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The new film Sing Sing is an honestly told, cathartic tale of redemption through art that easily ranks among one of the most powerful films of the year.

Centered around the character of “Divine G” (Colman Domingo), a man incarcerated at Sing Sing for a crime he alleges to not have committed, the film (which takes its name from its setting) tells the tale of Divine G and his fellow incarcerated men who make up a theatre group within the prison. As the film begins, the troupe is exploring adding new members before mounting an upcoming production. This is where newcomer “Divine Eye” (Clarence Maclin) enters the fray and begins to insert his own thoughts and sensibilities into the group, disrupting the autonomy Divine G previously held. But, rather than leading to chaos and turmoil, this sends the men on a journey that examines the transformative power of art within society.

Chicago Fire fans rejoice. Things were looking kind of hairy for Sam Carver during the season 12 finale. The character was placed on furlough, and he got into a fight with Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith) after a season of romance. It had us all worried that we'd seen the last of the unique character.

Thankfully, he's coming back. In fact, he's poised to play a bigger role than ever in Chicago Fire season 13. Jake Lockett, the man who plays Carver, has been promoted to series regular, which means the character will have plenty of time to repair his relationship with Violet.

Jake Lockett was previously credited as recurring "Transpecos" - 2016 SXSW Music, Film Interactive Festival | Richard Mcblane/GettyImages

TV Line confirmed the promotion on August 2. Lockett has been credited as a recurring player during the last two seasons of Chicago Fire, even if his presence made him feel like he was more involved.

They say there are no more original ideas in Hollywood, but filmmakers Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar want to give something new a try. At least as far as independent film financing is concerned.

The duo have directed, written and produced two films — Sing Sing, out this weekend via A24, and 2021’s Jockey — using a model that sees everyone who works on the film, from the PAs to the director to the star at the top of the call sheet, paid the same wage. Additionally, everyone involved in the production above and below the line received equity. Now, they are starting a company, Ethos, with the goal of using their model to help other independent filmmakers do the same.

“When I came into the business, one thing I was very aware of was just the lack of transparency and therefore, a growing mistrust on behalf of all the people involved in making the film,...

"We here to become human again..." A24 has revealed the first official trailer for an acclaimed indie film titled Sing Sing, the second feature directed by filmmaker Greg Kwedar following Transpecos previously. This premiered at last year's 2023 Toronto Film Festival to rave reviews, with many critics calling it one of the best of the fest. It's playing at SXSW 2024 next this month before opening in theaters this July. Oscar nominee Colman Domingo stars in a rapturous role as Divine G – imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn't commit, he finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men, including a wary newcomer – in this "stirring true story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art," starring an unforgettable ensemble cast of formerly incarcerated actors. Which makes a very big difference. Based on the real-life arts rehabilitation programme founded at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, Kwedar's...

Colman Domingo is on a remarkable run, and ahead of Oscar night and his nomination for “Rustin,” A24 has released the first trailer for his next moving drama, “Sing Sing.”

Greg Kwedar directed “Sing Sing,” which follows the true story of a leader of a theater troupe in prison and how they use acting to escape the realities of their incarceration, putting on a play all while Domingo’s character is seeking parole. The film is based on a real-life rehabilitation program, and the movie even features a cast that includes formerly incarcerated actors.

Domingo leads the cast that also includes Paul Raci, an Oscar nominee for “Sound of Metal.” And A24, which picked up the film out of last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, has announced it is eyeing a theatrical release this July for the movie. It will have its U.S. premiere at the SXSW Film festival on Friday.

“Sing Sing” and “Jockey” filmmakers Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley have signed with CAA for representation.

The award-winning filmmakers’ most recent feature, “Sing Sing,” a prison-set drama, stars Emmy winner Colman Domingo and features a supporting cast that includes Oscar nominee Paul Raci, but is comprised primarily of formerly incarcerated individuals. The film is directed by Kwedar, co-written by both, and produced by Bentley, with its story inspired by the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility in New York.

“Sing Sing” debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and was acquired by A24, in a competitive situation, with the deal brokered by CAA Media Finance.

Kwedar and Bentley’s previous narrative collaborations include “Jockey” and “Transpecos,” both starring Clifton Collins Jr. “Jockey” marked Bentley’s directorial debut, helmed from a script the pair co-wrote and Kwedar produced. The film made its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival,...

“Our industry has ingrained such an idea of what to expect from a prison story,” says filmmaker Greg Kwedar, who is hoping to change that narrative with the help of those whose stories had been misrepresented.

Kwedar’s Toronto-bound feature Sing Sing centers on the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (Rta) program run out of the eponymous prison that sees the incarcerated producing and acting in stage productions. The story centers on the real-life friendship of Rta alumni John “Divine G” Whitfield (portrayed by Colman Domingo) and Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin, who plays himself. The film chronicles the bond that develops between the men as they try to decide which play to perform next. Outside of a few professional actors, including Domingo and Oscar nominee Paul Raci, Sing Sing is populated with formerly incarcerated performers, the majority of them alumni of the Rta program.

The filmmaker first went inside a maximum-security...

Chris Evans and Adam Kersh have launched Fusion Management, an artist-driven management company that will focus on actors, filmmakers and creators.

Their initial management roster features a number of notable clients with a particular focus on indie multi-hyphenates and auteurs. The list includes Sean Baker, who earned raves for “Red Rocket”; filmmaker and actor Amy Seimetz, the co-creator of “The Girlfriend Experience” on Starz and the star of “No Sudden Move”; Cooper Raiff, a writer, director, producer and actor whose film “Cha Cha Real Smooth” premiered at Sundance this week to critical acclaim; and Kelly O’Sullivan, the writer and star of the award-winning “Saint Frances.”

Evans, formerly a manager at One Entertainment, and Kersh, co-founder of Brigade Marketing, bring more than two decades of combined experience within the entertainment industry. The two want Fusion to be a landing ground for both established creators and emerging talent both in front of and behind the camera.

Deep into production on Clint Bentley’s feature directorial debut “Jockey,” star Clifton Collins Jr. reached an impasse: His agent kept calling him up with what the actor referred to as “money scripts,” and the long-time actor just didn’t have the time or the headspace to worry about other projects. Hell, he didn’t have time to worry about anything else but the tiny indie about a jockey nearing the end of his run in the lauded drama. The film premiered at Sundance 2020 after being picked up by Sony Pictures Classics, and has earned Collins the best reviews of his career, plus a recent Indie Spirit nomination for his performance.

“I’m like, ‘If I spend two hours reading another script, that’s two hours you’ve stolen from our budget. Because time is the only currency that cannot be replaced. And I’ll be damned if you take another dollar from this budget,...

Directors often mine their past for their films. Clint Bentley returned to the world in which he grew up to make his lauded new film “Jockey.” During a recent Zoom conversation with Film Independent, Bentley noted that his father was a jockey and his film “started from that place of having a specific feeling I wanted to share through a movie. That was just the feeling of what it feels like to be on the backside of the racetrack. I felt there had been a lot of movies about racing, but none had really gotten that lifestyle across and then also showing the life of jockey, which I didn’t feel had been explored.”

“Jockey,” which premiered to strong reviews at Sundance, stars veteran character actor Clifton Collins Jr. (“Capote”) as Jackson, an aging jockey who bares the scars of his job. He’s broken his back several times and...

Sony Pictures Entertainment follows its release of Parallel Mothers last week with Jockey in three theaters in New York and Los Angeles on Friday in a specialty market crowded by holdovers and wide releases, and amid a Covid-19 surge that’s particularly tough on art houses. The frame isn’t ideal for new specialty fare in any case, but gets it on the board for a January rollout ahead of Oscar nominations.

SPC acquired Jockey out of Sundance where it won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury award for star Clifton Collins Jr. as an aging rider trying to win one last championship race. The directorial debut of Clint Bentley will expand nationwide following its exclusive debut. The Oscar hopeful (87% Rotten Tomatoes’ Critics’ score) was one of Deadline critic Todd McCarthy’s top ten picks of the year. See his review here.

Collins plays Jackson Silvan,...

It’s hard to say precisely when Clifton Collins Jr. started to make an impact, but it’s safe to say his career moved up a notch after 2000, when he played the coked-out gay hitman Francisco “Frankie Flowers” Flores in Steven Soderbergh’s Oscar hit Traffic. Since then, he’s established himself has one of the best character actors in the business, inexplicably missing out on Oscar love for his performance as real-life killer Perry Smith in 2005’s Capote. That oversight will hopefully be corrected this year with Jockey, the Sundance hit for which he shrank to 143lb to play the role of ageing rider Jackson Silva.

Deadline: How did you get involved with the Jockey production?

Clifton Collins Jr.: I had a working relationship with Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley. Greg directed Transpecos, the film we did a few years ago that won the SXSW Audience Award [in 2016] and Clint produced it.

Jockey, which won the Sundance Film Festival U.S. Dramatic Special Jury award for star Clifton Collins Jr.’s acting, will hit New York and LA theaters on Dec. 29. Sony Pictures Classics acquired the film out of the Park City, Utah festival. The movie will expand across the country following its exclusive debut.

Directed by Clint Bentley and written by Bentley and Greg Kwedar, the film also stars Molly Parker, Moises Arias, Logan Cormier, and Colleen Hartnett.

In the film, an aging jockey (Collins) hopes to win one last title for his longtime trainer (Parker), who has acquired what appears to be a championship horse. But the years – and injuries – have taken a toll on his body, throwing into question his ability to continue his lifelong passion. And the arrival of a young rookie rider (Arias), who claims to be his son and whom he takes under his wing, further...

Actor, producer and director Clifton Collins Jr. has signed with CAA.

Collins most recently starred in and executive produced the independent feature “Jockey.” The film premiered in competition at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, with Collins earning the Dramatic Special Jury Award for best actor.

Variety’s Peter Debruge referred to Collins’ work as a “career-best” role, writing that the actor, “walks like a jockey; he talks like a jockey; heck, he even rides like a jockey — which is a remarkable transformation for a character actor who’s been waiting far too long for such a shot in the saddle.”

To prepare to play Jackson Silva, an aging rider dealing with the physical and emotional baggage of his career, the actor shed 20 pounds to match the slender build of a professional jockey and pushed himself to embody the loner character.

“I cut myself off from the world,” Collins told...

For the better part of the last 30 years, actor Clifton Collins Jr. has vigorously treated the entertainment industry to mostly supporting parts, but in “Jockey,” a drama about a man losing the ability to do what he loves most, he finally gets a lead role to match his aptitude for existential contemplation. You’ve certainly seen him before, but never quite like this.

Channeling his personal impressions as the son of a jockey, writer-director Clint Bentley makes his debut with a resplendent and touching character piece. Among movies dealing with men involved in physically demanding activities who are forced to change course, “Jockey” falls somewhere in between Chloé Zhao’s “The Rider” and Darren Aronofsky’s “The Wrestler,” with notes of the more recent “Sound of Metal.”

Bentley and his co-writer and producer Greg Kwedar first worked with Collins Jr. on the latter’s first feature as a director, “Transpecos,...

Clifton Collins Jr. doesn’t believe in half measures.

For “Jockey,” an intimate drama about an aging rider, the actor shut himself off from friends and family to get in the mindset of his loner character. He needed to access the pain and emotional baggage of a man who is grappling with failing health, as well as the arrival of a younger racer (Moises Arias) who claims to be his son.

“I cut myself off from the world,” Collins tells Variety shortly before “Jockey” premiered to stellar reviews at this year’s Sundance. “I talked to three people the entire time I was gone. I like to go deep.”

He also pushed his body to the breaking point, shedding 20 pounds from his already-thin frame in order to replicate the slender build of a professional jockey. Doing that meant adhering to a spartan diet.

“I had a stack of five or...

“Write what you know.” So said Mark Twain once upon a time, or at least that’s the popular belief. One cursory look at this body of work reveals that the guy didn’t follow his own advice, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t advice worth following. Clint Bentley, working alongside longtime collaborator and co-writer Greg Kwedar (see: 2016’s “Transpecos”), has done exactly that with his first feature directing gig, “Jockey,” an honest tribute to the men and women America’s horseracing industrial complex is built upon; Bentley’s father was a jockey, and having spent his childhood on racetracks, he’s intimately familiar with the lifestyle’s endless rigors.

Continue reading ‘Jockey’: Clifton Collins, Jr. Delivers A Career-Best Performance In This Soulful Drama [Sundance Review] at The Playlist.

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired all worldwide rights to the film “Jockey,” which will premiere on Sunday in the U.S. Dramatic Competition section at the Sundance Film Festival.

Directed by Clint Bentley and written by Bentley and Greg Kwedar, the film stars Clifton Collins, Jr., Molly Parker, Moises Arias, Logan Cormier and Colleen Hartnett. The film is produced by Bentley, Kwedar and Nancy Schafer.

In the film, aging jockey (Collins) hopes to win one last title for his longtime trainer (Parker), who has acquired what appears to be a championship horse. But the years – and injuries – have taken a toll on his body, throwing into question his ability to continue his lifelong passion. And the arrival of a young rookie rider (Arias), who claims to be his son and whom he takes under his wing, further complicates the path to fulfilling his dream.

In a statement, SPC described the...

Solstice Studios has acquired rights to “Bomb Squad,” an original pitch from Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley, who previously collaborated on “Transpecos.”

“Bomb Squad” is an action-thriller about two unlikely partners who team up to stop a serial bomber whose escalating attacks are building to a catastrophic event that will kill millions and destroy America’s energy supply.

This project is the first feature film pitch Solstice Studios has purchased since it was founded in fall 2018. The pitch was brought in by senior vice president Beth Bruckner O’Brien and director of development Isabelle London, who will work with Kwedar and Bentley to develop the film for the studio.

Solstice Studios was launched with $400 million in capital, and a goal of producing three to five movies a year that are aimed at global audiences. These will usually have budgets ranging between $20 million to $80 million, an arena that major studios, most of...

Gabriel Luna, Diego Boneta and Natalia Reyes will join Skydance Media’s upcoming Terminator movie opposite Arnold Schwarzengger and Linda Hamilton.

“Deadpool” director Tim Miller is attached with James Cameron and David Ellison producing. Specific details on the characters are being kept under wraps but the movie will be a direct sequel to Cameron’s 1991 film “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” with Schwarzenegger and Hamilton anchoring the story.

The untitled film will open Nov. 22, 2019, and be distributed domestically by Paramount Pictures and internationally by Fox.

Luna starred as Robbie Reyes/Ghost Rider on the ABC action superhero series “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” as well as the El Rey Network drama series “Matador” and the ABC crime drama series “Wicked City.” He also starred in the films “Freeheld” and “Transpecos.”

Boneta made his feature debut in the musical “Rock of Ages.” He currently stars in “The Titan,...

The search for the next Terminator is over. Tim Miller and James Cameron have cast Gabriel Luna in the title role of the sixth “Terminator” sequel, Deadline reports. Luna is best known for playing Robbie Reyes/Ghost Rider on the ABC superhero series “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” He also starred in the El Rey Network series “Matador” and the movies “Freeheld” and “Transpecos.”

The untitled “Terminator” sequel is the first to be overseen by Cameron since he directed, wrote, and produced “The Terminator” and “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.” Cameron selected “Deadpool” director Miller to helm the new installment, which will see original stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton return to the franchise as the T-800 and Sarah Connor, respectively. Story details are being kept under wraps, but the film will serve as a direct sequel to “T2,” skipping the timelines of the three sequels.

Exclusive: The search for a new Terminator to take over the first sanctioned Jim Cameron reboot since the original, is over. Director Tim Miller and producer Cameron have tapped Gabriel Luna for the role. Luna is best known for starring as Robbie Reyes/Ghost Rider on the ABC action superhero series Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, as well as the El Rey Network drama series Matador. On the film side, he starred in the films Freeheld and Transpecos.

Natalia Reyes and Diego Boneta (Scream Queens) also have been set to star in the film.

The Terminator was resurrected by Skydance’s David Ellison in concert with James Cameron, who gets back a lot of the reversion rights to the original 1984 movie, next year. They’ve tapped Tim Miller, the Deadpool director. Luna joins Blade Runner 2049‘s Mackenzie Davis, Diego Boneta and returning cast members Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton,...

Strong performances and commanding aerials of parched vistas elevate this Tex-Mex patrol guard drama

This Tex-Mex border outing starts off like sun-baked Clerks, with three patrol guards shooting the breeze at a remote checkpoint. One, though, isn’t what he seems – setting into motion a tightly marshalled thriller that at first goes toe-to-toe with last year’s The Shallows for logistical plotting. Strangely, this rigour suddenly dissipates on the halfway mark, and Transpecos spills what’s left of its curt running time in a more conventional desert odyssey. But director Greg Kwedar – maxing out a six-figure budget – remains inventive shot-wise, alternating between moody Sicario-style impressionism and commanding aerials of parched vistas. Gabriel Luna, as the Hispanic patrolman dragged unwittingly into hell, impressively escalates his dismay, with eye-catching support turns from Clifton Collins’ Jr’s un-pc old-timer and Julio Oscar Mechoso’s chippy cartel errand boy. Some of the intended moral...

The Austin Film Critics Association (Afca) has announced the nominees for its yearly awards. Winners will be revealed on Dec. 28. Here's the complete list of nominees:

Best Film:

Arrival

The Handmaiden

La La Land

Manchester by the Sea

Moonlight

Best Director:

Barry Jenkins, Moonlight

Damien Chazelle, La La Land

Denis Villeneuve, Arrival

Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea

Park Chan-wook, The Handmaiden

Best Actor:

Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

Colin Farrell, The Lobster

Denzel Washington, Fences

Joel Edgerton, Loving

Ryan Gosling, La La Land

Best Actress:

Amy Adams, Arrival

Annette Bening, 20th Century Women

Isabelle Huppert, Elle

Natalie Portman, Jackie

Ruth Negga, Loving

Best Supporting Actor:

Ben Foster, Hell or High Water

Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water

Mahershala Ali, Moonlight

Michael Shannon, Nocturnal Animals

Trevante Rhodes, Moonlight

Best Supporting Actress:

Greta Gerwig, 20th Century Women

Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea

Min-hee Kim, The Handmaiden

Naomie Harris, Moonlight

Viola Davis,...

New Indie Audience Award winner at the 2016 SXSW Film Festival, the clever and unpredictable Transpecos (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) is the sort of scrappy indie that makes the most out of a few locations and a small cast by being intelligently written and unpredictably twisty. Johnny Simmons, Gabriel Luna and Clifton Collins Jr. star as three border patrol agents having what appears to be another mind-numblingly dull day on the job, but then what appears to be a random traffic stop escalates into something shocking and dangerous. You won’t see the curves coming in the screenplay by Greg Kwedar (who also directed) and Clint Bentley, and the film makes salient points about border, immigration and drug issues without letting them get in the way of a crackling plot. Keep...

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In 2001, entertainment journalist Ken Baker released the memoir “The Late Bloomer: A Memoir of My Body,” which tells the story of his battle with a prolactinoma, a testosterone-sapping tumor that inhibits puberty. Baker experienced late-onset puberty at age 28, undergoing rapid teenage hormonal changes well into his adult years.

Read More: Kevin Pollak on Dedicating ‘Misery Loves Comedy’ to Robin Williams

Now, Kevin Pollak has adapted Baker’s memoir into the indie ensemble comedy “The Late Bloomer” starring Johnny Simmons as Dr. Pete Newmans a 30-year-old sex therapist who discovers that he has a pituitary tumor that has delayed puberty for over half his life. After receiving a simple surgery, Pete must struggle with his body changes while trying to win over the girl he loves. The film co-stars Maria Bello (“A History of Violence”), Brittany Snow (“Pitch Perfect”), Jane Lynch (“Glee”), J.K. Simmons (“Whiplash”), and Kumail Nanjiani (“Silicon Valley...

A kidnapper gets more than he bargained for in Pet. Starring Dominic Monaghan, Ksenia Solo, and Jennette McCurdy, the psychological horror film has been acquired by Orion Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn Films, with Us theatrical, VOD, and DVD release dates slated for December.

Press Release: Los Angeles, CA (October 4, 2016) – Orion Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn Films announced today that they have acquired the psychological thriller Pet, directed by Carles Torrens and written by Jeremy Slater. The film stars Dominic Monaghan (Lost, The Lord Of The Rings Series), Ksenia Solo (Black Swan, Lost Girl), and Jennette McCurdy (iCarly, Sam & Cat). Pet had its World Premiere at the 2016 South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin. Orion Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn Films will release the film in U.S. theaters and on demand on December 2, 2016, and it will be available on DVD on December 27.

In the vein of Hard Candy and Gone Girl, Pet...

"How many times have you done this? And how many times have you been caught?" The short film we're featuring this week is actually connected with a feature film arriving in theaters over the next few months. Titled Transpecos, the film is about three Border Patrol agents working a remote desert checkpoint - see the trailer here. Before making the feature, director Greg Kwedar and producer Clint Bentley made a short film titled Dakota, also about Border Patrol agents who aren't the stereotypical agents we've all heard about on the news. The story is about a discovery in a truck that causes one agent "to question the very nature of his job". It's an impressive little short film and it's cool to see that this was the inspiration directly leading to the feature-length film. This is also a good look at what it takes to make a career as a filmmaker.

In the tense border drama “Transpecos,” the line between right and wrong blurs as the heat rises in the desert. The film follows three border patrol agents — the rookie Benjamin Davis (Johnny Simmons), the seasoned pro Lance Flores (Gabriel Luna), and the callous veteran Lou Hobbs (Clifton Collins Jr.) — who man a check point on a remote highway. One day on a routine stop, Hobbs examines a suspicious vehicle, but when the car tries to take off Hobbs shoots the passenger as they discover a trunk filled with cocaine. Before they can call it in, Davis pulls a gun on the two agents and claims that he must smuggle the drugs to a drop-off point or else his family will die. Drawn into a violent journey, all three must contend with dark secrets, malleable morality, and a potentially terrible fate. Watch an exclusive clip from the film below.

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This September, Samuel Goldwyn Films will be releasing the 2016 SXSW Audience Award winner “Transpecos.” Along with the film’s release, the score will also be made available via Milan Records.

Composed by The National’s Bryce and Aaron Dessner, the soundtrack will come out on September 9 and feature 17 new songs, along with band’s track “Afraid of Everyone” from their 2010 album “High Violet.”

Read More: ‘Transpecos’ Trailer: Border Patrol Drug-War Thriller Debuts Footage After SXSW Award Win

Directed by Greg Kwedar, “Transpecos” stars Johnny Simmons, Gabriel Luna and Clifton Collins Jr. The thriller follows three border patrol agents who man a check point on a remote highway and their journey as the contents of one car change their lives in one night. Co-written by Kwedar and Clint Bentley, the movie premiered at SXSW to rave reviews and promises to be a nail-biting adventure.

Three songs from the soundtrack, “Final Theme,...

SXSW’s 2016 Audience Award winner “Transpecos,” from rookie director Greg Kwedar, has a new trailer. Samuel Goldwyn Films, which picked up the distribution rights to the border-patrol thriller back in April, has also announced the release date for the film.

The story follows three border patrol agents, rookie Davis (Johnny Simmons), seasoned Flores (Gabriel Luna) and callous, world-weary Hobbs (Clifton Collins Jr), who man a check point on a remote highway. On what feels like another routine stop, the contents of one car suddenly throws their lives out of control. As dark secrets are revealed, each passing hour will bring them closer to a nightmarish conclusion that could cost them their lives, in a world where the line between right and wrong shifts like the desert itself.

Watch: Exclusive Clip from SXSW Premiere ‘Transpecos’ Leaves You in the Desert

The screen play was co-written by Kwedar and Clint Bentley. The...

"They said that they'd kill my entire family... They even sent me a picture of my mom at the post office – you tell me what you would do?" Samuel Goldwyn Films has released an official trailer for an indie film called Transpecos, a tense thriller about Border Patrol agents that first premiered at SXSW. The cast features Johnny Simmons, Gabriel Luna, Clifton Collins Jr., David Acord and Oscar Avila. Three Border Patrol agents operate a remote checkpoint in the desert, and things get tense once they discover what's inside one car that appears. This took filmmaker Greg Kwedar six years to make, in hopes of telling human stories caught within the balance. This is a solid trailer, I like that it ends on a very tense moment. Here's the official trailer ( a poster) for Greg Kwedar's Transpecos, in high def from Apple: Depicting corruption as unavoidable as the desert heat,...

Exclusive: Samuel Goldwyn Films picked up the border-patrol thriller Transpecos in late April, about a month after it won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at SXSW. Now rookie helmer Greg Kwedar’s pic starring Johnny Simmons, Gabriel Luna and Clifton Collins Jr has a release date: September 9 in theaters day-and-date with its digital bow. Transpecos follows three border patrol agents — rookie Davis (Simmons), the seasoned Flores (Luna) and callous…...

Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired U.S. rights to Transpecos, the thriller starring Johnny Simmons, Gabriel Luna and Clifton Collins Jr that won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at SXSW last month. The distrib plans a theatrical release in the fall. Directed by first-timer Greg Kwedar, the film follows three border patrol agents — rookie Davis (Simmons), seasoned Flores (Luna) and callous, world-weary Hobbs (Collins) — who man a checkpoint on a remote highway…...

Greg Kwedar’s Transpecos won the Narrative feature competition audience award and Keith Maitland’s Tower the documentary prize on Saturday night.

In the Headliners programme, Jean-Marc Vallée won for Demolition and Matthew Newton claimed the Narrative Spotlight award for From Nowhere.

The Documentary Spotlight audience award went to Mr. Gaga by Tomer Heymann, while the Visions and Midnighters categories were won by Caito Ortiz for Jules And Dolores and Shinsuke Sato for I Am a Hero, respectively.

The Episodic audience winner was Vice Principals by Jody Hill, David Gordon Green, Danny McBride, and the 24 Beats Per Second prize went to Honky Tonk Heaven: Legend Of The Broken Spokeby Brenda Greene Mitchell and Sam Wainwright Douglas.

Ghostland by Simon Stadler prevailed in the Sxglobal category and the festival Favorites award went to Gleason by Clay Tweel.

SXSW ran from March 11-20 and screened 143 features. For the full list of juried winners click here.

The South By Southwest Film Festival announced the audience award winners for 2016 today. Leading the pack in the Narrative Feature category is Transpecos, director Greg Kwedar’s debut feature starring Gabriel Luna, Johnny Simmons and Clifton Collins Jr. as border patrol agents embroiled in the region’s drug trade. Taking the prize in the Documentary Feature category is Keith Maitland’s Tower, which examines the infamous 1966 sniper shootings at the University of Texas…...

The U.S./Mexican border drama “Transpecos,” from director Greg Kwedar, has won the audience award as the best narrative feature at the 2016 South by Southwest Film Festival, SXSW organizers announced on Saturday. The film deals with three border patrol agents who decide that a car trying to cross the border is suspicious. It is Austin-based Kwedar’s directorial debut. Other SXSW audience awards went to Jean-Marc Vallee‘s “Demolition,” starring Jake Gyllenhaal as a man who careens out of control after the death of his wife; and Matthew Newton’s “From Nowhere,” which deals with immigration. Also Read: 'The Arbalest,...

Top brass at the festival announced on Tuesday several sections of the features line-up for the 23rd edition, set to run from March 11-19, 2016 in Austin, Texas.

SXSW will screen 139 features of which 89 are world premieres, 13 are North American Premieres and 8 are Us premieres selected from 2,456 feature submissions (1,467 Us and 990 international). Fifty-two films hail from debutants.

Narrative Feature Competition selections are: The Arbalest by Adam Pinney; Before The Sun Explodes by Debra Eisenstadt; Claire In Motion by Lisa Robinson and Annie J. Howell; collective:unconscious by collective:unconscious (Lily Baldwin, Frances Bodomo, Daniel Patrick Carbone, Josephine Decker, Lauren Wolkstein); Donald Cried by Kris Avedisian; Hunter Gatherer by Josh Locy; Miss Stevens by Julia Hart; The Other Half by Joey Klein; A Stray by Musa Syeed; and Transpecos by Greg Kwedar.

Documentary Feature Competition entries are: Accidental Courtesy: Daryl Davis, Race & America by Matt Ornstein; Alive And Kicking by Susan Glatzer; Best And Most Beautiful Things directed by Garrett Zevgetis; Goodnight...