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Pablo Larraín‘s latest feature film “Maria” is written by Steven Knight and tells the story of world-renowned opera singer Maria Callas, as portrayed by Oscar winner Angelina Jolie. The Netflix biopic has been receiving awards buzz since it premiered at the Venice International Film Festival earlier this summer, and now we have a much better idea about the extreme lengths Larraín’s team took in order to recreate Callas’ fascinating world.

Some of the film’s behind-the-scenes artisans who made the magic happen include cinematographer Edward Lachman, film editor Sofía Subercaseaux, costume designer Massimo Cantini Parrini, and production designer Guy Hendrix Dyas. Every moment of “Maria” was meticulously chosen to give audiences the feeling of being transported back in time to Paris in the 1970s and earlier.

So, what are some of the specific details that went into this expansive project? This is “Maria” by the numbers:

41 shooting days in 4 cities — Budapest,...

The artisans behind some of this year’s leading award contenders discussed the importance of having the right crew on their projects at the Scad Savannah Film Festival as part of Variety’s 10 Artisans to Watch honors.

Suzanne Stokes Munton, hair department head on Robert Eggers’ “Nosferatu,” stressed, “It’s really important to have an excellent group that works well together and as a team and is willing to work with other departments. You can’t have any bad eggs.”

She was honored alongside Devendra Cleary, sound mixer on “Twisters,” Andrea Datzman, composer on “Inside Out 2,” Julie Diaz, supervising dialogue/Adr editor on “Y2K,” Jade Healy, production designer on “Wolfs,” Danielle Immerman, VFX producer on “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” Steve Newburn, makeup on “Sasquatch Sunset,” Sofia Subercaseaux, editor on “Maria and Paul Tazewell, costume designer on “Wicked.”

Asked what was his biggest challenge on “Twisters,...

Netflix has released the official trailer and poster for Maria, the drama starring Angelina Jolie. The film opens in select theaters on November 27, 2024, and launches on Netflix on December 11.

Academy Award-winner Angelina Jolie plays Maria Callas, one of the most iconic performers of the 20th century, in acclaimed director Pablo Larrain’s operatic Maria.

The film follows the American-Greek soprano as she retreats to Paris after a glamorous and tumultuous life in the public eye. Maria reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days as the diva reckons with her identity and life.

Written by Steven Knight, the movie has been rated R by the MPA for some language including a sexual reference.

In addition to Angelina Jolie, the cast includes Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Valeria Golino, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Haluk Bilginer.

Juan De Dios Larraín, Jonas Dornbach, Lorenzo Mieli, and Pablo Larraín are the producers. The film’s cinematographer is Ed Lachman,...

A strange thing happens when lifelong artists begin to sense the light at the end of the tunnel. Some, like Francis Ford Coppola with "Megalopolis," have the freedom to go out on their own terms, guns blazing and critics be damned, with one of the most bombastic and extravagant works they've ever produced. Others, however, aren't nearly as fortunate. Time and trauma take their tolls, forcing even the greatest legends to contend with a much more complicated reality: the fact that their dreams no longer match reality. By the end, nostalgia crashes hard against resentment and triggers a deep-rooted pain directed towards the very talents that made life worth living in the first place.

Spanish filmmaker Pablo Larraín isn't even close to the finish line, of course, yet in many ways "Maria" feels like his most wistful and self-reflexive movie yet. After guiding both "Jackie" and "Spencer" to such high acclaim in recent years,...

Netflix has shared the official teaser trailer for Maria, the drama film starring Angelina Jolie and opening in select theaters on November 27, 2024. It launches on Netflix on December 11.

Academy Award-winner Angelina Jolie plays Maria Callas, one of the most iconic performers of the 20th century, in acclaimed director Pablo Larrain’s operatic Maria.

The film follows the American-Greek soprano as she retreats to Paris after a glamorous and tumultuous life in the public eye. Maria reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days as the diva reckons with her identity and life.

Written by Steven Knight, the movie has been rated R by the MPA for some language including a sexual reference.

In addition to Angelina Jolie, the cast includes Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Valeria Golino, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Haluk Bilginer.

Juan De Dios Larraín, Jonas Dornbach, Lorenzo Mieli, and Pablo Larraín are the producers. The film’s cinematographer is Ed Lachman,...

Greta Lee and Teo Yoo in ‘Past Lives’ (Photo Credit: Jon Pack / Courtesy of A24)

Past Lives took home top film honors at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards, held on February 25th in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica. The film also earned Celine Song the Best Director award, with American Fiction‘s Cord Jefferson and May December‘s Samy Burch earning screenplay honors.

On the television side, The Last of Us collected two awards: Nick Offerman for Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series and Keivonn Montreal Woodard for Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series. Beef also netted two wins, with Ali Wong awarded Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series and the show earning the Best New Scripted Series award.

2024 Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations

Best Feature (Award given to the producer.)

All of Us Strangers

Producers: Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin,...

Another big award show took place this weekend (in addition to the SAG Awards), the Film Independent Spirit Awards, which celebrates indie film and TV. One thing about this awards show is that their idea of independent sometimes makes me scratch my head a bit, with HBO’s big-budget The Last of Us nominated a whole bunch in the TV category, along with Netflix’s Beef and several other streaming shows, which I’m not sure one could call independent. For films, there’s a $30 million budget cap. For TV, I’m honestly not sure what the benchmark is because Last of Us was notoriously an expensive show to shoot, costing at least $100 million.

Indeed, The Last of Us won some key awards on the TV side, winning Best Supporting Performance (for Nick Offerman) and Best Breakthrough Performance (for Keivonn Montreal Woodard). Over on the film side, American Fiction and...

The best in independent film and television were honored at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards!

Plenty of A-List stars were in attendance at the event on Sunday afternoon (February 25) at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif.

Movies are only eligible for a Spirit Award if they have a budget of less than $30 million, so there are some awards favorites like Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Killers of the Flower Moon that are not nominated.

American Fiction, May December, and Past Lives lead the pack this year with five nominations each.

Make sure to check out our post with photos of Every celeb who attended the event! Also check out our best dressed list.

Head inside to see the full list of winners…

Keep scrolling to see the full list of winners…

Best Feature (Award given to the producer)

All of Us Strangers

Producers: Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Sarah Harvey

American Fiction

Producers: Cord Jefferson,...

The 2024 Independent Spirit Awards took place on Sunday at the traditional Santa Monica beach tent location, with Aidy Bryant hosting. “Past Lives” took home the coveted Best Feature award, with “Beef” being honored as Best New Scripted Series. Check out the full list of winners and nominees below.

Best Feature

“Past Lives”

Producers: David Hinojosa, Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon

“All of Us Strangers”

Producers: Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Sarah Harvey

“American Fiction”

Producers: Cord Jefferson, Jermaine Johnson, Nikos Karamigios, Ben LeClair

“May December”

Producers: Jessica Elbaum, Will Ferrell, Grant S. Johnson, Pamela Koffler, Tyler W. Konney, Sophie Mas, Natalie Portman, Christine Vachon

“Passages”

Producers: Michel Merkt, Saïd Ben Saïd

“We Grown Now”

Producers: Minhal Baig, Joe Pirro

Best Lead Performance

Jeffrey Wright, “American Fiction”

Jessica Chastain, “Memory”

Greta Lee, “Past Lives”

Trace Lysette, “Monica”

Natalie Portman, “May December”

Judy Reyes, “Birth/Rebirth”

Franz Rogowski, “Passages”

Andrew Scott, “All of Us Strangers”

Teyana Taylor,...

While the likes of Oppenheimer, Barbie, and Killers of the Moon will likely battle it out at the Oscars, Film Independent Spirit Awards is putting the spotlight on the indie productions of the year, with budget ranges from $10,000 to $28 million. May December, Past Lives, and American Fiction lead the nominations for the 39th ceremony, each taking five nods.

Other highlights include All of Us Strangers and Passages for Best Feature, All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt and Earth Mama for Best First Feature, Kokomo City and The Mother of All Lies for Best Documentary, Glenn Howerton for BlackBerry, Marin Ireland and Anne Hathaway for Eileen, Marshawn Lynch for Bottoms, How to Blow Up a Pipeline for Best Editing, Godland and Tótem for Best International Film, and more.

See the nominations below ahead of the ceremony on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024 (a full two weeks before the Oscars), hosted by Aidy Bryant.

Best...

Ceremony to take place on Santa Monica Beach on February 25, 2024.

The 39th Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations have been announced and May December, American Fiction, and Past Lives lead the field with five nods apiece.

The Holdovers earned four and there were three for All Of Us Strangers – winner of seven Bifas at the weekend – as the nominations were announced on Tuesday. A24 leads the studio field with 11 nominations, followed by Netflix on 10.

Andrew Scott for All Of Us Strangers, Jessica Chastain for Memory, Greta Lee for Past Lives, Franz Rogowski for Passages, and Jeffrey Wright for American Fiction are...

Ceremony to take place on Santa Monica Beach on February 25, 2024.

The Film Independent 39th Film Independent Spirit Awards have been announced and May December, American Fiction, and Past Lives lead the field with five nods apiece.

The Holdovers earned four and All Of Us Strangers three as the nominations were announced on Tuesday. A24 leads the studio field with 11 nominations, followed by Netflix on 10.

Andrew Scott for All of Us Strangers, Jessica Chastain for Memory, Greta Lee for Past Lives, Franz Rogowski for Passages, and Jeffrey Wright for American Fiction are in the running fort the gender-neutral lead acting category.

The full list of nominations for the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards has been announced!

Movies are only eligible for a Spirit Award if they have a budget of less than $30 million, so there are some awards favorites like Maestro and Killers of the Flower Moon that are not nominated here.

Aidy Bryant is set to host the 2024 awards ceremony, which will take place on February 25. The event will no longer air on television and will instead stream on YouTube.

American Fiction, May December, and Past Lives lead the pack this year with five nominations each.

Head inside to check out the full list of nominations…

Keep scrolling to see the full list of nominations…

Best Feature (Award given to the producer)

All of Us Strangers

Producers: Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Sarah Harvey

American Fiction

Producers: Cord Jefferson, Jermaine Johnson, Nikos Karamigios, Ben LeClair

May December

Producers: Jessica Elbaum, Will Ferrell,...

When it comes to predicting the Oscar winner for Best Film Editing, you can’t go wrong by looking for the movie with the most cuts. Past winners “The Bourne Ultimatum” (2008), “Mad Max: Fury Road” (2016), “Ford v Ferrari” (2020), “Dune” (2022) and last year’s champ “Everything Everywhere All at Once” included high-octane action sequences with frenetic cutting. A slew of winners — including “Saving Private Ryan” in 1999, “Black Hawk Down” (2002), “The Hurt Locker” (2010), “Hacksaw Ridge” (2017) and “Dunkirk” (2018) — have been war pictures. (Scroll down for the most up-to-date 2024 Oscar predictions for Best Film Editing.)

Oscar voters also embrace film editors who skillfully juggle multiple storylines, as was the case with “Traffic” (2001) and “Crash” (2006). And they like films that expertly inter-cut music with images, such as “Cabaret” (1973), “Chicago” (2003), “Whiplash” (2015), “Bohemian Rhapsody” (2019) and 2021 winner “Sound of Metal.” Special effects extravaganzas like “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2004) and “Gravity” (2014) won by...

Rotting in the Sun

Before sliding into television (he has two projects in development with Ari Aster and the A24 folks), Sebastián Silva will be returning to premiering a Park City his latest oeuvre. The Chilean filmmaker blurs the lines by making some possible auto-fiction with a comedy noir-laced micro project that was filmed in Mexico. On Rotting in the Sun, Silva is reunited with Catalina Saavedra – the actress from his 2009 hit The Maid and also reunites with producer Jake Wasserman (2018’s Tyrel) and Film Editor Sofia Subercaseaux — who has teamed on several of his films dating back to Crystal Fairy & the Magical Cactus.…...

Is it cynical or bitter? That’s a hill I find myself dying on on a regular basis, so it only makes sense for The Devil All the Time to add to the pile. Written by Antonio Campos & Paulo Campos from Donald Ray Pollock’s novel of the same name, this adaptation hints at being both. Its depictions of violence are detached and objective. Its characters’ actions are often anything but. Campos’ fifth feature examines that cognitive dissonance at times, but that dissonance itself feels incidental. Too amoral to be cynical and too stagnant to be bitter, this Gothic tale confuses its pieces just enough to prevent it from leaving an impact.

It’s not for a lack of trying, though. Here’s a saga of around 10 main characters and more than a few jumps in its timeline. After serving in the Solomon Islands in 1945, veteran Willard Russell (Bill Skarsgård...

Written by “Downton Abbey” creator Julian Fellowes, “The Chaperone” appears to be targeting men and women above the age of 60. And while that’s a demographic as worthy of attention as any, those same viewers deserve a theatrical experience that doesn’t feel created for small-screen tidiness and flatness.

Adapted from Laura Moriarty’s best-selling novel, “The Chaperone” follows the rise of silent-film star Louise Brooks (Haley Lu Richardson). But before acting, it was dancing, first in Kansas, where Louise was born and raised, and then in New York City. The film spends most of its time on Louise’s summer adventure in the big city, where she is accompanied by Norma (Elizabeth McGovern), the titular caretaker.

Their dynamic is probably what you expect from a coming-of-age period drama: Louise is young and free-spirited, eager to be away from her cookie-cutter small town. She’s a skilled dancer and knows it.