NEWS
FIND here the latest UPDATES FROM OUR FILMMAKERS, programs AND EVENTS
BTTL LaunchES trussardi’s evocative new campaign film starring eva herzigová: The Gentle Society
SEP 3, 2025
At Venice 2025, BTTL joined forces with Trussardi to launch the brand’s new campaign film The Gentle Society, starring the legendary Eva Herzigová. The day began with a screening and conversation about kindness as a catalyst for change, culminating in an evening cocktail honoring bold storytellers reshaping cinema at La Biennale.
BTTL Sponsors Gus Van Sant’s Dead Man’s Wire at Venice 2025
sep 3, 2025
BTTL proudly served as the fiscal sponsor for Gus Van Sant’s Dead Man’s Wire, which had its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival. With BTTL Advisor Tiffany Boyle (BTTL Advisor) and former BTTL Jury Member Lee Broda signed on as Executive Producers, the film takes on the bizarre 1977 hostage crisis involving Tony Kiritsis. Starring Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery, Cary Elwes, Colman Domingo, Myha’la, and Al Pacino.
KRISTEN STEWART TALKS ‘BIG TIT ENERGY’ AHEAD OF HER DIRECTORIAL DEBUT AT CANNES 2025
MAY 19, 2025
At Cannes 2025, BTTL hosted an unforgettable conversation between actress-director Kristen Stewart and music legend Kim Gordon, moderated by Variety’s Angelique Jackson. The fireside chat, held ahead of the premiere of Stewart’s directorial debut The Chronology of Water, explored creative risk, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and reclaiming artistic voice.
Deva Palmier’s Debut Feature BLUE Now Streaming on AMAZON Prime Video IN USA, UK & CANADA
MAY 18, 2025
Writer-Director Deva Palmier, of BTTL’s inaugural Cohort, debuts her feature BLUE (2024), which is now available to stream on Prime Video in the USA, UK, and Canada. The film follows a teenage girl grappling with grief and alienation after the death of her mother, who finds an unexpected path to healing through music and friendship. A bold and intimate first feature, BLUE marks an exciting milestone for one of our very first cohort filmmakers.
Alex Burunova’s Satisfaction Debuts to Critical Acclaim at SXSW, Ahead of International Launch
May 17, 2024
Writer-Director Alex Burunova (BTTL ‘21) premiered her debut feature film Satisfaction in the Narrative Spotlight section at SXSW 2025, receiving strong reviews for its visual boldness and emotional depth. The film, nearly a decade in the making, follows Lola, a British composer, as she travels to a Greek island with her partner only to confront repressed trauma when she brings another woman into their relationship. Satisfaction is now represented domestically by UTA ahead of its international rollout.
Maria Allred’s SOMNIUM (formerly Alaska) Set for Theatrical Release via Yellow Veil
May 15, 2024
Director Maria Allred (BTTL ‘20) is behind SOMNIUM (previously titled Alaska), a psychological thriller set in a sleep-clinic where dreams become real, and where the line between ambition and nightmare dangerously blurs. The film is now signed with international distributor Yellow Veil, and a theatrical release is planned for Summer/Fall 2025. In SOMNIUM, the protagonist takes the overnight shift at an experimental sleep clinic, only to become trapped in a web of hallucinations, paranoia, and unraveling identity.
Sonja O’Hara’s Cottagecore Set to Shoot in Toronto, with uta & verve handling sales
MAY 11, 2025
Writer-Director-Actor Sonja O’Hara (BTTL ’25) is gearing up to direct her latest feature Cottagecore, which will begin filming this summer in Toronto. Recently showcased at the Tribeca Creators Market, the film is now officially co-represented for sales by UTA’s Independent Film Group and Verve Ventures. A darkly comic psychological thriller, Cottagecore follows a group of friends whose seemingly idyllic countryside retreat unravels into something far more sinister.
Janus Victoria’s Diamonds in the Sand HAS INTERNATIONAL Premiere at Far East Film Festival
MAY 10, 2025
Director Janus Victoria (BTTL ‘20) celebrated the international premiere of her debut feature film Diamonds in the Sand on April 27, 2025 at the Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy. The film follows a Japanese widower and a Filipina widow whose chance meeting in a remote coastal town sparks an unexpected journey of memory, grief, and rediscovery. Starring Lily Franky, Maria Isabel Lopez, Soliman Cruz, Kazuko Yoshiyuki, and Charlie Dizon.
Laura Tatham Produces WTO/99: Now on the Festival Circuit
MAY 10, 2025
Producer Laura Tatham (BTTL ’20) recently produced WTO/99, a gripping documentary directed by Ian Bell that had its world premiere at True/False 2024 and is now making its way through the international festival circuit. The film revisits the historic 1999 “Battle of Seattle,” when tens of thousands of protestors clashed with police over globalization and trade reform, reshaping conversations around activism and democracy. Follow updates on Instagram @wto99doc. Watch the full film now on MUBI.
Rachel Feldman’s LILLY Opens in U.S. Theaters: A Monumental Story of Equal Pay Comes to Life
May 9, 2024
The road to bringing Lilly to the big screen has been long and much anticipated. Now, BTTL alumna (’20) Rachel Feldman, a filmmaker deeply committed to stories of justice, sees her vision fully realized as Lilly opens in U.S. theaters on May 9, 2025. The film stars Academy Award nominee Patricia Clarkson and is a biographical drama based on the life of equal-pay pioneer Lilly Ledbetter.
Tina Gharavi Wraps Production on Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day
Apr 15, 2025
BTTL Alumna (’18) and former Jury Member Tina Gharavi, a BAFTA- and Sundance-nominated filmmaker, has completed principal photography on her third feature film, Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day. The adaptation of Woolf’s novel is now in post-production, with a cast including Haley Bennett, Lily Allen, Jack Whitehall, Timothy Spall and more.
sundance 2025: ‘Threading the needle: film, ethics and impact’
JAN 26, 2025
At BTTL’s first-ever Sundance event, hosted in partnership with Simbelle Productions, Liz Cardenas led a powerful panel exploring how filmmakers can tell bold, sensitive stories with both integrity and impact. Featuring visionary voices behind Sundance premieres, the conversation tackled everything from fundraising to ethical storytelling, and marked the announcement of BTTL’s 2025 Action Grant Winner.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AMIDST WILDFIRES
JAN 12, 2024
We are heartbroken by the devastation caused by the wildfires that have swept across Southern California. For many in our community, the unthinkable has happened: their homes, filled with cherished memories, have been reduced to ashes. Click below for fire evacuation information and community support resources. Please stay safe and reach out if you need assistance.
BTTL action grant winner ‘brides’ will have its world premiere at sundance 2025
dec 31, 2024
Director Nadia Fall’s debut feature ‘BRIDES’ will have its World Premiere at Sundance in January 2025 as part of the World Dramatic Competition. The film, which shot in Wales, Turkey and Italy, stars newcomer Ebada Hassan and Layla’s Safiyya Ingar as two teenage girls in 2015, in search of freedom, friendship and belonging, who run away from their troubled lives in a seaside town with a misguided plan of travelling to Syria.
‘Learning To Breathe Under Water’ wraps production, locks in deals (exclusive)
oct 24, 2024
Director Rebekah Fortune’s debut feature Learning To Breathe Underwater (BTTL ‘22 Finalist) has wrapped principal photography. Based on a screenplay by Richard Brabin and Produced by Jack Tarling, the project was shot in Galway, Ireland. BAFTA Award nominee Rory Kinnear and Academy Award®, Golden Globe and BAFTA nominee Maria Bakalova star alongside newcomer Ezra Carlisle.
DEBUT FEATure ‘DIAMONDS IN THE SAND’ WRAPS PRODUCTION IN JAPAN AND PHILIPPINES
DEC 26, 2024
Director Janus Victoria (BTTL ‘20) wraps filming on her debut feature Diamonds In The Sand – previously titled Kodokushi – starring Japanese veterans Lily Franky (Shoplifters) and Yoshiyuki Kazuko (Empire of Passion). The project won the Grand Prix at Talents Tokyo in 2013 and is structured as a three-way Japan-Philippines-Malaysia co-production.
DIRECTOR SAMANTHA ALDANA SHOOTS A TEASER FOR ‘LITTLE LYING WILD’ after winning WOMAN IN FAN GRANT
dec 20, 2024
Director Samantha Aldana (BTTL ‘22) has shot a teaser for Little Lying Wild, made possible by the Woman in Fan grant through the Sitges Film Festival. Her creative team is now hard at work in post-production. They are excited to use this teaser as a springboard to help bring the feature film to life.
TWO BTTL ALUMNI SELECTED FOR Canfro Productions' Diverse Showrunner Bootcamp
DEC 15, 2024
Directors Lora Campbell (BTTL ‘20) and Maya Bastian (BTTL ‘23) have both been selected for the Canfro Productions' Diverse Showrunner Bootcamp. The Canadian program, sponsored by Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Access Canada, is run by Anthony Q. Farrell through his production company Canfro Productions.
‘ALL WE CARRY’ wins BEST DOCUMENTARY at the Indies award show in LA
dec 10, 2024
Producer Laura Tatham (BTTL ‘20) recently won Best Documentary for her feature All We Carry at the first ever The Indies award show in LA, hosted by Slamdance. All We Carry follows one family’s extraordinary journey as they flee persecution in Honduras and endure months in US detention.
DIRECTOR RACHEL FEDLMAN’S ‘LILLY’ starring Patricia Clarkson prepares for theatrical release
NOV 29, 2024
Director Rachel Feldman’s Lilly (BTTL ‘20) starring Patricia Clarkson, will be released theatrically in April 2025. The film premiered at the Hamptons International Film Festival and will soon screen at the Palm Springs Int. FF and the Santa Barbara Int FF among many others. Stay up-to-date by visiting their website below.
DIRECTOR GABRIELLA moses PARTICIPATES IN THE 2024 VENICE BIENNALE CINEMA COLLEGE PROGRAM
SEP 24, 2024
Director Gabriella Moses (BTTL ‘21) has been selected for the 13th edition of the Venice Biennale Cinema College program 2024/25 with her project in-development, The Booking. Her directorial debut Boca Chica had a successful festival run this year after premiering at Tribeca 2023 and winning the Nora Ephron Award as well as Grand Jury Prize at Nouveaux Regards Guadeloupe and NVision Film Festival and earning a Special Jury Mention at Bentonville International Film Festival.