Focus features jetblue student short film showcase

EXCLUSIVE : Production has wrapped on a Bulgarian live-action short film starring Oscar-nominated Bulgarian actor Maria Bakalova . The film, titled Това, Kоето Oстава (English title: What Stays After ), is directed by Dimitris Georgiev. The short is produced by No Blink Pictures, New European Wave Entertainment and Bakalova’s production company Five Oceans, co-founded with fellow actor and filmmaker Julian Kostov ( Shadow and Bone, The Toxic Avenger ). Joining Bakalova in the cast of What Stays After are leading Bulgarian actors Zachary Baharov ( Game of Thrones, Slow Horses, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One ), Elena Telbis ( Losers ) and Margita Gosheva ( The Father ), with young actor Yan Lozov as the lead. Written by Bulgarian filmmakers Georgiev and Mariy Rosen, What Stays After tells the coming-of-age story of a boy during tragic events that tear his family apart. The characters in the movie face the pain of losing a loved one, … [Read more...] about Maria Bakalova Stars In & Produces Bulgarian Short Film ‘What Stays After’

EXCLUSIVE : Matt Reeves ’ 6th & Idaho is teaming with ZQ Entertainment to produce God’s Country — a new genre film starring Scream VI’ s Melissa Barrera , which will mark the American directorial debut of Egor Abramenko ( Sputnik ). The film going into production this summer will have Barrera playing a young Salvadoran woman who travels to Kentucky to meet her fiancé. What she uncovers is something sinister beyond comprehension, as her American dream curdles into a nightmare of biblical proportions. Will Soodik ( Westworld ) wrote the script. Reeves ( The Batman ) and Rafi Crohn ( Tales from the Loop ) will produce for 6th & Idaho, alongside ZQ Entertainment’s Ara Keshishian and Petr Jákl (who financed the development), Adam Kassan ( End of Watch ), and Barrera. WME reps foreign and co-represents domestic rights with CAA Media Finance, and will introduce the project at EFM. “Egor is an exciting emerging talent,” Reeves told Deadline, “and … [Read more...] about Matt Reeves’ 6th & Idaho, ZQ Entertainment Team On ‘God’s Country’ Starring Melissa Barrera; Egor Abramenko Directing – EFM

Oscar winner and Academy member Roger Ross Williams is saying publicly what many in the documentary community have stewed over privately – that the sums of money being spent on Oscar documentary campaigns has “gotten insane.” And Williams, a former Academy Governor representing the Doc Branch, says something may be done about it. “We in the Academy, in the Doc Branch, have a campaign finance reform committee… to sort of try to work through that and figure out solutions to that. It’s gotten insane. It’s gazillions of dollars to get seen and heard,” he said, “and that’s so troubling because it should be on the merit of the films.” His remarks, less than two weeks after the Academy Awards, came in a discussion with documentary programmer and Pure Nonfiction podcaster Thom Powers at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen. Powers asked the filmmaker about “the escalating attention that awards season sucks up in our industry,” and Williams didn’t hold back. “We know it’s awards, it’s the … [Read more...] about Oscar Winner Roger Ross Williams: Spending On Oscar Doc Campaigns Has “Gotten Insane” — CPH:DOX

EXCLUSIVE : Gersh on Thursday announced their signing of James Wolk , the always-busy actor who most recently led NBC’s drama series Ordinary Joe , exec produced by Matt Reeves . Wolk in that show played Joe Kimbreau, a character followed on multiple timelines after making a pivotal, life-changing decision at his college graduation. He previously led CBS’ sci-fi thriller series Zoo , based on the bestselling novel by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge, which ran for three seasons, also starring opposite Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar in CBS’ sitcom The Crazy Ones . The actor appeared alongside Regina King, Don Johnson, and Tim Blake Nelson in HBO’s Emmy-winning smash Watchmen , and has also been seen in prominent roles on such series as Tell Me A Story (CBS All Access), Goliath (Prime Video), Billions (Showtime) and Mad Men (AMC). Notable feature credits for Wolk include Chris Sparling’s Netflix thriller Mercy , the dramedy This Is … [Read more...] about Gersh Signs ‘The Boys In The Boat’ And ‘Ordinary Joe’ Actor James Wolk

EXCLUSIVE : Actor-filmmaker Zach Braff has signed with Range Media Partners ahead of the MGM theatrical release of his newest directorial effort A Good Person , starring Florence Pugh and Morgan Freeman. The film hitting screens this Friday, March 24th, which Braff also wrote and produced, tells the story of Allison (Pugh), whose life falls apart after her involvement in a fatal accident. In the following years, it is the unlikely relationship she forms with her would-be father-in-law (Freeman) that helps her inevitably live a life worth living. Braff landed Emmy and DGA Award nominations for his directing on Ted Lasso Season 1 and also recently reteamed with that series’ co-creator Bill Lawrence as a director on his Apple series Shrinking , with Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, which has been renewed for a second season . He kicked off his career behind the camera with 2004’s Garden State — a drama that had him starring opposite Natalie Portman which … [Read more...] about ‘A Good Person’ Filmmaker Zach Braff Inks With Range Media Partners

Shari Lynette Carpenter, Miko Lim and Oscar Rene Lozoya have been selected to participate in the 2023-2025 Paramount Directors Initiative, Paramount Global announced on Thursday. The two-year program, which is now in its 19th year, matches these directors with CBS Television Network, CBS Studios, Paramount Television Studios and Paramount Global drama and comedy series directors. The primary focus of the program is to provide access and opportunities to directors, with a focus on those from underrepresented groups. Throughout the program, the directors will receive invaluable  exposure to the Paramount Global network episodic directing process. In addition to getting a chance to observe the in-depth, technical aspects of the process, participants develop relationships with showrunners, producers, network executives and other significant decision makers. The program also now guarantees participants an episode of television to direct on the CBS Television Network. “At … [Read more...] about Paramount Global Announces 2023-25 Directors Initiative Participants

“Hey Hollywood: Hire Disabled Writers, Not Just A Disability Consultant,” is the title of the Inevitable Foundation ’s latest initiative announced in an open letter to the entertainment industry on Thursday signed by notable writers, actors, and showrunners like Lauren Ridloff, Marlee Matlin, and Ramy Youssef, among many others. The initiative offers disabled creatives and the industry at large equitable and innovative solutions to work together toward building creative power for disabled artists. This includes free access to its Concierge service, a resource for creative executives, showrunners, and producers, which connects them with wonderful mid- and upper-level disabled writers for development and staffing. “The growing number of disability-inclusive film and television projects in the past few years might lead one to think that the largest minority group in America is finally seeing itself represented on-screen. But these on-screen gains have unfortunately not … [Read more...] about Lauren Ridloff, Marlee Matlin & Ramy Youssef Join Inevitable Foundation’s Call To Prioritize Hiring Of Disabled Writers

Social media star Jack Wright has signed with Buchwald for representation, the agency announced on Thursday. Best known as one of the original members of Hype House — the prominent collective of influencers and content creators based in California — 19-year-old Wright has so far amassed 11.4M followers and 740.8M likes on TikTok , with a total social reach of over 13M followers and 1B impressions across all social platforms including Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube. The fashion-focused talent’s social content spans lifestyle vlogs, dance videos, comedy sketches and more. He recently sat front row at Paris Fashion Week for brands including Emporio Armani, Fendi, Prada, Etro, Givenchy, AMI Paris and Valentino Couture, and is currently attached to star in his first feature film, with production set to kick off next year. A passionate advocate for mental health awareness, Wright in 2021 teamed up with Hollister for World Teen Mental Wellness Day. He continues to be … [Read more...] about Buchwald Signs TikTok Star & Original Hype House Member Jack Wright