Janus Films Unveils Trailer for ‘Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus’ Featuring Composer’s Final Performance – Film News in Brief

Janus Films has released the trailer for “Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus,” a documentary celebrating the composer’s life.

Sakamoto put on one final performance in late 2022, which was captured in a concert film featuring just him and his piano. He curated and sequenced the 20 pieces himself, with the selection spanning his entire career. This includes his pop-star period with Yellow Magic Orchestra, his scores for filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci and his final album, “12.”

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His son Neo Sora directed the film, which was executive produced by Jeremy Thomas. “Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus” will open on March 15 in New York at Lincoln Center, with a national rollout to follow.

Watch the full trailer below.

Oscar-Nominated Short Film ‘The Last Repair Shop’ To Make Television Debut

The Oscar-nominated short film “The Last Repair Shop” will make its television debut on ABC owned television stations and select affiliate stations on Saturday, Feb. 17. It will also be available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu.

“The Last Repair Shop” is co-directed by Kris Bowers and Ben Proudfoot. From Searchlight Pictures and the LA Times Studios, the short film focuses on “LAUSD’s unique free and freely repaired musical instrument repair shop, which helped launch countless illustrious careers and millions of music lovers.”

“This is a beautiful and moving film about how the gift of music, as experienced by people on both sides of the instruments, can affect and inspire people of all ages,” said Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum, presidents of Searchlight Pictures. “We are all so excited that ‘The Last Repair Shop’ has the opportunity to connect with audiences across the country and continues to garner such beautiful recognition from audiences and critics alike.”

“The Last Repair Shop” is also available to watch for free on the Los Angeles Times’ YouTube channel here and latimes.com.

See below for details on the film’s linear debut.

California
9:00 p.m. PST ABC7/KGO-TV San Francisco
9:00 p.m. PST ABC3/KESQ-TV Palm Springs
10:00 p.m. PST ABC7/KABC-TV Los Angeles
10:00 p.m. PST ABC30/KFSN-TV Fresno
10:00 p.m. PST ABC3/KEYT-TV Santa Barbara

North Carolina
12:00 a.m. CST ABC11/WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham

New York
12:00 a.m. EST ABC7/WABC-TV New York

Illinois
12:00 a.m. EST ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago

Pennsylvania
12:30 a.m. EST 6abc/WPVI-TV Philadelphia

Texas
12:20 a.m. CST ABC13/KTRK-TV Houston

Natasha Lyonne to Host Academy’s Scientific and Technical Awards

Presenting 16 awards during the evening, Natasha Lyonne will host the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Scientific and Technical Awards on Feb. 23 at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

A director, producer, writer and actor, Lyonne has received five Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nominations throughout her three-decade career. Her film credits include “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” “But I’m a Cheerleader” and “Slums of Beverly Hills.” She currently stars in, executive produces, writes and directs the series “Poker Face.” Lyonne also co-created, wrote, directed and starred in “Russian Doll.” Additionally, she directed and executive produced the stand-up special “Get on Your Knees” from Jacqueline Novak.

Up next, she executive produces and stars in the animated series “The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy.” She will also produce and star opposite Carrie Coon and Elizabeth Olsen in “His Three Daughters” from Azazel Jacobs. Lyonne produces under her banner, Animal Pictures.

Scientific and Technical Awards do not have to be developed and introduced during a specified time period, but rather they must demonstrate a proven record of contributing significant value.

‘Saltburn,’ ‘Poor Things,’ ‘Barbie’ Among SDSA Awards Winners

The Set Decorators Society of America has announced the winners of the SDSA Awards, recognizing excellence in the art of set decoration for films released in 2023.

This year’s winners of the five categories included “Saltburn,” “Poor Things,” “Barbie” and “Asteroid City.” “Poor Things” took home the prize for both achievement in decor/design of a period film and best picture, with “Saltburn” winning in the contemporary film category for decor/design. “Barbie” won in the fantasy or science fiction category, “Asteroid City” won in the comedy or musical category.

“Oppenheimer,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Maestro” and “Wonka” were among the other nominated films.

See the full list of winners and nominees below.

Best Achievement In Décor/Design Of A Contemporary Feature Film
“Saltburn” — WINNER
Set Decoration by Charlotte Dirickx SDSA with Production Design by Suzie Davies

Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Period Feature Film
“Poor Things” — WINNER
Set Decoration by Zsuzsa Mihalek with Production Design by James Price & Shona Heath

Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Fantasy or Science Fiction Film
“Barbie” — WINNER
Set Decoration by Katie Spencer SDSA with Production Design by Sarah Greenwood

Best Achievement in Décor / Design of a Comedy or Musical Feature Film
“Asteroid City” — WINNER
Set Decoration by Kris Moran with Production Design by Adam Stockhausen

Best Picture
“Poor Things” — WINNER
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, Set Decoration by Zsuzsa Mihalek with Production Design by James Price & Shona Heath

Focus Features Sets Release Date For ‘Dìdi’

Focus Features will release “Dìdi” in theaters on July 26, with Focus handling domestic distribution and Universal Pictures International handling international distribution.

Sean Wang’s feature directorial debut premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where it won both the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award and the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast.

The semi-autobiographical film, which Wang also wrote and produced, takes place in 2008 and follows a 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy the last month of summer before high school begins. He embarks on a coming-of-age journey that involves experiencing first love, befriending skaters, fighting with his older sister and gaining a newfound understanding of his mom.

The cast is comprised of Izaac Wang, Joan Chen, Shirley Chen and Chang Li Hua. The film is produced by Carlos López Estrada, Josh Peters, Valerie Bush and Wang.

“Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó,” Wang’s latest film, is currently nominated for best documentary short film at this year’s Oscars.

Gravitas Ventures Debuts Trailer for Musical Documentary “Killing Me Softly With His Songs”

Gravitas Ventures has unveiled the trailer for “Killing Me Softly With His Songs,” which will be available on Apple TV, Prime Video, Vudu, Google Play and YouTube on April 2nd. The musical documentary centers on the life and work of composer Charles Fox.

Fox is known for “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” “I Got A Name” and “Ready To Take A Chance Again,” as well as the television show themes for “Happy Days,” “Laverne & Shirley,” “The Love Boat” and “Wonder Woman.” Additionally, he is the composer of several salsa records that have reached international popularity.

Per the synopsis, the documentary follows “Fox’s life and career from the streets of the Bronx, to his education at the Fontainbleau music conservatory near Paris where he studied with the legendary composition teacher Nadia Boulanger … through his fabled career in Hollywood, and finally to Havana, Cuba where Fox ‘returns to his musical roots.'”

The film is interspersed with live music and features Anne Sila, Common, A.J. Croce, Henry Winkler, Paul Williams, Rita Wilson, Jason Alexander, Alexandre Desplat and Alain Boublil. Director Danny Gold wrote the film with Michael Mayhew. Gold and Taryn Grimes produced, with Mayhew editing. The photography was directed by Larry Herbst and Matthew Wachsman, and the music is by Fox.

See the full trailer below.

Lee Sung Jin, Takashi Yamakazi, Anderson .Paak Among Honorees at ASSC’s U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit and Game Changer Awards

The Asia Society Southern Calif. announced the honorees for its 14th U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit and Game Changer Awards at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.

“Beef” creator Lee Sung Jin, “Godzilla Minus One” director Takashi Yamakazi and producer Kenji Yamada, Anderson .Paak, Rina Sawayama and the cast and crew of “Warrior” will be honored as Game Changers for fostering cross-cultural connection and representation across music, TV and film.

Yamazaki and Yamada will also speak on a “Godzilla Minus One” behind-the-scenes panel. The panel titled “AWE (Asian Women Empowered): Changing the Game of Gaming” will feature Moonlit Beshimov (head of Google for games, Americas partnerships and global strategy), Eunice Lee (chief operating officer of Scopely), Jen Oneal (co-founder, head chef and CEO of Magic Soup Games) and Tricia Sugita (E-sports business expert, former chief operating officer at Cloud9 and former CEO at FlyQuest).

For the panel titled “Timeless Iconic: Japanese IP Driving Franchise Forward,” the panelists include Vincent Imaoka (Sega Toys’ chief of business development and licensing – Americas), Alexander Lee (head of licensing and brand partnerships at Toho International), Marlene Sharp (executive producer/head of creative development and production at Pink Poodle Productions) and Chiyako Slawinski (producer at Lightbeam Entertainment).

In connection with the Summit and Awards Dinner, ASSC will also hold its second Asian Women Empowered Luncheon, honoring CEO of Tetris Maya Rogers, chief operating officer of Crunchyroll Gita Rebbapregada and Michelle Sugihara, executive director of the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment.

‘John Wick Experience’ Coming Soon to Las Vegas

Lionsgate and AREA15 have partnered to launch the “John Wick Experience,” an immersive attraction in the Area 15 entertainment district of Las Vegas.

The ticketed attraction will span approximately 12,000 square feet. It will curate a collection of immersive experiences, interactive attractions, events and entertainment — blending “immersive theatre and highly themed cinematic environments to create an interactive journey that transcends reality.”

“Guests step through the doors of the Las Vegas Continental and into the fantastical underworld of ‘John Wick,’ where they navigate a high-stakes adventure as well as visit a themed bar and retail shop open to the general public,” according to the statement.

Each group of guests will be tasked with specific missions, playing out uniquely with characters, mythology and iconography from the universe, allowing guests to interact with Continental staff, assassins, crime bosses and more.

“One of the things I love about the ‘John Wick’ franchise is the idea that there’s a whole world of alliances and vengeance hiding in plain sight – all converging within the worldwide locations of the Continental,” Jenefer Brown, executive vice president and head of global products and experiences at Lionsgate, said in a statement. “This experience draws fans into that world like never before, and AREA15 is an ideal place for fans to live out the fantasy, action and danger portrayed in the films.”

This attraction comes as Lionsgate continues expanding the “John Wick” world, recently announcing a deal with Lionsgate and franchise director Chad Stahelski to assume creative oversight of the franchise across all multimedia platforms. In addition to the four hit films, the “John Wick” universe includes the television series “The Continental: From the World of John Wick” and the upcoming spinoff film “Ballerina,” starring Ana de Armas.

The experience is set to open later this year. You can check out their website for more information.

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