The Movie Report / Film Flam Flummox - blog.TheMovieReport.com: 2025

Monday, November 24, 2025

F3PR: Chance The Rapper to co-host Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve live from Chicago

PRESS RELEASE

CHANCE THE RAPPER TO CO-HOST
DICK CLARK'S NEW YEAR'S ROCKIN' EVE
LIVE FROM CHICAGO

GRAMMY®-Winning Chicago Native to Lead
the Central Time Zone Countdown on
ABC’s National Broadcast Wednesday, Dec. 31
at 8/7c on ABC, Next Day on Hulu

Global superstar, GRAMMY®-winning artist, and proud Chicago native Chance the Rapper has been announced as the Chicago co-host of ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026, airing live on Tuesday, December 31 at 8/7c on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.

Chance will represent Chicago on the national stage, hosting the Central Time Zone countdown live from his hometown as part of the iconic broadcast that spans New York, Las Vegas, Puerto Rico, and beyond. He joins co-hosts Ryan Seacrest, Rita Ora, Rob Gronkowski, and Julianne Hough for the biggest night in televised celebration. In addition to co-hosting duties, Chance will be performing right before midnight to bring in the New Year, live from Wacker Drive.

This marks the first time a major segment of the show will be hosted live from Chicago by a Chicago native, and Chance plans to bring the city’s pride, energy, and culture directly into millions of living rooms across the country.

The announcement follows a standout year for Chance, who completed his “And We Back” North American tour and released his critically acclaimed album Star Line. The new album stands as one of Chance the Rapper’s greatest and most visionary projects to date — a career-defining release that debuted at #2 on Spotify’s Top Albums Debut USA Chart and #3 globally to widespread acclaim. Across 17 tracks, Chance blends sharp lyricism, cultural reverence, and bold sonic experimentation into a cohesive Black diasporic narrative, joined by collaborators including Joey Bada$$, Lil Wayne, Smino, Vic Mensa, BJ the Chicago Kid, Young Thug, Jamila Woods, Do or Die, Jazmine Sullivan, and more, with production from luminaries like Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Peter CottonTale, and Nico Segal. Inspired by travels to Ghana, Jamaica, and global art fairs, Star Line channels Marcus Garvey’s pioneering vision of the Black Star Line into a modern reflection on resilience, diasporic pride, and community, while the album’s striking visual identity, helmed by Brandon Breaux, the creative mind behind Chance’s iconic early artwork, cements this era as both a personal and cultural milestone.

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026 airs LIVE on ABC, Tuesday, December 31, beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST / 7:00 p.m. CST.

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Friday, November 7, 2025

F3PR: Chance The Rapper & Vic Mensa return home in "Back to the Go" video

PRESS RELEASE

CHANCE THE RAPPER AND VIC MENSA
RETURN HOME IN “BACK TO THE GO” VIDEO

CHICAGO, IL (NOVEMBER 7, 2025) – Chance the Rapper unveils the visuals for “Back to the Go,” reuniting with longtime collaborator Vic Mensa for a homegrown moment from his critically acclaimed new album, Star Line.

Directed by Chance the Rapper, the “Back to the Go” video details his six-year journey traveling overseas from art fairs in Venice, Italy, to his own historic Star Line festival in Accra, Ghana, set to a live rendition of the standout track from his new album Star Line. The performance not only showcases their heartbreaking lyrics and showmanship, but the close bond Chance and Vic have shared over the years in the creation of this album.

The video also showcases the recently wrapped “And We Back” tour, blending candid behind-the-scenes moments with dynamic on-stage performance footage. Produced by Stix and Ephra, “Back to the Go” stands out as a quiet reflection on change, capturing the emotional weight of returning home to Chicago.

The song moves through heartbreak toward healing, returning with a clearer sense of self and a better understanding of what’s worth carrying forward. NPR cited “Back to the Go” as one of several songs on Star Line reflecting on memory and loss, noting that “the verses are imbued with an impressive, almost mournful knowingness.”

Star Line stands as one of Chance the Rapper’s greatest and most visionary projects to date — a career-defining release that debuted at #2 on Spotify’s Top Albums Debut USA Chart and #3 globally to widespread acclaim. Across 17 tracks, Chance blends sharp lyricism, cultural reverence, and bold sonic experimentation into a cohesive Black diasporic narrative, joined by collaborators including Joey Bada$$, Lil Wayne, Smino, Vic Mensa, BJ the Chicago Kid, Young Thug, Jamila Woods, Do or Die, Jazmine Sullivan, and more, with production from luminaries like Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Peter CottonTale, and Nico Segal. Inspired by travels to Ghana, Jamaica, and global art fairs, Star Line channels Marcus Garvey’s pioneering vision of the Black Star Line into a modern reflection on resilience, diasporic pride, and community, while the album’s striking visual identity, helmed by Brandon Breaux, the creative mind behind Chance’s iconic early artwork, cements this era as both a personal and cultural milestone.

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Friday, October 10, 2025

F3PR: Chance The Rapper debuts self-directed music video for “Ride (Remix)” featuring Do Or Die & Twista

PRESS RELEASE

CHANCE THE RAPPER DEBUTS SELF-DIRECTED
MUSIC VIDEO FOR CHICAGO ANTHEM “RIDE (REMIX)”
FEATURING DO OR DIE & TWISTA

A Cinematic Love Letter to
the South Side of Chicago from
Album of the Year Contender

"And We Back" Tour Hits Hometown of Chicago Tonight
for Massive Show at Huntington Bank Pavilion

CHICAGO, IL [October 10, 2025] Today, 3x Grammy Award-winning artist Chance the Rapper debuts the self-directed music video for “Ride (Remix),” his Chicago all-star anthem featuring Do or Die and the legendary Twista from his acclaimed new album Star Line. The cinematic new visual, a vibrant love letter to the South Side of Chicago, arrives as Chance brings his national “And We Back” Tour home for a massive show tonight, celebrating what critics are hailing as a contender for Album of the Year.

Directed by Chance himself, the video is a rich, multi-generational portrait of community pride. Filmed this summer in the Avalon Park neighborhood, it showcases iconic locations like Pride Cleaners, a historic Black-owned business on 79th Street that survived the 1968 riots, and The Ramova Theatre, a recently restored 1929 venue in Bridgeport co-owned by Chance. The video is filled with cameos from beloved Chicago and Midwest figures, including Val Warner, BabyChiefDoit, George Daniels, Shawnna, Korporate, and more, bringing together local families and cross-generational talent to create a moving tribute to the resilience and cultural richness of the community that raised him.

The remix itself is a true tribute to Chicago hip-hop, adding a brand-new, rapid-fire verse from Twista to the original track from Chance's new album, Star Line. Praised by Billboard for its "good vibes," the song celebrates the city's cultural lineage through its soulful groove and lyrical homage to cruising and togetherness, built around a sample of One Way’s 1980s classic “Don’t Stop (Ever Loving Me).”

Songs like “Ride,” “No More Old Men,” “Letters,” and “Space and Time” showcase Chance’s lyrical prowess and storytelling, a strength that has cemented Star Line as a culturally and historically significant body of work. Released August 15, the landmark album has been submitted for GRAMMY consideration across multiple categories, including Album of the Year, Best Rap Album, and fields spanning rap, pop, and melodic performance.

The project’s submitted categories include:

Album of the Year – Star Line
Best Rap Album – Star Line
Record of the Year – “No More Old Men” (feat. Jamila Woods)
Song of the Year – “No More Old Men” (feat. Jamila Woods)
Best Rap Song – “No More Old Men” (feat. Jamila Woods)
Best Rap Performance – “Letters”
Best Melodic Rap Performance – “Ride” (feat. Do or Die)
Best Pop Solo Performance – “Space & Time”
Best Music Video – “Tree” (feat. Lil Wayne & Smino)

Chance’s triumphant hometown show is a key stop on the critically acclaimed “And We Back” Tour, which has already played to packed houses in cities like Houston, New Orleans, and New York City. The tour continues across North America through October 20^th, celebrating Star Line, a career-defining release that debuted at #2 on Spotify’s Top Albums Debut USA Chart and #3 globally to widespread acclaim.

Fans will also have a special opportunity to see Chance in an intimate setting at The GRAMMY Museum in downtown Los Angeles on October 22, where he will discuss Star Line, his creative process, and more, accompanied by a short performance. More information on the GRAMMY Museum event can be found here.

Star Line Tracklist:

1. Star Side Intro
2. Ride (feat. Do or Die)
3. No More Old Men (feat. Jamila Woods)
4. The Negro Problem (feat. BJ the Chicago Kid)
5. Drapetomania (feat. Babychiefdoit)
6. Back To The Go (feat. Vic Mensa)
7. The Highs & The Lows (feat. Joey BadA$$)
8. Space & Time
9. Link Me In The Future
10. Gun In Yo Purse (feat. Young Thug & TiaCorine)
11. Tree (feat. Lil Wayne & Smino)
12. Burn Ya Block
13. Letters (feat. Rachel Robinson)
14. Speed Of Light (feat. Lion Babe)
15. Pretty
16. Just A Drop (feat. Jay Electronica)
17. Speed Of Love (feat. Jazmine Sullivan)

 

And We Back Tour - 2025 North American Dates: 

October 10 — Chicago, IL @ Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
October 12 — Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
October 14 — Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre
October 16 — San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic
October 17 — Highland, CA @ Yaamava’ Theater
October 18 — Las Vegas, NV @ Fontainebleau
October 20 — Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium

The Movie Report wants to attend all your music events! Please send any and all invitations to this address. Thanks!

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Friday, September 26, 2025

F3PR: Chance The Rapper celebrates Chicago with "Ride" remix featuring Do or Die & Twista

PRESS RELEASE

CHANCE THE RAPPER CELEBRATES CHICAGO
WITH “RIDE” REMIX FEATURING DO OR DIE AND TWISTA

"And We Back Tour" Kicks Off Tonight;
Tickets on Sale Now

[Chicago, IL - September 26, 2025] On the heels of his acclaimed Star Line release, Chance the Rapper shares the project’s first official remix with “Ride (Remix),” a Chicago all-star collaboration featuring Do or Die and Chi-Town legend Twista.

Originally featured on Star Line, “Ride” celebrates Chicago’s cultural lineage through its soulful groove and lyrical homage to cruising and togetherness. Built around a sample of One Way’s 1980s classic “Don’t Stop (Ever Loving Me),” the track nods to the midwest’s legacy of R&B and funk roots while reimagining them for today’s hip hop generation. The new remix introduces a brand-new verse from Twista, whose rapid-fire delivery and hometown legacy cement the track as a true tribute to Chicago hip-hop.

“The good vibes are alive and well on ‘Ride,’ which finds Chance in his bag as he gleefully spits some bars about simply loving life…The song’s hook, ‘Ride, just enjoy the ride, just enjoy thе ride; will be stuck in your head all day as you cruise on to your next destination.” - Billboard

The new remix comes just as Chance launches his “And We Back Tour” this weekend, with shows kicking off Friday night at Houston’s Bayou Music Center and Saturday night at The Fillmore in New Orleans. From there, the tour continues to travel across major North American cities including Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Toronto, Chicago, DC, Los Angeles, and more. Tickets are available now at https://chancestuff.com.

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Wednesday, September 10, 2025

F3PR: World premiere of Song Sung Blue to close AFI FEST 2025 presented by Canva

PRESS RELEASE

WORLD PREMIERE OF SONG SUNG BLUE
TO CLOSE AFI FEST 2025 PRESENTED BY CANVA

Passes Now on Sale

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Los Angeles, CA, September 10, 2025 — Today, the American Film Institute (AFI) announced that the World Premiere of Focus Features' Song Sung Blue, written and directed by Craig Brewer, will close the 39^th edition of AFI FEST presented by Canva on Sunday, October 26.

Based on a true story, the film follows two down-on-their-luck musicians, played by Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, who form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it's never too late to find love and follow your dreams. The film is produced by John Davis (p.g.a.), John Fox (p.g.a.) and Craig Brewer (p.g.a.) and features Michael Imperioli, Ella Anderson, King Princess, Mustafa Shakir, Hudson Hensley, with Fisher Stevens, and Jim Belushi.

“AFI FEST is proud to close our annual celebration of excellence and artistry with the World Premiere of Song Sung Blue – a timely film about love and resilience – music and magic,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO. “Audiences will leave the theater chanting the refrain of 'Sweet Caroline' – so good, so good, so good!”

The festival will take place October 22–26 at the TCL Chinese Theatres in the heart of Hollywood and feature a curated selection of Red Carpet Premieres, Special Screenings, World Cinema, Documentaries and Short Films.

As previously announced, Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro will serve as the Guest Artistic Director for this year’s festival, and the festival will open with Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, starring Jeremy Allen White and written for the screen and directed by Scott Cooper.

Passes to AFI FEST 2025 are now available for purchase online at FEST.AFI.com. Festivalgoers have the opportunity to purchase a Star Pass or upgrade to a Patron Pass. The AFI FEST Star Pass is a five-day pass with access to all screenings (excluding Red Carpet Premieres), early screening selection before individual tickets go on sale, priority theater access, entry to the festival lounge, invitation to the festival mixer to mingle with filmmakers and guests, a complimentary AFI FEST tote and free Rush Line access to all screenings. The AFI FEST Patron Pass features all the benefits of the Star Pass plus two tickets to all of the star-studded Red Carpet Premieres held at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre and priority screening selection before Star passholders.

The full festival lineup will be unveiled on September 30. Individual tickets will be available on October 6.

AFI FEST is recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a qualifying festival for the Live Action, Animated and Documentary Short Film categories for the annual Academy Awards®. AFI FEST is also a qualifying festival for consideration for the British Short Film categories of both the BAFTA Film Awards and the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA).

AFI is a nonprofit, donor-powered organization. Join AFI’s Premiere Circle to support the American Film Institute and enjoy access to exclusive one-of-a-kind opportunities at AFI events, including AFI FEST. To learn more, email Advancement@AFI.com.

Canva, the all-in-one visual communication and collaboration platform, returns as the exclusive Presenting Sponsor of AFI FEST 2025. Designed to empower entertainment professionals to visualize their ideas into impactful film and TV projects, Canva will be integrated throughout AFI FEST including hosting industry networking events, hands-on training workshops for filmmakers, and powering the festival's digital and printed materials. Entertainment professionals can explore resources to pitch projects, plan shoots, and bring creative visions to life at canva.com/entertainment.

About the American Film Institute (AFI)

American Film Institute (AFI) is a nonprofit organization with a mandate to champion the moving image as an art form. Established in 1967, AFI launched the first comprehensive history of American film and sparked the movement for film preservation in the United States. In 1969, AFI opened the doors of the AFI Conservatory, a graduate-level program to train narrative filmmakers. The Conservatory, which counts Deniese Davis, Affonso Gonçalves, Susannah Grant, Matthew Libatique, David Lynch, Melina Matsoukas and Rachel Morrison as Alumni, is ranked the #1 film school in America. AFI’s enduring traditions include the AFI Life Achievement Award, which honors the masters for work that has stood the test of time; AFI AWARDS, which celebrates the creative ensembles of the most outstanding screen stories of the year; and scholarly efforts such as the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive that preserve film history for future generations. AFI exhibition programs include AFI FEST presented by Canva and year-round exhibition at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Maryland. AFI Movie Club is a destination for movie lovers from around the world to celebrate and engage with the art form every day. Other pioneering programs include workshops aimed at increasing diversity in the storytelling community, including AFI DWW+ and the AFI Cinematography Intensive for Women. Read about all of these programs and more at AFI.com and follow us on social media at Facebook.com/AmericanFilmInstitute, YouTube.com/AFI, Twitter.com/AmericanFilm, TikTok.com/@americanfilminstitute, and Instagram.com/AmericanFilmInstitute.

About AFI FEST presented by Canva

Now in its 39^th year, AFI FEST presented by Canva is a world-class event, showcasing the best films from across the globe. This year’s edition takes place in Los Angeles from October 22-26, 2025 With an innovative slate of programming, the five-day festival presents screenings, panels and conversations, featuring both master filmmakers and new cinematic voices. AFI FEST presented by Canva includes high-profile films with Q&As featuring the films’ cast and crew and a robust lineup of fiction and nonfiction features and shorts, providing a one-of-a-kind experience for movie fans. Additional information is available at FEST.AFI.com. Connect with AFI’s film festival at Facebook.com/AFIFEST, Twitter.com/AFIFEST, Instagram/AmericanFilmInstitute, TikTok/@AmericanFilmInstitute, and YouTube.com/AFI.

About Canva

Launched in 2013, Canva is a free online visual communications and collaboration platform with a mission to empower everyone in the world to design. Featuring a simple drag-and-drop user interface and a vast range of templates ranging from presentations, documents, websites, social media graphics, posters, apparel to videos, plus a huge library of fonts, stock photography, illustrations, video footage, and audio clips, anyone can take an idea and create something beautiful. Entertainment professionals can access resources to help them express their ideas, pitch film and TV projects, plan shoots and beyond at canva.com/entertainment.

The Movie Report wants to attend all your film festivals and special events! Please send any and all invitations to this address. Thanks!

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Thursday, September 4, 2025

DeVon Franklin, Serayah, and Tyler Lepley premiere Ruth & Boaz in Hollywood

Fresh off of tackling his first principal acting role in Tyler Perry's series Divorced Sistas, DeVon Franklin is once again collaborating with Perry, but this time in his longtime "day job" as a producer. The premiere screening of this latest work, the modern day-set, music-fueled Bible story update Ruth & Boaz, had its premiere screening last night, Wednesday, September 3, at Netflix's Tudum Theater in Hollywood. The stars playing the titular characters, Serayah and Tyler Lepley, were also on hand with Franklin and moderator Erica Campbell for a spirited Q&A discussion, which can be viewed in its entirety below.