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The 40th annual Independent Spirit Awards took place in Santa Monica on Feb. 22, with Aidy Bryant as host for the second year in a row.

“Anora” was the biggest winner of the day, being named best feature while Sean Baker and Mikey Madison took home individual trophies for best director and lead performance. “Baby Reindeer” also won big, with Richard Gadd, Nava Mau and Jessica Gunning clinching the awards for lead, supporting and breakthrough performance, though “Shogun” won best new scripted series. And Sean Wang’s “Dìdi” clinched both awards in the debut film category: best first feature as well as best first first screenplay.

See the full list of winners below.

Best Feature

“Anora” (Winner)

“I Saw the TV Glow”

“Nickel Boys”

“Sing Sing”

“The Substance”

Best First Feature

“Dìdi” (Winner)

“In the Summers”

“Janet Planet”

“The Piano Lesson”

“Problemista”

John Cassavetes Award – Given to the best feature made...

As we gear up for the big afternoon on the beach this Saturday, now’s a great time to get to know your nominees. Hopefully you’ve seen their films, and if you’re a Film Independent member, watched your screeners and voted too. But there’s nothing quite like hearing about the process from the creative minds themselves.

That’s exactly what we did with this year’s Directors Close-Up, where we brought together the nominees from some of the top filmmaking categories, to talk shop. Over two weeks this February, we held Zoom sessions for our members, where these creators tell how exactly they got their projects off the ground, the creative choices they made, and what inspires them.

If you missed them live, we’ve got you covered. Let’s take a look at all the action from this year’s Directors Close-Up:

Spirit Of...

Last year’s top two documentary titles from the Berlinale continue there winning ways landing the top prizes at last night’s Cinema Eye Honors. Docus that premiered at Sundance dominated the other major categories, with Soundtrack to a Coup d’État, Union, Sugarcane, and The Remarkable Life of Ibelin all taking home awards. As we creep up towards the Oscar noms date, No Other Land (they also took the Best Debut doc) and Dahomey are probable locks for the top five. Here are all the winners

Nonfiction Feature

“No Other Land,” Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Rachel Szor, Fabien Greenberg, Bård Kjøge Rønning, Julius Pollux Rothlaender, and Bård Harazi Farbu

Direction

Mati Diop for “Dahomey”

Editing

Rik Chaubet for “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat”

Production

Brett Story, Stephen Maing, Mars Verrone, Samantha Curley, and Martin Dicicco for “Union”

Cinematography

Christopher Lamarca and Emily Kassie for “Sugarcane”

Original...

Even as it continues to seek U.S. distribution, “No Other Land” is continuing its remarkable awards season run. The latest win for the documentary, made by a Palestinian/Israeli collective that includes directors and activists Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, and Basel Adra: a trio of awards at this year’s Cinema Eye Honors.

At the 18th annual Cinema Eye Honors, which took place Thursday, January 9 at the New York Academy of Medicine in East Harlem, the film walked away with three awards, including Cinema Eye’s top prize, Outstanding Nonfiction Filmmaking. Directors Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, and Rachel Szor also received the award for Debut Feature, with Abraham and Adra also Honored as Unforgettables for their appearance on screen in the film.

This year’s nominees for the Cinema Eye Honors, which honors the best in documentary fiction and TV, included a healthy crop...

“No Other Land” has been named named the best feature of 2024 at the Cinema Eye Honors, the New York-based documentary awards that were established to celebrate all aspects of nonfiction filmmaking. The show took place on Friday night at the New York Academy of Medicine in East Harlem in New York City.

The film was made by two Israeli and two Palestinian filmmakers over the last five years during the conflict in Gaza. It also won the best-feature award at the IDA Documentary Awards, the other major award devoted to nonfiction films.

“Porcelain War” won the Audience Choice Award, the one Cinema Eye category voted on by the public.

The award for directing went to Mati Diop for “Dahomey,” while the production award went to “Union.” “No Other Land” won the award for the best first feature.

“Eno” won for visual design, “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat” for editing and sound design,...

The charms of “Patrice: The Movie” are abundant — which doesn’t mean this inventive, warmhearted documentary, directed by Ted Passon, won’t infuriate. Much of the bristling will be on behalf of titular star, Patrice Jetter, and Garry Wickham, her betrothed. Or, at least, they would be engaged if the government Supplemental Security Income (Ssi) benefits program reflected the evolving moment when it comes to the lives — and loves — of people with disabilities.

Administered by the Social Security Administration, Ssi’s “marriage penalty” means that if these two beloveds get married — or even cohabitate — they’ll either lose their benefits or have them drastically cut. Garry would lose his medical insurance. The rule was written in 1972, when those enacting laws didn’t imagine people with disabilities having loving, even independent lives. It has remained unchanged.

Patrice and Garry met while working and started off as friends. Living with cerebral palsy,...

(This story was updated on Dec. 18 at 9:55 a.m.)

In the race to produce a documentary special about the killing of United Healthcare CEO and alleged shooter Luigi Mangione, ABC News may be first out of the gate. Variety has learned that ABC News Studios is crashing the one-hour special “Manhunt: Luigi Mangione and the CEO Murder — A Special Edition of 20/20,” which will air on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 10 p.m. Et on ABC.

The special will also be available to watch live with Hulu + Live TV and stream the next day on Hulu.

Per the logline, “The one-hour film takes a deep dive into a story that riveted the nation, providing a minute-by-minute investigation of the cold-blooded execution of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the shocking social media backlash that turned the alleged murderer into a folk hero for some. The special also reveals new details about the hunt for the suspect,...

In “Patrice: The Movie,” we meet Patrice Jetter, a lively school crossing guard and impassioned disability rights champion. Patrice exudes a spirit of resilience and joy; her upbeat, caring demeanor shows through as she easily navigates life’s complexities.

Her position as a crossing guard is more than just a job; it reflects her commitment to community and connection, reflecting a greater societal need for inclusivity and support for individuals with disabilities.

Her boyfriend, Garry Wickham, is engaging, bringing his perspective to their joint journey. Garry’s experiences as a wheelchair user with cerebral palsy influence their relationship dynamics, particularly their fantasies of marriage, which are hampered by the harsh realities of the “Marriage Penalty.”

This system pushes them to confront not just personal challenges but also bigger societal injustices, making their love story both moving and political. They work together to create a narrative that deeply resonates, highlighting the nexus of love,...

Nominees for the 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards — the premiere awards event for the independent film and television community — were announced on Wednesday morning, and FX’s Shōgun led the TV pack with five total contenders.

It was followed closely by Netflix’s Baby Reindeer and FX’s English Teacher, each of which netted four nods.

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Other TV shows earning...

Sugarcane, the story of sexual abuse and disappearances at a school for Indigenous children in British Columbia, leads the nominations for the prestigious documentary-focused Cinema Eye Honors awards with six. Four films are next with five noms each: Dahomey, Eno, Frida and No Other Land. See the full list below.

Sugarcane, Dahomey and No Other Land will vie for the marquee Nonfiction Feature prize along with Black Box Diaries, Daughters, Look Into My Eyes and Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat. This is the first year that the named nominees in the Nonfiction Feature category will include the entire creative team: directors, producers, editors, cinematographers, composers, sound designers, visual designers and significant on-screen participants.

The producers of Sugarcane, No Other Land, Hollywoodgate, Mistress Dispeller, Porcelain War and Union are up for the Production prize. The Cinema Eye winner in that category has gone on to take the Documentary Feature Academy...

Cinema Eye Honors today shared a string of announcements, including the 16 films on its Audience Choice Prize Longlist, the unveiling of this year’s Unforgettables Honorees, nominees in its five Broadcast categories, and its annual Shorts List — spotlighting 11 of the year’s top documentary short films — at its 7th annual Cinema Eye Fall Lunch in Downtown Los Angeles on October 24, 2024.

Spotlighted on the film side are several major Best Documentary Feature contenders including “Will & Harper,” “Black Box Diaries,” and “No Other Land,” which all also factored into the organization’s list of Unforgettables — standout on-camera collaborators from eight feature documentaries. This next ceremony will be the first time those honorees, like Harper Steele, Shiori Ito, and Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham for those respective films, receive a special medallion honoring their contribution to their Cinema Eye-winning films.

Highlights among the Broadcast nominees include filmmaker Lance Oppenheim, nominated for both...

On Wednesday October 2 2024, ABC broadcasts Good Morning America!

Episode 314 Episode Summary

The next episode of “Good Morning America” on ABC is set to be an engaging mix of entertainment, culture, and inspiration. The show will feature a conversation with Patrice Jetter and director Ted Passon about their latest project, “Patrice: The Movie.” This film explores the life and experiences of Patrice, and viewers can expect insightful discussions about the creative process and the themes presented in the movie.

Actor Peter Krause will also join the lineup, sharing updates about his latest work and insights into his career. Known for his compelling performances, Krause’s appearance promises to captivate fans and provide a glimpse into his artistic journey.

Additionally, TikTok star Reesa Teesa will bring a fresh perspective to the episode, sharing her experiences in the world of social media and how she has built her following. To round out the show,...

The start of October is upon us, and the month will bring some spooky, satisfying and superb streaming premieres to audiences!

So long, September! Tuesday marks the official start of October, and the month promises to be a big one for TV watchers everywhere. Top cable and broadcast channels are bringing back some of their biggest shows for new seasons this month, and that’s before we get into the big movie premieres which are headed to your favorite streamers this month!

Check out the list of top premieres heading to streaming services every day of the coming week, and see which channels and streamers you’ll want to pay special attention to!

Monday, Sept. 30 ‘Patrice: The Movie’ Premiere | Hulu

“Patrice: The Movie” is a documentary romantic comedy about the next frontier of marriage equality - disability. Patrice Jetter has finally found the love of her life, Garry Wickham, who is also disabled.

On Wednesday morning, Good Morning America will feature Patrice Jetter alongside director Ted Passon to discuss Patrice: The Movie. The show will also include a segment from lifestyle contributor Lori Bergamotto in the “Shop GMA” series, focusing on fall denim. Actor Peter Krause will talk about his role in 9-1-1, TikTok star Reesa Teesa will […]

Good Morning America: Patrice Jetter, Ted Passon...

On Tuesday, October 1st, The View will feature actress and author Kate McKinnon discussing her book The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science. Also on the show are Patrice Jetter and director Ted Passon, who will talk about their project, Patrice: The Movie. Plus what’s happening the rest of this […]

The View: Kate McKinnon, Patrice Jetter (ABC Tuesday October 1)...

There’s only so much you can do when you catch your spouse stepping out on you – cry, get a divorce, forgive.

In China, they’ve come up with an additional option when such circumstances present themselves (an admittedly not infrequent scenario for couples all around the world). There, you can hire someone to “intervene” in the love triangle, in surreptitious fashion.

This phenomenon is explored in Mistress Dispeller, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival before heading to TIFF for its international premiere and on to the Camden International Film Festival for its U.S. premiere. At Camden, Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast caught up with director Elizabeth Lo, who shared insights about her intriguing new film and how she negotiated its inherent ethical considerations.

At Ciff, located on Maine’s bucolic central coast, we also talked with Oscar-nominated filmmaker Petra Costa, who brought Apocalypse in the Tropics to...

The 20th Camden International Film Festival has wrapped the in-person portion of the event in coastal Maine with the announcement of awards in several categories, including one that will launch a filmmaker into the Oscar race.

Kix, a documentary shot in Budapest, Hungary, won Ciff’s prestigious Harrell Award. Bálint Révész and Dávid Mikulán directed the film that charts the trajectory of Sanyi from “unruly” 8-year-old to young adult in need of a second chance.

“While there are many impressive films that give us a bird’s eye view of the failure of institutions and society, [Kix] showed us what it was like from the ground,” the Harrell jury, comprised of Poh Si Teng, Bing Liu and Courtney Sexton, wrote. “It was delicate and raw, and captured humanity over time.”

The jury also awarded a special mention to Elizabeth Lo’s Mistress Dispeller, which made its U.S. premiere at Camden...

Leading documentary sales outfit Autlook Filmsales has appointed Stephanie Fuchs as new CEO.

Fuchs takes over from Salma Abdalla, who is stepping down after almost a decade at the helm of the Vienna-based company.

Abdalla is credited with expanding Autlook’s international reach – most recently entering the US market through a collaboration with LA-based senior executive Jason Resnick – while cultivating a strong network of partnerships and championing some of the strongest filmmakers in the sector.

Among the many award-winning documentaries Abdalla spearheaded for sales are Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, The Remarkable Life Of Ibelin, The Mother Of All Lies and For Sama.

The Toronto International Film Festival 2024 is kicking off on Thursday night, and people strolling through its streets can already see that the Canadian metropolis is ready to roll.

People started taking waiting positions for fan zone spots on Thursday, the poutine and other food trucks opened up, and movie posters and other marketing messages have taken over the streets of the city.

For example, a Lego figure, put up to promote Piece by Piece, the animated documentary about singer, songwriter and record producer Pharrell Williams that recently opened the 51st Telluride Film Festival, greeted people in David Pecault Square on Thursday, and people could be spotted taking pictures of it.

‘Nightbitch’ poster at TIFF

Meanwhile, a poster for Marielle Heller’s Nightbitch, starring Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Zoë Chao and Mary Holland, which is set to premiere at TIFF ahead of its theatrical release later this year from Searchlight Pictures,...

ABC News Studios, in collaboration with All Ages Productions, Ess Projects, and Cedar Road, is set to release the feature-length documentary, Patrice: The Movie, on Monday, September 30, on Hulu, following its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. Directed by Peabody and Gotham Award-winning filmmaker Ted Passon, the film offers a unique […]

Hulu’s Patrice: The Movie – A Documentary About Love and Disability...

US buyers have not been in an adventurous mood as the last few markets will attest. However hope springs eternal and acquisitions teams will be on the hunt at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) to bulk up pipelines following the Hollywood strikes of 2023.

How theatrical buyers fare against streamers remains to be seen. Financiers and sales agents, many of whom are avowed fans of the theatrical experience, must recoup.

The lure of a worldwide deal with a platform can be hard to resist, and while the North American summer box office rallied well and there are lucrative opportunities for the right theatrical releases,...

Autlook has taken on international sales, excluding the US, for Ted Passon’s documentary Patrice: The Movie, ahead of its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

Hulu has US rights to the film, which plays in TIFF Docs.

Patrice: The Movie combines observational documentary and fantastical stage-play recreations to follow Patrice Jetter who has found the love of her life, Garry Wickham. Both are disabled, and want to get married and live together, but doing either could jeopardise the government benefits they need to make ends meet. With long-time friend, director Passon, Jetter recreates scenes from her life,...

ABC News Studios, in partnership with All Ages Productions and in association with Ess Projects and Cedar Road, today announced Patrice: The Movie, a feature-length documentary from Peabody and Gotham Award-winning director Ted Passon and producers Kyla Harris (We Might Regret This), Innbo Shim (Amend), and Emily Spivack (Worn Stories).

The documentary will premiere on Monday, Sept. 30, on Hulu, following its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.

Patrice: The Movie is a documentary romantic comedy about the next frontier of marriage equality — disability. Patrice Jetter has finally found the love of her life, Garry Wickham, who is also disabled.

They want nothing more than to get married, but if they do — or even if they just move in together — the government benefits they need to survive would be cut. Despite the scrutiny they’re under, they decide to plan a commitment ceremony that could risk their entire future.

Exclusive: Patrice: The Movie, a rare nonfiction film that can truly be described as a “documentary rom-com,” will bow on Hulu on September 30, following its world premiere this Sunday at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The film directed by Ted Passon (Philly D.A.) comes from ABC News Studios, in partnership with All Ages Productions and in association with Ess Projects and Cedar Road. It documents the relationship of a disabled couple – Patrice Jetter and the love of her life, Garry Wickham – and the dilemma they face that marriage equality does not extend to people with disabilities.

Patrice and Garry “want nothing more than to get married, but if they do — or even if they just move in together — the government benefits they need to survive would be cut,” notes a release about the film. “Despite the scrutiny they’re under, they decide to plan a commitment ceremony that could risk their entire future.

Looking to expand on the inclusivity the industry has been striving towards in the last few years, especially in the post-strike environment, the QueerCrip production company IndieVISIBLE Entertainment is announcing an expansion of its Production Accessibility training initiatives with the launch of the Access Instigators program.

Unveiled this past Friday, the Access Instigators program will be led by disabled industry experts and tailored towards disabled crew and creatives. The program aims to cultivate careers in Production Accessibility, a recently recognized film industry space that fosters accommodating production processes and spaces. This work was made possible through the support of the Pop Culture Collaborative Fund, a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

The 8-month pilot program will be comprised of up to 10 multiply-identifying disabled trainees, providing them with essential hard and soft skills for practicing production accessibility in professional settings from development through exhibition. The program includes one-on-one mentoring, community building,...

The 20th edition of the Camden Intl. Film Festival, kicking off Sept. 12, features a lineup full of political, hot button documentaries fresh off showings at Toronto, Venice and Telluride. The Maine-based film festival will unfold in a hybrid format, with both in-person events over a four-day period concluding Sept. 15, and online screenings available from Sept. 16 to Sept. 30 for audiences across the U.S.

This year’s Ciff highlights include: Steve Pink’s “The Last Republican,” about former U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger during his last year in office when he attempted to hold his own party accountable through his work on the Jan. 6 Committee. The docu will have its world premiere at TIFF. Also screening is Michael Premo’s “Homegrown,” which follows a group of right-wing activists from the 2020 campaign trail all the way to the attack on the U.S. Capitol. The film will debut in the Venice Film...