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Exclusive: Actor-activist Liev Schreiber has joined the Oscar-shortlisted documentary Once Upon a Time in Ukraine as an executive producer.

The short film directed by Oscar nominee Betsy West (Rbg) explores how Ukrainian children cope with the devastation and terror of war – finding poignant and often surprising ways to deal with traumatic experience. Ivanna, a gifted artist and storyteller who lives in the embattled Kherson region, spent 256 days in a cellar of her house, writing and illustrating tales of heroism of Ukrainian defenders. In Moshchun, 8-year-old Ruslan dreams of building a home to replace his family’s bombed-out dwelling and goes fishing in a small pond formed in the cavity of a missile strike.

Ruslan with his dog in ‘Once Upon a Time in Ukraine’

Schreiber, who traces his roots to Ukraine on his mother’s side, co-founded BlueCheck Ukraine, a nonprofit that “identifies, vets, and fast-tracks urgent financial support to...

The Student Academy Awards took place Monday night in London’s Leicester Square with gold, silver and bronze placements awarded to students after entries from 738 universities worldwide.

The night’s category presenters included The Wild Robot writer and director Chris Sanders and Saturday Night co-writer and director and Academy governor Jason Reitman.

In the narrative category, the gold placement went to Pavel Sýkora & Viktor Horák from Filmová Akademie Miroslava Ondříčka v Písku, Czech Republic, for The Compatriot. Jens Kevin Georg from Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf, Germany won silver with Crust, and Robin Wang of the University of Southern California claimed bronze with Neither Donkey nor Horse.

School of Visual Arts student Hannah Rafkin won the gold placement in the documentary category for Keeper, followed by Chapman University’s Aaron Johnson with The 17% and Rishabh Raj Jain from New York University, who was awarded bronze for A Dream Called Khushi...

Speaking at Madrid confab Iberseries & Platino Industria, Walt Disney Latin America execs, led by Leonardo Aranguibel, VP head of production operations & strategy and Mariana Perez, head of general entertainment, unveiled some of Disney+’s upcoming shows, all co-produced with multinational production company Btf Media.

Participants of the Madrid industry event were treated to a sneak peak of Disney+’s “Between Walls” pilot, starring Aislinn Derbez and Christian Vázquez, along with clips of their other upcoming shows: bio drama “The Incredible Story of Juana Pastrana,” fact-based series “Frida” and comedy “Mama Cake.”

The shows are just a cross section of the company’s average output which has produced some 24 titles this year across its unscripted, factual/comedy as well as kids & family areas this year, said Aranguibel. In a nod to changing viewer tastes and shorter attention spans, Perez noted that they’ve leaned towards shorter episode lengths.

Mama Cake

Set in Mexico City,...

Prime Video consistently has a slew of films ready to watch, including those viewers can rent or buy. However, as June quickly approaches, some films are coming to the streaming service that will be included for its subscribers. Though it's not a strong month for Prime Video originals, plenty of other movies are coming to the platform that will excite audiences.

From documentaries about some legendary icons in their own respective fields to a psychological thriller as well as a comedic action film, the streaming platform has plenty for viewers to be enthralled by next month. While the movies coming to Prime Video may not be everyones particular cup of tea, theres likely at least something any viewer will find entertaining.

Mothers' Instinct Stream on June 7 Your browser does not support the video tag.

Mothers' Instinct is a psychological dramatic thriller starring Anne Hathaway as Cline and Jessica Chastain as Alice,...

Luis Buñuel’s Mexican masterpiece embraces truly edgy content: morbid comedy, anti-social satire and a strong streak of anarchist surrealism. His ‘adventurer into the unknown’ this time is no ordinary pervert, but a privileged delinquent in pursuit of a childhood sex fantasy: killing a beautiful woman just for the thrill. Naughty Archibaldo’s rehearsals are an unending source of frustration — and eventual enlightenment. Buñuel can’t resist subverting the social framework — wicked digs at the status quo abound.

The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz

Blu-ray

Vci

1955 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 89 min. / Street Date September 13, 2022 / Ensayo de un crimen / Available from Vci / 29.99

Starring: Miroslava, Ernesto Alonso, Rita Macedo, Ariadne Welter, Andrea Palma, Rodolfo Landa, José María Linares-Rivas, Leonor Llausás, Carlos Riquelme, Chabela Durán.

Cinematography: Augustín Jiménez

Art Director: Jesús Bracho

Film Editors: Jorge Bustos, Pablo Gómez

Original Music: Jorge Pérez

Written by Luis Buñuel, Eduardo Ugarte from the novel...

Danièle Delorme and Jean Gabin in 'Deadlier Than the Male.' Danièle Delorme movies (See previous post: “Danièle Delorme: 'Gigi' 1949 Actress Became Rare Woman Director's Muse.”) “Every actor would like to make a movie with Charles Chaplin or René Clair,” Danièle Delorme explains in the filmed interview (ca. 1960) embedded further below, adding that oftentimes it wasn't up to them to decide with whom they would get to work. Yet, although frequently beyond her control, Delorme managed to collaborate with a number of major (mostly French) filmmakers throughout her six-decade movie career. Aside from her Jacqueline Audry films discussed in the previous Danièle Delorme article, below are a few of her most notable efforts – usually playing naive-looking young women of modest means and deceptively inconspicuous sexuality, whose inner character may or may not match their external appearance. Ouvert pour cause d'inventaire (“Open for Inventory Causes,” 1946), an unreleased, no-budget comedy notable...

Legendary Spanish-born international film and music icon has died Sara Montiel, also known as either Sarita Montiel or, at times, Saritisima, was one of the Spanish-speaking world's biggest stars. She died on Monday, April 8, apparently of "natural causes" at her house in Madrid's district of Salamanca. She was 85 years old. Earlier today, a cortege driving through the streets of Madrid was attended (and applauded) by thousands of mourning fans. Montiel was born on March 10, 1928; according to online sources, her birth name was María Antonia Alejandra Vicenta Elpidia Isadora Abad Fernández; her father was a small farmer and her mother was beauty products salesperson. She left behind her poverty-stricken childhood, spending her days in the streets of her small village while dreaming of Spanish film star Imperio Argentina, after moving to Madrid in her mid-teens. Diction and singing lessons followed. Eventually, she started appearing in films, landing two roles in 1944 releases:...