Eiza González’s Heist Drama “Cut Throat City” to Open in Limited Theater Release Next Month

It’s a Cut Throatworld for Eiza González

The RZA-directed heist drama Cut Throat City, starring the 30-year-old Mexican actress/singer, will open in limited release on Friday, July 17.

Eiza González

Written by P.G. Cuschieri, the plot follows four childhood friends in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward who return after Hurricane Katrina to find their homes decimated, with no jobs and no help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Out of options, they reluctantly turn to a local gangster, who offers them one shot at turning their situations around – by pulling off a dangerous heist in the heart of the city. When the job goes bad, the friends find themselves on the run, hunted by two relentless detectives and a neighborhood warlord who thinks they stole the heist money.

The film was originally set to open in theaters April, but those plans were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Well Go USA and Patriot Pictureswill now release the film in 300 screens across the U.S. 

Demetrius Shipp Jr.Denzel WhitakerIsaiah WashingtonKat GrahamKeean JohnsonShameik Moore, and Tip T.I. Harris star in the film along with González, who portrays Lucinda Valencia, Ethan HawkeTerrence Howard and Wesley Snipes

The film was originally scheduled to have its world premiere at SXSW 2020.

The distributors have committed to donating a portion of the film’s proceeds to lowernine.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the long-term recovery of New Orleans’ historic Lower Ninth Ward.

Aracely Jimenez to Speak on Climate Change at SXSW

Aracely Jimenez is bringing a little Sunriseto the Lone Star State

With SXSW just weeks away, the annual confab has added more featured speakers and keynotes to the 34th edition of its conference which takes place March 13-22, including a climate change talk featuring the Latina activist and member of Sunrise Movement, which mobilizes young people to take action to combat climate change.

Aracely Jimenez

Jimenez’s panel, entitled Climate Justice and Unlearned Lessons of the Day the Levees Broke, will also feature The Atlantic’s staff writer Vann Newkirk and CNN’s chief climate correspondent Bill Weir.

Here’s the full list of additions:

Newly-announced SXSW 2020 Keynotes include:

  • “5 Ways You’re Killing Your Creative Potential” — Keynote with Chief Creative Officer of TBWA\Media Arts Lab Brent Anderson(Convergence)
  • “Are You Ready for the Future of Space Exploration?” — Keynote with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli, Tyler N. “Nick” Hague, and CNN Business writer Jackie Wattles(Convergence)

Newly-announced Featured Speakers and Sessions include:

  • Comedian, actor, creator and host of Adult Swim’s hit series The Eric Andre Show, and star of Bad Trip Eric Andre has joined a conversation with Academy Award-winning filmmaker and director of Apple’s upcoming documentary feature Beastie Boys StorySpike Jonze (Making Film & Episodics)
  • Performer and independent afrobeats artist Mr. Eazihas joined the Featured Session “The Path To Creative & Economic Freedom”, with CEO and Founder of Platoon Denzyl Feigelson(Future of Music)
  • Entrepreneur, fashion model and Kode with Klossy founder Karlie Kloss, and SAP Global Chief Marketing Officer Alicia Tillmanwith CNN Newsroom co-anchor and host of the CNN podcast BossFiles, Poppy Harlow(Tech Industry & Enterprise)
  • Journalist, writer, attorney and the host of MSNBC’s The Beat with Ari MelberAri Melberhas been added to a conversation with CEO and co-founder of 300 Entertainment and author Kevin Liles(Future of Music)
  • NBC News’ Today, co-host of The 3rd Hour of Today and anchor of MSNBC live Craig Melvin will be joining “Oxygen’s Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project” with Kim Kardashian West, #cut50 Co-Founder and Senior Counsel Jessica Jackson along with Momolu Stewart 
  • Wu-Tang Clan founding member, filmmaker and Cut Throat Citydirector RZA has been added to “The Black List Podcast” (Film & TV Industry), co-hosted by The Black List founder Franklin Leonard and Kate Hagen.
  • Entrepreneur, founder of Venture 4 America and former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang has been added to The Privacy Project at SXSW session with New York Times Opinion writer Charlie Warzel and contributing writer Kara Swisher.
  • The Big Picture Live: The Illusion of Identity with Frank Oz and Derek DelGaudio (Making Film & Episodics): RingerEditor-in-Chief Sean Fennessey sits down with filmmaker Frank Oz and writer/creator Derek DelGaudio.
  • Climate Justice and Unlearned Lessons of the Day the Levees Broke (Climate & Social Action): In this session, The Atlantic’s staff writer Vann Newkirk and CNN’s chief climate correspondent Bill Weir will share their reporting on issues of climate change, where vulnerable communities are increasingly on the frontlines. Joining the session is Aracely Jimenez of the Sunrise Movement, which mobilizes young people to take action to combat climate change.
  • A Conversation with the executive producers of Apple’s Little America with actor, writer, and producer Kumail Nanjiani; writer and producer Emily V. Gordon; Co-founder of Epic Magazine and film and television producer Joshuah Bearman in conversation with CNN anchor and host of At This HourKate Bolduan (Making Film & Episodics)
  • The Next Big Bets: Optimists’ Take on the Media Landscape(Media & Journalism): Hear from three leaders who are navigating a fast-changing industry with partnerships, creativity, community building — and making big bets. A conversation with Vox Media co-founder and CEO Jim Bankoff; renowned journalist turned podcast host and founder of Katie Couric Media, Katie Couric; NYU Marketing professor, founder of section4, bestselling author, and co-host of the Pivot podcast, Scott Galloway; and moderated by Hollywood Reporter editor Natalie Jarvey
  • A Starting Point (Government & Politics): A conversation about “a new civics engagement project aimed at helping to demystify politics while bringing our elected leaders closer to the communities they represent. Hosted by the organization’s co-founders: actor/director Chris Evans; Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated filmmaker/actor Mark Kassen; media & technology entrepreneurJoe Kiani; and executive producer and host of theTamron Hall ShowTamron Hall
  • Wondery Presents: The Success of Blood Ties and the Future of Scripted Drama (Making Film & Episodics): Wondery’s CEO and Founder Hernan Lopez and Chief Content Officer Marshall Lewy, and star of Blood Ties Gillian Jacobs in conversation with Hollywood Reporter Editor Natalie Jarvey

Lina Hidalgo to Speak at SXSW & The Texas Tribune’s “Conversations About America’s Future” Series

Lina Hidalgois ready to talk about America’s future…

The 29-year-old Colombian American politician and Harris County, Texas judge will take part in SXSW and The Texas Tribune Festival’s “Conversations About America’s Future” at this year’s SXSW conference and festival. 

Lina Hidalgo

The two-day series will take place March 14-15 at the Fairmont Austinas part of the SXSW Conference’s Government & Politics Track. SXSW kicks off on March 13 and continues through March 22.

This marks the return of the series, which will bring some of the nation’s best-known journalists together with top elected officials, political activists, and influential thought leaders — timely considering this is an election year. 

In addition to Hidalgo, the first woman and the first Latina to be elected to the position of Harris County Judge,guests slated to appear this year include Hillary Rodham Clinton,Anita HillGretchen CarlsonAndrew Yang, and more.

“The 2020 election is the most important election of our generation, and at SXSW our goal is to address the issues that affect the lives of all citizens,” said SXSW Chief Programming Officer Hugh Forrest. “We’re fortunate to have a young, diverse and engaged audience looking for solutions to the complex problems that face the next generation.”

The Government & Politics Track at SXSW aims to discuss issues that affect the lives of all citizens. Topics included include technology regulation, livable cities, privacy issues, and the challenges of maintaining civil engagement in the age of social media. These sessions will also address creating policies that encourage competition and economic growth while balancing legacy systems.

“Conversations About America’s Future” sessions include:

  • Former U.S. Secretary of State, Senator and First Lady of the United States Hillary Rodham Clintonin conversation with MSNBC political analyst and host of AM JoyJoy Reid
  • U.S. Representative and Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff, in conversation with NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent and host of MSNBC’s Kasie DCKasie Hunt
  • Former Chicago Mayor, ABC News contributor and author of The Nation City: Why Mayors are Running the WorldRahm Emanuel, in conversation with Recodeco-founder and editor-at-large Kara Swisher
  • Lawyer and Head of the Hollywood Commission to Eliminate Sexual Harassment and Advance Equality in the Workplace Anita Hill, in conversation with Politico senior Washington correspondent and Politico Playbookco-author Anna Palmer
  • Journalist, author and co-founder of Lift Our Voices Gretchen Carlson, in conversation with Glamoureditor-in-chief Samantha Barry
  • Former congressman and Democratic presidential candidate, and Powered By People founder Beto O’Rourkein conversation with The Washington Postnational political reporter and moderator ofWashington Weekon PBS Robert Costa
  • Entrepreneur, founder of Venture 4 America and former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yangin conversation with New York Timesmedia columnist Ben Smith
  • Four of the Lincoln Project’s founding members — independent political strategist Reed Galen, national political strategist Steve Schmidt, national political strategist John Weaver, and long-time Republican media consultant and author Rick Wilson— in conversation with CNN anchor and host of At This HourKate Bolduan
  • Justice Democrats spokespersonWaleed Shahid, Mayor of Stockton, California Michael Tubbs, and Harris County (TX) Judge Lina Hidalgoin conversation with TIMEnational correspondent Charlotte Alter, the author of The Ones We’ve Been Waiting For: How a New Generation of Leadership will Transform America
  • Washington bureau chief for The Daily BeastJackie KucinichNew York MagazineWashington correspondent Olivia Nuzzi, CNN senior congressional correspondent Manu Raju, andPoliticosenior writer and Politico Playbookco-author Jake Shermanin conversation with senior media reporter at NBC News and MSNBC and the author of Byers MarketDylan Byers
  • U.S. Representative Will Hurd, former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence in the Office of the DNI, Sue Gordonin conversation with editor-in-chief of The AtlanticJeffrey Goldberg

Roberta Colindrez to Star in Amazon’s Comedy Pilot “A League of Their Own”

Roberta Colindrez is in a league of her own

The 33-year-old Mexican actress has been cast as a series regular in Amazon’s comedy pilot A League of Their Own.

Roberta Colindrez

She joins a cast that includes Chanté AdamsKelly McCormackPriscilla DelgadoGbemisola Ikumelo and D’Arcy Carden, along with writer-executive producer Abbi JacobsonMelanie Fieldis set to recur.

The hourlong pilot, a fresh approach to Penny Marshall’s 1992 feature film of the same name, hails from writers/executive producers Jacobson and Will Graham and Sony Pictures Television

The show will follow brand new characters who embody the spirit of a generation of incredible women who dared to play professional baseball. The show begins with the formation of the All American Girls Professional Baseball Leaguein 1943 and follows our heroes as they fight to keep the League alive through close games, injuries, sexual awakenings and road trips across a rapidly changing United States.

Colindrez will portray Mita, a cool, calm and collected pitcher from the Texas ranch country, Mita’s got a killer poker face, on and off the field. She won’t reveal her secrets easily.

Delgado is Izzy. Straight from Havana, Izzy is the youngest, most enthusiastic Peach.

A League of Their Own is produced by Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television in association with Field Trip Productions

Colindrez has been a series regular on Starz’s Vida for the past two seasons and also recurred in seasons two and three of the HBO drama The Deuce. She was previously seen on Amazon comedy I Love Dick.Colindrez also recently starred alongside John Ortizand Judith Lightin Ms. White Light, which premiered at SXSWand won the audience award at the 2019 Torino Film Festival

Puerto Rican actress Delgado previously starred in Julieta, La chica de ayer and Paco’s Men. 

Dascha Polanco to Star in the Superhero Thriller “Samaritan”

Dascha Polanco is a good Samaritan…

The 37-year-old Dominican actress is set to star in MGM’s superhero thriller movie Samaritan

Dascha Polanco

Polanco joins a cast that includes Javon ‘Wanna’ WaltonSylvester StalloneMartin StarrPilou Asbækand Moises Arias.

Walton will play a young boy who’s out to discover if a mythic superhero, who vanished 20 years earlier following a tragic event, is still alive.

Julius Avery is directing from a screenplay by Bragi F. Schut, with additional writing by Mark L. SmithZak Penn, and Chuck MacLean

The story is based on Schut’s original idea. 

The film is scheduled for release on December 11 via United Artists Releasingwith Universal handling foreign. 

Polanco portrayed Dayanara Diaz on Netflix’s Orange is the New Blackfor seven-seasons and starred in Ava DuVernay’s 2019 Netflix limited series When They See Us. She’ll soon be seen in her first lead film role in Adrian Martinez’s indie dark comedy iCreep, and Warner Brothers’ adaption of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In The Heightsthis summer. Her additional credits include the FXanthology series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Storyand films including JoyThe Perfect MatchThe Cobblerand Gimme Shelter

Arias first made a name for himself as series regular on the Disney Channel hit original series Hannah Montana, and has since gone on to appear in several Sundance films including Kings of Summer, The Land and Stanford Prison Experiment. Last year, he appeared in CBS Films’ Five Feet Apart as well as the Sundance World Dramatic Competition Special Jury Award winner Monos and the SXSW opening weekend film The Wall of Mexico

Tubi Acquires Streaming Rights to Robert Rodriguez’s Sci-Fi Horror Film”Red 11″ & Companion Docuseries

Life is but a stream for Robert Rodriguez

Tubi has scored the exclusive streaming rights to the 51-year-old Mexican American filmmaker and visual effects supervisor’s sci-fi horror film Red 11as well as his docuseries The Robert Rodriguez Film School.

Robert Rodriguez

Red 11 is based on Rodriguez’s experiences in a medical research facility to finance his first feature El Mariachi

The film, which made its world premiere at SXSW and went on to play in the Directors Fortnightsection at the Cannes Film Festival, is set in the dark, twisted world of legal drug research. College kids turn lab rats to make quick money. The film’s protagonist Rob (who is assigned the color and number Red 11), is trying to buy his way out of a huge debt to the tune of $7K. But things get surreal when he’s not sure if the hospital is really trying to kill him, or if it’s side effects from the experimental drugs.

Red 11 will hit the free ad-supported streaming service in the U.S., Canada and Mexico this summer.

Robert Rodriguez Film School is the companion piece to Red 11that explains the director’s guerrilla filmmaking process, while speaking to filmmakers and entrepreneurs alike on overcoming the perceived limitations of time, budget and other variables.

“I’m thrilled to be partnering with Tubi to deliver Red 11and its accompanying Film School docuseries free of charge and easily accessible to all audiences,” said Rodriguez. “I made both Red 11and the Film School series to celebrate the 25th anniversary of El Mariachi, and this project shows truly actionable methods using my no crew, micro budget filmmaking style that will inspire others to make their own films and have their voices be heard. These are both dream projects of mine, an entertaining culmination of ideas and ruminations on the creative process that also highlight the heightened sense of spirituality that comes from dancing with creativity when there is an absence of the usual financial resources. In other words, ‘low budget fun.’”

Red 11 and the story of how Robert made this movie is inspirational to up-and-coming filmmakers,” said Adam Lewinson, Chief Content Officer, Tubi. “We are thrilled to amplify Robert’s message to the next generation of filmmakers as a part of our commitment to helping independent films find a wide audience.”

Tubi counts more than 20K movies and TV series – more than double the size of Netflix. This month it was announced that Tubi will launch in Mexico with TV Azteca, one of the two largest producers of Spanish-language TV programming in the world. 

Tubi is available on Hisensetelevisions, Android and iOS mobile devices, Amazon Echo ShowGoogle Nest Hub MaxComcast Xfinity X1Cox Contour, and on OTT devices like Amazon Fire TVVizio TVs, SonyTVs, SamsungTVs, RokuApple TVChromecastAndroidTV, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.

Jennifer Lopez to Take Part in Quibi’s Forthcoming Series “Thanks a Million”

Jennifer Lopez is paying it forward…

The 50-year-old Puerto Rican superstar is set to take part in Quibi’s forthcoming series, Thanks a Million, which will feature people literally paying it forward to those who’ve changed their lives. 

J.Lo joins a roster of participating celebrities that includes Kristen BellTracy MorganKarlie KlossAaron Rodgers and Alex Rodriguez.

Each of the celebrities will lead an individual episode of the series. More participants will be revealed at a later date.

Earlier in March at SXSW, Quibi founder Jeffrey Katzenberg announced the new series as part of their lineup. Each episode of Thanks a Million will feature grateful public figures kick-starting a chain of kindness by gifting $100,000 to an unsuspecting individual who has had a positive impact on their lives. The recipient must then pay it forward by gifting half of that sum to someone else who has done the same, and the chain continues. Across ten episodes, $1,000,000 will be put in the hands of everyday people.

Thanks a Million will be produced by Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions and Industrial Media’s B-17 Entertainment in association with Universal Alternative Television Studio. Lopez, Elaine-Goldsmith ThomasAlex BrownRhett BachnerBrien Meagher,Dena Waxmanand Benny Medinaserve as Executive Producers. 

Quibi is slated to launch April 6, 2020.

Venezuela Enters Patricia Ortega’s “Being Impossible” Into International Feature Film Oscars Race

Patricia Ortega has joined the Oscar race…

Venezuela’s National Film Auteurs Association (ANAC) has chosen the 42-year-old Venezuelan film director’s Being Impossible as the country’s submission in the international feature film Academy Awards category.

Patricia Ortega

Ortega’s second feature, following 2013’s El regreso, is the story of Ariel, a young seamstress who discovers she was submitted to several surgeries to correct her intersexual body as a baby, a revelation will confront her with the challenge of being an accepted woman or daring to be a free intersexual person.

A co-production between Venezuela’s Mandragora Films and Colombia’s Antorcha FilmsBeing Impossible premiered at Spain’s Valladolid Film Week (Seminci) and also played at SXSW and the Boston LGTB Film Festival, among others.

Venezuela first submitted an Oscar bid in 1978, but has yet to earn a nomination.

The 92nd Academy Awards are set to take place on February 9, 2020.

Eddie Alcazar’s “Perfect” to Have Its World Premiere at This Year’s SXSW Festival

Eddie Alcazar is preparing for a perfect night…

The world premiere of the Latino director’s sci-fi thriller Perfect, executive produced bySteven Soderbergh, is set for the South by Southwest Interactive Festival (SXSW).

Perfect

In Perfect, a boy in a cold and stark modern house in a vaguely science fiction world is seduced by advertisements of perfection to install implantable characteristics directly into his body. The implants heal his dark, twisted visions, but come with a corporeal cost. He persists on applying them, hoping to reach perfection, but ultimately discovers that purity of mind is not exactly as he’s imagined.

The film is produced by Alcazar and Javier Lovato for Brainfeeder Films, with Garrett Wareing, Courtney Eaton, Tao Okamoto with Maurice Compte and Abbie Cornish.

Alcazar previously directed Tapia for HBO, and FUCKKKYOUUUa Sundance selected short scored by Flying Lotus, which also did the music for Perfect.  

Jeanine Mason to Star on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” This Season

Jeanine Mason is officially on call…

The 26-year-old Cuban American actress/dancer has landed a role on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy.

Jeanine Mason

Mason, the winner of the 5th season of the Fox television show So You Think You Can Dance, will portray Sam, one of the six new interns at Grey Sloan Memorial hospital this season.

Mason previously starred as Merav in ABC’s short-lived biblical drama Of Kings and Prophets last year, and she also starred in Valerie WeissSXSW feature The Archer.