Monthly Archives: March 2025

Academy Awards, Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Oscar, television

See Why Conan O’Brien is returning to host the 2026 Oscars

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

THE OSCARS¨ – 97th Oscars¨ hosted by Conan OÕBrien. (Disney/Andrew Eccles)

 

HOST CONAN O’BRIEN AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS RAJ KAPOOR  AND KATY MULLAN ARE REUNITING FOR 98TH OSCARS

JEFF ROSS AND MIKE SWEENEY RETURN AS PRODUCERS

THE OSCARS SET TO AIR LIVE MARCH 15, 2026, ON ABC

 

LOS ANGELES, CA – For a second consecutive year, Emmy® Award-winning television host, writer, producer and comedian Conan O’Brien will return to host the Oscars® broadcast, and Emmy Award-winning live television event producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan return as the show’s executive producers for the third consecutive year, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang announced today. Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney will return as producers for a second time, and Sweeney will also serve as a writer. The 98th Oscars will air live on ABC on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

Emmy Award-winning live television event producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan return as the show’s executive producers for the third consecutive year. (Photo courtesy of The Academy)

 

“We are thrilled to bring back Conan, Raj, Katy, Jeff and Mike for the 98th Oscars!” said Kramer and Yang. “This year, they produced a hugely entertaining and visually stunning show that celebrated our nominees and the global film community in the most beautiful and impactful way. Conan was the perfect host – skillfully guiding us through the evening with humor, warmth and reverence. It is an honor to be working with them again.”

“The only reason I’m hosting the Oscars next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech,” said O’Brien.

“Conan delivered an unforgettable performance at ‘The Oscars,’ and we’re honored to have him and the producing team back next year,” said Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group. “Conan’s unique comedic style perfectly captured the moment, and I’m excited to have his talents back onstage next year to helm another indelible performance.”

“We are both so honored to be returning in our roles for the 98th Oscars,” said Kapoor and Mullan. “We can’t wait to work with Conan and his entire team as we continue to explore even more special and heartfelt opportunities to celebrate next year’s nominees and the impact of film around the world.”

Hosted by O’Brien, the 97th Oscars, held earlier this month on March 2, delivered a five-year high in both total viewers (19.69 million) and adults 18-49 (4.54 rating) and ranked as the number one primetime entertainment telecast in both total viewers and adults for the 2024-2025 season. The 97th Oscars earned 104.2 million total social interactions, ranking as the number one most social TV program season-to-date, outperforming both “The Grammy Awards” (102.2 million interactions) and “The Super Bowl” (62.4 million) this season for the first time on record.

O’Brien is best known for hosting the late-night talk shows “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” and “Conan.” Before his more than two-decade hosting career, he served as a writer for “Saturday Night Live” and “The Simpsons.” Currently, O’Brien hosts the “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” podcast, MAX travel show “Conan O’Brien Must Go” and has a supporting role in the feature film “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.” He has won five Primetime Emmys® and earned 31 nominations for his work.

Kapoor has earned eight Emmy Award nominations and won Emmys for his work on the 96th Oscars and for executive producing the Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) “Adele: One Night Only.” In addition to several Oscars shows, Kapoor’s credits include “The Grammy Awards®,” “ACM Awards,” “Latin Grammys,” “The Emmy Awards,” “Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas,” “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration,” “Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter” and “The Paris Olympics LA28 Handover Closing Ceremony.”

Mullan is an executive producer, showrunner and partner of the global live event production company Done + Dusted. Her work in live entertainment ranges from producing the London Olympics opening and closing ceremonies to “The Little Mermaid Live!.” She won an Emmy for the 96th Oscars, and her other credits include “Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas,” “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration,” “Step Into…The Movies,” several Christmas and New Year’s Eve television specials and the “Disney Family Singalong” franchise.

Ross is a producer whose credits include “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend,” “Conan O’Brien Must Go,” “Conan Without Borders,” “Conan,” “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien”, “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and “The Kids in the Hall.”  He has won a Primetime Emmy and earned 15 nominations for his work.

Sweeney is a producer, writer and director whose credits include “Conan O’Brien Must Go,” “Conan,” “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” He has won three Primetime Emmys and earned 22 nominations for his work.

The 98th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide.

ABOUT THE ACADEMY

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is home to a global membership of more than 10,500 of the most accomplished film industry artists and leaders. The Academy recognizes and celebrates all aspects of the arts and sciences of moviemaking through renowned awards for cinematic achievement, including the Oscars®. With the largest film-related collection in the world, the Academy is a leader in the fields of conservation, preservation and exhibition of film-related objects and materials. Through its Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, the Academy presents powerful exhibitions, screenings and programs about cinema’s past, present, and future. The Academy also inspires young artists and creates opportunities for underrepresented communities to engage with the film world. Across all initiatives, the Academy connects global audiences – its members, the film industry, and film fans – through their shared passion for making and watching films.

 

 

 

television

RESISTANCE OF VISION touring political film festival

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

San Francisco IndieFest Announces

Launch of RESISTANCE OF VISION

 

Politically-focused film festival will tour the United States

throughout 2025-2026, beginning with screening events

in San Francisco, Boston, and Wichita

Following a couple months of unprecedented political upheaval, filmmakers and the film industry are still scrambling to find footing to address or even oppose what is happening in this country. The RESISTANCE OF VISION touring film festival is the first concrete thing I’ve seen in the film festival world. The first “shot across the bow” may be coming courtesy of San Francisco IndieFest. The stalwart Bay Area film festival has launched a politically-focused touring film festival Resistance of Vision designed and set to screen in cities across the U.S. this year and next.

The debut will be comprised of four short film programs screening in Boston, Wichita, and San Francisco in May. Each screening event will discussions and panels highlighting community organizing efforts in the city hosting the film festival.

The new film festival is the brainchild of San Francisco IndieFest founder/director Jeff Ross, with veteran film curator, documentarian, and cinema exhibition consultant Anna Feder serving as the Director of Programming. The Resistance of Vision film festival will be available for booking for groups seeking to hold spaces for dialogue, organizing, and action within their communities. Partnerships with national organizations will support each program to assist with resources, audience building, and calls to action. Participating filmmakers will receive screening fees for all bookings and presentations.

Regarding the inspiration for creating Resistance of Vision, Ross said, “Following the results of the last year’s election, I felt an urgent need to push back on the planned changes we are now seeing take place by the new regime in the best way I know how, through shared experiences and storytelling.  By experiencing the lives of others, we build empathy and are moved to action. According to the Washington Post’s famous slogan, ‘Democracy dies in darkness’, by exposing the stories of real people and their real lives, we make sure the keep the lights on important stories.”

Noted for her work with the successful and influential Bright Lights Cinema Series at Emerson College, Feder was a natural choice to take on the programming reins for Resistance of Vision. Feder said, “First and foremost, I am an activist. I am also a cultural worker who believes in the power of seeing our stories reflected back to us on screen and gathering in community. I see this touring film festival as a way to fight back against the forces of repression that have seeped into every corner of our lives. The antidote to despair is action. And the program that I will be putting together will have calls to action baked in.  As a queer Jewish woman, the call to Tikkun Olam (translates to “repairing the world”) is an obligation to engage in the work of envisioning and working toward a better world.”

Resistance of Vision will be committed to showcasing stories of resilience and the fight for liberation that are often excluded by corporate-controlled exhibition channels. Lively discussions following the screenings with filmmakers, film participants, activists & academics local to each community will be included after every program to allow audiences to dig deeper into the subjects and issues presented on screen.

The call for submissions began earlier this month with April 1st set as the deadline. Notifications will go out on April 13, programs will be offered VOD in each participating geographical area May 1-4, and the live presentations will take place on May 3rd and 4th in San Francisco, Wichita, and Boston. Additional screening dates and locations will be added throughout the U.S. as the tour is set to run through the beginning of 2026. In addition, there will a corresponding access to screenings online during each of in-person event.

The four short film program topics announced for the inaugural festival are Gender Justice, Environmental Justice, Racial Justice, and Labor and Housing Justice. Audience Awards and Jury Prizes will also be awarded to films/filmmakers in each of those categories.

Programs for the 2025-2026 Resistance of Vision Film Festival will include; OUR BODIES, OUR CHOICE (Gender Justice): a program dealing with bodily autonomy, including transgender and reproductive healthcare, and other issues affecting individuals based on sex or gender; THIS IS AN EMERGENCY (Environmental Justice): a program dealing with our relationship to the natural world and efforts to fight laws and institutions that fail to protect our environment and actively contribute to the worsening climate crisis; FIGHT THE POWER (Racial Justice): a program dealing with all forms of racial discrimination, including Indigenous communities around the globe and stories of individuals and organizations fighting for a more just and equitable world; and WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON? (Labor and Housing Justice): program dealing with labor concerns, including union organizing and mobilizing for a living wage and housing justice, and protecting the rights and dignity of the unhoused.

For more information go to: https://sfindie.com/festivals/resistance-of-vision-touring-film-festival/.

 

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Director’s Inspiration: Bong Joon Ho

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

South Korean Film Director Bong Joon Ho has released Mickey 17, in theatres now. In addition, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is opening an exhibition March 23rd, 2025, Director’s Inspiration: Bong Joon Ho, examining the genre-bending works of Bong and its direct international impact on the growth of South Korean cinema. Bong’s first directorial debut was in 2000 with Barking Dogs Never Bite. Since then, Bong’s films have contributed to a deeper understanding of class consciousness and the cultural divide existing therein.

In conjunction with the Academy Museum’s exhibition Director’s Inspiration: Bong Joon Ho, is a retrospective of the director’s first seven feature films, kicking off with a special screening of John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982), a genre classic that influenced Bong’s dark, subversive style.

This series also examines the artistic styles of Bong’s genre-bending mastery, “excavating the dense subject matter explored in his body of work, formulated with dilemmas, horror, humor, and shifting tonality.” (Hyesung ii)

For more information on Director’s Inspiration: Bong Joon Ho check out the Academy Museum’s Exhibition page here,

The Academy Museum

 

Until next time, I’ll see you at the movies!

#AFI, AFI DWW+, American Film Institute

AFI DWW+ SHOWCASE CELEBRATES FILMS FROM EMERGING DIRECTORS

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Los Angeles, CA, March 6, 2025 – The American Film Institute (AFI) premiered films from the AFI DWW+ Class of 2025 directors – Julia Bales, Jahmil Eady, MG Evangelista, Marissa High, Jasmine J. Johnson, Natasha Mynhier, Karina Lomelin Ripper and Ezra Rose – to a full house at the annual AFI DWW+ showcase on Wednesday, March 5 at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Theater in Los Angeles. Founded in 1974, AFI DWW+ is a tuition-free year-long directing program, open to all applicants, that supports emerging narrative filmmakers through the production cycle of a short film, providing hands-on instruction led by industry experts.

Susan Ruskin, Dean of the AFI Conservatory and Executive Vice President of the American Film Institute, opened the event with welcome remarks and congratulated the eight members of the Class of 2025 as they now join a legion of artists who have participated in the program since it began over 50 years ago. She noted the program’s “signature superpower” is its ability to bring artists together whose work aims to drive culture forward.

Ruskin then introduced AFI DWW+ Alum and Class of 2025 Guest Artistic Director Hanelle M. Culpepper (STAR WARS: THE ACOLYTE, STAR TREK: PICARD, WESTWORLD), who mentored the directors and oversaw the artistic curriculum for the 2024–2025 program. She celebrated the achievements of the filmmakers and their dedication to their craft. “[They are] eight directors with passionate visions, talent, curiosity, unafraid to ask for what they need, and completely open to learning, to collaboration, and to feedback while supporting each other however they can,” said Culpepper. “Their work will have a social impact by challenging us and expanding our thinking while never failing to entertain us.”

Distinguished keynote speaker Emmy® Award-winning writer/director/producer Lucia Aniello (HACKS, BROAD CITY, ROUGH NIGHT) brought her signature humor to her address to the graduates, inspiring participants and guests alike with advice about the creative process and the unexpected places they may find story ideas. Aniello encouraged the directors to take in as many unique experiences as possible to help shape their point of view as a filmmaker, “Be disciplined – not with your output but with your life experiences and how present you are with them… And write everything down.”

Aniello is currently writing, directing and executive producing the fourth season of Max’s Original comedy series, HACKS starring Jean Smart, which she also co-created alongside Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky.

Following the remarks, the audience, which included filmmakers, actors, producers, agents, managers, studio executives and more, screened films directed by the AFI DWW+ Class of 2025 participants during the intensive program.

Learn more about the directors and their projects at: https://conservatory.afi.com/dww-showcase/.

As one of the longest-running and preeminent film and television workshops nationwide, AFI DWW+ has trained hundreds of artists whose directorial work has entertained global audiences and defined our collective cultural landscape. Distinguished Alums of the AFI DWW+ program include Maya Angelou, Anne Bancroft, Neema Barnette, Pippa Bianco, Tessa Blake, Tricia Brock, Ellen Burstyn, Rebecca Cammisa, Dyan Cannon, Dime Davis, Jan Eliasberg, Naomi Foner, Jennifer Getzinger, Lesli Linka Glatter, Lyn Goldfarb, Randa Haines, Siân Heder, Victoria Hochberg, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Matia Karrell, Maggie Kiley, Lynne Littman, Nancy Malone, Gandja Monteiro, Amber Sealy, Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, Becky Smith, Cicely Tyson, Jude Weng and Joanne Woodward. View full list of 350+ AFI DWW Alums here.

AFI DWW+ is part of the AFI Conservatory’s Department of Innovative Programs, which also includes the AFI Cinematography Intensive Workshop. Through a range of learning opportunities, Innovative Programs serves a diverse community of aspiring visual storytellers to cultivate cutting-edge technological and media-making skills, bridge access to professional networks and place participants on an upward career trajectory.

Learn more at Conservatory.AFI.com/Innovative-Programs/.

 

About the American Film Institute (AFI)

The American Film Institute (AFI) is a nonprofit organization with a mandate to champion the moving image as an art form. Established in 1967, AFI launched the first comprehensive history of American film and sparked the movement for film preservation in the United States. In 1969, AFI opened the doors of the AFI Conservatory, a graduate-level program to train narrative filmmakers. The Conservatory, which counts Deniese Davis, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas and Rachel Morrison as Alumni, is ranked one of the top film schools in America. AFI’s enduring traditions include the AFI Life Achievement Award, which honors the masters for work that has stood the test of time; AFI AWARDS, which celebrates the creative ensembles of the most outstanding screen stories of the year; and scholarly efforts such as the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive that preserve film history for future generations. AFI exhibition programs include AFI FEST Presented by Canva and year-round exhibition at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Maryland. AFI Movie Club is a destination for movie lovers from around the world to celebrate and engage with the art form every day. Other pioneering programs include workshops aimed at elevating emerging storytellers and technology, including AFI DWW+ and the AFI Cinematography Intensive Workshop. Read about all of these programs and more at AFI.com and follow us on social media at Facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute, YouTube.com/AFI, X.com/AmericanFilm, TikTok.com/@americanfilminstitute and Instagram.com/AmericanFilmInstitute.

 

About the AFI Conservatory

The AFI Conservatory opened its doors in 1969 to an inaugural class that included Terrence Malick, Caleb Deschanel and Paul Schrader. Today, the Conservatory offers a two-year MFA degree in six filmmaking disciplines: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting. In a collaborative production environment, AFI Fellows learn to master the art of storytelling, collectively creating up to 175 films a year. Fellows actively participate in the entire life cycle of a film, from development through production and exhibition.

Alumni of this elite program, ranging from modern masters to bold new voices defining the state of the art form, include Andrea Arnold, Darren Aronofsky, Ari Aster, Deniese Davis, Sam Esmail, Brad Falchuk, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Liz Hannah, Patty Jenkins, Janusz Kamiński, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas, Polly Morgan, Rachel Morrison and Wally Pfister, among others.

Press contact: American Film Institute
Shari Mesulam,  Shari@themesulamgroup.com

#TCM, #TCMFF, TCM Classic Film Festival, television

TCM to Honor Michelle Pfeiffer with Hand and Footprint Ceremony

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

TCM Pressroom Press Release

TCM to Honor Michelle Pfeiffer with Hand and Footprint Ceremony and Screening of The Fabulous Baker Boys at 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival

 

New York, NY – March 6, 2025. Turner Classic Movies (TCM) has revealed that legendary actress Michelle Pfeiffer will be celebrated with a hand and footprint ceremony at the renowned TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on Friday, April 25th as part of the 16th annual TCM Classic Film Festival. During the festival, Pfeiffer’s acclaimed performance in THE FABULOUS BAKER BOYS (1989) — for which she was nominated for an Academy Award and won the Golden Globe for Best Actress — will be showcased.

“There’s an undeniable quality to any part played by Michelle Pfeiffer,” said Ben Mankiewicz, TCM Primetime Anchor and Official Host of the TCM Classic Film Festival. “She blends — seemingly effortlessly (though it surely isn’t effortless) — elegance with depth, capturing the complexity in every character she plays. For example, take the two times she’s portrayed the wife or girlfriend of a criminal kingpin, opposite Al Pacino in Brian De Palma’s violent drama ‘Scarface,’ then leading the cast of Jonathan Demme’s romantic comedy ‘Married to the Mob.’  In ‘Scarface,’ she could’ve been nothing but an objectified prize to the two men in her life.

“Instead, she brought this steely toughness to the role, humanizing Elvira in unexpected ways. In ‘Married to the Mob,’ she took a similar character type, turned it entirely upside down and served as the film’s emotional anchor. After those two performances, there was little doubt a major talent was on the scene in Hollywood. And she’s made good on that promise over the last three-plus decades in film after film, including ‘The Fabulous Baker Boys,’ ‘Dangerous Liaisons,’ ‘Russia House,’ ‘Catwoman,’ ‘Hairspray,’ her critically acclaimed turn as Betty Ford in ‘The First Lady’, and as Bernie Madoff’s compellingly detached wife Ruth in the HBO movie ‘Wizard of Lies.’ No matter the character, Michelle Pfeiffer’s performances are consistently nuanced and convincingly authentic.”

This marks the 12th hand and footprint ceremony as part of the TCM Classic Film Festival. In 2011, Peter O’Toole was the honoree, followed by Kim Novak in 2012, Jane Fonda in 2013, Jerry Lewis in 2014, Christopher Plummer in 2015, Francis Ford Coppola in 2016, Carl and Rob Reiner in 2017, Cicely Tyson in 2018, Billy Crystal in 2019, Lily Tomlin in 2022 and Jodie Foster in 2024.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 22: <> attends the Hand and Footprint Ceremony honoring Lily Tomlin during the 2022 TCM Classic Film Festival at the TCL Chinese Theatre on April 22, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for TCM)

http://For more information, please visit http://tcm.com/festival.

About Turner Classic Movies (TCM)

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is a two-time Peabody Award-winning network that presents classic films, uncut and commercial-free, from the largest film libraries in the world highlighting “Where Then Meets Now.” TCM features insights from Primetime host Ben Mankiewicz along with hosts Alicia Malone, Dave Karger, Jacqueline Stewart and Eddie Muller, plus interviews with a wide range of special guests and serves as the ultimate movie lover destination. With three decades as a leading authority in classic film, TCM offers critically acclaimed series like The Essentials and Reframed along with annual programming events like 31 Days of Oscar® and Summer Under the Stars. TCM also directly connects with movie fans through popular events such as the annual TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood and the TCM Classic Cruise. In addition, TCM produces the wildly successful podcast “The Plot Thickens,” which has had more than 9 million downloads to date. TCM hosts a wealth of material online at tcm.com and through the Watch TCM mobile app. Fans can also enjoy a classic movie experience on the TCM hub on Max.

 

Media Contacts

television

Free Speech and Self Defense and at the National WWI Museum and Memorial

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

KANSAS CITY, MO. – The National WWI Museum and Memorial and American Public Square at Jewell will host, on Tuesday, March 11, “Speaking Freely.” A panel discussion moderated by Margaret Talev (director of Syracuse University’s Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship) will explore free speech in America – its evolution, its definition and its impact on politics, education and the daily lives of U.S. residents – more than 100 years after Americans entered WWI to “make the world safe for democracy.” The program is free onsite and online. A reception at the Museum and Memorial at 5:30 p.m. will precede the in-person event at 6 p.m.

The latest event in the Pershing Lecture Series is “An Enigma in Red Stripes and Gold Braid” on Tuesday, March 25 at 9:30 p.m. History remembers Erich von Falkenhayn for the “blood mill” of Verdun – despite realizing early on that attrition would be ultimately disastrous. Examine his controversial legacy with Dr. Scott Stephenson. The event is free with RSVP and available in-person and online.

In the tradition of British suffragettes practicing jiu-jitsu to protect themselves in their fight for voting rights, participants can learn self-defense in a two-hour hands-on training session. “Empower: Modern Self-Defense” takes place on Saturday, March 22 at 10:30 a.m. The event is free, but registration is required (Ages 12+ only).

 

March National WWI Museum and Memorial events

About the National WWI Museum and Memorial

The National WWI Museum and Memorial is America’s leading institution dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War and its enduring impact on the global community. The Museum and Memorial holds the most comprehensive collection of World War I objects and documents in the world and is the second-oldest public museum dedicated to preserving the objects, history and experiences of the war. The Museum and Memorial takes visitors of all ages on an epic journey through a transformative period and shares deeply personal stories of courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice. Designated by Congress as America’s official World War I Museum and Memorial and located in downtown Kansas City, Mo., the National WWI Museum and Memorial inspires thought, dialogue and learning to make the experiences of the Great War era meaningful and relevant for present and future generations. To learn more, visit: theworldwar.org.

If interested in attending any of the Museum and Memorial’s offerings contact Karis Erwin, Vice President of Marketing and Guest Services, at 816.888.8122 or kerwin@theworldwar.org.

 

 

SXSW

The Accountant 2

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

If you liked The Accountant with Ben Affleck, he’s reprising his role as  Christian Wolf, in The Accountant 2. Directed by Gavin O’Connor, this tense action thriller sees the return of the accountant, protector/assassin. When an old acquaintance is murdered, leaving behind a cryptic message to “find the accountant.” Wolff is compelled to solve the case. Realizing more extreme measures are necessary, Wolff recruits his estranged and highly lethal brother, Brax (Jon Bernthal), to help. In partnership with U.S. Treasury Deputy Director Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), they uncover a deadly conspiracy, becoming targets of a ruthless network of killers who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried.

 

Check out these behind the scenes photos

THE ACCOUNTANT 2 

makes its World Premiere at the 2025 SXSW Film Festival , March 8th, and will be in theatres globally on April 25, 2025.

Stay tuned!

 

 

 

#AFI, American Film Institute, DWW

LUCIA ANIELLO TO BE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT AFI DWW+ SHOWCASE

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES

EMMY® AWARD-WINNING FILMMAKER LUCIA ANIELLO AS

KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT AFI DWW+ SHOWCASE

DWW+ Class of 2025 to Debut New Films

Alums of the DWW+ Directing Program Include Lesli Linka Glatter, Siân Heder, Dime Davis, Cicely Tyson, Lee Grant, Gandja Monteiro, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Maya Angelou and More

OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Los Angeles, CA, March 4, 2025 – Today, the American Film Institute (AFI) announced that Emmy® Award-winning writer/director/producer Lucia Aniello (HACKS, BROAD CITY, ROUGH NIGHT) will deliver the keynote address at the AFI DWW+ Showcase for the Class of 2025 which will take place on Wednesday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m. at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles.

The DWW+ Showcase is an integral part of the AFI DWW+ program and provides an opportunity for the graduating cohort to premiere their short films to an audience of agency and studio representatives, as well as working artists from throughout the creative community.

The presenting directors from the Class of 2025 include Julia Bales, Jahmil Eady, MG Evangelista, Marissa High, Jasmine J. Johnson, Natasha Mynhier, Karina Lomelin Ripper and Ezra Rose. The directors were mentored by AFI DWW+ Guest Artistic Director Hanelle M. Culpepper (STAR WARS: THE ACOLYTE, STAR TREK: PICARD, WESTWORLD) who also oversaw the artistic curriculum for the 2024–2025 program.

“Lucia Aniello is an imperative and dynamic voice in today’s storytelling landscape, and we are honored to welcome her as this year’s keynote speaker at the AFI DWW+ Showcase,” said Susan Ruskin, Dean of the AFI Conservatory and Executive Vice President of the American Film Institute. “We look forward to bringing the entertainment community together to celebrate the DWW+ Class of 2025 directors and their bold new films.”

Emmy® and Golden Globe winner Lucia Aniello is a writer, director, producer, performer and one half of the comedy team Paulilu with her partner, Paul W. Downs.

Aniello and Downs have achieved critical acclaim and commercial success writing, directing, producing and acting in comedies such as HACKS, BROAD CITY, TIME TRAVELING BONG, NORA FROM QUEENS, THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB and more.

Aniello is currently writing, directing and executive producing the fourth season of Max’s Original comedy series, HACKS, starring Jean Smart, which she also co-created alongside Downs and Jen Statsky. HACKS has received 48 Emmy® nominations and nine wins across its three seasons, including wins for Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series and Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series as well as wins for four Golden Globe Awards, four Writers Guild of America Awards and a Peabody Award; and Aniello has won two Directors Guild of America Awards in the category of Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series. The series was honored as one of the Outstanding Television Programs of the Year at the AFI AWARDS for seasons one, two and three. HACKS has also received various award nominations and wins at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Critics Choice Awards, Producers Guild of America Awards and the Gotham Awards, among others. Season three of the show premiered on May 2, 2024, on Max with season four premiering in the Spring of 2025.

After the success of HACKS in 2021, Downs and Aniello signed a multiyear overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Group. Most recently, in November of 2024, HBO landed KANSAS CITY STAR, a half-hour comedy starring and executively produced by Kaley Cuoco, created by the Hacks trio of Aniello, Downs and Statsky.

Aniello also served as executive producer and director on Comedy Central’s series AWKWAFINA IS NORA FROM QUEENS and Netflix’s THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB. Aniello previously served as a writer, executive producer and director on Comedy Central’s beloved series BROAD CITY, which ran for five seasons. On the big screen, Aniello directed Sony’s ROUGH NIGHT starring Scarlett Johansson which she also co-wrote and produced with Downs. Other past projects include the Comedy Central miniseries TIME TRAVELING BONG, which was created and written by Aniello, along with Downs and Ilana Glazer.

Download photo of Lucia Aniello (photo credit: Ryan Pfluger)

RSVPs are required for the AFI DWW+ Showcase on March 5.

As one of the longest-running and preeminent film and television workshops nationwide, AFI DWW+ has trained hundreds of artists whose directorial work has entertained global audiences and defined our collective cultural landscape. Distinguished Alums of the AFI DWW+ program include Maya Angelou, Anne Bancroft, Neema Barnette, Pippa Bianco, Tessa Blake, Tricia Brock, Ellen Burstyn, Rebecca Cammisa, Dyan Cannon, Dime Davis, Jan Eliasberg, Naomi Foner, Jennifer Getzinger, Lesli Linka Glatter, Lyn Goldfarb, Randa Haines, Siân Heder, Victoria Hochberg, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Matia Karrell, Maggie Kiley, Lynne Littman, Nancy Malone, Gandja Monteiro, Amber Sealey, Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, Becky Smith, Cicely Tyson, Jude Weng and Joanne Woodward. View full list of 350+ AFI DWW+ Alums here.

AFI DWW+ is part of the AFI Conservatory’s Department of Innovative Programs, which also includes the AFI Cinematography Intensive Workshop. Through a range of learning opportunities, Innovative Programs serves a diverse community of aspiring visual storytellers to cultivate cutting-edge technological and media-making skills, bridge access to professional networks and place participants on an upward career trajectory.

Learn more at Conservatory.AFI.com/Innovative-Programs/.

About the American Film Institute (AFI)

The American Film Institute (AFI) is a nonprofit organization with a mandate to champion the moving image as an art form. Established in 1967, AFI launched the first comprehensive history of American film and sparked the movement for film preservation in the United States. In 1969, AFI opened the doors of the AFI Conservatory, a graduate-level program to train narrative filmmakers. The Conservatory, which counts Deniese Davis, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas and Rachel Morrison as Alumni, is ranked one of the top film schools in America. AFI’s enduring traditions include the AFI Life Achievement Award, which honors the masters for work that has stood the test of time; AFI AWARDS, which celebrates the creative ensembles of the most outstanding screen stories of the year; and scholarly efforts such as the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive that preserve film history for future generations. AFI exhibition programs include AFI FEST Presented by Canva and year-round exhibition at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Maryland. AFI Movie Club is a destination for movie lovers from around the world to celebrate and engage with the art form every day. Other pioneering programs include workshops aimed at elevating emerging storytellers and technology, including AFI DWW+ and the AFI Cinematography Intensive Workshop. Read about all of these programs and more at AFI.com and follow us on social media at Facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute, YouTube.com/AFI, X.com/AmericanFilm, TikTok.com/@americanfilminstitute and Instagram.com/AmericanFilmInstitute.

About the AFI Conservatory

The AFI Conservatory opened its doors in 1969 to an inaugural class that included Terrence Malick, Caleb Deschanel and Paul Schrader. Today, the Conservatory offers a two-year MFA degree in six filmmaking disciplines: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting. In a collaborative production environment, AFI Fellows learn to master the art of storytelling, collectively creating up to 175 films a year. Fellows actively participate in the entire life cycle of a film, from development through production and exhibition.

Alumni of this elite program, ranging from modern masters to bold new voices defining the state of the art form, include Andrea Arnold, Darren Aronofsky, Ari Aster, Deniese Davis, Sam Esmail, Brad Falchuk, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Liz Hannah, Patty Jenkins, Janusz Kamiński, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas, Polly Morgan, Rachel Morrison and Wally Pfister, among others.

Press contact: American Film Institute

Shari Mesulam, Shari@themesulamgroup.com

Academy Awards, Documentary

CAIR Calls on U.S. Film Companies to Distribute ‘No Other Land’ After Oscar Win

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Posted by Larry Gleeson

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on U.S. film distributors and streaming platforms in the United States to pursue rights to distribute the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land,” a joint Palestinian-Israeli production which chronicles Israeli settler violence and military demolitions of Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank.

In a statement, CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper said:

“Any other documentary this highly acclaimed would have been picked up by a major film company long ago. In the wake of No Other Land’s Oscar win, the unprecedented censorship of this film must end. We call on U.S. film companies and streaming services to pursue this Oscar-winning documentary and quickly make it available to the American public. Palestinian stories have been ignored amid the far-right Israeli government’s campaign of ethnic cleansing carried out with American taxpayer dollars. The American people deserve the right to see this film.”

The film, which has won dozens of prizes since its release last year, was awarded the Oscar for Best Documentary last night at the 97th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California. The film was produced from 2019 to 2023 and comprises mostly personal camcorder footage filmed by Palestinian activist Basel Adra, 28, who documents the Israeli military’s destruction of his hometown, Masafer Yatta in a small, rugged region in the southern occupied West Bank.

CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com