Partner News 8/5/21

Posted by NALIP on August 09, 2021

I Am Not a Fetish or Model Minority: Redefining What it Means to be API in Entertainment

Courtesy of Geena David Institute

Join us for the launch of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media’s new groundbreaking research study:

This inaugural study investigates Asian and Pacific Islander (API) representation in the largest grossing family films in the U.S. along with a landmark survey of API entertainment content creators. This study will provide critical insights to drive progress for more authentic representations.

RSVP here

Gold House and Netflix Launch the Netflix Gold Program to Celebrate API Stories

Courtesy of Netflix

Netflix and Gold House have created a partnership called “Netflix Gold” to amplify API stories, artists, and creators. The partnership marks an evolution for Gold House by expanding our support beyond films for Asian Audiences. Gold House will work closely with Netflix to amplify all culturally relevant stories (inclusive of films, series, documentaries, and stand-ups) and will engage the API community through private and public experiences to celebrate diverse, multidimensional storytelling.

Read more here

Hola México Film Festival presented by DishLATINO returns for its 13th annual edition

Courtesy of PRLog

The largest Mexican film festival outside of the Mexican territory, Hola México Film Festival presented by DishLATINO, returns for its 13th annual edition this September 17-25 during Hispanic Heritage Month.

Bringing audiences back to the cinema, Hola México Film Festival presented by DishLATINO will give viewers an opportunity to gather once again to celebrate the perseverance of the film community and see some of the most compelling films that have recently come out of Mexico.

Read more here

African American Film Critics Association Awards: ‘Lovecraft Country,’ ‘Underground Railroad’ Among Big Winners

Courtesy of HBO

On the heels of announcing several special achievement honors, the African American Film Critics Association has announced the main competition winners for its 3rd annual AAFCA TV Honors, which will be presented at a COVID-compliant ceremony on Aug. 21, hosted by Yvette Nicole Brown.

The big winners — chosen by a jury of select AAFCA members — include the Emmy-nominated HBO drama series Lovecraft Country, which was voted best actor (Jonathan Majors) and best actress (Jurnee Smollett), and Amazon limited series The Underground Railroad, which was tapped for best limited series and best director (Barry Jenkins).

Read more here

The Hollywood Reporter Names Angie Han as TV Critic

Courtesy of Angie Han

Angie Han has joined The Hollywood Reporter as its new TV critic.

The prominent reviewer, based in Los Angeles, joins chief TV critic Daniel Fienberg and reports to reviews editor Jon Frosch.

In addition to writing reviews, Han will write critical essays about the evolving TV and streaming landscapes for THR‘s print and digital platforms.

Han, who is a member of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, has also served as a contributing critic on KPCC’s FilmWeek, a one-hour weekly podcast segment powered by NPR.

Read more here

Film brings to life the suffering of a mother searching for her missing child

Courtesy of Mexico News Daily

An award-winning Mexican film about a mother’s search for her missing son will begin screening in cinemas this Thursday.

Sin Señas Particulares (rendered in English as Identifying Features) is a low-budget film directed by Fernanda Valadez that won best picture at the 2020 edition of the Morelia International Film Festival.

#CREATELOUISIANA announces recipient of 2021 French Culture Film Grant

Courtesy of #CreateLouisiana

#CreateLouisiana announced today the recipient of the 2021 French Culture Film Grant, the narrative short film, Film Quest. Now in its fifth year, the French Culture Film Grant is a unique opportunity for Louisiana filmmakers designed in partnership with lead sponsor TV5MONDE USA, America’s only 24/7 French language entertainment channel.

The film will premiere at the 2022 French Film Festival in partnership with the New Orleans Film Society (scheduled for February/March 2022) in New Orleans. Along with the $25,000 cash award, the winning project will be considered by TV5MONDE USA for a broadcast.

Read more here

Richa Chadha’s Production Debut Selected For Gotham Week

Courtesy of OutlookIndia

The script of Richa Chadha's maiden production to be directed by Shuchi Talati, ‘Girls Will Be Girls’, is the only Indian script selected for Gotham Week this year, formerly known as Independent Filmmaker Project.

Read more here

Octavia Spencer to Be Honored With Outfest’s Ally Award

Courtesy of Variety

Octavia Spencer will receive the James Schamus Ally Award at this year’s edition of LGBTQ film festival Outfest.

The announcement comes just after the recent news, first reported by Variety, that the Oscar winner has boarded the documentary “Right to Try” as a producer. The Zeberiah Newman-directed film, which will have its world premiere at Outfest, chronicles casting director Jeffrey Drew’s participation in a treatment trial to cure him of HIV after living with the virus for more than 30 years.

Read more about what Octavia said about the award here

Film Independent Partners With Muslim Public Affairs Council On Writing Fellowship For American Muslim Writer

Courtesy of Film Independent Project Involve

Film Independent is partnering with the Muslim Public Affairs Council in the creation of The MPAC Hollywood Bureau Writing Fellowship that’ll provide a $10,000 grant to a writer who identifies as an American Muslim. To qualify, the writer must be accepted into any of the upcoming 2022 programs: the Film Independent Screenwriting Lab, Episodic Lab or Project Involve, the organization’s long-running signature diversity and mentorship program.

Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization behind the Film Independent Spirit Awards, develops programs that promote and support filmmakers to create and advance new work. This includes providing over one million dollars annually to visual storytellers through grants and awards.

Read more here

GLAAD Responds to Matt Damon’s Statement About ‘Retiring’ the F-Slur a Few ‘Months Ago’

Courtesy of Theo Wargo/Getty Images

GLAAD has responded to Matt Damon’s latest statement on his use of the “f-slur,” following backlash from a recent article.

“The conversations that have arisen after Matt Damon’s original interview and subsequent remarks today are an important reminder that this word, or any word that aims to disparage and disrespect LGBTQ people, has no place in mainstream media, social media, classrooms, workplaces, and beyond,” Anthony Allen Ramos, GLAAD’s Head of Talent, wrote in the statement. “There needs to be accountability at a time when anti-LGBTQ slurs remain rampant today and can fuel discrimination and stereotypes, especially when used by those outside of the community to defame or describe LGBTQ people.”

Read more here

Submissions for Sitges Online Pitchbox 2021 are now open!

Courtesy of Sitges Pitchbox

For the seventh consecutive year, the Filmarket Hub platform and the Sitges Film Festival are partnering to host Sitges Pitchbox--an international pitch event dedicated to horror, sci-fi and fantasy films and series in development. This initiative aims to discover high quality genre projects and match them with leading companies in the industry. The event will take place online on the 8th and the 15th of October as part of the Sitges Film Festival.

The call for submissions will only be open until the 2nd of September!