Actualités

In today’s film news roundup, “Green Book” gets a festival honor, the Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild names lifetime achievement winners, and indies “Tyger Tyger” and “Sons of the Cross” are heading into production.

Honors

The Palm Springs International Film Festival will present the drama “Green Book” with the Vanguard Award at its annual film awards gala on Jan. 3.

The Vanguard Award is a group honor for a film’s cast and director in recognition of their collective work on an exceptional film project. Actors Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali as well as director Peter Farrelly are expected to attend.

“Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali are an on-camera dream team in the crowd-pleasing film ‘Green Book,’ inspired by a true friendship, about a New York City bouncer hired to drive and protect pianist Dr. Don Shirley on a concert tour in the Deep South,” said festival chairman Harold Matzner.

In today’s news roundup, the Bible’s Elijah is getting a movie; Will Patton, Mark O’Brien and Michael Masini get acting roles; and “Roma” will open the Savannah Film Festival.

Project Unveiled

Winter State Entertainment is launching “Elijah” as a supernatural feature film interpretation based on the Biblical prophet of the same name who confronted rulers about idol worship, Variety has learned exclusively.

Producers Hamid and Camille Torabpour said “Elijah” will have elements of “The Lord of the Rings,” “Percy Jackson” and “The Passion of the Christ” with a diverse cast and crew of women and men both behind and in front of the camera. Jhene Chase, a Saudi-American female filmmaker whose credits include “Summertime Dropouts,” will be directing from a screenplay by Hamid Torabpour and Andrew Kightlinger.

“We’re looking to immerse ourselves in a story where the impossible comes to life, and the challenges of faith...

In today’s film news roundup, “Summertime Dropouts” starts shooing and “Tawaii — A Voice from the Forrest” and “Wobble Palace” get distribution.

Production Start

Shooting has started on the music drama “Summertime Dropouts,” centered on three best friends who are inspired to form a pop-punk band to play at the Vans Warped Tour.

Rock band Simple Plan is aboard to appear in the film and recently wrapped their work on location in Minnesota. The band played at the 2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony and performed at the Vans Warped Tour every year from 1999 to 2005, and again in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018.

Cast of “Summertime Dropouts” consists of up-and-coming performers Nicholas Podany, Crystal Lake Evans, Caleb Donahoe, Melanie Brook, Takaya Abdou Lloyd, and Serena Laurel. Jhene Chase is directing from a script she co-wrote with Wesley Johnson, Hannah Maslinski and Hamid Torabpour. The story focuses on the band members discovering that the road to fame...