Movies

When the Thessaloniki Intl. Film Festival kicks off its 64th edition on Nov. 2, the organizers will unveil a host of changes while renewing their commitment to serving audiences at one of Europe’s longest-running film events — all at a time of almost unprecedented uncertainty over the future of cinema and even the very purpose

What if a new Messiah appeared today, but his supernatural power was to release people’s intimate videos unprompted? Such a beguiling premise shapes Armenian Vilnius-based director Marat Sargsyan’s sophomore feature, “The Grand Inquisitor.” In it, the omnipotent creature is an AI that looks like a human being and has a human name, Vermis. Soon, his

Adam Driver, star of Michael Mann’s “Ferrari,” will travel to Camerimage, the cinematography-oriented film festival, to accept Special EnergaCamerimage Award for an Actor. He will also introduce the film, one of the entries in the Camerimage Main Competition and a prominent awards contender this season. The fest will run in Toruń. Poland, from Nov. 11-18.

With climate change and pollution making environmental concerns more urgent than ever, studios and productions are taking a lead role in incorporating sustainability into the workplace. And in some cases, it’s a necessity. Indeed, the AFM has a green filmmaking panel set for Nov. 3. As New York City experiences a boom in studio construction,

When director Yorgos Lanthimos approached production designers James Price and Shona Heath with a vision for his latest feature, “Poor Things,” the Venice sensation and Golden Lion winner that’s landed the filmmaker and lead actress Emma Stone at the forefront of this year’s Oscar race, the notoriously meticulous and demanding director had no shortage of

With the resolution of the Hollywood writers strike in September, hopes were high for a return to business as usual in bustling Budapest, host to such recent high-profile productions as Yorgos Lanthimos’ Venice sensation and Oscar frontrunner “Poor Things.” But the sudden breakdown in negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP in early October dampened that

Archstone Entertainment has acquired worldwide sales rights to “Don Q,” a comedic tribute to mafia movies that stars Armand Assante, no stranger to the genre from his work in HBO’s “Gotti” and “American Gangster.” It was written and directed by Claudio Bellante. Sales for the film kicked off this week at AFM. The film follows

Walt Disney Animation Studios production workers have voted to unionize, the Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839) announced Wednesday. In a National Labor Relations Board ballot count, 63 production employees (or 93%) — including production coordinators, production managers and production supervisors — voted to join the Animation Guild. Out of a total of 68 voters, five workers voted against.

Nicolas Cage has shared his thoughts on the use of AI in films, as well as his feelings about the final cut of his cameo as Superman in Warner Bros.’ “The Flash.” In a recent interview with Yahoo! Entertainment, Cage expressed his personal distaste for the technology, saying, “AI is a nightmare to me. It’s

UPDATED with SAG-AFTRA statement: SAG-AFTRA and Hollywood’s major studios had a second consecutive day of constructive steps toward a settlement to what will go down as a TV and film strike of record duration for the union. SAG-AFTRA told its members late Wednesday that the union presented a counterproposal on AI issues that have been

Writer/director David Ferino’s feature directorial debut, “Wardcliffe,” starring Joel McKinnon Miller (“The Staircase,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Big Love”) and Shane Coffey (“Pretty Little Liars,” “Good Girls”). Inspired by real events, Ferino’s script takes place over the course of a single day as Dennis (Miller) and his son Ronnie (Coffey) quarantine together during the 2020 pandemic lockdown.

Christopher Hampton, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of “The Father” and “Dangerous Liaisons,” is set to adapt Walter Isaacson’s acclaimed biography “Leonardo Da Vinci” for Universal Pictures. Universal Pictures had fiercely chased rights to the hot literary property six years ago, and was outbid by Paramount, which developed the project with Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way. Now that

The Academy Museum has set a new date for its annual fundraising gala, after initially postponing the event out of respect for the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. The event is now scheduled for the evening of Dec. 3. The fundraising gala is moving forward with the support of SAG-AFTRA, amid the actors union’s ongoing strike against

Jennifer Lawrence told Variety in June during her “No Hard Feelings” press tour that she is “totally” open to reprising her “Hunger Games” role of Katniss Everdeen should the right opportunity arise. She added at the time, “If Katniss ever could ever come back into my life, 100 percent.” But franchise producer Nina Jacobson and

“As We Know It,” an apocalyptic zombie comedy starring Chris Parnell and Pam Grier, has sold rights to Buffalo 8. The Santa Monica-based production and distribution company will release the movie in theaters on Nov. 10 with plans for streaming and video-on-demand in late November or early December. “We are thrilled to announce the release

David Arquette, Ethan Peck, Katrina Bowden and Gianni Capaldi are saddling up to join the cast of “Unholy Trinity.” The Western adventure, which received an interim agreement to go into production during the actors strike from SAG-AFTRA, has begun filming at Yellowstone Ranch in Montana.  It is directed by Richard Gray and stars the previously

Brooke Shields revealed in a new interview with Glamour that she suffered a seizure in September and none other than Bradley Cooper unexpectedly swooped in to support her. The incident occurred at a restaurant in New York City while Shields was waiting to be seated at a table. “Two women come up to me; I

Music Box Films has dropped the trailer for “The Crime Is Mine,” François Ozon’s screwball comedy set in 1930s Paris starring Nadia Tereszkiewicz, Rebecca Marder and Isabelle Huppert. A showbiz caper with a feminist edge in the vein of Ozon’s “8 Women” and “Potiche,” “The Crime Is Mine” will open in New York on Dec. 25,

The latest from “The Platform” co-producers Mr Miyagi and rising shock meister Hugo Cardozo will be sneak peeked as pix-in-post at this year’s Ventana Sur Blood Window Screenings.  Both are sold, and Cardozo’s “Do Not Enter” produced by Guido Rud’s FilmSharks as sales agents, as this week’s American Film Market attests, are driving ever more

Disney is on the cusp of becoming the 100% owner of Hulu. The media conglomerate announced that it expects to pay $8.61 billion to Comcast to acquire the cable operator’s 33% stake in Hulu following Comcast’s Nov. 1 exercise of its right under the put/call arrangement between the two companies. Disney owns the other two-thirds

From the pen of “Love Actually” writer-director Richard Curtis comes a new holiday comedy — but this time the magic of the season is literally magic. Premiering on Peacock on Nov. 22, “Genie” follows Melissa McCarthy as Flora, the titular character, who comes to the assistance of a despondent Bernard (Paapa Essiedu). Through their unexpected

Meg Ryan not only dazzles before the camera in “What Happens Later,” but behind it as well, as director and co-writer. Through the prism of one former couple’s relationship woes, this effervescent, enlightened romantic comedy explores our innate need for reconciliation within ourselves and with each other. It’s a delight to welcome Ryan back to

IFC Films and Shudder have acquired the rights to Image Nation Abu Dhabi and Spooky Pictures’ “Late Night With the Devil,” covering North America, the United Kingdom and Ireland. The supernatural horror will also stream on Shudder at a later date. “’Late Night With The Devil’ is an exhilarating demonstration of how the horror genre continues

Hollywood is all about sweeping storytelling, and the tale of the Egyptian Theatre is as stirring as any Golden Age epic. Movie stars, earthquakes, dinosaurs, elephants, hidden tunnels — the Hollywood Boulevard movie palace has seen it all. Now the theater’s new owner Netflix, along with partner American Cinematheque, is ready to unspool the next

Film distribution company Kino Lorber has launched Kino Film Collection, a new streaming service available via Prime Video. For an individual fee of $5.99 per month, subscribers will have streaming access to hundreds of films from the more than 4,000 titles from Kino’s library, in addition to newer Kino releases. Some of the movies available

This past September, a group of Marvel creatives, including studio chief Kevin Feige, assembled in Palm Springs for the studio’s annual retreat. Most years, the vibe would have been confident — even cocky — given how the premier superhero brand, owned by Disney since 2009, has remade the entertainment business in its image.   But this

The Sundance Institute has revealed the honorees of the upcoming Opening Night Gala: Celebrating 40 Years Presented by Chase Sapphire, to be held on Jan. 18 at the DeJoria Center in Kamas, Utah. The gala will spotlight the achievements of trailblazing and emerging independent filmmakers. Christopher Nolan will be honored at the event with the

Leading anti-piracy body Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) has shut down two major illegal streaming services in Georgia. Considered the two largest illegal streamers in the former Soviet republic, adjaranet.com and imovies.cc have amassed about 140 million and 64 million visits, respectively, over the last two years. Georgia’s ministry of finance, as well as

In the upcoming musical romantic comedy “That’s Amore!,” audiences will have their chance to see John Travolta doing what so many of his fans love to see him doing — singing and dancing with a smile on his face. The star’s enduring popularity certainly isn’t lost on writer-director Nick Vallelonga, who won two Oscars for

Chances are, you know someone like “Quiz Lady” Anne Yum. As played by Awkwafina, this socially awkward young woman works a boring CPA job by day, doing her best to blend in with the gray walls of her cubicle. But every evening at the same hour, Anne tunes in to her favorite game show and