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San Pedro, CA: July 13, 2023: Zombie Rage Theatrical, DVD, Blu-ray and Digital Media Film Release

Theater Premiere

July 13, 2023 at 8:00 Pm

Starlight Terrace Cinema

28901 S Western Ave

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

Tickets are online sales only and can be purchased here:

https://lividmediaorg.ticketleap.com/zombie-rage-theater-premiere/?fbclid=IwAR2WWxI3MpdlrJ7M4hypNcsMrAN6PDlDIFWq_wlk4yGxRjSafzJxSN3Hk

Zombie Rage is a Zombie Anthology feature film comprised of 5 stories from 3 film makers from San Pedro, California (Livid Media Films); Las Vegas, Nevada (Dark Park Films), and Winnipeg, Canada(The Internet Astronauts).

“Zombie Rage is a fast-paced feature length Anthology film. It contains 5 unique stories of the impending Zombie Apocalypse that will have you on the edge of you seat.” – Livid Media Films

Zombie Rage was directed by Ken “Ace” Brewer (Livid Media Films), with contributions from John Ward (Dark Park Films), and Mark Kiazyk (The Internet Astronauts). Starring Traci Burr, Alana Dro...

Bathtub Teeth Brushing.

Trace and I are cruising through April en route to our live show at Salem Horror Festival this weekend, but we’ve been keeping busy with episodes on Stephen Dunn’s Closet Monster, Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Killing of a Sacred Deer, and, most recently, Tony Scott’s The Hunger.

This week we celebrated the 50th anniversary of trailblazing Black queer writer/director Bill Gunn‘s Ganja & Hess (1973). This gorgeous, surreal, and unconventional vampire film stars Duane Jones and Marlene Clark as the titular pair of lovers.

Hess (Jones) is a multi-hyphenate Doctor who is also secretly a vampire. He often preys on members of his community, though his wealth and education keeps him isolated. When suicidal assistant George Meda (Gunn) takes his own life at Hess’ home, the man’s wife (Clark) quickly comes calling.

What begins as an investigation quickly turns into a sexualized affair,...

Absurd, Uncomfortable Transactions

March wound up being a wild mix of episodes, starting with the classic thrills of UK haunted house film The Haunting, followed by a return to Woodsboro for last year’s Scream (2022), celebrating the 25th anniversary of Erotic Thriller Wild Things, as well as the practical effects of low budget creature feature Splinter, before wrapping things up with Canadian coming of age film Closet Monster.

For our first episode of April, we’re hitting the discomfort button hard with our very first Yorgos Lanthimos film, The Killing of a Sacred Deer. In the film, successful cardiovascular surgeon Steven (Colin Farrell) befriends weird teen Martin (Barry Keoghan) after accidentally killing the boy’s father during surgery. When Martin becomes too demanding, Steven tries to pull away, prompting the teen to initiate a curse: Steven must kill one of his family members – wife Anna (Nicole Kidman), daughter Kim (Raffey Cassidy...

I Love Wood.

After finishing off March with a journey back into the world of erotic thrillers with John McNaughton’s 1998 classic Wild Things and marveling over the low budget delights of Toby Wilkins’ 2008 creature feature Splinter, we’re kicking off April with an explicitly queer film in Stephen Dunn‘s Closet Monster.

Closet Monster sees an artistic teenager named Oscar who is desperate to escape his hometown and the haunting memories of his turbulent childhood, but in order to do so must confront the monster lying within him.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get a new episode every Wednesday. You can subscribe on iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, TuneIn, Amazon Music, Acast, Google Podcasts, and RSS.

Episode 223: Closet Monster (2015)

Pull that metal rod out of your gut and embrace your queer rage because we’re discussing Stephen Dunn’s phenomenal(ly queer) 2015 film Closet Monster.

Original Creature Feature

We’ve been making our way through March with a wild range of films. We began with Robert Wise’s iconic queer film The Haunting, unlocked the Patreon vault to re-release our super-sized episode on Scream (2022), then hopped in the pool to discuss classic 90s Erotic Thriller Wild Things.

Now we’re going the indie route for Toby Wilkins‘ outstanding 2008 low budget creature feature film, Splinter.

In the film, Polly (Jill Wagner) and her boyfriend Seth (Paulo Costanzo) are celebrating their anniversary when their car is hijacked by criminals Dennis (Shea Whigham) and Lacey (Rachel Krebs). Forced to stop at a remote gas station, the foursome must band together when they encounter a strange parasite that is infecting humans and animals alike. Holed up inside and cut off from society, will the group survive the night or will they become infected with splinters, too?

Be sure to...

Before the iPhone, there was the mighty BlackBerry — the world’s first smartphone, which enjoyed a meteoric rise in the early 2000s only to meet a catastrophic demise.

A new movie from “The Dirties” and “Operation Avalanche” director Matt Johnson, simply entitled “BlackBerry,” will detail the rise and fall of the once-ubiquitous device as its Canadian parent company Research in Motion floundered in legal disputes and eventually lost its market advantage to competitors such as Apple and Samsung. At the heart of the story is the business relationship between co-founders Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie.

The film’s cast is led by Jay Baruchel and Glenn Howerton. Though it’s not yet confirmed, it’s likely they will play the firm’s founders.

Other cast members include Cary Elwes, Saul Rubinek, Rich Sommer, Martin Donovan, Michael Ironside and Johnson.

Johnson and Miller adapted the screenplay from the bestselling 2015 book “Losing...

Principal photography has started in Montreal, Canada, on female detective series “Wong & Winchester.” The show is backed by Citytv and Pixcom in association with 3 Arts and Lionsgate Television and will premiere mid-season on Citytv and Citytv+.

Starring Grace Lynn Kung and Sofia Banzhaf the show is set up as a police procedural built around a bitter ex-cop turned private investigator and a naïve but ambitious newcomer.

The series, with showrunner by Chris Pozzebon creator and co-showrunner Hollis Ludlow-Carroll, is produced by Nathalie Cécyre and directed by Stephan Beaudoin. Executive producers are Nicola Merola, Charles Lafortune and Sylvie Desrochers from Pixcom and Trevor Rotenberg and Luke Maxwell from 3 Arts.

The show marks the first collaboration of 3 Arts’ new office in Canada under the Lionsgate-3 Arts partnership. Lionsgate will handle all rights sales outside Canada.

The unlikely partnership stems from the moment when Sarah Winchester (Banzhaf) is accidentally hires as Marissa Wong (Kung)’s driver.

In our Q&a series Last Call, we get down to the bottom of every last thing with some of our favorite celebs - from the last time they were starstruck to the last song they listened to. This week, it's Fin Argus.

For Fin Argus, one of the best parts of filming the recently released "Queer as Folk" reboot was spending time in New Orleans, where the show takes place. "It's the coolest queer scene I've ever been a part of, and people are so expressive there," they tell Popsugar. "It's an environment where weirdness is encouraged. And that, for me, is really exciting because I've always been a bit of an off-kilter person, and so I felt, like, I immediately fit in there, which was a brand new experience for me."

"While it was still the South and I was running into homophobia and transphobia basically every day,...

Just one month after debuting a fan favorite genre hit in the form of Stranger Things season 4, Netflix is once again coming out with the big guns for its list of new releases for June 2022.

The Umbrella Academy season 3 is set to be released June 22 and it will be a busy one for the Hargreeves family of crime fighters. After averting a 1963 nuclear apocalypse in season 2, the gang returns to the present only to find there’s a new team called the Sparrows living in their house. Based on the trailer for season 3, hilarity and many superpowers punches thrown will ensue.

Read more TV The Umbrella Academy Officially Introduces The Sparrow Academy By Alec Bojalad TV The Umbrella Academy Season 3: What To Expect By Michael Ahr

Other Netflix TV original series of note this month include the vampire love story First Kill (June 10) the Melissa McCarthy comedy God’s Favorite Idiot...

“Queer as Folk,” the groundbreaking Russell T. Davies series from the ’90s about three clubgoing men in Manchester’s gay village, will be reimagined by creator Stephen Dunn and Universal Cable Productions for Peacock.

The network announced a straight-to-series order of the reboot, which is described as a modern take on the original UK series that will chronicle the lives of a diverse group of friends in New Orleans whose lives are transformed in the aftermath of a tragedy. Variety exclusively reported that a “Queer as Folk” reboot was in the works at Bravo back in 2018, with the project eventually moving over to Peacock.

“’Queer as Folk’ was more than just a show, it was a ground-breaking and necessary voice for so many people. Stephen’s new version for Peacock arrives at yet another pivotal moment in our culture,” said Lisa Katz, president, scripted content, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, in a statement.

Exclusive: Jonathan Parks-Ramage’s upcoming novel Yes, Daddy, set in a nightmarish scenario in the Hamptons, has landed at Amazon Studios for development.

The streamer is working on an adaptation of the book, which is set to be published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in June 2021, with Patrick Moran’s Pkm Productions and Little America director Stephen Dunn writing and directing.

The book follows an ambitious young man who is lured by an older, successful playwright into a dizzying world of wealth and an idyllic Hamptons home where things take a nightmarish turn

It is centered around Jonah Keller, who moved to New York City with dreams of becoming a successful playwright, but, for the time being, lives in a rundown sublet in Bushwick, working extra hours at a restaurant only to barely make rent. When he stumbles upon a photo of Richard Shriver, the glamorous Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright and...

In today’s TV news roundup, Netflix released the official trailer for “Never Have I Ever,” and the streamer also announced the launch date for the interactive “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” special.

Casting

Quibi announced that “Saturday Night Live” featured player Bowen Yang has joined the series “Trip,” a modern-day comedic take on Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.” Yang will star alongside the show’s writer and creator Joel Kim Booster as his witty best friend. Stephen Dunn, best known for his 2015 film “Closet Monster,” has also been slated to direct. “Trip” will be executive produced by Tony Hernandez and Brooke Posch and produced by Jax Media.

Dates

Netflix‘s “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” will return May 12 with an interactive special, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend.” The viewer will decide the outcome of Kimmy’s latest adventure, with different choices leading her to either foil the Reverend’s plan or start a robot war.

Exclusive: Saturday Night Live‘s Bowen Yang is set for a lead role opposite Joel Kim Booster in Trip, Quibi’s romantic comedy series set on New York’s Fire Island, from Booster and Jax Media. Additionally Stephen Dunn (Closet Monster) is set to direct.

Written by Booster, Trip, set on the iconic Fire Island, is an unapologetic, modern day rom-com inspired by Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The story centers around two best friends who set out to have a legendary week-long summer vacation with the help of cheap rosé and a cadre of eclectic friends.

More from DeadlineQuibi Had 1.7 Million Downloads In First Week, Meg Whitman SaysQuibi's Turnstyle Tech Battle Sees Eko Score Accelerated Hearing Date For Preliminary Injunction - UpdateQuibi Downloaded Over 300,000 Times On Day One In The U.S. And Canada (Versus 4 Million Installs For Disney...

Rhombus Media’s Kevin Krikst and Fraser Ash have jointly won the Canadian Media Producers Assn.’s 2019 Kevin Tierney Emerging Producer Award, it was announced this afternoon at the Indiescreen Awards, the opening event of the Toronto film festival’s industry conference at Glenn Gould Studios.

The Toronto-based pair’s latest feature is Albert Shin’s “Clifton Hill,” a Niagara Falls-set psychological thriller starring Tuppence Middleton (“Sense8”), Hannah Gross (“Mindhunter”), David Cronenberg and Eric Johnson (“Vikings”). The film has its world premiere tonight. WTFIlms’ Gregory Chambet is handling international sales. Elevation is distributing in Canada.

The award, which comes with a C$5,000 cash prize, recognizes the talents of emerging feature producers. Krikst and Ash’s previous Toronto film, Stephen Dunn’s “Closet Monster,” won the festival’s Best Canadian Film prize in 2015.

Felize Frappier of Max Films Media received the Cmpa’s 2019 Established Producer Award in recognition of her remarkable contribution to Canadian cinema,...

Both recipients’ latest features premiere at Tiff.

The Canadian Media Producers Association announced the winners of its annual Cmpa Indiescreen Awards on Thursday (5) at an afternoon ceremony to mark the opening of the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff).

Félize Frappier (Max Films Media) received the Cmpa’s 2019 Established Producer Award in recognition of her contribution to Canadian cinema, which includes Marécages (2011), L’autre Maison (2013), Corbo (2014) and Ville-Marie (2015). The Montreal-based producer’s latest film, Kuessipan, receives its world premiere in Discovery on September 8.

Rhombus Media’s Kevin Krikst and Fraser Ash were named joint winners of the Kevin Tierney Emerging Producer Award,...

by Nathaniel R

A special Gay Pride edition of our random "Beauty Break" series. Today we celebrate the very talented actor Connor Jessup who just turned 25 this week. We hope you know him from his incredible work in the second season of American Crime or the queer Canadian indie Closet Monster. Next up for Jessup is the British mystery/ thriller Strange But True (which just premiered at the Edinburgh Festival and will be released by CBS films in the Us) and the Netflix adaptation of the family fantasy series Locke & Key (due later this year).

We've been enjoying Jessup on Instagram since his cinephilia is readily apparent. While he's been playing gay characters for some time now, he's officially come out himself, having felt guilty about never stating it publicly, and speaking of his characters from a "neutral" distance. Here's what he has to say after the jump, along...

Exclusive: In the second sassy project we can reveal this morning in Cannes, Birdman star Andrea Riseborough and fast-rising Christopher Abbott (First Man) will lead Brandon Cronenberg’s sophomore feature Possessor.

Cronenberg’s 2012 body-horror debut Antiviral played at festivals including Cannes, Toronto and London and he has corralled a duo in hot form for his next movie with Abbott currently leading cast in George Clooney’s Hulu drama series Catch 22 and Riseborough currently in production on Amazon’s international drugs trade series ZeroZeroZero.

We understand shoot is due to kick off in early 2019 on the movie, which Arclight Films is launching world sales on in Cannes. Cronenberg is directing from a script he wrote about Tasya Vos (Riseborough), an agent for a secretive organization who uses brain-implant technology to inhabit other people’s bodies, driving them to commit assassinations for the benefit of high-paying clients. But something goes wrong on a routine job,...

With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we’ve taken it upon ourselves to highlight the titles that have recently hit platforms. Every week, one will be able to see the cream of the crop (or perhaps some simply interesting picks) of streaming titles (new and old) across platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and more (note: U.S. only). Check out our rundown for this week’s selections below.

A.W. A Portrait of Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Connor Jessup)

As part of the Meet the Filmmakers series, A.W. A Portrait of Apichatpong Weerasethakul, is now screening on the Criterion Channel on FilmStruck. Directed by Connor Jessup, who will be most familiar to viewers as a cast member on Falling Skies and American Crime as well as his breakthrough lead performance in Stephen Dunn’s Closet Monster, he is...

As part of the Meet the Filmmakers series, A.W. A Portrait of Apichatpong Weerasethakul, is now screening on the Criterion Channel on FilmStruck. Directed by Connor Jessup, who will be most familiar to viewers as a cast member on Falling Skies and American Crime as well as his breakthrough lead performance in Stephen Dunn’s Closet Monster, he is also a filmmaker in his own right with two short films under his belt, Boy and Lira’s Forest. Jessup is influenced by the work of Thai filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul, for whom his admiration runs very deep. A mid-length documentary that leans neither towards behind-the-scenes nor bio formats, A.W. is a leisurely and meditative piece that matches the filmmaker’s easygoing personality and patient rhythm. Made well ahead of the production of his next feature, Memoria, which will be set in Colombia and star longtime friend Tilda Swinton, Jessup...

Netflix adds new movies almost every day, which only makes it harder to find ones worth watching. That’s where IndieWire comes in. From low-budget American gems to foreign film masterpieces, these are the overlooked independent movies you’ve got to make time for on Netflix. All titles are now available to stream.

Read More: 7 Netflix Original Movies That Are Worth Seeking Out

“6 Years” (2015)

“6 Years” provides a moving snapshot of a troubled relationship. The movie follows a young couple facing the titular anniversary as their future is challenged by various spats and infidelities. With an improvisatory style and two heartbreaking performances from Taissa Farmiga and Ben Rosenfield, “6 Years” imbues its traditional narrative with a fiery edge. Read IndieWire’s review.

“A Woman, A Part“ (2016)

In her feature directorial debut, Elisabeth Subrin confronts industry-wide sexism head on, making it clear that her protagonist’s experiences are not unique and dismantling any...

Manuel here. One Ms Buffy Summers celebrated 20 years this past week (in her televised incarnation, at least) and I'd be remiss if I didn't add to the celebrations. That plucky Slayer and lover vampires remains my most cherished pop culture icon, infecting and influencing how I think, quip, and write. She even got to me to try my hand at video essays ("The Key to the Hellmouth") and was why I so warmed up to Stephen Dunn's wonderful Closet Monster which is a queer descendent of Joss Whedon's show (a character is, after all, named after her).

Back in July 2014, for reasons I can't even remember now, I began a silly Instagram project wherein I'd caption all the photos I'd upload on that social channel solely with episode titles from Whedon's show. It became a daily challenge (yes, there was a spreadsheet) and one which only a crazy fan could concoct.

Closet Monster

You think you know what Closet Monster will do, but you don’t exactly. After all, it has the familiar beats of many coming-of-age stories: the (hopefully) last summer at home, a pending college application, a desperate crush. But director Stephen Dunn has spun these clichés into a fresh take based on his experiences growing up in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and it is clear from the film’s opening scenes that this story is personal. We meet Oscar Madly (Connor Jessup) as a boy, in the apparent bliss just before his parents’ separation and before he witnesses a brutal hate crime that will saddle him with mental and physical stress for years to come. Oscar copes by retreating into fantasy worlds (the hamster keeping him company voiced by none other than Isabella Rossellini), and it’s in the film’s twists and turns of magical realism and...

Author: Steven Neish

It’s the summer of 1976, and in small-town Nova Scotia Kit (Dylan Authors) is looking to run away from home with his girlfriend Alice (Julia Sarah Stone) in order to reunite with his estranged mother Laurie (Molly Parker). The pair are led, in a fashion, by Andy Warhol (Rhys Bevan-John), an idol of Kit’s who occasionally manifests as his self-appointed spirit guide. At first Kit struggles to articulate his reasons for leaving, though it’s clear that it has something to do with his father Dave (Allan Hawco). However with time and distance he begins to understand his heart’s true desire, and unlike Alice it isn’t to finally consummate their relationship.

Shot in black and white, Weirdos is already pretty unusual even before it introduces an imaginary Andy Warhol — or Not Andy Warhol, as he is later credited after suggesting that he might actually...

With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we’ve taken it upon ourselves to highlight the titles that have recently hit platforms. Every week, one will be able to see the cream of the crop (or perhaps some simply interesting picks) of streaming titles (new and old) across platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and more (note: U.S. only). Check out our rundown for this week’s selections below.

Closet Monster (Stephen Dunn)

Writer/director Stephen Dunn’s feature debut Closet Monster cares little about convention to tell the story of Oscar Madly (Connor Jessup) growing up with a psychological revulsion to his sexual urges, all thanks to an extremely disturbing event witnessed as a child. This prologue glimpse at his youth (played by Jack Fulton) is a mash-up of tough coming-of-age-dramatics and a dark-edged imaginative whimsy that intrigues to draw you closer.

The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association (Galeca), of which I'm a proud voting member, has revealed its nominees for the best in film and television of 2016. Barry Jenkins' "Moonlight" led the pack with 7 nods followed by Damien Chazelle's "La La Land" with 6. Winners will be announced on Thursday, January 26.

Complete List Of Galeca 2016/17 Dorian Awards Nominees:

Note: Categories with more than five nominees involved a tie)

Film of the Year

Jackie (Fox Searchlight)

La La Land (Summit/Lionsgate)

Manchester by the Sea (Roadside/Amazon Studios)

Moonlight (A24)

20th Century Women (A24)

Director of the Year

(Film or Television)

Barry Jenkins, Moonlight (A24)

Pablo Larraín, Jackie (Fox Searchlight)

Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester By the Sea (Roadside/Amazon Studios)

Park Chan-wook, The Handmaiden (Amazon Studios)

Damien Chazelle, La La Land (Summit/Lionsgate)

Film Performance of the Year . Actress

Annette Bening, 20th Century Women (A24)

Viola Davis, Fences (Paramount)

Isabelle Huppert,...

For the second year in a row, the Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association (Galeca) have rallied around an obvious favorite: “Moonlight.” Last year, Todd Haynes’s “Carol” swept Galeca’s Dorian Awards, and from its prominence amongst the nominees announced today, “Moonlight” will likely do the same.

Read More: The 20 Best Queer Films on Netflix Right Now

Not restricted to films with explicit queer themes, the films nominated for film of the year are “Jackie,” “Manchester by the Sea,” “La La Land, “20th Century Women,” and “Moonlight.” The nominees for Lgbtq Film of the Year are “Being 17,” “Closet Monster,” “Moonlight,” “Other People,” and “The Handmaiden.”

Judging by its very strong Oscar chances, the enthusiasm for “Moonlight” has overshadowed all other worthy queer films. “The Handmaiden” was notably absent from the Oscar short list for Best Foreign Language Film, and the other three Dorian nominees are not in contention at all.

The Canada-Ireland co-productions were among the highlights of the past year as the organisation used its annual public assembly on Wednesday to look back at some of its accomplishments.

Attendees – a mix of invited members of the public and professionals from Canada’s audiovisual industry – heard how in 2015-2016 Telefilm Canada supported the production of 110 and the marketing of 105 features and the development of 258 projects.

Heading into its 50th anniversary year in 2017, the organisation helped promote Canadian talent at 42 festivals and 102 events and initiatives across the country and at 34 festivals, markets and events around the world for a total investment of $95.7m.

2015-2016 marked Telefilm’s 40th anniversary in co-production management. In 2015, total production budgets for 53 film and television treaty co-production projects amounted to $447m and involved 15 partner countries.

Canada and Ireland signed a new treaty in 2016 and partnered recently on Brooklyn and Room (pictured). Both earned best picture Oscar nominations, marking the first...

Celebrating its ninth consecutive edition, the Razor Reel Flanders Film Festival has revealed a full slate of high-caliber movies. True to its roots as a fantastic film festival while unafraid to cover some new ground, the Flemish fest still takes place in the historic city center of Bruges, in the Cinema Liberty; from 10th – 15th November.

Beginning the festivities on Thursday the 10th of November, Razor Reel looks to Belgium-born Johnny Galecki for inspiration by hosting the national premiere of The Master Cleanse. Following its opening film with another screening at midnight, Razor Reel presents the long-awaited Belgian premiere of The Devil’s Candy, Sean Byrne’s ode to heavy metal Satanism. Closing the festival in style on Tuesday the 15th of November is South-Korea’s zombie-outbreak horror Train to Busan, which has delighted audiences around the world since its Cannes 2016 premiere.

In between these genre fest regulars Razor Reel...

Taking place in Bruges, Belgium, the Razor Reel Flanders Film Festival's complete lineup was recently announced, giving horror fans plenty of good reasons to circle November 10th–15th on their calendars, as the anticipated screenings include The Devil's Candy, I Am Not a Serial Killer, The Barn, Teenage Cocktail, and more.

Press Release: Bruges, Belgium - October 5, 2016 - Celebrating its ninth consecutive edition, the Razor Reel Flanders Film Festival has revealed a full slate of high-caliber movies. True to its roots as a fantastic film festival while unafraid to cover some new ground, the Flemish fest still takes place in the historic city center of Bruges, in the Cinema Liberty. Film fans are welcome to attend from 10-15 November.

Beginning the festivities on Thursday the 10th of November, Razor Reel looks to Belgium-born Johnny Galecki for inspiration by hosting the national premiere of The Master Cleanse. Following its opening film with another screening at midnight,...

Rather than take the high-end prime specialty route with initial New York/Los Angeles dates, this week’s top two releases—Mira Nair’s well-reviewed “Queen of Katwe” (Disney) and Jocelyn Moorhouse’s less welcomed “The Dressmaker” (Broad Green)—both jumped to multiple top cities.

Two of the leading Sundance 2016 films – “The Lovers and the Despot” (Magnolia) and “Goat” (The Film Arcade”) took the national bookings with day-and-date Video on Demand strategy. A third, documentary “Audrie & Daisy,” debuted on Netflix along with some minimal unreported theatrical dates (to get it reviewed in the movie section and Oscar qualified).

None of these popped with particularly impressive grosses. No doubt some of the big titles ahead will go the more conventional route and score big results. But the lay of the land gets more complicated for art houses as both their exclusivity and theatrical-only patterns are at risk.

Opening

“Queen of Katwe...

A surreal and entirely original coming-of-age tale, Closet Monster tells the story of Oscar, a gay, cinephilic high school senior who has been grappling with the implications of his parents’ divorce — and a witnessed act of gay bashing — by, among other things, conversing with his “spirit animal”: Buffy, a pet hamster voiced by Isabella Rossellini. The feature debut of Canadian writer/director Stephen Dunn, the film has drawn comparisons to the work of countrymen David Cronenberg and Xavier Dolan, but it pulses to its own unexpectedly sincere wavelength. Below, we asked Dunn about that Cronenberg connection, star Connor Jessup […]...

Now that the summer is cooling down, we’re entering perhaps the best time of year for cinephiles, with a variety of festivals — some of which will hold premieres of our most-anticipated 2016 features — gearing up. As we do each year, after highlighting the best films offered thus far, we’ve set out to provide a comprehensive preview of the fall titles that should be on your radar, and we’ll first take a look at selections whose quality we can attest to. Ranging from acclaimed debuts at Sundance, Cannes, and more, we’ve rounded up 25 titles that will arrive from September to December (in the U.S.) and are all well worth seeking out.

As a note, these didn’t make the cut, but you can see our reviews at the links: White Girl (9/2), Other People (9/9), London Road (9/9), Goat (9/23), Sand Storm (9/28), Do Not Resist (9/30), The Birth of a Nation (10/7), Desierto...

Connor Jessup didn’t want to disappoint his director.

The Toronto actor plays Oscar, a gay teen, in director Stephen Dunn’s acclaimed first feature Closet Monster. Oscar lives in Newfoundland with his unhappily divorced father (Aaron Abrams) and dreams of leaving home to become a movie makeup artist. When he was a boy Oscar witnessed a violent gay hate crime that scarred him. Throw in living with a homophobic dad and it’s no wonder Oscar has become a closeted teenager struggling with his sexuality.

“Stephen Dunn, this is his first feature, it’s very personal to him,” says the 22-year-old actor on the line from L.A. where he’s doing press for the second season of TV’s "American Crime" in which he plays another anguished teen, Taylor Blaine. “The film’s not autobiographical, but there are a lot of elements that are very close to his heart,...

The 2016 Outfest Los Angeles Lgbt Film Festival has a little for everyone this year. One of the city’s biggest showcases for Lgbt stories has competition screenings, retrospectives, diversity panels and even a Vr workshop (all of which you can find in their 2016 film guide).

Among the festival offerings are a handful of films we’ve been lucky enough to see elsewhere. Below, we’ve gathered thoughts on some of the titles we can guarantee are valuable additions to your Outfest screening schedule.

“The Intervention”

Clea DuVall has been a familiar face in movies and on TV since she was in her teens (she recently told Indiewire that her schooling mostly came from her working experiences, not high school or college), and she’s finally made the jump to directing with a Sundance breakout that spins “The Big Chill” into unexpected new directions. Starring a cast of other big indie...

Trailers are an under-appreciated art form insofar that many times they’re seen as vehicles for showing footage, explaining films away, or showing their hand about what moviegoers can expect. Foreign, domestic, independent, big budget: What better way to hone your skills as a thoughtful moviegoer than by deconstructing these little pieces of advertising? This week […]

The post This Week In Trailers: Closet Monster, Home, Notes on Blindness, I, Daniel Blake, Gleason appeared first on /Film.

After a collection of shorts, Stephen Dunn is making his directorial debut with a coming-of-age tale following a boy named Oscar (Connor Jessup, reoccurring player in this year’s TV series American Crime) that looks equal parts psychedelic and grounded, sensual and violent. The first trailer for Closet Monster, which is also penned by Dunn, showcases the collection of awards the film has received including Best Canadian Feature at Tiff, Best Feature at the 2016 Melbourne Queer Film Fest, and a Jury Prize at Marrakech International Film Festival, among others.

The trailer also hints at small moments of comedy mixed with sweaty drama, tension, and potential violence that makes you consider both words in its title. Dunn is being compared to both David Cronenberg and Xavier Dolan, with a distinct voice of his own. We said in our review: “Dunn’s maneuvering from light touches to blinding violence is bold and...

Come get your Q on starting this Friday! The Ninth Annual QFest St. Louis, presented by Cinema St. Louis, runs April 24-28 at the Hi-Pointe Backlot Theatre. The St. Louis-based Lgbtq film festival, QFest will present an eclectic slate of 28 films – 13 features (seven narratives and six documentaries) and 15 short subjects. The participating filmmakers represent a wide variety of voices in contemporary queer world cinema. The mission of the film festival is to use the art of contemporary gay cinema to spotlight the lives of Lgbtq people and to celebrate queer culture.

The 2016 QFest St. Louis begins on Sunday, April 24, and runs through Thursday, April 28. Tickets are on sale now for all shows. Cost is $12 each or $10 for students and Cinema St. Louis members with valid and current IDs. All screenings will be held at the Hi-Pointe Backlot Theatre, located at 1002 Hi Pointe Place, directly behind the Hi-Pointe Theatre. Advance sales...

This weekend New Yorkers will have a change to dive into a selection of the best recent Canadian cinema thanks to a showcase created by Tiff and Telefilm Canada appropriately called "See the North." On April 1, 2 and 3 2016, audiences at the IFC Center in New York City will be treated to this curated program of Canada’s finest creative talent, with directors in attendance for intros and Q+A’s.

The series includes the most recent work my Oscar-nominated filmmaker Philippe Falardeau ("Monsieur Lazhar"), an Lgbt-themed debut, and a drama starring Ellen Page and Evan Rachel Wood.

Here is the full lineup:

"Closet Monster" – Ontario/Newfoundland

A film by Stephen Dunn

Starring Connor Jessup, Aaron Abrams, Joanne Kelly, Aliocha Schneider, Sofia Banzhaf, Jack Fulton, Mary Walsh, Isabella Rossellini

Rt: 90min

U.S. Distributor: Strand Releasing

Screening: 4/1 at 9:30pm with intro and Q + A from director Stephen Dunn

Canada Goose Award for Best Canadian Feature Film, 2015 Toronto International Film Festival

An East Coast teenager and aspiring special-effects makeup artist (Connor Jessup, Blackbird, 2012 Tiff Rising Star) struggles with both his sexuality and his fear of his macho father, in this imaginative twist on the coming-of-age tale from first-time feature director Stephen Dunn.

"The Demons" (Les démons) – Quebec

A film by Philippe Lesage

Starring: Edouard Tremblay-Grenier, Pier-Luc Funk, Pascale Buissière

Rt: 118min

Sales Agent: FunFilm Distribution

Screening: 4/2 at 9:30pm with intro and Q + A with director Philippe Lesage

While Montreal is in the throes of a string of kidnappings targeting young boys, 10-year-old Felix is finishing his school year in the seemingly quiet suburb where he lives. A sensitive boy with a vivid imagination, Felix is afraid of everything. Little by little, his imaginary demons begin to mirror those of the increasingly disturbing world around him.

"Into the Fores" – British Columbia/Ontario

A film by Patricia Rozema

Starring Ellen Page, Evan Rachel Wood, Max Minghella, Callum Keith Rennie, Michael Eklund, Wendy Crewson

Rt: 101min

U.S. Distributor: A24 Films

Screening: 4/1 at 7:00pm with intro and Q + A from director Patricia Rozema

Two sisters (Ellen Page and Evan Rachel Wood) struggle to survive in a remote country house after a continent-wide power outage, in this gripping apocalyptic drama by one of Canada’s most celebrated filmmakers.

"My Internship in Canda" (Guibord s'en va-t-en guerre) – Quebec

A film by Philippe Falardeau

Starring Patrick Huard, Irdens Exantus, Clémence Dufresne-Deslières and Suzanne Clément

Produced by Luc Déry, Kim Mccraw

Rt: 108min

Sales Agent: Film Distribution

Screening: 4/2 at 7:00pm with intro and Q+A from director Philippe Falardeau

Guibord is an independent Member of Parliament representing a vast county in Northern Quebec who unwillingly finds himself in the awkward position of determining whether Canada will go to war. Accompanied by his wife, daughter and Souverain (Sovereign) Pascal, an idealistic intern from Haiti, Guibord travels across his district in order to consult his constituents and face his own conscience. This film is a sharp political satire in which politicians, citizens and lobbyists go head-to-head while tearing democracy to shreds.

"Our Loved Ones" (Les Êtres Chers) – Quebec

A film by Anne Émond

Starring: Maxim Gaudette, Karelle Tremblay, Valérie Cadieux, Mickaël Gouin

Rt: 102min

Sales Agent: Wide Management

Screening: 4/3 at 7:00pm with intro and Q+A from director Anne Émond

The story begins in 1978 in a small town on the Lower St.-Lawrence where the Leblanc family is rocked by the tragic death of Guy, found dead in the basement of the family home. For many years, the real cause of his death is hidden from certain members of the family, his son David among them. David starts his own family with his wife Marie and lovingly raises his children, Laurence and Frédéric, but deep down he still carries with him a kind of unhappiness. Our Loved Ones is a film of filial love, family secrets, redemption and inherited fate. Featuring 2015 Tiff Rising Star Karelle Tremblay.

"Sleeping Giant" (Le géant endormi) – Ontario

A film by Andrew Cividino

Starring: Jackson Martin, Nick Serino, Reece Moffett, David Disher, Erika Brodzky, Katelyn McKerracher, Lorraine Philp

Rt: 90min

U.S. Distributor: FilmBuff

Screening: 4/3 at 9:30pm with intro and Q+A from director Andrew Cividino

City of Toronto Award for Best Canadian First Feature Film, 2015 Toronto International Film Festival

Spending his summer vacation on rugged Lake Superior, teenager Adam befriends Riley and Nate, smart-aleck cousins who pass their ample free time with pranks, vandalism and reckless cliff jumping. The revelation of a hurtful secret sets in motion a series of irreversible events that test the bonds of friendship and change the boys forever.

It’s almost time to get your Q on, St. Louis!! The Ninth Annual QFest St. Louis, presented byCinema St. Louis, runs April 24-28th at The Hi-Pointe Backlot (1002 Hi Pointe Place)

The St. Louis-based Lgbtq film festival, QFest will present an eclectic slate of films from filmmakers that represent a wide variety of voices in contemporary queer world cinema. The mission of the film festival is to use the art of contemporary gay cinema to illustrate the diversity of the Lgbtq community and to explore the complexities of living an alternative lifestyle.

All screenings at the Hi-Pointe Backlot, 1002 Hi Pointe Place, St. Louis, Mo 63117. Individual tickets are $12 for general admission, $10 for students and Cinema St. Louis members with valid and current photo IDs.

Advance tickets may be purchased at the Hi-Pointe Backlot box office or website. For more info, visit the Cinema St. Louis site Here

http://www.cinemastlouis.

Toronto International Film Festival Artistic Director Cameron Bailey announced today that Tiff and Telefilm Canada have teamed up to create "See the North," a U.S.-bound traveling tour of some of the best contemporary Canadian films currently available. First stop: New York City! On April 1, 2 and 3, audiences at the IFC Center in New York will be treated to a specially curated selection of Canada’s finest creative talent, with directors in attendance for introductions and post-screening Q&As. Select films will go on to tour additional cities across the U.S. with further details set to be announced this coming summer. The films include Stephen Dunn's lauded Tiff winner "Closet Monster," Patricia Rozema's "Into the Forest," the very funny farce "My Internship in Canada" and many more. Of the news, Bailey said, "Canadian movies and Canadian talent have proven themselves among the...

The more “international” body of tastemaker critics have anointed Todd Haynes’ Carol, Hou Hsaio-Hsien’s The Assassin, George Miller’s Mad Max, Sean Baker’s Tangerine and Bruno Dumont’s Li’l Quinquin as the better film items for 2015 and top vote getters with the most noms for 2016 Ics Awards. Winners of the 13th Ics Awards will be announced on February 21, 2016. Here are the noms and all the categories.

Picture

• 45 Years

• Arabian Nights

• The Assassin

• Carol

• Clouds of Sils Maria

• The Duke of Burgundy

• Inside Out

• Li’l Quinquin

• Mad Max: Fury Road

• A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence

• Tangerine

Director

• Sean Baker – Tangerine

• Bruno Dumont – Li’l Quinquin

• Todd Haynes – Carol

• Hou Hsaio-Hsien – The Assassin

• George Miller – Mad Max: Fury Road

Film Not In The English Language

• Amour Fou

• Arabian Nights

• The Assassin

• Hard to Be a God

• Jauja

• La Sapienza

• Li’l Quinquin

• Phoenix

• A...

A lead up to the evening’s most perplexing event, was the switcheroo announcement crowning the top film of the festival first (Very Big Shot) and once that was out of the way, the big “move” from the jury was to make sure that everyone gets a trophy, and that no one wins second place (or it can be certainly read this way). During a time where the Paris events have still in public consciousness, the 15th edition will be looked back as one that unites. Unfortunately for me, there would be no after party and Todd Haynes’ Carol will have to wait as my battle with stomach demons continued. Here is the complete tally of the prizes. I wonder what airport security thought about the statute.

L’ÉTOILE D’Or – Le Grand Prix Du Festival

The Golden Star – Festival Grand Prize

Very Big Shot (Film kteer kbeer) de/by...

The 27th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) has announced its line-up of Premieres, New Voices/New Visions competition and Modern Masters. Films from 60 countries, including 54 premieres (7 World, 17 North American and 30 U.S.), will unspool at the Festival, running from January 1-11, 2016 in Palm Springs, California.

“The line-up this year, while full of unexpected surprises, vividly reflects what is going on in the world around us,” said Festival Director Darryl Macdonald. “There’s a particular focus on stories about displaced people – immigrants, emigrants, refugees, those seeking asylum or shelter. There’s a concurrent trend toward stories revolving around new beginnings and escaping the shackles of the past, whether sexual, cultural, societal or self-imposed. Balancing all of these is a focus on family and romance, along with films involving a healthy dose of magic realism or absurdist comedy, and a plethora of exceptional films dealing with the usual obsessions – music, food, sex and art. All in all, it’s about as well-rounded, as thoughtfully chosen, and as provocative as it’s possible for a smartly curated lineup of new international cinema to be.”

“I am thrilled at the breadth and depth of this year’s program,” said Festival Artistic Director Helen du Toit. “While Modern Masters showcases such widely acclaimed filmmakers as as Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Barbara Kopple and Terence Davies, our New Voices/New Visions program is evidence that new masters are emerging around the world. The range of approaches is extraordinary. Highlights include Raam Reddy's 'Thithi' (India), which skillfully juggles myriad characters in a delightful low key comedy; Yorgos Zois’ 'Interruption' (Greece), which challenges the audience with a complex and highly compelling narrative; and Maris Curran's 'Five Nights in Maine' (USA), featuring David Oyelowo's nuanced and heartbreaking performance as a widower reconnecting with his estranged mother-in-law.”

Showcasing the diversity of international cinema, Festival premieres will include:

World premieres: "50 Days in the Desert" (Luxembourg) directed by Fabrizio Maltese, "Agnes" (Germany/Belgium), the documentary "Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age" (Us) featuring Alec Baldwin, Carol Channing, Dick Van Dyke, Jane Fonda and Robert Redford, "The Carer" (Hungary/UK), "Going Going Gone" (UK), "Searchdog" (Us) and "Set the Thames on Fire" (UK).

North American premieres: "Banat" (Italy/Romania/Bulgaria/Macedonia), "Death By Death" (Belgium/France), "A Decent Man" (Switzerland),"Departure" (France/UK),"Fly Away Solo" (India/France), "Interruption" (Greece/Croatia), "A Korean in Paris" (South Korea/France), "The Memory of Water" (Chile/Spain/Argentina/Germany), "Moor" (Pakistan), "On My Mother’s Side" (Canada), "Paradise Trips" (Belgium/Croatia), "Rosita" (Denmark), "Spy Time" (Spain), "Tanna" (Australia/Vanuatu), "Thithi" (India/Us/Canada), "Utopians" (Hong Kong) and "When a Tree Falls" (Spain).

U.S. premieres: "1944" (Estonia/Finland), "3000 Nights" (Palestine/France/Jordan/Lebanon), "Atomic Falafel" (Israel/Germany/New Zealand), "Belgian Rhapsody" (Belgium), "Beyond My Grandfather Allende" (Chile/Mexico), "Born to Dance" (New Zealand), "Closet Monster" (Canada), "Enclave" (Serbia/Germany), "The Endless River" (South Africa/France), "Endorphine" (Canada),Exotica, "Erotica, Etc." (France), "Fire Song" (Canada), "Five Nights in Maine" (Us), "A Heavy Heart" (Germany), "Home Care" (Czech Republic/Slovakia), "Let Them Come" (Algeria/France), "My Big Night" (Spain), "My Internship in Canada" (Canada), "The Other Side" (Italy/France), "Our Everyday Life" (Bosnia, Herzegovina/Slovenia/Croatia), "The Paradise Suite" (Netherlands/Sweden/Bulgaria), "Parched" (India/Us/UK), "Parisienne" (France), "Sabali" (Canada), "Sleeping Giant" (Canada), "Summer Solstice" (Poland/Germany), "Trap" (Philippines), "The Violin Teacher" (Brazil), "Wedding Doll" (Israel) and " Zubaan" (India).

The New Voices/New Visions competition showcases 12 Us premieres from top emerging international directors marking their feature film debut at the Festival, with the additional criteria that the films selected are currently without U.S. distribution. The winner is selected by a jury of U.S. distributors which include Gary Rubin of Cohen Media, Dan Berger of Oscilloscope and Ryan Kampe of Visit Films/Monument Releasing. The winner will receive use of a $60,000 Panavision camera package and a glass sculpture designed for the Festival by renowned artist Dale Chihuly. Films selected for this year include:

"Banat" (Italy/Romania/Bulgaria/Macedonia), Director Adriano Valerio "Death By Death" (Belgium/France), Director Xavier Seron "Departure" (UK/France), Director Andrew Steggall "Five Nights in Maine" (Us), Director Maris Curran and starring David Oyelowo "A Heavy Heart" (Germany), Director Thomas Stuber "Home Care" (Czech Republic/Slovakia), Director Slávek Horák "Interruption" (Greece/Croatia), Director Yorgos Zois "Let Them Come" (Algeria/France), Director Salem Brahimi "Our Everyday Life" (Bosnia and Herzegovina/Slovenia/Croatia), Director Ines Tanović "Paradise Trips" (Belgium/Croatia), Director Raf Reyntjens "Sleeping Giant" (Canada), Director Andrew Cividino "Thithi" (India/Us/Canada), Director Raam Reddy

The Modern Masters section features 10 films from international directors who set the standards for contemporary cinema. Films selected for this year include:

"Cemetery Of Splendour" (Thailand/UK), Director Apichatpong Weerasethakul "Dheepan" (France), Director Jacques Audiard "Miss Sharon Jones!" (Us), Director Barbara Kopple "Mountains May Depart" (China/France/Japan), Director Jia Zhangke "My Golden Days" (France), Director Arnaud Desplechin "My Mother" (Italy/France), Director Nanni Moretti "Our Little Sister" (Japan), Director Hirokazu Kore-eda "Sunset Song" (UK/Luxembourg), Director Terence Davies "Sweet Bean" (Japan), Director Naomi Kawase "Women He’s Undressed" (Australia), Director Gillian Armstrong

Other Festival films with notable talent and directors include: "45 Years" (UK) directed by Andrew Haigh and starring Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay, "Anomalisa" (Us) directed by Duke Johnson and Charlie Kaufman with the voices of David Thewlis and Jennifer Jason Leigh, "Chronic" (Mexico/France) starring Tim Roth, "Closet Monster" (Canada) with Connor Jessup and Isabella Rossellini, "Eisenstein in Guanajuato" (Netherlands/Mexico/Finland/Belgium/France) directed by Peter Greenaway, "February" (Us/Canada) starring Kiernan Shipka and Emma Roberts, "Hello, My Name is Doris" (Us) starring Sally Field, Max Greenfield, Beth Behrs and Stephen Root, "Hitchcock/Truffaut" (France/Us) directed by Kent Jones and featuring Peter Bogdanovich, David Fincher and Richard Linklater, "The Invitation" (Us) starring Logan Marshall-Green and Michiel Huisman, "The Lady in the Van" (UK) directed by Nicholas Hytner and starring Maggie Smith, Jim Broadbent and James Corden, "Louder Than Bombs" (USA) starring Jesse Eisenberg, Gabriel Byrne and Isabelle Huppert, "Men & Chicken" (Denmark) starring Mads Mikkelsen, "Papa (Cuba)" directed by Bob Yari and starring Giovanni Ribisi, Joely Richardson and Minka Kelly, "A Perfect Day" (Spain) starring Benicio del Toro, Tim Robbins and Olga Kurylenko, "The Seventh Fire" (Us) executive produced by Terrence Malick, Natalie Portman and Chris Eyre, and "Where to Invade Next" (Us) directed by Michael Moore.

The complete line-up will be available on December 18 at www.psfilmfest.org.

Francis Ford Coppola’s jury awards all other competition entries a jury prize.

The 15th Marrakech International Film Festival (Dec 04-12) saw jury president Francis Ford Coppola and his fellow jurors award all films in competition the event’s jury prize, apart from Lebanese-Qatari feature Very Big Shot, which won the Golden Star Festival Grand Prize.

Coppola announced the joint prize in a speech during the closing ceremony: “This year’s jury prize is for cinema itself,” said the director, adding that the decision was made by the “majority vote of the jury”.

In Jean Bou Chaaya’s Very Big Shot a small-time Lebanese drug-dealer slyly manipulates public opinion with the help of a filmmaker.

The best directing prize went to Gabriel Mascaro for his film Neon Bull.

Gunnar Jonsson snapped up the best actor prize for his performance in Virgin Mountain.

The best actress prize went to Galatea Bellugi for her performance in Guillaume Senez’s [link...

The Film Experience loves Toronto. Not only is it home to the best festival, Tiff, but it's also full of Canadians and our own Amir Soltani. On top of those two pluses, the Toronto Film Critics Association includes great critics like Calum Marsh, Bill Chambers and Angelo Murrada (the latter two have guested on "Smackdowns" right here!). The Tfca was established in 1997 and gave their first Best Film prize to Atom Egoyan's brilliant movie The Sweet Hereafter. This year double prizes for Carol, Ex Machina, and Phoenix and a prize for Tom Hardy for playing double as the twin Krays in Legend.

Best Film Carol

Best Director Todd Haynes, Carol

Best Actress Nina Hoss, Phoenix

Best Actor Tom Hardy, Legend

This is the second year in a row that Tom Hardy has won Tfca's Best Actor prize. He took it last year for his solo act Locke. He really...

Stephen Dunn’s drama starring Connor Jessup and featuring the voice of Isabella Rossellini premiered in Toronto where it won Best Canadian Feature Film.

Rhombus Media and Best Boy Entertainment’s Closet Monster centres on an alienated young man unsure of his sexuality and on the cusp of adulthood who confronts his demons with the help of a talking hamster.

Kevin Krikst and Fraser Ash of Rhombus Media produced with Edward J Martin of Best Boy Entertainment. Rhombus head Niv Fichman served as executive producer with Ed Martin.

Closet Monster was produced with the participation of Telefilm Canada, Newfoundland & Labrador Film Development Corporation, The Harold Greenberg Fund and Rogers Telefund.

Elevation Pictures holds Canadian rights and Fortissimo Films handles international sales.

Strand negotiated the deal with Cinetic Media and plans a summer 2016 release.

Read More: Toronto Review: 'Closet Monster' Is the Only Coming-of-Age Tale With a Talking Hamster That You Will Ever Need Strand Releasing has acquired all U.S. rights to "Closet Monster," directed by newcomer Stephen Dunn. The film premiered at Tiff 2015, where it won the Best Canadian Feature Film Award. "Closet Monster" stars Connor Jessup and features the voice of Isabella Rossellini as a talking hamster.  The synopsis for "Closet Monster" is as follows: "'Closet Monster' tells the story of Oscar Madly (Jessup), a creative and driven teenager who hovers on the brink of adulthood. Destabilized by his dysfunctional parents, unsure of his sexuality, and haunted by horrific images of a tragic gay bashing he witnessed as a child, Oscar dreams of escaping the town he feels is suffocating him. A talking hamster (voiced by Rossellini), imagination and the prospect of love help him confront his surreal demons and discover.

Plus: ‘Remember’ to open 2016 Miami Jewish Film Festival; RealD expands China footprint; Canada’s Top Ten Film festival line-up; and more…

Carol star Rooney Mara will receive the 31st Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s Cinema Vanguard Award from her co-star Cate Blanchett on February 12, 2016. Previous recipients include Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones, Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio. The festival will run from February 3-13, 2016.

The Miami Jewish Film Festival returns to Miami for the 19th year and will open with Remember and close with The Search For Israeli Cuisine, writes Jeremy Berkowitz. The festival is set to run from January 14-28, 2016, and will screen more than 40 films. For further details click here.RealD Inc continues to expand it global technology footprint, signing a Luxe: A RealD Experience installation agreement with Kunming Dadou Motain Wanguo Cinema in Yunan province that is expected to open in Q1 2016 and a deal with Hong Kong and Chinese exhibitor Broadway Circuit...

Plus: RealD expands China footprint; Canada’s Top Ten Film festival line-up; Digital Domain hires evp/general counsel; and more…

The Miami Jewish Film Festival returns to Miami for the 19th year and will open with Remember and close with The Search For Israeli Cuisine, writes Jeremy Berkowitz. The festival is set to run from January 14-28, 2016, and will screen more than 40 films. For further details click here.

RealD Inc continues to expand it global technology footprint, signing a Luxe: A RealD Experience installation agreement with Kunming Dadou Motain Wanguo Cinema in Yunan province that is expected to open in Q1 2016 and a deal with Hong Kong and Chinese exhibitor Broadway Circuit for seven Luxe: A RealD Experience auditoriums in Mainland China.The Toronto International Film festival unveiled on Tuesday the line-up for Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival. The event runs from January 8-17, 2016, and will screen Closet Monster, The Demons...

Full line-up of the Stockholm film festival includes feature and documentary competition line-ups.Scroll down for full line-up

The Stockholm International Film Festival (Nov 11-22) has unveiled the line-up for its 26th edition, comprising more than 190 films from over 70 countries.

The Stockholm Xxvi Competition includes Marielle Heller’s Us title The Diary of a Teenage Girl and László Nemes’ Holocaust drama Son Of Saul.

It marks the first time Stockholm has a greater number of women than men competing for the Bronze Horse – the festival’s top prize.

The documentary competition includes Amy Berg’s An Open Secret, an investigation into accusations of teenagers being sexually abused within the film industry; and Cosima Spender’s Palio, centred on the annual horse race in Siena, Italy.

Announcing the programme, festival director Git Scheynius also revealed that Chinese artist Ai Weiwei will visit Stockholm for the first time as chairman of the jury for the first Stockholm Impact Award, which...