Unspool Hollywood

Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) Review: When you carry your people on your shoulders

Release dates: January 23, 2025 Sundance
February 13, 2025 Hulu and Disney+

Director: Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson
Appearances: Andre 3000, D'Angelo, Chaka Khan, Q-Tip, Nile Rodgers, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, George Clinton, Ruth Copeland, Clive Davis
Genre: Documentary
Run time: 1 hour 52 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English

An extraordinary film from director Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson ‘Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)’ gives an inside look at a man who revolutionized music with his unique style.

We have heard his great music for decades and now have the opportunity to learn about behind the music.

The film will certainly have you wanting to laugh and cry as Sly’s life unfolds.

We have heard his great music for decades and now have the opportunity to learn about behind the music.

The film will make you want to laugh and cry as Sly’s life unfolds.

Questlove does a wonderful job directing the film. It's not a story of sensationalism or exploitation of a man, but an honest look at who he was and how he came to be in the music business.

One cannot help but see the weight of the burden he is carrying. All the while, dealing with what appears to be mental health issues. It makes you wonder, was his drug use a means of self-medicating?

For a revolutionary musician and songwriter who had a huge impact on music, Sly and the Family Stone's story was long overdue.

Questlove has directed another great film. Stream it, you will not be disappointed.

Interviews from Greg Zola's Small Talk About Sly and Michael Rubinstone's On the Sly: In Search of the Family Stone are included in the film.

Distributor: Hulu
Producers: Amit Dey, Joseph Patel, Derik Murray
Editor: Josh Pearson
Production companies: Onyx Collective, RadicalMedia, MRC, Two One Five Entertainment, StarDust Films, Network Entertainment, ID8 Multimedia, Sony Music Entertainment

‘Who in the Hell is Regina Jones?’ Review: Bold, fearless, strong, unapologetic, that is who she is, and more

Directors: Billy Miossi, Soraya Sélène
Writer: From the writings of Regina Jones
Cast: Regina Jones
Executive producer: Sam Pollard
Producer: Alissa Shapiro
Composer: Gil Talmi
Editor: Nancy Novack
Co-editor: Alisa Selman

Regina said, I don’t understand people liking me or being interested in me. Who in the hell in Regina Jones?

Directors Billy Miossi and Soraya Sélènetr’s film brings Regina Jones’ words to life on the screen in Who in the hell in Regina Jones?’ A remarkable story of an truly extraordinary woman from the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. A woman, along with her husband Ken Jones, in the 1980, founded ‘SOUL.’ The first publication devoted exclusively to African American music. It was the first time that what African American musicians where doing was presented as news.

Listening to her speak of getting pregnant and married at 15 years old and Ken 19 years old and having 5 kids by the age of 22 years old, and the trauma and grief that she had to manage while raising herself, her family and building ‘SOUL’ into a major publication in the United States.

It is said that behind every great man, is a great woman. And Regina was that. Hearing her talk about how Ken wanted to be a reporter and when the Watts and Rodney King riots took place, she told Ken to get out there and start reporting. And as they say, the rest is history. He had an outstanding career as the first African American on-air news reporter.

When speaking about moving away from Watts, Regina, “I have not forgotten where I come from, I just know that is not where I want to be.”

What best explains to me who Regina are these words and jester from her, “matter how many times you slip and fall, don’t ever give up on yourself. And if other people give up on you, she gives the middle finger.”

Regina Jones is truly an exceptional woman, with an amazing story that is long overdue.

An excellent must-see film

The 2025 Tribeca Creators Market

Connecting bold, distinctive filmmakers with industry pros

Announcing the Official Selections for the Creators Market at the 2025 Tribeca Festival. The Creators Market, presented in partnership with Indeed, a leading global matching and hiring platform, is our three-day, invitation-only industry marketplace, where we bring together promising creatives and the industry pros that can help make their dreams come true.

Learn More About the Creators Market

Some of the storytellers presenting their latest projects at the Creators Market include:

- Social justice feature documentary Cop City, directed by Christopher

Frierson and Oscar-nominated producer/director Sam Cullman

- Feature comedy Doggie, starring Anna Baryshnikov (Dickinson) and Juliana Canfield
  (Succession)
- Thriller A Few Days in the Sun, directed by student Oscar-winning filmmaker Mauro Mueller, making his feature directorial debut
- Whimsical, kaleidoscopic documentary Luna Luna, directed by Jason Zeldes, explores the Luna Luna amusement park
- Another Country, a series that uncovers hidden histories of oppression, resistance, and resilience across the United States from Founder and CEO of The Who We Are Project, Jeffery Robinson, award-winning filmmakers Emily Kunstler and Sarah Kunstler, and Creative Associate Producer Tom Hanks

Feeling inspired? Our invite-only Creators Market isn’t the only opportunity for networking and growth at Tribeca. Attend our Storytelling Summit June 5-15 for a series of curated panels, talks, and events with industry vets designed to give independent storytellers the access and connections they need to propel their projects forward.

Or you can take a deeper look at the business of storytelling June 9-10 at Tribeca X, where we invite top leaders in entertainment, marketing, media, and more to discuss the art and business of storytelling.

Deadline In Cannes – Scarlett Johansson Debuts ‘Eleanor the Great’

Blue Harbor Takes ‘THE SOUND’ in Theaters and VOD June 27th

New York, NY – May 5, 2025 – Blue Harbor Entertainment announced today that it will release Brendan Devane’s THE SOUND in theaters and on VOD beginning June 27.

In horror thriller THE SOUND, a world-class group of climbers is granted access to the Forbidden Wall, a mysterious rock wall previously closed for decades. Among the climbers is Sean (Marc Hills), whose grandfather made an ill-fated attempt 63 years earlier. During the group’s ascent, they come face to face with a malevolent force that quickly turns their expedition into a harrowing battle for survival hundreds of feet above the ground.

THE SOUND is produced, directed and written by Brendan Devane, best known for his recent horror feature The Canyonlands. The film stars Marc Hills (Elephant Department), Rachel Finninger (American Horror Story), Nicholas Baroudi (The Hating Game), Jocelyn Hudon (The Strain), William Fitchtner (Crash, Armageddon),Christina Kirkman (Trigger Happy), Jolene Kay (Star Trek), David Clennon (The Thing), Hazel Findlay (Reel Rock), Brette Harrington (The Alpinist), Adrian Ballinger (Edge Of The Earth ), and Alex Honnold (Free Solo).

Featuring luminaries from the climbing world to add terrifying realism to the action, the film features a score by James Iha (The Smashing Pumpkins), with Directors Of Photography Ryan Galvan and Brett Lowell (The Alpinist, The Climb) and Editing by Alex Russek (Reel Rock).

The film is produced by Brendan Devane and executive produced by James Devane on behalf of Sadieland Productions.

"I'm very excited to be working with Blue Harbor as we all do our best to navigate the challenges of the independent film market. They understand that the traditional distribution model needs to adapt and change to better serve the many talented filmmakers who are trying to get their projects elevated above the noise. It’s refreshing to work with a distributor that focuses on the project's needs and is filmmaker friendly along with bringing years of experience and knowledge in the distribution space. When we weighed our options, Blue Harbor Entertainment was a great fit and an easy decision. We are honored to work with them to bring audiences the exciting rock climbing action/horror The Sound, " said Devane.

"We're big fans of what Brendan has accomplished with The Sound. His attention to detail and commitment to realism creates a terrific aesthetic and environment for his film. Our favorite genre films are those where both of those elements play a major role, right alongside the characters and story. We can't wait to make the audience's palms sweat," said Blue Harbor in a statement.

Led by Amanda Sherwin, Mike Messina and Seth Needle, Blue Harbor Entertainment recently released the award-winning untold story of Dr. Audrey Evans, Audrey's Children, starring Natalie Dormer in March, and A Nice Indian Boy, starring Karan Soni and Jonathan Groff, which has become the highest-grossing English-language film in limited release thus far this year. They will release Lilly, the powerful story of equal pay activist Lilly Ledbetter starring Patricia Clarkson, in May.

ABOUT BLUE HARBOR ENTERTAINMENT

Blue Harbor Entertainment is a boutique distributor of independent films designed for the business needs of today’s filmmakers and provides a comprehensive and full-scale distribution and marketing solution covering theatrical releases, home entertainment, transactional and subscription digital streaming platforms, and television. Established in 2023 by industry veterans Amanda Sherwin, Mike Messina and Seth Needle, and with a combined experience spanning hundreds of films over multiple decades, Blue Harbor was conceived as a much-needed alternative in today’s challenging U.S. distribution environment with a structure that empowers filmmakers. Notable releases include the cannabis horror/thriller Trim Season , starring Bethlehem Million (Sick) and Jane Badler (V), director Olivia Kuan’s award-winning documentary The Herricanes about The Houston Herricanes, a team that was part of the groundbreaking first women’s full tackle football league of the 1970s, and writer/director Zia Mohajerjasbi's award-winning film Know Your Place, a story about change and loss set amidst the landscape of a transforming Seattle as seen by a young Eritrean-American boy. Recent releases include the award-winning, untold story of Dr. Audrey Evans, Audrey's Children, starring Natalie Dormer, and the romantic comedy A Nice Indian Boy starring Karan Soni and Jonathan Groff, and will release Lilly, the powerful story of equal pay activist Lilly Ledbetter starring Patricia Clarkson, in May.

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

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.

‘Magazine Dream’ Starring Jonathan Majors

Director and Writer: Elijah Bynum
Starring: Jonathan Majors, Haley Bennett, Taylour Paige, Harrison Page, Harriet Sansom Harris, Mike O'Hearn
Genre: Drama
Rating: R
Run time: 2 hours 4 minutes
Language: English
Country: United States

Director and writer Elijah Bynum’s ‘Magazine Dream’ share the life and challenges of Killian Maddox (Jonathan Majors), an aspiring bodybuilder and mentally ill grocery store worker, who lives with grandfather Paw-Paw after his father killed his mother and committed suicide.

The other stars of the film are Jessie (Haley Bennett), a grocery store worker and Killian's love-interest; Pink Coat (Taylour Paige), a sex worker; Brad Vanderhorn (Mike O'Hearn), a professional bodybuilder and Killian's idol; William Lattimore (Harrison Page), Killian's grandfather; Patricia Waldron (Harriet Sansom Harris), Killian's counselor; Ken Donaghue (Bradley Stryker), a roofing and plumbing worker who assaults Killian; Dr. Prescott (Dan Donahue), Killian's doctor; (Craig Cackowski), as a bodybuilding contest judge who placed Killian poorly; the Head Judge (David Maurice Johnson) of the regional bodybuilding competition.

Distributor: Briarcliff Entertainment
Production Companies: Los Angeles Media Fund, JF Productions
Producers: Jennifer Fox, Dan Gilroy, Jeffrey Soros, Simon Horsman, Luke Rogers
Cinematographer: Adam Arkapaw
Editor: Jon Otazua
Music: Jason Hill

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

“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.

‘ONE to ONE: JOHN & YOKO’ in IMAX Today!

Magnolia Pictures, HBO Documentary Films & Mercury Studios Present A Plan B/KM

Exclusively in IMAX today April 11

TICKETS NOW ON SALE:
https://www.imax.com/johnandyoko

Director: Kevin MacDonald
Producer: Peter Worsley
Editor and Co-directed: Sam Rice-Edwards
Producers: Kevin MacDonald, Alice Webb
Executive Producers: Sean Ono Lennon, Marc Robinson, David Joseph, Steve Condie, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner
Music: Sean Ono Lennon

Director Kevin Macdonald’s ‘ONE TO ONE: JOHN & YOKO’ provides the ultimate behinds the scenes of his monumental One to One Benefit Concert that took place on August 30, 1972t, his one and only full-length concert after the leaving Th e Beatles, to raise money for disabled and abused children, after watching a Geraldo Rivera special on television. A television habit that went to the extreme
It provides an in dept look at their lives, after giving up their 70 acres estate in England to live in a tiny apartment in Greenwich Village, New York

The use of actual audio recording of their telephone conversation, video footage brings them both to life.

Hearing Yoko talk about the verbal abuse she suffered in England, after meeting John, reminds me of what Prince Harry and Dutchess Megahn have suffered after her relationship and marriage. She talked about how she developed a stutter because of the bullying and abuse

Listening to their performances, you think it could not get any better and then, they have these wonderful musical guests that takes things over the top.

One to One: John & Yoko is a great documentary , whose story gives a inside look at the Man and his Lady.

‘The Amateur: When Love Turns You into The Pro’ Starring Rami Malek in Theaters Today, April 11th

Director: James Hawes
Screenplay: Ken Nolan, Gary Spinelli
Based on: The Amateur by Robert Littell
Starring: Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, Michael Stuhlbarg, Laurence Fishburne
Genres: Vigilante, Action, Spy
Rating: PG-13
Country: United States
Language: English

Director James Hawes’ spy thriller ‘The Amateur” takes you on the harrowing journey of Charles "Charlie" Heller (Rami Malek), a CIA cryptographer, whose job it is to practice and study the techniques necessary for secure communication in the presence of potential or actual threat , loses his wife Sarah Horowitz (Rachel Brosnahan) in a London terrorist attack and decides to take matter into his own hand, after being trained by Robert Henderson (Laurence Fishburne), when all else fails.

The location for filming adds to the intrigue of the thrill as you travel through London, south-east of England, France and Turkey with Charlie as he becomes the pro in his quest to find his wife’s killers.

Cinematographer Martin Ruhe, editor Jonathan Amos and music man Volker Bertelmann brings The Amateur all together for an enjoyable movie experience,

The additional cast members are Inquiline Davies (Caitríona Balfe), Sean Schiller (Michael Stuhlbarg), CIA Deputy Director Alex Moore, Charlie's boss, Samantha O'Brien (Julianne Nicholson), Caleb Horowitz (Danny Sapani), Jackson O'Brien, a.k.a. The Bear (Jon Bernthal), Carlos (Adrian Martinez), The Professor ( Takehiro Hira), Mishka Blazhic (Marc Rissmann), Ellish (Joseph Millson) Ali Park (Alice Hewkin), Henry Garrett

The Amateur provides plenty of excitement as Charlie starts his travels in Europe as an amateur and becomes the ultimate professional.

Release date: April 11, 2025
Distributor: 20th Century Studios
Production company: Hutch Parker Entertainment
Producers: Hutch Parker, Dan Wilson, Rami Malek, Joel B. Michaels
Music: Volker Bertelmann
Cinematographer: Martin Ruhe
Editor: Jonathan Amos