Independent

Independent Cinematic Triumphs: Dances With Films Reveals 2025 Award Winners in a Star-Studded Celebration

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Los Angeles — The 28th edition of the Dances With Films festival, known for showcasing independent cinema, concluded recently in Los Angeles, revealing its jury and audience award winners. The festival celebrated a diverse roster of films, emphasizing fresh voices in the film industry. In the narrative feature category, Nate Hilgartner’s film No Choice took home the Grand Jury Prize. The story unfolds around a young woman who faces an unexpected pregnancy and experiences haunting dreams that foreshadow her demise if she cannot procure an abortion. Something Casual, directed by Brandon Buczek, received an Honorable … Read more

Justice Secretary Urges Bold Reforms to Combat Court Backlogs, Calls on Sir Brian Leveson for Independent Review

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London, United Kingdom — The effectiveness of the justice system in the UK depends not only on increased funding, according to Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, but also on transformative strategies to alleviate mounting case backlogs. During an address at the Lord Mayor’s annual dinner for judges, Mahmood emphasized that without innovative approaches, delays in delivering justice could become chronic. To tackle these issues, Mahmood has enlisted Sir Brian Leveson, a former head of criminal justice, to conduct an independent review of the criminal courts. This review aims to propose significant reforms that could ease the … Read more

NLRB Legal Chief Challenges Decades-Old Precedent on Presidential Firing Powers for Independent Agencies

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New York, NY – The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) may not be protected by a nearly century-old Supreme Court ruling that has generally safeguarded the independence of certain agency officials from presidential dismissal. This view was expressed by the acting general counsel, William Cowen, during a labor and employment law conference held at New York University. Cowen raised concerns about whether the precedent established in the 1935 case, Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, still applies to modern government agencies. The ruling affirmed Congress’s authority to limit the president’s ability to remove members of independent … Read more

Emerging Voices in Cinema: NewFilmmakers Los Angeles Unveils Nominees for the 14th Annual Awards Celebrating Independent Talent

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Los Angeles, California — NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) has unveiled the nominees for its 14th annual awards, celebrating the emerging talents in independent cinema from around the world. The ceremony aims to spotlight 130 nominees across 16 categories, recognizing directors, writers, producers, performers, cinematographers, editors, sound designers, and composers. The selection of nominees is drawn from NFMLA’s recent programming year, which occurred in 2024. This list reflects a diverse array of voices in independent filmmaking, emphasizing projects from NFMLA’s InFocus initiative, which aims to amplify stories and filmmakers traditionally overlooked by mainstream media. Bojana Sandic, … Read more