Foreign Films Archives - Unspool Hollywood

Gravitas Ventures’ THE JOB OF SONGS on Digital Platforms November 21, 2023

Tourists flock to the west coast of Ireland to take in the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher, but the real treasure lies in the soulful, acoustic sounds wafting out of pubs and living rooms of Doolin, County Clare. The denizens of this unspoiled coastal village of tight-knit neighbors and unlocked doors revel in the passion and history of their traditional folk songs, using music as a thread through generations to create community, connection, and joy.

THE JOB OF SONGS was made by a crew of three women, who are first time feature filmmakers: LILA SCHMITZ (director, producer, editor), ANIKA KAN GREVSTAD (director of photography, producer), and FENGYI XU (producer). The film was made with the support of acclaimed documentarians double Oscar-winning writer-producer-director Bill Guttentag and Emmy and Grammy Award winning documentarian Doug Pray. The film has screened at numerous prestigious International Film Festivals including DOC NYC, Galway Film Fleadh, Newport Beach Film Festival, Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival, Milwaukee Film Festival, and many others. It won Best International Documentary at the Galway Film Fleadh.

SOCIAL HANDLES:
FB: @irishmusicfilm
IG: @thejobofsongs

Director and Writer: Lila Schmitz
Featuring: Katie Theasby, Luka Bloom, The Fiddle Case, Christy McNamara, Christy Barry-Doolin Music House, Anne Rynne, Yvonne Casey, Tunes From Doolin
Genre: Documentary
Run time: 1 hour 14 minutes
Cinematographer: Anika Kan Grevstad
Producers: Fengyi Xu, Anika Kan Grevstad and Lila Schmitz
Executive Producer Bill Guttentag
Consulting Producer: Doug Pray
Editor: Lila Schmitz
Distributor: Gravitas Ventures

Bobi Wine: The People’s President Movie Review

Directors: Moses Bwayo and Christopher Sharp
Featuring: Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu and Barbara Itungo Kyagulanyi
Genre: Documentary
Country: Uganda, United Kingdon and the United States.
Language: English
Run time: 1 hour 58 minutes

When your passion and purpose in life meet

Directors Moses Bwayo and Christopher Sharp extraordinary documentary film “Bobi Wine: The People’s President” tells the story of Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known professionally as super star musician Bobi Wine and his wife Barbara “Barbie” Itungo Kyagulanyi, an accomplished author and human rights activist.

The films spans a five-year period as he performs around the world and enters the world of politics and eventually becoming the leader of the biggest political opposition organization in Uganda, the National Unity Platform (NUP) and the People Power Movement and mounts a formidable challenge against Ugandan President Museveni. Providing a portrait of the impact one individual can make and how important it is for a country’s citizens to stand together in solidarity against oppression.

Bobi Wine on top of his vehicle during the 2021 presidential campaigns as he solicited for support in Nakaseke, Central Uganda on November 18, 2020. (photo credit: Lookman Kampala)

While watching Bobi Wine, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the 1960s in the United States and the challenges faced by African Americans and the civil rights movement and how Bobi utilizing the non-violent principles of Dr. Marting Luther King, Jr. in his fight for freedom from government oppression. Of course, the major difference is it now 2020s and Bobi was running for president against Uganda’s current dictator.

Bobi Wine: The People’s President is an excellent film that uses the beautiful words and sounds of music to tell a brutal and harrowing story of torture, death, and perseverance, all in the pursuit of the human desire to be and live free.

Bobi Wine as he took his supporters on a run on a marram road in Katakwi district in Eastern Uganda, November 14, 2020. (photo credit: Lookman Kampala)

One of the many fascinating things that stood out when watching this film is how Bobi, his fans and supporters stayed united even in the face of the government of Uganda trying its best to turn people against Bobi and his wife. Only making the bond stronger.

Director of Photography, Moses Bwayo excellent work captures the graphic scenes of the beautiful and vibrant colors of Ugandan life, the wonderful music, and the struggles of a people trying to overcome the hardship and poverty that goes along with a dictator government. He brings you into story and makes you feel like you are right there, up close in the car, on the car, in the crowds, with the crowds, in the mist of the struggles, seeing it all.

Paul Carlin’ editing brings it to life as the story flows effortlessly from one scene to the next. Connecting the five-years of footage into a compelling narrative.

As Bobi said, "we must get our freedom or die trying.

The film shows the truth of his words and convictions as he and Barbi risk it all. Risking it all, not just themselves but also for their fellow citizens of Uganda. All in the pursuit of the basic human right of living free. Free from oppression, freedom to pick ones' elected representatives.

Filmed in Uganda, United Kingdom and the United States while Bobi and Barbie worked, performed and campaigned for president, the film gives a up-close look at the struggles of today’s Ugandans. Struggles that should be a thing of the past.

Music is a universal language and the soundtrack does a great job in helping to tell the tale and making it so much easier to take in the horrors that are experienced by the people of Uganda, Bobi and Barbie.

Bobi Wine: The People’s President is an exceptional film that shares how Bobi’s passion for music and his determination for he , his wife, family and his fellow citizens of Uganda to live free, come together creating a formidable husband and wife who fight the oppression and brutality of Ugandan President Museveni. A must-see film.

VIEW TRAILER BELOW

Streaming Release Date: October 6, 2023
Distributor: National Geographic Documentary Films
Producer: Christopher Sharp and John Battsek
Directors: Moses Bwayo and Christopher Sharp
Cinematography: Sam Benstead, Moses Bwayo, Michele Sibiloni
Editor: Paul Carlin
Composer: Music Editor & Additional Orchestration: Simon Birch
Runtime: 1 hour 58 minutes
Music: Dan Jones
Co-Producer: Megan Hollinghurst
Executive Producers: Humble Lukanga, Sol Guy, Alastair Siddons

“Tokyo Cowboy” World Premiere as the Centerpiece Gala Screening at Tallgrass Film Festival on October 7th, Starring Arata Iura, Goya Robles, Ayako Fujitani, Robin Weigert, & Jun Kunimura

Starring: Arata Iura, Goya Robles, Ayako Fujitani with Robin Weigert and Jun Kunimura
Director: Marc Marriott
Producer: Brigham Taylor
Writers: Ayako Fujitani and Dave Boyle
Director of Photography: Oscar Ignacio Jimenez
Editor: Yasu Inoue
Story by: Marc Marriott and Brigham
Run time: 1 hour 58 minutes

"Tokyo Cowboy" will officially make it world premiere as the Centerpiece Gala Screening at Tallgrass Film Festival on October 7th, at Heartland International Film Festival on October 9th & 11th, at Montana Film Festival October, Hawaii International Film Festival on October 13th & 16th, and a west coast premiere at Newport Beach Film Festival on October 19th, and Ojai Film Festival on November 6th.

Brash businessman Hideki arrives in Montana having convinced his Tokyo bosses he can turn a profitless US cattle ranch into a premiere-performing asset. Yet when his Hardee’s-burger-loving Japanese Wagyu-beef expert fails him, Hideki is poised to misfire magnificently unless he identifies a missing element that’s key to the transformation… himself.

“Tokyo Cowboy” is a cross-cultural journey in both English and Japanese (with English subtitles), filmed in Japan and Montana and is a rich character driven drama featuring a wealth of talent both in front of the camera and behind it. “Tokyo Cowboy” stars Japan’s own Arata Iura (After Life, Air Doll, and Like Father, Like Son among 50 films), Goya Robles (EPIX Get Shorty, 11:55), Ayako Fujitani (The Last Ship, Man From Reno), with Robin Weigert (HBO Deadwood, Bombshell), and Jun Kunimura (Kill Bill: Vol. 1, The Wailing). The film is directed by Marc Marriott (History Channel’s Ax Men, Discovery Channel’s Roush Racing: Driver); produced by Brigham Taylor (Tron: Legacy, The Jungle Book, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and Tomorrowland), Jeri Rafter (Butcher’s Crossing, Ted K), and Marc Marriott; written by Dave Boyle (House of Ninja’s, Man From Reno), and Ayako Fujitani (The Last Ship, Man From Reno); with music composed by Chad Cannon (American Factory, Mind Over Murder); cinematography by Oscar Ignacio Jimenez (The Killing of Two Lovers, Best Place); and edited by Yasu Inoue (Accept The Call, A-Town Boyz).

“Tokyo Cowboy” Website: https://www.tokyocowboyfilm.com

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.

Dark Star Pictures Theatrical Release MISSING on November 4, 2022

(Sagasu/さがす)
Directed by: Shinzô Katayama
Starring: Aoi Ito, Hiroya Shimizu, Misato Morita, Jirô Satô
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
Year: 2021
Run Time: 2 hours 4 minutes

Dark Star and Bloody Disgusting plan a US theatrical release for MISSING on November 4, 2022, an On Demand release on November 18, 2022, and the Blu Ray release for the film to follow on December 6, 2022.

OFFICIAL SELECTION: Busan International Film Festival, Fantasia International Film Festival.

Depressed and in debt following the death of his wife, Santoshi (Jiro Sato) tells his young daughter he has found a way out. Pointing to a reward note, he vows to find the infamous serial killer “No Name” (Hiroya Shimizu) and cash in, claiming to have seen the man in the flesh a few days earlier. Kaeda (Aoi Ito) cannot take her aloof father serious. But when he goes missing without a trace, she starts to fear the worst—and must begin looking for him.

MISSING (Credit Dark Star Pictures)

After working as an assistant director for Japanese films, including Nobuhiro Yamashita’s works, filmmaker Shinzô Katayama crossed paths with Bong Joon-Ho while shooting “TOKYO!” (2008) and served as his assistant director on “Mother” (2009). In 2019, his debut feature, “Siblings of the Cape ” was selected by numerous domestic and international film festivals. He now is one of the most promising, emerging directors in Japan, and his second feature, MISSING (“Sagasu /さがす”) will be his commercial film debut.

DARK STAR PICTURES

Dark Star Pictures is a new-age North American distribution company, focused on bringing unique and targeted content to audiences across the country. We are committed to releasing auteur-driven, original cinema in the theatrical, digital, and home video space.

Website:https://darkstarpics.com

PR CONTACT- FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
EMMA GRIFFITHS
EMMA GRIFFITHS PR
E: emma@eg-pr.com
W: www.eg-pr.com

Watch Clip: CARMEN Opens in US on September 23rd

Director: Valerie Buhagiar
Starring: Natascha McElhone, Michaela Farrugia, Steven Love
Country: Malta, Canada
Language: English and Maltese
Run time: 1 hour 28 minutes

CARMEN will be released in the US Theatrically in major cities and on VOD in the US and Canada on Friday, September 23^rd
US Theaters include:

NEW YORK - Cinema Village
LOS ANGELES - Laemmle Monica
With exclusive engagements in Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco (Bay Area), Columbus and more.

US VOD Platforms include:
Apple TV/iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, XFinity Cable, and more.

CARMEN is perhaps veteran director and accomplished actor Valerie Buhagiar’s most joyous film outing yet. Set in a sun-dappled village in Malta in the 1980s, Natascha McElhone gives a career-best performance as a 50-year-old woman finding a new start in life through romance.

In a small Mediterranean village, Carmen has looked after her brother, the local priest, for her entire life. When the Church abandons Carmen, she is mistaken for the new priest. Carmen begins to see the world, and herself, in a new light.

In Malta, it is tradition for the younger sister to devote her life to the church when an older brother enters the priesthood. Inspired by true events, Carmen lives a life of servitude from the age of 16 until 50, when her brother dies. Realizing her own mortality, she leaves the church and makes up for lost time.

CARMEN is Buhagiar’s third feature film as a director. She first burst on the scene as a performer in such classic Canadian films as ROADKILL (1989) and HIGHWAY 61 (1991). Other indelible feature performances include EXPECTING (2002), A WINTER TALE (2007) and ADRIATICO MY LOVE (2011).

SQUEAL: Film Review

PRESENTS

To Live Free and Starve, Or To Eat and Die In Bondage

Director Aik Karapetian fable SQUEAL brings the Greek mythical goddess Circe to life through his female lead Kirke (Laura Siliņa), a pig farmer’s daughter, named after the Goddess. When she encounters Samuel (Kevin Janssens), who is searching for his father. A man he has never seen or met.

Photo 1-Kevin Janssens in Aik Karapetian's SQUEAL (Photo Credit_ GOOD DEED ENTERTAINMENT)

Kevin Janssens and the magical pig in Aik Karapetian's SQUEAL (Photo Cr

Looking at the interactions between Kirke and Samuel on the farm, I am reminded of slave masters  and their treatment of their slaves and their bondage on the plantations and their treatment of the slaves that automatically creates a dark picture of what is to come.

According to Karapetian, “My focus was originality and simplicity, but at the same time speaking about the universal topics of love, freedom, greed, brutality, tenderness and jealousy.”

These topics of  love, freedom, greed, brutality, tenderness and jealousy vividly comes through with the dialogue and film plot written by Aik Karapetian, Aleksandr Rodionov.

Aik Karapetian's SQUEAL (Photo Credit_ GOOD DEED ENTERTAINMENT) b

Something that stands out is how Aik Karapetian flipped the script and has his female lead behind the abductions, enslavement and brutality of  Samuel (Kevin Janssens). It reminds me of the film Misery with Kathy Bates and James Caan.What stands out?

SQUEAL is an engaging film that struggles with the human animal’s desire for security and freedom. See it.

Release Date: Theatrical:   Aug 19, 2022  Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 19, 2022
Distributor: Good Deed Entertainment
Producer: Inese Boka-Grube, Gints Grube
Production Co: Good Deed Entertainment And Cranked Up Films
Run Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Cast: Kevin Janssens,Laura Siliņa,Aigars Vilims,Normunds Griestiņš,Juris Bartkevičs,Guntis Pilsums
Director: Aik Karapetian
Writers: Aik Karapetian,Ale][ksandr Rodionov
Cinematography: Jurģis Kmins
Editor: Paula Popmane 
Composer: Justine Bourgeus
Run Time: 1 hour 25 minutes

ABOUT GOOD DEED ENTERTAINMENT
Good Deed Entertainment (GDE) is an Ohio based independent studio dedicated to producing, financing, and distributing quality entertainment for under-served audiences. Its distribution slate includes recent releases Summertime, Ma Belle, My Beauty, and Lucky Grandma, in addition to the Academy Award nominated, Loving Vincent, and Spirit Award nominated, To Dust.

Website: http://www.gooddeedentertainment.com/

View the New Trailer for Sci-fi Thriller KARMALINK Opening Theatrical and on VOD This Week

Director: Jake Wachtel
Cast: Srey Leak Chhith, Leng Heng Prak, Sahajak Boonthanakit, Cindy Sirinya Bishop, Rous Mony and Sveng Socheata
Year: 2021
Country: Cambodia
Language: Khmer with English subtitles
Run time: 1 hour 42 minutes

Theaters include:
Lumiere Music Hall - Los Angeles, CA
Rialto Lakeside Elmwood - Berkeley, CA
Rialto Lakeside Sonoma - Sebastopol, CA
SIFF Film Center - Seattle, WA

VOD Platforms include:
US: Apple TV/iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, XFinity Cable, and more.Canada: Apple TV/iTunes, Google Play.

Filmmaker Jake Wachtel

Sahajak Boonthanakit in Jake Wachtel's KARMALINK (Photo Credit: Good Deed Entertainment)

Conceived as a way to interrogate processes of neo-colonialism, and highlighting the alienating effects of technological progress, Jake Wachtel's KARMALINK is a mind-bending tale of reincarnation, artificial consciousness, and the search for enlightenment.

In near-future Phnom Penh, the rich and privileged are augmented with nanotech, and new skyscrapers crowd the skyline. In Tralop Bek, a tight-knit community threatened with forced eviction, 13-year-old Leng Heng is having vivid dreams of his past lives. He and his friends are convinced they are meant to find a buried Buddhist statue to save their homes, and they seek out help from a street-smart girl in the neighborhood, Srey Leak. Together they follow clues across town and into the past, uncovering a link with a genius neuroscientist on a quest for digital nirvana. As Leng Heng’s dreams converge on the present, his very sense of identity begins to unravel. When it becomes clear that the stakes are higher than they imagined, the two friends must decide how far they are willing to go to find their treasure and the truth.

American-born filmmaker Jake Wachtel began his career making short documentaries for nonprofits and social impact ventures working in the global south. His work has been featured on NYTimes.com, Wired, NPR, and MSNBC.

In 2015, he moved to Cambodia to teach a year-long class in filmmaking to children as a part of the Filmmakers Without Borders initiative. His Phnom Penh-set short film THE FOREIGNER HERE premiered at the Cambodian International Film Festival, and he has gone on to collaborate with many of the growing new wave of young Cambodian filmmakers. He also served as on-set editor for Jimmy Henderson's Cambodian-Chinese coproduction THE PREY. Phnom Penh became his home base for several years as he developed his first feature KARMALINK—Cambodia’s first sci-fi movie—set in the community where he taught and produced with a majority Cambodian cast and crew, including his former students.

ABOUT GOOD DEED ENTERTAINMENT

Good Deed Entertainment (GDE) is an Ohio based independent studio dedicated to producing, financing, and distributing quality entertainment for under-served audiences. Its distribution slate includes recent releases Summertime, Ma Belle, My Beauty, and Lucky Grandma, in addition to the Academy Award nominated, Loving Vincent, and Spirit Award nominated, To Dust.

Website: http://www.gooddeedentertainment.com/

Dances with Films West Coast Premiere of Award-Winning Animated Documentary “Eternal Spring (長春)” on June 15th

Loft Sky Pictures groundbreaking filmmaker Jason Loftus (“Ask No Questions”) latest film, the powerful animated documentary “Eternal Spring (長春)” will make its West Coast Premiere at this year’s Dances With Films (June 9^th—19^th, 2022), now on Wednesday, June 15th with a 7pm premiere at the TCL Chinese 6 Theaters (in the Hollywood & Highland complex in Los Angeles).

Confronted with government denunciations and human rights violations against their spiritual practice, a group of Chinese activists executes a bold and perilous plan to hack into state television.

“Eternal Spring (長春)” is a multiple award winner, most recently having won Hot Docs Audience Award for best film and the Rogers Audience Award for best Canadian film, and both the audience and jury awards for International Documentary Feature Film at Mammoth Lakes Film Festival! “Eternal Spring As you know reviews from major film critics are a game changer for the release & awards trajectory of an independent film.

This extraordinary harmony of animation & documentary has been awarded and acclaimed across Europe in its Film Festival run thus far for its groundbreaking animation – and of particular note, has been its incredible comic-book-style animation that transports the viewer into the brave and heroic world of a group of Falun Gong practitioners. “Eternal Spring ( 長春)” with its story of survival at all costs & battle for human rights continues to draw powerful comparisons to beloved Oscar nominee “Flee.”

Eternal Spring (長春)” Hot Docs 2022 Audience Award Winner for Best Picture and the Rogers Audience Award for best Canadian film

ETERNAL-SPRING-Still-4-copyright-Lofty-Sky-Pictures

Jason Loftus latest film, the powerful animated documentary “Eternal Spring (長春)” winner of the Hot Docs Audience Award for best film and the Rogers Audience Award for best Canadian film at Hot Docs 2022.

This Canadian film was made for theatrical (it’s in 2.39 Cinema 4K and audiences are loving it on the big screen thus far from its international film festival run). The film will next screen after Hot Docs at the New York Human Rights Film Festival on May 23^rd at Lincoln Center & May 24^th at IFC Center (one of 10 official selections and the US premiere), followed on Mat 31^st & June 2^nd at Krakow Film Festival (Oscar-qualifying International Documentary Competition, Polish Premiere). Private screener links available upon request for review consideration. Many many thanks for your consideration and continued support of independent film!

New York Human Rights Watch Film Festival, May 23 @Lincoln Center and May 24 @IFC Center
- (one of ten official selections, US Premiere)
Krakow Film Festival, May 31, June 2
- (Oscar-qualifying International Documentary Competition, Polish Premiere)