“Omi,” which will premiere at the Austin Film Festival on Oct. 30, features Bunny Levine in her final film appearance.
Levine died on Aug. 20 at her home in Tarzana, California at the age of 97.
“Omi,” a Jewish exorcism comedy, also marks the directorial feature debut for Emily Lerer. Adam Lebowitz-Lockard wrote and stars in the film alongside Dree Hemingway.
Watch the full trailer here.
Tuesday Oct. 27
‘Fair Play: The Jordan Chiles Story’ Documentary Set by Campfire Studios and Select Entertainment
Andscape announced Tuesday that production has begun on “Fair Play: The Jordan Chiles Story,” a documentary feature about gymnast and Olympic medalist Jordan Chiles. Directed by Trishtan Williams, the film will be released on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ in the fall of 2027, ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The official logline for the documentary reads: “Bold, joyful, resilient, and unapologetically herself, Chiles has become one of the most recognizable figures in gymnastics and a powerful voice for a new generation of athletes. The film goes beyond the headlines to reveal the woman behind the performances, capturing Chiles at a pivotal moment in her life as she looks toward what comes next, both inside and outside the gym.”
“My journey in gymnastics has taught me a lot about resilience, perseverance, and the importance of defining success on my own terms,” Chiles said in a statement. “As I work toward LA28, I’m excited to partner with Andscape and Hulu to share more of my story, reflect on the experiences that have shaped me, and explore what it means to step into this next chapter while reclaiming my narrative.”
Monday, Oct. 26
AFI Fest Announces Grand Jury Award Winners
The American Film Institute announced its Grand Jury Prize winners and Special Mentions for the 40th edition of the festival, which ran Oct. 21-25 in Los Angeles.
“Free Eliza (Notes On An Anatomical Imperfection)” from Alexandra Matheou won the prize for best live action short film. Stephen P. Neary’s “Living With a Visionary” was awarded Best Animated Short Film. “A Woman’s Place is Everywhere” from Fanny Texier was selected as the prizewinner for documentary short film.
The Special Jury Mentions for live action shorts include “The Bovine Comedy” by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke for Audacity of Vision, “A Breach Within” by Jean-François Leblanc for Cinematography, “Nobody Said Anything” by Tamara Todorović for Screenwriting and “Mutrion” by Marco Cavazzin for Uniqueness of Expression.
The Special Jury Mentions for animated shorts included “Emulsion” by Shiyu (Shino) Tang for Craft, “Trading Cards” by Radheya Jang for Story, “The End” by Niki Lindroth von Bahr for Direction and “Saba” by Liron Topaz for World Building.
The Special Jury Mentions for documentary shorts include “Listen” by Taliesin Black-Brown for Craft, “Water Cooler” by Emma V.F. for Social Impact, “Buckskin” by Mars Verrone for Storytelling and “A Wolf in the Suburbs” by Amélie Hardy for World Building.
The Grand Jury Prize winners for live action, documentary and animated shorts are eligible for Academy Award consideration.
