The French American Film Festival sets a fall 2024 date in Hollywood

The French American Film Festival has set the dates for its 28th session at the DGA Theater in Hollywood. After last year’s festival was canceled due to strikes, this year’s festival will be held from October 29 to November. 3.

“It is with great pleasure that we look forward to hosting the French American Film Festival this year. 2023 was a very challenging year for the film and television industry due to strikes, but now we can move forward and celebrate talent and films,” said Cécile Rapp-Weber, President of the French-American Cultural Foundation. Which this festival displays every year.” Fund and CEO of Sacem.

The French American Film Festival is the premier annual event of the French American Cultural Fund, which created the festival in 1996. It is the largest French film festival in North America and the largest festival dedicated to French films and television shows in the world.

“TAFFF has become an increasingly important international event for French filmmakers and talent to gain exposure in the Hollywood film community,” says François Truffart, executive producer and programmer at TAFFF. “By providing opportunities for international sales companies and US distributors – including digital platforms – to hold and screen French-language films and series before the start of awards season, is pivotal to their overall sales and marketing strategies.”

Amelia Demoldenberg has been named the face of the Oscars’ social media campaign

Comedian and broadcaster Amelia Demoldenberg, host of the YouTube interview series “Chicken Shop Date,” has been selected as the ’96 Social Media Ambassador and Red Carpet Correspondent.^y Oscars.

Demoldenberg will participate in several Academy Awards season events, including the Oscars Nominees Luncheon, where she will co-produce a video for the Academy with the nominees. She will also participate in a “Backstage Tour of the 96th Academy Awards,” as well as interview nominees and other talent on the Oscars red carpet.

Dimoldenberg’s “Chicken Shop Date” videos have garnered 2.2 million subscribers and 416 million views. She has interviewed a wide range of figures in the entertainment industry, including Paul Mescal, Cher and Jennifer Lawrence.

“I’m so excited. I really can’t believe it and I can’t wait to get to Los Angeles and do some amazing interviews,” Demoldenburg said in an interview with the Academy’s A.frame website. “Doing this for the Academy Awards itself is… In fact, where are you going? It’s all downhill from here!”

The Oscars ceremony is scheduled to be held on March 10 at the Dolby Theater and will be available to watch live on ABC.

Eric Branco’s “Silent Partner” begins production in New York City

Director of Photography Eric Branco makes his directorial debut with Black Man Films’ Silent Partner. Production begins this week in New York City.

The script was written by lead actor Roderick Lawrence (co-founder of Black Man Films), James J. Johnson and Branco.

In addition to Lawrence, the rest of the cast includes Stephen Hill, Haskiri Velasquez, Welker White, Karen Aldridge, Isabella Pisacani, and Shoshana Bean.

Branko has served as director of photography on projects including “Let the Right One In,” “Bupkis,” “Clemency,” “The 40-Year-Old-Version,” and most recently “Story Ave,” earning him an ASC Spotlight Award. Nomination and Special Jury Award for Cinematography at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival. Branco was also named one of diverse10 cinematographers to watch in 2019

The film’s synopsis reads: Silent Partner is about a black New York lawyer (Lawrence) who is thrust into a fixed case by a senior partner (Perry). He was asked to defend a white woman who killed a black teenager. The story focuses on the lawyer’s moral struggle, his relationship with his wife (Heyward) and the black professional experience of microaggressions in the workplace and systemic racism in the justice system.

The story originated as a short film created by Lawrence with Branko as the DP. The film is produced by Lawrence and Salma Qarnain for Black Man Films, and co-produced by Cameron Tyler Carr and James L. Walker Jr.

Universal Pictures announces release date for DreamWorks Animation’s Dog Man‘

DreamWorks Animation’s “Dog Man” will be released wide from Universal Pictures on January 31, 2025. The previously untitled project is an adaptation of Dav Pilkey’s best-selling literary series of the same title.

The film follows Dog Man, who was created through a life-saving surgery following injuries sustained by a dog and a police officer. In the release, “Dog Man has sworn to protect and serve – as long as he doesn’t get distracted by squirrels – as he doggedly pursues his arch-nemesis: supervillain Petey the Cat. But the rivalry between Dog Man and Petey is turned upside down by the arrival of an adorable kitten clone of Petey, Lil Petey , which changed the game for both of them.

Emmy Award-winner Peter Hastings will direct the film, which Karen Foster is producing. Pilkey’s “Dog Man” series consists of 11 books, with the 12th book, “Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder,” scheduled for release in March. Universal Pictures will distribute the DreamWorks Animation adaptation.

Colman Domingo joins the board of directors of the Gotham Film and Media Institute

Colman Domingo, star of the Oscar-nominated film “Rustin,” has been named to the board of directors of the Gotham Film and Media Institute.

According to Gotham, Domingo’s new position will involve contributing to their “mission of celebrating and nurturing independent film and media creators by providing career-building resources, access to industry influencers, and pathways to broader recognition.”

“With his rich history of elevating original voices and supporting independent films, I couldn’t be more excited to delve deeper into my work with The Gotham,” Domingo said. “I look forward to working alongside some of the most influential and passionate people in film as we support independent creators and the stories they strive to share with the world.”

Focus Features Vice President Jason Cassidy and actor, producer and director Riley Keough are also part of Gotham’s board of directors. The full list of board members can be found here.

In addition to his acclaimed performance as Bayard Rustin, Domingo recently starred in the musical adaptation of “The Color Purple.”