Gabriella A. Moses Signs for Representation with Gersh Agency

Gabriella A. Moses has new representation…

Gersh Agency has signed the Dominican-Guyanese American writer and director, an up-and-coming filmmaker whose debut feature Boca Chica is set to have its world premiere in the International Narrative Competition at the 2023 Tribeca Festival.

Gabriella A. MosesAn indie coming-of-age drama set in the Dominican Republic, Boca Chica follows Desi (Scarlet Camilo), a 12-year-old who spends her days dreaming of becoming a famous singer, finding her goal threatened by lies, the ever-presence of child prostitution, and looming, sinister betrayal from those who should protect her most.

Moses is on a mission to share stories with underrepresented protagonists that test viewers’ perceptions of identity and their imaginations.

Her work has received support from the Sundance Institute’s Creative Producing Lab, the Tribeca Film Institute’s All Access Lab and Creators Market, IFP/The Gotham’s No Borders Film Market and the Los Cabos Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund programs.

The Brooklyn-based artist, who graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, has participated in workshops including the Sundance Screenwriter’s Intensive, the NYWIFT From Script to Pre-Production” Workshop, Tribeca and Chanel Through Her Lens, the AT&T Untold Stories program and the annual Black List Screenwriters Lab, most recently being selected for the inaugural WScripted Cannes Screenplay List, the LALIFF & Netflix Inclusion Fellowship and The Black List Latinx List.

Moses’ El Timbre De Tu Voz won the Fresh Voices screenplay competition’s prize for Best Drama screenplay, also there claiming the Diversity & Inclusion and Culture & Heritage Awards.

The multi-hyphenate, who has also written and directed the shorts Sin RaícesMilkSticky Fingers and Las Mañanitas, continues to be represented by AAO Entertainment.

Colman Domingo to Star as Gay Rights Activist Bayard Rustin in “Rustin”

Colman Domingo is bringing the story of a gay rights activist to life.

The 51-year-old Guatemalan American actor will star as activist Bayard Rustin in Rustinthe first film production from Michelle and Barack Obama’s Higher Ground, which has a deal at Netflix.

Colman Domingo

Along with Domingo, the film will also star Chris Rock, Glynn Turman and Audra McDonald.

Turman previously starred alongside Domingo in the Oscar-nominated  film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

The George C. Wolfe directed film, which he co-wrote with Milk‘s Dustin Lance Black, tells the story of how Rustin overcame an onslaught of obstacles, and altered the course of American history by organizing the 1963 March on Washington.

Domingo’s previous credits include appearances on HBO’s Euphoria, and the films Selma, If Beale Street Could Talk and Zola.

Cynthia Lee Fontaine to Perform at Hurricane Relief Show for Puerto Rico “Queens United/ Reinas Unidas”

Cynthia Lee Fontaine is ready to lip sync for her tierra

The 36-year-old Puerto Rican drag performer and former RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant, whose real name is Carlos Hernandez, is set to perform at a drag benefit to raise funds for Puerto Rico.

Cynthia Lee Fontaine

Last month, fellow Drag Race star Phi Phi O’Hara announced the Hurricane Maria relief show, titled Queens United/ Reinas Unidas. Along with Fontaine, who competed on seasons eight and nine of Drag Race, the show will feature more than 25 queens of Drag Race fame, and will take place November 6 at First Avenue in Minneapolis.

Other Latina drag performers set to perform include Jade Sotomayor, Naysha Lopez and Yara Sofia.

Billboard will host an exclusive live stream from the show on its Billboard Pride Facebook page.

All proceeds from the show — tickets, meets and greets and merch sales — will go to Somos Una Voz, a relief initiative started by Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony. The foundation is rushing food, shelter, medicine, power and means of communication to Puerto Ricans in need after the island’s devastating natural disasters.

The full lineup includes: Acid Betty, Alexis Michelle, Bebe Zahara Benet, Bob the Drag Queen, Chad Michaels, Cynthia Lee Fontaine, Ginger Minj, Jade Jolie, Jade Sotomayor, Jaidynn Diore Fierce, Jessica Wild, Jiggly Caliente, Kandy Ho, Katya, Kimora Blac, Madame LaQueer, Manila Luzon, Mariah Paris Balenciaga, Max, Milk, Mrs. Kasha Davis, Katya, Mystique Summers, Naysha LopezOngina, Pandora Boxx, Phi Phi O’Hara, Phoenix, Trinity k. Bonet and Yara Sofia.

The show is sponsored by Flip Phone MSP, and O’Hara has launched a crowdfunding page as well.

Tickets are available for purchase here.

Luna to Serve on the Berlin Film Festival’s International Jury

Diego Luna is joining the judge’s panel… 

The 37-year-old Mexican actor, producer and director has been named to the Berlin Film Festival’s International Jury this year.

Diego Luna

Maggie Gyllenhaal, German actress Julia Jentsch, Tunisian producer Dora Bouchoucha, Iceland’s Olafur Eliasson and Chinese writer-director Wang Quan’an will join Luna to round out the jury that will decide who will receive the Golden and Silver Bears at Berlinale next month.

Dutch helmer-writer Paul Verhoeven will lead the jury as President.

Luna’s breakthrough role come with Alfonso Cuarón’s Y Tu Mamá También and he’s recently stared in Disney’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and has had roles in ContrabandMilk and The Terminal. His directorial debut Abel premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2010.

The Berlin Film Festival takes place February 9-19.

Luna to Star in Next “Star Wars” Feature, “Star Wars: Rogue One”

May the force be with Diego Luna

The 35-year-old Mexican actor, director and producer has landed a co-starring role in the next installment of the Star Wars feature series, Star Wars: Rogue One.

Diego Luna

The film, which will also star Felicity Jones and Ben Mendelsohn, will be released by Disney in December.

Luna, who directed and produced Cesar Chavez, also was part of the cast of Milk, Elysium, The Terminal and Y Tu Mama Tambien.

No word yet on the role Luna will portray in the film.

Luna to Star Opposite Elle Fanning in the Sci-Fi Film “IO”

Diego Luna has landed an out of this world role…

The 35-year-old Mexican actor has been cast opposite Elle Fanning in Clay Jeter’s sci-fi pic IO, a project that was developed at the Sundance Institute’s Writers Lab and Sundance Catalyst Forum.

Diego Luna

Jeter, who made the 2011 Sundance Film Festival pic Jess + Moss, wrote the script with Will Basanta and Charles Spano.

The character-driven IO, which is slated to begin production later this year, tells the story of a girl’s coming of age while examining the dangers of humanity’s current relationship with the planet.

Fanning will play the teen surviving as one of the last people on an abandoned post-cataclysmic Earth, who is racing to find a cure for her poisoned home world before the last shuttle off the planet to the distant human space colony leaves her stranded.

Luna, who rose to acclaim after starring in Y tu mamá también, will play a complicated and mysterious refugee on his way to the shuttle launch who makes her question whether she can really alter Earth’s fate.

“We are so excited for Elle to bring her charisma and fearlessness to the demanding role of the tragically obsessed idealist Sam,” said Jeter. “And Diego’s chameleon-like versatility makes him a perfect choice for the secretive and enigmatic Micah. I’m really looking forward to a creative collaboration with these incredibly talented and committed actors to bring the characters of IO to life.”

Luna’s film credits include roles in Rudo y Cursi, The Terminal, Elysium and Milk.

Bejo: From Oscar Nominee to Academy Member

She received her first Oscar nomination earlier this year for her scene-stealing role in The Artist… And now Bérénice Bejo will be helping select future Oscar nominees and winners.

Berenice Bejo

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has extended an invitation to the 35-year-old Argentinean actress to join the organization. Bejo—who has appeared in The Artist, OSS 117 and Cairo, Nest of Spies—is one of the 176 artists and executives to receive an invitation for their distinguished contributions to theatrical motion pictures.

But Bejo isn’t the only Hispanic artist to receive an invitation … Here’s a look at the other Latinos to make the list:

Actors
Demián BichirA Better Life, Che
Clifton Collins, Jr.Star Trek, Traffic
Diego LunaMilk, Y Tu Mamá También

Directors
Rodrigo GarciaAlbert Nobbs, Mother and Child

Music
Alberto IglesiasTinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Constant Gardener

Short Films and Feature Animation
Jonas Rivera
Up, Cars

”These film professionals represent some of the most talented, most passionate contributors to our industry,” said Academy President Tom Sherak. “I’m glad to recognize that by calling each of them a fellow Academy member.”

Those who accept the invitation will be the only additions in 2012 to the Academy’s roster of members.

New members will be welcomed into the Academy at an invitation-only reception in September.