Latest news with #GoneGirls'
Daily Mirror
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Harrowing Netflix documentaries about real-life American tragedies you can watch now
Among the streamer's many powerful documentaries are three viewers say everyone should see Netflix's documentaries are always a hit with viewers, but picking the cream of the crop can be a tough task. A handful of fresh releases have already made their way into the streaming giant's library, including one show that's being touted as the 'best docu-series of 2025. ' We've put together a brief list of must-see documentaries, focusing on events that unfolded in America and subsequently shook the world. From catastrophic weather events to the passing of an LGBTQ+ legend, these shows are available for streaming now on Netflix. The Twister: Caught in the Storm Launched back in March, The Twister: Caught in the Storm delves into the horrific tornado that hit Joplin, Missouri, in 2011. The storm descended upon Joplin on May 22 and claimed the lives of 158 people, making it one of the deadliest in American history, reports the Mirror US. Helmed by Alexandra Lacey, the documentary revisits this natural disaster, featuring first-hand accounts from weather forecasters and a group of survivors who found themselves at the heart of the storm. Even though the tragedy took place 14 years ago, this Netflix series provides viewers with a deeply immersive experience of the event. A Rotten Tomatoes reviewer described it as "immersive, thrilling and frightening," continuing: "This documentary very well shows the vulnerability of all us humans when confronted with the mighty force of nature." The Twister: Caught in the Storm is available for streaming now on Netflix Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer This three-part series has been praised by viewers as the 'best docu-series of 2025' just two months after its release on Netflix. It explores the hunt for an alleged serial killer, following a string of murders that took place over several years without being detected by law enforcement. In 2010 police began to suspect a killer was on the loose after 23-year-old escort Shannan Gilbert made a panicked 911 call claiming someone was pursuing her, only to vanish shortly after. An extensive search of the area led to the discovery of four victims, known as the Gilgo Beach Four, and sparked a thorough investigation. Shannan's remains were eventually found in December 2011. Directed by Liz Garbus, the documentary delves into the events leading up to the 2023 arrest of an architect, who is set to stand trial later this year charged with the murders of seven women. He maintains he is not guilty. Viewers have taken to Rotten Tomatoes, where the series boasts a rare 100% score, with one reviewer writing: "Netflix Delivers the Best Docu-Series of 2025. 'Gone Girls' does something unexpected with its empathetic approach to true crime as director Liz Garbus gives a voice to the voiceless [...]." Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer is now available to stream on Netflix The Death and Life of Marsha P Johnson Marsha P. Johnson, a trailblazer in the LGBTQ+ rights movement, met a tragic end in July 1992. The transgender icon was part of the pioneering Gay Liberation Front, which started in New York during the tumultuous late '60s. Initially thought to have taken her own life, a new documentary delves into the persistent suspicions that she was actually murdered. The film's blurb states: "Filmmakers re-examine the 1992 death of transgender legend Marsha P. Johnson, who was found floating in the Hudson River. Originally ruled a suicide, many in the community believe she was murdered." Highlighting the significance of the documentary, an IMDb reviewer wrote: "I was originally going to say that this should be required viewing for young LGBTQ people, in order for them to have a better understanding of our history. "But correct that to say that EVERYONE should watch this in order to better understand a segment of our society that has been brutally mistreated since forever."
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Firelight Media Appoints Loira Limbal as President and CEO (EXCLUSIVE)
Loira Limbal has been appointed president and CEO of Firelight Media. Limbal succeeds Marcia Smith, who co-founded the nonprofit organization with her husband, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Stanley Nelson ('Attica') in 2000. Firelight supports, provides resources to and advocates on behalf of documentary filmmakers of color. Smith, who announced her departure from Firelight Media in July 2024, stayed on as interim president and CEO while the company held a nationwide search for her replacement. Limbal will assume her new position on June 1. More from Variety 'Gone Girls' Director Liz Garbus on Returning to the Long Island Murders and Focusing on Victims Instead of 'Damaged' Serial Killers Documentary 'Number One on the Call Sheet,' About the History of Black Hollywood, Aims to be a 'Blueprint for Generations to Come' 'Spacewoman' Doc About First Woman to Command a Space Shuttle Mission Screens at CPH:DOX While NASA Axes Pledge to Land a Woman on the Moon 'We could not be more thrilled with the appointment of Loira Limbal as Firelight Media's next president and CEO,' Nelson and Smith said in a joint statement. 'As Firelight transitions from being a founder-led organization for its 25 years of existence, and at such a pivotal time for the documentary industry, Loira is the ideal person to ensure the longevity of the organization for the next 25 years and beyond. We know Loira will bring visionary leadership, new energy, and organizational acumen to this role, as she has for the last 16 years in her staff and consulting roles.' Limbal served as Firelight Media's senior vice president of programs until 2021. The org produced doc hits including 'Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool,' 'Freedom Riders,' 'Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple' and most recently 'We Want the Funk,' which is screening at North Carolina's documentary festival Full Frame Festival on April 5. The film will air on PBS's Independent Lens on April 8. Limbal originally joined Firelight Media in 2009 and, throughout her tenure, led the expansion of Firelight's flagship Documentary Lab as well as the launch of its Groundwork Regional Lab, William Greaves Research & Development Fund, Impact Campaign Fund and the In the Making documentary short film series, produced in partnership with PBS' American Masters. 'Documentary filmmaking is one of our most powerful tools for social change — a force that disrupts, reveals, and reimagines,' Limbal said. 'My time at Firelight has only strengthened my conviction in its ability to challenge harmful narratives and sow the seeds of new, transformative ones. At a time when our field faces unprecedented challenges, it is a privilege to stand alongside Firelight Media's brilliant and dedicated staff, championing filmmakers whose work illuminates our present, preserves our past and expands the possibilities for our collective future.' Limbal is a multidisciplinary artist who works primarily in documentary film, video installation and as a DJ. Her film 'Through the Night' (2020), a feature documentary about a 24-hour daycare center, premiered at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival. Her previous documentary, 'Estilo Hip Hop,' aired on PBS in 2009. 'As co-chairs of the search committee, we are elated by this outcome,' said Firelight Media board of directors members Anne Canty and Rashid Shabazz. 'We are excited to work with Loira to ensure Firelight Media has the resources it needs to continue to transform the documentary field into a more sustainable and equitable place for underrepresented filmmakers.' Recent accolades for Limbal include a 2024 Guggenheim Fellowship, a Creative Capital Award, a USA Fellowship, a NAACP Image Award nomination and a Sundance Institute Fellowship. She received a B.A. in history from Brown University. Firelight Media is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year through a number of public programs. Best of Variety What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
