Alex Gibney: Last News

EXCLUSIVE: Benjamin Netanyahu doc The Bibi Files has secured distribution in multiple territories, flying in the face of the controversial Israeli prime minister’s attempts to block the film.

Miami Beach city commission meetings typically don’t generate national and international news, but that could happen Wednesday.

Addie Morfoot Contributor Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner’s March 13 proposal to shut down the city’s nonprofit art house cinema, O Cinema, following screenings of the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land” is not sitting well with the members of the doc community. On Monday, 752 members of the international filmmaking community including doc feature Oscar winners Michael Moore, Laura Poitras, Ezra Edelman and Alex Gibney signed an open letter to the city of Miami Beach that stated, in part, that the Mayor’s threat to shut down the O Cinema is “an attack on freedom of expression, the right of artists to tell their stories, and a violation of the First Amendment.” Alfred Spellman, who co-founded Rakontur with Billy Corben in 2000, also signed the letter.

The blowback continues over the Miami Beach mayor’s threat to close a movie theater over its screening of the Oscar-winning documentary . More than 600 people including several Oscar winners have signed an open letter to the city decrying the potential shutdown of indie theater O Cinema as “an attack on freedom of expression, the right of artists to tell their stories, and a violation of the First Amendment.”

Nathan Fielder has been spotted visiting Elizabeth Holmes in prison, sparking speculation about a possible new project involving the disgraced Theranos founder.

EXCLUSIVE: Veteran producer and film executive Jonathan King is joining Zhang Xin at Closer Media in the newly created role of president. With 25 years of experience developing and producing award-winning films, King brings a background shepherding narrative and documentary storytelling to the company’s portfolio.

Addie Morfoot Contributor Oscar winner Alex Gibney has signed on to executive produce “Speechless,” a feature-length documentary about the culture wars being waged and the threats to freedom of speech on university and college campuses across the United States. Directed by Ric Esther Bienstock (“Enslaved”), the doc will feature interviews with students, faculty, and administrators from a wide range of universities and colleges, including community colleges and the Ivys.

Selome Hailu Amazon Prime Video has ordered “Octopus!,” a two-part documentary special narrated and executive produced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Per the official description, the documentary project “transports viewers into the otherworldly depths of one of the most intelligent and mysterious life forms on Earth as it follows the Giant Pacific Octopus from birth to death.

the 26-year-old who allegedly shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, in NYC in Dec. 2024 — in a movie.“I’ve never received more texts in my life about anything,” Franco said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter alongside his wife, Alison Brie, while promoting their new horror film, “Together.”Franco added, “Not just friends — anyone who has my phone number has reached out about it.”Brie, 42, pointed out that her husband hasn’t gotten “any official offers” yet for the potential role.“No official [offers],” Franco confirmed.After Mangione was accused of killing Thompson last month, Franco went viral on social media as fans compared him to the alleged gunman.The “Neighbors” star reportedly experienced his third-most-popular week of Google searches in the last five years.The comparisons between Franco and Mangione were even brought up in a “Saturday Night Live” sketch where Sarah Sherman played legal journalist Nancy Grace.Sherman’s Grace joked that Mangione has “women and gay guys alike all hot and bothered,” and said he “looks like Dave Franco with Eugene Levy eyebrows.”A scripted movie about Mangione has yet to be announced.

At every stage of release, the Oscar-shortlisted documentary The Bibi Files has faced tremendous challenges – obstacles that might have derailed filmmakers without the fortitude of director Alexis Bloom and producer Alex Gibney.

EXCLUSIVE: Veteran creative executive Kevin Plunkett has joined Wolf Entertainment as EVP Development. Reporting to the company’s COO Peter Jankowski, he will oversee scripted development, working closely with the executive teams at Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television, where the company is based.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large The race to produce true crime and documentary about Luigi Mangione — the man accused of killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York — continues to get more crowded. Next up, Variety has learned that Warner Bros.

K.J. Yossman A second high-profile documentary is in the works about UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect Luigi Mangione.

We knew it was only a matter of time, but it appears we now know who will be bringing us the first major Luigi Mangione documentary.  READ MORE: The 20 Best Films Of 2024 According to Variety, Alex Gibney is already developing a Luigi Mangione documentary. For those unaware, Mangione is the person who murdered the United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Anonymous Content and Alex Gibney’s Jigsaw Productions are teaming up to develop and produce a documentary project about the December 2024 murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. 

Tatiana Siegel It was a story that rocked the nation. And now, the first project about the brazen, broad daylight killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is on the way. Anonymous Content and Alex Gibney’s Jigsaw Prods.

EXCLUSIVE: Hamptons Doc Fest announced the full slate of films today for the upcoming 17th edition of the event in Sag Habor, New York, and revealed a group of honorees that includes documentary titan Michael Moore.

Addie Morfoot Contributor “The Bibi Files,” a documentary about Benjamin Netanyahu that features never-before-seen video of the Israeli Prime Minister being interrogated by police on corruption allegations that led to his indictment in 2019, will be available to stream on Jolt.film beginning Dec. 11.

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large AMC+’s “Lakota Nation vs. United States” landed two of the top awards on Thursday at the documentary portion of the News & Documentary Emmys, landing the kudos for best documentary and for outstanding direction: documentary. The doc was directed by Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomaselli and executive produced by Mark Ruffalo.

Barbra Streisand is gearing up to provide fans with an unprecedented look at her life and career.