K. Asher Levin’s Thriller ‘Helen’s Dead’ Acquired by Screen Media – Film News in Brief

K. Asher Levins mystery comedy Helens Dead, which stars Emile Hirsch and Dylan Gelula, has been acquired by Screen Media.

Helens Dead will spotlight the story of Addie (Gelula) who finds out that her boyfriend is sleeping with her cousin, Helen. Reeling the effects of the betrayal, Addie prepares to confront them both when she stumbles upon Helens murder scene.

Alongside Hirsch and Gelula, Emile Hirsch, Annabelle Dexter-Jones, Tyrese Gibson, Dylan Gelula, Oliver Cooper and Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz are set to star in Helens Dead.

I have always dreamt of making my very own freewheelin, one crazy night movie, said Levin. Its truly a blessing to have assembled such an amazing cast and found such a supportive company in Screen Media to release the film.

Helens Dead was written by Amy Brown Carver from a story by Levin and Carver. Levin, too, produced alongside Daniel Cummings, Robert Dean, Roy Scott MacFarland and Todd Lundbohm. MacFarland negotiated the deal on behalf of Tetrad Studios and Stoked Film Group, with Madison Karsenty and Lisa Califf providing legal services via Donaldson, Califf Perez.

Steven Spielberg, Kate Capshaw Donate $1.5 Million to Support Workers Impacted by Hollywood Strikes Since the Hollywood strikes began back in May, Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw have donated a collective $1.5 million to writers, actors and other industry workers who have been negatively impacted by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

Capshaw and Spielbergs generous donations have gone to the Entertainment Community Fund as well as the SAG-AFTRA Foundations Emergency Financial Assistance Program.

The ECF, which was previously known as the Actors Fund, said in a statement, Thanks to the transformative support from Kate Capshaw Steven Spielberg, along with numerous other generous donors,the Fund is helping film and television workers in need with emergency financial assistance to cover basic living expenses (rent, groceries, health insurance, medical bills, etc.), mental health support and more.

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation reports that since the work stoppages began, they have been processing up to 100 applications for financial assistance every day, which go toward rent and mortgage payments, food and medical needs.

They added in a statement, This significant donation from Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg to the Foundations Emergency Financial Assistance Program will not only help meet the current and overwhelming demand for financialassistance, but will continue to support the SAG-AFTRA community who will be faced with long term financial hardships and challenges for years to come.

Spielberg and Capshaw are just the latest of those making large donations to striking workers. Shonda Rimes, Seth MacFarlane, Meryl Streep, Matt Damon, Oprah Winfrey and George Clooney are just some of the previous A-list stars who have helped raise money for writers and actors since the strikes started in May.

2023 Gotham Awards to Present George C. Wolfes Rustin With the Icon and Creator Tribute for Social Justice

The upcoming Netflix film Rustin, produced by Barack and Michelle Obamas Higher Ground, will be honored with the Icon and Creator Tribute for Social Justice at the 33rd annual Gotham Awards Ceremony on Nov. 27 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

The Icon and Creator Tribute was created for this years Gotham Awards in order to recognize cultural icons and the filmmakers responsible for bringing that icons story to life. This years Icon and Tribute for Social Justice will honor activist Bayard Rustin, who was an organizer of the 1968 March on Washington and won the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The accolade will also celebrate director George C. Wolfe and the work he put into bringing Rustins story to life on screen.

This beautifully crafted and moving film shines a light on the visionary contributions of a proud gay Black man on the heels of the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, said Jeffrey Sharp, executive director of the Gotham Film and Media Institute.

Rustin stars Emmy Award winner Colman Domingo in addition to Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, Aml Ameen, Gus Halper, CCH Pounder, DaVine Joy Randolph, Johnny Ramey, Michael Potts, Jeffrey Wright and Audra McDonald. It will be released in select theaters on Nov. 3 and stream on Netflix on Nov. 17.

Eddie Alcazar and Steven Soderbergh Unveil Trailer for Sci-Fi Film Divinity The trailer has been unveiled for Eddie Alcazars sci-fi feature Divinity. Executive produced by Steven Soderbergh, the film stars Scott Bakula, Stephen Dorff, Moises Arias, Jason Genao and Karrueche Tran. Divinity is set to premiere in New York theaters on Oct 13.

Per the official synopsis: Set in an otherworldly human existence, scientist Sterling Pierce (Bakula) dedicated his life to the quest for immortality, slowly creating the building blocks of a groundbreaking serum named Divinity. Jaxxon Pierce (Dorff), his son, now controls and manufactures his fathers once-benevolent dream. Society on this barren planet has been entirely perverted by the supremacy of the drug, whose true origins are shrouded in mystery. Two mysterious brothers (Arias and Genao) arrive with a plan to abduct the mogul, and with the help of a seductive woman named Nikita (Tran), they will be set on a path hurtling toward true immortality.

Watch the Divinity trailer below.

Abramorama Promotes Karol Martesko-Fenster to CEO, Co-Chairman and Evan Saxon to President, Head of International Distribution

Richard Abramowitz, founder of film distribution company Abramorama, announced that Karol Martesko-Fensterhas been promoted tochief executive officerand co-chairman, and Evan Saxonhas been promoted to president, head of international distribution.

Karol, Evan and I have worked closely together for years, with their partnership driving unparalleled results in the Event Cinema world, Abramowitzsaid. Their decades-long experience in the music and social impact film genres makes me confident that they will take the company to the next level and continue to dominate, innovate, and lead the way as the industry continues to evolve.

As CEO, Martesko-Fenster will lead the expansion of Abramoramas footprint and partnerships in the filmed entertainment realm, among other duties. Saxon will helm music-focused engagements, direct-to-consumer campaigns and international theatrical distribution and marketing activities.

Abramorama is a release partner that has relationships with companies like National Geographic, HBO, Hulu, Apple, Amazon and more. Up next, Abramorama will premiere the documentary UnCharitable directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal on Sept. 22.

Brooklyn Horror Film Festival Announces 2023 Lineup

The Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, which will run from Oct. 12-19, has announced their upcoming lineup of films for this years iteration of the festival.

Alix Austin and Kier Siewerts debut feature Kill Your Lover will open the festival. Other films premiering at BHFF include Jaco Bouwers Breathing In, Aimee Kuges Cannibal Mukbang and Tyler Chipmans The Shade. Horror director William Lustig will be presented with the inaugural Leviathan Award at a 35th anniversary screening of his film Maniac Cop, which will be followed by a conversation with Lustig. Jenn Wexlers The Sacrifice Game will close the festival.

All of the BHFF screenings will take place at Nitehawk Cinemas WilliamsburgandProspect Parklocations. Festival badges are on sale now and limited tickets go on sale here on Friday at 12 p.m. ET.

Academy Names Erica Eng and July Jung as the 2023 Gold Fellowship for Women Recipients The Academy has revealed Erica Eng and July Jung as their latest recipients of the sixth annual Academy Gold Fellowship for Women. Presented in partnership with Chanel, the Gold fellowship is awarded to one international and one U.S. female filmmaker each year, providing them with $35,000 and networks via the Gold Alumni program to help support their projects and film endeavors.

We are honored to advance the work of Erica and July two extraordinary filmmakers. The Academys Gold Fellowship for Women is a crucial part of the Academys goals to inspire up-and-coming artists, create engaging film industry opportunities for underrepresented communities, and develop the next generation of diverse and dynamic film talent, said Kendra Carter, the Academys SVP of impact and global talent development.

Eng is a Chinese American director raised in Oakland, Calif. and now based in Los Angeles. Her upcoming film The Ghost is set to premiere on Disney+ as part of Disneys Launchpad shorts program. Previously, her 2021 short Americanized screened at numerous festivals across the country, garnering 25 awards.

Jung is a South Korea native who has been working as a screenwriter and director for over a decade. Her 2014 debut feature A Girl at My Door was screened at the 67th Cannes Film Festival and her 2022 sophomore feature Next Sohee closed the 75th Cannes Film Festival Critics Week.