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WACO Theater Center Announces Partnership with the City of Los Angeles

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LOS ANGELES, CA — May 7, 2025

WACO (Where Art Can Occur) Theater Center, the celebrated performing and visual arts organization dedicated to empowering communities and nurturing the dreams of artists and youth in Los Angeles, proudly announces its new role as co-operator and co-manager of the newly renovated Vision Theater Performing Arts Center in South Los Angeles’ historic Leimert Park Village. This collaboration marks a transformative chapter for the neighborhood and a move for the organization, blending its storied legacy with WACO’s mission of championing art, culture, and mentorship. “Joining forces with the City of Los Angeles through the Vision Theater is more than a
partnership—it’s the beginning of a bold new chapter for WACO and our impact on Los Angeles and the world,” says Shay Wafer, Executive Director of WACO Theater Center. “We believe storytelling has the power to transform lives, and the Vision Theater offers an unparalleled platform to share diverse voices from around the world. This space will be both a home and a national destination, impacting future visitors, youth, and the neighborhood economy.

As we step into this shared future, this partnership allows us to elevate local, national, and global talent and intertwine our mission to sustain the rich culture and history embedded in Leimert Park. ”Under the artistic direction of visionary Tina Knowles and the proven leadership of Shay Wafer,
WACO Theater Center’s relocation to the Vision Theater aims to spur impact, complementing the local artistic culture while driving economic growth and fostering community development.

As a creative epicenter, the venue will attract an estimated 150,000 visitors annually, driving increased foot traffic for local businesses and fostering unprecedented economic growth in the area.

“I know firsthand that the arts can be a saving grace. The opportunity I had to see a professional dance company perform as a young person from a small town, Galveston, Texas, gave me access to a world beyond my own understanding,” says Tina Knowles, Artistic Director and Founder of WACO Theater Center. “Our children deserve to have a place, right here in their neighborhood, where families and especially our children, can go and feel empowered. The Vision Theater is a gift of empowerment for us, the next generation, and together—with the help of WACO, the City of LA, and the community—we will ensure it remains true to that
commitment.”

Leimert Park has been a long-standing, vibrant hub for Black art and culture in Los Angeles.
The Vision Theater has stood at its center for nearly a century, originally serving as a
neighborhood movie theater. In 1990, legendary actress and trailblazer Marla Gibbs purchased
the theater alongside her daughter Angela Gibbs, renaming it the Vision Theater. Following an
economic recession and the aftermath of the 1992 Los Angeles uprising, the City of Los
Angeles purchased the theater in 1999 and later transformed it into a performing arts center.

"I want to thank WACO for partnering with the City in this important effort to revitalize the Vision Theater – a historic and iconic community space that has been closed for too long,” says Mayor Karen Bass. “With experience in the performing arts, WACO will execute and enhance the vision to highlight the vast creative and artistic visions of artists and youth throughout the City.

We will continue to support creative expression." The Vision Theater underwent multimillion-dollar renovations beginning in 2011, followed by transformative construction phases in 2015. These upgrades included reconfigured seating, an expanded stage, a fly loft, dressing rooms, green rooms, technical offices, and an orchestra pit.

Owned by the City of Los Angeles and now co-managed and co-operated with WACO and the
Department of Cultural Affairs, the new state-of-the-art Vision Theater Performing Arts Center
will serve as a home for cultural enrichment and artistic expression in the heart of the community. “The Vision Theater is a part of the cultural legacy of South Los Angeles, and I am proud that the City is taking powerful steps forward in realizing its potential,” said Councilwoman Heather Hutt, Council District 10. “This partnership between WACO, an organization that is deeply
rooted in the community and committed to uplifting Black voices through the arts, and the City will revitalize the theater, but also create a sanctuary for creativity, education, and cultural pride right in the heart of the Tenth District.”

Since 2016, WACO has been dedicated to presenting, commissioning, and amplifying artistic works that celebrate and highlight the rich heritage of the African diaspora. Through a
combination of performing arts, visual arts, mentorship, and education, WACO has provided a
home for artists and youth to share their voices and showcase their creativity to connect and
inspire others, supporting over 800 artists and 1,200 young people to build their dreams to date.
In 2023 alone, WACO’s Angels and Warriors mentorship program supported 88 young people,
while its arts programming elevated 157 artists.
For more information about WACO Theater Center, please visit https://wacotheatercenter.com/
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About WACO Theater Center
Founded in 2016 by Tina Knowles and Richard Lawson, WACO (Where Art Can Occur) Theater
Center is a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles dedicated to empowering artists and
audiences alike by providing a platform for stories rooted in the African diaspora. Through
performing and visual arts, mentorship, and education, WACO has provided a home for artists
and youth to share their voices and showcase their creativity to connect and inspire others.
WACO’s artistic and education programming is rooted in Black art and culture, incubating new
creative ideas, encouraging collaboration, and fostering an environment for community dialogue
around diasporic stories.

WACO Theater Center is a registered 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.

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‘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

SERIESFEST Season 11: SIX DAYS OF PANELS, PILOT COMPETITIONS, PARTIES AND SPECIAL EVENTS!

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SeriesFest hosted their annual Soirée in Denver, Colorado, where they honored Jason Ritter ("Matlock”, "Gravity Falls") with the "Distinguished Artist Award," Rhea Seehorn ("Better Call Saul”, "Cooper's Bar") with the “Excellence in Acting” Award, and Carnival Films with the "Impact in Television Award."

The star-studded event included Denver Governor Jared Polis, Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, as well as talent from across several of SeriesFest's panels and events. Mayan Lopez (Actor, “Lopez vs. Lopez”),  Audrey Morrissey (Showrunner and Executive Producer, "The Voice"), Jocko Sims ( Actor, "Grosse Pointe Garden Society"), Kit Williamson (Creator, Writer and Actor, “Unconventional”), Eric Ledgin (Showrunner and Executive Producer, "St. Denis Medical"), and more gathered to celebrate the honorees and SeriesFest 11!

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

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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 SherwinMike 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.

SERIESFEST The Season 11 Independent Pilot Competition and Special Awards Winners!

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Honors Awarded in Categories Including ‘Independent Drama Pilot,’ ‘Independent Comedy Pilot,’ ‘Independent Unscripted Pilot,’ ‘Colorado Pilots In-Progress,’ ‘Digital Short Series,’ ‘Late Night,’ ‘Pitch-A-Thon,’ and More

May 5, 2025 (DENVER, CO) – SeriesFest announced the winners of their Independent Pilot Competition at an awards presentation on Sunday, May 4th in Denver, Colorado. Juries of industry executives, journalists, creators and experts selected winners from over 50 pilots in categories including “Independent Pilot,” which receives $25K in-kind post production support from Company 3, “Digital Short Series,” “Late Night” and “Pitch-A-Thon.”

SeriesFest and Shondaland also partnered on the sixth cycle of the Women Directing Mentorship, a competition designed to discover aspiring female directors with a unique voice and provide a launchpad for their careers. This year’s winner, Christina YR Lim, will have the opportunity to shadow a director on an episode of a Shondaland original series.

Category winners include:

Independent Pilot – Drama: Lake Boga

Independent Pilot – Comedy: Settle Down

Independent Pilot – Unscripted: Vs. Goliath

Digital Short Series: F*ckUps Anonymous

Late Night: Stars Diner

Pitch-A-Thon: ZHIZHA

The full list of winners can be found below and at SeriesFest.com.

“We can think of no better way to close out another successful edition of the festival than to celebrate and give back to the independent storytellers who continue to push the boundaries of the medium,” said SeriesFest Co-Founders Randi Kleiner and Kaily Smith. “SeriesFest has a long history of being a discovery platform for the independent television community, and we are thrilled to be able to further this year’s creatives’ work through the opportunities these awards and resources provide.”

At the awards ceremony, SeriesFest also announced the final selections for four festival initiatives: The Inclusive Creator Fund, The Outstanding Series Format Deck presented by Canva Award, the Caz Matthews Fund, and The Rural Intersectionality Fund. To learn more about these initiatives, please visit SeriesFest.com/funds-awards.

The Inclusive Creator Fund, supported by the Anna & John J. Sie Foundation and Global Down Syndrome Foundation, selected R&R as the recipient of this year’s grant funds. The fund was created to support television projects that include talent with intellectual disabilities in front of and behind the camera. R&R follows Robbie and Rachel, codependent twins trying to “make it” in LA. Rachel (a sarcastic, raunchy, gay mess) brings the chaos, and Robbie (a neurotically organized, hopeless romantic with Down syndrome) cleans up the pieces. The series is based on creator JJ Herz's relationship with her brother, Griffin, who has Down syndrome.

The Outstanding Series Format Deck presented by Canva Award was awarded to independent comedy competition pilot, Bliss Talent, which will receive a $5,000 cash prize for their best submission deck created in Canva. "From the very first slide, we were instantly hooked," said Kate Marsden, Canva Global Head of Brand Partnerships and Design School. “The setup and storyline were so engaging. They made fantastic use of a wide array of Canva features and struck that sweet spot between compelling visual storytelling and clarity.”

Caz Matthews, a Colorado-based supporter of SeriesFest and independent creators of television content, awarded two official selections from the independent pilot competitors – We Should Eat and Two Breaths – with each receiving a one-time financial grant of $5,000 from the Caz Matthews Fund. These recipients represent the independent filmmakers with projects fighting to tell stories and build teams that celebrate cultural richness and nuanced mosaic of our global society. This fund was established to help selected projects continue the positive impact they are making on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the television landscape.

New this year, SeriesFest presents The Rural Intersectionality Fund, supported by Sarah Sellman and Julie Mordecai. Sarah is a queer and neurodiverse filmmaker and artist who grew up in rural Colorado, and Julie is a Colorado-based investor and supporter of SeriesFest. This fund was created to foster and uplift the voices of neurodiverse, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and creators telling stories from their lived experience who have important stories to tell that positively impact and image the communities described above, and to further promote the role of intersectionality in the creation of meaningful stories. This year’s selected recipients, ZHIZHA and $HARE, will receive cash funds to support the development of their series.

Pitch-a-thon, presented by Canva, Royal Bank of Canada, and the Working Artists Group, will award the winning pitch – ZHIZHA – with $500 cash.

Now in its 11th season, SeriesFest was created to champion and discover innovative projects in the television industry. This year, the non-profit organization hosted a wide array of programs including scripted, unscripted and late night pilot competitions, exclusive screenings, series premieres, panels, and workshops. As previously announced, comedian Amy Schumer opened the festival with a one-night-only headline performance at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

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

WINNERS – INDEPENDENT PILOT – DRAMA

Jury: John Horn (Entertainment Correspondent, NPR 1A), Annie Laks (Senior Vice President of Creative Content, Shondaland) and Jocko Sims (Actor, “Grosse Pointe Garden Society”)

Best Drama Pilot: Lake Boga
Director: Ben Bryan
Executive Producers: Nick Farnell, Anthony Sharpe
Writers: Nick Capper, Ben Bryan
Producers: Ben Bryan, Nick Capper
Cast: Nick Capper, Alicia Jefferies, Shea Mcdonough, Mark Nicholson, Tim O'dwyer, Jamie Benbow

Synopsis: When the meth-addicted daughter of a mysterious businessman named The Baron is declared missing, presumed dead, Nathan, an experienced ex-military assassin is hired for the job of a lifetime: to find and destroy every single meth lab in the state.

Masquerading as a photographer, he stays a couple of nights at the Lake Boga Pub looking for his next target. Whilst there, he arouses the suspicions of the publican Bev and her daughter in-law Jess. Unbeknownst to Nathan, Bev is connected with the bikies and also running the local meth lab.

After Nathan finds the lab and completes the hit, unintentionally killing Jess in the process,  he realises Bev’s involved and that his identity has been compromised. With Bev and the Bikies now out for revenge, the cops closing in on him and his employer on his back to complete the job, Nathan finds himself wedged between a rock and hard place.

A true artist in his field of work and never one to walk away from a job, Nathan decides to push himself to the limit and risk everything in a thrilling and explosive game of cat(s) and mouse.

Jury Statement: For establishing a specific sense of place and populating it with characters who feel both authentic and original — and giving audiences an unexpected but not unearned twist ending — the award for Best Drama goes to Lake Boga.

Best Director: Christian Nolan Jones, Red Clay

Jury Statement: For his consistently creative, deeply compassionate, and visually stunning depiction of how trying circumstances not only shape an artist, but also bind a family together, the award for Best Director goes to Christian Jones of Red Clay.

Best Writer: Desean K. Terry and John E. Phillips, Taming, or Life in a Not-So Modern Age

Jury Statement: For taking what can be inaccessible language spoken by characters who may not be instantly relatable and giving a classically patriarchal take a modern and potentially feminist twist, the award for Best Writer goes to Desean K. Terry and John E. Phillips of Taming, or Life in a Not-So Modern Age.

Best Performance: Red Clay with Rutina Wesley, Christopher A’mmanuel, Vanna Pilgrim, Leslie Sawyer, Candice Singleton, Kool Ace, Heaven Epps, Marcus Tabb

Jury Statement: For this year’s performance award, the jury decided to honor the entire ensemble of one pilot. From its most fleeting minor characters to its central leads, all of whom infuse their work with honesty and love, the award for Best Performance goes to the entire cast of Red Clay.

Honorable Mention: $HARE

Jury Statement: For its beautiful imagery, intricate family dynamics, and propulsive cliffhangers, an honorable mention goes to $HARE.

WINNERS – INDEPENDENT PILOT – COMEDY

Jury: Elaine Low (Journalist, The Ankler), Eric C. Smith (Sr Talent Agent, TCA MGMT), and Mayan Lopez (Actor, “Lopez vs. Lopez”)

Best Comedy Pilot: Settle Down
Director: Sam Coyle
Executive Producers: Philip Webb, Brad Danks, Katherine Frost, Lauren Whitelaw
Writer: Alexander Nunez, Izad Etemadi (Story Editor)
Producer: Charles Lubiniecki
Cast: Alexander Nunez, Leighton Williams, Izad Etemadi, Tymika Tafari, Nadine Bhabha

Synopsis: Mason is a matchmaker and the creator and host of “Settle Down,” a wildly popular podcast for which listeners can get answers to questions on all things “love.” At his matchmaking business, Mason helps special cases from all walks of life connect with their perfect partner. Business is booming… But his personal life is a disaster. His marriage to his husband Jarod is a ticking time bomb – if Mason doesn’t figure out a proper work-life balance, he can kiss his relationship goodbye. Can Mason stop getting in his own way and save his relationship? Can he balance work and life before he taints his budding love empire past the point of no return?

Along for the ride are Mason’s friends: there’s Ben, a hopeless romantic hung up on his incompatible boyfriend; the bold and brash Georgia, who’s NSA to a fault; and his work-obsessed assistant Devon. Each episode also introduces us to Mason’s client of the day and their unique search for love.

 

Jury Statement: Settle Down won us over with its clever writing, tightly woven structure and authentic and relatable story that was still unique to anything we’ve seen on television today. We felt fully invested in its world and honest exploration of modern relationships. This highly produced pilot feels ready to air, with the potential for fleshed-out story arcs for its entire cast of characters.

 

Best Director: Jasmine J. Johnson, Cuming Out

Jury Statement: Jasmine J. Johnson’s visual storytelling was compelling and playful, and the framing of her subject matter allowed the story to resonate deeply with the viewer even when the pilot’s characters weren’t saying a word.

 

Best Writer: Alexander Nunez, Settle Down

Jury Statement: Alexander Nunez had us invested in each and every one of his cast of characters, both leading and supporting — no small feat in a 20-minute pilot. Settle Down has a well-thought out structure with plenty of room for more storylines to grow.

 

Best Performance: Joanna Leeds, BULLDOZER

Jury Statement: Joanna Leeds is a unique voice whose performance was honest and raw — and terribly funny. Her ability to channel heartache and mental health struggles into a character we feel for and delight in is a real feat, and in BULLDOZER she has created a protagonist who makes us both feel and laugh.

 

Honorable Mention: The Incredible Fiancées of Sèyí Àjàyí

Jury Statement: Abbesi Akhamie brought to life a retro-futuristic world that we found captivating and whimsical. We were drawn into her world and would love to see more of it.

 

WINNERS – INDEPENDENT PILOT – UNSCRIPTED

 

Jury: Kristen Baldwin (TV Critic, Entertainment Weekly), Olivia LaRoche (Head of Alternative, Roku Originals) and McKenna Stephens (Senior Director of Development, MFF&CO)

 

 

 

Best Unscripted Pilot: Vs. Goliath

Directors: Sam Eilertsen, Nate Birnbaum

Executive Producers: Jamie Henn, Marielle Olentine

Writers: Sam Eilertsen, Nate Birnbaum

Producers: Pulkit Datta, Maggie Lemere, Nate Birnbaum

Cast: Sharon Lavigne, Shamyra Lavigne-Davey, Darryl Malek-Wiley

Synopsis: A retired schoolteacher, a former oil refinery worker, an Army veteran, and a group of Indigenous activists come together to fight the fossil fuel industry and protect their homelands while imagining a more just and prosperous future for their communities. Together, rooted in their faith, deep commitment, and service to their communities, they stand firm in the shadow of Goliath, refusing to back down.

 

Jury Statement: The jury is proud to award Best Unscripted to Vs. Goliath. The pilot tells an important and complex story through the lens of an unlikely — and extremely likable — hero. The filmmakers' commitment to activism and authentic storytelling shines through in the submitted episode, and we believe Vs. Goliath has the potential to bring a truly impactful message about environmental justice and community building to a larger audience as a series.

 

Best Director: Tedra Wilson, DENIM

Jury Statement: The jury is pleased to award Best Director to DENIM. This episode delivers a unique and boundary-pushing vision through three distinct and stunning styles. DENIM's director captured and celebrated the singular spirit of the episode's subjects by blending dazzling visuals with an intimate storytelling style.

 

WINNERS – DIGITAL SHORT SERIES

 

Jury: Mark Johnson (Journalist, The Contending), Oz Rodriguez (Author & Director, Saturday Night Live) and Laura Waters (Founder, Princess Pictures)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best of Digital Short Series: F*ckUps Anonymous

Director: Kat Whalen

Executive Producer: Tyson Bidner, James Price

Writer: Joe Tierney

Producer: Joe Tierney, Nicole Kay Payson

Cast: Sarah Jeffery, Andrew Michael Fama, Lexi Simonsen, Debbie Campbell, Bob Gallagher, Marvin St-Jean, Stephen Grey, Timothy Allen

Synopsis: Having pushed his mother to the point of last resort, rebellious teenager Joe is abducted from his bed and delivered to a therapeutic boarding school with controversial methods. Now in the unenviable position of being the new kid on his first day, he witnesses a vicious public dressing down of a fellow student at the hands of both staff and students. Joe is forced to come to an understanding of both why he's here and what he can expect from the new set of rules that are thrust upon him. Based on writer/producer Joe Tierney's own personal experience.

Jury Statement: F*ckUps Anonymous successfully creates a world that evokes a powerful visceral reaction, drawing the audience in on both an emotional and intellectual level. It delivers an important social message with nuance, supported by well-balanced characters whose backstories are clearly understood. The creators made smart, deliberate choices in character development and maintained a tight, effective script. The narrative paints a vivid and compelling picture, with the potential for deeper complexity and evolution in future developments.

Best Director: Dustie Carter, Heck to Death

Jury Statement: The jury is pleased to award Best Director to Dustie Carter of Heck To Death. We were impressed by the confident direction of Carter, whose bold and deliberate choices immersed us in a world we rarely see. The raw and immediate direction pulled the audience straight into the heart of the experience, without relying on exposition. Every decision brought us into the sweaty mosh pit, making us feel exactly what the story demanded.

Best Writer: Sarah Adelman, BUSTED!

Jury Statement: Comedy is often an underappreciated writing craft, which makes it all the more exciting to award Sarah Adelman of BUSTED! for Best Writer. Crafting a world that is consistently funny is no small feat, and this pilot delivers with sharp, raunchy humor that surprises and engages. It builds genuine empathy around its lead character and left us wanting more.

Best Performance: We Should Eat

Jury Statement: We are proud to award We Should Eat with Best Performance as an Ensemble. The cast delivered solid emotional truth, portraying complex relationships with depth and authenticity. Every character had meaningful moments—no loose ends, no weak links. Their dynamic was rich and compelling, and despite their differences, they felt unmistakably like a real family. We believed them completely—and enjoyed the laughs along the way.

Honorable Mention: Awol

Jury Statement: Due to its bold subject matter and fresh perspective, we are proud to give an Honorable Mention for Best Digital Short Series to Awol. The creative team transports us into a world rarely seen on screen, offering a high school narrative that feels both groundbreaking and necessary. With a fluid camera, a standout lead, and clear potential for growth, this series left a strong impression.

WINNERS – LATE NIGHT

Jury: Mark Johnson (Journalist, The Contending), Oz Rodriguez (Author & Director, Saturday Night Live) and Laura Waters (Founder, Princess Pictures)

Best Late Night Pilot: Stars Diner
Directors: Fidel Ruiz-Healy, Tyler Walker
Executive Producer: The American Standard Film Co.
Writers: Fidel Ruiz-Healy, Mary Neely, Tyler Walker
Producers: Fidel Ruiz-Healy, Mary Neely, Tyler Walker
Cast: Mary Neely, DeMorge Brown, Henri Cash, Cole Hersch, Chris Thayer, Natalie Palamides

Synopsis: Wendy and Milius must continuously save Stars Diner from catastrophe using Wendy's heart of gold and Milius' military bravura. And Willard's.... well, he dies and comes back to life without explanation. Every episode they're faced with bandits, floods, zombies, aliens and worse (health inspectors, unpaid bills). It's an episodic series, similar to early seasons of RICK AND MORTY, where the three main characters are always meeting new people and creatures. Wendy's old party girlfriends might visit or Millius' ex wives crop up to give him hell. But in the end, they use love and friendship to keep their beloved greasy spoon afloat, never forgetting Wendy's catchphrase, "By golly the diner's saved!"

Jury Statement: Stars Diner showcases a truly original voice with bold, distinctive choices. The creators sustained a delightfully wacky tone from start to finish in a way that was both consistent and satisfying. With strong character integrity, excellent world-building, and standout practical effects and production design, it feels tailor-made for late-night TV—entertaining and wholly its own.

WINNERS – PITCH-A-THON

Panel of Experts: Whitney Fuller (Development Executive, Monkeypaw Productions), Jason Hiro Kim (VP, Good Karma Productions), Lisa Ann Walter (Actress/Producer/Writer)

Pitch-A-Thon Winner: ZHIZHA
Creator: Desdemona Chiang
Synopsis: ZHIZHA is a half-hour long workplace comedy about a family business in the death industry trying to stay alive.

LIA and CHLOE WANG are descendants of a long line of paper artisans from China who have been crafting ZHIZHA by hand for generations. And the WANG FAMILY PAPER GOODS SHOP has been operating for nearly 50 years next to a funeral home that specializes in traditional Chinese death rituals. But modernization and growing secular beliefs among the younger generations in western culture have slowly rendered these rituals obsolete, and the Wangs are struggling to stay relevant. When Lia and Chloe’s mother unexpectedly dies of a stroke, the business is suddenly put into the hands of the two sisters, who need to decide if they want to shut it down or keep it going.

The show is a meditation on grief and its impact on family dynamics and a celebration of the artistry and talents of its characters. The show is vibrant, energetic, with surprise bursts of joy, discovery, and creation. There is delight in the mundane, where vulnerability can be found in small and delicate moments. Think THE BEAR meets KIM’S CONVENIENCE. The Asian Comedy version of SIX FEET UNDER.

Jury Statement: The winner we've picked instantly grabbed our attention with a clear, decisive and energetic pitch. Their series took us to a world that was incredibly unique yet deeply personal. A show filled with complicated characters that effortlessly balanced a controversial topic with humor and heart. Our 2025 SeriesFest Pitch-A-Thon winner is Desdemona Chiang for ZHIZHA!

AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS

Independent Pilot – Drama: The Rebel Girls

Independent Pilot – Comedy: BULLDOZER

Independent Pilot – Unscripted: Vs. Goliath

Digital Short Series: BUSTED!

Late Night: The Roommates

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

‘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

key art

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.

NFMLA for Disabilities Cinema on May 9th & 10th 2025

MONTHLY FLYER may 9.10.25

NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) hosts its May Monthly Film Festival, which features its annual InFocus: Disabilities program, along with May Shorts, writer-director Jess Dang’s debut feature narrative Surrender, and an opening selection of student animation with the CSULB Animation Showcase. 

Marvel Studio’s ‘Thunderbolts’ in Theaters Today!

Thunderbolt poster

Director: Jake Schreier
Screenplay: Eric Parson, Joanna Calo
Story: Eric Pearson
Based on: Marvel Comics
Starring: Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Chris Bauer, Wendell Pierce, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama, Fantasy and Sci-Fi
Rating: PG-13
Run time: 2 hours 6 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English

Director Jake Schreier’s ‘Thunderbolt’  tells the story of Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), a Thunderbolts Black Widow assassin. Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), a Thunderbolts leader;  U.S. Agent John Walker (Wyatt Russell), a super soldier; Taskmaster Antonia Dreykov  (Olga Kurylenko), an assassin with photographic reflexes; "Bob" Reynolds aka Sentry  and Void (Lewis Pullman Robert), superpowered with amnesia;  Mel (Geraldine Viswanathan), Valentina Allegra de Fontaine's assistant; Holt (Chris Bauer), a security officer for O.X.E.; Gary (Wendell Pierce), a congressman; Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian (David Harbour), a Thunderbolts Russian super soldier; Ava  Starr aka Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), a Thunderbolts who can phase through objects; Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), the mastermind behind the Thunderbolts and director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); and Olivia Walker (Gabrielle Byndloss), Walker's wife.

Production Company: Marvel Studios
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Producer: Kevin Feige
Cinematographer: Andrew Droz Palermo
Editor: Angela Catanzaro, Harry Yoon
Music: Son Lux

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

Poster Everyone Asked About You a1

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.