Santa Barbara Film Festival to Honor Artisans; Sundance Showcases Provocative Films

The Santa Barbara Film Festival is set to honor Oscar-nominated artisans EJAE (KPop Demon Hunters), Jack Fisk (Marty Supreme), and Alexandre Desplat (Frankenstein) with Variety Artisans Awards, according to Variety. The awards ceremony will recognize their contributions to the film industry.

Meanwhile, the Sundance Film Festival showcased a range of boundary-pushing films, demonstrating its commitment to diverse storytelling. Drawing from multiple news sources, the festival honored Robert Redford's legacy while featuring films like "I Want Your Sex" and "The Moment." The festival also highlighted innovative works such as the audio-driven horror film "Undertone."

Adam Meeks' "Union County," a drama starring Will Poulter and Noah Centineo about brothers in drug recovery, received a standing ovation, particularly for the performance of Annette Deao, a real-life therapist, according to Variety.

In other news, Illumination and Universal Pictures released a trailer for the Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel, which will feature Yoshi and other Easter eggs, according to multiple news sources. The original cast is returning alongside new additions like Brie Larson as Princess Rosalina and Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr. The sequel promises a continuation of Mario and Luigi's adventures, with the same directors and screenwriter at the helm, following the success of the 2023 film.