In 'Homeroom,' an unprecedented school year caught on film
The Oakland filmmaker Peter Nicks had already made two well-regarded documentaries capturing the institutions of his city and how they shape local lives in 2012’s “The Waiting Room,” about a public hospital, and 2017’s “The Force,” about the Oakland Police Department.
New this week: 'This Is Us,' Baby Yoda, 'The Craft' redone
(NBC via AP)Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. MOVIES— Many things will be different about Halloween this year, but the annual rush of horror films is much the same. It stars Sope Dirisu and Wunmi Mosaku as a Sudanese refugee couple finding new horrors in life in England. But Neon, the “Parasite” distributor, last week put a restored version into theaters and on Tuesday brings it to VOD. One is Natalie Margolin “The Party Hop,” which she wrote during quarantine in one week in early April.
Digital and drive-in, film festivals try to salvage a season
This year, three of the four major fall film festivals, including Venice, are going forward despite the pandemic. This year, three of the four major fall film festivals all but Telluride, which had to cancel are going forward despite the pandemic. For a season predicated on badge-wearing throngs and marquee movies, its meant rethinking what a film festival is. A situation like this forces you to assess what is fundamental, says Dennis Lim, director of programming for the New York Film Festival. Anyone in Canada will be able to buy tickets to TIFF screenings, and New York Film Festival films will be briefly available nationwide.
A largely virtual New York Film Festival unveils lineup
NEW YORK This year's New York Film Festival will be held largely virtually and in outdoor screenings, organizers said Thursday while unveiling a lineup featuring new films from Chloe Zhao, Steve McQueen and Azazel Jacobs. Many of the films selected by Film at Lincoln Center, which presents the New York Film Festival, will also play at the Venice and Toronto festivals. As previously announced, the 58th New York Film Festival will kick off with McQueen's Lovers Rock"; Chloe Zhao's Nomadland is the centerpiece; and Azazel Jacobs' French Exit, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Lucas Hedges. Last year, Martin Scorsese's Irishman debuted opening night at the New York Film Festival. The 58th New York Film Festival will run a week earlier, from Sept. 17Oct.
Toronto sets lineup, Regina King to debut Muhammad Ali film
This combination photo shows actor-director Werner Herzog, left, and actress-director Regina King. The Toronto International Film Festival on Thursday unveiled a lineup featuring the directorial debut of Regina King and the latest documentary from Herzog. Toronto, which is set to run Sept. 10-19, has plotted a largely virtual 45th edition due to the pandemic. In normal years, TIFF is the largest film festival in North America. Some of the films will play first at the much smaller Venice Film Festival the week prior in September.