The Avenue: Movies and TV

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The Avenue

A Cannes-do attitude: Why you don’t need a music degree to make music

By Noor Sukkar | July 15, 2024

It’s 2003. John Fulford’s bachelor’s degree in finance stares back at the phone that never got a call back for a second interview at the bank. He instead tunes his guitar, scrabbles some more lyrics and burns another CD. It’s 2006. His master's degree in international business is itching to make it out of Gainesville. Instead of waiting on that phone to ring, he rings TV producers in Los Angeles pitching his abundant cache of music.  It’s 2024. Comedy-drama film “Anora” wins the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival — the Palme d’Or. His music is in the soundtrack, and his career is at its peak.

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The Avenue

UF alumni win Best Comedy award for debut film, ‘The Lemonade Files’

By Sabrina Castro | July 1, 2024

After three years of production, the film premiered June 18 at Regal LA Live and was awarded the Best Comedy award for the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival this year. 

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The Avenue

Rate and Review: ‘Poor Things’ depicts fantasy, feminism and freedom

By Bonny Matejowsky | Jan. 22, 2024

Labeled as a science-fiction, black comedy and coming-of-age story, Yorgos Lanthimos’ 2023 film, “Poor Things,” is a lot at once. 

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The Avenue

UF lecturer’s directorial debut premiered in California, Arizona theaters

By Bonny Matejowsky | Oct. 9, 2023

When UF College of Journalism and Communications lecturer Iman Zawahry attended the Phoenix Film Festival in 2022, she received an offer difficult for any filmmaker to refuse: the chance for her indie film to hit the big screen across America. 

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The Avenue

Generations of Barbie fans wear pink for Gainesville early screening

By Valentina Sarmiento | July 24, 2023

The Barbie Blowout Party took place at the Regal Celebration Pointe 10 & RPX theater July 19. The Gainesville theater was one of the select theaters to host a celebration for the early screening. Staff set up the display weeks prior for guests to take photos commemorating Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie.”

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The Avenue

Community members support rebuilding local movie theater

By Aubrey Bocalan | July 24, 2023

The High Springs community lined up for public comment at the City Commission meeting July 13. The item on the docket is the latest local love story: the bond between High Springs and the Priest Theatre. The theater closed down during the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained closed ever since, losing its structural integrity with each passing day. But its community refuses to let it die.  

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The Avenue

Rate and Review: ‘Past Lives’ is fresh take on love and destiny

By Jackson Reyes | July 10, 2023

Celine Song dazzles in her directorial debut, “Past Lives.” The movie made its premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival Jan. 21. It expanded to a nationwide release June 30. Song masterfully tells a story about two childhood friends who reconnect periodically as they move through different chapters of their lives. 

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The Avenue

Stage play to screenplay: Local director set to debut new film

By Gracey Davis | May 30, 2023

For Tom Miller, creativity has always been his solution to adversity. With multiple acting, performing and directing credits to his name, the 57-year-old continues to push artistic boundaries. The multidisciplinary performance artist is setting the stage to debut his newest film, “Audience.” Miller has kept the plot of the film under wraps to surprise audiences. 

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The Avenue

‘Path of the Panther’ screening highlights wildlife protection

By Lauren Whiddon | Mar. 5, 2023

Around 200 people packed into First Magnitude Brewing Company Wednesday to watch “Path of the Panther,” a film directed by Emmy-winning director Eric Bendick and produced by National Geographic photographer Carlton Ward Jr.

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The Avenue

Cinema Verde hosts 14th annual environmental film festival

By Lauren Whiddon | Feb. 13, 2023

From Feb. 9-14, Cinema Verde is hosting the 14th annual Environmental Film and Arts Festival. This is the third year the festival is being held virtually. The festival features 70 films, Q&A sessions with filmmakers and live-streamed discussions with directors. 

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The Avenue

Rate and Review: ‘Skinamarink’ is most immersive film in recent history

By Kyle Bumpers | Feb. 3, 2023

Ball’s debut feature-length film took low budget to the extreme. “Skinamarink” turned a budget of $15,000 into more than $1.5 million in earnings at the box office.

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The Avenue

Oscar nominations for ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ thrill East Asian community

By Zarin Ismail | Feb. 3, 2023

"Everything Everywhere All at Once," A24 movie secured 11 Oscar nominations Jan. 23, including four for actors of Asian descent and one for its Asian director.

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The Avenue

Rate and Review: ‘White Noise’ masterfully navigates its plot-driving fear of death

By Kyle Bumpers | Dec. 31, 2022

Director Noah Baumbach’s newest film played in theaters for a limited time before its wide release on Netflix Dec. 30.

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The Avenue

Rate and Review: Olivia Wilde’s ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ repackages feminism with a flashy cast

By Averi Kremposky | Oct. 6, 2022

Relationship scandals, murky press tours and masses of online gossip had no effect on director Olivia Wilde’s sophomore feature, “Don’t Worry Darling.” With $35 million in box office totals as of Oct. 1, the psychological thriller sits as the exemplar that all press is indeed good press — and casting Harry Styles as one of the lead protagonists can’t hurt either. 

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The Avenue

18th annual Gainesville Latino Film Festival uplifts Latin American communities on the big screen

By Isabella Marzban | Sep. 8, 2022

Gainesville Latino Film Festival is a free, eight-day event centered around highlighting Latin American culture through film. From Sept. 8 to Sept. 18, the festival will feature two Spanish immersion storytelling events and performances by Latin fusion band Gilberto de Paz & TROPIX and Miami’s IFÉ-ILÉ Afro-Cuban Dance and Music, in addition to the films. 

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The Avenue

Films record evolving attitudes on abortion

By Kyle Bumpers | Aug. 1, 2022

 Abortion rights became a focal point of national discussion June 24 following the overturn of the original Roe v. Wade decision. However, films have talked about the issue for decades, and the representation of the issue in media is more relevant than ever. 

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The Avenue

Rate and Review: ‘Stranger Things’ comes back stronger than ever after 3-year hiatus

By Kendra Westmoreland | June 7, 2022

With plot lines involving an escape from a Russian prison, scientific experiments gone wrong, a parody of a California stoner-comedy and a “Scooby Doo”-reminiscent group of teens solving the mysteries of a small town, there is truly something in this season of "Stranger Things" that will appeal to everyone.  

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The Avenue

CJC alum starts new sitcom

By Amanda Friedman | June 6, 2022

Media production company Goof Entertainment, co-owned by CJC alum Courtney Theophin, recently finished filming a sitcom pilot and plans to pitch it to television networks. 

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The Avenue

Rate and Review: ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ is a beautiful clash of multiversal sci-fi and family drama

By Joseph Henry | Apr. 21, 2022

It’s not often that a film challenges you to truly be a better person. Nestled between a plethora of genres and a multiverse, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” is that film. Read more from Joseph Henry

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The Avenue

The hero Gotham deserves: How “The Batman” compares to “The Dark Knight”

By Alexis Carson | Mar. 15, 2022

“The Batman” brings us Bruce Wayne two years into being the hero and vengeance of Gotham. He battles The Riddler to save the city. The audience is immersed in his day to day life fighting criminals to seek justice for the loss of his parents.