AWARD-WINNING FILMMAKER MALCOLM D. LEE TO HEADLINE THE OAK PARK SPEAKER SERIES ON SEPT. 28

Renowned filmmaker Malcolm D. Lee, known for his acclaimed movies "The Best Man," "Roll Bounce," "Girls Trip," "The Best Man Holiday," and the hit Peacock miniseries "The Best Man: The Final Chapters," will be the special guest at the Oak Park Speaker Series on Sept. 28 at The Guild Theater in Sacramento.

The event will run from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Lee, cousin to legendary filmmaker Spike Lee, will join former Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson for a lively conversation. Audiences will get a rare behind-the-scenes look into his career, hear untold stories from his iconic films and series, and get an exclusive first look at the "Best Man" novel trilogy. Lee will also reflect on his groundbreaking contributions to Black storytelling both on screen and in print.

A graduate of Packer Collegiate Institute and Georgetown University, Lee made his mark in Hollywood with the release of the 1999 critically acclaimed romantic comedy "The Best Man."

His impressive body of work also includes: "Undercover Brother" (2002), "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins" (2008), "Soul Men" (2008), "Scary Movie 5" (2013), "Night School" (2018), and "Space Jam: A New Legacy" (2021).

Don't miss this exclusive and unforgettable celebration of film, literature, and storytelling with one of the most influential voices in Black cinema. This is your chance to experience a touch of Hollywood right here in Sacramento, live at The Guild Theater. Seating is limited and tickets are selling fast. Tickets start at $37.74 and are available at Eventbrite.com.

The Guild Theater is located at 2828 35th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817. For more information call (916) 905-7024.

THE 14TH ANNUAL MONTCLAIR FILM FESTIVAL HONORS RUNS OCT. 17-26

The Montclair Film Festival's 2025 Honors, the festival's annual awards, will be held Oct. 17-26, in Montclair, NJ. Montclair Film is honored to welcome New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy as the Honorary Chairs on opening night--Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.--for the 2025 Montclair Film Festival.

The Governor and First Lady will be honored for their contributions to the legacy of filmmaking in New Jersey, and their enduring support for filmmakers, artists, and producers seeking a home for their creative work. Also on Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. at The Wellmont Theater, the festival will recognize Nicolas Britell with the 2025 Composer Award. Britell will participate in a post-screening Q&A, discussing his score for the festival' s 2025 Opening Night film "Jay Kelly."

On Oct. 18, at 3 p.m. at The Wellmont Theater, the festival will pay honor Spike Lee with the 2025 Filmmaker Tribute. Lee will be presented with the award after an in-depth conversation moderated by Stephen Colbert, discussing his legendary career as one of our leading cinematic artists, with a special focus on Lee's latest work "Highest 2 Lowest" and for his transcendent, urgent, and transformational contributions to the art of cinema,

Also on Oct. 18, at 6 p.m. at MKA Upper School, the festival will present Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group Co-Chair and CEO Pamela Abdy with the 2025 Visionary Award. Abdy will be honored after an in-depth conversation, moderated by Montclair Film Artistic Director Tom Hall, with a focus on her outstanding career as a creative executive, with a special focus on her company's 2025 slate of No. 1 box office hits, which include "A Minecraft Movie," "Sinners" Apple's "F1," Final Destination: Bloodlines, "Weapons," "The Conjuring: Last Rites" as well as the upcoming "One Battle After Another."

On Oct.18, at 7 p.m. at The Wellmont Theater, the festival will honor screenwriter Will Tracy with the 2025 Screenwriter Award following a screening of Yorgos Lanthimos' "Bugonia," based on a screenplay by Mr. Tracy.

On Oct. 19, at 5 p.m. at The Bellevue Theatre, the festival honors director Shih-Ching Tsou with the 2025 Breakthrough Director following a screening of her new film "Left-Handed Girl," which has been selected as Taiwan's country's submission for the best international feature category at the 98th Academy Awards.

On Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m. at The Bellevue Theatre, the festival honors directors Mark Oberhaus and Laura Poitras with the 2025 David Carr Award For Truth In Non-Fiction Filmmaking for their film "Cover-Up". Each year, the Montclair Film Festival honors the legacy of New York Times reporter and longtime Montclair resident David Carr by presenting an award to an outstanding film that honors Mr. Carr's passion for the truth and his commitment to great journalism.

The full 2025 Montclair Film Festival program, including the 2025 Competition Films, will be announced on Sept. 26.

Tickets for the Montclair Film Festival events go on sale on Sept. 29 at 10:00 a.m. for Montclair Film Members and Oct. 3 at 10 a.m. for the public. Tickets for all events will be available at montclairfilm.org.

ABOUT HONORARY CHAIRS GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY & FIRST LADY TAMMY MURPHY:

Since taking office in 2018, Governor Murphy has focused on building a stronger and fairer New Jersey for every family. A major hallmark of the Murphy Administration has been revitalizing New Jersey’s reputation as a global leader in innovation, including a focus on making New Jersey a leading location for film, television, and digital production, enacting a new incentive program that has attracted billions of dollars in investments to New Jersey since 2021.

Born in 1965, Tammy Snyder Murphy is a native of Virginia and a graduate of the University of Virginia. As First Lady, Tammy has been energized and inspired traveling the state and meeting New Jerseyans to hear their concerns, utilizing her experience in the private and nonprofit sectors to work through policy ideas and solutions. First Lady Murphy's leadership and commitment to film and the arts provided critical support for arts institutions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. For their contributions to the legacy of filmmaking in New Jersey, and their enduring support for filmmakers, artists, and producers seeking a home for their creative work, Montclair Film is proud to welcome Governor Philip Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy as the Honorary Chairs of the 2025 Montclair Film Festival.

ABOUT SPIKE LEE:

Academy Award winner Spike Lee and his iconic body of storytelling has made an indelible mark on filmmaking and television. He recently released his latest movie, "Highest 2 Lowest," his fifth film with Denzel Washington via A24. The film is currently streaming globally on AppleTV+. He previously directed "Da 5 Bloods" for Netflix. In 2018, the visionary filmmaker co-wrote and directed the Academy Award-nominated and critically acclaimed hit feature "BlacKkKlansman," which won the Oscar for "Best Adapted Screenplay." His career spans over 30 years and includes: "She's Gotta Have It," "School Daze," "Do the Right Thing," "Mo' Better Blues," "Jungle Fever," "Malcolm X," "Crooklyn," "Clockers," "Girl 6," "Get on the Bus," "He Got Game," "Summer of Sam," "Bamboozled," "25th Hour," "She Hate Me," "Inside Man," "Miracle at St. Anna," "Red Hook Summer," "Old Boy" and "Chi-Raq." Lee's outstanding feature documentary work includes the double Emmy Award-winning "If God Is Willing" and "Da Creek Don't Rise," a follow up to his HBO documentary film "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts" and the Peabody Award-winning "A Huey P Newton Story."

In the Television arena, his Netflix original series "She's Gotta Have It," ran two seasons on the platform. The series was a contemporary update of his classic film. Lee is also known for his legendary Air Jordan TV commercials and marketing campaigns with Michael Jordan for Nike. In 1997, he launched the advertising agency Spike DDB, a fully integrated agency with a focus on trendsetter, cross-cultural, and millennial audiences. He recently directed new additions to the Capital One "Road Trip" national campaign featuring Samuel L. Jackson and Charles Barkley.

In addition to his films, TV series, and commercials, Lee has directed a number of music videos and shorts for artists such as Michael Jackson, Prince, Public Enemy, Branford Marsalis, Bruce Hornsby, Miles Davis, and Anita Baker. Spike was awarded an Honorary Oscar in 2015 for his lifetime achievement and contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences. He is a graduate of Morehouse College and New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he is a tenured Professor of Film and Artistic Director. Lee's production company 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks is based in Brooklyn, NY.

ABOUT PAMELA ABDY:

Pamela Abdy serves as Co-Chair and CEO of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, encompassing Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation. WBMPG continues to build on its legacy of iconic feature franchises and world-class cinema, working across all genres with both established and emerging talent – in front of and behind the camera – to deliver the industry's most diverse slate of films for a global audience. Abdy serves as Co-Chair and CEO with Michael De Luca, sharing oversight of the Studio's global theatrical production, marketing, and distribution operations.

In addition to her Motion Picture Group responsibilities, Abdy, along with De Luca, has curatorial oversight of WBD's TCM (Turner Classic Movies) network, in partnership with filmmakers Paul Thomas Anderson, Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese. Since joining Warner Bros. in 2022, Abdy has overseen hits such as "A Minecraft Movie," "Sinners," "Final Destination: Bloodlines," "Weapons," "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire," "Dune: Part Two," "Wonka," and the record-shattering global phenomenon "Barbie." Prior to joining Warner Bros., Abdy served as MGM's Motion Picture Group President, overseeing development, production and post-production for all MGM and Orion films.

She oversaw Sarah Polley's Academy Award Best Picture-nominated "Women Talking" which earned Polley the Academy Award for "Best Adapted Screenplay," Ridley Scott's "House of Gucci," starring Lady Gaga and Adam Driver; Paul Thomas Anderson's Academy Award Best Picture-nominated "Licorice Pizza," which marked the studio's first such nomination since "Rain Man" won in 1988; "Creed III," starring and directed by Michael B. Jordan; Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan's "Adam's Family 2;" and Ron Howard's "13 Lives," which was nominated for three SAG Awards.

ABOUT NICHOLAS BRITELL:

Three-time Academy Award–nominated, Grammy- nominated, and Emmy-winning composer, pianist, and producer Nicholas Britell continues to push the boundaries of musical storytelling while captivating audiences globally with his moving compositions. Described by The New York Times as "the composer at the frontier of movie music," Britell has achieved renown in such projects as HBO's Emmy-winning series "Succession," Barry Jenkin's Academy Award "Best Picture" winner "Moonlight," and his follow-up, the critically acclaimed "If Beale Street Could Talk." His collaborations with Academy Award winner Adam McKay have resulted in numerous powerful scores, including those for the Oscar-nominated films "The Big Short," "Vice" and "Don’t Look Up."

Other notable projects include his Emmy- nominated score for Barry Jenkins's "The Underground Railroad," his Emmy-nominated score, main title theme, and Ghorman anthem for Lucasfilm's Star Wars series "Andor," and his well-loved scores for Netflix's "The King," starring Timothee Chalamet, and Disney's "Cruella," starring Emma Stone. Britell has the distinction of winning World Soundtrack Awards for Film Composer of the Year, Television Composer of the Year, and Discovery of the Year, as well as the award for "Best Original Song Written for a Film." Having studied at Juilliard and Harvard, Britell continues his passion for artistic development through his current affiliation with the Juilliard School as Creative Associate and Executive Creative Director of the Juilliard Film Score Lecture Series.

A Steinway Artist, Britell has in recent years performed at London's Barbican Hall with the London Contemporary Orchestra, at Walt Disney Concert Hall with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and at the San Francisco Symphony's SoundBox series.

ABOUT WILL TRACY:

Will Tracy was a writer and executive producer on the HBO series "Succession," where he won three Emmy awards, as well as a WGA award for writing the episode "Tern Haven." He was part of the inaugural writing staff of "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver," winning three Emmys, and created the HBO limited series "The Regime."

Will is also the former Editor in Chief of The Onion. In features, he co-wrote and executive produced "The Menu" for Searchlight Pictures and was a producer on HBO Films' "Mountainhead" More recently, Will wrote "Bugonia" for Focus & CJ Entertainment which stars Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons with Yorgos Lanthimos directing.

ABOUT MONTCLAIR FILM:

Montclair Film, a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, seeks to transform lives and communities through the power of film and filmmaking. Montclair Film is home to the Montclair Film Festival, multi-screen cinemas The Clairidge and The Bellevue, and numerous community events and educational programs throughout the year.

The 14th Annual Montclair Film Festival will take place from Oct. 17-26. All programs are made possible with funds from the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism, as well as the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Montclair Film provides unique and meaningful ways to engage with diverse, creative, and sophisticated audiences and seeks sponsors for its signature film festival and year-round film, education, and community programs that attract more than 100,000 annual attendees and generate more than 900 million media impressions yearly. For more information about Montclair Film, visit www.MontclairFilm.org.

JEREMIAH FRAITES WRITES MUSICAL SCORE FOR LIONSGATE'S "THE LONG WALK"

Jeremiah Fraites, co-founder and songwriter of the two-time Grammy Award-nominated band The Lumineers, has composed the score for Lionsgate's "The Long Walk," the upcoming film from director Francis Lawrence based on the first-written novel by Stephen King. The film will be released in theaters nationwide on Sept. 12.

Of the score, Fraites says, "Francis and I had a really great initial phone call that helped inform what instrumentation we thought would work. Strings and piano felt right in servicing the expected horror you'd find in Stephen King canon. The real challenge for me was going to be writing music that would properly represent the deep relationships these boys were forming while on this brutal walk.We met years ago when the band the Lumineers did a song for the "Catching Fire" soundtrack. Jeremiah and I had remained friends after that, and stayed in contact. He'd send me vinyl versions of his solo albums and it was exactly that work that made me think he'd be perfect for "The Long Walk."

I'm forever grateful to Roy Lee and Francis (Lawrence) for the opportunity to write my first feature film score," added Fraites. "It was the thrill of a lifetime to score this film. Having been a fan of Francis' work already for years, it was definitely a pinch-me moment to realize I was now getting the opportunity to write music over the incredible picture I was being sent."

MORE ABOUT JEREMIAH FRAITES:

Fraites, a two-time Grammy-nominated songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist came to prominence as one of the co-founders of the chart topping band The Lumineers. His two solo albums, "Piano Piano (2021) and Piano Piano 2 (2023), both topped Billboard's Classical Crossover chart. Fraites' solo work blends classical influences with ambient textures and genre-defying orchestration, showcasing his wide-ranging musical vision. He has also composed music for other mediums, including original pieces for projects such as the documentary "Here. Is. Better.

MORE ABOUT "THE LONG WALK"

From the highly anticipated adaptation of master storyteller Stephen King's first-written novel, and Francis Lawrence, the visionary director of "The Hunger Games" franchise films ("Catching Fire," "Mockingjay – Pts. 1 & 2," and "The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes"), comes "The Long Walk," an intense, chilling, and emotional thriller that challenges audiences to confront a haunting question: how far could you go? Directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by JT Mollner, based on the novel by Stephen King, and produced by Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, Francis Lawrence, and Cameron MacConomy, "The Long Walk" stars Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Roman Griffin Davis, Jordan Gonzalez, Joshua Odjick, Josh Hamilton, with Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill.