PEAK Announces Inaugural 2024 Producers and Executive Fellowship Class – Film News in Brief
PEAK Announces Inaugural 2024 Producers and Executive Fellowship Class
The Pasifika Entertainment Advancement Komiti (PEAK) announced its inaugural PEAK Producer & Executive Fellowship class.
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The fellowship offers aspiring producers and development executives one-on-one time with high-level industry creatives and executives to help hone their skills in the art of communication, networking, leadership, and project development.
The program is designed to help the fellows build on the skills they’ve already shown as independent or freelance producers and executives, by giving them access to the traditional ins and outs of the studio system development process, as well as mentorship and advice from those who have been working within this system for years. Fellows will also participate in panels and discussions with top television and film industry professionals aimed at equipping them with the practical and business knowledge needed to succeed as a producer or development executive in the entertainment industry.
The fellowship class includes: Justin and Melissa Su’a, Gabrielle Alafagamalufilufi Fa?ai?uaso, Douglas Pa’ipa’ikū Finnegan, Aukai Ligairi and Kahea Kiwaha.
“These fellows are very talented and have already accomplished so much in their respective careers. With Averie delivering this program, they’ll be in great shape to take their projects to the next level,” says PEAK executive director and co-founder, Kristian Fanene Schmidt. PEAK Board Member, producer and development executive, Averie Joy Maikalima O Makua Huffine adds, “With this fellowship, I’m hoping to share what I’ve learned as a producer and executive to help expand Pasifika voices within the development process, so that as Hollywood greenlights more Pasifika-set and inspired projects, we have a greater opportunity to participate from the very beginning.”
Gravitas Ventures Acquires North American Rights to Sci-Fi Feature ‘Roswell Delirium’
Gravitas Ventures has announced the acquisition of U.S. and Canadian rights for the science fiction feature “Roswell Delirium,” which is scheduled to release in January on both cable and digital video on demand.
“During the 1980s the US is hit by a wave of nuclear attacks, and after the fallout those who remain pretend like everything is normal even though they are all experiencing radiation poisoning. A young girl named Mayday tries to make contact on a series of ham radios with her father who is in space on a shuttle mission. Instead of making contact she receives an intergalactic distress call from space that leads her on a journey to Space Rock, the land where Area 51 once was. She is exposed to severe levels of radiation and within days all of her organs start to fail. Knowing that medical treatment won’t help her mother, Wendy brings her back to Space Rock to give her to the aliens in hopes that they may be able to save her,” reads the film’s logline.
The film’s cast includes Kylee Levien, Ashton Solecki, Arielle Bodenhausen, Anthony Michael Hall, Dee Wallace, Lisa Whelchel, Reginald VelJohnson, Sam Jones, and co-stars Kayden Tokarski, Georgia MacPhail and Romyn Smith. Richard Bakewell serves as director.
Bakewell also serves as executive producer alongside Brandon Evans and David Harvey as well as producer alongside Anthony Michael Hall, Glenn Evans, Larissa Evans, Patrick Dupree, Lorna Dupree, Daniel McCoy and Todd Slater. Lightforce Pictures is set to produce as well in association with Manhattan Films, Bricklane Entertainment, That’s Fantastic Productions and Foolproof Films.
Fri. Oct 25
The Dazey Phase Sets Digital Release Date for Sundance NEXT Jury Winner “Desire Lines“
Distributor The Dazey Phase has set Valentine’s Day 2025 as the worldwide digital release date for Sundance NEXT Jury winner “Desire Lines.”
According to an official logline, “Desire Lines” follows, “Ahmad (Aden Hakimi), an Iranian expatriate who arrived in the US during the onset of the AIDS crisis. He is supported by Kieran (Theo Germaine), a nonbinary archivist deeply immersed in queer culture and the trans community with a visibility Ahmad had felt was unavailable to him. As their bond strengthens, Kieran realizes the significance of providing guidance to a trans elder. This film is the brainchild of Jules Rosskam, who serves as the writer, director, and editor, with co-writing contributions from Nate Gualtieri.”
Director Jules Rosskam serves as writer, editor and executive producer. Additional executive producers include Aymar Jean Christian, AJ Escoffery, Jason Matsumoto, Eugene Sun Park and Jennifer Reeder.
Watch the trailer below.
Below-the-Line Artisans Doc “Between Stars and Scars: Masters of Cinema” Sets Theatrical Release Date From Colors of the Sun Ventures
“Between Stars and Scars: Masters of Cinema,” Yi Zhou’s documentary on below-the-line filmmakers, is coming to theaters Nov. 29.
Per an official logline, “‘In Between Stars and Scars’ unveils the intricate world of filmmaking, with a special focus on the artisans who bring cinematic visions to life. The documentary film takes audiences on a captivating journey behind the scenes, shining a much-deserved spotlight on the talented individuals who often go unrecognized for their crucial contributions.”
Artisans featured in the film include Cameron Crowe (“Almost Famous,” “Jerry Maguire”), Robert Richardson (“Casino,” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”), Vittorio Storaro (“Apocalypse Now”), Dante Ferretti (“The Aviator”), Giorgio Gregorini (“Suicide Squad”) and Thom Noble (“Thelma & Louise,” “First Blood”).
Colors of the Sun Ventures serves as distributor.
Thursday, Oct. 24
Cinema Eye Honors Announces Its First Nominees for 2025 Awards
Cinema Eye Honors, the organization that recognizes artistic achievement in nonfiction and documentary films and series, has announced the first awards for its 2025 honors. The Unforgettables, on-camera collaborators from eight documentaries, include Brian Eno and Harper Steele. Cinema Eye also announced nominations in the Broadcast Film and Series category, with “Girls State” and “Ren Faire” leading the list. The 18th annual award ceremony is set for Jan. 9 at the New York Academy of Medicine in East Harlem, N.Y. See more at Cinema Eye’s website.
Steve James was nominated for a 14th time, breaking the record of most Cinema Eye nominations over time. HBO led with 12 nominations across various categories, followed by Apple TV+ with six nominations and Netflix with five. Sixteen documentaries were included in the Audience Choice Longlist including “Copa 71” and “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story.” Fans will vote to determine the top ten nominees and the winner of this category starting next week.
Thursday, Oct. 24
Issa Rae to Moderate Conversation with Writer and Director of New Keke Palmer-SZA Comedy
“Insecure” star and executive producer Issa Rae will sit down with Syreeta Singleton and Lawrence Lamont, the writer and director of the new R-rated comedy “One of Them Days” starring Keke Palmer and SZA, at a conversation Friday at 7:45 p.m. at The Culver Theater in Los Angeles as part of The Micheaux Film Festival.
The movie follows two roomates, Dreux (Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA) who must find a way to pay rent and avoid eviction once they realize Alyssa’s boyfriend spent all of their rent money. The film also stars Lil Rel Howery, Janelle James Katt Williams and Maude Apatow. Rae produced the film alongside Sara Rastogi through their company Hoorae, Deniese Davis did so through ColorCreative, James Lopez and Poppy Hanks through MACRO Film Studios. Palmer executive produced through her company Big Boss, alongside Sharon Palmer, Jeff Valeri, and MACRO Film Studios’ Charles D. King.
The TriStar Pictures film is set to premiere on Jan. 24. Watch the trailer below.
Sundance Film Festival Ticket Passes and Packages Now on Sale for 2025
The 2025 Sundance Film Festival, which will take place from Jan. 23 to Feb. 2 in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, has opened sales for in-person and online ticket passes and packages at festival.sundance.org/tickets. Official festival merchandise has also been launched, which can be purchased here.
The ticket packages for the festival include the Festival Package at $900, the Ignite Package at $275 for attendees from 18-25 and the Locals Package at $675.
Flux Festival Sets Date for Los Angeles Kick-Off
Flux Festival, an offshoot of the the quarterly Flux screening series hosted at UCLA’s Hammer Museum, has set the date for its inaugural edition. The four-day event, which celebrates innovation across film, art and emerging technology, takes place Nov. 20-23 across multiple Los Angeles Venues.
Filmmakers, performers and artists attending Flux Festival include writer-director Carlos López Estrada (“Raya and the Last Dragon”), sci-fi artist Lucy McRae, creator of the Cyberfeminism Index Mindy Seu, conceptual filmmaker Paul Trillo, performance artist Poppy, British visual artist Shantell Martin and filmmaker and artist Rashaad Newsome.
Flux Festival is presented in partnership with AI for Media & Storytelling, a collaboration between the School of Cinematic Arts and the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at USC.
Tickets and additional info can be found on the Flux website.
Wed. Oct. 23
Jennifer Fox Returns to Produce the 15th Governors Awards
Jennifer Fox (“Nightcrawler,” “The Last Duel”) will return to produce the 15th Governors Awards for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which takes place Nov. 17 at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood. This marks her sixth time producing the event.
“I’m thrilled to produce this special event for the Academy for another year,” said Fox. “It’s truly a highlight to honor the careers of such talented individuals and help kick off Oscar season.”
At the Governors Awards, Quincy Jones and Juliet Taylor will be presented with Honorary Oscars, and producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli will be presented with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to Richard Curtis and the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award.
“Jennifer is an exemplary producer, and we are delighted to welcome her back to the Governors Awards for a sixth time,” said Academy President Janet Yang. “Her expertise is unmatched, and we’re looking forward to a joyous event paying tribute to the achievements of Richard Curtis, Quincy Jones, Juliet Taylor, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.”
Kino App to Host Digital Premiere of ‘Empire Waist’
The Kino app will host a live premiere for the film “Empire Waist” on Oct. 26.
“Lenore (Kaplan) is a teen deeply insecure about her weight. Hiding her passion for fashion design, she tries to make herself invisible in her day-to-day life to avoid being bullied by her classmates and image-conscious mother (Pyle). Lenore’s father Mark (Wilson) is her biggest cheerleader and her best friend Kayla (newcomer Jemima Yevu) is confident, funny, outgoing, and proud of her plus-sized body. Through their support along with teacher Ms. Hall (Jolene Purdy) Lenore is encouraged to step outside her comfort zone and embrace her talent,” reads the film’s logline.
Stacy London will serve as host for this digital event with both pre and post-show appearances from the cast and director as well as special guests Tess Holliday and Taeler Watson. The cast of “Empire Waist” includes Rainn Wilson, Jemima Yevu, Jolene Purdy, Missi Pyle and Mia Kaplan. The film is written and directed by Claire Ayoub.
Tues. Oct. 22
Tribeca Films Partners With Kanopy and Kinema to Stream Catalog of Independent Films
Tribeca Films has partnered with Kanopy and Kinema to stream the label’s catalog of independent films which have been featured at top festivals. Tribeca is the first festival to license films with Kanopy and Kinema.
The first collection of films under the agreement with Kanopy include: the 2022 Tribeca Festival Best Narrative winner, “Good Girl Jane;” “Mary Heilmann: Waves, Roads, & Hallucinations;” “A Bronx Tale;” “In Her Name;” and others. New label releases are also available on Kinema, among these are favorites like “Listen Up Philip” and “My Awkward Sexual Adventure.”
Kanopy is an educational library for streaming as it collaborates with public libraries and universities to feature its content without requiring a fee or including commercials. Kinema is a direct-to-consumer platform that delivers live screenings to audiences in person or virtually on demand. They work through a “Pay What You Wish” feature.
Glenn Close to Receive AARP’s Movies for Grownups Career Achievement Award
Glenn Close will be honored with a Career Achievement Award by the AARP Magazine on Jan 11.
Earlier this year, Close starred in Lee Daniels’ horror film “The Deliverance.” She will also be seen in the upcoming “Knives Out” movie series “Wake Up a Dead Man,” as well as Ryan Murphy’s new legal drama “All’s Fair,” and over six more TV shows and films.
“I am so honored to receive the AARP Movies for Grownups Career Achievement Award even though I feel like I’m still 35, if not younger,” says Close. “I love making movies for grownups and everyone else, and I deeply appreciate the inspiration and support of the people I have worked with over 50 years. Thank you, AARP, for this great honor.”
AARP’s Movies for Grownups has dedicated itself for over 20 years to note movies “for grownups, by grownups,” as the organization says. This is done to advocate for a 50-plus audience demanding for films and TV shows to resonate with older audiences
Frameline Digitally Restores and Rereleases the Queer Romance ‘High Art’ at SFMOMA Screening
The 1998 Queer Romance “High Art” has been restored and is set to premiere on Nov 2nd at a SFMOMA’s screening at the Phyllis Wattis Theater hosted by Frameline Restorations.
The film was digitally restored by Academy Film Archive and UCLA Film & Television Archive with the Sundance Institute. Frameline is a non-profit behind the largest and longest-running LGBTQ+ film festival in the world. “High Art” which was Lisa Cholodenko’s directorial debut premiered at Sundance in 1998 and it took home the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award.
The film stars Ally Sheedy, Radha Mitchell, and Patricia Clarkson. It follows the story of Syd (Mitchell) a young associate editor at a photo magazine and Lucy (Sheedy) a retired once-celebrated photographer, who both live with their respective long-term partners. Syd lives with her Manhattanite boyfriend named James (Gabriel Mann), and Lucy lives with a heroin-addicted German actor named Greta (Clarkson). “A searing look at art, complacency, and addiction of all sorts, High Art is just as potent and striking as it was in the ‘90s,” says Frameline.
The restored version of High Art is distributed by Strand Releasing.
Mon. Oct. 21
Laika Studios Recruits Chris and Justin Copeland to Develop Animated Features
Animation company Laika Studios (“Coraline,” “Kubo and the Two Strings”) has recruited Chris and Justin Copeland, together known as the Copeland Brothers (“Batman The Killing Joke,” “Avengers Assemble”), to develop animated features.
As a pair, the brothers previously worked on animated series such as “Invincible,” “Batman: Gotham by Gaslight,” “Batman: Soul of the Dragon,” “Reign of Superman,” “Spider-Man” and “Ben 10: Omniverse.”
The Copeland Brothers are represented by Jason Burns and Strawn Dixon at UTA and managed by Jairo Alvarado at Redefine Entertainment.
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