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Spoiler Alert: Details follow for Season 12, Episode 11 of “The Masked Singer,” “Semi Finals: Final Three,” which aired Wednesday, December 11 on Fox.

Aj Michalka was originally supposed to perform on “The Masked Singer” with her sister Aly, the other half of their Aly & Aj musical duo. But with Aly unavailable — she recently gave birth to her first child — Aj decided to give it a try as a solo act. And she went far: Aj Michalka was revealed on Wednesday’s penultimate Season 12 episode of “The Masked Singer” as Strawberry Shortcake.

“Initially, we were supposed to do it together, and we were like, this would be really fun to do as a team,” Michalka told Variety. “But it was going to be really tricky to schedule. So I ended up doing it on my own. And she fully supported it.

“The challenge and the excitement came from knowing that I had never...

Who’s performing tonight on “The Masked Singer” Season 12? It’s the Group C finals, which means Royal Knight, Sherlock Hound, and Strawberry Shortcake will face off on the big stage for a spot in the semi-finals. There will be a double elimination this week, so get ready to say goodbye to two of your favorite costumes. Do you think any of these celebrities has what it takes to join the “Masked Singer” winners list? Sound off down in the comments section.

Two contestants have already been unmasked from this group, based on the instant votes from the audience and panelists Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, and Rita Ora. They were: actor/musician Drake Bell as Ice King and one-armed surfer Bethany Hamilton as Macaron. That leaves just three member of Group B to compete for the Golden Mask. This week’s theme will be “Peanuts Thanksgiving,” so start cooking that turkey!

The Masked Singer is making room for holiday royalty at its Thanksgiving table.

Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the whole Peanuts crew join the celebrity guessing game on Thursday (Fox, 8/7c) for what’s sure to be another dramatic double elimination as Royal Knight, Sherlock Hound and Strawberry Shortcake battle for a single remaining spot in the Season 12 quarterfinals.

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“The Masked Singer” usually airs new episodes every Wednesday night, but the schedule is shifting this week for Thanksgiving Day.

The 12th season of Fox’s whodunnit reality TV show will air a rerun on Wednesday, Nov. 27 (the “Who Are You Fest” hour that introduced Group C), and the new episode will instead air on Thursday, Nov. 28. That’s right — after you devour a yummy turkey dinner with your loved ones, gather around the TV and watch as Royal Knight, Sherlock Hound, and Strawberry Shortcake compete in the “Group C Finals: A Peanuts Thanksgiving” episode.

Watch the video trailer right here:

See‘The Masked Singer’ deaths: Full list of celebrities we’ve lost

“Good grief! The whole gang’s here to celebrate,” the narrator declares in the preview clip, as we see full-size version of “Peanuts” comic strip characters like Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Lucy van Pelt, and Franklin. The Fox announcer later teases,...

Thanksgiving is usually a time for celebration. However, there will only be time for one contestant to celebrate on The Masked Singer since there will be a double elimination next week. Group C will come into the holiday week with three singers, and two of them will go home before Thanksgiving Day.

Here is what you need to know about the reality singing competition’s plans for next week.

The Masked Singer Having A Double Elimination Before Thanksgiving

This season, Group C on The Masked Singer started with five contestants. They were Strawberry Shortcake, Royal Knight, Ice King, Sherlock Hound, and Macaron. So far, two of them unmasked. Macaron unmasked first as surfer Bethany Hamilton.

The Masked Singer | YouTube

The very next elimination was Ice King, who turned out to be Drake Bell. This leaves Strawberry Shortcake, Royal Knight, and Sherlock Hound. Each singer has a Mask Ambassador, who has...

Good grief! “The Masked Singer” pays tribute to Charlie Brown, Snoopy and friends next week with “Peanuts Night.” The event will also air one day later than usual, Thursday, Nov. 28, as a Thanksgiving special.

Variety has a first look at the Thanksgiving “Peanuts Night” edition of “The Masked Singer,” which kicks off with panelists Rita Ora and Robin Thicke performing “You Make My Dreams Come True.” Then, the Group C finals take place, with Sherlock Hound, Royal Knight and Strawberry Shortcake giving out “Thanksgiving-themed clues” and singing songs “I Hope You Dance,” “Holiday” and “Ho Hey.” The episode, which airs 8 p.m. Et on Thursday, will end with a battle royale and double elimination.

To celebrate “Peanuts Night,” the show’s panelists also shared their favorite characters from the long-running comic strip (which marks its 75th anniversary in 2025). For Robin Thicke, he quips, “I kind of always related to Pig Pen,...

Spoiler Alert: Details follow for Season 12, Episode 8 of “The Masked Singer,” “Miley Cyrus Night,” which aired November 20 on Fox.

Drake Bell got a bit serious on Wednesday night’s episode of “The Masked Singer,” revealing what it felt like to be at the center of a media firestorm earlier this year. Bell, who was unmasked as the Ice King this week, shared some personal thoughts in the voice-over package before his performance.

“I finally felt ready to tell my truth to the world,” said Bell – under the disguise of the Ice King. “And so I did. And then instantly regretted it. I imagined my words all over the news and the Internet, and totally freaked. I begged them to pull my story. I didn’t want it to run. But, that power was out of my reach. The night it was released, I was a total disaster. Frozen. But once...

It was “Miley Cyrus Night” on The Masked Singer this week, and ironically, one contestant got slimed. No, not literally. We just mean that it was a former Nickelodeon star that got sent home.

The night saw the remaining Group C singers compete to move forward, beginning the night with a group performance of “Party In The USA.” From there, they each performed their own take on one of the former Disney Channel star’s songs, including “Used To Be Young,” “Midnight Sky,” “Wrecking Ball” and “When I Look At You.”

Like we said though, it was a former Nickelodeon star that got unmasked in the end. Sadly, it was Ice King that got left in the cold and eliminated from the show. So, who was under the mask?

It’s probably going to take some time to realign after performing on “The Masked Singer,” as he was revealed to...

Bethany Hamilton was unmasked on The Masked Singer this week. The former surf pro was there to hopefully inspire people, and she seemed happy to represent her family on the show. This was also a tough time for her since she experienced great tragedy recently and had to overcome it as she worked to get ready for her performance.

Here is what Bethany said about performing on The Masked Singer.

Bethany Hamilton Talks Masked Singer Performance

Bethany Hamilton was unmasked this week on The Masked Singer. This happened just about a month after her three-year-old nephew died after drowning. Bethany said she was “grateful” to perform in the reality television competition as she hoped to continue inspiring people with her appearance.

Bethany Hamilton from Instagram

For those unaware, Bethany was a professional surfer. To achieve this, she had to overcome great odds. In 2003, a shark attacked Bethany when she was...

Season 12 of “The Masked Singer” continued Wednesday night on Fox, with the Group C contestants making their debut in “Who Are You Fest.” Following the studio audience vote, Macaron became the first singer eliminated (and seventh overall this season), revealing professional surfer and author Bethany Hamilton. Watch our video interview above.

“I sing to my children every day, I have four littles,” Bethany tells Gold Derby. “In my head I was like, ‘Ooo, I could maybe get better at singing. It just looked like a really fun challenge. I always have loved challenges.”

The athlete admits that singing “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen “doesn’t necessarily reflect something that I would sing every single day, but it was a really fun song.” She also admits the Macaron costume was “so out of my comfort zone.” She continues, “I live a very simple life as far as clothing. Seeing...

Spoiler Alert: Details follow for Season 12, Episode 7 of “The Masked Singer,” “Who Are You Fest Night,” which aired November 13 on Fox.

It may have been a wipeout, but surfer Bethany Hamilton told Variety that she still enjoyed her brief appearance on “The Masked Singer.” Hamilton was the latest celebrity to be unmasked, revealed to be the star under the Macaron costume as the show’s Group C competition got underway on Wednesday’s episode.

“I wanted to originally do ‘The Masked Singer’ just because I thought it would be fun,” Hamilton said. “I sing to my children every day and thought maybe I’d get better at singing. And it’s also an opportunity to encourage people, and that’s what my life is all about.”

Among the show’s panelists, Rita Ora got it right, naming Bethany Hamilton — and Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg agreed. Ken Jeong though it was Gypsy Rose Blanchard.

Few people in the sports world have had to navigate more in their careers than Bethany Hamilton. The professional surfer survived a shark attack when she was only 13 years old. She lost her left arm as a result of the attack but continued to get into the water.

For most, that would likely be the end of their time surfing. Hamilton didn’t let that deter her. Sadly, Hamilton recently shared a post in which she talked about her nephew drowning. At the time, her nephew still had a heartbeat and was alive. She recently posted an update about her nephew. Here’s what she had to say.

Bethany Hamilton’s Awful Update

In a recent post to Facebook, Hamilton gave the heart-wrenching update that her nephew, Andrew, had officially passed away. The surfer poured her heart out by saying:

“The Lord has receive my sweet nephew Andrew into his beautiful care.

After surfer Bethany Hamilton posted about a personal family tragedy, she has a few positive updates to share.

Earlier in the week, the 34-year-old took to Instagram, pleading with fans to get her in touch with Dr. Paul Harch, a drowning specialist. Her three-year-old nephew apparently drowned, but still had a heartbeat and was fighting for his life in the hospital.

The situation is still dire, but the family has room for hope now. Read on to see Bethany’s updates.

Bethany Hamilton’s Cry For Help Paid Off

Surfer Bethany Hamilton is no stranger to tragedy and recovery. When she was 13, she lost her arm in a shark attack. But not long after, she was back in the water again.

Bethany Hamilton/Instagram

The Hamiltons are a Christian family and rely on their faith to carry them through difficult times. When three-year-old Noah Hamilton drowned this week, they called on the public for prayers.

In 2003, 13-year-old Bethany Hamilton suffered a shark attack while surfing in Hawaii. She lost her arm and many thought she would never surf again. But she recovered and stuck with the sport she always loved.

A month after losing her arm, Bethany headed back to the water. The 2011 film Soul Surfer is based on her story.

But now, Bethany Hamilton and her family need support more than ever before. The surfer, who is now 34, shared another family tragedy on social media and begged her fans for assistance.

See what she had to say.

Bethany Hamilton Relies On Her Faith To Carry Her Through Difficult Times

Years after surviving a shark attack, Bethany Hamilton is now a wife and mother. She’s made appearances on reality television, even appearing in an episode of 19 Kids and Counting.

Faith is an incredibly large part of Bethany’s life and she recently requested...

Watching Sasha Jane Lowerson paddle out into the chilly Pacific, it becomes hard to tell her apart from the couple of dozen other surfers waiting for their moment. Lowerson is patient, and it’s a good while before she comes cruising in on a southerly, slow-rolling wave — the kind that takes you all the way in. At this moment, none of her pro titles really matter, nor do the culture-war dramas of being the first out transgender surfer on the competition circuit. The ride is everything.

Until last week, Lowerson...

Measuring just 5ft 0 (152.4 cm), AnnaSophia Robb is much shorter than the average American woman. She wears a shoe size 5 (US), which translates to a UK size 2.5 or 3, a European size 35, and a Japanese size 21.

Anna Sophia Robb looks tiny standing next to Gherardo Felloni at the 37th Annual Footwear News Achievement Awards at Cipriani South Street on November 29, 2023, in New York City (Credit: Media Punch / INSTARimages)

AnnaSophia’s Perspective on Height and Perception

“Everyone always says that guys are intimidated by me,” she told Teen Vogue in 2013, “but I seriously doubt it. I mean, I’m five-foot-nothing!”

“I think I must make a stank face,” she joked. “I loved high school,” AnnaSophia added.

“Everyone always asks me if the other kids treated me differently because of my career, but they didn’t. If you act weird, people are going to treat you weird, but if you’re just yourself, people respond to that.

AnnaSophia Robb did not do all of her surfing in the 2011 American biographical drama film Soul Surfer. While she performed some of the surfing scenes in the film, Bethany Hamilton performed the more challenging post-shark attack surfing scenes for authenticity and to showcase her incredible skill.

AnnaSophia Robb stars as Bethany Hamilton in “Soul Surfer,” but Hamilton herself performed the complex surfing scenes after the shark attack (Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing)

Bethany Hamilton: The Inspiration Behind ‘Soul Surfer

The biographical drama film directed by Sean McNamara is based on Bethany Hamilton’s 2004 autobiography Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board. The book describes her life as a surfer after she lost her left arm in a shark attack at age 13.

The book tells the story of her life, from her early days as a surfer to her recovery from the attack...

April showers bring May flowers, but Amazon Prime Video’s April slate of new movies contains some bright watches for any leftover rain. The “Judy Blume Forever” documentary arrives toward the end of the month, telling the author’s life story and highlighting the impact her writing made on literature and the world. The doc will precede “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” which releases in theaters at the end of the month.

George Clooney returns to a tropical setting alongside Julia Roberts in the 2022 romantic comedy “Ticket to Paradise,” and his earlier Hawaiian-set film “The Descendants” will be available too. “Bros” provides another rom-com option that landed on the streamer on April 4. And we’ve even got a pick for the whole family.

Here are our picks for seven of the best new movies to watch on Amazon Prime Video in April 2023:

“Judy Blume Forever” Prime Video...

Netflix has added quite a selection of newer and classic movies to its roster this May. Two Tom Hanks films have made the cut, and should make your to-watch list if you haven’t seen them already, and rom-coms are always a great mood booster. Below, we’ve assembled a list of the best new movies on Netflix in May 2022, which includes library titles and a brand new Netflix original that’ll hit the sweet spot for a specific audience. So peruse our selections below to get your viewing plans sorted.

Forrest Gump (1984) Paramount

Robert Zemeckis’ Oscar-winning film starring Tom Hanks had to make the cut here. Hanks plays a man named Forrest Gump, who recounts his life story starting from his childhood in Alabama where his mother (Sally Field) encouraged him to do anything he wanted to do. The film chronicles how he learned to run, his relationship with...

If there’s one thing more painful than staying indoors, it is staying indoors during beach bonanza time! But some crazy travel enthusiasts came up with the most amazing pandemic-safe guide to beat the travel blues. – a) Choose a movie with a great beach theme, b) Put on your favorite swimwear (because the devil is in the details), c) Tune into Netflix, and d) Use your imagination to believe you are sipping Mai Tais on a beach!

So, while you still cannot book the next flight to your favorite beach vacation spot (it is best to avoid non-emergency travel), you can certainly make some popped corn, put on your #instaready Vilebrequin shorts, and tune into Netflix! To make your movie night a huge hit, here is a list of four Hollywood classics that will help soothe your travel blues while you are safe in your house.

The Must-Watch Beach Movies

So,...

Trevor Donovan, best known for starring in the teen drama “90210” and several Hallmark Channel rom-coms, has been cast in the upcoming Ronald Reagan biopic.

The independent film, titled “Reagan,” features Dennis Quaid as the 40th president of the United States of America. It tells the story of Reagan during his childhood, through his acting career and into the highest office in the United States. Donovan will play Reagan’s longest-serving Secret Service agent John Barletta.

Though an exact release date hasn’t been announced, “Reagan” is expected to debut sometime in early 2022.

“Reagan” was filmed at the former president’s ranch outside of Santa Barbara, Calif. It’s the first film to ever shoot on the property where Reagan resided, which became known as the Western White House.

Sean McNamara directed “Reagan,” which was written by Howard Klausner and produced by Mark Joseph. The cast also includes “Wizards of Waverly Place...

Bethany Hamilton is a mama of three boys! The surfer welcomed her third son with her husband, Adam Dirks, on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14. Adam announced the arrival of little Micah on Bethany's website, saying, "We're excited baby is here… the perfect Valentine's Day present!" The Christian youth minister shared, "Mama is happy and healthy. We are just so thankful that everything went really smooth!" He called it "an amazing blessing," writing, "We are humbled and thankful that we get another opportunity to raise a son in his faith. Hopefully we can be good examples and love on him." Micah joins his brothers Tobias, 5,...

MTV is relaunching its MTV Books imprint in partnership with Simon & Schuster, with Macmillan veteran Christian Trimmer to oversee, the company announced Monday.

Trimmer will report to MTV Entertainment’s president of content and chief creative officer, Nina L. Diaz, leading an effort to expand MTV’s page-to-screen development pipeline. The imprint will be housed under the Branded Publishing Group of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, overseen by Valerie Garfield, with Kara Sargent, director of branded publishing, as the lead editor on the Simon & Schuster side.

Trimmer will acquire and edit books for young adults, working with MTV’s Meghan Hooper on developing titles into films and limited series, as well as evaluating existing MTV IP to be “reimagined” as book projects. Previous titles published under the MTV Books label include Stephen Chbosky’s “Perks of Being a Wallflower,” Bethany Hamilton’s “Soul Surfer” and Tupac Shakur’s “The Rose that Grew from Concrete.

MTV Books is getting a relaunch in partnership with Simon & Schuster and with YA publishing industry vet Christian Trimmer heading up the endeavor.

The Trimmer announcement suggests a ramp-up of MTV Entertainment’s book-to-tv & film pipeline and its hunt for new writer voices. Trimmer will be based in New York and report to Nina L. Diaz, President of Content and Chief Creative Officer for MTV Entertainment.

Trimmer arrives at MTV Books from Macmillan, where he oversaw titles like the international bestsellers Children of Blood and Bone and The Shape of Water, the latter being the basis for the Oscar-winning film version.

As Head of MTV Books, Trimmer will acquire and edit books for young adults, furthering the Group’s commitment to stories that reflect the breadth of its audiences. Working closely with Mtve’s Meghan Hooper, EVP, Head of Original Movies and Limited Series, Trimmer will identify titles for development...

Children’s book author and editor Christian Trimmer will head the relaunch of MTV Books in partnership with Simon & Schuster, ViacomCBS’ MTV Entertainment Group announced today. Trimmer’s appointment will accelerate the Mtve book-to-tv/film pipeline as the YA industry veteran will help discover new voices that reflect the breadth of its audiences. Some critically acclaimed MTV Books titles that have already been turned into feature films include Stephen Chbosky’s Perks of Being a Wallflower and Bethany Hamilton’s Soul Surfer.

“With the relaunch of MTV Books, we have the opportunity to uncover new, cutting-edge voices and fast track their stories into series and TV movies,” said Nina L. Diaz, President of Content and Chief Creative Officer at MTV Entertainment, in a statement. “Christian has a keen eye for identifying some of the most pioneering authors of this generation and we’re thrilled to welcome him to the team.

Wonderfilm Media has set in motion a biopic about baseball player Randy Arozarena, the Tampa Bay Rays breakout star, who came from Cuba and fueled the Rays run to the World Series, which eventually went to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games. Brad Gann, the screenwriter of the Mark Wahlberg-led Invincible and a co-writer of pro surfer Bethany Hamilton biopic Soul Surfer, will pen the screenplay.

Arozarena’s story is inspiring. He escaped Cuba on a makeshift boat, landed in Mexico, and started a new life there before making his way to the U.S. and eventually, his major league debut in 2017. Arozarena currently holds the MLB record for most home runs in a single postseason with 10. In his rookie postseason, Arozarena broke Barry Bonds’ record for most home runs as well as Derek Jeter’s record for most hits by a rookie. He was also named Mvp...

Bethany Hamilton will now have to teach three kids to ride the waves! The surfer revealed in an Oct. 17 Instagram video that she is expecting her third child with husband Adam Dirks.  In the video, Bethany and her two kids, Tobias, 5, and Wesley, 2, play around in the ocean in their paradise home of Kauai, Hawaii. The 30-year-old holds her pregnant stomach while perched on a surfboard. In the next part of the video, she and the kids walk across a log, which has "Tobias," "Wesley," and "?" written across it.  The rest of the video is a glimpse into Bethany's family life, which includes Tobias surfing the ways (impressive!) and Bethany...

On May 28th, SheFactor, the country’s leading lifestyle brand for twenty something women, will host the ultimate virtual graduation event with emcee Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe, guest speakers Surfer Bethany Hamilton, Olympian Missy Franklin, Karen Civil, Jennifer Barreto-Leyva, Wnba Recruit Erica Ogwumike & Adley Stump! Music from Colbie Caillat's Gone West, Ashe, Tenille Townes, Payton Smith, Nico & Vinz, Kylie Morgan, Molly Kate Kestner, and Caroline Jones will bring a smile to the millions of women graduates who won’t be able to walk across the stage to receive their diploma this year.

Graduation Party and Summit For 2020 Women Graduates

Graduates will enjoy the Launch Your Life Summit (9am-4pm Pst) leading up to the SheGrad Party (4pm-6pm Pst), both live-streamed for Free with over a thousand giveaways for participants. Friends and family are welcome to join, register here.

“I’m so excited to join SheFactor to celebrate the class...

With “Dancing with the Stars” set to come back for a 29th season this fall — not this spring, alas — there’s a long list of celebrities who we think should compete on the dance floor. Below are six female celebs the show should consider inviting into the ballroom to vie for the next Mirror Ball Trophy. Do you agree with these picks? Vote in our poll at the bottom of this post, and click above to see more of our ultimate list of stars we think the show should consider when the show comes back.

SEEDancing with the Stars: Past Winners

Amanda Bynes

This former child star got her start as a cast member on Nickelodeon’s sketch comedy series “All That” for four seasons before landing her own starring vehicle, “The Amanda Show.” She also starred in the WB sitcom “What I Like About You” and appeared in films...

Two years ago, the Academy documentary branch had to grapple with a record 170 documentary feature submissions for the Best Documentary Feature Oscar. This year, it’s not so bad: only 159 were entered. The short list of 15 will be announced, along with eight others, on December 16.

All year, branch members have been getting lists of secure online screeners available to watch on the Academy website, increasing in volume, with more to come. Each voter is assigned a list of about 22-23 films to screen, so they all get covered. But it’s a burden to see them all, so the ones with the most attention move to the top of the much-watch list.

Give the advantage to box-office hits that were made available earlier in the year such as Neon’s “The Biggest Little Farm” and “Apollo 11,” as well as high-profile titles from HBO (“Diego Maradona” and “The Apollo”), Netflix,...

Two years ago, the Academy documentary branch had to grapple with a record 170 documentary feature submissions for the Best Documentary Feature Oscar. This year, it’s not so bad: only 159 were entered. The short list of 15 will be announced, along with eight others, on December 16.

All year, branch members have been getting lists of secure online screeners available to watch on the Academy website, increasing in volume, with more to come. Each voter is assigned a list of about 22-23 films to screen, so they all get covered. But it’s a burden to see them all, so the ones with the most attention move to the top of the much-watch list.

Give the advantage to box-office hits that were made available earlier in the year such as Neon’s “The Biggest Little Farm” and “Apollo 11,” as well as high-profile titles from HBO (“Diego Maradona” and “The Apollo”), Netflix,...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has unveiled the 159 documentary features that have been submitted for the 92nd annual Academy Awards.

A shortlist of 15 films will be announced on Dec. 16. Nominations will be announced on Jan. 13. The winners will be revealed on Feb. 9.

High-profile titles include “American Factory,” “The Apollo,” “Apollo 11,” “The Biggest Little Farm,” “Echo in the Canyon,” “The Edge of Democracy,” “For Sama,” “Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice,” “One Child Nation,” “Sea of Shadows,” and “Where’s My Roy Cohn?”

AMPAS noted the several of the films have not yet had their required Los Angeles and New York qualifying releases.

“Free Solo” won the documentary Oscar on Feb. 24 for filmmakers Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, Evan Hayes, and Shannon Dill.

See the full list below.

Advocate

After Parkland

The All-Americans

Always in Season

The Amazing Johnathan Documentary

American Dharma

American Factory

American Relapse...

Documentary submissions may also qualify for Oscars in other categories, including best picture.

Apollo 11, The Biggest Little Farm, The Sea Of Shadows and The Elephant Queen are among 159 features submitted for consideration in the documentary feature category for the 92nd Academy Awards.

The Academy unveiled the list on Tuesday (12).Several films have not yet had their Los Angeles and New York qualifying releases. Submissions must fulfil theatrical release requirements and comply with all of the category’s other qualifying rules in order to advance in the voting process.

Documentary submissions may also qualify for Oscars in other categories, including best picture.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released its list of 159 documentary features that have been submitted for the 92 annual Academy Awards. See the full list below.

A shortlist of 15 films will be announced on December 16.

The Academy notes that several of the films have not had their required Los Angeles and New York qualifying releases yet. Submitted features must fulfill the theatrical release requirements and comply with all of the category’s other qualifying rules in order to advance in the voting process.

Documentary features that have won a qualifying award at a competitive film festival or have been submitted in the International Feature Film category as their country’s official selection also are eligible in the category.

Here is the alphabetical list:

Advocate

After Parkland

The All-Americans

Always in Season

The Amazing Johnathan Documentary

American Dharma

American Factory

American Relapse

Angels Are Made of Light

The Apollo

Apollo 11

Aquarela

Ask Dr.

A total of 159 documentary features have qualified in the Oscars’ Best Documentary Feature category, the Academy announced on Tuesday.

Last year, 166 documentaries qualified. In 2017, a record 170 made the cut.

All of the films are now available to members of the Documentary Branch to stream on the Academy’s secure members website. The films have been placed there over the last six months, with 23 added to the site in June, 24 in July, 26 in August, 19 in September and 62 in October and only five in November.

Also Read: 'Maiden' Star Tracy Edwards Kept Her Story 'Messy' to Serve the Next Generation of Women Athletes (Video)

Each member is randomly assigned 20% of the films as mandatory viewing but is free to see any additional films beyond those that are assigned. A preliminary round of voting will produce a 15-film shortlist, with a second-round narrowing those 15 to the five nominees.

This year is...

John Chester’s “The Biggest Little Farm,” a film about a husband and wife trying to establish a small farm in Southern California, led all films in nominations for the fourth annual Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards, the Critics Choice Association announced on Monday.

The film received seven nominations in 16 categories, including Best Documentary Feature and Best Director. Todd Douglas Miller’s “Apollo 11,” which used 50-year-old footage to reconstruct the moon mission, received six, as did Peter Jackson’s “They Shall Not Grow Old,” which used enhanced 100-year-old footage to bring World War I to movie screens in special-event engagements.

Other films nominated in the Best Documentary Feature category are “American Factory,” “The Cave,” “Honeyland,” “The Kingmaker,” “Knock Down the House,” “Maiden” and “One Child Nation.” And because the Bfca has given up trying to draw a line between film and television docs, the HBO two-part series “Leaving Neverland” was...

What did you see this weekend?

Weekend Box Office Estimates

July 12th-14th  ...

In mid-summer, 2019 finally delivered a breakout specialized hit. Lulu Wang’s Sundance breakout “The Farewell” (A24), which is neither a documentary nor a wide release, drew a stellar response from arthouse moviegoers. Produced in America and set in China, this family dramedy marks one of the best platform openings ever for a film outside the year-end awards season. That the movie comes from a little-known director makes its initial response all the more gratifying. The standard arthouse release formula can still work.

Bleecker Street also scored better than average initial results for “The Art of Self Defense” with an eclectic set of initial theaters. A24 is on a roll, as “The Farewell” joins the still-limited “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” (A24) in fighting to keep the specialized narrative brand alive.

Opening

The Farewell (A24) – Metacritic: 89; Festivals include: Sundance, San Francisco 2019

$351,330 in 4 theaters; PTA (per theater average): $87,833

Lulu...

Never mind the blackout, Sundance’s The Farewell glowed with the year’s best opening weekend per- theater average in its debut, despite cancelled shows at AMC Lincoln Square, though most tickets were likely purchased ahead of time. In any event, distributor A24 gets bragging rights to a great opening,

The Farewell director Lulu Wang gave a light-hearted Tweet after the lights went out on Manhattan’s West side that she would host a showing of her movie, though she followed it up that she was actually in Los Angeles.

“To Everyone in NYC that is missing @thefarewell screenings cuz of the power outage, I’m sorry [emoji] Come to my house and I’ll screen it. You bring the food, I’ll bring the movie.”

More on point Sunday morning, A24 noted: “Lulu Wang’s touching, heartfelt and hilarious ode to family sold out shows at all 4 opening theaters this weekend.

No matter how many times you hear the story of Bethany Hamilton, the U.S. professional surfing icon whose left arm got bitten off by a tiger shark when she was 13, it exerts an emotional power that can’t be denied. At this point, however, the story is so familiar that it has taken on the quality of a larger-than-life American parable of tragedy and faith and perseverance and triumph. It’s been told on talk shows, on sports TV, in celebrity media, in Hamilton’s 2004 memoir, “Soul Surfer,” and in the not-bad Hollywood biopic that was made from it. So when you watch “Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable,” a documentary that recaps Hamilton’s life in compelling fashion without adding anything of special novelty or depth (though much of the surfing footage is spectacular), it can feel like you’re seeing a perfectly fine devotional sports biography that doesn’t elevate...

Happy Friday! As the weekend hits, we are bringing back the review round-up in order to cover a couple of new titles arriving in theaters on a limited basis. Today, we’ll be briefly discussing two particular films, both of which are quite different from each other. The movies in question are the documentary Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable, as well as the home invasion tale Trespassers. Both of these flicks offer up something a bit different and may or may not be worth your time this weekend. That question, in particular, is something I’ll attempt to answer right now, so let us dive in! Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable The life of surfer Bethany Hamilton is worth celebrating. After all, how many of us would respond well to being attacked by a shark, especially after losing a limb? What’s more, to succeed as Hamilton has, after the attack, in part...

Champion surfer Bethany Hamilton has been in the public eye ever since she lost her arm to a tiger shark at the age of 13, only to come back and thrive in the surf community. Now, the 29-year-old is sharing her story in Aaron Lieber's documentary Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable.

While Hamilton's 2004 memoir Soul Surfer, made into a 2011 film of the same name with AnnaSophia Robb starring as the young surfer, gave audiences a peek into Hamilton's journey, she tells The Hollywood Reporter In Studio, "There's so much more to my story that hasn't been shared....

Champion surfer Bethany Hamilton has been in the public eye ever since she lost her arm to a tiger shark at the age of 13, only to come back and thrive in the surf community. Now, the 29-year-old is sharing her story in Aaron Lieber's documentary Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable.

While Hamilton's 2004 memoir Soul Surfer, made into a 2011 film of the same name with AnnaSophia Robb starring as the young surfer, gave audiences a peek into Hamilton's journey, she tells The Hollywood Reporter In Studio, "There's so much more to my story that hasn't been shared....

Since first making headlines in 2003 for surviving a shark attack when she was 13 years old, Bethany Hamilton has become one of the most recognizable surfers in the world. In 2011, Hamilton’s story received the Hollywood treatment with the movie “Soul Surfer,” based on her autobiography.

But the new documentary “Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable” is about being authentically herself, as a competitive athlete, wife and mother.

“There are struggles and issues and things I have to overcome beyond just the loss of my arm,” Hamilton told Variety at the film’s premiere on Tuesday night at the Arclight Hollywood. “I celebrate ‘Soul Surfer.’ I loved it. But people are going to get to know the real Bethany through this film.”

Shot over a period of six years and in everywhere from Tahiti to Maui, “Unstoppable” tracks the Hawai’i-born surfer, 29, from her early days as a fiery competitor on the amateur circuit...

In honor of the women’s U.S soccer team beating out the Netherlands in Sunday’s World Cup Final, watch these inspiring female athletes bring their star-power to the silver-screen. From “Bring it On” to “Bend it Like Beckham,” we have you covered with movies that run the athletic gamut.

“Bring it On”

Two rival cheerleading squads duke it out in a teen flick fraught with routine theft, betrayal, romantic drama, and of course high flying cheer stunts. The movie delivers on its title’s promise — the girls of Rancho Carne and East Compton High indeed “bring it on.” Watch the young Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union give starmaking performances in this cult classic.

“Bring it On Again”

The cheerleading sequel has graduated from high school drama to college campus drama. With an entirely new cast and plotline, the followup still maintains the cheer squad battles that made its predecessor so entertaining.

"She trained her butt off. It takes a lot of strength and willpower..." Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures has debuted an official trailer for the indie documentary Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable, a profile of the life of acclaimed surfer Bethany Hamilton. If you recognize the name, her story was already adapted into a feature film back in 2011 called Soul Surfer, which starred AnnaSophia Robb as Bethany. Unstoppable is Hamilton's complete and untold story that follows her journey from childhood into motherhood – the ups, downs and her powerful resilience against all odds to become one of the leading professional surfers of all time. From chasing her toddler, to chasing the biggest waves, Bethany is continually rewriting the rules on being a fearless athlete, and brings new meaning to the phrase "Surfs Like a Girl." Another great sports doc. Here's the trailer (+ poster) for Aaron Lieber's doc Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable, from YouTube:...

Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios said on Monday it has acquired the 2018 Sundance film “All Rise,” starring Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson.

The film, which was titled “Monster” while in competition at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, is based on the award-winning and New York Times-bestselling novel of the same name by Walter Dean Myers, which received the Coretta Scott King Award that recognizes outstanding books for young adults and children by African Americans that reflect the African American experience.

“All Rise” tells the story of Steve Harmon (Harrison), a 17-year-old honor student whose world comes crashing down around him when he is charged with felony murder. The film follows his dramatic journey from a smart, likeable film student from Harlem attending an elite high school through a complex legal battle that could leave him spending the rest of his life in prison.

Also Read: Bethany Hamilton Doc...

Los Angeles’ Skid Row is rarely a place filmmakers go looking for inspirational stories. It has been home to the city’s homeless population since the 1930s and has only grown in size thanks to the housing crisis. In “Skid Row Marathon,” director Mark Hayes decides to explore not Skid Row in particular, but a judge who has formed a running club with some Skid Row residents to train for marathons, and offers insights into this unique group of people who have struggled in life.

Though some of the stories are inspirational, Hayes takes on a “white savior” view too often, making the documentary feel misguided and detached.

It’s always a little bit strange for me to see how a writer or director who isn’t from L.A. or has only lived here a few years, takes on a subject that is very much an L.A. thing.

In today’s film news roundup, Janelle Monae will star in a Lionsgate movie, Bill Nighy joins “Emma,” and documentaries on surfer Bethany Hamilton and Asbury Park are dated.

Castings

Janelle Monae will star in an untitled Lionsgate movie directed by the duo Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz.

The film will be produced by QC Entertainment’s Ray Mansfield and Sean McKittrick, along with Zev Foreman and Lezlie Wills. QC Entertainment produced “Get Out” and “BlacKkKlansman.” McKittrick also recently produced Jordan Peele’s “Us.”

Monae is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter who starred in “Hidden Figures” and “Moonlight.” Bush and Renz have worked on campaigns for the Mlk Memorial Foundation and Amnesty International, in addition to directing Jay-z’s music video “Kill Jay Z” and the police brutality PSA “Against the Wall,” starring Michael B. Jordan, Danny Glover, and Michael K. Williams. The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.

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Bill Nighy...

Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures has acquired the worldwide rights to “Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable,” a documentary about the famed competitive surfer Bethany Hamilton who lost her arm in a shark attack when she was a teenager.

Esmp will release the film in U.S. theaters on July 12.

“Unstoppable” is directed by Aaron Lieber. The documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2018 and was also featured at both the Los Angeles Film Festival and Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival.

Also Read: Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios 'Aggressively' Pursues Mergers, Acquisitions With New Exec Hire

“Unstoppable” tells the story of surfer Hamilton, who was attacked by a 15-foot tiger shark while surfing at age 13, causing the loss of her left arm.

But not only did Hamilton survive the attack, she was back on the competitive surfing circuit just a year later. More than a decade later, Hamilton, now a mother,...