Latest news with #ColeWebley
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Festival Favorites ‘The Python Hunt' and ‘Omaha' Pick Up More Wins at 2025 Miami Film Festival
It's always interesting to see which films are able to keep up their film festival momentum after buzzy premieres at early-in-the-year fests like Sundance and SXSW. Two to keep an eye on? Cole Webley's Sundance premiere 'Omaha' and Xander Robin's SXSW crowdpleaser 'The Python Hunt,' both of which just notched new wins over the weekend at the 2025 Miami Film Festival. 'The Python Hunt' picked up the Made in MIA Feature Film Award, sponsored by Panavision, which is designed to honor films 'of any genre that prominently feature South Florida in their story, setting, and filming location, and best utilize South Florida's story and theme for universal resonance.' Robin's film, a documentary about snake-hunters in the Everglades, sure sounds like it fits the bill. More from IndieWire Johnny Depp Is Unrecognizable with Beard and Blue Eyes in 'Day Drinker' First Look Cate Blanchett Says She's 'Serious About Giving Up Acting' Because There Are 'a Lot of Things I Want to Do' And Webley's deep-feeling John Magaro-starring family drama, 'Omaha,' earned the Jordan Ressler First Feature Award, created by the South Florida family of the late Jordan Ressler and sponsored by the Jordan Ressler Charitable Fund, which is presented to the jury-selected best film made by a filmmaker making a feature narrative film debut. The festival's top jury prize, the $15,000 MARIMBAS Award, went to Maryse Legagneur's 'The Last Meal.' The award is an international competition for the jury-selected narrative feature film that best exemplifies richness and resonance for cinema's future. This year's festival, the 42nd edition, took place April 3 – 13 in Miami. Other highlights included honors for Mark Duplass, Paul Feig, Melanie Lynskey, Roger Ross Williams, and Billy Zane, plus anniversary specials include 'Picnic at Hanging Rock,' 'Center Stage,' and 'Pride & Prejudice.' New films of note included Feig's own 'Another Simple Favor' and 'The Wedding Banquet.' Additional winners include, with all language provided by the festival: The Audience Feature Film Award went to 'Espina' directed by Daniel Poler, which had its World Premiere at the Festival. First runner-up was 'Adiós Cuba' directed by Rolando Díaz, and second runner-up went to 'Magic Hour' directed by Jacqueline Christy. The Documentary Achievement Award ($2,000) went to 'Checkpoint Zoo,' directed by Joshua Zeman. The Audience Documentary Film Award went to 'Selena y Los Dinos' directed by Isabel Castro. First runner up was 'Chirino' directed by Jorge Soliño, and second runner-up was 'The Librarians' directed by Kim Synder. Made in MIA Short Film Award ($5,000) went to 'Little Haiti, Miami, USA,' directed by XF Serrano. Miami International Short Film Award ($4,000) went to 'Gender Reveal,' directed by Mo Matton. The award is given to a jury-selected short film (30 min. or less) of any genre from anywhere in the world. Short Documentary Film Award ($1,000), presented by the University of Miami's School of Communication, went to 'View from the Floor,' directed by Megan Griffiths & Mindie Lind. Florida Cinemaslam Award ($1,000), part of the Festival's annual Florida college student film competition, went to 'Dirt Therapy,' directed by Sebastian Valencia. The Reel South Short Film Award ($2,000) went to 'George V.,' directed by Dennis Scholl & Dia Kontaxis. The Audience Short Film Award went to the drama 'Night Train Last Stop' directed by Gina Margillo. First runner-up was 'Test of Time: The Big Cheese' directed by Julian Alicea, and second runner-up 'Confession of a Jumbotron Addict' directed by Mickey Duzyj. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie The 55 Best LGBTQ Movies and TV Shows Streaming on Netflix Right Now
Axios
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Utah filmmaker makes Sundance debut with family drama "Omaha"
Utah-based director Cole Webley's journey to the big screen has come full circle after recently debuting his first-ever feature film at the Sundance Film Festival. State of play: The drama, " Omaha," the only movie in this year's festival filmed in Utah, centers on a father who takes his children on an unexpected cross-country road trip following a family tragedy. It stars John Magaro ("Past Lives"), Molly Belle Wright and Wyatt Solis. Zoom in: The self-funded flick, which explores fatherhood and masculinity norms, Webley told Axios, was shot mostly in Utah over 27 days. For Webley, Utah played a larger role than just the backdrop. "It was the workforce. It was the inspiration. We shot in places that I had shot in as a film student," said Webley, who attended Brigham Young University. "Its identity within this film is inseparable." Between the lines: Utah director and writer Robert Machoian had written the film's script a decade earlier, when he showed it to Webley while working on another project together. "This was the script that was really written for me to direct," Webley, who previously worked on hundreds of commercials and short films, said. The intrigue: Webley joins a long list of directors who premiered their first movies at the long-running independent film festival, including Wes Anderson, Jordan Peele and Quentin Tarantino. When asked if he plans to pursue directing another feature film, Webley responded: "Do bears s–t in the woods?"
Axios
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Utahns campaign for Sundance Film Festival to stay in Park City
Locals are advocating for the iconic Sundance Film Festival to stay in Utah. Why it matters: Sundance organizers are weeks away from announcing whether the film festival will move to Cincinnati or Boulder, Colorado, in 2027 — or remain in Utah, its birthplace and home for the past four decades. Park City's contract with Sundance is set to expire in 2026, prompting organizers to open a process in April to explore a new location. State of play: A small coalition of locals and out-of-state festivalgoers launched a grassroots campaign last week to keep the annual event local. The group has printed and passed out thousands of stickers on Park City's Main Street and to other attendees that say "Keep Sundance in Utah" and "NOhio for Sundance." "People are coming up to us too and asking to get stickers," Marcia Victor, a Heber City resident who has attended Sundance for years, told Axios. What they're saying: Utah-based filmmakers like Cole Webley, whose movie " Omaha" premiered last week, wants the festival to stay put, calling its potential move "devastating." "It's such a piece of the identity of this state," Webley, who has been going to the festival for 20 years, told Axios. Attendees and industry executives argue the festival is synonymous with the posh resort town. It's also closer to Hollywood than the other proposed cities. Threat level: Gov. Spencer Cox told reporters this month that it would be a "huge mistake" if Sundance moved. "I think it would be really a death nail" for Sundance, he said. He pointed to Outdoor Retailer's move to Colorado over state leaders' support to reduce the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments. "They chased the money and the politics and they went somewhere else, and it didn't work out for them, and they came back and so I hope that we don't have a repeat of that with Sundance," he said. Cox, who has previously bemoaned film tax incentives in Utah, said he feels "very good" about Salt Lake City and Park City's joint bid, but it may not be as "lucrative" as other competing cities. By the numbers: Out-of-state visitors spent $106.4 million during last year's festival that drew over 72,000 in-person attendees, per an economic impact report. Zoom in: Sundance and Park City have come up together and are facing growing pains. For years, attendees have complained about bumper-to-bumper traffic, climbing lodging costs and large corporations and brands taking over the festival's spirit. One Park City business owner told Variety that the festival requires a "revival" if organizers choose to stick around. What's next: An announcement about Sundance's future is expected to come this winter or early spring.
