The third annual Dances With Films NY festival announced their wins on Dec. 11, celebrating new talent in the world of independent film.
The audience choice winners were Kristen Hansen’s “Sonny Boy” for best narrative feature and Mikaela Shwer’s “The Kids Are Not Alright” for best documentary feature.
This year, the newly established Midnight category spotlighted genre films. The winners in this section were Andrew Bell’s “Bleeding” for best midnight feature and Benedict Chiu’s “Boy Band” for best midnight short. Dances With Films also provides a platform for pilots and proof of concept projects, with the audience winner being Ruthie Marantz’s “Raging Doll.”
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For the industry awards, Chris Beier’s “The Ego Death of Queen Cecilia” won in the “Over 40 Minutes” category while Matthew Perkins’ “Fortune” won in the “Under 40 Minutes” category.
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Over the course of four days, the festival screened 146 films, including 92 short films, 22 narrative and midnight features, 18 television and streaming pilots and nine documentaries. Nearly half were U.S. or world premieres.
The festival is set to return in June for its 28th outing in Los Angeles.
“Nickel Boys”, “Sing Sing” and “The Piano Lesson” Lead African American Film Critics Association Award Winners
The 16th annual African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) Awards announced its winners alongside its selections for the top ten films of the year.
“The Piano Lesson”, “Sing Sing”, and “Nickel Boys” all nabbed multiple wins, with “Sing Sing” taking best actor (Colman Domingo), and best supporting actor (Clarence Maclin) while RaMell Ross won best director for “Nickel Boys”, which also took home best picture. Danielle Deadwyler won best actress for “The Piano Lesson” which also won best ensemble.
The three films also topped AAFCA’s top ten films of the year list, with “Nickel Boys” taking the number one spot. “The Wild Robot” won best animated feature film, while “Daughters” and “Dahomey” tied for best documentary.
“This has been a defining year for cinema, with an impressive array of stories that capture the complexity, resilience, and beauty of the human experience,” said AAFCA president and co-founder Gil Robertson. “We are proud to honor this year’s filmmakers and talent, whose work continues to expand the scope of humanity on screen. These films do more than entertain—they amplify voices and perspectives that deserve to be heard, and we look forward to celebrating their lasting impact.”
Wednesday, Dec. 11
Kathleen Kennedy to Be Honored by American Society of Cinematographers with Board of Governors Award
The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) has announced that Kathleen Kennedy, president of LucasFilm, will be recognized with the 2025 ASC Board of Governors Award.
The award recognizes people in the industry who have made valuable contributions through their body of work and have championed visual storytelling and directors of photography along the way.
“Kathleen Kennedy’s extraordinary career has left an enduring mark on the world of cinema,” ASC President Shelly Johnson said. “Her keen eye for storytelling is unparalleled. She consistently brings forth projects that elevate and confirm her trust in the director and cinematographer relationship. Recognizing it as the backbone of great filmmaking, her movies consistently showcase this belief.”
Kennedy has produced or executive produced over 70 feature films, including “Jurassic Park,” “E.T. The Extra Terrestrial,” “The Sixth Sense,” “Back to the Future,” “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” “Gremlins,” “The Goonies,” “Poltergeist,” “Empire of the Sun,” “Lincoln,” “War Horse,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” “Schindler’s List,” “The Color Purple” and “The Adventures of Tintin.”
Kennedy’s recent work on the newest “Star Wars” films has continued to showcase her leadership, including “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” and “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.”
The award will be presented at The Beverly Hilton on Feb. 23 and live-streamed globally.
Tuesday Dec. 10
Abramorama Acquires Oscar Qualifying Documentary ‘Nurse Unseen’
Abramorama has acquired the global theatrical distribution and Direct-To-Audience rights to ‘Nurse Unseen’, Michele Josue’s Oscar-qualified documentary feature.
The documentary is produced by Josue, Carlo Velayo, and Joe Arciaga, with Jhett Tolentino and Jo Koy serving as executive producers. ‘Nurse Unseen’ explores the stories of Filipino nurses who worked on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic in the midst of a resurgence of anti-Asian hate.
‘Nurse Unseen’ has been a huge labor of love for our community and specifically our heroic nurses,” said Josue. “We are thrilled to now partner with Abramorama to bring this vital and important film to more audiences around the world.”
Abramorama’s president and head of international distribution Evan Saxon stated, “We are incredibly excited to partner with Michele Josue, Carlo Velayo, Jhett Tolentino, and Jo Koy to bring ‘Nurse Unseen’ to both Filipino and non-Filipino audiences worldwide. The success of our recent film ‘Hello, Love, Again’—the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time, surpassing even many Hollywood studio releases—underscores the vibrant demand among Filipino moviegoers, a group often overlooked by cinemas. These culturally rich stories not only provide a shared, meaningful experience for audiences but also empower our cinema partners to reach and engage a broader, more diverse consumer base.”
Abramorama will extend ‘Nurse Unseen’s’ theatrical run with additional cities nationwide, followed by screening events internationally.
International Cinematographers Guild Appoints New Regional Directors
The International Cinematographers Guild (ICG, IATSE Local 600) has appointed two new regional directors, naming Joey Brenner the Central Region Director and promoting Anna Nowlan to the role of Eastern Region Director.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Joey and Anna into their new roles,” says ICG national executive director Alex Tonisson. “They are both passionate about representing our members and the need for a strong labor movement in the entertainment industry.”
Brenner most recently served as the director of organizing and bargaining with the SEIU-Florida Public Services Union, where he managed and mentored a team of organizers and secured numerous collective bargaining agreements during moments of unrest and change, such as the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“With such a long history in the labor movement, we’re excited about the skills, experience and expertise Joey will bring to our organization,” says Deborah Lipman, 1st national vice president.
Nowlan joined the ICG as a business representative for the Eastern Region in April 2019.
“In her years with the union, Anna has fought tirelessly for our Eastern Region members and our membership as a whole,” says Chris Silano, national vice president. “She is an integral part of our community, and I’m thrilled to welcome her into her new role.”
Circle Management Production and the Anarchists United Foundation Announce Writers’ Fellowship
Circle Management + Production and the Anarchists United Foundation have launched the application process for the 2025 Circle M+P – Anarchists United Writers Discovery Fellowship program.
Designed exclusively for emerging television writers, the fellowship will continue its partnership with Lilly Wachowski’s foundation and provides support and mentorship to a diverse group of aspiring voices in Hollywood. The Fellowship selects six to eight writers who have not previously been employed or represented in film or television for a six-month immersive experience. Participants will work toward developing a submission-ready television pilot, expanding their industry network, gaining essential tools for future success, and be provided a $10,000 dollar stipend to support their work.
Lawrence Mattis, who initiated the Fellowship at Circle M+P, stated, “While the industry continues its consolidation and resettlement from recent disruptions, it is more urgent than ever to maintain a program like this that supports a diverse group of emerging writers. Circle and Anarchists United are honored to present another cohort of incredible voices to Hollywood in 2025, reminding the industry that the discovery and support of new creatives with original perspectives is the lifeblood of what we do.”
Selected Fellows will also receive access to Final Draft.
Applications for the 2025 program are now open.
