News

Longtime music video director turned feature-length filmmaker, Marcella Cytrynowicz, debuts her psychological thriller/romance American Cherry on March 17. Also written by the director, the script tackles mental health, anger issues, addiction, and family drama among two troubled young adults. Hart Denton (Riverdale) and Sarah May Sommers (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) star as Finn and Eliza in this methodically-paced deep dive on the consequences of untreated needs. It often bites off more than it can chew, but American Cherry has enough there to be a thought-provoking and worthy debut.

The story follows the mysterious and troubled young man, Finn (Hart Denton), who sets his sights on the impressionable yet strong-willed Eliza (Sarah May Sommers). After discovering they both suffer from familial traumas, they grow closer together as friends. Their friendship quickly turns into romance, in which obsession gets the best of Finn due to underlying mental health issues that...

Utopia Picks Up The Last Tourist

Exclusive: Utopia has acquired rights to responsible travel documentary feature The Last Tourist and has set a March 15th digital release in the U.S. to mark the two-year anniversary of the pandemic closing the world’s borders to international travel. The film will also have its U.S. premiere on March 8th at Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Directed and written by Tyson Sadler and executive-produced by Bruce Poon Tip, the founder of community tourism pioneer and adventure operator, G Adventures, the movie features Dr. Jane Goodall, Lek Chailert, Gary Knell, Meenu Vadera and Jonathan Tourtellot. The documentary, which was awarded with the Special Jury Prize for Social Impact by the Canadian Documentary Jury at the Calgary International Film Festival, examines the history of modern tourism and offers a critique on its current state of affairs. It explores issues including animals suffering for entertainment,...

The Maze Runner‘s Aml Ameen has boarded Susan DeRose’s drama, Charming the Hearts of Men, with Kelsey Grammer, Anna Friel, and Sean Astin. It’s said to be a fictional account inspired by true events. The story is about a woman who struggles to find gainful employment at the time of the Civil Rights movement and her only skill is her “charm.” Richard T Lewis is producing the project which is currently filming in Georgia. Ameen, last seen in Idris Elba’s directorial debut film, Yardie, will play Walter, the Congressman’s (Grammer) chauffeur and confidant. He’s repped by UTA, Link Management, The Artist’s Partnership in the UK, and attorney Dave Feldman.

Matty Cardarople has been cast in American Cherry, a romance thriller from writer/director Marcella Cytrynowicz. Sarah May Sommers stars in the film which follows a teenage girl...

In today’s film news roundup, Sarah May Sommers is starring in “American Cherry,” Jason Alexander has signed on to a film, Outfest has a new leader and BAFTA has awarded student prizes.

Castings

Jason Alexander has joined the cast of “Faith Based,” a comedy from director Vincent Masciale and writer Luke Barnett.

The satire of the Christian film industry follows two friends, played by “Funny or Die” regulars Barnett and Tanner Thomason, who come to the realization that all “faith based” films are extremely profitable and set out on a mission to make one of their own.

Alexander will play the eccentric head of a weight loss tea pyramid. The previously announced ensemble includes Lance Reddick, Danielle Nicolet, Carly Craig, Danny Woodburn, and Christoph Sanders.

The news was first reported by Deadline.

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Sarah May Sommers, who plays a Manson Family member in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” is...