Category: Independent Films

‘Arcades & Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day’ on Global TVOD and Digital June 9th

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Director: Ed Cunningham 
Producers: Jonathan Perkins, Seth Gordon and Mike J. Nichols
Writers: Ed Cunningham, Mike J. Nichols, and Paul Leach
Genre: Documentary
Run time: 1 hour 34 minutes
Executive producers: Ed Cunningham, Byron Ashley, Scott Jackson, Harrison Kordestani Kerry, Cathy Loveland and Paul Campoamor
Editor: Mike J. Nichols.

Arcades & Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day is a musical documentary following 74-year-old Walter Day - the father of esports and star of The King of Kong - as he battles a lawsuit threatening his legacy while fulfilling his dream of recording and performing the rock-opera style love songs he has been hearing in his head since having his heart broken at the height of the arcade era.

Ed Cunningham Statement:
The King of Kong premiered at Slamdance 2007 to a packed house of just the right type of audience. As the filmmakers, we could not have selected a better group of people to be the first to see something we had lived with for three years. The gamers, tech-types and doc lovers were all into it from frame one. “Is this real?” “Get a load of that guy.” The whispers, laughs and touching moments were all hitting. Then the projector overheated and shutdown. As the director sprinted up the aisle to help, I just listened. The break in tension allowed everyone to check in with each other. We knew the film could be seen as mocking people we had grown to love, doubt and admire and had worked tirelessly to present them truthfully and empathetically. And this audience got it. From that night forward, the original documentary has changed many people’s lives – for better and worse – so when Billy Mitchell called to tell me Walter Day was being sued based on things that happened in our movie, I began helping make sure he was properly defended. In a lawsuit strategy meeting I learned that some King of Kong fans were funding Walter to produce and perform the songs he had been hearing in his head since having his heart broken in the ‘80s, a story he shared in the original film. I felt a responsibility to document the conclusion to Walter’s journey and it was also a great opportunity because I love his music and want to help get out in the world.

‘HOMEGROWN: A Part Of/Apart From’ Now Streaming

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HOMEGROWN: A Part Of/Apart From – the first documentary short film series to bring together the voices and visions of filmmakers and communities from the U.S. Territories and Hawai‘i to reflect on their relationship with the mainland U.S. – is now available to stream in full from PBS.

Each film in the series explores issues of cultural identity, sovereignty, and agency, as local residents and members of the diaspora grapple with what it means to be “a part of and apart from” the mainland.

The series is presented by Firelight Media, Pacific Islanders in Communications, Black Public Media, Latino Public Broadcasting, and PBS, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

STREAM THE COLLECTION

Escambrón, Playa, dir. María del Mar Rosario

‘WHO IN THE HELL IS REGINA JONES?’ A film on the life of a Los Angeles Black News Icon Opens in Los Angeles on June 13th at Laemmle Monica Film Center

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Weigel Productions Corp. presents written work by Regina Jones
Directors: Sélène and Billy Miossi
Producer: Alissa Shapiro
Co-Producer: Nancy Novack
Executive Producer: Sam Pollard
Consulting Producer: Bruce Talamon
Director of Photography: Soraya Sélène
Archival Producer: Matt Jones
Editor: Nancy Novack
Co-Editor: Alisa Selman
Original Music: Gil Talmi

LOS ANGELES (Tuesday, April 24, 2023) – The critically-acclaimed new documentary feature film Who in the Hell is Regina Jones? will have its awards-qualifying theatrical release starting on Friday, June 13 at Laemmle Monica Film Center. A press screener (for review and coverage consideration) and interviews are available now with the filmmakers and film participant.

 

The film premiered at the 2024 American Black Film Festival in Miami and then went on to show at film festivals including Heartland Film Festival, New Orleans Film Festival, Micheaux Film Festival, Pan African Film Festival, Athena Film Festival, and the Cleveland International Film Festival. The film was also shown at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC as part of its series highlighting art and history as told on screen by Black artists.

The extraordinary life of Regina Jones is one not only shaped by history, but also one that made history. From being pregnant and married at 15, through the middle of the Watts Rebellion of 1965, to emerging as a groundbreaking newspaper publisher, Regina is a testament to the American experience. That lived experience, as a Black American woman raising a family of 5 children, stepping in places where she was not wanted, and navigating a world that offered her no favors, is one that is still too often overlooked.

Indie Las Vegas Film Festival Premiere of John Lacy and Rachel Bailit’s French New Wave film “Everyone Asked About You”

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Director and Writer: John Lacy
Starring Rachel Bailitm John Lacy, Michael Wiles, Khrystyne Haje, Brea Bee, Patrick Gallagher, Werner Daehn, Kelly Mullis, Henry Jaglom
Run time: 1 hour 27 minutes
Producers: Rachel Bailit,
John Lacy, Ursula Rudorfer
Director of photographer: Denis Maloney ASC
Editor: Giovanni Mocibob
Executive Producer: Hana Wagner

“Everyone Asked About You” is the story of Jack & Simone. Simone Deville, a former child star who at age 12 was left unsupervised by the adults who hired her and consequently molested by her 23-year old co-star; Jack Downey, a low level film producer desperately chasing financing to either make his next film, or pay off his last one. Together, they make up a far too common pairing of artists struggling to remain relevant and employed in an industry that quickly moves on once the shine is off the apple. With a pair of potential unscrupulous investors on the hook to finally get them back into production on a project that might just put Simone back on the Hollywood map, the couple arrive at an unsavory crossroads of loyalty and integrity that puts them at risk to lose it all. It is a story that examines the treacherously lopsided power dynamic in an industry filled with dreamers who will compromise their souls to achieve their goals. How far will Jack & Simone go to stay in the game?

FROM DIRECTOR JOHN LACY

After working with two child actors on my last film, ‘Rosebud Lane,’ I was inspired to dedicate my next film to two dark, unsavory subjects prevalent in Hollywood since its inception: reckless/abusive treatment of children in the showbiz workplace, and sexual objectification of women behind the scenes. ‘Everyone Asked About You’ examines a toxic relationship all too common in the film world; the compromises artists are asked (forced?) to make to stay employed - and relevant. Our hope in making this film is that conversations are sparked about how we move forward in our treatment of each other when the power dynamic regarding hiring/casting/compensation is so disproportionate.

 ‘Uncle Roy’ from acclaimed LGBTQ+ filmmaking team Keri Pickett and Dawn Mikkelson

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“Uncle Roy” is a poignant exploration of family, memory, and artistic legacy. Filmmaker Keri Pickett delves into the life of her 93-year-old uncle, Roy Blakey, a trailblazer in theatrical ice skating and gay male photography. Their deep bond, as the last members of their family tree, is revealed through decades of recent and archival footage.

Roy’s story spans from the Depression-era to the present, beginning with his career in 1950s and 60s ice shows, finding an authentic gay life in the world of touring performances. He became a celebrated photographer in 1970s New York, as a second career, capturing stars like Debbie Allen, Shirley MacLaine, and Divine. He pioneered contemporary male nude photography with his groundbreaking book, HE (1972). Inspired by Roy, Keri followed in his footsteps, becoming a photographer and strengthening their lifelong connection.

FROM DIRECTOR KERI PICKETT
This is a personal documentary about my uncle, our relationship, and our dreams, and there is no one better to tell this story than me. Our family is very small, and we all share a desire to preserve history. Roy’s parents, my grandparents, were polaroid-carrying genealogists and their love story inspired a nation (“Love in the ‘90s” 1995). Roy’s success inspired me to believe in my dream of becoming a photographer. Roy’s 8mm film clips helped turn me into a documentary filmmaker.

I have decades of footage, and it is hard to know where to start to tell such a story. It is all important to me. Having an outside eye on the larger themes, as well as the funny little moments, led me to partner with Dawn Mikkelson, my co-director from our film Finding Her Beat,” as producer and editor. She has helped me find the balance between personal, lived experience and finding the true essence of the story.

Dawn and I have assembled a number of trusted industry allies as well as journalistic-minded friends, leaning on them to see if the emotions resonate, as we work to ensure that “Uncle Roy” entertains as it maintains a unique and authentic intimacy. This is a story clearly connected to universal themes of caregiving, legacy, and family.

Dawn has a history of making documentary films on topics of caregiving, palliative care, and late-life care, and we plan to bring in caregiving consultants as another partnership and data point, ensuring that this project is informed by their insights into these difficult themes.

Los Angeles Premiere Monkey Wrench Films’ Theatrical Release of “Arcades & Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day” Follow-Up to Iconic Indie “The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters”

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Director: Ed Cunningham 
Producers:  Jonathan Perkins, Seth Gordon, and Mike J. Nichols
Writers: iEd Cunningham, Mike J. Nichols, and Paul Leach
Executive producers: Ed Cunningham, Byron Ashley, Scott Jackson, Harrison Kordestani Kerry, Cathy Loveland and Paul Campoamor
Editor: Mike J. Nichols

Arcades & Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day is the feature film directorial debut of award-winning filmmaker Ed Cunningham that tells the story of 74-year-old Walter Day - the father of esports and star of The King of Kong - as he battles a lawsuit threatening his legacy while fulfilling his dream of recording and performing the rock-opera style love songs he has been hearing in his head since having his heart broken at the height of the arcade era.

Director’s Statement: The King of Kong premiered at Slamdance 2007 to a packed house of just the right type of audience. As the filmmakers, we could not have selected a better group of people to be the first to see something we had lived with for three years. The gamers, tech-types and doc lovers were all into it from frame one. “Is this real?” “Get a load of that guy.” The whispers, laughs and touching moments were all hitting. Then the projector overheated and shutdown. As the director sprinted up the aisle to help, I just listened. The break in tension allowed everyone to check in with each other. We knew the film could be seen as mocking people we had grown to love, doubt and admire and had worked tirelessly to present them truthfully and empathetically. And this audience got it. From that night forward, the original documentary has changed many people’s lives – for better and worse – so when Billy Mitchell called to tell me Walter Day was being sued based on things that happened in our movie, I began helping make sure he was properly defended. In a lawsuit strategy meeting I learned that some King of Kong fans were funding Walter to produce and perform the songs he had been hearing in his head since having his heart broken in the ‘80s, a story he shared in the original film. I felt a responsibility to document the conclusion to Walter’s journey and it was also a great opportunity because I love his music and want to help get out in the world.

About Monkey Wrench Films:
Denver & LA-based, with distribution partners in more than a dozen countries, Monkey Wrench Films is making literal and metaphorical waves in the indie film world with multiple award-winning acquisitions and a plethora of feature films in recent distribution. As self-proclaimed “industry disruptors”, Monkey Wrench Films specializes in bringing well-deserved indie films (narrative and documentary) to the big screen and creating post-show buzz in the entertainment industry. Their current and recent feature film slate includes, “Who Is Stan Smith”, from Lebron James’s Uninterrupted studio, the BAFTA Award-winning feature, “The Hermit of Treig”, the much-anticipated followup to “The King of Kong” the 2007 box office wunderkind, “Arcades and Love Songs”, “Geoff Marslett’s “Quantum Cowboys”, starring Lily Gladstone and David Arquette, Tom Putnam’s “The Dark Divide”, starring david Cross and Debra Messing. See their full release lineup at monkeywrenchfilms.com

SERIESFEST ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR UPCOMING FESTIVAL

‘The Four Seasons’ Series Star Marco Calvani To Be Presented
With ‘Breakthrough Actor’ Award

Highlights Include International Spotlight to Showcase Global Series, Timely Industry Conversations on Topics Like AI and Inclusion, and a Live Podcast Recording 

Marco Calvani Photo Credit: Gerson Lopes
Marco Calvani Photo Credit: Gerson Lopes

April 9, 2025 (Denver, CO) - SeriesFest has added new panels, screenings and special events in the lineup for the festival’s 11th season, taking place in Denver April 29 - May 4. Actor Marco Calvani from the upcoming Netflix comedy series “The Four Seasons” from Universal Television will be honored with the “Breakthrough Actor” award at an advance screening and panel featuring Calvani and series co-showrunner and co-writer, Tracey Wigfield.

The ACLU’s podcast At Liberty will turn the mic on its host, W. Kamau Bell (comedian, TV host and longtime ACLU Artist Ambassador for Racial Justice), for a live podcast taping in conversation with Mo Fry Pasic (comedian, actor, writer and host of the Worse Than You podcast) discussing political comedy and making sense of this moment in America. There will also be a panel with SeriesFest alum, actor and filmmaker Kit Williamson (“Unconventional”) and Revry co-founders Damian Pelliccione and Chris Rodriguez to address breaking barriers in traditional media and fostering an inclusive environment for both established and emerging LGBTQ+ talent.

The future of storytelling will be the main topic as Brian Bird (Executive Producer, Co-Creator, “When Calls the Heart”), Chris King (SVP, Drama Development, Sony Pictures Television), and Lindsay Rovegno (Vice President of Production, ESPN Originals) gather to discuss the latest trends shaping the TV landscape, what distributors are actively seeking, and bold predictions for the next wave of hits. In addition, Julie Ann Crommett (Founder and CEO of Collective Moxie), Lawon Exum (Entertainment and Media Director of Disability Belongs) and Elijah McKinnon (Co-Founder and Executive Director of Emmy-nominated non-profit Open Television) will participate in a discussion on the power of media and identity. For SeriesFest’s Vanguard Workshop series, actor and filmmaker Kit Williamson will share his experience crafting compelling pitches in a workshop and design demonstration featuring Canva, the all-in-one visual communication platform.

SeriesFest will host SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, Flawless Co-CEO & Founder Scott Mann and Wonder Dynamics (an Autodesk company) Co-Founder Nikola Todorovic in a conversation exploring how SAG-AFTRA is navigating the rapidly evolving relationship between the entertainment industry and AI technology.

The only U.S. television festival to feature an International Spotlight, SeriesFest will include the U.S. Premiere Screening of series from France, Egypt, Norway, Lithuania and the United Kingdom. Series included are:

A Better Man (Ølhunden Berit) - Norway, Lithuania - Maipo Film in collaboration with ARTBOX for NRK in co-production with ZDFneo

Ça C'est Paris - France - Mon Voisin Productions, Federation Studios France

Enjoy! - France - produced by LE COLLECTIF 64, broadcast by France.tv Slash

The Island (An t-Eilean) - United Kingdom - Black Camel Pictures for the BBC, UK, in association with All3Media International

Lam shamseya (لام شمسية)  - Egypt - Mediahub

"This year’s SeriesFest lineup continues to expand upon what is happening in the industry, not just in the United States, but around the world. The impact of AI, streaming and other technologies bring new challenges and opportunities for the industry,” said SeriesFest Co-Founder & CEO Randi Kleiner. “We aim to highlight the creators and innovators by bringing the people who are leading the industry to SeriesFest to share their perspectives.”

Now in its 11th season, SeriesFest was created to champion and discover innovative projects in the television industry. Please visit seriesfest.com for a full schedule of events. Festival badges granting access to SeriesFest on April 29 - May 4 can be purchased at seriesfest.com. Tickets for the festival’s opening night event with Amy Schumer & Friends can also be purchased separately through AXS.com. Please find programming details at https://seriesfest.com/festival/.

SeriesFest: Season 11 is presented with generous support from the following sponsors: Canva, Liberty Global, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Denver Film, Caz Matthews, Xfinity and United Airlines, along with generous support from the SCFD.

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ABOUT SERIESFEST

SeriesFest, a non-profit organization, champions and empowers artists at the forefront of episodic storytelling by providing year-round opportunities for creators and industry professionals to connect, collaborate, and share stories, which inspire and impact global audiences. Each spring, SeriesFest culminates in a highly-curated and celebrated Denver-based festival and marketplace. Dedicated to showcasing innovative episodic content, the annual festival includes in-competition independent pilot screenings, panels, workshops, live reads, parties and network television premieres. Follow @SeriesFest on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.

Publicity Contact: Ginsberg / Libby, GLSF@ginsberglibby.com

For General Inquiries: info@seriesfest.com

E-Newsletter Sign-up: HERE

 ‘FIRST WORD ON HORROR’ (ETCH) Docu Series from Award-Winning Author Laird Barron

Releasing exclusively via Substack on February 7, 2025

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FIRST WORD ON HORROR (ETCH) Logo

Director: Philip Gelatt
Featuring: Stephen Graham Jones, Paul Tremblay, Elizabeth Hand, Laird Barron, and Mariana Enriquez
Producer: Will Battersby
Director of Photographer: Sean Kirby
Composer: Peter Scartabello
Editor: April Merl
Sound Designer: Ben Cheah

FIRST WORD ON HORROR is a fifteen-part documentary series that profiles five of the finest horror writers working today.

Across multiple episodes, each author discusses their life, their inspirations, their philosophies, and their writing techniques while reading one of their short stories. As fact and fiction blend, secrets are revealed and the delicate alchemy that turns human experience into creative expression begins to emerge.

Award winning author Laird Barron talks about his unsettling childhood in Alaska.(ETCH)

Tribeca’s Inaugural Storytelling Summit from June 5-15, 2025

Storyteling Summit

Where Vision Meets Possibility

We’re excited to announce a new addition to this year’s program: the Tribeca Storytelling Summit — a festival-within-the-festival for the entire filmmaking community.

The multi-day summit will take place June 5-15 alongside the Festival, bringing together visionary filmmakers, storytellers, and industry leaders for thoughtfully curated panels, intimate workshops, and networking opportunities. Designed specifically to help foster collaboration and supercharge careers, this year’s inaugural Storytelling Summit will be the start of the next wave of storytelling success in TV, film, digital media, and beyond.

To kick things off, we announced our first featured speakers, including Christine Vachon, Julio Torres, Steve Buscemi and Wren Arthur, Jeremy O. Harris, and our own Jane Rosenthal. When you attend our Storytelling Summit, you’ll gain insights from industry veterans like these, while also connecting with a diverse group of fellow creatives (and maybe even see a film or two).

The Tribeca Storytelling Summit is open to anyone with a story to tell. Badges are $250 and provide full access to the Summit’s programming June 5-15.

Find more details about the event at tribecafilm.com/storytellingsummit.

ACE Winners Announced for the 75th ACE Eddie Awards

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Winners for Outstanding Editing In Film, Television and Documentaries were announced today, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Los Angeles at UCLA’s Royce Hall

American Cinema Editors (ACE) announced today the winners for the 75th Annual ACE Eddie Awards, recognizing outstanding editing in 14 categories of film, television and documentaries. The winners were announced at the live ceremony at UCLA’s Royce Hall.

Acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu received the ACE Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award, recognizing a filmmaker who exemplifies distinguished achievement in the art and business of film. Film editors Maysie Hoy, ACE and Paul Hirsch, ACE received Career Achievement Awards for their outstanding contributions to film editing.

A full list of winners for the 75th Annual ACE Eddie Awards follows:

BEST EDITED FEATURE FILM (Drama, Theatrical):

Emilia Pérez - Juliette Welfling

BEST EDITED FEATURE FILM (Comedy, Theatrical):

Wicked - Myron Kerstein, ACE

BEST EDITED ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:

The Wild Robot - Mary Blee

BEST EDITED DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:

Will & Harper - Monique Zavistovski, ACE

BEST EDITED DOCUMENTARY SERIES

Chimp Crazy (102 - Gone Ape)
Evan Wise, ACE
Charles Divak, ACE
Adrienne Gits, ACE
Doug Abel, ACE

BEST EDITED MULTI-CAMERA COMEDY SERIES:
Frasier (207 - My Brilliant Sister) - Russell Griffin, ACE

BEST EDITED SINGLE CAMERA COMEDY SERIES:

What We Do in the Shadows (603 - Sleep Hypnosis)
Liza Cardinale, ACE
Dane McMaster, ACE

BEST EDITED DRAMA SERIES:

Shogun (110 - A Dream of A Dream)
Maria Gonzales, ACE
Aika Miyake

BEST EDITED FEATURE FILM (NON-THEATRICAL):
Road House
Doc Crotzer, ACE

BEST EDITED LIMITED SERIES:
Baby Reindeer (104 - Episode 4)
Peter H. Oliver
Benjamin Gerstein

BEST EDITED NON-SCRIPTED SERIES:
Welcome to Wrexham (305 - Temporary)
Tim Wilsbach, ACE
Steve Welch, ACE
Michael Brown
Michael Oliver
Tim Roche
Matt Wafaie
Jenny Krochmal
Mohamed el Manasterly

BEST EDITED VARIETY TALK/SKETCH SHOW OR SPECIAL:
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (1103 - Boeing)
Anthony Miale, ACE

BEST EDITED ANIMATED SERIES:
X-Men '97 (105 - Remember It)
Michelle McMillan

About American Cinema Editors

American Cinema Editors (ACE) is an honorary society that has been championing the art, craft and business of film editing since 1950. Through signature events like EditFest Global, the ACE Eddie Awards and Invisible Art/Visible Artists, the organization celebrates the vital role of editors in storytelling and provides a dynamic global platform to illuminate the craft. ACE is committed to elevating the profile of film editing, fostering a diverse and inclusive community and educating future generations through a variety of active mentorship and scholarship programs. Through its programs, publications (CinemaEditor), podcasts (Editors on Editing, Global Editing Perspectives) and active educational activities, this collective of accomplished film editors is at the forefront of both preserving cinematic history while simultaneously preparing the next generation of film editors in a continuously evolving artistic climate.