After premiering at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, Rebeca Huntt’s feature directorial debut, the documentary “Beba,” is now bound for a movie theater near you. Acclaimed on the festival circuit and poised for a summer sleeper release as only Neon can mount, this hypnotic portrait takes no prisoners and leaves no casualties in its director’s searching portrait of her own NYC-born, Afro-Latina roots.
The film will next screen at the Tribeca Film Festival before its nationwide opening, and follows Huntt as she undertakes an unflinching exploration of her own identity through the format of a cinematic memoir. Reflecting on her childhood and adolescence in New York City as the daughter of a Dominican father and Venezuelan mother, Huntt investigates the historical, societal, and generational trauma she’s inherited and ponders how those ancient wounds have shaped her, while simultaneously considering the universal truths that connect us all as humans.
The film will next screen at the Tribeca Film Festival before its nationwide opening, and follows Huntt as she undertakes an unflinching exploration of her own identity through the format of a cinematic memoir. Reflecting on her childhood and adolescence in New York City as the daughter of a Dominican father and Venezuelan mother, Huntt investigates the historical, societal, and generational trauma she’s inherited and ponders how those ancient wounds have shaped her, while simultaneously considering the universal truths that connect us all as humans.
- 5/12/2022
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Neon has acquired worldwide rights to “Beba,” the first film from New York Afro-Latina artist Rebeca Huntt. The documentary-memoir had its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, where it was hailed for its “originality, inventiveness and the urgency of Huntt’s voice,” Neon said in a statement.
The film, which weaves together music, 16mm film, poetry and interviews, will get a 2022 release from Neon. The daughter of a Dominican father and Venezuelan mother, Huntt, whose nickname is “Beba,” reflects on her childhood and adolescence in New York City while investigating the historical, societal and generational trauma she has inherited. Throughout the film, she searches for a way to forge her own creative path amidst racial and political unrest.
“Poetic, powerful and profound, ‘Beba’ is a courageous, deeply human self-portrait of an Afro-Latina artist hungry for knowledge and yearning for connection,” Neon said.
Huntt wrote and directed “Beba,” and produced with Sofia Geld.
The film, which weaves together music, 16mm film, poetry and interviews, will get a 2022 release from Neon. The daughter of a Dominican father and Venezuelan mother, Huntt, whose nickname is “Beba,” reflects on her childhood and adolescence in New York City while investigating the historical, societal and generational trauma she has inherited. Throughout the film, she searches for a way to forge her own creative path amidst racial and political unrest.
“Poetic, powerful and profound, ‘Beba’ is a courageous, deeply human self-portrait of an Afro-Latina artist hungry for knowledge and yearning for connection,” Neon said.
Huntt wrote and directed “Beba,” and produced with Sofia Geld.
- 10/2/2021
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
Rebeca Huntt reflects on identity and upbringing.
Neon has picked up worldwide rights from UTA Independent Film Group to recent TIFF world premiere Beba by New York Afro-Latina artist Rebeca Huntt.
‘Beba’: Toronto Review
The distributor plans a 2022 release on the feature, which weaves together music, 16mm film, poetry, and interview footage as writer-director “Beba” explores her identity and reflects on her childhood and adolescence in New York City as the daughter of a Dominican father and Venezuelan mother.
Huntt produced with Sofia Geld. Petra Costa, Alyse Ardell Spiegel, Alessandra Orofino, Joy Bryant and Inuka Bacote-Capiga are executive producers.
Neon has picked up worldwide rights from UTA Independent Film Group to recent TIFF world premiere Beba by New York Afro-Latina artist Rebeca Huntt.
‘Beba’: Toronto Review
The distributor plans a 2022 release on the feature, which weaves together music, 16mm film, poetry, and interview footage as writer-director “Beba” explores her identity and reflects on her childhood and adolescence in New York City as the daughter of a Dominican father and Venezuelan mother.
Huntt produced with Sofia Geld. Petra Costa, Alyse Ardell Spiegel, Alessandra Orofino, Joy Bryant and Inuka Bacote-Capiga are executive producers.
- 10/1/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Neon has acquired worldwide rights to Beba, the debut film by New York Afro-Latina artist Rebeca Huntt that recently made its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, earning rave reviews. The 16mm feature of poetry and interview footage will debut in 2022.
Huntt undertakes an unflinching exploration of her own identity in the coming-of-age documentary/cinematic memoir. Reflecting on her childhood and adolescence in New York City as the daughter of a Dominican father and Venezuelan mother, she investigates the historical, societal and generational trauma she’s inherited and ponders how those ancient wounds have shaped her, while simultaneously considering the universal truths that connect us all as humans. Huntt searches for a way to forge her own creative path amid a landscape of intense racial and political unrest as an Afro-Latina artist hungry for knowledge and yearning for connection.
Huntt wrote and direct and produced with Sofia Geld. Oscar nominee Petra Costa,...
Huntt undertakes an unflinching exploration of her own identity in the coming-of-age documentary/cinematic memoir. Reflecting on her childhood and adolescence in New York City as the daughter of a Dominican father and Venezuelan mother, she investigates the historical, societal and generational trauma she’s inherited and ponders how those ancient wounds have shaped her, while simultaneously considering the universal truths that connect us all as humans. Huntt searches for a way to forge her own creative path amid a landscape of intense racial and political unrest as an Afro-Latina artist hungry for knowledge and yearning for connection.
Huntt wrote and direct and produced with Sofia Geld. Oscar nominee Petra Costa,...
- 10/1/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Hot Sauce, the production company of actor Joy Bryant and writer-producer Samantha Taylor Pickett, has brought in producer Inuka Bacote-Capiga as SVP Development and Production. Hot Sauce launched earlier this year with a multi-year first-look deal at Sony Pictures Television and a mission to develop and produce universal stories from unique and original voices that span genre and culture.
Bacote-Capiga’s producing credits include the feature documentary Summer of Soul, which won the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award in the U.S. Documentary Competition at 2021 Sundance Film Festival. The doc was acquired by Searchlight Pictures and will debut on Hulu and in theaters in July.
She also produced the feature The 40-Year-Old Version, which garnered her an Independent Spirit Award nomination. And she co-executive produced the Daytime Emmy-winning LGBTQ series Eastsiders. Additionally, she serves as an affiliate of The Blackhouse Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding opportunities for diverse content creators.
Bacote-Capiga’s producing credits include the feature documentary Summer of Soul, which won the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award in the U.S. Documentary Competition at 2021 Sundance Film Festival. The doc was acquired by Searchlight Pictures and will debut on Hulu and in theaters in July.
She also produced the feature The 40-Year-Old Version, which garnered her an Independent Spirit Award nomination. And she co-executive produced the Daytime Emmy-winning LGBTQ series Eastsiders. Additionally, she serves as an affiliate of The Blackhouse Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding opportunities for diverse content creators.
- 4/26/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Oscar ballots will be in the hands of AMPAS voters on March 5, and they’ll have until March 10 to turn them in. All the predicting, theorizing and prognosticating have led to this crucial six-day period when the nearly 10,000 Academy members make their choices among the year’s achievements. As we head into this critical period, in a year defined by a global pandemic that has changed the way we look at cinema, we’re still reminded that movies are well worth celebrating.
Streamers provided access to some of the best films of 2020. This year, no matter what AMPAS ends up selecting as its nominees for the 93rd Academy Awards, most films will be widely available for consumers to watch before the ceremony. Cinema continues to evolve, and we can’t stop what’s coming. As with any true cinephile, my choices for what touched me from this extended eligibility are personally mine.
Streamers provided access to some of the best films of 2020. This year, no matter what AMPAS ends up selecting as its nominees for the 93rd Academy Awards, most films will be widely available for consumers to watch before the ceremony. Cinema continues to evolve, and we can’t stop what’s coming. As with any true cinephile, my choices for what touched me from this extended eligibility are personally mine.
- 3/4/2021
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Update: This story is being updated this week as the new longlists are unveiled. Today (November 20) the Best Documentary longlist has been published, see below.
Previously, November 17: Organizers of the British Independent Film Awards have confirmed their upcoming ceremony will delay from its traditional end-of-year dates to February, 2021, moving in line with this year’s major awards shows.
This week, the BIFAs will unveil its various longlists of awards, which will be whittled down to its final nominations, to be revealed on December 9.
Today, the New Talent awards longlists have been unveiled, featuring a total of 46 directors, writers and producers. Each of the below will participate in BIFA’s Springboard scheme, a tailored program of professional development and peer to peer support.
Best Documentary
The Art Of Political Murder Paul Taylor, Teddy Leifer, Regina K. Scully
The Australian Dream Daniel Gordon, Stan Grant, Sarah Thomson, Nick Batzias, Virginia Whitwell,...
Previously, November 17: Organizers of the British Independent Film Awards have confirmed their upcoming ceremony will delay from its traditional end-of-year dates to February, 2021, moving in line with this year’s major awards shows.
This week, the BIFAs will unveil its various longlists of awards, which will be whittled down to its final nominations, to be revealed on December 9.
Today, the New Talent awards longlists have been unveiled, featuring a total of 46 directors, writers and producers. Each of the below will participate in BIFA’s Springboard scheme, a tailored program of professional development and peer to peer support.
Best Documentary
The Art Of Political Murder Paul Taylor, Teddy Leifer, Regina K. Scully
The Australian Dream Daniel Gordon, Stan Grant, Sarah Thomson, Nick Batzias, Virginia Whitwell,...
- 11/20/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
The Inside Out LGBT Film Festival unveiled its juried winners today. The top accolades went to Faraz Shariat’s No Hard Feelings for Best First Feature and Aisling Chin-Yee and Chase Joynt’s No Ordinary Man for Best Canadian Feature. The winners were announced by Inside Out’s Executive Director Andria Wilson and the festival’s Director of Programming Andrew Murphy. The fest continues through October 11.
For the first time in the festival’s history, the awards were announced on opening weekend, allowing audiences the opportunity to view the films throughout the digital festival’s dates. Audience winners will be unveiled on October 12.
Read the full list of winners below.
Canadian Juried Awards
The jurors for the 2020 Canadian jury were Toronto-based Cinematographer Ashley Iris Gill, Canadian Screen Award-Winning actress Natasha Negovanlis, and writer, musician and educator Scott Jones.
Emerging Canadian Artist
Body So Fluorescent – Director, David Di Giovanni
Best Canadian Short
Swimmers – Director,...
For the first time in the festival’s history, the awards were announced on opening weekend, allowing audiences the opportunity to view the films throughout the digital festival’s dates. Audience winners will be unveiled on October 12.
Read the full list of winners below.
Canadian Juried Awards
The jurors for the 2020 Canadian jury were Toronto-based Cinematographer Ashley Iris Gill, Canadian Screen Award-Winning actress Natasha Negovanlis, and writer, musician and educator Scott Jones.
Emerging Canadian Artist
Body So Fluorescent – Director, David Di Giovanni
Best Canadian Short
Swimmers – Director,...
- 10/5/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
The 30th annual Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival has revealed its lineup for this year’s virtual edition which will also include drive-in and special events as it showcases 150 films and Nine episodic series. The fest was originally set for May but was pushed to October 1-11.
Inside Out’s Executive Director Andria Wilson and the festival’s Director of Programming Andrew Murphy unveiled the lineup for the 10-day festival which includes an exclusive conversation with talent from Netflix’s The Boys in the Band. Based on the Tony-award winning play, the new film stars Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells, Matt Bomer, Jim Parsons and is directed by Joe Mantello and produced by Ryan Murphy. The Boys in the Band debuts on September 30 and will be available for audiences to stream ahead of the conversation.
The festival will include a Special Presentation timed event screening of Ali LeRoi’s The...
Inside Out’s Executive Director Andria Wilson and the festival’s Director of Programming Andrew Murphy unveiled the lineup for the 10-day festival which includes an exclusive conversation with talent from Netflix’s The Boys in the Band. Based on the Tony-award winning play, the new film stars Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells, Matt Bomer, Jim Parsons and is directed by Joe Mantello and produced by Ryan Murphy. The Boys in the Band debuts on September 30 and will be available for audiences to stream ahead of the conversation.
The festival will include a Special Presentation timed event screening of Ali LeRoi’s The...
- 9/9/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Radha Blank overcomes failure as a playwright by reinventing herself as a rapper in Netflix’s first trailer for “The Forty-Year-Old Version.”
The footage starts with Blank teaching a playwriting class in New York City as one of “30 under 30 Playwrights to Watch.”
“Remember, if you put in nothing, it will be nothing,” she tells her students. In true New Yorker fashion, one of them snarkily asks, “Like your career?”
Blank, who won the U.S. dramatic competition directing award at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, helmed from her own script about a down-on-her-luck New York playwright who decides to salvage her artistic voice the only way she knows how — by becoming a rapper at age 40.
“What about me doing hip-hop?” she asks her friend, portrayed by Peter Kim. “Doing what to it?” he responds.
“The Forty-Year-Old Version” also stars rapper Oswin Benjamin, who makes his feature film acting debut, along with Imani Lewis,...
The footage starts with Blank teaching a playwriting class in New York City as one of “30 under 30 Playwrights to Watch.”
“Remember, if you put in nothing, it will be nothing,” she tells her students. In true New Yorker fashion, one of them snarkily asks, “Like your career?”
Blank, who won the U.S. dramatic competition directing award at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, helmed from her own script about a down-on-her-luck New York playwright who decides to salvage her artistic voice the only way she knows how — by becoming a rapper at age 40.
“What about me doing hip-hop?” she asks her friend, portrayed by Peter Kim. “Doing what to it?” he responds.
“The Forty-Year-Old Version” also stars rapper Oswin Benjamin, who makes his feature film acting debut, along with Imani Lewis,...
- 8/26/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Radha Blank is a failed playwright who turns to rapping in The Forty-Year-Old Version, out October 9th on Netflix.
Shot in black-and-white 35mm, the trailer opens with Radha, formerly one of Spotlight Magazine‘s “30 under 30 Playwrights to Watch,” teaching a playwrighting class in New York City. “Remember, if you put in nothing, it will be nothing,” she tells her students, to which one retorts, “Like your career?”
As she approaches 40, Radha has several hilarious encounters with white men who question her failed career and inquire what happened to her. She...
Shot in black-and-white 35mm, the trailer opens with Radha, formerly one of Spotlight Magazine‘s “30 under 30 Playwrights to Watch,” teaching a playwrighting class in New York City. “Remember, if you put in nothing, it will be nothing,” she tells her students, to which one retorts, “Like your career?”
As she approaches 40, Radha has several hilarious encounters with white men who question her failed career and inquire what happened to her. She...
- 8/26/2020
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
One of the darlings out of this year’s Sundance was “The Forty-Year-Old Version,” written, directed and starring newcomer Radha Blank about a 40-year-old playwright who turns to rapping after her career has stagnated.
The movie won the dramatic directing award for Blank at Sundance, and after the film was picked up by Netflix, it served as her own discovery story. In her rapping, she finds new life and a voice that should make even the millennials sit up and take notice.
“Why my skin so dry, why am I yawning right now, why those AARP n—ers sending s— to my house, this is 40,” she raps. She’s got some flow, but the movie finds some humor in the blank stares she gets when she tells people that she needs some “beats” and “tracks” and wants to make this a thing.
Also Read: 'The 40-Year-Old Version' Film Review: Radha...
The movie won the dramatic directing award for Blank at Sundance, and after the film was picked up by Netflix, it served as her own discovery story. In her rapping, she finds new life and a voice that should make even the millennials sit up and take notice.
“Why my skin so dry, why am I yawning right now, why those AARP n—ers sending s— to my house, this is 40,” she raps. She’s got some flow, but the movie finds some humor in the blank stares she gets when she tells people that she needs some “beats” and “tracks” and wants to make this a thing.
Also Read: 'The 40-Year-Old Version' Film Review: Radha...
- 8/26/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Netflix has acquired the worldwide rights to Radha Blank’s directorial debut “The 40-Year-Old Version” after its debut at the Sundance Film Festival, the streamer announced Wednesday.
The film, which was also written by Blank, stars Welker White, Reed Birney, T.J. Atoms, Doris McCarthy and Peggy J. Scott. Lena Waithe produced alongside Jennifer Semler, Jordan Fudge, Blank, Rishi Rajani and Inuka Bacote-Capiga.
The comedy is about a down-on-her-luck playwright who thinks the only way to get her life back on track is to become a rapper, at age 40.
Also Read: 'Spree,' With 'Stranger Things' Star Joe Keery, Picked Up by Rlje Films
Netflix has been relatively quiet at the festival this year, but the distributor did come to the festival with its own slate, including the Taylor Swift documentary, “Miss Americana.” Plus, the streamer acquired the rights to the documentary “Mucho Mucho Amor” before the festival even began.
The film, which was also written by Blank, stars Welker White, Reed Birney, T.J. Atoms, Doris McCarthy and Peggy J. Scott. Lena Waithe produced alongside Jennifer Semler, Jordan Fudge, Blank, Rishi Rajani and Inuka Bacote-Capiga.
The comedy is about a down-on-her-luck playwright who thinks the only way to get her life back on track is to become a rapper, at age 40.
Also Read: 'Spree,' With 'Stranger Things' Star Joe Keery, Picked Up by Rlje Films
Netflix has been relatively quiet at the festival this year, but the distributor did come to the festival with its own slate, including the Taylor Swift documentary, “Miss Americana.” Plus, the streamer acquired the rights to the documentary “Mucho Mucho Amor” before the festival even began.
- 2/5/2020
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Netflix has made official what Deadline first reported last Friday: The streaming giant has acquired global rights to Radha Blank’s Sundance premiere The 40-Year-Old Version which won the festival’s Directing Award-u.S. Dramatic last weekend.
A theatrical release is being planned for later this year. Deadline first reported that the deal is in the mid-to-high seven figures.
Netflix In Talks To Acquire Radha Blank’s ‘The 40-Year-Old Version
“It took years of trying to get this film made. It’s my love letter to NY and its struggling artists as well as the NY artistic institutions that raised me – Hip Hop and Theater. I made this film in the spirit of the great NY auteurs who came before me but from an angle not often seen. I’m so very proud of the artisans, many from New York, who helped me craft this movie with such loving and capable hands.
A theatrical release is being planned for later this year. Deadline first reported that the deal is in the mid-to-high seven figures.
Netflix In Talks To Acquire Radha Blank’s ‘The 40-Year-Old Version
“It took years of trying to get this film made. It’s my love letter to NY and its struggling artists as well as the NY artistic institutions that raised me – Hip Hop and Theater. I made this film in the spirit of the great NY auteurs who came before me but from an angle not often seen. I’m so very proud of the artisans, many from New York, who helped me craft this movie with such loving and capable hands.
- 2/5/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix is in negotiations to buy the worldwide rights to Radha Blank’s semi-autobiographical comedy “The 40-Year-Old Version,” sources have confirmed.
Blank directed, wrote, produced and stars in “The 40-Year-Old Version,” which premiered on Jan. 25 at the Sundance Film Festival. Peter Y. Kim, Oswin Benjamin, Reed Birney, Imani Lewis, Tj Atoms and Jacob Ming-Trent also star.
Blank portrays a down-on-her-luck New York playwright who decides to reinvent herself and salvage her artistic voice the only way she knows how — by becoming a rapper at age 40. This film follow its protagonist as she vacillates between the worlds of New York’s theater and hip-hop.
The film was shot on 35mm black and white film by cinematographer Eric Branco. “The 40-Year-Old Version” was selected for development at Sundance’s 2017 Screenwriters and Directors labs.
Besides Blank, producers include Lena Waithe, Jordan Fudge, Inuka Bacote-Capiga, Jennifer Semler and Rishi Rajani. Endeavor Content is handling sales.
Blank directed, wrote, produced and stars in “The 40-Year-Old Version,” which premiered on Jan. 25 at the Sundance Film Festival. Peter Y. Kim, Oswin Benjamin, Reed Birney, Imani Lewis, Tj Atoms and Jacob Ming-Trent also star.
Blank portrays a down-on-her-luck New York playwright who decides to reinvent herself and salvage her artistic voice the only way she knows how — by becoming a rapper at age 40. This film follow its protagonist as she vacillates between the worlds of New York’s theater and hip-hop.
The film was shot on 35mm black and white film by cinematographer Eric Branco. “The 40-Year-Old Version” was selected for development at Sundance’s 2017 Screenwriters and Directors labs.
Besides Blank, producers include Lena Waithe, Jordan Fudge, Inuka Bacote-Capiga, Jennifer Semler and Rishi Rajani. Endeavor Content is handling sales.
- 2/1/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Netflix is closing a world rights deal between mid- to high-seven figures for The 40-Year-Old-Version, the crowd-pleasing directorial debut of Radha Blank, who also stars in the film, wrote the script and produced with Lena Waithe, Jordan Fudge, Inuka Bacote-Capiga, Jennifer Semler and Rishi Rajani. The film is competing in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival, and it premiered last Saturday at the Library Theatre.
Loosely inspired by events in Blank’s life, a once-promising playwright is barreling toward the stigma of being single and a struggling artist at the age of 40. Facing nonstop rejections from the theatre community while teaching a motley group of teens, she becomes creatively re-invigorated when she returns to rapping, her long-forgotten passion. When her play finally gets going, however, she puts recording a rap demo on the back burner and must navigate the awful tension of compromising her voice for career success.
Loosely inspired by events in Blank’s life, a once-promising playwright is barreling toward the stigma of being single and a struggling artist at the age of 40. Facing nonstop rejections from the theatre community while teaching a motley group of teens, she becomes creatively re-invigorated when she returns to rapping, her long-forgotten passion. When her play finally gets going, however, she puts recording a rap demo on the back burner and must navigate the awful tension of compromising her voice for career success.
- 2/1/2020
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
The feature film lineup at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival has been unveiled, featuring 118 films. Among the highly-anticipated premieres we have Josephine Decker’s Shirley, Miranda July’s Kajillionaire, Eliza Hittman’s Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Janicza Bravo’s Zola, Kirsten Johnson’s Dick Johnson Is Dead, Brandon Cronenberg’s Possessor, Julie Taymor’s The Glorias, Dee Rees’ The Last Thing He Wanted, Sean Durkin’s The Nest, Michael Almereyda’s Tesla, Benh Zeitlin’s Wendy, and more.
Check out the list below and return for our coverage from January 23-February 2, 2020.
U.S. Dramatic Competition
Presenting the world premieres of 16 narrative feature films, the Dramatic Competition offers Festivalgoers a first look at groundbreaking new voices in American independent film. Films that have premiered in this category in recent years include The Farewell, Honey Boy, Clemency, Eighth Grade, Sorry to Bother You and The Miseducation of Cameron Post. 47% of the directors in this year’s U.
Check out the list below and return for our coverage from January 23-February 2, 2020.
U.S. Dramatic Competition
Presenting the world premieres of 16 narrative feature films, the Dramatic Competition offers Festivalgoers a first look at groundbreaking new voices in American independent film. Films that have premiered in this category in recent years include The Farewell, Honey Boy, Clemency, Eighth Grade, Sorry to Bother You and The Miseducation of Cameron Post. 47% of the directors in this year’s U.
- 12/4/2019
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
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