Twenty years ago, quirky indie comedy Napoleon Dynamite was untethered, giving the world a socially awkward teen to root for, a seemingly endless string of quotes and even a llama that just wouldn’t eat the ham. And while things worked out for the characters at the end of the movie, they may not have fared so well two decades later.
As Napoleon Dynamite star Jon Heder put it, “I think it’s not looking very good for most of them.” On where Napoleon himself is, Heder added, “Napoleon is probably paying child support to two different moms, with two different kids…maybe Trisha was a fling. Like, ‘Let’s give it a go…no, I was right the first time.’ It didn’t work out with Deb, but he really wants to make it work with Deb so he’s like, ‘I’ve gotta get some political sway to pull some cool favors.
As Napoleon Dynamite star Jon Heder put it, “I think it’s not looking very good for most of them.” On where Napoleon himself is, Heder added, “Napoleon is probably paying child support to two different moms, with two different kids…maybe Trisha was a fling. Like, ‘Let’s give it a go…no, I was right the first time.’ It didn’t work out with Deb, but he really wants to make it work with Deb so he’s like, ‘I’ve gotta get some political sway to pull some cool favors.
- 6/12/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Cinetic Media has launched a new unit that will oversee the re-licensing of many of the iconic titles that drove the independent film revolution of the 1980s and the 1990s. The move comes as the distribution landscape in Hollywood is being reshaped. Dubbed Cinetic Library Services, the division will identify innovative ways to reach new audiences and disseminate titles across subscription streamers, transactional VOD, direct-to-consumer and theatrical re-releases. The division will be overseen by Isadora Johnson and Leah Harris, two longtime Cinetic executives.
Cinetic has been a force in the indie film world. The company has managed the sale of more than 600 films including “Napoleon Dynamite,” “Little Miss Sunshine,” “The Kids Are All Right,” “Precious,” “Summer of Soul” and “Amy.” More recently, it scored major deals for Richard Linklater’s “Hit Man,” which Netflix is releasing this summer, as well as “Super/Man,” a documentary about actor and activist Christopher Reeve,...
Cinetic has been a force in the indie film world. The company has managed the sale of more than 600 films including “Napoleon Dynamite,” “Little Miss Sunshine,” “The Kids Are All Right,” “Precious,” “Summer of Soul” and “Amy.” More recently, it scored major deals for Richard Linklater’s “Hit Man,” which Netflix is releasing this summer, as well as “Super/Man,” a documentary about actor and activist Christopher Reeve,...
- 6/4/2024
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Film festivals in North America have launched some of the greatest movies ever – whether nonfiction or fiction. Telluride premiered Free Solo, Slumdog Millionaire, and Argo; Sundance debuted sex, lies and videotape, Napoleon Dynamite, An Inconvenient Truth, and this year’s Oscar winning documentary 20 Days in Mariupol; the Toronto International Film Festival premiered I Am Not Your Negro and Ray.
The importance of festivals to the industry is beyond question, but many of the most celebrated ones on this continent are facing a moment of crisis. Post-pandemic financial struggles are plaguing Sundance, TIFF, and Hot Docs among others, and the situation with the latter festival is serious enough that it may have to fold.
Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast digs into the precarious state of film festivals in our latest episode, examining that vital question with guests steeped in the field: Ken Jacobson, executive director of the Hot Springs Documentary...
The importance of festivals to the industry is beyond question, but many of the most celebrated ones on this continent are facing a moment of crisis. Post-pandemic financial struggles are plaguing Sundance, TIFF, and Hot Docs among others, and the situation with the latter festival is serious enough that it may have to fold.
Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast digs into the precarious state of film festivals in our latest episode, examining that vital question with guests steeped in the field: Ken Jacobson, executive director of the Hot Springs Documentary...
- 5/21/2024
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Quiver has picked up North American rights from Premiere Entertainment Group to the romantic comedy Plan B starring Jamie Lee from HBO’s Crashing and Jon Heder from Napoleon Dynamite.
Premiere is continuing international sales here on the story of a woman who gets pregnant after a one-night stand with her awkward neighbour and impulsively decides to sleep with a successful businessman to pass off the baby as his.
Tom Berenger, Shannon Elizabeth, and Kate Flannery round out the key cast. Quiver plans to release the film later in the year.
Brandon Tamburri directed Plan B film from his original...
Premiere is continuing international sales here on the story of a woman who gets pregnant after a one-night stand with her awkward neighbour and impulsively decides to sleep with a successful businessman to pass off the baby as his.
Tom Berenger, Shannon Elizabeth, and Kate Flannery round out the key cast. Quiver plans to release the film later in the year.
Brandon Tamburri directed Plan B film from his original...
- 5/18/2024
- ScreenDaily
Closer in tone to the sharp adult series “BoJack Horseman” than to Illumination’s bland “Sing” franchise, Netflix’s “Thelma the Unicorn” avoids being rendered completely unoriginal by its overly familiar premise thanks to consistent splashes of acid humor and a plethora of wacky supporting characters. Reimagined from the popular 2015 children’s book by Aaron Blabey, this bright-colored fable concerns a female pony chasing musical stardom disguised as a horned magical creature. But by changing her identity to chase those ambitions, Thelma betrays herself and those who truly know her.
The adaptation marks the animated feature debut for co-directors Jared Hess and Lynn Wang. Hess, still best known for co-writing and directing the 2004 indie hit “Napoleon Dynamite,” received an Oscar nomination earlier this year for the handcrafted animated short “Ninety-Five Senses” about a Death Row inmate. He shared the accolade with his wife and careerlong collaborator Jerusha Hess (also his...
The adaptation marks the animated feature debut for co-directors Jared Hess and Lynn Wang. Hess, still best known for co-writing and directing the 2004 indie hit “Napoleon Dynamite,” received an Oscar nomination earlier this year for the handcrafted animated short “Ninety-Five Senses” about a Death Row inmate. He shared the accolade with his wife and careerlong collaborator Jerusha Hess (also his...
- 5/17/2024
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Variety Film + TV
Jared and Jenusha Hess made a name for themselves with the quirky comedy Napoleon Dynamite but recently earned status as Academy Award nominees for their animated short Ninety-Five Senses. Thus, hopes were certainly high for their next project, the Netflix animated feature Thelma the Unicorn. Those hopes are misguided.
Inspired by the children’s book by Aaron Blabey, Thelma the Unicorn tells the story of a common farm pony who seizes the chance to make her dream come true when a chance incident causes her to look like a unicorn, only to realize that all that glitters is not… unicorns? With a pretty brief runtime, one would think that this would at least feel mercifully short. Unfortunately, the movie feels so uninspired that it goes by slowly nonetheless.
As is the case with most kids’ movies, Thelma the Unicorn has a very positive message for younger audiences. It’s a pretty straightforward underdog story,...
Inspired by the children’s book by Aaron Blabey, Thelma the Unicorn tells the story of a common farm pony who seizes the chance to make her dream come true when a chance incident causes her to look like a unicorn, only to realize that all that glitters is not… unicorns? With a pretty brief runtime, one would think that this would at least feel mercifully short. Unfortunately, the movie feels so uninspired that it goes by slowly nonetheless.
As is the case with most kids’ movies, Thelma the Unicorn has a very positive message for younger audiences. It’s a pretty straightforward underdog story,...
- 5/17/2024
- by Sean Boelman
- FandomWire
2004 was a standout year for cinema, marked by a thrilling competition at the Oscars and the emergence of new talent in the indie market. The Academy Awards that year saw a highly competitive slate, with a plethora of films vying for top honours. Meanwhile, the indie scene was thriving, with breakthrough films like Sideways, and Napoleon Dynamite captivating audiences and critics alike. Filmmakers like Alexander Payne, Wes Anderson, and Michel Gondry were making their mark on the industry, while newcomers like Sofia Coppola and Charlie Kaufman were introducing fresh perspectives and innovative storytelling techniques. Overall, 2004 was a triumphant
The post Two Decades Later: 6 Best Movies from 2004 first appeared on TVovermind.
The post Two Decades Later: 6 Best Movies from 2004 first appeared on TVovermind.
- 5/12/2024
- by Matthew C. F
- TVovermind.com
It’s that time of year again! The annual Rooftop Films Summer Series is back, with IndieWire exclusively debuting the 2024 lineup.
This year’s Summer Series will run from May 17 through August 23, and will include over 40 events, featuring new independent feature films, short film programs, family screenings, and live performances. Programming highlights include the 20th anniversary of “Napoleon Dynamite,” the NYC premiere of “In a Violent Nature,” and an early screening of “War Game.”
Non-profit Rooftop Films annually celebrates independent films and filmmakers with one of the world’s longest running and largest outdoor festivals for indie film. The screenings take place in outdoor venues across New York City’s five boroughs, with “In a Violent Nature” set to debut on Governors Island.
“The 2024 Summer Series isn’t just a celebration of groundbreaking new cinema,” Rooftop Films’ Executive Director Adnaan Wasey said. “It’s also a catalyst for connecting communities...
This year’s Summer Series will run from May 17 through August 23, and will include over 40 events, featuring new independent feature films, short film programs, family screenings, and live performances. Programming highlights include the 20th anniversary of “Napoleon Dynamite,” the NYC premiere of “In a Violent Nature,” and an early screening of “War Game.”
Non-profit Rooftop Films annually celebrates independent films and filmmakers with one of the world’s longest running and largest outdoor festivals for indie film. The screenings take place in outdoor venues across New York City’s five boroughs, with “In a Violent Nature” set to debut on Governors Island.
“The 2024 Summer Series isn’t just a celebration of groundbreaking new cinema,” Rooftop Films’ Executive Director Adnaan Wasey said. “It’s also a catalyst for connecting communities...
- 5/7/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
In 2004, a little movie called Napoleon Dynamite came out and quickly became The cult movie of the decade. It made the director, Jared Hess, a hot ticket, and for his follow-up, he opted to team with Jack Black for a luchador wrestling comedy called Nacho Libre. In it, Black plays Ignacio, a cook at an orphanage run by monks in Mexico, who idolizes luchador wrestlers, even though the sport is forbidden within the monastery. When the church runs out of the funds needed to feed the many orphans they take care of, Ignacio decides to pursue his dream of being a wrestler to raise money for the kids.
Too bad he sucks as a wrestler.
In this pretty hilarious little comedy, Black delivers perhaps his greatest physical performance as Ignacio transforms into the legendary wrestler Nacho Libre. While it’s become a somewhat forgotten film, it’s worth noting that...
Too bad he sucks as a wrestler.
In this pretty hilarious little comedy, Black delivers perhaps his greatest physical performance as Ignacio transforms into the legendary wrestler Nacho Libre. While it’s become a somewhat forgotten film, it’s worth noting that...
- 5/2/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Making a film in under 25 days is a monumental feat for a filmmaker. However, with clever budgeting, creativity, and resourcefulness from a talented cast and crew, films can be made in a few days and even in a few hours.
Victoria (2015) and Russian Ark (2002) were filmed in a single continuous shot, pushing the boundaries of a well-thought-out planned production.
Many of these come from first-time independent filmmakers, including The Blair Witch Project (1998); Paranormal Activity ( 2007), Clerks (1994); Mind, Body & Soul (2024); El Mariachi (1992); Get Out (2017); Napoleon Dynamite (2004) and Fruitvale Station (2013). These movies stand as testaments to the power of resourceful directing, proving that films can be made quickly and effectively on any budget.
Take a look back at movies that were made in under 23 days that were released at the box office.
Victoria (2015) and Russian Ark (2002) were filmed in a single continuous shot, pushing the boundaries of a well-thought-out planned production.
Many of these come from first-time independent filmmakers, including The Blair Witch Project (1998); Paranormal Activity ( 2007), Clerks (1994); Mind, Body & Soul (2024); El Mariachi (1992); Get Out (2017); Napoleon Dynamite (2004) and Fruitvale Station (2013). These movies stand as testaments to the power of resourceful directing, proving that films can be made quickly and effectively on any budget.
Take a look back at movies that were made in under 23 days that were released at the box office.
- 4/22/2024
- by The Deadline Team
- Deadline Film + TV
Thelma The Unicorn is coming to Netflix this May 17, 2024, This animated musical is led by the talented singer Brittany Howard, This is her acting debut after years of doing music. For a first-time voice actress, she fits the role like a glove. It is based on a book written by Aaron Blabey. Husband and wife duo of Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess writes the screenplay of the film. Jared also directs this movie in collaboration with Lynn Wang. The Hess couple are known for their works in Nacho Libre and Napoleon Dynamite. Netflix have a string of successful animated films while Mainstream film companies are struggling to make Cinematic animated movies succeed. Thelma The Unicorn Thelma, an aspiring singer from a small town, faced rejection from the music industry due to her plain appearance as a farm pony. Let’s be honest, even though music is primarily heard, most people...
- 4/17/2024
- by Skylar Kinsley
- popgeeks - film
A “Golden Axe” animated series has been greenlit at Comedy Central, Variety has learned.
Based on the beloved Sega games of the same name, the show hails from co-creators Mike McMahan and Joe Chandler. Matthew Rhys, Danny Pudi, Lisa Gilroy, Liam McIntyre, and Carl Tart will lead the voice cast.
Comedy Central has ordered 10 episodes. The official description of the series states the show “follows veteran warriors Ax Battler (McIntyre), Tyris Flare (Gilroy), and Gilius Thunderhead (Rhys) as they once again battle to save Yuria from the evil giant Death Adder who just won’t seem to stay dead. Fortunately, this time they have the inexperienced and underprepared Hampton Squib (Pudi) on their side.”
Full character descriptions can be found below.
McMahan and Chandler will co-write the first episode of the series and serve as executive producers, with Chandler also serving as showrunner. Haruki Satomi, President and CEO of Sega Sammy Holdings Inc.
Based on the beloved Sega games of the same name, the show hails from co-creators Mike McMahan and Joe Chandler. Matthew Rhys, Danny Pudi, Lisa Gilroy, Liam McIntyre, and Carl Tart will lead the voice cast.
Comedy Central has ordered 10 episodes. The official description of the series states the show “follows veteran warriors Ax Battler (McIntyre), Tyris Flare (Gilroy), and Gilius Thunderhead (Rhys) as they once again battle to save Yuria from the evil giant Death Adder who just won’t seem to stay dead. Fortunately, this time they have the inexperienced and underprepared Hampton Squib (Pudi) on their side.”
Full character descriptions can be found below.
McMahan and Chandler will co-write the first episode of the series and serve as executive producers, with Chandler also serving as showrunner. Haruki Satomi, President and CEO of Sega Sammy Holdings Inc.
- 4/17/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
A good laugh a day keeps the doctor away & it does wonders for the soul!
Picture this: you’ve had a long day, and all you need is a hearty dose of laughter to chase away the stress. Well, my friend, you’re in for a treat. From epic mishaps to quirky characters, these movies have it all. So, get ready to embark on a laughter-filled adventure…
Related: Is Comedy Doomed?
1. “Superbad” (2007): Friendship and Hilarity
Few films capture the awkward and hilarious journey of teenage friendship quite like “Superbad.” This coming-of-age comedy follows two best friends on a quest to impress their crushes before their high school days come to an end. With relatable characters and uproarious escapades, it’s a surefire way to put a smile on your face.
Related: 10 Best Movies Like ‘Superbad’
Personal Note: “Superbad” perfectly encapsulates the chaos and camaraderie of youth, making it an instant classic in my book.
Picture this: you’ve had a long day, and all you need is a hearty dose of laughter to chase away the stress. Well, my friend, you’re in for a treat. From epic mishaps to quirky characters, these movies have it all. So, get ready to embark on a laughter-filled adventure…
Related: Is Comedy Doomed?
1. “Superbad” (2007): Friendship and Hilarity
Few films capture the awkward and hilarious journey of teenage friendship quite like “Superbad.” This coming-of-age comedy follows two best friends on a quest to impress their crushes before their high school days come to an end. With relatable characters and uproarious escapades, it’s a surefire way to put a smile on your face.
Related: 10 Best Movies Like ‘Superbad’
Personal Note: “Superbad” perfectly encapsulates the chaos and camaraderie of youth, making it an instant classic in my book.
- 4/10/2024
- by Pia Vermaak
- buddytv.com
Tim Allen is one step closer to returning to ABC for a third time. The Alphabet net has given a pilot order to his latest sitcom, “Shifting Gears,” from 20th Television. Allen is on board to star and executive produce the multi-cam sitcom pilot — which is still a working title — which will also be written and executive produced by Mike Scully and Julie Thacker Scully.
In the project, Allen plays Matt, the “stubborn, widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop. When Matt’s estranged daughter and her teenage kids move into his house, the real restoration begins.”
Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Richard Baker and Rick Messina are the non-writing exec producers on the show.
“Shifting Gears” continues Allen’s long association with ABC and Disney, including the long-running hit (1991-1997) “Home Improvement.” Allen later starred on ABC’s “Last Man Standing,” which aired on the Alphabet web from 2011 to...
In the project, Allen plays Matt, the “stubborn, widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop. When Matt’s estranged daughter and her teenage kids move into his house, the real restoration begins.”
Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Richard Baker and Rick Messina are the non-writing exec producers on the show.
“Shifting Gears” continues Allen’s long association with ABC and Disney, including the long-running hit (1991-1997) “Home Improvement.” Allen later starred on ABC’s “Last Man Standing,” which aired on the Alphabet web from 2011 to...
- 3/6/2024
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.
Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:
Oscars | Emmys | Grammys | Tonys
2023 Oscars Predictions:
Best Animated Short
Weekly Commentary: In the realm of animated shorts, the title can be as captivating as the storyline itself.
This year, Dave Mullins’ “War is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko,” which is co-writes with Sean Lennon, the son of Beatles band member John Lennon,...
Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:
Oscars | Emmys | Grammys | Tonys
2023 Oscars Predictions:
Best Animated Short
Weekly Commentary: In the realm of animated shorts, the title can be as captivating as the storyline itself.
This year, Dave Mullins’ “War is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko,” which is co-writes with Sean Lennon, the son of Beatles band member John Lennon,...
- 3/5/2024
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Short subjects willing to tackle tough subjects made the final cut with the Academy this year. That means audiences buying tickets to the “2024 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Animation” program should brace for poetic treatments of uncomfortable topics, ranging from incest to the Holocaust. Since the toon shorts tend to run short (just an hour to get through the noms), ShortsTV’s theatrical roster includes two additional “highly commended” titles, ending on a musical up note with “The Little Mermaid” co-director John Musker’s “I’m Hip.”
Hailing from Iran, Yegane Moghaddam’s “Our Uniform” finds a fitting style for a sartorial commentary: Using clothing as her canvas, the young director recalls how it felt to grow up in a country where girls were required to wear the hijab, or headscarf. She creatively experiments with various techniques, manipulating garments to suggest motion and drawing directly onto different fabrics (as when...
Hailing from Iran, Yegane Moghaddam’s “Our Uniform” finds a fitting style for a sartorial commentary: Using clothing as her canvas, the young director recalls how it felt to grow up in a country where girls were required to wear the hijab, or headscarf. She creatively experiments with various techniques, manipulating garments to suggest motion and drawing directly onto different fabrics (as when...
- 3/4/2024
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Blockchain animated show Cyko Ko is set to launch today.
The retro-inspired Cyko Ko: The Animated Series is notable not only for being a high-profile pilot powered through blockchain tech, but also for reuniting several cast members from Napoleon Dynamite, as we first told you in September 2022.
The pilot stars Jon Heder as Cyko Ko, a stunt motorcyclist turned SuperEarth’s greatest hero. Adapted from a webcomic, it launches today on Rewarded.tv at 11am Et, exclusive for an audience of digital collectible (Nft) holders, and also stars Heder’s Napoleon Dynamite co-stars Tina Majorino, Jon Gries, Efren Ramirez and Haylie Duff. Heder is also executive producer on the pilot through his Verified Labs label.
The show was funded through NFTs on web3 streaming platform Rewarded.tv, and is a production of Replay, Theta Labs, Verified Labs, Rocketship Entertainment, Earworm Media and Simpatico Studios. It...
The retro-inspired Cyko Ko: The Animated Series is notable not only for being a high-profile pilot powered through blockchain tech, but also for reuniting several cast members from Napoleon Dynamite, as we first told you in September 2022.
The pilot stars Jon Heder as Cyko Ko, a stunt motorcyclist turned SuperEarth’s greatest hero. Adapted from a webcomic, it launches today on Rewarded.tv at 11am Et, exclusive for an audience of digital collectible (Nft) holders, and also stars Heder’s Napoleon Dynamite co-stars Tina Majorino, Jon Gries, Efren Ramirez and Haylie Duff. Heder is also executive producer on the pilot through his Verified Labs label.
The show was funded through NFTs on web3 streaming platform Rewarded.tv, and is a production of Replay, Theta Labs, Verified Labs, Rocketship Entertainment, Earworm Media and Simpatico Studios. It...
- 2/17/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
When Napoleon Dynamite hit the screens in 2004, it brought with it a flurry of quotes that would nestle into the crevices of pop culture. Today, let’s stroll down memory lane and chuckle over six moments from the film that still tickle our funny bones. Napoleon and the Vote for Pedro Phenomenon The ‘Vote for Pedro’ campaign is a pivotal moment in Napoleon Dynamite, not just for its political undertones but for its impact on fashion and language. Who can forget Napoleon’s earnest face, emblazoned on shirts across the nation, paired with the promise, Vote for me, and all your...
- 2/14/2024
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
So, it’s been twenty years since the release of Jared Hess’ breakout debut comedy- Napoleon Dynamite. Last week, we did some great anniversary interviews, and this week we’re taking a deeper dive into the meaning behind this cult classic. On paper, this is a movie about a dorky high-school kid in a rural Idaho town who helps his best friend run for class president while looking for love and dealing with his creepy uncle. But, if I believed that was all this movie was, I’d be talking about something else- but here we are.
Now, this is a movie that most everybody has either seen or at the very least is familiar with. And, while I agree that not every movie has to be some deep and robust metaphor for life and the human condition, I do think that there is an interesting angle for Napoleon Dynamite...
Now, this is a movie that most everybody has either seen or at the very least is familiar with. And, while I agree that not every movie has to be some deep and robust metaphor for life and the human condition, I do think that there is an interesting angle for Napoleon Dynamite...
- 2/8/2024
- by Kier Gomes
- JoBlo.com
Before they had a plot for “Ninety-Five Senses,” Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess knew that they wanted to lead a project that would give them the opportunity to have several animators working on the film. “We wanted to get five to six animators and the producers to be involved. So, [writers] Chris Bowman and Hubbel Palmer said, ‘Let’s write a story that could feature each one really succinctly.’ That’s how they came up with the five senses as the vehicle to tell Coy’s story,” Jerusha tells Gold Derby during our recent webchat (watch the exclusive video interview above).
“Ninety-Five Senses” centers on Coy, an old man who is recounting memories associated with each of his senses as an ominous event draws near. The short is now an Oscar nominee for Best Animated Short Film. It marks the first nomination for the husband and wife directors. The couple are...
“Ninety-Five Senses” centers on Coy, an old man who is recounting memories associated with each of his senses as an ominous event draws near. The short is now an Oscar nominee for Best Animated Short Film. It marks the first nomination for the husband and wife directors. The couple are...
- 2/7/2024
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
I’ll never forget the first time I saw Napoleon Dynamite. It was in a Montreal movie theater in the old Forum building (currently featured in the Queen IMAX doc Queen Rock Montreal). The film had only been out a few weeks but had already started becoming a cult hit following its Sundance premiere. I remember it being a matinee on a weekday, and I was stunned when I saw several audience members wearing identical “Vote for Pedro” t-shirts. I knew from the reviews that it was a reference to the movie, and it was then that I had an accurate idea of just how deep the Napoleon Dynamite cult was going.
And folks – that was Twenty years ago! Crazy isn’t it? But yes, Napoleon Dynamite has been a thing since 2004, with it grossing $44 million on a $400,000 budget, and it’s known as being one of the best-selling DVDs of all time,...
And folks – that was Twenty years ago! Crazy isn’t it? But yes, Napoleon Dynamite has been a thing since 2004, with it grossing $44 million on a $400,000 budget, and it’s known as being one of the best-selling DVDs of all time,...
- 2/2/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
This is one of best discoveries of Sundance 2024. A knock out - loved every second of it. 2024 is a big year for the talented Taiwanese-American filmmaker Sean Wang, who is originally from Fremont, CA. Not only does he have this feature debut movie premiering at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, and it's getting rave reviews (and it won the Audience Award), he's also probably going to win an Academy Award in March for his short film Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó about his grannies (it's also streaming on Disney+ in February). Sundance has a memorably rich tradition of premiering many of the best coming-of-age films of all-time, ranging from 500 Days of Summer to Napoleon Dynamite to Little Miss Sunshine to The Spectacular Now to Clerks to Eighth Grade to Boyhood, and so many others over the years. Sean Wang's Dìdi (弟弟) instantly joins the ranks as yet another outstanding coming-of-age...
- 1/29/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Barbie and Oppenheimer are just two of this year’s Oscar-nominated films created by life partners who are also creative teams
The Academy award nominations on Tuesday contained, among the plethora of announcements, intriguing evidence of the strength of familial connections underpinning major Oscar bids, with a number of the 10 films nominated for best picture containing both members of high profile relationships, working together on the same film. Barbie, the doll-inspired blockbuster that, to the chagrin of many including Ryan Gosling, appeared to be snubbed in the best actress and best director categories, even contains two of them. Star Margot Robbie and husband Tom Ackerley are co-founders of LuckyChap Entertainment, the company that produced the film, while director Greta Gerwig is up for best adapted screenplay alongside her husband Noah Baumbach.
The 2024 Oscar crop appears to have been particularly favourable to these kind of partnerships: the director-producer team behind best picture nominee Oppenheimer,...
The Academy award nominations on Tuesday contained, among the plethora of announcements, intriguing evidence of the strength of familial connections underpinning major Oscar bids, with a number of the 10 films nominated for best picture containing both members of high profile relationships, working together on the same film. Barbie, the doll-inspired blockbuster that, to the chagrin of many including Ryan Gosling, appeared to be snubbed in the best actress and best director categories, even contains two of them. Star Margot Robbie and husband Tom Ackerley are co-founders of LuckyChap Entertainment, the company that produced the film, while director Greta Gerwig is up for best adapted screenplay alongside her husband Noah Baumbach.
The 2024 Oscar crop appears to have been particularly favourable to these kind of partnerships: the director-producer team behind best picture nominee Oppenheimer,...
- 1/27/2024
- by Andrew Pulver
- The Guardian - Film News
The cast of Napoleon Dynamite reunited at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival!
Believe it or not, the cult classic high school movie starring Jon Heder as the titular character, premiered 20 years ago in 2004.
On Thursday (January 24), Jon got together with costars Jon Gries, Shondrella Avery, Efren Ramirez and Tom Lefler at a special screening of the movie.
Keep reading to find out more…
The cast was joined by producers Jeremy Coon, Sean Covel and Chris Wyatt, art director Curt Jensen and costume director Jerusha Hess. We’ve got pics of all of them in the gallery!
It looks like the group had a great time getting together again, and the event even featured a “Vote for Pedro” pin!
If you haven’t been keeping up, we’ve got all the coverage you need from the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. For instance, did you know a popular star brought their parents as dates for their premiere?...
Believe it or not, the cult classic high school movie starring Jon Heder as the titular character, premiered 20 years ago in 2004.
On Thursday (January 24), Jon got together with costars Jon Gries, Shondrella Avery, Efren Ramirez and Tom Lefler at a special screening of the movie.
Keep reading to find out more…
The cast was joined by producers Jeremy Coon, Sean Covel and Chris Wyatt, art director Curt Jensen and costume director Jerusha Hess. We’ve got pics of all of them in the gallery!
It looks like the group had a great time getting together again, and the event even featured a “Vote for Pedro” pin!
If you haven’t been keeping up, we’ve got all the coverage you need from the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. For instance, did you know a popular star brought their parents as dates for their premiere?...
- 1/25/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Dig!, a documentary about two bands – The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols – is a musical trainwreck, equal parts romantic comedy and horror film that follows the highs and lows of being a musician, in the studio, on the road and in their own heads.
The film, which launched at Sundance in 2004 and is returning to the festival this year with an extended cut, is a favorite among the musical class. I’ve sat in countless tour vans and crappy motels where it’s watched, quoted and dissected by kids with a dream and a drumkit.
Dave Grohl, the legendary Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters frontman, told me that it’s a “f*cking masterpiece” and that it’s also his favorite horror film.
“Watching a documentary like Dig!, seeing these two bands fall in love with each other, which happens often. You find your brother band, your sister band,...
The film, which launched at Sundance in 2004 and is returning to the festival this year with an extended cut, is a favorite among the musical class. I’ve sat in countless tour vans and crappy motels where it’s watched, quoted and dissected by kids with a dream and a drumkit.
Dave Grohl, the legendary Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters frontman, told me that it’s a “f*cking masterpiece” and that it’s also his favorite horror film.
“Watching a documentary like Dig!, seeing these two bands fall in love with each other, which happens often. You find your brother band, your sister band,...
- 1/18/2024
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s the question all indie filmmakers want to know: What do Sundance Film Festival programmers look for? Or more to the point: How do I get into Sundance? Funny you should ask! Last year in August, Film Independent Education hosted an online session of its Filmmaker Tuesdays series featuring two of the storied fest’s curators: feature programmers Ash Hoyle and Sudeep Sharma.
Together they answered a wide variety of questions, addressed suspicions as to what supposedly makes a “Sundance film” and debunked whether or not “Who you know” is really all that matters. Watch the full session in our Member portal. Not a Member? Become one today.
A 2021 Project Involve Fellow, Hoyle is a Sundance features programmer working on the festival’s Fiction, Nonfiction and Midnight teams. Hoyle started with Sundance in the event operations team, working up to the features curatorial team in April 2022. Sharma earned a...
Together they answered a wide variety of questions, addressed suspicions as to what supposedly makes a “Sundance film” and debunked whether or not “Who you know” is really all that matters. Watch the full session in our Member portal. Not a Member? Become one today.
A 2021 Project Involve Fellow, Hoyle is a Sundance features programmer working on the festival’s Fiction, Nonfiction and Midnight teams. Hoyle started with Sundance in the event operations team, working up to the features curatorial team in April 2022. Sharma earned a...
- 1/18/2024
- by Cortney Matz
- Film Independent News & More
Deadline reports that Jennifer Coolidge has joined the cast of the Minecraft movie, which is shooting in New Zealand.
As for who Jennifer Coolidge will be playing in the Minecraft movie, that’s being kept under wraps, but she joins a cast which includes Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks, and Sebastian Eugene Hansen. We don’t have any plot details, but the Minecraft movie is based on the hugely successful video game franchise which allows players to explore a blocky, procedurally generated 3D world. They can mine and extract raw materials to craft tools and build anything their imagination can conjure up. A few short years after it launched, Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios, the video game company behind Minecraft, for a cool $2.5 billion.
Related Minecraft: Jack Black joins another video game adaptation
Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess to set to helm the Minecraft movie for Warner Bros,...
As for who Jennifer Coolidge will be playing in the Minecraft movie, that’s being kept under wraps, but she joins a cast which includes Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks, and Sebastian Eugene Hansen. We don’t have any plot details, but the Minecraft movie is based on the hugely successful video game franchise which allows players to explore a blocky, procedurally generated 3D world. They can mine and extract raw materials to craft tools and build anything their imagination can conjure up. A few short years after it launched, Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios, the video game company behind Minecraft, for a cool $2.5 billion.
Related Minecraft: Jack Black joins another video game adaptation
Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess to set to helm the Minecraft movie for Warner Bros,...
- 1/18/2024
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
For four decades, Sundance has maintained a reputation as one of the most important film festivals in America for independent filmmakers from around the globe. To commemorate its 40th anniversary in 2024 and the enormity (and reciprocity) of that cultural footprint, festival leadership set a series of restoration screenings to highlight many of the most memorable films programmed throughout its history.
“When you look at the way the independent film movement has evolved and changed over the years, from the maturation of an industry and the opportunities that artists have found, to the way that an audience has been built around the work, you see a festival that has evolved alongside it,” says John Nein, senior programmer and director of strategic initiatives.
This year’s festival takes place Jan. 18-28, in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, with a selection of titles available online nationwide from Jan. 25-28. The...
“When you look at the way the independent film movement has evolved and changed over the years, from the maturation of an industry and the opportunities that artists have found, to the way that an audience has been built around the work, you see a festival that has evolved alongside it,” says John Nein, senior programmer and director of strategic initiatives.
This year’s festival takes place Jan. 18-28, in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, with a selection of titles available online nationwide from Jan. 25-28. The...
- 1/16/2024
- by Nick Clement
- Variety Film + TV
Danielle Brooks is teasing the upcoming season of Peacemaker and her new film Minecraft.
The Color Purple star talked to Deadline on the red carpet of the Critics Choice Awards, where she talked about her upcoming projects.
“It’s happening,” Brooks told us. “That’s all I know. It’s happening. When? Not quite sure.”
She continued, “I think this year, hopefully, we’ll get started.”
Another project that Brooks is a part of is Minecraft, a live-action take on the computer game where she will play the role of Dawn.
“I’m so excited about working on Minecraft,” Brooks said. “I just met Jack Black at the Golden Globes and we took a picture together. That was really cool. And working with Jason Momoa, I’m really excited about this project and staying in the Warner Bros. family.”
Jared Hess, the director of comedy films like Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre,...
The Color Purple star talked to Deadline on the red carpet of the Critics Choice Awards, where she talked about her upcoming projects.
“It’s happening,” Brooks told us. “That’s all I know. It’s happening. When? Not quite sure.”
She continued, “I think this year, hopefully, we’ll get started.”
Another project that Brooks is a part of is Minecraft, a live-action take on the computer game where she will play the role of Dawn.
“I’m so excited about working on Minecraft,” Brooks said. “I just met Jack Black at the Golden Globes and we took a picture together. That was really cool. And working with Jason Momoa, I’m really excited about this project and staying in the Warner Bros. family.”
Jared Hess, the director of comedy films like Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre,...
- 1/15/2024
- by Armando Tinoco and Natalie Sitek
- Deadline Film + TV
Actor Jack Black has joined the cast of ‘Minecraft’, a live-action adaptation of the popular eponymous video game. As previously announced, Jason Momoa is starring in the movie alongside Emma Myers and ‘The Color Purple’ actor Danielle Brooks.
Production is expected to begin imminently in New Zealand. ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ filmmaker Jared Hess, who previously worked with Black on the 2006 comedy ‘Nacho Libre’, is directing the project, reports Variety.
Warner Bros. and Legendary are backing ‘Minecraft’, which is slated to open in theatres on April 4, 2025. It’s unclear what the ‘Minecraft’ movie will be about, or who is writing the screenplay.
As per Variety, a film version of the game has been in the works for years, with Shawn Levy, Rob McElhenney and Peter Sollett all at one point in talks to direct.
‘Minecraft’, which debuted in 2011, is one of the best-selling video games in history and boasts more than 140 million monthly users.
Production is expected to begin imminently in New Zealand. ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ filmmaker Jared Hess, who previously worked with Black on the 2006 comedy ‘Nacho Libre’, is directing the project, reports Variety.
Warner Bros. and Legendary are backing ‘Minecraft’, which is slated to open in theatres on April 4, 2025. It’s unclear what the ‘Minecraft’ movie will be about, or who is writing the screenplay.
As per Variety, a film version of the game has been in the works for years, with Shawn Levy, Rob McElhenney and Peter Sollett all at one point in talks to direct.
‘Minecraft’, which debuted in 2011, is one of the best-selling video games in history and boasts more than 140 million monthly users.
- 1/3/2024
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Jack Black has joined the cast of 'Minecraft'.The actor and singer is set to appear in the upcoming video game adaptation - which features Jason Momoa as the lead - and has seemingly confirmed the news.Deadline claimed he has been cast as a character called Steve, although the film's plot details are still being kept under wraps with writing credits yet to be revealed.Following the report, the Tenacious D rocker shared a photo on Instagram of himself reading a 'Minecraft Basics for Dummies' book.He captioned the wrote: "An actor prepares."The movie is also set to star Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks and Sebastian Eugene Hansen, while 'Napoleon Dynamite' director Jared Hess - who worked with Black on 2006's 'Nacho Libre' - will be at the helm.The project is being backed by Legendary and Warner Bros with a planned April 2025 release date.
- 1/3/2024
- by Alistair McGeorge
- Bang Showbiz
Jack Black looks set to play Steve in the Minecraft film, which is finally about to start shooting. More here:
Jack Black is just about to hit the promotional trail for Kung Fu Panda 4, which releases this March. But now Black has another family movie to add to his slate, with the news that he’s the latest addition to the long-mooted Minecraft movie.
The Minecraft film – based on the videogame of the same name – has been talked about for the best part of a decade, and it’s gone through a few personnel in that time. But it’s actually pushing forward now, with Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess directing. Furthermore, Jason Momoa has been confirmed for the cast for some time now, and the plan had been to get the movie shooting last summer – at least until the Hollywood actor’s strike ground things to a halt.
Jack Black is just about to hit the promotional trail for Kung Fu Panda 4, which releases this March. But now Black has another family movie to add to his slate, with the news that he’s the latest addition to the long-mooted Minecraft movie.
The Minecraft film – based on the videogame of the same name – has been talked about for the best part of a decade, and it’s gone through a few personnel in that time. But it’s actually pushing forward now, with Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess directing. Furthermore, Jason Momoa has been confirmed for the cast for some time now, and the plan had been to get the movie shooting last summer – at least until the Hollywood actor’s strike ground things to a halt.
- 1/3/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
Even if you walked away from "The Super Mario Bros." disappointed in the flimsy story, there's one element that succeeded in spite of the movie's shortcomings: Jack Black as the diabolical villain Bowser. The "School of Rock" star brought his magnificent voice to the spike-shelled bad guy who has always been tormenting Mario, Luigi, Peach, the Mushroom Kingdom, and beyond. Black even got to belt out a ballad about Bowser's love for Peach in a scene-stealing musical sequence that is easily the best part of the entire movie. Now, he's gearing up to join another promising video game movie.
Deadline reports that Warner Bros. Pictures, Vertigo, and Legendary are close to starting production on the "Minecraft" movie, adapting the hit sandbox world video game from Mojang Studios, and Jack Black is taking one of the lead roles alongside "Aquaman" star Jason Momoa.
In "Minecraft," players enter a world comprised of blocks,...
Deadline reports that Warner Bros. Pictures, Vertigo, and Legendary are close to starting production on the "Minecraft" movie, adapting the hit sandbox world video game from Mojang Studios, and Jack Black is taking one of the lead roles alongside "Aquaman" star Jason Momoa.
In "Minecraft," players enter a world comprised of blocks,...
- 1/2/2024
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
Jack Black has joined the cast of “Minecraft,” a live-action adaptation of the popular video game.
As previously announced, Jason Momoa is starring in the movie alongside “Wednesday’s” Emma Myers and “The Color Purple” actor Danielle Brooks. Production is expected to imminently start in New Zealand.
“Napoleon Dynamite” filmmaker Jared Hess is directing the project, which will be produced by Warner Bros. and Legendary. It’s slated to open in theaters on April 4, 2025.
It’s unclear what the “Minecraft” movie will be about, or who is writing the screenplay. The game, which hails from the Swedish company Mojang Studios and debuted in 2011, allows players to use colorful blocks to create 3D worlds. Minecraft has become the best-selling game in history and, by 2021, boasted nearly 140 million monthly users. It has also spawned numerous spinoffs, like “Minecraft: Story Mode,” “Minecraft Earth,” “Minecraft Dungeons” and “Minecraft Legends.” Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios for...
As previously announced, Jason Momoa is starring in the movie alongside “Wednesday’s” Emma Myers and “The Color Purple” actor Danielle Brooks. Production is expected to imminently start in New Zealand.
“Napoleon Dynamite” filmmaker Jared Hess is directing the project, which will be produced by Warner Bros. and Legendary. It’s slated to open in theaters on April 4, 2025.
It’s unclear what the “Minecraft” movie will be about, or who is writing the screenplay. The game, which hails from the Swedish company Mojang Studios and debuted in 2011, allows players to use colorful blocks to create 3D worlds. Minecraft has become the best-selling game in history and, by 2021, boasted nearly 140 million monthly users. It has also spawned numerous spinoffs, like “Minecraft: Story Mode,” “Minecraft Earth,” “Minecraft Dungeons” and “Minecraft Legends.” Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios for...
- 1/2/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Sundance is celebrating its 40th Anniversary next month and the festival has revealed more programming to highlight its cinematic legacy. Topping the list of events are new 4K restorations of “Napoleon Dynamite,” “Go Fish,” “Three Seasons,” and an extended version of “Dig!,” with over 30 minutes of new footage, retitled “Dig!Xx.” Additionally, there will be screenings of “The Babadook,” and “Pariah” as well as restorations of “Mississippi Masala” and “The Times of Harvey Milk.”
Read More: Sundance 2024: New works from Steven Sodergh, Debra Granik, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck and more
Alumni always have a home to return to in Park City and 2024 will be no exception.
Continue reading ‘Napoleon Dynamite,’ ‘The Babadook,’ ‘Go Fish’ & More Return To Celebrate Sundance’s 40th Anniversary at The Playlist.
Read More: Sundance 2024: New works from Steven Sodergh, Debra Granik, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck and more
Alumni always have a home to return to in Park City and 2024 will be no exception.
Continue reading ‘Napoleon Dynamite,’ ‘The Babadook,’ ‘Go Fish’ & More Return To Celebrate Sundance’s 40th Anniversary at The Playlist.
- 12/12/2023
- by Gregory Ellwood
- The Playlist
The 40th Edition of the Sundance Film Festival announced their 53 Short Films for the 2024 lineup in addition to a 20th anniversary 4K restored version of Napoleon Dynamite, as well as other Sundance fave re-releases.
There’s a 30th anniversary of Go Fish, 25th anniversary of Three Seasons and the 20th anniversary of Dig! (with 30 minutes of additional footage), titled Dig! Xx.
There’s also restorations of The Babadook and Pariah, and restorations of Mississippi Masala and The Times of Harvey Milk.
In addition, there’s several Sundance alum panels including Power of Story: Four Decades of Taking Chances about the legacy of independent storytelling featuring Miguel Arteta, Richard Linklater, Dawn Porter, and Christine Vachon; a screening of seminal short films from Sundance’s history hosted by Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass; and a workshop for emerging creators with Carlos López Estrada and others.
The shorts for 2024 were curated from 12,098 submissions,...
There’s a 30th anniversary of Go Fish, 25th anniversary of Three Seasons and the 20th anniversary of Dig! (with 30 minutes of additional footage), titled Dig! Xx.
There’s also restorations of The Babadook and Pariah, and restorations of Mississippi Masala and The Times of Harvey Milk.
In addition, there’s several Sundance alum panels including Power of Story: Four Decades of Taking Chances about the legacy of independent storytelling featuring Miguel Arteta, Richard Linklater, Dawn Porter, and Christine Vachon; a screening of seminal short films from Sundance’s history hosted by Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass; and a workshop for emerging creators with Carlos López Estrada and others.
The shorts for 2024 were curated from 12,098 submissions,...
- 12/12/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
The Sundance Institute announced today the 2024 Sundance Film Festival short film lineup and the 40th Edition Celebration Screenings and Events — programming featuring alumni artists looking back on the festival’s four-decade history. The 40th Edition events will take place the second half of the festival (January 23 – 26) and will include brand-new 4K restorations of Napoleon Dynamite (20th anniversary) Go Fish (30th anniversary), Three Seasons (25th anniversary), and an extended version of Dig! (20th anniversary), featuring over 30 minutes of additional footage, titled Dig! Xx. Also showing will be The Babadook and Pariah, and restorations of Mississippi Masala […]
The post 2024 Sundance Film Festival Announces 53 Short Films Plus 40th Edition Celebration Screenings first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post 2024 Sundance Film Festival Announces 53 Short Films Plus 40th Edition Celebration Screenings first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 12/12/2023
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
The Sundance Institute announced today the 2024 Sundance Film Festival short film lineup and the 40th Edition Celebration Screenings and Events — programming featuring alumni artists looking back on the festival’s four-decade history. The 40th Edition events will take place the second half of the festival (January 23 – 26) and will include brand-new 4K restorations of Napoleon Dynamite (20th anniversary) Go Fish (30th anniversary), Three Seasons (25th anniversary), and an extended version of Dig! (20th anniversary), featuring over 30 minutes of additional footage, titled Dig! Xx. Also showing will be The Babadook and Pariah, and restorations of Mississippi Masala […]
The post 2024 Sundance Film Festival Announces 53 Short Films Plus 40th Edition Celebration Screenings first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post 2024 Sundance Film Festival Announces 53 Short Films Plus 40th Edition Celebration Screenings first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 12/12/2023
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
The Sundance Institute unveiled the lineup of 53 short films for the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, taking place Jan. 18-28 in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah. The film fest will happen in person, with a selection of titles available online from Jan. 25-28. Sundance was forced to re-format its 2021 and 2022 editions as virtual events because of the pandemic, but it returned in physical form in 2023.
Celebrating its 40th edition, Sundance will also feature a slate of special screenings including a restored version of “Napoleon Dynamite,” which first premiered at the festival in 2004, as well as 2014’s “The Babadook” and 1984’s “The Times of Harvey Milk.” Festival programming also includes events with Richard Linklater, Miguel Arteta, Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass, Carlos López Estrada, Sterlin Harjo, Steve James, Dawn Porter, Nzingha Stewart and Christine Vachon.
“Selecting the shorts for the Festival Program every year is an exercise in taking the pulse of film culture,...
Celebrating its 40th edition, Sundance will also feature a slate of special screenings including a restored version of “Napoleon Dynamite,” which first premiered at the festival in 2004, as well as 2014’s “The Babadook” and 1984’s “The Times of Harvey Milk.” Festival programming also includes events with Richard Linklater, Miguel Arteta, Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass, Carlos López Estrada, Sterlin Harjo, Steve James, Dawn Porter, Nzingha Stewart and Christine Vachon.
“Selecting the shorts for the Festival Program every year is an exercise in taking the pulse of film culture,...
- 12/12/2023
- by Ethan Shanfeld
- Variety Film + TV
Anniversary screenings include Park City hits Napoleon Dynamite, Mississippi Masala, The Babadook.
Sundance Film Festival has unveiled the 53 shorts as well as the eight films celebrating the festival’s 40th edition – a list which includes Park City hits Napoleon Dynamite, Mississippi Masala, and The Babadook.
The 40th edition celebration screenings and events are set for the second half of the festival from January 23-26, 2024, with a slate of retrospective programming that will bring alumni artists together for conversations and gatherings.
Sundance Film festival runs January 18-28, 2024, in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, with a selection of titles...
Sundance Film Festival has unveiled the 53 shorts as well as the eight films celebrating the festival’s 40th edition – a list which includes Park City hits Napoleon Dynamite, Mississippi Masala, and The Babadook.
The 40th edition celebration screenings and events are set for the second half of the festival from January 23-26, 2024, with a slate of retrospective programming that will bring alumni artists together for conversations and gatherings.
Sundance Film festival runs January 18-28, 2024, in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, with a selection of titles...
- 12/12/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
The 2024 Sundance lineup is coming into fuller view, including celebrations for its 40th edition and its shorts program. The festival will take place January 18 through 28 in-person in Park City and Salt Lake City, with a selection of titles available online nationwide from January 25 through 28 via digital platforms.
The festival will introduce new short films for 2024 across eight curated programs, including a festival retrospective hosted by Mark and Jay Duplass. This year’s programming for new titles features 53 short films selected from 12,098 submissions, the highest number on record. Of these submissions, 5,323 were from the U.S., and 6,799 were international. The selected shorts represent 22 countries.
In addition to the shorts programming, the special 40th edition celebration screenings and events kick off on January 23, bringing Sundance alumni together for conversations and gatherings while revisiting iconic films like new 4K restorations of “Napoleon Dynamite” for its 20th anniversary, the 25th anniversary of “Three Seasons,...
The festival will introduce new short films for 2024 across eight curated programs, including a festival retrospective hosted by Mark and Jay Duplass. This year’s programming for new titles features 53 short films selected from 12,098 submissions, the highest number on record. Of these submissions, 5,323 were from the U.S., and 6,799 were international. The selected shorts represent 22 countries.
In addition to the shorts programming, the special 40th edition celebration screenings and events kick off on January 23, bringing Sundance alumni together for conversations and gatherings while revisiting iconic films like new 4K restorations of “Napoleon Dynamite” for its 20th anniversary, the 25th anniversary of “Three Seasons,...
- 12/12/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Chicago – A long time ago (1978) in an America far far away, the one and only showing of the “Star Wars Holiday Special” took place on CBS-tv. Infamously miscast and difficult to watch, the history of the show is chronicled in a new doc “A Disturbance in the Force,” co-directed by Jeremy Coon and Steven Kozak.
Rating: 5.0/5.0
In 1977, “Star Wars” became a cultural phenomenon that single-handedly revitalized a stagnant film industry, and forever changed how films were sold, made, and marketed. On November 17th, 1978, CBS aired the two-hour “Star Wars Holiday Special” and was watched by 13 million people. It never re-aired and is considered one of the worst shows to ever be broadcast on national TV. “A Disturbance in the Force” co-directors Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak combine celebrity insight – including Seth Green, Donny Osmond and Kevin Smith – archival/participant interviews and broadcast history perspective to understand why this show was created.
Rating: 5.0/5.0
In 1977, “Star Wars” became a cultural phenomenon that single-handedly revitalized a stagnant film industry, and forever changed how films were sold, made, and marketed. On November 17th, 1978, CBS aired the two-hour “Star Wars Holiday Special” and was watched by 13 million people. It never re-aired and is considered one of the worst shows to ever be broadcast on national TV. “A Disturbance in the Force” co-directors Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak combine celebrity insight – including Seth Green, Donny Osmond and Kevin Smith – archival/participant interviews and broadcast history perspective to understand why this show was created.
- 12/4/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Star Wars fans will truly get to feel A Disturbance in the Force when a documentary about the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special — which debuted 45 years ago today, on CBS — is released.
Having premiered back in March at the SXSW Film Festival, A Disturbance in the Force will be released on digital and Blu-ray on Tuesday, Dec. 5, our sister site Variety reports. The 86-minute docu will also play in select theaters across the U.S. ahead of its digital release.
More from TVLineThe Late Ray Stevenson Was Terrific on Disney+'s Ahsoka Series - But Now His Role Should Be...
Having premiered back in March at the SXSW Film Festival, A Disturbance in the Force will be released on digital and Blu-ray on Tuesday, Dec. 5, our sister site Variety reports. The 86-minute docu will also play in select theaters across the U.S. ahead of its digital release.
More from TVLineThe Late Ray Stevenson Was Terrific on Disney+'s Ahsoka Series - But Now His Role Should Be...
- 11/17/2023
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
Barbie.Michael Cera plays Allan, a milquetoast companion to Ryan Gosling’s Ken, in the recent billion-dollar blockbuster Barbie (2023). The film’s narrator, Helen Mirren, introduces Allan by stating he is “unique” and noting “there are no multiples of him.” The same could be said of the actor behind the mild-mannered doll. Cera’s status as a sometimes endearing, sometimes discomforting, but always awkward screen presence has made him a fixture of commercial cinema ever since his famed turn as a sexually naïve cross-country star in Jason Reitman’s teenage pregnancy drama Juno (2007). Sixteen years later, Cera’s complexion remains the same. Except, his baby face no longer represents innocence and childish sentimentalism. His recent credits have skewed toward portrayals of frustrated men, revealing unforeseen dimensions of his previously exhibited acting chops.Cera’s rise to stardom in the mid-'00s coincided with the release of films such as Napoleon Dynamite...
- 11/15/2023
- MUBI
Everyone has a high school movie that rings uncomfortably true to their own experiences as a teenager. For some, it's a bitingly satirical portrait like "Heathers" or "Mean Girls," while for others, it's a brutally honest dramedy like "The Edge of Seventeen." But for me, there's only one film that really captures what my time was like as a non-Mormon attending a predominantly Mormon high school in a small Utah town in the early 2000s, and that's "Napoleon Dynamite." True, writer/director Jared Hess' 2004 cult hit takes place in the filmmaker's hometown of Preston, Idaho, but ... well, let's just say that if you know anything about small-town Utah and Idaho Mormon culture, then you know they weren't exactly worlds apart when the film was made.
I was fortunate enough to have graduated from high school literal weeks before "Napoleon Dynamite" arrived, which spared me from having to listen to my...
I was fortunate enough to have graduated from high school literal weeks before "Napoleon Dynamite" arrived, which spared me from having to listen to my...
- 11/8/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
As is true of all his films, “Flora and Son” started with writer-director John Carney mining from personal experience. “The big story for me was my mother, and I thought about my own relationship with music when I was young, dragging my mother around music shops. What did that feel like for her,” the filmmaker said in an exclusive clip that shows his artistic process both writing the film, and the original songs like “High Life” that are featured in it.
Although he is unique in the extent to which he composes the music for his own films, Carney begins work on a new project like most writer-directors do: he starts with the screenplay first. “Otherwise, it’s going to be like a jukebox musical where the script doesn’t matter and you’re just drawing the dots between songs,” Carney said to IndieWire over Zoom.
When he comes to...
Although he is unique in the extent to which he composes the music for his own films, Carney begins work on a new project like most writer-directors do: he starts with the screenplay first. “Otherwise, it’s going to be like a jukebox musical where the script doesn’t matter and you’re just drawing the dots between songs,” Carney said to IndieWire over Zoom.
When he comes to...
- 11/6/2023
- by Marcus Jones
- Indiewire
Mister Smith Entertainment has clinched first key international sales on Weston Razooli’s “Riddle of Fire.”
Among major territories, Mister Smith has closed Japan (Klockworx), France (ASC Distribution) and Spain (Flamingo Films). Deals build on a co-u.S acquisition by Yellow Veil Pictures and Vinegar Syndrome, which plan a domestic theatrical bow in early 2024, releasing the film on 35mm.
“Riddle of Fire” has also been sold to Portugal (Leopardo Filmes), Greece (Odeon) and Femeway/The Film Group and Front Row Filmed Entertainment for the Middle East, Singapore (the Shaw Organization), ex-Yugoslavia (Blitz Film) and worldwide airlines and ships (Anuvu).
Razooli’s first feature made its debut in Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight and its North American premiere as the Toronto Festival’s Midnight Madness closing-night film.
A highlight on Mister Smith’s AFM slate, “Riddle of Fire” has additional territories in negotiations, which Mse will attempt to close in Santa Monica.
Shot...
Among major territories, Mister Smith has closed Japan (Klockworx), France (ASC Distribution) and Spain (Flamingo Films). Deals build on a co-u.S acquisition by Yellow Veil Pictures and Vinegar Syndrome, which plan a domestic theatrical bow in early 2024, releasing the film on 35mm.
“Riddle of Fire” has also been sold to Portugal (Leopardo Filmes), Greece (Odeon) and Femeway/The Film Group and Front Row Filmed Entertainment for the Middle East, Singapore (the Shaw Organization), ex-Yugoslavia (Blitz Film) and worldwide airlines and ships (Anuvu).
Razooli’s first feature made its debut in Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight and its North American premiere as the Toronto Festival’s Midnight Madness closing-night film.
A highlight on Mister Smith’s AFM slate, “Riddle of Fire” has additional territories in negotiations, which Mse will attempt to close in Santa Monica.
Shot...
- 11/1/2023
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Updated: In another sign that shows — even famous ones — can no longer “live forever” on streaming in the new era of media companies re-prioritizing profits, a slew of titles will be leaving Disney-controlled Hulu in the coming days as their license deals expire. For now, there are no plans to renew any of the pacts but that is always a possibility in the future.
‘Arrested Development’ and ‘Bob Newhart Show’
The list of departing series includes 18 series from Disney’s 20th Television, including the David E. Kelley Emmy-winning legal shows Ally McBeal, which the studio had been looking to remake, and The Practice, as well as fellow award-winners The Bob Newhart Show, Hill Street Blues and Arrested Development.
A slew of catalog titles from Fox and Paramount also are impacted, as well as a couple of properties each from Nat Geo and NBC News. Update: The license agreements for several...
‘Arrested Development’ and ‘Bob Newhart Show’
The list of departing series includes 18 series from Disney’s 20th Television, including the David E. Kelley Emmy-winning legal shows Ally McBeal, which the studio had been looking to remake, and The Practice, as well as fellow award-winners The Bob Newhart Show, Hill Street Blues and Arrested Development.
A slew of catalog titles from Fox and Paramount also are impacted, as well as a couple of properties each from Nat Geo and NBC News. Update: The license agreements for several...
- 9/23/2023
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
In The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed, writer-director-star Joanna Arnow plays Ann, a thirtysomething woman in a long-term Bdsm relationship with the much older Allen (Scott Cohen). The film opens on a naked Ann lying in bed beside a clothed Allen, before she turns and robotically dry humps him while he feigns sleep. “I love how you don’t care if I get off,” Ann coos to him. “It’s like I don’t even exist.” While this moment immediately establishing the playful rules of Ann and Allen’s sexual agreement, Arnow also hits on an apt metaphor for the existential crisis of so many modern millennials: that they’re exposed and ignored in an unforgiving social climate still dominated by older generations.
Ann’s affair with Allen is indicative of the rest of her day-to-day existence. As a “Clinical eMedia Learning Specialist” at a banal New York corporate office,...
Ann’s affair with Allen is indicative of the rest of her day-to-day existence. As a “Clinical eMedia Learning Specialist” at a banal New York corporate office,...
- 9/7/2023
- by Mark Hanson
- Slant Magazine
The 2023 Sundance Film Festival Asia officially opened at the Spot Huashan Cinema in Taipei City on August 18, 2023, and announced the winner of the Sundance Film Festival Asia Short Film Competition. The award went to “Tuo Tuo” directed by An Chu. Many Hollywood and local celebrities walked the red carpet including Justin Lin (Director of the “Fast and Furious” franchise), Todd Makurath (Executive Producer of “Everything Everywhere All At Once”), Joachim Zell (Color Scientist from “Blade Runner 2049”), Dan Lin (Producer of “The Lego Movie”), Tzi Ma (Actor from “Rush Hour” series), Caitlin Fang (Actress from “American Girl”), Patty Lee (Actress from “My Missing Valentine”), Ke-Xi Wu (Actress from “Nina Wu”), Allison Lin (Actress from “Haru”), Teresa Daley (Actress from “Days We Stared at the Sun”), Sonia Yuan (Actress from “Summer Desire”), Angela Yuen (Actress from “The Narrow Road”), James Wen (Actor from “The Fierce Wife”), Janet Hsieh (Host from “Fun...
- 9/6/2023
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
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