There’s a ghost in the machine in writer/director Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke’s humorous and haunting gem of a feature debut “A Useful Ghost.” However, this is no mere twisty supernatural horror to be forced into neat genre classifications. It’s a work that flaunts all expectations with a disposition as gloriously and gracefully silly as it is incisive and illuminating.
For one thing, the machine in question is a humble vacuum cleaner and it is now being possessed by the wandering, lonely spirit of a woman desperately seeking to remain in the land of the living with her husband after she dies. For another, she is but one ghost of many who must grapple with the layered agonies of a world that cares not for those who get destroyed in the pursuit of power, wealth, and supposed “progress.” It’s with this supernatural conceit that the film playfully and...
For one thing, the machine in question is a humble vacuum cleaner and it is now being possessed by the wandering, lonely spirit of a woman desperately seeking to remain in the land of the living with her husband after she dies. For another, she is but one ghost of many who must grapple with the layered agonies of a world that cares not for those who get destroyed in the pursuit of power, wealth, and supposed “progress.” It’s with this supernatural conceit that the film playfully and...
- 5/17/2025
- by Chase Hutchinson
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Ahead of the April 4th theatrical release of his latest film, The Luckiest Man in America, Samir Oliveros — writer, director, producer, and co-founder of filmmaking collective Plenty Good — has signed with Cinetic Media for management.
A Colombia-born, U.S.-based talent who has leveraged partnerships at home in Latin America to create film and television for global audiences, Olivero’s Luckiest Man is a starry Colombia-based production that sold to IFC Films and Sapan Studio after premiering at TIFF 2024, in one of the few deals of the festival. The stranger-than-fiction story, based on true events, follows an unemployed ice cream truck driver who, in 1984, drives from Ohio to California to become a contestant on the popular game show Press Your Luck and goes on an unprecedented winning streak, all while keeping a big secret.
The project features a stacked cast led by Paul Walter Hauser, which also includes David Strathairn,...
A Colombia-born, U.S.-based talent who has leveraged partnerships at home in Latin America to create film and television for global audiences, Olivero’s Luckiest Man is a starry Colombia-based production that sold to IFC Films and Sapan Studio after premiering at TIFF 2024, in one of the few deals of the festival. The stranger-than-fiction story, based on true events, follows an unemployed ice cream truck driver who, in 1984, drives from Ohio to California to become a contestant on the popular game show Press Your Luck and goes on an unprecedented winning streak, all while keeping a big secret.
The project features a stacked cast led by Paul Walter Hauser, which also includes David Strathairn,...
- 4/2/2025
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Set in rural Argentina, Tomás Gómez Bustillo’s debut film Chronicles of a Wandering Saint introduces us to Rita, a pious woman longing for recognition in her small town.
When she discovers an old statue in her local church, Rita believes it’s a long-lost miracle and decides to pass it off as such. Hoping this will earn her admiration, she enlists her husband Norberto to help unveil the statue to their community.
Yet Rita’s scheme soon takes an unexpected turn, as the film pivots halfway through, launching into magical realism. What began as a charming small town comedy is transformed into a profound meditation on faith, life, and finding meaning in unexpected places.
Bustillo skillfully balances whimsy and sincerity to tell a story both heartwarming and thought-provoking. His deft direction and Villa’s compelling performance make Rita’s journey truly memorable. Viewers are in for far more than...
When she discovers an old statue in her local church, Rita believes it’s a long-lost miracle and decides to pass it off as such. Hoping this will earn her admiration, she enlists her husband Norberto to help unveil the statue to their community.
Yet Rita’s scheme soon takes an unexpected turn, as the film pivots halfway through, launching into magical realism. What began as a charming small town comedy is transformed into a profound meditation on faith, life, and finding meaning in unexpected places.
Bustillo skillfully balances whimsy and sincerity to tell a story both heartwarming and thought-provoking. His deft direction and Villa’s compelling performance make Rita’s journey truly memorable. Viewers are in for far more than...
- 9/3/2024
- by Naser Nahandian
- Gazettely
There is a moment fairly early on in Chronicles of a Wandering Saint, the small miracle of a feature debut from writer-director Toms Gmez Bustillo, where we come to what seems to be the close. The credits begin to roll and the character that we have been following for the opening act meets an end of sorts. What this is precisely is best left to the film, though suffice to say it takes what was an otherwise slow start and kicks it up another gear. Forget the works that have the late title card drop, this shows that there can be just as much joy in having the credits roll entirely with one of the best needle drops of the 21st Century and what feels like an entirely new film begin anew. What initially played like a more understated version of something like an episode of the sensational series Los Espookys,...
- 8/16/2024
- by Chase Hutchinson
- Collider.com
Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.
Chronicles of a Wandering Saint (Tomás Gómez Bustillo)
Tomás Gómez Bustillo’s charming, intelligent Chronicles of a Wandering Saint is a natural follow-up to the two short films for which he is known: Soy Buenos Aires (a strange, picaresque rags-to-riches tale) and Museum of Fleeting Wonders (a collection of dramatized paranormal happenings). In Chronicles, as in the two short films, he is primarily concerned with spiritual, ethical, and religious contrasts; scenarios in which miracles are mixed with coincidences, faith with rationality, and boredom with inspiration. But that is where the comparisons end; for Chronicles is in every way a more serious, controlled, and moving work of art, which stands with the very best of contemporary Argentine cinema. – Oliver W. (full review)
Where...
Chronicles of a Wandering Saint (Tomás Gómez Bustillo)
Tomás Gómez Bustillo’s charming, intelligent Chronicles of a Wandering Saint is a natural follow-up to the two short films for which he is known: Soy Buenos Aires (a strange, picaresque rags-to-riches tale) and Museum of Fleeting Wonders (a collection of dramatized paranormal happenings). In Chronicles, as in the two short films, he is primarily concerned with spiritual, ethical, and religious contrasts; scenarios in which miracles are mixed with coincidences, faith with rationality, and boredom with inspiration. But that is where the comparisons end; for Chronicles is in every way a more serious, controlled, and moving work of art, which stands with the very best of contemporary Argentine cinema. – Oliver W. (full review)
Where...
- 8/16/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Tomás Gómez Bustillo: 'One of the first inspirations for the film was this image that came to my mind of this glowing figure in the middle of the dark' Photo: Hope Runs High In his feature debut Chronicles Of A Wandering Saint, Tomás Gómez Bustillo crafts an enchanting tale about faith and myth. At the heart of the Argentinian film, Rita (Mónica Villa), a devout woman, attempts to stage a miracle to win the favour of the local priest and her community. Through deadpan humour and a visually striking interplay between light and darkness, this enchanting film offers a heartfelt exploration of how we perceive narratives of spirituality.
We spoke to Bustillo shortly after his film premiered in the US, and he shared his journey into directing, discussed the image which originally inspired the film and remembered his days as a Catholic missionary. He also talked about the significance...
We spoke to Bustillo shortly after his film premiered in the US, and he shared his journey into directing, discussed the image which originally inspired the film and remembered his days as a Catholic missionary. He also talked about the significance...
- 7/5/2024
- by Sergiu Inizian
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
In movies, small towns and big miracles go well together. Everybody knows each other there, news travels fast and city slickers — with their cynicism and logic and skepticism — rarely intrude. So it is with “Chronicles of a Wandering Saint,” a winsome comedy-drama about the residents of Santa Rita, a small coastal town in Argentina where a woman makes a startling discovery.
Rita (Monica Villa), a devout married woman who spends her days chatting and gossiping with her circle of churchgoing friends, believes she has found a religious statue that was presumed lost forever. The discovery gives Rita exactly what she’s yearning for: the opportunity to stand out and be celebrated and — at least within the town’s limits — famous and admired.
Rita craves attention, yet she’s blind to the efforts of her longtime husband Norberto (Horacio Anibal Marassi), who works nights at a neighborhood bar and is trying...
Rita (Monica Villa), a devout married woman who spends her days chatting and gossiping with her circle of churchgoing friends, believes she has found a religious statue that was presumed lost forever. The discovery gives Rita exactly what she’s yearning for: the opportunity to stand out and be celebrated and — at least within the town’s limits — famous and admired.
Rita craves attention, yet she’s blind to the efforts of her longtime husband Norberto (Horacio Anibal Marassi), who works nights at a neighborhood bar and is trying...
- 7/4/2024
- by Rene Rodriguez
- Variety Film + TV
From statues that weep blood to dancing suns that lead to sudden darkness in the middle of the day, the Catholic faith overflows with accounts of miracles. But in order for a miracle to be deemed as such, it must go through a series of rigorous examinations during which the vast majority of occurences are debunked. The pious Rita López (Mónica Villa), the protagonist of Tomás Gómez Bustillo’s Chronicles of a Wandering Saint, spends her days seeking to be of service in her local church, but realizes nothing will pave her path to heaven faster than coming up with her own miracle––hence she enlists her husband Norberto (Horacio Marassi) in the restoration of a statue that might have mystical powers.
In his feature-length debut, Gómez Bustillo creates a world in which the mundane and divine are partners in a waltz that goes from sublime to absurd. With loving irreverence,...
In his feature-length debut, Gómez Bustillo creates a world in which the mundane and divine are partners in a waltz that goes from sublime to absurd. With loving irreverence,...
- 7/2/2024
- by Jose Solís
- The Film Stage
Tomás Gómez Bustillo wears glasses and a warm but reserved smile. The second this young director realizes he is speaking to another Argentine, we switch to Spanish, and his sentences become longer, peppered with curses, as we like to do. Throughout our talk, Tomás Gómez Bustillo is honest and welcoming of all questions and comments. They are mainly about his debut feature film, Chronicles of a Wandering Saint, 84 minutes long and an absolute trip. So far, Chronicles has been nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards, and swept many a prize at SXSW. It will be released commercially in theaters today; visit the official site for additional locations and release dates. The premise: Argentina. A small town. A devout but competitive woman, Rita (Mónica Villa),...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 6/28/2024
- Screen Anarchy
The saying goes that miracles are everywhere for those with eyes to see them, which helps to explain why Rita Lopez — the most pious and competitive member of her rural Argentinian community — seems to find one in the first place she looks. Nearing 70, terminally bored of her marriage, and desperate for a heavenly sliver of the recognition that she’s been denied here on Earth, our heroine decides that an old sculpture she uncovers in the musty storeroom of her local church must be the statue of Saint Rita that’s been missing for 30 years, and was assumed to be lost forever.
It’s a big deal. So big, in fact, that Rita (Argentinian icon and “Wild Tales” star Mónica Villa) enlists her sweet and doddering husband Norberto (Horacio Marassi) to help smuggle the statue out of the church so she can spruce it up and unveil it to the...
It’s a big deal. So big, in fact, that Rita (Argentinian icon and “Wild Tales” star Mónica Villa) enlists her sweet and doddering husband Norberto (Horacio Marassi) to help smuggle the statue out of the church so she can spruce it up and unveil it to the...
- 6/26/2024
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
"She's going to have to explain herself to the Lord." Hope Runs High Films. has revealed an official trailer for an indie film from Argentina titled Chronicles of a Wandering Saint, which will be getting a limited theatrical release in the US soon. It premiered at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival last year, and also played at other fests including Vancouver & Philadelphia. In a tiny Argentinian town, a pious yet competitive woman decides that staging a miracle could be her ticket to sainthood. Before the unveiling, an event illuminates the hidden magic of her world, forcing her to reevaluate everything she once took for granted. Described as "beautifully crafted, playful, and poignant, [the film] is an exploration of love, community, transcendence that finds reverence in the ordinary. In his feature debut, Buenos Aires-born, AFI-trained director Tomás Gómez Bustillo combines religion, magic, & folklore, along with a luminous performance by Monica Villa, to celebrate the absurdity of being human.
- 6/7/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Accomplishing the rare feat of being nominated for a trio of Independent Spirit Awards before it even secured distribution, Tomás Gómez Bustillo’s debut feature Chronicles of a Wandering Saint is now finally arriving this June from Hope Runs High Film.
A world premiere at SXSW 2023, where it won the Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Award, the supernatural comedy will begin its NYC theatrical release at the IFC Center starting Friday, June 28 with opening weekend filmmaker Q&As, followed by LA at the Lumiere on July 5, San Francisco on July 19 at The Roxie and other key U.S. cities to follow. Ahead of the release, we’re pleased to exclusively premiere the trailer and poster.
Here’s the synopsis: “In a tiny rural village in Argentina, Rita Lopez, a pious yet insatiably competitive woman, decides that staging a miracle could be her ticket to sainthood. After discovering a lost statue in the back room of her chapel,...
A world premiere at SXSW 2023, where it won the Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Award, the supernatural comedy will begin its NYC theatrical release at the IFC Center starting Friday, June 28 with opening weekend filmmaker Q&As, followed by LA at the Lumiere on July 5, San Francisco on July 19 at The Roxie and other key U.S. cities to follow. Ahead of the release, we’re pleased to exclusively premiere the trailer and poster.
Here’s the synopsis: “In a tiny rural village in Argentina, Rita Lopez, a pious yet insatiably competitive woman, decides that staging a miracle could be her ticket to sainthood. After discovering a lost statue in the back room of her chapel,...
- 6/7/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
For those who remember, the game show Press Your Luck relied a lot on good timing. In a very roulette-like manner, contestants would watch squares on a board randomly be highlighted until they prompt it to stop in order to get the prize it halted on. An amazing episode in 1984 would have a contestant endlessly receiving good luck as he won big money every time he called, “Stop!” His fortune would be called into question as he would get accused of cheating on the show. Deadline has now shared the first look at Press Your Luck — a movie that will depict the events of that episode and all the controversy surrounding it, starring Paul Walter Hauser as the fateful contestant.
The synopsis, according to Deadline, reads,
“Set in 1984, the film follows Ohio resident Michael Larson, who steps on to the set of game show Press Your Luck harboring a secret:...
The synopsis, according to Deadline, reads,
“Set in 1984, the film follows Ohio resident Michael Larson, who steps on to the set of game show Press Your Luck harboring a secret:...
- 5/10/2024
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Paul Walter Hauser will lead the cast of Press Your Luck, a pic based on a true story of an unemployed ice-cream truck driver who won big on a 1980s game show.
Set in 1984, the film follows Ohio resident Michael Larson, who steps on to the set of game show ‘Press Your Luck’ harboring a secret: the key to endless amounts of money. But his winning streak gets threatened when the executives in the control room start to uncover his real motivations. You can see a first look image above.
Joining Hauser in an ensemble cast are Walton Goggins, David Strathairn, Emmy-nominated Maisie Williams, Haley Bennett, Shamier Anderson, David Rysdahl, Johnny Knoxville, Brian Geraghty, Patti Harrison and Shaunette Renée Wilson.
Samir Oliveros directs from a screenplay co-written with Maggie Briggs (Joyland). His company, Plenty Good (Chronicles Of A Wandering Saint) is the producer, and co-producer is Fabula (El Conde). The film is in post-production, with Protagonist Pictures handling international sales and CAA Media Finance representing North American rights.
“Samir has crafted a unique and stylish telling of the incredible true story of a down on his luck everyman gaming the system,” said Protagonist Pictures’ CEO, Dave Bishop. “We couldn’t be happier to be working with the very talented Samir and our friends at Fabula and Plenty Good.”
Press Your Luck is produced by Amanda Freedman, and executive produced by Andrew Hevia, Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín, Hauser, Juan Pablo Solano, Simon Beltran, Sara McFarlane, Damiano Tucci, Tiziano Tucci, Sophia Banks, Arun Thapar, Divya Shahani and Roger Lolly. Constanza Muñoz is co-producer.
Paul Walter Hauser is repped by CAA, Artists First, and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham Llp.; Walton Goggins is repped by CAA, and Darris Hatch Management; David Strathairn is repped by CAA and Ryan Entertainment; Maisie Williams is repped by WME, Ocean Avenue, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hynick Jaime LeVine Sample & Klein; Haley Bennet is repped by WME, and Brecheen Feldman Breimer Silver Thompson; and Johnny Knoxville is repped by CAA, and Sloane Offer Weber & Dern.
Set in 1984, the film follows Ohio resident Michael Larson, who steps on to the set of game show ‘Press Your Luck’ harboring a secret: the key to endless amounts of money. But his winning streak gets threatened when the executives in the control room start to uncover his real motivations. You can see a first look image above.
Joining Hauser in an ensemble cast are Walton Goggins, David Strathairn, Emmy-nominated Maisie Williams, Haley Bennett, Shamier Anderson, David Rysdahl, Johnny Knoxville, Brian Geraghty, Patti Harrison and Shaunette Renée Wilson.
Samir Oliveros directs from a screenplay co-written with Maggie Briggs (Joyland). His company, Plenty Good (Chronicles Of A Wandering Saint) is the producer, and co-producer is Fabula (El Conde). The film is in post-production, with Protagonist Pictures handling international sales and CAA Media Finance representing North American rights.
“Samir has crafted a unique and stylish telling of the incredible true story of a down on his luck everyman gaming the system,” said Protagonist Pictures’ CEO, Dave Bishop. “We couldn’t be happier to be working with the very talented Samir and our friends at Fabula and Plenty Good.”
Press Your Luck is produced by Amanda Freedman, and executive produced by Andrew Hevia, Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín, Hauser, Juan Pablo Solano, Simon Beltran, Sara McFarlane, Damiano Tucci, Tiziano Tucci, Sophia Banks, Arun Thapar, Divya Shahani and Roger Lolly. Constanza Muñoz is co-producer.
Paul Walter Hauser is repped by CAA, Artists First, and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham Llp.; Walton Goggins is repped by CAA, and Darris Hatch Management; David Strathairn is repped by CAA and Ryan Entertainment; Maisie Williams is repped by WME, Ocean Avenue, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hynick Jaime LeVine Sample & Klein; Haley Bennet is repped by WME, and Brecheen Feldman Breimer Silver Thompson; and Johnny Knoxville is repped by CAA, and Sloane Offer Weber & Dern.
- 5/9/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Paul Walter Hauser has added another project to a packed upcoming slate.
The Emmy and Golden Globe winner, who in the last few weeks alone has been tapped to play Chris Farley in Josh Gad’s biopic and has joined the cast of both “Fantastic Four” and the “Naked Gun” reboot, is to lead “Press Your Luck,” a drama-thriller based on the true story of Michael Larson. Protagonist Pictures has unveiled the drama-thriller — from Plenty Good in co-production with Fabula — alongside a first look image and will handle international sales, while CAA Media Finance represents North American rights.
Set in 1984, “Press Your Luck” follows Larson, an unemployed truck driver from Ohio who stepped onto the game show “Press Your Luck” harbouring a secret: the key to endless amounts of money. But his winning streak gets threatened when the executives in the control room start to uncover his real motivations.
The...
The Emmy and Golden Globe winner, who in the last few weeks alone has been tapped to play Chris Farley in Josh Gad’s biopic and has joined the cast of both “Fantastic Four” and the “Naked Gun” reboot, is to lead “Press Your Luck,” a drama-thriller based on the true story of Michael Larson. Protagonist Pictures has unveiled the drama-thriller — from Plenty Good in co-production with Fabula — alongside a first look image and will handle international sales, while CAA Media Finance represents North American rights.
Set in 1984, “Press Your Luck” follows Larson, an unemployed truck driver from Ohio who stepped onto the game show “Press Your Luck” harbouring a secret: the key to endless amounts of money. But his winning streak gets threatened when the executives in the control room start to uncover his real motivations.
The...
- 5/9/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety Film + TV
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
The Independent Spirit Awards are an annual award given in the name of independent film, featuring all of the indie films which deserve honor and recognition - celebrating their 39th year. The 2024 winners of the Spirit Awards were announced Saturday evening, in their usual spot in Santa Monica near the beach - this time just a week before the Oscars. The big winner this year is the beloved Past Lives, taking both Best Film and Best Director (Celine Song also won a DGA Award for Best First Feature). The other nominations from all the 2023 releases included many outstanding indie films many cinephiles have been talking up all year, deserving of some extra time in the spotlight - gems like May December, American Fiction, Passages, Earth Mama, All of Us Strangers, Theater Camp, BlackBerry, and The Starling Girl. As usual, there are a few surprises: I've never heard of Chronicles of a Wandering Saint...
- 2/26/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Greta Lee and Teo Yoo in ‘Past Lives’ (Photo Credit: Jon Pack / Courtesy of A24)
Past Lives took home top film honors at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards, held on February 25th in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica. The film also earned Celine Song the Best Director award, with American Fiction‘s Cord Jefferson and May December‘s Samy Burch earning screenplay honors.
On the television side, The Last of Us collected two awards: Nick Offerman for Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series and Keivonn Montreal Woodard for Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series. Beef also netted two wins, with Ali Wong awarded Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series and the show earning the Best New Scripted Series award.
2024 Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations
Best Feature (Award given to the producer.)
All of Us Strangers
Producers: Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin,...
Past Lives took home top film honors at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards, held on February 25th in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica. The film also earned Celine Song the Best Director award, with American Fiction‘s Cord Jefferson and May December‘s Samy Burch earning screenplay honors.
On the television side, The Last of Us collected two awards: Nick Offerman for Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series and Keivonn Montreal Woodard for Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series. Beef also netted two wins, with Ali Wong awarded Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series and the show earning the Best New Scripted Series award.
2024 Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations
Best Feature (Award given to the producer.)
All of Us Strangers
Producers: Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin,...
- 2/26/2024
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Another big award show took place this weekend (in addition to the SAG Awards), the Film Independent Spirit Awards, which celebrates indie film and TV. One thing about this awards show is that their idea of independent sometimes makes me scratch my head a bit, with HBO’s big-budget The Last of Us nominated a whole bunch in the TV category, along with Netflix’s Beef and several other streaming shows, which I’m not sure one could call independent. For films, there’s a $30 million budget cap. For TV, I’m honestly not sure what the benchmark is because Last of Us was notoriously an expensive show to shoot, costing at least $100 million.
Indeed, The Last of Us won some key awards on the TV side, winning Best Supporting Performance (for Nick Offerman) and Best Breakthrough Performance (for Keivonn Montreal Woodard). Over on the film side, American Fiction and...
Indeed, The Last of Us won some key awards on the TV side, winning Best Supporting Performance (for Nick Offerman) and Best Breakthrough Performance (for Keivonn Montreal Woodard). Over on the film side, American Fiction and...
- 2/26/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Past Lives was named best feature at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards, which were handed out Sunday afternoon in Santa Monica.
In addition, Celine Song was named best director for her work on the film.
Elsewhere, Da’Vine Joy Randolph won the Spirit Award for best supporting performance, for her role in The Holdovers, repeating her win from Saturday night’s SAG Awards and other shows this awards season. Her co-star, Dominic Sessa, won the Spirit Award for best breakthrough performance.
American Fiction also collected two trophies: Cord Jefferson won the award for best screenplay, while Jeffrey Wright won for best lead performance.
May December won the award for best first screenplay for Samy Burch (story by Burch and Alex Mechanik). Four Daughters was named best documentary.
On the TV side, Beef was named best new scripted series, while Ali Wong won best lead performance for her role in the show,...
In addition, Celine Song was named best director for her work on the film.
Elsewhere, Da’Vine Joy Randolph won the Spirit Award for best supporting performance, for her role in The Holdovers, repeating her win from Saturday night’s SAG Awards and other shows this awards season. Her co-star, Dominic Sessa, won the Spirit Award for best breakthrough performance.
American Fiction also collected two trophies: Cord Jefferson won the award for best screenplay, while Jeffrey Wright won for best lead performance.
May December won the award for best first screenplay for Samy Burch (story by Burch and Alex Mechanik). Four Daughters was named best documentary.
On the TV side, Beef was named best new scripted series, while Ali Wong won best lead performance for her role in the show,...
- 2/26/2024
- by Kimberly Nordyke
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The best in independent film and television were honored at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards!
Plenty of A-List stars were in attendance at the event on Sunday afternoon (February 25) at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif.
Movies are only eligible for a Spirit Award if they have a budget of less than $30 million, so there are some awards favorites like Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Killers of the Flower Moon that are not nominated.
American Fiction, May December, and Past Lives lead the pack this year with five nominations each.
Make sure to check out our post with photos of Every celeb who attended the event! Also check out our best dressed list.
Head inside to see the full list of winners…
Keep scrolling to see the full list of winners…
Best Feature (Award given to the producer)
All of Us Strangers
Producers: Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Sarah Harvey
American Fiction
Producers: Cord Jefferson,...
Plenty of A-List stars were in attendance at the event on Sunday afternoon (February 25) at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif.
Movies are only eligible for a Spirit Award if they have a budget of less than $30 million, so there are some awards favorites like Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Killers of the Flower Moon that are not nominated.
American Fiction, May December, and Past Lives lead the pack this year with five nominations each.
Make sure to check out our post with photos of Every celeb who attended the event! Also check out our best dressed list.
Head inside to see the full list of winners…
Keep scrolling to see the full list of winners…
Best Feature (Award given to the producer)
All of Us Strangers
Producers: Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Sarah Harvey
American Fiction
Producers: Cord Jefferson,...
- 2/26/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
The 2024 Independent Spirit Awards took place on Sunday at the traditional Santa Monica beach tent location, with Aidy Bryant hosting. “Past Lives” took home the coveted Best Feature award, with “Beef” being honored as Best New Scripted Series. Check out the full list of winners and nominees below.
Best Feature
“Past Lives”
Producers: David Hinojosa, Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon
“All of Us Strangers”
Producers: Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Sarah Harvey
“American Fiction”
Producers: Cord Jefferson, Jermaine Johnson, Nikos Karamigios, Ben LeClair
“May December”
Producers: Jessica Elbaum, Will Ferrell, Grant S. Johnson, Pamela Koffler, Tyler W. Konney, Sophie Mas, Natalie Portman, Christine Vachon
“Passages”
Producers: Michel Merkt, Saïd Ben Saïd
“We Grown Now”
Producers: Minhal Baig, Joe Pirro
Best Lead Performance
Jeffrey Wright, “American Fiction”
Jessica Chastain, “Memory”
Greta Lee, “Past Lives”
Trace Lysette, “Monica”
Natalie Portman, “May December”
Judy Reyes, “Birth/Rebirth”
Franz Rogowski, “Passages”
Andrew Scott, “All of Us Strangers”
Teyana Taylor,...
Best Feature
“Past Lives”
Producers: David Hinojosa, Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon
“All of Us Strangers”
Producers: Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Sarah Harvey
“American Fiction”
Producers: Cord Jefferson, Jermaine Johnson, Nikos Karamigios, Ben LeClair
“May December”
Producers: Jessica Elbaum, Will Ferrell, Grant S. Johnson, Pamela Koffler, Tyler W. Konney, Sophie Mas, Natalie Portman, Christine Vachon
“Passages”
Producers: Michel Merkt, Saïd Ben Saïd
“We Grown Now”
Producers: Minhal Baig, Joe Pirro
Best Lead Performance
Jeffrey Wright, “American Fiction”
Jessica Chastain, “Memory”
Greta Lee, “Past Lives”
Trace Lysette, “Monica”
Natalie Portman, “May December”
Judy Reyes, “Birth/Rebirth”
Franz Rogowski, “Passages”
Andrew Scott, “All of Us Strangers”
Teyana Taylor,...
- 2/25/2024
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
Live from a tent on the beach in Santa Monica, California, it’s the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards! This year’s ceremony, which kicked off this afternoon, was hosted by “Saturday Night Live” alum Aidy Bryant and feted the best in indie film and TV.
This year’s pack of nominees included a slew of Oscar contenders and a number of indie gems, all competing for the biggest prizes in the indie sphere.
Celine Song’s “Past Lives” won Best Feature (which the filmmaker picked up just minutes after winning Best Director as well), while “The Holdovers” and “American Fiction” also enjoyed multiple wins, including a Best Performance win for “American Fiction” star Jeffrey Wright and Best Screenplay for writer Cord Jefferson, and a Best Supporting Performance win for “The Holdovers” standout Da’Vine Joy Randolph and a Breakthrough Performance win for newbie Dominic Sessa.
Thanks to the Spirits’ various TV categories,...
This year’s pack of nominees included a slew of Oscar contenders and a number of indie gems, all competing for the biggest prizes in the indie sphere.
Celine Song’s “Past Lives” won Best Feature (which the filmmaker picked up just minutes after winning Best Director as well), while “The Holdovers” and “American Fiction” also enjoyed multiple wins, including a Best Performance win for “American Fiction” star Jeffrey Wright and Best Screenplay for writer Cord Jefferson, and a Best Supporting Performance win for “The Holdovers” standout Da’Vine Joy Randolph and a Breakthrough Performance win for newbie Dominic Sessa.
Thanks to the Spirits’ various TV categories,...
- 2/25/2024
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Gold Derby is backstage at the 39th Annual Indie Spirit Awards on the beach in Santa Monica, CA on Sunday, February 25, hosted by comedian, actress and “SNL” alumnus Aidy Bryant. We’ll bring you all of the up-to-date details on the presenters, nominees and winners. (See the complete winners list here.) Read on for the 2024 Spirits live blog.
The kudofest is streaming live on IMDb’s YouTube Channel as well as Film Independent’s YouTube and Twitter accounts starting at 2 p.m. Pst/5 p.m. Est.
On the film side, the nominations were dominated by “American Fiction,” “Past Lives” and “May December,” which picked up five nods apiece. Those three films are up for Best Feature along with “All of Us Strangers,” “Passages” and “We Grown Now.” Since 2012, Film Independent and the Spirits have forecast 7 of 12 Best Picture winners at the Academy Awards, including “The Artist” (2012), “12 Years a Slave...
The kudofest is streaming live on IMDb’s YouTube Channel as well as Film Independent’s YouTube and Twitter accounts starting at 2 p.m. Pst/5 p.m. Est.
On the film side, the nominations were dominated by “American Fiction,” “Past Lives” and “May December,” which picked up five nods apiece. Those three films are up for Best Feature along with “All of Us Strangers,” “Passages” and “We Grown Now.” Since 2012, Film Independent and the Spirits have forecast 7 of 12 Best Picture winners at the Academy Awards, including “The Artist” (2012), “12 Years a Slave...
- 2/25/2024
- by Ray Richmond
- Gold Derby
The 39th Independent Spirit Awards will stream live on Film Independent and IMDb’s YouTube channels on Sunday, February 25. Scroll down to see our official odds in all 12 film categories (with our predicted winners highlighted in gold) and be sure to make or update your own predictions while there’s still time.
Heading into the ceremony, which will be hosted by comic actress Aidy Bryant, “American Fiction,” “May December,” and “Past Lives” stand as the year’s nominations leaders with five apiece. They will all face off in the top category of Best Picture, along with “Passages” (four total bids), “All of Us Strangers” (three), and “We Grown Now” (three).
Last year’s Spirit Awards previewed the Oscars success of “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” which left both ceremonies with seven wins including Best Picture. Over the years, only eight recipients of the academy’s highest honor have first clinched the corresponding Spirit Award,...
Heading into the ceremony, which will be hosted by comic actress Aidy Bryant, “American Fiction,” “May December,” and “Past Lives” stand as the year’s nominations leaders with five apiece. They will all face off in the top category of Best Picture, along with “Passages” (four total bids), “All of Us Strangers” (three), and “We Grown Now” (three).
Last year’s Spirit Awards previewed the Oscars success of “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” which left both ceremonies with seven wins including Best Picture. Over the years, only eight recipients of the academy’s highest honor have first clinched the corresponding Spirit Award,...
- 2/23/2024
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Following a turbulent year marked by dueling industry strikes and the violent contraction–if not yet full pop–of the streaming bubble, 2024 has thus far been pretty good to Hollywood. It certainly helps that we’re in the middle of awards season, which for cineastes amounts to a three-month holiday largely characterized by voluminous binge-watching. And not just binge-watching of the year’s top films. For the curious, the season also offers up a smuggler’s bounty full of talking special post-screening Q&As, roundtables, filmmaker panels, celebratory cocktail receptions and more.
Traditionally Film Independent’s Directors Close-Up series has been a little bit of all of the above, presenting behind-the-scenes insight into the year’s most important works of cinema, straight from the mouths and brains of filmmakers themselves. As the virtual portion of this year’s programming winds down (see below), we’re looking ahead now to our...
Traditionally Film Independent’s Directors Close-Up series has been a little bit of all of the above, presenting behind-the-scenes insight into the year’s most important works of cinema, straight from the mouths and brains of filmmakers themselves. As the virtual portion of this year’s programming winds down (see below), we’re looking ahead now to our...
- 2/7/2024
- by Film Independent
- Film Independent News & More
Exclusive: After landing three Independent Spirit Award nominations including Best First Feature, Best First Screenplay, and Best Cinematography, writer-director Tomás Gómez Bustillo’s under-the-radar debut feature Chronicles of a Wandering Saint has been slated for North American distribution and worldwide sales by boutique Hope Runs High. Pic will be released in U.S. theaters early this year.
The rare film to make a splash on the awards front even before release, Chronicles is set in a tiny Argentinian town, where a pious yet competitive woman decides that staging a miracle could be her ticket to sainthood. After discovering a lost statue, she orchestrates a grand reveal that will finally anoint her as the most admired woman in town. But before the unveiling, a jarring event illuminates the hidden magic of her world, forcing her to reevaluate everything she once took for granted.
Previously, the supernatural comedy won the Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Award at SXSW.
The rare film to make a splash on the awards front even before release, Chronicles is set in a tiny Argentinian town, where a pious yet competitive woman decides that staging a miracle could be her ticket to sainthood. After discovering a lost statue, she orchestrates a grand reveal that will finally anoint her as the most admired woman in town. But before the unveiling, a jarring event illuminates the hidden magic of her world, forcing her to reevaluate everything she once took for granted.
Previously, the supernatural comedy won the Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Award at SXSW.
- 1/30/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
“American Fiction,” “May December” y “Past Lives” lideran los Spirit awards 2024.
Ayer se anunciaron los nominados a los Spirit Awards, conocidos como “Film Independent Spirit Awards”, unospremios cinematográficos que honran los logros en la producción de películas independientes en los Estados Unidos. Los ganadores de los premios Spirit 2024 se conocerán en la ceremonia del 25 de febrero. Aquí os dejamos con la lista de los nominados de esta edición:
Mejor PELÍCULA
All of Us Strangers
American Fiction
May December
Passages
Past Lives
We Grown Now
Mejor DIRECCIÓN
Andrew Haigh, All of Us Strangers
Todd Haynes, May December
William Oldroyd, Eileen
Celine Song, Past Lives
Ira Sachs, Passages
Mejor ACTUACIÓN Protagonista
Jessica Chastain, Memory
Greta Lee, Past Lives
Trace Lysette, Monica
Natalie Portman, May December
Judy Reyes, Birth/Rebirth
Franz Rogowski, Passages
Andrew Scott, All of Us Strangers
Teyana Taylor, A Thousand and One
Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction
Teo Yoo, Past Lives...
Ayer se anunciaron los nominados a los Spirit Awards, conocidos como “Film Independent Spirit Awards”, unospremios cinematográficos que honran los logros en la producción de películas independientes en los Estados Unidos. Los ganadores de los premios Spirit 2024 se conocerán en la ceremonia del 25 de febrero. Aquí os dejamos con la lista de los nominados de esta edición:
Mejor PELÍCULA
All of Us Strangers
American Fiction
May December
Passages
Past Lives
We Grown Now
Mejor DIRECCIÓN
Andrew Haigh, All of Us Strangers
Todd Haynes, May December
William Oldroyd, Eileen
Celine Song, Past Lives
Ira Sachs, Passages
Mejor ACTUACIÓN Protagonista
Jessica Chastain, Memory
Greta Lee, Past Lives
Trace Lysette, Monica
Natalie Portman, May December
Judy Reyes, Birth/Rebirth
Franz Rogowski, Passages
Andrew Scott, All of Us Strangers
Teyana Taylor, A Thousand and One
Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction
Teo Yoo, Past Lives...
- 12/6/2023
- by Marta Medina
- mundoCine
The 2024 Film Independent Spirit Award nominations — see the full list below — were unveiled on Tuesday, December 5, crowning the past year’s achievements in indie film. The actual awards ceremony, taking place on February 24, 2024 in the usual tent on the beach in Santa Monica, is a little less than three months away, but the films nominated today will carry new momentum into the rest of awards season, including the Oscar race. Joel Kim Booster (“Fire Island”) and Natalie Morales (“No Hard Feelings”) were the presenters of the nominees.
“American Fiction,” “May December,” and “Past Lives” led the Indie Spirits noms with five each, including each of them getting a nod for Best Feature. Todd Haynes for “May December” and Celine Song for “Past Lives” also received Best Director nods. Natalie Portman for “May December,” Greta Lee for “Past Lives,” and Jeffrey Wright for “American Fiction” also received Best Lead Performance nods.
“American Fiction,” “May December,” and “Past Lives” led the Indie Spirits noms with five each, including each of them getting a nod for Best Feature. Todd Haynes for “May December” and Celine Song for “Past Lives” also received Best Director nods. Natalie Portman for “May December,” Greta Lee for “Past Lives,” and Jeffrey Wright for “American Fiction” also received Best Lead Performance nods.
- 12/5/2023
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
The final month of the year has arrived, and with it an early Festivus bounty of news (very exciting!) about the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards, which are happening once again on February 25, back on the beach in Santa Monica. Last week brought tell of our incomparable new Spirit Awards host: SNL funnywoman and Emmy-nominated streaming series auteur Aidy Bryant. Now, the nondenominational secular-humanist Holiday Gnomes have brought us something potentially even more exciting… the nominees!
For the third consecutive year, the Spirit Awards will recognize outstanding achievement in uniqueness of vision, innovation and boldness in TV and streaming in addition to feature film. And for the second year, all acting categories are gender-neutral.
Noms were revealed in a livestream earlier today on Film Independent’s YouTube channel (like and subscribe!) by special guest presenters Joel Kim Booster and Natalie Morales:
Spirit Awards winners are voted on exclusively by Film Independent Members.
For the third consecutive year, the Spirit Awards will recognize outstanding achievement in uniqueness of vision, innovation and boldness in TV and streaming in addition to feature film. And for the second year, all acting categories are gender-neutral.
Noms were revealed in a livestream earlier today on Film Independent’s YouTube channel (like and subscribe!) by special guest presenters Joel Kim Booster and Natalie Morales:
Spirit Awards winners are voted on exclusively by Film Independent Members.
- 12/5/2023
- by Film Independent
- Film Independent News & More
“American Fiction,” “May December” and “Past Lives” dominated the 2024 Independent Spirit Awards nominations on Tuesday, picking up five nods apiece. The three movies are all up for best feature, where they will battle it out against “All of Us Strangers,” “Passages” and “We Grown Now.”
The annual honors recognize the best of television, as well as film. “The Last of Us,” a sci-fi epic that was a ratings hit for HBO, and “I’m a Virgo,” an absurdist miniseries from Boots Riley that was produced by Amazon, led the small screen crop, with four nominations each. Only new TV shows that have run for one season and were released between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 of this year are eligible for awards. That’s why some big-budgeted fare was deemed eligible or, in the parlance of the show, independent.
That’s not the case on the feature front, where films have to be...
The annual honors recognize the best of television, as well as film. “The Last of Us,” a sci-fi epic that was a ratings hit for HBO, and “I’m a Virgo,” an absurdist miniseries from Boots Riley that was produced by Amazon, led the small screen crop, with four nominations each. Only new TV shows that have run for one season and were released between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 of this year are eligible for awards. That’s why some big-budgeted fare was deemed eligible or, in the parlance of the show, independent.
That’s not the case on the feature front, where films have to be...
- 12/5/2023
- by Brent Lang and Jordan Moreau
- Variety Film + TV
There’s “an enormous amount of fresh talent coming through, and those new voices, that for the most part don’t come from the U.S.,” CAA Media Finance’s said at San Sebastian’s Creative Investors Conference this September.
Getting noticed ia another matter. Global content spend has near doubled in a decade, from $136 billion in 2013 to $250 billion this year, according to Ampere Analysis.
The same cannot be seen of media coverage of new movies. Quite the reverse: At most outlets, it has radically declined.
Enter Huelva. They also often announce undoubted new talent to track, as Latin America has built film schools and passed film laws, creating a seemingly bottomless well of new talent.
Also taking in Luis Mandoki’s 17th fiction feature, Daniela Goggi’s fourth the second and third respectively from Renée Nader Messora and João Salaviza, Huelva’s 12 competition movies have very often won significant prizes at prominent festivals,...
Getting noticed ia another matter. Global content spend has near doubled in a decade, from $136 billion in 2013 to $250 billion this year, according to Ampere Analysis.
The same cannot be seen of media coverage of new movies. Quite the reverse: At most outlets, it has radically declined.
Enter Huelva. They also often announce undoubted new talent to track, as Latin America has built film schools and passed film laws, creating a seemingly bottomless well of new talent.
Also taking in Luis Mandoki’s 17th fiction feature, Daniela Goggi’s fourth the second and third respectively from Renée Nader Messora and João Salaviza, Huelva’s 12 competition movies have very often won significant prizes at prominent festivals,...
- 11/10/2023
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
The 49th edition of Huelva Ibero-American Film Festival, Spain’s largest confab for films from Latin America, Spain and Portugal, will honor Mexican star Cecilia Suárez with its City of Huelva Award.
With leading roles in Netflix’s “The House of Flowers” and HBO Latin America’s “Capadocia,” Suárez has also be seen in ABC’s drama “The Promised Land” and has worked on films by as Tommy Lee Jones (“The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada”), James L. Brooks (“Spanglish”), Ernesto Contreras (“Párpados azules”), Antonio Serrano and Fernando Colomo (“Cuidado con lo que deseas”).
The new edition of Huelva runs Nov. 10-18.
Andalusia’s oldest film festival, Huelva will also grant a Light Award to Spanish actress Natalia de Molina, a two-time Goya winner, delivering acclaimed performance in films such as David Trueba’s “Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed” and Juan Miguel del Castillo’s “Food and Shelter.”
Another...
With leading roles in Netflix’s “The House of Flowers” and HBO Latin America’s “Capadocia,” Suárez has also be seen in ABC’s drama “The Promised Land” and has worked on films by as Tommy Lee Jones (“The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada”), James L. Brooks (“Spanglish”), Ernesto Contreras (“Párpados azules”), Antonio Serrano and Fernando Colomo (“Cuidado con lo que deseas”).
The new edition of Huelva runs Nov. 10-18.
Andalusia’s oldest film festival, Huelva will also grant a Light Award to Spanish actress Natalia de Molina, a two-time Goya winner, delivering acclaimed performance in films such as David Trueba’s “Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed” and Juan Miguel del Castillo’s “Food and Shelter.”
Another...
- 11/10/2023
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Two days after ”Everything Everywhere All at Once“ won seven Oscars, including best picture, the SXSW Film Festival, where Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s movie launched last year, has announced its own awards. To be clear, “Eeaao” was a studio-backed opening night premiere (not one of the smaller movies launched in competition at the indie-focused fest), but you can still feel the excitement in Austin around the landmark Oscar win. After all, SXSW was the first festival to take Daniels seriously, awarding them top prize for their Battles music video (“My Machines”) in 2012.
Will any of the movies or directors screening here this year go on to change film history?
With five days still to go at SXSW, the juries convened to present the winners.
Narrative feature honors went to writer-director Paris Zarcilla’s “Raging Grace.” On the surface, the tense story of an undocumented Filipina house cleaner and...
Will any of the movies or directors screening here this year go on to change film history?
With five days still to go at SXSW, the juries convened to present the winners.
Narrative feature honors went to writer-director Paris Zarcilla’s “Raging Grace.” On the surface, the tense story of an undocumented Filipina house cleaner and...
- 3/15/2023
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
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