Sundance Institute Selects 2022 Producers Lab, Summit Participants

Christopher Vourlias Nineteen up-and-coming producers from 12 countries across Southeast Europe and the wider Black Sea region have been selected to take part in the first edition of the CineLink Producers’ Lab, a new networking and training program launched by the industry arm of the Sarajevo Film Festival.Taking place from Aug. 12-15 as part of the CineLink Industry Days program, the lab was conceived to help prepare emerging producers for a rapidly changing market, according to Sarajevo’s head of industry Maša Marković.

Anna Marie de la Fuente Chilean industry forum Sanfic Industria bows its 11th edition with the launch of new virtual reality and women producers lab sections. Running Aug 11-19, Sanfic Industria will also include its mainstays: WIP Ibero-American, Santiago Lab: Fiction and Documentary, Sanfic-Mórbido Lab, Series Lab, Sanfic Net and Sanfic Series.“By introducing a virtual reality section, we’re betting on new narrative formats,” said Sanfic Industria founder-director Gabriela Sandoval of the Sanfic XR showcase, which will be open to the public at the forum’s official headquarters, Matucana 100.“Making these films accessible to everyone creates a nexus between the public and the films’ creators,” she pointed out.

Looking back at the beginning. Will Smith‘s ex-wife Sheree Zampino opened up about her biggest challenges with Jada Pinkett Smith in the early days of the Red Table Talk hosts’ relationship with her now-husband.

Oscars producer Will Packer has responded to Will Smith‘s public apology for slapping Chris Rock at this year’s ceremony.Last month, Smith posted a video in which he directly apologised to Rock, describing his behaviour as “unacceptable”.READ MORE: The story of Slapgate: Will Smith and Chris Rock’s relationship through the yearsPacker, the producer behind the 2022 Academy Awards, has now commended Smith for the apology, telling Entertainment Tonight: “I love the fact that he’s being so transparent about his process. He is being very public and honest and open about his remorse.”“I think that he’s got three decades in this business of being somebody that is the exact opposite of who he was in those few seconds, and so I’m pulling for him,” he added.Smith shared the apology video on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook, telling Rock: “I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk.”“I’ve reached out to Chris and the message that came back is that he’s not ready to talk, and when he is he will reach out,” said Smith.

Will Packer is rooting for Will Smith.At the New York City premiere of, ET's Rachel Smith spoke with the producer, who headed up the the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony. He revealed what he thought of the 53-year-old actor's recent public apology for charging the Oscars stage and slapping Chris Rock across the face.«I love the fact that he's being so transparent about his process,» Packer said of Smith. «Clearly he is going through his own personal rehabilitation.»Showing support for the star, Packer noted, «I’m pulling for him. I’m pulling for him to continue his own process, but I think this is for him.

Matt Smith has a take on HBO’s House of Dragons that reminds one of an old West End stage play and film, to wit: “No Sex Please, We’re British.”

Not even a Miss Universe winner is immune from feeling sad after getting criticized online.

Changing course. Lynn Smith opened up about the factors that led her to leave her career as a news anchor behind — and why she’s more fulfilled than ever.

The Sundance Institute has partnered with The Asian American Foundation to launch a new fellowship and scholarship, which will look to improve AAPI representation in the film and television industries over the long term by providing up-and-coming AAPI artists with the creative and tactical support necessary to grow professionally.

Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell are taking off in the official trailer for “Devotion,” the new drama set to release this Thanksgiving.Based on the nonfiction book by Adam Makos, “Devotion” focuses on the military careers of Jesse Brown (Majors) and Tom Hudner (Powell), two elite Navy fighter pilots who served during the Korean War. In spite of the racism that Brown experiences as one of the first Black aviators, he forms a close camaraderie with the white Hudner, and the two go on to work together as wingmen in several battles, including the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.Along with Majors and Powell, “Devotion” also stars Christina Jackson, Joe Jonas and Thomas Sadoski. J.D.

Ashley Alvarez (writer) and Michael León (co-writer and director) with “Crabs in a Barrel” (U.S.A): When her talentless frenemy is anointed the “future of Latinx voices,” a struggling Latina writer sets out to sabotage the unearned opportunity. After failing to recruit her friends to join her crusade, she gets a lucky break when she learns her rival isn’t exactly who she says she is.Luna X. Moya (director/producer/editor/DP)with “What the Pier Gave Us”(U.S.A): A visually poetic film about immigrants who fish at a New York City pier.

The Sundance Institute today announced the launch of the Latine Fellowship and Collab Scholarship—a new program intended to bolster Latinx representation in independent media.

Chris Rock has a new nickname for Will Smith, and it’s in reference to the co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records.

Chris Rock has a new nickname for Will Smith, and it's in reference to the co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records.According to multiple reports, Rock took the stage Friday night at Atlanta's Fox Theatre as part of his Ego Death World Tour and addressed the star as «Suge Smith,» in reference to Marion «Suge» Knight, who was known for his tough and often violent demeanor when he was the head of the record label behind Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Tupac.While Rock didn't directly address Smith's public apology video, the comedian wanted to make it known that he does not see himself as a victim following Smith's infamous Oscars slap heard and seen 'round the world.«Everybody is trying to be a f***ing victim,» he said.

Addie Morfoot ContributorFour documentary filmmakers were invited to participate in the Sundance Institute’s newly created Indigenous non-fiction intensive program that concludes July 29.The three-day program was created to identify Indigenous artists creating formally bold and personal work and to uplift them with a small grant and mentorship on a current edit of their short-form documentary films.The four filmmakers selected to partake in the new initiative are: Sarah Liese (“Coming In”), Sean Connelly (“A Justice Advancing Architecture Tour”), Olivia Camfield and Woodrow Hunt (“If You Look Under There You’ll Find It”). The advisors for the inaugural program include Emmy award-winning filmmaker Colleen Thurston (“Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People”), filmmaker-editor Maya Daisy Hawke (“Cave of Forgotten Dreams”), and filmmaker Darol Olu Kae (“I Ran From It and Was Still in It”).

Angelique Jackson Days after soaring into San Diego Comic-Con’s Hall H to preview the “Game of Thrones” prequel, the “House of the Dragon” cast re-assembled for the series’ world premiere at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles on Wednesday night.Set nearly 200 years before the events of the mega-hit HBO series, “House of the Dragon” focuses on the Targaryen dynasty in all their dysfunction — and with all their dragons.With 17 winged creatures appearing in the first season alone, many of the actors spent a considerable amount of time pretending to fly. Matt Smith, who stars as Prince Daemon Targaryen, told Variety that riding the mechanical buck that mimicked a dragon was “good fun.” “You’re on a remote control, and someone’s there moving it around, and then they fire a load of wind and rain at you,” he quipped.

Michaela Zee editorFormer “Doctor Who” star Matt Smith couldn’t help but praise “Sex Education’s” Ncuti Gatwa for becoming the 14th Time Lord on the hit sci-fi series.During the “House of the Dragon” world premiere Wednesday night at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, Smith admitted that he and Gatwa haven’t met in person yet, but the two have “talked via WhatsApp.”“I think it’s the most sensational bit of casting. What an actor — he’s brilliant in ‘Sex Education,'” Smith, who played The Doctor between 2010 and 2013, told Variety Senior Entertainment Writer Angelique Jackson.

Kevin Hart gifted Chris Rock a goat called Will Smith live on stage during their recent comedy show.While performing their Rock Hart: Only Headliners Allowed show at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Hart brought the farm animal onto the stage and presented it to his fellow comedian.Hart then revealed that the goat was called Will Smith, in reference to the incident at this year’s Oscars, in which the King Richard star walked onto the stage and slapped Rock for making a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s alopecia.In a clip shared on TikTok, Hart is seen holding the goat by a lead as he jokingly remarks: “What the fuck did you just say?”Appearing on Monday’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Hart explained the reasoning behind his gift: “Chris is a mentor, friend, inspiration. He’s a large part of the reason that I am where I am today in my career.“Just from his advice, his insight, etc.

The Sundance Institute has named the participants for its 2022 Producers Lab and Summit, both of which are set to take place in person this year at Utah’s Sundance Mountain Resort.