11th Annual Film Independent Forum Announces “Trumbo” as Opening Night Film

Filmmaker Keynote With Film Independent Fellow Jon M. Chu

Lynn Shelton In Conversation With Illeana Douglas To Close Forum

Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Film Independent Spirit Awards and LA Film Festival, announced today that the 11th annual Film Independent Forum will open with Bleecker Street‘s Trumbo, directed by Jay Roach, written by John McNamara, starring Bryan Cranston, Louis C.K., Elle Fanning, John Goodman, Diane Lane, Michael Stuhlbarg and Helen Mirren on Friday, October 23. The film will be followed by a Q+A with director Jay Roach (Game Change, Meet the Parents). Also announced today, filmmaker Jon M. Chu (Step Up 3D, G.I. Joe Retaliation, Jem and the Holograms, Now You See Me 2) will give the Filmmaker Keynote on Saturday, October 24. In addition, the Forum will close on Sunday, October 25 with director Lynn Shelton (Humpday, Your Sister’s Sister, Touchy Feely, Laggies) in conversation with Illeana Douglas (Easy to Assemble, Ghost World, Grace of My Heart).

Now in its 11th year, the Film Independent Forum is the pre-eminent conference for independent filmmakers and content creators in Los Angeles. Off-the-record conversations with working filmmakers make this the must-attend fall event for filmmakers and industry professionals. If you are anywhere near production or close to entering the festival circuit, join your peers for a weekend of solution-driven strategies, success stories, and opportunities to connect one-on-one with working artists and industry pros.

The 2015 Film Independent Forum takes place October 23-25 at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) in Los Angeles, CA. (For a full schedule of events, speakers and to register, visit FilmIndependent.org/Forum.)

“I couldn’t think of a better film to kick off the event than Jay Roach’s Trumbo. It fits exactly the spirit of the Forum: the idea that artists should ‘stick to their guns’ to tell stories that matter to them,” said María Raquel Bozzi, Film Independent’s Senior Director of Education. “I am thrilled to have Film Independent Fellow Jon M. Chu, from the 2002 Project Involve class, return to our fold to share his accomplishments and incredible journey in his Keynote; and to close the Forum with a special conversation with Lynn Shelton, a filmmaker who has managed to create a career path that is truly her own. She will be joined by the multitalented Illeana Douglas, who will soon launch a series for Turner Classic Movies titled Trailblazing Women.”

Film Independent Forum Logo (PRNewsFoto/Film Independent)

Previously announced, Blumhouse Productions Founder and CEO Jason Blum, along with members of his team will participate in an Executive Conversation. Additional panelists include producers Miranda Bailey (The Diary of a Teenage Girl), Nina Yang Bongiovi (Dope, Fruitvale Station; Partner, Significant Productions), writers Bridget Bedard (Transparent, Mad Men), Wendy Calhoun (Empire), Sonay Hoffman (American Crime) and Dana Calvo (Narcos), Josh Braun, Co-President of Submarine Entertainment, Submarine Deluxe and Jessica Lacy, Head of International & Independent Film at ICM Partners, to list a few. The Forum will take place during the weekend of October 23-25 at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) in Los Angeles.

At the Forum, Film Independent will present the Sloan Producers Grant, which provides a $30,000 production grant to a Film Independent Fellow accepted into the Producing Lab that is developing a narrative film with a scientific, mathematical and/or technological theme. The Producing Lab is one of Film Independent‘s highly selective Artist Development programs. In addition, Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television will host a reception during the Film Independent Forum to celebrate documentary filmmakers.

The 2015 Film Independent Forum is presented by Indiewire. Additional sponsors include Premier Sponsors Directors Guild of America, SAGindie, Indiegogo, Netflix, Singani 63 and Principal Sponsor Montana Film Office.

Panelists for the 2015 Film Independent Forum include:
Miranda Bailey, producer, The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Hend Baghdady, producer, Stone Quackers, Lucas Bros Moving Co, The Andy Milonakis Show
Bridget Bedard, writer, Transparent, Mad Men
Debra Birnbaum, Executive Editor, TV, Variety
Jason Blum, Founder & CEO, Blumhouse Productions
Nina Yang Bongiovi, producer, Dope, Fruitvale Station; Partner, Significant Productions
Josh Braun, Co-President, Submarine Entertainment, Submarine Deluxe
Wendy Calhoun, writer, Empire
Dana Calvo, writer, Narcos
Lisa Kleiner Chanoff, Co-Founder, Catapult Film Fund
Jon M. Chu, director, Step Up 3D, G.I. Joe Retaliation, Jem and the Holograms
Wendy Cohen, President, Picture Motion
Forest Conner, Data Scientist, VHX
Mercedes Yolanda Cooper, Director of Marketing, ARRAY
Dennis Dortch, Founder & Chief Creative Officer, BLACK & SEXY TV
Illeana Douglas, actor, Grace of My Heart, Ghost World, Easy to Assemble
Alex Fumero, Director of Programming & Development, Fusion
Laura Gabbert, producer/director, City of Gold
Elena Greenlee, producer, Manos sucias
Kirk Hamilton, Vice President of IndieWorks, a division of Business Affairs, Inc.
Sonay Hoffman, writer, American Crime
Marc Hofstatter, Head of Film, Indiegogo
Olivia Humphrey, CEO, Kanopy
Azazel Jacobs, writer/director, Doll and Em
Mette-Marie Katz, Director of Sales, XYZ Films
Simon Kilmurry, Executive Director, IDA
Danielle Kramer, Talent & Development Executive, JASH
Jennifer Kushner, Director of Artist Development, Film Independent
Jessica Lacy, Head, International & Independent Film, ICM Partners
Angela Lee, producer, Songs My Brothers Taught Me
David Magdael, President/CEO, David Magdael & Associates
Nicole Malek, Community Manager, Seed&Spark
Paula Manzanedo-Schmit, Vice President, Film Finances, Inc.
Márcia Nunes, producer, Manos sucias
Paul O’Neill, Business Development, Premiere Digital for Quiver
Tommy Pallotta, writer/director, Last Hijack
Nicole Papincak, Esq., Associate Attorney, Business Affairs, Inc.
Martha Pierce, Director of Audience Development, ATTN
Neha Potalia, Manager of Social Media at Broad Green Pictures
Felicia Pride, Director of Independent Film, Tugg
Jay Roach, director, Trumbo, Game Change, Meet the Parents
Couper Samuelson, Head of Motion Pictures, Blumhouse Productions
Lynn Shelton, director, Humpday, Your Sister’s Sister, Touchy Feely, Laggies
Amanda Shuckman, Social Media Strategist
Rahdi Taylor, Film Fund Director, Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program
Terri Taylor, Head of Casting, Blumhouse Productions
Michael Tringe, Co-Founder, CreatorUp
Michele Turnure-Salleo, Director of Filmmaker360, San Francisco Film Society
Evette Vargas, Creator, Dark Prophet
Emily Verellen, Senior Director of Programs, The Fledgling Fund
Lois Vossen, Independent Lens Executive Producer, ITVS
Femke Wolting, writer/director/producer, Last Hijack

Topics for this year’s panels are:
Viable Films: Your Budget Vs. The Market
Market Report: Documentaries
Five F#@*Ups And How To Fix Them
Doc Case Studies: Measuring Impact, Sponsored by Netflix
Gatekeepers And Enablers: Documentary Funders, Sponsored by Netflix
Television: The Writers Room
Your Film + Your Audience: Marketing & Distribution Clinic
Interactive Documentaries, Sponsored by Netflix
Conquering The Web: One Episode At A Time
Social Media Tools: The Nitty Gritty Details
New Media: POV And Film Independent Story Hackathon

For more information about this year’s Film Independent Forum or to purchase a pass, visit FilmIndependent.org/Forum or call310.432.1213.

Film Independent is a non-profit arts organization that champions independent film and supports a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation, and uniqueness of vision. The organization helps filmmakers make their movies, builds an audience for their projects, and works to diversify the film industry. Film Independent’s Board of Directors, filmmakers, staff, and constituents, is comprised of an inclusive community of individuals across ability, age, ethnicity, gender, race, and sexual orientation. Anyone passionate about film can become a member, whether you are a filmmaker, industry professional, or a film lover.

Film Independent produces the Spirit Awards, the annual celebration honoring artist-driven films and recognizing the finest achievements of American independent filmmakers. Film Independent also produces the Los Angeles Film Festival, showcasing the best of American and international cinema and the Film Independent at LACMA Film Series, a year-round, weekly program that offers unique cinematic experiences for the Los Angeles creative community and the general public.

With over 250 annual screenings and events, Film Independent provides access to a network of like-minded artists who are driving creativity in the film industry. Film Independent’s Artist Development program offers free Labs for selected writers, directors, producers and documentary filmmakers and presents year-round networking opportunities. Project Involve is Film Independent’s signature program dedicated to fostering the careers of talented filmmakers from communities traditionally underrepresented in the film industry.  For more information or to become a member, visit www.FilmIndependent.org.

Television/Online Streaming: Netflix Adds Seven New Original Series For Older Kids

New Offerings Bringing Its Global Original Line Up To More Than 35 Series For Kids Of All Ages

After recently announcing a slate of original series for the pre-school audience, Netflix Inc. will add seven new original series for older kids beginning this December. Building on its partnerships with globally respected brands, Netflix will launch all new stories from LEGO® Bionicle® and LEGO® Friends and the world’s first family is back and funnier than ever in DreamWorks Animation‘s all-new original family sitcom, Dawn of the Croods.

Netflix, Inc. Logo. (PRNewsFoto/Netflix, Inc.)

Netflix has a dedicated section for kids featuring dozens of original series for kids as well as TV shows and movies from great partners like PBS, Disney Channel, DreamWorks Animation, Mattel, Hasbro, Scholastic and Lego, all in a commercial free environment. The dedicated section for kids is available across a broad range of devices including PCs and Macs, iPads, game consoles, streaming devices and smart TVs. Members are provided a Kids profile upon sign up and can customize additional profiles for their children. The kids experience features a character bar where you can find a deep selection of great TV shows and movies featuring that character. Kids, parents and caregivers will also be able to scan through row after row of movies and TV shows organized by easy-to-understand genres like superheroes, princesses, dinosaurs and girl power, featuring clear and simple descriptions of each title.

Netflix is also broadening its offering for tweens and teens; the live action show Lost & Found Music Studios shows us how the next hit song could be just one heartbreak away, while fans of fast and funny will find the stop-motion, action-comedy of Buddy Thunderstruck right up their alley…or race-obsessed Greasepit in this case. The anime inspired Glitter Force joins the growing portfolio of strong girl characters on Netflix. And finally, Netflix is introducing its first ever original animated series produced in Latin America. Las Leyendas (The Legends) is based on a successful trilogy of children’s films from the Mexican animation studio, Anima Estudios.

Details on each show can be found below:

LEGO(R): Bionicle(R): The Journey to One Launching Exclusively On Netflix in 2016 (PRNewsFoto/Netflix)

– LEGO Bionicle: The Journey to One (1^st Quarter 2016) – The LEGO Group will premiere the Netflix original series, LEGO Bionicle: The Journey to One, based on its popular LEGO Bionicle franchise and line of buildable action figures. The new storyline takes place on the mythical island of Okoto, where the forces of darkness are on the move and the evil Makuta is working to cast the world into darkness. The desperate island inhabitants enlist six heroes – called the Toa – to help save their beloved island. Only when the heroes are united, will they be able to battle the forces of evil, defeat Makuta and save Okoto. The four episode season will be available in all Netflix territories globally in early 2016. (LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Minifigure, BIONICLE are trademarks of the LEGO Group. ©2015 The LEGO Group.)

The Power of Friendship Launching Exclusively On Netflix in 2016 (PRNewsFoto/Netflix)

– LEGO Friends: The Power of Friendship (2^nd Quarter 2016) Another new Netflix original series for kids is LEGO Friends: The Power of Friendship featuring characters from the popular LEGO Friends line of construction toys. This series will follow the adventures of five best friends – Stephanie, Emma, Olivia, Mia and Andrea – around their hometown Heartlake City. From summer camp to the basketball court, saving their webcast or helping take care of a friend, the zany antics, adventures and missteps are made all the better by having their best friends by their side. The four episode season will premiere worldwide on Netflix in 2016. (LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Minifigure, BIONICLE are trademarks of the LEGO Group. ©2015 The LEGO Group.)

– Buddy Thunderstruck – 2017 From American Greetings Entertainment with Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, Buddy Thunderstruck is an action-comedy, stop-motion extravaganza that follows the adventures of a semi-truck racing dog named Buddy and his albino ferret mechanic. It all goes down in race-obsessed Greasepit, a place chock full of larger-than-life characters and nitro-burning, gear-slamming, tire-squealing, fish-tailing good times. Buddy Thunderstruck will premiere worldwide exclusively on Netflix in 2017 with a 12 episode season.

– Las Leyendas – 2017 – Las Leyendas (The Legends) will be the first animated Netflix original series to be produced in Latin America and is based on a successful trilogy of children’s films from the Mexican animation studio, Anima Estudios. Set in the 1800s, this whimsical adventure centers on Leo San Juan, a reluctant but heroic teen boy with the ability to communicate with ghosts and monsters. One day, Leo’s hometown vanishes into another dimension, prompting Leo to join forces with a phantasmagorical group of misfits in order to defeat Quetzalcoatl, an inter-dimensional entity who has sought to conquer the universe for centuries. Leo and his fantastical friends travel on a magic ship across time to the most famous and mystical places on Earth to fight off the evil forces that threaten the welfare of all. The first season of 13 episodes will premiere exclusively on Netflix, worldwide, in 2017.

Netflix Announces Premiere Dates For Upcoming Shows for Fall And Dates For New Original Series For Kids

New Slate of Stand-Up Specials from Comedians Including Mike Epps, Demetri Martin, Anjelah Johnson, Anthony Jeselnik

Netflix has announced premiere dates for several of its highly-anticipated upcoming series. All, with the exception of Longmire, will be available globally upon release in all territories where Netflix is available:

Longmire, Season Four – Thursday, September 10, 2015

(available in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand)

Based on the novels by bestselling author Craig Johnson, the fourth season premiere of Longmire picks up moments after season three’s exciting finale. Walt Longmire (series star Robert Taylor), having found out who was behind the murder of his wife, succumbs to his darker impulses and takes off in pursuit of the killer with murder on his mind. Meanwhile, Branch Connally (Bailey Chase), the deputy who Walt fired for erratic, violent behavior, believes he has already figured out who the real culprit is. But during his confrontation with this suspected killer, a gun goes off. Now the audience will finally learn what happened, and whether Walt can be stopped before he makes a fatal choice. The 10-episode fourth season stars Taylor, along with Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica, Riddick), Lou Diamond Phillips (Southland, La Bamba), Bailey Chase (Damages), Cassidy Freeman (Smallville) and Adam Bartley (Justified). Gerald McRaney (House of Cards) and Ally Walker (Sons of Anarchy) guest star in the upcoming season. Longmire is produced by The Shephard/Robin Company in association with Warner Horizon Television. Hunt Baldwin (The Closer, Trust Me), John Coveny (The Closer, Trust Me), Greer Shephard (The Closer, Major Crimes, Nip/Tuck) and Michael M. Robin (The Closer, Major Crimes, Nip/Tuck) serve as executive producers.

Master of None – Friday, November 6, 2015

Based on the comedic viewpoints of Aziz Ansari, the show follows the personal and professional lives of Dev (Aziz Ansari), a 30-year-old actor in New York who has trouble deciding what he wants to eat, much less the pathway for the rest of his life. Ambitious, funny, cinematic, and both sweeping in scope and intensely personal, Dev’s story takes him through subjects as diverse as the plight of the elderly, the immigrant experience, and how to find the most delicious pasta for dinner. Ansari stars in and created the series with Alan Yang; both serve as executive producers alongside Mike Schur (Parks and Recreation), Dave Becky (Louie) and David Miner (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt). The series also stars H. Jon Benjamin, Eric Wareheim, Lena Waithe, Noel Wells and Kelvin Yu and is produced by Universal TV and 3 Arts for Netflix.

Chelsea Does – Coming Soon

Chelsea Does is a documentary film series comprised of four films that feature Chelsea Handler exploring topics of personal fascination: marriage, racism, technology and drugs. Her talk show for Netflix will launch in 2016. Chelsea Does is directed by Oscar-nominated Eddie Schmidt (This Film is Not Yet Rated) and executive produced by Chelsea Handler and Oscar-winning director Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom) and produced by Gary Snoonian (Chelsea Lately).

Coming in Fourth Quarter

– The 4-episode, sketch comedy series With Bob and David, starring Bob Odenkirk and David Cross;

– Marvel’s Jessica Jones starring Krysten Ritter and David Tennant;

– Sofia Coppola’s A Very Murray Christmas, starring Bill Murray and a star-studded cast including George Clooney, Paul Shaffer, Amy Poehler, Julie White, Dimitri Dimitrov, Michael Cera, Chris Rock, David Johansen, Maya Rudolph, Jason Schwartzman, Jenny Lewis, Phoenix, Frederic Moulin, Rashida Jones, Miley Cyrus, and others;

– the third and final season of Hemlock Grove; and

– Bill Burr‘s animated comedy series F is for Family, starring Burr, Laura Dern and Justin Long, will all premiere in the fourth quarter of 2015. Exact dates to be announced later.

BoJack Horseman – Renewed for Season Three

The darkly hilarious, critically-acclaimed, serialized animated adult comedy BoJack Horseman has been renewed for a third season, and will return with 12 new episodes in 2016. Will Arnett voices BoJack, the legendary 90’s sitcom star, who has been trying to find his way through a muddle of self-loathing, whisky and failed relationships. The all-star voice cast includes Arnett as BoJack Horseman, Aaron Paul as Todd Chavez, Amy Sedaris as Princess Carolyn, Alison Brie as Diane Nguyen and Paul F. Tompkins as Mr. Peanutbutter. BoJack Horseman was created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg. The series is executive produced by Raphael Bob-Waksberg, Steven A. Cohen and Noel Bright. Will Arnett (The Millers, Arrested Development) and Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad) also serve as executive producers. BoJack Horseman was designed by graphic artist Lisa Hanawalt and animated by LA-based ShadowMachine. The show is a Tornante Production, brought to life by Michael Eisner’s The Tornante Company. Seasons one and two are now streaming only on Netflix.

Original Netflix Comedy Specials Coming Soon:

Anjelah Johnson: Not Fancy – Premieres Friday, October 2, 2015 Anjelah Johnson’s newest comedy special features an evolving woman dealing with life on the road, settling into marriage and the lovable antics of her Mexican American family.

Anthony Jeselnik: Thoughts and Prayers – Premieres Friday, October 16, 2015

Shot at the historic Fillmore Theatre in San Francisco, Anthony Jeselnik’s latest special, Thoughts and Prayers, delivers an all-new hour of hilarious stand-up comedy.

John Mulaney: The Comeback Kid – Premieres Friday, November 13, 2015

In his new stand-up special John Mulaney regales a sold out audience at the Chicago Theater with stories about a temp job he once had, a realtor he knows, a different realtor he knows, and the night he met Bill Clinton.

Brent Morin – Premieres Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Through many mistakes and adventures, Morin comes to terms with the fact that he wants to be in love, but is nowhere near ready for a relationship.

Mike Epps: After Dark – Premieres Friday, December 18, 2015

It’s his time to shine…and Mike Epps wastes no time bringing his unapologetic and raunchy swagger to a howling live audience at the historic Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles.

Kids and Family Originals

Netflix sets dates for the fall line-up of six new original series for kids and families.

First, Dreamworks Animation took kids to the Mechazoic World of Dinotrux, an all new action-packed series featuring extraordinary creatures who are half dinosaur, half construction vehicle and are set to build and battle.

Preschoolers will enjoy Puffin Rock (Sept. 1) featuring a plucky young puffling, who along with her ever-curious little brother Baba, explores the diverse array of sea, sky, land and underground creatures.

Children – and children of the 80s – will love all-new stories about Popples (Nov.), the adorable species of brightly colored creatures that transform from fluffy balls to furry friends and back again, while keeping the same silly spirit of the original Popples characters and Care Bears and Cousins (Dec.) which will bring back the whole huggable gang.

Toys”R”Us® Debut Toys Based On New Series, DreamWorks Animation’s DINOTRUX, Premiering This Week On Netflix®

Toys”R”Us® will be the first retailer to debut toys this fall based on DreamWorks Animation‘s upcoming Netflix original series, DINOTRUX. Beginning Thursday, October 1, shoppers will find this all-new line of ferociously fun playthings from Mattel, including playsets, vehicles and more, in Toys”R”Us stores nationwide and online at Toysrus.com. For little fans eager to check out products featuring Ty Rux, Revvit and the rest of the show’s prehistoric pals, select items will be available for pre-order at Toysrus.com beginning this week.

On Friday, August 14, DreamWorks Animation debuted DINOTRUX, an action-packed show based on the award-winning children’s book series by Chris Gall. The show welcomes little ones to a prehistoric world of giant creatures that are half dinosaur and half construction vehicle, including a massive Tyrannosaurus Trux and his best friend, Revvit, a razor-sharp Reptool. The Dinotrux and Reptools come together for the first time ever in the Mechazoic era to build a bigger and better world, while battling against the forces of D-Structs.

DINOTRUX playsets and vehicles from Mattel that will be available exclusively at Toys”R”Us stores nationwide and online at Toysrus.com this fall include:

DINOTRUX Mega Chompin™ Ty Rux
Little ones will have a roaring good time with Ty Rux. This half-dinosaur, half-construction vehicle comes to life with kid-activated lights and sounds. Ty Rux encourages interactive play through his many exciting features, including a chomping mouth, swinging wrecking ball tail and large rolling tires. 3 “AA” batteries required (not included). Ages 3 years and up.

DINOTRUX Playset Assortment
These exciting scene packs expand little ones’ prehistoric fun by recreating a key location from the show. Kids can choose from two playsets, each of which comes with a DINOTRUX vehicle and environment specific to that character’s personality and ‘truck-ability’. The Smash & Slide Construction Site features the heroic Ty Rux with his signature wrecking ball tail, complete with hidden plans from Reptool friends. The Rock & Load Skate Park features awesome ramps for the action loving character, Ton-Ton. Each playset has movable parts and accessories that help tell the story of its unique location, making it the perfect place to carry out exciting DINOTRUX construction missions. No batteries required. Ages 3 years and up.

DINOTRUX Construction vs. Destruction Mega Pack™
The half-dinosaur, half-construction vehicle creatures from DINOTRUX have arrived in one ferocious pack. Kids will roar when they find four of their favorite characters featured in authentic detail from the show. Includes twoDINOTRUX vehicles and three Reptools for a multipack that boosts character variety and storytelling possibilities. No batteries required. Ages 3 years and up.

DINOTRUX Diecast Character Assortment
Kids will love this exciting assortment of vehicles, which come in a variety of sizes and characters. Fans can choose from a 2-pack of smaller-scale Reptools or larger mid-size scale characters, including Ty Rux, Garby, Revvit and more, featuring rolling wheels for easy push-around play and movements unique to their on-screen personality and special abilities. Kids will love collecting them all to build out their own prehistoric world of DINOTRUX. No batteries required. Ages 4 years and up.

DINOTRUX Garby
Prehistoric playmates will have a ferociously fun time with Garby, a half-dinosaur, half-construction vehicle creature from DINOTRUX. Garby comes in large-scale so fans can act out the most heavy-duty missions from the show. Kid-powered motion triggers Garby to display unique and humorous movements, like the ability to feed him a piece of ore and then see it shoot out of his backside. Moving him up, down, backward or forward will prompt him to say sounds and phrases. Garby also has rolling wheels for push-around play. 3 LR44 batteries required (included). Ages 3 years and up.

DINOTRUX Pull Back N’ GO
This assortment of prehistoric pals smash, swing and chomp their way to a ferociously fun time. Kids can choose from three of their favorite half-dinosaur, half-construction characters, Ty Rux, Ton-Ton or D-Structs. Each character vehicle comes ready to rumble with rolling wheels and a pullback motor to rev-up the tail-smashing and jaw-chomping action. Kids can collect all three to build out the ultimate prehistoric world of DINOTRUX and their favorite scenes from the show. No batteries required. Ages 3 years and up.

DINOTRUX Revvit
Reptool Revvit is ready to roll into playtime on wheels that mimic his movement from the animated DINOTRUX show. Complete with unique sounds and phrases, he features a tail-activated spinning drill head with interchangeable bits and a measuring tape tongue. 3 “LR44” batteries required (included). Ages 3 years and up.

“We are thrilled to work alongside our partners at DreamWorks Animation and Mattel to be the exclusive destination for this highly anticipated property, bringing the DINOTRUX  line of fun, innovative toys to our customers before they’re available anywhere else,” said Melody Young, Vice President, General Merchandising Manager, Toys”R”Us, U.S. “As the authority on toys, we have the unique ability to bring these kid-favorite characters to life at retail, and will showcase DINOTRUX toys at the front of all our stores nationwide throughout the month of October.”

“Toys”R”Us is the perfect launch partner for DINOTRUX toys, and we are excited to bring the epic adventures of these characters to life onscreen and off,” said Tim Erickson, Global Head of Licensing, DreamWorks Animation. “With Mattel, we’ve developed an awesome range of toys for action-packed playtime that will have kids building and battling alongside this lovable gang of DINOTRUX.“

Netflix Original Documentary “Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight For Freedom” Premieres October 9, 2015

Netflix will premiere the original documentary Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom, directed by Evgeny Afineevsky, exclusively to Netflix members worldwide on Friday, October 9, 2015.

Chronicling events that unfolded over 93 days in 2013 and 2014, Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom witnesses the formation of a new civil rights movement in Ukraine. What started as peaceful student demonstrations supporting European integration morphed into a full-fledged violent revolution calling for the resignation of the nation’s president. The film captures the remarkable mobilization of nearly a million citizens from across the country protesting the corrupt political regime that utilized extreme force against its own people to suppress their demands and freedom of expression. The harrowing documentary is set to make its world premiere at the 72nd Venice Film Festival in September.

“Evgeny has assembled a cinematic tribute to the heroism, spirit and determination of the Ukrainian people,” said Lisa Nishimura, Netflix VP of Original Documentary Programming. “We are honored to provide a global platform for him to share his powerful narrative.”

The filmmakers investigated the escalating political crisis in Ukraine from directly within the conflict zone. At the onset of demonstrations, they were there to record the special forces who were deployed to disperse the crowds, beating and seriously injuring hundreds of protesters. It was this moment that ultimately gave rise to mass protests and large-scale civil unrest in the country. In response, millions of Ukrainians rallied together to fight against the police state. Through interviews with protesters, activists, journalists, medical workers, artists and clergy representing multiple generations, social classes, nationalities and faiths, including a twelve-year old volunteer, the film tells the story of a diverse movement that self-organized towards one common goal, that stood their ground in the midst of extreme bloodshed, despair and the harshest of conditions.

“While we were filming unfathomably brutal attacks by the police on unarmed citizens, we weren’t thinking about how to get the best shots, only the importance of showing the ways in which the movement would forever change the country and the lives of its participants,” said Afineevsky. “We’re pleased that Netflix is enabling us to share the hard truth and shocking reality of this historical event with the rest of the world.”

Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom is Afineevsky’s third feature documentary. He has produced over ten feature and short films, including the 2002 adaptation of Crime & Punishment, starring Vanessa Redgrave, Crispin Glover, John Hurt and Margot Kidder. He also produced and directed numerous TV projects. His feature directorial debut, Oy Vey! My Son is Gay! has garnered numerous awards at film festivals globally.

Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom is produced by Netflix, Afineevsky – Tolmor Production, UkrStream.TV and SPN Production, in association with Passion Pictures, Campbell Grobman Films and Rock Paper Scissors Entertainment. The film is produced by Afineevsky and Den Tolmor. John Battsek, Lati Grobman, Christa Campbell, Lisa Nishimura, Adam Del Deo, Angus Wall, David Dinerstein, Andrew Ruhemann, Dennis L. Kogod, Nadine Khapsalis Kogod and Bohdan Batruch serve as Executive Producers.

 

Groundbreaking Documentary “It’s Not Over” Debuts on Netflix and SnagFilms

In honor of World AIDS Day, It‘s Not Over, a feature length documentary film made possible by the M.A.C AIDS Fund, the charitable arm of M.A.C Cosmetics, will be available worldwide on Netflix and SnagFilms on the 1^st December, offering a global audience an inspiring look at how young people today are facing the challenges of HIV. Viewed from the perspective of filmmaker Andrew Jenks, It‘s Not Over tells the story of three young people from different parts of the world who are living with or affected by HIV in vastly different, yet astonishingly inter-connected ways. Jenks visits India, South Africa and the United States to experience the epidemic first hand. The result is a deeply personal and uplifting story that is rarely represented in popular culture.

Viewers will be taken on a journey, traveling all over the world with Jenks, to put a face on the AIDS epidemic. Partnering with three courageous young people, Andrew works to humanise the issue as they show us an inside look at how their lives are affected by HIV as well as the lives of those around them. In America, Jenks meets Paige Rawl, a college freshman in Indiana who has been living with HIV her entire life. After years of battling the harsh stigma and depression she turned everything around to become a powerful advocate for fighting the disease from dance marathons at her university to supporting other children impacted by the disease. In India, Jenks meets Sarang Bhakre, a Mumbai playwright who is openly gay in a country that outlaws homosexuality. Sarang’s current play addresses gay marriage, and filmmaker Jenks is along for the ride, from rehearsal to debut, witnessing the courage and bravery it takes Sarang to face these issues. In South Africa, Jenks meets Lucky Mfundisi, a Soccer Coach and educator with Grassroot Soccer, an AIDS organization that teaches youth prevention through soccer. Lucky acts as a tour guide around Khayelitsha, the largest and fastest growing township in South Africa, with some of the highest rates of HIV in the world. Lucky shows Jenks how he is working to transcend the poverty with a message of hope and perseverance.

The subjects in the film are active with M.A.C AIDS Fund grantees including Humsafar, Grassroot Soccer and Camp Kindle. These partners have received grants to help fight HIV/AIDS through the M.A.C AIDS Fund, which raises funds exclusively through the sale of M.A.C‘s VIVA GLAM Lipstick and Lipglass. In the UK, the full R.R.P Less V.A.T from the sale of VIVA GLAM lipstick and lipglass goes towards helping women, men and children everywhere affected by HIV/AIDS. To date, MAF has raised more than $340 million (U.S)

Netflix, the world’s largest global streaming platform, is hosting the film for viewers worldwide, and SnagFilms, a leader in high-quality free film content, is making it available through its applications on Roku^®, Xbox™, Sony^®and more.

“Young people can end this epidemic, but to engage and motivate them toward this goal, we need to recognise that the era of PSAs and finger-wagging messages is gone. We’ve got to make them part of the solution, which we set out to do with this film,” said Nancy Mahon, Global Executive Director, the M.A.C AIDS Fund. “It‘s Not Over represents the latest bold, creative strategy from the M.A.C AIDS Fund as we look to engage young people in impactful, meaningful, action-oriented ways to end the AIDS epidemic.”

UNAIDS welcomes the film and calls upon young people around the world to mobilize around its vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. Globally, an estimated 5 million adolescents and young people (ages 10-24) were living with HIV in 2013. Millions of young people living with HIV do not know they have the virus. Every day approximately 1,800 adolescents and young people become infected with HIV, accounting for nearly 31 percent of all new HIV infections.

“Young people will lead us to an AIDS-free generation. By ensuring adolescents and young people are aware of and have access to HIV services, we are not only saving lives, but also investing in a healthier future for generations to come,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “We are proud of the strong partnership we have with the M.A.C AIDS Fund to advance global efforts toward ending the AIDS epidemic.”

Netflix Will Premiere ‘This is Not a Ball’, A Film That Explores The Global Passion For Soccer, On June 13

Netflix will launch the film, ‘This is Not a Ball,’ on June 13th in the US. Produced by Videocine, an affiliate of Grupo Televisa and directed by Academy nominee Vik Muniz and Juan Rendon, ‘This is Not a Ball‘ follows Brazilian artist and photographer Muniz as he explores the world’s passion for soccer and creates a major work of art made of 20,000 soccer balls. ‘This is Not a Ball’, is a 90-minute documentary, produced by Videocine in association with The Mates Contents (El Mall). In the production, Vik Muniz makes the viewers think about relevant questions about the ball and soccer, like “why do we play?”, “why are we so attracted to the ball?”, “why do we kick and chase it?”, “how has it become an instrument that generates empathy among people?”

The production traveled through nine months and nine countries around the world, visiting cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, New York, Boston, Paris, Kyoto, Burma, Nuremberg in Germany, Sialkot in Pakistan, among others.

“‘This is Not a Ball’ is a groundbreaking story about the universal value of soccer and the true meaning of ‘the ball’ through the lens of a very talented production team and amazing partners such as Televisa,” said Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos. “As we continue to deliver a wide range of content on Netflix for everyone in the household, we believe that this documentary will be highly viewed and valued by our members.”

During his travel, Muniz met with a diverse group of people to discuss their love for ‘the ball.’ Interviews included ordinary people, children from the slums of Rio, one of the great minds of science, astrophysicist Neil De Grasse Tyson, social activists who use soccer to promote social change, and outstanding soccer clubs from around the world like Football League of Amputees in Sierra Leone. Each of these narratives inspired contributions to his work of art.

“My work is already on exhibit in Vidigal in Rio de Janeiro and at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico. The photographs will be auctioned to benefit social causes during the World Cup in Brazil, and the amount collected will be donated to foundations in different cities,” said Vik Muniz. “On behalf of the production team, we are very honored that our work will be available to millions of people around the world through Netflix and other networks.”

Other soccer related titles available on Netflix include: The Beautiful Game, The Big Green, A Barefoot Dream, The Great Match, 30 for 30: Soccer Stories and 1:1 Thierry Henry.

Emmy-Award Winning Netflix Original Series, “House of Cards” Returns For Second Season Friday, February 14

From Media Rights Capital, All 13-Episodes of Second Season Starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright Available to Netflix Members Everywhere at Launch

The second season of the Netflix original series, from Media Rights Capital, “House of Cards,” will premiere Friday, February 14, 2014. All 13-episodes of the season starring Academy Award(® )winner Kevin Spacey (“Horrible Bosses,” “American Beauty,” “The Usual Suspects”) and Golden Globe(®) nominee Robin Wright (“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” “Forrest Gump”), who both received Emmy(®) nominations for their performances in the first season, will be available for members to watch instantly in all territories where Netflix is available.

From director David Fincher (“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” “The Social Network”), award-winning playwright and Academy Award(®) nominated screenwriter Beau Willimon (“Farragut North,” “The Ides of March”) and Academy Award(®) winner Eric Roth (“Forrest Gump,” “Munich,” “The Insider”), this critically-acclaimed drama slithers beneath the curtain and through the back halls of greed, sex, love and corruption in modern Washington D.C.

In the second season, Francis (Spacey) and Claire (Wright) Underwood continue their ruthless rise to power as threats mount on all fronts. Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara, “American Horror Story”), an up-and-coming reporter and Francis’s former paramour, is inching closer to the truth about his crimes. President Walker’s (Michel Gill, “The Good Wife”) billionaire confidante Raymond Tusk (Gerald McRaney, “Southland”) demands that Francis reciprocate political favors or face retribution. And Claire must confront the increasing glare of the spotlight as it eats away at her and Francis’s once private existence. The Underwoods must overcome these dangers — past and present — to avoid losing everything, regardless of collateral damage they leave in their wake.

In addition to Spacey, Wright, Mara, Gill and McRaney, the series also stars Mahershala Ali (“Treme”), Sebastian Arcelus (“Person of Interest”), Kristen Connolly (“The Cabin in the Woods”), Nathan Darrow (“Rigged”), Sakina Jaffrey (“Definitely Maybe”), Michael Kelly (“The Adjustment Bureau”) and Molly Parker (“Deadwood”).

Additional cast members appearing in the series include: Jayne Atkinson (“The Following”), Gil Birmingham (“The Lone Ranger”), Rachel Brosnahan (“Orange is the New Black”), Reg E. Cathey (“Grimm”), Derek Cecil (“Treme”), Terry Chen (“Bates Motel”), Ben Daniels (“Merlin”), Joanna Going (“Mad Men”), Boris McGiver (“Person of Interest”), Mozhan Marno (“In Plain Sight”) Sam Page (“Mad Men”), Kate Lyn Sheil (“V/H/S”), Jimmi Simpson (“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) and Constance Zimmer (“The Newsroom”).

Carl Franklin (“Homeland”), James Foley (“Glengarry Glen Ross”), John David Coles (“Justified”), Jodie Foster  (“Orange is the New Black”) and Robin Wright all direct season-two episodes.

“House of Cards,” the first original series produced by Media Rights Capital for Netflix, received enormous critical acclaim for its first season. In the summer of 2013, for its first season, the series made history as the first ever streaming series to earn Primetime Emmy(®) nominations in major categories, including: Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Spacey), Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Wright), Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series (Laray Mayfield and Julie Schubert), Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Fincher), Outstanding Cinematography for a Single Camera Series (Eigil Bryld), Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series (Kirk Baxter), Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music and Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Jeff Beal). In all, the show took home three Emmy(®) wins for casting, directing and cinematography for its first season.

Based on the BBC miniseries of the same name, the second season of “House of Cards” is executive produced by Fincher, Willimon, Joshua Donen, Eric Roth, Kevin Spacey, Dana Brunetti, Andrew Davies, Michael Dobbs and David Manson. The one-hour drama is produced by Donen/Fincher/Roth and Trigger Street Productions, Inc. in association with Media Rights Capital for Netflix.

Netflix Adds Award-Winning Film “The Short Game” to Its Original Documentary Slate

Netflix will launch “The Short Game” on Thursday, December 12th at 12:01 AM PT.  The documentary, which will be the first original documentary available on the service, follows eight of the most competitive golfers around the globe, all who happen to be under the ripe age of seven years old, as they train for and compete in the World Championship of Junior Golf. The Netflix original documentary will be available to stream in all territories where Netflix is available – U.S., Canada, the UK, Ireland, Latin America, the Nordics and the Netherlands.

Emmy® award-winning director Josh Greenbaum’s feature debut premiered at South by Southwest (SXSW) and won the 2013 Audience Award.  It was Academy qualified in a limited theatrical release through Phase 4 Films and Samuel Goldwyn Films.

“‘The Short Game’ provides a highly entertaining, family friendly and joyful vantage into a unique world that most people fantasize about: being the best in the world at something.  The fact that this dream is pursued by children playing a grownups’ game is intriguing and inspiring,” says Lisa Nishimura, Netflix VP of Original Documentary and Comedy.  “We seek to provide the very best storytelling within the documentary filmmaking category and ‘The Short Game’ is the rare example of a beautifully told and heart-warming tale which appeals to all generations.”

“As a filmmaker, you hope your work will reach as many people as possible and that’s what’s so exciting about partnering with Netflix, who are presenting some of the most original and cutting edge programming on the planet right now,” said director Josh Greenbaum.  “The idea of people all across the world being able to watch the film is a dream come true.”

“The Short Game” is produced by Rafael Marmor, Christopher Leggett, and Josh Greenbaum, and executive produced by Jessica Biel, Justin Timberlake, Timm Oberwelland, John Battsek and David Frankel.

 

Stirring Documentary, BRIDEGROOM, to be Available for Screening to All Netflix Members in Late October

NETFLIX ACQUIRES AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY ABOUT LOVE, TRAGEDY AND THE PURSUIT OF EQUALITY

BRIDEGROOM tells the emotional journey of Shane Bitney Crone and Tom, two young men in a loving and committed relationship that was cut short by a tragic accident. The story, BRIDEGROOM: A Love Story. Unequaled, of what happened after the passing of Tom – of how people without the legal protections of marriage can find themselves completely ostracized – is poignant, enraging and opens a window onto the issue of marriage equality and human rights like no speech or lecture ever will. Starting on October 27, this heartbreaking yet inspirational documentary from producer Shane Bitney Crone and writer/director Linda Bloodworth-Thomason will be available for all Netflix members to watch instantly.

Stirring Documentary BRIDEGROOM To Be Available For All Netflix Members In Late October. (PRNewsFoto/Netflix)

Shane Bitney Crone is an activist, writer and filmmaker. From a young age he has channeled his energy to support good causes, always inspiring others with his talent and actions.  Following the death of his partner Tom Bridegroom in 2011, Shane created a YouTube video to highlight the impact of marriage inequality. Since its release on May 6, 2012, the video, titled “It Could Happen to You,” has earned over four million views, and was listed as one of GLAAD’s “Most Inspiring Videos that Helped Push Equality Forward in 2012.”  Along with filmmaker Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, creator of Designing Women and director/producer of the critically acclaimed The Man from Hope, Shane produced a full-length documentary version of his YouTube video, called BRIDEGROOM: A Love Story. Unequaled.

Said Bloodworth-Thomason of the film, “Tom and Shane were each other’s first and only loves. They are devoted, hardworking, unassuming and funny. Each is from a small town and each, in his own way, is imbued with the best kind of small town values. They are, in fact, the sort of young people who hold within themselves the promise of America. And that is why I want to bring to life, on film, this real life Romeo and Romeo–so that all who condemn them, might come face to face with exactly what it is they are opposing.”

Crone also added “BRIDEGROOM is not about revenge or politics. It is a film about love, forgiveness, and about finding the

Netflix, Inc. Logo. (PRNewsFoto/Netflix, Inc.)

courage to be who you are when the world says you shouldn’t. This is my fairy tale, and Tom is, and always will be, my happy ending.”

“This is really, on one level, a wonderful, sad, heartbreaking yet exhilarating and life affirming story, and on another level, it’s a story about our nation’s struggle to make one more step in forming a more perfect union, for which marriage is both the symbol and substance,” said Former President Bill Clinton of the film.

BRIDEGROOM: A Love Story. Unequaled won the Audience Awards for Best Documentary at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival in New York City, the 2013 Toronto Inside Out Festival and the 2013 Little Rock Film Festival as well as Outstanding Documentary Feature Award at the 2013 Outfest in Los Angeles.

Comedy Sensation Russell Peters Premieres Latest Stand-Up and Docu-Series October 14 Only On Netflix

Highly Anticipated 70-minute Stand-up Comedy “Notorious” to Premiere Exclusively on Netflix

Four-Part Docu-series “Russell Peters vs. the World” Chronicling his Comedy Tour to Also Launch

Netflix will premiere the Netflix comedy special “Notorious” and docu-series “Russell Peters vs. the World” on Monday, October 14th at 12:01 AM .  Peters’ 70-minute stand-up comedy performance and four part docu-series following Peters on his global Notorious Tour will be available to stream in all territories where Netflix is available – U.S., Canada, the UK, Ireland, Latin America, the Nordics and the Netherlands. Listed on this year’s Forbes List as one of the top five Highest Earning Comics in the U.S., Russell Peters has spent the past 24 years building a career to become one of the biggest comics in the world.

Filmed live at the Allphones Arena in Sydney, Australia on March 15, 2013, “Notorious” features global phenomenon Peters as he brings his laugh-out-loud observational comedy to audiences for his world tour of the same name. He uses humor and blends in stories about his Anglo-Indian family to touch on racial, ethnic, class and cultural stereotypes. “Notorious” and “Russell Peters vs. the World” is executive produced by Russell Peters and Clayton Peters.

Russell Peters

“Russell’s genius is his uncanny gift to identify the idiosyncratic within all of us,” says Lisa Nishimura, VP of Originals, Netflix. “He is prolific, fresh and a global force that will resonate with our members around the world.”

Bloomberg Businessweek Film “HANK: 5 Years From the Brink” Coming Exclusively to Netflix On September 16

Netflix, Inc. and Bloomberg Businessweek announced the new documentary film “HANK: Five Years From the Brink” will launch exclusively on Netflix on September 16, 2013. The film, co-produced by Bloomberg Businessweek and RadicalMedia, features former U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and is timed to the fifth anniversary of the

Film poster for “HANK: Five Years From the Brink” (PRNewsFoto/Netflix, Inc.)

collapse of Lehman Brothers, and the start of the global financial crisis.

“HANK: Five Years From the Brink” is directed by Academy Award and seven-time Emmy nominated filmmaker Joe Berlinger, whose documentaries include the critically acclaimed “Brother’s Keeper,” the “Paradise Lost” trilogy, “Metallica: Some Kind of Monster” and “Crude.” The film marks the debut production from Bloomberg Businessweek Films, a newly launched initiative that will seek out visual, complex, and emotionally rewarding business stories as original producers and acquirers.

For three weeks in September 2008, Hank Paulson was the one person charged with preventing the collapse of the U.S. economy. In “HANK: Five Years from the Brink,” Paulson tells the complete story of how he worked to persuade banks, members of congress, and presidential candidates to sign off on nearly $1 trillion in bailouts–even as he found the behavior that led to the crisis, and the bailouts themselves, morally reprehensible. Paulson also details here why another fiscal crisis is inevitable.

No one understood financial markets better than Hank Paulson, the former CEO of Goldman Sachs. Yet Paulson wasn’t quite the pinstriped banker he appeared to be. In exclusive interviews, Paulson tells of his childhood on a farm in the Midwest, aspiring to be a forest ranger. Paulson was a family man–married to his wife, Wendy, for 40 years–and a devout Christian Scientist with left-leaning politics. After working on his first bailout as a junior staffer in the Pentagon and then in the Nixon White House, Paulson returned with his family to his native Chicago to forge a career at Goldman

Netflix, Inc. Logo. (PRNewsFoto/Netflix, Inc.)

   Sachs. Hank Paulson had refused two previous offers to be Secretary of the Treasury before finally accepting in 2006, not willing to let his fear of failure or his family’s distaste of the Bush administration–which Wendy readily admits in separate interviews–stop him from serving his country.

To see the collapse through Paulson’s eyes sheds new light on both the crisis that was, and the depression that could have been. “HANK: Five Years From the Brink” is a riveting portrait of leadership under unimaginable pressure–and a marriage surviving under unfathomable circumstances.

“We love bringing thought-provoking documentaries to our members and so to be the premiere home for ‘HANK: Five Years From the Brink’ is a thrill for us,” said Netflix Chief Content Officer, Ted Sarandos.

“We’re honored to have ‘HANK’ seen on such an innovative platform as Netflix, and incredibly fortunate to have been able to partner with the great Joe Berlinger on this documentary,” said Bloomberg Businessweek editor and producer, Josh

Bloomberg Businessweek Films logo. (PRNewsFoto/Netflix, Inc.)

Tyrangiel, who is leading the Bloomberg Businessweek Films initiative.

“As a documentary filmmaker for over 20 years, it’s really exciting to find novel ways to reach audiences with a new content creator like Bloomberg Businessweek Films, through an expanding powerhouse like Netflix,” said director and producer Joe Berlinger.

“‘HANK: Five Years From the Brink’ perfectly represents the type of thought-provoking work Bloomberg Businessweek will release, and the new opportunity sponsors will have to be associated with our unique projects,” said Paul Bascobert, President of Bloomberg Businessweek.

“HANK” will be available in the U.S., Canada, UK and Ireland on September 16, 2013, and in the remaining Netflix territories on November 1, 2013. The film will be distributed by Virgil Film and Entertainment. Submarine represented Bloomberg Businessweek for the deals with Virgil and Netflix.

For additional information, please visit: http://www.businessweek.com/hank