Unspool Hollywood

THE AFRICAN AMERICAN FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION (AAFCA) SETS DECEMBER 3RD FOR THE 5TH ANNUAL AAFCA TV HONORS

RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS IN TELEVISION AND STREAMING

AAFCA WILL CELEBRATE ITS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED WINNERS AT A PRIVATE LUNCHEON AT THE HOTEL CASA DEL MAR IN SANTA MONICA QUINTA BRUNSON, NIECY NASH-BETTS, “P-VALLEY,” JESSICA WILLIAMS, “TED LASSO,” JENNIFER HUDSON, MARLA GIBBS AND DEBBIE ALLEN AMONG THOSE TO BE CELEBRATED

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 10, 2023 – The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) today announced a new date to celebrate its previously announced AAFCA TV Honors winners. The private, invitation-only event was previously scheduled for August 27th but was postponed due to the strike and will now be held on December 3rd at the Hotel Casa del Mar in Santa Monica, California.

Presented by the African American Film Critics Association the AAFCA TV Honors recognize outstanding achievements in Broadcast Television and Streaming with a special emphasis on entertainment representing the Black diaspora. Previously announced winners include Quinta Brunson, the cast of “P-Valley,” Jessica Williams, Debbie Allen, Niecy Nash-Betts, “The 1619 Project” and many more. Special honorees include Jennifer Hudson, who will receive the We See You Award, Delroy Lindo, who will receive the Legacy Award, and five-time Emmy® nominee Marla Gibbs who will receive the Legend Award. The Apple TV+ show “Ted Lasso'' will receive the Inclusion Award, and CBS’ “S.W.A.T.,'' produced by Sony Pictures Television in association with CBS Studios, will receive the Impact Award.

"We are happy that our industry can take a collective sigh of relief and get back to work, " stated AAFCA co-founder and president Gil Robertson. “We love a good party here at AAFCA and we’re going to pull out all the stops to celebrate our winners and honorees. With the industry in flux for so many months, we’re really looking forward to finally getting to recognize and celebrate these incredible talents.”

A full list of previously announced winners follows:

2023 AAFCA TV HONORS AWARD RECIPIENTS:

BEST TV COMEDY - "Abbott Elementary" (ABC)
BEST TV DRAMA - "P-Valley" (Starz)
BEST NEW SHOW - "Mo" (Netflix)
BEST DOCUMENTARY - "The 1619 Project" (Onyx Collective/Hulu)
BEST LIMITED SERIES - "The Best Man: The Final Chapters" (Peacock)
BEST TV MOVIE - “Shooting Stars” (Peacock)
BREAKOUT STAR - Jessica Williams - “Shrinking” (Apple TV+)
BEST ENSEMBLE - "P-Valley" (Starz)
BEST TV WRITING - Quinta Brunson - “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
BEST TV DIRECTING - Mary Lou Belli, Debbie Allen, Tasha Smith, Henry Chan, Jordan E. Cooper - "The Ms. Pat Show" (BET+)
BEST TV ACTING (Female) - Niecy Nash-Betts - “Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” (Netflix)
BEST TV ACTING (Male) - J. Alphonse Nicholson and Nicco Annan - "P-Valley" (Starz)

ABOUT AAFCA
Established in 2003, AAFCA is the premier body of Black film critics in the world, actively reviewing film and television, with a particular emphasis on entertainment highlighting the Black experience in the US and throughout the rest of the African Diaspora. For more information on AAFCA and its programs visit http://AAFCA.com.

Gravitas Ventures’ THE JOB OF SONGS on Digital Platforms November 21, 2023

Tourists flock to the west coast of Ireland to take in the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher, but the real treasure lies in the soulful, acoustic sounds wafting out of pubs and living rooms of Doolin, County Clare. The denizens of this unspoiled coastal village of tight-knit neighbors and unlocked doors revel in the passion and history of their traditional folk songs, using music as a thread through generations to create community, connection, and joy.

THE JOB OF SONGS was made by a crew of three women, who are first time feature filmmakers: LILA SCHMITZ (director, producer, editor), ANIKA KAN GREVSTAD (director of photography, producer), and FENGYI XU (producer). The film was made with the support of acclaimed documentarians double Oscar-winning writer-producer-director Bill Guttentag and Emmy and Grammy Award winning documentarian Doug Pray. The film has screened at numerous prestigious International Film Festivals including DOC NYC, Galway Film Fleadh, Newport Beach Film Festival, Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival, Milwaukee Film Festival, and many others. It won Best International Documentary at the Galway Film Fleadh.

SOCIAL HANDLES:
FB: @irishmusicfilm
IG: @thejobofsongs

Director and Writer: Lila Schmitz
Featuring: Katie Theasby, Luka Bloom, The Fiddle Case, Christy McNamara, Christy Barry-Doolin Music House, Anne Rynne, Yvonne Casey, Tunes From Doolin
Genre: Documentary
Run time: 1 hour 14 minutes
Cinematographer: Anika Kan Grevstad
Producers: Fengyi Xu, Anika Kan Grevstad and Lila Schmitz
Executive Producer Bill Guttentag
Consulting Producer: Doug Pray
Editor: Lila Schmitz
Distributor: Gravitas Ventures

Lost Women of Highway 20,’ narrated by Octavia Spencer, premieres Sunday, Nov. 5, at 9/8c on the ID Network

It took the disappearance of 13-year-old Rachanda Pickle, from her home in Santiam Playground, Ore., in 1990, to bring to light the all of the missing women and girls, who were raped, murdered, or vanished without a trace on a stretch of United States Highway 20, starting in the late 70s to the early 90s

As people began looking into the disappearance of Rachanda, they became aware of Melissa Sanders and Kay Turner, to just name a few of the missing women and girls, and who could be responsible for the senseless acts of violence.

In 2018, The Oregonian spotlighted the victims of Highway 20 and the abject failure of the criminal justice system to do anything about the violence against women and girls.

This three-part docuseries, Lost Women of Highway 20, is premiering on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 9/8c on ID (Investigation Discovery).

ABOUT OCTAVIA SPENCER
Octavia Lenora Spencer an American actress and producer. She is the recipient of an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Golden Globe Award, and is the first black actress to receive two consecutive Oscar nominations

Spencer made her film debut in the 1996 drama A Time to Kill. Her breakthrough came in 2011 with the 1960s America in the drama film The Help, for which she won several awards including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. For her performance in Ryan Coogler's biopic Fruitvale Station in 2013, she won the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress.

As an author, Spencer created the children's book series Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective. She has published two books in the series, titled The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit in 2013 and The Sweetest Heist in History in 2015.

ABOUT ID
Investigation Discovery (ID) was established in 1996 and is an American multinational pay television network dedicated to true crime documentaries that is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Approximately 86 million American households get Investigation Discovery.

The Oscar-nominated Director Raoul Peck Documentary ‘SILVER DOLLAR ROAD’

Release Date: In Limited Theaters Oct 13, 2023
Release Date: Digital Platforms Oct 20, 2023
Director: Raoul Peck
Writers: Raoul Peck, Lizzie Presser
Featuring: Billy Reels, Charles Lee Reels, Gertrude Reels, Licurtis Reels, John C. Barnett, Classie Curley, Melvin Davis, Kim Duhon, Anita Earls, Mamie Ellison, Nate Ellison, Roderick Ellison, James Hairston, Wayne Lawrence, Julus McCabe, Yvonne McCabe, Leland Pinder
Genre: Documentary
Rating: PG
Runtime: 1 hour 40 minutes
Language: English
Country: United States

Standing up for what is rightfully yours, will never be wrong.

SILVER DOLLAR ROAD, an infuriating story, from Oscar-nominated director, Raoul Peck, about the Reels family decades long fight against land developers and their attempts to steal their valuable waterfront land, in North Carolina, that had been purchased by Elijah Reels and in their family since reconstruction. The long fight has been spear headed by the family matriarch Mamie Reels Ellison and her niece Kim Renee Duhon.

It is so hard to believe that after it had been legally declared that the Reels where the rightful owner of the land, they are still subjected to a brutal decades long legal fight .

Mamie Reels Ellison took her great-grand father Elijah's advice to heart, when he said, "What ever you do, don't let the white have my land." And she had been steadfast in honoring his wishes.

It is tragic enough that they to spend tens of thousands of on attorney fees, but they had to deal with the incarceration of Melvin Davis and Licurtis Reel. They were kept in jail for 8-years for refusing to sign over their legal rights to land and promising not to return.

While watching the film, you can't help but think about all of the other African American and Native Americans, who have had their land illegally taken and wonder will they ever be made whole. You are reminded that land theft runs deep in the history of United States.

Silver Dollar Road is a good film. It will make you made about the injustice done to the Reels family, yet is well worth watching.

Release Date: In Limited Theaters Oct 13, 2023
Release Date: Prime Video Oct 20, 2023
Distributor: Amazon Studios
Production Co: Velvet Film
Director: Raoul Peck
Writers: Raoul Peck, Lizzie Presser
Featuring: Billy Reels, Charles Lee Reels, Gertrude Reels, Licurtis Reels, John C. Barnett, Classie Curley, Melvin Davis, Kim Duhon, Anita Earls, Mamie Ellison, Nate Ellison, Roderick Ellison, James Hairston, Wayne Lawrence, Julus McCabe, Yvonne McCabe, Leland Pinder
Producers: Rémi Grellety, Blair Foster, Hébert Peck, Raoul Peck
Executive Producers: Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, Lizzie Presser, Stephen Engleberg, Almudena Toral, Robin Sparkman, Rob Williams
Cinematographers: Henry Adebonojo, Antonio Rossi
Film Editor: Alexandra Strauss
Original Music: Alexei Aigui
Genre: Documentary
Rating: PG
Runtime: 1 hour 40 minutes
Language: English
Country: United States

Watch New Clip: (Lionsgate) SQUEALER- In Theaters, On Digital and On Demand on November 3rd

SQUEALER
In Theaters, On Digital and On Demand on November 3rd

Director:  Andy Armstrong
Writers:   Danielle Burgio, Andy Armstrong
Cast: Wes Chatham, Kate Moennig, Danielle Burgio, with Theo Rossi and Tyrese Gibson
Genre:     Thriller/Horror
Rating:     R for Strong Violence and Gore, Drug Use, Graphic Nudity, Some Sexual Material and Language Throughout
Runtime: 1 hour 40 minutes

Tyrese Gibson (The Fast and the Furious franchise) and Theo Rossi (“Sons of Anarchy”) star in this terrifying thriller inspired by real events. When young women start disappearing in a small town, a police officer and a street-smart social worker follow clues to a remote pig farm, where they discover the local butcher has been bringing his work home. Enter the world of a serial killer and experience for yourself the bloodcurdling horror of a film that’s bound to take your breath away.

SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lionsgate
X/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lionsgate
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lionsgate/
@Lionsgate #Squealer
CONTACT INFORMATION:
National US/ Canada Press – Emma Griffiths (EG PR) / emma@eg-pr.com

Director: Andy Armstrong
Writers: Danielle Burgio, Andy Armstrong
Cast: Wes Chatham, Kate Moennig, Danielle Burgio, with Theo Rossi and Tyrese Gibson
Distributor: Lionsgate
Executive Producers:
Barry Brooker, Stan Wertlieb, Josh Spector, Cameron Goodrich, Shaun Sanghani,
Lee Broda, Danielle Burgio, Andy Armstrong, Daniel Cummings
Producers: Rob Goodrich, Jason Armstrong

Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story

An AFI Fest Red Carpet Premiere Review

Streaming: November 15, 2023
Directors: Gelila Bekele, Armani Ortiz
Writer: Gelila Bekele
With: Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey, Lucky Johnson, Kenya Barris, Gayle King, Debra Lee, Ari Emanuel, Michael Paseornek, Tim Palen, Ozzie Areu, Keleigh Thomas Morgan, Carl Hancock Rux
Genre: Documentary
MPA Rating: PG-13
Language: English
Runtime: 1 hour 55 minutes

Directors’ Gelila Bekele and Armani Ortiz captivating documentary Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story takes you on an emotionally journey as they share all of the heartbreaks and triumph of Tyler Perry (TP).

We are transported from the early days of abuse at the hands of his hardworking, alcoholic father in New Orleans, through a life filled with faith in God, becoming a two-time bestselling author with dozens of films and television shows under his belt, to the purchase of the 330-acre former confederate military base Fort Mcpherson that became Tyler Perry Studios

His gifts of writing, directing, and production while keeping full ownership of all his work, going on negotiate the House of Payne’s 10 show pilot with an additional 90 episodes, was a first in the industry, are things to be greatly admired yet what stands out to me is TP, the human being, the man and his is ability to forgive and break the cycle of abuse that enabled his to be a caring and loving son and father. An all-round good guy.

TP said many powerful things. The two that are seared into my mind is when discussing his childhood trauma and how and what he did to endure,

TP said, “I never came back to myself.”

And later, when responding to people’s amazement at his prolific film career and his ability to complete so many film projects in such a brief time span, he lets you know that while he is filming is real time,

“I already see the cuts.”

It is these statements that gave insight into the man, and how he operates and functions at a level that most people never achieve. He sees beyond what is in front of him.

Jon Bertain and Erick Sasso editing enables the scenes to flow effortlessly into a wonderful story. James Poyser does an impressive job with the soundtrack and the added sounds and lyrics of James Brown and Kenny Babyface Edmonds, and others provide a great backdrop to telling his powerful story. Nelson Hume gets you up close and personal with the camera that helps you feel a part of the action. Bekele’s writing does a stellar job of balancing the horrors of abuse and the unimaginable achievement of TP to create beautiful films.

Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story provides valuable insight into the man, TP and his Christian faith. It shows that despite the hardship, abuse, and trauma a person experiences in life, it does not have to determine the outcome of your life. A wonderful must-see film.

Streaming: November 22, 2023
Released by: Amazon MGM Studios
Directors: Gelila Bekele, Armani Ortiz
Writer: Gelila Bekele
Camera: Nelson Hume
Editor: Jon Bertain, Erick Sasso
Music: James Poyser
With: Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey, Lucky Johnson, Kenya Barris, Gayle King, Debra Lee, Ari Emanuel, Michael Paseornek, Tim Palen, Ozzie Areu, Keleigh Thomas Morgan, Carl Hancock Rux
Producers: Gelila Bekele, Jasmine K. White, and Asante White
Production: Amazon MGM Studios and Bekele Films

About BEKELE FILMS

GELILA BEKELE is a model, and a documentary filmmaker. Her modeling career began in 2006, appearing in leading magazines, beauty campaigns and numerous publications. Gelila is a devoted advocate for young girls' right to equal opportunities in her homeland of Ethiopia, as well as globally. Gelila began her narrative and documentary film career in 2013. Her most recent releases at the 2019 Cannes film festival and Berlinale: Mai: Life is not Honey (Director), Anbessa (Executive Producer) and The Model Activists 2017 (Director). Gelila is the author of the book Guzo! (2018) which documents the daily lives of native Ethiopians.
https://bekelefilms.com/

About AFI FEST

Now in its 37th year, AFI FEST is a world-class event, displaying the best films from across the globe. This year’s edition takes place in Los Angeles from October 25-29, 2023. With an innovative slate of programming, the five-day festival presents screenings, panels, and conversations, featuring both master filmmakers and new cinematic voices. AFI FEST includes high-profile films with Q&As featuring the films’ cast and crew and a robust lineup of fiction and nonfiction features and shorts, providing a one-of-a-kind experience for movie fans. Additional information about AFI FEST is available FEST.AFI.com. Connect with AFI FEST at Facebook.com/AFIFEST, Twitter.com/AFIFEST, Instagram/AmericanFilmInstitute, TikTok/@AmericanFilmInstitute andYouTube.com/AFI.

“Your Lucky Day” Original Soundtrack Available on all streaming platforms November 10th Timed to Day & Date Release

(Los Angeles, CA) The original soundtrack by composer Matt Hutchinson for the feature film Your Lucky Day will be released timed to the film’s day & date theatrical – in theaters on Friday, November 10th, 2023.The film directed by Daniel Brown and starring the late Angus Cloud (HBO’s Euphoria) in one of his final extraordinary performances. Composed by Matt Hutchinson (Tuscaloosa, starring Natalia Dyer), this richly nuanced soundtrack will be released digitally everywhere on November 10th, 2023, timed to the film’s release.

Your Lucky Day is Daniel Brown’s epic feature film directorial debut and tells the story of a street level drug dealer named Sterling (Cloud ) who witnesses a wealthy older man win a $156 million USD lottery on Christmas Eve. With his eye set on achieving the “American Dream” and looking to take the jackpot for himself, Sterling holds the entire mini-mart hostage with a half-baked plan to steal the ticket and split up the prize pool. Adding to the film's quick plot turns and relentless pace is the dark and emotionally charged original score. Hutchinson, who channels the energy of this pressure-cooker situation in which every character is forced to examine their justifications for their actions, has delivered a soundtrack that seamlessly enhances the movie's narrative.

“I’m always very inspired by the visuals I am working with,” stated Hutchinson. “I look at the color, tone, and pacing. I listen to the sonic qualities of the actors' voices - the sound design too. All of these things inspire me as I begin to conceptualize and create the score. My goal is for the music to become such an integral part of the experience that the audience isn’t aware it’s there anymore. Then again, there are occasionally moments where the music takes center stage and speaks more boldly to the narrative. It’s really just storytelling. I just want to help the director realize the story in the best way possible, and Dan made that easy for me by creating such a well-crafted and compelling film.”

“I have lots of thoughts on music but it’s also like speaking a foreign language for me, all hand gestures and pointing, I need a translator,” added Brown. “I met Matt working on a video game trailer nearly 20 years ago, and we struck up a relationship and discovered a kinship that would remain. Commercial work followed but more importantly it was the side projects we did together that seemed to really pop for both of us. The minute I wrapped production on the shoot my next call was to Matt to see if he’d be able to work on the music -- I wanted to SCORE the film, underline emotion, and enhance the thrills while also looking for places to experiment and surprise the audience sonically. As always with Matt he delivered in spades.”

The Your Lucky Day original soundtrack is available on all digital platforms beginning November 10th. For more information and interviews with Hutchinson contact Cinematic Red PR

Watch New Clip: Documentary SHOT IN THE ARM

In the spring of 2019, before anyone had heard of COVID-19, Kennedy began investigating a global measles epidemic and filming with top public health officials–including Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, MD; Karen Ernst; Dr. Paul A. Offit, MD; Dr. Peter J. Hotez, MD; Blima Marcus, DNP –as well as rare verite and interviews with anti-vaccine activists - like Robert Kennedy, Jr. (charting his part in Samoa's tragic measles outbreak of 2019 and as he continues to garner GOP funding for a Democrat presidential bid today), Andrew Wakefield, and Del Bigtree - who were persuading parents by the millions to refuse vaccines for their children. Then COVID-19 happened. Acting quickly, Kennedy shifted his directorial eye to this once-in-a-century tragedy, as his family was caught in the maelstrom of COVID-19. Both skeptical and hopeful, SHOT IN THE ARM explores the cultural zeitgeist of vaccine hesitancy historically and in the context of the current COVID pandemic and how disinformation is its own disease. Can we replace cynicism with healthy curiosity and bridge the political divides that make us sick?

Watch New Clip: KING OF KILLERS (Lionsgate) on Blu-ray™ and DVD October 31st

Release Date: Available on Blu-ray™ and DVD on October 31st
Director and Writer: Kevin Grevioux
Genre: Action
Rating: R
Runtime: 1 hour 32 minutes
Cast: Alain Moussi (Nobody), Marie Avgeropoulos (“The 100,” 50/50), Georges St-Pierre ( Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Stephen Dorff (Blade, Old Henry), Frank Grillo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Kevin Grevioux (Underworld)

Based on a graphic novel by writer-director Kevin Grevioux, King of Killers follows former Agency hit man Marcus Garan (Alain Moussi) as he attempts to unravel the mystery behind a tragic incident. When offered a $10 million contract to eliminate the world’s greatest assassin, Marcus travels to Tokyo to meet the client (Frank Grillo), but discovers other professional killers have been invited as well. Now Marcus and the others must confront this deadly, mythical assassin…or die trying.

SQUEALER In Theaters, On Digital and On Demand on November 3rd

SQUEALER
In Theaters, On Digital and On Demand on November 3rd