News

Fledgling US distributor and international sales agency The Forge, led by longtime producer and Vashon Island Film Festival director Mark Mathias Sayre, is heading to Cannes with a slate including Civil War epic Freedom’s Path.

Brett Smith’s drama stars Gerran Howell, Rj Cyler, and Ewen Bremner and centres on a Union solider who flees battle and is rescued by a free Black man operating a section of the Underground Railroad.

The roster includes Matthew Mishory’s documentary Fioretta, which will open in the US through Gravitas Ventures and profiles lawyer and philanthropist Randy Schoenberg’s search for his oldest recorded ancestor.

Glow alumna Sydelle Noel has signed with Stewart Talent for representation.

Noel is best known for her breakout role as stuntwoman and B-movie actress Cherry Bang on all three seasons of Netflix’s Emmy-nominated Glow. She also recurred heavily as Samanda Watson on CW’s Arrow, and has been seen on such series as The Night Shift and Extant.

On the feature side, Noel can be seen in indies, Daughter of the Wolf, opposite Gina Carano and Richard Dreyfuss, and The Clearing opposite Aundrea Smith, Liam McIntyre, and Steven Swadling. She segued into the Marvel universe as one of the Dora Milaje in Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther, and also featured in Captive and in Maritte Lee Go’s action-thriller Rise.

Noel also is repped by Ryan Tunick at Entertainment 360 and attorney Ryan LeVine at Jackoway Austen Tyerman.

Exclusive: Hbcu Go — the free-streaming digital platform of Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group, which serves as the leading media provider for the nation’s 107 Historically Black Colleges and Universities — has set a new promotional partnership with the award-winning indie Freedom’s Path, starring Rj Cyler (The Harder They Fall) and Gerran Howell (1917).

As part of the release for the film — opening in 200+ AMC and Regal theaters nationwide beginning February 3, in commemoration of Black History Month — Hbcu Go will launch Hbcu Go Give 365, a community giving initiative intended to inspire and engage the Black community to lean in and provide much-needed funding to Hbcu higher learning institutions. The platform will kick off its initiative by inviting students, alumni, faculty and other members of the Hbcu community to attend screenings across the country, also donating a portion of ticket sales from Freedom Path‘s theatrical release directly to HBCUs that support the arts.

Crackle will debut a zombie feature, titled The Clearing, this May and June. This is David Matalon's first feature. And, The Clearing hopes to capitalize on zombie tropes, while bringing something fresh and a bit dead to the screen, according to the director. The story takes place in a zombie apocalypse, in which Tom (Liam McIntyre) is bonding with Mira (Aundrea Smith). Out in the woods, they have picked the worst time to go fishing as a living dead disaster unfolds. As well, The Clearing stars: Sydelle Noel ("G.L.O.W.") and Steven Swadling ("Kickboxer"). The film's trailer and poster have come out this week and are found below. Matalon pays homage to zombie films of the past, in The Clearing. Matalon says of the action and conflict in the film: "I’m thrilled to take viewers on this action-packed ride." The Clearing joins other films which have been exclusive to Crackle,...

Today's installment of Horror Highlights is jam-packed with the latest indie horror news, including: the trailer for Hallowed Be Thy Name, a Q&a with Jim Towns, trailers for The Clearing and Dinner Party, and details on the book Sequelland: A Story of Dreams and Screams:

Hallowed Be Thy Name Trailer: "Superstition, magic, and bad decisions drive us down a road into a small town in rural Louisiana with Devin, a 17-year-old boy, being dragged to his mother's hometown after his parents' ugly divorce. After arriving at his grandmother and settling into his unwanted new life, Devin meets two locals who sweep him out of his comfort zone. Like most teens they are curious and ignoring all warnings they venture deep into a forsaken Cave, thought to be haunted by local town people. Together they meet, Cauchemar, a legendary demon that wreaks havoc on all those it encounters. They learn...

"Run!!" Crackle has unveiled the official trailer for an indie zombie horror film titled The Clearing, which will be premiering exclusively on the Crackle Channel streaming early next month. The zombie thriller stars Liam McIntyre as a father who takes his young daughter, played by Aundrea Smith (seen on "Diary of a Future President"), on a weekend camping trip during a mysterious disease outbreak. They end up trapped in his camper in a clearing near the woods, fighting vicious zombies in hopes of making it out alive. Also starring Sydelle Noel and Steven Swadling. Writer/director David Matalon's goal with this was "to pay homage to beloved zombie tropes while blazing his own way with imaginative screenwriting and innovative filmmaking techniques." The tagline in the trailer is pretty ballsy: "You think your quarantine is rough?" Ha. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for David Matalon's The Clearing, direct from...

In today’s film news roundup, “Maze Runner” director Wes Ball gets a sci-fi gig, Montreal’s Fantasia festival goes virtual, Saudi fantasy drama “Scales” finds a home, and “Point Defiance” and “Waterlily Jaguar” are set for release.

Project Launch

“Maze Runner” director Wes Ball will direct an adaptation of the sci-fi adventure “The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August” for Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners.

The film centers on a man repeatedly born into the same life and remembers all his past experiences. He seeks to save the world by outmaneuvering a similarly gifted rival who’s willing to make any sacrifice to attain a godlike knowledge.

The movie is based on a novel written by Catherine Webb under the pseudonym Claire North, who won the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel and was nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke Award for Best Science Fiction Novel.

"But I don't know what I'm supposed to do!" A festival promo trailer has debuted for an indie drama titled Drowning, the second feature directed by actress Melora Walters. She writes, directs, and stars in the film, which is premiering at the Austin Film Festival later this month after first showing at the Rome Film Festival. Drowning tells the story of a mother trying to come to terms with the emotions and intense grief associated with her only son going off to war, directly inspired by Walters' own experience. The cast includes Mira Sorvino, Gil Bellows, Jay Mohr, Joanna Going, Christopher Backus, Steven Swadling, and Jim O'Heir. There's tons of emotion in all those intimate, close-up shots. Looks like a tough film to watch. Here's the first promo trailer (+ teaser poster) for Melora Walters' Drowning, originally from Variety: The film tells the story of a mother (Melora Walters) coming to...

Melora Walters’ “Drowning,” which has its world premiere at the Rome Film Festival, has debuted its first trailer. The film stars Oscar winner Mira Sorvino, Emmy winners Gil Bellows and Jay Mohr, and Walters, whose acting credits include “Magnolia,” Boogie Nights” and “Dead Poets Society.”

The film tells the story of a mother coming to terms with the emotions as her only son is deployed to war, and is inspired by Walters’ own experience.

The film is written and directed by Walters. Other cast include Joanna Going, Christopher Backus, Steven Swadling, Sergio Rizzuto, Sarah Butler and Jim O’Heir.

It is produced by Sergio Rizzuto for Potato Eater Productions and Room in the Sky Films, in association with Hero L.A. and Eight Trick Pony. It is executive produced by Swadling. The other producers are Albert Chi, Walters, Rory Rooney and Jerry Ying. The cinematographer was Christopher Soos.

The film...

The Rome Film Festival (October 17-27) has unveiled its 2019 official selection, which includes Downton Abbey, Waves, Judy, The Aeronauts, Hustlers and Werner Herzog documentary Nomad[/link] about writer Bruce Chatwin.

A total of 33 films and documentaries will play in the official lineup (full list below). As previously announced, the fest will open with Edward Norton’s Motherless Brooklyn while Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman will have a centerpiece screening. Only two Italian movies are included in the main selection.

The festival also revealed a pre-opening October 16 world premiere for John Turturro’s anticipated The Big Lebowski spinoff, The Jesus Rolls, which follows Lebowski character Jesus Quintana.

The impressive lineup of onstage interviews includes Bill Murray and Viola Davis – both of whom will receive lifetime achievement awards – Fanny Ardant, Olivier Assayas, Ethan Coen, Benicio Del Toro, Bret Easton Ellis, Ron Howard, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Edward Norton, Bertrand Tavernier, John Travolta and Jia Zhangke.

Melora Walters, Oscar-winner Mira Sorvino, and Gil Bellows are set as leads in Drowning, an indie film written and being directed by Walters. It’s based on Walters’ real-life account of the time her young son decided to join the Army and fight in Iraq. It’s A mother’s worst nightmare, compounded by the fact that he’s then stationed in Mosul for the ‘final battle’. Albert Chi, Rory Rooney, and Sergio Rizzuto are producers on the film and are aiming for a festival release. Executive producer is Steven Swadling.

Julie Ann Emery (Better Call Saul), Karsen Liotta, Kevin Corrigan (Pineapple Express), and James Paxton have been tapped to lead the ensemble cast of the indie comedy Teenage Badass, which is currently filming on location in Phoenix.

Stars: Alain Moussi, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Christopher Lambert, Mike Tyson, Sara Malakul Lane, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, Sam Medina, Steven Swadling, Miles Strommen, Jessica Jann | Written by Dimitri Logothetis, Jim McGrath | Directed by Dimitri Logothetis

One year after the events of Kickboxer: Vengeance, Kurt Sloan has vowed never to return to Thailand. But while he is preparing for an Mma title shot, he is drugged and wakes up in a Thai prison. His captors want him to face a colossus named Mongkut – in return, Sloan will get $2million dollars and his freedom. If he doesn’t fight, his wife will die. So Sloan has no other choice but to undergo his most rigorous training yet, under some very unexpected mentors, in order to take on this dreaded opponent.

Given the affable reception afforded the previous film, a loose remake of the 1989 original, it comes as no surprise that a sequel was in order.

Spartacus: War of the Damned alum Liam McIntyre, Sydelle Noel (Netflix series Glow, Disney’s Black Panther) Steven Swadling (Kickboxer franchise), and newcomer Aundrea Smith are set to co-star in The Clearing, the feature directorial debut from Dave Matalon, who also wrote the screenplay. The pic, set at the dawn of the zombie apocalypse, follows Tom (McIntyre) who, amid tensions with his wife (Noel) over the time he spends with his young daughter Mira (Smith), takes Mira…...

Exclusive: Story loosely in the vein of Memento.

Production on the psychological thriller Doe from Double El Productions, Sigil, and Room In The Sky Films in association with Lexicon has commenced in Los Angeles County.

Mira Sorvino stars with Timothy Davis, Tatiana Ali and Matthew St. Patrick in the project, which the filmmakers describe as being in the vein of Memento.

Doe centres on a man who wakes up with no memory of his past and discovers he has the ability to speak dozens of languages.

He eventually meets other amnesiacs with extraordinary abilities and must race to save his family from his past.

Justin Foia is directing from a screenplay he co-wrote with his brother Timothy Foia based on a story by Landon Reagan and the Foia brothers.

Stacey Oristano, Aaron Farb, Anne Leighton, Faithe Herman and Steven Swadling round out the key cast.

Mark Mathias Sayre and Jonathan Piumelli are producing Doe, while [link=nm...