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TCM Classic Film Festival 2021 Schedule

The 2021 TCM Classic Film Festival Will be Virtual this Year and Features More Than 100 Films and Over 30 Special Guests Across Turner Classic Movies Channel and HBO Max

Calling all film fans – Turner Classic Movies (TCM) today released the extensive lineup of talent, films, and exclusive content for the 2021 TCM Classic Film Festival, airing from Thursday, May 6 through Sunday, May 9 at two virtual venues: the TCM network and the Classics Curated by TCM Hub on HBO Max.

View Turner Classic Movies Schedule

View HBO Max Lineup

View the linear schedule here

A STAR IS BORN, James Mason, Judy Garland, 1954

Programming and Talent highlights of the Festival include:

Opening Night on Thursday, May 6 at 8pm ET features the 60^th anniversary screening of West Side Story (1961) with stars Rita Moreno, George Chakiris and Russ Tamblyn giving new and exclusive interviews. Opening Night will premiere simultaneously on TCM and HBO Max
The Masters collection on HBO Max, featuring interviews with directors Barry Levinson (Good Morning, Vietnam) and Barbara Kopple (Harlan County, USA)
Debbie Allen introduces Fame (1980) and sits down for an exclusive interview
Michael Douglas introduces One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) on HBO Max
Jacqueline Bisset introduces Bullitt (1968) on TCM and on HBO Max
The world broadcast premiere of Bill Morrison’s latest short film on TCM, let me come in (2021), featuring decayed film reels from the lost German silent film Pawns of Passion (1928) and co-presented by the Los Angeles Opera
A tribute to iconic comedian Martin Short with Clifford (1994) and Innerspace (1987) on HBO Max
SF Sketchfest Presents a table read of Ed Wood’s Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959) on TCM, adapted by comedian Dana Gould and featuring Maria Bamford, Bobcat Goldthwait, Oscar Nuñez, Laraine Newman, Bob Odenkirk, David Koechner, Janet Varney, Jonah Ray, Paul F. Tompkins, Gary Anthony Williams, Baron Vaughn, Deborah Baker Jr. and Kat Aagesen

Fans will also be able to engage with the Festival at live virtual events and experiences throughout the weekend including:

The return of fan favorite Meet TCM panel where network execs share insight into the network, how programming is scheduled and produced, and a preview of upcoming events and series, will be live on Wednesday, May 5
Club TCM, a staple at the in-person Festival, is going virtual this year. Fans can join on Zoom to hear from TCM hosts and festival talent, learn something new, and share their love of classic movies with fellow fans
Live Tweets and Instagram Lives with Festival talent and hosts – follow along with #TCMFF
The official TCM Classic Film Festival Boutique featuring limited-edition merchandise such as a new host pin set, mugs, t-shirts, popcorn salt, and more

Last year’s Special Home Edition of the TCM Classic Film Festival was one of the first festivals to shift to an all-virtual experience at the onset of the pandemic, and this year, viewers can expect even more stars, movies, and ways to watch.

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

About Turner Classic Movies (TCM)

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is a two-time Peabody Award-winning network that presents great films, uncut and commercial-free, from the largest film libraries in the world highlighting the entire spectrum of film history. TCM features the insights from Primetime host Ben Mankiewicz along with hosts Alicia Malone, Dave Karger, Jacqueline Stewart and Eddie Muller, plus interviews with a wide range of special guests and serves as the ultimate movie lover destination. With more than two decades as a leading authority in classic film, TCM offers critically acclaimed series like The Essentials, along with annual programming events like 31 Days of Oscar® and Summer Under the Stars. TCM also directly connects with movie fans through events such as the annual TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood, the TCM Big Screen Classics series in partnership with Fathom Events, as well as through the TCM Classic Film Tour in New York City and Los Angeles. In addition, TCM produces a wide range of media about classic film, including books and DVDs, and hosts a wealth of material online at tcm.com and through the Watch TCM mobile app. Fans can also enjoy a TCM curated classics experience on HBO Max.

About HBO Max

HBO Max® is WarnerMedia’s direct-to-consumer platform, offering best in class quality entertainment. HBO Max features the greatest array of storytelling for all audiences from the iconic brands of HBO, Warner Bros., DC, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies and much more. The streaming platform initially launched in the United States in May 2020. This year, it will expand into Latin America and the HBO-branded streaming services in Europe (the Nordics, Spain, Central Europe, the Baltics and Portugal) will be upgraded to HBO Max.

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Arclight Cinemas and Pacific Theatres To Close Permanently

ArcLight Hollywood-Pacific Cinerama Dome Theater. Photo: Yevette Renee

The COVID-19 vaccines is here, yet it did not come soon enough for many movie theatres. After closing all of their locations in March 2020 due to COVID-19, the Decurion Corporation, the parent company of Arclight Cinemas and Pacific Theatres, has announced the permanently closures of their six Los Angeles-area Pacific Theatre locations and 11 Arclight Theatres located around the country.

The permanent closures include the iconic Arclight Hollywood -Cinerama Dome at 6360 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. It was a place where independent filmmakers would go to screen and premiere their films in heart of Hollywood.

Full statement from The Decurion Corporation:

After shutting our doors more than a year ago, today we must share the difficult and sad news the Pacific will not be reopening its ArcLight Cinemas and Pacific Theatres locations.

This was not the outcome anyone wanted, but despite a huge effort that exhausted all potential options, the company des not have a viable way forward.

To all the Pacific and ArcLight employees who have devoted their
professional lives to making out theaters the very best places in the world
to see movies: we are grateful for your service and your dedication
to our customers.

To our guests and members of the film industry who have made going to the
movies such a magical experience over the years: our deepest thanks. It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve you.

Pacific operates Vineland Drive-in, located in La Puente, the only remaining drive-in in Los Angeles County.

Pacific Theaters was founded in 1946 by William R. Forman, who began construction on the Cinerama Dome in 1963. The ground breaking ceremony
included Hollywood stars Buddy Hackett, Edie Adams, Spencer Tracy and others.

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, directed by Stanley Kramer, was the first film that premiered at the Cinerama Dome in 1963.

BAFTA 2021 Winners

A List of the 2021 BAFTA Winners

NOMADLAND - Best Film
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN - Outstanding British Film
HIS HOUSE - Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer
ANOTHER ROUND - Film Not in the English Language
MY OCTOPUS TEACHER - Documentary
SOUL - Animated Film
CHLOE ZHAO - Director
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN - Original Screenplay
THE FATHER - Adapted Screenplay
FRANCES MCDORMAND - Leading Actress
ANTHONY HOPKINS - Leading Actor
YUH-JUNG YOUN - Supporting Actress
DANIEL KALUUYA - Supporting Actor
SOUL - Original Score
ROCKS - Casting
NOMADLAND - CINEMATOGRAPHY
SOUND OF METAL - Editing
MANK - Production Design
MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM - Costume Design
MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM - Make up and Hair
SOUND OF METAL - Sound
TENET - Special Visual Effects
THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT - British Short Animation
THE PRESENT - British Short Film

Restrictions Lifted, Hollywood Reopens

Oscar Marquee. Photo credit: Yevette Renee

Because of the commitment of President Joe Biden, he has exceeded his goal of 100 million shots in the arms in his first 100 days in office, which has greatly help in the decline in COVID cases.

And after a year of lockdowns, with no movie premieres, music, television or film productions, Los Angeles County has been moved into the "Orange Tier" of the State's Blueprint for Safer Economy framework, and some of the restrictions will be lifted for the music, television, and film productions. To meet the requirements, the county of Los Angeles must report 3.9 or fewer daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents and a test positivity rate under 5%.

And, beginning on April 15th, Los Angeles and Orange County, will be able to lift restrictions on indoor concerts, theater performances and other indoor music, television and film productions. If you want to attend any of these indoor events, you will have to show a negative COVID-19 test result or proof that you have completed ALL vaccination requirements.

Restaurant and movie theaters can increase their indoor capacity from 25% or 100 people to 50% or 200 people. This also also applies to museums, zoos, and places of worship. Bars can open at 33% capacity.

Amusement Parks
Six Flag Magic Mountain reopened on April 3rd.
Universal Studio Tourswiil reopen to California residents only on April 16th.
Disneyland will reopen on April 30th

Education
Los Angeles Unified School District is scheduled to return preschool
and elementary school students to in-class instruction instruction in the middle of April. Middle and high school students scheduled for the end of April.

Film Festivals
Sun Valley Film Festival April 14-18, online
Hot Docs, April 29-May 9
True/False Film Festival, May 5-9, in-person and online
Tribeca Film Festival, June 9-20
Mountainfilm, May 29-31, in-person; May 31-June 6, online
Provincetown Film Festival, June 16-25, in-person and online
Comic-Con, July 22-25
CinemaCon, August 26-30
Telluride Film Festival, September 2-6
Indigo Moon Film Festival, October 8-10 is in-person, October 9-15, online
AFM-American Film Market, November 2-7

Movie Theaters that have reopened in Los Angeles County:
AMC Theatres in Century City, Santa Monica and Burbank
Cinemark at the Promenade at Howard Huges Center, Westchester
El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood
Laemmle Theatres In Santa Monica, North Hollywood, Glendale, West L.A. and Pasadena
Landmark Theatres in Westwood opened on March 26th
Nuart Theatre in Santa Monica
Pacific Theaters in the Grove, Pacific Northridge Center, Americana Glendale
Regal Cinema reopened with the April 2nd limited release of Godzilla vs. Kong.
Regency Theatres in Van Nuys, Granada Hills, Agoura Hills
TCL Chinese Theatre reopened on March 29th with the limited release of Godzilla vs. Kong

ArcLight Cinemas -Hollywood has not reopened

Museums
Have opened at 25% capacity.
The Autry Museum of the American West
California African American Museum
California Science Center
LACMA
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art opened on April 1st
Los Angeles Zoo
The Hammer Museum
Natural History Museum of Los Angels Countym La Brea Tar Pits, and William S. Hart Museum
Skirball Cultural Center

Museum to reopen soon
The Broad to reopen in May
GRAMMY Museum no reopening date announced
MOCA no reopening date announced
Travel Town Museum

Governor Newsom is scheduled to phase-out the four-tiered, color-coded system that has been used as the guide for the state's reopening during the year-long closure, and open up the California economy on June 15th. This is subject to change based on the trend of COVID cases.

The Los Angeles County health protocols, called Appendix J, must be agreed to in order to receive a film permit from FilmLA. This includes Employers must provide all personal protective equipment (PPE).

All productions that are one or limited-time special event or performances must submit an event safety plan for review at least 10 business days before the planned event. You must submit your event plant via email to the Public Health department at: LiaisonCOVID19@ph.lacounty.gov. It is required to include the details of the event, a completed Department of Public Health Appendix J Protocol Checklist, schematics and any additional information that PDH may need to ensure the safety of all.

All productions for live outdoor events and performances mut also follow the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health "Protocol for Outdoor Seated Live Events and Performances.

Additional requirements for music, television and film productions are as follows:
Restaurants and bars
Retail Operations
Office Spaces
Warehouse and Manufacturing
Construction

Each productions is required to provide information on how they will protect employees health, with social distancing and infection control, how they will communicate with their employees and the public and how they will ensure fairness to all their employees and their ability to access services.

See Appendix J here

12th African American Film Critics Association Awards Virtually Tonight, April 7

The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA), the world’s largest group of Black film critics, will hold its twelfth annual awards ceremony virtually on Wednesday, April 7th, sponsored by Nissan and Morgan Stanley. “Judas and the Black Messiah” was named the year’s Best Film, in addition to winning Best Supporting Actor for Daniel Kaluuya and Best Supporting Actress for Dominique Fishback.

“It is an honor to help present an award to ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ because I am from Chicago where we have a tradition of community advocacy,” said RogerEbert.com publisher Chaz Ebert. “Emmett Till and his mother, Mamie Till Mobley, lived here; the Rev. Jesse Jackson lives here; and former president Barack Obama was a community advocate here. I lived on the West Side of Chicago, and I met Fred Hampton, and I know he aspired to be a lawyer. After his death, his brother contacted me as the head of the Black American Law Student Association to help establish the Fred Hampton Scholarship at DePaul Law School for African-American students. So this film was particularly meaningful to me.”

“Serving alongside an all-Black producing team, “Judas and the Black Messiah” director Shaka King created a project that permanently enshrines pivotal Black Panther leader Fred Hampton as an American hero. Released against the backdrop of the present-day Black Lives Matter movement, the film’s message of commitment and sacrifice to social justice is empowering,” says AAFCA President/Co-Founder Gil Robertson. “Daniel Kaluuya as Hampton is literally on fire and is supported well by Dominique Fishback who increasingly has become an actress to watch. Our members are thrilled to award the film with our highest honor.”

Andra Day won Best Actress for her harrowing portrayal of the title role in “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” while Chadwick Boseman posthumously won Best Actor for his stunning performance in “Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.”

“Our Best Actress winner Andra Day was phenomenal as Billie Holiday,” continues Robertson. “Director Lee Daniels has a terrific knack for bringing out the very best from his actors and Day is no exception as she delivered a performance that serves as an impressive launch to an acting career we feel has great promise. The members of AAFCA are excited to see even more of her range in the future. In ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,’ Chadwick Boseman again showcased a great understanding and execution of the acting craft. In what is the final performance of his career, he confirmed why he will forever be considered one of the best actors of his generation. AAFCA is tremendously pleased to honor him for this extraordinary performance.”

Here is the complete list of winners:

Best Picture: “Judas and the Black Messiah” (Warner Bros.)
Best Director: Regina King, “One Night In Miami” (Amazon Studios)
Best Actor: Chadwick Boseman, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” (Netflix)
Best Actress: Andra Day, “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” (Hulu)
Best Supporting Actor: Daniel Kaluuya, “Judas and the Black Messiah” (Warner Bros.)
Best Supporting Actress: Dominique Fishback, “Judas and the Black Messiah” (Warner Bros.)
Best Screenplay: Kemp Powers, “One Night in Miami” (Amazon Studios)
Best Ensemble: “One Night In Miami” (Amazon Studios)
Best Foreign Film: “Night of the Kings” (Neon)
Best Documentary: “All In: The Fight For Democracy” (Amazon Studios)
Best Animation: “Soul” (Pixar/Disney)
Best Short Film: “Two Distant Strangers”
Breakout Performance: Radha Blank (Netflix)
Breakout Director: Shaka King (Warner Bros.)

The organization, whose membership spans the U.S., the Caribbean, Europe and Africa and is the largest of its kind, also announced its Top 10 films of the year (listed here in ranked order): “Judas And The Black Messiah,” “One Night In Miami,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Nomadland,” “Night Of The Kings,” “American Skin,” “Da 5 Bloods,” “Minari,” “Miss Juneteenth” and “The United States Vs. Billie Holiday.”

“The common theme with all of our Top 10 Films this year is the grace of humanity. All of these films spotlighted different circumstances that put the human spirit to a test. During a year when COVID-19 forced everyone on this planet to unite against a common threat to our health and well-being, these films spoke to the resilience and courage we all possess to overcome challenging odds. The AAFCA members were deeply heartened and inspired by these amazing stories as we also look forward to a return to “going to the movies” with our family and friends,” said Robertson.

The public airing for the 12th Annual AAFCA Awards virtual ceremony will take place at 8pm CT on Saturday, April 17th. For updates on how to stream the ceremony, follow AAFCA on Twitter and Instagram. For more information, visit the official site of AAFCA.

THE SPINE OF NIGHT A SXSW 2021- MIDNIGHTERS SECTION

World Premiere screening on Thursday, March 18 at 8:00pm CST

Genre: Fantasy, Animation, Horror
Production Co.: Gorgonaut Pictures
Director and Writer: Philip Gelatt, Morgan Galen King
Starring: Richard E. Grant, Lucy Lawless, Patton Oswalt, Betty Gabriel and Joe Manganiello and Abby Savage, Larry Fessenden and Rob McClure

This epic begins many years ago when an ambitious young man steals forbidden knowledge from a sacred plant and, as he falls to its darker temptations, unleashes ages of suffering onto mankind. As his power grows over the years, there are many who stand against him. Among them are a daring tomb-robber, star-crossed lovers, a maniacal necromancer, winged assassins, and an undying guardian.

THE SPINE OF NIGHT is an ultra-violent, hand-rotoscoped epic fantasy inspired by the cult classic works of animators Ralph Bakshi and Frank Franzetta. The film is set in a fantasy land ripe with magic and intrigue where a dark force is unleashed sending mankind into an age of ruin. It falls on heroes from different eras and cultures to fight back , and stars Richard E. Grant (STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER, BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA), Lucy Lawless (ASH VS. EVIL DEAD, XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS ), Patton Oswalt (THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2, PARKS AND RECREATION), Betty Gabriel (GET OUT, UPGRADE), and Joe Manganiello (JUSTICE LEAGUE, SPIDER-MAN), also featuring Abby Savage(ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK), and Larry Fessenden (THE DEAD DON’T DIE, DEPRAVED) and Rob McClure.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

#SXSWFilm
#thespineofnight
https://www.facebook.com/gorgonautfilm/
https://twitter.com/pmjeepers
https://twitter.com/donkeycity

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SILENCE & DARKNESS Available NOW on VOD and Digital

Writer and Director: Barak Barkan
Starring: Mina Walker, Joan Glackin, and Jordan Lage
Runtime: 1 hour 18 min
Rating: Not Yet Rated
Genre: Thriller/Drama
Country: U.S.

SILENCE & DARKNESS is now available on VOD/Digital in the U.S. and Canada on Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, as well as Direct TV, Dish Network, Vubiquity, and Deluxe Canada.

After the death of their mother, blind and deaf sisters Anna and Beth live happily in a secluded small town with Father. However, when a neighbor stops by, Anna and Beth begin to question Father’s medical diagnoses and start to realize his intentions are more sinister than they could have imagined.

Shot in the haunting ephemeral landscapes of Vermont, and at times disturbing, SILENCE & DARKNESS carefully crafts a harrowing, and eerie portrait of two sisters forced to use every skill they have to uncover the truth about their family. Writer/director Barak Barkan’s feature debut takes the audience to an elliptical presence in Anna and Beth’s world, guiding our imaginations to follow them into peculiar, secret places.

“I sought to create tension between the viewer and the film, both through Anna and Beth’s interactions and Father’s backstory,” says writer/director Barak Barkan. “My goal is that while viewing the film, the audience will inhabit a constant state of curious unease—desperate to find out what led to the circumstances of this family’s life and what is going to happen next—while simultaneously fearful of the answer.”

Writer and Director: Barak Barkan
Producers: Barak Barkan and Pablo Burn
Cinematographer: Omar Nasr
Editor: Colton Fordyce
Music by Bob Dylan.

KOKO-DI KOKO-DA on VOD in US and Canada on December 8th

Dark Star Pictures

Runtime: 1 hour 26 minutes
Director: Johannes Nyholm (THE GIANT)
Starring: Peter Belli, Leif Edlund, Ylva Gallon, Katarina Jackobson, Brandy Litmanen
Language: Swedish and Danish with English subtitles
Rating: Not Rated
Genre: Horror, Fantasy

Koko Di Koko-Da is currently in Us Virtual Theaters in Los Angeles and New York (Laemmle Theaters) and major cities including: Philadelphia (Film Society), Cleveland (Cinematheque), Columbus (Gateway Film Center) and Durham (Carolina Theater)

Opens at Montclair Film Virtual Cinema on November 13th with more to follow.

On VOD in US & Canada on December 8th: Apple TV/ iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Xbox, Vudu, You Tube, Fandango Now, Dish Network and all major cable providers (Including: Comcast/Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox and Verizon Fios)

Link to buy tickets: https://linktr.ee/KokoDiKokoDa

Leif Edlund in Johannes Nyholm’s KOKO-DI KOKO-DA (Credit: Dark Star Pictures)

Elin and Tobias are a happily married couple who regularly vacation with their young daughter. The family is on a dreamy holiday when an innocuous case of food poisoning derails their plans and forever alters the course of their lives.

Three years later, the once loving couple is on the road again to go camping, looking for one last chance to go back to the way things used to be. But what once was is lost, and our characters instead find themselves having to relive the same nightmarish events, as that day and the horrors it brings repeat themselves infinitely. Together, they must overcome their trauma, reconcile with their past and fight for their lives. Over, and over, and over again.

Discerned through a dreamlike fabric, a story emerges about relationships in general, grief and reconciliation in particular, and love as a healing force.

KOKO-DI KOKO-DA is written, directed and produced by Johannes Nyholm, a Swedish, Gothenburg-based writer and director, managing his own production company. He has made a bunch of music videos, some short films and one feature, THE GIANT. With a background in classical animation he often mixes different styles and cinematic universes, moving freely in the border between dream and reality.

Distributed in North America by: Dark Star Pictures
Runtime: 1 hour 26 minutes
Starring: Leif Edlund, Ylva Gallon, Katarina Jacobson, Peter Belli, Morad Baloo Khatchadorian, Brandy Litmanen
Production Company: Johannes Nyholm Production and Beofilm
Director/Scriptwriter/Producer: Johannes Nyholm
Director of Photography: Johan Lundborg, Tobias Höiem-Flyckt
Executive Producer: Peter Hyldahl
Co-Producer: Maria Møller Christoffersen
Produced by: Penelope JulieBruun Bjerregaard
Assistant producer: Maria Møller Christoffersen
Co-producer: Peter Hyldahl
Executive producer: Johannes Nyholm
Cinematographers: Tobias Höiem-Flyckt, Johan Lundborg
Editor: Johannes Nyholm
Music: Olof Cornéer, Simon Ohlsson

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KOKO-DI KOKO DA: An Interview with Director Johannes Nyholm

I had the pleasure of talking to Johannes Nyholm, director of Koko Di Koko Da.

A horror film about Elin and Tobias a happily married couple who regularly vacation with their young daughter. The family is on a dreamy holiday when an innocuous case of food poisoning derails their plans and forever alters the course of their lives.

YR: You have said that the setting for the film was in the wee hours of the morning when dreams are the most untamed and that is how you came up with idea for the film. Was that the process throughout the filmmaking?

Johannes Nyholm: Yes. This film had its own life. First of all, it was inspired by a dream that came to me. I saw what was happening in the film in front of my eyes while being half awake asleep in the wee hours. I wrote it down and shot it and I realized it had to be something more. It was too crude, harsh, too nightmarish. It was impossible to watch it. Things happen in my life by chance and the story elements that I added to the film were really strange things that just happened that told me how the story should be told. It did not feel like I came up with it. It is more like it came to me.

YR: You mentioned you had a background in classical animation.

Johannes Nyholm: Yes, I went to animation school along time ago. I also have a history of working with musician and doing a lot of music video. Music goes well with animation.

YR: You had two scenes of a family of rabbits telling the story of death, was that a way of paying homage to classical animation, including it in your work?

Johannes Nyholm: It wasn’t an idea of paying homage. I just felt it was needed to tell the story from a different perspective. And to show a little comfort and some beauty and poetry to the audience as well. Other wise without these images and musical interlude the film would be too horrible to endure.

YR: How and what did you do to prepare as a writer, director and producer for the film?

Johannes Nyholm: I started this film as a learning process. When I started to make this film, I had no experience directing. I had almost no experience working with a big film crew. I have made some music video before but did not have any sound on set there were just a couple people with a camera doing some improvised stuff. Now, it is like a complex story with a lot of people involved. For me it was a bit scary. But most of all, I kind of like the idea of losing control, of not really knowing what to do and how to solve things. It is more fun to work that way. I had hoped it adds some kind of primal element to the story. Even I as the director cannot really control it and something else would come out, something that is bigger than my thoughts, better than my thoughts, something more irrational.

YR: What was it like working with your cast members?

Johannes Nyholm: It was fantastic. As I said, it was like a learning process for me working with actors. I never even cast them. There was no competition for the lead characters.

I found two actors I have seen in a short film that a friend of mine had directed. And I really like their energy, their energy together. I knew with this film, did not have so much money. But what I wanted was time. So, I wanted people to invest their time, their energy in the film. I wanted someone that could go the extra mile. I felt that directly with them. I tried some scenes with them, going around in the car, tested out some dialogue and it felt right. I gave them the part without asking someone else or looking somewhere in another direction.

YR: Can you tell us if there are any other projects you are working on or that you are planning on?

Johannes Nyholm: Yes. Right now, I am writing a script for something completely different. It is a lot brighter, a lot lighter story. It is a slap stick comedy. It is inspired by old classic slap stick comedy, like Charlie Chaplin. I want to give a bit brighter side to life.

YR: As a filmmaker, how has COVID-19 impacted you?

Johannes Nyholm: For me personally, no, it does not affect the writing process. It doesn’t affect my actual filmmaking. but it affects the way the film I made is presented.

I think it is tragic that you cannot see movies in a theater but through the computer. It is sad. I would have loved to be in the states and be there in the audience and talk to them and discuss the film with them afterwards. That is a lot of what filmmaking is about, trying to communicate and talk about your experiences. You kind of lose a little part of that.

Distributed in North America by: Dark Star Pictures
Runtime: 1 hour 26 minutes
Starring: Leif Edlund, Ylva Gallon, Katarina Jacobson, Peter Belli, Morad Baloo Khatchadorian, Brandy Litmanen
Director/Scriptwriter/Producer: Johannes Nyholm
Director of Photography: Johan Lundborg, Tobias Höiem-Flyckt
Executive Producer: Peter Hyldahl
Co-Producer: Maria Møller Christoffersen
Produced by: Penelope JulieBruun Bjerregaard
Assistant producer: Maria Møller Christoffersen
Co-producer: Peter Hyldahl
Executive producer: Johannes Nyholm
Cinematographers: Tobias Höiem-Flyckt, Johan Lundborg
Editor: Johannes Nyholm
Music: Olof Cornéer, Simon Ohlsson

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KOKO DI KOKO DA: Review

KokoDiKokoDa US Poster

Bottom line: Work it out so it will not work you over
Runtime: 1 hour 26 minutes
Director: Johannes Nyholm (THE GIANT)
Starring: Peter Belli, Leif Edlund, Ylva Gallon, Katarina Jackobson, Brandy Litmanen
Language: Swedish and Danish with English subtitles
Rating: Not Rated
Genre: Horror, Fantasy

Deal with the demons from within before you can take on the demons from without

Tobias (Leif Edlund), Elin (Ylva Gallon) and their daughter, Maja (Katarina Jacobson) travel to Demark to celebrate Maja’s 8^th birthday. Wearing their finest rabbit painted faces, they enjoy the day before her birthday with an enjoyable lunch. After lunch, Maja came upon a music box that played the Swedish nursey rhyme, Our Rooster Is Dead, that had her mesmerized. Her parents purchase the music box as a birthday present and have it gift wrapped. Things take a sudden horrific turn when Elin and Maja suffer from an allergic reaction to the shellfish they had for lunch in director Johannes Nyholm’s film KOKO DI KOKO DA.

Determined to celebrate their daughter and work on their crumbling marriage, Tobias and Elin set off on a camping trip that is soon anything but celebratory when three characters , Mog, a man with a straw hat (Peter Belli), Sampo, a huge giant of a man (Morad Baloo Khatchadorian) who carries a dead dog, and Cherry, a young woman with long black hair (Brandy Litmanen) with a vicious dog on a leach that is pictured on the music box, comes to life and torments Tobias and Elin over and over and over again.

Leif Edlund in Johannes Nyholm’s KOKO-DI KOKO-DA (Credit: Dark Star Pictures)

The bright, cheery atmosphere of Tobias, Elin, and Maja enjoying their lunch date, their laughter, their faces painted as rabbits shows the love, happy, and fun times the family shared. The changes in lighting as they arrived at their camping site in the forest.

Cinematographers Johan Lundborg and Tobias Holem-Flyckt keeps the fear going strong with the images depicted in the dark and creepy woods as three of Satan’s own torments them.
Olof Cornéer and Simon Ohlsson music scores provides suspense

After leaving the gas station, in route to the forest, Elin and Tobias are on the verge of a heated discussion because of Tobias’ perceived in difference to Elin and his constant joking, when Elin says to Tobias, “why don’t you say what you actually mean, for once? Tobias then tells her “I love you”. The line was a great neutralizer and diffuse the situation so they can at least start on the same page.

The two times the film transitioned into an old school curtain puppet show animation with three rabbits representing the family to tell the story of Maja death and the old rooster adds a surprising and unique element to the storytelling.

Considering how much Tobias liked to joke, it made for some funny moments in an otherwise deeply disturbing film, when Tobias, scarred to death, runs around frantically in his underwear.

Koko-Di Koko Da conveys a powerful message of the importance of people confronting and learning to deal with issues of grief and pain that resides in oneself, because if not, life will become one big loop, with the pain and sorrow endlessly replaying over and over and over again, making the life’s obstacles difficult to overcome.