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A truly collective production, led by multi-hyphenate creatives Luke Eberl and Edgar Morais from cross-continental Volpana_ productions with an enthralling lead performance from co-writer Whitney Able, We Won’t Forget opens with an almost imperceptibly weighted energy as we are swept through a buzzing LA party and into a whirlwind of progressively inexplicable shifting emotions. Eberl and Morais wanted to explore the increasingly worrying complex relationship we have with social media and herd mentality; both of which can cause us to lose all sense of reason and decorum. We Won’t Forget – filmed on super 16mm which presents dreamy visuals befitting the communal haze that comes over the group of friends as their host crumbles in front of their eyes – is a film rich in commentary about groupthink and our instinct to capture even the slightest social infraction for digital consumption. We speak to the directorial duo about their intuitive working relationship,...

Exclusive: Larry Clark, the filmmaker behind the Harmony Korine-scripted Kids and Brad Renfro starrer Bully, has come aboard the music documentary It Was Them, from filmmakers Edgar Morais (Heatstroke) and Luke Eberl (Choose Connor), as an executive producer.

Currently in production, It Was Them is a portrait of the highs and lows of Jonathan Velasquez, Eddie Velasquez, Frank Navarrette and Carlos Ramirez, a group of musically talented Indigenous-Latino friends from South Central L.A. who look to find their footing as immigrants in the foreign and labyrinthic streets of Paris. The film spans over a decade in the lives of the nomads and features an original soundtrack written and performed by the subjects.

In addition to co-directing, Morais has contributed writing to the film and is producing alongside Eberl. The U.S.-Portugal-German co-production’s team also includes producers Sol Tryon, Rodrigo Areias, and co-producers Andre Hörmann and Max Milhahn.

Morais and Eberl previously collaborated on the award-winning narrative short We Won’t Forget, in which a woman’s frustrations boil to the surface while hosting a party for her friends, culminating in a public freak-out that turns into collective hysteria. The short screened at over 25 festivals worldwide, including the Oscar-qualifying Palm Springs ShortFest, and was selected as Short of the Week and Vimeo Staff Pick. It also won various awards, including the Grand Jury Prize and award for Best Editing at the Castrovillari Film Festival, and was nominated for a Portuguese Academy Award for Best Short Film. Prior to It Was Them, Morais and Eberl also collaborated on music videos for bands such as Mothxr and the Grammy-nominated Shiny Toy Guns.

A filmmaker, photographer and actor, Morais’ directorial debut, the short film Heatstroke, won the CinEuphoria award for Best Screenplay. As an actor, he has worked with directors such as Teresa Sutherland, Victoria Mahoney, and Tiago Guedes in films that have screened at Cannes, Venice, Fantasia, Gothenburg, Vila do Conde, and Rotterdam.

Also an actor-filmmaker, Eberl’s feature directorial debut, Choose Connor, was released theatrically and on video by Strand Releasing following a successful festival run. That film followed an idealistic 15-year old who accepted the opportunity to serve as the youth spokesman for a U.S. Senate candidate, only to be exploited in a fierce campaign of TV and radio ads, posters, interviews, and speaking engagements. As an actor, he’s worked with directors such as Tim Burton, Alfonso Arau, Vincent Paterson, Peter Hoar, and Clint Eastwood.

Known for his unflinching explorations of youth culture, addiction, and rebellion, Clark first gained recognition with Tulsa, a book of photography documenting teenage drug use and disaffected lifestyles in his hometown. He transitioned to filmmaking with the iconic drama Kids, chronicling the lives of teenagers in New York City, which became a cultural flashpoint in 1995. Other works from the filmmaker include Bully, as well as Ken Park, Another Day in Paradise, Wassup Rockers, Marfa Girls, and The Smell of Us.

Morais is repped by Eleven Dot Eight, Middleweek Newton Talent Management, and Robert Stein Management; Eberl by Phoenix Artists, Blue Ridge Entertainment, and Hit Management.

Stars: Georgina Campbell, Maria de Sá, Nick Blood, Wai Ching Ho, Soren Hellerup, Ana Sofia Martins, Edgar Morais | Written and Directed by Teresa Sutherland

Coming from the writer of recent slow-burn horror The Wind, the slightly oddly-titled Lovely, Dark and Deep, tells the story of a park ranger looking for answers from a childhood tragedy while she walks alone through the wilderness.

I guess it should be no surprise that this movie could also be called a slow burner but don’t go thinking that this means the first half or more of the film is boring or that nothing of note happens. Because Lovely, Dark and Deep grabs its viewers right from the start. But, there’s no doubt that the pace picks up towards the climax of the film and the movie leans more into horror the longer it goes on.

There are plenty of movies about people...

"A beguiling cosmic nightmare." XYZ Films has debuted an official trailer for an indie horror psychological thriller called Lovely, Dark, and Deep, which marks the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Teresa Sutherland. The film originally premiered at Canada's Fantasia Film Festival and Toronto After Dark Film Festival, and also at the MOTELx Lisbon Horror Film Festival last year. Lennon, a new back-country ranger, travels alone through the dangerous wilderness, hoping to uncover the origins of a tragedy that has haunted her since she was a child. While adapting to her solitary existence in the wilderness, she becomes aware of a lurking, sinister presence. Georgina Campbell stars as Lennon, with a small indie cast including Nick Blood, Wai Ching Ho, Edgar Morais, Ana Sofia Martins, and Soren Hellerup. This looks way, way creepier than you're probably expecting - especially when it gets weirder as this super eerie trailer plays out. // Continue...

Stars: Georgina Campbell, Maria de Sá, Nick Blood, Wai Ching Ho, Soren Hellerup, Ana Sofia Martins, Edgar Morais | Written and Directed by Teresa Sutherland

Coming from the writer of recent slow-burn horror The Wind, the slightly oddly-titled Lovely, Dark and Deep, tells the story of a park ranger looking for answers from a childhood tragedy while she walks alone through the wilderness.

I guess it should be no surprise that this movie could also be called a slow burner but don’t go thinking that this means the first half or more of the film is boring or that nothing of note happens. Because Lovely, Dark and Deep grabs its viewers right from the start. But, there’s no doubt that the pace picks up towards the climax of the film and the movie leans more into horror the longer it goes on.

There are plenty of movies about people...

The Fantasia International Film Festival will be celebrating its 27th edition with a whiplashing program of screenings, workshops, and launch events running from July 20 through August 9, 2023, taking place at the Concordia Hall Cinema, with additional screens at the Cinémathèque québécoise and Cinéma du Musée.

The festival’s full lineup will be announced in early July. In the meantime, Fantasia is excited to reveal a selected first wave of titles and happenings.

Bright Spotlights On South Korean Cinema Illuminate Fantasia’s 27th Edition

Since the selection of Kang Je-gyu’s Gingko Bed at Fantasia’s 1998 edition, the festival has become one of the premiere destinations for South Korean cinema. Over the years, Fantasia’s audience has had the opportunity to discover several essential Korean auteurs: Bong Joon-ho (Barking Dogs Never Bite), Park Chan-wook (Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance), Kim Ji-woon (The Quiet Family), Hwang Dong-hyuk (Miss Granny), and Yeon Sang-ho (The King Of Pigs) among many others.

The 27th edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival is set to run from from July 20th through August 9th at the Concordia Hall Cinema in Montreal, with additional screens at the Cinémathèque québécoise and Cinéma du Musée – and today the festival announced the first wave of titles that will be screening there this year! The festival runners promise this edition of the show will deliver “a whiplashing program of screenings, workshops, and launch events”, with a spotlight on South Korean cinema, a Canadian trailblazer Award being presented to Larry Kent, and World Premiere screenings of new films from the likes of Larry Fessenden, Xavier Gens, Jenn Wexler, The Adams Family, and Victor Ginzburg. They’ll also be hosting the International Premieres of Tsutomu Hanabusa’s blockbusters Tokyo Revengers 2 – Part 1 & 2.

2023 marks 60 years of diplomatic relations between Canada and the Republic of Korea, so Fantasia is teaming up with the Korean...

The Fantasia International Film Festival will be celebrating its 27th edition with a whiplashing program of screenings, workshops, and launch events running from July 20 through August 9, 2023, taking place at the Concordia Hall Cinema, with additional screens at the Cinémathèque québécoise and Cinéma du Musée.

The festival’s full lineup will be announced in early July. In the meantime, Fantasia reveals a selected first wave of titles and happenings.

Here’s the press release:

Bright Spotlights On South Korean Cinema Illuminate Fantasia’s 27th Edition

Since the selection of Kang Je-gyu’s Gingko Bed at Fantasia’s 1998 edition, the festival has become one of the premiere destinations for South Korean cinema. Over the years, Fantasia’s audience has had the opportunity to discover several essential Korean auteurs: Bong Joon-ho (Barking Dogs Never Bite), Park Chan-wook (Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance), Kim Ji-woon (The Quiet Family), Hwang Dong-hyuk (Miss Granny), and Yeon Sang-ho...

Agim and Gezim (Rafael and Edgar Morais) in A Cup Of Coffee And New Shoes On. Gentian Koçi: 'I decided to challenge myself. I told my actors, my Dop and all my crew that we are naked, in a way, in front of the camera, I'm not going to cover you, I'm not going to cover myself either' Photo: Courtesy of Poff Gentian Koçi’s drama A Cup Of Coffee And New Shoes On (Një filxhan kafe dhe këpucë të reja veshur) sees Deaf twins Agim and Gezim (Portuguese twins Rafael and Edgar Morais) face an existential crisis after a shock medical diagnosis. Visual storytelling and strong sound design are used by Koçi to key us into Agim’s deteriorating mental state as Gezim and his girlfriend Ana (Drita Kabashi) try to help him come to terms with what’s happening, only for a further shock to rock the trio.

Visual storytelling is appropriately to the fore in the latest drama from Albanian director Gentian Koçi, although his film about two Deaf identical twins also makes skilful use of heightened sound design. Both are in evidence right from the start as we watch - and listen to - the morning routine of Agim and Gezim (Portuguese twins Rafael and Edgar Morais). As they dance in the kitchen with Gezim’s girlfriend Ana (Drita Kabashi) the noise the washing up is making seems unusually loud - but it’s when a mug crashes to the floor but elicits no reaction from either man that we understand neither of them can hear it.

It is in these small moments that Koçi draws us towards the intimacy of the trio, the brothers’ bond going beyond their sign language but also flexible enough to allow Ana to be a vibrant part of their lives.

In a pleasant Tirana apartment washed in pale morning light, a handsome young man is blearily preparing breakfast. In time he’s joined by his brother — the two are identical twins — and his brother’s girlfriend, who turns on the radio and leads the guys in an impromptu little dance before they settle around the table. The neatly observed morning routine that opens Albanian writer-director Gentian Koçi’s subtle but achingly emotive “A Cup of Coffee and New Shoes On” is a contented slice of life that would be unremarkable, except it is wordless and the dancing is slightly, indefinably awkward. And then the woman leaves for work, and a coffee mug smashes loudly to the floor, with neither brother reacting with so much as a blink.

Agim and Gëzim (Portuguese actors Rafael and Edgar Morais giving a beautifully synergistic pair of performances), brothers who run a woodworking business, have been deaf since birth.

Sales agent M-Appeal has released the trailer (below) for “A Cup of Coffee and New Shoes On,” the second feature film by Gentian Koçi. It will world premiere in competition at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival later in November, and is Albania’s entry for the Academy Awards.

“A Cup of Coffee and New Shoes On” is an emotional drama, set in Tirana. Agim and Gëzim, identical twins in their thirties, have a strong bond of brotherly love. They are deaf, but this doesn’t get in the way of their everyday life. One day they receive the diagnosis that they will also lose their sight, and they are confronted with their changing relationship to the world.

The narrative-driven film is led by strong performances from Portuguese twin actors Edgar Morais and Rafael Morais, as well as Drita Kabashi who plays the role of Gëzim’s girlfriend Ana. Koçi defines...

Exclusive: Grey’s Anatomy icon Patrick Dempsey and in-demand Italian actor Alessandro Borghi, star of Netflix’s Suburra, are to lead cast in hot new financial-world thriller series Devils for The Young Pope and Gomorrah backer Sky Italia and Medici: Masters Of Florence producer Lux Vide.

Based on the best-selling novel by Italian trader Guido Maria Brera, the anticipated ten-part English-language series will be set in the London office of a major U.S. bank, where the ruthless Head of Trading, Massimo Ruggero (Borghi) from Italy, has been welcomed and introduced to the world of finance by Dominic Morgan (Dempsey), the bank’s CEO. When Ruggero ends up involved in an intercontinental financial war rocking Europe, he has to choose whether to ally himself with his mentor or fight him. The book was partly inspired by the financial crisis that swept global markets in 2008.

Among the Euro series’ strong supporting...

Writer-director Matthew Mishory uses fact and fiction to take us inside the life of James Dean as an up and coming actor in Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean, currently available on DVD from Wolfe Video. James Preston stars as James Dean, who is on the cusp of becoming a worldwide star in 1951. We have a contest lined up where fans of this cherished actor can take home the DVD, which takes one unique look at the man's life. Read on for how you can win.

Winners Receive:

A Portrait of James Dean: Joshua Tree, 1951 DVD

Here's How To Win!

Just "Like" (fan) the MovieWeb Facebook page (below) and then leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!

If you already "Like" MovieWeb, just leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!

Set primarily in the early 1950s and...

Luke Eberl is quite the well-rounded filmmaker. Not only is he a very experienced actor, but he’s got a number of credits to his name as a producer, director, writer, cinematographer and editor as well and, with his upcoming feature The Movie, he’s putting the large majority of those skills to use. Eberl is co-writing, directing, producing, shooting and editing the piece about a young man, played by co-writer Edgar Morais, struggling with financial troubles while trying to make it in the film industry out in Los Angeles. The character is ultimately swayed by the Hollywood elite and becomes part of a top tier social circle. The Movie is still in production and very close to crossing over into the post-production phase, but Eberl took some time to talk about the film and...

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