Fort Lauderdaleโs hottest culinary event is back! The 29th Annual Las Olas Wine and Food Festival will take over Las Olas Boulevard on Friday, April 25, 2025, bringing together 50+ of South Floridaโs best restaurants, 200+ wine and spirit tastings, live entertainment, and an unforgettable atmosphereโall in support of a great cause.
The 2025 SXSW film and television season has rolled up their red carpets saying goodbye to another fantastic year after bringing the best stories to Austinโs big screens all across the city for 38 years.ย
The biggest and hottest A-list celebrities showcased some of cinemaโs best films of the year, unraveling the most talked about storytelling for years to come. The most sought-after movie stars and films to showcase this year include โThe Rivals of Amziah Kingโ, a film about finding family and seeking justice, which received a standing ovation. The film front-man includes Austinโs very own Matthew McConaughey, featuring alongside, Angelina LookinGlass, Cole Sprouse, and Kurt Russell.ย
All photographs by Lu Chau Photagonist
Nicholas Cage makes a return to SXSW for the anxiety-inducing thriller โThe Surferโ set in Australia with an all-star Australian cast. Just like Cage who always finds himself in the most insane scripts to date, this film follows a day of surfing at the beach with a nightmarish series of events.ย
SXSWโs red carpet isnโt the only place bringing in the hottest celebs and celebrations. Most of the exclusive film premiere parties were just down the street at Higbieโs bar for Roxstar Entertainmentโs Cinema Center and Collider Studio, sponsored by Bloom Nutrition, Peroni, Hendrickโs Gin, Rendezvous Films, and Collider. The popular hotspot hosted a 3-day and 3-night pop-up.
All photographs by Lu Chau Photagonist
โWeโre thrilled to be back in Austin with the support of our generous sponsor partners and collectively continue our mission to help filmmakers celebrate and promote their films,โ states David Manning, Executive Producer at Roxstar Entertainment.
From interviews with some of the stars of SXSWโs biggest films to raising a toast with Hendrickโs Gin during The Surferโs after-party or with McConaugheyโs Pantalones Tequila for his latest film premiere.ย
Cinema Center also celebrated indie films that made a splash during Austinโs annual festival. Such as โThe Threesomeโ with Zoey Deutch and โAmerican Sweatshopโ with Lili Reinhardt, both stars reconnecting at The Cinema Center. The cast of โThe Dutchmanโ featuringย Zazie Beetz and Kate Mara also celebrated their SXSW film premiere at The Cinema Center.
Photo by Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Photo by Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
Photo by Lu Chau // Photagonist.ca
All photographs by Lu Chau Photagonist
Over the weekend, I attended a charity event in the heart of East Flatbush, Brooklyn, but its impact will stretch far beyond NYCโto a humble driveway in Haiti. The event, held at 550 Remsen Avenue, was a beautiful reunion of faith, family, and service, all centered around Bethel De Glorie, a ministry in Haiti that has become a sanctuary for the community during one of the countryโs most challenging times.
Hooray for Planet Hollywood!
As awards season reaches its pinnacle, Hollywood plays host to a trifecta of dazzling events, each honoring cinematic excellence, high fashion, and charitable causes.
For those of us on the East Coast during Oscar season, there’s a clear winner for the best place to view Hollywood’s biggest night: the restaurant with the most, even the name! On Sunday, Oscar Wilde NYC once again hosted a night to remember with its Annual Oscars Viewing Party.
SXSW 2025 is finally here this month from March 7-15. Itโs the busiest, hottest, as in Pedro Pascal hot, and the most exciting time for both Austinites and folks from all around the world to work and play in Austin, Texas.ย
Celebrating the biggest night in Hollywood, GBK Brand Bar, MEND, Bodywell and KC Chic Designs, together with Americares, hosted some of entertainmentโs brightest stars for their annual and much sought after pre-Academy Luxury Lounge.
The beautiful Carondelet House gleamed with South Asian excellence as they took center stage with prestigious Oscar nominees who were honored in a night filled with inspiring speeches, music and celebration.