News

"What is this, a mid-life crisis?" An early trailer has debuted for an Italian indie film titled Zoe, which is premiering at the 2025 Miami Film Festival next week. The film is co-directed by actress Emanuela Galliussi & filmmaker Dean Ronalds. It's the creation of Galliussi, an Italian actress who wrote the screenplay, stars in the film, and also co-produced it with Dean. It also sounds a bit like an autobiographical tale. Zoe seems to have everything she could ever want but still isn't happy. On Mardi Gras, she meets a wizard who grants her three chances to live the life she's always yearned for. On returning home from her magical adventure of “what if”, this Zoe begins to live anew. She, once again, meets the little wizard only to discover his magic was much more than she could've imagined. Starring Emanuela Galliussi, Michel Rodriguez Carmona, Jaspal Binning, Chanel Victor, Daniele Natali,...

Exclusive: Danny Trejo (Machete) and Veronica Falcón (Ozark) have boarded American Underdog, an indie drama set in the world of Mma that is now in production in Chicago. The film, marking the feature directorial debut of Peruvian-American filmmaker Gustavo Martin, will also star Vishy Ayyar and Andrew Gray.

Pic’s protagonist is Jai (Ayyar), an ex-con on a soulful path wrestling with personal redemption when outside circumstances pit him in the ring against the fierce opponent, Marcus (Gray). Trejo portrays Dennis, who reluctantly comes out of retirement to train his former student, while Falcón steps into the role of Marcella, a local gym owner and community legend shepherding Jai in his return to fighting.

A production of Peach Partners, in association with Mulberry Films, and MxW Ventures, American Underdog will also star Suleka Mathew (Your Honor), Taylor Treadwell (Big Little Lies), Omi Vaidya (3 Idiots), Ranjita Chakravarty (Never Have I Ever...

“When I said this was a yoga retreat, I was sort of not telling the truth,” the trailer for “Doomsday” begins.

As the title may have indicated, there are fewer sun salutations and more sex cult craze at this particular wellness center. Part “Midsommar,” part “Yellowjackets” (check out that Antler Queen crown!), and a whole lot of (alleged) Scientology, Daytime Emmy–nominated limited series “Doomsday” promises salvation in the sexiest — and scariest — way possible.

IndieWire exclusively premiered the new “Doomsday” trailer, introducing audiences to the residents of a millennial cult. Per the official logline, the series portrays how “youthful idealism evolves into deadly extremism” while documenting “the eerie final months leading up to a horrific Jim Jones–style massacre.”

The cast includes Alice Kremelberg (“The Sinner”), Donald Paul (“Queen of the South”), and Mark St. Cyr (“High School Musical: The Musical: The Series”). The series was nominated for the 2021 Daytime...

Keep up with the always-hopping film festival world with our weekly Film Festival Roundup column. Check out last week’s Roundup right here.

Lineup Announcements

– Montclair Film has announced the full program for the 6th annual Montclair Film Festival (Mff), taking place April 28 – May 7, 2017 in Montclair, NJ and featuring over 150 films, events, discussions, and parties, with over 150 filmmakers and industry guests attending. Highlights include “Casting JonBenet,” “Strong Island,” “Lady Macbeth,” “Menashe” and “Beach Rats.”

“This year, we have been fortunate to find filmmakers who are making work that gives depth and shape to the vital conversations of our time,” said Montclair Film Executive Director Tom Hall. “The festival is an opportunity for bringing audiences together with these incredible artists, so that, together, we can enjoy and engage with the images, ideas, and insights that are illuminated in these wonderful films.” Check out the full lineup right here.

– The Film Society...

In the golden age of television, the New York Television Festival is quickly becoming the place to find the next crown jewel. Now in its 12th year, the festival continues to grow each year both in scope and prestige, boasting a record number of submissions, artists, and industry participation.

“It’s taken us a couple of years to get to this point, but we’re hitting our stride at a time where there is great creativity in TV and digital,” said Nytvf Founder and Executive Director Terence Gray, surveying the room bustling with pitch meetings on plush couches. “It’s fun, you see these incredibly talented people that are being given a shot to sit down with agents and managers and executives.”

Read More: ‘Arrested Development’ Creator Mitch Hurwitz’s Pitching Secret: Make ‘Em Laugh

Grey founded Nytvf twelve years ago, shrewdly filling an opening for a Sundance-like festival for independent television creators.