Noah Centineo to Serve as Member of Tribeca Festival Jury

Noah Centineo has joined the jury…

The Tribeca Festival, which gets under way on Wednesday in New York, has announced members of the jury, including the 27-year-old part-Puerto Rican actor, who will decide winners in 15 award categories.

Noah CentineoIn addition to Centineo, the jury roster also includes Brendan FraserStephanie Hsu, Zoey Deutch, Dianna Agron, Zazie Beetz, Kate Siegel, Mark Duplass, Stephen Kay, Nina Dobrev, Clea DuVall, Piper PeraboChance the Rapper, Jeremy O. Harris, Andrew Ahn and Chloe Grace Moretz.

Along with the competitive categories, the Nora Ephron Award will be presented in the memory of the filmmaker and writer.

While the festival removed the word “film” from its name several years ago to reflect its broad range of offerings in games, podcasts, music and other areas, the film slate has continued as an identifying aspect of the event.

This year’s U.S. narrative feature jury includes Hsu, Ramin Bahrani, Zoey Deutch, Mike Flanagan and Tommy Oliver; the international feature jury includes Fraser, Zazie Beetz, Alfredo Jaar, Shirin Neshat and Kate Siegel; and the documentary feature jury includes Mark Duplass, Adam Goldberg, Stephanie Linus, Alexandra Pelosi and Ryan White.

Award categories span narrative and documentary features and shorts as well as the immersive Storyscapes vertical, games and audio storytelling. Winners will be announced June 15. The festival runs June 7 to 18.

The Tribeca Festival was founded in 2001 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff. In 2019, James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems bought a majority stake in festival parent Tribeca Enterprises. After a year in virtual mode in 2020 due to Covid, the 2021 edition was the first North American festival to be held in person coming out of the pandemic. The last two Tribecas have unfolded in June, a change from the festival’s longtime berth in April. Organizers have indicated the new timing offers a lot of upside, including more favorable weather in New York, which helps with attendance and logistics for the many outdoor events typically on the schedule.

Alex Hernandez to Star in Amazon’s Upcoming Original Series “The Peripheral”

Alex Hernandez has real peripheral vision…

The 31-year-old actor is set to star in The Peripheral, Amazon’s upcoming original series from Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy’s Kilter Films.

Alex Hernandez

Hernandez joins a cast that includes Charlotte RileyJJ Field, Adelind Horan and T’Nia Miller. They’ll star as leads opposite Chloë Grace Moretz and Jack Reynor in the sci-fi thriller drama, based on the bestselling novel by William Gibson.

Created by Scott B. Smith, The Peripheral is described as a dazzling, hallucinatory glimpse into the fate of mankind — and what lies beyond.

The book centers on Flynne (Moretz) and her brother Burton (Reynor). In the novel, Burton, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps’ elite Haptic Recon force, is hired for a security job which takes place in what he thinks is cyberspace. When Flynne temporarily takes his place, she witnesses something that might have been murder.

Hernandez will play Tommy Constantine.

The Peripheral 
is produced by Amazon Studios and Warner Bros Television, in association with Kilter Films. Executive producers are Smith, director Vincenzo Natali, Nolan and Joy, Athena Wickham and Steven Hoban. Greg Plageman is executive producer and showrunner.

Hernandez appeared in the Sony feature Bloodshot, the first film of the Valiant Comics cinematic universe. He also recurs on Fox’s The Resident and can be seen in the second season of AMC’s The Son.

Hernandez also appeared in the third season of the Peabody-winning series Unreal and next will be seen in the upcoming Apple sci-fi thriller Invasion.

Trailer Released for Louis C.K.’s Latest Film “I Love You, Daddy”

Louis C.K.’s latest project may be a little too timely…

“A girl that age is getting into trouble, and if she loves her daddy, that means you’re doing nothing,” says the first trailer for I Love You, Daddy, the new film from the 50-year-old Mexican American comedian, filmmaker and television creator that is likely to be looked at quite differently now than when it debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Louis C.K.

The potentially jarring dark comedy is directed by Louis C.K., who also stars as Glen, a successful TV writer-producer-father who panics when his 17-year-old daughter China (Chloë Grace Moretz) starts spending time with a legendary movie director (John Malkovich) — who is sixtysomething and well known for dating “really young women.”

“She is a child — she knows nothing,” Glen says of his progeny. “She’s like a Disney princess on estrogen.

Conceived in 1940s Hollywood style and resplendent in vintage black-and-white, the film also features Helen Hunt as Glen’s combative ex-wife, Better ThingsPamela Adlon as his feisty ex-girlfriend, Edie Falco as his long-suffering production partner and Charlie Day as his brash TV actor buddy Ralph.

The Orchard swooped in with a distribution deal after the film’s well-received TIFF premiere screening last month and will release I Love You, Daddy on November 17.

 

 

Longoria Slams Donald Trump During Spirited Democratic National Convention Speech

Eva Longoria is speaking out against Donald Trump

The Democratic National Convention kicked off on Monday in Philadelphia with a wide variety of speakers, including the 41-year-old Mexican American actress and former Desperate Housewives star.

Eva Longoria

Before introducing Senator Cory Booker, Longoria criticized Trump for his comments about Mexican immigrants, for mocking a New York Times reporter with a disability, and for making numerous sexist remarks throughout his campaign and career.

She subsequently referred to Hillary Clinton as “the most qualified presidential candidate ever,” and pointed out that even the convention alone was making history in terms of diversity.

Longoria also repeated a call to action that she has delivered on a number of occasions on behalf of Clinton: “She’s been fighting for us for decades and now it’s time we fight for her.”

Longoria joined several other celebrities at the DNC, which promised to be a star-studded four days.

Others in attendance included Demi Lovato, who talked about her own battle with mental illness, America Ferrera and Chloë Grace Moretz, all of whom campaigned for Clinton.

Here’s the full transcript of Longoria’s speech:

“Hello Philadelphia! Oh man, I am so honored to be here tonight, and I am proud to say I’m with her!

You know, like many of you, this election is very personal to me. I’m from a small town in South Texas and if you know your history, Texas used to be part of Mexico. Now, I’m 9th generation American. My family never crossed a border — the border crossed us. So when Donald Trump calls us criminals and rapists, he’s insulting American families. My father is not a criminal or rapist. In fact, he’s a United States veteran.

When Trump cruelly mocked a disabled reporter, he was also mocking my special needs sister Lisa, and many like her. When he said that a wife who works is a very dangerous thing, he not only insulted me — he insulted my mother, who worked as a special education teacher for 30 years, raised four children while being a wife!

You know, I believe in the candidate who believes in all of us, and that candidate is Hillary Clinton. Hillary has spent her whole life fighting for all Americans, from healthcare reform to equal pay for women to gun safety to protecting the economy. She is the most qualified presidential candidate ever! She’s been fighting for us for decades and now it’s time we fight for her.

Now I’m very proud to be part of that fight, and I’m very proud to be here to introduce my dear friend Cory Booker, but before I do, I want you to take a look at your convention, Philadelphia. A Latina from South Texas is introducing the first black senator from New Jersey on the week we’ll nominate our first woman candidate for president of the United States! Pretty great. So guess what, Donald? It turns out America is pretty great already. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Sen. Cory Booker.”

Trejo to Participate in This Year’s Red Nose Day Special on NBC

It’s a Rudolph-like moment for Danny Trejo

The 72-year-old Mexican American actor, best known for portraying villains and anti-heroes, has signed on for NBC’s Red Nose Day Special.

Danny Trejo

The fundraiser, which aims to help lift kids out of poverty, will be broadcast live on May 26 from 9:00 – 11:oo pm ET on NBC.

The special, hosted by Craig Ferguson, features comedy, musical performances and short films that shed light on children in need here at home and around the world.

Also scheduled to make an appearance on the special are Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tony Hale, Iwan Rheon, Sterling K. Brown, Yvette Nicole Brown, Margot Robbie, Jane Lynch, Connie Britton, Jay Pharaoh, Mayim BialikEllen DeGeneres, Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson, Sarah Silverman, Tracy Morgan, Key & Peele, Anna Kendrick, Seth Rogen, Zac Efron and Ellie Kemper, along with Kristen Bell, Emma Watson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Rose Byrne, Blake Griffin, Emma Thompson, Chloë Grace Moretz, Steve Buscemi, Adam Devine and Ron Funches. Additional talent will be announced at a later date.

Created by Oscar nominee and Emmy-winning writer-director Richard Curtis, the idea of Red Nose Day was built upon the foundation that mass media and celebrities can help raise money and awareness of poverty to save and change millions of lives.

Red Nose Day has raised more than $1 billion globally in the last 25 years, and in the UK has become a cultural phenomenon where people across the country come together to have fun, raise money and change lives.

Red Nose Day launched in the U.S. in 2015, and raised more than $23 million, with the money now at work in all 50 states and 15 countries internationally through programs to keep children and young people safe, healthy and educated.

Lopez to Serve as a Presenter at This Year’s Academy Awards Ceremony

Jennifer Lopez has a date with Oscar…

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican actress, singer and American Idol judge has been added to the list of presenters for this year’s Academy Awards show.

Jennifer Lopez

Lopez, rose to acclaim after starring in Selena, has more than 25 films to her credit.

She joins a roster that includes the following new additons: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Chris Evans, Dakota Johnson, Chloë Grace Moretz, Eddie Murphy and Margot Robbie.

Previously announced presenters include Zoë Saldaña and Jared Leto.

Neil Patrick Harris hosts the 87th ceremony, which will air live on ABC on Sunday, February 22, from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Expanded Trailer Released for “Kick Ass 2,” Featuring Leguizamo’s Character

John Leguizamo is ready to kick arse

The 48-year-old Colombian American actor appears in the just-released Comic-Con red band trailer for Kick Ass 2.

John Leguizamo in Kick Ass 2

And by the look of things, the sequel to the cult hit promises to be as violent and profane-riddled as its predecessor.

The expanded trailer features never before seen footage, with the body count, blood, gore and even creative profanity more intense than the first film.

“We put (these characters) through a meat grinder in this one,” said director Jeff Wadlow.

Along with Leguizamo, the film stars Jim Carrey, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloe Moretz and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.

Kick Ass 2 opens nationwide on August 16.

New Trailer Released for John Leguizamo’s “Kick-Ass 2”

John Leguizamo is all suited up for his next project…

Another action-packed trailer has been released for the highly anticipated film Kick-Ass 2, which stars the 48-year-old Colombian actor.

John Leguizamo

In the sequel to the 2010 pseudo-superhero film Kick-Ass, the costumed high-school hero Kick-Ass joins with a group of normal citizens who’ve been inspired to fight crime in costume. The copycat do-gooders include the masked Colonel Stars and Stripes (portrayed by Jim Carrey).Meanwhile, the Red Mist plots an act of revenge that will affect everyone Kick-Ass knows.

Leguizamo, who portrays Javier in the film, joins a cast that includes Kick-Ass 2’s returning actors Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloe Grace Moretz and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.

Hayek Joins Hollywood’s Bright Stars for “Girl Rising” Documentary

Salma Hayek has joined forces with some of Hollywood’s brightest luminaries for a campaign aimed at educating and empowering underprivileged girls.

The 46-year-old Mexican actress has joined Kerry Washington, Selena Gomez, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Alicia Keys, Chloe Grace Moretz, Liam Neeson, Freida Pinto and Meryl Streep for a unique project entitled Girl Rising.

Salma Hayek

The celebrity-narrated documentary, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival, spotlights the impact access to education could have on the lives of young girls in developing countries — and their local economies.

The film, which follows nine girls in places like India, Peru, Haiti, Ethiopia and Cambodia, is directed by Oscar nominee Richard E. Robbins and is part of 10×10, a global campaign to educate and empower underprivileged girls. Currently, there are 66 million girls who are not in school.

“Many women around the world continue to struggle for equality in education,” Hayek said in a statement. “I hope Girl Rising raises the visibility on a global level for this fundamental issue.”

Girl Rising, which is still in post-production, will premiere on March 7 in New York and Los Angeles via CNN Films.

In addition, with the help of Gathr, a company that crowd-sources film distribution, Girl Rising could literally hit a theater near you. The process is simple: After registering with Gathr, moviegoers can request a screening of Girl Rising at a local theater. If enough people purchase advance tickets, the screening will take place. Click here for more details.

“I’m proud to be part of a film that brings stories about real-life heroines around the world to movie-going audiences,” Washington said in a statement. “Their examples of strength and perseverance, against all odds, have the power to change the world.”