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WEEK IN WOMEN: Maryam Keshavarz’s THE PERSIAN VERSION opens theatrically – Brandy McDonnell reports

Brandy McDonnell , , , , ,

Maryam Keshavarz’s Sundance Film Festival hit The Persian Version will be released in theaters this autumn. Sony Pictures Classics landed North American rights to the mother-daughter story following its award-winning world premiere at the prestigious Utah film fest. Written, directed, and produced by Keshavarz, the film received a rousing standing ovation and glowing reviews, along with the Audience Award (U.S. Dramatic Competition) and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award (U.S. Dramatic Competition), at Sundance.

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WEEK IN WOMEN: Celine Song’s PAST LIVES to release on Blu-ray and DVD – Brandy McDonnell reports

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Following its successful summer box office run, writer-director Celine Song’s directorial debut Past Lives debuts on Blu-ray + Digital and DVD in September from A24 and Lionsgate. The Blu-ray and DVD features include audio commentary with Song, Lee and Yoo; the featurette Bound by Fate: Exploring Past Lives” and deleted scenes.

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Festivals News 

TIFF 2023 Rising Stars: Seven Out of Nine are Women! – Jennifer Merin reports

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TIFF has announced this years honorees in its 2023 Rising Stars program, and seven of the nine selected actors are women! They are Adwa Bader (Saudi Arabia/USA), Almudena González (Argentina), Amrit Kaur (Canada), Aria Mia Loberti (USA), Kudakwashe Rutendo (Canada), Léah Aubert (France) and Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne (New Zealand), and they are joined by their male colleagues, Cody Lightning (Canada) and Mark Clennon (Canada).

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WEEK IN WOMEN: Lagueria Davis hopes BARBIE boosts BLACK BARBIE: A DOCUMENTARY – Brandy McDonnell reports

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“If we can get a little of that Barbie love sprinkled onto Black Barbie … and get some people out to see it, they can have a little fun with that movie and then come out and be like, ‘Oh, I didn’t know Black Barbie had a story.’ I didn’t know when I first started the project, so you can be in the know on all things not only ‘Barbie,’ but ‘Black Barbie’ as well,” Davis said during an interview in June.

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TIFF honors Agnes Varda – Liz Braun reports

Liz Braun , ,

The Toronto International Film Festival has unveiled a beautiful new space that honors filmmaker Agnes Varda who was a TIFF regular, bringing new films to the festival some years, while having her best-known movies feted and re-examined in others. Her last movie, Varda By Agnes, was at TIFF 2019, six months after her death. Named Varda, the new space is a sleek cafe-bar on the third floor of the Bell Lightbox building — TIFF headquarters —and it will open officially in the fall. During TIFF, which runs September 7 – 17 this year, it will be open exclusively to filmmakers and top-tier patrons of the festival, but after the annual celebration of cinema wraps up, all TIFF members will be invited to a special preview of Varda before the cafe-bar opens to the public.

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WEEK IN WOMEN: Aniston/Witherspoon’s MORNING SHOW sets Season Three Premiere – Brandy McDonnell reports

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Apple TV+ will premiere next month the highly anticipated third season of The Morning Show, starring and executive produced by Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. In Season 3, the future of the network is thrown into question and loyalties are pushed to the brink when a tech titan takes an interest in UBA. Unexpected alliances form, private truths are weaponized, and everyone is forced to confront their core values both in and out of the newsroom. The Emmy-, SAG- and Critics Choice Award-winning drama, which has already received an early renewal for Season 4, is directed and executive produced by Mimi Leder.

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WEEK IN WOMEN: Patricia Arquette’s GONZO GIRL opens TIFF’s Discovery program – Brandy McDonnell reports

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Gonzo Girl, Oscar-winning actor Patricia Arquette’s directorial debut, will be the opening film of the Discovery program of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Four-time Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe and Camila Morrone star in Arquette’s Gonzo Girl, which is based on Cheryl Della Pietra’s semi-autobiographical novel chronicling her time as Hunter S. Thompson’s personal assistant.

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WEEK IN WOMEN: Greta Gerwig’s BARBIE sets Box Office Records – Brandy McDonnell reports

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Greta Gerwig’s eagerly awaited Barbie movie set multiple records in its July 21 opening weekend, and the pinktastic film is sitting pretty heading into its second weekend. The blockbuster based on Mattel’s iconic doll opened with a dazzling $162 million at the North American box office over the July 21-23 weekend, giving Gerwig the record for the largest opening weekend ever for a female director.

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Festivals Lists News 

TIFF 2023: Galas and Special Presentations Highlights – Liz Braun reports

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In the midst of a mostly lacklustre year for movies, TIFF has announced a stellar lineup of Galas and Special Presentations for the upcoming 48th edition of the festival taking place from September 7 to 17. Each of the two high-profile programmes thus far present 60 movies, including 37 World premieres. In a statement, TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey promised audiences would experience, “An unforgettable celebration of film and a memorable and star-studded festival, showcasing the best of global cinema for film lovers.” Here;s what the show looks like thus far.

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