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Jennifer Esposito’s Fresh Kills does not unfold in the bluster and bravado one might expect from a mafia narrative. Instead, it invites us to peer into the quiet, suffocating corners of a world where family ties, rather than the criminal enterprise itself, become the true source of anguish.

Set against the grim backdrop of Staten Island—a place as decayed and overcast as the lives it holds—the film traces the lives of two sisters, Connie and Rose, caught within the gravitational pull of their father’s shady empire. What seems like a film about mobsters quickly reveals itself to be something far darker: a meditation on the corrosion of the soul when familial loyalty trumps moral reckoning.

Esposito, in her directorial debut, does not give us the gritty world of Goodfellas or The Sopranos, where men do battle in an underworld of violence. She gives us a quieter...

Jennifer Esposito’s time on Blue Bloods took a shocking turn, leaving fans with a controversy that still lingers. Once a key player in the series, her exit became the talk of the town, sparking questions and heated debates.

Jennifer Esposito in NCIS | Credits: CBS Studios

Behind the scenes, the situation spiraled into a messy fallout, with allegations flying and tensions rising. Here’s what went down.

Behind the badge and beyond the drama: Jennifer Esposito’s explosive Blue Bloods exit A still from Blue Blood | Credits: CBS Studios

When Blue Bloods premiered in 2010, it promised gripping drama with a star-studded cast. Among its standout stars was Jennifer Esposito, the fiery NYPD detective Jackie Curatola and partner to Donnie Wahlberg’s Danny Reagan.

With undeniable chemistry on and off-screen, the pair made fans laugh, dance, and dive into the gritty world of New York policing. So, when Esposito’s character...

The Hulu February 2025 premiere schedule has been announced and can be viewed below. The streaming service has also revealed the titles that will leave next month.

The Hulu Originals for the month include Benefits with Friends (aka Amor da Minha Vida), Chris Distefano: It’s Just Unfortunate, Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, and The Fox Hollow Murders: Playground of a Serial Killer.

Also debuting are Muslim Matchmaker, The Kardashians Season 6, Shoresy Season 4, Sly Lives! Aka The Burden of Black Genius, A Thousand Blows and Wicked Game: Devil in the Desert.

A Thousand Blows Highlights

A look at the originals, exclusives and premieres that are part of the Hulu February 2025 lineup.

New York Undercover: Complete Series (Universal – Streaming February 3)

New York police Detectives J.C. Williams, a recently divorced cop trying to be a good father to his son, and Eddie Torres, a young Puerto Rican who struggles with his heritage,...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced on Monday the 207 feature films eligible for Best Picture consideration, two days before voting for the 2025 Oscar nominations begins.

There are 323 feature films eligible for the Academy Awards, but just 207 met the Best Picture competition eligibility requirements.

As stated by the Academy in a press release, “To be eligible for consideration in the general entry categories, under rules implemented for the 97th Academy Awards year, feature films must open in a commercial motion picture theater in at least one of six U.S. metropolitan areas: Los Angeles County; the City of New York; the Bay Area; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; and Atlanta, Georgia, between Jan. 1, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2024, and complete a minimum qualifying run of seven consecutive days in the same venue. Feature films must have a running time of more than 40 minutes.”

But Best Picture eligibility is different. Films under consideration...

There are 323 feature films eligible for the upcoming Academy Awards, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Monday, though a whopping 36% of those – 116 feature films – are not eligible for consideration in the Best Picture category.

The discrepancy between films that have qualified for the top category and films that are eligible in other categories comes either because the filmmakers did not attempt to qualify – likely the case for several documentary, animated or international films. Or because of new eligibility rules that require Best Picture candidates to meet additional benchmarks for diversity and inclusion. This is the second year that Representation and Inclusion Standards (Raise) have been enforced, though they did not appear to disqualify any serious contenders in the category.

Among titles excluded from Best Picture consideration are Andrea Arnold’s “Bird,” starring Barry Keoghan, Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut “Woman of the Year,” Michael Keaton’s directorial debut “Knox Goes Away,...

The Hollywood Creative Alliance has announced the winners for the 2024 Astra Film and Creative Arts Awards on Sunday, Dec. 8. The organization hosted two ceremonies – a luncheon and dinner – at the Taglyan Complex in Los Angeles. Actor, comedian and writer Peter Kim hosted the Astra Creative Arts Awards and two-time Emmy and NAACP-winning comedian Loni Love hosted the Astra Film Awards.

Universal Pictures’ “Wicked” came out on top with eight wins including Best Picture, Best Director for Jon M. Chu, Best Actress for Cynthia Erivo, and Best Supporting Actress for Ariana Grande (tie with Zoe Saldaña). Coming in second place was Warner Bros.’ “Dune: Part Two” and Netflix’s “Emilia Pérez” with four wins each. See the full list of winners below.

In addition, the Hollywood Creative Alliance honored costume designer Colleen Atwood with the Inaugural Artisan Icon Award, composer Kris Bowers received the Artisan Achievement Award, and cinematographer Giovanni Ribisi...

Multilingual South African actor and producer, Stelio Savante, who has a SAG Award cast nomination for playing Steve in Ugly Betty, has signed with London based Harter Allen Agency for representation in Europe and the Middle East. Savante recently wrapped key roles in three upcoming films, all based on true stories; Sarah’s Oil, Between Borders, and Hazel.

Sarah’s Oil, directed by Cyrus Nowrasteh, is an Amazon MGM drama starring Zachary Levi, Naya Desir Johnson, Sonequa Martin Green, Garret Dillahunt, Bridget Regan, Kenric Green, Adyan Copes, Stelio Savante and Mel Rodriguez. The film will be released in theaters on December 25, 2025.

Between Borders, directed by Mark Freiburger, stars Elizabeth Tabish, Patrick Sabongui, and Stelio Savantewith Michael Paul Chan, and Elizabeth Mitchell. The drama is scheduled to release on January 26th in theaters nationwide, through Fathom events.

Survival thriller Hazel, directed by Daniel Bielinski stars Madelyn Dundon, Stelio Savante and Laurie Fortierwith Genevieve Bielinksi,...

South African born SAG Award nominee Stelio Savante, also known as ‘Ajax’ in the Call Of Duty video game series and ‘Moses’ in the historical world-wide hit biblical series The Chosen, is starring in key roles in three upcoming films, all based on true stories. Sarah’s Oil, Between Borders, and Hazel.

Sarah’s Oil, is an Amazon MGM drama starring Zachary Levi, Naya Desir Johnson, Sonequa Martin Green, Garret Dillahunt, Bridget Regan, Kenric Green, Adyan Copes, Stelio Savante and Mel Rodriguez. Sarah’s Oil is inspired by Tonya Bolden’s book Searching for Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America, and tells the true story of Sarah Rector, an African American born in Oklahoma in the early 1900s. Filmed in Oklahoma, the drama chronicles Sarah’s journey to becoming the first African American teenage millionaire. Cyrus Nowrasteh (who also directed Savante in the action thriller Infidel) directed Sarah’s Oil from...

Exclusive: Actress Emily Bader has signed with CAA.

The Temecula, CA born Bader stars next in the upcoming 3000 Pictures and Netflix movie People We Meet on Vacation, based on the bestselling novel by Emily Henry.

Bader recently starred in the titular role of Amazon Studios’ historical comedy-drama television series My Lady Jane. The show follows the Lady Jane Grey and her husband Guildford who live during the reign of Edward, son of Henry VIII. She unexpectedly finds herself crowned queen overnight and becomes the target of criminals who want her throne and her head.

Bader also played a lead in the Jennifer Esposito directed, written and headlining movie, Fresh Kills, which premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival. Fresh Kills follows the loyal women of an organized crime family that dominated some of the boroughs of New York City in the late 20th century.

Other credits include the Paramount/Blumhouse feature,...

Odessa A’zion (Fresh Kills) is the newest addition to the cast of Marty Supreme, A24’s new film directed by Josh Safdie.

No word on the role to be played by A’zion. She joins a pretty electic ensemble led by Timothée Chalamet, which will also include Gwyneth Paltrow and musician Tyler, The Creator. Other new additions announced today include magician Penn Jillette, Shark Tank panelist and entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary (a.k.a Mr. Wonderful) and filmmaker Abel Ferrara.

While plot details are being kept under wraps, the pic has been reported as being loosely inspired by pro ping pong player Marty Reisman. At the same time, sources close to the production stress that it’s a fictionalized original, rather than a biopic.

Safdie and Ronald Bronstein penned the script and will produce alongside Eli Bush, Anthony Katagas, Chalamet and A24. Production is set to kick off this fall.

Most...

Fans of “My Lady Jane” are pushing to save the Prime Video show following its abrupt cancellation.

“My Lady Jane,” which first debuted on the streamer in late June, was canceled under two months after its premiere in mid-August. The news that the show would not be moving forward came as a shock to fans, who immediately mobilized to share their support across social media.

Viewers of the series also started a fan petition to renew “My Lady Jane” for a second season. While the petition was started in July weeks after the binge release on June 27, it has recirculated in the wake of the cancellation, amassing 24,538 signatures to date. The petition, addressed to Prime Video, calls upon the streamer “to listen to the voices of fans around the globe and confirm the renewal of ‘My Lady Jane’ for a second season.”

“‘My Lady Jane,’ the fascinating adaptation on Amazon...

Stelio Savante is a South African actor who has appeared in some of your favorite movies and TV Shows. With a filmography of over 140 projects consisting of blockbusters and independent films, Savante has seen great success at both film festivals and at the box office. Savante has appeared in multiple TV shows including The Chosen, Law & Order Special Victim’s Unit, NCIS, and FBI, he also played the role of Ajax in the popular video game Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. For the purposes of this article, we thought of picking out the 5 best (according to Rotten Tomatoes) movies starring Stelio Savante on Prime Video.

Brut Force

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%

Brut Force is a crime thriller film written and directed by Eve Symington. The 2022 film follows the story of Sloane Sawyer, a recently fired reporter as she returns to her California hometown after she learns that someone is harassing the local vineyard workers.

And just like that, the film adaptation of Emily Henry's bestselling novel People We Meet on Vacation has its leading stars.

On Friday, Aug. 2, Netflix made the official announcement that a movie based on Henry's book was in the works and that the leads are now set. The streamer shared a post on social media featuring director Brett Haley offering the role of Poppy Wright to actress Emily Bader. The film's leading man Tom Blyth, who will play the film's Alex Nilsen, also joined the celebratory video.

Watch Bader's emotional excitement in the video below!

Watch Emily Bader find out she's starring opposite Tom Blyth in People We Meet on Vacation — the feature adaptation of Emily Henry’s best-selling novel directed by Brett Haley. pic.twitter.com/XY90QJI36B

— Netflix (@netflix) August 2, 2024

In People We Meet on Vacation, Poppy and Alex are total opposites but have...

Exclusive: Tom Blyth and Emily Bader are set to star in 3000 Pictures and Netflix’s adaptation of People We Meet On Vacation. The film will be based on Emily Henry’s New York Times best-seller and is the first book adaptation by best-selling author Emily Henry to go into production. Brett Haley is directing.

Temple Hill’s Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey and Isaac Klausner are producing. Temple Hill’s Laura Quicksilver is serving as Executive Producer. Erin Siminoff is overseeing the project for the studio. The film is being produced under the partnership where Sony Pictures will offer Netflix a first look at any films it intends to make for streaming.

The film follows free-spirited Poppy and routine-loving Alex who have been unlikely best friends for a decade, living in different cities but spending every summer vacation together. The careful balance of their friendship is put to the test...

The technique of starting a movie with a hyper-dramatic scene and then rewinding in order to provide context is pretty common, and I am not much of a fan of it. But sometimes, it works perfectly in favor of the film. Jennifer Esposito’s Fresh Kills is one such example. The gritty crime drama has all the familiar elements, from gangsters to drugs to organized crime, but what makes it stand out is the story focusing on the women instead of the men. We don’t get to see much action, and a whole lot of Fresh Kills is confined to the dining room of the Larrussos, but that’s exactly what makes this a unique experience. Esposito’s decade-sprawling narrative makes sure that you get to feel Rose’s agony, frustration, and helplessness from start to finish. Fresh Kills‘ ending is particularly effective, although you might have some confusion over it.

My Lady Jane features a diverse cast of both seasoned and emerging talent, blending romance, comedy, and historical drama. The show follows Lady Jane Grey's escape from historical fate, depicting power plays within the English royal court. Lead actors Emily Bader, Edward Bluemel, and Jordan Peters deliver compelling performances as key characters in the series.

Prime Video's My Lady Jane boasts an impressive cast that features a strong mix of up-and-coming talent and classic stars of stage and screen. Based on the Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand and Jodi Meadows book of the same name, My Lady Jane is a fantastical historical riff that focuses on the life of Lady Jane Grey after she escapes her true-life historical fate. The series blends lots of different elements to create a unique approach to historical fiction.

While the younger cast bring a layer of romance and subversive comedy to the proceedings, the...

Jennifer Esposito, who just made her feature film directorial debut with the mob movie “Fresh Kills,” revealed that a “notorious, brutal” producer nearly ended her career when she was 26.

“He fired me for no reason,” she said of the unnamed Hollywood heavyweight 26 years after the incident, saying only that he was “Harvey Weinstein-esque.”

The actress/director said on a recent episode of the She Pivots podcast that the producer in question not only fired her from a production around the year 1999, but actively tried to block her from getting any other work in Hollywood.

“He was like, ‘Don’t hire her,’” Esposito said. “He said I was a drug addict, locked myself in the trailer. Never happened. I don’t do drugs. Never did.”

She then told host Emily Tisch Sussman, “He literally had the power and he used it to completely end a young girl’s career at 26 years old.

Jennifer Esposito is recalling how “a Harvey Weinstein-esque type person” tried to end her early acting career.

The Blue Bloods actress detailed on a recent episode of the She Pivots podcast the impact this “notorious, brutal” producer, whom she did not name, had on her.

“He fired me for no reason,” she said of a past project. “He wanted someone else and he got her.” However, it didn’t stop there. Esposito claimed the producer attempted to keep her from getting any additional work in Hollywood.

“But then, like, anybody that called [and] was like, ‘Hey, I want to hire her,’ he was like, ‘Don’t hire her,'” The Boys star explained. “He said I was a drug addict, locked myself in the trailer. Never happened. I don’t do drugs. Never did. If you do, great. It’s just not me.

“He literally had the power, and he...

As she makes her directorial debut, Jennifer Esposito recently reflected on how her early career was impacted by a “Harvey Weinstein-esque” producer.

The Fresh Kills writer and director recalled the “really painful time” in her life, when the producer had her fired “for no reason” and went on to lie about her on-set behavior, telling others not to work with her.

“He literally had the power and used it to completely end a young girl’s career at 26 years old,” said Esposito on the She Pivots podcast. “This was a notorious, brutal producer, a Harvey Weinstein-esque type person.”

She recalled, “So, he fired me for no reason. He wanted someone else, and he got her. But then, anybody that called and was like, ‘Hey, I want to hire her,’ he’s like, ‘Don’t hire her.’ He said I was a drug addict, locked myself in a trailer — never happened.

Domenick Lombardozzi and Annabella Sciorra return to the mafia genre in Fresh Kills, offering a new perspective. The crime thriller hails from Jennifer Esposito in her writing, directing and producorial debut, while also starring alongside Lombardozzi and Sciorra. Lombardozzi and Sciorra credit their long friendships with Esposito as being a big selling point for starring in the movie, while also looking to subvert genre expectations with their characters.

Domenick Lombardozzi and Annabella Sciorra are back in the mafia genre with Fresh Kills. Having first broken out with his turn as Herc in The Wire, Lombardozzi has frequently made appearances in the mafia genre, starring in everything from Martin Scorsese's Oscar-nominated epic The Irishman to the Sylvester Stallone-led Tulsa King. Sciorra similarly has her own past with the genre, starring as Gloria in HBO's The Sopranos before also going on to star in Tulsa King, as well as the...

Jennifer Esposito brings a fresh female perspective to the mafia genre in Fresh Kills, in which she stars, writes, produces, and makes her directorial debut. Esposito pulled from her own past growing up in Staten Island in writing the movie, while also putting much of her own life experience into the movie's two main characters. The star is also forever grateful for the Blue Bloods fandom and feels the show coming to an end is a smart choice by the creative team.

Jennifer Esposito is providing a unique and freshly feminine perspective on the mafia genre in Fresh Kills. After steadily building out her filmography with major roles in the early '00s, namely the Oscar-winning crime drama Crash, Esposito has lent her talents to a wide variety of genres throughout her career, including the action-comedy Taxi, the CBS police procedural Blue Bloods and Prime Video's superhero satire hit, The Boys.

Building a sisterly bond was "easy" for Odessa A'zion and Emily Bader heading into Fresh Kills, enhancing their on-screen chemistry. Bader's Rose seeks to break free from her mafia family ties, reflecting on feelings of suffocation and lack of choice. A'zion's Connie, on the other hand, embraces her family loyalty, embodying the fierce protectiveness of a "golden retriever" to her mob boss father.

Odessa A'zion and Emily Bader are sisters who find themselves on diverging paths in Fresh Kills. Having made her acting debut in 2011, A'zion, daughter of iconic comedian Pamela Adlon, recently found success with her leading roles in Hulu's Hellraiser reboot and Prime Video's Sitting in Bars with Cake, as well as a recurring role in CBS' hit American adaptation of Ghosts. Bader is similarly starting to gain ground in leading roles, having led the cast of Paramount+'s Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin, and serving...

Exclusive: On the heels of her directorial and writing debut with Fresh Kills, SAG Award-winning actress, director and producer Jennifer Esposito has signed to direct Shake, which is written by Ryan Binaco (To Leslie).

The synopsis: Shake was nobody when she made her name in Philly. That name was the mob boss’ lady. It brought money, power and respect. Then life went to hell, and she vanished. Twenty years later, she’s back. But when she returns to the world she helped build, it wants nothing to do with her. So she’s back to where she started: a nobody. But this time Shake’s not going anywhere and aims to navigates a dark and violent world ruled by men, as she fights to get what she’s owed.

The film is set in a similar world as Fresh Kills is inspired by character-driven ’70s crime dramas like The Killing of a Chinese Bookie...

Jennifer Esposito reflects on the upcoming ending of Blue Bloods after 14 seasons. Esposito's character Jackie left the NYPD due to burnout and stress but returned as a guest. Esposito had good experiences on the show and appreciates the fans' support.

Blue Bloods star Jennifer Esposito candidly reflects on the ending of the long-running police procedural after 14 seasons. Esposito plays Jackie Curatola in the first three seasons of the CBS drama, though she returned in more recent Blue Bloods episodes as a guest actor. Following Esposito's Blue Bloods exit in season 12, it's explained that, after leaving the NYPD due to burnout and stress, Jackie became a police chief in a small town.

In an interview with Screen Rant's Grant Hermanns to discuss her directorial debut film Fresh Kills, Esposito also touched on the fact that Blue Bloods is ending with season 14 and reflected on her time with the show. The...

David Iacono is joining Scarlett Johansson in Universal’s new Jurassic World movie.

Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Rupert Friend and Luna Blaise round out the ensemble cast for the project set for production in mid-June in London, with Gareth Edwards in the director’s chair.

Iacono will appear in Jennifer Esposito’s upcoming directorial debut, Fresh Kills, is fresh off his appearance in Netflix’s Dead Boy Detectives and season two of Amazon Prime Video’s YA series The Summer I Turned Pretty. His other recent credits include in Tubi and Village Roadshow’s thriller Cinnamon, and playing Eli Briscoe in season two of HBO Max’s The Flight Attendant.

Iacono’s TV credits also include Blue Bloods, The Good Doctor, New Amsterdam, Strangers, NCIS: New Orleans, The Blacklist: Redemption and Show Me a Hero.

Universal is giving little away on the new Jurassic World movie storyline beyond...

“Fresh Kills is a new crime thriller, directed by Jennifer Esposito, starring Esposito, Emily Bader, Odessa A’zion, Domenick Lombardozzi, Annabella Sciorra, Nicolas Cirillo and David Iacono, opening June 14, 2024 in select theaters:

“…late 1980’s Staten Island comes to vivid life through the eyes of ‘Rose Larusso’, an inquisitive girl who discovers her father is an emerging crime kingpin.

“Rose’s growing desire to break free from the path set before her soon threatens her existence and alienates her from her closest allies: her mother ‘Francine’, her sister ‘Connie’ and her aunt Christine’…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

V/H/S star Hannah Fierman, also known for her role in Chiller TV’s ‘Siren’, is featured in both the first look photos and the new look throwback inspired poster that have dropped for E.B. Hughes latest film Wrong Way Out starring SAG nominee Stelio Savante,and Randy McDowell.

Wrong Way Out’

Written and directed by former Nicholl Fellowships finalist E.B. Hughes, ‘Wrong Way Out’ was originally titled ‘24 Hours Of Mayhem’. The synopsis reads as follows: Set in a sleepy seashore town, following a gruesome murder, the crime thriller follows Max Crane (Stelio Savante), a tightly wound, grizzled detective, as he attempts to solve a crime with no leads, within 24 Hours.

Wrong Way Out’

Produced through the EBFilms banner by E.B Hughes, ‘Wrong Way Out’ is executive produced by Clementine Bentley and Michael Pagnotta. In addition to Savante, McDowell and Fierman, the rest of the cast also includes...

"I'm trying to protect you!!" Quiver Distribution has debuted the official trailer for an emotional, intense family drama titled Fresh Kills, which is the feature directorial debut for New Yorker actress Jennifer Esposito. Esposito writes, directs, and stars in the film - a modern mafia story following the story of the loyal women of an organized crime family that dominated some of the boroughs of New York City in the late 20th century. The film is about a young woman named Rose Larusso, who learns her father is an emerging mafia kingpin. Rose’s growing desire to break free from the path set before her soon threatens her existence and alienates her from her closest allies: her mother Francine, her sister Connie, and her aunt Christine. Fresh Kills stars Emily Bader as Rose, Odessa A'zion, Jennifer Esposito, Domenick Lombardozzi, Nicholas Cirillo, and Annabella Sciorra. This played at a few film...

Exclusive: Taron Egerton crime-thriller She Rides Shotgun quietly got underway last month with supporting cast set as Ana Sophia Heger (Life In Pieces), Rob Yang (Succession), John Carroll Lynch (Mindhunter), Odessa A’zion (Fresh Kills) and David Lyons (Truth Be Told).

Based on the novel by Jordan Harper and directed by Nick Rowland (Calm With Horses), pic is written by Harper with revisions by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski (The Night House) and Rowland. Filming is expected to wrap later this month.

The production synopsis reads: “After years in prison, Nate (Egerton) has made some dangerous enemies, including the powerful criminal gang he worked for on the inside. Desperate for a fresh start, Nate cuts ties with his old crew on his release from prison, but the gang retaliates by putting a hit on his family. Nate picks up Polly, the shy eleven-year-old daughter he hardly knows and goes on the...

Set to open on Feb. 7, the Santa Barbara Intl. Film Festival enters its 39th year with high stakes. Organizers must re-create past successes while forging new paths to keep proceedings fresh, keeping their eye on a mission to education while celebrating the power of film.

This year’s edition of the coastal festival will open with the world premiere of Matt Ogens and Joel Kachi Benson’s “Madu,” a Disney documentary about a young Nigerian whose ballet performance went viral online. It concludes with the world premiere of “Chosen Family,” directed by and starring Heather Graham, who also plans to attend with the cast.

In between, Sbiff will host many noteworthy film screenings and events. There are more than 200 films in this year’s lineup and, per programming director Claudia Puig, 70% of them will celebrate their U.S. or world premieres at the festival. That amounts to more than 75 feature films and over 45 shorts,...

Exclusive: Quiver Distribution announced today that they have acquired North American rights for the family crime drama Fresh Kills written and directed by Jennifer Esposito in her feature film debut. The film stars Esposito, Emily Bader, Odessa A’zion, Domenick Lombardozzi, and Annabella Sciorra. Quiver will release the film in theaters on May 17th.

Fresh Kills brings late 1980s Staten Island to vivid life through the lens of Rose Larusso (Bader), an inquisitive young girl who discovers her father (Lombardozzi) is an emerging mafia kingpin. Rose’s growing desire to break free from the path set before her soon threatens her existence and alienates her from her closest allies: her mother Francine (Esposito), her sister Connie (A’zion), and her aunt Christine (Sciorra).

“Fresh Kills is a brand new take on the classic mob movie” said Quiver Distribution Co-Presidents Berry Meyerowitz and Jeff Sackman, who...

Matt McCauley’s feature directorial debut, Undefiled, will only be released in theaters for two nights, starting on February 4th and February 10th at the Route 66 Theater in Webb City, Missouri.

Undefiled stars former MLB player Bradford Haynes (Stranger Things, Paradise City), Stelio Savante (Fresh Kills, Nefarious), Cory Kays (Looking For Andrew, Lily Is Here), Kalyn Wood (Wrath and Rituals), Sharonne Lanier (Pursuit Of Freedom, Son of The South), and Zach Sale (Ambitions, Miracles From Heaven).

In the film, “Struggling with an endless cycle of addiction, an aging Mitch Jennings finally gets his shot at professional baseball. But, taking that chance will mean turning his back on a team secret that may cost a young sex-trafficked victim her life.”

The screenings will include a meet and greet with the producers, director, and selective cast followed by a live Q&a session after the screening.

Tickets are available for direct purchase Here.

Following years of delays and pandemic restrictions, and now celebrating a post-strike awards season, what better way to kick off the 35th annual Palm Springs Intl. Film Festival than with a “fun and naughty film,” says festival director Lili Rodriguez.

Thea Sharrock’s “Wicked Little Letters” will enjoy its U.S. premiere Jan. 5 at the desert fest, followed by 179 films from 74 countries including 47 premieres, while showcasing a lineup of 40 international feature film Oscar submissions.

“The real excitement is that we’re back to a full-on festival with all pre-pandemic offerings, and 100% venue capacity. The moment we saw ‘Wicked Little Letters,’ we knew we needed it as our opener,” says Rodriguez.

Among films earning attention at Psiff include the world premieres of “A Look Through His Lens,” which details the life of Oscar-winning cinematographer Philippe Rousselot, and “All About the Levkoviches,” from debuting director Adam Breier. The event closes with “Ex-Husbands,...

In a cinematic landscape filled with talent, certain performances stand out. From the quiet intensity of Greta Lee in Past Lives to the commanding presence of Taraji P. Henson in The Color Purple, this collection of actors make up some of my favorite performances of the year of films I saw. Each actor brings a unique energy and emotional depth to their roles to not only define their characters but elevate them.

These are not in any particular order.

Greta Lee & Teo Yoo, Past Lives

Lee beautifully navigates the delicate emotional journey put forth in Celine Song’s script. She embodies Nora’s quiet longing with a subtlety, her expressive eyes and gentle smile hinting at the depths of unsaid feelings. When faced with the ghosts of the yesterday, Lee unleashes a rawness that both devastates and resonates, reminding us of the vulnerability it takes to confront the paths not taken.

Mob narratives seldom place women front and center, unless it’s in a flat-out comedy or campy TV movies like “Mafia Princess” and “Bella Mafia.” No stranger to the genre as an actress, Jennifer Esposito attempts to balance that ledger with her debut as writer-director, “Fresh Kills.”

This solid drama centers on a family not unlike “The Sopranos,” but with its patriarch mostly pushed to the background. The focus here is on wives and daughters, who must turn a blind eye to criminal doings from which they both benefit and suffer the consequences. Originally a Tribeca premiere, “Fresh Kills” has been traveling the festival circuit and should prove a viable item for streaming platforms and broadcasters.

After a framing sequence that fast-forwards to a later moment of crisis, we meet the Larussos in 1987 as they’re moving on up to a “better life” from their old Brooklyn one, taking over...

Hello, and welcome to the Scene to Seen Podcast!

I am Valerie Complex Associate editor and film writer at Deadline. On today’s episode, we’re talking to director, writer, producers, and actress Jennifer Esposito, where we talk about her career and her directorial debut Fresh Kills.

With a career spanning over 25 years, Jennifer Esposito is a Screen Actors Guild, Critics Choice and Hollywood Foreign Press award recipient. She has appeared in over 60 films and television productions. She’s appeared in Crash by Paul Haggis, Summer of Sam by Spike Lee and Welcome To Collinwood, directed by The Russo Brothers. Her television work includes Spin City, Samantha Who, Blue Bloods, The Affair, The Boys, and Nora From Queens.

Jennifer makes her writing and directing debut with Fresh Kills, in which she also produced and plays a supporting role. She was also the first to incorporate NFTs as a fundraising tool for independent films.

Though the Red Sea Film Festival will feature a slew of films from the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region – including 11 feature films from Saudi Arabia – there is a rich roster of international fare set to launch locally from Jeddah.

Kaleem Aftab, the festival’s director of international programming, says they received lots more submissions for this year’s third edition. He is particularly proud of the presence in competition of Indian-born auteur Tarsem Singh’s romancer “Dear Jassi,” the first film set in India by the flamboyant director of “The Cell,” and of Japanese master Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Venice prizewinner “Evil Does Not Exist.”

Peppered through various Red Sea sections are the Mena region premieres of other high-profile titles such as Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla”; Belgian-based Moroccan duo Adil El Arbi & Bilall Fallah flashy third feature “Gangsta”; British director James Marsh’s biographical film about Irish playwright Samuel Beckett...

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival has announced a new batch of mostly international titles set to launch in its Festival Favorites and Treasures strands, including the international premiere of U.S. actor-turned-director Jennifer Esposito’s New York City mob drama “Fresh Kills.”

Inspired by Esposito’s upbringing in Staten Island, “Fresh Kills” – in which Esposito co-stars with Annabella Sciorra – bowed stateside at the Tribeca Festival in June.

Other international talents peppered throughout the Red Sea sections likely to be making the trek to Saudi include Anna Kendrick with her period crime drama “Woman of the Hour”; David Oyelowo, producer of high-profile soccer doc “Allihopa: The Dalkurd Story”; Ewan McGregor and Ellen Burstyn for Swedish director Niclas Larsson’s “Mother, Couch”; Serena and Venus Williams as executive producers of “Copa 71,” the story of the groundbreaking 1971 Women’s World Cup; and French writer-director Laetitia Colombani with her drama “The Braid.

Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut Woman Of The Hour and family drama Mother Couch, starring Ewan McGregor and Ellen Burstyn, are headed to the third edition of Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival, running from November 30 to December 9 in the port city of Jeddah.

The titles will play in the Festival Favorites sidebar which was announced on Thursday alongside the event’s Red Sea: Treasures strand.

Kendrick directs and stars in Netflix-acquired drama Woman Of The Hour as a woman whose path crosses notorious serial killer Rodney Alcala, whilst in Niclas Larsson’s first film Mother Couch, McGregor plays a man whose mother squats the family furniture store.

Further films in the line-up – showcasing 21 buzzy festival titles from the last 12 months – include the David Oyelowo produced documentary Allihopa: The Dalkurd Story; Women’s World Cup doc Copa 71, executive produced by Serena and Venus Williams, Jennifer Esposito’s Fresh Kills,...

Exclusive: Writer, director Todd Turner’s film The December Cross starring Jennifer Esposito (Fresh Kills), Kellan Lutz (Twilight), Judd Hirsch (The Fablemans), Grace Van Dien (Stranger Things), Neal McDonough (Minority Report), Mila Harris (No Exit), and Stelio Savante (Infidel), has landed a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement to start principal photography in Kentucky.

The film is set in a town called Bethlehem, where border agents have just intercepted a coyote smuggling in a group of tired, desperate, and frightened refugees. There, an 11-year-old girl runs into a 7-year-old boy, Yosef, seeking refuge. Maya and Yosef become fast friends, and their ensuing adventure nearly kills them both but ends up warming the hearts of the townspeople with life lessons stretching far beyond their own borders.

Archstone Entertainment is securing world sales rights with Joshua Harris of Gala Media Capital Financing. Turner also serves as producer through Wonderstruck, alongside Gabrielle Almagor for...

Jennifer Esposito, who accumulated around 70 credits as an actress in movies and series before making her debut as writer and director of Fresh Kills, has signed with Echo Lake Entertainment. The management company is tasked with helping her forge a new career path. When you have mortgaged your house to make her first film as Esposito did, it stands to reason you would not be happy thinking you got that out of your system, and go back to waiting for the phone to ring with acting jobs.

Echo Lake will work with WME, which reps her for writing and directing, and attorney Chris Tricarico, while Authentic continues to rep her for acting.

When most of us think of the wives of mobsters in the movies, we visualize those frumps who raised the kids and kept up those gaudy homes in Goodfellas. Esposito, who grew up in Brooklyn and Staten Island...

Exclusive: Michael C. Hall (Dexter) and Grace Caroline Currey (Fall) have joined Vera Farmiga (The Conjuring), Tim Blake Nelson (Captain America: Brave New World) and Simon Rex (Red Rocket) in true-crime biopic feature The Leader, based on the 1997 mass suicide of the religious group known as Heaven’s Gate.

The project has secured an interim agreement with SAG-AFTRA.

Michael Gallagher (The Thinning) is directing from his original screenplay. The pic is produced by Cinemand Films (Funny Story) and Balcony 9 Productions (Bride Hard).

The Leader will chart the memorable true story of the 39 members of the UFO cult known as Heaven’s Gate who committed the largest mass suicide ever on American soil. The film tracks Nettles (Farmiga) and Applewhite (Nelson) as they develop the religion, build a devout following and face unforeseen conflict when the spaceship fails to arrive.

Hall will play a key devotee: a wealthy addict who...

Kristian Mercado (Nuevo Rico) directed from a screenplay by Angela Bourassa (A Little Distracted).

The Exchange has boarded international sales rights to the romantic comedy If You Were The Last starring Anthony Mackie and Zoe Chao and will launch AFM sales this week.

Kristian Mercado (Nuevo Rico) directed from a screenplay by Angela Bourassa (A Little Distracted) about a male and female astronaut stranded in their broken-down spaceship who argue over whether they should spend their remaining days as friends or something more.

The film just debuted in the US on the Peacock streaming platform and is produced by The Promise,...

Gritty drama premiered at Tribeca Festival.

The Exchange has boarded international sales to Jennifer Esposito’s debut feature Fresh Kills and will launch sales at AFM on the female-driven family story set in the world of organised crime.

The gritty drama, also written by, starring and co-produced by Esposito, premiered at 2023 Tribeca Festival and has had a strong run on the US festival circuit since.

It won the audience award for best narrative feature and an honorary prize for Excellence in Directing a Narrative Film from NY Women in Film & Television at Hamptons International Festival, in addition to the Best...

Tonya Mantooth, CEO and artistic director of the San Diego International Film Festival, is keenly aware that film is a uniquely immersive medium with the power to connect people — even strangers. And that power will be evident at Sdiff’s 22nd edition, which will run in person Oct.18-22, with screenings at various venues in the San Diego area. The event will also feature panels, Q and A’s, filmmaker happy hours and more special programming.

The fest will open with Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers” (pictured above), a comedy-drama starring Paul Giamatti, Domonic Sessa and Da’Vine Joy Randolph as an unlikely trio bonding at a New England prep school over winter break.

“Alexander Payne really peels back the layers of the characters,” Mantooth says. “As each one unfolds, he does it in such a way that you laugh – it touches your heart, it makes you cry. But what...

The 2023 Hamptons International Film Festival has unveiled the jury and audience awards for this year’s festival.

The lineup included opening night’s “Nyad” and Alex Gibney’s documentary “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon.” Todd Haynes, who received the Achievement in Directing Award, was in attendance for a Spotlight screening of “May December.”

The official Hiff Award for Best Narrative Feature was given to Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren’s “20,000 Species of Bees,” per the jury’s selection. The feature follows an eight-year-old girl and her grandmother over the course of a summer spent in a village known for beekeeping.

Joanna Arnow’s “The Feeling That the Time For Doing Something Has Passed” was also recognized in the Best Narrative Feature category with a special mention.

Meanwhile, the Hiff Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature went to “Fresh Kills,” directed by Jennifer Esposito. The film, which premiered at 2023 Tribeca,...

There were no clear Oscar signals coming out of the 31st Hamptons International Film Festival. Still, there were some admirable stats for the eastern Long Island event that’s a favorite with filmmakers and locals. This year Hiff screened a lineup of films that were 49% female-directed and represented 42 countries from around the world. The festival had a record number of submissions this year and screened 72 features and 46 shorts with eight world premieres, three North American premieres, 12 US premieres, 13 East Coast premieres, and seven New York premieres.

SEEJennifer Esposito (‘Fresh Kills’): First-time director brings feminist mob movie to 31st Hamptons Film Festival

Best Narrative Film went to “20,000 Species Of Bees,” directed by Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren (watch the trailer above). “Tell Them You Love Me,” directed by Nick August-Perna, nabbed the Award for Best Documentary Feature. Hiff audiences selected narrative feature “Fresh Kills,” by first time director Jennifer Esposito, and documentary feature “Angel Applicant,...

Three filmmakers assessing the impact of 2023’s dual strikes took a less-than-upbeat tone, citing uncertainty about the state of SAG-AFTRA negotiations with the AMPTP and the ongoing threat posed by artificial intelligence.

While the WGA’s gains from its 146-day strike are noteworthy, producer Sam Bisbee acknowledged during a Hamptons International Film Festival panel, SAG-AFTRA “is an even bigger part of the equation.”

Bisbee, a producer of documentary Rule of Two Walls, was joined on the panel by Jennifer Esposito and Tonje Hessen Schei. Esposito, best known for her acting credits on The Affair, The Boys and many other series and movies, wrote, directed and stars in fest selection Fresh Kills. Hessen Schei directed current fest title Praying for Armageddon.

“The writers have been underpaid and really absent from the conversation for a very long time,” Esposito said. “The powers that be are making all of the money off the backs of these people.

Before Jane Campion, Kathryn Bigelow, Greta Gerwig, Ava DuVernay or Chloe Zhao, Jennifer Esposito thought about being a director. “I wanted to go to NYU film school. I couldn’t afford it but also back then there were no role models,” the actress-turned-first-time director told me. “No brilliant female directors or filmmakers, or so few it’s embarrassing,” she continued. “So I became an actress.” That decision didn’t hurt her. After debuting on a “Law and Order” she went on to a regular role on “Spin City” and then films like Spike Lee‘s “Summer of Sam” and Oscar-winning Best Picture “Crash.”

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But a nagging story about growing up around gangster families in Staten Island kept haunting her. So she wrote and directed the mob drama “Fresh Kills” and is bringing it to the 31st Hamptons International Film Festival,...

The feature directorial debut of Anna Zlokovic, the body horror film Appendage made its world debut at the SXSW Film Festival earlier this year, and now it’s set to receive a wider release through the Hulu streaming service on October 2nd. With that date less than a week away, we have the trailer embedded above to help you decide whether or not Appendage is a movie you’ll be watching this Halloween season. Check it out!

Scripted by Zlokovic, who also produced the film alongside Alex Familian and Katrina Kudlick, Appendage tells the following story: Hannah, a young fashion designer, seems fine on the surface, but secretly struggles with debilitating self-doubt. Soon these buried feelings begin to make Hannah physically sick and sprout into a ferocious growth on her body: The Appendage. As her health continues to decline, The Appendage begins to fuel her anxieties – her perceived lack of talent at work,...