Independent Artist Group Signs ‘Acapulco’s Eduardo Cisneros

Peter Debruge Chief Film Critic Straying from the hotheaded “Taxi Driver” style that has dominated much of his career, Paul Schrader pays ruminative and respectful tribute to his late friend, novelist Russell Banks, who gave the writer-director the raw material for one of his best films, “Affliction” — and now, for one of his best films in years. Adapted from Banks’ “Foregone” (and given the title the author told Schrader he wanted for the book), “Oh, Canada” presents a dying artist’s final testimony as a multifaceted film-within-a-film, honoring Banks while also revealing so many of Schrader’s own thoughts on mortality.

Jenelle Riley Deputy Awards and Features Editor In April 2023, Snehal Desai took on the mantle of Artistic Director for Center Theatre Group (CTG), one of the world’s largest and most prestigious theater companies. Though he became active in programming right away, the recently unveiledd 2024/25 CTG season will mark his first full season at the helm. CTG encompasses three theater spaces: the Ahmanson and Mark Taper Forum in downtown Los Angeles and the more intimate Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Thursday’s nights Academy of Country Music Awards program will provide further evidence that we are entering a Post country music period. But not as in “post-country,” let’s be clear… we’re talking about a Post Malone country era.

The BAFTAs red carpet never fails to disappoint, treating us to an annual display of gorgeous gowns and dolled up celebrities on the London red carpet.

Mediawan CEO Pierre-Antoine Capton into France’s Legion of Honor last October, calling the exec “the ultimate French success story.” In a country rarely known to promote social mobility, Capton-esque career trajectories are scarce. A self-made entrepreneur born into a middle-class Normandy family, Capton began his professional life as a teen with an entry-level internship, eschewing elite universities, making the exec a rare bird among France’s top media execs.

EXCLUSIVE: Activist Artists Management has signed Chilean actress Renata González Spralja (The Wave) for representation, with Bernie Cahill and Justin Deanda to run point for the new client.

Teachers at an independent school have planned six days of strike action this term in a row over pay and pensions.

Roger Corman, the independent filmmaker known as the “King of the Bs,” has died at the age of 98.

Roger Corman, who directed and produced hundreds of low-budget films and discovered such future industry stars as Jack Nicholson, Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, has died. He was 98.

Former WME Independent agent Nelson Mok is launching a new investment and sales company named Mokster Films, which will focus on projects from Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

A much-loved trainee accountant took her own life when she was hit by a train passing through a station in Greater Manchester at high speed, a coroner has concluded. Alanis Ogundipe, who was 26, was described by her family as a 'fantastically-talented, intelligent, independent and beautiful young woman with a big future ahead of her'.

EXCLUSIVE: UTA has signed filmmakers Ryan J. Sloan & Ariella Mastroianni for representation in all areas, with UTA Independent Film Group coming aboard to handle domestic sales for Sloan’s feature directorial debut, Gazer, which is set to premiere as part of Directors’ Fortnight and compete for the Camera d’Or at Cannes.

Can television have its own New Hollywood moment?

EXCLUSIVE: Rising Brit actor Harry Lawtey (Industry), who will have a key role in upcoming sequel Joker: Folie A Deux, has been set to star as a young Richard Burton in UK feature Mr. Burton, which will also star BAFTA winner Toby Jones (Mr Bates vs. The Post Office) and Oscar nominee Lesley Manville (The Crown).

Barbara O. Jones, an actress in the independent Black cinema of 1970s Los Angeles in films like Bush Mama and Daughters of the Dust, died on April 8 at her home in Dayton, Ohio. She was 82.

Frank Turner has broken the world record for the most shows played in 24 hours, with 15 gigs in 15 different towns.The artist was taking on the challenge in honour of the Music Venue Trust (MVT), playing every show at an independent venue, with all tickets sold by independent record shops.The feat kicked off in Liverpool’s Jacaranda Baltic at 12:30pm on Saturday (May 4), with Turner working his way down the country, before finally completing the mission at Southampton’s The Brook at midday today (May 5).The rules for the world record attempt were set out by the MVT, who clarified that each set had to last for at least 15 minutes, with no repeated venues and a minimum of 25 audience members at each show.At the start of the journey, Turner posted an image of himself holding a sign saying “BEFORE”, writing: “Here we go friends. 15 shows, 15 town, 24 hours. This is a terrible idea.

EXCLUSIVE: Blackwater Pictures, the British indie production company behind the buzzy biopic about the life of veteran Snooker player Jimmy White, has set up what they describe as a “multi-million-pound” fund to support commercially-minded independent British films.

EXCLUSIVE: UTA has signed Shanghai and Los Angeles-based production, distribution and investment company Fundamental Films for representation.

Madi Diaz has hit out at Delta Airlines after “devastating” damage to her guitar of 20 years, asking: “How could this happen?”The musician – who previously opened for Harry Styles and joined his backing band during his Love On Tour run in 2023 – took to her official X/Twitter account to share video clips of her destroyed 20-year-old Martin D-28 guitar.Diaz – who will be serving as opening support for Kacey Musgraves on her ‘Deeper Well’ tour – wrote: “Starting tour w @KaceyMusgraves tmmrw and opened my guitar case to practice and found this. The damage is beyond. How could this happen.

Nuremberg,” a historical thriller set in post-war Germany, will launch its sales through WME Independent at the Cannes Film Festival next month. The film stars Russell Crowe, Rami Malek and Michael Shannon. Richard E.