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Exclusive: Recently launched U.S. distributor Aura Entertainment has acquired Doin’ It, a sex education comedy produced, co-written by and starring Lilly Singh (The Muppets Mayhem), in her first leading feature film role. The film, which premiered at last year’s SXSW Film Festival, will open in theaters across the country on September 19.

Directed by Sara Zandieh (A Simple Wedding) from her script written with Singh and Neel Patel, Doin’ It follows Maya (Singh), a 30-year-old software engineer from a conservative Indian family who moonlights as a high school substitute teacher while working on a teen-focused app. When she’s unexpectedly assigned to teach sex education — despite never having had sex herself — chaos and comedy ensue.

In a statement to Deadline on the acquisition, Singh said, “I’ve always wanted to tell stories that break boundaries and bring joy. Doin’ It does both. We laughed our asses off making it,...

Heather Graham’s chosen family is growing.

The actress-turned-filmmaker’s latest big-screen effort, Chosen Family, has been acquired by Brainstorm Media for North America with a theatrical release set for Oct. 11.

Written, directed by and starring Graham, the Verdi Prods. film also stars John Brotherton, Ella Grace Helton, Andrea Savage, Michael Gross, Julie Halston, Thomas Lennon and Julia Stiles. Chosen Family follows a yoga teacher named Ann (Graham) who is on a path to find inner peace amidst the chaos of her manic family and miserable dating life. The situation is complicated by an inability to say no and her relentless desire to fix everyone’s problems. She also struggles to save her sister Clio (Stiles) from addiction, leading to disastrous results.

Graham said she can’t wait for audiences to see her film, which she describes as a labor of love. “I’m so excited that Brainstorm is releasing...

Your browser does not support the video tag. Doin' It takes a bold, raunchy approach to exploring the complexities of sexuality in American society through a satirical lens. The film, co-written by Neel Patel, Lilly Singh, and Sara Zandieh, tackles taboo topics in sex ed with humor and relatable characters. Lilly Singh's role as the lead and her original rap song for the end credits add a unique twist to the film's narrative about female sexuality.

Doin' It channels the raunchy sex comedies of the 1990s and 2000s, and recently made its debut at the 2024 South by Southwest Festival. The film explores the ways American society talks to teenagers about sex and sexuality, all from the perspective of conservative Indian culture. Wanting to deliver a rare look at the ideas of female sexuality, writers Neel Patel, Lilly Singh, and Sara Zandieh's goal was to deliver a film that they wished...

Looking for a different type of sex comedy? We’ve seen countless films in the sub-genre focused on curious teens forging forward and exploring that space with gusto, but what about a film that tackles virginity as a result of a conservative upbringing? That’s exactly what director Sara Zandieh and star Lilly Singh are doing with their new movie, Doin’ It.

Doin’ It revolves around surely the most literal interpretation imaginable of the old saying “those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.” Lilly Singh stars as Maya, who stumbles almost by accident into a job teaching sex ed, despite still being a virgin. As she schools her kids on everything from consent to gender identity to orgasms, Maya sets out to unlearn the shame that she herself internalized at that age — and maybe even to get laid for the first time.

Good intentions practically drip off the premise, which makes a convincing case for dismantling the fear and ignorance around adolescent sex ed. And Doin’ It puts its money where its mouth is — its jokes eschew pearl-clutching or coyness in favor of in-your-face crassness. But the comedy never quite settles into a comfortable rhythm, and eventually backs itself into a corner so far away from any recognizable reality that...

Some film festivals take themselves entirely too seriously. Not South by Southwest, the Austin-based multidisciplinary mega-event where amped-up crowds welcome comedies with open arms — the raunchier the better. This year, one logline stood out as especially promising: “A 30-year-old Indian American virgin gets a job teaching high school Sex Ed.” Alas, “Doin’ It” doesn’t cut it (it’s basically 2014 Haley Joel Osment comedy “Sex Ed” with a cultural spin). The concept is funny, but the execution feels forced, in part because the substitute in question (played by Lilly Singh) is supposed to be following an abstinence-based curriculum. In theory, her deep-seated celibacy should make her perfect for the job.

The movie aims to combat the shame around all aspects of human sexuality, which seems like an admirable but inevitably controversial goal. But “Doin’ It” goes too far straight out of the gate, opening with an embarrassment no teenager can...

Sex is a lot like filmmaking. You dive in when you’re ready, trust your companions, and learn from experience. Few people start out as experts, but there’s beauty in being allowed to try and fail in different environments over the years.

In her first feature film lead, comedian and former late night host Lilly Singh plays Maya, a computer engineer who takes a part-time job teaching sex education. After an incident in her teens led to her mother moving them back to India, Maya not only repressed her sexuality but grew to actively fear it — and now she’s teaching teens about sex despite having never done it herself. Singh, Neel Patel, and director Sara Zandieh co-wrote the film, which premiered at SXSW on March 12.

Sonia Dhillon Tully plays Maya’s hyperconservative single mother Veena, a role that has unfortunately been tread and retread in the South Asian-American film ouevre.

Lilly Singh is making her move to the big screen. The multihyphenate creator, who achieved success on YouTube a decade ago using the handle Superwoman, is the star of a new film called Doin’ It.

Doin’ It, directed by Sara Zandieh, is making its premiere at South By Southwest (SXSW), the annual conference and arts festival held in Austin, Texas. SXSW attendees can choose from three Doin’ It screenings, one each on the nights of March 12, 13, and 14.

According to its official description on the SXSW website, Doin’ It stars Singh as a sheltered virgin who tries to step out of her comfort zone when she gets a job as a substitute sex-ed teacher. The film sports a strong supporting cast that includes Stephanie Beatriz, Ana Gasteyer, and Utkarsh Ambudkar.

In addition to her starring role, Singh wore multiple hats behind the scenes of Doin’ It. She co-wrote the film alongside Zandieh and Neel Patel,...

Written and starring Lilly Singh, Doin’ It will have it’s world premiere at the prestigious film festival South by Southwest 2024. It tells the story of a 30 year old Indian-American virgin who gets a job teaching high school Sex Ed.

After teenage Maya is caught in a sexually compromising position, her mom moves the family back to India so Maya can learn proper discipline. Years later, she returns to the US to find funding for her teen-focused app, and gets a job as a substitute high school teacher so she can research her target demo. But when the principal assigns her to teach sex ed, Maya — who’s still a virgin— sets out on a quest with her best friend to make up for the high school experience she lost out on.

Anita Verma-Lallian is the founder of Arizona’s first female and South Asian-owned film production company, Camelback Productions...

March fest announces multiple competition sections.

SXSW announced on Wednesday that Netflix series 3 Body Problem from Game Of Thrones co-creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss is the festival’s opening night TV premiere, while Universal’s action comedy The Fall Guy with Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt is the centrepiece screening.

Top brass at the Austin, Texas, festival (March 8-16) also unveiled feature and short competitions and Midnighters and Global sections, as well as select titles from other categories and Xr Experience for the 31st edition.

Headliners selections include world premieres of Pamela Adlon’s Babes starring Ilana Glazer,...

Amazon Prime Video's The Other Zoey features mellow songs that enhance the viewing experience and reflect the protagonist's journey of love and romance. The movie draws inspiration from early rom-com movies but offers a contemporary take on familiar ideas, following the story of a college girl who creates a compatibility app. The soundtrack includes songs like "Get Up," "Product of Capitalism," and "What I Like About You," which are featured in key moments of the film. The original soundtracks can be found on various streaming platforms.

In its portrayal of a young girl's exploration of romance and love, Amazon Prime Video's The Other Zoey features several mellow songs that effectively enhance one's viewing experience. Although director Sara Zandieh's The Other Zoey seemingly draws inspiration from the tropes and story beats of several rom-com movies of the early aughts, it etches its name in the genre by giving audiences a contemporary look at familiar ideas.

"The Other Zoey" is a character-driven rom-com with a talented young cast that delivers a convincing love triangle. Director Sara Zandieh infuses a modern perspective into the genre, while the actors bring refreshing energy to familiar roles. Josephine Langford shines as Zoey Miller, and Archie Renaux and Drew Starkey bring depth to their characters, Miles and Zach, respectively.

The Other Zoe is a character-driven rom-com in which the central love triangle is convincingly served to audiences by its roster of young and talented cast members. Unlike most teenage romance movies on streaming platforms, The Other Zoey is not based on a novel. However, it does borrow several themes from existing romance films and even harps on many existing tropes of the rom-com genre to present a highly entertaining love triangle to audiences.

Despite being reminiscent of romantic comedies from the early aughts, director Sara Zandieh's The Other Zoey creates an...

The Other Zoey is a romantic comedy film directed by Sara Zandieh from a screenplay by Matt Tabak. The Prime Video film follows the story of a brilliant college girl Zoey (Josephine Langford), who wants to date someone smart and sensible but her life gets turned upside down when she causes the accident of a popular boy from college. The boy gets amnesia and starts to believe that Zoey is his girlfriend but more drama is on its way as Zoey starts to like the guy’s cousin.

The Other Zoey starts off with our main protagonist Zoey Miller as she tells her whole class that she doesn’t believe in romantic love and believes that a relationship based on compatibility is much more likely to succeed she has also created a dating app based on this premise. After leaving her class she meets her best friend Elle (Mallori Johnson...

The Other Zoey is a romantic comedy film directed by Sara Zandieh from a screenplay by Matt Tabak. The Prime Video film follows the story of a brilliant college girl Zoey, who wants to date someone smart and sensible but her life gets turned upside down when she causes the accident of a popular boy from college. The boy gets amnesia and starts to believe that Zoey is his girlfriend but more drama is on its way as Zoey starts to like the guy’s cousin. The Other Zoey stars Josephine Langford, Drew Starkey, Archie Renaux, Andie MacDowell, and Heather Graham. So, if you loved the Prime Video film here are some similar movies you could watch next.

Overboard (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – MGM

Synopsis: In a splashy new twist, Overboard focuses on “Leonardo” (Eugenio Derbez), a selfish, spoiled, rich playboy from Mexico’s richest family and “Kate” (Anna Faris...

The Other Zoey is a romantic comedy film starring Josephine Langford, Drew Starkey, and Archie Renaux. With Heather Graham and Andie MacDowell. It is directed by Sara Zandieh.

If you’re looking for a romantic comedy of the “boy meets girl” variety and don’t know where to find it, we’ve got you covered. This is a romantic comedy in which she is beautiful and smart (Josephine Langford) and they (Drew Starkey and Archie Renaux) are equally attractive in their respective versions.

The Other Zoey Plot

The plot revolves around a bicycle accident, and after a concussion, he mistakes her for his girlfriend. It could happen to anyone, although this kind of thing usually happens more easily to the protagonists of these kinds of movies.

About the movie

Is it a romantic comedy that follows the formulas of the genre and openly admits it? You guessed right! “The Other Zoey” has very little originality,...

The director of The Other Zoey was all smiles when we spoke with them about their new movie. The new rom-com of the month, The Other Zoey follows the titular young college student (Josephine Langford), who is trying to build an app to match people based on compatibility, not love. After a chance encounter and accident with one of her school's soccer players, Zach (Drew Starkey), she has to pretend to be his girlfriend while trying to impress his cousin Miles (Archie Renaux), the guy she's actually interested in. Of course, pretending to be his girlfriend doesn't go according to plan, resulting in her catching feelings for Zach and forcing her to reconsider her views on love while trying to navigate the other relationships in her life.

We had the chance to speak with Sara Zandieh, director of The Other Zoey and A Simple Wedding, to hear more about her connections to romantic comedies,...

As if paying penance for starring in all five “After” films to date — a series that’s been criticized for glamorizing toxic, controlling relationships à la “Twilight” and “50 Shades” before it — Josephine Langford now dallies on the decidedly wholesome side of romantic complication in “The Other Zoey.” This innocuous comedy, hinging on a gimmicky plot contrivance, doesn’t transcend formula even when it’s winking at the clichés it caves to. Still, it’s a pleasant enough diversion for those who want familiar genre beats sounded by the usual attractive actors in the customary attractive settings. That audience seems unlikely to stampede Brainstorm Media’s limited theatrical release on Friday, as this is exactly the sort of comfort-food fare one expects to stream at home — an option arriving November 10th.

Dividing campus life rigidly between eggheads and airheads, Matthew Tabak’s screenplay places heroine Zoey (Langford) in the first camp:...

In the sea of horror movies coming out this month, The Other Zoey presents an option for the romantic comedy crowd. Fans of the After franchise can see Josephine Langford tackle comedy in the new film from director Sara Zandieh.

The Other Zoey follows Zoey (Langford), a college student who doesn't believe in romantic love, as she is put in a pickle after her school's star soccer player Zach (Drew Starkey) thinks she's his girlfriend in a state of amnesia. While Zoey isn't initially going to go along with it, after learning his cousin Miles (Archie Renaux) is the guy who caught her eye at an on-campus lecture, she decides to continue being Zach's girlfriend to get close to Miles.

Though the film doesn't utilize the usual rom-com tropes to the fullest extent, the chemistry between the actors is a highlight. In addition to the main cast, it's also nice to see Andie MacDowell,...

"The Other Zoey" is a nostalgic rom-com that brings back the charm of early 2000s romantic comedies while also offering something new. Sara Zandieh, the director, aimed to create a feel-good movie that explores themes of love, fate, and compatibility while also bringing people together. The supporting characters in the film were expanded upon to give the talented cast ample screen time and make the most of their performances.

The Other Zoey is a fun romantic comedy with a novel twist. Zoey Miller (Josephine Langford) finds herself on vacation with Zach MacLaren (Drew Starkey) and his family, after the football star suffers a concussion and confuses her for his girlfriend, also coincidentally named Zoey. On the vacation, Zoey finds herself in close quarters with Zach’s cousin Miles and must choose who she wants to be with while also maintaining the ruse that she is the right Zoey.

The film...

Josephine Langford transitions from the world of After to a new romantic comedy, The Other Zoey, leaving behind the drama for a fresh challenge. The film follows Zoey, a college student who gets caught up in a romantic cliché when a football player mistakes her for his girlfriend due to their shared name. The talented cast includes Josephine Langford, Drew Starkey, and Archie Renaux, along with other notable actors such as Heather Graham and Andie MacDowell.

Josephine Langford moves away from Tessa Young and the world of After with The Other Zoey, the new romantic comedy from Brainstorm Media, which presented its first trailer teasing its debut in theaters on October 20, and on demand on November 10.

After playing the lead of the film saga based on the story created by Anna Todd for more than four years, Langford is ready to take on a new challenge. The 26-year-old actress leaves...

"You have to go after what you want, and be brave!" Brainstorm Media has revealed an official trailer for a romantic comedy called The Other Zoey, the second feature made by an up-and-coming filmmaker named Sara Zandieh. Opening in theaters later in October if anyone wants to find out who she picks. Zoey Miller, a super smart computer nerd who is uninterested in romantic love ("determined to challenge conventional notions of love and relationships"), has her life turned upside down when Zack, the school's soccer star, gets amnesia and mistakes Zoey for his girlfriend, who also happens to share the same name, Zoey. Directed by Sara Zandieh, the film features a talented ensemble cast, including Josephine Langford, Drew Starkey, Archie Renaux, Mallori Johnson, Patrick Fabian, Heather Graham, and Andie MacDowell, The Other Zoey promises to be an enjoyable romantic-comedy with a "fresh look" at love & dating. Everything about this is super cheesy,...

New Delhi, Sep 21 (Ians) The trailer for actress Josephine Langford’s new rom-com film ‘The Other Zoey’, and is a fun and light-hearted teen-drama-romance-dramedy which shows the blooming of an accidental and unlikely romance.

The trailer follows the character of Zoey Miller (Langford), a super smart computer major who is completely uninterested in romance and is rather a snobby know-it-all.

A take on the stereotypical American portrayal of intellectual girls, Zoey has her life thrown upside down when Zach (Starkey), a typical popular college soccer player whom she has little interest in, and even a certain level of dislike, gets amnesia.

Initially, the two start off on completely wrong terms with Zack passing snarky and sarcastic remarks while Zoey takes a dig at his sarcasm and wisecracks. Both part ways with an instant dislike.

Things suddenly turn around when one day a car rams into Zack, leading him to becoming an amnesiac.

New Delhi, Sep 21 (Ians) The trailer for actress Josephine Langford’s new rom-com film ‘The Other Zoey’, and is a fun and light-hearted teen-drama-romance-dramedy which shows the blooming of an accidental and unlikely romance.

The trailer follows the character of Zoey Miller (Langford), a super smart computer major who is completely uninterested in romance and is rather a snobby know-it-all.

A take on the stereotypical American portrayal of intellectual girls, Zoey has her life thrown upside down when Zach (Starkey), a typical popular college soccer player whom she has little interest in, and even a certain level of dislike, gets amnesia.

Initially, the two start off on completely wrong terms with Zack passing snarky and sarcastic remarks while Zoey takes a dig at his sarcasm and wisecracks. Both part ways with an instant dislike.

Things suddenly turn around when one day a car rams into Zack, leading him to becoming an amnesiac.

Prime Video has released the official full-length trailer and first-look image for ‘The Other Zoey’, a new romantic comedy starring Josephine Langford, Drew Starkey and Archie Renaux. With a stellar supporting cast including Andie MacDowell, Heather Graham and Patrick Fabian, this charming and funny story is about mistaken identity and finding unexpected connections.

The film is directed by Sara Zandieh and written by Matthew Tabak, premiering exclusively on Prime Video on October 20.

Zoey Miller (Langford), a super smart computer major uninterested in romantic love, has her life thrown upside down when Zach (Starkey), a popular college soccer player, gets amnesia and mistakes Zoey as his girlfriend. Just before she reveals the truth, she meets Zach’s cousin, Miles (Renaux), with whom she has a lot in common. Still pretending to be Zach’s girlfriend, she realises she has feelings for both of them and is forced to confront her fears to make an impossible decision.

Prime Video has released the official full-length trailer and first-look image for ‘The Other Zoey’, a new romantic comedy starring Josephine Langford, Drew Starkey and Archie Renaux. With a stellar supporting cast including Andie MacDowell, Heather Graham and Patrick Fabian, this charming and funny story is about mistaken identity and finding unexpected connections.

The film is directed by Sara Zandieh and written by Matthew Tabak, premiering exclusively on Prime Video on October 20.

Zoey Miller (Langford), a super smart computer major uninterested in romantic love, has her life thrown upside down when Zach (Starkey), a popular college soccer player, gets amnesia and mistakes Zoey as his girlfriend. Just before she reveals the truth, she meets Zach’s cousin, Miles (Renaux), with whom she has a lot in common. Still pretending to be Zach’s girlfriend, she realises she has feelings for both of them and is forced to confront her fears to make an impossible decision.

Exclusive: Mina Sundwall (Lost in Space) and Michael Cimino have been set to lead the thriller podcast series Jane Anonymous, which will premiere exclusively on Apple Podcasts and the Fictionz App.

The series based on the novel of the same name by Laurie Faria Stolarz (Blue is for Nightmares) was adapted by Stephanie Wu (Green Plastic Sandals). It will follow Jane (Sundwall), a 18-year-old girl who fights to escape a kidnapper—examining her relationship with a fellow captive (Cimino), and their struggle to understand that everything they thought they knew might all be a lie.

Andres Rosende, who produces and edits the popular Bad Friends podcast from comedians Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino, is directing the series, which will consist of five, 20-minute episodes. The first is slated for release on June 2nd. Sundwall and Cimino are exec producing alongside Fictionz, which is serving as the project’s financier and distributor.

Exclusive: Orlando Bloom (Carnival Row) and Andie MacDowell (Maid) have signed on to star in Red Right Hand, an upcoming action-thriller from directors Ian and Eshom Nelms (Fatman).

The film written by Jonathan Easley centers on Cash (Bloom), who is trying to live an honest and quiet life, taking care of his niece Savannah in the Appalachian hills of Odim County. When the sadistic Queenpin Big Cat (MacDowell) who runs the town forces him back into her services, Cash learns he’s capable of anything—even killing—to protect the town and the only family he has left. As the journey gets harder, Cash is drawn into a nightmare that blurs the lines between good and evil.

Asbury Park Pictures is serving as the project’s financier and producing alongside Traction. Individual producers on board include John Wick‘s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, Asbury Park Pictures’ Mike Gabrawy, Traction...

Exclusive: Heather Graham (Half Magic), Brandy Norwood (Queens), Jason Biggs (Outmatched) and Matt Cedeño (Power) have signed on to star in the Netflix holiday film Best. Christmas. Ever. from director Mary Lambert.

The film written by Charles Shyer (Father of the Bride) and Todd Calgi Gallicano (Sam London Adventure book series) centers on Jackie (Norwood), who every Christmas, without fail, sends a boastful holiday newsletter that makes her old college friend Charlotte (Graham) feel like a lump of coal. When a twist of fate lands Charlotte, her husband Rob (Biggs), and their family on Jackie’s and her husband Valentino’s (Cedeño) snowy doorstep just days before Christmas, Charlotte seizes the opportunity to prove her old friend’s “perfect” life can’t possibly be that perfect. But in her overzealous attempt to expose Jackie, Charlotte nearly ruins Christmas for both families and must team...

Exclusive: Mia Sinclair Jenness (Arcane) will star alongside Kunal Nayyar, Lucy Hale, Christina Hendricks, David Arquette and Scott Foley in The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, an adaptation of Gabrielle Zevin’s New York Times bestselling novel, which is currently in production in Cape Cod.

The film directed by Hans Canosa follows the titular A.J. Fikry (Nayyar), whose life is not at all what he expected it to be. His wife has died, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and now his prized possession, a rare edition of Poe poems, has been stolen. Over time, he has given up on people, and even the books in his store, instead of offering solace, are yet another reminder of a world that is changing too rapidly. But when a mysterious package appears at the bookstore, its unexpected arrival gives Fikry the chance to make his life over and see things anew.

Exclusive: Andie MacDowell, Heather Graham and Patrick Fabian have signed on to star alongside Josephine Langford, Drew Starkey and Archie Renaux in The Other Zoey, a film from Gulfstream Pictures which is now in production in North Carolina.

The romantic comedy from director Sara Zandieh (A Simple Wedding) centers on Zoey Miller (Langford), a bright college student who rejects traditional ideals of love and dating, only to have her entire perspective on romance turned upside down when another student mistakes her for his girlfriend, also named Zoey.

Matt Tabak penned the script for the film, which is being financed by Gulfstream Pictures. Mike Karz and Bill Bindley are producing through their Gulfstream Pictures banner, alongside Tabak, Matt Luber and Lena Roklin, with Michael Cuddy and Nate Bryson executive producing.

“We couldn’t be happier with our cast,...

Exclusive: Josephine Langford (Moxie), Drew Starkey (Outer Banks) and Archie Renaux (The Greatest Beer Run Ever) have signed on to star in The Other Zoey, a rom-com from Gulfstream Pictures that will head into production this month in North Carolina.

The film to be directed by Sara Zandieh (A Simple Wedding) centers on Zoey Miller (Langford), a bright college student who rejects traditional ideals of love and dating, only to have her entire perspective on romance turned upside down when another student mistakes her for his girlfriend, also named Zoey.

Matt Tabak penned the script for the pic, which is being financed by Gulfstream Pictures. Mike Karz and Bill Bindley are producing through their Gulfstream Pictures banner, alongside Tabak, Matt Luber and Lena Roklin, with Michael Cuddy and Nate Bryson exec producing.

Langford is best known for her lead role as Tessa Young in the After film series, based on the novels by Anna Todd,...

There's a scene in A Simple Wedding, a new Iranian-American romantic comedy by Sara Zandieh, that captures the film's spirit.

Nousha Husseini (Tara Grammy) and her Iranian family are breaking bread (in this case, nan) with her white, militant feminist boyfriend, Alex (Christopher O'Shea), and his family. Before awkward questions and heated comments commence, Alex's mother, Maggie (Rita Wilson), asks about the beautiful calligraphy framed on the wall.

Nousha's mother, Ziba (Shohreh Aghdashloo), explains that it is a poem written in Farsi by the 14th-century Persian poet Hafez — as she declares, the "greatest poet ...

There's a scene in A Simple Wedding, a new Iranian-American romantic comedy by Sara Zandieh, that captures the film's spirit.

Nousha Husseini (Tara Grammy) and her Iranian family are breaking bread (in this case, nan) with her white, militant feminist boyfriend, Alex (Christopher O'Shea), and his family. Before awkward questions and heated comments commence, Alex's mother, Maggie (Rita Wilson), asks about the beautiful calligraphy framed on the wall.

Nousha's mother, Ziba (Shohreh Aghdashloo), explains that it is a poem written in Farsi by the 14th-century Persian poet Hafez — as she declares, the "greatest poet ...

‘Never Too Late’ (Photo credit: Bradley Patrick).

Blue Fox Entertainment has bought the Us rights to Mark Lamprell’s Never Too Late and will release the comedy-drama on about 25 screens, followed by transactional VOD two weeks later.

That’s the distributor’s third Aussie acquisition following Stephan Elliott’s Swinging Safari and Russell Mulcahy’s In Like Flynn last year.

Starring Jack Thompson, James Cromwell, Dennis Waterman and Roy Billing as Vietnam veterans who plan to break out of their nursing home, the film scripted by Luke Preston will open the Young at Heart Senior Film Festival at Palace cinemas across Australia on February 19.

It will play each day for a couple of weeks in the festival then go out on a broader national release on April 23 via R&r Films.

Jacki Weaver plays Norma, the long-lost love of Cromwell’s character Bronson, formerly a Us soldier whom she met...

"Don't you want to get married before I die?" Blue Fox Entertainment has unveiled an official trailer for an indie romantic comedy titled A Simple Wedding, which premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival in 2018 and also played at the San Diego & Austin Film Festivals. A Simple Wedding is the feature directorial debut of Iranian-American filmmaker Sara Zandieh, telling a personal story about an Iranian-American woman who meets a bisexual man and falls in love with him. When she tries to plan the wedding, things get chaotic when her parents discover they're already living together before marriage. Starring Tara Grammy, Christopher O'Shea, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Rita Wilson, Maz Jobrani, Peter Mackenzie, James Eckhouse, Houshang Touzie, and Jaleh Modjallel. This looks extra cheesy, but still charming and fun. Here's the official Us trailer (+ poster) for Sara Zandieh's A Simple Wedding, direct from YouTube: Iranian-American Nousha has a habit of sabotaging her relationships,...

In today’s TV news roundup, season two of “Tell me a Story” finds two new cast members, and “Star Wars Resistance” has set a premiere date for its second and final season.

Casting

Caleb Castille and Christopher Meyer have joined the cast of season 2 of the CBS All Access fairytale anthology series “Tell Me a Story,” Variety has learned exclusively. The duo will play brothers, with Castille starring as the smart, dominant older sibling Ron, and Meyer playing the soft-spoken, fiercely loyal Derek.

Castille currently recurs on Hulu’s “Wu Tang: An American Saga” and will next be seen as the lead of the Netflix romantic drama feature “The World We Make” which premieres next month. He is represented by Gersh and Echo Lake Entertainment. While Meyer is is best known for being a series regular on season 4 of “The Affair” opposite Dominic West and Sanaa Lathan. He is repped by Pantheon,...

NBC’s push for diversity and inclusion continues as it unveils the 2019-2020 classes for Female Forward and the Emerging Director Program, two pioneering scripted initiatives to increase the representation of female and ethnically diverse directors by creating a pipeline into scripted television. The initiatives stand out as the only programs in the industry that give participating directors an in-season guarantee to direct at least one episode.

Female Forward, which aims to achieve gender parity in the director’s chair, ushers in its second year with seven directors helming episodes of NBC shows. The new class of Female Forward directors and the NBC series they will direct include Kris Lefcoe (Superstore), Brenna Malloy (Chicago Fire), Sj Main Muñoz (Chicago Med), Kim Nguyen (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) and Sara Zandieh (Good Girls).

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the Emerging Director Program, which is the network’s first pipeline program for ethnically...

Exclusive: Annabella Sciorra, who earned an Emmy nom for her stint on HBO’s The Sopranos, is attached to star in God the Worm, an indie film written and to be directed by Eric Schaeffer. Mainstay Entertainment principals Norman Aladjem and Ray Moheet are producing the project, which will commence filming this month.

Sciorra will play Samantha Miller, a talented singer-songwriter who had a semi-hit record early in her career but nothing since. Now 52 and questioning life’s meaning, she is haunted by past choices in love, family and career. In her despair, she asks the universe to give her a sign that she should continue the struggle. What follows is a journey through New York City’s colorful neighborhoods where chance encounters with a roster of eccentric and unforgettable characters — some would call them angels — help illuminate her path and restore her zeal for life and music.

“Annabella Sciorra is a prodigious talent,...

Exclusive: The worldwide rights to Simple Wedding, executive produced by and starring Rita Wilson, with Shohreh Aghdashloo and Tara Grammy, has been reached in an agreement with Blue Fox Entertainment for domestic distribution.

Blue Fox is introducing the film to buyers this week at the European Film Market in Berlin, while the domestic distribution arm is planning a late-Summer 2019 Us theatrical release.

Simple Wedding was produced by Mainstay Entertainment and made it’s world premiere at the La Film Festival. It marks the feature directorial debut of award-winning Iranian-American filmmaker Sara Zandieh, whose first short film The Pool Party earned her a jury award at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Zandieh also co-wrote the script and served as producer with Mainstay Entertainment partners Ray Moheet and Norm Aladjem.

Maz Jobrani, Peter Mackenzie , James Eckhouse, Houshang Touzie, Jaleh Modjallel, Rebecca Henderson and Aleque Reid round out the cast.

Blue Fox Entertainment’s...

Exclusive: Everyone’s had those awkward family dinners where the discussion turns uncomfortable, if not downright unpleasant. That’s certainly what happens in this clip from Simple Wedding, a comedy starring and executive produced by Rita Wilson, Shohreh Aghdashloo and Tara Grammy that premieres Friday at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Take a look above.

The logline describes Mainstay Entertainment’s Simple Wedding as a romantic comedy about a young Iranian-American woman and the lengths she goes to in order to appease her parents and their need to see her settled down. But there’s plenty of subplot discussed in the clip — and how.

The film also stars Christopher O’Shea, Maz Jobrani, Houshang Touzie, Peter Mackenzie, James Eckhouse, Rebecca Henderson, Aleque Reid, Jaleh Modjallal, Angelica Gibbs & Ryan-James Hatanaka. Sara Zandieh directed it from a script she wrote with Stephanie Wu and also serves as producer alongside Ray Moheet and Norman Aladjem.

Film Independent’s Los Angeles event boasts 42% female-directed entries.

Film Independent’s La Film Festival has unveiled the line-ups for five of its sections, with Gregory Dixon’s Olympia, Alex Moratto’s Socrates and Linda Midgett’s Same God among the world premieres.

The festival, which runs from September 20 to 28 this year in Los Angeles, announced 40 features, 41 shorts and 10 episodic shorts from a total of 26 countries.

In competition categories, 42% of the festival titles are directed by women and 39% by people of colour, said Film Independent, the non-profit that also produces the Spirit Awards.

Scroll down for full line-up

Jennifer Cochis,...

Film Independent’s La Film Festival has just announced the official lineup of films in competition for its anticipated 2018 iteration. This year’s fest, running Sept. 20–28 all over Los Angeles, features a heftier slate of programming, including plenty of opportunities for working filmmakers to connect with those in their field. The official U.S. Fiction, Documentary, World Fiction, La Muse and Nightfall selections were revealed, offering festival attendees 24 world premieres and a wide array of stories. This year’s U.S. Fiction category, which recognizes efforts from both new and established American filmmakers, features nearly all world premieres: Benjamin Francis Kasulke’s “Banana Split,” Ann Lupo’s “In Reality,” Gregory Dixon’s “Olympia,” Sara Zandieh’s “Simple Wedding,” Jordan Blady’s “Softness of Bodies,” Mark Jackson’s “This Teacher,” and Rob Schulbaum’s “The Wrong Todd.” “Our mission of finding fresh new voices from different geographical and cultural axes remains true,...

The La Film Festival has placed a heavy emphasis on diversity in its competition film slate, with 42% of the films directed by women and 39% helmed by people of color.

The 24th edition of the festival is also positioning itself as an event for unveiling lesser-known talent. It will take place Sept. 20-28 as it moves from its traditional June slot to the fall awards season.

The Los Angeles event follow the Venice International Film Festival, which begins in late August; the Telluride Film Festival, which runs over Labor Day; and the Toronto Intl. Film Festival, which starts on Sept. 6. The festival will end just as the New York Film Festival begins.

“Our mission of finding fresh new voices from different geographical and cultural axes remains true,” said L Film Festival director Jennifer Cochis. “These storytellers are united by their ability to transport, impact and inspire audiences with the power of their craft.

Forty feature films including 24 world premieres highlight the official La Film Festival competition lineup in the fest’s move into the crowded fall festival corridor, away from their previous early-summer perch.

Among the movies in competition is the highly regarded Swedish film Border (Grans) from director Ali Abbasi, a Neon pickup out of Cannes that took the top prize in that festival’s No. 2 competition, Un Certain Regard. It is listed as a “California Premiere,” which means it likely will show up first in Telluride, Toronto or both before Laff, which runs September 20-28. It will play in the World Fiction Competition across a field of categories that also include U.S. Fiction, Documentary, La Muse, Nightfall. Short Films, and Episodes: Indie Series from the web.

“Our mission of finding fresh new voices from different geographical and cultural axes remains true,” Laff Director Jennifer Cochis said. “These storytellers are united by their ability to transport,...

For its 24th edition, Film Independent’s newly configured Los Angeles Film Festival has revealed its first fall lineup (September 20 – 28), the second under the leadership of Festival Director Jennifer Cochis. The date moves Laff into awards season and direct competition with AFI Fest (November 8 – 15), the last of the fall festivals. This year’s Laff program includes 40 feature films, 41 short films, and 10 short episodic works representing 26 countries. Across the competition categories 42 percent of the films are directed by women and 39 percent are directed by people of color.

The festival remains committed to a diverse lineup of feature films, shorts and episodic series for its U.S. Fiction (“original voices with distinct visions from emerging and established American independent filmmakers”), Documentary (“character-driven non-fiction films from the U.S. and around the world”), World Fiction (“unique fiction films from around the world by emerging and established filmmakers”), La Muse (“fiction and documentary films...

For its 24th edition, Film Independent’s newly configured Los Angeles Film Festival has revealed its first fall lineup (September 20 – 28), the second under the leadership of Festival Director Jennifer Cochis. The date moves Laff into awards season and direct competition with AFI Fest (November 8 – 15), the last of the fall festivals. This year’s Laff program includes 40 feature films, 41 short films, and 10 short episodic works representing 26 countries. Across the competition categories 42 percent of the films are directed by women and 39 percent are directed by people of color.

The festival remains committed to a diverse lineup of feature films, shorts and episodic series for its U.S. Fiction (“original voices with distinct visions from emerging and established American independent filmmakers”), Documentary (“character-driven non-fiction films from the U.S. and around the world”), World Fiction (“unique fiction films from around the world by emerging and established filmmakers”), La Muse (“fiction and documentary films...

Exclusive: Oscar nominated and Emmy winning actress Shohreh Aghdashloo has joined the cast of writer/director Sara Zandieh’s romantic comedy Simple Wedding. Principal photography has just begun on the indie from the filmmaker has had short films honored at Telluride and Tribeca and is making her feature directing debut. The film stars newcomer Tara Grammy as a millennial Persian girl navigating a cross-cultural relationship. Christopher O'Shea, Rita Wilson, Maz Jobrani…...