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Today, Prime Video announced the first two episodes of the thrilling four-part docuseries, Earnhardt, would premiere on May 22, just three days before Prime Video’s first-ever presentation of a NASCAR Cup Series race—the Coca-Cola 600 from Charlotte Motor Speedway. The final two episodes will be released a week later on May 29.

Prime Video also revealed the official trailer and key art for the highly anticipated docuseries, which will take a multi-generational look at the sacrifice, hardship, and drive of one of the most famous families of NASCAR.

Photo courtesy of Prime Video

Produced by the award-winning team at Imagine Documentaries, acclaimed filmmakers Dan Lindsay and Tj Martin, and directed by Joshua Altman, Earnhardt will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

A charismatic, working-class hero to millions of fans, Dale Earnhardt was the most influential figure the sport of NASCAR has ever known. ‘The Intimidator...

Disney+ has released the trailer and key art for Lucasfilm’s Light & Magic Season 2, which were both unveiled at Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo.

Attendees heard from director Joe Johnston and producer Ron Howard via videotaped greetings and also enjoyed a highlight reel from the first season of Light & Magic.

A panel discussion followed, moderated by Sam Witwer, that included actor Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks), Lynwen Brennan (President and General Manager Lucasfilm Business), and Doug Chiang.

Also present were Janet Lewin, John Knoll, and Rob Coleman (Ilm Creative Director and Senior Animation Supervisor).

Lucasfilm’s Light & Magic Season 2 is a three-part series produced by Imagine Documentaries that follows Lucasfilm’s visual effects company, Industrial Light & Magic, as it enters its most challenging and revolutionary period: the dawn of digital.

From creating the first fully realized CG character to solving the challenge of digital water, it is an era...

Disney+ pulled back the curtain on the next chapter of Light & Magic, the docuseries chronicling the history and groundbreaking work of Lucasfilm’s storied visual effects house, Industrial Light & Magic. The trailer and key art for season two were unveiled during a presentation Friday at the Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, offering the legions of fans who had traveled to Japan for the event an early glimpse at the show’s deep dive into the studio’s most transformative era — the shift to digital filmmaking. The three-part second season of the doc series went live on Disney+ as the Tokyo presentation got underway.

Attendees were treated to video greetings from director Joe Johnston and producer Ron Howard, as well as a highlight reel from the show. A panel discussion followed, moderated by actor and Star Wars alum Sam Witwer (the voice of Darth Maul in Solo: A Star Wars Story...

Prepare for the ultimate magic adventure as National Geographic reveals the trailer for David Blaine Do Not Attempt, premiering March 23 at 9/8c and streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

Produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s award-winning Imagine Documentaries, this six-part series follows world-renowned magician and endurance artist David Blaine exploring the world through the lens of magic.

David Blaine takes us on a fascinating cultural exchange and a jaw-dropping journey through extraordinary cultures, where he meets with performers and masters — kindred spirits who inspire and share with him exceptional skills (and secrets) — in Brazil, Southeast Asia, India, the Arctic Circle, South Africa and Japan.

David is widely recognized for his epic stunts and illusions. Through intimate documentary storytelling, this series also reveals a surprising and more personal side to David, which has rarely been seen before.

Traveling through the urban and natural jungles of Brazil to...

Ron Howard’s Jim Henson Idea Man led all comers in the documentary categories as the nominations for the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards were announced, racking up eight altogether, three more than the next most-nominated doc.

Among its nominations are Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special, Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program for Howard, recognition for writer Mark Monroe, cinematographers Igor Martinovic and Vanja Cernjul, picture editors Sierra Neal and Paul Crowder, the film’s sound editing and sound mixing teams, as well as David Fleming’s score.

“We’re so thrilled. What an honor from the Academy,” said Imagine Documentaries President Sara Bernstein, herself nominated for producing Jim Henson Idea Man. “We’re so excited.”

Jim Henson with Kermit the Frog, ca. early 1970s

The documentary explores the life and extraordinary creative output of the late Jim Henson, who created the Muppets and Fraggle Rock, directed Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal,...

Director Ron Howard has a hit on his hands with the new documentary Jim Henson: Idea Man. Following its release on Disney+ in May, the movie is still holding a perfect approval rating with critics.

On Rotten Tomatoes, Jim Henson: Idea Man is sitting with a 100% approval rating, given a positive review from every critic on the website. The audience score is almost just as high, as it's at 96%. The film is getting great praise for its compelling look into the life and career of Jim Henson, a beloved figure who's still missed by fans more than 34 years after his death.

Related 'Jim [Henson] Was a Genius': Jennifer Connelly Explains What Makes Labyrinth So Special

Jennifer Connelly reveals the enduring reason for Labyrinths cult appeal despite lukewarm reception throughout its initial theatrical release.

"You leave the movie with a better understanding of this monumental figure, while also feeling like...

Disney+ has released the official trailer and poster for the upcoming documentary Jim Henson Idea Man. Directed by Academy Award winner Ron Howard, Jim Henson Idea Man chronicles the story of extraordinary artist and visionary Jim Henson.

In his 36-year career, Henson created some of the world’s most cherished characters, including classic Muppets like Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy and all of Sesame Street’s iconic residents, including Big Bird, Grover, Cookie Monster, and Bert and Ernie. Henson also directed beloved fantasy films like The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth.

Produced with the full participation and cooperation of the Henson family, Jim Henson Idea Man is an unprecedented, intimate look at Henson’s illustrious, revolutionary career and complex personal life.

Using never-before-seen personal archival home movies, photographs, sketches, and Henson’s personal diaries, as well as interviews with those who knew him best, the film is the definitive portrait...

Disney+ has released the trailer for Idea Man, the upcoming Jim Henson documentary from Ron Howard. The film will debut May 31st on the streamer. Watch it below.

Directed by Howard, Jim Henson Idea Man promises to take viewers “into the mind of this singular creative visionary, from his early years puppeteering on local television to the worldwide success of Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and beyond” thanks to “unprecedented access” to Henson’s personal archives.

In a previous statement, Henson’s family gave the documentary their blessing, saying, “It will be thrilling to see the story that emerges from these materials in the hands of a truly great filmmaker like Ron Howard, who has the perfect spirit and personality to tell Jim Henson’s story.”

Howard also produced Idea Man with Brian Grazer under their Imagine Entertainment banner. Sara Bernstein, Margaret Bodde, Justin Wilkes, Mark Monroe, and Christopher St. John also served as producers.

The legendary Jim Henson changed the face of puppeteering forever. Now, the “Sesame Street” and “The Muppet Show” icon is at the center of Academy Award winner Ron Howard’s latest documentary, “Jim Henson Idea Man.”

Howard helms the Disney+ original documentary that takes audiences into the mind of Henson’s singular creative vision. The film charts his early years puppeteering on local television to the worldwide success of “Sesame Street,” “The Muppet Show,” and beyond. Featuring unprecedented access to Jim’s personal archives, director Howard brings us a fascinating and insightful look at a complex man whose boundless imagination inspired the world.

The original documentary from Disney Branded Television, is produced by Howard’s Imagine Documentaries. Howard also serves as a producer alongside Brian Grazer, Sara Bernstein, Margaret Bodde, Justin Wilkes, Mark Monroe, and Christopher St. John.

Paul Crowder, Meredith Kaulfers, and Michael Rosenberg serve as executive producers.

IndieWire...

Poster for ‘Jim Henson Idea Man’ (Photo Credit: Disney+)

Disney+ has set a May 31, 2024 premiere date for Jim Henson Idea Man, a documentary directed by two-time Oscar winner Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind). “If there was going to be a definitive documentary about Jim Henson, we had hoped it would be in the hands of an accomplished filmmaker. Ron Howard is both a creative and personality match for my father, unlike anyone else we could have contemplated,” stated Lisa Henson in an email to Vanity Fair.

“It was sort of anarchy on the outside, but underneath it, there was always a smart idea—a witty point to make, an observation about the world,” said Howard while discussing his impression of Jim Henson’s life with Vanity Fair. “To see that evolve through the medium of puppetry and television, and then on into movies, was so interesting to me. I felt...

Chris Cross, best known as the bassist in the English new wave band Ultravox, has died at 71 years old.

According to reports, Cross (born Chris Allen) died on March 25th, but the news was not made public until longtime bandmate Midge Ure shared a statement on Ultravox’s Instagram paying tribute to “the glue that held the band together.” No cause of death has been revealed.

“We worked together, we played together, made music and directed videos together. We were instant friends as well as Ultravox comrades,” Ure wrote. “Even after years apart we managed to pick up where we left off like the years in between never existed.”

He continued, “You were the glue that held the band together. You were the logic in the madness and the madness in our lives. It was great to know and grow with you. You are loved and missed old friend.”

Billy Currie,...

Richard Roundtree’s two-fisted detective tale burst on the scene announcing that a craze called Blaxploitation was on the way. No matter that the movie is somewhat slow and drab — John Shaft was the identification figure denied black audiences for 60 years, a hero who takes no guff from nobody and consistently tells The Man where to head in. Even bigger was the music theme by Isaac Hayes, which transforms Shaft’s casual stroll through Times Square into an iconic image of the 1970s. Criterion’s presentation of Gordon Parks’ smash hit has the original feature in 4K Uhd and in Blu-ray with the first sequel Shaft’s Big Score! in Blu-ray only.

Shaft

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray

The Criterion Collection 1130

1971 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 100 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date June 21, 2022 / 39.95

Starring: Richard Roundtree, Moses Gunn, Charles Cioffi, Christopher St. John, Gwenn Mitchell, Lawrence Pressman, Victor Arnold, Sherri Brewer,...

Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.

Apollo 10 ½ A Space Age Childhood (Richard Linklater)

A delightful meditation on childhood in the summer of 1969 set literally in the shadows of NASA’s central operations in Houston, Richard Linklater’s contemplative and vividly animated Apollo 10 ½ A Space Age Childhood reflects on the filmmaker’s own experiences. It captures the joy and wonder of childhood through the eyes of Stan, a ten-year-old who fantasizes about being recruited for “space camp” by NASA. His father (Bill Wise), a frugal but caring man, has uprooted his family from the city to a newly built suburban development in the shadow of the Astrodome and Astroworld amusement parks. Black’s adult narrator fills in the blanks for us with whimsical, nostalgic details that highlight just how...

No two ways about it: April’s a great month for the Criterion Channel, which (among other things; more in a second) adds two recent favorites. We’re thrilled at the SVOD premiere of Hamaguchi’s entrancing Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, our #3 of 2021, and Bruno Dumont’s lacerating France, featuring Léa Seydoux’s finest performance yet.

Ethan Hawke’s Adventures in Moviegoing runs the gamut from Eagle Pennell’s Last Night at the Alamo to 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, while a 14-film John Ford retro (mostly) skips westerns altogether. And no notes on the Delphine Seyrig retro—multiple by Akerman, Ulrike Ottinger, Duras, a smattering of Buñuel, and Seyrig’s own film Be Pretty and Shut Up! That of all things might be the crown jewl.

See the full list of April titles below and more on the Criterion Channel.

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3 Bad Men, John Ford, 1926

Aar paar, Guru Dutt,...

Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSAbove: Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)The Cannes Film Festival has announced that this year's edition will celebrate the 40-year career of Tom Cruise (whose Top Gun: Maverick is premiering at the festival) with a full career retrospective. Ahead of the reveal for this year's lineup on April 14, Cannes has also confirmed that one of the titles set to premiere will be George Miller's Three Thousand Years of Longing, his first film since 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road. Described by Miller as being "anti-Mad Max," Three Thousand Years of Longing is a fantasy romance drama starring Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton. New York City's iconic video store, Kim's Video and Music, will be reopening this month inside the new Alamo Drafthouse location on Liberty Street. Recommended VIEWINGA24 has released a trailer for Alex Garland's Men,...

One of the great restorations of recent years, premiering in the 59th New York Film Festival’s Revivals section, is Wendell B. Harris Jr.’s Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner Chameleon Street. Originally debuting at the 1990 edition of the Park City festival, the film is both an enormously entertaining con man film and illuminating study of race. Following a con man from Detroit as he alters identities in an attempt to penetrate different pockets of American life that can be out of reach in a classist system.

Largely unavailable aside from an out-of-print VHS edition and a DVD released in 2007 (now also out-of-print), it has now been newly restored in 4K from the original camera negative under the supervision of the director. Following its NYFF screenings, the film will now roll out in theaters––specifically beginning at Bam Cinemas beginning on October 22––and we’re pleased to debut the first trailer.

Perhaps it is fate that an early era Blaxploitation, anti-capitalist film about an off-the-rails, pot-smoking cop who starts to mentally deteriorate because of racism from white officers on the force and insults from Black people he’s arresting, barely had its chance to reach an audience. Written, directed, and produced by its star Christopher St. John, 1972’s Top of the Heap is a tragic story of a Black artist struggling to create a singular vision in a Hollywood system dominated by white voices.

Although featuring what one would expect to see in any film labeled “Blaxploitation,” Top of the Heap takes a very different approach to the subgenre. It’s a story about Black trauma, angst, and disillusionment with the American dream and a middle finger to the expectations of the subgenre it wishes to subvert. It’s a surreal and violent cocktail made with the ingredients of Abel Ferrara,...

In today’s film news roundup, Iatse backs Joe Biden, “Toy Story 4” director Josh Cooley is attached to Sony’s “Malamander,” electric car racing documentary “And We Go Green” is going to Hulu and the inaugural OUTstream Film Fest sets its lineup.

Biden Endorsement

The general executive board of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees has voted unanimously to endorse presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden for president of the United States.

The below-the-line union, which has about 150,000 members in North America, cited his “extensive record and history of fighting for workers’ rights and working families” in a statement Tuesday.

“Labor unions are under assault, with policies under the current administration and across the country undermining workers’ collective bargaining rights and stripping union workers of the wages, benefits, and retirement security they deserve,” Iatse said. “Joe Biden has consistently lifted up and prioritized issues affecting Iatse members and their...

Leonardo DiCaprio’s latest environmentally conscientious documentary And We Go Green, is heading to Hulu. RadicalMedia announced today that the doc, which focuses on the rise of Formula E electric car racing and its positive impact in combating global warming and air pollution, will be available in the U.S. via the streamer on June 4.

Oscar-winning documentarian Fisher Stevens and Malcolm Venville co-directed the film, a followup to Stevens and DiCaprio’s 2016 climate change doc Before The Flood.

Written by Mark Monroe (Before The Flood), And We Go Green debuted at the 2019 Cannes and Toronto Film Festivals. The doc provides a behind-the-scenes look at the Abb Fia Formula E Championship and chronicles how the groundbreaking series has become the world’s fastest growing motorsport since its inception in 2014. It features racing footage interwoven with candid interviews from reigning champion Jean-Eric Vergne, former Formula E driver Nelson Piquet Jr., and current stars Sam Bird,...

Hulu has acquired the U.S. streaming rights to “And We Go Green” a documentary produced by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way about the rise of Formula E electric car racing and how it is making an impact against global warming and air pollution.

“And We Go Green” premiered at Cannes in 2019 and also played Tiff last fall, and it will now stream on Hulu beginning on June 4.

Oscar winner Fisher Stevens, who directed the 2016 climate change film “Before the Flood” also produced by DiCaprio and Malcolm Venville (“44 Inch Chest) co-directed “And We Go Green.” DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson produced under the Appian Way banner along with RadicalMedia and Bloomfish Productions.

Also Read: Leonardo DiCaprio, Laurene Powell Jobs and Apple Donate $12 Million to Launch America's Food Fund

“And We Go Green” provides a behind-the-scenes look at the Abb Fia Formula E Championship and chronicles how the groundbreaking series has become...

“And We Go Green,” a new documentary about electric street racing, will have its world debut at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Variety has learned.

The film is directed by Academy Award winner Fisher Stevens and Malcolm Venville. It is produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, who is in the South of France for the Cannes premiere of “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” the Quentin Tarantino film he stars in alongside Brad Pitt.

The behind-the-scenes vérité look at the Abb Fia Formula E Championship chronicles how the groundbreaking electric car racing series has matured from upstart championship to the world’s fastest-growing sport in four short years. In addition to offering compelling racing footage “And We Go Green” also dovetails with DiCaprio’s interest in combating global warming and air pollution. Stevens and DiCaprio previously teamed up on “Before the Flood,” a 2016 documentary about climate change.

“And We Go Green...

Actor Kristoff St. John, who played Neil Winters on the CBS daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless for the past 28 years, passed away on February 3. He was 52.

A cause of death has not been released. Sarah Ardalani, a public information officer with the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner, told CNN that St. John was found dead at a home in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon. There were no signs of homicide or foul play, and there is no criminal investigation, Aguilar said.

CBS and Sony Pictures Television, the studio that produces The Young and the Restless, released a statement Monday saying "The news of Kristoff St. John's passing is heartbreaking."

"He was a very talented actor and an even better person," the statement read. "For those of us who were fortunate enough to work with him on 'The Young and the Restless...

Over the weekend, a new film came out that, below the radar, manages to be one of the year’s more interesting titles. It’s a little documentary from filmmaker Eugene Jarecki called The King. Having made the film festival circuit over the past year or so, it’s a look at Elvis Presley, but also how his rise and fall is reflected in America. The movie opened on Friday, with a bit of acclaim attached to it. On a personal note, I moderated Q and A events in New York City over the weekend with Jarecki, which had the doc on my mind. As such, it’s one I want to discuss today. The documentary is a look at Elvis Presley, but also the country that made and destroyed him as well. IMDb lists the synopsis as such: “Forty years after the death of Elvis Presley, a musical road...

Oscilloscope Laboratories acquired Eugene Jarecki’s documentary The King ahead of its Sundance Film Festival debut this year, and now the film that takes a journey in Elvis Presley’s actual 1963 Rolls-Royce to take the pulse of America has a trailer. The pic, which discovers some hard truths, takes viewers on a road trip through the heartland opens June 22 in New York then the next week in Los Angeles ahead of a national rollout.

The logline for what becomes a cautionary tale: Forty years after the death of Elvis Presley, two-time Sundance Grand Jury winner Eugene Jarecki takes the King’s 1963 Rolls-Royce on a musical road trip across America. From Memphis to New York, Las Vegas, and beyond, the journey traces the rise and fall of Elvis...

Early version premiered in official selection in Cannes last summer.

Source: Oscilloscope

In a preemptive acquisition, Oscilloscope has picked up North American theatrical rights to Eugene Jarecki’s The King ahead of its Sundance premiere on January 25.

Executive Producer Steven Soderbergh will join Jarecki in Park City to discuss the Us-Germany-France co-production, which the distributor will release this year after an early version premiered in official selection in Cannes last summer.

Forty-one years after the death of Elvis Presley, The King sees Jarecki take the entertainer’s 1963 Rolls-Royce on a musical road trip across America, from Memphis to New York to Las Vegas.

Alec Baldwin, Rosanne Cash, Chuck D, Emmylou Harris, Ethan Hawke, Van Jones, Mike Myers, and Dan Rather, are among featured celebrities.

“We are thrilled to be working with Oscilloscope,” Jarecki said. “This is a time for real soul-searching in America. We’ve got to change the national conversation from the noise of the Trump news...

Todd Haynes is in the running for best director and both Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara are in contention for best female lead alongside Room’s Brie Larson as Carol earned six 2016 Film Independent Spirit Award nominations in Los Angeles on Tuesday.Scroll down for full list of nominations

Close behind were Spotlight and Beasts Of No Nation on five apiece, followed by indie darling Tangerine and Anomalisa on four each.

Not even a glitch that saw the list of nominees temporarily appear on the Film Independent website prior to the official announcement could spoil what turned out by and large to be a recognition of independent film in its myriad forms.

Besides the more predictable contenders like Carol, Spotlight and Room, there was plenty of love for Tangerine, shot on an iPhone, and Beasts Of No Nation from Netflix, whose day-and-date release (and what that portends) infuriated large swathes of the exhibition sector but has clearly...

Todd Haynes is in the running for best director and both Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara are in contention for best female lead alongside Room’s Brie Larson as Carol earned six 2016 Film Independent Spirit Award nominations in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Close behind were Spotlight and Beasts Of No Nation on five apiece, followed by indie darling Tangerine and Anomalisa on four each.

Not even a glitch that saw the list of nominees temporarily appear on the Film Independent website prior to the official announcement could spoil what turned out by and large to be a recognition of independent film in its myriad forms.

Besides the more predictable contenders like Carol, Spotlight and Room, there was plenty of love for Tangerine, shot on an iPhone, and Beasts Of No Nation from Netflix, whose day-and-date release (and what that portends) infuriated large swathes of the exhibition sector but has clearly impressed critics.

Magnolia Pictures earned...

Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards, the La Film Festival and Film Independent at Lacma, announced nominations for the 2016 Spirit Awards this morning. Film Independent President Josh Welsh presided over the press conference held at W Hollywood, with actors John Boyega and Elizabeth Olsen presenting the nominations.

Nominees for Best Feature included Anomalisa, Beasts of No Nation, Carol, Spotlight and Tangerine.

“This year’s nominees are a testament to the strength, vitality and diversity of independent, artist-driven filmmaking,” said Film Independent President Josh Welsh. “It’s an astonishingly strong group of films and performances this year and we look forward to celebrating them all at the Spirit Awards.”

Spotlight was selected to receive the Robert Altman Award, which is bestowed upon one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. The Altman Award was created in 2008 in honor of legendary director Robert Altman...

American indie film love is on full display at a fest that I’ve coined farm version of Telluride. The 8th edition of the Wassaic Project Film Festival will take off at the tail end of the month and the curators have landed Todd Haynes’ masterwork Safe and a foursome of worthy items (not including a special in-progress feature film screening) for the ’15 edition.

Sundance preemed items in Marielle Heller’s The Diary of a Teenage Girl and Lyric R. Cabral and David Felix Sutcliffe’s (T)error will be shown alongside SXSW/Cannes profiled Krisha from Trey Edward Shults and Sam Cullman’s Tribeca showcased Art and Craft. The fest runs from July 31st until August 2nd in Wassaic, New York. Pitch up a tent and go watch these features – as well as shorts selected by the Wassaic Project and Jason Sondhi of Vimeo Staff Picks and Short of the Week.

Better This World, The Tiniest Place and the other nominations for the 2011 Ida Awards have been announced. The 27th Annual Ida Awards (documentary awards) are presented by the International Documentary Association (Ida) “a non-profit organization promoting documentary film, video and new media, to support the efforts of documentary filmmaking and video production makers around the world and to increase public appreciation and demand for the art of the documentary…the Ida has approximately 2,800 members in 53 countries, providing a forum for supporters and suppliers of documentary film making.”

This years presentation will see “the 2011 Career Achievement Award [awarded] to legendary documentary filmmaker Les Blank. He will be presented his award by Werner Herzog. Director Danfung Dennis (Hell and Back Again) will receive the 2011 Jacqueline Donnet Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Award.”

The full listing of the 2011 Ida Awards nominations is below.

Best Feature Award

Better This World

Directors/Producers/Writers: Katie Galloway & Kelly Duane de la Vega...