Latest news with #AcademyAward-qualifying
Time of India
12-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Indian actor Kranthi Nag makes his mark on Hollywood's Indie film scene
Kranthi Nag didn't just break into American cinema—he shifted the spotlight the moment he stepped a screen presence that echoes the quiet intensity of Brad Pitt and the precision of Daniel Day-Lewis, Nag represents a new generation of global actors reshaping what it means to lead in U.S. film. Trained in Method Acting at The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in Los Angeles — where he earned an associate degree and was awarded the school's highest honour, the LA Artist Grant — Nag brings control, conviction, and a striking emotional range to every performance. In The Cocktail Party (2023), an intriguing, fast-paced drama with narrative complexity, he carried a layered role through shifting tensions with studied stillness. The film was a semi-finalist at the Academy Award-qualifying Indie Short Fest and won Best Student Film at the International Independent Film Awards. His next lead role in Chop Chop (2024), a gritty, emotionally restrained thriller, earned him Best Acting, Best Screenplay, and Best of Fest at the 3x5 Film Festival in Los Angeles — cementing his place as one of the most nuanced performers in the indie circuit. That momentum continued with Comet Orphan (2024), where Nag played a director in a mockumentary satire. The film was selected for the prestigious Marché du Film at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and will have its world premiere at the Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival at the TCL Chinese Theatre on August 12, 2025. Audiences have also connected with his digital performances, with titles like Uncle Richard Is My Baby Daddy (IMDb 8.7), by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If You Eat Ginger Everyday for 1 Month This is What Happens Tips and Tricks Undo One Fateful Night with My Boss (7.5), and Punch Me Baby (5.6) drawing strong viewership. Kranthi Nag is a commanding presence in American cinema — awarded, established, and unmistakably original. With a body of films that have premiered at Academy Award-qualifying festivals, and performances that balance restraint with intensity, his impact is already cemented. And while the specifics of his next chapter remain private, one thing is clear: something's coming, and it's not just a role. It's a move.
Filipino Times
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Filipino Times
Filipino documentary on WPS wins at Doc Edge Festival in New Zealand
A Filipino documentary highlighting the maritime tensions in the West Philippine Sea has gained international recognition after winning an award at the 2025 Doc Edge Festival in New Zealand. 'Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea,' directed by Baby Ruth Villarama and produced by Voyage Studios, received the Tides of Change Award under the Best Festival Category in the Academy Award-qualifying film festival. The documentary follows the high-risk missions of Filipino fishermen and personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard and Navy as they deliver essential supplies to military outposts in the West Philippine Sea, an area within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone that remains under pressure from China's expansive territorial claims. In a statement on Facebook, Voyage Studios dedicated the award to those safeguarding Philippine sovereignty in the disputed waters. 'This is for every Filipino defending the West Philippine Sea. In the face of silence and fear, we carry the truth and now the world hears us. The journey has just begun. May more people see our fight,' the post read. Doc Edge, short for Documentary Edge, is an internationally acclaimed documentary festival and a leading platform for non-fiction storytelling in the Asia-Pacific region. Held annually in cities across New Zealand and online, the festival showcases films that challenge perspectives, inform audiences, and inspire change.
IOL News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
KZN's locally shot Treasure Hunt selected for screening at prestigious US film festival
A locally shot movie, Treasure Hunt has been selected to be screened at the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) in Miami Beach, Florida. Image: Supplied KwaZulu-Natal film company's debut feature film, Treasure Hunt, has been selected for screening at the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) in Miami Beach, Florida. KZN's CAP Studios, a pioneering film company based in Embo in the Valley of a Thousand Hills, said it was excited about the recognition. The screening will take place on June 14 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Florida. The film company said the ABFF is a prestigious Academy Award-qualifying festival that celebrates Black talent in film and television. 'The American Black Film Festival is an incredible platform for us to share our story with a new audience,' CAP Studios founder Chim Onyebilanma said. Onyebilanma, who wrote and directed Treasure Hunt, confirmed that he will be attending the movie premiere in Miami, saying, 'My tickets and visa are ready!' Veteran actor Zane Meas on the set of Treasure Hunt which has been selected to be screened at the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) in Miami Beach, Florida. Image: Supplied He said the selection was testament to the hard work and dedication of their entire team and he mentioned the contribution of Happiness Mpase, the associate producer. "We are proud to be representing South Africa and our community on the global stage.' The film is about an ex-con who finds stolen jewellery—and the criminals who want it back. But beneath the crime story lies a powerful message about choices, redemption, and second chances. The movie was also filmed in the heart of the Valley of a Thousand Hills and the company said the locals offered their talents, homes and cars to make it happen. Veteran actor and broadcaster Zane Meas, who stars in the film, praised its message. 'Treasure Hunt is a movie about making the right choices in life and a movie I believe that people would love,' he said. The production brought together a cast of renowned South African actors including Meas, Moopi Mothibeli, Muzi Mthabela, Trevor Gumbi and Samukele Mkhize. They collaborated with young local talent from Embo, highlighting the rich potential within underrepresented communities. Adding international expertise to the film's production was celebrated cinematographer Isaac Alongi, who served as Director of Photography. The executive producers included Onyebilanma, Frances Dlongolo and Kike Adeniyi. Onyebilanma added that lead actors Moopi Mothibeli and Melissa Mkhize, who hails from the Embo community, are also hoping to join him at the festival, pending finalisation of funding.
