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“The Italians” ushers us into the familiar, yet perpetually unsettling, theater of an Italian-American family. Here, young Nico performs the timeless ritual: presenting his new love, Lily, to the dynastic heart of his kin, chiefly his mother, Angelina. The film sketches its initial strokes with the broad colors of comedy, for Lily is an inventory of Angelina’s unspoken disapprovals.

She is not of their tribe, a vegetarian in a pantheon of meat, a divorcee bearing the mark of a past life, and disinclined towards the expected lineage of children. The air, thick with the aroma of simmering sauces and louder pronouncements, promises a light, chaotic ballet of domestic discord.

Yet, beneath the laughter, one senses the ancient hum of cultural imperatives, the invisible architecture of belonging that can both nurture and confine, where the weight of generations presses silently upon the present moment.

The Confessional and the Feast: Narratives...

Chicago – Filmmaker Michelle Danner has taken on a comedy, one we can all relate to, a family laugh fest “The Italians.” Yes, it involves a loud and loving Italian family who like to make chaos more chaotic. Ms. Danner also takes a lead role as Angelina, the matriarch of the expressive clan.The digital release is April 11th on Prime.

‘The Italians,’ Directed by Michelle Danner

Photo credit: Sc Global

Rating: 3.5/5.0

Angelina (Michelle Danner), her husband Vincenzo (Rob Estes) and their son Nico (Matthew Daddario) have the Italian family loyalty that transcends everything. However, when Nico brings over his new girlfriend Lily (Abigail Breslin) to meet the parents, Angelina immediately disapproves. Soon everyone in the the family’s orbit are drawn into the chaos … Angelina’s brother Sal (David DeLuise), opinionated grandma Lucia (Lanie Kazan), as well as Nico’s ex-girlfriend Geena (Olivia Luccardi) and the local priest Father Joe...

The Italians

Opening in US cinemas on Friday 11 April, The Italians is a lively family comedy full of big personalities, not least Angelina, the matriarch, who is played by director Michelle Danner. Michelle and I have spoken in the past, about the drama Miranda’s Victim which she made with Abigail Breslin – who also appear in this film – so she was keen to reconnect and tell me what she’s been up to since then.

“After Miranda's Victim, I did The Italians,” she tells me. “And after The Italians, I went to Italy, to Puglia, to do a movie called Under The Stars about romance with Toni Collette, Andy Garcia, Alex Pettyfer, Eva De Dominici and lots of wonderful actors. I'm in post for that. And hopefully I'm preparing for another movie right now that I'm going to shoot in June.”

She always manages to find good actors, I note. ...

"She's not Italian, okay, she doesn't want children, and now she insults my cooking?!" Uh oh, danger. An official trailer has debuted for an indie comedy called The Italians, the latest creation from the filmmaker Michelle Danner - who also stars in this as Angelina. The film originally premiered last year at the LA Italia Festival and it will be out on VOD to watch in April this spring. A traditional Italian-American family meets their sons new girlfriend, who is Not Italian. Plenty of antics and arguments and comedy ensue. Danner adds this intro: "This is a deeply touching story about loving family, forgiving family and irresistible Italian food." Grande! The indie comedy stars Abigail Breslin, along with Matthew Daddario, Lainie Kazan, Olivia Luccardi, David DeLuise, Perrey Reeves, Rob Estes, Michelle Danner, Luca Riemma, and Roger Gershman. This seems amusing and especially delicious - all this amazing Italian food being served throughout the film.

Exclusive: Aaron Eckhart will star in the Jesse V. Johnson-directed action thriller Scorpion, written by Corey Large (Detective Knight trilogy) and Edward Drake (Gasoline Alley).

In the movie, a CIA assassin goes into hiding after he takes the fall for a failed mission. When he reappears on the grid so does his past to tie up loose ends, and the only way to protect his daughter is to take down the agency chief who set him up.

Scorpion is produced by Large through his 308 Enterprises. The film is executive produced by Arclight Films’ Gary Hamilton, Jordan Nott, Pia Patatian, Jamie Thompson and Jon Keeyes and financed by Pink 308. Arclight Films is handling global sales.

Eckhart received a Best Actor Musical or Comedy Golden Globe nomination for Jason Reitman’s Thank You for Smoking and received an Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance in...

Donald Sutherland in Nicolas Roeg's classic Don't Look Now

He was the face of the Seventies, wowing audiences in the likes of Don't Look Now, The Eagle Has Landed and Invasion Of The Body Snatchers, and his star never faded, but now Donald Sutherland has died at the age of 88. The Canadian star worked right up until the end of his life, making his final appearance in Michelle Danner's powerful Miranda's Victim, and he leaves a remarkable cinematic legacy for fans to enjoy.

With other career highlights including Klute, The Day Of The Locust, Ordinary People, Eye Of The Needle and JFK, Sutherland will be best known to younger viewers as President Snow from the Hunger Games franchise. A Companion of the Order of Canada, with stars on the Canadian Walk of Fame and Hollywood Walk of Fame, he never won an Oscar for a specific performance but...

Toni Collette and Andy Garcia look to be having the time of their lives while enjoying a sunshine-filled picnic in the first look at Under the Stars, a new romantic comedy from filmmaker Michelle Danner and writer Victoria Vinuesa.

The story centers on a struggling romance novelist who is stuck in a passionless relationship. When he goes to Italy looking for inspiration, he unexpectedly finds the girl of his dreams.

The pair star opposite Alex Pettyfer, Eva De Dominici, Rob Estes and Jessica Michel Serfaty in the film which is currently in production in Puglia, Italy. After wrapping in Puglia, the team moves on to London.

Arclight Films launched international sales during the Cannes Film Festival with domestic sales being handled by Capstone Global. Pia Patatian is producing.

Danner’s previous credits include Hello Herman, The Bandit Hound, Bad Impulse, The Runner and Miranda’s Victim. Collette next stars in Bong Joon Ho...

The overriding message this market? “There’s a lot”.

“A few weeks ago we thought there would a decent amount but, wow, there’s a lot”, one packaging agent told us.

They continued: “After a busy EFM, once again it feels like a healthy market in terms of product. The early responses from the sellers and indie buyers has been good. Those international distributors have re-stabilised their business somewhat, more so than the streamers. We’ll know more in a week but at the moment there are plenty of decently priced projects with meaningful actors, directors and scripts, and there is a good spread of projects.”

There’s Kristen Stewart returning on a vampire movie, Dwayne Johnson in a big-budget A24 wrestling movie, Mahershalah Ali in a gritty big-canvas crime movie, a couple of Jason Statham projects for those who want brawn, historical drama with Russell Crowe, a YA empowerment pic with Chris Pratt,...

Multi-hyphenate Nicole Ansari-Cox has a lot going on.

The London-based actor, producer, writer and activist just shot Southern Italy-set rom-com “Under the Stars” directed by Michelle Danner where she stars alongside Toni Colette, Andy Garcia and Alex Pettyfer. In addition, she appears in Austrian director Kat Rohrer’s “What a Feeling” that premiered recently at the BFI Flare: London Lgbtqia+ Film Festival. And Ansari-Cox is on the production team for “Glenrothan,” the upcoming directorial debut of her husband Brian Cox.

She’s also in young Lebanese director Shireen Khaled’s short “In the Night,” about a long-married couple who, amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, realize they have suddenly fallen out of love and spend a night trying to rekindle the flame. “In the Night,” in which Ansari-Cox stars opposite actor-singer-songwriter Jack O’Neill, premiered last month at the Beirut International Women Film Festival where it scored the audience award.

A graduate of...

Exclusive: Golden Globe and Emmy-winner Toni Collette (Hereditary), Andy Garcia (Ocean’s 11), Alex Pettyfer (The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare) and Eva De Dominici (The Cleaning Lady) are leading cast in rom-com Under The Stars, which is now filming in Italy.

Rob Estes (After), Jessica Michel Serfaty (The Ride) and Chiara Iezzi (Mare Fuori) also star in the feature, which Arclight is launching for international sales ahead of the Cannes market. Capstone is handling domestic.

Pic follows a struggling romance novelist stuck in a passionless relationship. When he goes to Italy looking for inspiration, he unexpectedly finds the girl of his dreams.

Production is currently underway in Puglia, Italy and will continue in London.

Michelle Danner (Miranda’s Victim) is directing from a script by Victoria Vinuesa (See You In Venus). Producer is Pia Patatian (See You in Venus) and executive producers are Capstone Studios’ Christian Mercuri and Roman Viaris, Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio,...

The Oscar-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss, the songwriter and perennial Oscar bridesmaid Diane Warren and Matteo Garrone, the director of this year’s best international feature Oscar-nominated Italian film Io Capitano, will all be honored on Sunday night during the opening ceremony of the 19th Los Angeles, Italia Film, Fashion and Art Festival at Hollywood’s Tcl Chinese Theatres, exactly one week before the 96th Academy Awards take place just down the street.

The festival, which is backed by Italy’s Ministry of Culture, will run through Saturday, March 9, and feature 112 film screenings (47 in movie theaters and 65 on the online platform eventive.org). This year’s edition will be hosted by one Italian screen legend, Franco Nero (as well as Italian actress/model Antonella Salvucci), and is dedicated to another, the late Marcello Mastroianni, whose centenary it coincides with, as well as the late Italian playwright Eduardo de Filippo.

Notable guests...

Exclusive: Patrick Warburton will star in and produce The Unearthly, an indie blending elements of sci-fi, comedy and horror that will go into production in Connecticut early this year. Directing the pic for Centerboro Productions is Josh Sternfeld (Fortress: Sniper’s Eye).

In The Unearthly, a team of paranormal investigators live-stream a “Halloween Special” ghost hunt of a notorious haunted mansion, finding the source of the evil at hand to be far more deadly than they ever could have imagined. Warburton plays Tank McCrary, an old school paranormal investigator in the style of Ed Warren and Peter James, who hosted over 20 live television specials in the ’90s before an incident ruined his career. Stubborn and egotistical, he likes to do things his way. He doesn’t trust technology, relying on his analog tape recorder, archaic Emf meter, and his own smarts in his ghost hunting. His goal is to reclaim...

Clockwise from top left: Uncharted (Sony Pictures Releasing), The Baker (Darius Films/Productivity Media), Deliver Us (Magnet Releasing)Image: The A.V. Club

To begin the new year with something new, Hulu has added some under-the-radar movies as well as a few big-budget favorites from the past few years to its streaming library.

A story of this heavy social, emotional, and constitutional bearing needed the sincere sensitivity and courage that director Michelle Danner treated it with. But then again, there’s no other sensible or even acceptable way to look someone as brave as Patricia “Trish” Weir in the eye, 60 years after a kidnapping and rape case that derailed the very trajectory of how her life was supposed to pan out. And while the respectful focus never really shifts from the traumatizing impact Ernesto Arturo Miranda’s crimes had on Trish and the people close to her, the grounded storytelling in Miranda’s Victim isn’t stingy with the thrill that you’d expect from such a groundbreaking, consequential trial.

Spoilers Ahead

Plot Synopsis: What Happens In The Film?

It was all supposed to go pretty smoothly for Trish. An 18-year-old high schooler from Arizona, she’d been brought up with the values...

Exclusive: Film director Michelle Danner has finished Principal Photography on The Italians, a quirky dramedy about family, love and Italian cooking. With Federico Verardi as director of Photography, the film finished shooting in LA. The film stars Matthew Daddario, Rob Estes, David DeLuise, Perrey Reeves, Olivia Luccardi, with Lainie Kazan and Abigail Breslin.

Written by Lisa Visca, The Italians shows the Vitali Family, an Italian-American family, as they meet their son’s new fiance who is decidedly Not Italian.

Danner states: “This is a deeply touching story about loving family, forgiving family and irresistible Italian food.”

The Italians is Danner’s eighth directorial project following on the heels of her latest success, “Miranda’s Victim,” was released this fall and told the incredible true story about the creation of the Miranda Warning after the brutal assault on 18 year old Patricia Weir.

Danner is also an acting teacher and co-founder of the...

HBO's Murder in Boston docuseries uncovers a racially charged 1980s case that reignited tensions in Boston's Mission Hill neighborhood. The investigation prompted aggressive police targeting of black and Latino residents, worsening the relationship between the community and the police. Murder in Boston: Roots, Rampage & Reckoning debuts Monday, December 4, at 9:00 p.m. Et/Pt on HBO.

HBO's upcoming docuseries Murder in Boston: Roots, Rampage & Reckoning dives deep into a 1980s case that re-ignited racial tensions within Boston's Mission Hill neighborhood. On October 23, 1989, Charles "Chuck" Stuart phoned police and reported that he and his pregnant wife, Carol, had been shot in the neighborhood; he claimed the shooter was a Black man. When Carol dies later that evening, Boston Mayor Raymond Flynn declares a citywide manhunt for the killer. Days later, Chuck and Carol's newborn baby also perishes, and the case starts to gain even more attention from police investigators and the media.

Tonya Mantooth, CEO and artistic director of the San Diego International Film Festival, is keenly aware that film is a uniquely immersive medium with the power to connect people — even strangers. And that power will be evident at Sdiff’s 22nd edition, which will run in person Oct.18-22, with screenings at various venues in the San Diego area. The event will also feature panels, Q and A’s, filmmaker happy hours and more special programming.

The fest will open with Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers” (pictured above), a comedy-drama starring Paul Giamatti, Domonic Sessa and Da’Vine Joy Randolph as an unlikely trio bonding at a New England prep school over winter break.

“Alexander Payne really peels back the layers of the characters,” Mantooth says. “As each one unfolds, he does it in such a way that you laugh – it touches your heart, it makes you cry. But what...

Miranda's Victim is a true crime drama that sheds light on the origins of the Miranda rights, a seminal step forward for the fair treatment of suspects. The movie features an ensemble cast led by Abigail Breslin and Sebastian Quinn, who deliver powerful performances that capture the emotional turmoil of the characters. Michelle Danner, the director of Miranda's Victim, brings a woman's perspective to the story, highlighting the overlooked watershed moment it represents for women and victims of sexual assault in American history.

Miranda rights are immediately and universally recognizable, having stemmed from one of the Supreme Court's most important decisions in recent memory, but their origins are being unveiled for the first time onscreen in Miranda's Victim. Directed by Michelle Danner from a screenplay penned by J. Craig Stiles and a story developed by George Kolber and Richard Lasser, the true crime drama follows Patricia "Trish" Weir (Abigail Breslin...

We as an audience are so fascinated with true stories, particularly true crime. Sometimes the best true crime, though, stems from the things we're all familiar with and take for granted, but don't know the backstories of. For those who love a true crime movie, get ready for the upcoming Miranda's Victim, which follows the horrific assault and rape of Patricia Weir (Abigail Breslin) which ultimately led to the creation of the Miranda Rights, the rights police must read before placing an individual under arrest.

This impactful and inspiring true story is helmed by acting coach and filmmaker Michelle Danner. During her time as director, Danner has teamed up with some of her former acting students such as Andy Garcia, Abigail Breslin, Emily VanCamp, and Luke Wilson to name a few, all of whom star in Miranda's Victim. On top of these brilliant actors, Danner has also taught the likes of Henry Cavill,...

It’s been eight months since we’ve seen Emily VanCamp and Josh Bowman on the red carpet together, and we’re so happy to have them back!

The longtime couple, who met and fell in love on the set of ABC’s Revenge, attended the L.A screening of their new indie movie Miranda’s Victim on Thursday (October 5) at the Regency Bruin Theatre in Los Angeles.

Emily and Josh were joined by co-stars Abigail Breslin, Ryan Phillippe, Nolan Gould, Mireille Enos, and Sebastian Quinn, along with director Michelle Danner.

Miranda’s Victim centers “on Trish Weir (Breslin), who in 1963 was kidnapped and brutally raped by Ernesto Miranda (Quinn). Committed to putting her assailant in prison, Trish’s life is destroyed by America’s legal system as she triggers a law that transforms the nation. Her case notably results in the establishment of the Miranda rights afforded to criminal suspects taken in police custody,...

Miranda's Victim tells the shocking true story behind the creation of Miranda Rights, which protect people from self-incrimination under the fifth amendment of the US Constitution. The film depicts the difficulties victims face in reporting rape and seeking justice, highlighting the lack of support from family and the legal system. Despite some excessive visuals, Director Michelle Danner handles the sensitive content well, allowing the talented ensemble cast, led by Abigail Breslin, to shine in this compelling and impactful film.

“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be used against you in a court of law…” Under the fifth amendment of the US Constitution, Miranda Rights protect people from self-incrimination. We hear them often in crime shows and films, but the story behind their creation is a shocking one. Director Michelle Danner brings to life this true story based on the 1966 Supreme Court decision that changed America forever.

We're all familiar with the Miranda Rights, aren't we? The rights that the police are supposed to read to individuals when they are placed under arrest? If not, you should really clue yourself up. The Miranda Rights read as follows. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you can't afford one, one will be appointed for you." If the police do not read you these rights, anything you are charged with will be struck from the record.

Many may not actually know that the Miranda Rights haven't been around for as long as you may think. The rights were established back in 1963, after the Miranda V. Arizona case. Sure, 60 years may seem like a long time, but in hindsight, 1963 wasn't actually that long ago. The upcoming film...

The true stories behind the myriad things we take for granted are often the most interesting. Most of us know the Miranda Rights, or at least its opening salvo: "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say may be held against you in a court of law." Few of us know the harrowing real-life story behind those words, and the suffering and courage which birthed them to existence. That's what Miranda's Victim, a new star-studded true crime drama, will explore when it releases Oct. 6. We have an exclusive clip and the trailer you can watch below.

The film's all-star cast includes Abigail Breslin, Ryan Phillippe, Luke Wilson, Emily VanCamp, Mireille Enos, Enrique Murciano, Josh Bowman, Brent Sexton, Sebastian Quinn, Taryn Manning, Nolan Gould, Dan Lauria, Michael Mulheren, Kyle MacLachlan with Andy Garcia and Donald Sutherland. You can watch the official clip and read more about Miranda's Victim below:...

Chicago – If you’ve watched any cop procedurals on TV or otherwise, you’ve seen the recitation of the “Miranda Warning”, but what you may not have known is the incredible true story behind that recitation. Director Michelle Danner is the filmmaker behind “Miranda’s Victim.”

Ernesto Miranda (Sebastian Quinn) is accused of rape by Trish Weir (Abigail Breslin) in the early 1960s. Justice for that particular crime is difficult now and especially in that era, and the confession coerced out of Miranda leads to a Supreme Court decision to protect the perpetrator and law enforcement through the Miranda Warning. However the victim’s story was not over … and the wheels of justice kept turning.

Miranda’s Victim

Photo credit: Vertical Entertainment

Rating: 4.0/5.0

This story can only be put into the category of truth is stranger than fiction. The fact was Ernesto Miranda was the least likely person to represent the famous warning,...

Director Michelle Danner delves into the origins of the famous Miranda warning in her true crime drama, Miranda's Victim. The film follows Trish Weir after her kidnapping and assault, and explores the legal proceedings surrounding her case. Miranda's Victim features a talented ensemble cast, including Abigail Breslin, Luke Wilson, and Ryan Phillippe, and provides an exclusive look into the trial and its aftermath.

Director Michelle Danner explores the origins of the universally recognized Miranda warning in her new movie Miranda's Victim. The true crime drama, which arrives in select theaters and On Demand on October 6, follows eighteen-year-old Trish Weir (Abigail Breslin) after her kidnapping and sexual assault in 1963. The namesake of both the law and the film, Ernesto Miranda (Sebastian Quinn), is taken in after confessing without legal representation — but his verdict is overturned after serving a two-year sentence.

Miranda's Victim also stars Luke Wilson as the prosecutor who attempts...

As any fan of the true crime genre will know, the wheels of justice turn slowly and oftentimes miss the mark completely. From victims not receiving a fair ending to corruption nailing the wrong person for the crime, the stories that come from the genre are rife with unjust moments. In her latest film, Miranda’s Victim, director Michelle Danner (Hello Herman), will share with viewers the story of how one of the most well-known laws in the American judicial system came to be. In an exclusive to Collider clip, prospective audiences can get a first look at Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) as a victim caught up in the grinding wheels of the legal system.

Exclusive: Vertical has snapped up North American rights to Miranda’s Victim, a courtroom drama starring Academy Award nominee Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) that world premiered as the opener for the 2023 Santa Barbara Film Festival. Pic is slated for a day-and-date release on October 6th, with Arclight Films aboard to handle international sales.

Based on true events, the film tells the story of 18-year-old Trish Weir (Breslin), who in 1963 was kidnapped and sexually assaulted. After a voluntary confession, her assailant, Ernesto Miranda (Sebastian Quinn), is convicted. But the verdict is later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court since his confession was made without an attorney present. In the resulting retrial, a determined prosecutor (Luke Wilson) seeks to hold Miranda fully accountable, notwithstanding a rigorous defense from Miranda’s attorney (Ryan Phillippe).

What follows is a legal proceeding that will forever change the nation’s justice system. Weir’s...

Michelle Danner directed completed film.

Arclight Films has boarded international sales rights to the completed biographical crime thriller Miranda’s Victim starring Abigail Breslin, Luke Wilson, Andy Garcia, Ryan Phillippe, Kyle MacLachlan and Donald Sutherland and is introducing the project to Cannes buyers this week.

Michelle Danner directed the courtroom thriller based on the origin of the Miranda Rights, which stipulate that arresting officers must notify detainees of certain rights prior to questioning.

J. Craig Stiles, George Kolber and Richard Lasser co-wrote the screenplay based on a story by Kolber that follows 18-year-old Patricia Weir, who triggered a law after she...

Exclusive: Ryan Phillippe (American Murderer), Emile Hirsch (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) and Mena Suvari (American Horror Story) will topline Kalahari, a new action thriller from Vertical, which has wrapped production.

Vertical fully financed the pic and has taken North American rights, with Voltage Pictures locking down rights for all international territories, preparing now to present the film to buyers at Cannes.

In the film written and directed by Mukunda Michael Dewil (Collide), a young couple is forced to flee their Christian missionary post in the Kalahari Desert aboard a rickety plane after an extremist militant group threatens their lives. Piloted by a corrupt smuggler (Hirsch), the plane loses power and crash-lands in the middle of an animal preserve populated by lions, leopards and hyenas. Injured, frightened, and being tracked by the extremists, this ragtag group must fight for their survival from both man and beast where only the strong will survive.

Exclusive: After directing a starry ensemble led by Abigail Breslin in the Miranda Rights drama Miranda’s Victim, filmmaker Michelle Danner has set the sci-fi action-thriller Helios as her next feature.

The film from Centerboro Production, based on a script by Patricia A. Beninati (Hubble: 20 Years of Discovery), Michael K. Anderson (The Wonder Show) and Bernard Moore, is set in the year 2030, following the crew of the spaceship Helios on an urgent mission to the International Space Station. When a massive solar flare from an incoming cataclysmic solar storm hits the station on a collision course with Earth, it is up to astronomer and former NASA Astronaut, Jess Denver, and Air Force Colonel Sam Adler to team up and save humanity.

Producers on the project eyeing a 2023 shoot include Centerboro’s Beninati, John Lewis of Ruckus Pictures (Lullaby), Todd Slater of Convoke Media (King of Killers), Anderson, and production attorney Marilyn G. Haft...

Under veteran Executive Director Roger Durling, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival has thrived by surfing the awards season wave and programming a ton of onstage interviews with Oscar contenders.

This year’s edition marks a return to a fully live, in-person film festival. The festival will showcase 52 world premieres and 78 U.S. premieres from 43 countries, along with free community education and outreach programs.

Every year, screenwriters, directors, and producers promote their films on panels, and the likes of Kristen Stewart, Will Smith, Brad Pitt, Bong Joon Ho, Adam Driver, Renée Zellweger, Laura Dern, Viola Davis, Lupita Nyong’o, Saoirse Ronan, Bruce Dern, Jeff Bridges, Melissa McCarthy, Isabelle Huppert, Viggo Mortensen, Rami Malek, Glenn Close, Ben Affleck, Christopher Nolan, Sam Elliott, and many more submit to in-depth tributes.

The panels, tributes, and special screenings lure local cinephiles and Academy members eager to hear Oscar contenders talk about their creative process. All...

The Santa Barbara Intl. Film Festival celebrates movies and the people who make them.

One essential element of Sbiff is its focus on film education. With a carefully curated program, executive director Roger Durling says, “We’re educating your average filmgoer that comes to the festival.” Every event — from panels to tributes — is designed to teach, he says. This includes awards celebrating renowned stars including Angela Bassett, Brendan Fraser and Cate Blanchett.

“The format is a 90-minute conversation,” he says. “It’s not an awards evening where the person shows up and gets the award. Cate Blanchett will be on stage talking about her craft and career.”

Beyond staples such as films and panels, the program includes a variety of educational opportunities for cinephiles of all ages. For Durling, one of the most exciting parts of Sbiff is the Film Studies Program in which 30 undergraduate students from around the country...

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival announced plans Wednesday for 52 world premieres and 78 U.S. premieres spanning a total of 43 countries throughout the 11-day event.

“At a time where there’s a dwindling of movie theater attendance, the role of film festivals has never been more important,” said Sbiff executive director Roger Durling. “At Sbiff, with the 38th edition, our marching orders are clear, to celebrate movies and to nurture and exalt the film community, the artists as well as the cinephiles. It’s a great slate with 43 countries represented.”

The festival starts Feb. 8 with the world premiere of “Miranda’s Victim” from director-producer Michelle Danner. The period piece is set in the year 1963 and documents the true story of Patricia “Trish” Weir (Abigal Breslin), who attempts to put her abuser behind bars after being kidnapped and sexually assaulted at 18 years old.

Director Chandler Levack’s “I Like Movies” will...

The 38th edition of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which will run Feb. 8-18, will open with Miranda’s Victim, one of 52 world premieres in this year’s lineup, and will close with the U.S. premiere of I Like Movies, one of 78 U.S. premieres, the fest announced Wednesday.

These are, of course, in addition to a slew of the career-retrospective tributes for which the fest is famous, which this year will celebrate the likes of Cate Blanchett, Brendan Fraser, Angela Bassett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, as well as panels with breakthrough artists, artisans, directors, writers, producers, female creatives and international filmmakers.

The fest will also offer a variety of free educational programs, including Mike’s Field Trip to the Movies (for 4,000-plus fourth through sixth grade students from low-income schools throughout Santa Barbara County), which this year will feature a screening of Guillermo del Toro...

The Santa Barbara Film Festival has today unveiled the lineup for its 38th edition, taking place in-person from February 8-18.

The festival will open with the world premiere of the courtroom drama Miranda’s Victim, from director Michelle Danner. Pic tells the true story of Trish Weir (Abigail Breslin), who in 1963 was kidnapped and brutally raped by Ernesto Miranda. Committed to putting her assailant in prison, Trish’s life is destroyed by America’s legal system as she triggers a law that transforms the nation. Ryan Phillippe, Luke Wilson, Donald Sutherland, Mireille Enos, Andy Garcia and more also star.

Closing out Sbiff 2023 is the Chandler Levack-directed I Like Movies, which makes its U.S. premiere. The film starring Isaiah Lehtinen, Romina D’Ugo, Krista Bridges and Percy Hynes White follows the socially inept, 17-year-old cinephile Lawrence (Lehtinen) as he gets a job at a video store, there forming a complicated...

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Oscar-winner Michael Douglas and son Cameron will share the screen in the upcoming family drama Blood Knot, playing a father and son trying to mend their broken relationship.

The Wall Street and Ant Man and the Wasp star and his oldest son last appeared together in Fred Schepisi’s 2003 dramedy It Runs in The Family, a film that also starred Michael’s father and Cameron’s grandfather, Kirk Douglas.

Cameron Douglas has starred in such films as National Lampoon’s Adam & Eve (2005) and action drama Loaded (2008), but is arguably better known for his much-publicised arrests for drug dealing and possession. In 2010 he was sentenced to five years in prison for heroin possession and dealing methamphetamine and cocaine. At the time, Michael Douglas took the blame for his son’s behaviour, saying he had been “a bad father.” Since his release, Cameron has published a book,...

Mireille Enos is on her way back to AMC, joining Bob Odenkirk in his “Better Call Saul” followup entitled “Straight Man.”

The dramedy, a series adaptation of Richard Russo’s novel of the same name, hails from “The Killing” producer Aaron Zelman and Paul Lieberstein (“The Office”). Enos starred in the “The Killing” throughout its run.

Odenkirk stars as William Henry Devereaux Jr., the unexpected English department chairman of an underfunded Pennsylvania college whose unhappiness stems from his tumultuous relationship with his father, a divided department he’s left to fix and the daily struggles of dealing with an entitled student body.

Variety has confirmed Enos will appear in the dramedy playing Lily Devereaux, the coolheaded wife of William Devereaux Jr. (Odenkirk). A Vice Principal of the local high school in their town, Lily starts to question her career and life path after watching her husband’s life overwhelmingly unfold.

Exclusive: Former The Killing star Mireille Enos is returning to AMC, taking a rare comedic turn as the female lead opposite Bob Odenkirk in Straight Man, the network’s series adaptation of Richard Russo’s novel from former The Killing writer-producer Aaron Zelman and The Office alum Paul Lieberstein.

In the dramedy, from TriStar TV, William Henry Devereaux Jr. (Odenkirk) is the unlikely and reluctant chairman of the English department in an underfunded college in the Pennsylvania rust belt. His discontent is rooted in unresolved issues with his father, a mediocre and entitled student body, and in the fact that his department is more savagely divided than the Balkans.

Enos will play Lily Devereaux, the emotionally grounded, unflappable wife of Hank Devereaux, Jr. (Odenkirk), and the Vice Principal of the local high school in rural Pennsylvania where they live. As Hank’s life starts to unravel, Lily begins to question...

Chicago – When it comes to the passion of filmmaker Michelle Danner, there are no limits. She has five feature credits as director, a film in post production, two more in pre-production, and, oh yes, she’s an L.A. acting instructor and producer/actor. “The Runner” is her latest, and opens in theaters on August 19th, 2022.

Privileged teenager Aiden (Edouard Philipponnat) is working to get his life back on track. His lucrative side hustle dealing drugs to his classmates and his own personal addiction has forced his distraught mother (Elizabeth Röhm) to turn him over to the police. But if he acts as a confidential informant and sets up a major drug kingpin (Eric Balfour), the cops promise to reward his cooperation. As the sting operation begins to fall apart, it threatens Aiden’s deal and his very survival.

‘The Runner,’ Directed by Michelle Danner (inset)

Photo credit: Saban Films...

In Theaters August 19 & on Digital and Demand August 23 Directed by: Michelle Danner Written by Jason Chase Tyrrell Starring: Edouard Philipponnat (House of Gucci) Elizabeth Röhm (American Hustle) Eric Balfour (24) Jessica Amlee (For All Mankind) Cameron Douglas (Wonder Boys) Synopsis: Privileged teenager Aiden has one last chance to get his life back …

The post Trailer Available Now – Thriller – The Runner – Coming to Theaters August 19 & Digital Aug. 23 appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

Here’s the latest episode of the The Filmmakers Podcast, part of the ever-growing podcast roster here on Nerdly. If you haven’t heard the show yet, you can check out previous episodes on the official podcast site, whilst we’ll be featuring each and every new episode as it premieres.

For those unfamiliar with the series, The Filmmakers Podcast is a podcast about how to make films from micro budget indie films to bigger budget studio films and everything in-between. Our hosts Giles Alderson, Dan Richardson, Andrew Rodger and Cristian James talk how to get films made, how to actually make them and how to try not to f… it up in their very humble opinion. Guests will come on and chat about their film making experiences from directors, writers, producers, screenwriters, actors, cinematographers and distributors.

The Filmmaker’s Podcast #280: From teaching A-list actors in Hollywood to directing...

Exclusive: Emily VanCamp (The Resident), Sebastian Quinn (Dynasty), Enrique Murciano (Panic), Brent Sexton (Long Slow Exhale) and Josh Bowman (Revenge) will round out the cast of Michelle Danner’s courtroom drama, Miranda’s Victim. They join a stacked ensemble led by Abigail Breslin, which also includes Luke Wilson, Andy Garcia, Donald Sutherland, Ryan Phillippe, Mireille Enos, Kyle MacLachlan and Taryn Manning, as previously announced.

The film will tell the true story of Trish Weir (Breslin), who in 1963 was kidnapped and brutally raped by Ernesto Miranda (Quinn). Committed to putting her assailant in prison, Trish’s life is destroyed by America’s legal system as she triggers a law that transforms the nation. Her case notably results in the establishment of the Miranda rights afforded to criminal suspects taken in police custody, to ensure the admissibility of statements made during interrogation, as part of subsequent criminal proceedings.

VanCamp will play Trish...

Exclusive: Ryan Phillippe (MacGruber), Mireille Enos (Hanna), Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks) and Taryn Manning (Orange Is the New Black) are the latest additions to Michelle Danner’s courtroom drama, Miranda’s Victim. They join an ensemble led by Abigail Breslin, which also includes Luke Wilson, Andy Garcia and Donald Sutherland, as previously announced.

The film will tell the true story of Trish Weir (Breslin), who in 1963 was kidnapped and brutally raped by Ernesto Miranda. Committed to putting her assailant in prison, Trish’s life is destroyed by America’s legal system as she triggers a law that transforms the nation. Her case notably results in the establishment of the Miranda rights afforded to criminal suspects taken in police custody, to ensure the admissibility of statements made during interrogation, as part of subsequent criminal proceedings.

Phillippe will play the ACLU lawyer Flynn, who successfully argues in front of the Supreme Court...

Abigail Breslin, Luke Wilson, Andy Garcia and Donald Sutherland are on-board for the courtroom drama ‘Miranda’s Victim’ helmed by Michelle Danner, with production underway in New Jersey, reports ‘Deadline’. ‘Deadline’ states that the film, written by J Craig Stiles and George Kolber, tells the true story of Trish Weir, who in 1963 was kidnapped and […]...

Exclusive: Abigail Breslin (Stillwater), Luke Wilson (Stargirl), Andy Garcia (Father of the Bride) and Donald Sutherland (The Undoing) have signed on to star in the courtroom drama Miranda’s Victim from director Michelle Danner (The Runner), with production underway in New Jersey.

The film written by J. Craig Stiles and George Kolber will tell the true story of Trish Weir (Breslin), who in 1963 was kidnapped and brutally raped by Ernesto Miranda. Committed to putting her assailant in prison, Trish’s life is destroyed by America’s legal system as she triggers a law that transforms the nation. Wilson will play Lawrence Turoff, the country prosecutor that convinces Trish to testify and helps her bring her aggressor to justice, with Garcia as public defender Alvin Moore, who takes on Miranda’s case, and Sutherland as Judge Wren, who convicts Miranda for the rape of Weir. Danner and Kolber are producing alongside Valerie Debler,...

"It makes you safe... Isn't that what you want?" Gravitas has released an official trailer for an indie horror thriller titled Bad Impulse, the latest film directed by actress / acting coach / director / producer Michelle Danner. In the aftermath of a traumatic event, a suburban husband & father decides to buy a cutting edge home security system from a mysterious man, only to find that it slowly destroys that which he most wants to protect. Sounds a bit like The Box, but with a home security system instead of a box. Bad Impulse stars Grant Bowler, Paul Sorvino, Sonya Walger, James Landry-Hebert, Abbi Ford, Stephanie Cayo, Dan Lauria, and Rebecca Black. This looks a bit too weird and a bit too creepy, but not really any good. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Michelle Danner's Bad Impulse, direct from YouTube: In the aftermath of a traumatic event, Henry Sharpe (Grant Bowler), a suburban father and husband,...

Gravitas Ventures has picked up the horror thriller Bad Impulse, directed by Hollywood acting coach and helmer Michelle Danner for a Christmas season launch.

Gravitas plans a Dec. 18 theatrical and on demand release for the indie that stars Grant Bowler, Sonya Walger, Paul Sorvino, Stephanie Cayo and Dan Lauria. Bad Impulse is written by Jason Chase Tyrell and portrays a husband and father after a traumatic event buying a home security system, only to find it slowly destroys what he most wants to protect.

“Michelle builds upon the proven formula of a home invasion thriller, issuing a timely warning ...

Gravitas Ventures has picked up the horror thriller Bad Impulse, directed by Hollywood acting coach and helmer Michelle Danner for a Christmas season launch.

Gravitas plans a Dec. 18 theatrical and on demand release for the indie that stars Grant Bowler, Sonya Walger, Paul Sorvino, Stephanie Cayo and Dan Lauria. Bad Impulse is written by Jason Chase Tyrell and portrays a husband and father after a traumatic event buying a home security system, only to find it slowly destroys what he most wants to protect.

“Michelle builds upon the proven formula of a home invasion thriller, issuing a timely warning ...

Rachel True Sean Gunn, Hayley McFarland, Zandy Hartig, and Chris Browning have signed on for Agnes, a horror indie from QWGmire. They are joining Molly C. Quinn and Jake Horowitz in the pic which Mickey Reece wrote and is directing. The film will follow rumors of demonic possession at a religious convent which prompt a church investigation into the strange goings-on among its nuns. A disaffected priest and his neophyte are confronted with temptation, bloodshed, and a crisis of faith. Shooting will begin in January. QWGmire is co-producing alongside Divide/Conquer with QWGmire’s Elan Gale, Mathew Welty and Quinn, as well as Divide/Conquer’s Adam Hendricks, Greg Gilreath and Zac Locke all serving as exec producers. Peter Kuplowsky and Jacob Snovel will also produce.

Freestyle Digital Media has bought North American digital rights for “Reach,” a high-school drama about bullying from the perspective of the bully, the bullied, and the bystanders.

“Reach” will debut theatrically through Christian Meoli’s Voltaire Media in 10 major markets on Oct. 19 along with a day and date VOD release.

“The serious topic of bullying resonates with so many children and families these days,” said Freestyle Digital Media acquisitions director Rachel Koehler. “With our acquisition of ‘Reach,’ we at Freestyle are proud to be able to contribute to the conversation by giving the topic the exposure it so richly deserves.”

“Reach” stars Garrett Clayton as a band geek who divulges to an online pro-suicide support group that he plans to kill himself. Although his first attempt is botched, he is determined to find a way to escape his suffering. He is constantly picked on by former childhood friend and school...