Lisa Rose reflects on her bittersweet feelings after 13 years as a festival director, sharing her journey from volunteer to leadership. She advises aspiring filmmakers to volunteer and engage with festivals for opportunities. This year's festival features nearly 150 diverse LGBTIQ+ films, emphasizing community connection and varied representations, showcasing significant growth in queer cinema.
Steven Soderbergh's film Presence offers a unique twist on the haunted house genre, shot entirely from the ghost's perspective. The story follows a family grappling with grief, particularly Chloe, who senses a presence in their home. While the POV technique adds intrigue, the film leans more toward family drama than horror, delivering a slow-burn experience.
Paramount Animation is set to release a new Smurfs film featuring a fresh animation style and a star-studded voice cast, including Rihanna and John Goodman. The story follows Smurfette as she leads the Smurfs to rescue Papa Smurf from evil wizards. The film is scheduled for a July 10 release.