Indie films 2016

EXCLUSIVE : Over the last year, director and VFX artist Kane Parsons has shot his YouTube following into the stratosphere with the viral success of his mysterious short, “ The Backrooms (Found Footage).” It’s the first in a series of found-footage horror videos which have thus far garnered nearly 100 million views and will now be adapted for the big screen by A24 , Atomic Monster , Chernin Entertainment and 21 Laps. Parsons — who’s just 17 years old — will direct from a script by Roberto Patino ( DMZ ). He’ll just have to wait till his summer vacation. Details as to the plot of the sci-fi horror feature are under wraps. But in the ’90s-set original short (which you can view below), a young filmmaker’s fall into another dimension leaves him wandering through an unsettlingly yellow, empty and labyrinthine office space, which may or may not be home to otherworldly beings. The film’s title and setting draw inspiration from the imagery of a creepypasta (or internet urban … [Read more...] about ‘The Backrooms’ Horror Film Based On Viral Shorts By 17-Year-Old Kane Parsons In Works At A24, Atomic Monster, Chernin & 21 Laps

The Only Way is Essex indie Lime Pictures has unveiled UK entertainment vet Mirella Breda as its Chief Creative Officer, Unscripted. Breda, Escape to the Chateau indie Two Rivers Media’s Head of Entertainment, joins in the newly-created role, which was revealed last month following the departure of Lime’s Sarah Tyekiff and decision by the All3Media -backed indie to forge popular factual division with All3Media stablemates Lion Television and Wise Owl Films. Lime produces reality hits such as The Only Way is Essex and Geordie Shore and scripted shows including Hollyoaks and Free Rein. Breda, whose past credits include Big Brother , Stars in Their Eyes and Tenable and is a former MD of Big Brother producer Initial, will oversee the division that will forge popular factual shows for the domestic and global market. Tyekiff is departing soon to launch her own production company while Rebecca Kenny-Smith was recently promoted to Director of … [Read more...] about ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ Indie Lime Pictures Unveils Chief Creative Officer For Unscripted

Amidst continuing controversy over alleged sexual misconduct, it turns out Woody Allen isn’t turning the other cheek to the end of his multimillion-dollar and multi-picture deal with Amazon. The Oscar winner on Thursday hit the studio division of the Jeff Bezos -founded company with a $68 million lawsuit over the cancellation of a four-film agreement and Amazon Studios killing distribution of Allen’s long-completed and shelved movie A Rainy Day in New York . “In June 2018, however, Amazon backed out of the deals, purporting to terminate them without any legal basis for doing so, while knowing that its actions would cause substantial damage to Mr. Allen, Gravier, investors and the artists and crew involved in making the films,” reads the complaint, citing breach of contract, filed by lawyers for Allen and his Gravier Productions in federal court ( read it here ). “Amazon has tried to excuse its action by referencing a 25-year-old baseless allegation against Mr. … [Read more...] about Woody Allen Hits Amazon With $68M Suit Over Killed Film Deal & “Baseless Allegations”

The Woman King headlined the African American Film Critics Association’s annual list of the top 10 films of the year. The film, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, boasts an ensemble cast led by Viola Davis which includes Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, and Thuso Mbedu as the Agojie, an all-female army of fierce warriors. John Boyega also stars as King Ghezo. “The best films of this year prove that diverse stories – the true and the fantastical – are not only important to the culture but are equally important to the movie-making business,” said AAFCA president and co-founder Gil Robertson. “Black films which make an impact on our minds and hearts are also making a sizable impact at the box office. Our top film, The Woman King bridges the gap between telling important, heartfelt stories, and providing an entertaining experience for movie-going audiences. These true tales of black empowerment and accomplishment, such as Emancipation , Devotion and Sidney , as well as … [Read more...] about ‘The Woman King’ Tops African American Film Critics Association List Of Ten Best Films Of 2022

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, … [Read more...] about Matt Reeves’ 6th & Idaho, ZQ Entertainment Team On ‘God’s Country’ Horror Film Starring Melissa Barrera; Egor Abramenko Directing – EFM

The three years in prison that Donald Trump ’s former fixer Michael Cohen received today wasn’t the only bad press the increasingly besieged former Celebrity Apprentice host was handed. The feds also revealed Wednesday that the owners of the National Enquirer have provided “substantial and important assistance” to them in their investigations. With the effective burial of the American Media Inc publication’s so-called “catch and kill” strategy to bury stores that could have adversely affected Trump, the company and CEO David Pecker were granted freedom criminal prosecution by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York for their role in paying Playboy model Karen McDougal off with $150,000 before the 2016 election. “AMI further admitted that its principal purpose in making the payment was to suppress the woman’s story so as to prevent it from influencing the election,” the U.S. Attorney’s office added announcing the non-prosecution agreement ( … [Read more...] about ‘National Enquirer’ Owner Admits “Influencing” 2016 Election With Payoffs For Donald Trump

EXCLUSIVE : Hannah John-Kamen ( Ant-Man And The Wasp ) and Theo Rossi ( Sons of Anarchy ) are set to star in the sci-fi thriller Rachel , which Highland Film Group is launching for next week’s EFM . The film will follow new mother Rachel (John-Kamen) who seemingly has the perfect life except she doesn’t recall the recent birth of her baby boy or even being pregnant. Her cookie-cutter husband Stephen (Rossi) deflects her probing questions as strange neighbors begin stalking her. Flooded with memories of an 11-year-old girl who seemed to be her daughter, the film will chart how Rachel’s perfectly constructed world begins to tear apart. Pic is being directed by Jenn Wexler, who made her directorial debut with the SXSW horror film The Ranger and is completing post production on The Sacrifice Game starring Mena Massoud and Olivia Scott Welch, and is written by playwright Vincent Delaney. Producers are Jib Polhemus ( The Last Son , The Expendables 2 ) and … [Read more...] about ‘Ant-Man’ Star Hannah John-Kamen & ‘Son’s Of Anarchy’ Star Theo Rossi To Lead Sci-Fi Thriller ‘Rachel’ — EFM

EXCLUSIVE: Anonymous Content has closed a first-look deal with Theresa Park ’s film and TV banner Per Capita Productions . Park’s Per Capita Productions is focused an auteur-driven, independent films, primarily based on literary material. Most recently, Park produced Luca Guadagnino’s Bones and All starring Timothée Chalamet, Taylor Russell and Mark Rylance. The movie has been nominated for 2023 Independent Spirit Awards for Best Feature Film, Best Lead Performance and Best Supporting Performance; received two acting nominations from the Gotham Awards; and won the Silver Lion at Venice for Best Director; and Best New Talent for Russell. Bones and All was financed by The Apartment Pictures and produced by that studio’s Lorenzo Mieli as well. Park also produced the film After Yang with Cinereach for A24, starring Colin Farrell, Jodie Turner-Smith and Justin Min, adapted by writer-director Kogonada from Alexander Weinstein’s short story Saying Goodbye to Yang … [Read more...] about Anonymous Content Inks First Look With ‘Bones And All’ Producer Theresa Park’s Per Capita Productions

NEON , which earlier made the Sundance Film Festival ’s biggest splash with a $10 million-plus deal for Assassination Nation , has acquired North American rights to Tim Wardle’s Three Identical Strangers , which premiered on Friday in the U.S. Documentary section. CNN Films owns U.S. broadcast distribution rights. Wardle’s UK-based RAW produced pic tells the incredible true story of how three complete strangers make the astounding discovery at age 19 that they are identical triplets separated at birth. The conspiracy thriller of sorts begins with the trio’s joyous reunion in 1980 which catapults them to fame but also sets in motion a chain of events that unearths an extraordinary and disturbing secret that goes far beyond their own lives. Becky Read and Grace Hughes-Hallett also produced with CNN Films in association with Channel 4. Dimitri Doganis, Amy Entelis, Courtney Sexton, Sara Ramsden, Adam Hawkins and Tom Barry executive produced. … [Read more...] about ‘Three Identical Strangers’ Docu Scores NEON Deal – Sundance

EXCLUSIVE UPDATE : NEON indeed landed Assassination Nation , but they have a partner in what is the first eight-figure deal of the Sundance Film Festival . NEON acquired the picture with AGBO for north of $10 million for worldwide rights, and a wide release commitment. AGBO is the new progressive production company launched by Joe and Anthony Russo. 30WEST arranged the deal on behalf of Neon and AGBO, and Endeavor Content repped the film. Will tell you more after the Oscar nomination news clears out. The film stars Odessa Young , Suki Waterhouse, Hari Nef, Abra, Bill Skarsgard , Bella Thorne , Colman Domingo, Joel McHale and Aniki Noni Rose. Oroducers are David Goyer, Anita Gou, Kevin Turen, Aaron L. Gilbert, Matthew J. Malek and Manu Gargi. EARLIER EXCLUSIVE : After another all-night bidding battle, NEON is negotiating toward a deal to acquire the provocative Assassination Nation , sources said. This would mark its second major buy of Sundance, following … [Read more...] about Huge Deal! NEON Teams With Russo Bros-Led AGBO In $10M+ Deal For ‘Assassination Nation’ – Sundance