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NewFilmmakers Los Angeles has released the nominees and jury for its 14th annual awards that recognize the top rising talent in independent film globally.

The awards will recognize 130 nominees spanning 16 award categories, encompassing directors, writers, producers, performers, cinematographers, editors, sound designers, and composers. These outstanding nominees were chosen from Nfmla’s most recent programming year, which took place in 2024 and reflect some of the most promising emerging independent filmmakers globally. The selection includes projects from Nfmla’s InFocus initiative, which highlights stories and filmmakers who are often not adequately represented in mainstream media.

“We are proud to support and uplift the work of such a talented cohort of filmmakers whose work deserves to be widely seen and acknowledged and to be part of their journey,” says Nfmla p programming director Bojana Sandic.

The jury for the 2025 Best of Nfmla Awards is composed of industry professionals, including Alvie Hurtado at Will Packer Productions,...

On the heels of well-received mainstream video game adaptations like HBO’s The Last of Us or Prime Video’s Fallout, the timing of fantasy dramedy short film Chuck and Fern couldn’t be more appropo. Making its world premiere at the Oscar and BAFTA qualifying LA Shorts International Film Festival on Friday, the short follows the story of two video game characters, Chuck (Lorena Jorge), a D-List villain, and Fern (Mateo Mpinduzi-Mott), a happy-go-lucky Link inspired swordsman as they face an existential crisis when they learn that the child playing their game is facing some tough times at home. Here, playwright-filmmaker Henry Alexander Kelly spoke with Deadline about the importance of creative escape, the power of crowdfunding and working with fellow Afro-Latino cast and crew.

Deadline: This video game-based film relies on video game inspirations and references. But more than that, it’s about something deeper. It’s about domestic abuse.

Film Independent has set animator Javier Barboza, cinematographers Gemma Doll-Grossman, Phillip Jackson, Garland McLaurin, Lidia Nikonova, Michael Tanji and Akina Van de Velde, directors Hannah Bang, Jaime Castañeda, Logan Jackson and San-San Onglatco, editors Calvin Chin, Marcus Heleker, Christopher Ma, Ziyang “Lucia” Wang and Skylar Zhang, executives T’Essence Minnitee, Eboni Robinson and Danni Xin, producers Sarah Al-Qatou, C.A. Barrow, Ebony Elaine Hardin, Trent Nakamura, Jera Wang and Rui Xu, writers Danielle Ellen, Henry Alexander Kelly, Justin Omori and Tumelo Tladi, and writer-director Jesus Celaya as the filmmakers for the 2022 edition of Project Involve, a free nine-month program for creatives from diverse backgrounds.

The nonprofit arts organization behind the Spirit Awards also today named Barboza as its fourth annual Laika Animation Fellow, who will receive a grant enabling production on a stop-motion animated short film.

Project Involve offers participants the opportunity to create short films, attend master workshops and industry networking events,...

Exclusive: Sundance Institute has named the recipients of the inaugural Uprise Grant Fund and Arts Organization Grants, supporting Bipoc artists.

The Uprise Grant Fund specifically looks to uplift Bipoc artists, whose careers and creative development have been harmed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 38 U.S.-based artists selected for the grant are Yasmin Almanaseer, Fatimah Asghar, Hadeel Assali, Lena Chen, Edyka Chilomé, Dominic Colón, Min Ding, Mandolin Eisenberg, Ash Goh Hau, Leandro Fabrizi, Kayla Farrish, Brittany Franklin, Dickie Hearts, Armando Ibanez, Carlos Ibarra, Cashmere Jasmine, Henry Alexander Kelly, Patrick G. Lee, Sasha-Gay Lewis, Alika Maikau, Andre Muir, Marcos Nieves, San-San Onglatco, Naima Ramos-Chapman, Faye Ruiz, Jazmin Jones, Nyjia, Nova Scott-James, Michael Shayan, Wendi Sierra, Bryan Sih, Weng-San Sit, Josalynn Smith, Nay Tabarra, Nesaru Tchaas, Jingjing Tian, So Yun Um, Derrick Woods-Morrow, and Yuan Yuan.

80% of Uprise artist grantees work in traditional film disciplines; the other 20% work primarily in emerging media or theatre disciplines.

Murder Bury Win: "Three friends have created a board game, Murder Bury Win, and they think it has what it takes to become a bestseller on the indie charts. When their attempt to crowdfund fails, a mysterious man makes them an offer: he will publish their game on the condition that he takes credit as the sole creator and owner. After a dispute over the gaming rights leaves them with a body on their hands, the young men realize how suspiciously like murder the freak accident appears. Now, with few options remaining, they look to their game for guidance. The premise of their game? How to murder someone and get rid of the body."

Writer/Director/Producer: Michael Lovan Cast: Mikelen Walker, Erich Lane, Henry Alexander Kelly, Craig Cackowski, Brian Slaten Rating: Not Rated Runtime: 90 mins Genre: Comedic Thriller Distributor: Gravitas Ventures

On Demand on April 27, 2021

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Watch an...

"You think he's got an opinion, 'bout all of this?" Gravitas Ventures has released an official trailer for an indie dark comedy thriller titled Murder Bury Win, which first premiered at the Austin Film Festival last fall. Murder Bury Win, the feature directorial debut of actor / filmmaker Michael Lovan, is a dark comedic thriller about three friends that want to strike it big in the indie board game industry with their own game - "Murder Bury Win". The objective of their game being how to kill someone and get rid of the body. After a dispute over the gaming rights leaves them with a real body on their hands, the young men quickly realize how suspiciously like actual murder this freak accident appears. Now, with few options remaining, they look to their game for guidance. Will it help them win their own "game" of murder? Starring Mikelen Walker, Erich Lane,...

Three friends create a killer board game that they think will be a moneymaking hit, but they instead look to the game for help after a suspicious accident leaves them with a dead body on their hands in Murder Bury Win. With the comedic thriller coming to VOD on April 27th from Gravitas Ventures, we've been provided with the official trailer to share with Daily Dead readers!

Written, directed, and produced by Michael Lovan, Murder Bury Win stars Mikelen Walker, Erich Lane, Henry Alexander Kelly, Craig Cackowski, and Brian Slaten. To learn more, visit:

http://pre-order.murderburywin.com/

Synopsis: "Three friends have created a board game, Murder Bury Win, and they think it has what it takes to become a bestseller on the indie charts. When their attempt to crowdfund fails, a mysterious man makes them an offer: he will publish their game on the condition that he takes credit...

In today’s TV news roundup, Hallmark Channel released its January programming slate, and the National Hispanic Media Coalition announced the graduates of its 2020 Series Scriptwriters Program.

Dates

Hallmark Channel’s newly rebranded January programming event, “New Year New Movies!,” announced five movie premieres: “Taking a Shot at Love,” “A New Year’s Resolution,” “Two for the Win,” “Love in the Alps” and “Snowkissed.” Kicking off the event is “Taking a Shot at Love,” set to debut Jan. 2 at 9 p.m., starring Alexa PenaVega and Luke Macfarlane as a respective ballet teacher and NHL big shot fatefully thrown together. Premiering Jan. 9 at 9 p.m. is “A New Year’s Resolution,” about a morning show producer (Aimee Teegarden) who makes a resolution to be open to more experiences after crossing paths with an easy-going man (Michael Rady). “Two for the Win,” debuting Jan. 16 at 9 p.m., follows the romance between a champion ski racer and local ski instructor,...

We're back with another installment of Horror Highlights! Mandy is heading to drive-in theaters, John Waters returns to Salem Horror Fest, the I Spit On Your Grave franchise is getting a new Blu-ray release, and a clip has been released for Murder Bury Win!

Mandy is Coming to Drive-In Theaters: "Mandy is coming to drive-ins nationwide! Legion M, the world’s first fan-owned entertainment company, is celebrating the anniversary of their psychedelic horror flick, Mandy starring Nicolas Cage and directed by Panos Cosmatos with special screenings at drive-ins and select theaters around the country, plus new product straight out of the Mandy cosmos.

The cult-hit film has spawned a devoted following around the world from cinephiles to horror fans and countless others in between.

Now, Legion M is bringing Mandy back to theaters and drive-ins. Check out the new teaser trailer here!

Screenings will begin on October 29th and audiences...