<\/p>\n
Coverage includes films hitting the festival circuit, a cast addition, and the launch of a music house<\/p>\n
The most engaging publicity news releases on the SHOOT<\/em> Publicity Wire (SPW) in 2025 included: the premiere of several films on the festival circuit\u2013at SXSW in particular; the casting of Mel England for writer-director Jeff London\u2019s Snow Falling on Pumpkins<\/em>; composer Michael Novack\u2019s launch of Spacecat Music & Sound; and the teaming of Ariel Winter (as a voice actress) and director Sy Hug on the short film Wild & Free<\/em>.<\/p>\n Topping the 2025 SPW rundown was news that the indie documentary MOLA: A Tibetan Tale of Love and Loss<\/em> would be featured at the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival. Directed by Yangzom and Martin Brauen\u2013with Union Editorial partners James Haygood and Michael Raimondi serving as executive producers, and Katherine LeBlond as co-EP, the verite documentary chronicled the complexity and emotion of a mother and daughter navigating the end of life. Haygood was also supervising editor of the film.<\/p>\n Finishing second in the SPW views tally was a rundown of featured speakers and presentations slated for the Contact In The Desert Conference in Indian Wells, Calif.\u2013including the naming of Josh Gates of Expedition Unknown as keynote speaker.<\/p>\n Taking third place in our rundown was the announcement that Emmy-winning actor Archie Panjabi had joined the live action short FLIGHT 182<\/em>\u2013written and directed by Rippin Sindher\u2013as an executive producer.<\/p>\n Fourth place went to the addition of Mel England to the cast of Snow Falling on Pumpkins<\/em>, the LGBTQ+ romance movie from writer-director Jeff London. England was named to portray James McCarthy, the new love interest of Michael Davis (played by Ben Stobber). The storyline centers around 43-year-old Davis\u2019 sudden diagnosis with early-onset Alzheimer\u2019s just as the couple decides to marry. While McCarthy must support his new husband, Davis embarks on a heartfelt journey to discover his true purpose, finding support in a spiritual guide, David Walker (Tony Enos). Barbara Reininger and Elaine Ballace also star.<\/p>\n Landing in fifth place in number of SPW views was composer Michael Novack\u2019s launch of Spacecat Music & Sound, an audio studio offering original music composition, sound design, audio implementation, and direction for games, films, television, podcasts, and multimedia projects.<\/p>\n Settling in sixth place was news that the Hollywood Disclosure Alliance and its chairman Dan Harary would present the world premiere of the documentary film Inside Hollywood: Aliens, UFOs and the Quest for Disclosure<\/em>.<\/p>\n Generating the seventh highest total of views in 2025 was a rundown of the charitable work done by Heard City & Midnight Stack managing partner Gloria Pitagorsky as it impacts not only the advertising and entertainment industry but also the community at large in New York City.<\/p>\n Ending up eighth was the teaming of actor Ariel Winter (Modern Family<\/em>) and director Sy Huq on Wild & Free<\/em>, a short film that explores themes of self-discovery, freedom, and resilience, told through the unique lens of a dog\u2019s journey across the American Southwest. Winter voices the lead character, Ghost, a rescue dog, navigating the changes and challenges of life.<\/p>\n Nestled in the ninth slot was the announcement that Shanti Rides Shotgun<\/em> would make its world premiere at SXSW. Directed by Charles Frank of production company Voyager, the film follows Shanti Gooljar, New York City\u2019s most known and highly talked-about driving instructor, as she hits the jam-packed streets of Manhattan with her students. Known for her unfiltered personality and an impressive 99% passing rate over her 30-year career, Gooljar has a teaching style that is as unique as it is effective. The film offers an intimate look at her life, capturing both her personal journey with an up-close look at what makes her lessons unforgettable.<\/p>\n And rounding out SPW\u2019s top 10 for 2025 was the resumption of the festival run for the experimental animated short Boxes for Rox<\/em> by director Chelsey R. Knapp. The film follows a factory worker questioning whether their thoughts are being controlled. The film\u2019s production team works together at M-1 Studios, a Michigan-based video production agency run by Knapp with co-founders Matthew Peach and Mike Madigan.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a rundown of the year\u2019s 25 most viewed news releases on the SHOOT<\/em> Publicity Wire and their authors (click title to read release).<\/p>\n Title | Author<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Union Co-Production \u201cMOLA: A Tibetan Tale of Love and Loss\u201d To Have its North American Premiere at SXSW In Documentary Spotlight<\/a> | YES, BRAND<\/p>\n 2. Contact In The Desert Returns To Indian Wells, CA, May 29-June 2, 2025, Featuring Keynote Speaker Josh Gates of \u201cExpedition Unknown\u201d<\/a> | Asbury PR<\/p>\n 3. \u201cThe Good Wife\u201d Star Archie Panjabi Boards \u201cFLIGHT 182\u201d as EP, Calls It Her \u201cFavorite Film of the Year\u201d<\/a> | ascohenpr<\/p>\n 4. Mel England Joins The Cast Of \u201cSnow Falling On Pumpkins\u201d<\/a> | Jay Hopkins<\/p>\n 5. Composer Matt Novack Launches Spacecat Music & Sound \u2013 Your One-Stop Shop For Audio in Games, Film, TV, Podcasts, and Beyond<\/a> | ascohenpr<\/p>\n 6. Brand New Documentary \u201cInside Hollywood: Aliens, UFOs and the Quest for Disclosure\u201d To Have World Premiere at Contact in the Desert<\/a> | Asbury PR<\/p>\n 7. Heard City & Midnight Snack Managing Partner Gloria Pitagorsky Leads The Way With Community Work in the Advertising Industry + Beyond<\/a> | HYPE<\/p>\n 8. Ariel Winter Teams Up With Director Sy Huq For Heartwarming Short Film \u201cWild & Free\u201d<\/a> | ascohenpr<\/p>\n 9. Voyager\u2019s \u201cShanti Rides Shotgun\u201d Gears Up for SXSW World Premiere<\/a> | HYPE<\/p>\n 10. Chelsey Knapp\u2019s \u201cBoxes For Rox\u201d Is Coming To a Festival Near You<\/a> | Cinestruct<\/p>\n 11. Award-Winning 3D Animated Short CHAIN By Ling Han Begins 2025 Festival Run<\/a> | Cinestruct<\/p>\n 12. Sound Lounge Wins AICP Post, AMP, and New York Festivals Advertising Awards For Tonal\u2019s Outstanding Sound<\/a> | Sound Lounge NY<\/p>\n 13. Living Legends George Noory and George Knapp To Appear Together Onstage at Contact In The Desert 2025<\/a> | Asbury PR<\/p>\n 14. JAM Post Welcomes Acclaimed Re-Recording Mixers Mike Woroniuk and Paul Shubat To Toronto Facility<\/a> | Tanja Harney<\/p>\n 15. The State of Sonic 2025: Sonic Branding Trends From Stephen Arnold Music<\/a> | Artisans PR<\/p>\n 16. Union Editorial Joins Forces with Ventureland and The Cut, Driving \u2018American Manhunt: OJ Simpson\u2019 To #1 on Netflix Top Ten<\/a> | YES, BRAND<\/p>\n 17. Boris FX Continuum Adds Four Dynamic New AI VFX Tools<\/a> | Boris FX<\/p>\n 18. BirdMine\u2019s Debut Documentary Meandering Scars Selected For Dances With Films in Los Angeles<\/a> | ascohenpr<\/p>\n 19. Writer\/Director Emily Elizabeth Thomas Sets Debut Feature \u201cKeily: Homecoming Dweeb\u201d For Romance-Focused Streaming Service CandyJar<\/a> | ascohenpr<\/p>\n 20. iColorst and Colorist Society To Host Colorist Mixer at NAB 2025<\/a> | Artisans PR<\/p>\n 21. Lucid Motors Defies Convention, Takes A Bold Swing At Automotive Industry In Its First Brand Campaign \u201cCompromise Nothing\u201d<\/a> | Press Kitchen<\/p>\n 22. Cutters Studios Expands Roster With Acclaimed Editor Kate Owen<\/a> | DWAgency<\/p>\n 23. Ross Coulthart, One of the World\u2019s Leading UAP Journalists, and Bryce Zabel, Producer of Dark Skies, Join Remarkable Speaker Lineup at Contact In The Desert 2025<\/a> | Asbury PR<\/p>\n 24. Merman\u2019s Lucy Walker Wins Another Emmy<\/a> | BOMBASTIC<\/p>\n