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A Private Life – A Review by Jenn Rohm

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Foreign films can give a high-level overview of how people in other countries live.  When you cast a well-known American actor in the lead role as an American living in Paris, it can add interest for an audience that may not have seen a French film before.  A Private Life has Jodie Foster in the lead role.  If you are a fan of French films, or Jodie Foster, or have an interest in French films, this is one to go see.

Psychiatrist Lilian Steiner (Foster) learns that a patient has passed away.  She goes to pay her respects only to learn that it was a suicide.  This does not sit well with Steiner, as she didn’t see the signs.  Hyper-focusing on new information and having conversations with other people in her life, she decides it was murder.  There is also turmoil in her personal life: her son, Julien (Vincent Lacoste), is a new father, and Steiner is in contact with her ex-husband, Gabriel (Daniel Auteuil), who still loves her.  All of this creates an entertaining tale that kept my attention.

Foster has been speaking French since she began lessons at the age of 9, and her comfort with the language showed in her smooth delivery.  There are a few places where it was played up that it isn’t her first language, such as when a neighbor refers to her with a term she isn’t familiar with.  The audience didn’t need to know the language to realize it wasn’t a nice term.  Her precise delivery showcases an intelligent woman questioning the world as she knows it, while maintaining control over everything and everyone around her.

There are touches toward Judaism and antisemitism that could have gone deeper.  As things stand, they point to the existence of both in the world without truly showing their impact on the characters.  To me, this was a missed opportunity.

The film’s pacing was excellent, allowing time to read the subtitles and take in the actors and visual cues.  This can be a bit of a balancing act.  If the script must be delivered at a very fast pace, you risk not all subtitles being read or a key element of the performance being missed.  On the other hand, if it is too slow, it can slow down the movie itself.

Check your local listings to find a showing near you.  This is one I will go to see again to see what I can pick up on now that I know the full story.

 

Director: Rebecca Zlotowski

Cast: Jodie Foster, Daniel Auteuil, Virginie Efira

MPAA Rating: Rated R for sexual content, graphic nudity, language, and brief violence.

Selig Rating: 4 stars

Runtime: 1h 47m

Release Date: January 16, 2026

Genre(s): Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Trailer: A Private Life trailer

Movie Site: A Private Life website

 

The Selig Rating Scale:

5 Stars – Excellent movie/show, well worth the time and price.

4 Stars – Good movie/show

3 Stars – OK movie/show

2 Stars – Well, there was nothing else…

1 Star – Total waste of time.

SCARLET – A Review by Jenn Rohm

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What happens if you take the frame of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, issues of acceptance, and the political power movements in the world today, and then a touch of Buddhist philosophy?  Director Mamoru Hosoda has the answer with Scarlet.

The story begins with a nod to Hamlet, taking us to 16th-century Denmark, where King Amleth is publicly executed at the order of his brother, Claudius.  His daughter, Scarlet, is crushed and spends the next several years training to avenge her father.  Her Uncle poisons her, and she wakes in the Otherworld.  With a mysterious old woman who is a bit of a narrator and a bit of a mystic, helping the audience follow Scarlet’s path among the undead.  She meets Hijiri, a modern-day man who doesn’t believe he is dead and keeps trying to remain loyal to his life as a paramedic.  Uncle Claudius is also in the Otherworld and sends representatives after Scarlet.  Along the way, before the two cross paths again, Scarlet is given a chance to see what other options there are outside of revenge.

The animation reminds me of the animations of my childhood, with sharp lines and bright colors.  This has been blended with some hyper-realism and CGI that is now available.  I found the animation’s visual style was a perfect match for the story it told.  The color palette matched what was happening as well.  Such as a moment with Claudius, in a lot of grey, black, and red, as he expressed his anger, and another with Hijiri joining a dance filled with bright colors.

This film can lead to deeper conversations about what one would like the future to be for generations to come, and what one can do to help create change.  If you can watch in IMAX, do so; if you do not have access, see it however you can.

*For parents, I will point out that there are darker, more violent moments for you to consider if it is appropriate for your child.  The dialog is in Japanese with English subtitles reading skills should also be considered.

 

Director: Mamoru Hosoda

Cast: Mana Ashida, Masaki Okada, Masachika Ichimura

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for strong violence/ bloody images

Language: Japanese, English subtitles

Selig Rating: 3.5 stars

Runtime: 1h 51m

IMAX Release Date: February 6, 2026

Nationwide Release Date: February 13, 2026

Genre(s): Animation, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi

Trailer: Scarlet Trailer

 

The Selig Rating Scale:

5 Stars – Excellent movie/show, well worth the time and price.

4 Stars – Good movie/show

3 Stars – OK movie/show

2 Stars – Well, there was nothing else…

1 Star – Total waste of time.

TRANGO Presented by The North Face Announces VOD Release and PBS Airing

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Trango, a film from The North Face, will premiere on VOD February 13 on the free streaming service Documentary+, with a rollout to other premium streaming platforms to follow, and a television broadcast on PBS in select markets in Spring 2026. The award-winning documentary recently completed a 20-city U.S. theatrical run, including a VIP screening at the Oriental Theater last night in Denver, Colorado, attended by ski mountaineers Jim Morrison and Christina “Lusti” Lustenberger.

Trango follows the renowned athletes on an expedition to accomplish the first-ever ski descent of the formidable Great Trango Towers in Pakistan. The Karakoram Range, home of the Trango Towers, is among the most extreme terrain on the planet. On May 9, 2024, Morrison, Lusti and their team were the first to successfully climb and ski down the 20K-foot West Face of Great Trango Tower.
Helmed by award-winning director Leo Hoorn, Trango documents the team’s preparation and execution of the descent. Joined by Nick McNutt and Chantel Astorga, Lusti and Morrison navigate risk, grief, and the physical demands of high-altitude exposure. At over 20,000 feet, their survival hinges on trust, shared resilience, and the strength of their partnership.

Lusti recalls, “The day itself was nothing short of incredible. The captivating position that seized our imagination lived up to everything we had dreamed of. A moment in life that surpasses expectations is rare, and a luxury earned.”

After summiting Trango, Morrison pursued another groundbreaking first-descent. On October 15, 2025, he became the first to summit and ski down the Hornbein Couloir on Mount Everest, honoring his former partner Hilaree Nelson by scattering her ashes at the peak.

Morrison commented, “Trango represents a long arc of effort. The summit and the skiing are just minutes in a story built on years of preparation and exploration. We shared a vision of existing in that granite cathedral on skis, and persistence is what kept bringing us back to try to leave our tracks on that wild line.”

Trango had its media premiere at Sundance 2025 and was an official selection at 19 film festivals in 9 different countries, and won the Grand Prize Award at the New Zealand Mountain Film Festival and Best Editing Award at International Freesports Film Festival. It will be screened throughout the UK in 25 markets with the Kendal Mountain Tour 2026.
The film’s producer Kaki Orr stated “A year after its premiere, more than 20 festivals and 50 theatrical screenings, we’re honored to finally release this film to the world. Trango is more than an adventure. it’s a journey to the edge of what it means to commit, to risk, and to feel deeply.”

Trango will be having its premiere VOD release on Documentary+ on Friday, February 13 with additional streaming release on Roku and other major platforms, along with a PBS broadcast in select markets in Spring 2026.

INTRIGUING NEW DOCUMENTARY SERIES “FIELD AGENT 566” PRESENTING RECENTLY UNSEALED DETAILS ABOUT FAMED MOSSAD SPY, ELI COHEN

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This month, ChaiFlicks, the world’s largest streaming platform dedicated to Jewish content from around the globe, will be releasing the documentary series “Field Agent 566,” which exposes new, never before revealed information and intimate details about the rise and fall of Eli Cohen, one of the most famous international spies of the 20th century. Numerous adaptations of Cohen’s life have been made, including Netflix’s “The Spy,” starring Sacha Baron Cohen, and “The Impossible Spy,” starring John Shea. The documentary series “Field Agent 566” goes beyond the myths to reveal the true story of the legendary Mossad agent.

Utilizing interviews with Eli’s family members and former Mossad agents, authentic audio taken from Cohen’s trial in Syria, and archival footage and photos, “Field Agent 566” tells the real story behind “Israel’s man in Damascus.” Decades of mystery surrounding Cohen’s life and work are uncovered in the series, exposing his crucial service to Israel and the extremity of the Syrian regime he helped to contain. Cohen’s career as a Mossad agent embedded deep within the Syrian political establishment ended abruptly after he was caught, tried, and publicly executed.

After the fall of Assad’s regime in 2024, more than 2,000 documents related to the trial of Eli Cohen were released in Damascus. These papers, held since his capture in 1965, shed new light on his activities.

Haaretz hails, “[The series]…tackles Eli Cohen’s story in a complex, elegant, and shocking way. It presents a skeptical view against the heroic image promoted by the state, and also does justice to the family dragged into the pantheon.” Israel Hayom called it “…an impressive journalist and documentary achievement.”

The first episode of “Field Agent 566” will be released on Tuesday, February 10. Each of the three episodes is 55 minutes long and will be released on subsequent Tuesdays.

“THE CHEF” SEASON 2 ARRIVES EXCLUSIVELY ON CHAIFLICKS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15

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For fans of this exquisitely filmed kitchen drama, “The Chef” Season 2 is here. And while audiences wait for the next season of “The Bear” the ChaiFlicks Season 2 exclusive of “The Chef” serves up the perfect alternative. Hailed by The New York Times as “…an ambitious restaurant kitchen without overdoing the psychodrama….” and the series “…exhibits a visual and tonal sensibility that is both casual and cinematic,” the Israeli TV program precedes the Hulu phenomenon. Season 2 of “The Chef” will begin streaming on ChaiFlicks, with episodes dropping each Sunday.

The new season continues the drama, set in the high-pressure environment of a top restaurant kitchen, by following the ongoing relationship between hedonistic, single chef Dori (Gal Toren, Apple TV’s “Losing Alice,” Netflix’s “Hit & Run”) and his employee Nimrod (Guri Alfi, Netflix’s “Black Space,” the critically acclaimed film, “The Human Resources Manager”), a family man just trying to get by. The conflicts continue as we revisit the show’s lead characters two years after season 1 concluded. Dori is now a TV star who presumably has it all. In fact, he has nothing and yearns to open a new restaurant. Nimrod, now a Chef de Partie (station chef), works at a flourishing restaurant whilst withering under the fierce obstacles posed by entering the business later in life. Nimrod incessantly hits the glass ceiling for that very fact.

Following a personal breakdown and a fateful encounter with Maya, a businesswoman and daughter of one of Israel’s wealthiest families, Dori becomes inspired and decides to dive back into the game. He makes a splash by launching a new restaurant that will redefine the fine-dining experience through a showcase of his unique culinary approach.

Nimrod joins Dori’s venture as his sous chef, as Maya partners with Dori both professionally and romantically. Dori and Nimrod’s rekindled friendship sets ablaze new and old demons, forcing the pair to push their boundaries further than ever before – way past a point they could have ever anticipated. The season will follow the journey of opening the restaurant; the expectations, the experimentation, building the menu, tastings, and more, all whilst the characters fight to maintain the balance. However, as momentum builds with the new restaurant, its very existence reveals its threatening nature, which could ultimately lead the characters’ lives to collapse.

Season 1 of “The Chef”, which is currently streaming on ChaiFlicks, won Best Lead Actor at the Berlin TV Series Festival and was a part of the Special Program at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival, an Official Selection at the Zurich Film Festival, and in the Official Competition at Seriencamp Film Festival. Each of the 9 episodes in Season 2 runs 40 minutes.

STOP TIME – A Review by Jenn Rohm

Grief is an emotion most of us have experienced and many films create the feeling of grief using different techniques with sound, lighting, and script.  Few films focus on grief, and even fewer take it to the point where grief is almost a character in and of itself.  Stop Time, written and directed by Paul Schwartz is one such piece.

Peter De Vries, Nelson Avidon, is working his way through the sadness of having lost his wife.  Other than moments when he is thinking of moments involving her, his life has lost color.  Adrianna Maier is a divorcee who has just recently received some information about her life prior to her adoption, before she was three years old.  Their mutual friends Mason, Eddie Kehler, and Carla, Judy Jerome, have decided the two should meet that night at the after-party they are hosting for Peter’s new gallery show.  Covering 24 hours of their lives until they meet, we learn more about them and see bits of New York City along the way.

I am not normally a fan of slow pacing; however, this film has changed my mind.  For this story, the pacing was just right.  With most of the film in black and white, a few moments in sepia tone, and slightly more vivid Super 8 when Peter is thinking of his wife, it supported the experience of life, where the known (in the film) photographer was emotionally and mentally.  Avidon’s expressions, movements, and way of speaking all supported the emotional roller coaster he was surviving.  This was being balanced against Adrianna being further along with the healing process post-divorce and able to focus on new information from her very early childhood that had come to light.  She is also starting a new lighting design project at a smaller off-off-Broadway theater, which is giving her something to look forward to.  Maier provided a mostly confident woman who was open to learn more about her past.

With both main characters having careers that involve lighting and shadow, the decision to use black and white for most of the film adds another layer of depth.  Not only does this allow the audience to feel the weight of emotion, but it also symbolizes how they view the world, creating a deeper connection.

While I was watching, the world outside had come to a stop as well due to winter weather in the south.  The eerie silence added to the stillness and calm that the characters portrayed.

Keep your eyes out for other film festivals where this can be seen, or for it to be picked up for distribution.

 

Director: Paul Schwartz

Cast: Nelson Avidon, Tara Westwood, Patty McCormack, Kelly Deadman, Christina Toth, and Catherine Quirico

Selig Rating:  4 stars

Runtime: 1h 18m

Premier: Dances With Film New York – January 17, 2026, currently on festival circuit

Genre(s): Drama

 

The Selig Rating Scale:

5 Stars – Excellent movie/show, well worth the time and price.

4 Stars – Good movie/show

3 Stars – OK movie/show

2 Stars – Well, there was nothing else…

1 Star – Total waste of time.

SXSW FILM & TV FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 50+ ADDITIONS TO 2026 SLATE

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South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals unveiled today an additional wave of stellar programming for the upcoming 33rd edition of the Film & TV Festival, spanning March 12–18, 2026.

The 54 additional projects bring the line up to 107 Features including 82 World Premieres, 1 International Premiere, 5 North American Premieres, 6 U.S. Premieres, 12 Texas Premieres + 52 Short Films and 20 Music Videos. The TV Program includes 12 TV projects, with 4 TV premieres, 2 TV Spotlight and 6 Independent TV Pilots. There are 31 projects in the XR Experience Program, including 17 in XR Experience Competition, 13 in XR Experience Spotlight and 1 XR Experience Special Event.
“We’re thrilled to share more of our 2026 lineup,” said Claudette Godfrey, VP Film & TV. “We’ve assembled an extraordinary range of voices and visions: bold new filmmakers, high-profile studio premieres, gripping series, powerful documentaries, and stunning international cinema. Every year, I’m blown away by the caliber of talent that chooses SXSW to share their work and 2026 is no exception. These projects push boundaries, take risks, and demand to be seen live and in person. The magic of SXSW is our community and we’re counting down the days until we come together and celebrate with the most engaged, enthusiastic crowds around. See you in Austin!

SXSW brings together thousands of fans, creators, press, and industry leaders from around the world to celebrate inventive storytelling, cultural discovery, and boundary-pushing screen experiences. The event showcases the year’s most innovative and entertaining films, television, and XR projects, alongside hundreds of Conference Sessions, Music and Comedy Showcases, Creative Industry Exhibitions, Mentoring opportunities, Meetups, and Special Events that define SXSW as a premier cross-industry gathering.

Screening Categories

Feature films in the SXSW 2026 lineup screen in the following categories: Headliner; Narrative Feature Competition presented by Kickstarter; Documentary Feature Competition; Narrative Spotlight; Documentary Spotlight; Visions; Midnighter; Global presented by MUBI; 24 Beats Per Second, and Festival Favorite.

The TV program consists of TV Premiere, TV Spotlight, and the Independent TV Pilot Competition. The SXSW 2026 Shorts Film Program presented by Vimeo will consist of six competitive sections: Narrative Short Competition, Documentary Short Competition, Animated Short Competition, Midnight Short Competition, Texas Short Competition, and Music Video Competition. The XR Experience presented by Spectacles consists of the XR Experience Competition, XR Spotlight and XR Special Event programming rounds out the Film & TV Festival program. All Categories will be eligible for section-specific Audience Awards.

FILM PROGRAM

HEADLINER

Big names, big talent featuring red carpet premieres and gala film events with major and rising names in cinema.

Pretty Lethal (United Kingdom)

Director: Vicky Jewson, Producers: Kelly McCormick, Mike Karz, William Bindley, Piers Tempest, Screenwriter: Kate Freund

An action-packed thriller where five ballerinas, stranded in a remote forest, take shelter at an unsettling roadside inn. They must weaponize years of brutal training, turning grace, discipline, and even pointe shoes into tools for survival. Cast: Iris Apatow, Lana Condor, Millicent Simmonds, Avantika, Maddie Ziegler, Uma Thurman (World Premiere)

NARRATIVE SPOTLIGHT

Unforgettable features receiving their World, North American, or U.S. premieres.

Anima

Director/Screenwriter: Brian Tetsuro Ivie, Producers: Harrison Allen, Brian Tetsuro Ivie, Chloe Rahal, Alexander Lycette, Jason Pamer, Brev Moss

A young woman and an old man embark on a road trip to preserve his consciousness at an experimental facility. Cast: Sydney Chandler, Takehiro Hira, Marin Ireland, Lili Taylor, Maria Dizzia, Tom McCarthy, Emil Wakim, Maximilian Lee Piazza (World Premiere)

Basic

Director/Screenwriter: Chelsea Devantez, Producers: Marc Platt, Katie McNicol, Nadine De Barros

Gloria spirals through her boyfriend’s dating history, until she discovers the reason for all of their problems, his very basic, very hot ex, Kaylinn, who not only just stole Gloria’s boyfriend, but is about to take her entire story from her, too. Cast: Ashley Park, Leighton Meester, Taylor John Smith, Nelson Franklin, Kandy Muse, Ashley Nicole Black, Kenzie Elizabeth, Amber Ruffin, Jon Gabrus, Georgia Mishak (World Premiere)

Beast Race (Corrida dos Bichos) (Brazil)

Directors: Ernesto Solis, Rodrigo Pesavento, Fernando Meirelles, Producers: Fernando Meirelles, Andrea Barata Ribeiro, Vinicio Espinosa, Screenwriters: Ernesto Solis, Rodrigo Lages, Eva Klaver, Marco Abujamra

In the ruins of a dystopian Rio de Janeiro—a city fractured by class conflict and addicted to blood sport—a resistance leader is forced to enter a violent, high-stakes race to save his sister from a fate worse than death. Cast: Matheus Abreu, Rodrigo Santoro, Isis Valverde, Bruno Gagliasso, Thainá Duarte, Seu Jorge, Silvero Pereira, João Guilherme, Grazi Massafera, Anitta (World Premiere)

Chili Finger

Directors: Edd Benda, Stephen Helstad, Producers: Sam Sandweiss, Jo Henriquez, Screenwriter: Stephen Helstad

When a small town lawyer discovers a severed finger in her chili, she blackmails the restaurant for a cash payout in an effort to regain control over her mundane life. The situation quickly spirals out of control, and her life descends into chaos. Cast: Judy Greer, Sean Astin, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Madeline Wise, Paul Stanko, Sarah Herrman, Sara Sevigny, Dann Florek (World Premiere)

Crash Land (Canada)

Director/Screenwriter: Dempsey Bryk, Producers: Billy Bryk, Finn Wolfhard, Julian Geneen, Dempsey Bryk

Two amateur stuntmen try to make a “real movie” to prove their lives have meaning. They crash and burn. Cast: Gabriel LaBelle, Finn Wolfhard, Billy Bryk, Noah Parker, Abby Quinn (World Premiere)

Dreamquil

Director: Alex Prager, Producers: Elizabeth Banks, Max Handelman, Alison Small, Vincent Landay, Michael Mendelsohn, Screenwriters: Alex Prager, Vanessa Prager

Set in the near future, a woman returning from a virtual retreat discovers her worst nightmare when the helper robot sent to assist her family in her absence starts to infringe on her life and identity. Cast: Elizabeth Banks, John C. Reilly, Juliette Lewis, Sofia Boutella, Kathryn Newton, Lamorne Morris, Toby Larsen, Anna Marie Dobbins (World Premiere)

He Bled Neon

Director: Drew Kirsch, Producers: Nate Bolotin, Lucan Toh, Screenwriters: Tim Cairo, Jake Gibson

After discovering his brother’s death by overdose may have actually been a murder, Ethan returns to a world he left behind—the underbelly of Las Vegas—uncovering a web of corruption and his own appetite for violence. Cast: Joe Cole, Rita Ora, Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Paul Wesley, Josh Holloway (World Premiere)

Kill Me

Director/Screenwriter: Peter Warren, Producers: Nate Bolotin, Keith Goldberg, Natalie Metzger, Maxime Cottray, Mike Richardson, Charlie Day, Peter Warren

Jimmy didn’t try to kill himself. Or at least, he’s pretty sure he didn’t… With the help of a reluctant 911 operator, he sets out on a darkly comedic amateur investigation to solve whether he is being stalked by a killer or chasing himself. Cast: Charlie Day, Allison Williams, Giancarlo Esposito, Aya Cash, Jessica Harper, David Krumholtz, Tony Cavalero (World Premiere)

Normal

Director: Ben Wheatley, Producers: Marc Provissiero, Derek Kolstad, Bob Odenkirk, Screenwriter: Derek Kolstad

Director Ben Wheatley and John Wick creator Derek Kolstad pit a provisional sheriff against his constituents when the exposure of a small town’s sordid secret sparks a rip-roaring firefight. Cast: Bob Odenkirk, Henry Winkler, Lena Headey, Ryan Allen, Billy MacLellan, Brendan Fletcher, Reena Jolly, Peter Shinkoda, Jess McLeod, Derek Barnes (U.S. Premiere)

Poetic License

Director: Maude Apatow, Producers: Judd Apatow, Josh Church, Benjamin Hung, Thalia Daniel, Maude Apatow, Olivia Rosenbloom, Will Greenfield, Screenwriter: Raffi Donatich

Maude Apatow’s sharp and heartfelt debut feature, Poetic License follows a middle aged mother Liz, as she becomes the unexpected point of tension between Sam and Ari, two inseparable best friends and college seniors. Cast: Leslie Mann, Cooper Hoffman, Andrew Barth Feldman (U.S. Premiere)

Same Same But Different

Director: Lauren Noll, Producers: Dalia Rooni, Lauren Noll, Zein Khleif, Medalion Rahimi, Emily Reach White, Screenwriter: Dalia Rooni

An Iranian immigrant agrees to marry her boss’s son to stay in the U.S., but their simple green card wedding on Cape Cod gets complicated when her two Iranian best friends arrive with their own American boyfriends and cross-cultural baggage in tow. Cast: Medalion Rahimi, Logan Miller, Layla Mohammadi, Dalia Rooni, Richie Moriarty, Michael Baszler, Danielle Pinnock, Lauren Noll, Nicholas Coombe, Kevin Nealon, Joey Lauren Adams (World Premiere)

The Saviors

Director: Kevin Hamedani, Producers: Matt Smith, Dan Gedman, Nicholas Weinstock, Naomi Scott, Adam Scott, Divya D’Souza, Bradley Gallo, Michael Helfant, Screenwriters: Kevin Hamedani, Travis Betz

An estranged couple rents out their Airbnb, but soon start to suspect their guests might be plotting something nefarious. As the couple investigates, they rekindle their relationship and discover something stranger than they could have imagined. Cast: Adam Scott, Danielle Deadwyler, Theo Rossi, Kate Berlant, Nazanin Boniadi, Daveed Diggs, Ron Perlman, Colleen Camp, Greg Kinnear (World Premiere)

Sparks

Director/Screenwriter: Fergus Campbell, Producer: Lola Lafia

Urban legend has it that a Nevada reservoir is a time portal—the tease of which is enough to keep life exciting for the Crop, an aimless but spirited group of teenage best friends, until Cleo moves to town hell-bent on reaching 1960s Paris. Cast: Elsie Fisher, Charlie B. Foster, Denny McAuliffe, Madison Hu, Simon Downes Toney, Thomas Deen Baker, Julia D’Angelo (World Premiere)

Ugly Cry

Director/Screenwriter: Emily Robinson, Producers: Sophia Sabella, Pablo Feldman, Jolene Mendes, Rhianon Jones, Tristan Scott-Behrends, Emily Robinson

An actor loses their dream role because of their “ugly cry” causing them to spiral down the dark and dangerous path to perfection. Cast: Emily Robinson, Ryan Simpkins, Aaron Dominguez, Robin Tunney (World Premiere)

DOCUMENTARY SPOTLIGHT

Incredible features receiving their World, North American, or U.S. premieres.

Cornbread Mafia

Directors: Evan Mascagni, Drew Morris, Producers: Trevor Kane, Merry-Kay Poe, Evan Mascagni, Screenwriters: Sam Wagstaff, Evan Mascagni

Cornbread Mafia is the true story of the rise and fall of Kentucky farmers who built the largest domestic marijuana syndicate in U.S. history. Part true crime, part cartoon, a whole lot of weed. (World Premiere)

The Dads

Director: Luchina Fisher, Producers: Stephen Chukumba, Luchina Fisher

As anti-trans legislation and hostility escalate in the United States, a group of dads, building a nascent movement to support their trans and gender expansive kids, are forced to make an impossible choice: stay and fight or flee the country. Featuring Stephen Chukumba, Wayne Maines, Ed Diaz, Christoph Heinzer, Jose Trujillo, Frank Gonzales, AC Goldberg (World Premiere)

First They Came for My College

Director: Patrick Bresnan, Producers: Holly Herrick, Harry W. Hanbury, Patrick Bresnan, Zackary Drucker, Screenwriters: Ivete Lucas, Leah Marino

When the Governor of Florida transforms a beloved public honors college in a political coup, students and professors confront a new reality: their campus is ground zero in a growing nation-wide assault on academic freedom. Featuring Gaby Batista, Joshua Janniere, Libby Harrity, Lindsey Jennings, Dylan Niner, Amy Reid (Texas Premiere)

I Got Bombed at Harvey’s

Directors: Amy Bandlien Storkel, Bryan Storkel, Producers: Bo Butterworth, Karen Bowlin

1,000 pounds of dynamite. $3 million in cash. One casino at the edge of disaster. (World Premiere)

Manhood

Director: Daniel Lombroso, Producers: Kerry Mack, Rebecca Shaid

Manhood follows Dallas businessman Bill Moore as he sets out to make penis enlargement as commonplace as Botox. Along the way, an OnlyFans star and a father of five put their bodies—and their insecurities—on the line. Featuring William Moore, David Smith, Ruben Ramirez (World Premiere)

One Another

Director: Amber Love, Producer: Andrea Raby

As three of the filmmaker’s loved ones confront the possible end of close friendships, One Another follows their life changes, heartaches, and attempts to reconnect as they find a way forward. (World Premiere)

Serling

Director: Jonah Tulis, Producers: Leonardo DiCaprio, Phillip Watson, Jennifer Davisson, Chad A. Verdi, Michelle Verdi, Paul Luba, Chad Verdi Jr, Blake J. Harris, Screenwriters: Jonah Tulis, Blake J. Harris

The definitive and authorized documentary on Rod Serling, the creator of the iconic Twilight Zone. Featuring Rod Serling (World Premiere)

Summer of ’94

Directors: Dave LaMattina, Chad Walker, Producers: Christopher Leggett, Rafael Marmor, Marc Gilbar, Dave LaMattina, Chad Walker

When the World Cup landed in the U.S. in 1994, it arrived in a country with no league, no culture, and no clue. A ragtag group of players faced an impossible task: don’t embarrass their nation in front of the entire world. (World Premiere)

The Truth and Tragedy of Moriah Wilson

Director: Marina Zenovich, Producer: Evan Hayes

An intimate, arresting portrait of cyclist Moriah Wilson—raised by a fierce, loving family—whose singular drive becomes her superpower, carrying her to athletic brilliance and, devastatingly, toward a life cut short by murder. (World Premiere)

Your Attention Please

Director: Sara Robin, Producers: Dan Kennedy, Sara Robin, Screenwriter: Jack LeMay

A quiet revolution is underway: As AI reshapes every part of our lives, ordinary people are pushing back against addictive tech. Your Attention Please asks whether we are willing to reclaim autonomy and human connection before it’s too late. Featuring Kristin Bride, Trisha Prabhu, The Offline Club, Kevin McCaskill, Tristan Harris, Cal Newport, Vivek Murthy, Sherry Turkle, Frances Haugen, Laura Marquez-Garrett (World Premiere)

MIDNIGHTER

Exciting after-dark features for genre lovers and the terminally curious.

Hokum (Ireland, United States)

Director/Screenwriter: Damian McCarthy, Producers: Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, Derek Dauchy, Ruth Treacy, Julianne Forde, Mairtín de Barra

When novelist Ohm Bauman retreats to a remote inn to scatter his parents’ ashes, he is consumed by tales of a witch haunting the honeymoon suite. Disturbing visions and a shocking disappearance forces him to confront dark corners of his past. Cast: Adam Scott, Peter Coonan, David Wilmot, Florence Ordesh, Will O’Connell, Michael Patric, Siox C, Brendan Conroy, Austin Amelio, Ezra Carlisle (World Premiere)

FESTIVAL FAVORITE

Acclaimed standouts from festivals around the world.

American Doctor (United States, Malaysia, Qatar, Denmark, Palestine)

Director: Poh Si Teng, Producers: Poh Si Teng, Kirstine Barfod, Reem Haddad

When three American doctors–Palestinian, Jewish and Zoroastrian–enter Gaza to save lives, they find themselves caught between medicine and politics, risking everything to expose the truth. Featuring Thaer Ahmad, Mark Pearlmutter, Feroze Sidhwa (Texas Premiere)

Buddy

Director: Casper Kelly, Producers: Tyler Davidson, Drew Sykes, Raphael Margules, J.D. Lifshitz, Tracy Rosenblum, Screenwriters: Casper Kelly, Jamie King

A brave girl and her friends must escape a kids television show. Cast: Cristin Milioti, Delaney Quinn, Topher Grace, Keegan-Michael Key, Michael Shannon, Patton Oswalt (Texas Premiere)

Leviticus (Australia)

Director/Screenwriter: Adrian Chiarella, Producers: Samantha Jennings, Kristina Ceyton, Hannah Ngo

Two teenage boys must escape a violent entity that takes the form of the person they desire most — each other. Cast: Joe Bird, Stacy Clausen, Mia Wasikowska, Jeremy Blewitt, Ewen Leslie, Davida McKenzie, Nicholas Hope, Zahra Newman (Texas Premiere)

The Oldest Person in the World

Director: Sam Green, Producers: Alison Byrne Fields, Josh Penn

A decade-long global journey chronicles the ever-changing record holders of the title of oldest person alive. What begins as a portrait of longevity becomes a meditation on the passage of time, fate, and the profound human experience of being alive. (Texas Premiere)

Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story

Directors: Judd Apatow, Neil Berkeley, Producers: Judd Apatow, Neil Berkeley, Amanda Rohlke, David Heiman

A raw exploration of comic Maria Bamford who mines her own pain for comedy, blurring the line between performance and personal crisis. (Texas Premiere)

Rock Springs

Director/Screenwriter: Vera Miao, Producers: Stephen Feder, Kiri Hart, Charles D. King, Poppy Hanks, Greta Talia Fuentes, Jason Michael Berman, Matthew Lindner, Jordan Moldo, Vera Miao

After the death of her father, a grieving young girl moves to an isolated house in a new town with her mother and grandmother, only to discover there is something monstrous hidden in the town’s history and the woods behind their new home. Cast: Kelly Marie Tran, Benedict Wong, Jimmy O. Yang, Aria Kim, Fiona Fu (Texas Premiere)

The Shitheads

Director/Screenwriter: Macon Blair, Producer: Alex Orr, Brandon James, Nathan Klingher, Ford Corbett, Mark Fasano, Joshua Harris, Macon Blair, Dave Franco

When two unqualified bozos are hired to transfer a rich teen to rehab, their straightforward gig quickly spirals into dangerous mayhem. Cast: Dave Franco, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Mason Thames, Peter Dinklage, Kiernan Shipka, Nicholas Braun, Killer Mike (Texas Premiere)

Time and Water (United States, Iceland)

Director: Sara Dosa, Producers: Shane Boris, Elijah Stevens, Jameka Autry, Sara Dosa

Facing the death of his country’s glaciers and the loss of his beloved grandparents, Icelandic writer Andri Snær Magnason turns his archives into a time capsule to hold what is slipping away — family, memory, time and water. (Texas Premiere)

VISIONS

Audacious, risk-taking artists who demonstrate innovation and creativity.

Bagworm

Director: Oliver Bernsen, Producer: Zoe Rosenberg, Screenwriter: Henry Bernsen

After a sexually frustrated hammer salesman steps on a rusty nail, he must determine whether the world’s sudden and violent turn against him is real or the result of an infection consuming his body and mind. Cast: Peter Falls, Michelle Ortiz, Robbie Arnett, Corbin Bernsen, Stephen Borrello, Jessy Morner-Ritt, Sydney Winbush, Francesca Galassi (North American Premiere)

Beyond The Duplex Planet

Director/Producer/Screenwriter: Beth Harrington

In 1979, artist David Greenberger’s talks with senior citizens become a word-of-mouth hit ‘zine, The Duplex Planet. Four decades on, now a senior himself, he has much to tell us about the nature of art, conversation and growing old. Featuring David Greenberger, Penn Jillette, Louie Perez, Ed Ruscha, Michael Stipe (World Premiere)

Dead Eyes (Australia)

Director/Producer/Screenwriter: Richard E. Williams

After the death of his sister, Sean ventures into a remote forest with his friends to find his missing father, only to discover his grief has become the bridge between the living and the dead. Cast: Ana Thu-Nguyen, Mischa Heywood, Rijen Laine, Charles Cottier, Alea O’Shea, Stephen Phillips, Freya Callaghan, Lewis Smith (World Premiere)

Perfect

Director: Millicent Hailes, Producers: Nathan Scherrer, Tara Sheree, Tyler Payne, Liz Cardenas, Douglas Riggs, Millicent Hailes, Screenwriters: Millicent Hailes, Kendra Miller

In a world devastated by a contaminated water supply, a wealthy pregnant woman living in a beautiful and shabby lakeside resort in the California mountains encounters a younger woman who is starting her life over. Cast: Julia Fox, Ashley Moore, Lío Mehiel, Micaela Wittman, Ryder McLaughlin, Kate Moennig, Creed Bratton (World Premiere)

The Peril at Pincer Point (United Kingdom)

Directors/Producers/Screenwriters: Jake Kuhn, Noah Stratton-Twine

On a quest to prove his competency, an inept sound recordist finds himself entangled in a nautical prophecy on the spectral island of Pincer Point. Cast: Jack Redmayne, Alyth Ross, Os Leanse, Mike Mackenzie, Dashiell Upton, Jason Hogan, Mat Wright, Noah Stratton-Twine, Isobel Laidler, Oliver Woolf (World Premiere)

24 BEATS PER SECOND

Vibrant films showcasing the sounds, culture, and influence of music and musicians.

A Cowboy in London

Director/Producer: Jared L. Christopher

A Cowboy in London captures country renegade Charley Crockett’s first solo shows in years – three sold-out London nights where nerves, chaos, and triumph collide in an unguarded portrait of a star on the brink of global fame. Featuring Charley Crockett, Taylor Day Grace-Crockett, Joe David Walters, Simon Slater (Texas Premiere)

Agridulce (Bittersweet) (United States, Dominican Republic)

Director: Frank Pavich, Producers: Benjamin de Menil, Monica de Moya

An intimate portrait of four children coming of age and the role of music in their journey. The children tell their stories through Bachata, a once proscribed music that has become the Dominican Republic’s primary cultural export. Featuring Edickson Garcia Disla, Frandy Direze, Orianny Bonilla, Yerian Castillo, Carmen Bonilla, Enrique Garcia Zapata, Jose Villa Castillo, Michiline Julien, Nativida Disla, Martires de Leon (World Premiere)

Jack Johnson: SURFILMUSIC

Director: Emmett Malloy, Producers: Daniel Pappas, Tim Wheeler, Wyatt Daily

This intimate documentary traces Johnson’s evolution from surfer to filmmaker to world-renowned musician. Rare archives and present-day reflections reveal how lived experience, friendship, & exploration shaped the sound & stories behind the music. Featuring Jack Johnson, Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Gerry Lopez, Chris Malloy, G. Love, Ben Harper, John Florence, Tamayo Perry, Kim Johnson (World Premiere)

Lainey Wilson: Keepin’ Country Cool

Director: Amy Scott, Producers: Angus Wall, Terry Leonard, Kent Kubena, Thomas Tull, Jillian Share, Jason Owen, Jen Gorton

Follow Wilson as she redefines the modern country star, proving that staying true to yourself can lead to major success. The film explores her personal journey, struggles, and triumphs as she captivates fans on stages across the country. (World Premiere)

Mile End Kicks (Canada)

Director/Screenwriter: Chandler Levack, Producers: Matthew Miller, Pat Kiely, Julie Groleau

A 24-year-old music critic gets romantically involved with members of an indie band she decides to publicize, set against Montreal’s indie music scene in 2011. Cast: Barbie Ferreira, Devon Bostick, Stanley Simons, Juliette Gariépy, Jay Baruchel (U.S. Premiere)

Noah Kahan: Out of Body

Director: Nick Sweeney, Producers: Samantha Mustari, Dave Sirulnick, Stacey Reiss, Ryan Kroft, Vaughn Trudeau, Anna Keegan, David Blackman, Jeff Ludwig, Devon Libran

As Stick Season propels Noah Kahan into global stardom, he faces the pressure of what comes next. Buoyed by his uncanny wit, he returns to his Vermont roots and family and confronts the personal struggles that have left him out of sync with himself. (World Premiere)

The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel

Director: Ben Feldman, Producer: Marc D’Agostino

An in-depth look at the formative years of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the profound influence of original guitarist, Hillel Slovak. The film explores the band’s early evolution in LA and the deep bonds forged through their friendship. (World Premiere)

GLOBAL Presented by MUBI

Artful international films, featuring premieres, festival favorites, and more.

Thank you to our sponsor, MUBI: the global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema, from iconic directors to emerging auteurs.

Apolo (Brazil)

Directors: Isis Broken, Tainá Müller, Producers: Bianca Villar, Eduardo Rezende, Fernando Fraiha, Henrique Sauer, Karen Castanho, Tainá Müller, Thiago Mascarenhas, Screenwriters: Tainá Müller, Tatiana Lohmann, Ísis Broken, Lourenzo Duvale

As we follow Apolo’s pregnancy, we reflect on the drama(s) of a transgender couple: Isis Broken and Lourenzo Gabriel. The father is giving birth — and society is not prepared for it. Featuring Lourenzo Duvale, Isis Broken, Apolo Duvale (International Premiere)

Thanks for Nothing (Germany)

Director/Screenwriter: Stella Marie Markert, Producers: Luc Vincent Hinrichsen, Marcos Kantis

Ok, what would you do if your best friend tries to kill herself, another one is being deported, the third is in a manic episode, the fourth has stopped speaking, and your social worker is unsuccessfully trying to cover it all up from child services? Cast: Lea Drinda, Sonja Weißer, Safinaz Sattar, Zoe Stein, Jan Bülow (North American Premiere)

TV PROGRAM

TV PREMIERE

World premieres of prestige TV series premieres from acclaimed showrunners and directors.

The Dark Wizard

Directors/Screenwriters: Peter Mortimer, Nick Rosen, Producers: Halle Johns, Olivia Ahnemann, Zachary Barr

An unflinching portrait of Dean Potter, the influential and controversial climber, base jumper and highline walker, who achieves jaw-dropping feats while battling his inner demons. Featuring Dean Potter, Jen Rapp, Elizabeth Potter, Brad Lynch, Jim Hurst, Timmy O’Neill, Dean Fidelman, Dan Duane, Eric Perlman, Alex Honnold (World Premiere)

TV SPOTLIGHT

Exciting new series from around the world

The Comeback Season 3

Showrunner/Director: Michael Patrick King, Producers: Michael Patrick King, Lisa Kudrow, John Melfi, Dan Bucatinsky, Screenwriters: Michael Patrick King, Lisa Kudrow

20 years after the first season debuted in 2005, and 10 years after season two, the HBO original comedy series The Comeback, from Michael Patrick King and Lisa Kudrow, will return again for a third and final season. Cast: Lisa Kudrow, Dan Bucatinsky, Laura Silverman, Damian Young, Jack O’Brien, Ella Stiller (World Premiere)

They Called Us Outlaws – The Cosmic Cowboys, Honky Tonk Heroes and Rise of Redneck Rock

Showrunners/Producers: Eric Geadelmann, Kelly Magelky, Director/Screenwriter: Eric Geadelmann

What happened in Austin and in Nashville in the late 60s and early 70s was nothing less than a tectonic shift in country music. From Tennessee to Texas, musicians were breaking rules and flouting tradition in what the industry called Outlaw Country. (World Premiere)

XR EXPERIENCE presented by Spectacles

The immersive arts enhance and redefine how we experience the world. These projects emphasize ingenuity and storytelling across diverse industries.

XR Experience Spotlight

Masterful immersive art from around the world.

Dark Rooms (Denmark, Germany, Taiwan)

Directors: Laurits Flensted-Jensen, Mads Damsbo, Producers: Maximilian Mayrshofer, Chin Hsuan Sung, Gayatri Parameswaran, Felix Gaedtke, Screenwriters: Anne Sofie Steen Sverdrup, Laurits Flensted-Jensen, Mads Damsbo, Anjay, Trixie D., yaalioness, F.L.

“Dark Rooms” is an immersive documentary VR experience that immerses audiences in personal real life stories to explore sexuality, self-discovery, and connection in a judgement-free space. (U.S. Premiere)

Reality Looks Back (Denmark)

Directors/Producers: Anne Jeppesen, Omid Zarei, Screenwriter: Anne Jeppesen

Tactile immersive experience examining the bizarre presence of quantum duality in the context of mundane daily life (U.S. Premiere)

COMPETITION AWARDS 

The Narrative Feature Competition, the Documentary Feature Competition, and Special Awards will be announced on Wednesday, March 18 along with all the Short Film Program winners, which are eligible for Jury Awards within their respective screening categories, and XR Experience Competition. 2026 Special Awards include the SXSW Best of Texas Award, Redbreast Unhidden Award, Vimeo Staff Pick Award, Agog Immersive Impact Award, and the Janet Pierson Champion Award presented by Indiewire. All film categories, except Special Events, will be eligible for category-specific Audience Awards, which will be certified by the accounting firm of Maxwell Locke & Ritter and announced via sxsw.com the following week.

SXSW is proud to be an official qualifying festival for the Academy Awards® Short Film competition. Winners of our Best Animated, Best Narrative and Best Documentary Short Film categories become eligible for Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards (Oscars). Any British Short Film or British Short Animation that screens at SXSW is eligible for BAFTA nomination. Films are also eligible for the Independent Spirit Awards, more information on eligibility here.

DON McLEAN MARKS THE 55TH ANNIVERSARY OF “AMERICAN PIE” AS THE SURF BALLROOM ANNOUNCES A 2027 LIFE‑SIZE BRONZE STATUE HONORING THE ICONIC SINGER‑SONGWRITER

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Fifty‑five years after its release, Don McLean’s “American Pie” remains one of the most enduring anthems in American music — a sweeping, eight‑minute epic that captured a nation in transition and immortalized the phrase “the day the music died.” Today, as “American Pie” turns 55 (1971–2026), McLean is celebrating the milestone on tour while also helping propel a new chapter of preservation at the Surf Ballroom & Museum in Clear Lake, Iowa.

The Surf Ballroom — the National Historic Landmark where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson performed on February 2, 1959 as part of the Winter Dance Party tour — announced that a life‑size bronze statue honoring McLean will be erected on-site in 2027. The statue will stand as a permanent tribute to the songwriter whose work helped carry the story of that night into global cultural memory, bridging generations of listeners, historians and music fans.

The new statue is inspired from an existing life‑size bronze portrait created by acclaimed sculptor Zenos Frudakis (Philadelphia). Originally completed in 1989, the portrait was featured on the cover of McLean’s album ‘Classics’. Frudakis, an acclaimed portrait sculptor and lifelong friend of McLean, is known the world over for his statues of Muhammad Ali, Nina Simone, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and many more. He is creating an entirely new statue for public display at the Surf, adding a new landmark for visitors to the historic ballroom and its adjacent museum experiences.

The announcement comes on February 3 on the heels of the 2026 Winter Dance Party at the Surf — the anniversary of the 1959 plane crash that claimed the lives of Holly, Valens and Richardson — a date forever intertwined with McLean’s songwriting.

“The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation is thrilled that one of our most iconic ambassadors is being honored with a statue at The Surf Ballroom, the site of Buddy Holly’s final performance,” said Rick French, chairman of The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation and a national trustee of the famed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. “While American Pie was famously inspired by the plane crash that claimed the lives of Buddy, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson on February 3, 1959 , it has stood for more than half a century as an anthem to the cultural shifts of our country and is as relevant today as it has ever been.”

The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation (TBHEF) works to extend musical education — including songwriting, production, arranging, orchestration and performance — to new generations regardless of income or learning levels. The Foundation also supports emerging artists through mentoring and songwriting retreats, and its Ambassadors receive a replica of Buddy Holly’s own Gibson J‑45 to encourage new music in his memory.

“To this day Don remains one of Maria Elena Holly’s closest friends and she was overjoyed to learn a statue is being cast in his honor,” added Peter Bradley, Jr., vice chairman of The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation, who is working closely with McLean, his management team and Jeff Nichols at the Surf Ballroom to plan a blockbuster unveiling of the statue upon completion.

First opened in 1933 (and rebuilt in 1948 after a fire), the Surf Ballroom continues to host concerts and special events year‑round and welcomes visitors to explore the site’s museum offerings. In recent years, the Surf expanded its educational mission with new immersive experiences honoring the artists and cultural moments that shaped early rock ’n’ roll — ensuring that the ‘Winter Dance Party’ story is preserved not only as history, but as a living, visitable place.

DON McLEAN 2026 TOUR DATES (SUBJECT TO CHANGE):
Fri, Feb 06 — Lobero Theatre — Santa Barbara, Calif.
Sat, Feb 07 — Saban Theatre — Beverly Hills, Calif.
Fri, Mar 20 — Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee — Immokalee, Fla.
Sat, Mar 21 — Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts — Melbourne, Fla.
Sun, Mar 22 — Savannah Center — The Villages, Fla.
Mon, Mar 23 — Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre — Clearwater, Fla.
Sat, May 16 — Honeywell Center — Wabash, Ind.
Fri, May 22 — Edmond Town Hall — Newton, Ct.
Thu, May 28 — Riviera Theatre — North Tonawanda, N.Y.
Fri, May 29 — Caesars Circus Maximus Theater — Atlantic City, N.J.
Sat, Jun 06 — Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino — Las Vegas, Nev.
Sat, Aug 01 — Murphy Theatre — Wilmington, Ohio
Sat, Aug 22 — Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center — Indianapolis, Ind.

For tickets and the latest updates, visit DonMcLean.com.

Interview with Composer Irad Eshel

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Composer, producer and sound designer Irad Eshel spoke with our Gadi Elkon about music, inspiration and so much more!

Interview with Producer and Editor Ron Eigen

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Producer and Editor Ron Eigen talked with our Gadi Elkon about his latest projects with Filmmaker Andre Gaines, some highlights from his past work and even shared what’s coming up next!