Unspool Hollywood

ACE Winners Announced for the 75th ACE Eddie Awards

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.

Keeping it Real, Telling it Like it is, Jamie Fox, Angela Bassett and Other Black Leading Men and Women in Hollywood do that and More in ‘Number One on The Call Sheet’

Release Date: March 28, 2025 Apple TV+
Directors: Reginald Hudlin Shola Lynch
Country: United States
Language: English

Directors Reginald Hudlin and Shola Lynch brings the raw truths of leading black men and women in Hollywood to the screen in ‘Number One on The Call’ as they give their accounts of the struggles and triumphs as the they have risen and continue to rise on the call sheet.

You hear from the biggest names in Hollywood. The likes of Eddie Murphy, Dwayne “Rock” Johnson, Lawrence Fishburn, Taraji P. Henson, Whoopi Goldberg, and more, as they move on up.

The two-part documentary is produced by Jamie Fox and Kevin Hart and executive producers are Reginald Hudlin, Bryan Smiley, Halle Berry, Viola Davis, Whoopi Goldberg, Angela Bassett.

Production companies are Foxx Hole Production, Story Syndicate and Hartbeat Productions.

Must see on Friday, March 28, 2025

‘NOVOCAINE’ Review: No Pain, Plenty for Him to Gain

Directors: Dan Berk, Robert Olsen
Writer: Lars Jacobson
Starring: Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Jacob Batalon, Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh
Run time:1 hour 51 minutes
Genre: Action, Comedy, Romance, Thriller
Rating: R
Country United States
Language: English

Directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen’s new film ‘NOVOCAINE’ starts you off all warm and fuzzy, ready for a romance between co-workers Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid), who literally feels no pain, at all) and Sherry (Amber Midthunder) when a sick and twisted tale emerges filled with laughter.

Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Directors: Dan Berk, Robert Olsen
Writer: Lars Jacobson
Producers: Joby Harold, Tory Tunnell, Drew Simon
Production companies: Infrared Pictures, Safehouse Pictures, Circle of Confusion
Starring: Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Jacob Batalon, Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh
Cinematographer: Jacques Jouffret
Editor: Christian Wagner
Music: Lorne Balfe, Andrew Kawczynski

The NFL, Sundance Sports and Hidden Empire Film Group Collaborate for the Ultimate Training Camp “NFL Career Tour”

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The third annual NFL Career Tour is a 3-day event that took place on March 4, 5 and 6^,2025, at Hidden Empire Film Group in Santa Monica, CA.

The NFL’s Player Engagement team created the ‘NFL Career Tour’ to provide football legends and those still in the league the opportunity to learn first-hand about filmmaking and meet leaders in the film industry.

Participating on behalf of the NFL was Tracy Perlman, Senior Vice President of Player Operations; Hidden Empire are Co-CEOs Deon Taylor and Roxanne Taylor, Omar Joseph, President, and Ephraim Salaam HESC’s President of Talent Strategy and Creative Executive.

The final day of the program included the completion of a short film created by the athletes that put into practice the knowledge they learned about directing, cinematography, producing, and acting, the art of filmmaking.

I had opportunity to sit down and talk with a few of the NFL players and legends. Read below!

A Conversation with Brennan Scarlett

Brennan was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, He is a graduate of Central Catholic High, where he was a lettered athlete in football, track and field and swimming He attended California Berkely, played on the football team, and obtained a bachelor’s degree in business. He transferred to Stanford University, where he also played on the football and graduated with a master’s in science management, engineering. He played 7 years in the league. 5 years with the Houston Texans and 2 years with the Miami Dolphins. Brennan retired in 2024.

Yevette Renee: With your educational background, have you considered producing, financing fundraising for film production?

Brennan Scarlett: That is a good question. I like all of it. I like the business part. How the money gets made. I want to know who is buying what and who is selling what. I see creativity in all of it. The business is very creative. You make a movie. You create a scene. You paint a picture. It is all creative.

Yevette Renee: Do you think having an interest in filmmaking as whole will help you as you grow in the film industry?

Brennan Scarlett: I think it should help. They mentioned that today, a director took acting classes so he would know how to communicate with actors and his next job was working with DeNiro.

A Conversation with Reginald Kahlil McKenzie, Jr,

Reginald graduated from Clayton Valley Charter High School, Concord, CA. and is a former #1 rated high school football player in the country. He played college football at his father’s (32 years in the NFL) and uncle’s (two Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins) alma mater, University of Tennessee, as a Defensive lineman. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018 and played five seasons, including with the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals.

Yevette Renee: What advice would you give a young college student interested in becoming a sports agent?

Reginald shared that after retirement, how he looked into what the NFL had to offer its player. And if you are willing to work and learn there are many things that they offered that can be applied to the player lives. And how great it is what the NFL is doing for its player.

A Conversation with Troy Pride, jr.

Photo: ESPN

Troy graduated from Greer High School, in Greer, South Carolina. He attended Notre Dame where he excelled in football and track as a sprinter. Pride was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2020 and is a cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys.

Yevette Renee: Who is your favorite director?

Troy Pride: Jordan Peele, right now. He took the world by storm with ‘Get Out.” Especially, because it was a horror film. As an actor, Denzel Washington introduced me to film. It was watching him in ‘Luther’ that got me interested.

Yevette Renee: Jordan Peele’s work reminds me of Alfred Hitchcock, what are your thoughts?

Troy Pride: it is an iteration of Alfred Hitchcock He has that other world, very disturbing and that is just what he did with Get Out.

Yevette Renee: What advice would you give a college student interested in sports and entertainment?

Troy Pride: First, I would give the advice to be yourself. Do not worry about what other people are doing on social media. Being yourself is when you will find your true passion.

Yevette Renee: Beginning with football until now, what is the most important things you have learned on your journey?

Troy Pride: Perseverance. I tore my ACL in my second year, and it is an 80% career ending injury for most players. I learned how resilient I was.

Additional participants included Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals; Dion Dawkins, Buffalo Bills; Orlando Brown, Cincinnati Bengals; Darius Harris, Dallas Cowboys; Dakoda Shepley, Dallas Cowboys; Troy Pride, Dallas Cowboys; Atorian Perry, Denver Broncos; Isaac Ukwu, Detroit Lions; Kwity Paye, Indianapolis Colts; K'Lavon Chaisson, Las Vegas Raiders; Tomari Fox, Las Vegas Raiders; Emany Johnson, Los Angeles Chargers; Daiyan Henley. Los Angeles Chargers; Denzel Perryman, Los Angeles Chargers; Charles Harris, Philadelphia Eagles; Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers; Jalyn Holmes, Washington Commanders; Miles Burris, Free Agent; Reginald McKenzie, Free Agent; Tevaughn Campbell, Free Agent; Trayvon Henderson, Free Agent; Christopher Pressley, Free Agent; Vance Walker, Legend; Amon Arnold Legend; and Brock Vereen, Legend

ABOUT NFL PLAYER ENGAGEMENT

NFL Player Engagement (PE) takes a four-pillar approach to supporting NFL players and their families during their NFL career and beyond: Continuing Education, Financial Literacy, Professional Development, and Personal Development.

Through peer-to-peer engagement and direct outreach, PE’s innovative programs and services assist players and provide them with the resources necessary to make the most of their lives on the field and away from the game.

From aiding players with building their brands and managing their finances, to supporting their physical, mental and financial well-being, the goal of the Player Engagement department is to provide the best community of care to serve, equip, empower, and support the player and his entire ecosystem during and after his playing days.

ABOUT SKYDANCE SPORTS

David Ellison founded Skydance in 2010 with the ambitious vision to establish a diversified media company to create high-quality content and engaging experiences for a global audience. Skydance’s independence, versatility and multi-platform approach have propelled the Company’s growth in live-action features, television, animation, interactive and new media. Today, more than five hundred colleagues across two continents share David’s vision and, together, have expanded Skydance’s portfolio, creating a world-class studio on the forefront of where entertainment is heading.

ABOUT HIDDEN EMPIRE FILM GROUP (HEFG)

ABOUT HIDDEN EMPIRE FILM GROUP (HEFG)
Hidden Empire Film Group (HEFG) is a multi-dimensional independent film company, led by founders Deon Taylor and Roxanne Avent Taylor, along with a devoted management team. which has produced highly engaging films since its inception, including multiple franchises, which have been distributed both domestically and internationally.

ABOUT HIDDEN EMPIRE SPORTS COLLECTIVE (HESC)

Hidden Empire Sports Collective (HESC) is e first entertainment division from a film studio to prioritize intellectual property and content creation for athletes and sports. Sumair Khan, Co-CEO The Union, heads the new division; Rodney Guillory, President of Talent Strategy; and Ephraim Salaam, Creative Executive.

‘NOVOCAINE’: When a Man Loves A Woman

Directors: Dan Berk, Robert Olsen
Writer: Lars Jacobson
Starring: Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Jacob Batalon, Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh
Run time:1 hour 51 minutes
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Crime-romance-thriller
Rating: R
Country United States
Language: English

Directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen’s action thriller tells the story of Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid) a bank executive with a congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP), who puts his inability to feel to good use in order to rescue his girlfriend Sherry (Amber Midthunder) who is taken hostage by bank robbers. The film also stars Ray Nicholson, Jacob Batalon, Betty Gabriel, and Matt Walsh.

‘BLACK BAG’ Starring Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender in Theaters May 31st

Release date: May 31, 2025

Director: Steven Soderberg
Writer: David Koepp
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke, Naomie Harris, Regé-Jean Page, and Pierce Brosnan
Genre: Spy Thriller
Run time: 1 hour 34 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English

Director Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Black Bag’ follows intelligence officer Kathryn St. Jean Woodhouse (Cate Blanchett), who our country believes has betrayed our nation, and her husband, George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) also an agent, must decide where to place his loyalty.

Clarissa Dubose (Marisa Abela), Freddie Smalls ( Tom Burke), Dr. Zoe Vaughan (Naomie Harris), Col. James Stokes (Regé-Jean Page), Arthur Steiglitz (Pierce Brosnan), Meacham (Gustaf Skarsgård)

Socials:
Facebook
Twitter/X: @BlackBagFilm
Instagram: @BlackBagFilm
Hashtag: #BlackBag

Distributor: Focus Features in United States
Universal Pictures International
Director: Steven Soderberg
Writer: David Koepp
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke, Naomie Harris, Regé-Jean Page, and Pierce Brosnan
Producers: Casey Silver, Gregory Jacobs
Music: David Holmes
Production company : Casey Silver Productions

‘LOCKED’ Starring Anthony Hopkins in Theaters March 21st

Release date March 21, 2025

Director: David Yarovesky
Screenplay: Michael Arlen Ross
Based on 4x4 by Mariano Cohn, Gastón Duprat
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Bill Skarsgård, Ashley Cartwright, Michael Eklund, Navid Charkhi
Genre: Action, Thriller
Rating; R
Run time: 1 hour 33 minutes
Country: United States
Language:English

Director David Yarovesky’s ‘LOCKED’ follows a thief whose run-of-the-mill robbery turns into a nightmare. William (Anthony Hopkins), Eddie Barrish (Bill Skarsgård), Sarah (Ashley Cartwright), Karl Michael Eklund (Michael Eklund )and Butter (Navid Charkhi.)

Release date March 21, 2025
Distributor: The Avenue
Producers: Zainab Azizi, Sam Raimi, Ara Keshishian, Petr Jákl
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Bill Skarsgård, Ashley Cartwright, Michael Eklund, Navid Charkhi
Cinematographer: Michael Dallatorre
Music: Timothy Williams
Production companies: ZQ Entertainment, Raimi Productions

2025 Oscar Winners: A Complete List

See the full list of the 97th Oscar Winners Below!

Best Picture Winners
“Anora” - WINNER
“The Brutalist”
“A Complete Unknown”
“Conclave”
“Dune: Part Two”
“Emilia Pérez”
‘I’m Still Here”
“Nickel Boys”
“The Substance”
“Wicked”

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Mikey Madison, “Anora” - WINNER
Cynthia Erivo, “Wicked”
Karla Sofía Gascón, “Emilia Pérez”
Demi Moore, “The Substance”
Fernanda Torres, “I’m Still Here”

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Adrien Brody, “The Brutalist” - WINNER
Timothée Chalamet, “A Complete Unknown”
Colman Domingo, “Sing Sing”
Ralph Fiennes, “Conclave”
Sebastian Stan, “The Apprentice”

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Zoe Saldana, “Emilia Perez” - WINNER
Monica Barbaro, “A Complete Unknown”
Ariana Grande, “Wicked”
Felicity Jones, “The Brutalist”
Isabella Rossellini, “Conclave”

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Kieran Culkin, “A Real Pain” - WINNER
Yura Borisov, “Anora”
Edward Norton, “A Complete Unknown”
Guy Pearce, “The Brutalist”
Jeremy Strong, “The Apprentice”

Best Director
Sean Baker, “Anora” -WINNER
Brady Corbet, “The Brutalist
James Mangold, “A Complete Unknown”
Jacques Audiard, “Emilia Perez”
Coralie Fargeat, “The Substance”

Best Original Screenplay
“Anora” Sean Baker — WINNER
“The Brutalist”
“A Real Pain”
“September 5”
“The Substance”

Best Adapted Screenplay
"Conclave," Peter Straughan — WINNER
“A Complete Unknown”
“Emilia Pérez”
“Nickel Boys”
“Sing Sing”

Best Animated Feature Film
“Flow” - WINNER
“Inside Out 2”
“Memoir of a Snail”
“Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl”
“The Wild Robot”

Best Cinematography
“The Brutalist,” Lol Crawley — WINNER
“Dune: Part Two”
“Emilia Perez”
“Maria”
“Nosferatu”

Best Costume Design
“Wicked” Paul Tazewell - WINNER
“A Complete Unknown”
“Conclave”
“Gladiator 2”
“Nosferatu”

Best Sound
“Dune: Part Two” - WINNER
“A Complete Unknown”
“Emilia Perez”
“Wicked”
“The Wild Robot”

Best Live Action Short Film
“I’m Not a Robot” - WINNER
“A Lien”
“Anuja”
“The Last Ranger”
“The Man Who Would Not Remain Silent”

Best Animated Short Film
“In the Shadow of the Cypress” - WINNER
“Beautiful Men”
“Magic Candies”
“Wander to Wonder”
“Yuck!”

Best Original score
“The Brutalist,” Daniel Blumberg — WINNER
“Conclave”
“Emilia Pérez”
“Wicked”
“The Wild Robot”

Best Original Song
"El Mal," "Emilia Pérez" (Clement Ducol, Camille & Jacques Audiard) — WINNER
“The Journey” from “The Six Triple Eight”
“Like a Bird” from “Sing Sing”
“Mi Camino” from “Emilia Perez”
“Never Too Late” from “Elton John: Never Too Late”

Best Documentary Feature Film
"No Other Land," Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham & Rachel Szor - WINNER
“Black Box Diaries”
“Porcelain War”
“Soundtrack To A Coup D’Etat”
“Sugarcane”

Best Documentary Short Film
“The Only Girl in the Orchestra” - WINNER
“Death by Numbers”
“I Am Ready, Warden”
“Incident”
“Instruments of a Beating Heart”

Best International feature Film
“I’m Still Here,” (Brazil) - WINNER
“The Girl With The Needle” (Denmark)
“Emilia Perez” (France)
“The Seed of the Sacred Fig” (Germany)
“Flow” (Latvia)

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
“The Substance” - WINNER
“A Different Man”
“Emilia Perez”
“Nosferatu”
“Wicked”

Best Production Design
"Wicked," Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales — WINNER
“The Brutalist”
“Conclave”
“Dune: Part Two”
“Nosferatu”

Best Film Editing
“Anora,” Sean Baker – WINNER
"Conclave," Peter Straughan
“The Brutalist”
“Conclave”
“Emilia Perez”
“Wicked”

Best Visual Effects
“Dune: Part Two” - WINNER
“Alien: Romulus”
“Better Man”
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes”
“Wicked”

Best live-action short
"I'm Not a Robot" — Winner
"A Lien"
"Anuja"
"The Last Ranger"
"The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent"

Through the Lens: An Evening with Black Women Directors Presented by Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP/EMCC and the Alliance of Women Directors

A Black History Month event celebrating black women directors in Hollywood. The event took place at The Mark Theater, formerly WACO, in North Hollywood.

The discussion was opened by the Beverly Hills/Hollywood Ron Hassan and was moderated by Tanika Ray, multi-talented entertainment reporter and actress, the guest panelist included: Christine Swanson, a writer and director of film and television; Emmy-nominated Marta Cunningham, a former ballet dancer, executive producer, writer and director;Nicki Micheaux, actress, writer and director; and Princes Monique Filmz, writer and director.

‘Emilia Perez’

Release dates: Cannes May 18, 2024, France August 21, 2024
Director and Writer: Jacques Audiard
Based on Emilia Pérez by Jacques Audiard and Écoute
by Boris Razon
Starring: Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, Mark Ivanir, Édgar Ramírez
Genre: Musical, Crime
Rating: R
Run time: 2 hours 12 minutes
Country: France
Languages: Spanish and English

Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Perez is the journey of a Mexican cartel leader Juan "Manitas" Del Monte/ Emilia Pérez (Karla Sofía Gascón) who enlists a lawyer Rita Mora Castro, (Zoe Saldaña) to help the cartel leader obtain surgery to become a woman. The story involves Jessi Del Monte, Manitas’ US-raised wife and mother of their children (Selena Gomez); Epifanía Flores (Adriana Paz), Emilia’s romantic partner; Gustavo Brun, Jessi’s romantic partner (Édgar Ramírez); Dr. Wasserman (Mark Ivanir) the doctor who performs gender reassignment surgery on Manitas.

Distributor: Pathé Distribution
Production companies: Why Not Productions, Page 114, Pathé, France 2 Cinéma, Saint Laurent Productions
Producers: Jacques Audiard, Pascal Caucheteux, Valérie Schermann, Anthony Vaccarello
Cinematographer: Paul Guilhaume
Editor: Juliette Welfling
Music: Clément Ducol score and Camille songs