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“Hacks,” “Fellow Travelers,” “Black Cake” and Ava DuVernay’s “Origin” were among the big winners on Thursday as Humanitas revealed its 2024 Humanitas Prize recipients. The ceremony, held at Avalon Hollywood, revealed honors in nine juried categories, including TV, film and documentary fields.

“We actually got something friends,” “Origin” filmmaker Ava DuVernay said in accepting the award for drama feature — which had been previously snubbed through last year’s Oscars season. “We went through that whole awards gauntlet, and then this popped up in the summer, and I thought, ‘wow, they’re kind of off kilter for the award season!’ Because they don’t care about that… they’re doing something different. This award show that is about doing something with this medium that matters. Yes, entertainment matters, but we have such a powerful voice, such a powerful platform. So I commend everyone that’s trying to say something.”

Max’s “Hacks” Season 3 episode “Yes,...

Humanitas has announced nominations for the 2024 Humanitas Prize in nine juried categories, including TV, film and documentary fields. Noms in the comedy field include “Hacks,” “The Simpsons,” “Girls5eva” and “Act Your Age,” while drama entrants include “The Crown,” “The Morning Show,” “Station 19” and “Black Cake.”

“For fifty years, The Humanitas Prizes have recognized writers who explore the human condition in a nuanced, meaningful way, with stories that entertain and uplift audiences,” said Humanitas executive director Michelle Franke. “The Humanitas Prizes champion work that enhances the lives of viewers, even if these projects are not always rewarded by the marketplace.”

Humanitas has tapped actors/writers June Diane Raphael and Paul Scheer as host of this year’s Humanitas Prizes event, which will take place on Thursday, September 12 (three days before the Emmy Awards) at Avalon Hollywood. The 2024 New Voices Fellowship, David and Lynn Angell College Comedy Award and Carol Mendelsohn...

Nominations voting is from January 11–16, 2024, with official Oscar nominations announced on January 23, 2024. Final voting is February 22–27, 2024. And finally, the 96th Oscars telecast will be broadcast on Sunday, March 10, and air live on ABC at 8 p.m. Et/ 5 p.m. Pt. We update predictions throughout awards season, so keep checking IndieWire for all our 2024 Oscar picks.

The State of the Race

Sony’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” solidified its standing as the Oscar favorite after dominating Asifa-Hollywood’s 51st Annie Awards on February 17 at UCLA’s Royce Hall. The acclaimed sequel from producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller grabbed seven awards, including best animated feature. It also won FX, character design, direction, music, production design, and editorial.

Its closest Oscar competitor, Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy and the Heron“ (Studio Ghibli-GKids), took home two Annies for Takeshi Honda’s character animation and Miyazaki’s storyboarding. However, “The Boy and the Heron...

If you’re looking for something new to watch on Netflix this month, you’ve come to the right place. February brings with it a bevy of love stories to be sure, but also charming family films, Oscar juggernauts and even an artful blockbuster. Below we’ve put together a curated list of some of the best movies newly streaming on Netflix in February to help whittle down your choices when paralyzed by the Netflix interface.

Behold our picks for the best new movies on Netflix in February 2024.

“Orion and the Dark” “Orion and the Dark” (Credit: Netflix)

Those of us whose childhoods were marked by anxiety and fear of the unknown can find solace in “Orion and the Dark,” from writers Charlie Kaufman and Lloyd Taylor and based on the book by Emma Yartlett. Directed by Sean Charmatz, the animated feature stars Jacob Tremblay as Orion and Paul Walter Hauser as Dark,...

The Oscar-frontrunning Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” was the big winner at Asifa-Hollywood’s 51st Annie Awards (held February 17 at UCLA’s Royce Hall), grabbing seven awards, topped by best animated feature. As a 66 percent Oscar predictor, the Annie win bodes well for Sony and producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller.

The other “Spider-Verse” awards were for FX, character design, direction, music, production design, and editorial.

The Oscar-nominated dark horse, “Robot Dreams” (Neon), from Pablo Berger, won best independent feature, and “War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko” (ElectroLeague) took best short. The prestige short got a boost in its race for the Oscar. It’s directed by Pixar alum Dave Mullins and executive produced by Sean Ono Lennon, in partnership with Peter Jackson and his Wētā FX Limited animation team.

Hayao Miyazaki’s summary film, “The Boy and the Heron“ (Studio Ghibli-GKids), won two Annies for Takeshi Honda...

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse sling-shotted past the competition to dominate the 51st Annie Awards, which were handed out Sunday night at UCLA’s Royce Hall. The Sony Animation sequel snared Best Feature and six other trophies — the same number that Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse scored at the 2019 Annies — setting it up as the front-runner for the Animated Feature Oscar next month.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse went on to take Best Animated Feature at the 91st Academy Awards.

Since the Best Animated Feature Oscar category was launched in 2002, 14 of the 21 winners of the Annies’ top feature prize – and seven of the past 11 – went on to claim the golden statuette. Last year followed suit, as Netflix’s Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio triumphed at both trophy shows.

On Sunday, Spider-Man scored wins for Directing, Music, Production Design, Character Design, FX and editing.

Gkids’ Hayao Miyazaki hit The Boy and the Heron...

Sony Pictures Animation’s “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” swung its way to victory at the 51st Annie Awards, snatching up seven prizes, including best feature. It was also a good night for Netflix, whose projects earned a total of nine awards, with period revenge series “Blue Eye Samurai” snagging six of those, including best TV/Media – Mature.

In addition to best feature, the “Spider-Verse” sequel’s Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson were honored for their direction while Daniel Pemberton and Metro Boomin won for music. The film also picked up awards for FX, character design, production design and editorial.

Arcadia Motion Pictures’ bittersweet Spanish-French film “Robot Dreams,” about a lonely dog who builds a robot companion, won for best feature – independent.

Netflix’s feature “Nimona,” which had the most nominations with nine, picked up two Annies, one for Chloe Grace Moretz’s voice work as the...

Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series spotlighting the year’s most talked-about scripts continues with Nimona, Netflix’s animated feature based on Nd Stevenson’s 2015 National Book Award-nominated graphic novel about finding friendship in the most surprising situations and accepting yourself and others for who they are.

Nick Bruno and Troy Quane (co-directors of Spies In Disguise) directed the film, which was adapted by Big Hero 6 scribe Robert L. Baird and Spies co-writer Lloyd Taylor and features the voices of Riz Ahmed and Chloë Grace Moretz in the lead roles. Frances Conroy, Lorraine Toussaint, RuPaul Charles, Eugene Lee Yang, Indya Moore, Sarah Sherman and Beck Bennett also have voice roles.

A family-focused film with authentic queer themes set in a vibrant techno-medieval world (credit to teams at Blue Sky Studios and Dneg Animation), the plot centers on Ballister Boldheart (Ahmed), a knight in a futuristic medieval world, who is...

Features the voices of: Chloe Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, Eugene Lee Yang, Frances Conroy, Lorraine Toussaint, Beck Bennett, Indya Moore, RuPaul Charles, Julio Torres, Sarah Sherman | Written by Robert L. Baird, Lloyd Taylor | Directed by Nick Bruno, Troy Quane

Adapting the 2015 graphic novel from Nd Stevenson, Nimona was originally a production of Blue Sky Studios before Disney’s acquisition of Fox resulted in Blue Sky’s closure and the cancellation of this film. The project was thankfully revived by Annapurna Pictures, with Netflix providing worldwide distribution, allowing for the release of one of 2023’s best films.

Within a medieval-futuristic kingdom, Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed) is about to make history as the first commoner to become a knight. He is a beacon of hope for those not of noble blood, establishing that “anyone can be a hero”, which makes his crowning glory even more horrifying when he is framed for killing the queen.

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on Wbgr-fm on June 29th, reviewing “Nimona,” a new Netflix animated film featuring the voices of Grace Chloe Moretz and Riz Ahmed. Streaming beginning June 30th.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Based on a 2015 graphic novel, the story is of a kingdom if the royalty/knight/castle system reflected our modern times, but more futuristic … its whole system of heroism is based on the slaying of a monster 1000 years before. Ballister Boldheart (voice of Riz Ahmed) is about to become the first commoner knight, encouraged by his lover Ambrosius Goldenloin (Eugene Lee Yang). When he receives his sword from the Queen, a laser embedded in the weapon kills her … Ballister is framed for regicide. Forced to go underground, he meets Nimona (Chloe Grace Moretz), a dark world character who desires to be his sidekick and find the real murderer. Oh,...

After seven years of toil and trouble, a cancelation by Disney, and resurrection by Annapurna and Netflix, Nd Stevenson’s Nimona is finally ready to make a splash on the small screen. Nimona is a larger-than-life tale of identity, othering, acceptance, and finding ways to stand out in a world that fears what it does not understand. In the film, a knight in a futuristic, medieval world is framed for a crime he didn’t commit. The only one who can help him prove his innocence is Nimona — a mischievous teen who happens to be a shapeshifting creature he’s sworn to destroy. With brilliant animation from Dneg, Nimona leaps off the screen with style, vibrant colors, and attitude.

We had the pleasure of speaking with key members of the cast and crew, including Nimona creator Nd Stevenson, directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, and lead actors Chloë Grace Moretz...

Having had to venture its way through a thorny early phase, animated adventure Nimona is headed our way at the end of the month. Check out the trailer…

When Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed), a knight in a futuristic medieval world, is framed for a crime he didn't commit, the only one who can help him prove his innocence is Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz), a mischievous teen with a taste for mayhem – who also happens to be a shapeshifting creature Ballister has been trained to destroy.

But with the entire kingdom out to get him, Nimona’s the best sidekick Ballister can hope for. And as the lines between heroes, villains, and monsters start to blur, the two of them set out to wreak serious havoc: for Ballister to clear his name once and for all, and for Nimona to… just wreak serious havoc.

Directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane,...

The new animated film premiering on Netflix starts exactly the way you’d think a fairy tale should. The first words we hear, after all, are, “A long, long time ago, a kingdom lived in peace.”

But don’t be fooled. Nimona, based on Nd Stevenson’s acclaimed graphic novel, is about as far from an ordinary fairy tale as animated films get. Cheekily irreverent and hilariously subversive, it’s a consistent delight.

After that lulling introduction, the action shifts forward one thousand years, with the story set in a futuristic medieval kingdom that boasts skyscrapers along with its ancient fortresses. The story begins with a cheesy news broadcast hosted by two over-enthusiastic anchors (Indya Moore, RuPaul) covering the kingdom’s “Night to Knight Knights,” a reality show-style competition. Among the competitors is the insecure, one-armed Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed), who’s encouraged in his efforts by his boyfriend and fellow knight-in-training,...

Just four weeks ago, the Netflix streaming service unveiled a teaser trailer for the animated adventure film Nimona – and since we’re a little over two weeks from the film’s June 30th release date, it makes sense that a full trailer for the movie has now arrived online. You can check it out in the embed above.

Nimona had a bumpy ride on its way to Netflix. The project was scrapped by Blue Sky Studios when it was near completion, then canceled by Fox… but by the end of this month, it will finally be out in the world.

Inspired by Nd Stevenson‘s (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power) webcomic-turned-graphic novel, Nimona was directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane from a screenplay by Robert L. Baird and Lloyd Taylor. Here’s the synopsis: When Ballister Boldheart, a knight in a futuristic medieval world, is framed for a crime he didn’t commit,...

Chloë Grace Moretz is ready to save Riz Ahmed in animated form.

The two actors lead the long-awaited queer graphic novel adaptation “Nimona,” now being released by Netflix after previously being scrapped by Walt Disney Co. after the company allegedly took issue with the now-defunct Blue Sky Studios’ inclusion of a same-sex kiss.

The official synopsis for “Nimona” reads: When Ballister Boldheart (Ahmed), a knight in a futuristic medieval world, is framed for a crime he didn’t commit, the only one who can help him prove his innocence is Nimona (Moretz), a mischievous teen with a taste for mayhem — who also happens to be a shapeshifting creature Ballister has been trained to destroy. But with the entire kingdom out to get him, Nimona’s the best (or technically the only) sidekick Ballister can hope for. And as the lines between heroes, villains, and monsters start to blur, the two...

Not even the House of Mouse is powerful enough to prevent Nd Stevenson's spirited shape-shifting hero Nimona from making her way to the screen. 

For those not in the know, "Nimona" is an animated sci-fi fantasy adventure feature based on Stevenson's award-winning comics series that began its life at Fox's Blue Sky Studios all the way back in 2015. However, after acquiring Fox's movie and television divisions, Disney closed down Blue Sky in 2021, at which point "Nimona" was reportedly a mere 10 months away from being completed. Thankfully, much like a knight in shining armor with a mechanical prosthetic arm (more on that to come), Annapurna Pictures and Netflix eventually swooped in to save the film and bring it across the finish line.

We're now a month away from "Nimona" making its way into the public's eye, starting with its premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 14, 2023. The film...

Chloë Grace Moretz and Riz Ahmed are finally debuting their respective graphic novel counterparts in Netflix’s “Nimona.”

The long-awaited big screen adaptation of Nd Stevenson’s bestselling queer 2015 graphic novel finally comes to Netflix this summer. “Nimona” was previously scrapped by Walt Disney Co. after the company allegedly took issue with the now-defunct Blue Sky Studios’ inclusion of a same-sex kiss. Blue Sky Studios executives claimed that “Nimona” was “75 percent” completed before Disney allegedly had “pushback” on the LGBTQ+ themes central to the story.

Netflix acquired the film in April 2022 and partnered with Annapurna Pictures to bring it to the streamer. “Nimona” started production again early last year with Dneg Animation.

Per the official synopsis of the new Netflix film, when Ballister Boldheart (Ahmed), a knight in a futuristic medieval world, is framed for a crime he didn’t commit, the only one who can help him prove his...

Features the voices of: Will Smith, Tom Holland, Rashida Jones, Karen Gillan, Ben Mendelsohn, Reba McEntire, Masi Oka, DJ Khaled | Written by Brad Copeland, Lloyd Taylor | Directed by Nick Bruno, Troy Quane

Spies In Disguise centers on Lance Sterling (Smith), a super spy who is inadvertently turned into a pigeon by scientist Walter Beckett (Holland). This mishap may end up helping Lance, as he’s been framed as a bad guy by a dangerous terrorist (Ben Mendelsohn) who’s armed with weaponized drones. Along with the help of Walter and other pigeons, Lance aims to take down the bad guy and save the world in the process!

Essentially a mix of Emperor’s New Groove and James Bond, Spies In Disguise is a surprisingly funny family-friendly animated feature that – whilst playing on the tropes of the spy movie – also plays on the inherent audience expectations of a film starring Will Smith and Tom Holland.

In the latest edition of Hollywood Insider’s ‘Full Commentary’ and ‘Reactions From Stars’ - we focus on 'Spies in Disguise'. Watch the cast give their thoughts on the animation. Team: Will Smith, Tom Holland, Troy Quane, Reba McEntire, Rashida Jones, Nick Bruno, Kate Flannery, Rachel Brosnahan, Karen Gillan, Ben Mendelsohn, Masi Oka, Mark Ronson, Anderson Paak, Lucas Martell, Lloyd Taylor, Peyton Lee, Joshua Rush and The Last Artful Dodgr.

In the latest edition of Hollywood Insider's ‘Rendezvous At The Premiere’ - we focus on 'Spies in Disguise' premiere. Watch Will Smith, Tom Holland, Troy Quane, Nick Bruno, Kate Flannery, Masi Oka, Mark Ronson, Anderson Paak, Lucas Martell, Lloyd Taylor, Peyton Lee, Joshua Rush, The Last Artful Dodgr & team give their views on the animation. For more comments, watch the full episode.

2019 has been a weird year. So it seems fittingly surreal to be closing it by encouraging you to rush out and see an animated film about a pigeon super-spy and his scientist creator. Spies in Disguise is that film, Will Smith is that pigeon, and verily they are the spoonful of sugar you need right now.

Walter Beckett (Tom Holland) has been inventing whimsical safety solutions since he was a little boy in odd socks dousing his police officer mother in glitter before her shift. His indulgent mum was a driving force behind his dreams, reminding him that while she was out keeping their neighbourhood safe his inventions would one day do the same for the world. She encouraged Walter to always believe Team Weird will save the day.

Adulthood appears to have disproven that theory. Walter’s sense of whimsy and embrace of the weird isn’t such a...

A secret agent ruffles feathers in the espionage world when he is accidentally transformed into a pigeon in this entertaining family adventure

The Disney acquisition of Fox reportedly held up for a year this big new animated family adventure for Christmas: an amiable quasi-bodyswap romp that has in any case been long in development. It was originally inspired by an award-winning animated short back in 2009 from screenwriter and animator Lucas Martell called Pigeon: Impossible, about a pigeon that has apparently got hold of the Us president’s “nuclear football”. Now this has evolved into a completely new film by screenwriters Cindy David, Lloyd Copeland and Lloyd Taylor and for which story artist Troy Quane and animator Nick Bruno are jointly making their feature directorial debut.

Will Smith voices Lance Sterling, a supercool spy sporting a tux, a trimmed goatee and an absurdly over-inflated upper body; he’s a suave figure who is an athlete,...

Far from an animated Bond movie, Blue Sky’s “Spies in Disguise” subverts 007’s image of a cerebral, macho loner willing to use lethal force, replacing it with a much-appreciated anti-violence message grounded on geeky heroism. That’s not to say, however, that the conveyance of its pacifist theme results in a satisfying outcome.

With a heavy serving of teamwork mentality and a nearly unrecognizable transmutation of Lucas Martell’s 2009 short film “Pigeon: Impossible,” co-directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane (both making their feature directorial debuts after extensive stints in the animation departments at different studios) have made an action comedy about the bro-bond between two archetypal opposites.

Suave agent Lance Sterling (voiced by Will Smith), the embodiment of alpha-male cockiness, gets framed for villainous acts he appears to have committed while on a mission to defeat stock antagonist Killian (given Ben Mendelsohn’s menacing voice), a criminal with a...

UK singer-songwriter Olly Murs has joined the voice cast of upcoming Fox animated movie Spies In Disguise with Will Smith, Tom Holland and Karen Gillan.

Murs, in his first feature, plays the cameo role of Junior Agent #1 and said, “I loved being a junior agent for Will Smith! What a great job, and it was a lot of fun. Maybe if I’m lucky I can graduate to a fully-fledged agent next time!”

Murs first came to attention for coming second in the sixth series of The X Factor in 2009. He has sold more than 25 million records across his 10 year music career, including six albums, and four No.1 singles. He’s currently a coach on ITV1’s The Voice UK alongside Will.i.am, Sir Tom Jones and Meghan Trainor.

The film, released later month, sees the world’s best spy rely on his nerdy tech officer to save the world after...

Paul Bradshaw Joseph Baxter Nov 18, 2019

Will Smith and Tom Holland have lent their voices to animated movie Spies in Disguise.

Spies in Disguise is bringing something new to the (admittedly esoteric) genre of animated spy comedy movies. After all, while we’ve seen plenty of mismatched buddy spy comedy movies, we haven’t seen a mismatched buddy spy comedy movie about a secret agent who gets turned into a pigeon.

The movie centers on the story of super-suave super-spy Lance Sterling, voiced by megastar Will Smith, and what happens when he bumps into goofy scientist Walter Becket, voiced by current Spider-Man star Tom Holland. Studio Blue Sky Studios, the folk who made Ice Age, Robots, The Peanuts Movie and Ferdinand, has produced the film, which will be distributed by 20th Century Fox.

After the year 2019 saw Spies in Disguise repeatedly pushed back on the release schedule, the film will finally...

Sneak Peek the new UK quad poster supporting "Prom", the 'teen' feature directed by Joe Nussbaum, produced by Ted Griffin and Justin Springer.

"Prom" stars Aimee Teegarden as 'Nova Prescott', Thomas McDonell as 'Jesse Richter', Danielle Campbell as 'Simone Daniels', Nicholas Braun as 'Lloyd Taylor', Nolan Sotillo as 'Lucas Arnaz', Cameron Monaghan as 'Corey Doyle', Kiley Bunbury as 'Jordan Lundley', DeVaughn Nixon as 'Tyler Barso', Christine Elise McCarthy as 'Sandra Linsey', Riley Voelkel as 'Claire', Ivy Malone as 'Alice', Jonathan Keltz as 'Brandon', Raini Rodriguez as 'Tess', Jere Burns as 'Principal Dunnan', Aimee-Lynn Chadwick as 'Rachel', Yin Chang as 'Mei', Allie Trimm as 'Betsy' and Jared Kusnitz as 'Justin Wexler' :

"...'Prom' portrays the precarious passage from high school to independence as some relationships unravel and others ignite. For 'Nova Prescott' (Teegarden), it’s a battle of wills as she finds herself drawn to the guy...

Prom is pretty self explanatory. The film follows a group of teenagers from the same high school around the end of the year. Some are a little more excited about the big dance than others, and some are too young to go, but they still have to be surrounded by a school filled with prom-fever!

Of course, there needs to be some sort of a base, so the story mainly revolves around Nova Prescott (Aimee Teegarden), a goody two-shoes who has worked her tail off to get into Georgetown on a full scholarship. She is class president, a phenomenal student, and head of the prom committee. When a fire destroys all of the decorations that she and her committee worked so hard on, she is stuck rebuilding everything by herself… or so she thought. In a way to get back at a delinquent student, Principal Dunnan (Jere Burns) forces bad...

Prom is such a magical time… You get to dress up, hang out with friends, and hope that they boy/girl of your dreams will dance with you! I might kind of remember dancing with the boy I was crushing on at a school dance… I might be able to tell you what we were both wearing, and we might have danced to Bryan Adams (Everything I Do) I Do It For You.

Might… Have… Sigh…

Anyway, on with the show! Here are some brand new stills from the upcoming Disney film Prom

Have another look at the new trailer for Disney Prom!

Synopsis:

At Prom, every couple has a story and no two are exactly alike. Several intersecting stories unfold at one high school as the big dance approaches; Prom portrays the precarious passage from high school to independence as some relationships unravel and others ignite. For Nova Prescott...