Latest news with #AudienceAward
NZ Herald
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Trailer released for documentary about former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
The trailer opens with a clap back. At a press conference shortly after Ardern was appointed the new leader of the nation, a reporter asked, 'Do you think you can credibly lead a nation?'. Ardern quickly rebutted, 'Would you like to tell me why you don't think I can?'. What follows are inspirational, candid and emotional moments of the 44-year-old as she navigates monumental crises, including the Whakaari White Island eruption disaster, the Christchurch mosque shootings, and the Covid pandemic, while managing motherhood. 'In a world accustomed to hardened, masculine leadership, Jacinda Ardern led with an unapologetic commitment to empathy and compassion. As filmmakers, we were guided by a central question: What does leadership look like when kindness and humanity are at its core?' said Utz and Welsh in a joint statement. The directors said their goal was to give audiences an 'intimate, front-row seat' to the significant pressures of leading a nation, especially in times of crisis, while juggling the realities of being a first-time mum. 'Her approach to leadership during times of immense pressure and uncertainty offers a powerful reminder of what's possible when leaders prioritise people. As female directors and mothers, this story felt personal to us,' they added. 'In a world facing complex human-centred challenges, we hope this film encourages audiences to see empathy and kindness as not just leadership strengths, but essential tools to building a better future.' In February, the documentary won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah. Another film about the former Prime Minister is set to be released later this year. Unlike Prime Minister, the second film reportedly titled Mania, has financial support from the New Zealand Film Commission. Ardern has previously expressed support for Prime Minister, a co-production between New Zealand company Dark Doris Entertainment and US company Madison Wells, noting that New Zealand taxpayers do not fund it. Speaking to Media Insider columnist Shayne Currie last June, Ardern said: 'It's a bit nerve-racking having a project like this out there but I think we've stopped seeing people in public life as human. 'Mine is a human story and a New Zealand story. If that makes a difference for someone else then I think that's worth sharing.' Since her departure from the Prime Minister role in 2023, Ardern has been appointed to a job specialising in technology governance at Harvard University and has continued her work for the Christchurch Call, which aims to combat online extremism.
News.com.au
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
First look at Teresa Palmer's new Aussie drama Mix Tape after series receives coveted award at festival
What if you had a second chance at your first love? That's the question the new Australian series Mix Tape will leave you asking when it premieres on BINGE on June 12. Beloved Aussie actress Teresa Palmer and Irish actor Jim Sturgess and star in the romantic drama, playing former 80s high school sweethearts Alison and Daniel who are now living in different countries but reconnect in the modern world through a song from their shared past. On Tuesday, BINGE released the highly anticipated first trailer for the four-part miniseries, which generated buzz back in March at the SXSW Film and TV Festival in Texas, when it won the coveted Audience Award in the TV Spotlight category. It is a story about love and loss, family and friendship, and the power of music – and resonated strongly with viewers at the festival. 'To have had Mix Tape even selected to premiere at South by Southwest was massive,' Palmer, 39, tells 'I was hearing rumours of it, maybe this was happening. Then when we found out that we got into South by Southwest – that was just a huge accomplishment.' 'And then to find out we won the Audience Award, which is the award that you want because we know that it resonates with an audience, it's huge. It's truly exciting.' Stream Mix Tape from June 12 on BINGE, available on Hubbl. Julia Savage, who plays Palmer's on-screen daughter Stella, is just as excited for the win and can't wait to showcase Australia to the world. 'I'm so privileged and so lucky and grateful to be part of it because I think Aussies have some cool stuff going on,' 18-year-old Savage – who was nominated for Best Lead Actress at the 2022 AACTAs for her stellar performance in the psychological drama Blaze – tells 'We make great project and it's really cool to be being part of these other great projects in Australia and be able to really show how our film industry works and what we can do when we are given the chance.' In the trailer, viewers get a first look at Palmer in character as Alison, a lovestruck teen who is madly in love with Daniel – a boy who makes Alison her first ever mix tape. Years and distance inevitably come between them, but a pivotal moment occurs and they once again reconnect, with a certain song evoking memories and making them wonder if they were meant to be. The BINGE Original Series began production in May 2024 with filming taking place at various locations across Sydney and Ireland, where the cast filmed some flashback scenes for the series. The four-part miniseries is adapted by Irish writer Jo Spain from the critically acclaimed novel of the same name by Jane Sanderson and directed by Australian director Lucy Gaffy. 'We are incredibly proud of this award-winning series with its acclaimed international cast, rich sense of nostalgia and incredible soundtrack, viewers will be drawn into a world they won't want to leave,' Lana Greenhalgh, Head of Scripted Originals, Foxtel Group said in a statement. 'Subotica and Aquarius Films have taken international storytelling to another dimension that will transport viewers back in time to that intoxicating feeling of first love and we can't wait to share it with the world.'
Courier-Mail
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
First look at Teresa Palmer's new Aussie drama Mix Tape
Don't miss out on the headlines from TV. Followed categories will be added to My News. What if you had a second chance at your first love? That's the question the new Australian series Mix Tape will leave you asking when it premieres on BINGE on June 12. Beloved Aussie actress Teresa Palmer and Irish actor Jim Sturgess and star in the romantic drama, playing former 80s high school sweethearts Alison and Daniel who are now living in different countries but reconnect in the modern world through a song from their shared past. Aussie actress Teresa Palmer and Irish actor Jim Sturgess star in Mix Tape, which premieres on June 12 on Binge. On Tuesday, BINGE released the highly anticipated first trailer for the four-part miniseries, which generated buzz back in March at the SXSW Film and TV Festival in Texas, when it won the coveted Audience Award in the TV Spotlight category. It is a story about love and loss, family and friendship, and the power of music – and resonated strongly with viewers at the festival. 'To have had Mix Tape even selected to premiere at South by Southwest was massive,' Palmer, 39, tells 'I was hearing rumours of it, maybe this was happening. Then when we found out that we got into South by Southwest – that was just a huge accomplishment.' 'And then to find out we won the Audience Award, which is the award that you want because we know that it resonates with an audience, it's huge. It's truly exciting.' Stream Mix Tape from June 12 on BINGE, available on Hubbl. Palmer plays Alison in the series. Alison's younger self will be played by Florence Hunt. Julia Savage, who plays Palmer's on-screen daughter Stella, is just as excited for the win and can't wait to showcase Australia to the world. 'I'm so privileged and so lucky and grateful to be part of it because I think Aussies have some cool stuff going on,' 18-year-old Savage – who was nominated for Best Lead Actress at the 2022 AACTAs for her stellar performance in the psychological drama Blaze – tells 'We make great project and it's really cool to be being part of these other great projects in Australia and be able to really show how our film industry works and what we can do when we are given the chance.' Sturgess will play Daniel in the four-part series. Rory Walton-Smith portrays the younger version of Daniel. In the trailer, viewers get a first look at Palmer in character as Alison, a lovestruck teen who is madly in love with Daniel – a boy who makes Alison her first ever mix tape. Years and distance inevitably come between them, but a pivotal moment occurs and they once again reconnect, with a certain song evoking memories and making them wonder if they were meant to be. The BINGE Original Series began production in May 2024 with filming taking place at various locations across Sydney and Ireland, where the cast filmed some flashback scenes for the series. Mix Tape also stars (from left to right) Ben Lawson, Julia Savage, Palmer, Sturgess, Chika Ikogwe and Jacqueline McKenzie. Picture: Binge Palmer and Sturgess play former lovestruck teenagers who reconnect through music. Picture: BINGE / Joel Pratley The four-part miniseries is adapted by Irish writer Jo Spain from the critically acclaimed novel of the same name by Jane Sanderson and directed by Australian director Lucy Gaffy. 'We are incredibly proud of this award-winning series with its acclaimed international cast, rich sense of nostalgia and incredible soundtrack, viewers will be drawn into a world they won't want to leave,' Lana Greenhalgh, Head of Scripted Originals, Foxtel Group said in a statement. 'Subotica and Aquarius Films have taken international storytelling to another dimension that will transport viewers back in time to that intoxicating feeling of first love and we can't wait to share it with the world.' Mix Tape premieres Thursday, June 12 on BINGE and on Showcase at 8.30pm and will be available On Demand Originally published as First look at Teresa Palmer's new Aussie drama Mix Tape after series receives coveted award at festival
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dogwoof Boards A24 and Sandbox-Produced Double Sundance Award Winner ‘André Is an Idiot' (EXCLUSIVE)
Dogwoof has acquired international sales rights to 'André Is an Idiot,' directed by debut filmmaker Tony Benna. The film premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival, where it won both the Audience Award and the Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award in the U.S. Documentary Competition. Dogwoof will present the film to buyers at Cannes, with a market screening planned for May 15. Submarine Entertainment is handling North American rights. More from Variety Fatih Akin's 'Amrum' Debuts Teaser Ahead of World Premiere in Cannes (EXCLUSIVE) Shia LaBeouf Doc, Quentin Tarantino Talk, David Lynch Tribute and Mariska Hargitay Directorial Debut on Cannes Classics Lineup John Rhys-Davies to Star in Horror Creature Feature 'Bone Keeper,' With REinvent Handling World Sales (EXCLUSIVE) When André, a brilliant idiot, learns he is dying from a disease that could have been detected with a colonoscopy, he decides to document his final journey. An iconoclastic ad man, he defied convention throughout his life. True to form, André approaches mortality with his trademark humor and curiosity, determined to learn how to die both happily and ridiculously. In a unique collaboration with Benna, André's stories and musings are brought to life through imaginative stop-motion animation, capturing his distinctive approach to life's challenges and joys. The film is a celebration of resilience, inappropriate humor, and the beauty of fully embracing the human experience – even at its end. 'André Is an Idiot' is produced by A24 Films, Sandbox Films and Safehouse Pictures. The film marks Dogwoof's second collaboration with A24 Films, following 2024's Sundance title 'Look Into My Eyes,' and its fifth with Sandbox Films, after Werner Herzog's 'Fireball,' David France's 'How to Survive a Pandemic,' the Oscar-nominated 'Fire of Love,' and Sundance award-winner 'Nocturnes.' Dogwoof's head of sales Cleo Veger said: 'We're excited to be working with A24 and Sandbox Films on the bold, unexpected, hilarious and quietly heartbreaking 'André Is an Idiot.' The film is one of the most surprising and unforgettable documentaries we have seen, audiences will fall in love with André and his inspirational approach to living and dying.' The producers are André Ricciardi, Tory Tunnell, Joshua Altman, Stelio Kitrilakis and Ben Cotner. It is executive produced by Jessica Harrop, Nicole Stott, Emily Osborne, Marissa Torres Ericson, Joby Harold, Lee Einhorn and Greg Boustead. Best of Variety Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern Docu ‘Prime Minister' Acquired By Magnolia, HBO Docu Films & CNN Films After Prize-Winning Sundance Bow
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways EXCLUSIVE: The documentary about former New Zealand leader Jacinda Ardern that electrified in its Sundance Film Festival debut has found a home. Magnolia Pictures, HBO Documentary Films and CNN Films have joined forces to release Prime Minister in theaters on June 13, with special preview screenings featuring a live Q&A with Rt. Honorable Dame Jacinda Ardern on June 8. Windows on HBO and CNN will follow, and the film will be streamed on Max. More from Deadline The film made its global premiere at January's Sundance, where it won the Audience Award in the World Cinema Documentary Competition category. The docu provides a view inside the life of former New Zealand PM, capturing her through five tumultuous years in power as she redefined leadership on the world stage. When Ardern took the top spot at age 37 to run New Zealand, she quickly discovered she and her mate Clark Gayford were pregnant with their first child. She was only the second female nation leader to give birth while on the job, and the initial press narrative — can a new mother govern while breast feeding — became frivolity when real crises arose that tested the mettle of an emerging leader. Ardern found herself championing a successful ban of semi-automatic weapons after a devastating massacre rocked the country; she oversaw the decriminalizing of abortion; and she faced tough choices when Covid shut down the world. She leaned into the saving of lives more than the re-starting of the economy. Ardern then walked away and is now a climate rights activist who wrote her first major book, A Different Kind of Power, and who among other things is a Senior Fellow in the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard. Ardern got a raucous reaction at her Sundance debut after the premiere of the film showed it is possible for the leader of a nation to be strong, without losing empathy. 'We're thrilled at the opportunity to partner with our friends at HBO Documentary Films and CNN Films to bring audiences another bold work from the amazing team at Madison Wells,' said Magnolia Pictures co-CEOs Eamonn Bowles and Dori Begley. Madison Wells founder/CEO and the film's producer Gigi Pritzker said: 'The combination of Magnolia, HBO and CNN is a best-in-class team to bring 'Prime Minister' to eager audiences across the U.S. and Canada. We are truly excited to be working together and for the journey ahead. We are so grateful to Jacinda, co-directors Michelle Walshe and Lindsay Utz, as well as the entire filmmaking team for making such a compelling, entertaining movie about modern leadership that we are certain will resonate now and well into the future.' 'I hope people can see in this story that I was human and that actually traits of kindness and empathy are also successful traits in leadership and politics, and that hopefully more people will emulate them,' said Ardern in an interview she gave to Deadline during Sundance. International distribution plans for the film, including New Zealand, will be announced shortly. Prime Minister is directed by Michelle Walshe and Lindsay Utz. Producers are Pritzker and Rachel Shane for Madison Wells, Cass Avery and Leon Kirkbeck for Dark Doris, Katie Peck for Prodigy and Gayford, who also serves as cinematographer. Executive producers are Chris Matson and Michael Cleaver for Divergent Pictures. CAA Media Finance brokered the deal. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
