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Winsome Sinclair, the casting director who helped bring in actors for Waiting to Exhale, Amistad, Precious, The Best Man and a dozen films directed by Spike Lee, has died. She was 58.

Sinclair died Monday in hospice care on Long Island after a long battle with colon cancer, publicist Clorissa Wright-Thomas told The Hollywood Reporter. Her family was at her bedside.

The New York native launched the global casting agency Winsome Sinclair and Associates in New York in 1996, then relocated the business to Atlanta in 2014 amid that city’s production boom.

Sinclair also cast extras for the John Singleton-directed features Higher Learning (1995), 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) and Abduction (2011), for the Malcolm D. Lee-helmed The Best Man (1999) and Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016) and for the Dee Rees-directed Pariah (2011) and Bessie (2015).

She handled similar duties on the Hughes brothers’ Dead Presidents (1995), Forest Whitaker’s Waiting to Exhale (1995), Steven Spielberg’s...

Oi there, listen up! Amazon Prime Video’s list of new releases for June 2024 includes another season of its biggest, bloodiest hit.

The Boys season 4 premieres its first three episodes on Thursday, June 13. Based on the trailers, The Boys is really leaning into the political side of its social satire with a presidential election underway and Homelander on trial for the small matter of killing a guy last season. The season will continue to air on Thursdays, culminating with the finale on July 18.

Amazon is really leaning into its sports offerings this month as well. Fans will get to watch the New York Yankees, the WNBA, and the Nwsl several times throughout June. That’s in addition to a couple of sports docs: Power of the Dream on June 18 and Federer: Twelve Final Days on June 20.

But if you’re looking for something even more explosive than Homelander and Roger Federer,...

Jonathan Nolan is no stranger to adaptions of popular media, with the writer starting his career when his brother, Christopher Nolan, adapted his short story into the feature film Memento. Over the years, Nolan has contributed to his brother’s adaptation of Batman and also helmed a television adaptation of the cult-classic film Westworld.

Jonathan Nolan most recently helmed the Fallout adaptation (Image Credit: Prime Video).

During a recent interview, Nolan shared his take on the increase in television adaptations in Hollywood. Nolan spoke about how he feels about the rapid rise in books and other media serving as source material for some of the most popular modern television shows. Nolan’s comments mean that Gravity’s Rainbow, a sci-fi novel that is widely considered unadaptable deserves a chance, and here is why.

Fallout‘s Jonathan Nolan Discusses the Rise of Television Adaptations

Jonathan Nolan most recently served as a...

Helmet’s seminal album Betty is receiving a 30th anniversary vinyl reissue via the Interscope Vinyl Collective. The reissue arrives June 1st as a 2-lp configuration featuring grey vinyl that was pressed at Third Man Records.

The expanded tracklist features five additional songs: “Flushings,” “Thick,” “Pariah,” “Biscuits for Smut – Mutt Mix” and “Biscuits for Smut – Pooch Mix.” The set also includes updated and new artwork illustrated by Derek Hess (plus a Hess illustration etched onto Side D), an exclusive lithograph of the original cover, and a “thank you” message from Helmet founder Page Hamilton on the inner sleeves.

“After recording our first two albums, Strap It On and Meantime, with Wharton Tiers in his downtown NYC basement studio, Fun City, we decided to try something different,” said Hamilton of the origins of Betty. “We knew the L.A. Motown studio Neve 8078 console was owned by Donald Fagan of Steely Dan,...

Sister Wives star Kody Brown set out to prove something, but instead, it sounds like he’s morphing into a stigma for another family practicing polygamy in a TLC series. Kody failed to keep his famous polygamous family intact after setting out to prove something to the world with his reality show.

His lifestyle was once an inspiration for a wife from another TLC polygamous series, Seeking Sister Wife. But today, Dannielle Merrifield, the star of that show, adamantly shuts down the comparisons to their family with Kody’s now defunct brood.

Sister Wives: Comparisons to Kody Brown

Kody Brown made quite an impact on reality TV. So, it seems only natural that his polygamous series would collect comparisons. Especially from another show featuring a polygamous lifestyle.

But, unlike Sister Wives, where cameras follow Kody and his four wives, Seeking Sister Wife has a little more variety. Instead of one family’s trials and tribulations,...

For four decades, Sundance has maintained a reputation as one of the most important film festivals in America for independent filmmakers from around the globe. To commemorate its 40th anniversary in 2024 and the enormity (and reciprocity) of that cultural footprint, festival leadership set a series of restoration screenings to highlight many of the most memorable films programmed throughout its history.

“When you look at the way the independent film movement has evolved and changed over the years, from the maturation of an industry and the opportunities that artists have found, to the way that an audience has been built around the work, you see a festival that has evolved alongside it,” says John Nein, senior programmer and director of strategic initiatives.

This year’s festival takes place Jan. 18-28, in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, with a selection of titles available online nationwide from Jan. 25-28. The...

The schedule for the milestone 40th Sundance Film Festival continues to fall into focus. The beloved Utah event — scheduled for Jan. 19-26 in Park City — has unveiled the lineup for Beyond Film programming and revealed that the documentary The Greatest Night in Pop, a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the iconic song “We Are the World,” will be part of this year’s program.

The roster of Beyond Film speakers includes notables with films in this year’s festival like Steven Soderbergh (Presence), Jesse Eisenberg (A Real Pain), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Rob Peace), Sue Bird (Sue Bird: In The Clutch), Dee Rees (Pariah), Lucy Lawless (Never Look Away), André Holland (Exhibiting Forgiveness), Debra Granik (Conbody vs Everybody), Jay Ellis (Freaky Tales) and Nzingha Stewart (Me/We).

The slate also includes a conversation within New Frontier, which champions artists practicing at the crossroads of film, art, performance and new media. Titled...

Zorro and Expats are the big shows coming to Prime Video in January. The former is what Amazon are calling a “bold reinterpretation” of the classic hero El Zorro for 2024. Starring Miguel Bernardeau as Diego de la Vega and Renata Notni as Lolita Marquez, it’s definitely an intriguing-sounding action-adventure series, with a ten-episode first season based on the iconic character originally created by Johnston McCulley all the way back in 1919.

Meanwhile, upcoming drama series Expats is based on the bestselling 2016 novel The Expatriates by Janice Y. K. Lee, and follows “the vibrant lives of a close-knit expatriate community” in Hong Kong. Nicole Kidman has been known for picking the right kind of shows to lead in the past, so let’s hope this is another banger for the actress, who is also on board as an executive producer here.

Here’s everything coming to Amazon Prime Video and Freevee this month.

Sundance is celebrating its 40th Anniversary next month and the festival has revealed more programming to highlight its cinematic legacy. Topping the list of events are new 4K restorations of “Napoleon Dynamite,” “Go Fish,” “Three Seasons,” and an extended version of “Dig!,” with over 30 minutes of new footage, retitled “Dig!Xx.” Additionally, there will be screenings of “The Babadook,” and “Pariah” as well as restorations of “Mississippi Masala” and “The Times of Harvey Milk.”

Read More: Sundance 2024: New works from Steven Sodergh, Debra Granik, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck and more

Alumni always have a home to return to in Park City and 2024 will be no exception.

Continue reading ‘Napoleon Dynamite,’ ‘The Babadook,’ ‘Go Fish’ & More Return To Celebrate Sundance’s 40th Anniversary at The Playlist.

The 40th Edition of the Sundance Film Festival announced their 53 Short Films for the 2024 lineup in addition to a 20th anniversary 4K restored version of Napoleon Dynamite, as well as other Sundance fave re-releases.

There’s a 30th anniversary of Go Fish, 25th anniversary of Three Seasons and the 20th anniversary of Dig! (with 30 minutes of additional footage), titled Dig! Xx.

There’s also restorations of The Babadook and Pariah, and restorations of Mississippi Masala and The Times of Harvey Milk.

In addition, there’s several Sundance alum panels including Power of Story: Four Decades of Taking Chances about the legacy of independent storytelling featuring Miguel Arteta, Richard Linklater, Dawn Porter, and Christine Vachon; a screening of seminal short films from Sundance’s history hosted by Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass; and a workshop for emerging creators with Carlos López Estrada and others.

The shorts for 2024 were curated from 12,098 submissions,...

The Sundance Institute announced today the 2024 Sundance Film Festival short film lineup and the 40th Edition Celebration Screenings and Events — programming featuring alumni artists looking back on the festival’s four-decade history. The 40th Edition events will take place the second half of the festival (January 23 – 26) and will include brand-new 4K restorations of Napoleon Dynamite (20th anniversary) Go Fish (30th anniversary), Three Seasons (25th anniversary), and an extended version of Dig! (20th anniversary), featuring over 30 minutes of additional footage, titled Dig! Xx. Also showing will be The Babadook and Pariah, and restorations of Mississippi Masala […]

The post 2024 Sundance Film Festival Announces 53 Short Films Plus 40th Edition Celebration Screenings first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

The Sundance Institute announced today the 2024 Sundance Film Festival short film lineup and the 40th Edition Celebration Screenings and Events — programming featuring alumni artists looking back on the festival’s four-decade history. The 40th Edition events will take place the second half of the festival (January 23 – 26) and will include brand-new 4K restorations of Napoleon Dynamite (20th anniversary) Go Fish (30th anniversary), Three Seasons (25th anniversary), and an extended version of Dig! (20th anniversary), featuring over 30 minutes of additional footage, titled Dig! Xx. Also showing will be The Babadook and Pariah, and restorations of Mississippi Masala […]

The post 2024 Sundance Film Festival Announces 53 Short Films Plus 40th Edition Celebration Screenings first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

Anniversary screenings include Park City hits Napoleon Dynamite, Mississippi Masala, The Babadook.

Sundance Film Festival has unveiled the 53 shorts as well as the eight films celebrating the festival’s 40th edition – a list which includes Park City hits Napoleon Dynamite, Mississippi Masala, and The Babadook.

The 40th edition celebration screenings and events are set for the second half of the festival from January 23-26, 2024, with a slate of retrospective programming that will bring alumni artists together for conversations and gatherings.

Sundance Film festival runs January 18-28, 2024, in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, with a selection of titles...

The 2024 Sundance lineup is coming into fuller view, including celebrations for its 40th edition and its shorts program. The festival will take place January 18 through 28 in-person in Park City and Salt Lake City, with a selection of titles available online nationwide from January 25 through 28 via digital platforms.

The festival will introduce new short films for 2024 across eight curated programs, including a festival retrospective hosted by Mark and Jay Duplass. This year’s programming for new titles features 53 short films selected from 12,098 submissions, the highest number on record. Of these submissions, 5,323 were from the U.S., and 6,799 were international. The selected shorts represent 22 countries.

In addition to the shorts programming, the special 40th edition celebration screenings and events kick off on January 23, bringing Sundance alumni together for conversations and gatherings while revisiting iconic films like new 4K restorations of “Napoleon Dynamite” for its 20th anniversary, the 25th anniversary of “Three Seasons,...

Fresh off the strike and newly back to work, American writer-director Dee Rees has set her sights on her next feature – a stylized dark comedy meant to visualize a central character’s frantic stream of consciousness.

“It’s a weird, experimental thing,” says Rees, who’s currently serving on the jury of this year’s Marrakech Film Festival. “[I’ve explored] comedic elements in my films, but this is the first time where it’s a kind of a dark, sad satire.”

While the “Pariah” and “Mudbound” filmmaker had toyed with this latest project for years, she picked up her pen anew once the writers strike concluded and then committed full-on following an opportune encounter in Marrakech.

“People will come to you with what they think you should do, or what they think you’d be good at,” she tells Variety. “So I try to still listen to that kind of voice. I...

Two young women drift, drink and explore volatile emotions in Sian Astor-Lewis’s debut feature, with powerful performances by Lilit Lesser and Josefine Glæsel

There are quite a few feature films around about teenage or very young women falling in love or at least experiencing queer desire for the first time, more than there were though far fewer than ones about young men. Some have been excellent – see, for example Pariah, But I’m a Cheerleader, or Portrait of a Lady on Fire. But some of the less polished examples have a worthy earnestness baked in, as if they’re on a didactic mission and straining to offer positive role models. To Nowhere, on the other hand, feels deeply personal, bloody as a fresh wound, and entirely sugar-free.

Made with just enough budget to cover a couple of song clearances and a few fancy fetish-shop props, this debut feature from writer-director...

Narrowing down the best movies in any genre is tough, but for lesbian films you have to begin with a reductive question: What is a lesbian film? What, in fact, is a lesbian?.

Must the film focus primarily on a gay storyline, or can it feature strong lesbian characters doing something entirely different than just being lesbians? Is subtext enough, or must the sapphic be explicit? How much cinephile wrath will rain down on us for the absence of a certain recent Oscar winner?

Compared to the stand-outs of queer television, the best lesbian movies have relatively little time to convey their perspective on the vast, varied, (sometimes) vaginal lesbian experience. And yet, ultimately, the best lesbian films honor not just their own perspectives, but also the glory and traditions of all of queer cinema. Strong women, high entertainment value, and bold visuals reign supreme.

The following tales of mini...

If you’re wondering what’s new on Amazon Prime Video in June, the answer is a lot. The streamer has a solid slate of movies heading into summer 2023. From the first two “Creed” films to “Love, Rosie,” “Yours, Mine & Ours” and other clever romantic comedies, the streamer has a range of options for viewers with different tastes. Newer theatrical releases arriving on the streamer in June include “TÁR,” “Armageddon Time,” and “M3GAN.”

TV premieres to look forward to include Boots Riley’s “I’m A Virgo” and the fourth and final season of John Krasinski’s “Jack Ryan.” “Crazy Rich Asians” arrives early in June, followed by “Interstellar” for all Christopher Nolan and Matthew McConaughey lovers. Even though “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” doesn’t release in theaters until November, all four “Hunger Games” films land on Prime Video this June. Perfect timing — maybe even with a reread...

With its list of new releases for June 2023, Prime is bringing a handful of Amazon Originals and many recent movie hits to the fold.

It’s actually quite a busy month for non-American programming in Amazon Originals department. Shows and movies like Deadloch, My Fault, and Medellín all originate from outside the U.S. and U.K. For the American and British crowd, however, the streamer is debuting two big tentpoles.

The first is I’m a Virgo on June 23. Acclaimed director Boots Riley’s TV followup to Sorry to Bother You will tale the surreal and satirical tale of a giant in Oakland. That will be followed by the more conventional (assumedly) fourth season of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan on June 30.

The real fireworks this month come from a ludicrously deep bench of library TV and movie titles. Give them a look for yourself below but if we were to highlight just a few,...

The fourth and final season of “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” arrives on Prime Video on June 30. It finds Ryan — now the new acting CIA director — unearthing internal corruption and suspicious black ops that leaves the United States vulnerable to attack. John Krasinski stars as the tough-as-nails Ryan.

Watch the “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” trailer:

“Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets” is a new docuseries that reveals the truth behind the myth of the wholesome religious family and their involvement with the predatory Bill Gothard and The Institute in Basic Life Principles. The organization’s abusive practices — and the insidious long political game it plays — is revealed on June 2. The Duggars and their 19 “happy” kids are exposed as frauds, while also being manipulated by Gothard and enduring the scandal of Josh, their sexually abusive son.

Check out the “Shiny Happy People” trailer:

When a body is found on the beach in the Tasmanian town of Deadloch,...

Oscar winner Timothy Hutton continues his guest starring role as DEA Leader Mack Boyle on CBS’s S.W.A.T. season six episode 22. Directed by Billy Gierhart from a script by Brandon Margolis and Brandon Sonnier, episode 22 – the season finale, not the series finale! – will air on Friday, May 19, 2023 at 8pm Et/Pt.

Swat season six stars Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, Alex Russell as Jim Street, Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay, Kenny Johnson as Dominique Luca, David Lim as Victor Tan, Patrick St. Esprit as Commander Robert Hicks, and Rochelle Aytes as Nichelle.

“Legacy” Plot: The team works with the DEA and their iron-jawed leader, Mack Boyle (guest star Timothy Hutton), to stop a ruthless cartel boss waging war on the streets of Los Angeles as he exacts revenge on those who killed his son.

Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson in ‘Swat’ season 6 episode 22

The Swat Season 6 Plot:...

After a week of behind-the-scenes drama, it’s fantastic to know going into this first part of a two-part season six finale that S.W.A.T. isn’t going to end prematurely. CBS announced the series had been canceled, despite the ratings growing year-over-year, and then quickly reversed their decision after fans – and Shemar Moore – made their displeasure known. The network confirmed there will be a shortened season seven. (Read all about it here).

Back to season six… Episode 21, “Forget Shorty,” was directed by Paul Bernard from a script by Kent Rotherham and will air on Friday, May 12, 2023 at 8pm Et/Pt. Part two of the season (and thankfully not the series) finale will air on May 19th.

Swat season six stars Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, Alex Russell as Jim Street, Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay, Kenny Johnson as Dominique Luca, David Lim as Victor Tan, Patrick St. Esprit as Commander Robert Hicks,...

Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, Taye Diggs as Marine squad leader Danny Wright, and Director Jay Harrington on the set of ‘Swat’ season 6 episode 20

Series star Jay Harrington steps behind the camera to direct CBS’s S.W.A.T. season six episode 20. Written by Ryan Keleher, episode 20 – “All That Glitters” – will air on Friday, May 5, 2023 at 8pm Et/Pt.

Swat season six stars Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, Alex Russell as Jim Street, Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay, Kenny Johnson as Dominique Luca, David Lim as Victor Tan, Patrick St. Esprit as Commander Robert Hicks, and Rochelle Aytes as Nichelle.

Taye Diggs guest stars as a friend of Hondo’s.

“All that Glitters” Plot: Following a string of violent home robberies, the team rushes to stop a crew targeting elderly victims. Also, Hondo’s longtime friend and former Marine squad leader Danny Wright (Diggs) turns to Hondo for help when his daughter goes missing.

“Saint X,” Alexis Schaitkin’s acclaimed 2020 novel, has roiling depth beneath its placid surface, much like the pristine waters of the Caribbean island where it takes place. The body of a young American girl washes ashore in those tropical tides, and because her death incites the story, “Saint X” initially cuts the figure of a thriller. Yes, the book slowly unfurls the details behind her untimely demise. But the story isn’t really about what happened, it’s about the grief, recrimination and obsession that consumes the survivors over time. It’s a meditation on trauma, shot through with social commentary and disguised as a nondescript “imperiled woman” beach read.

Hulu’s series adaptation of “Saint X” hews closely to its source material, which winds up being as much a curse as a gift. The show also feints at a proper whodunnit, then builds to a nuanced, if anticlimactic conclusion,...

A prison guard’s family is attacked on CBS’s S.W.A.T. season six episode 19. Directed by Guy Ferland from a script by Sarah Alderson, episode 19 – “Bunkies” – will air on Friday, April 21, 2023 at 8pm Et/Pt.

Swat season six stars Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, Alex Russell as Jim Street, Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay, Kenny Johnson as Dominique Luca, David Lim as Victor Tan, Patrick St. Esprit as Commander Robert Hicks, and Rochelle Aytes as Nichelle.

“Bunkies” Plot: The team races to uncover the identities of kidnappers holding a prison guard’s family hostage before it’s too late. Also, Tan is faced with a difficult personal decision.

Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson in ‘Swat’ season 6 episode 19

The Swat Season 6 Plot:

S.W.A.T. stars Shemar Moore as a former Marine and locally born and raised S.W.A.T. sergeant tasked to run a specialized tactical unit that...

Debbie Allen reprises her role as Hondo’s mother on CBS’s S.W.A.T. season six episode 18. Directed by Liz Graham from a script by Vika Stubblebine, episode 18 – “Genesis” – will air on Friday, April 7, 2023 at 8pm Et/Pt.

Swat season six stars Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, Alex Russell as Jim Street, Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay, Kenny Johnson as Dominique Luca, David Lim as Victor Tan, Patrick St. Esprit as Commander Robert Hicks, and Rochelle Aytes as Nichelle.

“Genesis” Plot: When an armored truck heist ends in bloodshed, the team races to track down priceless jewels before more lives are lost. Also, Hondo’s mother, Charice (Allen), visits.

Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson and Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay in ‘Swat’ season 6 episode 18

The Swat Season 6 Plot:

S.W.A.T. stars Shemar Moore as a former Marine and locally born and raised S.W.A.T. sergeant tasked...

Rochelle Aytes as Nichelle Carmichael and Shemar Moore as Sergeant Daniel ‘Hondo’ Harrelson in ‘Swat’ season 6 episode 17 (Photo: Bill Inoshita / Sony Pictures Television / CBS)

The team’s called on to help the FBI on CBS’s S.W.A.T. season six episode 17. Directed by Michael D. Olmos from a script Mellori Velasquez, episode 17 – “Stockholm” – will air on Friday, March 31, 2023 at 8pm Et/Pt.

Swat season six stars Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, Alex Russell as Jim Street, Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay, Kenny Johnson as Dominique Luca, David Lim as Victor Tan, Patrick St. Esprit as Commander Robert Hicks, and Rochelle Aytes as Nichelle.

“Stockholm” Plot: Swat teams up with the FBI to hunt one of its most-wanted fugitives. Also, Hondo and Nichelle are faced with an unexpected development in her pregnancy.

Season 6 Episode 1 “Thai Hard” Preview Season 6 Episode 2 “Thai Another Day” Preview Season 6 Episode 3 “Whoa Black Betty” Preview Season...

The team needs to take down assassins before the body count rises on Swat season six episode 16. Directed by Cherie Dvorak from a script by Alan Morgan, “Blowback” will air on Friday, March 10, 2023 at 8pm Et/Pt.

Swat season six stars Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, Alex Russell as Jim Street, Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay, Kenny Johnson as Dominique Luca, David Lim as Victor Tan, Patrick St. Esprit as Commander Robert Hicks, and Rochelle Aytes as Nichelle.

“Blowback” Plot: When classified information falls into the wrong hands, the team races to stop a dangerous plot targeting former members of the U.S. military. Also, Luca is faced with a challenging choice when a family member suddenly falls ill.

Season 6 Episode 1 “Thai Hard” Preview Season 6 Episode 2 “Thai Another Day” Preview Season 6 Episode 3 “Whoa Black Betty” Preview Season 6 Episode 4 “Maniak” Preview Season 6 Episode 5 “Unraveling” Preview Season 6 Episode 6 “Checkmate” Preview...

A special Patrol Day event offers the team a chance to connect with the community on Swat season six episode 15. Directed by Billy Gierhart from a script by Brandon Margolis and Brandon Sonnier, episode 15 – “To Protect and to Serve” – airs on Friday, March 3, 2023 at 8pm Et/Pt.

Swat season six stars Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, Alex Russell as Jim Street, Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay, Kenny Johnson as Dominique Luca, David Lim as Victor Tan, Patrick St. Esprit as Commander Robert Hicks, and Rochelle Aytes as Nichelle.

“To Protect and To Serve” Plot: When Hicks insists Swat participate in Patrol Day in an effort to engage more meaningfully with the community, Hondo and Deacon have their hands full mentoring the newest members of the team. Also, a suspended Tan investigates a mystery close to home.

Season 6 Episode 1 “Thai Hard” Preview Season 6 Episode 2 “Thai Another Day” Preview Season...

A mystery drug is responsible for multiple deaths on CBS’s S.W.A.T. season six episode 14. “Gut Punch” will air on Friday, February 24, 2023 at 8pm Et/Pt.

Swat season six stars Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, Alex Russell as Jim Street, Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay, Kenny Johnson as Dominique Luca, David Lim as Victor Tan, Patrick St. Esprit as Commander Robert Hicks, and Rochelle Aytes as Nichelle.

“Gut Punch” Plot: Swat teams with Major Crimes for a high-stakes mission to extract an undercover officer from a dangerous crime ring.

Season 6 Episode 1 “Thai Hard” Preview Season 6 Episode 2 “Thai Another Day” Preview Season 6 Episode 3 “Whoa Black Betty” Preview Season 6 Episode 4 “Maniak” Preview Season 6 Episode 5 “Unraveling” Preview Season 6 Episode 6 “Checkmate” Preview Season 6 Episode 7 “Sequel” Preview Season 6 Episode 8 “Guacaine” Preview Season 6 Episode 9 “Pariah” Preview Season 6 Episode 10 “Witness” Preview Season 6 Episode 11 “Atonement” Preview Season 6 Episode 12 “Addicted” Preview Season 6 Episode 13 “Lion’s Share” Preview...

The team deals with an intense hostage situation on CBS’s Swat season six episode 13, “Lion’s Share.” Directed by Doug Aarniokoski from a script by Michael Gemballa and David Aguilar, episode 13 will air on Friday, February 10, 2023 at 8pm Et/Pt.

Swat season six stars Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, Alex Russell as Jim Street, Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay, Kenny Johnson as Dominique Luca, David Lim as Victor Tan, Patrick St. Esprit as Commander Robert Hicks, and Rochelle Aytes as Nichelle.

“Lion’s Share” Plot: The Swat team races to stop a violent rampage with ties to a painful chapter from Hicks’ past.

Season 6 Episode 1 “Thai Hard” Preview Season 6 Episode 2 “Thai Another Day” Preview Season 6 Episode 3 “Whoa Black Betty” Preview Season 6 Episode 4 “Maniak” Preview Season 6 Episode 5 “Unraveling” Preview Season 6 Episode 6 “Checkmate” Preview Season 6 Episode 7 “Sequel” Preview Season 6 Episode 8 “Guacaine” Preview Season 6 Episode 9 “Pariah” Preview Season 6 Episode 10 “Witness...

Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards, has selected 30 filmmakers for Project Involve 2023 and with a renewed partnership with Laika Studios expanded the stop-motion animation track into a two-year program, selecting five filmmakers.

Project Involve is a free nine-month program for writers, directors, producers, editors, cinematographers, programmers and entertainment executives from diverse backgrounds. During the program, participants meet one-on-one with film industry mentors, create short films and attend master workshops taught by top film professionals and industry networking events.

Now in its 30th year, Project Involve fosters the careers of talented filmmakers from communities traditionally underrepresented in the film industry. Alumni include Andrew Ahn (Fire Island), Lulu Wang (The Farewell), Linda Yvette Chávez, Marvin Lemus and Aaliyah Williams (Gentefied), Effie T. Brown (The Inspection), Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) and Justin Simien (Dear White People).

“We’re elated to welcome the 2023 Project Involve Fellows...

Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson in ‘Swat’ season 6 episode 12 (Photo by Bill Inoshita / CBS © 2022 Sony Pictures Television)

CBS’s S.W.A.T. season six episode 12 will find the team tracking a gunman out for revenge. Directed by Mahesh Pailoor from a script by John Amato, episode 12 – “Addicted” – will air on Friday, February 3, 2023 at 8pm Et/Pt.

Swat season six stars Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, Alex Russell as Jim Street, Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay, Kenny Johnson as Dominique Luca, David Lim as Victor Tan, Patrick St. Esprit as Commander Robert Hicks, and Rochelle Aytes as Nichelle.

Recurring season six cast members include Bre Blair as Annie, Anna Enger Ritch as Powell, and David Rees Snell as Det. Burrows.

“Addicted” Plot: The Swat team races to stop a gunman targeting rehab centers and those he considers responsible for his brother’s death. Also, Deacon is caught off guard when his wife,...

Exclusive: John Clarence Stewart (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist), Shamika Cotton (The Equalizer) and newcomer Miracle Watts are set for recurring roles on the second season of Starz’s P-Valley.

Based on Katori Hall’s play Pussy Valley, P-Valley Season 2 returns to the Mississippi Delta where lies an oasis of grit and glitter in a rough patch of human existence where beauty can be hard to find. This Southern-fried, hour-long drama tells the kaleidoscopic story of a “little strip club that could” and the big characters who come through its doors — the hopeful, the lost, the broken, the ballers, the beautiful and the damned. Trap music meets film noir in this lyrical and atmospheric series that dares to ask what happens when small-town folk dream beyond the boundaries of the Piggly Wiggly and the pawnshop.

Stewart will play Big Teak, a recently paroled member of Lil’ Murda’s gang—the Hurt...

The Urbanworld Film Festival is set to mark its 25th anniversary with a star-studded hybrid event featuring Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay; “Wu-Tang: An American Saga’s” RZA and Shameik Moore; “King Richard” director Reinaldo Marcus Green and star Aunjanue Ellis; “Power Book III: Raising Kanan’s” Patina Miller; “Sankofa” filmmaker Haile Gerima and more.

The 2021 edition of the film festival will be presented virtually with on urbanworld.org, running from Sept. 29-Oct. 3, with select in-person events held at Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas, Chelsea at 260 West 23rd Street in New York. Presented by founding partner HBO and prestige partners WarnerMedia and Ally, the festival officially unveiled its slate of more than 88 official selections, panels and conversations.

A longtime supporter of and participant in the Urbanworld lineup, DuVernay will be on hand for multiple special events with the Netflix series “Colin in Black & White” featured among the virtual spotlight presentations at the fest.

The 33rd edition of the New York LGBTQ+ film festival NewFest will kick off with the East Coast premiere of “Mayor Pete,” the Amazon Studios documentary about Pete Buttigieg run for president in 2020.

Now Pres. Joe Biden’s Secretary of Transportation, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana had hoped to have been the youngest and first openly gay president of the United States.

The 2021 hybrid edition of NewFest will take place Oct. 15-26 in New York City theaters and virtually on the festival’s on-demand platform. The lineup includes 130 films and episodic series from 31 countries. There are 30 narrative features, 14 docs and 11 shorts program screenings.

“This year’s festival is all about connection. The LGBTQ+ community thrives on connecting to one another, and having spent most of the past 18 months apart, we are hungry for experiences that remind us we are a part of something bigger than ourselves,” NewFest executive director David Hatkoff tells me.

Filmmaker Dee Rees made history on June 29 when her debut feature “Pariah” joined the Criterion Collection, making the Oscar and Emmy nominee the first Black American woman to have her work included. Before Rees, Euzhan Palcy, who is from Martinique, was the lone Black woman to have a film (1989’s “A Dry White Season”) selected.

“It feels like a formal acknowledgment of the film’s impact to the canon and being a part of the culture,” Rees tells Variety of having her movie chosen. “Even though artists have to try to find your validation from inside, it’s nice to be seen.”

And as a Black filmmaker in particular, Rees adds, “it’s important to be included for future generations of filmmakers, if [Criterion] is the thing that’s being taught in schools.”

“When they’re absent, then the assumption is there’s none in existence,” she explains. “There’s no Black filmmakers here,...

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When you think about summer movies, big-budget blockbusters tend to come to mind. But it’s smart to diversify your viewing list. For the movie lovers who enjoy watching films in stunning clarity with bonus-scenes and extra content, all from the comforts of home, Criterion Collection Blu-rays are the way to go. To help with your summer movie list, we rounded up a handful of new Criterion Collection movies due out this month, and that you can pre-order right now. The selection includes LGBTQ stories to celebrate Pride Month, a gripping documentary on homeless teens, and much more. Below, find our selection of Criterion Collection Blu-rays to pre-order for the month of June,...

It can be a difficult task for any discerning viewer to sift through the sheer volume of movies on Netflix. It’s an even greater challenge if you’re specifically looking for Black films. As an extension of IndieWire’s monthly list of the best new films on Netflix, this list will be updated periodically as new titles become available, and old titles will be replaced.

From Dee Rees’ critically-acclaimed feature debut “Pariah,” to a Kafkaesque romp from Nigeria, a creature feature, an incisive documentary about the history of racism in America, and more, there’s a little something for everyone this month.

Ten years ago, filmmaker Dee Rees changed the game for queer filmmaking with her stunning semi-autobiographical debut feature, “Pariah.” The compelling coming-of-age story is set in Brooklyn and follows 17-year-old Alike (Adepero Oduye), a whip-smart high school student trying to grapple with her identity. At the same time, her straight-laced church-going parents, portrayed by Charles Parnell and Kim Waynes, continue to deny Alike’s evident sexual awakening.

“Pariah” was a force. Arriving at the Sundance Film Festival 15 years after Cheryl Dunye’s “The Watermelon Woman,” Rees’ first feature was nominated for countless awards and cemented her status as a major filmmaker. She followed it with “Mudbound” in 2017, which scored her an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Her last effort, the Netflix-produced “The Last Thing He Wanted,” yielded mixed reviews — but Rees has already moved on with a slate of promising new projects, all of which suggest she’s...

Adepero Oduye has been tapped as a lead opposite Vera Farmiga in Five Days at Memorial, Apple TV+’s limited series from John Ridley, Carlton Cuse and ABC Signature. The project reunites 12 Years a Slave co-star Oduye with the Oscar-winning movie’s writer Ridley.

Written by Ridley and Cuse based on the acclaimed nonfiction book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Sheri Fink, Five Days at Memorial chronicles the first five days in a New Orleans hospital after Hurricane Katrina made landfall. When the floodwaters rose, the power failed and the heat climbed, exhausted caregivers were forced to make life-and-death decisions that haunted them for years to come.

Oduye will star as Karen Wynn, the nurse manager of the hospital’s intensive care unit and the head of its ethics committee. Farmiga plays Dr. Anna Pou, the doctor on duty at Memorial when the storm hit.

Adepero Oduye has been cast in the upcoming Apple series “Five Days at Memorial.”

Oduye joins previously announced cast member Vera Farmiga. The series is based on the Sheri Fink novel of the same name. It chronicles the first five days in a New Orleans, LA, hospital after Hurricane Katrina made landfall. When the floodwaters rose, the power failed, and the heat climbed, exhausted caregivers were forced to make life-and-death decisions that haunted them for years to come.

Farmiga will star in the role of Dr. Anna Pou. Oduye will star as Karen Wynn, the nurse manager of the intensive care unit at the hospital and the head of the hospital’s ethics committee.

Oduye currently appears as Sarah Wilson in the Disney Plus-Marvel series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.” Her past TV credits include shows like “When They See Us,” “The Feels,” and “Random Acts of Flyness.” On the feature side,...

In the 25 years since she became the first Black lesbian to direct a feature film, the acclaimed “The Watermelon Woman,” Cheryl Dunye has lent her perspective to dozens of stories stretching across various genres on-screen. The NAACP Image Award-nominated director recently put her signature stamp on “Lovecraft Country’s” episode “Strange Case.” Now, she is lending her vision to OWN’s new series, “Delilah,” a legal drama centering Maahra Hill in the titular role as a lawyer trying to juggle her personal and professional lives.

Just as Delilah’s personal life begins to get more complicated she finds herself in the middle of a legal firestorm, facing off against her best friend, Tamara (Jill Marie Jones), for the first time in her career. Through her work on films like “Janine” and “Stranger Inside,” as well as her contributions to series like “All Rise,” “Dear White People,” and “Queen Sugar,” Dunye...

The Criterion Collection’s June 2021 lineup has been unveiled, led by Masaki Kobayashi’s staggering, 9.5-hour epic The Human Condition, a seven-film set dedicated to poignant, incisive works of Marlon Riggs, best known for Tongues Untied, and Dee Rees’ acclaimed debut Pariah.

One of the greatest film noirs, Samuel Fuller’s immensely entertaining Pickup on South Street, will also get a release, along with Martin Bell’s two-film series Streetwise and Tiny: The Life of Erin Blackwell, and the Munich 1972 Olympics feature Visions of Eight, with contributions by Miloš Forman, Kon Ichikawa, Claude Lelouch, Juri Ozerov, Arthur Penn, Michael Pfleghar, John Schlesinger, and Mai Zetterling.

Check out the cover art for each below and see more here.

The post The Criterion Collection's June Lineup Includes The Human Condition, Marlon Riggs, Pariah & More first appeared on The Film Stage.

Today is a day that we celebrate the very best in film from the past year, as we all scour the Oscars nominations and figure out which films deserved the praise and which deserved a bit more, perhaps. But today is also a day that we can discuss some previously-released, acclaimed works of cinema that don’t really need to be argued about, as Criterion unveils the June 2021 additions to the Criterion Collection.

Continue reading Dee Rees’ Directorial Debut, ‘Pariah,’ Joins A Marlon Riggs 7-Film Set & More In The Criterion Collection This June at The Playlist.

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has unveiled a robust series of programs in the run-up to its planned opening on Sept. 30, highlighting film artists including Spike Lee, Hayao Miyazaki and Satyajit Ray.

The museum held a virtual tour for media Wednesday to discuss the programming and museum’s progress, hosted by Academy governor Laura Dern.

Throughout the presentation, Academy spokespersons emphasized the inclusion of a diverse array of filmmakers and artisans from the U.S. and around the world. The museum will not ignore the industry’s blindspots, the presentation emphasized.

“We will not shy away from problematic moments,” said Dern, “The exhibition also showcases less-proud moments in the history of the cinema.”

Bill Kramer, director and president of the Academy Museum, explained how those moments will be integrated throughout the museum’s exhibits and programming. “We didn’t want these conversations to sit in a separate gallery. We...

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Wednesday revealed an extensive slate of programs it will offer to the public. Virtual programs kick off next month leading up to its grand opening September 30, when the museum will begin in-person screenings, talks, and events. The rich lineup has a strong emphasis on diversity, with events focused on the work of Black VFX artists and retrospectives of global filmmakers’ work.

“We have been hard at work preparing the Academy Museum and are ready to welcome visitors first virtually and then in person in September,” said Jacqueline Stewart, chief artistic and programming officer of the Academy Museum. “The programs we are rolling out for our opening are dynamic, diverse, and deeply grounded in the history and artistry of filmmaking. Whether they are recognizing Hollywood legends, delving into the working process of film professionals, or addressing issues of race, gender, sexuality, and inequity that run through film history,...

Writer/director Catherine Hardwicke talks about her favorite intense movies with Josh.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Citizen Kane (1941)

Thirteen (2003)

Lords of Dogtown (2005)

Heat and Sunlight (1987)

Angelo My Love (1983)

Kids (1995)

Out Of The Blue (1980)

The Wanderers (1979)

Mean Streets (1973)

A Woman Under The Influence (1974)

Husbands (1970)

City of God (2002)

Boys Don’t Cry (1999)

The Next Karate Kid (1994)

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Hair (1979)

The Hangover (2009)

Porky’s (1981)

Hamburger: The Motion Picture (1986)

Twilight (2008)

The Nativity Story (2006)

Pariah (2011)

Mudbound (2017)

Sex And The City: The Movie (2008)

The Florida Project (2017)

Tangerine (2015)

The Ocean of Helena Lee (2015)

Other Notable Items

Rob Nilsson

Sundance Film Festival

Robert Duvall

Larry Clark

Peanuts comic strip (1950-2000)

Charles M. Schulz

Chloe Sevigny

Rosario Dawson

Heath Ledger

Linda Manz

Dennis Hopper

Philip Kaufman

Ken Wahl

The Wanderers novel by Richard Price (1974)

Robert De Niro

John Cassavetes

Gena Rowlands

Fernando Meirelles

Kátia Lund

Kimberly Pierce

Hillary Swank

Scarlett Johansson

Treat Williams

John Savage

The Eli...

The Sundance Film Festival is just around the corner and from the look of things, it’s going to be a little different this year.

The Sundance Institute released a teaser trailer on Tuesday to hype people up for the 2021 iteration Park City-based fest which has been the destination for some of Hollywood’s most critically acclaimed and iconic films. The trailer also serves as the launch of the dedicated online home for the fest. Sundance is set to run from January 28 to February 3, 2021.

“Welcome to the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. A new chapter filled with possibilities. Despite the challenges this year has brought, nothing could stop us from celebrating independent film, visionary artists, unique perspectives, and you, our adventurous audiences. So, for the first time ever, we are bringing the festival to you—both online and in the real world across the US and beyond,” said Festival Director Tabitha Jackson...

Miramax TV is filling out its executive team. Amanda Klein has been tapped to become senior vice president of television, while Isha Mehta has been named vice president of international business affairs of the company’s television department. Both will report to head of worldwide television Marc Helwig, who joined the company earlier this year.

Klein and Mehta will build on the company’s existing expansion efforts abroad, focusing on original productions and mining Miramax’s library of content. Klein is based out of Miramax’s Los Angeles offices. Mehta is based in London.

Klein, who started at Miramax TV in late July, was most recently a senior development exec for Aaron Kaplan at Kaplan Entertainment, where she developed and produced TV for the global marketplace. Prior to that, she oversaw current development and production for Sony’s Crackle, including drama and comedy series such as “Snatch.” Klein has also...