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Cannes Film Festival chief Thierry Frémaux entered the room with a martial bearing, his square jaw tilted upwards in the manner of a man who need not doubt his significance.

He came to the Salon des Ambassadeurs within the Palais to make a few remarks before the awarding of the annual l’Oeil d’or (Golden Eye) award for the festival’s top documentary, as selected by a jury. Before an audience of perhaps a hundred or more nonfiction film lovers, he stated what must be considered unquestionable:

“Documentaries are a minority within the Cannes Film Festival. There have been documentaries in the past, but very few,” Frémaux acknowledged, before adding, “But it’s true that over the past few years, there have been many more.”

Cannes chief Thierry Frémaux speaks at the l’Oeil d’or ceremony Matthew Carey

He went on to say, “[With] your minority status, you can always feel a little oppressed.

On Saturday May 31 2025, Fox broadcasts Xploration Awesome Planet!

Season 11 Episode 9 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Xploration Awesome Planet” promises an exciting look at the incredible efforts of rangers and their canine companions in some of America’s most beautiful landscapes. This episode will air on Fox and will take viewers on a journey to Yellowstone National Park, Hawaii, and Utah.

In Yellowstone, the episode highlights the crucial role of dogs in rescue operations. When an avalanche occurs, these skilled canines help locate people trapped in the snow. The teamwork between rangers and their dogs showcases the bond and training that make these rescues possible. Viewers will see the challenges faced in harsh winter conditions as rangers manage trails and ensure the safety of everyone in the park.

The episode will also take a closer look at the work of rangers in Hawaii and Utah. These rangers are dedicated to...

On Saturday May 24 2025, Fox broadcasts Xploration Awesome Planet!

Season 11 Episode 8 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Xploration Awesome Planet” promises to be both informative and intriguing. This episode will showcase the innovative work being done at Carnegie Mellon University, where researchers are using advanced science to measure air quality. This segment will highlight the importance of clean air and how technology can help monitor and improve environmental conditions. Viewers can expect to learn about the methods and tools used by scientists to gather data and the implications of their findings for communities.

Another fascinating feature of the episode will take viewers to a unique boulder field. This area is known for its rocks that produce a distinctive ringing sound when struck. The show will explore the science behind this phenomenon, explaining how the geological composition of the rocks contributes to this unusual auditory experience. This segment is sure to captivate...

On Saturday May 17 2025, Fox broadcasts Xploration Awesome Planet!

Season 11 Episode 7 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Xploration Awesome Planet” promises to be an engaging exploration of how different groups are coming together to protect the Earth. This episode, airing on Fox, will highlight the efforts of scientists, students, and everyday citizens who are dedicated to saving the planet.

One of the key focuses will be on the efforts to create safe havens for endangered species in New Zealand. Viewers will learn about the challenges these species face and the innovative strategies being used to ensure their survival. The episode will showcase the teamwork involved in these conservation projects, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in protecting wildlife.

Additionally, the episode will take a closer look at the breeding of clownfish in Australia. This segment will highlight the fascinating process of breeding these colorful fish and the role they play in marine ecosystems.

On Saturday May 10 2025, Fox broadcasts Xploration Awesome Planet!

Season 11 Episode 6 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Xploration Awesome Planet” promises to be an exciting exploration of how nature inspires modern technology. Set to air on Fox, this episode will delve into the fascinating world of biomimicry, where entrepreneurs look to the natural world for innovative ideas and solutions.

In this episode, viewers will meet various entrepreneurs who are harnessing the wisdom of nature to create cutting-edge technology. From studying the way animals move to understanding how plants adapt to their environments, these innovators are finding unique ways to mimic nature’s designs. The show will highlight several projects that showcase this approach, revealing how nature can lead to more sustainable and efficient technologies.

The episode will also feature interviews with experts who explain the science behind biomimicry. They will discuss how observing nature can lead to breakthroughs in various fields,...

On Saturday May 3 2025, Fox broadcasts Xploration Awesome Planet!

Season 11 Episode 5 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Xploration Awesome Planet” promises to take viewers on an extraordinary journey to some of the world’s most hidden and breathtaking locations. Airing soon on Fox, this episode is titled “Visiting Places That Few People Get a Chance to See.” It aims to showcase the beauty and wonder of remote areas that are often overlooked.

In this episode, the host will explore stunning landscapes and unique ecosystems that are rarely experienced by the average traveler. From secluded beaches to untouched forests, each location has its own story and significance. The show will highlight the importance of preserving these special places and the diverse wildlife that inhabits them.

Viewers can expect to learn about the cultures and communities that live in these remote areas. The episode will feature interviews with locals who share their insights and experiences,...

Sean Astin Was Injured During Filming ( Photo Credit – Facebook )

Sean Astin didn’t just carry Frodo to Mount Doom — the man literally bled for Middle-earth. While filming The Fellowship of the Ring, Astin suffered a gruesome foot injury that left him gashed, bloody, and airborne in a helicopter. A real-life emergency straight out of a fantasy epic.

It all went down during a scene shot at Lake Mavora, New Zealand, when Sam and Frodo were bolting through the water. Astin had been wearing prosthetic hobbit feet, but one wrong step turned deadly serious. A sharp object hidden in the riverbed stabbed straight through the fake foot, and deep into his real one.

“As my right foot lands about two feet in the water… just this huge sharp pain. I grabbed onto the side of the boat. It hurt so bad,” he recalled in the DVD extras (via Cheat Sheet). Director...

On Saturday April 26 2025, Fox broadcasts Xploration Awesome Planet!

Season 11 Episode 4 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Xploration Awesome Planet” promises to be an exciting exploration of how nature inspires innovative inventions. This episode, titled “How Mother Nature is the Ultimate Inspiration for Revolutionary Inventions,” will air on Fox and delve into the fascinating connections between the natural world and human creativity.

Viewers can expect to see a variety of examples showcasing how different elements of nature have influenced technology and design. From the structure of a bird’s wing leading to advancements in aerodynamics to the unique properties of certain plants inspiring new materials, the episode will highlight the many ways that nature serves as a blueprint for human ingenuity.

In addition to showcasing specific inventions, the episode will also feature interviews with experts and innovators who draw inspiration from the environment. They will share insights on how observing natural...

On Saturday April 19 2025, Fox broadcasts Xploration Awesome Planet!

Season 11 Episode 3 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Xploration Awesome Planet” promises an exciting journey through America’s stunning National Parks. Airing on Fox, this episode takes viewers on a tour from the icy landscapes of Alaska to the arid expanses of Death Valley and the lush beauty of the Smoky Mountains.

In this episode, the show highlights the diverse ecosystems and breathtaking scenery found in these iconic parks. Each location offers unique experiences, from the towering peaks of Denali in Alaska to the vibrant wildflowers and rich wildlife of the Smoky Mountains. The episode aims to showcase the natural beauty and the importance of preserving these environments for future generations.

As the episode unfolds, viewers can expect to learn interesting facts about the history and geology of each park. The show will delve into the various activities that visitors can enjoy,...

On Saturday April 12 2025, Fox broadcasts Xploration Awesome Planet!

Season 11 Episode 2 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Xploration Awesome Planet” promises an exciting look at the innovative minds shaping a sustainable future. Titled “How Inventors Are Finding New and Environmentally Friendly Ways to Power the Planet,” this episode will highlight various inventors and their groundbreaking ideas. Viewers can expect to see how creativity and technology come together to address the pressing challenges of energy consumption and environmental impact.

In this episode, the show will explore a range of inventions that aim to harness renewable energy sources. From solar panels designed for urban settings to wind turbines that can be installed in backyards, the episode will showcase practical solutions that individuals and communities can adopt. The inventors featured will share their journeys, including the obstacles they faced and the inspiration behind their creations.

The episode will also delve into the importance of sustainability.

Xploration Awesome Planet fans, we’ve got a fresh off the press preview for the new Season 11 Episode 3 episode titled !

Find out everything you need to know about the episode of Xploration Awesome Planet, including a full preview, videos, release date, cast information and how to watch!

Xploration Awesome Planet Season 11 Episode 3 Preview

The upcoming episode of “Xploration Awesome Planet” promises to be an exciting journey through some of America’s most breathtaking National Parks. Scheduled to air on Fox at 7:00 Am on April 19, 2025, this episode will take viewers on a tour from the stunning landscapes of Alaska to the arid beauty of Death Valley, and finally to the lush Smoky Mountains.

The episode will showcase the diverse ecosystems and unique features that each of these parks offers. Viewers can expect to see the majestic glaciers of Alaska, the vibrant colors of the desert in Death Valley, and the...

On Saturday April 5 2025, Fox broadcasts Xploration Awesome Planet!

Season 11 Episode 1 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Xploration Awesome Planet” promises to be an enlightening journey into the world of trees and their vital role in the environment. This episode focuses on the innovative efforts of researchers dedicated to protecting the planet’s forests and enhancing the efficiency of trees.

Viewers will learn about the various challenges trees face, including climate change, deforestation, and pests. The episode showcases how scientists are studying these issues and developing strategies to ensure the health and longevity of trees. By exploring cutting-edge research and real-world applications, the show highlights the importance of trees in maintaining ecological balance.

In addition to conservation efforts, the episode will delve into exciting advancements in tree efficiency. Researchers are discovering ways to improve how trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, making them even more beneficial to the planet. This...

Around ninety percent of life forms in the deep sea have yet to be named by humans, British director Eleanor Mortimer informs us in the course of her documentary “How Deep Is Your Love.” It’s a statistic somehow comforting in its vagueness — how, after all, can we put an exact figure on what is unknown to us — and humbling in its vastness, a reminder that we still don’t own huge stretches of the globe we profess to run. Across history, any number of explorers, scientists and storytellers have been fascinated by the essential, alien hostility of the ocean to our species, and its enduring status as a place we can only visit but never settle. Mortimer joins those ranks with a film that functions both as awestruck spectacle and anxious warning — joining a literal boatload of marine biologists racing to demystify an ecosystem before deep-sea miners destroy it.

Wherever you go, there you are. That iconic line has become a pop culture mainstay thanks to one of the strangest movies of the 80s, Buckaroo Banzai or, as it is formally titled, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension. This 1984 science fiction movie has been a cult classic for four decades and remains a fan favorite thanks to its virtually unexplainable plot. Part comedy, part action, part scifi, part martial arts, part musical, part western, part satire and part of a franchise that never came to be, Buckaroo Banzai may be the single most bizarre movie we have ever covered for this series.

A box office bomb when it was released, grossing only six million against a seventeen million dollar budget, Buckaroo Banzai holds a decent 68% rating on Rotten Tomatoes where critics sum it up succinctly as “violating every rule of storytelling and narrative structure in creating...

Jaws isn’t just a legendary film, it was a cultural phenomenon. But for SNL star Tracy Morgan, it’s a full-blown obsession. His love for Spielberg’s classic runs so deep that he owns a staggering 20,000-gallon Jaws memorabilia in the form of a fish tank. And he’s got actual live sharks and octopuses swimming around!

A still from Jaws (1975) || Credits: Universal Pictures

Here’s everything one needs to know about the gigantic fish tank, and how Morgan’s daughter became the driving force behind the aquariums.

All about Tracy Morgan’s giant Jaws-inspired aquarium!

Tracy Morgan’s love for the ocean runs deep, so deep that he’s turned his home into a personal aquarium. What started as admiration for legendary explorer Jacques Cousteau as a child has evolved into an extravagant underwater setup, complete with sharks, stingrays, and even a giant octopus. His obsession with Jaws...

Here's a friendly reminder that only 30% of planet Earth is made up of land. And there's a significant portion of the remaining 70%, otherwise known as the deep sea, that has yet to be touched; we've explored more of our moon than the bottom of our oceans. Director Eleanor Mortimer's feature debut How Deep Is Your Love explores this eye-opening notion, for all you budding biologists or just plain inquisitive folks out there. There have been a plethora of acclaimed documentaries about the environment, and ever since the silent era people have made mesmerizing films about marine life, from Jean Painlevé to Jacques Cousteau.

Now, Mortimer's film joins the ranks as yet another effective study and call to action. The film's approach to exploring underwater territories and potentially discovering new species is lively and graceful. It's also spiked with subtle adrenaline as we board a picturesque 55-day ocean journey with the filmmakers.

Wes Anderson doesn’t talk a lot about his work in animation. Frankly, the more famous he gets, the less Anderson seems to enjoy doing interviews, which is why it was such a treat to sit down with the director of “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and “Isle of Dogs” at the Annecy Animation Film Festival last summer.

Over the course of a 90-minute master class, Anderson discussed what drew him to stop motion, how coming to the medium from a place of naiveté resulted in such distinctive-looking movies, and how animation in turn has informed his subsequent live-action work.

Unlike a number of other filmmakers, from Guillermo del Toro to Jacques Demy, who started out making rudimentary stop-motion films as kids, “I didn’t have any real ambition to do an animated movie until I’d made a few live-action movies,” Anderson explained. “It was something I sort of found my way into.

If your family is like mine, Thanksgiving is always an excellent time to remember what we are thankful for and to watch holiday staples like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, football games, and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. If you are looking to mix things up this year, we have a fabulous list of shows and episodes that will put you in the holiday mood. Here's 5 shows to stream for all the warm holiday feels this Thanksgiving.

Friends - season 6, episode 9: "The One Where Ross Got High"

Friends is by far a favorite series of many, and some of the best episodes are the numerous Thanksgiving themed ones. "The Ones Where Ross Got High" ranks as the best of these episodes for many reasons. Everyone is present, including Jack and Judy Geller, who always add to the comedy of any episodes they are featured in. This one finds Chandler doing...

In Whitney Horn and Lev Kalman’s farcical Dream Team, No (Esther Garrel) and Chase (Alex Zhang Hungtai), a pair of Interpol detectives as feckless as they are sexy, investigate a spate of surreal murders in Mexico. In this case, the murder weapon, if not the prime suspect, is a coral that emits a roseate, venomous gas. Disciples, apparently, of the Agent Cooper school of policework, these soft-boiled detectives try to solve the mystery through a combination of dream analysis, meditation, hitting the gym, getting seduced by their informants, and pondering the nature of consciousness. If all this sounds a little inane, that’s by design.

Where shows of the Peak TV era, like Mad Men and Breaking Bad, tried to look and feel more cinematic, Dream Team is cinema taking its cue from TV—even if it’s theoretically in service of the cinematic avant-garde. The film is defined...

Exclusive: The Wolper Organization, the company behind the iconic Roots miniseries, is staying in business with Warner Bros. Television Group.

The two companies have renewed their overall deal, meaning that the company will have been in business with the studio for more than 50 years. It marks one of the longest consecutive studio deals in entertainment history.

The multiyear pact will see The Wolper Organization continue to develop and produce television series exclusively for the TV group, alongside its first-look feature deal with the movie studio.

Warner Bros. started working with The Wolper Organization, then run by David L. Wolper, in 1976 after Warner Communications bought it for $1.5M. It is behind three of the most successful limited series of all time: Roots, The Thorn Birds and North and South, was first to bring DC’s Superman franchise to TV and introduced viewers to the likes of Jacques Cousteau and Jane Goodall.

Movies should not be judged based on preconceived notions, as some great films are wrongly discarded as flops. Financial success doesn't equate to quality - some box office bombs have earned passionate cult followings. Many movies have a huge gulf between their critical reputation and their fan base.

Some movies don't always get the respect they deserve, but rewatching them reveals that their bad reputations may be unearned. There are plenty of great movies that were discarded too soon, either by fans who were expecting something different or critics who didn't resonate with a movie's general appeal. Often, these movies see their reputations being rehabilitated a few years later.

People tend to view movies within broader contexts, either based on the careers of the directors and actors involved, or based on how a movie fits into a franchise. However, it's often better to approach a movie with as few preconceived notions as possible.

Leo Chaloukian, a multi-Emmy Award-winning sound designer and former chair of the Television Academy, died July 18. He was 97.

During his 60-year career in sound, Chaloukian won four national Emmys and two regional Emmys —working at Ryder Sound Service, a company he’d eventually become the sole owner of for most of his career.

He worked on sound for National Geographic specials, David Wolper Productions documentaries and classic television shows like “Lassie,” “Death Valley Days,” “Sea Hunt,” “Maverick,” “Route 66,” “Gunsmoke” and Jacques Cousteau specials.

Chaloukian also oversaw the sound design for the 1967 film “The Graduate” and, with his staff of audio engineers, created the sound design for 1969’s “Easy Rider.”

The company also contributed to the recording, rerecording and mixing for “Love Story,” “The Godfather,” “Chinatown,” “Saturday Night Fever” and the first Star Trek movies, as well as “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Tootsie” and “The Killing Fields.”

Chaloukian led...

Leo Chaloukian, the Emmy- and Oscar-winning sound designer and former chair of the Television Academy, has died. He was 97.

The Television Academy said Chaloukian died Thursday after working in sound design well into his 80s. He first worked at Ryder Sound Service in 1954, becoming an award-winning rerecording mixer and eventually the company’s owner in 1976.

Chaloukian and his staff at Ryder Sound earned four Emmys, including one in 1986 for best achievement in sound for the TV movie Cross of Fire. They worked on National Geographic specials, David Wolper Productions documentaries and classic TV shows like Lassie, Death Valley Days, Sea Hunt, Maverick, Route 66, Gunsmoke and Jacques Cousteau underwater diving specials.

On the movie front, Ryder handled recording, rerecording and mixing for Steve McQueen’s 1968 action thriller Bullitt, and Chaloukian personally oversaw sound design for The Graduate. With his staff of audio engineers, he also created the sound design for Easy Rider.

Jacques Cousteau biopic The Odyssey will be among the films showing at the 3rd Evia Film Project Photo: Courtesy of Thessaloniki Film Festival Burning Days director Emin Alper will host a masterclass The Evia Film Project will return for its third edition, from July 2nd to 6, in Edipsos, Limni, and Agia Anna, focusing on water as its core theme. This year's festival will be attended by Turkish filmmaker Emin Alper and director and animator Fokion Xenos among others.

The green initiative, launched by Thessaloniki Film Festival will see water resources take centrestage. Sustainability, screenings, children’s workshops, and open discussions are set to take place with all screenings and events free and open to the general public.

Burning Days director Alper will be among those giving a masterclass at this year's festival, which began as a rejuvenation response to the devastating wildfires which hit the island in 2021. Heatwave animator Xenos will also give a masterclass,...

Non-English-language movies stormed the Oscars this year, with five films taking home statuettes — the most ever in one ceremony.

Justine Triet and Arthur Harari’s Best Screenplay Academy Award for French-language courtroom drama Anatomy of a Fall followed three past non-English-language winners: Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite (2019), Pedro Almodóvar’s Talk To Her (2002) and A Man and a Woman by Claude Lelouch and Pierre Uytterhoeven (1966).

The Best Sound Academy Award for Jonathan Glazer’s German-language Holocaust drama The Zone of Interest marked a first for a non-English-language film. The pic also clinched Best International Feature Film.

Related: ‘Oppenheimer’, ‘The Zone Of Interest’ & ‘Poor Things’ Wins Cap Good Night For Brits At The Oscars

The Best Animation Oscar for The Boy and the Heron marked a second Academy Award for Japanese animation maestro Hayao Miyazaki, who took co-directing credits with Toshio Suzuki.

Miyazaki previously triumphed in the category in its second year...

Nearly two decades ago, “March of the Penguins” crossed a frontier hardly any nonfiction film ever does: not just the Antarctic Circle, but the even more remote $100 million mark at the global box office. A bona fide global phenomenon, Luc Jacquet’s wondrous nature doc got audiences from practically every continent to turn their attention to the South Pole and the adorable, surprisingly relatable emperor penguins its director found there.

The focus of “March” (and its 12-years-later sequel) was the 100-kilometer trek these remarkable black-and-white birds do between their mating grounds and the water. What undeniable force compels them to make that journey? In “Antarctica Calling,” it’s a different but no less irresistible urge that fascinates Jacquet: specifically, the almost-magnetic pull that draws the French filmmaker back to the South Pole time and again. He’s been coming since he was 23 years old. Now in his mid-50s,...

Before the 1975 masterpiece Jaws made us all afraid to go in the water, another film presented equally terrifying footage of real underwater nightmares. Directed by Peter Gimbel, the 1971 documentary Blue Water, White Death follows a group of aquatic photographers and adventurers determined to capture the first underwater footage of Carcharodon carcharias, the mythic apex predator commonly called the great white shark. While not a horror movie per se, the film presents breathtaking footage of massive sharks shot from within cages designed specifically for the expedition. It also includes shocking acts of animal cruelty and a dated understanding of marine wildlife. Premiering three years before publication of Peter Benchley’s best-selling novel Jaws, this unprecedented documentary formally introduced the world to the great white shark and likely planted seeds that would go on to change cinematic history as we know it.

Filmed in 1969, Gimbel and his crew departed from Durban, South...

Duh-duh. Duh-duh. Duh-duh-duh-duh. One of the most well-known and terrifying musical score sequences is from one of the best thriller/horror films of the past century: Steven Spielberg’s Jaws. Based on the book of the same name by author Peter Benchley, Jaws follows a small beach town that gets terrorized by a man-eating shark during the summer, when all of their hometown and tourist events are swimming in the water and playing on the beach. A smashing mix of suspense, gore, horror, and realism, Jaws bit its way into popular culture and box offices ($472 million off of a $9 million budget). It even spawned three sequels, all trying to capture the magic of the original film.

Update July 5, 2023: The 4th of July might be over, but we are still open for business! This article has been updated with even reasons why Jaws is a great summer horror.

Jaws has...

First Stockton Rush wanted to be an astronaut, but couldn’t, because of poor eyesight. So, he tried working as a flight-test engineer. Then he went to business school. Then he traveled to the Mojave.

It was in that vast desert, after watching the launch of SpaceShipOne, the first crewed private spaceflight, that Rush realized what he truly wanted: “I wanted to explore,” he told Smithsonian Magazine, an origin story that lead to an Icarian venture that, in the end, proved fatal.

Rush’s craving to explore led him to start OceanGate,...

Hollywood star John Cusack has spoken out about the tragic Titanic submarine loss, stating that it “doesn’t seem tragic” to him. Following a five-day search, it was announced on Thursday that all five men on board were killed in just seconds after the submersible suffered a “catastrophic implosion” 1,600ft from the bow of the Titanic, according to the US Coast Guard, reports Mirror.co.uk.

The search for the submarine prompted widespread conversations and debate on social media, with 56-year-old John making his view on the matter known.

In a post shared to his Twitter, the Serendipity actor tweeted: “I like the adventure spirit – but if someone dies climbing Mount Everest – it doesn’t seem tragic to me – sad yes – but tragic to me is when innocent people die who had no choice.”

I like the adventure spirit – but if someone dies climbing Mount Everest – it doesn’t seem...

The following contains spoilers for Bob's Burgers Season 13, Episode 22, "Amelia," which aired May 21 on Fox.

Amelia Earhart took flight in Bob's Burgers' Season 13 finale, but only after Kristen Schaal's Louise Belcher overcame a fear of failure and contended with complicated feminist legacies. The bold and sometimes abrasive Louise has lent herself well to Bob's Burgers' explorations of girlhood in episodes such as "Manic Pixie Crap Show" and now "Amelia."

"Amelia" neatly wove generational narratives when Louise's mounting struggles over her "My Hero" school presentation dovetailed into Linda Belcher's Mother's Day plans. John Robert's Linda dished out well-timed maternal wisdom that helped Louise confront the issues that plagued her since choosing Earhart for the assignment.

Related: Who Is Ginger on Bob's Burgers - And Will Fans Ever See Her?

Louise Belcher Attempts To Drown Out Andy Richter's Wayne

Louise's plot line in "Amelia" presented a layered exploration of feminist themes,...

Every year, the Cannes Film Festival program yields its riches. And every year, documentaries are kept to the selection sidebars, with the exception of just three over the years, two of which won the Palme d’Or: “The Silent World,” co-directed by Jacques Cousteau and Louis Malle in 1956, and Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11” in 2004.

This year, out of 16 documentaries in the Official Selection, two are in the Competition, the first time nonfiction titles have joined that storied roster since Moore’s inclusion.

This is progress, but a quick glance at the latest Palme d’Or predictions reveals that Wang Bing’s “Youth” (marking the first 3.5-hours of an eventual 10-hour triptych) and “Olfa’s Daughters” from Kaouther Ben Hania are not high on the list of likely winners. Both are recognized by critics as boundary-pushing examples of the form but seem unlikely to become consensus award picks from Ruben Östlund’s eclectic Competition jury.

Plug up that geyser at Yellowstone and lend Cannes the name Old Faithful. How else can one describe a nearly 80-year-old institution that has held true to an overarching vision for as many decades? Find a better sobriquet for the crop of Palme d’Or contenders who will arrive on the French Riviera boasting seven trophies among them, and with a median age, not for nothing, of about 63 years old — not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Quite the opposite in fact, as the 76th edition feels in no small part like a milestone of loyalty rewarded, a victory lap closing out a cycle that began a half-decade prior — the year current jury president Ruben Östlund graduated to the art-house big leagues with his Palme d’Or winner “The Square;” when the Netflix logo was jeered ahead of Bong Joon Ho’s “Okja,” kicking off a chill that nips...

John Wright, the film editor who received Oscar nominations for his work on Jan de Bont’s Speed and The Hunt for Red October, one of six movies he cut for John McTiernan, has died. He was 79.

Wright died April 20 at his home in Calabasas after a battle with prostate and bone cancer, his wife of 57 years, Jane Wright, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Wright’s résumé also included such other high-profile films as Sam Peckinpah’s Convoy (1978), Paul Michael Glaser’s The Running Man (1987), Stan Dragoti’s Necessary Roughness (1991), John Woo’s Broken Arrow (1996), Bryan Singer’s X-Men (2000), James Gartner’s Glory Road (2006) and Louis Leterrier’s The Incredible Hulk (2008).

He collaborated with directors Mel Gibson on The Passion of the Christ (2004) and Apocalypto (2006); with Graeme Clifford on Frances (1982) and Gleaming the Cube (1989); and with Randall Wallace on Secretariat (2010) and Heaven Is for Real (2014).

Wright was nominated for an Emmy...

Rolly Crump, one of Disneyland’s most important designers, who made crucial contributions to such attractions as the Haunted Mansion, It’s a Small World and the Enchanted Tiki Room, died Sunday at his home in Carlsbad, CA, where he was under hospice care. He was 93.

His death was announced on the Facebook page of his autobiography It’s Kind of a Cute Story.

Related Story Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2023: Photo Gallery & Obituaries Related Story Bud Grant Dies: Hall Of Fame Minnesota Vikings Coach Led Team To Four Super Bowls, Was 95 Related Story Rick Scheckman Dies: Veteran Film Coordinator With David Letterman Was 67

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce that Roland ‘Rolly’ Fargo Crump passed away peacefully yesterday morning at his home in Carlsbad, CA,” the statement reads. “He was 93 years old.”

The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland in Anaheim (Getty Images)

Crump, who worked as an...

(To celebrate "Titanic" and its impending 25th-anniversary re-release, we've put together a week of explorations, inquires, and deep dives into James Cameron's box office-smashing disaster epic.)

James Cameron is always one to innovate. When "Avatar" first came out in 2009, it was unlike anything being made at the time largely because Cameron utilized motion capture technology designed specifically for the film. Because of this, he helped advance this popular movie-making technique, ultimately moving the art form forward just by making a single film.

This is an extremely impressive — and no doubt expensive — thing to achieve, but Cameron is not the kind of person to approach a topic without giving it his all and then some. He's also the kind of director who has pretty much been cranking out successful films from the very beginning. He's the man behind modern classics like "The Terminator" and "Aliens," and before "Avatar," he gave...

Underestimate James Cameron at your own peril — he feeds off it, as witnessed by “Aliens,” “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” “Titanic,” “Avatar,” and now “Avatar: The Way of Water.” True to his promise, the master showman has delivered the cinematic goods beyond expectation with the sequel, topping the original in epic storytelling and high-tech spectacle.

This time Cameron expands the universe of Pandora by going underwater for splendor and adventure with the introduction of the Metkayina reef clan. In this regard, Cameron has truly become the heir apparent to his idol, Jacques Cousteau, and has outdone himself with innovation, thanks to the VFX wizards of Wētā FX and his other crafts teams. Once again, Cameron has proven that 3D isn’t dead, and has given us a reason to return to theaters this holiday season.

As far as the Oscars, “The Way of Water” could potentially equal its predecessor in nominations.

This history of Blaxploitation cinema, dispatches from the front lines of war, adventurous volcanologists, portraits of legendary artists, and a group of jackasses that repeatedly hit each other in the balls—just a few of the subjects and stories this year’s documentaries brought us. With 2022 wrapping up, we’ve selected the features that left us most impressed. If you’re looking for where to stream them, check out our handy guide here.

All That Breathes (Shaunak Sen)

Move over, Sandra Bullock—there’s a new Bird Box in town. The only film to have collected prizes at both Sundance and Cannes, Shaunak Sen’s taut, tender documentary has a healing power that’s sourced straight from its subjects: two brothers in Delhi who have devoted their lives to saving the Black Kite—a majestic, medium-sized, hypercarnivorous raptor of the air—from going extinct in Delhi’s fatally-polluted skies. Set...

Infamous had Capote, Antz had A Bug’s Life—the list goes on. Enter The Fire Within, Werner Herzog’s latest brush with nature’s extremities, and the second documentary this year to recount the lives, love, and deaths of volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft. First came Sara Dosa’s Fire of Love, a film that looked (at least before Venice crowned its Golden Lion) like the most beloved documentary of the year and a shoo-in for the Academy Award. In the history of serendipitous releases, one must always exist in the other’s shadow.

Working almost exclusively from the same archive of footage, Herzog and Dosa have produced two divergent films. In tone and sentiment, The Fire Within and Fire of Love are disparate yet nicely complimentary, and there’s fun to be had in such a clash of sensibilities. Where Dosa is sweet, Herzog is characteristically austere When...

(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)

The Series: "Friends" Season 6, episode 9 "The One Where Ross Got High"

Where You Can Stream It: HBO Max

The Pitch: It's Thanksgiving and you know what that means. It's time to eat all the things, complain about how you're going to have to be rolled out of the house, pass out on the couch, and discuss who screwed up what with the feast. Okay, maybe not that last part or you'll get stabbed with a turkey carving knife, but if you're a character on a sitcom, you don't have to worry about these things. You just really shouldn't try Rachel's dessert. 

Yes, I'm talking about "Friends" season 6, episode 9, "The One Where Ross Got High." "Friends" is dated. There is no doubt about that.

Thanksgiving will soon be upon us. While some appear to be mentally skipping most of November to head straight into the holiday season, others might want to get in the mood ahead of this year’s celebrations.

Shows such as Gossip Girl, Modern Family, and Frasier have all dedicated episodes to Thanksgiving over the years.

Here’s a selection below, to be enjoyed between now and 25 November.

Gossip Girl – “Blair Waldorf Must Pie!”, season one episode nine

Few shows did Thanksgiving episodes as well as Gossip Girl. And because this is Gossip Girl, a show that ended a fair few seasons too late, the first Thanksgiving episode was also the best. In this inaugural instalment, families fight, friends quarrel, and – of course – secrets are revealed. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – “Talking Turkey”, season one episode 12

Vivian realises that the children in her...

Exclusive: One of the most honored documentaries of the year is heading to the very big screen.

National Geographic Documentary Films and Neon announced today they are bringing Fire of Love to select Imax locations on October 16 and 17, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, and Washington D.C. The film, directed by Sara Dosa, explores the story of research scientists Katia and Maurice Krafft, a French couple who devoted their lives to studying active volcanoes. They captured awe-inspiring footage of volcanic eruptions in the 1970s and ‘80s, spectacular imagery that seems ideally suited for Imax exhibition.

Maurice and Katia Krafft

“Katia and Maurice Krafft loved two things — each other and volcanoes,” a description of the film notes. “For two decades, the daring French volcanologist couple roamed the planet, chasing eruptions and documenting their discoveries. Ultimately, they lost their lives in a 1991 volcanic explosion, leaving a legacy that...

Magnolia Pictures has acquired U.S. rights to “Kompromat,” an action thriller film directed by Jerome Salle (“The Largo Winch” ), starring Gilles Lellouche (“The Stronghold”) and Joanna Kulig (“Cold War”). Snd, the commercial arm of M6, is representing the film in international markets.

Loosely based on a true story, “Kompromat” stars Lellouche as a French diplomat working in Siberia who is arrested overnight by the Russian authorities. Accused of sexually abusing his own daughter and imprisoned, he realizes he is a victim of a Kompromat. Someone is working with the Fsb (Federal Security Service) to frame him. His only way out is to escape.

“’Kompromat’ is an incredibly tense espionage thriller,” said Magnolia president Eamonn Bowles. “Jerome Salle and the stellar cast have delivered an exceptional movie.”

Salle, who wrote the script with Caryl Ferre, a well known French crime novelist, said “the story of ‘Kompromat’ is really pertinent to...

Click here to read the full article.

National Geographic Documentary Films has snatched up the Venice 2022 festival documentary Bobi Wine: Ghetto President and will take the film out worldwide.

The documentary, from directors Christopher Sharp and Moses Bwayo, follows the career and life of Robert Kyagulanyi, better known as Afrobeats pop star Bobi Wine, who is using his fame — and music — to shine a spotlight on corruption in his home country. Since his move into politics —Wine last year ran for president, challenging the authoritarian leadership of Ugandan leader Yoweri Kaguta Museveni — the singer has survived beatings and an assassination attempt. But he has not been bowed.

“My people, the Ugandan people, are familiar with my journey through music, politics, imprisonment and torture, but this film is a microcosm of my country’s larger struggles under an unrelenting dictatorship that has been operating with impunity for decades,” said Wine. “I...

Exclusive: UTA has inked Story Syndicate, which was co-founded by Emmy-winning filmmaker and two-time Oscar nominee Liz Garbus and Oscar-winning producer Dan Cogan in 2019.

The agency will be representing Story Syndicate across all areas worldwide. UTA also reps Garbus individually.

Story Syndicate is known for its premium nonfiction and scripted content. On the TV side, Story Syndicate’s latest productions include the docuseries Nuclear Family (HBO), the story of a first-generation lesbian family’s fight to stay together; I’ll Be Gone In The Dark (HBO), exploring one extraordinary woman’s epic search to unmask the Golden State Killer; and The Innocence Files (Netflix), chronicling cases of wrongful conviction that The Innocence Project has worked to overturn.

Recent feature documentaries include Fauci (Nat Geo), following Dr. Anthony Fauci and his vital role amidst two pandemics; Becoming Costeau (Nat Geo), chronicling the life of underwater explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau; Mayor Pete (Amazon), following...

“Kompromat,” an anticipated spy thriller directed by Jerome Salle with Gilles Lellouche (“The Stronghold”) and Joanna Kulig (“Cold War”), has been sold by Snd to distributors in key territories.

Inspired by a true story, “Kompromat” stars Lellouche as a French diplomat working in Siberia who discovers he is being framed by the Fbs and has to find his way out of the trap. On top of directing the film, Salle also produced it at Super 8.

Snd, which is co-producing the pic, has sold it to Germany, Austria and Italy (Koch Media), Spain (A Contracorriente), Switzerland (Pathé), Benelux (Athena), Australia and New Zealand (Palace), Poland (Monolith) and Ex Yugoslavia (Blitz).

Snd will host a virtual market premiere for “Kompromat” later this week, in the run up to the Berlin Film Festival.

“We’re really happy to finally be able to show this film to buyers who trusted us and to...

“And the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature goes to… My Octopus Teacher… to American Factory… to Icarus.”

The Motion Picture Academy has enveloped Netflix nonfiction features with love again and again in recent years, rewarding the streamer with three trophies since 2018, not to mention half a dozen nominations overall.

But the story this year seems less Netflix and more National Geographic.

In a typical year, Netflix might easily boast five contenders. But this time around it’s Nat Geo with a quintet of competitors: Torn, The First Wave, Playing with Sharks, The Rescue—directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin—and Becoming Cousteau, the film about celebrated French marine explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau directed by two-time Oscar nominee Liz Garbus.

“Nat Geo has taken the scene by storm,” Garbus concurs. “The films are really, one and all, so different and so beautiful.”

When Disney acquired most of the Fox assets...

Who really was Jacques-Yves Cousteau?

For Baby Boomers and Generation Xers, Cousteau was part of the cultural universe. Not only did he take us on his explorations of life under on the sea on his beloved ship the Calypso, he and co-director Louis Malle mesmerized viewers with his Cannes and Oscar-winning 1956 documentary “The Silent World” (the first non-fiction film to win the Palme d’Or). He went on to win two more Oscars and 10 Emmys (from 40 nominations) for his television series and documentaries. Cousteau also managed to find the time to write 50 plus books. He co-invented the revolutionary Aqua-Lung which allowed longer deep-sea dives, created the environmental advocacy group the Cousteau Society in 1974 and, five years before his death in 1997, addressed the historical first Earth Summit.

Tthe new National Geographic documentary “Becoming Cousteau” from two-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker Liz Garbus reveals just how complex and complicated an individual the adventurer was.

When two veteran New York filmmakers — married producer-financier Dan Cogan and producer-director Liz Garbus — launched Story Syndicate in 2019, Cogan transitioned from daily management of Impact Partners (Oscar-winning “Icarus” and “The Cove”) to join forces with Garbus (Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated “What Happened Miss Simone?”) with one big idea in mind: to create a Brooklyn headquarters for multiple filmmakers to create documentary series, features, shorts, and podcasts.

In doing so, the duo anticipated a burgeoning market for non-fiction. They saw that documentaries had evolved beyond cinéma vérité to more structured and entertaining narratives as HBO, A&e, Netflix, Showtime, Apple, Amazon, CNN, MTV, and more popularized the form. But Cogan and Garbus didn’t expect to be a crucial supplier during the Commercial Age for documentaries, and they were shocked at how swiftly the landscape changed.

“It turned out that the company is growing much, much faster than we anticipated,” said Cogan...

When two veteran New York filmmakers — married producer-financier Dan Cogan and producer-director Liz Garbus — launched Story Syndicate in 2019, Cogan transitioned from daily management of Impact Partners (Oscar-winning “Icarus” and “The Cove”) to join forces with Garbus (Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated “What Happened Miss Simone?”) with one big idea in mind: to create a Brooklyn headquarters for multiple filmmakers to create documentary series, features, shorts, and podcasts.

In doing so, the duo anticipated a burgeoning market for non-fiction. They saw that documentaries had evolved beyond cinéma vérité to more structured and entertaining narratives as HBO, A&e, Netflix, Showtime, Apple, Amazon, CNN, MTV, and more popularized the form. But Cogan and Garbus didn’t expect to be a crucial supplier during the Commercial Age for documentaries, and they were shocked at how swiftly the landscape changed.

“It turned out that the company is growing much, much faster than we anticipated,” said Cogan...