A tender self-portrait, ‘Aftersun’ lets Charlotte Wells fictionalize her own life and her relationship with her complicated father
Noah Baumbach and company provide a wild re-imagining of Don DeLillo’s ‘White Noise’
@moorekismet
It was a returned to something wonderful for Moore Kismet. They returned to Randall’s Island for this year’s legendary and iconic Electronic Zoo Music Festival 3.0. After playing a dynamic set, we caught up with Moore Kismet to get the 411 on this year’s EZoo and what is next for the artist.
First off, we had to ask this young and talented artist, who has played Lollapalooza and Coachella, what was it like playing NYC’s Electronic Zoo Music Festival. They responded by saying, “New York is kind of a second home for me because I have family out in the surrounding areas and they make me and my mom feel so safe and happy.” They expressed that New York is a dream for them. “Getting to perform in NYC is something I really wanted to do more because they have so many iconic venues I haven’t even touched yet,” they said.
As for the set, Moore Kismet admitted, “I normally just put together a collection of some of my favorite songs of myself, my favorite artists, and my friends. From there, I play a completely improvised set where I try my hardest to play a set that the crowd can get into because we do this for them.” Getting that right vibe is not easy. They acknowledge, “I’ve been trying to do more recently is figure out how to cultivate good sonic energy around my music, not just finding open places to stick my unreleased songs in a set.” One of the highlights of their show for Moore Kismet “was this edit I made of “Outside” by Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding and “earthsea.” by kosu that went the entire fuck off so that was fun.”
But for Moore Kismet, which means “more than fate,” music is just one part of the puzzle. Standing out, pushing boundaries and being a voice for the LGBTQ+ community is another important part of their identity. “For as long as I resonate with my identity, I will continue to do my best to be a voice for our community,” Moore Kismet admitted. They explained, “there are so many going on right now in this world that we need to focus on giving a platform to. One of those most pressing things is the continued threats of the full removal and outlawing of LGBTQ+ rights. It affects me, it affects a good chunk of my fans, and it will affect millions of people in the country who share this community with us.”
As for the music, Moore Kismet has unique production style and stage presence, which they explain as a “wild animal on stage. “They acknowledge it’s “because it gives me this unwavering sense of joy and energy that feels very emotionally freeing.” Furthermore, Moore Kismet adds “Over the years, I’ve drawn inspiration from so many different artists in so many different genres that it’s almost impossible to pinpoint a genre in or concoct some other form of label for my music.” Moore Kismet states, “I create music based on what I feel and what I’m inspired by in the moment. This correlates to how I choose sounds to work with, how I write melodies, how I mix songs, everything. Everything is influenced by inspiration. And I think I’ve gotten to a point in my career recently where I’m finding so many sources of hope for innovation and feeling in music that it just encourages me to keep pushing forward with my creations and to keep sharing my stories in the way I feel comfortable doing so.”
As for what is next, Moore Kismet notes, “I’m currently working on a fairly decent sized EP full of songs that lean predominantly on a reimagined concept of my heavy electronic sound that people originally discovered me from. It will more than likely drop early next year and serve as a buffer between UNIVERSE and my next album, which is also in the beginning stages of writing at the moment. This EP will have some songs that sound nothing like that heavier style people liked, but a lot of them were very nostalgic and freeing to write because I got to challenge myself to write something like what I’d used to when I was a little kid barely making it by in the industry, but now with more style and identity behind it.” Moore Kismet adds, “I can’t wait to share more details about it soon!!”
Moore Kismet new EP should be out soon, but for more information on them check out their website: www.moorekismet.com
On Sunday, March 6th the 37th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards took place near the windy but sunny Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California.
Step right up. Step right up, see sights the likes of which you’ve never seen before.
Directors have been experimenting with the documentary format for a few years now.
This is a story that transfixed the world in 2018. It swept headlines for the 17 days that the children and their coach were stuck inside a cave, 2.5 miles from the entrance. The talented filmmakers shine light on the international community that came together to save them.
Robert Wise’s 1961 film, West Side Story, is the perfect Shakespeare adaptation.
The Knockturnal was on the scene in the winners room at the 2021 Gotham Awards.
The Gotham Awards, one of the leading honors for independent film and television, provides early acknowledgement to groundbreaking independent films and television series. Selected by distinguished juries and presented in New York City, the home of independent film, the Gotham Awards are the first honors of the film awards season. This public showcase honors the filmmaking community, expands the audience for independent films, and supports the work that The Gotham Film & Media Institute does behind the scenes throughout the year to bring such films to fruition.
Additionally announced during the ceremony:
The Questlove Gotham EDU Scholarship
Questlove announced the creation of a $150,000 scholarship fund earmarked for HBCU students’ tuition and to allow participation in the Gotham EDU suite of programs and mentor support. The award is supported by iHeartMedia.
Focus Features & JetBlue Student Short Film Showcase
Tessa Thompson announced the winners of the third annual showcase supported by sponsoring partners Focus Features and JetBlue. The program is designed to discover and empower a diverse group of emerging filmmakers and foster multi-platform distribution of their work. Each winner receives a $10,000 grant and have their films shown for twelve months on JetBlue’s seatback entertainment systems under the “Gotham Selects” movie category and on Focus Features digital streaming platforms. Throughout 2022, winning filmmakers will also receive ongoing mentorship and workshopping opportunities from The Gotham.
The winning filmmakers and shorts were:
· Evan Bode, Thine Own Self, Syracuse University
· Jorge G. Camarena, Spaceship, American Film Institute
· Akanksha Chawla, Close Ties to Home Country, Columbia College
· Jun Hee Han, Uncle, University of California, Los Angeles
· J. Sean Smith, #Whitina, University of Southern California
An Ensemble Tribute (presented by Jeymes Samuel) was given to the cast of The Harder They Fall, including Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, Delroy Lindo, LaKeith Stanfield, Danielle Deadwyler, Edi Gathegi, R.J. Cyler, Damon Wayans Jr., Deon Cole with Regina King and Idris Elba.
Check out our interviews with Jeymes, Deon Cole & Zazie Beetz in the winners room:
Actor @deoncole talks @weare_thegotham win for @netflix #HarderTheyFall pic.twitter.com/CS3vHP7uM1
— The Knockturnal (@_TheKnockturnal) November 30, 2021
The 31st Annual Gotham Award recipients are:
For Best Feature, presented by Dakota Johnson
The Lost Daughter
Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal
Produced by Osnat Handelsman Keren, Talia Kleinhendler, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Charles Dorfman
Released by Netflix
The Best Feature jury included Jason Mitchell, Lydia Dean Pilcher, Adele Romanski, Peter Saraf, and Cathy Yan.
For Best Documentary, presented by Devery Jacobs and Michael Greyeyes
Flee
Directed Jonas Poher Rasmussen
Produced Monica Hellström, Signe Byrge Sørensen, and Charlotte De La Gournerie
Released by NEON
The Best Documentary jury included Bonni Cohen, Ramona Diaz, Kirsten Johnson, Roger Ross Williams, and Hao Wu.
Check out our exclusive interview with the Flee team in the winners room!
Director Jonas Poher Rasmussen talks @weare_thegotham win for “Flee.” pic.twitter.com/55UK5I8Z3v
— The Knockturnal (@_TheKnockturnal) November 30, 2021
For Best International Feature, presented Thandiwe Newton
Drive My Car
Directed by Ryûsuke Hamaguchi
Produced by Teruhisa Yamamoto
Released by Sideshow and Janus Films
The Best International Feature jury included Jimmie Fails, Eliza Hittman, Orion Lee, Jonathan Raymond, and Catalina Sandino Moreno.
For Outstanding Lead Performance, presented by Dan Levy
To two performers:
Olivia Colman in The Lost Daughter
Released by Netflix
and
Frankie Faison in The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain
Released by Gravitas Ventures
The Outstanding Lead Performance jury included Aldis Hodge, Tamara Jenkins, Avy Kaufman, Lisa Kjerulff, and KiKi Layne.
Check out our exclusive interview with winner Frankie below from the Winners Room.
For Outstanding Supporting Performance, presented by Daveed Diggs
Troy Kotsur in CODA
Released by Apple TV+
The Outstanding Supporting Performance jury included Michael Beach, M. Blair Breard, Blythe Danner, Rob Morgan, and Crystal Moselle.
For Breakthrough Performer, presented by Moses Ingram
Emilia Jones in CODA
Released by Apple TV+
The Breakthrough Performer jury included Matt Bomer, Yolonda Ross, Isabel Sandoval, Shari Springer Berman, and Katherine Waterston.
For Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director, presented by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson
Maggie Gyllenhaal for The Lost Daughter
Released by Netflix
The Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director jury included Anne Carey, Helena Howard, Famke Janssen, John Turturro, and Phillip Youmans.
Check out our exclusive interview with Emilia Jones in the Winners Room right after her big win!
For Best Screenplay, presented by Joe Wright
Maggie Gyllenhaal for The Lost Daughter
Released by Netflix
For Breakthrough Series (Over 40 Minutes), presented by Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur
Squid Game
Executive Produced by Kim Ji-yeon and Hwang Dong-hyuk
Netflix
The Breakthrough Series (Over 40 Minutes) jury included Jasmine Batchelor, Eli Goree, Mike Harrop, Amy Koppelman, and Paul Mezey.
Check out what the Squid Game cast told us in the winners room:
For Breakthrough Series (Under 40 Minutes), presented by Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur
Reservation Dogs
Created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi
Executive Produced by Taika Waititi, Sterlin Harjo, and Garrett Basch
FX
The Breakthrough Series (Under 40 Minutes) jury included Adam Goldman, Anna Konkle, Jenni Konner, Victoria Mahoney, and Jonathan Majors
For Breakthrough Nonfiction Series, presented by Jung Ho-yeun
Philly D.A.
Created by Ted Passon, Yoni Brook, and Nicole Salazar
Executive Produced by Dawn Porter, Sally Jo Fifer, Lois Vossen, Ryan Chanatry, Gena Konstantinakos, Jeff Seelbach, and Patty Quillin
Topic, Independent Lens, PBS
The Breakthrough Nonfiction Series jury included Andrew Jarecki, Laura Ricciardi, Bernardo Ruiz, Elyse Steinberg, and Tracy Heather Strain.
Check out our interviews with “Philly D.A.” directors Ted Passon, Yoni Brook, Nicola Salazar about their @thegotham awards win!
The Premier Sponsor of the 2021 Gotham Awards was The New York Times and the Platinum Sponsors were GreenSlate and AV Club. The Official Auto Partner was Cadillac, the Official Water Partner was FIJI Water, the Official Airline Partner was JetBlue, the Official Wine Partner was Robert Hall Winery, and the Official Tequila Partner was Komos Tequila.
Photo Credit: John Nacion
The Gotham Film & Media Institute (The Gotham) announced the winners of the 31st Annual Gotham Awards at a ceremony held at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.
The Knockturnal was on the red carpet of course.
Natalie Morales was nominated for Breakthrough Performer in Language Lessons (Shout! Studios). She spoke about making an independent film with her friend Mark Duplass.
Devery Jacobs of Reservation Dogs spoke about the importance of her new show and representation.
Actress Midori Frances spoke about working on HBO Max’s The Sex Lives of College Girls.
Next up we spoke with some of the producer’s of Summer Of Soul. Summer Of Soul (… Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) was nominated for Best Documentary Feature. Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson was in attendance. Joseph Patel, Robert Fyvolent, David Dinerstein, producers (Searchlight Pictures, Onyx Collective, Hulu) chatted with us below.
How To With John Wilson was nominated for Breakthrough Nonfiction Series. John Wilson, creator was nominated in addition to Nathan Fielder, John Wilson, Michael Koman, Clark Reinking, executive producers (HBO/HBO Max).
“How To With John Wilson” creator at @weare_thegotham cc @HBO @HBOPR pic.twitter.com/1zXvS3NnTb
— The Knockturnal (@_TheKnockturnal) November 30, 2021
Sean Baker’s Red Rocket was nominated for three Gotham Awards. We spoke with star Bree Elrod on the carpet.
We chatted with @redrocketmovie star Bree Elrod @weare_thegotham red carpet ! Cc @A24 pic.twitter.com/BOPItxxvuV
— The Knockturnal (@_TheKnockturnal) November 30, 2021
On the red carpet we also spoke with Moses Ingram, who stars in the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi show. She looked fantastic in Thom Browne.
Actress #mosesingram talks starring in “Obi-Wan Kenobi.” #obiwan @obiwankenobi @weare_thegotham she dazzled in @ThomBrowne pic.twitter.com/QgZXtoJjyI
— The Knockturnal (@_TheKnockturnal) November 30, 2021
Actor Reed Birney spoke about starring in Mass. He was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Performance.
Actor Reed Birney Talks starring in “Mass” @weare_thegotham pic.twitter.com/GovHGrl51l
— The Knockturnal (@_TheKnockturnal) November 30, 2021
Michael Greyeyes was nominated for Rutherford Falls and Wild Indian. Check out what he had to say about both projects below!
Michael Greyeyes talks his @weare_thegotham nominations tonight! pic.twitter.com/H7M3KT6jB4
— The Knockturnal (@_TheKnockturnal) November 30, 2021
Joshua Caleb Johnson talked starring in Showtime’s The Good Lord Bird.
Joshua Caleb Johnson talks starring in @Showtime “The Good Lord Bird” @weare_thegotham pic.twitter.com/84Pmeuysap
— The Knockturnal (@_TheKnockturnal) November 30, 2021
Brandon Micheal Hall talked about starring in Alice Childress’ Trouble in Mind on Broadway.
Brandon Micheal Hall talks starting in Alice Childress’ Trouble in Mind on Broadway @weare_thegotham pic.twitter.com/lObt2HlqOm
— The Knockturnal (@_TheKnockturnal) November 30, 2021
Producer Kieran Altmann talked Shiva Baby being nominated.
Producer Kieran Altmann talks “Shiva Baby” @weare_thegotham pic.twitter.com/W8LHVFfeuN
— The Knockturnal (@_TheKnockturnal) November 29, 2021
The Premier Sponsor of the 2021 Gotham Awards was The New York Times and the Platinum Sponsors were GreenSlate and AV Club. The Official Auto Partner was Cadillac, the Official Water Partner was FIJI Water, the Official Airline Partner was JetBlue, the Official Wine Partner was Robert Hall Winery, and the Official Tequila Partner was Komos Tequila.