News

A+E Networks has a new name and a slew of new shows across its networks.

A&e and Lifetime have ordered a number of new projects including a new movie starring Precious’ Gabourey Sidibe and renewed shows including Storage Wars.

It comes as the parent company has rebranded as A+E Global Media ahead of its annual Upfront.

Storage Wars is back for its 16th season. The show, which aired Season 15 in 2023, will expand from its traditional half-hours to a one-hour format. The ten-part series, which will air this summer, features teams of bidders on the hunt for valuable abandoned and repossessed storage units and with only a few minutes to see inside, they must decide whether they’ve spotted trash or true treasure that they can turn into big profits. It features Brandi Passante, Kenny Crossley, Ivy Calvin and his sons, Lisa Delarios and Dusty Riach. The series is produced...

The 7th Annual Kodak Film Awards celebrated the artistry of cinematography, honoring Ed Lachman, Gia Coppola, Lol Crawley, Greg Kwedar, and Ramez Silyan. Film enthusiasts gathered at the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Clubhouse on Thursday, February 27, 2025, to recognize their contributions

Attendees at the event included John “Divine G” Whitfield, Clarence Maclin, Brent Buell, Nick Pomeroy, Kelley Kali, Mitch Dubin, and Alex Prager.

Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Ed Lachman, ASC (Maria), was honored with the Kodak Career Achievement Award, recognizing his profound and unparalleled contributions to cinema. Lachman’s mastery of the moving image, coupled with his inspired creative vision, has shaped iconic collaborations with directors like Todd Haynes, Robert Altman, and many others, resulting in four Oscar nominations and five ASC nominations.

Gia Coppola, director and producer of The Last Showgirl, starring Pamela Anderson, received the Auteur Award for her exceptional directorial achievements. Academy Award nominee Lol Crawley, Bsc, The Brutalist,...

Exclusive: Rising British actor and director Maisie Richardson-Sellers has signed with Tfc Management.

Richardson-Sellers will next be seen in a lead role on the upcoming second season of Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers opposite Nicole Kidman. She most recently was seen starring in Hulu’s LGBTQ+ psychological horror film Jagged Mind, directed by Kelley Kali.

Richardson-Sellers previously starred opposite Mark Rylance and Simon Pegg in the six-part cyber-thriller from Peter Kosminsky, The Undeclared War, currently streaming on Channel 4 and Peacock. Set in 2024, the series follows a team of analysts buried in the heart of British spy agency Gchq, secretly working to ward off a series of cyber attacks on the UK in the run-up to a general election.

After making her big-screen debut in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Richardson-Sellers went on to portray Chloe in the last two installments of Netflix’s The Kissing Booth films, opposite Joey King and Jacob Elordi.

The 55th Annual NAACP Image Awards were held on Saturday, March 16 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The event was hosted by Queen Latifah and honored the accomplishments of Black creatives in film, television and music. Gold Derby associate editor Latasha Ford was on the red carpet to interview honorees, presenters and attendees at the 2024 ceremony.

Watch each short video below from the 2024 NAACP Image Awards by clicking that person’s name:

Tichina Arnold (“The Neighborhood”), nominee for Best Actress in a Comedy Series

Tone Bell (“Survival of the Thickest”), nominee for Best Actor in a Comedy Series

Bryan Terrell Clark (“Diarra from Detroit”)

Idris Elba (“Hijack”), nominee for Best Actor in a Drama Series

Vivica A. Fox (“First Lady of Bmf: The Tonesa Welch Story” director), nominee for Best Directing in a Television Movie or Special

Lalah Hathaway

Claudia Jordan and Annie Ilonzeh

Kelley Kali (“Kemba” director)

Claudia Logan...

Director Kelley Kali's mind-bending psychological thriller Jagged Mind, which premieres this week on Hulu, explores toxic relationships with a queer twist. The film, written by Allyson Morgan, also provides an entertaining story of magic and obsession that follows Billie (Maisie Richardson-Sellers), a twenty-something-year-old woman in New Orleans who suffers from strange blackouts after meeting her new girlfriend, Alex (Shannon Woodward). Soon, Billie realizes that she is reliving moments of her relationship with Alex, and finds herself stuck in a time loop that she has to fight to escape.

Kelley Kali sat down with Cbr for an exclusive chat regarding her new romantic thriller. Kali opened up about first reading the script and what the film says about queer relationships. The acclaimed filmmaker also provides a note for artists on intention.

Related: Tom Bateman Riffs on Psychology, Serial Killers, and Los Angeles in Based on a True Story

Cbr: What...

Hollywood may have just come full circle.

The 1980s and 1990s saw a boom in the erotic thriller genre — movies revolving around hypersexual situations, often featuring protagonists falling in love with a potential killer. Jagged Mind, the new film by director Kelley Kali, feels like a rebuttal to one of the most iconic erotic thrillers of the 1990s, Basic Instinct. That movie still endures criticism for its portrayal of a bisexual temptress, one unafraid to murder male lovers, and whose relationship with another woman seems designed to taunt men. Jagged Mind doesn’t have the audacity of that film, but it does have one overflowing attribute: it’s a damn sexy movie.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Jagged Mind follows Billy (Maisie Richardson-Sellers), a beautiful young woman with a nasty habit of hooking up with her ex-girlfriend, and suffering from symptoms of early-onset dementia. She takes immediate...

If you’ve got to make a psychological thriller, then don’t put voodoo and supernatural elements in it. If you do mix the two together, then don’t make the story such that the audience feels the big reveal, in the end, was a disappointment they wasted their time on. Kelley Kali shows how to toe both lines in Jagged Mind and still make a psychological thriller with supernatural elements and also put in a queer aspect to it, probably to celebrate Pride Month. Billie Jackson is a young woman living in Florida’s Little Haiti, and unfortunately, she suffers from unexplained headaches and blackouts, which point towards the same dementia symptoms her mother had. Things start improving for Billie when she meets Alex Bishop in a bar, but the blackouts indicate something very sinister. Here’s what happens in the psychological thriller, Jagged Mind.

Spoilers Ahead

How Does Billie Meet Christine?...

Hulu is celebrating Pride Month with its new queer psychological horror thriller Jagged Mind, which is now available to watch on the streaming platform. The film is directed by Kelley Kali (Thanks for Asking) and stars Maisie Richardson-Sellers and Shannon Woodward.

The story centers on a woman who suffers strange visions that form a larger puzzle, since she is actually trapped in a time loop, and everything seems to be related to her new girlfriend. As the story unfolds, she'll need to put the pieces together inside her head to try and figure out what's going on, as the latest clip from the film teases:

Maisie Richardson-Sellers was one of the big stars of the canceled Arrowverse series DC's Legends of Tomorrow, where she played various characters within the team, the most popular being Vixen/Amaya Jiwen. In addition, she was part of the cast of The Originals, another popular show of the network,...

It takes a long time for Jagged Mind protagonist Billy (Legends of Tomorrow's Maisie Richardson-Sellers) to discover the ill intentions her new girlfriend Alex (Westworld's Shannon Woodward) is hiding from her, but the audience gets there much quicker. In a way, Jagged Mind's opening disclaimer about depictions of intimate partner violence functions as a spoiler, making Alex's first appearance even more menacing than the movie's generally ominous tone indicates. That kind of blunt, obvious storytelling holds Jagged Mind back from being truly scary or affecting, but the film does have some strong, sporadic moments.

From the beginning, something seems to be wrong with Billy's perception of time. She's concerned about possibly inheriting the early-onset dementia that plagued her mother, and she experiences episodes of déjà vu and missing time. She goes for a run around her Miami neighborhood of Little Haiti, stops in the middle of the street,...

Kelley Kali’s Jagged Mind is a unique kind of erotic thriller. Not only does the film focus on a lesbian couple, Kali and writer Allyson Morgan broach a subject rarely seen in queer cinema: domestic abuse. The film approaches its weighty topic with urgency and graveness, but the distinct genre elements make everything more digestible.

Much like its basis, Morgan’s short film First Date, Jagged Mind shows the lengths some people will go to to be with the person they love. Or more accurately, the person they are obsessed with. Unlike other thrillers, though, this one features a time loop. The audience is thrown in head first as the main character, Billie (played by Maisie Richardson-Sellers), almost immediately experiences another blackout. Billie is clueless apart from a troubling sense of déjà vu, however viewers will quickly figure out what (or who) is behind this strange malady.

Relationship woes...

Hulu got a taste of great things to come with 20th Digital Studio’s “Bite Size Halloween,” and now, one of the first films in their nine-horror feature partnership is here: “Jagged Mind,” a queer psychological thriller starring Maisie Richardson-Sellers and Shannon Woodward. While the film has its world premiere at the American Black Film Festival on June 14–June 18 in Miami Beach, viewers all across the U.S. will be able to watch it on Hulu on Thursday, June 15. You can watch Jagged Mind with a 30-Day Free Trial of Hulu.

How to Watch ‘Jagged Mind’ When: Wednesday, June 14, 2023 Where: Hulu Stream: Watch with a 30-Day Free Trial of Hulu. 30-Day Free Trial$7.99+ / month hulu.com About ‘Jagged Mind’

Maisie Richardson-Sellers and Shannon Woodward lead the cast of “Jagged Mind,” the latest horror collaboration between 20th Digital Studio and Hulu Originals.

Written by Allyson Morgan and helmed by “I’m...

Director Kelley Kali doesn’t just tear down barriers. She torches them.

The filmmaker, known for her movies The Adventures of Thomasina Sawyer and I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking), now wades into uncharted territory. Her latest outing, the Hulu film Jagged Mind, revives the erotic thriller genre, albeit with a twist: this story is about a lesbian couple.

“When I read the script, the one thing I really loved, that I’d not seen much of — this is an LGBTQ story,” explained Kali through a bright smile. “But it’s not a coming out story. It wasn’t all this drama. It was two women just trying to date like everybody else. We’re just dropped in that world. They’re just trying to find love like everyone else on this planet.”

Jagged Mind follows the relationship between Billy (Maisie Richardson-Sellers) and Alex (Shannon Woodward). The pair meet at an art exhibition,...

The time loop formula gets a psychological thriller twist with Jagged Mind. The movie revolves around the manager of an art gallery who begins suffering blackouts and horrific visions after dating a mysterious new woman and learns her new partner may not be as loving as she thought.

Maisie Richardson-Sellers leads the cast of Jagged Mind alongside Shannon Woodward, Rosaline Elbay, Kate Szekely, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Benjamin Valenzuela, Brandi Huzzi, and Loren Swan. Providing new takes on the time loop story and the depiction of voodoo, Jagged Mind is packed full of twists. The psychological thriller also offers plenty of insightful commentary and cultural representation while keeping audiences guessing.

Related: New On Hulu: All 132 Movies & TV Shows Arriving In June

In anticipation of the movie's premiere, Screen Rant spoke exclusively with director Kelley Kali for Jagged Mind, how she thought she'd lose the job with her pitch, making changes to the original short film,...

The cast of the chilling Hulu psychological thriller Jagged Mind features such exciting stars as an Arrowverse superhero and a familiar voice from The Last of Us Part II. Jagged Mind tells the story of a young woman who begins experiencing blackouts and confounding visions that lead her to realize that she’s stuck in a time loop, and it might all be connected to her mysterious new girlfriend. Based on Allyson Morgan’s short film First Date from the Hulu anthology series Bite Size Halloween, Jagged Mind is directed by Kelley Kali, the indie darling who helmed the festival favorite I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking).

Jagged Mind, which first premiered at the American Black Film Festival, is also a Hulu release, and while a lot of the plot is a secret, the movie has a great cast. The movie features actors from such familiar franchises as The Vampire Diaries,...

Hulu is bringing another original horror movie to the table this year with Jagged Mind, a queer psychological thriller that has unleashed its mind-bending official trailer today.

Jagged Mind will premiere on Hulu on June 15, 2023.

Maisie Richardson-Sellers (“Legends of Tomorrow”) and Shannon Woodward (“Westworld”) star in Jagged Mind. Here’s the official plot synopsis…

“When Billie starts dating a mysterious new girlfriend, she suffers blackouts and strange visions that feel like she’s living the same moments of her life over and over.”

Kelley Kali directed for 20th Digital Studio and Hulu. The feature film is based on Kali’s short for Hulu’s “Bite Size Halloween” initiative, which was titled First Date.

Allyson Morgan (“Sitting”) wrote the script.

Jagged Mind was developed by 20th Digital Studio with David Worthen Brooks, Arbi Pedrossian, and Jenna Cavelle as executive producers. Production services were carried out by the film’s producer Daniela Ruiz through her company,...

If someone offered you the perfect life, would you take it? In Kelley Kali’s Jagged Mind trailer, Maisie Richardson-Sellers and Shannon Woodward embark on a seemingly ideal courtship before a sinister motive reveals a dark secret that could cost them their sanity and lives.

The horror feature starring Maisie Richardson-Sellers and Shannon Woodward comes from 20th Century Studios and Hulu Originals. Jagged Mind premieres at the American Black Film Festival in Miami Beach on June 14. Shortly after that, the disturbing tale of love gone wrong premieres exclusively on Hulu on June 15 and Disney+ internationally at a later date.

Kelley Kali (I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking) directs Jagged Mind, a psychological thriller about a woman plagued by blackouts and strange visions that lead her to discover she’s stuck in a series of time loops, possibly related to her mysterious new girlfriend. Maisie Richardson-Sellers stars as Billie, alongside Shannon Woodward as her girlfriend,...

Clockwise from top left: Barbarian (20th Century Studios), Dune (Warner Bros.), Infinity Pool (Elevation Pictures), Guns Akimbo (Saban Films)Image: The A.V. Club

Summer means big screen excitement but Hulu is doing its best to make sure you consider staying home this June instead. The streamer is adding 2021’s...

"Jagged Mind" is a new a horror feature, directed by Kelley Kali, starring Maisie Richardson-Sellers and Shannon Woodward, streaming June 15, 2023 on Hulu, followed by a run on Disney+:

"...'Jagged Mind' is about a woman plagued by blackouts and strange visions...

"...that lead her to discover she's stuck in a series of time loops, possibly related to her mysterious new girlfriend..."

Click the images to enlarge...

Hulu is bringing a new horror film to audiences soon, and it's just in time for Pride. This June, Kelley Kali's Jagged Mind hits the streamer, a queer psychological thriller about a woman who discovers a strange condition. The feature is set to make its world premiere at the American Black Film Festival, which takes place from June 14-June 18 at Miami Beach. The film will then drop on June 15 on Hulu. It's set to release on internationally on Disney+ at a later date. Along with the release date, Hulu and 20th Digital Studio released first look images.

Hulu is bringing another original horror movie to the table this year with Jagged Mind, which is first premiering at the American Black Film Festival this coming June.

Variety reports that the film will then premiere on Hulu on June 15, 2023.

Maisie Richardson-Sellers (“Legends of Tomorrow”) and Shannon Woodward (“Westworld”) star in Jagged Mind. Here’s the official plot synopsis…

“A woman is plagued by blackouts and strange visions that lead her to discover she’s stuck in a series of time loops, possibly related to her mysterious new girlfriend.”

Kelley Kali directed for 20th Digital Studio and Hulu. The feature film is based on Kali’s short for Hulu’s “Bite Size Halloween” initiative, which was titled First Date.

Allyson Morgan (“Sitting”) wrote the script.

The post ‘Jagged Mind’ – Hulu’s Time Loop Horror Movie Premieres in June appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The horror film “Jagged Mind,” starring Maisie Richardson-Sellers and Shannon Woodward, from 20th Digital Studio and Hulu Originals will world premiere at the American Black Film Festival in Miami Beach.

The festival runs June 14 to June 18. The film will debut exclusively on Hulu on June 15 and on Disney+ (via Star) internationally at a later date.

Directed by Kelley Kali (“I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking)”), “Jagged Mind” is about a woman plagued by blackouts and strange visions that lead her to discover she’s stuck in a series of time loops, possibly related to her mysterious new girlfriend. Richardson-Sellers stars as “Billie,” alongside Woodward as her girlfriend “Alex”.

Kali was tapped to direct this feature based off the short film “First Date,” which was included in the first season of 20th Digital Studio’s “Bite Size Halloween.” The feature, now titled “Jagged Mind,” is written by Allyson Morgan (“Sitting”). “Jagged Mind...

Exclusive: Gersh is continuing to expand its roster of notable on-screen talent, with the signing of actress Jaimie Alexander.

Related Story Emmy-Nominated ‘House Of Cards’ Alum Molly Parker Inks With Gersh Related Story Gersh Signs 'I'm Fine (Thanks For Asking)' Filmmaker Kelley Kali Related Story Gersh Signs Jake Van Wagoner Following Sundance Bow Of His Family Film, 'Aliens Abducted My Parents And Now I Feel Kinda Left Out'

Alexander is best known for playing the lead role of Jane Doe in NBC’s popular crime drama Blindspot, which averaged 11 million viewers per episode at its peak, airing for five seasons.

She also originated the MCU role of Lady Sif, portraying the Asgardian warrior in films ranging from Kenneth Branagh’s Thor through Thor: The Dark World and the Taika Waititi-directed Thor: Love and Thunder, which hit theaters last July. The actress has also appeared as...

Exclusive: Gersh has signed in-demand Canadian actress Molly Parker for representation.

An Emmy and Independent Spirit Award nominee, Parker is perhaps best known for her turn as House Whip Jackie Sharp in Netflix’s political drama House of Cards — a pivotal series in the history of the streamer, which ran for six seasons. She also recently starred in Netflix’s Lost in Space and shared the screen with Billy Bob Thornton in the first season of the Prime Video legal drama Goliath, having prior that starred in HBO’s Emmy-winning Western series, Deadwood, and Errol Morris’ Netflix docudrama Wormwood opposite Peter Sarsgaard.

Related Story ‘John Wick’ Franchise Creator Derek Kolstad Signs With UTA Related Story Gersh Signs 'I'm Fine (Thanks For Asking)' Filmmaker Kelley Kali Related Story Gersh Signs Jake Van Wagoner Following Sundance Bow Of His Family Film, 'Aliens Abducted My Parents And Now I Feel Kinda Left Out...

Exclusive: Gersh has signed Kelley Kali, the filmmaker best known for co-writing, co-directing, producing and starring in the 2021 dramedy I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking), which garnered her SXSW’s inaugural Special Jury Recognition for Multi-Hyphenate Storyteller upon its world premiere at the Austin, TX festival.

Currently streaming on BET+, BET Her and Showtime, I’m Fine tells the story of Danny (Kali), a recently widowed hairdresser who finds herself living on the streets with her eight-year-old daughter Wes (Wesley Moss). As Danny works to secure the funds that will allow her to lock down an apartment, she also aims to protect her child from the reality of their situation. The film was released theatrically in the UK and Ireland, also selling to HBO Europe.

Kali also recently completed the documentary short I Am Not Your Hero, focused on health inequities and the high rate of physician suicide that plagues America’s medical system,...

Mubi starts Cannes prizewinner ‘Close’ in 74 sites.

Warner Bros’ Creed III will look to improve on the strong performances of the first two films in the boxing series, when opening in 637 UK-Ireland cinemas this weekend.

The film is the directorial debut of Michael Jordan who also stars in the film series as Adonis Creed, son of former heavyweight champion Apollo Creed. In this third instalment, Adonis’ thriving career and family life are disrupted by the resurfacing of a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, played by Jonathan Majors.

Creed III is written by Ryan Coogler, who directed the first film...

Exclusive: MPI Original Films and BET have added to the cast of their feature Kemba, inspired by the life of criminal justice reform advocate Kemba Smith, with Michelle Hurd (Star Trek: Picard), Sean Patrick Thomas (Till), Siddiq Saunderson (Wu-Tang: An American Saga) and June Carryl (Helstrom) signing on for roles. Nesta Cooper will lead the cast of the film directed by Kelley Kali, which is currently shooting in Atlanta, as previously announced.

The upcoming film follows Kemba (Cooper) as a young college student who falls in love with a man, only to learn he is a drug kingpin who leads her down a path of abuse and manipulation, placing her in the middle of the government’s “war on drugs,” and ultimately landing her in federal prison. While Hurd and Thomas will play Kemba’s loving parents Odessa and Gus, details as to Saunderson and Carryl’s roles haven’t been disclosed.

The film won a special jury award at SXSW.

UK distributor Bulldog Film Distribution has acquired UK and Ireland rights to Kelley Kali and Angelique Molina’s US indie drama I’m Fine (Thanks For Asking) from New York-based The Film Sales Company.

Kali stars in the film as a young, widowed mother in Southern California who pretends to her daughter that their homelessness is a camping adventure.

’I’m Fine (Thanks For Asking)’: SXSW Review

The film premiered at SXSW in 2021 where it picked up the special jury award for narrative feature and has since screened at festivals across the US.

Exclusive: Nesta Cooper (See) has signed on to star in the feature-length drama Kemba, inspired by the life of criminal justice reform advocate Kemba Smith, which Kelley Kali (I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking)) is directing for MPI Original Films and BET.

Kemba picks up with its title character (played by Cooper) as a college student, as she falls in love with a man, only to learn he is a drug kingpin who leads her down a path of abuse and manipulation, placing her in the middle of the government’s “war on drugs,” and ultimately landing her in federal prison. The film will focus on themes paramount in today’s national conversations, including institutional racism, racial inequality and the vital need for criminal justice and prison reform — having its television premiere on BET, with additional launch and distribution plans to be announced at a later date.

MPI’s Stacey Parks,...

Exclusive: Deon Cole (Black-ish) has been cast in the lead role of BET+’s upcoming dark comedy Average Joe. The series, which received a cast contingent script-to-series order in February, hails from Robb Cullen and McG.

Set in The Hill district of Pittsburgh and inspired by Cullen’s life, Average Joe follows blue-collar plumber, Joe Washington (Cole) who discovers his recently deceased father lived a secret, second life and stole millions of dollars from dangerous people just before he died. Now those people think Joe knows where it is. A bloody and violent confrontation triggers a chain of events that force Joe and his close-knit circle of family and friends out of their very average and mundane lives into a life or death race against time to find the truth and the millions.

The dark comedy is written by Cullen, who will executive produce alongside McG, Mary Viola and Corey...

The Academy announced Kelley Kali and Waad al-Kateeb as domestic and international recipients, respectively, of the 2021 Academy Fellowship for Women — with Kali receiving $35,000 and al-Kateeb receiving the equivalent of £20,000.

Part of the Academy Gold global talent development and inclusion initiative, the fellowship for women is a one-year program that provides direct financial support, mentorship and access to filmmakers. Additionally, fellows will also receive career achievement support through the Alumni Gold Program — which provides professional development and education for alumni of Academy Gold Programs, including Gold Rising, Student Academy Awards and the Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting.

Both Kali and al-Kateeb were selected from a group of 11 finalists, including Kimberlee Bassford, Vigil Chime, Shaina Ghuraya, Amy Tofte, Gordon West, Farah Abushwesha, Rienkje Attoh-Wood, Prano Bailey-Bond and Dionne Edwards.

Kali is a graduate of Howard University and USC School of Cinematic Arts. Credits include being selected to work with Ron Howard and Brian Grazer...

The Academy awards fellowships for both the US and international.

Four Screen UK & Ireland Stars of Tomorrow have been selected as finalists for the Gold Fellowship for Women, an award offered for emerging female filmmakers by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS).

Fellowships will be given in two categories: one for the US, and one for international. Six finalists have been selected for the domestic fellowship, with five – including all four former Screen Stars – for the international award.

Among them are producer Farah Abushwesha, a Screen Star in 2017, who is creative director at emerging talent showcase Rocliffe and...

The 25th American Black Film Festival is shifting from a hybrid to a fully online event, Jeff Friday Media (Jfm) announced today.

The festival, which runs from Nov. 3-14, 2021 will be available digitally on ABFF’s custom-built online platform, abffplay.com, providing artists, filmmakers, movie fans and audiences the opportunity to come together virtually to celebrate ABFF’s 25th year of showcasing the best in Black cinema and television.

“As we were enthusiastically planning our 25th anniversary celebration and return to Miami Beach, we couldn’t ignore the ongoing spread of Covid-19 and now the Delta variant,” Jeff Friday, CEO Jeff Friday Media and founder, ABFF Ventures LLC, said announcing shift.

“Our national health crisis is at the forefront of our minds and we must responsively adapt. For the health and safety of our attendees, supporters and staff, we’ve made the difficult decision to pivot to a virtual event this year,...

Chicago – Filmmaker Kelley Kali just scored a major award at the recent South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival, Grand Jury Recognition for Multi-Hyphenate Storytelling, for a film that she co-wrote, co-directed and acted in the lead role. “I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking)” is a vivid portrait of another America that is happening now.

Kali is Danny, a Los Angeles mother who is “camping” with her daughter and trying to negotiate a new apartment. The backstory is she is widowed, and obviously was struck down by the financial crisis of the pandemic. When she needs an extra two hundred dollars to secure the apartment, the journey she takes in trying to get the money is fraught – in one tumultuous day – with the conditions of slapdash USA. Kali co-wrote the film with Roma Kong and Angelique Molina, and co-directed with Molina. Deon Cole (“Blackish”), who is a producer of the film, makes an indelible cameo.

Chicago – The latest cinematic visionaries are often discovered at the South by Southwest Festival. Filmmakers like the Duplass brothers, Chicago’s Joe Swanberg and Lena Dunham got their first prominent notices at the fest. In that spirit, the 2021 SXSW Grand Jury Awards were announced on March 19th.

The top film in Narrative Features was director Megan Park’s stunning psychological treatise on school shootings, “The Fallout.” The charming “falling dominoes” documentary feature “Lily Topples the World” took the top prize in that category. And in the short film competition, the stark and contemporary “Play it Safe” took the Narrative top prize for its poignant exploration into preconceived notions and actions in race relations.

The following is the list of top honorees …

Grand Jury Prize - Narrative Feature

The Fallout

Photo credit: SXSW.com

Winner: “The Fallout,” directed by Megan Park

Recognition - Multi Hyphenate Storyteller: “I’m Fine (Thanks for...

The SXSW Film Festival has announced the full list of 2021 Grand Jury prize winners.

The award ceremony honors the superlative creativity and talent demonstrated by filmmakers and designers in the SXSW Film Festival program. The festival virtually screened 75 features, 84 shorts and music videos, 11 episodic selections, 20 virtual cinema projects, 14 title design entries and 34 special events.

This year’s Narrative Feature Competition winner was the teen drama “The Fallout,” which was directed by Megan Park and stars Jenna Ortega and Maddie Ziegler. Meanwhile, Jeremy Workman’s documentary “Lily Topples the World” won in the Documentary Feature category.

“We are so honored by the 2021 filmmakers who entrusted their work to us for this online version of our event, and joined us on this new adventure in such a beautiful way,” Janet Pierson, director of film, said. “We are thrilled we could launch great new projects and talent in this pandemic year, and hope the films,...

Chicago – The virtual/online 2021 SXSW Festival began on March 16th, and continues through March 20th. The independent films in the festival touch upon relationships, mother-to-society, sister-to-sister and adult-woman-to-younger-self. Three more film capsules are below.

There will be many advantages and unique opportunities through this event, centered as usual in Austin, Texas, including the keynote/speeches, conference sessions, music festival showcases, film festival screenings, world-class networking, online exhibitions, and the unexpected discoveries that are always a part of SXSW, all in a digital setting.

Our Father

Photo credit: SXSW.com

Films Of SXSW: Capsule Reviews

Click the title for film information and screening status …

Rating: 4.0/5.0

”I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking)” – Kelley Kali stars in and co-directs this stark reality smack involving the two Americas of rich and poor. Kali is Danny, a Los Angeles mother who is “camping” with her daughter and trying to negotiate a new apartment. The backstory is she is widowed,...

Audience Awards to be announced on March 23.

The Fallout and Lily Topples The World have triumphed at the 2021 SXSW jury awards presented on Friday (March 19).

Megan Park’s The Fallout won the narrative feature competition prize and follows a high-school student as she navigates life in the wake of a school tragedy.

Special jury recognition for multi-hyphenate storyteller went to directors Kelley Kali and Angelique Molina, and there was special jury recognition for Rogelio Balagtas’ breakthrough performance in Islands.

In the documentary feature competition, Jeremy Workman prevailed for Lily Topples The World, a coming-of-age story about 20-year-old Lily Hevesh, the...

The SXSW Film Festival has announced the winners of its juried and special awards on Friday. In a year mostly free of major studio features and established talents, the 2021 winners class is made up of indie outings and rising stars to watch. Top Grand Jury awards went to Narrative Feature Competition winner “The Fallout” from director Megan Park, which was picked up by Universal late last year, and Jeremy Workman’s documentary “Lily Topples the World.”

The festival virtually screened 75 features, 84 shorts and music videos, 11 episodic selections, 20 virtual cinema projects, 14 title design entries, and 34 special events. Fifteen juries — which included IndieWire’s own Kate Erbland, plus industry heavy-hitters like Jason Blum and Sheila Nevins — bestowed awards to over three dozen titles.

The all-virtual festival wraps Saturday at 11:59 p.m. Ct; Audience Award voting continues for 24 hours after that. Those awards will be announced on sxsw.com on Tuesday.

Below...

“The Fallout,” a teen drama starring Jenna Ortega and Maddie Ziegler, has won the top prize in the Narrative Feature competition at the SXSW Film Festival.

Director Megan Park’s film led the list of award winners announced by SXSW on Friday, which also included Jeremy Workman’s “Lily Topples the World” taking home the Documentary Feature prize. “The Fallout” also won the Brightcove Illumination Award, which honors a filmmaker on the rise.

SXSW’s Narrative Feature prize was voted on by a jury that included journalists Amanda N’Duka, Jake Coyle and Joanna Robinson. The drama follows a teenage girl whose relationships with her friends and family are forever changed after she survives a school shooting.

“‘The Fallout’ takes us through the emotionally charged healing journey of a young girl whose life is forever changed in the wake of a school tragedy. Writer and director Megan Park delivers a timely,...

The SXSW Film Festival has revealed its Jury and Special Award winners of the 28th edition of the fest, which took place virtually this week. The Megan Park-directed high school shooting tragedy The Fallout took the top award in the Narrative Feature category, while Jeremy Workman’s portrait of Lily Hevesh, Lily Topples the World, won in the Documentary Feature category.

Also on the narrative side, Kelley Kali and Angelique Molina’s I’m Fine Thanks for Asking) won a Special Jury Recognition for Multi-hyphenate Storyteller. Martin Edralin’s Islands also took home a Special Jury Recognition for Breakthrough Performance for actor Rogelio Balagtas.

In the docu feature competition Rachel Fleit’s Introducing, Selma Blair was honored with Special Jury Recognition for Exceptional Intimacy in Storytelling. Meanwhile, Nicholas Bruckman’s Not Going Quietly scored Special Jury Recognition for Humanity in Social Action.

“We are so honored by the 2021 filmmakers...

“How are you doing?” is a deceiving question despite its simplicity, especially when the inquiry is posed during a deadly pandemic. Many of us force smiles and internally debate whether to tell the hard truth or sugarcoat the answer. Writer/director duo Kelley Kali and Angelique Molina understand what people truly mean when they respond with […]

The post ‘I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking)’ Review: A Vibrant and Validating Portrait of Resiliency [SXSW 2021] appeared first on /Film.

When someone insists they’re “fine,” it’s seldom the case. Take Danny, the recently widowed mom in the micro-budget charmer “I’m Fine (Thanks for Asking),” which directors Kelley Kali and Angelique Molina’s made on coronavirus stimulus check funds.

Having lost her apartment during the Covid-19 crunch, Danny roller skates around a neighborhood of housing projects, fast-food joints and quasi-suburban homes trying to rustle enough gig economy scraps to pay rent and security on a new apartment. A visit to her presumptive — and understanding — landlord leaves her until the end of the day to secure the $200 she’s short.

Danny also skates around her and daughter Wes’ predicament. She’s evasive around friends and tells her bright and shining child (newcomer Wesley Moss) that the tent they’ve pitched on the edges of Pacoima, Calif., is just them on an extended camping trip. After all, Wes liked camping with her dad,...

With most festivals moving full steam ahead, such as the recently wrapped Rotterdam and Sundance, the next two major ones on the calendar are Berlinale, which just unveiled its lineup, and South by Southwest, which has also dropped theirs.

Set to take place March 16-20, the 2021 Film Festival program has 75 features including 57 World Premieres, 3 International Premieres, 4 North American Premieres, 1 U.S. Premieres, 8 Texas Premieres and 53 films from first-time filmmakers + 84 Short Films including Music Videos, 5 Episodic Premieres, 6 Episodic Pilots, 20 Virtual Cinema projects, 14 Title Design entries, plus 30 Special Events.

“It’s been a year unlike any we’ve experienced, first marked by the cancellation of SXSW 2020,” said Janet Pierson, Director of Film. “We feel privileged to have been able to pivot to SXSW Online and present a fantastic treasure trove of programming, including a pared down and wonderful selection of films that we know will delight, entertain and move our attendees. SXSW...

This year’s South by Southwest Film Festival is going virtual. The SXSW 2021 film festival has unveiled its full line-up, including documentaries on Selma Blair and Demi Lovato, and films like Here Before directed by Stacey Gregg and Kelley Kali’s I’m Fine (Thanks For Asking) competing in the Narrative Feature section. The selection will be available online for viewing […]

The post SXSW 2021 Unveils Full Feature Film Line-Up, All Available for Online Viewing appeared first on /Film.

The South by Southwest Film Festival has rolled out its full programming line up, with high-profile new documentaries bolstering previously announced features.

For many in Hollywood, the last-minute cancellation of the Austin-based 2020 SXSW conference was a reality check about the severity of the coronavirus pandemic. Global lockdowns followed, and a year later, the film portion of the cultural event is soldiering on.

“We feel privileged to have been able to pivot to SXSW Online and present a fantastic treasure trove of programming, including a pared down and wonderful selection of films that we know will delight, entertain and move our attendees,” said Janet Pierson, SXSW’s director of film.

Among the selection is “Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free,” featuring a 16mm footage archive of the late singer at work on his 1994 album “Wildflowers,” largely considered his best. The film is directed by Mary Wharton, and leans into SXSW’s reputation for top-tier music programming.

The SXSW Film Festival has today announced its full 2021 feature film lineup, in addition to a variety of episodic offerings and special events. The program will be available entirely online to passholders, along with the other components of the festival. As previously announced, the festival will open with “Demi Lovato: Dancing With the Devil,” director Michael D. Ratner’s multi-part YouTube Originals look at the singer’s efforts to rebuild her life after a 2018 drug overdose. Its closing night selection is “Alone Together,” Bradley Pell and Pablo Jones-Soler’s look at pop star Charli Xcx, who produced an album in quarantine. Seventy-five feature films were selected for the festival from a three-week submission period last October, including 57 world premieres.

The festival finds SXSW returning to the festival circuit one year after the gathering was canceled by Austin mayor as the coronavirus pandemic spread throughout the United States. SXSW film head...

Documentary music films about the careers of singer-songwriter Charli Xcx and late rock legend Tom Petty will headline this year’s South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival, as the Austin fest has unveiled its full 2021 slate.

Charli Xcx’s “Alone Together” will be the closing night film about how she made an album over the course of 40 days in quarantine, while “Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free” will be the centerpiece film that uncovers new 16mm footage of Petty at work on his 1994 album “Wildflowers.” Rounding out the headliners for SXSW is the previously announced opening night film, “Demi Lovato: Dancing With the Devil,” a YouTube Originals documentary about the aftermath of the actress and singer’s near-fatal overdose in 2018.

This year’s SXSW, now in its 28th year, is virtual and online after 2020’s festival was one of the first major events to be canceled as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

28th edition of Texas festival will run online-only from March 16-20.

SXSW Online 2021 has unveiled its full film line-up of 75 features as well as shorts, episodics and special events, and announced Charli Xcx documentary Alone Together from Bradley Bell and Pablo Jones-Soler as the closing film.

The Headliners selection about quarantined pop star Charli Xcx making an album that unifies a community appears in that section alongside Mary Wharton’s documentary Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free, and previously announced SXSW opener Demi Lovato: Dancing With The Devil.

The 28th edition of SXSW will run from March 16-20. Seven films...

Local public broadcaster Kcet has announced the 14 student short film finalists for the 20th annual Fine Cut Festival of Films.

Finalists, all hailing from schools across Southern California, will have their shorts aired as part of a television series, premiering Oct. 2 and running until Nov. 6 on Kcet. Each film will premiere on a weekly basis, airing on themed days that are in line with their respective stories, such as “Fight,” “Play,” “Come Alive,” “Separated,” “Save Me!” and “You’re Crazy.”

Finalists include “The Moon and the Night” (Erin Lau), “Prey” (Jing Sun), “Delay of Game” (Shaun Dikilato), “888 Tours” (Jennifer Nie), “Teddy Mate” (Rommel Villa), “Love Letter Rescue Squad” (Megan Rossman),”Gallery Experience” (Jinghan Tian), “Lalo’s House” (Kelley Kali), “Starlight” (Robyn Romaine), “Bleeding, Kansas” (Daniel Lafrentz), “Assembly Required” (Christian Whittemore), Hau Nguyen’s Coast College’s Food Riders documentary, “Divided”, and “Shoot the Moon” (William Rowe).

Schools represented by the finalists include USC,...

The Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase unveiled the winners of this year’s competition. Yolonda Brinkley, creator of Diversity in Cannes, the global film movement promoting inclusion at the Cannes Film Festival, announced the winners of the 17 uniquely themed films that were in the running.

The showcase, which is sponsored by Julius Tennon and Viola Davis’ JuVee Productions, took place at the 72nd Festival de Cannes. Audience Choice winners included Flight, a film by Kia Moses and Adrian McDonald, which tells the story of inner-city youth Kemar who wants to fly to the moon and reminds us that the beauty is not necessarily in achieving the dream – but in simply having one. Kelley Kali’s Student Academy Award-winning film Lalo’s House was also honored with the award.

Additional awards from the showcase included Director, Jury and Audience Choice Awards as well Best Actor, Actress, Cast, Director and Student Film.