"What will you do for the role? How much of your life are you willing to give?" Vertical has revealed the official US trailer for an indie thriller tilted The American, which originally premiered last year under the title Joika instead. Not to be confused with the George Clooney movie also called The American (can they even name it the same?). Based on a true story, The American follows one of the select few Americans, Joy Womack, to be admitted to the prestigious, but punishing, Russian Bolshoi Ballet School in Moscow, where she is tutored by the vaunted Tatiyana Volkova. She dreams of becoming a truly extraordianry ballerina, but at what cost? "Finding unlikely support from Volkova, she risks her health, relationships and potentially her life in her journey to determine what it means to be great." Starring Talia Ryder as Joy, Diane Kruger as Volkova, Oleg Ivenko, and Natasha Alderslade. Haven't heard much about this, despite playing at a few festivals last year. It looks super crazy mega intense! Whiplash but for ballet, or so it seems from this trailer. https://onfs.net/44zh3ii

"Some truths... have to wait patiently to be discovered." Cohen Media Group has unveiled an official trailer for a film titled June Zero, which has been awaiting a release for a few years. June Zero is co-written and directed by filmmaker Jake Paltrow, of the films The Good Night and Young Ones before. It premiered in 2022 at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival but hasn't been given a US release until now. This captivating film examines Adolf Eichmann's trial in 1962 in Israel, showing the empathy & humanism amidst the atrocities during the Holocaust. Told from three different perspectives of regular people involved in his imprisonment and execution. Entirely shot on 16mm film, this "vividly textured work brings to life the varied experiences of these characters, emphasizing that the same historical events are often perceived differently by people... As the film delves into the complexities of the human experience during this pivotal trial, [it's] a poignant reminder that history's impact can be both diverse and unifying." This stars Noam Ovadia, Tzahi Grad, Yoav Levi, Tom Hagi, Joy Rieger, Ami Smolarchik, & Rotem Kainan. It's a good film - worth a look. https://onfs.net/3UU06vK

"This will create new tensions." Cohen Media Group has unveiled an official US trailer for the Italian dramatic thriller now titled (in full) Kidnapped: The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara. This premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival last year under the shorter title Rapito. This is legendary Italian director Marco Bellocchio's period drama, depicting a scandalous & captivating true story. It also played at TIFF, New York, Mill Valley, and AFI Fest last year. This grand, historical fresco depicts the true story of a young Jewish child who, in mid-19th century Bologna, was abducted from his family by the church on the Pope's orders. The child had been secretly baptized by his nurse as a baby, and the papal law is unquestionable: he must now receive a Catholic education. Edgardo's parents, distraught, will do anything to get their son back. Supported by public opinion and the international Jewish community, the Mortaras' struggle quickly takes on a political dimension, all against the backdrop of the riveting true events that shook the world. Starring Enea Sala, Leonardo Maltese, Paolo Pierobon, Fausto Russo Alesi, Barbara Ronchi, Andrea Gherpelli, & Samuele Teneggi. This film earned mostly positive reviews during its festival run last year. https://onfs.net/3WAi73l

"At ILM, we look for work that scares us. We look for work that we haven't done before. It is a challenge to constantly pull that off – but it's also what drives us." Lucasfilm has debuted a wonderful new video titled "Challenging The Impossible", a 3-min featurette looking at all the work that goes in behind-the-scenes to make all of their movies, series, games, and more. "At Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic, and Skywalker Sound, we challenge the impossible every day." They highlight these three companies, and the many people involved in designing, creating, crafting, and completing the ideas that the visionaries dream up. "What's it like to challenge the impossible every day? It's thrilling." This is a nice tribute to the magic of storytellers and craftspeople, always inspiring to see. There's a series of 3 videos from Lucasfilm which first debuted a few years ago - they've been updated and re-released with new footage. After "Challenging The Impossible", there's "Story Drives Everything" and "Celebrating Empowerment and Hope" also embedded below. Enjoy. https://onfs.net/3WAbdes

"What are you waiting for?! We're right here!!" Watch out for this axe-wielding madman!! IFC Films has unveiled another trailer for the acclaimed slasher horror In a Violent Nature, arriving in theaters this May (see the other full trailer). It first premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival earlier this year to rave reviews praising it as something new. It's described as "a fearless roll of the dice... gushes exquisite gore and reimagines the slasher structure with newfound originality." The gimmick for this one is that it's all from the perspective of the killer - following him as he goes around slashing. This iconic new film tracks an undead, ravenous zombie creature as it makes its way through the woods. Starring Ry Barrett, Andrea Pavlovic, Cameron Love, Reece Presley, Liam Leone, Charlotte Creaghan, Lea Rose Sebastianis, & Sam Roulston. IFC is really putting their marketing might behind this film! Everyone who watches keeps saying it's crazy and super violet and one-of-a-kind. A must see when it's playing in select theaters later this month. https://onfs.net/3wFjdAl

"When's the last time you sold anything?" Netlfix has unveiled the first look trailer for a new comedy series titled Tires, the latest comedy concept featuring the comedian Shane Gillis in the lead role (as "Shane"). This was initially revealed as part of Netflix's annual "Netflix is a Joke Fest" comedy event, which is why the trailer is launching now to go along with the launch there. Will, the nervous and unqualified heir to an auto repair chain, attempts to turn his father’s business around despite constant torture from his cousin and now employee, Shane (Gillis). A new sit-com with a bunch of tire shop workers. The series is co-created by Gillis, Steven Gerben, and McKeever - all three credited as writers & exec producers. Tires also stars Gerben, Chris O'Connor, Kilah Fox, and Stavros Halkias, with guest appearances by Andrew Schulz. There's a few funny moments in here, but can they sustain this humor for the entire series and beyond? Check it out. https://onfs.net/4aeTCMo

How do you find your way out of a room with no doors? That's the conundrum in this animated short film titled The Cocoon, made by Chinese-Jewish American filmmaker David Shen Miller. After playing at a few film festivals last year, Omeleto has debuted the short online for everyone to watch. In the metaphorical The Cocoon, a trapped man goes to extreme lengths to clean a dirty room - coming to a realization about what it really takes to confront his trapped dilemma. "This intriguing animated short operates on a metaphorical level, using animation's inherent elasticity and freedom to explore deeply psychological terrain with a well-paced, compelling narrative." The idea in this is interesting, though the animation isn't top notch - it's a bit shaggy and obvious at times. Nonetheless, it's still an impactful little film. "He's given himself a Sisyphean task, with no real solution in sight, despite all his efforts. But then, he finds a way to transform the mess and imperfection around him into something else entirely." The Cocoon is only 9 minutes - give it a watch below. https://onfs.net/3WIqB8C

"I'm trying to protect you!!" Quiver Distribution has debuted the official trailer for an emotional, intense family drama titled Fresh Kills, which is the feature directorial debut for New Yorker actress Jennifer Esposito. Esposito writes, directs, and stars in the film - a modern mafia story following the story of the loyal women of an organized crime family that dominated some of the boroughs of New York City in the late 20th century. The film is about a young woman named Rose Larusso, who learns her father is an emerging mafia kingpin. Rose’s growing desire to break free from the path set before her soon threatens her existence and alienates her from her closest allies: her mother Francine, her sister Connie, and her aunt Christine. Fresh Kills stars Emily Bader as Rose, Odessa A'zion, Jennifer Esposito, Domenick Lombardozzi, Nicholas Cirillo, and Annabella Sciorra. This played at a few film festivals last year and will be opening in select US theaters this June. A very powerful trailer! This is actually seems like it might be worth a look. https://onfs.net/3WB0ZL6

"You didn't have to go all crazy just to get the three of us together!" Film Movement has revealed an official trailer for Mother, Couch, a very strange dark comedy from filmmaker Niclas Larsson making his feature directorial debut. This premiered at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival last fall to plenty of mixed reviews, one of the big discoveries from last year's fest even though critics are divided on it. Three children are brought together when their mother refuses to move from a display couch in a furniture store. Which sends them all on an existential odyssey. TIFF intro adds: Ewan McGregor, Rhys Ifans, Lara Flynn Boyle, and Ellen Burstyn star in this sublime and eccentric story about the grand expanse that parents occupy within our lives and the family that has to come together to help you find your way. The cast also includes F. Murray Abraham, Lake Bell, and Taylor Russell. Reviews state it is "strange, bold, and more dreamlike than I could have anticipated." All of this sounds strange yet also appealing? I'm particular curious about this film - always intrigued to see how filmmakers try to pull off a unique cinematic concept like this. Give this a look. https://onfs.net/4bcxljB

"Last week you were a straight-A student, now a killer-for-hire?" VMI has unveiled an official trailer for an indie action thriller film titled Kill Craft, the latest creation from filmmaker Mark Savage. Yet another new hitman movie to join so many others recently released, though this one is actually a hitwoman movie. When a veteran hitman is killed on the job, leaving his wife and teenage daughter without a source of income, his daughter reluctantly agrees to fulfill his remaining job, putting herself and her mother in terrible jeopardy. Of course! Being an assassin is a dangerous job and there will always be tons of people after you. So what's new? Starring Senae Loutsis as Marina, Michael Parè as her father, Bill Oberst Jr., Isis Eggleston, Amy DiLorenzo, Cole Springer, Theresa Allen, Caleb Baker, Jason Brooks, and Ben Chacon. "Daddy's Little Killer" is such a bad tagline. There are so many better films out there to watch than this one. https://onfs.net/4byV3Gz

"You shot one before?" French distributor Les Films du Losange has revealed a first look teaser trailer for a film titled The Damned, a French production made by an Italian filmmaker about America's Civil War in the 1860s. The film is premiering at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival this month, playing in the "Un Certain Regard" section. It's the latest narrative feature made by Italian filmmaker Roberto Minervini, whose last film was a doc also set in America called Roberto Minervini. The Damned is set in the winter of 1862, during the Civil War. The U.S. Army (I guess they're referring to the Union?) sends a volunteer company to patrol the uncharted Western territories. As their mission changes course, the meaning behind their engagement begins to elude them. The film stars Jeremiah Knupp, René W. Solomon, Cuyler Ballenger, Noah Carlson, Judah Carlson, and Tim Carlson. There's barely 30 secs of footage, but it does provide a good look at the dour and bleak mood of this film about America's past. Looks like it's going to be pretty grueling. https://onfs.net/3JXE6d5

"We don't run from our problems." Sky TV has revealed an official UK trailer for a comedy series titled Mr. Bigstuff, arriving to watch in the UK starting this July (though no US launch yet). The series stars actor Danny Dyer, best known for his various "tough guy" roles like Moff in Human Traffic, Tommy Johnson in The Football Factory, and Mick Carter in Eastenders. When two estranged brothers Glen (Ryan Sampson) and Lee (Danny Dyer) find themselves under one roof in "idyllic" suburbia, their lives start to unravel faster than a cheap carpet. Glen is a nervy perfectionist and carpet salesman striving to live a suburban ideal and Lee is an alpha male with a prescription drug addiction and a tin full of their dad's ashes. Written & created by Ryan Sampson, this "relatable, irreverent comedy about brotherhood, manhood and carpet sales" is set in Essex. Also with Harriet Webb, Adrian Scarborough, Fatiha El Ghorri, Ned Dennehy, Victoria Alcock, Geoff Bell, Nitin Ganatra, Judi Love, and more. This looks like kooky, wacky fun! Check it out. https://onfs.net/44DTkxA

"It's obvious they were tracking you through her." An early first look teaser trailer has debuted for the next film from acclaimed genre filmmaker David Cronenberg titled The Shrouds. It's set to premiere later this week at the prestigious 2024 Cannes Film Festival in France, before arriving in theaters later in 2024. Variety explains the premise: "The Shrouds centers on Karsh, a prominent businessman. Inconsolable since the death of his wife, he invents GraveTech, a revolutionary and controversial technology that enables the living to monitor their dear departed in their shrouds. One night, multiple graves, including that of Karsh's wife, are desecrated. Karsh sets out to track down the perpetrators." It's inspired by the idea of reconnecting with the dead, but goes beyond that as Cronenberg explains his own "shrouds" are "cinematic devices" and describes this film as "cemetery cinema." Yeah, I'm in. Sounds like he's getting his fingers dirty digging around in graves. The film stars Vincent Cassel, Diane Kruger, Guy Pearce, and Sandrine Holt. Not a lot of footage yet, but I'm certainly curious. "Why would they do that?" Indeed, that is the question, Karsh. https://onfs.net/3JWzowe

"Find strength in the darkness." Well Go USA has revealed a new US trailer for their release of a Chinese action movie called Blind War, now set to debut in June in the US. This originally opened in China as an online release during the pandemic in May 2022. It's already streaming on Hi-YAH! to watch in the US, or you can wait for the VOD launch in June. A blind ex-SWAT captain, Dong Gu, confronts an old foe to save his daughter, seeking redemption for a mission that cost him his sight. After breaking protocol during a surprise siege that leaves him permanently blinded, a SWAT captain retires from the force in disgrace. But while he adjusts to his new reality as a civilian, his beloved daughter is kidnapped, forcing him to seek out an unlikely ally to help him pursue justice from the shadows. This action film stars Andy On, Waise Lee, Dao Dao, Vincent Matile, Li Zixiong, AMRO, Yang Xing, Wang Hanyangm, Qi Shenghan. Looks like a cheesy plot, but it does seem to have kick ass fights. Might be worth a watch if you're into this action. https://onfs.net/4bCdiuU

"I want them to feel what I felt going into that theater for the first time. I want to make them laugh, to make them sing." Universal has revealed a new featurette for the Wicked musical movie event, arriving in theaters as two parts in 2024 / 2025. After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining cinematic event this holiday season. Directed by the very talented filmmaker Jon M. Chu (of Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights), Wicked is the first chapter of a two-part immersive, cultural celebration. Cynthia Erivo stars as Elphaba Thropp, a young woman with green skin who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. Ariana Grande co-stars as Glinda, along with Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle, plus Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz. This is an exciting look at the making of the movie, with Chu & Erivo & Grande all talking about how much they adore Wicked and want to make this movie just right. The full trailer drops this week. https://onfs.net/3WMaqqS

"I had no choice but to take refuge in the spiritual world." There's an early promo trailer available for a peculiar, mind-bending, strangely fun new film titled The Hyperboreans, from the one-of-a-kind Chilean filmmakers Joaquín Cociña & Cristóbal León. It's premiering at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival this week in the Directors' Fortnight sidebar. Here's their full intro: "Following their first feature-length animated film The Wolf House (2018), the Chilean duo are back, mixing puppets, stop-motion and live-action, theatre, science fiction, and real and fabricated biopic. In the liminal space of a big studio, our only guide is a woman – by turns storyteller, actress and illusionist – who interacts with Méliès-style cardboard sets and effigies, following in the footsteps of a very real man: the Chilean neo-Nazi dandy Miguel Serrano (1917-2009), a writer and the originator of delirious esoteric theories. Should he be viewed as a fascinating anomaly or symbolic of a deeper evil?" This looks crazy! A mix of animation, live-action, shifting sets, masks, and more. If you can't catch this one at Cannes this month, keep eye out for it at other film festivals throughout 2024. https://onfs.net/4bCQgnu

"When does an empire die? Does it collapse in one terrible moment? No, no... Whoa!! American Zoetrope has dropped a real teaser trailer for Megalopolis, unveiling an incredible 90 secs of jaw-dropping footage. Megalopolis is director Francis Ford Coppola's latest ambitious project, a $100M+ feature that he has been trying to make ever since he first conceived the film in 1979. The basic setup is: an architect wants to rebuild New York City as a utopia following a devastating disaster. It's not actually NYC, but a giant city like NYC hence the Megalopolis title. The architect's plan is opposed by the mayor, who has other ideas for the city. It's premiering at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in the Main Competition this week - and we posted a teaser clip last week. The movie's cast includes Adam Driver as Caesar, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Jason Schwartzman, Talia Shire, Grave Vanderwaal, Kathryn Hunter, and Dustin Hoffman. This teaser also features a chilling voiceover by Laurence Fishburne, who some will remember got his career started by starring in Apocalypse Now. This looks AWESOME! Finally some properly epic footage to be amazed by. I can't wait to watch this in theaters. https://onfs.net/3K0Qw3W

"You're not getting a confession. You're not in my head." "Oh I'm definitely living rent-free." Prime Video has revealed the first look teaser trailer for their upcoming Cross series, the latest adaptation from James Patterson's crime thriller novels. Cross is an adaptation of the Alex Cross series, and will be streaming in 2024. Aldis Hodge (seen in Black Adam, City On A Hill, One Night In Miami, "Leverage", "Underground") stars as Cross - detective and forensic psychologist, uniquely capable of digging into the psyches of killers and their victims, in order to identify—and ultimately capture—the murderers. The series is created by producer and writer Ben Watkins ("Burn Notice", "Hand of God"), and produced by Paramount Television Studios and Skydance Television. The series cast also includes Isaiah Mustafa, Darnell Bartholomew, Ashley Rios, Stacie Greenwell, Siobhan Murphy, Sharon Taylor, Mercedes de la Zerda, as well as Jennifer Wigmore as Chief Anderson. This looks like a fairly dark and intense series, investigating brutal crimes and mysterious things happening in dark corners. Might turn out pretty good - check this out. https://onfs.net/3yj6kfX

"Promise me you won't do anything stupid." Focus Features has unveiled the official trailer for Didi, the feature directorial debut of Oscar-nominated filmmaker Sean Wang (of the short Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó) - who is one of my favorite new filmmakers from 2024. I love this film! At its premiere in competition at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival it received critical & audience acclaim, winning both the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award & also the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast. "For anyone who's ever been a teenager." In 2008, during the last month of summer before high school begins, an impressionable 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy learns what his family can't teach him: how to skate, how to flirt, and how to love your mom. A distinct coming-of-age story from Sean Wang. The film stars Izaac Wang as Chris "Didi" Wang, with Joan Chen, Shirley Chen, Chang Li Hua as Nai Nai, Mahaela Park, Raul Dial, Aaron Chang, Chiron Cillia Denk, Sunil Maurillo, and Montay Boseman. I wrote a glowing review of this film which is quoted in this trailer! And I couldn't be happier to support it and spread the good word. Enjoy. https://onfs.net/3wqo20z

"Darkness will bind them." Here we go again! Prime Video has revealed an epic first teaser for Season 2 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power series. It's start to launch in late August during the fall - just like Season 1 did back in 2022. The Rings of Power brings to screens for the very first time the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth's history. For Season 2, as we all know from the finale of Season 1: Sauron has returned. Cast out by Galadriel, without army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of the Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-earth to his sinister will. Building on Season 1's epic scope and ambition, Season 2 plunges even its most beloved and vulnerable characters into a rising tide of darkness, challenging each to find their place in a world that is increasingly on the brink of calamity. The ensemble cast for Season 2 features Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Maxim Baldry, Nazanin Boniadi, Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Charles Edwards, Trystan Gravelle, Ema Horvath, Markella Kavenagh. So far so good, this footage rocks! This looks much more darker than Season 1, with even more action and greater stakes with Sauron menacing all of Middle Earth. https://onfs.net/3wwiHop

"Ever been on a bull? It's the greatest rush of adrenaline..." An official trailer it out for a beloved indie film titled National Anthem, marking the feature directorial debut of filmmaker / photographer Luke Gilford. This premiered at the last year's SXSW Film Festival, and also played at TIFF, Mill Valley, and NewFest. The film is a fictional version of the story of Luke discovering the International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA). Charlie Plummer stars as Dylan, who's from rural New Mexico. He takes a gig at the House of Splendor, a homestead built by a community of queer rodeo performers & ranchers, and soon the indefinable magic of an untamed America unfolds before him. SXSW adds: "Finding space to explore and discover himself, he becomes entwined in the life of Sky, a talented barrel racer and free spirit." Also starring Eve Lindley, Rene Rosado, Mason Alexander Park, and Robyn Lively. The film is also inspired by Gilford's photo book of the same name profiling real queer rodeo performers. It looks fantastic! What a magnificent trailer. https://onfs.net/4dBsNVz