Dinosaur Jr. Documentary ‘Freakscene’ Acquired By Utopia, Sets Theatrical & Digital Release

© (photo credit: Daniel J. White/PBS) Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns filming interviews for "The Roosevelts" in 2014. For his next historical deep dive, famed documentary filmmaker Ken Burns is exploring America’s relationship to the Holocaust.

Not since the late Leonard Bernstein has a conductor captured the imagination of the American public quite like Gustavo Dudamel.

th anniversary is nothing to sneeze at, but learning that one of the groups to reach that milestone is the Norwegian trio a-ha might warrant not so much an achoo as a gasp, double take, or “Come again?”Since 1985, we’ve all lived with the sparkling earworm of syncopation, synth, and pop crooning that is the single “Take On Me,” the kind of breakout chart-topper (in 36 countries) that you just knew was going to define an era’s sugary, youthful romanticism. The dynamically conceptualized half-animated music video didn’t hurt its immortality campaign either, with lead singer Morten Harket’s chiseled, sensitive, pouty-rebel presence — someone, please, help him! — destined to adorn teenage walls everywhere.

EXCLUSIVE: The Last Out, the Cuban baseball documentary from Oscar-nominated St. Louis Superman director Sami Khan and Michael Gassert, has been acquired by PBS’ POV. Both the English- and Spanish-language versions of the feature-length film will premiere as part of POV‘s 35th season in October timed to Hispanic Heritage Month and the start of the MLB postseason.

The Scene 2 Seen Podcast took a bit of a hiatus–but we’re back! And this week, features a very special discussion surrounding a pressing topic. The Aftershock documentary premiered at Sundance 2022, where it won the Impact For Change award, and then made its way to SXSW 2022.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentAlong with its premium scripted lineup, Newen Connect is launching a pair of timely investigative documentaries, “Ukraine” and “Wagner,” which are providing insight into the current war. Now filming, “Ukraine” is being co-directed by Ksenia Blochakova, the Russia correspondent of the news channel France 24, and Philippe Lagnier, a journalist working at Newen-owned production banner Capa.

Emiliano De Pablos Fathom Events and Spain’s Bosco Films are partnering to bring faith-based documentary “Vivo” (“Alive”) to about 700 North American locations on April 25.Produced by Hakuna Films and directed by Jorge Pareja, “Alive” narrates four real-life stories filmed in Spain of people who tell how Christian’s Eucharist transformed their lives.“Alive,” which previously bowed by Bosco in Spain and 14 Latin American territories, marks the Spanish indie distributor’s leap into the international market, where it’s been closing a bundle of exhibition agreements with local and international operators.The peak in “Alive’s” international theatrical career comes with the U.S. release after the Fathom Events deal.

Wilson Chapman editor“White Hot: The Rise and Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch” will debut on Netflix April 19, the streamer has announced.Directed by Alison Klayman, who helmed the Alanis Morissette documentary “Jagged” last year, “White Hot” explores the rise in popularity of casual wear retail chain Abercrombie & Fitch, which was first founded in the 1800s, during the late ’90s. Under the leadership of CEO Mike Jeffries, the store became known for its sexualized advertising and its emphasis on an “all-American” look –– which, to many, was code for “white.” As the store developed a dominance in the retail world off of its brand, growing criticisms regarding discriminatory hiring and marketing practices eventually engulfed it in scandal.

Thania Garcia The Prince Estate has and Sony Music have announced a deluxe release of “Prince and The Revolution: Live,” the legendary 1985 concert toward the end of the 100-date “Purple Rain” concert tour which was originally broadcast via satellite from the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York on March 30, 1985. The film was first released on VHS in the late ’80s and was out of print for decades before being re-released as part of the “Purple Rain” deluxe boxed set in 2017.Now, the completely remastered and digitally enhanced footage will be made available on vinyl for the first time along with CD and Blu-ray formats starting June 3, 2022.According to the announcement, the deluxe edition of “Prince and The Revolution: Live” has been “entirely enhanced and reconstructed,” with the original video source rescanned, restored and color-corrected with the original multitrack audio master reels remixed and remastered onto Blu-ray video with selectable stereo, 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos sound.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter“Navalny,” a fly-on-the-wall documentary about Russian dissident and one-time presidential candidate Alexei Navalny, was intended to debut directly on HBO Max. But since the harrowing story has renewed timeliness amid Russia’s recent unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Warner Bros.

Manori Ravindran International EditorMagnolia Pictures has snapped up the North American rights to a Martin Scorsese executive-produced documentary about New York’s historic Chelsea Hotel.Amélie van Elmbt and Maya Duverdier’s “Dreaming Walls,” about the Manhattan institution and its controversial renovation, world premiered in the Panorama section of the Berlinale in February. Magnolia plans to release the film in theaters and on-demand this summer.The Chelsea Hotel, an icon of 1960s counterculture, was a haven for famous artists and intellectuals including Patti Smith, Janis Joplin and the superstars of Warhol’s Factory.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorThe United States Football League won’t just kick off its inaugural season on April 16. It will also use the date to launch a new behind-the-scenes docuseries aimed at getting fans more interested in its spring football efforts.“United By Football,” a 13-episode documentary series produced by the league, NFL Films and Fox Sports, will try to give fans a feel for what happens as cadre of hopeful athletes compete in the USFL, a new league controlled by Fox that will have its games broadcast on both the Fox and NBC broadcast networks.

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson went from spinning records at last year’s Oscar ceremony to winning a statuette of his own tonight, for directing Best Documentary Feature champ Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not be Televised).

Kobe Bryant did four years ago in another category, Shaquille O'Neal can say he's an Oscar winner, as well.“The Queen of Basketball” — with a pair of basketball legends in O’Neal and Stephen Curry among the executive producers and top promoters of the 22-minute film — won the Academy Award for short subject documentary Sunday.It comes about two months after the death of Harris, who scored the first basket in Olympic women’s basketball history and was the first woman officially drafted by an NBA team. Ben Proudfoot directed the short, which educated even some ardent basketball fans on the story of the trailblazer.“If there is anyone out there who doubts that there is an audience for female athletes and questions whether their stories are valuable or entertaining or important … let this Academy Award be the answer,” Proudfoot said at the award ceremony in Los Angeles.Harris is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, as is O’Neal.

A new documentary is set to expose an American megachurch that was a hotspot for Christian celebrities including Justin Bieber. After his early rise to fame, Bieber turned to Hillsong New York City (the first American branch of the Australian megachurch) and its senior pastor and co-founder Carl Lentz. He wasn’t the only one to do so, as the church famously helped the likes of Chris Pratt and Selena Gomez too, and Hillsong even had its own record label.