Film Festival Archives - Unspool Hollywood

2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) Films to See: American Outlaws, Commitment To Life, Karen Carpenter: Starving For Perfection and Starring Jerry As Himself

“American Outlaws” (Feature Film True Crime Drama)North American Independent Cinema Sponsored By Panavision Selection (SBIFF)

Director & Writer: Sean McEwen
Starring: Emory Cohen, India Eisley, Sam Strike, Tess Harper, Cory Hardrict, and Treat Williams, joined by Mackenzie Graham, Vanessa Giselle, Lance E. Nichols, Johnny Ray Gibbs, and Troy Metcalf
Running Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

West Coast Premiere:
Friday, February 17th at 8:40pm. Followed by Q&A
Location: Metro 4, Screen 3
618 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

2nd Screening:
Saturday, February 18th at 2:40pm. Followed by Q&A
Location: Metro 4, Screen 3
618 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

“American Outlaws” is based on a true story and the GQ article "The Whole True Story of the Dougherty Gang" by Kathy Dobie. Written & directed by acclaimed filmmaker Sean McEwen (“Braking For Whales,” “Sick Girl”).

While the true story of “American Outlaws” encompasses the proverbial bells and whistles of compelling storytelling -- sex, drugs and rock & roll (the sister, a former stripper now toting an AK47, two brothers with a wild streak and the propensity to live life on the razor’s edge with gunplay, police chases and bank robberies galore) -- at its heart, it’s a story about family. Three siblings, on a cross-country journey, with the strongest desire to find the simplest element… Home. A place to be together. Safe. Happy. Free.

Production Co: Narrator Entertainment, Big Cat Productions and Charlie Baby Productions
Producers: McEwen, Cassidy Lunnen , Alexandre Dauman, John Papsidera
Executive Producer: Takashi Cheng
Co-producers: Danyelle Foord and Jessica Wilde
Runtime: 1 hour 39 minutes

“COMMITMENT TO LIFE” (Feature Film Documentary)

DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION Selection (SBIFF)

Director:
Writer:
Interviewees: Jewel Thais-Williams Co-founder, Minority AIDS Project; Phill Wilson HIV/AIDS Activist; Karamo Brown “Queer Eye” Cast Member & HIV/AIDS Educator; Dr. Michael Gottlieb Physician and Former APLA Board Member; Bruce Vilanch Writer and Comedian; Jeffrey Katzenberg Former Chairman, Walt Disney Studios and APLA Board Member; Bill Misenhimer Former APLA Executive Director; Robert Contreras Co-Founder, Bienestar; Torie Osborn Former Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; Rev. Steve Pieters Former Field Director of AIDS Ministry, Metropolitan Community Churches; and Bamby Salcedo President, TransLatin Coalitio.

West Coast Premiere:
Saturday, February 11th at 7:40pm followed by Q&A
Location: Fiesta 5 Multiplex, Screen 4
916 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

2^nd Screening: Sunday, February 12^th at 10:20am. Followed by Q&A
Location: Fiesta 5 Multiplex, Screen 4
916 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

Against a rich Hollywood backdrop, “Commitment to Life” documents the true story of the fight against HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles — and how an intrepid group of people living with HIV/AIDS, doctors, movie stars, studio moguls and activists changed the course of the epidemic.

Director & Editor: Jeffrey Schwarz
Producers: Aimée Flaherty, p.g.a. and Jeffrey Schwarz, p.g.a.
Executive Producer: Ron Sylvester,
Co-Executive Producer: Robert James Wood II
Co-Producer: Taki Oldham
Associate Producer: Michael Stabile
Executive Producer: Craig Thompson
Supervising Producer: Craig Bowers
Composer: Allyson Newman
Cinematographer: Adam Jason Finmann
Running Time: 1 hour 55 minutes

“Karen Carpenter: Starving For Perfection” (Feature Documentary Film)

CINEMATIC OVERTURES/PERFORMING ARTS Selection (SBIFF)

Director Randy Martin
Producer & Writer: Randy Schmidt
Interviewee: Olivia Newton-John, Cynthia Gibb, Suzanne Somers, Kristin Chenoweth, Carnie Wilson, Bob James, Carol Burnett, Belinda Carlisle, Cubby O’Brien, Tom Nolan, Karen Tongson, Cherry Boone O’Neill, Louis Virtel, Randy Schmidt, Barry Morrow, Frankie Chavez, Doug Haverty, Maria Galeazzi, and Mike Curb.

West Coast Premiere:
Friday, February 10^th at 8:20pm. Followed by Q&A
Location: Metro 4, Screen 2
618 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

2^nd Screening: Sunday, February 12^th at 11:20am. Followed by Q&A
Metro 4, Screen 2
618 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

About the Film: Karen Carpenter was the first in a long line of celebrities to suffer from an eating disorder during an era when the vastly misunderstood disease brought shame and public humiliation. For the first time, we hear Karen Carpenter's personal struggle in her own voice through never-before released recordings and through the legendary voices of those who knew her and were inspired by her music. As the #1 American musical act of the 1970s, the Carpenters were on “top of the world," producing a string of pop masterpieces, including "Close to You," "We've Only Just Begun," and "Rainy Days and Mondays." But behind closed doors, Karen's quest for perfection resulted in low self-esteem, a disheartening love life, and a public battle with anorexia nervosa, which ended with her untimely death at the age of only 32. Forty years after her death comes “Karen Carpenter: Starving For Perfection,” a captivating, revealing, and unvarnished documentary providing astounding new insight into the singer's tragically short life and enduring musical legacy.

Production Co.: AMS Pictures
Director Randy Martin
Producer & Writer: Randy Schmidt
Producer & Editor Brad Osborne
Executive Producers Carnie Wilson & Andy Streitfeld
Director of Photography: Osman Tello
Editors Chuck Brown & Paul Ellison
Running Time: 1hour 40 minutes

“Starring Jerry As Himself” (Feature Film Docu-Fiction Hybrid)
REEL LIVES Selection (SBIFF)

Recently having won the Slamdance Film Festival Grand Jury Documentary Feature, Audience Award Documentary & Acting Award for Jerry Hsu with sold out screenings and standing ovations, “Starring Jerry As Himself” is a docu-fiction hybrid that blurs the lines of reality while staying true to Jerry Hsu, the title subject and his unique story. Jerry is the father everyone wants to have as their own, and his journey is one that rivals that of Alice following the white rabbit into another world. Employing a variety of creative filmmaking techniques to capture the world from Jerry’s perspective, the film is a genre bending meta experience as Jerry deals with a wild tale of international intrigue in which he inexplicably finds himself a lynchpin with his family none the wiser...or has he?

West Coast Premiere:
Wednesday, February 15^th at 4:20pm. Followed by Q&A
Location: Fiesta 4 Multiplex, Screen 4
916 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

2^nd Screening:
Friday, February 17^th at 8;30am. Followed by Q&A
Location: Fiesta 4 Multiplex, Screen 4
916 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

Director & Editor Lawrence Chen
Co-Writers Jerry C. Hsu & Lawrence Chen
Producers: Jonathan Hsu & Lawrence Chen
Composer Eric Hölljes
Cinematography by Tinx Chen and Lawrence Chen

2023 Pan African Film and Arts Festival Film Guide

Over 150 films from 40 countries, in 19 languages, including 50 World and 22 North American premieres!

Today, the PAFF announced its full lineup for its upcoming in-person festival Feb. 9-20, 2023. Now in its 31st year, the Festival is returning to the Cinemark Baldwin Hills and XD and the adjacent Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza will host its renowned fine art show featuring over 100 established and emerging fine artists and quality craftspeople from all over the Black Diaspora. This year’s film festival features over 150 films from 40 countries, in 19 languages, including 50 World and 22 North American premieres. Of the films selected for the Festival, 39% are helmed by female, queer or non-binary filmmakers.

The Festival film guide is available here.

Passes on sale now and can be purchased here.

Individual tickets go on sale on January 31, 2023.

View New Trailer: THE ELEPHANT 6 RECORDING CO. World Premiere DOC NYC 2022

Directed by: C.B. Stockfleth

Produced by: Lance Bangs (Jackass , Portlandia)

Edited & Produced by: Greg King (Other Music)

Executive Produced by: Rob Hatch-Miller (Other Music)

Starring: Olivia Tremor Control, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Apples in Stereo, Elf Power, Of Montreal, Beulah, The Gerbils, Dressy Bessy, The Minders, The Music Tapes, Great Lakes, Elijah Wood, James Mercer (The Shins), Danger Mouse, David Cross and many more.

The film also features never-before-seen additional footage of the bands, shot by filmmaker Lance Bangs.

THE ELEPHANT 6 RECORDING CO. shares the unique inside story of the collective creative evolution behind the sounds of 1990s psychedelic rock bands Olivia Tremor Control, Neutral Milk Hotel, and The Apples in Stereo-- the founding groups behind the Elephant 6 collective, as well as a host of other artists -- with inspirational resonance for today’s music makers, and music lovers everywhere.

Around 1985, a group of Ruston, Louisiana area high schoolers began experimenting with whatever random instruments and gear they could lay their hands on. Moving to other small college towns including Denver, Colorado and Athens, Georgia, their musical coming of age coincides with the new consumer availability of old-school 4 and 8 track recording technology and cassette tapes. Sharing like-minded sensibilities, influenced by past sounds and psychedelia, and with little to distract them, their efforts to create whole new musical worlds become the bands Olivia Tremor Control, Neutral Milk Hotel and The Apples in Stereo and many more. While the collective grew to a natural breaking point, its founding members overcame obstacles and remained closely bonded, reuniting for tours and still collaborating today.

THE ELEPHANT 6 RECORDING CO. provides insight into this revolutionary era of popular independent music in America, the defiant DIY spirit in music making, and championing the integrity of an authentic quest for artistic expressiveness over the more mainstream image of being a “successful” musician in our fame obsessed times.

C.B. STOCKFLETH is a filmmaker currently based in New Orleans, LA. He grew up in Central Kentucky and dropped out of high school. He eventually went to film school at Full Sail University in Orlando. For the last 20 years, he's worked as a commercial director and photographer mostly in Louisville, KY. He's made music videos and live concert videos for bands including the Apples In Stereo and the Olivia Tremor Control, and has directed uncountable regional commercials and corporate videos. He's won awards for some of them.

Feature Documentary, Running Time; 93 Minutes, USA

THE ELEPHANT 6 RECORDING CO.- SOCIAL MEDIA:
https://www.instagram.com/elephant6movie/
https://twitter.com/elephant6movie
https://www.facebook.com/Elephant6Movie
#Elephant6Movie

PR CONTACT:
Emma Griffiths (EG PR)
emma@eg-pr.com

The Key West Film Festival Runs November 16th -20th

2022 FESTIVAL RUNS NOVEMBER 16^TH -20^TH

Key West, FL - October 18, 2022 — The Key West Film Festival announced today the recipient of its seventh annual Golden Key for Excellence in Costume Design, honoring BAFTA nominated costume designer Jennifer Johnson.

Johnson's most recent artistry can currently be seen in Andrew Dominik’s Blonde (Netflix) starring Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe.

As part of the honor, Johnson will participate in a discussion of her work, to be moderated by Tomris Laffly of Variety. Ms. Johnson will accept her award in person at the festival, which will feature a pre-recorded presentation by Oscar nominated Costume Designer, Dr. Deborah Nadoolman Landis.

Costume Designer JENNIFER JOHNSON received the 2018 Costume Designers Guild Award for Excellence in Contemporary Film for her work on I, Tonya (KWFF, 2017), for which she also received a BAFTA Award nomination. She most recently designed the costumes for Andrew Dominik’s Blonde.

Among her additional feature film credits are Miranda July’s Kajillionaire, Mike Mills’ 20th Century Women (KWFF, 2016) and Beginners as well as David Slade’s Hard Candy, Chloe Sevigny’s directorial debut short film Kitty and Yorgos Lanthimos short film Nimic. For television, Johnson designed costumes for director Nicolas Winding Refn’s 2018 series Too Old To Die Young. A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Johnson also has collaborated on commercials and/or music videos with directors such as Spike Jonze, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris, Terrence Malick and John Hillcoat, among others.Her advertising and editorial clients include Nike, Mui Mui, Mercedes,Apple, Purple Fashion, I-D, Vogue, VICE and New York Times. A native of New Mexico, Johnson was born in Taos and raised in Las Cruces. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

Dr. Landis, a former Costume Design Governor of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and an Academy Award^®-nominee, presented the first annual Golden Key for costume design in 2016 to Mary Zophres, who went on to receive an Oscar^® nomination for her work in La La Land, and to the last five year’s honorees: Mark Bridges, who won the 2018 Oscar^® for Best Costume Design for The Phantom Thread; and Alexandra Byrne, who’s work in Mary Queen of Scots was recognized by an Academy Award nomination; Arianne Phillips, nominated for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood; Francine Jamison-Tanchuck for her artistry in Regina King’s One Night in Miami; and Paul Tazewell, whose costume design of West Side Story garnered him an Oscar nomination as well.

Michael Tuckman, Director of Programming of the Key West Film Festival, commented"What makes “Blonde” such an enthralling movie is the artistry of the costume design that Jennifer Johnson creates, allowing the actors to truly embrace and develop their characters. She has been doing this at the highest level for two decades now, as audiences at the Key West Film Festival have seen in official selections that featured her work previously like “I, Tonya” and “20^th Century Women.” We are so honored that she will be able to join us and share the wisdom behind her craft with festival-goers.”

Visit kwfilmfest.com for full program information – which will be announced on October 18, along with a schedule of events and travel and lodging details.

ABOUT THE KEY WEST FILM FESTIVAL

Honoring creativity, diversity, sustainability and beauty, the Key West Film Festival is an annual celebration of film and filmmakers set to take place November 16-20, 2022. Venues include the San Carlos Institute, The Studios of Key West, Williams Hall and The Lawn at The Perry Hotel.

A diverse, entertaining and artistically rigorous selection of films will be represented through a broad array of categories that offer opportunities for filmmakers, both aspiring and established, to commune and exchange ideas while showing their work to audiences in an historic and artistically vibrant tropical paradise.

For more information, visit our website:https://kwfilmfest.com

Twitter - @keywestfilmfest
Instagram - @keywestfilmfestival
Facebook - Key West Film Festival
#kwff #kwff2022

2022 KEY WEST FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES GOLDEN KEY AWARDS FOR CHRIS COOPER AND ELEGANCE BRATTON

Both Adaptation, on the occasion of the 20^th anniversary of its release, and awards contender The Inspection to screen at festival

FESTIVAL RUNS NOVEMBER 16^TH -20^TH

Key West, FL- October 12, 2022 — The Key West Film Festival announced today the recipients of its annual Golden Key Awards to be presented to screen legend Chris Cooper and Elegance Bratton, director of the upcoming release The Inspection.

This year’s Golden Key Award for Career Excellence goes to Chris Cooper, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in the seminal Florida film, Adaptation. To celebrate the 20^th Anniversary of the release of the film, Cooper will attend in person and participate in a conversation with David Fear, Senior film editor of Rollingstone.com. Prior to the film, the festival will also present the World Premiere of the short film Nuts, directed by Cooper and starring both he and his wife, Marianne Leone. Susan Orlean, author of the novel The Wild Orchid on which the film was based, will present the award to Mr. Cooper via a pre-recorded speech at the Saturday night Awards Ceremony.

Past recipients of the award include Burt Reynolds, Marisa Tomei, Kimberly Peirce, Tom Skerritt, Lois Smith, Paul Verhoeven and Alan Cumming.

The Golden Key for Breakthrough Filmmaker, recognizing a director whose films will be seen widely in the future – will be given to Elegance Bratton, whose film The Inspection will be screened at the festival. The Inspection, which will be the Closing Night film at the New York Film Festival, will be released by A24 later this year. Last year’s inaugural recipient of this award was Clint Bentley, director of Jockey.

Following the screening, Bratton will join Eugene Hernandez, the newly appointed director of the Sundance Film Festival, for a pre-recorded conversation and award presentation.

Chris Cooper

CHRIS COOPER was recognized in 2003 with an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of ‘John Laroche’ in Columbia Pictures’ Adaptation, written by Charlie Kauffman (Being John Malkovich) and directed by Spike Jonze. Cooper was also recognized for his performance in the film by numerous critics associations including the Broadcast Film Critics, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and Toronto Film Critics Association.

Cooper most recently wrapped Boston Strangler opposite Kiera Knightly for Disney/Hulu. During the pandemic he starred in and directed With/In opposite his wife Marianne Leone who also wrote the piece. Previous credits include the Focus Features & Plan B Entertainment political satire Irresistible alongside Steve Carrell and directed by Jon Stewart. He starred in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women opposite Meryl Streep, Laura Dern, Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson and Timothee Chalamet and the TriStar Pictures feature film A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood starring Tom Hanks and Matthew Rhys.

Elegance Bratton Headshot by Josiah Rundles

ELEGANCE BRATTON is an award-winning and boundary-breaking director, writer and producer. He began making films as a US Marine after spending a decade homeless. Bratton holds a BS from Columbia University (2014) and MFA from NYU Tisch Graduate Film (2019). As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, his work captures stories untold with an intention to show the universal power of our shared humanity. Bratton’s films have played in over 200 film festivals worldwide including Sundance, Outfest, BFI, Doc NYC, and BlackStar Film Festival. He made his television debut as the creator and executive producer of the Viceland television series My House. The 10-episode series was nominated in the category for Outstanding Documentary at the 2019 GLAAD Media Awards. The series is currently available on Hulu. In 2021, Bratton won the Film Independent Truer Than Fiction Spirit Award which is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition. The recipient of this award also receives a significant grant and becomes a Film Independent Fellow. His nonfiction feature debut, Pier Kids made its television and streaming debut in August 2021 on PBS/POV. He was a Sundance 2020 Native Lab mentor, and a 2022 Outfest Screenwriting Lab mentor.

The Inspection his narrative fiction debut world premieres as the opening night film of the Toronto International Film Festival Discovery section and closes the New York Film Festival 2022.

Michael Tuckman, Director of Programming of the Key West Film Festival commented: "Chris Cooper’s resume over the last five decades is itself a chapter in film history. To be able to honor him, in conjunction with a screening of perhaps the most definitive Florida film ever made, is an honor beyond words, and we are thrilled that he and Marianne will be able to join us. The Inspection is a true showcase of cinema both breaking boundaries and claiming one’s voice, and the work behind the camera from Mr. Bratton establishes an artist who will drive cinema for years to come.”

Visit kwfilmfest.com for full program information – which will be announced on October 18, along with a schedule of events and travel and lodging details.

ABOUT THE KEY WEST FILM FESTIVAL

For more information, visit our website: https://kwfilmfest.com

Twitter - @keywestfilmfest
Instagram - @keywestfilmfestival
Facebook - Key West Film Festival
#kwff #kwff2022

View Clip: Mill Valley Film Festival World Premiere of Extraordinary Documentary Feature Film “Finding Her Beat”

The journey of “Finding Her Beat” reveals a collective dedication for these Taiko drummers to be recognized in their field...they are trying to right a wrong, as women have not been allowed their place on the taiko stage. This film follows the journey of five women bringing the art form into the current reality and bringing other women center stage with them. Struggling through personality clashes, illness and the clock, we see how much one person can make a difference as Jennifer takes the dream and plants it, waters it and it flourishes into one of the most inspirational concerts ever witnessed, let alone filmed.

“Finding Her Beat”
In the midst of a frozen Minnesota winter, a Japanese drum master and Korean adoptee from North Dakota join forces to assemble the world’s best Taiko drummers in a bold effort to claim a cultural spotlight that has historically been reserved only for men. Their rhythm revolution includes rock stars from the world of Taiko: Tiffany Tamaribuchi, Kaoly Asano, Chieko Kojima, Megan Chao-Smith, and Jennifer Weir. Through grueling rehearsals, Jennifer weaves together their disparate voices and styles. Vulnerability, pain, and joys are shared—and we quickly see the bonds of friendship form as these talented women navigate their way through differences in culture, age, language, and performing styles. As the clock ticks toward their first performance, it becomes clear that their story has become much larger than Taiko.

Director: Dawn Mikkelson
Cinematographer: Keri Pickett
Producer: Jennifer Weir, Dawn Mikkelson
Co-cinematography by Shiho Fukada
Caroline Mariko Stucky, Dawn Mikkelson
Music: Me-Lee Hay
Editors: Dawn Mikkelson, Sam Kaiser, Keri Pickett and Carrie Shanahan

LGBTQ Documentary “Wonderfully Made — LGBTQ+R(eligion)” WoodStock Film Festival Premiere

“Wonderfully Made — LGBTQ+R(eligion),” is an extraordinarily moving feature-length documentary that strikes at the root of anti-LGBTQ attitudes by exploring the challenges and aspirations of LGBTQ+ Catholics. The film focuses on the Catholic Church, as one of the largest religious organizations in the world with its anti-LGBTQ+ stance, has been a source of pain for so many of its followers. The film shines a penetrating light on the Churches ostracizing teaching, while remaining respectful of those of faith. It features interviews with leading advocates of LGBTQ+ Catholics, including a pioneering nun, two prominent priests (one of whom is openly gay), and a former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican. The narrative of the film is shaped by the process of a fine art project creating unprecedented, photographic iconography depicting Jesus as a member/ally of the LGBTQ+ community, portrayed by multiple LGBTQ+ models of diverse ethnicities, genders, races, sexualities, and identities.

“Wonderfully Made — LGBTQ+R(eligion),” was shaped and crafted by husbands, director and Emmy® winner Yuval David and executive producer Mark McDermott (who’s story as a person of faith opened the door to this bigger conversation). Advocate Producers include a number of notables including: Lance Bass, Bishop Gene Robinson, Reverend Mel White, former Ireland President Mary McAleese, Andrew Tobias, Mitchell Gold, and Jane Clementi. The film features Cinematography by Nicco Quinto, editing by Hugo Perez, with original music composed by Ariel Blumenthal.

“Wonderfully Made — LGBTQ+R(eligion),” offers eye-opening interviews with Father James Martin, S.J., Father Bryan Massingale, Sister Jeannine Grammick, SL, Stanley JR Zerkowski, Marianne Duddy-Burke, Cathy Renna, Natalia Imperatori-Lee, fmr. Ambassador Miguel Diaz, Xorje Olivares, and Jason Steidl.

Where to follow the film and its journey:
Website: wonderfullymadefilm.com
Instagram: @WonderfullyMadeMovie
Twitter: @wonderful_made_
Facebook: @WonderfullyMadeLGBTQReligion

World famous ‘Kendal Mountain Festival’ Tour is coming to North America for the first time in its history – launching Sept 19th 2022

After 42 years – the UK’s leading adventure film and speaker Festival finally brings the best cinematic adventure stories to audiences in over 75 locations.

(Denver, CO) The Kendal Mountain Tour is coming to the USA and Canada for the first time this fall bringing a selection of the very best short adventure documentaries to North American audiences. Adventure Entertainment with support from presenting partners Montane, and OS Maps will bring this epic festival to audiences theatrically across North America (U.S.A. and Canada) in cinemas in more than 75 markets beginning on September 19^th. So what's different about the films you'll see on the Kendal Mountain Tour? Simple – these are films you won't catch elsewhere, incredible stories from award-winning filmmakers with a uniquely British and European slant. It's your chance to discover new people and places, characters you'll instantly warm to, in amazing locations you'll instantly make top of your bucket list.

The program is carefully selected by the team from Kendal Mountain Festival in the UK, which attracts over 20,000 outdoor enthusiasts to this legendary event every year. A similar program tours throughout the UK on an annual basis, and is now available to North American audiences, viewing in theaters across the U.S.

Kendal Mountain Festival, with presenting partners Montane, and OS Maps, will bring the Kendal Mountain Tour throughout the U.S.A. and Canada premiering with Santa Cruz, CA on September 19^th, Seattle on September 22^nd, Boston on October 4th and Denver on October 5^th, before expanding into over 75 additional markets throughout the fall. View the Kendal Mountain Tour trailer here and get a glimpse into the world of cutting-edge outdoor storytelling, action sports and adventure.

The Kendal Mountain Tour is proudly produced in the USA & Canada by Adventure Entertainment.

Adventure Entertainment with support from presenting partners Montane, and OS Maps will bring this epic festival to audiences theatrically across North America (U.S.A. and Canada) in cinemas in more than 75 markets beginning on September 19^th. Montane, and OS Maps, as our presenting sponsors will be working collaboratively to share adventure stories with new audiences across the US. The concept is simple. Take the spirit and essence of the premiere adventure festival, the Kendal Mountain Festival, and put it on tour. The result? Fun, great speakers, carefully curated films, bags of inspiration… and yet more fun. ‘Kendal’ is all about adventure, stories of extreme human endurance, breathtaking environments, and adrenaline-fueled excitement. This spirit of adventure and exploration is distilled into a traveling film tour of short adventure films and adventure speakers on stage.

"We’re incredibly excited and honored to finally be bringing the Kendal Mountain Tour to our friends across the Atlantic! We’ve worked hard to program the best Festival films alongside hosting great guest speakers at our live events across North America. Join us for an evening that will celebrate adventure stories from some of the most spectacular places on earth. You’ll be guided through our curation featuring a unique collection of travelers, athletes, activists, and creatives”, says Steve Scott, Director of Kendal Mountain Festival.

Matt Hickman, Global Marketing Manager of Montane, says: “We are a long-term supporter of the Kendal Mountain Festival and are looking forward to expanding this support into the North American tour. At Montane, we aim to inspire people to immerse themselves in nature and push their boundaries of what is possible- what better way to do this than sharing a range of inspirational stories that our industry produces.”

Britain’s national mapping service Ordnance Survey (OS), which operates navigation app OS Maps, has confirmed its support for the ‘Kendal Mountain Film Tour’, with OS Maps joining the new US tour as a Presenting Partner. The two organizations will combine to host a selection of tales of inspiration and high-quality tools for adventure to new audiences in the US and Canada.

Nick Giles, Managing Director for OS Leisure says: “We are delighted to join together with the ‘Kendal Mountain Film Tour’ on their expansion into the US and Canada. Both our organizations are driven by a shared passion for the outdoors; focusing on encouraging and inspiring more people to explore their local neighborhood or further afield.”

To find theaters near you screening Kendal Mountain Tour, go to: https://us.kendalmountaintour.com/

Film line up coming soon, watch the trailer here.

About Kendal Mountain Festival: Over 40 years ago, back in October 1980, Kendal hosted a new low-key two-day event. Named the ‘Kendal Mountaineering Film Festival’, visitors experienced art, seminars, films, photography and - importantly - "two bars". Little did they know what they had started, or how influential the event would become. As the event grew in stature and popularity it attracted greater audience numbers, plus a veritable 'who's who' from the world of climbing and mountaineering. Yvon Chouinard, Reinhold Messner, Catherine Destivelle, Fred Beckey, Barry Blanchard, Lynn Hill, Jeff Lowe, Tommy Caldwell, Chris Sharma, Ueli Steck and Will Gadd to name but a few of those who have stood on the Kendal stage. And in film, the Festival became globally respected as a launchpad and international showcase for mountain and outdoor film, premiering or screening such classics as ‘The Bat’, ‘Five Days One Summer’, ‘Hard Grit’, ‘Touching The Void’ and more recently ‘Free Solo’, ‘14 Peaks’ and ‘The Rescue’. ‘Kendal’ became recognized as the main annual social event for outdoor enthusiasts in the UK and Europe, and built its strong international reputation. Since then, Kendal has gone on to become a global touring film festival spreading across the United Kingdom, China and now coming to the United States and Canada for the first time.

About Adventure Entertainment:
Australian-based, and operating in more than 12 countries, Adventure Entertainment is making literal and metaphorical waves in the adventure film world with more than 10 touring film festivals, and dozens of feature films in recent distribution. Specializing in producing live, eventized, theatrical film screenings, AE is leading the way in innovative, community-based marketing and generating pre, and post-show buzz in the entertainment industry. Adventure Entertainment owns and operates the Women’s Adventure Film Tour, One Ocean Film Tour, Vertical Life Film Tour and RunNation Film Festival. Their recent feature film experience includes releases from National Geographic's; "Torn", Red Bull Media House's "La Liste: Everything or Nothing", "Buried”, from Oscar-winning producers Evan Hayes and Michael Sugar, and Summer 2022 surf releases "Big Wave Guardians" and "Five Summer Stories", from MacGillivray Freeman Films. See more at adventureentertainment.com

About Montane:
Pushing the limits of endurance and versatility for almost 30 years, the British outdoor performance specialist, Montane, engineers innovative, lightweight, breathable clothing, and equipment of uncompromised quality for multi-activity adventures, mountain activities and extreme environments. The drive to find, see and do more in the outdoors has driven Montane to evolve for efficiency through a simplified ‘less is more’ approach. The brand works closely with serious mountain professionals, leading adventurers, and top-performance athletes to be at the forefront of developing a clothing range that allows people to be immersed in nature, no matter the environment. Montane uses its unrivalled expertise to create a collection of reliable and versatile running, walking, and mountaineering clothing allowing its wearer to go FURTHER. FASTER in the outdoors.”

About OS Maps:
OS MAPS: HIKING & BIKE TRAILS – Plan hikes, runs & bike rides. Explore the great outdoors the way you want, all while staying safe with OS Maps. Whether you want to hike, bike or run, OS Maps will guide you with amazing trails across the USA. Want to find new places in your local neighborhood? Or plan that next thru-hiking adventure? From breathtaking National Parks to easy walks along the coast, experience the thrill of finding a brand-new trail that you never even knew existed with OS Maps.

Theatrical Booking Contact:
Henry C. Lystad/ Ph: 970.275.1234
E.henry@adventureentertainment.com

KING ON SCREEN World Premiere at FANTASTIC FEST 2022

KING ON SCREEN World Premiere at FANTASTIC FEST 2022

Directed by: Daphné Baiwir
Starring: Frank Darabont, Mick Garris, Mike Flanagan, Greg Nicotero and more
Country: France, USA
Genre: Documentary Feature
Run time: 1 hour 45 min

In 1976, Brian de Palma directed Carrie, the first novel and adaptation of Stephen King’s work. Since then, more than 50 directors have adapted the master of horror’s books, in more than 80 films and series, making him now the most adapted author still alive in the world.

KING ON SCREEN features an inside look with the majority of directors who have adapted Stephen King’s work for screen, showcasing the unique relationship as they reimagine his work for film. KING ON SCREEN, which interviews the lion’s share of the filmmakers who have adapted his work to screen, includes Frank Darabont, Mick Garris, Mike Flanagan, Greg Nicotero and more. Directed by Daphné Baiwir (The Rebellious Olivia de Havilland ), KING ON SCREEN is an intimate look at the unique relationship between Stephen King’s vast body of work and the directors famous for reimagining it for the screen.

With an ambitious fictional introduction packed with easter eggs, references, and other winks that constant readers will find delightful, this doc is a must-see for any King-head and casual viewer alike.

FF 2022 PAGE:
https://2022.fantasticfest.com/films/62fbbf1dd0f21300854b3720

Toronto International Film Festival 2022 Intl Premiere of South African Caper Heist Comedy Feature Film “The Umbrella Men”

Mila played by Bronté Snell, Cope played by Rob Van Vuuren, Tiger played by Joey Rasdien, Jerome played by Jaques De Silva, Mortimer played by Keenan Arrison

“The Umbrella Men” will have its world premiere on September 10^th, 2022, followed by an additional two public screenings, as well as press & industry screenings as a part of TIFF.

The international premiere of the extraordinary South African caper heist comedy feature film, “The Umbrella Men,” selected for Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) set for September 10^th, 2022, as a selection of the international arm of its Contemporary World Cinema slate.

“The Umbrella Men” is directed by John Barker (“Bunny Chow: Know Thyself,” “Isibaya”) and is written by John Barker and Philip Roberts and stars the captivating talents of Jaques Da Silva, Shamilla Miller (“Love Lies and Hybrids”), Keenan Arrison (“Atlantis”) and Bronte Snell (“Atlantis”). Produced by Joel Phiri, Dan Jawitz, Tshepiso Chikapa Phiri, Themba Mfebe and John Barker, “The Umbrella Men” draws inspiration and comparisons to critical and audience favorites in this incredible ensemble genre including: “The LadyKillers,” “Set It Off,” “The Inside Man,” “Sexy Beast,” “The Italian Job,” and “Ocean’s Eleven,” among others.

Loukman played by Dann-Jacques Mouton, Jerome played by Jaques De Silva, Mortimer played by Keenan Arrison

An incredible cinematic ride, embracing the best of caper heist comedy set in the colourful and culture-rich Bo-Kaap area of Cape Town “The Umbrella Men” is a must-see TIFF film. “The Umbrella Men” follows a troupe of musicians who are forced to rob a bank during the city’s Carnival in an effort to save their beloved nightclub – spiritual home to their whole community. The music is written by South African Jazz pianist extraordinaire, Kyle Shepard.

The film has received excellent reviews at home in South Africa. For example, The Sunday Times (South Africa) wrote that “through the “Afrikaaps” phrases, nuances and Humour, Barker has beautifully captured a marginalised and often misrepresented culture.” The film is being sold in Toronto by Known Associates Entertainment.