Matthew Pomerans, executive producer at Santa Monica-based Area 51 Films, died this past weekend (1/26) in Los Angeles of an apparent heart attack. He was 38. Prior to joining Area 51 last year, Pomerans was an executive producer at now defunct Satellite. He is survived by his wife Linda, daughters Hannah and Sophie, and parents Erica and Arnold Pomerans. Area 51 intends to establish a charitable fund to benefit Matthew’s children….Director Simon West, formerly of now defunct Propaganda Films, has joined Los Angeles-headquartered Ritts/Hayden for commercial representation….Director Barbara McDonough has signed with bicoastal Go Film. She comes over from bicoastal/international Partizan….Director Jesper Ericstam has joined Los Angeles-headquartered Original Film for U.S. spot representation….. Marjie Abrahams has been promoted from executive producer to VP/exec producer at bicoastal RSA USA. She’s been a staffer there for the past eight years. Being upped from head of production to executive producer is Fran McGivern, who’s served on staff at RSA USA for the last three years. Abrahams and McGivern both continue to report to RSA USA managing director Jules Daly…. Santa Monica-based music/sound design shop stimmüng has created a division featuring DJ/radio personality Liza Richardson. The new, as yet unnnamed venture will offer music licensing, research, music supervision and consulting services to stimmüng’s ad agency clients….Minneapolis-based composers Eric Pilhofer and Mark Henderson have teamed to form a creative music and sound scoring shop, Pilhofer & Henderson Music…. Editor John Anklow has joined New York creative editorial house 3 Fingered Louie….The Cut Hut, formed in 1997 by editors Dave Farr and Shursen Parsad, and producer/editor Randy Edwards, closed last month. According to Parsad, the company remained profitable, but the partners decided to amicably split in order to take on individual pursuits in the post business….
“Come See Me in the Good Light” Wins Festival Favorite Award At Sundance
The Sundance Film Festival today (2/2) announced its final award for the 2025 edition: Come See Me in the Good Light in the Premieres category received the Festival Favorite Award. The honor was voted on by the audiences from all the new feature films presented at the 2025 Festival. Other award winners were previously announced at a ceremony at The Ray Theatre in Park City, Utah, on January 31 (for SHOOT's coverage, click here).
Kim Yutani, director of programming for the Sundance Film Festival, said, “Throughout the Festival we saw audiences moved by Andrea Gibson’s and Megan Falley’s journeys in Come See Me in the Good Light. Festival goers embraced the humor and heartbreak of this intimate documentary directed by Ryan White, as it speaks to art and love and reminds us what it means to be alive as we face mortality.”
Looking ahead to next year, Sundance Institute also disclosed today the dates for the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, taking place in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, from January 22–February 1, 2026.
“The past 11 days of the Festival have been a meaningful opportunity to connect as a community in support of independent storytelling,” said Amanda Kelso, acting CEO, Sundance Institute. “We look forward to being reunited with audiences, artists, industry, and press next January for another edition of the Festival.”
Eugene Hernandez, director, Sundance Film Festival and public programming, added, “As this year’s Festival comes to a close, we’re already looking ahead to 2026 and what will no doubt be an unforgettable experience! We invite you to save... Read More