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On July 6, 2022, one of Hollywood's most iconic actors passed away at the age of 82.  Best remembered for his Oscar-nominated performance in "The Godfather" (1972), James Caan's career spanned almost 60 years of theatrical and television work.

Born in the Bronx on March 26, 1940, Caan made his TV debut on an episode of "Naked City" in 1961, and his film debut two years later in an uncredited role in Billy Wilder's "Irma la Douce." He soon made a name for himself co-starring alongside such Hollywood legends as Olivia de Havilland in "Lady in a Cage" (1964) and John Wayne and Robert Mitchum in "El Dorado."

In 1971, he earned his sole Primetime Emmy nomination for his title role in the tearjerker "Brian's Song," and the following year achieved an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, for his memorable turn in "The Godfather." This was the role with which he became most identified; however, over the next half century,...

Indie horror comedy “Glue Trap” has been acquired by Gravitas Ventures following a film festival run that began with its premiere last year at Dances With Films.

The film, written and directed by “Succession” and “Euphoria” writer and consultant Justin Geldzahler, will be released on digital and VOD in the U.S. on Dec. 17.

Starring Obie-winner Brittany Bradford and Isaac W. Jay, the movie follows a couple during a last minute trip to a cabin. “But when an obnoxious third [Gloria Bangiola] wheel arrives,” the logline reads, “they worry their relationship may be in trouble.”

The film is produced by Geldzahler, Christopher Fox, Norris Guncheon and executive produced by Sara McFarlane.

“With the holidays approaching, I’m excited to release our film about loved ones driving each other insane while isolated from an increasingly uncomfortable world,” Geldzahler said in a statement Monday.

Gravitas Ventures SVP of acquisitions and operations Bill Guentzler also said,...

Heathers is conventionally put in a lineage with Clueless and Mean Girls as female-driven teen comedies that define the movies respective generations. This easy comparison overlooks the dark tone of Heathers, making The Craft a more fitting companion. While Heathers and Clueless are both about popularity and high school cliques, putting them in dialogue just for sharing a setting is too simplistic.

Heathers starred Winona Ryder as Veronica Sawyer, a girl trying to join the Heathers popular crew. By contrast, The Craft is about four girls who are not just unpopular but actively targeted. Robin Tunney led the cast of The Craft as Sarah Bailey, who has a similar arc with magic as Veronica had with popularity: first she sees it as a tool but then realizes it can be a weapon. Every Clueless character gets their happy ending, but not everyone escapes the end of The Craft much like Heathers.

Indie film distributor Gravitas Ventures has acquired U.S. and Canada and select international territories on sci-fi thriller “The Fix,” starring Grace Van Dien, who appeared in “Stranger Things.”

It will be released on Nov. 22 on digital and cable transactional video on demand.

Directed by Kelsey Egan, “The Fix” co-stars Daniel Sharman, Keenan Arrison, Tina Redman, Robyn Rossouw, Tafara Nyatsanza, Nicole Fortuin and Clancy Brown.

The story takes place on a viral infected Earth years into the future, where only the rich can afford to buy immunity. It takes a turn when a wild child takes a new designer drug at a house party, inadvertently becoming an unintended test subject.

“Our journey from script to screen began in 2013, so we couldn’t be more excited to share this wild ride with the world,” said Egan in a statement. “To achieve ambitious action and VFX in a small indie is a rare feat,...

Over the course of his career, James Caan starred in some of the most influential films of all time, including the iconic The Godfather, in which he took on the role of Sonny Corleone and earned an Academy Award for his performance. The actor was also known for being highly discerning about his on-screen projects, prompting several rejections throughout his career.

James Caan as Sonny Corleone in The Godfather | Credit: IMDb

Renowned for his outspoken and opinionated nature, the actor also did not hesitate to voice his reservations when it came to a line in the 1973 drama, Cinderella Liberty, leading to a disagreement with his friend and director of the film, Mark Rydell.

James Caan Was Disappointed With One Line in Cinderella Liberty

The 1973 film Cinderella Liberty follows James Caan as a sailor, John, who falls for a prostitute Maggie (Marsha Mason). However, things get complicated after she goes back to her previous lifestyle.

For the first time since the show became exclusive to Peacock, The Office has made the weekly streaming rankings.

The long-running comedy series racked up 602 million minutes of viewing time for the week of Jan. 22-28, good enough for ninth place among library series. It’s the first appearance for The Office — which was a regular entrant in the early days of the Nielsen rankings — since it left Netflix for Peacock at the beginning of 2021.

At the top of the rankings for the week is Griselda, Netflix’s drama about the infamous drug queenpin starring Sofia Vergara. The series had 1.59 billion minutes of watch time over its first four days of release (it premiered Jan. 25). Reacher (741 million minutes) hung on in second place among original series a week after its second season finale on Prime Video, beating out Netflix’s docuseries American Nightmare (676 million).

Kids’ favorite Bluey led the acquired...

The week of Jan. 15-21 was a big one for streaming.

Seven titles — three original series, three acquired shows and one movie — each drew more than 1 billion minutes of viewing for the week, the most that have ever hit that mark in the four-year history of Nielsen’s streaming charts. The previous high was six, which has happened four times (including two weeks earlier).

Kids’ favorite Bluey was the overall No. 1, with just over 1.5 billion minutes on Disney+. Reacher (1.23 billion) reclaimed the top spot among original shows from the prior week‘s leader, Fool Me Once, which fell by more than 50 percent to 1.06 billion minutes of watch time. Netflix’s heist movie Lift grew by 19 percent week-to-week, scoring 1.04 billion minutes.

Young Sheldon (1.16 billion minutes), Netflix’s docuseries American Nightmare (1.12 billion) and Grey’s Anatomy (1.09 billion) also hit the billion-minute mark.

Former NBC series This Is Us was the latest recipient of...

James Caan's final film has gained popularity on Netflix's US top ten movies chart, highlighting his lasting impact on the industry. The Hollywood icon, known for his roles in movies like "The Godfather" and "Elf," sadly passed away in 2022 at the age of 82. Released in 2021, Caan's last film has now found success in the streaming realm, earning a spot on the top ten list after grossing $2.3 million on a $5 million budget.

James Caan’s final movie to be released in his lifetime lands on Netflix’s US top ten movies chart. Caan rose to become a huge Hollywood star thanks to roles in classic films like The Godfather, Funny Lady, Rollerball and Thief. The famous tough-guy actor was later embraced by a whole new generation of movie fans thanks to his relatively warm-and-fuzzy performance alongside Will Ferrell in the beloved Christmas movie Elf. The star sadly passed away...

Helen forgave Dan's betrayal because she saw that he truly loved her and wanted to make her happy. Love triumphs in the end. Janet's decision to help Helen find Dan stemmed from her own fear of being alone. She wanted to change and be a nicer person to avoid a lifetime of anger. Helen and Dan decided to stay at Pine Grove because moving on from the past and embracing new beginnings is a central theme of the movie. They found happiness and purpose in their new life together.

Helen Wilson (Ellen Burstyn) was able to find friends at the Pine Grove Senior Community, and the ending of Queen Bees had her also finding love and marrying Dan Simpson (James Caan). Helen had a tough time adjusting to life at Pine Grove, but she eventually befriended the other Queen Bees and created a new home in the community. Though there...

The final comedic performance by James Caan in "Queen Bees" reunites him with Ellen Burstyn, marking a 24-year reunion since their last appearance together in a 2000 crime drama. "Queen Bees" has gained recent popularity on Netflix, currently ranking in the top 3 movies in the United States on the streaming platform. The cast of "Queen Bees" features several other reunions, including Jane Curtin and French Stewart from "3rd Rock from the Sun" and Ann-Margret and Christopher Lloyd from "Going in Style."

The final comedic performance by legendary actor James Caan in Queen Bees quietly marked a cast reunion nearly a quarter-century after their box office flop. Caan, who sadly passed away in 2022, appeared in dozens of classic dramas and comedies ranging from The Godfather as Sonny Corleone to Elf as Walter Hobbs, Buddy's dad. The last movie in which Caan had a leading role was the 2023 action crime thriller Fast Charlie starring Pierce Brosnan,...

"Queen Bees" is a romantic comedy film set in a retirement community, starring James Caan as Dan Simpson. The movie follows the story of Helen, played by Ellen Burstyn, who finds companionship and love with Dan. "Queen Bees" was James Caan's final film before he died in 2022.

Queen Bees chronicles the lives of senior citizens living in the Pine Grove retirement community, and one of its residents is Dan Simpson, played by James Caan. The 2021 romantic comedy film, directed by Michael Lembeck and written by Donald Martin, revolves around Helen Wilson, an older woman whose daughter wants her to move into a retirement home despite Helen's desire to stay at the home she has lived at for years. However, when Helen locks herself out of the house (again), resulting in a fire that destroys the kitchen, she is forced to move into Pine Grove while it is being repaired.

Aside from Caan,...

Mean Girls (2024) is a reimagining of the classic comedy film as a musical, directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. The directors approached the adaptation with enthusiasm, drawing influence from both the original movie and the 2016 Broadway adaptation. The movie trims down some of the songs from the Broadway version to serve the story but still offers an immersive and personal perspective on high school life.

Mean Girls (2024) may be Arturo Perez Jr. and Samantha Jayne's feature film directorial debut, but they have been lifelong fans of the original movie. Their enthusiasm for Tina Fey’s hit movie also extends to the 2016 Broadway adaptation, which the newest adaptation incorporates. Though it was originally based on Rosalind Wiseman's guidebook for parents Queen Bees and Wannabes, Mean Girls has become an unstoppable force on its own, dominating popular culture two decades later.

Mean Girls (2024) follows Cady Heron, the naive heroine...

Gravitas Ventures, an Anthem Sports & Entertainment company, has acquired the U.S. rights to Connie Cocchia’s coming-of-age drama “When Time Got Louder.” The film will be released on Nov. 17 in select theaters and on VOD.

“’When Time Got Louder’ is a powerful story filled with emotion. It’s a great addition to the coming-of-age genre, and we can’t be more happy to bring it to audiences,” stated Cameron Moore, senior director of theatrical distribution, who negotiated the deal on behalf of Gravitas.

Willow Shields (“The Hunger Games” franchise) stars as Abbie, who is departing for college and leaving her parents (Elizabeth Mitchell and Lochlyn Munro) and brother (Jonathan Simao), who has autism and is non-verbal. As the film’s synopsis explains, “while exploring her independence and sexuality, Abbie finds herself torn between her new life and her love for her brother.” Ava Capri and Piper Curda also star in the film,...

Gravitas Ventures has acquired U.S. and Canadian distribution rights to horror-thriller “Thirst.”

The film marks the directorial debut of musician Eric Owen, drummer with alternative rock duo Black Pistol Fire.

Written by Owen, in the film, insomnia spreads in a small town, causing fear and panic. As the situation becomes dire, two couples find salvation on an abandoned ranch until nefarious characters descend upon the land, claiming it as their own, and chaos ensues.

The film stars Brian Villalobos (HBO’s “Love and Death”) and Lori Kovacevich (“But Humble Sinners”). Josh Taylor produced alongside Owen.

The deal was negotiated between Glen Reynolds of Circus Road Films and Mackenzie Maguire of Gravitas Ventures. A release is planned for the fall.

Owen said: “’Thirst’ realizes all of my greatest fears and asks the question – how will we act when our reality becomes distorted and would we be civil when our own survival is jeopardized?...

Author Rosalind Wiseman is now detailing her real-life experience with the queen bee cliques of Hollywood.

Wiseman, whose book “Queen Bees and Wannabes” was adapted by Tina Fey into the hit 2004 film “Mean Girls,” alleged that Fey and studio Paramount have denied making net profits from the franchise and have not fairly compensated her for the source material. Wiseman made approximately $400,000 after selling the film rights in 2002 but has not received any additional payments since. Wiseman is taking legal action against Paramount.

“For so long I was so quiet about it, so, so quiet, but I just feel like the hypocrisy is too much,” Wiseman told The New York Post. “I think it’s fair for me to be able to get compensated in some way for the work that has changed our culture and changed the zeitgeist.”

Her attorneys added in a statement, “We have reached out to Paramount...

Company owner Anthem Sports & Entertainment is seeking a new Gravitas head.

Nolan Gallagher is to step down as CEO of Gravitas Ventures, the US video on demand and theatrical distributor he founded in 2006.

Anthem Sports & Entertainment, the TV network and sports group that bought Gravitas in 2021, said it is working with Nolan and has retained an advisor to find a new head for the company.

Nolan, who will leave Gravitas at the end of March, said he will now focus on his co-ownership of a new Major League Soccer to play in Cleveland, the city to which Gravitas relocated...

Nolan Gallagher, the CEO of the Cleveland-based film distributor Gravitas Ventures, is stepping down from the company he founded to run a new expansion soccer team he bought last year.

It’s not the typical trajectory for most media execs, of course. After relocating Gravitas Ventures to his hometown of Cleveland in 2019, Gallagher and the distributor’s co-owner Michael Murphy were awarded ownership of a new soccer team through Major League Soccer (Mls) Next Pro in November 2022 (via their nonprofit Cleveland Soccer Group Foundation). The team doesn’t have a name yet, but Gallagher is focusing his full time on the club ahead of kickoff in 2025.

Gallagher will step down effective March 31, 2023. His exit comes on the heels of Anthem Sports & Entertainment’s acquisition of Gravitas Ventures in November 2021.

Mls Next Pro, for those keeping score at home, is within the third tier of American soccer, or the reserve clubs for the Mls.

Nolan Gallagher’s time running Gravitas Ventures will soon come to an end.

After 17 years, the founder and CEO will depart the distribution company as of March 31, after which time he will focus on an upstart Major League Soccer Next Pro men’s professional soccer team in Cleveland. The team is scheduled to begin league play in 2025. Per today’s news, Gravitas owner Anthem Sports & Entertainment — a multinational media company founded by Leonard Asper — is expected to announce new leadership in the coming months.

He won’t be relocating to Cleveland as he’s already there. In 2019, Gallagher and Gravitas co-owners Michael Murphy and Brendan Gallagher moved the company to the Ohio city in a bid to “further economic momentum for media and entertainment in their hometown,” per the company. The soccer team is the latest push to continue those efforts.

In a statement about his exit, Gallagher explained...

Paul Weitz’s “Moving On” boasts a legendary ensemble that includes Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Malcolm McDowell and Richard Roundtree. It’s always possible for such an illustrious cast to simultaneously elicit excitement and dread, though. Just ask anyone who has endured “Queen Bees,” “Poms,” “Book Club,” “Last Vegas” or “Space Cowboys.”

Good news: “Moving On” doesn’t just aim for warm and pleasant. The film is wickedly droll and shockingly riveting – the operative word being “shockingly.” The element of surprise abounds and is more integral to the plot here than in, say, “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.” The less you know, the better because the film defies expectations in the best way possible. With that said, and somewhat heedless of our own advice, this review regrettably must proceed to tell you more. But we won’t spoil anything beyond what’s in the programming notes of the Toronto International Film Festival,...

Retiring ABC series “Black-ish” picked up one more honor on Friday, a Humanitas Prize for comedy teleplay, while Apple TV+’s “Pachinko” and ABC’s “Women of the Movement” also were recognized at the event.

Held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and hosted by comedian Larry Wilmore, the 46th annual Humanitas Prize event centered on awards and 10,000 cash prizes to screenwriters across ten categories. In addition, Humanitas board president Jenny Bicks presented Filmmakers for Ukraine with the Kieser Award “in recognition of their work to connect the Ukrainian film and TV community impacted by the Russo-Ukrainian War with resources, jobs, and funding to meet basic needs.”

And Jasmine Cephas Jones presented Starz with Voice for Change Award for its #TakeTheLead initiative. Starz president/CEO Jeffrey Hirsch accepted the prize on the network’s behalf. Nkechi Okoro Carroll oversaw the New Voices Fellowship and College Screenwriting Award presentations.

Here are this...

Exclusive: Gravitas Ventures has acquired North American rights to The Inhabitant, the horror film starring Odessa A’zion (Hulu’s Hellraiser), Leslie Bibb (Mrs. American Pie), Dermot Mulroney (Umma) and Lizze Broadway (The Rookie), slating it for release October 7 in more than 100 theaters. Highland Film Group is handling international rights, with sales being launched at the upcoming Toronto Film Festival.

The film from director Jerren Lauder (Stay Out of the F**king Attic) follows Tara (A’zion), who like any other teenage girl is just surviving high school — yet her father Ben (Mulroney) and mother Emily (Bibb) seem strangely distant. Amidst a nearby spree of gruesome ax murders, Tara has sightings of terrifying entities, forcing her to question her own sanity and shocking ancestry. After a visit to her aunt in a mental asylum and a night in Lizzie Borden’s actual home, Tara realizes she is inextricably tied to the horrifying...

Exclusive: Gravitas Ventures has acquired U.S. rights to the 2022 SXSW award winner The Pez Outlaw, from directors Amy Bandlien Storkel and Bryan Storkel, with plans for a day-and-date release on October 21.

The fish-out-of-water story follows the adventures of Steve Glew, a small-town Michigan man, who boards a plane for Eastern Europe soon after the fall of the Berlin Wall. His mission is to locate a secret factory that holds the key to the most desired and valuable Pez dispensers. If he succeeds, he will pull his family out of debt and finally be able to quit his job of 25 years. Steve becomes the hero of his own adventure, smuggling the rarest of goods into the U.S. and making millions in the process. It was all magical, until his arch-nemesis, The Pezident, decided to destroy him.

The Pez Outlaw made its world premiere at this year’s SXSW Film Festival,...

Exclusive: Gravitas Ventures has acquired U.S. rights to Lindsay MacKay’s romantic drama The Swearing Jar, starring Adelaide Clemens (Under the Banner of Heaven), Douglas Smith (Don’t Worry Darling), Patrick J. Adams (Prime Video’s A League of Their Own) and Oscar nominee Kathleen Turner (The White House Plumbers). The Anthem Sports & Entertainment Company has slated the film for release on 20 screens in major markets across the country on September 23.

The Swearing Jar is based on Kate Hewlett’s award-winning play of the same name, which she adapted for the screen. Billed as an intimate story told through music, comedy, subtly shifting timeframes and a few tears, it tells two love stories at once: exploring the joys and challenges of dating, marriage, heartbreak… and moving on. The film was produced by Jane Loughman for Monkeys & Parrots in association with Kyle Bornais of Farpoint Films and Tony Wosk of Middle Child Films.

On July 6, 2022, one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors passed away at the age of 82. Best remembered for his Oscar-nominated performance in “The Godfather” (1972), James Caan‘s career spanned almost 60 years of theatrical and television work.

Born in the Bronx on March 26, 1940, Caan made his TV debut on an episode of “Naked City” in 1961, and his film debut two years later in an uncredited role in Billy Wilder‘s “Irma la Douce.” He soon made a name for himself co-starring alongside such Hollywood legends as Olivia de Havilland in “Lady in a Cage” (1964) and John Wayne and Robert Mitchum in “El Dorado.”

SEEHollywood pays tribute to James Caan following his death at 82

In 1971, he earned his sole Primetime Emmy nomination for his title role in the tearjerker “Brian’s Song,” and the following year achieved an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, for his memorable turn in “The Godfather.” This...

When Oscar nominee James Caan died Wednesday in Los Angeles at 82, he left behind one final performance opposite Pierce Brosnan in the hitman thriller Fast Charlie, for which he’d wrapped production in New Orleans.

The film from director Phillip Noyce is based on Victor Gischler’s Edgar Award-nominated novel Gun Monkeys. It centers on Charlie Swift (Brosnan), who has worked for aging mob boss Stan (Caan) for 20 years, skillfully operating as a prolific fixer and efficient hitman. When a rival boss moves to eliminate Stan and his entire team, he fails in wiping the team clean. Now on his own, Charlie will stop at nothing to avenge his friend, and has no plans to leave anyone alive.

James Caan Dies At 82: Obituary, Reactions, Photo Gallery & More

Fast Charlie‘s ensemble also includes Gbenga Akkinagbe, Morena Baccarin, Toby Huss and more. Richard Wenk wrote the film,...

The Oscar-nominated actor’s other films included Thief, Bottle Rocket and Elf.

James Caan, best known for The Godfather and numerous other performances over a nearly 60-year career, has died. He was 82.

The news was announced by Caan’s family on the actor’s Twitter page: “It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Jimmy on the evening of July 6,” said the posting. “The family appreciates the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time.”

No other details were immediately available.

Reactions from fans...

Humanitas has revealed the nominees for this year’s Humanitas Prizes, which recognize “television and film writers whose work explores the human condition in a nuanced way.” The award is given out in nine categories, including comedy, drama and limited series.

This year’s nominees include “Maid,” “This Is Us,” “Queen Sugar,” “Pachinko,” “Abbott Elementary,” “Somebody Somewhere” and “Black-ish.” Winners will be announced at an in-person awards luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on September 9, 2022.

“The Humanitas Prizes were created to recognize writers whose work explores the beauty and complexity of the human experience and the 2022 nominees do just that,” said Michelle Franke, Humanitas Executive Director. “Ranging in scope, style, and perspective, these stories underscore our bonds, our history and responsibility to each other in the present as well as possibilities for the future. Especially during challenging times, writers dedicate themselves to the stories that connect and entertain us.”

Here...

After a two-year hiatus, Humanitas has revealed the nominations for its 2022 Humanitas Prizes in nine categories

Winners will receive their trophies during a September 9 in-person ceremony at the Beverly Hilton.

Launched in 1974, the Humanitas Prizes honor film and television writers whose work explores the human condition, with recipients receiving a trophy and a cash prize.

Here are the nominees for the 46th annual Humanitas Prize:

Children’s Teleplay

El Deafo: Written by Cece Bell and Will McRobb

Karma’s World: “Hair Comes Trouble” – Written by Kellie R. Griffin and Halcyon Person

Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), with Love: Written by Alex Galatis

The Babysitters Club: “Claudia and the Sad Goodbye” – Written by Sascha Rothchild

Comedy Feature Film

Don’t Look Up: Written by Adam McKay

Everything Everywhere All At Once: Written by Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert

Queen Bees: Written by Donald Martin

tick, tick…Boom!:...

American acting icon Christopher Lloyd is set to join Simon Pegg and Minnie Driver in the cast of a dark comedy called “Nandor Fodor and The Talking Mongoose,” TheWrap can reveal exclusively.

“Nandor” comes from writer and director Adam Sigal (“Chariot”) and is filming now in Leeds in the United Kingdom, with Lloyd due to arrive on set later this week.

The film stars Pegg as Dr. Nandor Fodor, a real-life, famed Hungarian-American psychoanalyst, author, journalist and “parapsychologist” who was a leading authority on poltergeists, hauntings and other paranormal phenomena and in the 1930s advanced the theory that such hauntings could be the result of past unresolved mental tensions. The film is based on a true story of Fodor’s pursuit of “Gef,” an allegedly talking mongoose that inhabited the home of a family on the Isle of Man and attracted many ghost hunters, as well as the British tabloids,...

Exclusive: Gravitas Ventures has acquired North American rights to Hello Sunshine’s documentary Fair Play, based on the New York Times bestseller of the same name by Eve Rodsky, slating it for release in select theaters and on demand on July 8th.

The film from director Jennifer Siebel Newsom looks at the unequal division of labor in the home—a hot topic, which has taken on even more urgency in recent years, with the Covid pandemic exacerbating an already tension-filled dynamic in millions of households. It takes viewers into the homes of real families that are on a journey to balance their home life, while presenting interviews with Melinda Gates, author C. Nicole Mason and Congresswoman Katie Porter. Fair Play was produced by Hello Sunshine, in association with The Representation Project and P&g Studios.

“The home presents so small but it speaks to a much larger issue which is about reframing the value of time,...

Exclusive: Gravitas Ventures has acquired worldwide rights to the romantic comedy Most Guys Are Losers, starring Andy Buckley (The Office), Keith David (Nope), Mira Sorvino (Shining Vale), Grace Fulton (Shazam!), Paul Sorvino (Goodfellas) and Belmont Camelli (Peacock’s Saved by the Bell), for release in theaters and on VOD on July 1st.

In the film from writer-director Eric Ustian, which is set over Thanksgiving weekend in Chicago, a college kid from California seeks approval from his girlfriend’s dad, a bar owner and the author of a dating book titled, Most Guys are Losers. Lee Amalfi and Anthony Clementi produced, with Ustian, Mark Berzins, Greg Stubblefield and Dan Ustian exec producing, and Maximilian Bustamante and Yuly Springer serving as associate producers.

“To work with the Oscar Winner Mira Sorvino and her dad, Paul, was an honor. Andy Buckley combines the comedic timing from his role in The Office, with a heart felt and nuanced performance,...

Gravitas Ventures, an Anthem Sports & Entertainment Company, today announced the launch of its new theatrical release label, Gravitas Premiere, which will acquire 4-6 cast-driven, high production value films per year and release them wide theatrically with significant P&a support. The first title on Premiere’s docket is Katie Aselton’s dramedy Mack & Rita, starring Diane Keaton, which it will release wide in theaters across the U.S. and Canada on August 12.

In Mack & Rita, Mackenzie Martin (Elizabeth Lail) is tired of doing all the things she has to do to keep up and get ahead in her 30s. Since she was a little girl, Mack’s deepest wish has been to be just like her Grammie: comfortable in her own skin, great at saying “no,” and largely unburdened by what others think of her—not to mention love for a good chunky sweater and being in bed by 8:00 p.

Exclusive: Gravitas Ventures has acquired U.S. rights to the musical crime drama The Score, starring Will Poulter (Dopesick), Johnny Flynn (The Outfit), Naomi Ackie (Master of None) and Lydia Wilson (Flack). The Anthem Sports & Entertainment Company plans to release the feature directorial debut of writer-director Malachi Smyth exclusively in theaters on June 3rd, with a release on VOD to follow on June 10th.

In the film from the producers of Danny Boyle’s Yesterday, two small-time crooks, Mike (Flynn) and Troy (Poulter), are on a mission—the ‘score’—that they both expect will transform their circumstances. As they wait for a rendezvous hand-over at a roadside café, Troy falls in love with the waitress, Gloria (Ackie), and begins to question his life choices…while the threat of real danger is driving to meet them.

The Score features songs by Flynn, who outside of his work as an actor, serves...

To mark the release of Never Too Late, we’ve been given 3 copies to give away on DVD.

It has been a long time since Caine, Bronson, Angus and Wendell, Aka, ‘The Chain Breakers,’ escaped the torturous Vietnamese Pow camp. They now find themselves sharing a new prison, The Hogan Hills Retirement Home for Returned Veterans. Each of the boys has an unrealised dream they want to achieve. So, they band together to devise a plan to escape this new hell. But the rules of engagement have changed, in fact, they can’t even remember what they were and that’s half the problem. Directed by Mark Lamprell, Never Too Late is a cross between Grumpy Old Men and The Great Escape, about four mates reconciling after years apart to teach each other that it’s never too late to chase your dreams.

Never Too Late will be available on...

Exclusive: Tim Allen won’t be the only one suiting up as North Pole royalty for Disney+. Lost alum Elizabeth Mitchell will also return to the world of The Santa Clause to reprise her role as Carol, aka Mrs. Claus, for the streamer’s upcoming limited series. The project comes from Last Man Standing creator Jack Burditt, who serves as showrunner.

In the The Santa Clause (w/t), Scott Calvin is on the brink of his 65th birthday and realizing that he can’t be Santa forever. He’s starting to lose a step in his Santa duties, and more importantly, he’s got a family who could benefit from a life in the normal world, especially his two kids who have grown up at the Pole. With a lot of elves, children, and family to please, Scott sets out to find a suitable replacement Santa while preparing his family...

Exclusive: Lost alumna Elizabeth Mitchell is set to recur on CBS’ freshman drama series FBI: International in a key role.

From executive producer Dick Wolf, FBI: International follows the elite operatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s International Fly Team, led by Scott Forrester (Luke Kleintank). Headquartered in Budapest, they travel the world with the mission of tracking and neutralizing threats against American citizens wherever they may be, relying on intelligence, quick thinking and pure brawn as they put their lives on the line to protect the U.S. and its people.

Mitchell, who will first appear in a February episode, will play Angela Cassidy. She is Scott Forrester’s (Kleintank) long lost mother who worked for the U.S. government before selling information to the Russians.

The series, which has received a full-season order, also stars Heida Reed, Carter Redwood, Vinessa Vidotto and Christiane Paul. Dick Wolf, Derek Haas,...

Exclusive: Gravitas Ventures has acquired North American rights to the WWII-era romantic drama I’ll Find You from director Martha Coolidge. The Anthem Sports & Entertainment company plans to release the title starring Adelaide Clemens (To the Stars), Leo Suter, Stephen Dorff, Connie Nielsen and Stellan Skarsgård in theaters and on demand on February 25.

Inspired by true stories of Polish musicians from the 1930s and 1940s, I’ll Find You centers on the tender, music-infused relationship between Robert (Suter) and Rachel (Clemens) that is forged when the pair meet as music school students—he, a promising singer and she, a violin prodigy. While Robert is torn away from Rachel following the German invasion of Poland, he vows to find her, no matter the cost.

David S. Ward and Bozenna Intrator penned the script for the film, which was shot on location in Poland and New York. Intrator also produced it alongside Lukasz Raczynski, Zbigniew John Raczynski and Fred Roos, with Alexander Roos exec producing.

“I’LL Find You is a beautiful romance film set against the harsh background of World War II,” said Gravitas Ventures’ Manager of Acquisitions, Brett Rogalsky. “What director Martha Coolidge was able to do with these elements is truly impressive, and we’re excited to be able to bring this film to the public.”

“From the beginning I loved the theme in this film that music has an almost magical power to heal,” added Coolidge, “and that it can inspire and move all people even those at opposite ends of the ideological spectrum.”

Coolidge is an Emmy nominee and DGA Award winner who has previously directed films including Material Girls, The Prince and Me, Angie, Lost in Yonkers, Rambling Rose, Plain Clothes, Real Genius and Valley Girl, along with episodes of such series as Siren, Angie Tribeca, Madam Secretary, The Night Shift, Psych and Weeds.

Gravitas Ventures was founded in 2006 and sold to multi-platform media company Anthem Sports & Entertainment in November. Recent releases from the company include Michael Lembeck’s Queen Bees; Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s Our Friend, starring Casey Affleck, Dakota Johnson, and Jason Segel; Vanguard, directed by Stanley Tong and starring Jackie Chan; and Andy Tennant’s The Secret: Dare to Dream, starring Katie Holmes. Gravitas has also recently acquired titles including Adrian Martinez’s feature directorial debut iGilbert; the Kathy Bates drama Home, from writer-director Franka Potente; family adventure film The King’s Daughter, starring Pierce Brosnan; Jason Pollock’s doc Finding Kendrick Johnson; and The Accursed, a horror film marking the feature directorial debut of writer-directors Elizabeta Vidovic and Kathryn Michell.

AARP announced the nominees for its upcoming Movies for Grownups Awards today which, for the second year now, also includes candidates for TV and streaming “Bests.”

Belfast, King Richard, The Power of the Dog, West Side Story and Being the Ricardos are contending in the Best Picture/Best Movie for Grownups category.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the awards.

The complete list of the annual Movies for Grownups Awards Nominees:

Best Picture/Best Movie for Grownups: Belfast, King Richard, The Power of the Dog, West Side Story, and Being the Ricardos

Best Actress: Nicole Kidman (Being the Ricardos), Frances McDormand (The Tragedy of Macbeth), Halle Berry (Bruised), Sandra Bullock (The Unforgivable), Helen Mirren (The Duke)

Best Actor: Will Smith (King Richard), Denzel Washington (The Tragedy of Macbeth), Javier Bardem (Being the Ricardos), Peter Dinklage (Cyrano), Jim Broadbent (The Duke)

Best Supporting Actress: Judi Dench (Belfast), Marlee Matlin (Coda...

Shawn Ashmore, Andrea Londo, Jane Badler lead cast.

Gravitas Ventures has acquired worldwide rights to horror film The Free Fall which Myriad Pictures handles internationally and launched talks with buyers at AFM.

Adam Stilwell directed the film about a suicidal young woman who must contend with an overbearing husband. Shawn Ashmore, Andrea Londo, and Jane Badler lead the cast.

Gravitas has set a day-and-date North American theatrical and VoD release for January 14, 2022. Paul Holbrook, Sean E. Demott , Gill Gayle, and Patrick Rizzotti produced The Free Fall and executive producers are Heisman Holbrook, Shaun Redick and Yvette Yates.

“The Free Fall...

Anthem Sports & Entertainment has acquired Gravitas Ventures’ 3,000-title content library from ProSieben’s Red Arrow Studios for $73 million in cash.

The transaction also includes an undisclosed amount of Anthem stock. The Toronto-based media company headed by longtime Canwest TV executive Leonard Asper plans to use the range of documentaries and narrative movies in the Gravitas vault to fuel new free ad-support streaming TV channels, which offer content owners a ready path to monetize movie and TV libraries.

Gravitas’ recent releases include the ensemble comedy “Queen Bees” toplined by Ellen Burstyn and James Caan. Anthem also owns the Axs TV, HD Net and Pursuit TV channels as well as the Impact Wrestling franchises. All told, the Gravitas

Based in Cleveland, Gravitas has acquired and released a wide range of movies since its launch more than 15 years ago. The company’s top executives will join Anthem Sports’ executive roster, including Gravitas founder and CEO Nolan Gallagher,...

Entire Gravitas Ventures organisation to remain intact.

Multi-platform media company Anthem Sports & Entertainment has acquired Gravitas Ventures from Red Arrow Studios for an undisclosed sum.

The cash and common stock transaction means Gravitas joins a stable that includes Axs TV, HDNet Movies, Impact Wrestling and Game+ and GameTV.

Founder and CEO Nolan Gallagher, president Michael Murphy, EVP and general counsel Brendan Gallagher and CFO Brian Kenyon will be joining the Anthem executive team. The entire Gravitas Ventures organisation will remain intact.

Gravitas Ventures was acquired by Red Arrow Studios in November 2017 and typically releases more than 300 films and documentaries a year.

Exclusive: Gravitas Ventures has acquired North American rights to iGilbert, the feature directorial debut of actor Adrian Martinez, in which he also stars alongside Dascha Polanco and Raùl Castillo. The indie distributor will release the drama in theaters and on demand on December 31.

iGilbert centers on Gilbert Gonzalez (Martinez), who feels isolated from the world. He is 39, a virgin, obese and lives with his sarcastic, overprotective mother, who owns the Manhattan brownstone. Fearful of life and people, yet starving for human connection, Gilbert takes photos of women secretly, wherever and whenever he can. Enter Jana (Polanco), a tenant in the building and the source of innumerable fantasies.

Jana is a contradiction – beautiful but haunted by her own insecurities that inhibit her from standing up to her ex-boyfriend Tony (Castillo), an Iraq war vet with Ptsd.

Exclusive: The National Hispanic Media Coalition revealed its lineup for the upcoming 7th Annual Offical Latino Film and Arts Festival to be presented virtually from Nov. 26 to 28.

Titles include Welcome to Our World, directed by Alfredo Ramos, with performances by Danny Trejo, Emilio Rivera, and Valente Rodriguez. The feature tells the story of Freddie, a young and irresponsible supermarket box boy who is forced to rise to the occasion when his father (Trejo) has a work-related accident. Freddie must now assume the role of “the man of the house and keep the family from going homeless with hilarious results.

“The Nhmc is proud to work with Official Latino and HBO to ensure that our stories are being told and that we are creating space for Latino artists to thrive,” said Brenda Castillo, President and CEO of the Nhmc. “ The more we can uplift and promote Latinx talent in the entertainment industry,...

Exclusive: Gravitas Ventures has acquired North American rights to The King’s Daughter, a family adventure film starring Pierce Brosnan, William Hurt, Kaya Scodelario, Benjamin Walker, Rachel Griffiths, Pablo Schreiber, and Bingbing Fan, which is narrated by Oscar winner Julie Andrews, setting it for a theatrically exclusive release at upwards of 1000 locations across the U.S. and Canada on January 21, 2022.

Sean McNamara’s film, shot at the Palace of Versailles, is based on Vonda N. McIntyre’s 1997 novel The Moon and the Sun. It centers on King Louis Xiv (Brosnan), whose quest for immortality leads him to capture a mermaid’s (Fan) life force, seeing his immovable will challenged when his long-hidden illegitimate daughter (Scodelario) forms a bond with the magical creature.

Barry Berman and James Schamus handled the screenplay adaptation. Veteran family film producers McNamara and David Brookwell produced for Brookwell McNamara Entertainment, alongside an international group of producers from Australia to America to France.

Amber Portwood is ready to speak her truth. On the Oct. 12 episode of Teen Mom Og, the MTV reality star sat down with her producer, David, to talk about the second book she is currently writing. "It's about my life. The real s--t," she teased. "[My first book Never Too Late] was PG-13. I just got out of prison. I was on parole. I was just introducing myself back into the world."  When asked what would be in the second project, Amber shared a personal revelation. "People are probably going to be a bit shocked that I am bisexual, that I have had a relationship with a woman for eight months before," she shared. "I think I was about 20." According to Amber,...

MGM has picked up several global territories on well-regarded comedy-drama “Queen Bees,” starring Ellen Burstyn, Jane Curtin, Loretta Devine, Ann-Margret and James Caan.

The film is directed by Michael Lembeck and written by Donald Martin. Arclight Films has sold distribution rights to MGM for the territories of Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Iceland, U.K., Middle East, Greece, Portugal/Portuguese-speaking Africa, Cis/Russia, India, South Africa, Pan Asia Pay TV, Caribbean Basin and Latin America. Additional international distribution deals have also been signed with Kismet for Australia and New Zealand, Cannonball Films for Spain and Monolith for Poland.

Arclight Films previously sold the North American rights to Gravitas Ventures, who released “Queen Bees” in theatres and on demand in June in the U.S. and Canada.

While her house undergoes repairs, fiercely independent senior Helen (Oscar winner Burstyn) moves into a nearby retirement community, where she encounters all sorts of characters.

Arclight Films has sold Michael Lembeck’s comedy-drama Queen Bees to a host of international territories.

MGM has picked up Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Iceland, UK, Middle East, Greece, Portugal/Portuguese-speaking Africa, Cis/Russia, India, South Africa, Pan Asia Pay TV, Caribbean Basin and Latin America on the title. In addition, Kismet has taken Australia and New Zealand, Cannonball Films has taken Spain and Monolith has picked up Poland.

Gravitas Ventures released the movie in North America on June 11.

The pic stars Ellen Burstyn, Jane Curtin, Loretta Devine, Ann-Margret and James Caan. Donald Martin wrote the screenplay, which follows a fiercely independent senior who moves into a retirement community while her home undergoes repairs. Once there, she encounters lusty widows, cutthroat bridge tournaments and a hotbed of bullying ‘mean girls’ the likes of which she hasn’t encountered since high school.

Pic is an Astute Films production with Harrison Powell,...

MGM has snatched up rights in most of world outside of North America for Queen Bees, aka At Last, Michael Lembeck’s comedy drama starring Ellen Burstyn, Jane Curtin, Loretta Devine, Ann-Margret, and James Caan.

MGM will take all rights for the film across most of Europe, including Germany, Italy, and the U.K., as well as the Middle East, Russia, India, South Africa, and Latin America. The deal with sales group Arclight Films also includes pay-Asian pay-tv rights for the movie. Arclight also signed deals for Queen Bees with Kismet for Australia and New Zealand, Cannonball Films for Spain, and Monolith for Poland. Gravitas Ventures ...

Samuel Goldwyn Films to distribute in North America. Kristen Wiig executive producer.

Arclight Films has picked up international sales rights on the completed dark comedy Big Gold Brick starring Andy Garcia and Emory Cohen and will launch sales at Toronto International Film Festival next month.

Megan Fox, Lucy Hale and Oscar Isaac round out the key cast on the feature directorial debut of writer-director Brian Petsos, who worked with Isaac on his shorts Lightningface and Ticky Tacky.

Cohen plays a down-at-heel writer who is commissioned by the patriarch of an eccentric family (Garcia) to write his biography only for the undertaking to descend into pandemonium.

Oscar, Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress Ellen Burstyn will guest star in “Law & Order: Organized Crime,” reprising her role as Bernadette Stabler, the mother of Detective Elliot Stabler.

Burstyn previously won an Emmy for outstanding guest actress in a drama series for the role, which she originally played on a 2008 episode of “Law & Order: Svu.”

“Law & Order: Organized Crime” stars Christopher Meloni as Elliot Stabler.

Creator Dick Wolf serves as executive producer alongside Fred Berner, Terry Miller, Arthur Forney, Christopher Meloni, Peter Jankowski and Ilene Chaiken. Chaiken is the series’ showrunner. The series is produced by is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Wolf Entertainment.

Season 2 of “Law & Order: Organized Crime” will premiere Thursday, Sept. 23, with Burstyn’s episode airing later this fall.

Burstyn recently joined Universal’s new “Exorcist” trilogy with Leslie Odom Jr., which will find her...