Matthew Modine News

Over six-thousand submissions later, the Oscar-Qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival is thrilled to announce their star-studded opening night lineup. With last year's Best Short winner 'Skin' going on to win the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short, the stakes for accepted films were more competitive than ever for the festival's landmark 15th Anniversary. HollyShorts' Opening Night festivities will be on Thursday, August 8th at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood, CA.

The anxiously-anticipated arrival of Aladdin is finally here! The national tour stops in Sacramento through June 2 and brings with it the songs that you know and love from the 1992 animated movie, along with new numbers written specifically for the stage musical. After its debut on Broadway in 2014, it was nominated for 5 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. Broadway World Sacramento was able to speak with Reggie DeLeon, who originated the role of Iago on the national tour and has returned after a brief hiatus. Reggie is well-known for his recurring role as Shep in the Pup Star films. He can also be seen on 'MOM' (Paul), 'Superior Donuts' (Zale), and 'Melissa & Joey' (Wyatt).

Pigeon keepers are an interesting and unique, albeit diminishing, subset of humans, and within that group is a subset, presumably small, of people who identify with the birds. Taking it one step further, Birdy, the protagonist in Naomi Wallace's adaptation of William Wharton's novel BIRDY, identifies, not with, but as a bird. Strange as it sounds, it may be the most sane response to an insane world in this drama that toggles back and forth between a pre-World War II Philadelphia suburb and an Army hospital in post-war Kentucky. It is a war story that plays out on the battlefield of an intense, intimate friendship, where the psychological wounds are more damaging and enduring than the physical ones. Steve Maler's skillful direction unleashes a dazzling palette of colorful performances, each actor contributing a broad brush stroke to the communal masterpiece.

Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC) has added three performances to its highly anticipated upcoming production of Birdy, adapted by Naomi Wallace from the novel by William Wharton, and directed by Steven Maler. The production now runs February 27 through March 17 at the Carling-Sorenson Theater at Babson College in Wellesley.

Oscar-qualifying New York Int'l Children's Film Festival announced the complete short film lineup for its 2019 event, which runs February 22-March 17 at theaters throughout New York: IFC Center, Scandinavia House, Quad Cinemas, SVA Theatre, Cinépolis Chelsea, Alamo Drafthouse and the Museum of the Moving Image. Established in 1997, the acclaimed Festival is the nation's largest for children and teens and will present new animated, live action, documentary and experimental shorts and features from 37 countries. Tickets are on sale at www.nyicff.org.

Commonwealth Shakespeare Company and Founding Artistic Director Steven Maler announced the cast of the second production of its 2018-19 Season: Birdy, adapted by Naomi Wallace from the novel by William Wharton, and directed by Steven Maler. The production runs February 27 through March 10 at the Carling-Sorenson Theater at Babson College in Wellesley.

Prolific helmer Anthony Hemingway will be the recipient of the 2018 HollyShorts Film Festival Indie Maverick Award. He will be presented the Award during the festival's opening night celebration this Thursday August 9 at the TCL Chinese Theater. Past HollyShorts Indie Maverick honorees include Paul Haggis, David Lynch, Eli Roth, Joe Carnahan and Matthew Modine. The festival's opening night celebration will be hosted by Ben Lyons host of 'The Oscars: All Access' for Oscar.com and ABC News.

The sixty-fourth edition of the Taormina FilmFest, produced by Videobank, just wrapped having featured over 50 films including 14 World Premieres, 12 European Premieres, and over 10 Italian premieres, including documentaries and shorts, under the new artistic direction of Silvia Bizio and Gianvito Casadonte. The all-female jury, headed by President and producer Martha de Laurentiis, announced the winners of this year's festival, which spotlighted social issues including themes of human rights, feminism, bullying, and social inclusion.

The sixty-fourth edition of the Taormina FilmFest, produced by Videobank and taking place July 14-20 under the new artistic direction of Silvia Bizio and Gianvito Casadonte, has unveiled its full program with over 50 films, including 14 World Premieres, 12 European Premieres, and over 10 Italian premieres, including documentaries and shorts. The screenings will be held in the halls of the Palazzo dei Congressi, where Master Classes and In Conversations featuring special guests will also be hosted.

The New York Film Academy (NYFA), in partnership with award-winning actor and NYFA Board Member Matthew Modine, have announced the creation of the Matthew Modine Masters Scholarship to provide financial assistance to prospective students applying for the school's Master of Fine Arts (MFA) programs in Filmmaking and Acting for Film.

SONY Pictures Entertainment, ABC's The Good Doctor, Netflix's Atypical, and several filmmakers were honored for their contributions to autism awareness 'From Spectrum to Screen' by the Autism Society of America at the 2 nd Annual AutFest International Film Festival (April 28-29), held at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills. AutFest screened over 16 feature films, shorts and television programs that promote autism awareness and/or are made by autistic filmmakers.

SONY Pictures Entertainment, ABC's The Good Doctor, Netflix's Atypical, and several filmmakers were honored yesterday for their contributions to autism awareness 'From Spectrum to Screen' at the 2nd Annual AutFest International Film Festival (April 28-29), held at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills, CA. AutFest screened over 16 feature films, short films and television programs that promote autism awareness and/or are made by autistic filmmakers.

The second Annual AutFest International Film Festival, presented by The Autism Society, will take place Saturday, April 28 - Sunday, April 29 at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills, California. It will screen six feature-length films, seven shorts and two television shows that promote autism awareness and/or are made by filmmakers with autism.

AutFest International Film Festival announced its official program selections for its second annual film festival celebrating autism awareness “From Spectrum to Screen.” Presented by The Autism Society, AutFest will screen over 16 feature films, short films and television programs that promote autism awareness and/or are made by autistic filmmakers. As previously announced, AutFest will also honor Netflix's hit show “Atypical” and ABC's “The Good Doctor” with Spotlight Awards for their special portrayal of lead characters who are on the autistic spectrum. The Visionary Award will be presented to SONY Pictures Entertainment's JEFF FROST, President of Sony Pictures Television Studios, and Co-Presidents of Sony Pictures Television CHRIS PARNELL and JASON CLODFELTER. AutFest takes place Saturday, April 28 – Sunday, April 28, 2018 at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills, CA.

Sony Pictures Television Studios will be receiving the Visionary Award at the 2 nd Annual AUTFEST International Film Festivalpresented by The Autism Society at a VIP Reception on Sunday, April 29at 7:30pm at the Writers Guild of America Theater in Los Angeles. Honorees include JEFF FROST, President of Sony Pictures Television Studios (SPT), and Co-Presidents of Sony Pictures Television CHRIS PARNELL and JASON CLODFELTER. The announcement was made by Matthew Asner, VP of Development for The Autism Society. AUTFEST is sponsored by Hyundai Motor America and SAG-AFTRA.

The Moving Picture Institute announced today that Matthew Modine is set to join Emmy-winning actress Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black) in the independent production of Miss Virginia, playing the lead supporting role of Congressman Cliff Williams. The film, to be directed by R.J. Daniel Hanna (Shelter), is produced by Erin O'Connor, Rob Pfaltzgraff, and Maurice Black of the Moving Picture Institute (2081 starring Armie Hammer, Julie Hagerty, and James Cosmo), Stacey Parks of Media Sparks Films and M. Elizabeth Hughes. The film is set to commence production in April in Los Angeles.

LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is thrilled to announce that due to overwhelming demand, the fifth show in its 97th season, Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner MELANIE GRIFFITH starring as Mrs. Robinson in THE GRADUATE, adapted by Terry Johnson, based on the novel by Charles Webb and the screenplay by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham, directed by Ovation Award-winner Michael Matthews (Twelve Angry Men, Billy & Ray) is EXTENDING through SUNDAY, MARCH 25 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Drive in Laguna Beach. THE GRADUATE will begin previews on Wednesday, February 21 and will open on Sunday, March 4 at 5:30pm.

ABC'S THE GOOD DOCTOR and NETFLIX'S ATYPICAL will be receiving special honors at the 2nd Annual AUTFEST International Film Festivalpresented by The Autism Society on April 28-29, 2018 at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills. The announcement was made by Matthew Asner, VP of Development for The Autism Society. AUTFEST is sponsored by Hyundai Motor America and SAG-AFTRA.

LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is thrilled to announce that due to overwhelming demand, the fifth show in its 97th season, Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner MELANIE GRIFFITH starring as Mrs. Robinson in THE GRADUATE, adapted by Terry Johnson, based on the novel by Charles Webb and the screenplay by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham, directed by Ovation Award-winner Michael Matthews (Twelve Angry Men, Billy & Ray) is EXTENDING through SUNDAY, MARCH 25 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Drive in Laguna Beach. THE GRADUATE will begin previews on Wednesday, February 21 and will open on Sunday, March 4 at 5:30pm.

The 2018 LA Art Show returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center January 10 - 14, 2018, with the most diverse programming and exhibitors to date. Leading the way in the CORE section is Patrick Painter, Timothy Yarger, SM Fine Art and more. Merry Karnowsky // KP Projects will be joining the fair as an exhibitor for the first time in its two plus decade history never before seen works by Vivian Maier. East Coast, Jonathan LeVine Gallery and Superchief Gallery LA will be getting into the mix for the first time as well.