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Songs from the Specious Floor: Larrain Imagines the Last Days of a Diva

A penny for the thoughts of Maria Callas regarding Pablo Larraín’s glossy recuperation of her last week of life in Maria, the third in a series of high profile biopics of iconic women following 2016’s Jackie and 2021’s Spencer. Scripted by Steven Knight and lensed by Ed Lachman, the end result is a beautiful photo shoot for Angelina Jolie as a superficial approximation of the notoriously difficult diva, long considered by many to be the best opera singer whoever lived. Set during the last week of her life, it’s an elegiac reflection of a life told in various flashbacks as Callas slips into a sort of madness whilst suffering from impending heart and liver failure.…...

Baldur's Gate 3 has a brand-new quest thanks to an ambitious modder. BG3 mods (now available on all platforms) have already taken the impossibly expansive game and made it even bigger. Initial claims by Larian held that mods wouldn't support story content, and would largely be relegated to things like new classes, character features, and cosmetic options. However, modders have apparently found a way, as new story mods have been cropping up on Nexus and the official mod manager in recent days.

One of these mods is "Features from DnD Spelljammer," uploaded to Nexus Mods by bibsan, which adds a variety of features from Dungeons & Dragons' Spelljammer setting. However, it does so not just by plopping new items, backgrounds, and enemies into the game; it also includes a whole new quest for players to take on in Act 3. The quest involves purchasing the title deed to a Space Galleon from Popper...

Baldur's Gate 3 features plenty of animal characters, and with the "speak with animals" spell, players can have full conversations with these creatures in the same way they can with humanoid races. Anyone who never considers this spell misses out on a gigantic piece of the game, and lore and personalities are left unknown. Some of these characters can come back to the party's camp and aid them later in the game.

There are two animal companions that parties can adopt and keep in their camp Scratch and the owlbear cub. However, there are several more characters players will meet throughout the game that many wish they could also keep in camp. Some feel like missed opportunities, while others may have initially been planned to join the party but never made it that far in development.

Shadow-Whiskers The Displacer Beast A Tragic Character With No Resolution

Shadow-Whiskers is an angry displacer...

Photo: ‘The Last Days’/Netflix If a painting speaks a thousand words, the descriptions of the horrors and heartbreaking stories from the Holocaust survivors documented in ‘The Last Days,’ must paint a thousand pictures. Originally released in 1998, this documentary produced by Steven Spielberg, along with the Survivors of the Shoa Visual History Foundation, follows up with five Jewish Hungarian survivors who lived through the decimation and genocide of Jewish peoples that was the Holocaust. The film also includes interviews with American WWII veterans who invaded Dachau and helped free those in the concentration camps, a German Nazi scientist who helped run tests on primarily Jewish women in those camps, and a few others who shed light on the many perspectives of the historical catastrophe. Related article: A Tribute to Steven Spielberg: The Father of the American Blockbuster Related article: The Jewish Actresses Who Ruled as Bollywood Heroines in Secret, and...

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.

Army of the Dead (Zack Snyder)

For the first time since his Dawn of the Dead retread, Snyder livens up the frame with a more expansive color palette and localizes his stakes to a group of diverse mercenaries lacking any superhuman skills. He even follows the early blueprint of his 2004 adaptation, which opens with a frantic zombie attack and quickly pivots into a montage explaining the origins and scope of the epidemic. After all those years building out worlds of comic-book proportion, Snyder’s latest tribute to the undead feels like an emergence from hibernation. – Jake K. (full review)

Where to Stream: Netflix

Drunk Bus (Brandon Laganke and John Carlucci)

Watch an exclusive clip above.

Set in a time before Uber, smartphones,...

The makers of 1998’s Oscar-winning film, along with one of its subjects, discuss why a remastered version landing on Netflix still has much to teach us

The last time June Beallor saw the Auschwitz survivor Irene Zisblatt, they watched Sex and the City together. That was 20 years ago.

Beallor is one of the producers behind The Last Days, the Oscar-winning 1998 documentary executive-produced by Steven Spielberg about the Hungarian Jewish experience during the Holocaust, which has now been remastered and re-released on Netflix. Zisblatt, who escaped from Auschwitz as a teen, is one of the film’s subjects. The 91-year-old is also a big fan of Sex and the City. Her favourite character is Carrie Bradshaw, the fashion columnist played by Sarah Jessica Parker, because “she was always looking for the next thing”.

Arclight Films’ Chasing Wonders has locked North American distribution with Gravitas on its coming of age film, Chasing Wonders directed by Paul Meins. A theatrical and on-demand release is scheduled for June 4. Arclight is handling global sales for the pic.

Set in the lush wine country landscapes of Australia and Spain, the heart-warming tale follows 12-year-old Savino, who, encouraged by his maternal grandfather to live a life of hope and possibility, takes off on the adventure of a lifetime to find the magical Emu Plains. His journey leads him to the heart of the human condition – learning to understand our parents’ past but not to be defined by it.

The pic stars Paz Vega, Oscar nominee Edward James Olmos, Quim Gutierrez, Carmen Maura, Goya award-winner Antonio de la Torre, Australia’s Jessica Marais, and making his feature film debut, Michael Crisafulli as Savino.

Australian award-winning screenwriter Judy Morris wrote the screenplay, which was shot over a five-year period.

Chasing Wonders made its World Premiere at the Adelaide Film Festival last year and has been selected for the Gold Coast Film Festival, where it will screen on April 18 and 22.

“Chasing Wonders is an uplifting story of familial love and loss and a powerful exploration of the path to understanding and acceptance. This heartwarming film with top international stars and spectacular landscapes is exactly what audiences yearn for. We are thrilled to have our longtime trusted partners at Gravitas Ventures bringing the film to North American audiences and are certain that their team will make this beautiful film shine bright,” said Arclight Films Chairman Gary Hamilton.

“With an ensemble that includes veteran screen icons alongside exciting new talent, the filmmakers craft an inspiring coming of age story on a canvas of breathtaking vistas across multiple continents. We look forward to North American audiences taking the journey,” said Tony Piantedosi, VP of Acquisitions at Gravitas Ventures.

Hianlo Films presents Chasing Wonders in association with the South Australian Film Corporation, a Met Film and Sla Films production. Anna Vincent (I Am Mother), Stewart Le Marechal (Swimming With Men), Anna Mohr-Pietsch (Swimming With Men), Hilton Nathanson, and Louise Nathanson are producers. Jonny Persey (The Mercy) and Timothy White are EPs.

Dominique Fishback, who Tuesday received a BAFTA nomination for her work in Judas and the Black Messiah, will star alongside Samuel L. Jackson in The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, Apple Studios’ adaptation of the best-selling novel by Walter Mosley.

At the same time, Ramin Bahrani, who wrote and directed the acclaimed Netflix drama White Tiger, has come aboard to direct and executive produce the limited series.

Per Apple, Jackson is starring as Ptolemy Grey, a 91-year-old man forgotten by his family, by his friends, by even himself. On the brink of sinking even deeper into a lonely dementia, Grey experiences a seismic ...

Dominique Fishback, who Tuesday received a BAFTA nomination for her work in Judas and the Black Messiah, will star alongside Samuel L. Jackson in The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, Apple Studios’ adaptation of the best-selling novel by Walter Mosley.

At the same time, Ramin Bahrani, who wrote and directed the acclaimed Netflix drama White Tiger, has come aboard to direct and executive produce the limited series.

Per Apple, Jackson is starring as Ptolemy Grey, a 91-year-old man forgotten by his family, by his friends, by even himself. On the brink of sinking even deeper into a lonely dementia, Grey experiences a seismic ...

If you’ve already binged your way through the latest season of “Handmaid’s Tale” and all of “Catch-22,” worry not because Hulu is here to cure your mid-vacation content slump with a whole new slate of titles coming to the streamer this July.

Watch Kristen Bell reprise her role as the titular character in Season 4 of “Veronica Mars,” dropping July 1. Or if you aren’t in the mood to return to the seaside town of Neptune as Mars investigates a mysterious string of bombings and murders, you can relax with Ice-Cube’s hilarious one-liners in Steve Carr’s family comedy “Are We Done Yet?” and his spin-off series “Are We There Yet?”

Alongside classic favorites — all five “Rocky” movies, “King Kong,” and “The Polar Express” are among some notable additions — the streaming service also came through with both brand-new and returning original shows. Watch the series premiere of “Four Weddings and a Funeral,...

Hulu is out with its list of new content coming in July, and highlights include the “Veronica Mars” revival and the series premiere of the new “Four Weddings and a Funeral.” We also have the list of everything that’s being removed from the streaming service at the end of July.

Season 1-3 of the original “Veronica Mars” series will be available starting July 1, so you can brush up on all the background knowledge you’ll need to fully enjoy Season 4 when it drops July 26, with Kristen Bell returning the starring role as the title character after almost 15 years. Here’s everything we know about the revival so far.

The new Mindy Kaling-produced “Four Weddings and a Funeral” series comes July 31, with “Game of Thrones” star Nathalie Emanuel in the lead role. Original star Andie MacDowell will return as a guest star.

Also Read: Summer TV Premiere Dates: Here's...

A new four-hour documentary about two men recounting experiences in which they say they were sexually abused by Michael Jackson as boys, will premiere on HBO this spring.

The documentary, “Leaving Neverland,” is told in two parts and was a surprise addition to the 2019 Sundance lineup.

The synopsis for the film, directed by Dan Reed, is: “When allegations of abuse by Jackson involving young boys surfaced in 1993, many found it hard to believe that he could be guilty of such unspeakable acts. ‘Leaving Neverland’ explores the experiences of two young boys, James Safechuck, at age 10, and Wade Robson, at age 7, who were both befriended by Jackson. They and their families were entranced by the singer’s fairy-tale existence as his career reached its peak.”

Also Read: Michael Jackson Doc About 2 Sex Abuse Accusers Joins Sundance Lineup

“If there’s anything we’ve learned during this time in our history, it...

Netflix on Tuesday unveiled plans for a new feature film out of Spain. Thriller Hogar is shooting in Barcelona with lead actors Javier Gutierrez, star of Champions, Spain’s foreign-language Oscar contender and top local grosser this year, and Mario Casas (The Skin of the Wolf).

In Hogar, or Home, Gutierrez stars as an out-of-work advertising executive who begins stalking the young couple living in his family’s former home. He slowly infiltrates their lives, intent on getting back what he’s lost, no matter the cost.

Alex and David Pastor (The Last Days) are directing, and Barcelona-based Nostromo Pictures is producing....

Netflix on Tuesday unveiled plans for a new feature film out of Spain. Thriller Hogar is shooting in Barcelona with lead actors Javier Gutierrez, star of Champions, Spain’s foreign-language Oscar contender and top local grosser this year, and Mario Casas (The Skin of the Wolf).

In Hogar, or Home, Gutierrez stars as an out-of-work advertising executive who begins stalking the young couple living in his family’s former home. He slowly infiltrates their lives, intent on getting back what he’s lost, no matter the cost.

Alex and David Pastor (The Last Days) are directing, and Barcelona-based Nostromo Pictures is producing....

Netflix’s original docuseries “Medal of Honor,” which debuts globally Nov. 9, focuses on the lives of eight recipients of the nation’s highest military honor for valor. The honor has been presented to fewer than 3,600 Americans since Abraham Lincoln signed it into law in 1861.

Produced by Allentown Productions and Compari Entertainment, the series is executive produced by Robert Zemeckis, Jack Rapke, Jacqueline Levine and Brandon Birtell, with Oscar-, Grammy- and Emmy-winning filmmaker James Moll (“The Last Days”) directing the project.

“James Moll is a talented storyteller, and we were looking for the right project to work with him on,” says Zemeckis. “ ‘Medal of Honor’ is the ideal collaboration for us, and James’ documentary skills combined with our live-action techniques bring to a compelling light the important recognition of these brave individuals. We cannot think of a better way to give back to the military community than by telling these incredibly heroic true stories.

Netflix has set Medal of Honor, an eight-episode original docuseries honoring eight recipients of the military’s highest award for valor, from James Moll (The Last Days) and his Allentown Productions and Robert Zemeckis’ Compari Entertainment, a division of Zemeckis’ ImageMovers. The series launches globally November 9 on Netflix; watch the trailer above.

The Medal of Honor has been bestowed upon fewer than 3,600 Americans since Abraham Lincoln signed it into law in 1861. In each episode of the docuseries, family members and brothers-in-arms recall the extraordinary odds faced by the servicemen, and through intense recreations and archival footage, viewers get inside their minds to uncover how they handled what many have described as “the worst day of their lives.”

Medal of Honor is produced by Allentown Productions and Compari Entertainment. Moll executive produces with Compari Entertainment’s Zemeckis, Jack Rapke and Jacqueline Levine, and Brandon Birtell.

Moll’s documentary work has earned...

ABC has been accused of hypocrisy in its handling of this week’s cancellation of “Roseanne” in a $20 million lawsuit that … well, that doesn’t have very much to do with “Roseanne” at all, but makes pretty explosive allegations anyway.

The suit was filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court against ABC Cable Networks Group and Disney ABC Cable Networks Group by Milk Barn, Microseries and Jan Korbelin, the latter of whom manages Milk Barn and Microseries, according to the suit.

“In the wake of the ‘Roseanne’ fiasco, the president of ABC’s television group said that cancelling hit show ‘Roseanne': ‘…came down to doing what’s right and upholding our values of inclusion tolerance and civility,'” the suit reads. However, the suit alleges, the company didn’t adhere to family values “in its treatment of a family business producing a children’s show whose themes are friendship,...

The estate of deceased music legend Michael Jackson has filed a lawsuit against ABC and Disney over the special “The Last Days of Michael Jackson.”

The suit, filed in federal court in California on Wednesday, alleges copyright infringement.

The suit says that the plaintiffs — identified as “various companies that comprise a part of the Estate of Michael Jackson –were “genuinely shocked” when they watched the special on March 24.

Also Read: Michael Jackson Estate Calls ABC News Special 'Another Crass and Unauthorized Attempt to Exploit' His Legacy

Calling the special “a mediocre look back at Michael Jackson’s life and entertainment career,” the suit accuses Disney of swiping the estate’s intellectual property.

“Unable to make a compelling presentation about Michael Jackson on its own, Disney decided to exploit the Jackson Estate’s intellectual property without permission or obtaining a license for its use. After all, there is always a healthy...

Arts Integrity Initiative reported yesterday that Shelton Theatre has been running a production of The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot that openly violates the playwright's wishes and copyright law. As of the evening of August 5th, the play has been closed.

According to Arts Integrity Initiative, Shelton Theatre in San Francisco is currently running a production of The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot that openly violates the playwright's wishes and copyright law.

The last days of summer draw closer, but there's still big excitement on the horizon. Read on to see what you should be looking out for in the month of August.

Stars: Diego Boneta, Alex Gonzalez, Jocelin Donahue, Maiara Walsh, Andres Velencoso | Written by Alberto Marini, Danielle Schleif | Directed by Alberto Marini

With a title like Summer Camp you’d be forgiven for thinking that this film would be yet another stalk and slash fear flick. It isn’t. Helmed by longtime Filmax producer Alberto Marini, in his directorial debut, the film follows similar story beats to some of his most well-known films including the [Rec] franchise and The Last Days.

Looking for fun times as counselors at a European summer camp for children, four Americans never suspect their first experience abroad might be their last. For the rapid-fire spread of an extreme rage-inducing infection plunges the group into a dark vortex of horror and madness catapulting them into a race against time – and each other – to find the source of the mystery contagion and make it out alive.

Yet another Spanish movie...

Arjun Kapoor has been in London for a while now. The actor has been shooting for his next film Mubarakan along with his uncle Anil Kapoor. The schedule is going to be wrapped by this week. The last days are for their song shoot and it looks like the cast is having the time ofRead More

The post Watch: Arjun Kapoor and Mubarakan team get the locals and tourists for song shoot in London and its crazy appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.

Showtime is taking on Fox News. TVLine reports the network has picked up a new limited series called Secure and Hold: The Last Days of Roger Ailes. Based on the New York magazine article by Gabriel Sherman, the drama will chronicle "the sexual harassment allegations that led to Ailes exit at Fox News." Ailes resigned as Chairman and CEO of Fox News in 2016 after a string of sexual harassment claims.Read More…...

Author: Zehra Phelan

Blumhouse have been responsible for some of the biggest horror’s in recent years such as Insidious, Paranormal Activity and The Purge franchise to name just a few – and they’ve had a hand in a hell of a lot more than you can imagine- teaming up with ITV studios will open up a whole new world for Blumhouse who will now have the finance freedom to produce their own original scripted and unscripted material for darker programming for global audiences.

Related: The Purge, News, Reviews and Interviews

We say darker because the first series as part of the deal will be a version of The Purge, which currently consists of three films, The Purge, Purge: Anarchy and The Purge: Election Year. They will be delving into the Showtime-acquired The Last Days of Roger Ailes, a limited series which draws on Gabriel Sherman’s 2014 The Loudest Voice...

Secure And Hold: The Last Days Of Roger Ailes, The Purge on expanded roster.

Jason Blum’s content empire took another step forward this week with the announcement that the prolific producer has partnered with the British TV powerhouse.

ITV Studios has acquired a 45% stake in Blumhouse Television as it builds its Us scripted TV studio operations.

The new studio will finance and produce original scripted and unscripted ‘dark’ genre programming and look to partner with ITV Studios Global Entertainment on global distribution of future projects.

Heading the slate is Secure And Hold: The Last Days Of Roger Ailes, a limited series from Tom McCarthy and journalist Gabe Sherman about the notorious former Fox News chief that is set up at Showtime.

McCarthy is shepherding the series John Harrington Bland, Sherman and Jennifer Stahl are writing and will serve as co-executive producers.

The roster includes The Purge, a co-production with Universal Cable Productions based on the film...

Jason Blum’s Blumhouse Productions, famous for low-budget horror franchises like “The Purge,” “Insidious,” and “Paranormal Activity,” has launched an independent television studio with ITV Studios. Blumhouse Television will be a true independent studio, specializing in original scripted and unscripted “dark” genre programming.

The flagship series for the new arm of the studio will be a series continuation of the highly successful “Purge” franchise for USA and SyFy. The horror franchise is about one day a year when rule of law is suspended and all hell breaks loose, and recently saw its highest-grossing film ever, “The Purge: Election Year.”

Read More: Beyond A24: How Hip New Distributors Are Targeting Millennial Tastemakers With Bold Films

The company will also produce a limited series for Showtime about Fox News founder Roger Ailes, titled “Secure and Hold: The Last Days of Roger Ailes.” Academy Award-winning director Tom McCarthy (“Spotlight”) will write and produce,...

Showtime has won the Roger Ailes derby.

In what is being described as a competitive situation with multiple bidders, the cabler has acquired a Blumhouse-produced scripted limited series about the downfall of the ex-Fox News boss.

RelatedLaw & Order: Svu Taking on Fox News’ Roger Ailes Scandal in Spring Episode

Secure And Hold: The Last Days Of Roger Ailes is based on New York magazine writer Gabriel Sherman’s reporting of the sexual harassment allegations that led to Ailes exit at Fox News. Sherman’s book The Loudest Voice in the Room will also be used as source material.

Oscar...

Ron Howard’s production outfit Imagine Entertainment has optioned novel The Last Days Of Jack Sparks with a view to adapting it as a feature film.

British author Jason Arnopp has been hired to adapt the screenplay of his own 2016 debut.

The plot follows titular pop culture journalist Jack Sparks who is researching a book on the occult. After sparking a Twitter storm by mocking an exorcism, Sparks is found dead in mysterious circumstances.

Howard commented: “Jack Sparks is a tremendously fascinating, entertaining, and entirely contemporary movie character.

“His journey into the supernatural and his clashes with those forces and with himself are hilarious, disturbing, exciting and surprising as hell. I couldn’t put the book down and I believe it will be a blast for audiences to experience the movie version.”

It is unclear at this stage whether Howard will direct the film, but a spokesperson...

A Beautiful Mind director plots film version of supernatural novel.

Ron Howard’s production outfit Imagine Entertainment has optioned novel The Last Days Of Jack Sparks with a view to adapting it as a feature film.

British author Jason Arnopp has been hired to adapt the screenplay of his own 2016 debut.

The plot follows titular pop culture journalist Jack Sparks who is researching a book on the occult. After sparking a Twitter storm by mocking an exorcism, Sparks is found dead in mysterious circumstances.

Howard commented: “Jack Sparks is a tremendously fascinating, entertaining, and entirely contemporary movie character.

“His journey into the supernatural and his clashes with those forces and with himself are hilarious, disturbing, exciting and surprising as hell. I couldn’t put the book down and I believe it will be a blast for audiences to experience the movie version.”

It is unclear at this stage whether Howard will direct the film, but a spokesperson...

Many fans still can't stop talking about last night's big Oscar mix-up, where Warren Beatty and Faye Dunnaway were given the wrong card, and they announced La La Land for Best Picture, when it was actually Moonlight that had won the award. There was also another big mistake that was revealed last night after the In Memoriam segment, where it was revealed that the entry for late costume designer Janet Patterson actually featured a photo of the very alive Jan Chapman. Janet Patterson had passed away in October at the age of 60.

While Jan Chapman's name and occupation were in fact correct on the Oscars In Memoriam tribute, the picture was not, with the Academy using Jan Chapman's photo instead of Janet Patterson's image. Variety obtained an email statement from Jan Chapman, who reveals she was "devastated" the wrong photo was used during the segment. Here's what...

It's President's Day, so what better way to celebrate than to assure McGraw Ryan Murphy intends to make the most of the past election in the upcoming installment of American Horror Story?

Fans have already started making cool artwork in support of it.

I was pleased to hear McGraw watched and enjoyed Big Little Lies Season 1 Episode 1, which I gave a stellar review.

You guys haven't checked in with me if you've watched, which is a bit disappointing. 

We can only make recommendations and hope you take them!

Another new show that premiered last night on HBO was Crashing, and both McGraw and I agreed it was well done and funny.

From Pete Holmes (and starring the same), it's a look at the burgeoning career of a stand-up comedian.

Since it's from HBO and affiliated with Judd Apatow, with it comes degrading circumstances both comical and cringe-worthy.

The best shows...

Exclusive: French sales and production company fills out slate with upcoming films by the Alayan brothers and new Egyptian title.

Paris-based sales and production company Still Moving has boarded two upcoming Arabic-language pictures, Palestinian film-makers Muayad and Rami Alayan’s The Reports On Sarah And Saleem and Egyptian director Omar El Zohairy’s Feathers Of A Father.

The Reports On Sarah And Saleem is the second feature by the Alayan brothers, former Berlinale Talents who premiered their first film Love, Theft And Other Entanglements at the festival in 2015.

It revolves around a dangerous love affair between a Palestinian man and an Israeli woman.

Feathers Of A Father is the debut feature of El Zohairy, following a series of award-winning shorts – includingThe Aftermath Of The Inauguration Of The Public Toilet At Kilometer 375.

The director also worked as an assistant director to Ahmad Abdalla on Rags & Tatters and Tamer El Said on In The Last Days Of The City...

Berlinale ’17: Special Screening of ‘Ultimos dias en la Habana’/ ‘Last Days in Havana’ by Fernando PérezOft-awarded Cuban director Fernando Pérez presents his new film “Últimos días en La Habana”/ “Last Days in Havana” in the Berlinale Special Screening section. It is being internationally represented by Icaic and Wanda Vision who is a coproducer and the Spanish distributor as well.During the filming of The Last Days in Havana by Fernando Pérez: Photos: Jaime Prendes

The film received the Special Jury Award and Best Soundtrack Award last December at the Havana Film Festival .

Downtown Havana. The heart of Havana today. Miguel (45 years old) dreams of fleeing to New York. While he waits for his visa, which never seems to arrive, he works as a busboy at a paladar, a privately owned restaurant. Diego (45 years old) dreams of living. Weakened and immobilized by AIDS, Diego remains energetic on the narrow bed,...

Exclusive: Documentary marks the 50th anniversary of the seminal album.

A new Beatles film marking the 50th anniversary of the iconic band’s seminal album ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ is in post-production.

It Was Fifty Years Ago Today…Sgt Pepper And Beyond, directed by Alan G. Parker (Hello Quo), will be sold internationally by former Im Global executive Tim Grohne’s Primal Screen.

The film picks up on The Beatles as they end their gruelling tour schedule in August 1966 (coincidentally following on from Ron Howard’s recent Beatles documentary Eight Days A Week) to return to the studio to record the landmark ‘Sgt. Pepper’ album.

As one of the biggest selling records of all time, described by Rolling Stone magazine simply as “The most important rock & roll album ever made…”, ‘Sgt Pepper’ (released in June 1967) marked a pivotal moment in the 60’s, cementing the advent of Psychedelia and the Summer of Love.

The album includes...

Could there be a more perfect moment than this? Sitting in the garden behind the Hotel Nacional, looking at the Cuban flag so proudly waving over the Straits of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. The same site where the defense was built during the Cuban Missile Crisis, this moment of time marks a particularly precarious balance between peaceful coexistence and military aggression as we contemplate the recent death of Castro and election of Trump, wondering how it will play out in 2017.Hotel Nacional, Headquarters of Festival de Cine Nuevo Iberoamericano, Havana, Cuba

Cuba, ten days after the death of Fidel Castro, head of state for 52 years,may be a bit more subdued, but life here goes on, even with the influx of American tourists (other tourists have always been here); there is a sense of harmony. And in spite of the scarcity of luxuries for its people, the people...

It's always interesting to see different visions of the future in film, especially when the story is set in a post-apocalyptic world. It's always a dark, gritty, and bleak place that we hope never happens in real life. As a way to pay tribute to the movies that deal with our dismal fate, video editor Bora Barroso created a video supercut called "The World of Tomorrow," and you can enjoy it below along with a list of films that are represented in the video.

The films used in the video include: 

- Mad Max Fury Road

- I Am Legend

- The Book of Eli

- The Road

- Oblivion

- Priest

- Los últimos días

- Carriers

- 28 Days Later

- Children of Men

- 12 Monkeys

- The Day After Tomorrow

- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

- Terminator Salvation...

Den Of Geek Dec 14, 2016

As nominated by our writers, here are the books published in 2016 that we couldn't recommend more highly...

Closing the final page on the very best books leaves you with a single urge: to share it. We’re talking about the kind of books that make you want to follow strangers down the road, tugging at their elbow and saying “seriously, you’ve got to read this”.

Here then, is our equivalent of doing that. These are the books published in 2015 that our writers felt compelled to share. If there’s one that you feel similarly enthused about, please do recommend away in the comments section...

All The Birds In The Sky by Charlie Jane Anders

We live in what can charitably be described as interesting times. If you were feeling less than charitable, you might even describe them as dark times. And it has always been...

Zawya Distribution is ramping up its 2017 slate of Egyptian independent features with titles including Tamer El Said’s In The Last Days Of The City and Mohamed Rashad’s Diff competition title Little Eagles.

The Cairo-based distributor has also picked up Mahmoud Lotfy’s Experimental Summer, about the search to find a copy of Egypt’s first independent film, and Anna Roussillon’s award-winning documentary I Am The People for release next year.

Backed by Egypt’s Misr International, Zawya operates an arthouse theatre, Zawya Cinema, in Cairo, and is working with other exhibitors to expand the circuit for independent films. The company’s larger upcoming titles will be released in Alexandria, Ismailia and Port Said, in addition to Cairo.

“Although funding is difficult, Egypt’s independent scene remains vibrant – you can see that from the line-up here at Diff,” said Zawya head of acquisitions and sales Ahmed Sobky.

Little Eagles, which Zawya picked...

Punk rock stories don’t get more explosive or infamous than the relationship between the Sex Pistols‘ Sid Vicious and his partner Nancy Spungen. And while the film “Sid and Nancy” gave the tale a cinematic spin, the documentary “Sad Vacation: The Last Days Of Sid And Nancy” takes a deeper longer at what led to the deadly consequences between them.

Continue reading Exclusive: A Deadly Discovery Is Made In Clip From ‘Sad Vacation: The Last Days Of Sid And Nancy’ at The Playlist.

An upcoming episode of Syfy’s future-set drama “Incorporated” begins with this: a carbon copy of the sort of starving children ads that Sally Struthers used to host in the 1990s. There’s a wistful little boy staring at the camera as he strokes his battered stuffed toy and a pleading, pitying narrator explaining how he and other children like him go days without food or clean water.

Here’s the twist: The little boy’s name is Johnny, and the narrator is speaking Chinese. For 100 yuan a day, generous Chinese souls can help the children of a broken America in the year 2073. Watching that cold open at this exact moment in our history is science fiction that might be a little too real. You can forget about “The Walking Dead” or “The Exorcist”: “Incorporated” may be the scariest show on television.

Read More: ‘Incorporated’: Why Syfy’s...

Sad Vacation: The Last Days Of Sid And Nancy coming to select theaters and to home video on 12/9 An up close and personal account of the tumultuous and stormy relationship between Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen Screenings in London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Austin, + more to be announced …

The post Sad Vacation: The Last Days Of Sid And Nancy coming 12/9 first appeared on Hnn | Horrornews.net - Official News Site...

Ava DuVernay, “Queen Sugar”

The acclaimed “Selma” and “Middle of Nowhere” director is a storyteller first, and what better medium to delve deep into a story than television? In her first foray on the small screen, DuVernay allied herself with Oprah’s Own network for “Queen Sugar,” in which she examines the lives of the Bordelon siblings in Louisiana after the passing of their father who leaves them a sugarcane farm.

DuVernay has always been a champion of being the change she wants to see, and her work on “Queen Sugar” is no different. Beginning with adapting a novel from a woman of color, about black siblings, DuVernay also made a point to hire an all-female roster of directors for every episode. She even directed two herself, and the pilot shows that the same appreciation for a gorgeous, almost dreamy palette that “Selma” had, despite some rough subject matter. While...

Like sharks smelling blood in the water, Stephen Strange's most fearsome foes sense an opportunity to put an end to the Sorcerer Supreme in Doctor Strange #12. The new issue of the popular Marvel series comes out on October 5th, and ahead of its release, we have preview pages and cover art teasing the beginning of the "Blood in the Aether" story arc.

Press Release: New York, NY—September 9th, 2016 —The Last Days of Magic were just the beginning. This October, the Sorcerer Supreme begins a deadly gauntlet of his greatest foes as “Blood in the Aether” kicks off in Doctor Strange #12! Blockbuster creators Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo begin the next phase of their critically-acclaimed series – beginning with a Stephen Strange on the brink of death! His magic has been depleted, all but lost. Sensing him at his absolute weakest, his enemies see their greatest opportunity yet – destroy him once and for all!

Exclusive: Wroclaw moves 2017 dates to accommodate World Games; Polish festival reveals 2016 New Horizons winners.

The film festivals in Wroclaw and Locarno are set for a collision course as both festivals will be held concurrently for the first time next year.

A Locarno spokesperson confirmed to Screen that the Swiss festival’s 70th edition will be held from Wednesday 2 to Saturday 12 August, while New Horizons will kick off its 17th outing a day later, from Thursday 3 August, according to the New Horizons press department.

New Horizons’ organisers were obliged to change its dates from the traditional slot in the last two weeks in July as the Polish city will be hosting the 10th edition of sports event the World Games.

Speaking exclusively to Screen, New Horizons festival president Roman Gutek explained that the decision to move to August for 2017 had been made two years ago in order to avoid a strain on resources in the city.

¨We have consulted...

HBO has released a new teaser for the highly anticipated upcoming season of Game of Thrones. The promo doesn’t reveal too much; it just adds up a tone or two to what we have already seen in previous trailers. However, there are some very intriguing scenes that certainly remind us that nothing in Game of Thrones is that easy.

It’s better than nothing, right? Plus, I personally don’t like to see and know everything in advance. That would be just pointless and would spoil the whole excitement.

Game of Thrones season six is coming in less than a week (April 24, 2016), so I would say that the wait is almost over. The last days seem to be the hardest, and I honestly cannot wait any longer. But I’m sure it’s going to be worth it.

Screen rounds up the films from across the globe that could launch at Cannes…

With less than a month to go until the Cannes Film Festival announces its line-up at its annual Paris press conference on April 14, Screen looks at what could make it into Official Selection and the parallel sections of Directors’ Fortnight and Critics’ Week.

UK and Ireland

The UK could have one of its strongest Cannes for years with hot favourites for a competition slot including Andrea Arnold’s Shia Labeouf-starring Us road movie American Honey and Ken Loach’s gritty Northern England-set drama I, Daniel Blake. It would be Loach’s 12th time in competition.

Ben Wheatley is also reportedly gunning for an Official Selection slot for his 1970s Boston-set, gangland thriller Free Fire, potentially Out of Competition or in Midnight Screenings. He was last in Cannes with Sightseers in Directors’ Fortnight.

Other UK hopefuls include Stephen Frears’ Florence Foster Jenkins and Indian...

Bespoke event nurtured development of 33 Dfi grantee projects.

The Doha Film Institute’s bespoke project development event Qumra, unfolding in Qatar’s seafront capital March 4-9, proved a hit with attendees for a second year running.

Aside from a series of freak storms and an escaped pet tiger, which brought traffic on Doha’s Corniche highway to a standstill as guests were transiting from one event to another, the event unfolded in the same intimate, cinema-focused atmosphere as last year.

A total of 33 Dfi grantee projects were invited to Qumra’s programme of master-classes, seminars and work-in-progress screenings, taking place between the modern palatial atrium of the Museum of Islamic Art and the boutique hotels of Doha’s old Souk quarter.

Industry mentors, who numbered around 100, included German producer Roman Paul, Protagonist Pictures CEO Mike Goodridge, Front Row Filmed Entertainment MD Gianluca Chakra and Beirut-based exhibitor and distributor Hania Mroué as well as the festival heads and representatives...

Marvel revealed a sneak peek inside the sixth issue of Doctor Strange with three pages from the comic as well as a look at the variant covers. Doctor Strange #6 hits shelves on March 9th.

Press Release: New York, NY—February 11th, 2016 — By the hoary hosts of Hoggoth, the second arc of Doctor Strange starts here! Today, Marvel is pleased to present your first look inside Doctor Strange #6 – the first chapter of “The Last Days of Magic”, coming at you from blockbuster creators Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo! He is the Sorcerer Supreme. The best defense against magical threats from this and any universe. But what happens when his foe’s mission is to eradicate magic forever? The Emperikul have arrived, leaving universes cleansed of magic in their wake. Their next target? The Marvel Universe! Even at full strength he may not be able to stop them. But with Doctor Strange weakened beyond measure?...

Syfy announced today it has greenlit to series Incorporated, a futuristic thriller from Matt Damon, Ben Affleck & Jennifer Todd's Pearl Street Films, CBS Television Studios and Universal Cable Productions. The 13-episode first season of the new drama series is expected to premiere on Syfy in Fall 2016. Here's what Syfy president Dave Howe had to say in a statement.

"The most powerful science fiction holds up a mirror to our world. Incorporated is exactly that type of smart, provocative series, delivering a fresh, edge of your seat thriller that challenges notions of the world we live in today. We look forward to working with the stellar teams at Pearl Street Films, CBS Television Studios and Universal Cable Productions to bring it to life for Syfy viewers this year."

Set in a near future where corporations have unlimited power, Incorporated centers around Ben Larson (Sean Teale, Reign), a young executive who...