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Check Out The Trailer For Hikari’s Rental Family Starring Brendan Fraser!(Photo Credit –Instagram)

Searchlight Pictures released the official trailer for Rental Family, an upcoming comedy-drama starring Brendan Fraser. Hikari directed, co-wrote, and produced the film, which also stars Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Akira Emoto, and newcomer Shannon Gorman.

Rental Family Trailer: Brendan Fraser Lands A Unique Gig In Japan

The comedy-drama is set in modern-day Tokyo and follows an American actor (Brendan Fraser) who struggles to find a purpose in life until he lands an unusual job that requires him to work for a Japanese “rental family” agency. He is asked to play stand-in roles for strangers as part of the gig.

As Fraser’s protagonist gets involved in the world of his clients, he begins to form genuine bonds that blur the lines between performance and reality. Confronting the moral complexities of his work, he rediscovers purpose,...

Years ago, talk show host Conan O’Brien traveled to Japan for one of his special international remote episodes that helped inspire his new series, Conan O’Brien Must Go. While in Japan, O’Brien checked out some of the unique local sights. One of the things he explored was a family rental service that the country provides to combat the national crisis of loneliness. His exploration into the topic was, of course, done in a very humorous way. However, filmmaker Hikari, who helmed drama 37 Seconds as well as a few seasons in the first season of Netflix’s Beef, explores the concept with a bit more drama. Searchlight Pictures has released the trailer for Rental Family, which will make its debut at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Keep a lookout for our upcoming review when it screens!

The official synopsis reads,

“Set against modern-day Tokyo, Rental Family...

Brendan Fraser is back in the spotlight — and this time, he’s stepping into other people’s lives for hire. Searchlight Pictures has released the first trailer for Rental Family, the dramatic comedy that marks Fraser’s first leading role since his Oscar-winning turn in 2022’s The Whale. The film will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September before arriving in theaters on November 21.

In Rental Family, Fraser plays an American actor living in Tokyo who begins taking jobs with the Japanese Rental Family Agency, a real-world-inspired service where clients can hire stand-ins for absent relatives or companions. From playing a doting father at a wedding to joining in a casual movie night or filling out a golf foursome, Fraser’s character finds himself unexpectedly drawn into the personal lives of strangers — and, of course, discovering his own need for connection in the process. Fraser...

Searchlight Pictures on Tuesday released the trailer for Rental Family, its upcoming comedic drama that stars Brendan Fraser his first first major role since winning the Best Actor Oscar for The Whale in 2023.

The film, directed and co-written by Beef director Hikari, will have its world premiere at next month’s Toronto Film Festival ahead of a November 21, 2025 release date.

Fraser plays as a lonely, down-and-out American actor living in Tokyo who begins working for a Japanese “rental family” company to play various stand-in roles in other people’s lives. Along the way, he forges some surprising human connections and discovers unexpected joys within his built-in family.

“We sell emotion — we play roles in clients’ lives,” explains Shōgun‘s Takehiro Hira when Fraser interviews for his next “gig.” “…Girlfriends’ boyfriends, best friends, and help them connect with what’s missing.”

He eventually gets a role playing a girl’s father,...

Brendan Fraser goes abroad for his latest film, “Rental Family,” to play an expat in Tokyo. The Best Actor Oscar winner leads the drama from “Beef” director Hikari, who co-wrote the script with Stephen Blahut.

Fraser stars as a struggling actor hired to play a token American man for a Japanese “rental family” company in Tokyo. The role? Acting as a stand-in for other people’s lives for their milestone events.

The synopsis reads: “Set against modern-day Tokyo, ‘Rental Family’ follows an American actor (Fraser) who struggles to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese ‘rental family’ agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers. As he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds, he begins to form genuine bonds that blur the lines between performance and reality. Confronting the moral complexities of his work, he rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the quiet beauty of human connection.”

Takehiro Hira,...

Physical media supporter Carrie Coon (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire) is set to star alongside Lily James (Baby Driver), Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us), and Odessa Young (The Stand) in the cult thriller Harmonia, which will be directed by Guy Nattiv (Golda) and happens to be based on Nattiv’s own grandmother’s experience with an insidious cult. Variety reports that Bleecker Street holds the U.S. distribution rights and will be giving the film a nationwide theatrical release sometime in 2026. Production is expected to begin this summer.

Written by Nattiv and Noa Berman-Herzberg, Harmonia is set in the 1980s and has the following synopsis: Rita (Coon), unraveling from past wounds, meets a radiant young spiritual leader (James) after a chance encounter. Following her into the all-female commune known as Harmonia, Rita leaves her life and family behind until her daughters, Ella (Ramsey), and Jo (Young), embark on a dangerous journey to rescue their mother.

Carrie Coon and Lily James have joined the cast of Guy Nattiv’s drama Harmonia, with Bleecker Street set the release in the film in the US next year.

Production will begin this summer.

Coon stars asa mother who joins a cult-like group on a commune and renounces her family. Her daughters resolve to visit her and bring her home. Previously announced cast includes Bella Ramsey and Odessa Young.

Nattiv co-wrote the screenplay with Noa Berman-Herzberg.

Bleecker Street’s vice president, acquisitions & co-productions Miranda King struck the deal in the 2024 Cannes market with Range Media Partners and CAA Media Finance on behalf of the filmmakers.

“The White Lotus” survivor Carrie Coon and “Pam and Tommy” star Lily James are joining Guy Nattiv’s upcoming thriller “Harmonia” alongside Bella Ramsey and Odessa Young.

Bleecker Street — who released Nattiv’s “Golda” in 2023 — has acquired U.S. rights to the film and plans to release in theaters nationwide in 2026.

Written by Nattiv (an Oscar-nominee for his short film “Skin”) and Noa Berman-Herzberg, “Harmonia” is set in the 1980s and based on Nattiv’s grandmother’s experience with an insidious cult. Rita (Coon), unraveling from past wounds, meets a radiant young spiritual leader (James) after a chance encounter. Following her into the all-female commune known as Harmonia, Rita leaves her life and family behind until her daughters, Ella (Ramsey), and Jo (Young), embark on a dangerous journey to rescue their mother. Once immersed in the commune, they find themselves inexorably drawn into the leader’s labyrinthine web of pseudo-spiritual and psychological manipulation.

Carrie Coon has found her next project post-“The White Lotus.” The acclaimed actress, who also recently starred in “His Three Daughters” and soon returns for “The Gilded Age” Season 3, has joined Guy Nattiv’s cult thriller “Harmonia” alongside Lily James.

Nattiv reunites with Bleecker Street after the company distributed his 2023 film “Golda.” Bleecker Street acquired the U.S. rights to “Harmonia” and plans to release the film in theaters nationwide in 2026.

As previously announced, “Harmonia” will also star Bella Ramsey and “My First Film” breakout star Odessa Young. Nattiv co-wrote “Harmonia” with Noa Berman-Herzberg; the film is inspired by Nattiv’s family’s real-life story. Production is set to begin this summer.

The official synopsis reads: “Set in the 1980s, the film is based on Nattiv’s grandmother’s experience with an insidious cult. Rita (Coon), unraveling from past wounds, meets a radiant young spiritual leader (James) after a chance encounter.

Guy Nattiv’s “Harmonia” has cast Naomi Watts, Vicky Krieps, Bella Ramsey and Odessa Young as Embankment Films, Range Media Partners and CAA Media Finance launch pre-sales ahead of Cannes.

Inspired by a real-life events, the film is based on Nattiv’s grandmother and her involvement in an insidious cult.

The synopsis reads: “Set in the 1980s, Rita (Watts) is entranced by the mesmeric leader (Krieps) and renounces her family to embrace the world of the enigmatic Harmonia commune. Her daughters, Ella (Ramsey), and Jo (Young), put everything on the line to infiltrate the cult and bring their mother back home. Yet, once immersed in the commune, they find themselves inexorably drawn into the leader’s labyrinthine web of psycho-spiritual manipulation.”

Producers for the film are Julia Lebedev and Eddie Vaisman for Sight Unseen, Jaime Ray Newman for New Native Pictures, and Oren Moverman.

In a statement, Nattiv said, “I...

Production has begun in Japan on Searchlight Pictures’ comedy drama Rental Family starring Brendan Fraser.

Takehiro Hira from Shogun and Akira Emoto have joined the cast.

Beef and Tokyo Vice director Hikari helms the film which also stars previously announced Mari Yamamoto.

Principal photography is scheduled to continue in Japan through May on the story of a lonely US actor in Tokyo who forges unexpected connections after he gets a job playing stand-in roles in people’s lives at a Japanese “rental family” company.

Eddie Vaisman and Julia Lebedev of Sight Unseen are producing with Hikari, and Shin Yamaguchi. Hikari...

Production has begun in Japan on Searchlight Pictures’ Rental Family starring Brendan Fraser as the company announced new cast members Takehiro Hira from Shogun and Oscar winner Akira Emoto.

Beef and Tokyo Vice director Hikari helms the comedic drama, which also stars previously announced Mari Yamamoto.

Principal photography is scheduled to continue in Japan through May on the story of a lonely American actor (Fraser) in Tokyo who forges unexpected connections after he gets a job playing stand-in roles in people’s lives at a Japanese “rental family” company.

Eddie Vaisman and Julia Lebedev of Sight Unseen are producing with Hikari,...

Exclusive: BAFTA Award nominee Takehiro Hira (Shōgun, Gran Turismo) and Japanese Academy Award winner Akira Emoto have rounded out the cast of Searchlight’s Rental Family directed by Hikari (Beef) and starring The Whale Best Actor Oscar winner Brendan Fraser and Mari Yamamoto (Pachinko).

Cameras are now rolling in Japan, with production to wrap around May. A release date has not been set.

Deadline first told you about the project, which follows a lonely, down-and-out American actor (Fraser) living in Tokyo. He starts working for a Japanese “rental family” company to play various stand-in roles in other people’s lives. Along the way, he forges some surprising human connections and discovers unexpected joys within his built-in family.

“It’s an absolute dream to bring Rental Family to the world,” said Hikari. “I am truly so thankful for my collaboration with my partners at Searchlight and Sight Unseen and for their never-ending support,...

A trio of moderate releases – One Life, The American Society Of Magical Negroes and Knox Goes Away join Janus Films’ celebration of master musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, and César award winning The Animal Kingdom as the next wave of 2024 indie films rolls out post-Oscars.

Focus Features’ American Society Of Magical Negroes, the feature directorial debut of Kobi Libii opens at 1,146 theaters across the North America. Premiered at Sundance, see Deadline review. A satirical comedy about a young man, Aren (Justice Smith) who is recruited by Roger (David Alan Grier) into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making sure white people never feel bad about themselves or get stressed out — because bad things happen when they do. Also stars Rupert Friend, Michaela Watkins, An-Li Bogan, Drew Tarver and Nicole Byer. Libii originally developed the project as an alumnus of both the Sundance Writers and Directors Labs.

Mari Yamamoto will star opposite Brendan Fraser in Hikari’s “Rental Family.” The film follows a down and out actor living in Tokyo, who is hired as the token American guy for a Japanese rental family company providing professional stand-in services. The Searchlight Pictures’ release will commence principal photography next week in Japan.

Yamamoto was most recently seen in the Apple TV+ series “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” a sci-fi epic in which she appeared with Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell and Kiersey Clemmons. Prior to that series, she was seen in another Apple production, “Pachinko” opposite Youn Yuh-Jung and Jin Ha.

Fraser recently won an Oscar for his work in “The Whale.” His credits include “Gods and Monsters,” “The Mummy,” Crash” and “No Sudden Move.” He most recently appeared in “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Hikari directed episodes of the Netflix series “Beef,” which won Emmys and Golden Globe Awards, as...

Greta Lee and Teo Yoo in ‘Past Lives’ (Photo Credit: Jon Pack / Courtesy of A24)

Past Lives took home top film honors at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards, held on February 25th in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica. The film also earned Celine Song the Best Director award, with American Fiction‘s Cord Jefferson and May December‘s Samy Burch earning screenplay honors.

On the television side, The Last of Us collected two awards: Nick Offerman for Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series and Keivonn Montreal Woodard for Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series. Beef also netted two wins, with Ali Wong awarded Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series and the show earning the Best New Scripted Series award.

2024 Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations

Best Feature (Award given to the producer.)

All of Us Strangers

Producers: Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin,...

Past Lives was named best feature at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards, which were handed out Sunday afternoon in Santa Monica.

In addition, Celine Song was named best director for her work on the film.

Elsewhere, Da’Vine Joy Randolph won the Spirit Award for best supporting performance, for her role in The Holdovers, repeating her win from Saturday night’s SAG Awards and other shows this awards season. Her co-star, Dominic Sessa, won the Spirit Award for best breakthrough performance.

American Fiction also collected two trophies: Cord Jefferson won the award for best screenplay, while Jeffrey Wright won for best lead performance.

May December won the award for best first screenplay for Samy Burch (story by Burch and Alex Mechanik). Four Daughters was named best documentary.

On the TV side, Beef was named best new scripted series, while Ali Wong won best lead performance for her role in the show,...

The best in independent film and television were honored at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards!

Plenty of A-List stars were in attendance at the event on Sunday afternoon (February 25) at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif.

Movies are only eligible for a Spirit Award if they have a budget of less than $30 million, so there are some awards favorites like Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Killers of the Flower Moon that are not nominated.

American Fiction, May December, and Past Lives lead the pack this year with five nominations each.

Make sure to check out our post with photos of Every celeb who attended the event! Also check out our best dressed list.

Head inside to see the full list of winners…

Keep scrolling to see the full list of winners…

Best Feature (Award given to the producer)

All of Us Strangers

Producers: Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Sarah Harvey

American Fiction

Producers: Cord Jefferson,...

The 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards on Sunday awarded A24’s Past Lives its Best Feature and the film’s Celine Song the Best Director in a ceremony on the beach in Santa Monica, giving the indie romantic drama a boost as it heads toward the Oscars where it is up for Best Picture.

Past Lives topped a marquee Best Feature category that included Netflix’s May December, Amazon MGM Studios’ American Fiction, Searchlight’s All of Us Strangers, Sony Pictures Classics’ We Grown Now and Mubi’s Passages.

“There is a concept in our film, an Eastern concept, and it’s called inyeon,” Song, making her feature directorial debut, said in her acceptance speech with her producers and cast. “It is about how just by being in the same space and time in this life, it means we actually knew each other for many, many lives that came before this one.

The 2024 Independent Spirit Awards took place on Sunday at the traditional Santa Monica beach tent location, with Aidy Bryant hosting. “Past Lives” took home the coveted Best Feature award, with “Beef” being honored as Best New Scripted Series. Check out the full list of winners and nominees below.

Best Feature

“Past Lives”

Producers: David Hinojosa, Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon

“All of Us Strangers”

Producers: Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Sarah Harvey

“American Fiction”

Producers: Cord Jefferson, Jermaine Johnson, Nikos Karamigios, Ben LeClair

“May December”

Producers: Jessica Elbaum, Will Ferrell, Grant S. Johnson, Pamela Koffler, Tyler W. Konney, Sophie Mas, Natalie Portman, Christine Vachon

“Passages”

Producers: Michel Merkt, Saïd Ben Saïd

“We Grown Now”

Producers: Minhal Baig, Joe Pirro

Best Lead Performance

Jeffrey Wright, “American Fiction”

Jessica Chastain, “Memory”

Greta Lee, “Past Lives”

Trace Lysette, “Monica”

Natalie Portman, “May December”

Judy Reyes, “Birth/Rebirth”

Franz Rogowski, “Passages”

Andrew Scott, “All of Us Strangers”

Teyana Taylor,...

The Film Independent Spirit Awards have been dutifully assigned to their worthy recipients, thus putting a button on yet another great year of indie film and innovative visual storytelling. And as awards prognosticators now ponder their Oscar futures with this new data set and the tent falls around our knees, we want to shout out one more time all of the producers, writers, directors, performers and more who made this such a special experience.

This year’s ceremony streamed live on IMDb’s YouTube and across other social platforms, including Film Independent’s own YouTube channel and Twitter (or “X” if you’re being pedantic). The full livestream (see below) will remain available to watch On Demand for the next eight weeks, which highlights, behind-the-scenes moments, arrival carpet interviews and more will are available at filmindependent.org and wherever fine entertainment journalism prevails.

Best Supporting Performance

Da’Vine Joy Randolph

The Holdovers...

Focus Features has released the official poster (see below) for The American Society Of Magical Negroes. The film will be in theaters nationwide on Friday, March 15, 2024!

Synopsis: The American Society Of Magical Negroes is a fresh, satirical comedy about a young man, Aren, who is recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people’s lives easier.

About The Film

Genre: Comedy Starring: Justice Smith, David Alan Grier, An-Li Bogan, Drew Tarver, Michaela Watkins, Aisha Hinds, Tim Baltz with Rupert Friend and Nicole Byer Director: Kobi Libii Screenplay: Kobi Libii Producer: Julia Lebedev p.g.a., Eddie Vaisman p.g.a., Angel Lopez p.g.a., Kobi Libii p.g.a.

The American Society Of Magical Negroes

is in select theaters nationwide on Friday, March 15, 2024!

For More Information, Please Visit:

Official Site / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

#TheAmericanSocietyofMagicalNegroes

The...

Lilly Wachowski is making her solo directorial debut with the queer dramedy Trash Mountain, which follows a gay man dealing with his father's hoarding after his death. Caleb Hearon, a comedian and writer, will lead the film and co-wrote the script with Ruby Caster. Trash Mountain is produced by Colin Trevorrow and additional casting is currently underway.

Lilly Wachowski, who co-wrote and co-directed The Matrix alongside sister Lana, is making her solo feature directorial debut with the queer dramedy Trash Mountain, per Collider. According to the film's synopsis, Trash Mountain follows a gay Chicago man in his 20s who must return to rural Missouri to deal with the death of his father — an obsessive hoarder who has left a house full of items, some valuable and some not so, to pick through.

Actor, comedian, and writer Caleb Hearon will lead the film. Hearon penned the script alongside Ruby Caster. Hearon...

Lilly Wachowski is bound to direct “Trash Mountain,” a queer comedy-drama starring rising comedian and actor Caleb Hearon. The film follows a young gay man living in Chicago who returns to his hometown in Missouri following the death of his hoarder father.

Along with starring in the feature, Hearon also co-wrote the script with Ruby Caster. Colin Trevorrow, who directed Hearon in “Jurassic World Dominion,” is producing the feature with his banner Metronome Film Co., alongside Eddie Vaisman and Julia Lebedev for Sight Unseen.

“Trash Mountain” will mark the first solo directorial feature effort for Wachowski, who is best known for writing and helming the original “Matrix” trilogy with her sister, Lana Wachowski. The duo’s other projects include the lesbian crime thriller “Bound” and the colorful manga adaptation “Speed Racer.”

In recent years, Lilly has worked in television, as a co-creator of Netflix’s “Sense 8” and as a showrunner,...

Lilly Wachowski is officially making her solo feature directorial debut after sister Lana Wachowski helmed “The Matrix Resurrections.”

As confirmed to Collider, Lilly will direct upcoming queer dramedy “Trash Mountain,” with lead actor Caleb Hearon penning the script. Colin Trevorrow has signed on as a producer, along with Eddie Vaisman and Julia Lebedev at Sight Unseen.

Per the official synopsis, “Trash Mountain” follows a gay Chicago man in his 20s who must return to rural Missouri to deal with the death of his father — an obsessive hoarder who has left a house full of items, some valuable and some not so, to pick through. “Human Resources” writer and “Fargo” actor Hearon cowrote the script with Ruby Caster.

“When my pal Caleb Hearon sent me ‘Trash Mountain,’ I leapt at the chance to direct it,” Lilly said in a statement. “So beautiful and sad and funny! Queer representation and stories are...

The Matrix and Sense8 mastermind Lilly Wachowski is here to take out the trash for her next film, Trash Mountain. The project finds Wachowski teaming up with comedian Caleb Hearon for what Collider says is an emotional comedy about closure through sorting the belongings of a hoarder. Casting for the film is underway, with Colin Trevorrow producing alongside Eddie Vaisman and Julia Lebedev of Sight Unseen.

Caleb Hearon, a rising comedian, wrote the script with Ruby Caster. The comedian also stars in the project, which sounds like part tearjerker and part knee-slapper. According to Collider‘s exclusive report, Trash Mountain “follows a gay Chicago man in his 20s who must return to rural Missouri to deal with the death of his father — an obsessive hoarder who has left a house full of items, some valuable and some not so, to pick through.”

The report indicates that Lilly Wachowski and Colin...

It's difficult to encapsulate the importance of Lana and Lilly Wachowski as directors. While the queer crime thriller "Bound" marked the sisters' directorial debut, it was their 1999 hit "The Matrix" that completely changed the landscape of science-fiction cinema forever. In 2021, the franchise's fourth installment, "The Maxtrix Resurrections" was released, but the film was a solo directorial venture from Lana Wachowski. Lilly has not directed a film since 2015's "Jupiter Ascending," but spent time directing season 1 of "Sense 8" and serving as the showrunner for "Work in Progress." The former was yet another sci-fi epic, but the latter is a sweet, semi-autobiographical queer dramedy starring Abby McEnany. It seems that working on this series must have inspired Lilly to continue similar creative ventures because according to a report from Collider, her next feature film is "Trash Mountain" starring Caleb Hearon.

Hearon co-wrote the film with Ruby Caster ("Bleeding Love"), and the...

Collider has learned that Lilly Wachowski has her eyes set on her next project. We can reveal that Wachowski is set to direct Trash Mountain, which will star Caleb Hearon, a rising star in the world of comedy. Casting for the project is currently underway under the watchful eye of producer Colin Trevorrow, perhaps best known for his work directing Jurassic World and Safety Not Guaranteed, whose production company Metronome Film Co. is currently developing multiple projects, including Atlantis for Skydance, the sci-fi series Halcyon, and the recently announced Deep Cover, the London-set crime comedy, both set for Amazon. The film is also being produced with Eddie Vaisman and Julia Lebedev at Sight Unseen.

Just as “The Blackening” parodied the horror movie cliché that Black characters are killed off first, the “magical Negro” trope is now getting its own satirical take.

Writer-director Kobi Libii is behind “The American Society of Magical Negroes,” which premieres at 2024 Sundance. The film, distributed by Focus Features, stars Justice Smith as Aren, a young man who is recruited into a “secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people’s lives easier,” per the official synopsis.

“I know you can feel their discomfort,” the trailer says. “Watching you walk through a room full of white people is the most painful thing I’ve ever seen.”

The plot is further teased: “That’s why we fight white discomfort every day. Because the happier they are, the safer we are.”

David Alan Grier, An-Li Bogan, Drew Tarver, Michaela Watkins, Aisha Hinds,...

Focus Features has released the teaser poster for The American Society Of Magical Negroes. The film will be in theaters on Friday, March 22, 2024!

Synopsis: The American Society Of Magical Negroes is a fresh, satirical comedy about a young man, Aren, who is recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people’s lives easier.

About The Film

Genre: Comedy Starring: Justice Smith, David Alan Grier, An-Li Bogan, Drew Tarver, Michaela Watkins, Aisha Hinds, Tim Baltz with Rupert Friend and Nicole Byer Director: Kobi Libii Screenplay: Kobi Libii Producer: Julia Lebedev p.g.a., Eddie Vaisman p.g.a., Angel Lopez p.g.a., Kobi Libii p.g.a.

The American Society Of Magical Negroes is in select theaters

nationwide on Friday, March 22, 2024!

For More Information, Please Visit:

Official Site / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / #TheAmericanSocietyofMagicalNegroes

The post “American Society...

Willie Nelson & Family, a documentary series about the country music icon from filmmakers Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman, is set to bow on Paramount+ on Dec. 21.

The career retrospective is creatively driven by directors Zimny and Moverman, both recent Emmy winners — Zimny for directing the variety special Springsteen on Broadway and Moverman for the TV movie Bad Education, starring Hugh Jackman.

Paramount+ acquired the documentary series, which recalls Nelson’s life and long career as an iconic country music singer-songwriter, after its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Nelson participated in the production and allowed Zimny — a frequent Bruce Springsteen collaborator — and Moverman access to his archives.

The four-parter is executive produced by Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan and is a production of MTV Entertainment Studios, in association with 101 Studios, Blackbird Presents Films and Sight Unseen. “Willie’s music formed the soundtrack of my youth. His songwriting helped shape me as a storyteller…...

Sundance Film Festival’s Premiere section (a mix of fiction and docs) will have some biggie titles to contend with the likes of Aaron Schimberg’s A Different Man, Nora Fingscheidt’s The Outrun, Susanna Fogel’s Winner and David Zellner’s just announced this morning Sasquatch Sunset. Here are the films that landed in the section.

The American Society of Magical Negroes / U.S.A. — A young man, Aren, is recruited into a secret

society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white

people’s lives easier.…...

While the likes of Oppenheimer, Barbie, and Killers of the Moon will likely battle it out at the Oscars, Film Independent Spirit Awards is putting the spotlight on the indie productions of the year, with budget ranges from $10,000 to $28 million. May December, Past Lives, and American Fiction lead the nominations for the 39th ceremony, each taking five nods.

Other highlights include All of Us Strangers and Passages for Best Feature, All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt and Earth Mama for Best First Feature, Kokomo City and The Mother of All Lies for Best Documentary, Glenn Howerton for BlackBerry, Marin Ireland and Anne Hathaway for Eileen, Marshawn Lynch for Bottoms, How to Blow Up a Pipeline for Best Editing, Godland and Tótem for Best International Film, and more.

See the nominations below ahead of the ceremony on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024 (a full two weeks before the Oscars), hosted by Aidy Bryant.

Best...

Erika Alexander stars as Coraline and Jeffrey Wright as Thelonious “Monk” Ellison in ‘American Fiction’ (Photo credit: Claire Folger © 2023 Orion Releasing LLC)

American Fiction, Past Lives, and May December lead the list of the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards. Each of the three films picked up five nominations and will be going head-to-head in the Best Film and Best Supporting Performance categories. Films and TV shows earning four nominations included The Holdovers, I’m a Virgo, The Last of Us, and Passages.

The 39th Film Independent Spirit Awards will be held on February 25 on the beach in Santa Monica. Aidy Bryant (Saturday Night Live) is on board to host.

“This year’s exciting group of Spirit Award nominees reflect the undeniable strength and vitality of independent storytelling – this is the beating heart of film culture today,” said Josh Welsh, President of Film Independent. “It’s especially thrilling to see so many nominees...

The full list of nominations for the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards has been announced!

Movies are only eligible for a Spirit Award if they have a budget of less than $30 million, so there are some awards favorites like Maestro and Killers of the Flower Moon that are not nominated here.

Aidy Bryant is set to host the 2024 awards ceremony, which will take place on February 25. The event will no longer air on television and will instead stream on YouTube.

American Fiction, May December, and Past Lives lead the pack this year with five nominations each.

Head inside to check out the full list of nominations…

Keep scrolling to see the full list of nominations…

Best Feature (Award given to the producer)

All of Us Strangers

Producers: Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Sarah Harvey

American Fiction

Producers: Cord Jefferson, Jermaine Johnson, Nikos Karamigios, Ben LeClair

May December

Producers: Jessica Elbaum, Will Ferrell,...

American Fiction, May December and Past Lives lead the nominations for the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards, which were were announced Tuesday morning.

Each film garnered five noms, including best feature. Also nominated in that category are All of Us Strangers, Passages and We Grown Now.

The Robert Altman Award, which is given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast, will be presented to Showing Up, directed by Kelly Reichardt. The casting director is Gayle Keller, and the ensemble cast includes André Benjamin, Hong Chau, Judd Hirsch, Heather Lawless, James Le Gros, John Magaro, Matt Malloy, Amanda Plummer, Maryann Plunkett, Denzel Rodriguez and Michelle Williams.

On the TV side, Jury Duty was tapped for the award of best ensemble in a new scripted series, an honor bestowed on one show (there are no nominees). The cast includes Alan Barinholtz, Susan Berger, Cassandra Blair, David Brown, Kirk Fox, Ross Kimball,...

The final month of the year has arrived, and with it an early Festivus bounty of news (very exciting!) about the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards, which are happening once again on February 25, back on the beach in Santa Monica. Last week brought tell of our incomparable new Spirit Awards host: SNL funnywoman and Emmy-nominated streaming series auteur Aidy Bryant. Now, the nondenominational secular-humanist Holiday Gnomes have brought us something potentially even more exciting… the nominees!

For the third consecutive year, the Spirit Awards will recognize outstanding achievement in uniqueness of vision, innovation and boldness in TV and streaming in addition to feature film. And for the second year, all acting categories are gender-neutral.

Noms were revealed in a livestream earlier today on Film Independent’s YouTube channel (like and subscribe!) by special guest presenters Joel Kim Booster and Natalie Morales:

Spirit Awards winners are voted on exclusively by Film Independent Members.

“American Fiction,” “May December” and “Past Lives” dominated the 2024 Independent Spirit Awards nominations on Tuesday, picking up five nods apiece. The three movies are all up for best feature, where they will battle it out against “All of Us Strangers,” “Passages” and “We Grown Now.”

The annual honors recognize the best of television, as well as film. “The Last of Us,” a sci-fi epic that was a ratings hit for HBO, and “I’m a Virgo,” an absurdist miniseries from Boots Riley that was produced by Amazon, led the small screen crop, with four nominations each. Only new TV shows that have run for one season and were released between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 of this year are eligible for awards. That’s why some big-budgeted fare was deemed eligible or, in the parlance of the show, independent.

That’s not the case on the feature front, where films have to be...

On Monday night, November 27, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, the Gotham Awards presented the winners at their 33rd annual event. “All of Us Strangers” went in with a leading four bids, followed by “Past Lives,” “The Zone of Interest” and the TV limited series “Beef” with three apiece. But who prevailed? Scroll down for the full list, updated throughout the night.

The nominations were decided by panels of film and television critics, journalists, festival programmers and film curators. The winners were then selected by juries of writers, directors, actors, producers, editors and others directly involved in filmmaking. That makes these awards unique and often results in surprising winners like “The Rider” for Best Feature in 2018 over the higher-profile “The Favourite,” or Danielle Deadwyler (“Till”) for Best Lead Performance in 2022 over eventual Oscar winners Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) and Brendan Fraser (“The Whale”). So a...

After saying that he’d be very picky about his next role after winning an Oscar, Brendan Fraser has found it. He will star in “Rental Family” for Searchlight Pictures and from filmmaker Hikari, best known for her work on “Beef.”

Fraser in “Rental Family” will star as a down-and-out actor living in Tokyo who is hired as a token American guy for a Japanese rental family company providing professional stand-in services.

Hikari has been developing “Rental Family” since 2019, and she also co-wrote the film with Stephen Blahut. The film will begin principal photography this spring in Japan. No release date has been announced.

Eddie Vaisman and Julia Lebedev of Sight Unseen, which produced this year’s Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner “A Thousand and One,” are producing “Rental Family.” Hikari and Shin Yamaguchi, who produced her prior feature “37 Seconds” in 2019, will also produce. Blahut and Tomo Koizumi will executive produce.

Brendan Fraser, a newly minted Academy Award winner, is set to star in the Searchlight Pictures comedic drama “Rental Family.”

Japanese filmmaker Mitsuyo Miyazaki, who goes by Hikari and worked on Netflix’s “Beef,” is directing and producing the film. She’s also co-writing the script with Stephen Blahut, whom she collaborated with on the docudrama “37 Seconds.” Principal photography will begin this spring in Japan, with release plans to be announced at a later date.

“Rental Family” follows a down-and-out actor living in Tokyo who is hired as a token American guy for a Japanese rental family company providing professional stand-in services. Fraser is the only person cast in the movie so far.

This project marks Fraser’s first major role since he took home the lead actor Oscar for Darren Aronofsky’s downbeat drama “The Whale.” The arthouse movie doubled as a career resurgence for Fraser, who spent...

Oscar winner Brendan Fraser has signed on to star in Rental Family, a comedy-drama that Beef director Hikari is directing for Searchlight Pictures.

Hikari is doing triple-duty on the project, with co-writer and producer on her list of tasks. Also producing the feature are Eddie Vaisman and Julia Lebedev of Sight Unseen, the banner that counts movies such as Bad Education among its credits. Shin Yamaguchi is producing as well.

Co-penned by with Stephen Blahut, Family follows a down-and-out actor living in Tokyo, who is hired as a token American guy for a Japanese rental family company, leading him on an unexpected journey of self-discovery through the roles he plays in other people’s lives.

Fraser will play the down-and-out actor.

The plan is to begin principal photography this spring in Japan. Release plans will be announced at a later date.

Blahut and Tomo Koiziu are executive producing.

Fraser is...

Exclusive: After taking his time in finding his next big role after winning this year’s Best Actor Oscar, Brendan Fraser looks to have zeroed in on that role as sources tell Deadline he is set to star in Searchlight’s Rental Family. Beef helmer Hikari will direct from a script she co-wrote with Stephen Blahut.

Hikari has been developing the project since 2019 and will produce along with Shin Yamaguchi as well as Eddie Vaisman and Julia Lebedev of Sight Unseen Productions.

The story follows follows a down-and-out actor living in Tokyo who is hired as a token American guy for a Japanese rental-family company, leading him on an unexpected journey of self-discovery through the roles he plays in other people’s lives.

Production is set to start this spring in Japan. Blahut and Tomo Koizumi will exec produce. SVP Production Taylor Friedman and Manager of Creative Affairs Daniel Yu...

Focus has set The American Society of Magical Negroes, the directorial debut from Kobi Libii, for a March 22, 2024 release.

The film is described as a “fresh, satirical comedy about a young man, Aren, who is recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people’s lives easier.”

Justice Smith leads a cast that includes David Alan Grier, An-Li Bogan, Drew Tarver, Michaela Watkins, Rupert Friend and Nicole Byer.

Julia Lebedev and Eddie Vaisman of Sight Unseen, Angel Lopez and Libii will produce.

Libii’s credits include Comedy Central’s The Opposition with Jordan Klepper, where he acted as a writer and onscreen talent. He developed The American Society of Magical Negroes as a part of the Sundance Screenwriters Lab and Directors Lab.

Focus is currently in theaters with The Holdovers, the latest feature from Alexander Payne that...

Kobi Libii makes feature directorial debut.

Focus Features will release Kobi Libii’s feature directorial debut The American Society Of Magical Negroes on March 22 2024.

Libii is an alumnus of the Sundance Screenwriters Lab and Directors Lab, where he first developed the project. Universal Pictures International handles international distribution.

Focus describes The American Society Of Magical Negroes as a ”fresh, satirical comedy about a young man, Aren, who is recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people’s lives easier”.

The film stars Justice Smith, David Alan Grier,...

Focus Features has set a March 22nd theatrical release date for The American Society of Magical Negroes, a satirical comedy marking the feature directorial debut of Kobi Libii, which stars Justice Smith (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves), David Alan Grier (upcoming The Color Purple), and more.

Focus is distributing the pic in the U.S., with Universal Pictures International handling international. Set to open against it on the 22nd is Lionsgate’s Mark Wahlberg pic Arthur the King. The film tells the story of a young man, Aren, who is recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people’s lives easier.

Rounding out the cast are An-Li Bogan (After Yang), Drew Tarver (The Other Two), Michaela Watkins (You Hurt My Feelings), Rupert Friend (Asteroid City), and Nicole Byer (Nailed It!). Pic’s producers included Julia Lebedev...

The Gotham Film & Media Institute announced today the nominations for the 33rd Annual Gotham Awards! This list includes 20 feature films, 11 series, and 30 performances in 10 award categories. Each nomination represents what the group deems a high point in 2023 across aspects of the entertainment spectrum. The nominations were announced live from Cipriani Wall Street by Jeffrey Sharp, award-winning film producer and the Executive Director of The Gotham, and Kia Brooks, Deputy Director of The Gotham.

“We are proud to announce this year’s Gotham Award nominees and look forward to celebrating these amazing storytellers in a few weeks. The Gotham Awards in many ways reflects the industry and community we serve. Seen by this year’s nominees, storytelling knows no boundaries as our industry continues to find new audiences across the globe,” Sharp said about the upcoming celebration.

While there are several outstanding performances nominated across the board, a few highlights...

A short wretch and slight taste of bile comes upon realizing we are firmly in “awards season,” that time of disgrace and degradation recently portended by the first round of Look Upon My Suffering Narratives––Bradley Cooper took two hours to apply a fake nose, but is that braver than Michael Fassbender never blinking?––and established, now, by the announcement of Gotham Award nominees. Credit where it’s due, though, that this voting body gives a mite more attention to films of substance and note: leading the pack are Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest and Andrew Haigh’s All of Us Strangers, while a director nod went to Raven Jackson for All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt, Cristian Mungiu earned a screenplay nomination, and Franz Rogowski might win a best actor prize.

One can find the nominations below, while many are now streaming:

Best Feature

Passages –– Ira Sachs,...

All Of Us Strangers by Andrew Haigh led the Gotham Awards Nominations today, with some love for Celine Song’s Past Lives and Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, and with a Best Performance nod to Ryan Gosling for Barbie after the indie-centric awards removed a longstanding budget cap on eligibility, an opening for big-budget studio and streamer fare to submit for consideration.

All Of Us Strangers was nominated for Best International Feature, Best Screenplay and Outstanding Lead and Supporting Performances for Andrew Scott and Claire Foy. Past Lives was nominated for Best Feature, Breakthrough Director, and Outstanding Lead Performance by Greta Lee.

The disappearance of the decade-old budget cap, which had been set most recently at $35 million, is the biggest change this year. The Gotham Film & Media Institute, announcing the shift last summer, said it was meant “to broaden our reach in terms of recognition and accessibility to the wider community.

On October 24 the Gotham Awards announced their official nominations for their 33rd annual event. Led by “All of Us Strangers” with four bids and followed by “Past Lives” and “The Zone of Interest” with three, the nominees were presented by Jeffrey Sharp, Executive Director of the Gotham Film and Media Institute, and Kia Brooks, Deputy Director at the Gotham Film and Media Institute, via Variety’s YouTube channel. The awards ceremony for the winners will take place on Monday, November 27, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. Scroll down for the full list.

Sharp said in a statement, “We are proud to announce this year’s Gotham Award nominees and look forward to celebrating these amazing storytellers in a few weeks. The Gotham Awards in many ways reflects the industry and community we serve. Seen by this year’s nominees, storytelling knows no boundaries as our industry continues to...