Mariah Carey to Perform at This Year’s Lovers & Friends Fest in Las Vegas

Mariah Carey will be celebrating with lovers and friends…

The 52-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning singer will perform at this year’s Lovers & Friends Fest, presented by Usher.

Mariah CareyThe one-day only festival will take place on May 6 at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds; and it’s proving to be a star-studded smörgåsbord of nostalgia for Y2K natives and newcomers alike. The festival also recruited some 2010s and 2020s favorites for their 45-act festival.

In addition to Carey and Usher, featured artists and groups will include Christina Aguilera, Frankie J, Missy Elliott, Chris Brown, Nelly, Busta Rhymes, Flo Rida, Master P and No Limit Soldiers, Sean Paul, Shaggy, Beenie Man, Chris Brown, Ginuwine, Remy Ma, JoJo, En Vogue, Blackstreet, Jagged Edge, Next, Wayne Wonder, Kevin Lyttle, 702, Lumidee and many, many more.

The festival is perfectly positioned amidst the ongoing early 2000s obsession in popular culture, with TikTokers promoting over-the-ear headphones, low rise jeans, rhinestones and paper-thin brows–in other words, the Y2K starter pack.

This year’s Lovers & Friends will be promoted by C3 (Austin City Limits Music Festival and Lollapalooza), with general ticket sales available on loversandfriendsfest.com. Individual ticket prices range from $250 to $585.

Fernanda Andrade to Appear on Paramount+’s Crime Thriller “Finestkind”

It’s the finest hour for Fernanda Andrade.

The 38-year-old Brazilian actress and model has joined the cast of Paramount+’s crime thriller, Finestkind.

Fernanda AndradeAndrade joins an ensemble cast that includes Tommy Lee Jones, Ben Foster, Toby Wallace, Jenna Ortega, Aaron Stanford, Scotty Tovar, Tim Daly, Lolita Davidovich, Clayne Crawford, Meghan Leathers and Ismael Cruz Cordova.

Set in America’s biggest commercial fishing port of New Bedford, Massachusetts, Finestkind tells the story of two brothers (Foster and Wallace) from opposite sides of the tracks, who are reunited as adults over one fateful summer. When desperate circumstances force them to strike a deal with a dangerous Boston crime syndicate, a young woman (Ortega) finds herself caught in the middle. Along the way, sacrifices must be made, and bonds between brothers, friends, and a father (Jones) and his son are put to the test. Andrade plays Anne Marie, a great mom and loving wife to Cordova’s fisherman, Costa.

Brian Helgeland wrote and is directing the film, which will debut exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. later this year, becoming available for streaming in Australia, Canada, Latin America, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and South Korea when the service launches in those markets.

Andrade was recently seen on Disney+’s Moon Knight, and will soon recur on Showtime’s vampire drama series Let the Right One In, opposite Demián Bichir and Nick Stahl. The actress has also been seen on series including Next, Narcos: MexicoThe First, NCIS: Los AngelesHere and NowScorpion and Sons of Anarchy, among others.

Additional film credits include Lying and StealingDie Like Lovers and The Devil Inside.

Fernanda Andrade to Appear in Showtime’s Vampire Drama Series “Let The Right One In”

Fernanda Andrade is letting the right role in…

The 37-year-old Brazilian actress and model will appear in the new Showtime series Let The Right One In in a recurring role.

Fernanda AndradeAndrade, known for her work in Narcos: Mexico and Songs of Anarchy, will play Elizabeth, the spirited wife of Mark (Demián Bichir) and devoted mother of Eleanor (Madison Taylor Baez). Elizabeth’s love for her family motivates her to go to any length to protect them.

The roles has been recast. Andrade replaces Susan Santiago, who played the role in the pilot.

The vampire drama series is inspired by the bestselling 2004 novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist and its 2008 Swedish film adaptation. It’s described as an exploration of human frailty, strength, and compassion through an elevated genre lens.

It centers on Mark and his daughter Eleanor, whose lives were changed forever 10 years earlier when she was turned into a vampire. Locked in at age 12, perhaps forever, Eleanor lives a closed-in life, able to go out only at night, while her father does his best to provide her with the human blood she needs to stay alive.

Let the Right One In is produced by Tomorrow Studios. Bichir will serve as a producer on the series.

Andrade most recently appeared in Fox’s NeXt in the role of Shea Salazar. She also has credits in big and small screen projects including Sons of AnarchyScorpionNCIS: Los Angeles, and Narcos: Mexico.

Ivy Queen Releases New Single “Next”

Ivy Queen’s got Next

The 48-year-old Puerto Rican rapper/singer has released her latest single “Next,” as well as the song’s official music video.

Ivy Queen

Ivy Queen sings about a relationship that hasn’t been beneficial to her life.

“You didn’t teach me anything / Only that love hurts / You didn’t teach me anything / That’s why I’m going to forget you fast,” the song kicks off.

The infectious reggaeton track was co-written between Ivy and Peter Nieto and shares a woman’s perspective after a breakup.

“For men, saying ‘next’ is the easiest thing to do but when a woman wants to move on and begin dating, we are judged. That’s why ‘Next’ was born,” she tells Billboard.

In the simple yet metaphorical music video, Ivy Queen rocks a set of different glamorous outfits, including a long, silky light grey dress with glittery fringe and a matching pointy hat that represents a shark. The outfits in the clip pay homage to Ivy’s zodiac sign Pisces.

“The shark demands power and leadership,” she says. “When someone sees a shark, they know that there’s a halt. So, in other words, the boss is here. Mommy Shark.”

In true Ivy Queen fashion, “Next” oozes nothing but confidence and empowerment.

Her best advice for women to keep confident and positive after a breakup?

“It all starts with you,” she notes, “when you make the decision that a relationship is over and you’re ready to walk away and move on.” “I love that my songs encourage women. They have helped and inspired many people around the world,” she adds.

Next month, Ivy Queen will unite with the late Celia Cruz for an epic virtual performance at the Calle Ocho Live Festival, which is set to take place on October 4.

1091 & Obscured Pictures to Release Andrea Suárez Paz’s “Sister Aimee” in September

Andrea Suárez Pazis ready for her Sister act…

1091 (formerly known as The Orchard Film Group) and Obscured Pictures has acquired Samantha Buck and Marie Schlingmann’s Sister Aimee, starring the Mexican film and theater actress.

Andrea Suárez Paz

The film, which had its premiere in the NEXT section at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, will now hit theaters on September 27 at the Village East Cinema in New York and the Laemmle Glendale in Los Angeles ahead of a further rollout and a VOD bow on October 1.

The film, written and directed by Buck and Schlingmann, tells the mostly fictional story of the real-life early 20th century mega-star evangelist Sister Aimee Semple McPherson (played by Anna Margaret Hollyman), with the movie’s plot revolving around the media sensation faking her own death at the pinnacle of her fame to run away to Mexico with her married lover. In real life, the Foursquare Church founder was allegedly kidnapped and held captive for more than a month, but the actual facts of the case were never fully uncovered and no charges were filed.

In addition to Suárez Paz and Hollyman, the film also stars Michael MosleyJulie WhiteAmy Hargreaves, Blake DeLongJohn MerrimanLee Eddy, Macon BlairBill WiseNathan Zellner and Luis Bordonada.

“1091 couldn’t be more delighted to be partnering with the insanely talented filmmaking duo, Samantha Buck and Marie Schlingmann, to get Sister Aimee out into the world,” said Danielle
Digiacomo
, 1091’s SVP Acquisitions and Strategic Partnerships. “It is a film that, like the best of them, defies all definition – – genre-bending, hilarious, moving, layered, and simply unforgettable. We are so excited to bring the film to audiences and cannot wait for them to be
gobsmacked by such a unique vision.”

Fernanda Andrade to Star in Fox Drama Pilot “neXt”

Fernanda Andrade’s got next!

The 34-year-old Brazilian actress/model has been cast in the Fox drama pilot “neXt,” according to Variety.

Fernanda Andrade

She joins previously announced cast member Eve Harlow.

neXt is described as a fact-based thriller grounded in the latest A.I. research. It features a brilliant but paranoid former tech CEO who joins a Homeland Cybersecurity Agent and her team to stop the world’s first artificial intelligence crisis: the emergence of a rogue A.I. with the ability to continuously improve itself.

Andrade will play Shea, an FBIagent with the cybercrime division. Shea has overcome a troubled, sometimes violent past in her home country to become the youngest agent to run her own cyber division. 

Andrade recently appeared in The FirstNCIS: Los Angelesand Here and Now. She’ll also appear in Season 2 of Narcos: Mexicoon Netflix

Her other television credits include Sons of AnarchyScorpionand Kingdom.

Manny Coto, who previously worked on Fox shows like 24 and 24: Legacy, will write and executive produce neXtTwentieth Century Fox Televisionwill produce.

Silva’s “Nasty Baby” to Have Its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival

Sebastián Silva is planning to bring the nasty to next year’s Sundance Film Festival

The 35-year-old Chilean director’s latest project Nasty Baby will have its world premiere at the annual Utah-based film festival.

Sebastian Silva

Silva’s film will form part of the Sundance Film Festival’s NEXT lineup, which celebrates “pure, bold works distinguished by an innovative, forward-thinking approach to storytelling.”

Nasty Baby centers on a gay couple trying to have a baby with the help of their best friend, Polly. The trio navigates the idea of creating life while confronted by unexpected harassment from a neighborhood man called The Bishop. As their clashes grow increasingly aggressive, odds are someone will get hurt.

Silva directs and stars in the film, alongside Tunde Adebimpe, Kristin Wiig, Reg E. Cathey, Mark Margolis and Denis O’Hare.

Starting a week later than usual next year due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, the 2015 festival will run from January 22 to February 1.

Playing in Utah’s Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, 118 features were selected from 12,166 submissions, including 4,105 feature-length films and 8,061 short films. Officials then culled them down to the 2015 line-up with almost 30 countries represented and 45 first-time filmmakers, including 19 in competition.

Here’s a look at the first of the movies selected to be featured at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival with Latino talent:

U.S. DRAMATIC COMPETITION

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl / U.S.A. (Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, Screenwriter: Jesse Andrews) — Greg is coasting through senior year of high school as anonymously as possible, avoiding social interactions like the plague while secretly making spirited, bizarre films with Earl, his only friend. But both his anonymity and friendship threaten to unravel when his mother forces him to befriend a classmate with leukemia. Cast: Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler, Olivia Cooke, Nick Offerman, Connie Britton, Molly Shannon.

The Stanford Prison Experiment / U.S.A. (Director: Kyle Patrick Alvarez, Screenwriter: Tim Talbott) — This film is based on the actual events that took place in 1971 when Stanford professor Dr. Philip Zimbardo created what became one of the most shocking and famous social experiments of all time. Cast: Billy Crudup, Ezra Miller, Michael Angarano, Tye Sheridan, Johnny Simmons, Olivia Thirlby.

WORLD CINEMA DRAMATIC COMPETITION

The Second Mother / Brazil (Director and screenwriter: Anna Muylaert) — Having left her daughter, Jessica, to be raised by relatives in the north of Brazil, Val works as a loving nanny in São Paulo. When Jessica arrives for a visit 13 years later, she confronts her mother’s slave-like attitude and everyone in the house is affected by her unexpected behavior. Cast: Regina Casé, Michel Joelsas, Camila Márdila, Karine Teles, Lourenço Mutarelli. World Premiere

NEXT <=>

H. / U.S.A., Argentina (Directors and screenwriters: Rania Attieh, Daniel Garcia) — Two women, each named Helen, find their lives spinning out of control after a meteor allegedly explodes over their city of Troy, New York. Cast: Robin Bartlett, Rebecca Dayan, Will Janowitz, Julian Gamble, Roger Robinson. World Premiere

Nasty Baby / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Sebastian Silva) — A gay couple try to have a baby with the help of their best friend, Polly. The trio navigates the idea of creating life while confronted by unexpected harassment from a neighborhood man called The Bishop. As their clashes grow increasingly aggressive, odds are someone is getting hurt. Cast: Sebastian Silva, Tunde Adebimpe, Kristin Wiig, Reg E. Cathey, Mark Margolis, Denis O’Hare. World Premiere

Tangerine / U.S.A. (Director: Sean Baker, Screenwriters: Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch) — A working girl tears through Tinseltown on Christmas Eve searching for the pimp who broke her heart. Cast: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, Karren Karagulian, Mickey O’Hagan, Alla Tumanyan, James Ransone. World Premiere