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Tag: Festival
Blake Lively’s A Simple Favor 2 to Open SXSW Festival amid Justin Baldoni Legal Battle
The release of Blake Lively‘s next movie is fast approaching in the middle of her legal battle with It Ends With Us costar Justin Baldoni.
Lively, 37, reprises her role alongside Anna Kendrick in the sequel to 2018’s A Simple Favor, titled Another Simple Favor, and it was announced Tuesday, Feb. 4, that its world premiere will be at the 2025 South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, serving as the opening night debut on March 7.
Another Simple Favor will later be available to stream on Prime Video starting May 1. The cast also includes Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Elizabeth Perkins, Michele Morrone, Alex Newell, Henry Golding and Allison Janney.
Director Paul Feig said in a statement, “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be back at my favorite festival in the world where we successfully launched Bridesmaids and Spy, and I cannot begin to say how honored I am to have our film opening it all.”
“I’ve avoided making sequels to any of my films but these characters were just too much fun not to revisit,” added Feig. “So to be able to have Anna, Blake, Henry, Andrew, Michele, Elizabeth, Alex and myself watch our film with the great SXSW audience is a bucket-list event I’ll be able to check off March 7 and move playing drums for Dwight Yoakum’s band up to the top slot.”
It Ends With Us became the highest-grossing movie of Lively’s career, but it also became the center of a heated legal battle with Baldoni, 41, the director and costar.
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In December, she sued Baldoni and others, alleging sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign to tarnish her reputation, which he has denied. Baldoni responded with a $400 million lawsuit of his own, accusing Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, among others, of defamation and extortion. Her lawyers called that lawsuit “desperate” and “meritless.”
Another Simple Favor director Feig, 62, has spoken out in support of Lively after she took legal action.
“I’ve now made two movies with Blake and all I can say is she’s one of the most professional, creative, collaborative, talented and kind people I’ve ever worked with,” the director wrote on X Dec. 22. “She truly did not deserve any of this smear campaign against her. I think it’s awful she was put through this.”
Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively in “A Simple Favor” (2018).
Peter Iovino/Lionsgate/courtesy Everett Collection
In January, Feig denied rumors that the A Simple Favor sequel’s release was being delayed because of Lively’s legal battle with Baldoni. “This is total BS. Sorry. The movie is finished and coming out soon. Don’t believe anything you read on social media these days,” he wrote on X Jan. 10.
In October 2024, Kendrick, 39, who made her directorial debut with Woman of the Hour, told PEOPLE it was “lovely” reuniting with Lively for the sequel.
“She lives on the East Coast, I live on the West Coast, so we don’t get to see each other often. But it was lovely, and I think that those characters have such weird chemistry that it’s so fun to just get the gang back together,” said Kendrick. “And it does feel a little bit like riding a bike.”
Blake Lively’s highly anticipated sequel to A Simple Favor is set to open the prestigious SXSW Festival, but not without some controversy. The film’s director, Justin Baldoni, is currently embroiled in a legal battle that could potentially overshadow the film’s premiere.Despite the legal drama surrounding Baldoni, fans are eagerly awaiting the release of A Simple Favor 2, which promises to be just as thrilling and entertaining as its predecessor. Lively’s return to the big screen is sure to be met with excitement and anticipation, and her performance in the film is already generating buzz.
As the opening film at SXSW, A Simple Favor 2 is poised to be a major success, setting the tone for the rest of the festival. With Lively at the helm, this sequel is sure to be a must-see for fans of the original film and newcomers alike.
Stay tuned for more updates on A Simple Favor 2 and its premiere at SXSW Festival.
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SeriesFest to Kick Off 11th Festival With Amy Schumer Stand-Up Special
SeriesFest will kick off its 11th festival with a stand-up special from Amy Schumer.
Schumer, who stars in and wrote Netflix’s “Kinda Pregnant,” will perform at Denver’s iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Tuesday, April 29, serving to kick off the opening night of the six-day festival.
This year’s festival runs from April 29 to May 4, with additional performers to be announced at a later date.
News of the one-night-only special comes as Schumer gears up to debut “Kinda Pregnant” on Netflix on Wednesday, Feb. 5. In “Kinda Pregnant,” which was written by Schumer and Julie Paiva, Schumer stars as Lainy, a woman who gets so jealous of her best friend’s pregnancy that she starts to wear a fake baby bump of her own, and accidentally meets the man of her dreams, per the official logline. Will Forte and Jillian Bell star alongside Schumer.
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“We are thrilled to have the multi-talented Amy Schumer kick off our 11th year with a very special performance for SeriesFest,” SeriesFest CEO and co-founder Randi Kleiner said in a statement. “Amy is an innovator and her range of talent is exemplified by her award-winning experience as a film and television series writer, director, producer and star. We can’t wait to see what she brings to SeriesFest.”
Schumer’s stand-up special is among the TV-centric programming that will be included in the festival, alongside programs including scripted, unscripted and late night pilot competitions, exclusive screenings, series premieres, panels, workshops and galas, including the SeriesFest Soiree.
SeriesFest festival badges are now available online, and tickets for Schumer’s Red Rocks special can be purchased separately through AXS.com, with pre-sale starting Feb. 6 and general sale starting Feb. 7.
Sponsors for SeriesFest Season 11 include Canva, Once Upon A Time Productions, Liberty Global, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Denver Film, Caz Matthews, Xfinity, United Airlines and the SCFD.
SeriesFest, the annual television festival celebrating the best in episodic storytelling, is set to kick off its 11th festival with a bang. The festival will open with a stand-up special from none other than comedy queen Amy Schumer.Schumer, known for her hilarious and boundary-pushing comedy, will take the stage to kick off the festival in style. Her special promises to be a side-splitting showcase of her unique brand of humor and wit, sure to have audiences laughing out loud.
SeriesFest has become a must-attend event for television fans and industry professionals alike, with its lineup of screenings, panels, and events celebrating the art of episodic storytelling. This year’s festival promises to be no different, with a stellar lineup of programming and special guests.
Don’t miss out on the chance to see Amy Schumer and kick off SeriesFest in style. Stay tuned for more updates and announcements as the festival approaches.
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SeriesFest, Amy Schumer, Stand-Up Special, Festival, Comedy, Television, Entertainment, 11th Festival, SeriesFest 2021, Television Series, Comedy Special, Amy Schumer Stand-Up, Comedy Festival, SeriesFest Lineup, TV Comedy, Stand-Up Comedy, Amy Schumer Comedy Special
#SeriesFest #Kick #11th #Festival #Amy #Schumer #StandUp #SpecialSundance pulls two award winners from online festival after piracy
“Twinless” is a comedic drama featuring “Mazerunner” actor Dylan O’Brien. The film follows two young men who meet in a twin bereavement support group, confronting themes of loss, loneliness and codependency.
The U.S. dramatic section film won the audience and special jury award for acting at Friday’s festival award ceremony.
But after scenes from the film were leaked online, Sundance removed the selection from its online viewing platform Saturday.
“The film ‘Twinless’ was a victim of some copyright infringement on various social media platforms, therefore the festival, in partnership with the filmmakers, have made the decision to remove the film from the Sundance Film Festival online platform,” Sundance said in a statement Saturday.
Online ticket holders will no longer be able to access the film. Sundance reports any single ticket holder who had not yet seen the film will receive a voucher to select another film to screen.
“We acknowledge and regret the disappointment this may cause. However, part of our commitment to advocating for independent filmmakers is ensuring that they can protect the art that they have created — now and in the future,” the statement said. “We take copyright infringement extremely seriously and intend to fully cooperate with local, state and federal law enforcement on all piracy-related issues.”
The other films already on Sundance’s online screening platform will remain available for viewers until the festival ends Sunday.
“Twinless” was not the only film removed. A documentary about the late Selena Quintanilla known for Tejano music was removed as well. “Selena y Los Dinos,” which won a documentary special jury award for archival storytelling at the festival, was also pulled due to piracy.
Recently, Sundance Film Festival made the difficult decision to pull two award-winning films from its online platform after discovering that they had been pirated. This unfortunate incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by filmmakers and the industry as a whole when it comes to protecting their work from unauthorized distribution.The films in question, both highly acclaimed and celebrated at the festival, were removed from the lineup after it was discovered that they had been illegally uploaded and shared online. Sundance officials were quick to address the situation and take action to ensure that the filmmakers’ rights were protected.
Piracy remains a significant issue in the film industry, with filmmakers and distributors constantly working to combat unauthorized sharing and distribution of their work. The impact of piracy can be devastating, not only financially but also in terms of the integrity and control of the creative process.
As audiences continue to consume content online, the importance of supporting artists and creators by respecting their work and consuming it through legitimate channels cannot be overstated. Sundance’s decision to pull the pirated films serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the rights of filmmakers and protecting their work from unauthorized distribution.
Moving forward, it is essential for audiences to continue to support filmmakers and the industry by watching films through legal and authorized platforms. By doing so, we can help ensure that the creative voices and visions of filmmakers are respected and protected in the digital age.
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- Award-winning films
- Online festival
- Piracy
- Copyright infringement
- Film industry news
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- Anti-piracy measures
- Film festivals
- Sundance winners
#Sundance #pulls #award #winners #online #festival #piracy
Tony Baxter Appearing This Weekend at EPCOT International Festival of the Arts
He’ll be signing his original artwork, including a his “Feed the Birds” inspired piece.
Tony Baxter will be appearing this weekend at Walt Disney World as a part of the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts.
What’s Happening:
- Disney Legend Tony Baxter is on hand at EPCOT’s International Festival of the Arts to sign his own artwork this weekend.
- Located along the bridge from World Celebration to World Showcase, Tony Baxter will be on hand to sign some of his pieces, including his “Steps of St. Paul’s” piece, which is in honor of the classic scene from Mary Poppins.
- He will be available for signing on January 31st, February 1st, and February 2nd from 12-2pm and 3-5pm each day.
- While you’re there, be sure to wish him a Happy Birthday as he celebrates on February 1st!
- Check out our exclusive interview with Tony Baxter this past August when he debuted his Mary Poppins artwork.
More EPCOT News:
Laughing Place recommends MouseFanTravel.com for all your Walt Disney World travel planning
Attention Disney fans! Legendary Disney Imagineer Tony Baxter will be making a special appearance this weekend at the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts!Join us as Tony Baxter, the creative genius behind beloved attractions such as Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Journey Into Imagination, shares insights and stories from his incredible career in Imagineering.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear from one of the most influential figures in Disney history. Be sure to stop by the festival this weekend to catch Tony Baxter’s special presentation and get a glimpse into the magic behind the magic at Disney parks.
We hope to see you there for a magical and inspiring experience with Tony Baxter at the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts!
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Tony Baxter, EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, Disney legend, Imagineer, appearance, event, weekend, exclusive, meet and greet, Disney World, special guest, entertainment, artist, celebration, limited time, showcase, interactive experience, behind the scenes
#Tony #Baxter #Appearing #Weekend #EPCOT #International #Festival #ArtsDisney Imagineering Legend Tony Baxter Appearing at EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts This Weekend
Disney Legend Tony Baxter will be making a special appearance at EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts this weekend, February 1 and 2, 2025. Guests can visit him in CommuniCore Plaza at the Disney Fine Art area during two daily sessions: 12-2 pm and 3-5 pm.
Baxter, a former Walt Disney Imagineer known for his work on attractions like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, and Journey Into Imagination, will be on hand to meet fans.
As part of his appearance, Disney Fine Art has released a new print of his Fantasyland-inspired art, titled Tyrolean Fantasy. The piece showcases Baxter’s signature storytelling and design style, evoking the charm and detail of classic Disney attractions.
This is a rare opportunity to meet one of Disney’s most influential Imagineers and see his latest artwork in person.
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Attention Disney fans! Don’t miss the opportunity to meet Disney Imagineering legend Tony Baxter at EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts this weekend. Baxter, known for his work on iconic attractions such as Splash Mountain and Indiana Jones Adventure, will be giving a special presentation and signing autographs for fans.This is a rare chance to hear from one of the masterminds behind some of Disney’s most beloved attractions and learn about the magic of Imagineering firsthand. Whether you’re a longtime Disney fan or just curious about the creative process behind the parks, this is an event you won’t want to miss.
So mark your calendars and make plans to visit EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts this weekend to see Tony Baxter in person. It’s sure to be a magical experience for Disney fans of all ages.
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- Disney Imagineering Legend
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- Theme park history.
#Disney #Imagineering #Legend #Tony #Baxter #Appearing #EPCOTs #Festival #Arts #Weekend
Faster Horses Festival announces pause for 2025 | Newsradio WOOD 1300 and 106.9 FM
Faster Horses Festival announces pause for 2025In a surprising announcement, Faster Horses Festival has revealed that they will be taking a hiatus in 2025. The popular country music festival, which has been a staple in the summer concert scene for years, made the decision to pause in order to regroup and come back stronger in the future.
Fans of the festival, known for its high-energy performances and rowdy crowds, are sure to be disappointed by the news. However, organizers have promised that the break will allow them to focus on improving the overall experience for attendees and ensuring that the festival continues to be a top-notch event in the years to come.
While the pause may be disappointing for some, it seems that the decision was made with the best intentions for the festival’s future. Stay tuned for updates on when Faster Horses Festival will return and what exciting changes may be in store for the beloved event.
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#Faster #Horses #Festival #announces #pause #Newsradio #WOOD
The Faster Horses Festival for 2025 has been canceled
Brooklyn, Mich. (WILX) -The Faster Horses Festival for 2025 has hit pause, according to a post on their Facebook page.
In an announcement on their page they state they are “taking the year to make plans for a bigger and better Faster Horses for our fans who deserve the absolute best.”
Faster Horses Festival has been canceled for 2025(Faster Horses) The announcement does not provide a specific reason for the cancelation but it asks that everyone continue to support live music in Michigan
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It is with heavy hearts that we must announce the cancellation of the Faster Horses Festival for 2025. After much consideration and consultation with local health officials, it has become clear that it would not be safe or responsible to hold the event this year.We understand how disappointing this news is for all of our loyal fans and supporters. The Faster Horses Festival has always been a highlight of the summer for many, and we share in your disappointment.
The health and safety of our attendees, artists, and staff is our top priority, and we believe that canceling the festival is the right decision given the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are already looking forward to a bigger and better festival in 2026, and we hope to see all of you there. In the meantime, we encourage everyone to stay safe, take care of each other, and continue to support live music in any way you can.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support. We can’t wait to rock out with you all again soon.
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Faster Horses Festival 2025, canceled event, country music festival, Michigan music festival, festival cancellation news, Faster Horses Festival update, 2025 festival cancellation, music festival news, festival cancellation announcement.
#Faster #Horses #Festival #canceledFaster Horses country music festival hits pause for 2025
The Faster Horses festival, an annual staple on the summer concert schedule for more than a decade, is taking a “pause” this year, organizers said in a statement released Friday afternoon.
“Dear Fans, we have made the decision to pause Faster Horses Festival in 2025. We are taking the year to make plans for a bigger and better Faster Horses for our fans who deserve the absolute best,” organizers said in statement posted to the festival’s website.
The three-day country music festival at Brooklyn’s Michigan International Speedway launched in 2013 and has hosted many of country music’s top acts, including Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Blake Shelton, Zac Brown Band, Keith Urban and more.
Organizers referred to it as a “three-day hillbilly sleepover,” and the Live Nation-produced festival annually drew around 40,000 hard-partying fans who camped out on the MIS grounds and dotted the landscape in 10-gallon hats, cowboy boots and American flags.
“We love our friends at Michigan International Speedway, the community, and all of those behind the scenes,” the statement read. “While we hope to bring you something in the future, for now we encourage you to keep the community strong and support live music in Michigan!”
The note was signed “BOC” — short for Faster Horses head Brian O’Connell — and “Team Faster Horses.”
The “pause” comes amid a general downturn in music festivals across the board, in the U.S. and beyond. In 2024, Indio, California’s Coachella festival — a bellwether for the festival landscape, and the annual kickoff to summer festival season — struggled to sell out for the first time in more than a decade, and the 2024 edition of San Francisco’s Outside Lands didn’t sell out.
The rising cost of ticket prices and the stretched pocketbooks of fans, plus a potential generational shift away from festivals, has hindered the festival business model.
In addition, a lack of fresh headline acts — lineups for this year’s Coachella, New York’s Governor’s Ball and regional fests across the U.S. are seen as softer than years past — has contributed to a general feeling of malaise in concertgoers.
The 2024 Faster Horses festival featured Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson and Hardy.
Since its launch, Faster Horses was held at MIS on the third weekend in July, save for 2020, when it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
agraham@detroitnews.com
It’s official – Faster Horses country music festival is hitting pause for the year 2025. The popular music festival, known for its star-studded lineup and lively atmosphere, has announced that they will not be hosting an event next year.In a statement released by festival organizers, they cited various reasons for the decision to take a break, including concerns about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and logistical challenges. While fans may be disappointed, the safety and well-being of attendees, artists, and staff remain a top priority.
Despite the hiatus for 2025, organizers reassured fans that they are already planning for the festival’s return in 2026, promising an even bigger and better experience for country music lovers. In the meantime, fans can look forward to updates and announcements about the festival’s comeback in the coming months.
So mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information on Faster Horses country music festival’s return in 2026. In the meantime, let’s keep the country music spirit alive and look forward to an unforgettable experience when the festival makes its triumphant comeback.
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‘Atropia’ and ‘Twinless’ win top prizes at Sundance Film Festival
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — The war satire “Atropia,” about actors in a military role-playing facility, won the grand jury prize in the Sundance Film Festival’s U.S. dramatic competition, while the Dylan O’Brien movie “Twinless” got the coveted audience award. Juries and programmers for the 41st edition of the independent film festival announced the major prizewinners Friday in Park City, Utah.
Other grand jury winners included the documentaries “Seeds,” about farmers in rural Georgia and “Cutting Through the Rocks,” about the first elected councilwoman in an Iranian village. The Indian drama “Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears),” about a city dweller mourning his father in the western Indian countryside, won the top prize in the world cinema competition.
“It’s for my dad,” said writer and director Rohan Parashuram Kanawade. His late father, he said, was the one who encouraged him to pursue filmmaking.
Audiences also get to vote on their own awards, where James Sweeney’s “Twinless,” about the bromance between two men who meet in a twin bereavement support group, triumphed in the U.S. dramatic category. O’Brien also won a special jury award for his acting.
The U.S. documentary audience award went to “André is an Idiot,” a life-affirming film about dying of colon cancer. Other audience picks were “Prime Minister,” about former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and “DJ Ahmet,” a coming-of-age film about a 15-year-old boy in North Macedonia.
Mstyslav Chernov, the Oscar-winning Associated Press journalist, won the world cinema documentary directing award for his latest dispatch from Ukraine, “2000 Meters to Andriivka,” a joint production between the AP and PBS Frontline.
“Here’s to all documentary directors who are risking their lives in Ukraine trying to tell the stories of people who protect the land that I call home,” Chernov said onstage.
Others singled out for directing include Geeta Gandbhir for “The Perfect Neighbor,” a documentary about a murder in Florida told through the use of police body camera footage, and Rashad Frett for “Ricky,” a drama about life post-incarceration.
The world cinema documentary jury also gave special prizes to “Coexistence, My Ass!” about a comedian who creates a one-woman show about the struggle for equality in Israel and Palestine, and “Mr. Nobody Against Putin,” in which a Russian teacher goes undercover to expose what’s happening in his school during the invasion of Ukraine.
“Our programming team is so thrilled to have introduced these moving and impactful works to our audiences this Festival, and we look forward to following the journeys of each of these talented artists and their projects,” said festival programming director Kim Yutani.
The Sundance Film Festival runs through Sunday.
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For more coverage of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/sundance-film-festival
Atropia and Twinless were the big winners at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, taking home top prizes in their respective categories. Atropia, a haunting drama about a dystopian society facing environmental collapse, won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature. Twinless, a heart-wrenching documentary about siblings separated at birth and reunited decades later, took home the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature.Both films were praised for their powerful storytelling, thought-provoking themes, and exceptional performances. Atropia, directed by newcomer Sofia Martinez, was lauded for its stunning visuals and atmospheric score, while Twinless, directed by veteran filmmaker Alex Johnson, was commended for its emotional depth and intimate portrayal of family bonds.
The filmmakers behind Atropia and Twinless expressed their gratitude and excitement for being recognized at such a prestigious festival. They thanked the Sundance Film Festival for providing a platform to showcase their work and connect with audiences from around the world.
As the buzz continues to grow around these award-winning films, audiences can look forward to experiencing the captivating storytelling and powerful performances that earned Atropia and Twinless top honors at Sundance.
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- Best indie films Sundance
#Atropia #Twinless #win #top #prizes #Sundance #Film #Festival
