Samuel Goldwyn News

Celebrating its 37th anniversary, Outfest - the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization promoting equality by creating, sharing, and protecting LGBTQ stories on the screen - today announced the complete programming lineup for the 2019 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival, presented by HBO. The nation's leading LGBTQ festival will be held July 18-28, 2019.

Abbe Levine, an alumna of Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA), has received the 2019 Outstanding Arts School Alumni Award from the Arts Schools Network (ASN), the nation's largest professional membership organization of specialized arts schools. Created to foster artistic and academic achievement in talented young people, this honor is bestowed annually upon one former student of an ASN school whose commitment to excellence is demonstrated through outstanding accomplishment in the areas of citizenship, arts and academics. The award will be presented at the annual ASN Conference, October 22-25, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla.

Multiple award-winning Sideways author, Rex Pickett, has formed a joint venture with EFG-Renascence Productions to develop a Broadway musical based on his hit film, as well as utilize the intellectual property across multiple media platforms and brand extensions, it was jointly announced today by EFG-Renascence founder, Solomon J. LeFlore (Straight Outta Compton, Bringing It Home with Laura McIntosh on PBS), and his partner Susan Gee.  Released in 2004, the Alexander Payne-directed Sideways garnered over 350 awards, including the Academy Award for 'Best Adapted Screenplay', two Golden Globes for 'Best Picture' and 'Best Screenplay', and a record six Independent Spirit Awards, and has grossed over $500 million worldwide. 

​​​​​​​The Shade Room, the Instagram-based media empire founded by 28-year-old entrepreneur Angelica Nwandu, today announced its first slate of original programming set to debut exclusively on the company's Instagram (@theshaderoom), which boasts 15MM+ followers (known as “Roommates”), later this year.

 Samuel Goldwyn Films announced today that the company has acquired North American rights to the horror movie PLAY OR DIE, directed by Jacques Kluger. The film stars Charley Palmer (DUNKIRK), Roxane Mesquida (“Now Apocalypse”), Marie Zabukovec (INTERRAIL), Thomas Mustin (RAW), and Igor Van Dessel (RACER AND THE JAILBIRD). PLAY OR DIEwill be available through On-Demand and on Digital platforms July 2.

During an interview with Busy Tonight, Mandy Moore revealed that she and host Busy Phillips are both up for the role of Adelaide in the a movie musical version of Guys and Dolls. However, Moore went on to say that the casting directors of the film are only casting male leads first before considering any female roles.

TriStar Pictures is set to remake the Broadway musical 'Guys and Dolls' as a feature film, according to Variety.

Roadside Attractions and Samuel Goldwyn Films have co-acquired worldwide rights to Max Lewkowicz's FIDDLER: A MIRACLE OF MIRACLES. The documentary tells the story behind one of Broadway's most beloved musicals, Fiddler on The Roof and its creative roots in early 1960s New York. The film includes interviews with the show's Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning lyricist Sheldon Harnick, legendary producer Hal Prince, original cast members, such as Austin Pendleton, as well as rare archival footage of renowned choreographer Jerome Robbins. Further insights into the play's legacy and enduring influence come from new interviews with Broadway luminaries and cultural influencers including Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, Chaim Topol, Harvey Fierstein as well as famed authors Fran Lebowitz, Calvin Trillin and Nathan Englander. Roadside and Goldwyn will release FIDDLER: A MIRACLE OF MIRACLES in theatres this summer.

At a reception at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival today, the beneficiaries of $70,000 in grants from Sundance Institute and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation were revealed. Doron Weber, Sloan Vice President of Programs and Director of the Public Understanding of Science and Technology program, presented the Feature Film Prize to The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and announced the new winners: Skye Emerson for Challenger and Gillian Weeks for The New Miracle (Sundance Institute | Sloan Commissioning Grant); Anthony Onah for Goliath (Sundance Institute | Sloan Lab Fellowship); and Neilkanth Dave and Zachary Parris for DELTA-V (Sundance Institute | Sloan Episodic Storytelling Grant). Chiwetel Ejiofor's The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind was formally presented with a $20,000 check for winning the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Feature Film Prize, as previously announced.

GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, announced today the nominees for the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards live from the Sundance Film Festival. The 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards are presented by Delta Air Lines, Gilead, and Ketel One Family-Made Vodka.

BUFFALO BOYS stars Yoshi Sudarso (TV's 'Power Rangers: Dino Chargo' and 'Pretty Boys'), Ario Bayu (Java Heat), Pevita Pearce (The Sinking of Van Der Wijck), Tio Pakusadewo (Letters from Prague), Conan Stevens (The Hobbit), and Reinout Bussemaker (Flight HS13). The film will be released in theaters and on Digital this January 11, 2019.

As 2018 comes to a close, we are reflecting on those we have lost in the Broadway and theatre communities throughout the year.

Samuel Goldwyn Films has released the trailer for MAPPLETHORPE starring Matt Smith and directed by Ondi Timoner.

Joseph Cross' feature directorial debut Summer Night has been acquired by Samuel Goldwyn Films, according to Deadline. The film is set for a release next spring.

Robert Mapplethorpe is arguably one of the most important artists of the 20th century. Mapplethorpe discovered himself both sexually and artistically in New York City throughout the 70's and 80's. The film depicts Mapplethorpe's life from moments before he and Patti Smith moved into the famed Chelsea hotel, home to a world of bohemian chic. Here, he begins photographing its inhabitants and his new found circle of friends including artists and musicians, socialites, film stars, and members of the S&M underground.  

Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC) announces the naming of its Studio 4B for the great American entertainer, actor, singer, and comedian Danny Kaye (1911-1987) and his wife Sylvia Fine Kaye (1913-1991), an accomplished lyricist, composer, and producer who mostly collaborated with her husband, writing material that he performed. The dedication completes the naming of all of BAC's studios and theaters for gifted artists, friends and/or mentors to Founder and Artistic Director Mikhail Baryshnikov-a roster that includes philanthropist Howard Gilman; artists Jerome Robbins, John Cage, Merce Cunningham, Rudolf Nureyev; and BAC's founding managing director emerita, Christina Sterner.

Event based theatrical distribution company, Hydro Studios announced today that they are collaborating Sun and Moon Films to distribute the music documentary BALI: BEATS OF PARADISE. Directed and produced by Livi Zheng and featuring Judith Hill,the original documentary pulls back the curtain on Gamelan music and Nyoman Wenten - a celebrated Indonesian composer who sets out to pay homage to the sacred but shrinking tradition of Balinese music and dance, Gamelan, in his home country. Gamelan has been used in the film Avatar by James Cameron, the TV show Star Trek as well as the Nintendo game Mario Bros.  

Samuel Goldwyn Films announced today that the company has acquired rights to Pavel Lungin's QUEEN OF SPADES. The film stars Kseniya Rappoport (The Double Hour), Ivan Yankovskiy (Ikariya), Mariya Kurdenevich (Za Toboy), Evgeniy Zelenskiy, and Igor Mikurbinov (Generation P). This instant classic of intrigue, art, and effects comes to On-demand & Digital platforms October 30 in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and New Zealand!

Marissa Wolf, Associate Artistic Director and Director of New Works at Kansas City Repertory Theatre (KCRep), today announced the full schedule for the organization's popular 2018/2019 Monday Night Playwright Series. The series features a line-up of new and returning playwrights including Christina Anderson, Bennett Fisher, Greta Oglesby, Andrew Rosendorf, Bianca Leigh and Mellon Foundation Playwright in Residence Nathan Louis Jackson, in addition to the Playwright Slam, hosted by Nathan Louis Jackson. These free public events take place on the UMKC campus at the Spencer Theatre Donor Lounge.