BLUE HARBOR ENTERTAINMENT ACQUIRES DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS TO ‘KNOW YOUR PLACE' – FILM NEWS IN BRIEF

Blue Harbor Entertainment has acquired the distribution rights to writer and director Zia Mohajerjasbi's “Know Your Place,” a drama about change and loss in Seattle.

The film features all first-time actors and stars Joseph Smith and Natnael Mebrahtu. It follows Robel Haile (Smith), a 15-year-old Eritrean American boy, who sets out to deliver a huge and heavy suitcase across town destined for a sick family member in his parents' homeland. He and his best friend Fahmi Tadesse (Natnael Mebrahtu) embark on the errand together, when an unexpected turn changes the small task into an odyssey across Seattle.

Over the festival season, the film won several awards, including Golden Space Needle Audience award for best film and the New American Cinema Grand Jury prize at the Seattle International Film Festival.

“Know Your Place” will open in Los Angeles on Aug. 16 and will roll out regionally throughout the summer, opening in New York in the fall.

NewFilmmakers Los Angeles Opens Applications for NewNarratives Program

NewFilmmakers Los Angeles has opened applications for its NewNarratives program, which aims to recognize and support emerging global storytellers by providing them with financial backing and promotion. Applications for the program opened to NFMLA members Aug. 1, with a submission deadline of Aug. 29.

In honor of “The Butterfly Effect” producer Anthony Rhulen, the program remains committed to awarding $20,000 in cash grant funding. The grants will be distributed in the form of four $5,000 prizes to support projects in various stages of production, including short films, feature films, episodic series, documentaries, experimental works and animation. The grants may be used to aid in the costs of audience strategy, concept, early development, pre-production, production and post-production.

Detailed program and submission information can be found on the organizations’ website.

Tribeca Unveils August Membership Events, Including Film, TV and Audio Premieres

Tribeca has unveiled its membership events for August, which includes a lineup of exclusive film, television and audio premieres.

"After a banner Tribeca Festival in June, we are continuing the momentum through the summer with an exciting lineup of events exclusive to our Tribeca Members," said Cara Cusumano, Tribeca Festival director and SVP of programming. “We are thrilled to bring our Tribeca audiences and New York film fans these festival-style premieres all year long."

On the film side, members will get a first look at A&E's documentary "Ol' Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys," which chronicles the life of the Wu-Tang Clan founding member, JT Mollner's horror "Strange Darling" and So Young Shelly Yo's "Smoking Tigers,” which won Tribeca's Untold Stories program in 2022.

For TV and audio, members are invited to see the world premiere of "My Brilliant Friend" Season 4 at the New York Museum of Modern Art and the "Beyond the Booth" panel discussion at NeueHouse Madison Square on the state of the global DJing scene.

Gravitas Ventures Acquires Holiday Horror Flick ‘Down Below’ For North American Distribution

Gravitas Ventures has acquired Spyder Dobrofsky's holiday horror film “Down Below” for North American Distribution.

According to an official synopsis, the film takes place “on the 20th anniversary of the gruesome Christmas Eve murders at St. Agnes church,” a day that ushers the return of a deadly demonic preacher.

"We here at Gravitas are so honored to be able to bring ‘Down Below’ to North American audiences,” said Mark Silba, acquisitions manager at Gravitas. “With a stellar cast and such a unique mixing of the horror and mystery genres, we know this film will be a must-see for genre fans!”

Dash Dobrofsky produced the film under the High Stake Entertainment banner.

“Down Below” hits theaters on Oct. 1.

‘Spellbound’ Trailer: Rachel Zegler Embraces Her Monster Parents in Netflix Animated Musical

Rachel Zegler is hitting the voice acting world in “Spellbound,” a Netflix musical film from Skydance Animation. The animated film follows the adventures of Princess Ellian (Zegler), who goes on a quest to save her kingdom after a spell transforms her parents (Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem) into monsters.

The trailer sees Ellian try to wrangle her monster parents in, break them out of the cages the kingdom’s army has put them in and break the spell put on them. “Spellbound” is directed by Shrek co-director Vicky Jenson, scored by Alan Menken and features lyrics from Glenn Slater. The voice cast is rounded out by John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Nathan Lane and Tituss Burgess.

“Spellbound” debuts Nov. 22 on Netflix. Watch the official teaser trailer below.

Technicolor Group Branches Into Experiential Entertainment, Will Host AI Elvis Presley Experience

The Technicolor Group is expanding into the experiential entertainment sphere and is set to host an Elvis Presley experience in partnership with Layered Reality, a company that combines virtual reality with live theatre for immersive experiences. Approaching its 110th anniversary next year, the Technicolor Group’s exploration of experiential entertainment is led by The Mill, the group’s advertising and experience studio.

The partnership will bring Presley “back to life” using AI, VR, holographic projection and archival footage of him in their “Elvis Evolution” experience. The event is set to launch in London in March 2025.

Hollywood Professional Association Awards Committee Honors Film Laboratory FotoKem Charles S. Swartz Award

The Hollywood Professional Association Awards Committee has unveiled that film laboratory and post-production studio FotoKem will receive the organization’s Charles S. Swartz Award at the 19th HPA Awards gala Nov. 7. The ceremony be held at the Wolfe Theater at the Television Academy.

The award recognizes profound and lasting contributions to media. FotoKem is being honored for its role in supporting filmmakers, studios, cinematographers and artists across film and media landscapes.