothers’ Uncut Gems and Lulu Wang’s The Farewell lead this year’s Ifp Gotham Awards nominations, with three nods apiece.
They are each up for best feature alongside Lorene Scafaria’s Hustlers and Trey Edward Shults’ Waves.
Netflix’s Marriage Story and A24’s Uncut Gems have also earned best actor nominations for Adam Driver and Adam Sandler respectively. They will compete against Willem Dafoe for The Lighthouse, Aldis Hodge for Clemency and André Holland for High Flying Bird.
Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story, the Safdie brothers’ Uncut Gems and Lulu Wang’s The Farewell lead this year’s Ifp Gotham Awards nominations, with three nods apiece.
They are each up for best feature alongside Lorene Scafaria’s Hustlers and Trey Edward Shults’ Waves.
Netflix’s Marriage Story and A24’s Uncut Gems have also earned best actor nominations for Adam Driver and Adam Sandler respectively. They will compete against Willem Dafoe for The Lighthouse, Aldis Hodge for Clemency and André Holland for High Flying Bird.
- 10/24/2019
- by 1101184¦Orlando Parfitt¦38¦
- ScreenDaily
Phillip Youmans isn’t sure if he’s returning to New York University. He’s a sophomore at the venerable institution, but he took the fall semester off because he’s a little busy. Last spring, during the second semester of his freshman year, the filmmaker’s debut feature, Burning Cane, won three awards at the Tribeca Film Festival: Narrative Feature, Cinematography (for him), and Actor for co-lead, the estimable Wendell Pierce. Its executive producer is Benh Zeitlin, of Beasts of the Southern Wild, and it’s being released by Ava Du Vernay’s Array, who arranged a two-city theatrical release before its Netflix drop on November […]...
- 10/24/2019
- by Matt Prigge
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Phillip Youmans isn’t sure if he’s returning to New York University. He’s a sophomore at the venerable institution, but he took the fall semester off because he’s a little busy. Last spring, during the second semester of his freshman year, the filmmaker’s debut feature, Burning Cane, won three awards at the Tribeca Film Festival: Narrative Feature, Cinematography (for him), and Actor for co-lead, the estimable Wendell Pierce. Its executive producer is Benh Zeitlin, of Beasts of the Southern Wild, and it’s being released by Ava Du Vernay’s Array, who arranged a two-city theatrical release before its Netflix drop on November […]...
- 10/24/2019
- by Matt Prigge
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
“Marriage Story,” “The Farewell,” “Uncut Gems,” “Hustlers” and “Waves” have been nominated as the best independent films of 2019 by the 29th annual Ifp Gotham Awards, the Independent Filmmaker Project announced on Thursday.
“Marriage Story,” “The Farewell” and “Uncut Gems” each received three nominations in the seven Gotham film categories to lead all films. “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” also received three, though it was not nominated in the Gothams’ top category.
“Waves,” “High Flying Bird,” “Midsommar” and “Clemency” received two nominations each and were the only other films with multiple nominations.
In the acting categories, nominees included Willem Dafoe for “The Lighthouse,” Adam Sandler for “Uncut Gems,” Adam Driver in “Marriage Story,” Awkwafina in “The Farewell,” Florence Pugh in “Midsommar” and Elisabeth Moss in “Her Smell.”
Also Read: Female Directors Dominate in Ida Documentary Awards Nominations
The Gotham Awards’ only directing category is the Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award,...
“Marriage Story,” “The Farewell” and “Uncut Gems” each received three nominations in the seven Gotham film categories to lead all films. “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” also received three, though it was not nominated in the Gothams’ top category.
“Waves,” “High Flying Bird,” “Midsommar” and “Clemency” received two nominations each and were the only other films with multiple nominations.
In the acting categories, nominees included Willem Dafoe for “The Lighthouse,” Adam Sandler for “Uncut Gems,” Adam Driver in “Marriage Story,” Awkwafina in “The Farewell,” Florence Pugh in “Midsommar” and Elisabeth Moss in “Her Smell.”
Also Read: Female Directors Dominate in Ida Documentary Awards Nominations
The Gotham Awards’ only directing category is the Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award,...
- 10/24/2019
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Per tradition, the 2019-2020 awards season got its first major nominations announcement with the batch of this year’s Gotham Awards, which include Sundance sensations, fall festival darlings, and at least one indie blockbuster that has earned over $100 million at the U.S. box office. The awards ceremony, presented by the Independent Filmmaker Project (Ifp), consists of 10 awards given to independent features and television series.
While the Gotham Awards don’t always overlap with the Oscars, as the first ceremony of the season, they often play a key role in elevating films into the overall awards conversation. Last year’s acting winners Ethan Hawke (“First Reformed”) and Toni Collette (“Hereditary”) had their champions all Oscar season but failed to get a nomination, while Best Feature winner “The Rider” got a significant boost in awards buzz after taking the top Gotham prize.
The 2019 Gotham Awards nominations are dominated by “Marriage Story,...
While the Gotham Awards don’t always overlap with the Oscars, as the first ceremony of the season, they often play a key role in elevating films into the overall awards conversation. Last year’s acting winners Ethan Hawke (“First Reformed”) and Toni Collette (“Hereditary”) had their champions all Oscar season but failed to get a nomination, while Best Feature winner “The Rider” got a significant boost in awards buzz after taking the top Gotham prize.
The 2019 Gotham Awards nominations are dominated by “Marriage Story,...
- 10/24/2019
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
What were you doing with your life at 19 years old? Were you winning the top honors at the Tribeca Film Festival and being hailed as a bright rising filmmaker who directed one of the best black films of the year? Very few people can pull off those accomplishments, but 19-year-old Nocca graduate Phillip Youmans pulled that […]
The post ‘Burning Cane’ Trailer: The Tribeca Winner Tackles Toxic Masculinity in the South appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘Burning Cane’ Trailer: The Tribeca Winner Tackles Toxic Masculinity in the South appeared first on /Film.
- 10/6/2019
- by Hoai-Tran Bui
- Slash Film
Phillip Youmans, the youngest director to have a feature film premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival at the staggeringly young age of nineteen, has helmed an award-winning Burning Cane. Set to be distributed by Ava DuVernay’s distribution company Array, the first trailer has been released.
The film conveys the hardships endured by the deeply religious matriarch Helen Wayne (Karen Kaia Livers) as she struggles with raising a troubled and self-destructive son, while having to watch the gradual decline of her pastor (in an acclaimed performance by Wendell Pierce) in his convictions, which causes her to struggle with her own faith in rural Louisiana.
Owen Gleiberman in his review for Variety wrote, “If there’s an artist who hovers over this aesthetic, it’s Terrence Malick. Yet whenever I read a review of a movie that compares it to Malick, it tends to scare me off. Too many latter-day “Malick...
The film conveys the hardships endured by the deeply religious matriarch Helen Wayne (Karen Kaia Livers) as she struggles with raising a troubled and self-destructive son, while having to watch the gradual decline of her pastor (in an acclaimed performance by Wendell Pierce) in his convictions, which causes her to struggle with her own faith in rural Louisiana.
Owen Gleiberman in his review for Variety wrote, “If there’s an artist who hovers over this aesthetic, it’s Terrence Malick. Yet whenever I read a review of a movie that compares it to Malick, it tends to scare me off. Too many latter-day “Malick...
- 10/4/2019
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
Burning Cane caught my attention because of Wendell Pierce. The actor, who I had seen for years in bit parts, really caught my attention during a recent turn in the TV legal drama ”Suits“ so the opportunity to see him flex his muscle in a drama was too irresistible to pass up.
Written, directed, shot, and edited by Phillip Youmans, Burning Cane tells the story of two men dealing with grief in similar ways: by drinking. In one story there is Pierce who plays a pastor who drowns his sorrows in drink, and in the other is Daniel (Dominique McClellan), an unemployed father who spends his days drinking and looking after his young son.
Youmans’ storytelling style is unconventional, oscillating between the two men and their stories with little rhyme or re...
Written, directed, shot, and edited by Phillip Youmans, Burning Cane tells the story of two men dealing with grief in similar ways: by drinking. In one story there is Pierce who plays a pastor who drowns his sorrows in drink, and in the other is Daniel (Dominique McClellan), an unemployed father who spends his days drinking and looking after his young son.
Youmans’ storytelling style is unconventional, oscillating between the two men and their stories with little rhyme or re...
- 10/1/2019
- QuietEarth.us
"It's hard to dance with the devil..." Array has debuted an official trailer for an indie drama titled Burning Cane, the feature directorial debut of talented filmmaker Phillip Youmans. This premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival this year, where it won Best Cinematography, Best Actor, and Best Narrative Feature awards. Set amongst the cane fields of rural Louisiana, an aging mother struggles between her religious convictions and the love of her son. Starring Karen Kaia Livers as Helen Wayne, exploring the relationships within a southern black protestant community. The cast includes Wendell Pierce (who won the award in Tribeca), Dominique McClellan, and Braelyn Kelly. Ava DuVernary's Array has been scooping up and releasing some of the finest under-the-radar indie films out there, and this looks like another gem in their selection. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Phillip Youmans' Burning Cane, direct from Array's YouTube: Burning Cane tells the...
- 10/1/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Grassroots distribution company Array Releasing acquired nineteen-year-old New Orleans-based filmmaker Phillip Youmans’ multiple award-winning feature debut, “Burning Cane,” earlier this month. Now, Array has released a trailer for the film, which is set in rural Louisiana and stars Wendell Pierce and Karen Kaia Livers in a story about an aging mother who struggles between her religious convictions and the love of her son.
Written, directed, photographed, and co-edited by Youmans when he was still in high school, the intimate drama is inspired by his childhood experiences in the Southern Baptist church — an institution from which he would later distance himself. It’s a meditation on the church’s immense influence over its community, as Youmans works through his own complicated feelings about the differences he has with the God-fearing people who raised him. The lyrical, sensitive story registers as one of the more exciting new indie films of the year so far,...
Written, directed, photographed, and co-edited by Youmans when he was still in high school, the intimate drama is inspired by his childhood experiences in the Southern Baptist church — an institution from which he would later distance himself. It’s a meditation on the church’s immense influence over its community, as Youmans works through his own complicated feelings about the differences he has with the God-fearing people who raised him. The lyrical, sensitive story registers as one of the more exciting new indie films of the year so far,...
- 9/30/2019
- by Tambay Obenson
- Indiewire
Netflix scooped up global rights to Cannes Critics’ Week Award winner “I Lost My Body,” from Xilam Animation, after its premiere at the festival. Now, the streaming giant has tapped Dev Patel, Alia Shawkat, and George Wendt to lead the English-language cast of French director Jérémy Clapin’s animated feature debut, in which young love and childhood memories intertwine as a severed hand crosses Paris in search of its owner.
Additionally, filmmaker Andrew Bujalski has been named the Creative Lead of the English dub under the supervision of director Clapin. Patel, Shawkat, and Wendt will take on the voice roles from the original French voiceover cast led by Hakim Faris, Victoire Du Bois, and Patrick d’Assumçao.
The film’s official synopsis reads: “In a Parisian laboratory, a severed hand escapes its unhappy fate and sets out to reconnect with its body in this Cannes Critics’ Week selection. During a hair-raising escapade across the city,...
Additionally, filmmaker Andrew Bujalski has been named the Creative Lead of the English dub under the supervision of director Clapin. Patel, Shawkat, and Wendt will take on the voice roles from the original French voiceover cast led by Hakim Faris, Victoire Du Bois, and Patrick d’Assumçao.
The film’s official synopsis reads: “In a Parisian laboratory, a severed hand escapes its unhappy fate and sets out to reconnect with its body in this Cannes Critics’ Week selection. During a hair-raising escapade across the city,...
- 9/30/2019
- by Tambay Obenson
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Array Releasing has acquired worldwide rights to the Canadian drama The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open, expanding the company’s slate of inclusive films. Array founder Ava DuVernay said Thursday that the company plans a release later this fall.
Written and directed by Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers (who also stars) and Kathleen Hepburn, the drama explores two Indigenous women living very different lives who are briefly brought together by desperate circumstances. The film debuted at the Berlin Film Festival earlier this year and most recently, made its North American premiere at the Toronto Film Festival.
“Through emotional, passionate storytelling, The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open showcases the rarely portrayed lives, challenges and perspectives of Indigenous women,” Array president Tilane Jones said. “This beauty of a film by two dynamic women filmmakers captivated everyone at Array. We’re thrilled to share Elle-Máijá and Kathleen’s talents while unveiling...
Written and directed by Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers (who also stars) and Kathleen Hepburn, the drama explores two Indigenous women living very different lives who are briefly brought together by desperate circumstances. The film debuted at the Berlin Film Festival earlier this year and most recently, made its North American premiere at the Toronto Film Festival.
“Through emotional, passionate storytelling, The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open showcases the rarely portrayed lives, challenges and perspectives of Indigenous women,” Array president Tilane Jones said. “This beauty of a film by two dynamic women filmmakers captivated everyone at Array. We’re thrilled to share Elle-Máijá and Kathleen’s talents while unveiling...
- 9/26/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Nineteen-year-old New Orleans-based filmmaker Phillip Youmans’ multiple award-winning feature debut, “Burning Cane,” has been acquired by grassroots distribution company Array Releasing. The deal, which includes worldwide rights, was announced by Array founder Ava DuVernay.
Set among the cane fields of rural Louisiana, “Burning Cane” stars Wendell Pierce and Karen Kaia Livers in a story about an aging mother who struggles between her religious convictions and the love of her son.
Written, directed, photographed, and co-edited by Youmans when he was still in high school, the intimate drama is inspired by his childhood experiences in the Southern Baptist church — an institution from which he would later distance himself. It’s a meditation on the church’s immense influence over its community, as Youmans works through his own complicated feelings about the differences he has with the God-fearing people who raised him.
The lyrical, sensitive story registers as one of the more...
Set among the cane fields of rural Louisiana, “Burning Cane” stars Wendell Pierce and Karen Kaia Livers in a story about an aging mother who struggles between her religious convictions and the love of her son.
Written, directed, photographed, and co-edited by Youmans when he was still in high school, the intimate drama is inspired by his childhood experiences in the Southern Baptist church — an institution from which he would later distance himself. It’s a meditation on the church’s immense influence over its community, as Youmans works through his own complicated feelings about the differences he has with the God-fearing people who raised him.
The lyrical, sensitive story registers as one of the more...
- 9/6/2019
- by Tambay Obenson
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Ava DuVernay’s Array Releasing has added another title to their slate of films that champion people of color and women. This time it is the Tribeca Film Festival winning drama Burning Cane from 19-year-old filmmaker Phillip Youmans. Array has acquired the worldwide rights to Burning Cane and plans to release the film later this fall.
In addition to winning Best Narrative Feature, Best Cinematography and Best Actor for Wendell Pierce, the film was also a 2019 Venice Film Festival Official Selection. Burning Cane marks Youmans’s feature directorial debut. Written, photographed and co-edited by Youmans, the intimate drama captures the complexity and complacency of family life and religion in rural Louisiana.
A New Orleans native, Youmans was only 17 years old when he made Burning Cane. He is currently an NYU film student and is the youngest director ever to have a film in competition at the Tribeca Film Festival...
In addition to winning Best Narrative Feature, Best Cinematography and Best Actor for Wendell Pierce, the film was also a 2019 Venice Film Festival Official Selection. Burning Cane marks Youmans’s feature directorial debut. Written, photographed and co-edited by Youmans, the intimate drama captures the complexity and complacency of family life and religion in rural Louisiana.
A New Orleans native, Youmans was only 17 years old when he made Burning Cane. He is currently an NYU film student and is the youngest director ever to have a film in competition at the Tribeca Film Festival...
- 9/5/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
The Venice Film Festival’s independently run Venice Days sidebar has unveiled its 2019 lineup with 11 movies in competition.
The section, which is modeled after Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight sidebar, comprises six first features and four films directed by women.
Competition highlights include Dominik Moll’s Seules Les Bêtes, which will open the strand on Wednesday, August 28; Jayro Bustamante’s La llorona; Japanese actor Joe Odagiri’s feature directorial debut They Say Nothing Stays the Same; and Fabienne Berthaud’s Un Monde Plus Grand, starring Cécile de France.
Also in competition, Corpus Christi comes from Polish director Jan Komasa; family saga Beware Of Children is by Norway’s Dag Johan Haugerud; Un Divan à Tunis, starring Golshifteh Farahani, is by Manele Labidi; Laos’ Venice debut comes with The Long Walk by Mattie Do; and U.S.-Philippines co-production Lingua Franca comes from Isabel Sandoval.
Comics artist Igort’s 5 è Il Numero Perfetto stars Toni Servillo,...
The section, which is modeled after Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight sidebar, comprises six first features and four films directed by women.
Competition highlights include Dominik Moll’s Seules Les Bêtes, which will open the strand on Wednesday, August 28; Jayro Bustamante’s La llorona; Japanese actor Joe Odagiri’s feature directorial debut They Say Nothing Stays the Same; and Fabienne Berthaud’s Un Monde Plus Grand, starring Cécile de France.
Also in competition, Corpus Christi comes from Polish director Jan Komasa; family saga Beware Of Children is by Norway’s Dag Johan Haugerud; Un Divan à Tunis, starring Golshifteh Farahani, is by Manele Labidi; Laos’ Venice debut comes with The Long Walk by Mattie Do; and U.S.-Philippines co-production Lingua Franca comes from Isabel Sandoval.
Comics artist Igort’s 5 è Il Numero Perfetto stars Toni Servillo,...
- 7/23/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
New York-based Filipina filmmaker Isabel Sandoval’s “Lingua Franca,” about a transgender immigrant, is among 11 competition entries, all world premieres, that will launch from the Venice Film Festival’s independently run Venice Days section.
The only U.S. entry set to compete in the section modeled on Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight, “Lingua Franca” is Sandoval’s third work. It follows “Apparition” (2012), a period drama about cloistered Filipina nuns praised by Variety’s Richard Kuipers as an “outstanding sophomore feature.”
Produced by Tony- and Grammy-winning Filipino producer Jhett Tolentino, and by Darlene Malimas and Carlo Velayo, “Lingua Franca” is set in Brighton Beach, New York, where a transgender Filipina immigrant named Olivia – played by Sandoval, who is herself transgender – scrambles to avoid deportation. She becomes involved with a Russian slaughterhouse worker who is unaware that she’s trans.
Venice Days artistic director Giorgio Gosetti said that this year’s selection is characterized...
The only U.S. entry set to compete in the section modeled on Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight, “Lingua Franca” is Sandoval’s third work. It follows “Apparition” (2012), a period drama about cloistered Filipina nuns praised by Variety’s Richard Kuipers as an “outstanding sophomore feature.”
Produced by Tony- and Grammy-winning Filipino producer Jhett Tolentino, and by Darlene Malimas and Carlo Velayo, “Lingua Franca” is set in Brighton Beach, New York, where a transgender Filipina immigrant named Olivia – played by Sandoval, who is herself transgender – scrambles to avoid deportation. She becomes involved with a Russian slaughterhouse worker who is unaware that she’s trans.
Venice Days artistic director Giorgio Gosetti said that this year’s selection is characterized...
- 7/23/2019
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Can a movie be a dawdling, moody, stitched-together-in-the-editing room art trifle…and also an adventure? “Burning Cane,” which won the Founders Award for best narrative feature at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, isn’t a major work, yet it’s a movie of minor fascinations and seductions; it exerts the pull of a natural-born filmmaker’s eye. To say that not much of consequence happens in it would, in a way, be accurate (there’s no false sense of incident). But in another way every moment in “Burning Cane” is of consequence — the consequence of living and being.
Phillip Youmans, who wrote, directed, photographed, and co-edited the movie, creates a set of characters in rural Louisiana who are so specific in their downbeat dailiness that their lives appear utterly authentic to us. Helen (Karen Kaia Livers), a chainsmoker steeped in faith, talks softly on the soundtrack about all the...
Phillip Youmans, who wrote, directed, photographed, and co-edited the movie, creates a set of characters in rural Louisiana who are so specific in their downbeat dailiness that their lives appear utterly authentic to us. Helen (Karen Kaia Livers), a chainsmoker steeped in faith, talks softly on the soundtrack about all the...
- 5/11/2019
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
Nestled in between Sundance and Cannes, the Tribeca Film Festival isn’t exactly known for instigating a lot of fancy dealmaking, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of options. With 103 features screening between April 24 – May 5, the New York gathering contains its fair share of world premieres, many of which arrive sans distribution. Some of them also end the festival that way, too. Here are some of the highlights from Tribeca 2019 that still need homes. Buyers, take note!
“Blow the Man Down”
Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy’s intriguing feature directorial debut lays out plenty of familiar beats in the guise of a Coen brothers-esque crime comedy, from a bloody murder to a bag of cash, all enlivened by some wonderfully distinct accents, but the pair also find their way to a unique new story that signals their arrival as a filmmaking duo to watch. Primarily led by a female cast,...
“Blow the Man Down”
Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy’s intriguing feature directorial debut lays out plenty of familiar beats in the guise of a Coen brothers-esque crime comedy, from a bloody murder to a bag of cash, all enlivened by some wonderfully distinct accents, but the pair also find their way to a unique new story that signals their arrival as a filmmaking duo to watch. Primarily led by a female cast,...
- 5/4/2019
- by Eric Kohn, David Ehrlich and Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Burning Cane, the Louisiana-set debut feature from freshman NYU film student Phillip Youmans, won three top prizes at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival. At a ceremony last night at the Stella Artois Theatre at Bmcc Tpac, Burning Cane scored the Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature, the Best Cinematography in a U.S. Narrative Feature Award (to Youmans as well), and the Best Actor in a U.S. Narrative Feature Award, to the film’s Wendell Pierce. Haley Bennett, star of another well received film at the festival, Swallow, won Best Actress in a U.S. Narrative Feature, while Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle […]...
- 5/3/2019
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Burning Cane, the Louisiana-set debut feature from freshman NYU film student Phillip Youmans, won three top prizes at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival. At a ceremony last night at the Stella Artois Theatre at Bmcc Tpac, Burning Cane scored the Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature, the Best Cinematography in a U.S. Narrative Feature Award (to Youmans as well), and the Best Actor in a U.S. Narrative Feature Award, to the film’s Wendell Pierce. Haley Bennett, star of another well received film at the festival, Swallow, won Best Actress in a U.S. Narrative Feature, while Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle […]...
- 5/3/2019
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Murtada, Jason and I have all been attending Tribeca screenings (more reviews to come) but as per usual the winners mostly somehow escaped us. But here they are.
U.S. Narrative Competition
The jury members were: Lucy Alibar, Jonathan Ames, Cory Hardrict, Dana Harris, and Jenny Lumet.
Wendell Pierce as a troubled Louisiana preacher in "Burning Cane"
Feature: Burning Cane, directed by Phillip Youmans. which the jury calls "searingly original". Director Phillip Youman is just 19 years old and started making this movie two years ago in high school (!!!!!!!!) and also makes history as the first black man to win Tribeca!
Actress: Haley Bennett in Swallow who the jury calls "sensitive and engaging" (Special mention: Geetanjali Thapa in Stray Dolls). Our review here.
Actor: – Wendell Pierce in Burning Cane...
U.S. Narrative Competition
The jury members were: Lucy Alibar, Jonathan Ames, Cory Hardrict, Dana Harris, and Jenny Lumet.
Wendell Pierce as a troubled Louisiana preacher in "Burning Cane"
Feature: Burning Cane, directed by Phillip Youmans. which the jury calls "searingly original". Director Phillip Youman is just 19 years old and started making this movie two years ago in high school (!!!!!!!!) and also makes history as the first black man to win Tribeca!
Actress: Haley Bennett in Swallow who the jury calls "sensitive and engaging" (Special mention: Geetanjali Thapa in Stray Dolls). Our review here.
Actor: – Wendell Pierce in Burning Cane...
- 5/3/2019
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Last night in New York at the 18th Tribeca Film Festival, the winners were announced in the competition categories. The top honours went to Burning Cane which took the Founders Award for Best U.S. Narrative Feature, House of Hummingbird (Beol-sae) which won Best International Narrative Feature and Scheme Birds which was named Best Documentary Feature. Here’s a full list of Tribeca 2019 competition winners:
U.S. Narrative Competition Categories
Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature – Burning Cane, directed by Phillip Youmans. The award was given by Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal on behalf of the jury.
Best Actress in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film – Haley Bennett in Swallow.
Best Actor in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film – Wendell Pierce in Burning Cane.
Best International Narrative Feature – House of Hummingbird (Beol-sae) directed and written by Bora Kim.
Best Cinematography in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film – Phillip Youmans for Burning Cane.
U.S. Narrative Competition Categories
Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature – Burning Cane, directed by Phillip Youmans. The award was given by Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal on behalf of the jury.
Best Actress in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film – Haley Bennett in Swallow.
Best Actor in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film – Wendell Pierce in Burning Cane.
Best International Narrative Feature – House of Hummingbird (Beol-sae) directed and written by Bora Kim.
Best Cinematography in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film – Phillip Youmans for Burning Cane.
- 5/3/2019
- by James Kleinmann
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
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