Latest news with #IndieWireHonors
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kathy Bates, Mara Brock Akil, Natasha Lyonne, and More to Receive Awards at IndieWire Honors
IndieWire, the definitive outlet for creative independence in film and TV, announced on Wednesday, May 7 the return of the Spring edition of its IndieWire Honors event celebrating the creators and stars responsible for some of the most impressive and engaging work of this TV season. Hosted by comedian Robby Hoffman, known for her memorable guest appearances on 'Hacks' and 'Dying for Sex' this year, IndieWire Honors will celebrate its honorees at an intimate cocktail reception taking place Thursday, June 5 in Los Angeles. Exclusive editorial content, including honoree profiles, will also be featured on IndieWire beginning May 28 and will continue throughout the lead-up to the awards night, followed by video interviews and more content from the event. More from IndieWire Joe Wright's 'Mussolini: Son of the Century' Epic Series Will Be Distributed by MUBI - Watch New Teaser 'The Last of Us' Review: Episode 5 Stares Death in the Face and Asks for More - Spoilers 'Each year, IndieWire Honors celebrates the artists who are redefining the boundaries of storytelling and pushing the industry forward,' said Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire's senior VP and editor-in-chief. 'The 2025 honorees exemplify the innovation, courage, and creative vision that inspire us all. We're proud to shine a light on these voices and continue our tradition of championing the boldest talents in film and television.''It's spring and IndieWire Honors is back, our unique take on an awards event where honorees and attendees mix and mingle while celebrating our favorite series and the talent behind them,' said IndieWire senior VP and publisher James Israel. The Spring 2025 IndieWire Honors honorees, as curated and selected by IndieWire's editorial team, are as follows: Given her reputation for bringing an invigorating energy to every role she takes on, big or small, it's no surprise that a reimagining of the classic legal procedural 'Matlock' headlined by Kathy Bates has been such a success. The actress is an anchor, helping the audience see the heart of the material, no matter how high the concept. While it once was common for actors to overthink taking on a TV role versus a film role, Bates has proven how one can freely and effectively bounce between both mediums, earning Emmys and an Oscar along the way. It is rare to see someone so pivotal to the TV landscape feel like they are just getting started. After working on iconic Black sitcoms like 'Moesha' and 'The Jamie Foxx Show,' and creating 'Girlfriends,' where she hired several writers that would also become game-changing showrunners, Mara Brock Akil is making her long-awaited Netflix series debut 'Forever,' inspired by the groundbreaking Judy Blume novel of the same name. Now taking place in 2018, the teen romance is a balm for audiences hoping to find the tenderness and connection lacking in modern times. Coming on as an executive producer and director helping bring creator Dan Erickson's vision of 'Severance' to life, actor and filmmaker Ben Stiller has hit his stride behind the lens of the Apple TV+ series. Split between two worlds that both feel all too uncanny to anyone who has passed through white collar wastelands, the Apple TV+ series has an immersive sense of malaise diffused by his collaboration from day one with cinematographer Jessica Lee Gagné, who went on to also direct the episode 'Chikhai Bardo,' a highlight of the highly acclaimed second season. Cutting her teeth as the star of women-directed indies like 'Slums of Beverly Hills' and 'But I'm a Cheerleader,' whose posters still line the walls of precocious teenagers' bedrooms, the now-multi-hyphenate Natasha Lyonne has solidified herself as a singular talent that writes, directs, and stars in TV series that redefine what creators can accomplish in the streaming era. With Peacock's 'Poker Face,' created alongside Oscar-nominated filmmaker Rian Johnson, Lyonne has managed to turn a classic whodunnit into an impeccably written, well-crafted showcase for some of the most exciting stars of today. The countless hours spent between 'The Penguin' star Colin Farrell and makeup designer Mike Marino proved to be foundational to the success of the HBO crime drama spinning off from the 2022 blockbuster 'The Batman.' The actor is completely transformed, but is not weighed down by prosthetics that hinder his capabilities to give a nuanced performance of a superhero rogue that fans thought they already knew. That kind of symbiosis of crafts, where the pair pushes each other to new creative peaks, has already led to several awards, and calls for the limited series to be revived, whether the Batman returns or not. A throwback in form and function, the Ramy Youssef and Pam Brady creation '#1 Happy Family USA' on Prime Video is a reminder of how animation can be the perfect medium for transgressive stories that can challenge the audience's worldview, while also challenging them not to laugh. It is finally not too soon to joke about how the world changed after September 11, 2001, with Brady and Youssef teeing up an animation style that transports viewers to the time, and holding up a mirror for everyone to see the actions of many that are now painfully regrettable, yet hilarious. It may be pat to refer to documentary projects as stranger than fiction, but watching 'Ren Faire' from documentary prodigy Lance Oppenheim, it is bizarre how well the narrative of a megalomaniacal entrepreneur toying with his wannabe successors foreshadows current events we are mustering through. And that is not to say there isn't any fun to be had with 'Ren Faire,' which is full of energy and comedic beats that rival the best sitcoms. In a field as expansive as documentary, it can be incredibly hard to develop a unique voice, but the young filmmaker has already proven himself able to provide something fresh, spotlighting idiosyncratic subjects that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. A few years out from her devastating, Emmy-winning turn in 'Mare of Easttown,' actress Julianne Nicholson returns to TV on the new Hulu series 'Paradise' where everything is not what it seems. It's easy to call her character Sinatra the most captivating villain of this overall television season, but Nicholson places all the pieces down to challenge that designation throughout the Dan Fogelman-penned series. Sure, she is unapologetically focused on her survival, and maintaining a sense of control, which makes for delicious tête-à-tête with lead Sterling K. Brown, but she does so having experienced a loss that would be transformative for anyone to have gone through. All it takes to impress upon anyone who has seen the Netflix series 'Adolescence' just how talented its breakout star Owen Cooper truly is: tell them that the first episode the newcomer shot is the one opposite Erin Doherty, where he turns the table on her as counselor trying to evaluate whether he is aware of his fatal actions. Cooper is but one modern teenager (and still in school to boot), but through his performance in the Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne-created series, he has become a conduit for needed conversations about how to contend with the toxic culture preying upon young men worldwide. Though the entrance of Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren into the 'Yellowstone' universe piqued the interest of many, Paramount+ series '1923' has provided a needed education to its viewers about the atrocities committed against indigenous Americans through star Aminah Nieves. Though it is incredibly tough to shoulder the burden of depicting a difficult piece of North American history parties are still actively trying to erase, the young star has done so with aplomb, ending the second and final season of the Western saga on a triumphant note that provides the foundation for many more indigenous stories to be told for years to come. 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
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dan Erickson on the ‘Mesmerizing Dynamic' of ‘Severance' Auteurs Ben Stiller and Jessica Lee Gagné
On June 5, the IndieWire Honors Spring 2025 ceremony will celebrate the creators and stars responsible for some of the most impressive and engaging work of this TV season. Curated and selected by IndieWire's editorial team, IndieWire Honors is a celebration of the creators, artisans, and performers behind television well worth toasting. In the days leading up to the event, IndieWire is showcasing their work with new interviews and tributes from their peers. Below, 'Severance' creator Dan Erickson tells IndieWire about how Auteur Award winners Ben Stiller and Jessica Lee Gagné work together to bring their distinct vision to vivid life. More from IndieWire 'Mad Men' Director Jennifer Getzinger: Ask for What You Want and Ask Again | 'What No One Tells You' Bella Ramsey Wants 'The Last of Us' Fans to Watch Upcoming Indie Films Like They're 'Game of Thrones' I frequently have had the privilege of sitting just a few feet behind Ben and Jess on set, usually while they're working in their respective capacities as director and D.P. They stand at their consoles and confer intensely about each shot, and I've often caught myself weirdly staring at them for long stretches, just kind of mesmerized by their dynamic. At times, I almost feel like these two have their own language, known only to them. Part of this might be due to my alarming ignorance of production jargon (I've been told that the glass circle on the front of the camera is called a 'lens' and is quite important), but I'm pretty sure it's something more. In any normal scenario, Ben and Jess would each be the most brilliant person in any room. Each has an innate understanding of the language of filmmaking, and a beautiful and twisted imagination that allows them to contort that language in new and innovative ways. Geniuses on this level often clash, but what always strikes me about Ben and Jess is the mutual trust and respect that permeates their every conversation. They listen to each other, give each other the benefit of the doubt, and honor each others' experience and intellect as they work to find the best possible version of each moment. When Ben first told me that he thought Jess should direct an episode, I immediately knew it was going to work. Not only did she know the show better than anyone, but it felt like an inevitable evolution of their collaborative partnership. The brilliance of her episode highlights both what she has learned from Ben and the immense level of talent she's brought to this show from the very beginning. I count myself as profoundly lucky to know both of these incredible artists, and hope to be able to awkwardly gawk at them as they make incredible work together for years to come. Read Ben Stiller and Jessica Lee Gagné's full IndieWire Honors profile here. Best of IndieWire Nightmare Film Shoots: The 38 Most Grueling Films Ever Made, from 'Deliverance' to 'The Wages of Fear' Quentin Tarantino's Favorite Movies: 65 Films the Director Wants You to See The 19 Best Thrillers Streaming on Netflix in May, from 'Fair Play' to 'Emily the Criminal'
