‘True Detective: Night Country’ Episode 5 to Debut Early This Week Due to the Super Bowl (TV News Roundup)

Caroline Brew
·22 min read

The fifth episode of “True Detective: Night Country” will be available to stream early on Max beginning Feb. 9 at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT, in order to avoid the Sunday night streamroller that is the Super Bowl. The show will still get its HBO linear premiere on Feb. 11 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, opposite the Big Game.

Jodie Foster, Kali Reis, Finn Bennett and Fiona Shaw star in the series, with Christopher Eccleston, Isabella Star LaBlanc and John Hawkes rounding out the cast. Anna Lambe, Aka Niviâna and Joel D. Montgrand are guest stars.

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Issa López serves as showrunner, writer and director. Foster executive produces alongside Mari Jo Winkler, Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski and Mark Ceryak for Pastel. Chris Mundy, Alan Page Arriaga, Steve Golin, Richard Brown, Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Cary Joji Fukunaga and Nic Pizzolatto also executive produce.

FIRST LOOKS

Hulu has unveiled the trailer for the upcoming limited series “We Were the Lucky Ones,” starring Joey King and Logan Lerman. The show is set to debut March 28 with the release of three episodes.

Adapted from the novel by Georgia Hunter, the series is “inspired by the incredible true story of one Jewish family separated at the start of World War II, determined to survive and reunite. ‘We Were the Lucky Ones’ demonstrates how in the face of the twentieth century’s darkest moment, the human spirit can endure and even thrive. The series is a tribute to the triumph of hope and love against all odds.”

The rest of the cast includes Hadas Yaron, Henry-Lloyd Hughes, Amit Rahav, Sam Woolf, Michael Aloni, Moran Rosenblatt, Eva Feiler, Lior Ashkenazi and Robin Weigert.

Erica Lipez is the writer, executive producer and showrunner. Thomas Kail directs and executive produces alongside Jennifer Todd, who executive produces on behalf of Old 320 Sycamore. Adam Milch also executive produces and Georgia Hunter co-executive produces.

Watch the trailer below.

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Onyx Collective has announced that the upcoming drama series “Queenie” will premiere on Hulu on June 7 with the release of all eight episodes. First look images have also been revealed.

Based on the novel of the same name by Candice Carty-Williams, the series’ description reads, “Queenie Jenkins is a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman living in south London, straddling two cultures and slotting neatly into neither. After a messy breakup with her long-term boyfriend, Queenie seeks comfort in all the wrong places and begins to realize she has to face the past head-on before she can rebuild.”

Dionne Brown stars as Queenie. Samuel Adewunmi plays Frank and R&B singer Bellah plays Kyazike in her acting debut.

Carty-Williams is the creator, executive producer and showrunner. Steve November and Sarah Conroy of Further South also executive produce. Lisa Walters is co-executive producer and series producer.

View first look images below.

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HBO has released first look images for the fourth season of “We’re Here,” which will return on April 26 at 9-10 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. The six-episode season will have new episodes debut weekly.

Per the logline, Season 4 will follow “renowned drag queens, Sasha Velour, Priyanka, Jaida Essence Hall, and Latrice Royale, as they continue the show’s mission of spreading love and connection through the art of drag across small-town America. This season, the queens work with participants in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and Tulsa, Oklahoma, as well as in surrounding towns, and take an in-depth, immersive look at recent anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, and the effect it has had on the community.”

The series is created and executive produced by Stephen Warren and Johnnie Ingram. Director Peter LoGrego executive produces, along with Eli Holzman, Aaron Saidman, and Erin Gamble for The Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC), a part of Sony Pictures Television.

See first look images below.

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Showtime has released a teaser for the second half of Season 6 of “The Chi,” which returns on May 10 for Paramount+ subscribers with the Paramount+ with Showtime plan; it will be released on air on May 12 at 9 p.m. ET on Paramount+ with Showtime.

The series is described as “a timely coming-of-age story centering on a group of residents on the South Side of Chicago who become linked by coincidence but bonded by the need for connection and redemption.” The second half of this season promises that “no one is safe and everyone will be tested as never before over the course of the sixth season’s shocking last eight episodes.”

The cast for Season 6 includes Jacob Latimore, Alex Hibbert, Yolonda Ross, Shamon Brown Jr., Michael V. Epps, Birgundi Baker, Luke James and Curtiss Cook. There will also be a plethora of guest stars including Lynn Whitfield, Jill Marie Jones, Kandi Burruss, La La Anthony, Vic Mensa, Carolyn Michelle Smith, Jason Weaver, Iman Shumpert, Nia Jervier, L’lerrét Jazelle, Hannaha Hall, Ahmad Ferguson, Genesis Denise Hale, Joel Steingold, Judae’a Brown, Miriam A. Hyman, Tyla Abercrumbie, Tai Davis, Rolando Boyce and Tory O. Davis.

Lena Waithe is the creator and executive producer. Common also executive produces alongside Aaron Kaplan, Rick Famuyiwa, Derek Dudley and Shelby Stone of ID8 Multimedia, and Rishi Rajani, CEO of Waithe’s production company Hillman Grad.

Watch the teaser below.

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HBO has unveiled the trailer for the upcoming limited series “The Regime” starring Kate Winslet; the show is set to debut on the network on March 3 at 9 p.m. ET, and will also be available on Max.

The official description for “The Regime” reads, “The darkly comedic six-episode series tells the story of life within the walls of a modern authoritarian regime as it begins to unravel. After not leaving the palace for quite some time, Chancellor Elena Vernham (Kate Winslet) has grown increasingly paranoid and unstable when she turns to a volatile soldier, Herbert Zubak (Matthias Schoenaerts), as an unlikely confidant. As Zubak’s influence over the chancellor continues to grow, Elena’s attempts to expand her power eventually result in both the palace and the country fracturing around her.”

The rest of the cast includes Guillaume Gallienne, Andrea Riseborough, Martha Plimpton and Hugh Grant.

Will Tracy is the writer, showrunner and executive producer. Also executive producing are Frank Rich, Tracey Seaward, Winslet, Stephen Frears and Jessica Hobbs. In addition to Tracy, the writers are Seth Reiss, Sarah DeLappe, Gary Shteyngart, Jen Spyra and Juli Weiner.

Watch the trailer below.

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Apple TV+ has unveiled the trailer for the new comedy “The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin,” starring Noel Fielding as the legendary British highwayman. The first two episodes of the series premiere on March 1, with new episodes coming out every Friday through March 29.

“The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin” will see Dick Turpin embark on “a journey of wildly absurd escapades when he’s made the reluctant leader of a band of outlaws — and tasked with outwitting corrupt lawman and self-appointed thief-taker Jonathan Wilde (Hugh Bonneville),” per the release.

The ensemble cast is rounded out by Ellie White, Marc Wootton, Duayne Boachie, Bonneville, Tamsin Greig, Asim Chaudhry, Dolly Wells, Joe Wilkinson, Mark Heap, Geoff McGivern, Michael Fielding, Samuel Leakey and Kiri Flaherty.

Apple Studios and Big Talk Studios, part of ITV Studios, produce. The series was created by Claire Downes, Ian Jarvis and Stuart Lane. Kenton Allen, Big Talk Studios, Fielding, Victoria Grew, Big Talk Studios and Ben Palmer executive produce.

See the full trailer below.

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Apple TV+ has launched the first trailer for “Palm Royale,” which will debut on March 20 and stars Kristen Wiig, Laura Dern, Allison Janney, and Ricky Martin.

“‘Palm Royale’ is a true underdog story that follows Maxine Simmons (Wiig) as she endeavors to break into Palm Beach high society. As Maxine attempts to cross that impermeable line between the haves and the have-nots, ‘Palm Royale’ asks the same question that still baffles us today: ‘How much of yourself are you willing to sacrifice to get what someone else has?’ Set during the powder keg year of 1969, ‘Palm Royale’ is a testament to every outsider fighting for their chance to truly belong,” reads the series’ log line.

Rounding out the cast are Josh Lucas, Leslie Bibb, Amber Chardae Robinson, Mindy Cohn, Julia Duffy and Kaia Gerber. Carol Burnett is a special recurring star.

Loosely based on the novel “Mr. and Mrs. American Pie” by Juliet McDaniel and produced for Apple TV+ by Apple Studios, “Palm Royale” is written, executive produced and showrun by Abe Sylvia. It is executive produced by Laura Dern, Jayme Lemons, Kristen Wiig, Katie O’Connell Marsh, Tate Taylor, John Norris, Sharr White, Sheri Holman and Rock Shaink.

Taylor, Sylvia, Claire Scanlon and Stephanie Laing direct the series, which will premiere globally in March with the release of its first three episodes, followed by a new episode every Wednesday through May 8.

Watch the trailer here.

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Apple TV+ has dropped the Season 2 trailer for “The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy,” which returns March 8 with a two-episode premiere. Additional episodes will debut each week through April 12.

This seven-episode season will see Levy take on a ground tour of Europe, making his way from the north to the south of the continent. Per the release, “along the way, he unearths stunning hidden local gems, discovers his family tree and attempts to broaden his taste buds while experiencing the region’s most unique destinations along the way.”

Twofour produces “The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy” for Apple TV+. Levy, David Brindley, Nic Patten and Sara Brailsford executive produce.

See the full trailer below.

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Apple TV+ has dropped the first trailer for its new seven-part true crime series “Manhunt.”

Starring Emmy Award-winning actor Tobias Menzies and created by Emmy nominee Monica Beletsky, who also serves as showrunner and executive producer, the series is based on The New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-winning nonfiction book of the same name from author James L. Swanson.

“‘Manhunt’ is a conspiracy thriller about one of the best known but least understood crimes in history, the astonishing story of the hunt for John Wilkes Booth in the aftermath of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination,” read the series’ logline.

Anthony Boyle, Lovie Simone, Will Harrison, Brandon Flynn, Damian O’Hare, Glenn Morshower, Patton Oswalt, Matt Walsh and Hamish Linklater will star alongside Menzies.

Beletsky, Franklin, Layne Eskridge and Kate Barry executive produce. Emmy nominee Carl Franklin directed the first two episodes and is also an executive producer on the series. Swanson also serves as executive producer alongside Michael Rotenberg, Richard Abate, Frank Smith and Naia Cucukov.

The series will premiere globally on Apple TV+, with the first two episodes airing on March 15 and episodes debuting weekly on Fridays through April 19.

Watch the trailer here.

DATES

Hulu has announced premiere dates for several upcoming spring releases.

The limited series “Under the Bridge,” starring Lily Gladstone, will debut April 17. The description reads that the series “is based on acclaimed author Rebecca Godfrey’s book about the 1997 true story of fourteen-year old Reena Virk who went to join friends at a party and never returned home.”

The documentary “Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told” will premiere on March 21. It is described as “a celebratory exploration of the boisterous times of Freaknik, the iconic Atlanta street party that drew hundreds of thousands of people in the 80s and 90s, helping put Atlanta on the map culturally.”

The documentary “The Contestant” will be released on May 2. It tells the “true story of a Japanese reality TV star left naked in a room for more than a year, tasked with filling out magazine sweepstakes to earn food and clothing, prompts innumerable questions about our culture of oversharing.”

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FX has announced its spring lineup for new and returning series. First up, “American Horror Story: Delicate” Part 2 will premiere on Wednesday, April 3. The second half of the season consists of four episodes, with one airing every week.

Season 3 of “Welcome to Wrexham,” tracking Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s journey as soccer club owners, will debut on April 18 with the release of the first episode of the eight-episode season.

The documentary feature “The New York Times Presents: Broken Horses,” which explores systemic issues in horse racing, will premiere on Friday, April 26.

The spy thriller series “The Veil,” starring Elisabeth Moss and Yumna Marwan, will premiere with the release of two episodes on April 30, exclusively on Hulu.

“Clipped” (formerly “The Sterling Affairs”) debuts exclusively on Hulu on June 4, with the release of the first two episodes of a six-episode limited series. The show “takes you behind the scenes of a notorious NBA owner’s racist remarks, captured on a tape heard around the world.”

“American Horror Story,” “Welcome to Wrexham” and “Broken Horses” will also be available to stream on Hulu the day after their release.

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“Top Chef” will return to Bravo for Season 21 on Wednesday, March 20 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, taking place in Wisconsin. Subsequent episodes will air every Wednesday and be available to stream on Peacock the next day.

Season 10 winner Kristen Kish hosts this season of “Top Chef,” with Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons judging the 15 contestants. The chefs will be competing in Milwaukee and Madison, then boarding a cruise on the Holland America Line for the finale.

The “cheftestants” this season include Kaleena Bliss, Kevin D’Andrea, Alisha Elenz, Danny Garcia, Valentine Howell Jr., Dan Jacobs, Manny Barella Lopez, Savannah Miller, David Murphy, Kenny Nguyen, Laura Ozyilmaz, Charly Pierre, Amanda Turner, Rasika Venkatesa and Michelle Wallace.

The Wisconsin-based season will honor the state by featuring a cheese festival, a fish boil, an assignment celebrating Frank Lloyd Wright, and other Midwestern traditions.

Cheftestants can now vie for a cash prize during the Quickfire Challenges and immunity during the Elimination Challenges.

“Top Chef” is produced by Magical Elves. Executive producers include Casey Kriley, Jo Sharon, Doneen Arquines, Hillary Olsen and Tracy Tong.

GREENLIGHTS

Netflix’s first MLB documentary series following the Boston Red Sox during the 2024 season has been greenlit, in addition to a documentary on the 2004 Red Sox championship.

Debuting in 2025, the docuseries will offer Netflix unprecedented access to players, coaches and executives throughout the 2024 season. Greg Whiteley of One Potato Productions will executive produce and direct, with Andrew Fried and Dane Lillegard of Boardwalk Pictures also serving as executive producers.

The untitled documentary on the 2004 Red Sox championship, which will hit Netflix later this year, will feature interviews with key players and figures from the team that broke one of baseball’s longest curses, with the franchise winning more World Series in the last 20 years than any club in MLB.

Nick Barnicle, Colin Barnicle, John Skipper, Deirdre Fenton, Howard Bryant, Melody Shaffir, Nick Davis and Nick Trotta executive produce, while Colin Barnicle directs. Meadowlark Media produces.

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AMC Networks’ streaming platform Acorn TV and Channel 5 have announced the commission of “Ellis,” a new detective drama series. Acorn TV also announced new seasons of “My Life Is Murder,” “Recipes for Love and Murder,” “Harry Wild,” “Under the Vines” and “Whitstable Pearl.”

In the three-part series, Sharon D. Clarke will portray DCI Ellis, “a tenacious cop who is parachuted into failing investigations,” per the release. Each two-hour episode will follow Ellis and her right-hand man DS Harper (Andrew Gower) as they arrive at different police stations, where Ellis must win over local detectives and immerse herself in the cases. The release furthers that Ellis is used to being “dismissed and overlooked” as a Black female cop, but “she is a first-class murder detective, with a determination for justice and a deep well of compassion for those who need it.”

The series from Company Pictures in association with Northern Ireland Screen was commissioned for Acorn TV by Catherine Mackin, managing director of Acorn Media Enterprises. Mackin executive produces alongside AME’s director of development Bea Tammer. “Ellis” was ordered for Channel 5 by deputy chief content officer of Paramount UK Sebastian Cardwell and Commissioning editor of drama for Channel 5 and Paramount+ Paul Testar. Michele Buck and Lucy Raffety executive produce for Company Pictures with producer Chris Martin and writers Paul Logue and Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre. International distribution will be handled by All3 Media International.

“Ellis” is set to begin filming this spring in Northern Ireland and will air on Acorn TV and Channel 5 later this year.

PROGRAMMING

A new half-hour special “Dinner Party Diaries with José Andrés” will premiere on March 19, Prime Video and Amazon Freevee announced.

Andrés will invite guests Jamie Lee Curtis, Bryan Cranston and O’Shea Jackson Jr. over for food and conversation, as they join him to make Spanish-influenced recipes and laugh through the stories that inspire them.

From Amazon MGM Studios, “Dinner Party Diaries with José Andrés” is executive produced by Andrés, Richard Wolffe, Matthew Goldberg, Ellen Rocamora, Max Wagner, Ryan Schiavo and Michael Antinoro.

The special will premiere on Prime Video in the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Amazon Freevee in the United States and United Kingdom.

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“On the Roam,” an original Max documentary series starring Jason Momoa, has been renewed for a second season. The series, which was created by Momoa, is co-directed and executive-produced by Momoa and Brian Mendoza.

“‘On the Roam’ is an eight-part cinematic docuseries following Jason Momoa as he travels the country chasing art, adventure and friendship through the lens of craftsmanship,” reads the series’ Season 1 log line.

“It’s an absolute honor to work with Warner Bros. Discovery and Max on another season of ‘On the Roam,'” Momoa said in a statement. “It’s a dream come true! I put my heart and soul into this show, and I am thrilled to dive back into the untamed beauty of ‘On the Roam’ for another season – it will be an extraordinary adventure!”

Kyle Wheeler also serves as executive producer, and James Mendoza and Paris Herbert-Taylor co-produce.

Although a premiere for the second season is yet to be announced, the remaining two episodes of Season 1 will debut Thursday on the streamer.

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Keira Knightly’s “The Sound Collector” animated series will make its U.S. debut exclusively on the Kidstream streaming platform.

“As a viewer and a parent, The Sound Collector is a welcome relief for me. It’s a real hit with my own family – something 3 generations can sit down and enjoy together. I love the space it allows – every time we watch an episode, we feel soothed,” Knightly said in a statement.

Knightly stars as the narrator of the series, which was put together by the animation studio MacKinnon and Saunders. “The Sound Collector” is one of the first animated series to deal with the subject of a main character who is hard of hearing and wears hearing aids.

ITV first commissioned the series at the top U.K. Channel. Erica and Tom Angell of Eagle Vs Bat created and produced the series, with MacKinnon and Saunders handling the stop-motion animation.

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The CW’s motorsports documentary series “100 Days to Indy” will return for a second season in spring. The Penske Entertainment six-part series takes viewers behind the scenes and onto the track with the NTT IndyCar Series drivers as they prepare to compete for the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.

“We are thrilled to bring another season of ‘100 Days to Indy’ to The CW and continue to grow our portfolio of quality sports programming,” Heather Olander, head of unscripted programming at The CW, said in a statement. “Last season gave fans unprecedented access behind the scenes of IndyCar racing leading up to the biggest race of the year, the Indy 500. We featured Josef Newgarden’s journey to the Brickyard in Indianapolis to become last year’s Indy 500 winner. We look forward to another season riding along with the incredible drivers and capturing all the action leading up to this year’s race.”

This season will see reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Josef Newgarden return to defend his triumph against an abundance of generational talent on his heels, which includes rising star Pato O’Ward, former Indy 500 champion Marcus Ericsson and Series champion Alex Palou. The new season will kick off in March in St. Petersburgh, Florida, before arriving in the Southern Calif. desert for a new $1 million challenge at the Thermal Club.

The series is produced by Penske Entertainment (which is unrelated to Variety owner PMC). Patrick Dimon and Adam Marinelli serve as co-executive producers.

EXECUTIVE NEWS

Peabody has revealed that Karey Burke, Kathryn Busby, Nicole Clemens and Jamie Waldron have been added to its West Coast Board of Directors while Ali Zelenko will join its East Coast Board of Directors. David Kramer has been promoted to chair of the West Coast Board of Directors, in place of Bruce M. Ramer.

“We are thrilled to welcome Karey, Kathryn, Nicole, Jamie, and Ali, a remarkably accomplished group of story developers and media strategists, to the Peabody Board of Directors” said Jeffrey Jones, executive director of Peabody. “Alongside the rest of our incredible Board members, we know they will leverage their invaluable wisdom and experience to help us champion the powerful stories and emerging voices. We are also grateful for Bruce’s stellar leadership of the West Coast Board and look forward to having David guiding us through our next chapter.”

The board of directors is distinct from the board of jurors who bestow the Peabody Awards “for stories that powerfully reflect the pressing social issues and the vibrant emerging voices of our day.” This year’s Peabody Awards will be held on June 9 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

DEALS

Asylum Entertainment Group will invest in production company Soho Studios Entertainment, which is helmed by co-founder and chief creative officer Ian Lamarra, along with co-founding directors Paul Sandler and Francis Ridley. Asylum’s strategic investment in Soho Studios Entertainment will accelerate Asylum’s international strategy and fuel the growth of both businesses.

Soho Studios Entertainment, which has offices in London and Glasgow, specializes in creating a diverse blend of international IP. Its entertainment slate includes Marcel Theroux’s two-part true-crime series “The Playboy Bunny Murder” (ITV) and “Tim’s Listening Party,” a podcast headlined by Tim Burgess of the Charlatans. The production house recently began development on a new podcast with Jonny Owen and his wife Vicky McClurem who was recently honored as a Member of the Order of the British Empire by King Charles III.

Prior to launching Soho Studios Entertainment, Lamarra co-founded and acted as creative director at Alaska TV, developing and selling several series and films such as “Spy Wars,” “In the Footsteps of Killers” and “Donovan and The Beatles In India.”

Sandler previous served as managing director and chief operating officer at several production companies. He executive produced a variety of TV shows and produced stage shows in London’s West End and nationally. Ridley also serves as the CEO of Money Group Entertainment, which owns a number of U.K. companies within the entertainment industry.

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Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment will form a joint venture with Swirl Films to relaunch the FrightPIX streaming channel as a free ad-supported streaming television channel (FAST) and YouTube channel and offer it through other connected platforms.

A horror-film-centered channel, FrightPIX offers everything from zombie films to thrillers and feature-length horror films.

As per the terms of the venture, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment will provide content from its Screen Media Ventures division, while Swirl Films will produce exclusive, original content for FrightPIX and manage the channel itself.

“As a consistent producer of thrilling content for networks, partnering with Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment on FrightPIX and having our own platform is a dream,” Eric Tomosunas, CEO of Swirl Films/FrightPIX LLC, said in a statement. “FrightPIX allows us to continue to expand our content offerings and gives us the unique advantage to leverage our ability to produce quality content at lower price points for our platform.”

The deal comes after the recently announced Fuel TV joint venture. It is the next in a series of partnerships that sees Chicken Soup hoping to drive 2024 revenues for existing properties it already owns through the use and expertise of third parties like Swirl Films.

INITIATIVES

The Allen Media Group platform theGrio has launched the inaugural Emerging Filmmaker Fellowship in honor of Black History Month. The annual initiative aims to provide a platform for Black filmmakers to share their narratives with a global audience, offering a distribution award and a finishing stipend for a distinguished project centering the Black experience.

“The launch of this fellowship is created to help make an everlasting impact in the Black filmmaking community,” Byron Allen, founder/chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group, said in a statement. “This fellowship allows us to foster a new wave of diverse storytelling, and to demonstrate our comittment to celebrating the multi-faceted richness and diversity of the Black experience.”

To empower Black filmmakers, the fellowship provides resources, mentorship and exposure and is open to short films, documentaries and narrative features.

Adrian Burrell, director of the short film “Now and Then,” is the first recipient of theGrio’s Emerging Filmmaker Fellowship. Set for a Feb. 26 release, the film chronicles “the reflections of sharecroppers across the Mississippi Delta, offering a poignant exploration of their history of working on plantations during the era when cotton was king,” per the release.

“I am thrilled and deeply honored to be the first recipient of this prestigious fellowship from theGrio,” Burrell said in a statement. “It is a significant moment in my life, and I am grateful to have the support of such an important platform. I look forward to continuing my journey as a storyteller and creating works that inspire and create connections on a global scale.”

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