Neon’s Tom Quinn Worries About ‘Lack of Competition’ in a Merged Hollywood
Neon chief Tom Quinn warned that mega‑mergers among major studios threaten the competitive balance that indie distributors rely on. Speaking at the Produced By conference, he singled out the looming Paramount‑Warner Bros. Discovery deal as a scenario that could cripple creative risk‑taking. Quinn highlighted Neon’s disciplined $35 million budget ceiling and its recent streak of seven consecutive Palme d’Or wins as proof that a lean, independent model still thrives. He likened Neon to a ten‑seat sushi bar—small in scale but growing in reputation.
What’s Getting Nominated (and What Should Be Nominated) for Animated Series at the 2026 Emmy Awards
The piece predicts the 2026 Emmy nominees for Best Animated Series, noting that legacy shows like The Simpsons and Bob’s Burgers will likely return, while South Park is the odds‑on favorite after a buzz‑worthy Trump‑satire season. It highlights under‑the‑radar contenders Long Story Short...
‘Terrifier’ Director Damien Leone Heads to a Studio for Next Film ‘Tortures of the Damned,’ with Sam Raimi Producing
Damien Leone, the director of the ultra‑gory "Terrifier" franchise, has secured a deal with Lionsgate to produce an original horror film titled "Tortures of the Damned," produced alongside Sam Raimi’s Ghost House label. The project follows the commercial breakout of "Terrifier" 3, which...
‘Backrooms,’ ‘Obsession,’ and Why Two Gen Z Horror Directors Are Taking Over Hollywood
Two Gen Z directors are reshaping horror cinema. Focus Features backed 26‑year‑old Curry Barker’s “Obsession” with a $15 million budget, and the film posted a rare 40 % box‑office increase in its second weekend. Meanwhile A24 turned 20‑year‑old Kane Parsons’s YouTube series “Backrooms”...
Jorge R. Gutierrez Won’t Make AI-Generated ‘Punky Duck’ Series at Amazon MGM After Backlash
Jorge R. Gutierrez, Emmy‑winning director of The Book of Life, has pulled his AI‑generated animated series “Punky Duck” from Amazon MGM’s pilot program after intense online backlash. The series was one of three projects greenlit under Amazon’s GenAI Creators’ Fund,...
‘Fatherland’ Trailer: Sandra Hüller Takes a Profound Road Trip with Her Father, Thomas Mann, in Cannes Winner
Pawel Pawlikowski’s black‑and‑white road drama “Fatherland” captured Cannes attention, earning him the Best Director award alongside Los Javis. The film, starring Sandra Hüller as actress‑writer Erika Mann, follows a 1949 journey from Frankfurt to Soviet‑occupied Weimar as she escorts her...
‘Strung’ Director Malcolm D. Lee on Changes Since the Last Time He Opened ABFF with ‘Girls Trip’
Malcolm D. Lee returns to the American Black Film Festival to open its 30th anniversary with the psychological thriller “Strung,” starring Chloe Bailey. The film, produced by Tyler Perry and Jason Blum, marks Lee’s first departure from his signature comedy style. “Strung”...
Watch Industry Leaders Break Down California’s Film Tax Incentives at The American Pavilion
IndieWire and the American Pavilion hosted a California Day panel at Cannes on May 13, focusing on the state’s film and TV tax credit program. Panelists including California Film Commission director Colleen Bell, New Filmmakers LA founder Larry Laboe, and Film SF’s...
The 18 Best Movies We Saw at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival
IndieWire released its roundup of the 18 standout films from the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, noting that Cristian Mungiu’s Palme d’Or winner “Fjord” topped the list. The selection spans a mix of high‑profile acquisitions—Netflix’s “The Black Ball,” Neon’s “All of a...
Why ‘Navalny’ Oscar Winner Daniel Roher Moved to Fiction for the Crowdpleasing ‘Tuner’
Oscar‑winning documentarian Daniel Roher makes his narrative debut with the romantic thriller “Tuner,” a crime‑infused story about a hearing‑impaired piano tuner who cracks safes. The film, starring Leo Woodall and 87‑year‑old Dustin Hoffman, premiered on the fall festival circuit before...
How Do We Adapt to the Age of AI While ‘Protecting the Soul’ of Cinema?
At Cannes, Clever Caboose hosted a panel titled “The New Playbook for Independent Film: From Financing to Distribution in the Age of AI,” where industry leaders discussed how AI can lower costs and accelerate schedules for indie productions. Executives from...
With ‘Clarissa,’ Two Nigerian Brothers Are Forging an Arthouse Alternative to Nollywood
Twin brothers Chuko and Arie Esiri are pioneering an arthouse alternative to Nigeria’s dominant Nollywood scene. Their latest film, "Clarissa," premiered at Cannes, following the critical success of their debut "Eyimofe." Both projects were fully funded by Nigerian institutions, demonstrating...
To Financiers, Films Are No Longer the Product. Relationships with Audiences Are
At Cannes’ American Pavilion, a panel of financing experts warned that film investors no longer buy a standalone product; they buy a pre‑existing relationship with an audience. The discussion highlighted how studios such as A24, mk2 and MUBI have become...
‘Roma Elastica’ Review: Marion Cotillard Is a Dying Scream Queen in Bertrand Mandico’s Film Industry Pastiche
Bertrand Mandico’s experimental feature “Roma Elastica” debuted at Cannes 2026, starring Marion Cotillard as a dying scream‑queen confronting a brain tumor while shooting a Z‑grade horror in Rome. The film is a kaleidoscopic pastiche of 1970s Italian genre tropes, futuristic eco‑fascist satire, and...
‘La Gradiva’ Review: Cannes Critics’ Week Winner Is a Wholly Transporting Story of Youth
Marine Atlan’s feature debut *La Gradiva* captured the top prize at Cannes Critics’ Week, marking a striking entry for the cinematographer‑turned‑director. The film follows a group of French teenagers on a school trip to Naples, using the ruins of Pompeii as...
‘Ask E. Jean’ Review: An Irrepressible Icon, Beyond the Reach of Her Own Advice
The documentary "Ask E. Jean" chronicles journalist and advice columnist E. Jean Carroll’s rise from New York media darling to plaintiff in a landmark defamation suit against Donald Trump. The film opens with the 2019 lawsuit that resulted in a $90 million judgment—still unpaid—and interweaves...
‘Strawberries’ Review: The Indignities Faced by Migrant Workers Unfold Through the Eyes of a Brilliant Young Actress
“Strawberries,” directed by Laila Marrakchi, follows Hasna, a young Moroccan migrant, as she navigates grueling work on a Spanish strawberry farm. The film exposes erratic pay, abusive supervision, and a hidden underworld of sexual assault and kidnapping that borders on...
At The American Pavilion, Cannes Publicists Got Candid About What Actually Does (and Doesn’t) Sell a Movie
At Cannes’ American Pavilion, IndieWire’s panel with Sylvia Desrochers, Hilda Somarriba and RJ Millard exposed the myth that hiring a publicist alone guarantees a film’s success. They emphasized that finishing a movie is only the beginning and that modern publicity requires...
It Wasn’t Just YouTubers Who Fixated on ‘Obsession’ This Weekend
Focus Features’ horror debut "Obsession" earned $17.2 million in its opening weekend and received an A‑‑ CinemaScore, a rare achievement for a genre film without star power. The film attracted a young, diverse audience—about 75% under 35, 41% female, and 32%...
‘Full Phil’ Review: Quentin Dupieux’s Unfulfilling Father-Daughter Two Hander
Quentin Dupieux’s latest surrealist comedy, “Full Phil,” stars Woody Harrelson and Kristen Stewart in a 78‑minute, two‑hander that follows a strained father‑daughter vacation in a Paris hotel suite. The film premiered at Cannes 2026 and received a lukewarm C+ grade, with...
‘Avedon’ Review: Ron Howard’s Portrait of an Icon Who Shot Portraits of Icons
Ron Howard’s new documentary “Avedon” chronicles the life and work of legendary photographer Richard Avedon, whose kinetic portrait style reshaped fashion and editorial photography. The film weaves archival footage, interviews with contemporaries, and a trove of iconic images to illustrate...
‘Atonement’ Review: Emotionally Powerful Anti-War Film Shows That Bullets Fire Both Ways
Reed Van Dyk’s feature debut, Atonement, adapts Dexter Filkins’ New Yorker article on the 2003 Iraq invasion, delivering an intimate anti‑war portrait that follows an Iraqi Christian‑Armenian family and a U.S. Marine. The film opens with a tense Baghdad morning,...
‘La Libertad Doble’ Review: It’s ‘Slow Cinema: The Return’ in Lisandro Alonso’s Latest
Lisandro Alonso returns after 25 years with La Libertad Doble, a 100‑minute sequel that mirrors much of his austere 2001 debut while inserting a modest narrative about family and Argentine austerity. The film re‑creates key sequences from the original, adding...
Who Will Win the Cannes Film Festival Palme D’Or?
The 79th Cannes Film Festival opened on May 12, 2026 with a competition slate that leans heavily toward European and Asian auteur cinema. A diverse jury led by Park Chan‑wook includes Demi Moore, Stellan Skarsgård and Chloé Zhao, making predictions notoriously fickle. Pawel Pawlikowski’s post‑war drama...
‘Sheep in the Box’ First Footage: Palme D’Or Winner Hirokazu Kore-Eda Returns to Cannes with a Sci-Fi Family Drama
Hirokazu Kore-eda returns to Cannes for the eighth time with the sci‑fi family drama “Sheep in the Box,” which premieres on May 16, 2026. The film follows a grieving couple who adopt a humanoid replica of their lost son, blending emotional...
Cannes Premiere ‘Jim Queen’ May Be the Gayest Animated Film Ever Made
‘Jim Queen,’ an adult animated comedy debuting at Cannes, offers a flamboyant, satirical look at Paris’s gay nightlife. Directed by Marco Nguyen and Nicolas Athane, the film, eight years in the making, follows gym‑queen influencer Jim as he confronts a...
‘Wildwood’ Teaser: Laika Returns to Stop-Motion with a Dark Fantasy Adventure
Laika unveiled the first teaser for “Wildwood,” its sixth feature and first stop‑motion film since 2019’s Missing Link. The dark fantasy, directed by CEO Travis Knight and scripted by Chris Butler, adapts Colin Meloy’s 2011 novel and boasts a star‑studded voice...
IndieWire Earns Six SoCal Journalism Award Nominations, Including Best Website and TV Critic
IndieWire has secured six nominations at the 2026 SoCal Journalism Awards, including Best Website and Best TV Criticism for critic Ben Travers. The nods span entertainment reporting, podcast work, lifestyle features, and independent journalism, reflecting the outlet’s breadth of coverage...
American Pavilion Presented by IndieWire Announces 2026 Cannes Film Festival Programming
IndieWire announced the full 2026 American Pavilion schedule at Cannes, running May 12‑22. The program features a mix of panels, keynotes, and networking events focused on AI filmmaking, new financing models, and California’s production ecosystem. Highlights include Tim Heidecker’s keynote at...
‘Forge’ Review: A Game of Cat-and-Mouse in the Miami Art World Makes for a Thrilling Directorial Debut
Jing Ai Ng’s first feature, “Forge,” follows Miami‑based painter Coco Zhang (Andie Ju) who builds a lucrative underground business forging “new” works that mimic famous masters. The film premiered at SXSW 2025 and will open in limited theatrical runs beginning May 15...
IndieWire Honors the Best of TV with Michelle Pfeiffer, Nicolas Cage, Charles Melton, and More
IndieWire announced its Spring 2026 IndieWire Honors, the publication’s biggest celebration of television to date. The ceremony will be held on June 4 in Los Angeles, featuring a cocktail reception, awards presentation, and a 30th‑anniversary dance party. Honorees span veteran talent such...
‘The Rivals of Amziah King’ Trailer: Matthew McConaughey (and a Whole Bunch of Bees) Star in Buzzy Crowdpleaser
Andrew Patterson’s sophomore film, “The Rivals of Amziah King,” starring Matthew McConaughey as a beekeeper‑musician, debuted at SXSW 2025 and blends blue‑grass musical numbers with western‑style drama. The trailer highlights vivid Oklahoma landscapes, a Choctaw cultural thread, and a star‑studded cast...
After ‘Silent Friend,’ Tony Leung Now Sees Plants as ‘Sentient Beings,’ the Same as Human Beings
Hong Kong star Tony Leung teams with Hungarian director Ildikó Enyedi for the European art‑film Silent Friend, playing a neuroscientist who studies a ginkgo tree during the 2020 lockdown. The role prompted Leung to view plants as sentient beings, reshaping his personal philosophy. The...
‘The Easy Kind’ Trailer: Country Legend Elizabeth Cook (Lightly) Fictionalizes Herself
Katy Chevigny’s new indie feature The Easy Kind follows country‑music legend Elizabeth Cook as a fictionalized version of herself, dubbed EC, navigating midlife, creative freedom, and financial hurdles. The vérité‑inspired drama blends real‑life performance with scripted storytelling, and includes cameo...
Will Neon Find Even More Movies to Buy at Cannes? And Other Burning Market Questions
Neon arrived at Cannes 2026 with a record nine titles, six of which are in the main competition, reinforcing its reputation as the festival’s biggest buyer. Other distributors—including Mubi, A24, Netflix and Bleecker Street—are also active, but many are adopting...
Watch YouTuber Poppy in a Short Film About the Dangers of AI — From Top AI Filmmakers
AI filmmaker Paul Trillo released the short “The Most Perfect Perfect Person,” starring YouTube star Poppy as a hyper‑perfect version of herself. The film blends in‑camera performance with generative‑AI visual effects, allowing the director to tweak dialogue and remove elements...
Cannes 2026 Movies Sold So Far: ‘Paper Tiger,’ ‘The Devils’ 4K Restoration, and ‘Minotaur’ Find Homes Early
At Cannes 2026, several high‑profile titles have already been sold ahead of the festival. Warner Bros.’ new indie label Clockwork will release the restored Ken Russell classic “The Devils,” while Neon has picked up James Gray’s “Paper Tiger,” its first collaboration with the...
The Golden Globes Have a New Timetable, Eligibility Rules, and Campaign Guidelines That Tackle AI Usage
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced the 84th Golden Globes will be held on Sunday, January 10, 2027, returning to the second weekend in January. A detailed timetable opens submissions on June 1, 2026, with nominations slated for December 7, 2026. The HFPA introduced AI usage...
Festival Favorite ‘Tuner’ Will Kick Off Theatrical Run with the Best Sound Your Ticket Dollars Can Buy
Daniel Roher’s festival‑hit ‘Tuner,’ starring Leo Woodall as a hyper‑sensitive piano tuner‑turned‑safe‑cracker, is set for a theatrical rollout anchored by an exclusive Dolby Cinema preview on May 17 at AMC locations. The film’s sound design, led by Oscar‑winning Johnnie Burn, is engineered...
‘Temptation Island’ Might Be the Most Emotionally Mature Reality Series on TV
Temptation Island, now in its 25th year, has shifted from pure drama to a more emotionally mature reality format. Host Mark L. Walberg uses bonfire debriefs and therapeutic language to guide couples toward self‑reflection, supported by an on‑set licensed therapist....
‘Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour’ Review: James Cameron Captures the Singer in 3D, and in...
James Cameron co‑directed a 3D concert film of Billie Eilish’s 2025 Hit Me Hard and Soft tour, releasing it as ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)’. The movie captures the full setlist, including new album tracks...
Ken Russell’s Controversial ‘The Devils’ Restoration Will Be Warner Bros. Clockwork’s First Repertory Release
Ken Russell’s controversial 1971 film *The Devils* will receive its first fully restored theatrical showing through Warner Bros. Clockwork. A 4K restoration sourced from Russell’s original negative will debut in the Classics section of Cannes 2026, followed by a limited...
Scarlett Johansson to Star in Ari Aster’s Next Film ‘Scapegoat’ for A24
Ari Aster’s fifth feature, “Scapegoat,” will star Scarlett Johansson and is being set up at A24, with Aster writing, directing and producing alongside partner Lars Knudsen. Johansson was Aster’s first‑choice lead and will join the project amid a packed schedule...
‘Maddie’s Secret’ Trailer: John Early Is a Food Influencer with a Secret in His Dark Comedy Directing Debut
Comedian John Early makes his feature‑directing debut with the dark comedy “Maddie’s Secret,” a film that debuted at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival and earned strong IndieWire praise. Early also wrote and stars in the movie, playing a dishwasher‑turned‑viral...
What ‘SNL UK’ Is Doing Differently (and What Lorne Michaels Has to Say About It)
Saturday Night Live has launched a British version, SNL UK, streaming on Sky One, NOW and later on Peacock. The eight‑episode first season is six episodes in, featuring a smaller 11‑member cast, live sketches, Weekend Update and musical guests, but with...
Nicolas Winding Refn on the ‘Pusher’ Re-Release, Cannes Comeback, and His First Film in 10 Years
Magnolia Pictures is re‑releasing Nicolas Winding Refn’s cult “Pusher” trilogy in 4K, beginning with a limited theatrical run at New York’s IFC Center on May 8. The restoration draws on the original Super 16 negatives, preserving the films’ gritty aesthetic while delivering...
‘Tony’ Trailer: Dominic Sessa Becomes Anthony Bourdain in A24’s Portrait of a Culinary Icon in the Making
A24 released the first trailer for “Tony,” a biopic that zeroes in on a single summer in 1975 when a 19‑year‑old Anthony Bourdain worked in a Provincetown seafood kitchen. Directed by Matt Johnson, known for “Blackberry,” the film stars Dominic...
It Ends with This: Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively Settle Lawsuit
Actor‑producer Justin Baldoni and actress Blake Lively have reached a confidential settlement, ending a lawsuit that was set for trial this month. Lively had sued Baldoni over an alleged retaliatory smear campaign and sexual‑harassment claims tied to their 2024 film...
‘Blue Film’ Review: A Disturbing Look at Pedophilia and Gay Shame Is Independent Cinema at Its Most Provocative
Elliot Tuttle’s provocative indie drama “Blue Film” opens in select U.S. theaters on May 8, 2026 after a circuit‑busting run at Edinburgh and NewFest. The two‑hander, set entirely in a Los Angeles Airbnb, stars Kieron Moore as a camboy and Reed Birney as his...
There’s a Hit Horror Movie Lurking Inside George Orwell’s ‘1984’ — If Anyone Dares to Adapt It
George Orwell’s 1984 remains a cultural touchstone, yet Hollywood has never produced a major film that treats the novel as a horror‑driven, immersive experience. Recent spikes in book sales—up 192% after the 2025 U.S. inauguration—show a ready audience, but U.S....