Freestyle Digital Picks Up Sports Docu ‘On Thin Ice’ & ‘The Canyonlands’ Indie; Gravitas Ventures Acquires ‘Eddy’s Kingdom’ Docu – Film Briefs

Well before the general public went crazy for the fictional African nation of Wakanda, there was another fictional African nation that was most popular—Zamunda. But in the original “Coming to America,” there wasn’t a whole lot of time spent in Zamunda, as the film primarily took place in Queens.

The rainy weather isn’t stopping Zachary Quinto!

Neon has made the first acquisition out of this year’s Sundance, with North American rights to Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s Flee in what is an undisclosed seven-figure sum after an overnight bidding war.

Gravitas Ventures has acquired the North American rights to the romantic drama Sometime Other Than Now, written and directed by Dylan McCormick. Gravitas plans a release in theaters and on demand on March 5, 2021.

Gravitas Ventures has acquired North American rights All About Sex, the first directorial feature for up-and-comer Dakota Gorman, who wrote the comedy, which is loosely based on her own experiences battling depression and the general anxieties that accompany aging youth. Gorman also stars alongside Natalee Linez, Emma Deckers, Dillon Lane, Matt Angel and Chris Costanzo.

The American Film Institute has picked its 2020 award winners for the 10 best movies and TV shows of the year. The titles, presented in alphabetical order, are works AFI's juries have determined advance the art of the moving image, enhance the cultural heritage of America's art form, inspire audiences and artists, and make a mark on American society.

NBCUniversal is pulling the plug on NBCSN, its cable sports network. The channel will shut down by the end of 2021, with its signature live sporting events airing instead on USA Network and Peacock.

NBC Universal will shut down sports channel NBCSN by the end of the year, with several prominent events – most notably, the National Hockey League to USA Network – sent to other properties.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorFans of big NBC sports franchises like the NHL and Premier League will have to follow them to a new home.NBCUniversal will shutter its NBCSN sports network, and move some of its top sports properties to the USA network in a maneuver executives believe will boost the economics of the general-entertainment cable outlet at a time when new streaming-video hubs are luring bigger audiences.

One big happy family! Doug Emhoff‘s ex-wife, Kerstin Emhoff was in attendance at the inauguration, where his current wife Kamala Harris was officially sworn in as the first female, Black American and South Asian American Vice President in U.S. history.

Pop Smoke features prominently in the new trailer for Eddie Huang’s upcoming film Boogie – you can check out the clip below.The late New York rapper, who was killed in a shooting in February last year, stars alongside Taylor Takahashi and Taylour Paige in the movie, which he also contributed music to.

The incoming US President-elect Joe Biden’s administration is by any measure a historic one when it comes to diversity. Now, in another momentous decision, Biden on Tuesday nominated Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine as his pick for Assistant Health Secretary. Dr Levine – paediatrician and former Pennsylvania physician general – will become the first openly transgender federal official to be confirmed by the US Senate and the highest ranked transgender official in the country. Dr.

EXCLUSIVE: HBO Max has rounded out cast for multi-camera comedy pilot Head of the Class, a reboot of the popular 1980s ABC sitcom.

Berlin's European Film Market has revealed details of its plans for its first all-digital market, to be held from March 1-5, 2021. The 2021 EFM will be held alongside the online-only version of the 71st Berlin International Film Festival.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorEddie Vedder, Phoebe Bridgers, Brittany Howard, Laurie Anderson and more will perform at the 34th Annual Tibet House US Benefit Concert, which returns this year for a special virtual edition, combining live and pre-recorded segments streaming via the livestream platform Mandolin.Also joining composer and artistic director Philip Glass at the event, which is ordinarily held at New York’s Carnegie Hall, are Valerie June, Angélique Kidjo, Tenzin Choegyal, Rubin Kodheli

Angelique Jackson The American Black Film Festival and IMDb are teaming up for a special celebration of Black film with a new digital series, titled “Hollywood Homecoming.”Jeff Friday Media is producing the series, which celebrates “iconic films that showcase Black humanity and provide balanced portrayals of the African American experience,” assembling the film’s director and cast to discuss the project.

EXCLUSIVE:  Gravitas Ventures has acquired North American rights to distribute the Mike Tollin-produced documentary Meltdown.

As one Jason Spitzer-created workplace comedy series, Superstore, is coming to an end on NBC this season, another one will be joining the network’s lineup next season.