Casting Society (CSA) announced Hong Chau, Anna Camp (“Pitch Perfect”), Melanie Lynskey (“The Last of Us”) and Sheryl Lee Ralph (“Abbott Elementary”) are among the presenters for its 38th Artios Awards taking place in both Los Angeles and New York City.
Also presenting at the Los Angeles gala alongside host Yvette Nicole Brown are Utkarsh Ambudkar, Paul Walter Hauser, Andrew Leeds, Sam Richardson, Britt Robertson, Glynn Turman and Tuc Watkins. Sarita Choudhury, Jordan E. Cooper, Rory Culkin, Khris Davis, Alex Edelman, Raúl Esparza, Katie Finneran, Katrina Lenk, Nicole Ari Parker, Peppermint, Morgan Spector, Chris Sullivan and Kuhoo Verma will present at the New York ceremony, with Amber Ruffin as host.
The Artios Awards has 20 categories spanning film, TV and theater. The ceremonies will take place Thursday, March 9.
Micheaux Film Festival Announces Dates for Fifth Year Celebrations, Calls for Submissions
The Micheaux Film Festival is back for its fifth year to...
Also presenting at the Los Angeles gala alongside host Yvette Nicole Brown are Utkarsh Ambudkar, Paul Walter Hauser, Andrew Leeds, Sam Richardson, Britt Robertson, Glynn Turman and Tuc Watkins. Sarita Choudhury, Jordan E. Cooper, Rory Culkin, Khris Davis, Alex Edelman, Raúl Esparza, Katie Finneran, Katrina Lenk, Nicole Ari Parker, Peppermint, Morgan Spector, Chris Sullivan and Kuhoo Verma will present at the New York ceremony, with Amber Ruffin as host.
The Artios Awards has 20 categories spanning film, TV and theater. The ceremonies will take place Thursday, March 9.
Micheaux Film Festival Announces Dates for Fifth Year Celebrations, Calls for Submissions
The Micheaux Film Festival is back for its fifth year to...
- 3/8/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay and Julia MacCary
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: 2x Academy Award nominee Mary J. Blige (Mudbound) is set to star alongside Tulsa King‘s Jay Will in the upcoming drama Rob Peace. Through her banner Blue Butterfly, she’ll also exec produce the pic, written and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, which is now in production.
Based on Jeff Hobbs’ best-selling biography The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League, the film follows a young man who grew up in a crime-ridden section of Newark, NY and later graduated from Yale with degrees in molecular biophysics and biochemistry earned on scholarship. Peace led a dual life living in the insular world of academia and as a lab researcher of cancer and infectious diseases, while at the same time making six figures from the sale of marijuana. He was killed in a drug-related shooting in 2011.
Blige will play Rob’s mother,...
Based on Jeff Hobbs’ best-selling biography The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League, the film follows a young man who grew up in a crime-ridden section of Newark, NY and later graduated from Yale with degrees in molecular biophysics and biochemistry earned on scholarship. Peace led a dual life living in the insular world of academia and as a lab researcher of cancer and infectious diseases, while at the same time making six figures from the sale of marijuana. He was killed in a drug-related shooting in 2011.
Blige will play Rob’s mother,...
- 2/9/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Darn, those short film categories at the Oscars can be a difficult field to navigate, can’t they? Predicting the winners is one thing, but predicting the nominees in those categories can be an even bigger headache. Never fear, Derbyites, as you no longer have to worry about this since we’ve got your back covered! We’ve looked over the recently announced shortlist for Best Documentary Short Film at the 2023 Oscars and have provided you with descriptions of each one of the 15 finalists that you can use to help choose the five that you think will get nominated in our predictions center.
As a reminder, the four most recent Oscar winners in the Best Documentary Short Film category were “The Queen of Basketball” (2021), “Colette” (2020), “Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl)” (2019) and “Period. End of Sentence.” (2018). What will join the list this year? Here are...
As a reminder, the four most recent Oscar winners in the Best Documentary Short Film category were “The Queen of Basketball” (2021), “Colette” (2020), “Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl)” (2019) and “Period. End of Sentence.” (2018). What will join the list this year? Here are...
- 12/22/2022
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
Amazon Prime Video in July brings new documentaries, a few action films, a brand new reality series, and so much more. July brings new Amazon Originals including Mary J. Blige’s My Life (2021), a documentary from Oscar-winning filmmaker Vanessa Roth taking a deep look into the life and times of multi-Grammy-winning recording artist and Academy Award-nominated singer […]
The post New to Amazon Prime Video in July 2021 appeared first on Cinelinx | Movies. Games. Geek Culture..
The post New to Amazon Prime Video in July 2021 appeared first on Cinelinx | Movies. Games. Geek Culture..
- 6/29/2021
- by Rob Bayne
- Cinelinx
Mary J. Blige’s 1992 debut, “What’s the 411?,” was an instant smash that established the young Yonkers singer as a multiplatinum hitmaker, a fashion icon and the prototype for what an R&b star could look and sound like in the hip-hop era. But it wasn’t until her second album, 1994’s “My Life,” that the Blige most of us are familiar with — the heart-on-a-sleeve singer-songwriter unafraid to mine her own considerable trauma through music — truly began to take shape.
Tracing that album’s dark genesis, exploring its legacy with fans and featuring brief (perhaps too brief) performance clips from a pair of 2019 concerts Blige staged to celebrate its 25th anniversary, Vanessa Roth’s “Mary J. Blige’s My Life” has no shortage of cooperation from the subject herself (also an executive producer). But there’s a valedictory glossiness to the film that sometimes underserves the warts-and-all power of the...
Tracing that album’s dark genesis, exploring its legacy with fans and featuring brief (perhaps too brief) performance clips from a pair of 2019 concerts Blige staged to celebrate its 25th anniversary, Vanessa Roth’s “Mary J. Blige’s My Life” has no shortage of cooperation from the subject herself (also an executive producer). But there’s a valedictory glossiness to the film that sometimes underserves the warts-and-all power of the...
- 6/25/2021
- by Andrew Barker
- Variety Film + TV
While Mary J. Blige’s groundbreaking debut 1992 album “What’s the 411?” put the singer on the map and defined hip-hop soul, many fans feel her second, “My Life,” is the one that defined her.
The album, released when she was just 23 years old, allowed listeners into a confessional box of songs that looked at trauma, abuse and destructive relationships. It speaks to her generation and those before and after, and continues to do so. Songs like “Mary Jane (All Night Long),” “I’m the Only Woman” and “I’m Goin’ Down” combine hip-hop, gospel and soul, and opened an emotional door not just for Blige, but her fans.
While on tour behind the album’s 25 th anniversary, Blige decided it was time to document “where all this pain came from — I wanted to talk to the fans,” she says.
She turned to director Vanessa Roth to capture the “love letter...
The album, released when she was just 23 years old, allowed listeners into a confessional box of songs that looked at trauma, abuse and destructive relationships. It speaks to her generation and those before and after, and continues to do so. Songs like “Mary Jane (All Night Long),” “I’m the Only Woman” and “I’m Goin’ Down” combine hip-hop, gospel and soul, and opened an emotional door not just for Blige, but her fans.
While on tour behind the album’s 25 th anniversary, Blige decided it was time to document “where all this pain came from — I wanted to talk to the fans,” she says.
She turned to director Vanessa Roth to capture the “love letter...
- 6/25/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Oscar®-winning filmmaker Vanessa Roth documents R&b singer Mary J. Blige's inspiration behind her most personal album, "My Life." Mary J. Blige’S My Life director Vanessa Roth (Impact with Gal Gadot) tells CineMovie the nine-time Grammy® award-winning R&B singer wanted to open up about her battles with abuse, depression, and addiction that inspired her first hit album.
- 6/24/2021
- by luperhaas@cinemovie.tv (Lupe R Haas)
- CineMovie
Mary J. Blige reflects on her influential album My Life in the trailer for upcoming documentary Mary J. Blige’s My Life. Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Vanessa Roth, the film arrives on June 25th via Amazon Prime Video.
In the new trailer, the singer discusses her early days and how writing music was a means to escape her surroundings. “The only thing I think that kept us guided was the music,” she says. “It just saved you.”
In between footage of her performing and in the studio, Blige opens up...
In the new trailer, the singer discusses her early days and how writing music was a means to escape her surroundings. “The only thing I think that kept us guided was the music,” she says. “It just saved you.”
In between footage of her performing and in the studio, Blige opens up...
- 6/2/2021
- by Althea Legaspi
- Rollingstone.com
Not all superheros wear capes, masks, wings or a tight bustier. Most are normal people who have overcome adversity to inspire and help impact people around the world. National Geographic’s new YouTube documentary series “Impact with Gal Gadot” showcases six such women who have helped and improved the lives of others.
Among these half dozen heroes are: Kameryn Everett, a black Detroit-based figure skater and coach who encourages young girls to follow in her footsteps; Tuany Nascimento, a ballet dancer teaching her craft to young girls in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Rio de Janiero; and Kelly Ellis, a surf therapy facilitator in California who lost her twin sister Audrey last year to Covid-19 and is working with other women who are grieving.
The “Wonder Woman” star is not only host of the weekly series but executive producer too. Gadot, director and co-executive producer Vanessa Roth, Everett,...
Among these half dozen heroes are: Kameryn Everett, a black Detroit-based figure skater and coach who encourages young girls to follow in her footsteps; Tuany Nascimento, a ballet dancer teaching her craft to young girls in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Rio de Janiero; and Kelly Ellis, a surf therapy facilitator in California who lost her twin sister Audrey last year to Covid-19 and is working with other women who are grieving.
The “Wonder Woman” star is not only host of the weekly series but executive producer too. Gadot, director and co-executive producer Vanessa Roth, Everett,...
- 4/30/2021
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman may save the day with her lasso of truth and superhuman strength, but the Justice League actress said that real power comes with one’s ability to bring positive change to their community. Gadot teamed up with National Geographic to executive produce Impact, a six-part short form documentary series that seeks spotlight resilient women making change around the globe.
From a figure skating instructor in Detroit to a ballet teacher in Brazil, the women featured in the Nat Geo series use their experiences and expertise to build and better the community around them, a feat Gadot praised during her panel on the network’s leg of the Ctam Winter Tour.
“All of these women are just incredible and they are the real heroes,” she said of the series’ subjects, who vary in age, experience, race and location. “I keep calling them my women of wonder...
From a figure skating instructor in Detroit to a ballet teacher in Brazil, the women featured in the Nat Geo series use their experiences and expertise to build and better the community around them, a feat Gadot praised during her panel on the network’s leg of the Ctam Winter Tour.
“All of these women are just incredible and they are the real heroes,” she said of the series’ subjects, who vary in age, experience, race and location. “I keep calling them my women of wonder...
- 2/9/2021
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
“Impact” is an upcoming six-part short-form documentary series from Nat Geo about resilient women around the globe, and it is executive produced by “Wonder Woman” star Gal Gadot. The women featured are from diverse backgrounds, yet are connected by selflessness, determination, and commitment to others.
“There’s endless stories to tell,” Gadot said during National Geographic’s Ctam Winter 2021 Tour panel on Tuesday. “With all these women, what we can see is [that] all of them come from difficult circumstances,” she said. Their individual struggles fuel them to dream and speak up, leading to change in their communities. “I don’t know many women with this extent of an impact by the actions that they do,” Gadot said. By executive producing, Gadot wanted to do something that wasn’t about herself and her star powers; talk of Gadot doing narrations or intros didn’t go forward. Instead, she wanted to present...
“There’s endless stories to tell,” Gadot said during National Geographic’s Ctam Winter 2021 Tour panel on Tuesday. “With all these women, what we can see is [that] all of them come from difficult circumstances,” she said. Their individual struggles fuel them to dream and speak up, leading to change in their communities. “I don’t know many women with this extent of an impact by the actions that they do,” Gadot said. By executive producing, Gadot wanted to do something that wasn’t about herself and her star powers; talk of Gadot doing narrations or intros didn’t go forward. Instead, she wanted to present...
- 2/9/2021
- by Kristen Lopez
- Indiewire
Nat Geo has set up its spring slate, and TheWrap can exclusively reveal the Disney-owned group’s premiere-date lineup and its first-look videos for Gal Gadot’s “Impact,” Gordon Ramsay’s “Uncharted” Season 3, “Breaking Bobby Bones” and “Race to the Center of the Earth.”
“Race to the Center of the Earth” will premiere on Monday, March 29 at 10 p.m., while Gadot’s “Impact” debuts a few weeks later on Monday, April 19. Gordan Ramsay’s “Uncharted” returns for its third season on Monday, May 31 at 9 p.m. (each episode will be available the day after it airs on Nat Geo on Disney+); following “Uncharted,” “Breaking Bobby Bones” will premiere that same night at 10 p.m.
“In the wake of this extraordinary and unprecedented year, we remain focused at National Geographic on telling stories that remind us that beauty and wonder still exist in our world,” said Courteney Monroe, Nat Geo’s president of content.
“Race to the Center of the Earth” will premiere on Monday, March 29 at 10 p.m., while Gadot’s “Impact” debuts a few weeks later on Monday, April 19. Gordan Ramsay’s “Uncharted” returns for its third season on Monday, May 31 at 9 p.m. (each episode will be available the day after it airs on Nat Geo on Disney+); following “Uncharted,” “Breaking Bobby Bones” will premiere that same night at 10 p.m.
“In the wake of this extraordinary and unprecedented year, we remain focused at National Geographic on telling stories that remind us that beauty and wonder still exist in our world,” said Courteney Monroe, Nat Geo’s president of content.
- 2/9/2021
- by Tony Maglio and Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Gal Gadot unveiled the first look at National Geographic’s newest women-focused docuseries, Impact.
On Thursday, the Wonder Woman 1984 star and Impact executive producer dropped the teaser and told her followers about the new title directed by Vanessa Roth. The six-part project seeks to highlight stories of resilient young women around the world.
“It’s a powerful docuseries that tells the stories of exceptional women making a true impact in their communities – we have stories about women from California all the way to Brazil,” Gadot says in her Instagram post. “I cannot wait to share their stories.”
The trailer, which follows Gadot’s brief introduction, features various global landscapes and teases the change-making young women at the center of the series.
Scored by an inspirational string number, the teaser sees women of various backgrounds and appearances in their zones – from surfing the ocean’s wildest waves to dancing en pointe...
On Thursday, the Wonder Woman 1984 star and Impact executive producer dropped the teaser and told her followers about the new title directed by Vanessa Roth. The six-part project seeks to highlight stories of resilient young women around the world.
“It’s a powerful docuseries that tells the stories of exceptional women making a true impact in their communities – we have stories about women from California all the way to Brazil,” Gadot says in her Instagram post. “I cannot wait to share their stories.”
The trailer, which follows Gadot’s brief introduction, features various global landscapes and teases the change-making young women at the center of the series.
Scored by an inspirational string number, the teaser sees women of various backgrounds and appearances in their zones – from surfing the ocean’s wildest waves to dancing en pointe...
- 12/31/2020
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
ABC has given a big put pilot commitment to Family Affair, a single-camera family comedy with musical elements from husband-and-wife writer-producers Devon and Ranada Shepard, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Universal Music/Polygram Entertainment and ABC Signature.
Written by Devon and Ranada Shepard, Family Affair centers on A-ron, a faded R&b star and committed bachelor whose life is thrown into a tailspin when he’s saddled with raising his sister’s four kids. A-ron is overwhelmed and underwater until he discovers that musical talent runs in the family. These kids can sing! With their sights set on success, A-ron’s about to learn that managing a music group might be hard, but raising four kids is even harder.
The Shepards executive produce with Jackson via his G Unit Film & Television, Blige and Bruce Miller via her Blue Butterfly, David Blackman and Daniel Inkeles for Universal Music/Polygram Entertainment and Noah Rosenberg.
Written by Devon and Ranada Shepard, Family Affair centers on A-ron, a faded R&b star and committed bachelor whose life is thrown into a tailspin when he’s saddled with raising his sister’s four kids. A-ron is overwhelmed and underwater until he discovers that musical talent runs in the family. These kids can sing! With their sights set on success, A-ron’s about to learn that managing a music group might be hard, but raising four kids is even harder.
The Shepards executive produce with Jackson via his G Unit Film & Television, Blige and Bruce Miller via her Blue Butterfly, David Blackman and Daniel Inkeles for Universal Music/Polygram Entertainment and Noah Rosenberg.
- 11/19/2020
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Mary J. Blige has dropped a new single, “Can’t Be Life,” featured on the soundtrack to the film Body Cam. Blige penned the song with frequent collaborators Denise Rich, Chucky Thompson, Stacy Barthe, Aaron Philips and Jimmy Cozier; it was produced by Chucky Thompson.
“I’ve been torn down like a worn-down, crumbling building/But I’m up now, and I’m up now, and I’m still living,” Blige sings, offering words of encouragement, hope and resilience throughout the track.
Body Cam is available today on streaming and digital download.
“I’ve been torn down like a worn-down, crumbling building/But I’m up now, and I’m up now, and I’m still living,” Blige sings, offering words of encouragement, hope and resilience throughout the track.
Body Cam is available today on streaming and digital download.
- 5/22/2020
- by Claire Shaffer
- Rollingstone.com
Mary J. Blige and Nat Wolff star in the intense action thriller Body Cam, available to purchase on Digital May 19, 2020 and for rent On Demand June 2 from Paramount Home Entertainment. The film will arrive on DVD July 14.
When a routine traffic stop results in the unexplained, grisly death of her colleague, a cop (Mary J. Blige) realizes footage of the incident will play for her eyes only. As the attacks mount, she races to understand the supernatural force behind them.
Blige starred as Florence Jackson in the 2017 Netflix breakout film Mudbound, for which she received critical acclaim including two Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Song. She starred in the Netflix series The Umbrella Academy, which premiered on the platform in February 2019. On the producing side, Blige launched her own production company, Blue Butterfly, and signed a first-look TV deal with Lionsgate.
Most recently, Blige voiced...
When a routine traffic stop results in the unexplained, grisly death of her colleague, a cop (Mary J. Blige) realizes footage of the incident will play for her eyes only. As the attacks mount, she races to understand the supernatural force behind them.
Blige starred as Florence Jackson in the 2017 Netflix breakout film Mudbound, for which she received critical acclaim including two Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Song. She starred in the Netflix series The Umbrella Academy, which premiered on the platform in February 2019. On the producing side, Blige launched her own production company, Blue Butterfly, and signed a first-look TV deal with Lionsgate.
Most recently, Blige voiced...
- 5/12/2020
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Exclusive: Grammy-winning recording artist and Oscar-nominated actress Mary J. Blige has been named the ambassador for this year’s American Black Film Festival (Abff), which will go down in Miami Beach from June 17 – 21. Under the title, Blige will help bring media awareness to the Abff’s mission and its 24-year legacy, as well as headline a one-on-one conversation during the Center Stage Talk series on June 18. The discussion will spotlight Blige’s music career, her transition into film and television and her life’s journey as one of the most successful artists of all time.
Blige joins the list of previous Abff ambassadors including Idris Elba, Tracee Ellis Ross, Regina Hall, La La Anthony, Jay Ellis, Morris Chestnut, Omari Hardwick, Common, and Taraji P. Henson. With a track record that includes eight multi-platinum albums, nine Grammy Awards, multiple Grammy and Oscar noms, among many other accolades, Blige has cemented herself as a global superstar.
Blige joins the list of previous Abff ambassadors including Idris Elba, Tracee Ellis Ross, Regina Hall, La La Anthony, Jay Ellis, Morris Chestnut, Omari Hardwick, Common, and Taraji P. Henson. With a track record that includes eight multi-platinum albums, nine Grammy Awards, multiple Grammy and Oscar noms, among many other accolades, Blige has cemented herself as a global superstar.
- 3/3/2020
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Gal Gadot is to exec produce a short-form documentary series for Nat Geo.
The Wonder Woman star is behind #impact, a six-part digital series that follows the stories of young women around the world who overcome obstacles and do extraordinary things.
Produced by eOne, Pilot Wave Motion Pictures and Rpc Films, the order was revealed by National Geographic Global Television Networks President Courteney Monroe during the network’s session at the Winter TCA press tour in Pasadena.
Directed by Freehold’s Vanessa Roth, Gadot exec produces alongside Jaron Varsano (My Dearest Fidel). For eOne, Tara Long serves as executive producer, Roth serves as executive producer and director. For Rpc Films, Ryan Pallota serves as executive producer for the series and director for the pilot episode, Ana De Diego is executive producer. Eric Levin, Global Chief Content Officer, Spark is executive producer. For National Geographic, Ryan Harrington is executive producer; Alan Eyres is senior vice president,...
The Wonder Woman star is behind #impact, a six-part digital series that follows the stories of young women around the world who overcome obstacles and do extraordinary things.
Produced by eOne, Pilot Wave Motion Pictures and Rpc Films, the order was revealed by National Geographic Global Television Networks President Courteney Monroe during the network’s session at the Winter TCA press tour in Pasadena.
Directed by Freehold’s Vanessa Roth, Gadot exec produces alongside Jaron Varsano (My Dearest Fidel). For eOne, Tara Long serves as executive producer, Roth serves as executive producer and director. For Rpc Films, Ryan Pallota serves as executive producer for the series and director for the pilot episode, Ana De Diego is executive producer. Eric Levin, Global Chief Content Officer, Spark is executive producer. For National Geographic, Ryan Harrington is executive producer; Alan Eyres is senior vice president,...
- 1/17/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon Studios and Entertainment One announced that they are currently in production on an untitled Mary J. Blige documentary. The film is being directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Vanessa Roth and executive produced by Blige and Sean Combs.
The film follows Blige as she is set to perform her sophomore album My Life on a 25th anniversary tour of the release. The synopsis notes that “the film provides a personal and never before seen look into the emotional journey of Mary J. Blige’s past struggles with poverty, abuse, addiction and heartbreak…...
The film follows Blige as she is set to perform her sophomore album My Life on a 25th anniversary tour of the release. The synopsis notes that “the film provides a personal and never before seen look into the emotional journey of Mary J. Blige’s past struggles with poverty, abuse, addiction and heartbreak…...
- 12/4/2019
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com
Exclusive: We’ve learned that Oscar-winning filmmaker Vanessa Roth (Freeheld) is currently in production on an untitled documentary about two-time Oscar nominee and nine-time Grammy winner Mary J. Blige.
Twenty-five years ago, the Bronx and Yonkers, NY native released her seminal and sophomore album “My Life”. Now, Blige is revisiting this music and reflecting on her emotional journey. The doc will center around Blige’s past struggles with poverty, abuse, addiction and heartbreak while at the same time following her on a special concert tour to perform “My Life”, for the first time ever as it approaches its 25-year anniversary. “My Life” is ranked as one of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time & Time Magazine’s All-Time 100 Albums.
Blige will serve as an Ep under her Blue Butterfly banner alongside Tara Long of eOne, Mark Ford and Kevin Lopez of Creature Films, with Sean Combs, and Ashaunna Ayars,...
Twenty-five years ago, the Bronx and Yonkers, NY native released her seminal and sophomore album “My Life”. Now, Blige is revisiting this music and reflecting on her emotional journey. The doc will center around Blige’s past struggles with poverty, abuse, addiction and heartbreak while at the same time following her on a special concert tour to perform “My Life”, for the first time ever as it approaches its 25-year anniversary. “My Life” is ranked as one of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time & Time Magazine’s All-Time 100 Albums.
Blige will serve as an Ep under her Blue Butterfly banner alongside Tara Long of eOne, Mark Ford and Kevin Lopez of Creature Films, with Sean Combs, and Ashaunna Ayars,...
- 12/3/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon Studios and Entertainment One are at work on an untitled Mary J. Blige documentary for Amazon Prime Video.
Blige and Sean Combs will executive produce the film about the Oscar nominee and Grammy winner to be directed by Vanessa Roth. The documentary promises a personal look at Blige’s music and TV industry ascent amid past struggles with poverty, abuse, addiction and heartbreak.
“We all know Mary J. Blige as the two-time Oscar nominee, Grammy Award winning, multi-hyphenate who has sold over 80 million records. But through this documentary, audiences will see a raw and honest side of ...
Blige and Sean Combs will executive produce the film about the Oscar nominee and Grammy winner to be directed by Vanessa Roth. The documentary promises a personal look at Blige’s music and TV industry ascent amid past struggles with poverty, abuse, addiction and heartbreak.
“We all know Mary J. Blige as the two-time Oscar nominee, Grammy Award winning, multi-hyphenate who has sold over 80 million records. But through this documentary, audiences will see a raw and honest side of ...
- 12/3/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Amazon Studios and Entertainment One are at work on an untitled Mary J. Blige documentary for Amazon Prime Video.
Blige and Sean Combs will executive produce the film about the Oscar nominee and Grammy winner to be directed by Vanessa Roth. The documentary promises a personal look at Blige’s music and TV industry ascent amid past struggles with poverty, abuse, addiction and heartbreak.
“We all know Mary J. Blige as the two-time Oscar nominee, Grammy Award winning, multi-hyphenate who has sold over 80 million records. But through this documentary, audiences will see a raw and honest side of ...
Blige and Sean Combs will executive produce the film about the Oscar nominee and Grammy winner to be directed by Vanessa Roth. The documentary promises a personal look at Blige’s music and TV industry ascent amid past struggles with poverty, abuse, addiction and heartbreak.
“We all know Mary J. Blige as the two-time Oscar nominee, Grammy Award winning, multi-hyphenate who has sold over 80 million records. But through this documentary, audiences will see a raw and honest side of ...
- 12/3/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Discovery Channel will air the documentary Liberation Heroes: The Last Eyewitnesses, on Wednesday, May 1 at 7 Pm Et, to coincide with the nation’s Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The film draws on a collection of 55,000 testimonies of survivors and witnesses to the Holocaust and other genocidal events that is part of USC Shoah Foundation’s Visual History Archive. Many of the interviews were recorded since 1994 with the organization established by Steven Spielberg after his experiences filming Schindler’s List.
The one-hour documentary is part of the foundation’s 25th anniversary commemoration and its Stronger Than Hate Initiative, and is intended to serve as a cautionary reminder of what can happen when hatred remains unchecked, Discovery described.
So, it’s timely.
The project is a “call to action to stand against hate in all forms,” Discovery CEO David Zaslav explained.
“These stories remind us of what can happen when religious, racial and ethnic hatred is unbridled,...
The film draws on a collection of 55,000 testimonies of survivors and witnesses to the Holocaust and other genocidal events that is part of USC Shoah Foundation’s Visual History Archive. Many of the interviews were recorded since 1994 with the organization established by Steven Spielberg after his experiences filming Schindler’s List.
The one-hour documentary is part of the foundation’s 25th anniversary commemoration and its Stronger Than Hate Initiative, and is intended to serve as a cautionary reminder of what can happen when hatred remains unchecked, Discovery described.
So, it’s timely.
The project is a “call to action to stand against hate in all forms,” Discovery CEO David Zaslav explained.
“These stories remind us of what can happen when religious, racial and ethnic hatred is unbridled,...
- 3/27/2019
- by Lisa de Moraes
- Deadline Film + TV
“Dark Money,” “Free Solo,” “Minding the Gap,” “The Silence of Others” and “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” have been nominated for the top film award at the International Documentary Association’s 2018 Ida Documentary Awards, the Ida announced on Wednesday.
Those five films will be joined in the feature category by another five: “Crime + Punishment,” “Hale County This Morning, This Evening,” “Of Fathers and Sons,” “Sky and Ground” and “United Skates.”
The 10 Ida Documentary Awards feature nominees is the largest number ever nominated in the category, which has typically consisted of five films. Half of the films were directed by women.
Also Read: 'Free Solo' Leads Critics' Choice Documentary Awards Nominations
Missing from the list are a few of the most successful docs of the year, including “Rbg,” “Three Identical Strangers” and “Fahrenheit 11/9.”
In the television categories, nominees include “American Masters,” “Pov” and “Independent Lens” in Curated Series,...
Those five films will be joined in the feature category by another five: “Crime + Punishment,” “Hale County This Morning, This Evening,” “Of Fathers and Sons,” “Sky and Ground” and “United Skates.”
The 10 Ida Documentary Awards feature nominees is the largest number ever nominated in the category, which has typically consisted of five films. Half of the films were directed by women.
Also Read: 'Free Solo' Leads Critics' Choice Documentary Awards Nominations
Missing from the list are a few of the most successful docs of the year, including “Rbg,” “Three Identical Strangers” and “Fahrenheit 11/9.”
In the television categories, nominees include “American Masters,” “Pov” and “Independent Lens” in Curated Series,...
- 10/24/2018
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
The International Documentary Assn. announced nominees for the 34th annual Ida Awards Wednesday, spotlighting the best in documentary filmmaking.
Among the feature nominees were mainstays on the circuit so far this year like Hulu’s “Crime + Punishment” and “Minding the Gap,” as well as National Geographic’s “Free Solo” and Focus Features’ “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”
In recognition of another banner year for non-fiction cinema, which has been reflected in box office spikes around key titles this year, the Ida expanded the number of nominees in the best feature and short films categories to 10 films.
In “creative recognition” fields, winners and nominees were announced. “Distant Constellation” won the cinematography prize, while “Minding the Gap” took editing. “The Other Side of Everything” won the writing award, and the music category saw a tie, between “Bisbee ’17” and “Hale County This Morning, This Evening.”
Additionally, the Ida’s Courage Under...
Among the feature nominees were mainstays on the circuit so far this year like Hulu’s “Crime + Punishment” and “Minding the Gap,” as well as National Geographic’s “Free Solo” and Focus Features’ “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”
In recognition of another banner year for non-fiction cinema, which has been reflected in box office spikes around key titles this year, the Ida expanded the number of nominees in the best feature and short films categories to 10 films.
In “creative recognition” fields, winners and nominees were announced. “Distant Constellation” won the cinematography prize, while “Minding the Gap” took editing. “The Other Side of Everything” won the writing award, and the music category saw a tie, between “Bisbee ’17” and “Hale County This Morning, This Evening.”
Additionally, the Ida’s Courage Under...
- 10/24/2018
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Variety Film + TV
The International Documentary Association is out with the nominees for its 2018 Ida Documentary Awards. Winners of the 34th edition will be announced December 8 duyring a ceremony hosted by Ricki Lake at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles. See the full list of nominees below.
Up for Best Feature — which has been expanded to 10 nominees this year — are Stephen Maing’s Crime + Punishment, Kimberly Reed’s Dark Money, E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin’s Free Solo, RaMell Ross’ Hale County This Morning, This Evening, Bing Liu’s Minding the Gap, Talal Derki’s Of Fathers and Sons, Talya Tibbon and Joshua Bennett’s Sky and Ground, Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar’s The Silence of Others, Dyana Winkler and Tina Brown’s United Skates and Morgan Neville’s Won’t You Be My Neighbor.
“This year’s nominees and winners of the Ida Awards reflects that 2018 has been a remarkable...
Up for Best Feature — which has been expanded to 10 nominees this year — are Stephen Maing’s Crime + Punishment, Kimberly Reed’s Dark Money, E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin’s Free Solo, RaMell Ross’ Hale County This Morning, This Evening, Bing Liu’s Minding the Gap, Talal Derki’s Of Fathers and Sons, Talya Tibbon and Joshua Bennett’s Sky and Ground, Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar’s The Silence of Others, Dyana Winkler and Tina Brown’s United Skates and Morgan Neville’s Won’t You Be My Neighbor.
“This year’s nominees and winners of the Ida Awards reflects that 2018 has been a remarkable...
- 10/24/2018
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Features selection includes Free Solo, Rbg, Quincy.
John Chester’s The Biggest Little Farm will open Doc NYC on November 8 following a strong reception at the recent world premiere in Telluride and the Canadian premiere in Tiff.
Neon acquired Us rights in Toronto to the film about Chester and his wife as they create a sustainable family farm in California, and will be release next spring.
The festival has also announced its 2018 Doc NYC Short List: Features and Short List: Short Films selections.
The Features selection is in its seventh year, and includes 15 entries, while the Short Films selection is...
John Chester’s The Biggest Little Farm will open Doc NYC on November 8 following a strong reception at the recent world premiere in Telluride and the Canadian premiere in Tiff.
Neon acquired Us rights in Toronto to the film about Chester and his wife as they create a sustainable family farm in California, and will be release next spring.
The festival has also announced its 2018 Doc NYC Short List: Features and Short List: Short Films selections.
The Features selection is in its seventh year, and includes 15 entries, while the Short Films selection is...
- 9/27/2018
- by Jenn Sherman
- ScreenDaily
Do you want to know what film is going to win the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature next February?
It’ll either be Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 11/9,” Betsy West and Julie Cohen’s “Rgb,” Tim Wardle’s “Three Identical Strangers,” Susan Lacy’s “Jane Fonda: A Life in Five Acts,” Morgan Neville’s “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” or one of these 10 other docs:
“Crime + Punishment,” Stephen Maing; “Free Solo,” Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin; “Hale County This Morning, This Evening,” RaMell Ross; “Minding the Gap,” Bing Liu; “On Her Shoulders,” Alexandra Bombach; “Pope Francis: A Man of His Word,” Wim Wenders; “Quincy,” Rashida Jones and Alan Hicks; “Reversing Roe,” Annie Sundberg & Ricki Stern; “The Sentence,” Rudy Valdez; “Shirkers,” Sandi Tan.
Those, at least, are the 15 films on the annual Short List compiled by the documentary festival Doc NYC. Since its inception in 2012, the list has...
It’ll either be Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 11/9,” Betsy West and Julie Cohen’s “Rgb,” Tim Wardle’s “Three Identical Strangers,” Susan Lacy’s “Jane Fonda: A Life in Five Acts,” Morgan Neville’s “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” or one of these 10 other docs:
“Crime + Punishment,” Stephen Maing; “Free Solo,” Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin; “Hale County This Morning, This Evening,” RaMell Ross; “Minding the Gap,” Bing Liu; “On Her Shoulders,” Alexandra Bombach; “Pope Francis: A Man of His Word,” Wim Wenders; “Quincy,” Rashida Jones and Alan Hicks; “Reversing Roe,” Annie Sundberg & Ricki Stern; “The Sentence,” Rudy Valdez; “Shirkers,” Sandi Tan.
Those, at least, are the 15 films on the annual Short List compiled by the documentary festival Doc NYC. Since its inception in 2012, the list has...
- 9/27/2018
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
The Girl And The Picture USC Shoah Foundation Reviewed by: Harvey Karten Director: Vanessa Roth Cast: Xia Shuqin, Chris Magee, Xia Yuan, Li Yuhan Screened at: Critics’ link, NYC, 4/8/18 Opens: April 27, 2018 As right-wing, authoritarian parties are gaining influence in the West—think Hungary, Greece, France, Germany, Russia, and (gulp) the U.S.– we would […]
The post The Girl and the Picture Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post The Girl and the Picture Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 4/27/2018
- by Harvey Karten
- ShockYa
The International Documentary Association has announced its initial round of nominees for the 2017 Ida Documentary Awards, including special mentions and nods for limited series, curated series, episodic series, and more. Nominees for Best Feature and Best Short, and awards for creative recognition, will be announced on November 1. The Ida will honor director Marcel Mettelsiefen’s “Watani: My Homeland” with the Pare Lorentz Award. Also receiving a special mention in the category is Joe Berlinger’s “Intent to Destroy.”
Other standouts from this first list of nominees include Bryan Fogel’s controversial “Icarus,” Ryan White’s Netflix series “The Keepers,” Ken Burns’ revelatory miniseries “The Vietnam War,” and many more of the year’s best in documentary offerings.
Read More:Joan Didion and Arthur Miller Get the Documentary Treatment From Family Members, And That Makes All the Difference — Nyff
The 33rd edition of the annual ceremony will take place Saturday, December...
Other standouts from this first list of nominees include Bryan Fogel’s controversial “Icarus,” Ryan White’s Netflix series “The Keepers,” Ken Burns’ revelatory miniseries “The Vietnam War,” and many more of the year’s best in documentary offerings.
Read More:Joan Didion and Arthur Miller Get the Documentary Treatment From Family Members, And That Makes All the Difference — Nyff
The 33rd edition of the annual ceremony will take place Saturday, December...
- 10/16/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
In 2011, the Texas Legislature voted to remove $5.4 billion from the state's education budget. Vanessa Roth's intelligent and informative documentary, The Texas Promise, examines some of the reasons behind this decision as well as various effects it had on Texas public schools.
The film opens with a series of hopeful young students talking about what they want to be when they grow up, but the narrative quickly moves into the nitty gritty of the matter at hand. Thanks to the people in charge at the governmental level, these students probably have a challenging path ahead of them for reasons that have more to do with money and politics than their own academic skills and goals.
Roth helps to explain the situation by relying on quite a bit of footage captured during the legislative debates leading up to the 2011 decision, and these moments help to provide a summary of the players...
The film opens with a series of hopeful young students talking about what they want to be when they grow up, but the narrative quickly moves into the nitty gritty of the matter at hand. Thanks to the people in charge at the governmental level, these students probably have a challenging path ahead of them for reasons that have more to do with money and politics than their own academic skills and goals.
Roth helps to explain the situation by relying on quite a bit of footage captured during the legislative debates leading up to the 2011 decision, and these moments help to provide a summary of the players...
- 11/5/2014
- by Caitlin Moore
- Slackerwood
Award-winning director Vanessa Roth tends to look deeply into social justice issues in her documentaries -- the effectiveness of the foster care system in Aging Out, the repurcussions of that film in No Tomorrow, equal rights for a lesbian couple in Freeheld (Roth produced), and schools and education in American Teacher and The Third Monday in October. Her most recent film, The Texas Promise, hits close to home as it peers into the state budget cuts to education in Texas. This new documentary from Roth will debut at Austin Film Festival later this week.
Roth answered a few of my questions via email about her work.
Slackerwood: Why is education a recurring theme in your works?
Vanessa Roth: I have so much to say about this that I don’t know where to begin... education as a theme is what all my work focuses on because it is the...
Roth answered a few of my questions via email about her work.
Slackerwood: Why is education a recurring theme in your works?
Vanessa Roth: I have so much to say about this that I don’t know where to begin... education as a theme is what all my work focuses on because it is the...
- 10/22/2014
- by Elizabeth Stoddard
- Slackerwood
Check out Zoë Kravitz as the Christina character in Summit Entertainment's Divergent directed by Neil Burger. Shailene Woodley stars in the film screenwritten by Evan Daugherty and Vanessa Taylor, based on the novel by Vanessa Roth. This joins the new poster or Jai Courtney as Eric, and Maggie Q as Tori and Mekhi Phifer as Max. Divergent is a thrilling adventure set in a future world where people are divided into distinct factions based on their personalities. Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) is warned she is Divergent and will never fit into any one group. When she discovers a conspiracy to destroy all Divergents, she must find out what makes being Divergent so dangerous before it’s...
- 11/7/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Directors: Vanessa Roth, Brian McGinn Narrator: Matt Damon We all have at least one teacher we can think back to as being a highly important person, not just as an educator but as someone that truly made a difference. American Teacher, a documentary directed by Vanessa Roth, looks at the status and treatment of teachers in this country. By interviewing current and former educators around the United States, Roth is able to present a well-balanced look into the lives of American teachers. The statistics presented with regard to public education is astounding. Money can be a highly motivating factor for entering one profession over another. And sadly, education in the United States is increasing annually. With degrees from Harvard and Princeton, Rhena Jasey, a former teacher of Seth Boyden Elementary School in Maplewood, New Jersey was making $40,900. Teaching is an incredibly underpaid profession considering the long hours teachers must put...
- 10/18/2011
- by Caitlyn Collins
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
Title: American Teacher Director: Vanessa Roth An inoffensive but hardly essential piece of occupational boosterism, “American Teacher” provides a look at the public education crisis in the United States through the eyes of those often lambasted or pilloried as somehow being a bigger part of the problem than of the solution. Helmed by Academy Award-winning director Vanessa Roth, the documentary spotlights the extraordinary personal sacrifices that a lot of instructors make by choosing to teach — as well as how qualified and otherwise passionate people are sometimes driven from the field by the rocky shoals of hard-knock financial reality. Many of the subjects here are inspiring, but, sadly, “American Teacher”...
- 9/30/2011
- by bsimon
- ShockYa
Trailers are an under-appreciated art form insofar that many times they’re seen as vehicles for showing footage, explaining films away, or showing their hand about what moviegoers can expect. Foreign, domestic, independent, big budget: I celebrate all levels of trailers and hopefully this column will satisfactorily give you a baseline of what beta wave I’m operating on, because what better way to hone your skills as a thoughtful moviegoer than by deconstructing these little pieces of advertising? Some of the best authors will tell you that writing a short story is a lot harder than writing a long one, that you have to weigh every sentence. What better medium to see how this theory plays itself out beyond that than with movie trailers? The Awakening Trailer I've found my attention drifting when it comes to what I find interesting in horror films nowadays. My definition has grown looser over time,...
- 9/23/2011
- by Christopher Stipp
- Slash Film
By Sean O’Connell
Hollywoodnews.com: A handful of stellar titles with Oscar aspirations have been programmed into this year’s Austin Film Festival schedule, which begins on Oct. 20 with an as-yet-unnamed Opening Night selection.
In between, Aff audiences will get their first looks at Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants,” Steve McQueen’s “Shame,” Lynne Ramsay’s “We Need to Talk About Kevin,” Rodrigo Garcia’s “Albert Nobbs” and Sean Durkin’s “Martha Marcy May Marlene” – all films with awards hopes that will screen as part of the festival’s Marquee category.
“We’re proud to be taking our program in some exciting new directions while maintaining our focus on strong writing and engaging stories,” said new Film Programmers Stephen Jannise and Stephen Belyeu.
In addition, the fest has set up special screenings of “Toy Story” (presented by John Lasseter), an “Edward Scissorhands” screening, and a tribute to Polly Platt...
Hollywoodnews.com: A handful of stellar titles with Oscar aspirations have been programmed into this year’s Austin Film Festival schedule, which begins on Oct. 20 with an as-yet-unnamed Opening Night selection.
In between, Aff audiences will get their first looks at Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants,” Steve McQueen’s “Shame,” Lynne Ramsay’s “We Need to Talk About Kevin,” Rodrigo Garcia’s “Albert Nobbs” and Sean Durkin’s “Martha Marcy May Marlene” – all films with awards hopes that will screen as part of the festival’s Marquee category.
“We’re proud to be taking our program in some exciting new directions while maintaining our focus on strong writing and engaging stories,” said new Film Programmers Stephen Jannise and Stephen Belyeu.
In addition, the fest has set up special screenings of “Toy Story” (presented by John Lasseter), an “Edward Scissorhands” screening, and a tribute to Polly Platt...
- 9/20/2011
- by Sean O'Connell
- Hollywoodnews.com
Title: American Teacher Directed By: Vanessa Roth Written By: Vanessa Roth Cast: Erik Benner, Jonathan Dearman, Jamie Fidler, Rhena Jasey Screened at: Review 2, NYC, 9/8/11 Opens: September 30, 2011 Vanessa Roth’s documentary, which focuses on three teachers from diverse areas, is the kind of movie meant to serve as uplift-to remind us about how saintly the characters really are and how the society tramples on these idealistic folks by affording them low prestige and even lower wages. Though the film undoubtedly has its heart in the right place, it is flawed by repetition, by a refusal to explore its hypotheses instead of merely presenting them, and of a nature...
- 9/9/2011
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
By Sean O’Connell
Hollywoodnews.com: “Albert Nobbs,” “We Need to Talk About Kevin,” and a regional premiere of DreamWorks’ anticipated animated sequel “Puss in Boots” are the highlights of the first wave of programming for the Austin Film Festival, which were announced this morning.
The first two films harbor serious awards aspirations, and will stop in Austin after screening at such prestigious festivals as Cannes and Toronto.
The 2011 film lineup includes several world, U.S., and regional premieres in all genres ranging from comedy to horror, documentary to drama. Filmmakers from around the world and Texas alike will showcase everything from obscure indie films to big-budget Oscar-bound productions.
This year’s festival runs October 20-27 in Austin, Texas.
The complete list of films screening at Aff this year, including short films and competition titles, will be announced in mid-September. Cast and crew attendance is subject to change and...
Hollywoodnews.com: “Albert Nobbs,” “We Need to Talk About Kevin,” and a regional premiere of DreamWorks’ anticipated animated sequel “Puss in Boots” are the highlights of the first wave of programming for the Austin Film Festival, which were announced this morning.
The first two films harbor serious awards aspirations, and will stop in Austin after screening at such prestigious festivals as Cannes and Toronto.
The 2011 film lineup includes several world, U.S., and regional premieres in all genres ranging from comedy to horror, documentary to drama. Filmmakers from around the world and Texas alike will showcase everything from obscure indie films to big-budget Oscar-bound productions.
This year’s festival runs October 20-27 in Austin, Texas.
The complete list of films screening at Aff this year, including short films and competition titles, will be announced in mid-September. Cast and crew attendance is subject to change and...
- 8/23/2011
- by Sean O'Connell
- Hollywoodnews.com
East Hampton, NY (October 10th, 2010) – The Hamptons International Film Festival announced tonight their audience, jury and special prizes at their awards ceremony. Tom Hooper’s The King’S Speech and Jill Andresevic’s Love Etc. take the audience awards honored tonight among the film industries finest. Mamas And Papas, directed by Alice Nellis, was selected by the jury as the winner of The Golden Starfish Narrative Feature Award. The Documentary Golden Starfish went to Aaron Schock’s Circo. Mamas And Papas also took home the Zicherman Screenplay Award. Another winner in the Narrative category, Xavier Dolan’s Heartbeats took the Kodak Award for Best Cinematography. The festival’s Brizzolara Family Conflict and Resolution Award was presented to Lisa Gossel’s My So Called Enemy. Special awards went to The House Of Suh, directed by Iris Shim, which was the winner of the Investigation Discovery Award for Excellence in Journalism, and No Tomorrow,...
- 10/11/2010
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
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