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Chicago – Encountering Romina D’Ugo at the recent Slamdance Film Festival was the closest thing to destiny I’ll ever come across. After I reviewed “I Like Movies,” in which Romina had a significant supporting role, and then doing a podcast on the film, she serendipitously appeared at Slamdance, representing for her latest role in “Portal to Hell.”

The story in the new film regards Dunn (Trey Holland), who is a debt collector. His life of routine is interrupted when a “Portal to Hell” appears in his local laundromat, guarded by the manager named Ed (Romina D’Ugo). Chip the Demon (Richard Kind) emerges to explain that his devilish tasks include dragging to hell Dunn’s neighbor, Mr. Bobshank (Keith David). A deal is offered - three souls to save Bobshank. At first Dunn says no. but when one of his debtors follows him to the laundromat and well… once you do one,...

Chicago – The 31st Slamdance Film Fest .. the first to take place in Los Angeles … had its share of significant World Premieres. On February 22nd, it was “Portal to Hell,” written and directed by Wally Bess, and featuring an ensemble cast which includes Trey Holland, Romina D’Ugo, Michael McDonald, Monet Weir and Richard Kind as Chip the Devil.

Patrick McDonald encountered them all on the Red Carpet, before their World Premiere at Quixote Studios, the hub of the in-person 2025 Slamdance Film Festival.

’Portal to Hell’ at 31st Slamdance Film Festival

Photo credit: Slamdance.com

Dunn (Trey Holland) is a debt collector. His life of routine is interrupted when a portal to hell appears in his local laundromat. A demon named Chip follows and explains in no uncertain terms that he’s there to drag Dunn’s neighbor, Mr. Bobshank (Keith David), to hell. A deal is offered - three souls to save Bobshank.

Sometimes it can feel like a portal to hell has just opened up before you, sucking everything good in life down a deep dark hole of despair. A pretty common feeling these days, if you’re unlucky enough to have eyes or ears. In Woody Bess’ dark comedy Portal To Hell, a depressed debt collector discovers his very own portal to hell in a dryer at his local laundry mat. Featuring supporting performances from Keith David (The Thing), Michael McDonald and Richard Kind (Beau is Afraid) as a carefree demon, Portal To Hell is a goofy and poignant tale about coming to terms with death…and taking a few bad people with you on the way down.

Dunn (Trey Holland) spends his days getting yelled at over the phone in his apartment, trying to squeeze blood from a stone with customers who owe thousands in medical bills. His only pleasant interactions are with his gruff,...

Actor/comedian Richard Kind has a vibe that lives up to his last name, so when you’re looking to cast someone to play a demon in a movie, he’s probably one of the last people who would ever come to mind… which is exactly why casting Kind as a demon in the horror comedy Portal to Hell was a brilliant move on the part of writer/director Woody Bess. The film will have its premiere at the Slamdance film festival, which is being held from February 20th through the 26th, and in advance of its debut screening, Deadline reports that Raven Banner is representing the worldwide sales and distribution, presenting the film to potential buyers at the European Film Market.

Richard Kind (Only Murders in the Building) is joined in the film’s cast by Trey Holland (The Diabolical), Romina D’Ugo (12 Monkeys), Keith David (John Carpenter’s The Thing...

Keith David and Richard Kind star in the indie horror-comedy Portal to Hell.

Deadline reports that Raven Banner Entertainment has acquired the movie for worldwide sales and distribution, introducing it to buyers at the European Film Market in Berlin.

Premiering this weekend at Slamdance in Los Angeles, the film marks the feature debut of writer-director-cinematographer Woody Bess.

Trey Holland (The Diabolical) stars as Dunn, a debt collector who lives a life of routine until a portal to Hell opens in his local laundromat. A demon (Kind) emerges to drag Dunn’s neighbor, Mr. Bobshank (David), to Hell for an unpaid debt.

Helping people settle their debts is Dunn’s specialty, but when the demon offers a sinister deal—three souls in exchange for Bobshank’s freedom—he refuses. However, when one of his debtors follows him to the laundromat, the line between right and wrong begins to blur, forcing Dunn...

Exclusive: Ahead of its debut screening at Slamdance, horror comedy Portal to Hell, written, directed, and shot by Woody Bess, has been picked up for worldwide sales and distribution by Raven Banner.

The genre specialist introduced the film to buyers at the EFM in Berlin.

The film tells the story of Dunn (Trey Holland), a debt collector who lives a life of routine until a portal to hell opens in his local laundromat, followed by a demon (Kind) sent to drag his neighbor, Mr. Bobshank (David), to hell for an unpaid debt. Helping people settle their debts is Dunn’s specialty, but when the demon offers a sinister deal—three souls in exchange for Bobshank’s freedom—he refuses. However, when one of his debtors follows him to the laundromat, the line between right and wrong begins to blur, forcing Dunn to make a choice that could cost him his own soul.

As the Sundance Film Festival weighs the possibility of leaving Utah, its rebellious younger sibling has already packed its bags.

Slamdance, the unaffiliated festival that has run parallel to Sundance and celebrated outsider cinema in Park City since 1995, has officially relocated to Los Angeles. The organization announced its presence in town with the inaugural Indie Awards ceremony in December, and will break from its Sundance-adjacent schedule for its 30th edition, which will runs from February 20-26.

In addition to its lineup — which features 146 films, with all competition titles hailing from first-time directors at budgets of $1 million or less — Slamdance has announced more details about its plans to run a Los Angeles festival. Screenings will take place at the Director’s Guild of America and Quixote West Hollywood, with a special opening night event at the Egyptian Theater on February 20. Films will also be available to stream on the Slamdance Channel...

Welcome to Burlington, Ontario, in the early 2000s. It’s here that we meet Lawrence Kweller, our video-store-dwelling, movie-obsessed 17-year-old protagonist. Written and directed by Chandler Levack, I Like Movies takes us into Lawrence’s world and the coming-of-age journey he embarks on. With a leading performance by Isaiah Lehtinen, the film offers an authentic look at teen life through Lawrence’s eyes.

Lawrence practically lives at the local rental shop, Sequels, where he longs to work. There, between sweeping up popcorn and restocking shelves, he talks movies with passion. He name-drops directors like PTA and references deep cuts you’d expect only the biggest cinephiles to know.

But beneath the bravado, Lawrence struggles with real challenges too. He recently lost his father and now lives with just his mother. Navigating friendships and school without his dad’s guidance hasn’t been easy.

Levack transports us back to that nostalgic period,...

"I thought I got hired here to talk about real cinema." Ha! Oh, you wish buddy. Freestyle Digital Media is finally releasing this acclaimed Canadian indie film in America. I Like Movies is the feature directorial debut of Canadian filmmaker Chandler Levack and it premiered at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival a few years ago. It's an exceptionally smart, nuanced, entirely original take on a young movie nerd geeking out over his job at a video store. Although he comes to learn that his obsession with movies prevents him from connecting with others. Set in the early 2000s (back when video stores still existed), Lawrence Kweller, a socially inept 17-year old cinephile, gets a job at a video store, where he forms a complicated friendship with his older female manager. I Like Movies stars Isaiah Lehtinen as Lawrence, along with Romina D'Ugo, Krista Bridges, Percy Hynes White, Alex Ateah, and Andy McQueen.

A Lifetime original movie, The Daughter I Gave Away, premieres on Sunday, September 1, 2024, at 8:00 Pm. The film stars Romina D’Ugo and Kelly Penner and centres around a teenage girl who placed her baby for adoption fifteen years ago. When she discovers that her daughter has gone missing from the adoptive family’s home, […]

The Daughter I Gave Away Lifetime Original Movie Sunday, September 1...

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit fans, we’ve got a fresh off the press preview for the new Season 25 Episode 2 episode titled Truth Embargo!

Find out everything you need to know about the Truth Embargo episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, including a full preview, videos, release date, cast information and how to watch!

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Truth Embargo Season 25 Episode 2 Preview

In the upcoming episode of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” titled “Truth Embargo,” scheduled to air on NBC at 9:00 Pm on January 25, 2024, viewers can brace themselves for an intense and gripping hour of crime-solving drama. The episode takes a compelling turn as Captain Olivia Benson collaborates with the FBI to tackle an unsolved case, pushing the boundaries of justice and unveiling hidden truths.

The formidable cast, led by Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson, brings their A-game to this riveting storyline.

The official trailer for the upcoming Canadian comedy film “I Like Movies” has arrived.

The film, which premiered at TIFF in September 2022 and recently screened as part of their Top Ten Film series, is the feature debut from Toronto-based director Chandler Levack.

Read More: New CBC Show ‘Push’ Is Canada’s First Major-Network Primetime Series Featuring Leading Cast With Disabilities

The official film synopsis reads: “Socially inept 17-year-old cinephile, Lawrence Kweller (Isaiah Lehtinen) gets a job at a video store, where he forms a complicated friendship with his older female manager.”

We're excited to present the new poster for...

Under veteran Executive Director Roger Durling, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival has thrived by surfing the awards season wave and programming a ton of onstage interviews with Oscar contenders.

This year’s edition marks a return to a fully live, in-person film festival. The festival will showcase 52 world premieres and 78 U.S. premieres from 43 countries, along with free community education and outreach programs.

Every year, screenwriters, directors, and producers promote their films on panels, and the likes of Kristen Stewart, Will Smith, Brad Pitt, Bong Joon Ho, Adam Driver, Renée Zellweger, Laura Dern, Viola Davis, Lupita Nyong’o, Saoirse Ronan, Bruce Dern, Jeff Bridges, Melissa McCarthy, Isabelle Huppert, Viggo Mortensen, Rami Malek, Glenn Close, Ben Affleck, Christopher Nolan, Sam Elliott, and many more submit to in-depth tributes.

The panels, tributes, and special screenings lure local cinephiles and Academy members eager to hear Oscar contenders talk about their creative process. All...

The Santa Barbara Intl. Film Festival celebrates movies and the people who make them.

One essential element of Sbiff is its focus on film education. With a carefully curated program, executive director Roger Durling says, “We’re educating your average filmgoer that comes to the festival.” Every event — from panels to tributes — is designed to teach, he says. This includes awards celebrating renowned stars including Angela Bassett, Brendan Fraser and Cate Blanchett.

“The format is a 90-minute conversation,” he says. “It’s not an awards evening where the person shows up and gets the award. Cate Blanchett will be on stage talking about her craft and career.”

Beyond staples such as films and panels, the program includes a variety of educational opportunities for cinephiles of all ages. For Durling, one of the most exciting parts of Sbiff is the Film Studies Program in which 30 undergraduate students from around the country...

The 38th edition of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which will run Feb. 8-18, will open with Miranda’s Victim, one of 52 world premieres in this year’s lineup, and will close with the U.S. premiere of I Like Movies, one of 78 U.S. premieres, the fest announced Wednesday.

These are, of course, in addition to a slew of the career-retrospective tributes for which the fest is famous, which this year will celebrate the likes of Cate Blanchett, Brendan Fraser, Angela Bassett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, as well as panels with breakthrough artists, artisans, directors, writers, producers, female creatives and international filmmakers.

The fest will also offer a variety of free educational programs, including Mike’s Field Trip to the Movies (for 4,000-plus fourth through sixth grade students from low-income schools throughout Santa Barbara County), which this year will feature a screening of Guillermo del Toro...

The Santa Barbara Film Festival has today unveiled the lineup for its 38th edition, taking place in-person from February 8-18.

The festival will open with the world premiere of the courtroom drama Miranda’s Victim, from director Michelle Danner. Pic tells the true story of Trish Weir (Abigail Breslin), who in 1963 was kidnapped and brutally raped by Ernesto Miranda. Committed to putting her assailant in prison, Trish’s life is destroyed by America’s legal system as she triggers a law that transforms the nation. Ryan Phillippe, Luke Wilson, Donald Sutherland, Mireille Enos, Andy Garcia and more also star.

Closing out Sbiff 2023 is the Chandler Levack-directed I Like Movies, which makes its U.S. premiere. The film starring Isaiah Lehtinen, Romina D’Ugo, Krista Bridges and Percy Hynes White follows the socially inept, 17-year-old cinephile Lawrence (Lehtinen) as he gets a job at a video store, there forming a complicated...

For Lawrence Kweller (Isaiah Lehtinen), the 17-year-old cinephile protagonist of “I Like Movies,” the film’s title isn’t just a statement of fact. It’s also a suit of armor, an all-purpose excuse, and an earnest attempt at connection. Connection isn’t easy for Lawrence, a state of affairs that’s only partially his own fault. He’s sullen, callous, condescending, stubbornly delusional, and even a bit sexist. But he’s also intelligent, ambitious, hyper-articulate, and as vulnerable as a baby bird that’s fallen from its nest.

Lawrence exists on a continuum that also includes “Rushmore’s” Max Fischer and “Lady Bird’s” Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, but he’s a more realistic character than either of them. All teenagers think that they’re special and it’s extremely unfair that the world has yet to recognize their gifts. But “I Like Movies” is too grounded of a film to entertain these fantasies.

Chandler Levack's feature film debut "I Like Movies" is bursting with personality — just like its protagonist, Lawrence Kweller (Isaiah Lehtinen). Lawrence is a would-be auteur; a burgeoning cinephile, obsessed with film culture and confident that he has a bright future in the industry. Like many film-lovers of this caliber, he suffers from a strong case of self-importance. Mix that with his age, troubled home life, and personal trauma, and we have a recipe for a pretty intolerable young man.

At least, that's what you would expect. "I Like Movies" strikes the right balance for Lawrence between vulnerable and loathsome, presenting a character we can root for, even as we disprove of his actions. Written and directed by Chandler Levack — who also developed a love of the movies growing up in Burlington, Ontario — "I Like Movies" feels personal, presenting a story that is at times hilarious, occasionally very dark, and always entertaining.

A reverie of 2002 and 2003 in Toronto’s sleepy Burlington suburb, I Like Movies initially takes on the appearance of nostalgia with its sight of lined video store walls viewed in the age of streaming. But tougher subject matter is somewhat at hand, as we hone in on high school senior and outcast Lawrence (Isaiah Lehtinen), the kind of kid who makes sure to note it as “Paul Thomas Anderson’s Punch-Drunk Love” when buying a ticket from a hapless cashier. A one-track mind making him oblivious to the pain of his single mother (Krista Bridges) and most of those around him, he’s basically the realistic version of the teen cinephile / aspiring filmmaker romanticized to countless young people by the character of Dawson Leery.

Recovering from his father’s suicide four years earlier and besieged by emotional problems, his life begins to revolve entirely around his desperation to get into...

Exclusive: The New York-based Visit Films has acquired world rights excluding Canada to the video store dramedy I Like Movies, which will debut as part of the Discovery program at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.

The film was co-written and directed by first-time filmmaker Chandler Levack who negotiated the deal with Ryan Kampe of Visit Films alongside producer Lindsay Blair Goeldner and co-producer Evan Dubinsky.

Set in Burlington, Ontario, in 2003, the film follows hyper-ambitious teenage cinephile Lawrence Kweller, who dreams of attending film school at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. In order to raise the hefty tuition fee, he gets his dream job at the local video store, Sequels. Wracked with anxiety about his future, Lawrence begins alienating the most important people in his life, including his best friend, Matt Macarchuck, and his single mother, Terri, all while developing a complicated friendship with his older female manager, Alana.

Is Ben prepared for what's coming his way in the first season of the Coyote TV show on CBS All Access? As we all know, the Nielsen ratings typically play a big role in determining whether a TV show like Coyote is cancelled or renewed for season two. CBS All Access and other streaming platforms, however, collect their own data. If you've been watching this TV series, we'd love to know how you feel about the first season episodes of Coyote here.

A CBS All Access drama series, the Coyote TV show stars Michael Chiklis, Adriana Paz, Kristyan Ferrer, Octavio Pisano, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams and Julio Cedillo with Mark Feuerstein, Kelli Williams, Daniel Mora, Emy Mena, George Pullar, Amy Forsyth, Ross Phillips, Romina D'Ugo, Bobby Daniel Rodriguez, Natalia Cordova-Buckley, Jose Pablo Cantillo and Drew Powell in recurring roles.

Network: CBS All Access

Episodes: Ongoing (hour)

Seasons: Ongoing

TV show dates: January 7, 2021 -- present

Series status: Has not been cancelled

Performers include: Michael Chiklis, Adriana Paz, Kristyan Ferrer, Octavio Pisano, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams and Julio Cedillo with Mark Feuerstein, Kelli Williams, Daniel Mora, Emy Mena, George Pullar, Amy Forsyth, Ross Phillips, Romina D'Ugo, Bobby Daniel Rodriguez, Natalia Cordova-Buckley, Jose Pablo Cantillo and Drew Powell in recurring roles.

TV show description:      

A drama series, the Coyote TV show tells the story of Ben Clemens (Chiklis). After 32 years as a border patrol agent, he's forced to work for the very people he spent his career trying to keep out of America.

Now exposed to life on the other side of...

Vulture Watch

Is Ben in too deep? Has the Coyote TV show been cancelled or renewed for a second season on CBS All Access? The television vulture is watching all the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of Coyote, season two. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you?  

What's This TV Show About?

Streaming on the CBS All Access subscription service, the Coyote TV show stars Michael Chiklis, Adriana Paz, Kristyan Ferrer, Octavio Pisano, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams and Julio Cedillo with Mark Feuerstein, Kelli Williams, Daniel Mora, Emy Mena, George Pullar, Amy Forsyth, Ross Phillips, Romina D'Ugo, Bobby Daniel Rodriguez, Natalia Cordova-Buckley, Jose Pablo Cantillo and Drew Powell in recurring roles. The series tells the story of Ben Clemens (Chiklis). After 32...

In today’s TV news roundup, Paramount Network revealed its new recurring cast members joining “Coyote” and Audible announced the debut of “Escape from Virtual Island”

Casting

Paramount Network revealed a dozen recurring cast members for the upcoming drama series “Coyote.” Mark Feuerstein, Kelli Williams, Daniel Mora, Emy Mena, George Pullar, Amy Forsyth, Ross Phillips, Romina D’ugo, Natalia Cordova-Buckley, Bobby Daniel Rodriguez, Jose Pablo Cantillo and Drew Powell are joining the drama series, which stars Michael Chiklis as a retired United States Border Patrol agent. The show is scheduled to premiere on Paramount Network in the summer.

Dates

The new scripted comedy series, “Escape from Virtual Island,” is coming Apr. 2, Audible announced. The audio series follows Derek Ambrose (Paul Rudd) as he runs an island resort in 2038 where the wealthy come to live out their wildest fantasies in virtual reality. The all-star ensemble also includes Jack McBrayer, Paula Pell, Amber Ruffin,...

Exclusive: Mark Feuerstein and Kelli Williams, are set for key recurring roles opposite Michael Chiklis in Coyote, Paramount Network’s one-hour scripted drama series from Emmy-winning executive producer and director Michelle MacLaren, Dark Horse Entertainment and Sony Pictures TV. Rounding out the recurring cast are Daniel Mora (Coco), Emy Mena (The Whisper of Silence), George Pullar (Playing for Keeps), Amy Forsyth, Ross Phillips (Heart of Dixie), Romina D’Ugo (12 Monkeys), Bobby Daniel Rodriguez (Seal Team), Natalia Cordova-Buckley, Jose Pablo Cantillo (The Walking Dead) and Drew Powell (Gotham). Production on the first season is underway with the series scheduled to premiere on Paramount Network in Summer 2020.

Written by David Graziano (American Gods), Michael Carnes and Josh Gilbert (Mr. Woodcock), Coyote is the story of Ben Clemens (Chiklis), who, after...

Four new names have been added to the cast list for SyFy's newly adapted series based on Terry Gillam's '12 Monkeys'. 'Saw IV's Lyriq Bent has joined the show to play virologist Dr. Henri and 'The Originals' star Todd Stashwick is all set to play Deacon, the 'leader of a brutal band of scavengers in the year 2043 called The West 7'. Completing the new foursome is 'Hemlock Grove's Demore Barnes who will play Whitley, 'one of the last remaining soldiers of the American military in 2043' and the sexy Romina D'Ugo -below ('King') who will star as 'Max, a survivor in the truest sense who grew up in the post-apocalypse and never knew the time before the plague.'...

Network: Showcase in Canada

Episodes: 21 (hour)

Seasons: Two

TV show dates: April 17, 2011 -- May 25, 2012

Series status: Cancelled

Performers include: Amy Price-Francis, Gabriel Hogan, Alan Van Sprang, Zoe Doyle, Tony Nardi, Suzanne Coy, Rossif Sutherland, and Romina D'Ugo.

TV show description:

Sergeant Detective Jessica "Jess" King (Amy Price-Francis) made it through eight years in Homicide, as well as three motorcycle accidents and two failed marriages. As she tries to make her third marriage work, how will she handle her new job as head of the Major Crimes Task Force?

Jess is a powerhouse and a force of nature -- a cop who sees things that everyone else misses. She says what she thinks and never stops thinking -– about a crime scene, about evidence, about the motivations of the suspects.

A few days ago, Alliance Vivafilm, a film distributor, released the first poster of Funkytown, a film helmed by acclaimed director Daniel Roby (La peau blanche) and penned by Steve Galluccio (Mambo Italiano).

In the 1970s, Montreal was the wealthiest city in Canada and was at the centre of the disco movement. The film follows the life of a bunch of successful people who are destroying themselves.

The film - which was made with a budget of $7.3 million - reunites a star-studded cast: Patrick Huard, Paul Doucet, Sarah Mutch, Justin Chatwin, Raymond Bouchard, Genevieve L'Esperance, Janine Theriault, Romina D'Ugo, Geneviève Brouillette, Lina Roessler, François Létourneau, Sophie Cadieux and many more.

Finally, the film will be released in Quebec's theatres on December 17, 2010.

While it's still in post-production, New Year's trailer has been online for quite a while. For the moment, a release date (or peperhaps a presence at the next Toronto International Film Festival) has yet to be announced.

According to New Year's Facebook fan page, the story goes like this:

A group of 20-something “Gen Y”-ers reunite at a New Year’s Eve bash in middle-class suburbia. Numbed by the 9-to-5 conformity of real life after university, the party provides a welcome escape full of drinking, smoking, making-out, and bag-tag. But when a near-death experience, a pregnancy, and the appearance of past rivals disrupt the night, each must take a crash course in growing up or risk succumbing to a life of false comfort and complacencyFinally, the film was directed by Phil Borg. He also wrote the script with Julian DeZotti.

Besides, the film stars Julian DeZotti, Joanna Douglas...