Strangers in a Car Park will be available on digital and on demand on November 11, 2025. Photo: One Tree Entertainment, used with permission.
New Movie Spotlight: Strangers in a Car Park
🎬 Strangers in a Car Park
The truth will always come to light
Available On Digital and On Demand – November 11
Written and Directed by: Stuart McBratney
Starring: Brenton Prince (Home and Away, Underbelly), Lawrence Ola (Upright, Wellmania, face of STEP ONE underwear), and Arnijka Larcombe-Weate (Boy Swallows Universe)
When a cleaning lady spots a celebrated surfer being honored with a medal for heroism, her world comes crashing down. She recognizes him as the man who assaulted her years ago. (One Tree Entertainment, 2025)
With only a streetwise courier by her side, she sets out to expose the truth, risking everything to confront the man who’s built his life on lies.
Strangers in a Car Park is an unflinching and unorthodox drama about memory, justice, and the lies we tell ourselves and others.
Release Date: November 11 Watch: On Digital & On Demand
Photo: One Tree Entertainment, used with permission.
Toby Gad ushers in the season with his first holiday album. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
🎹 Toby Gad Unveils Piano Diaries – Christmas: A New Chapter in Holiday Music
GRAMMY®-winning songwriter Toby Gad releases Piano Diaries – Christmas on November 7, a deeply personal, all-original holiday album featuring Jordin Sparks, Victoria Justice, Loren Allred, and more.
Los Angeles, CA — After decades shaping some of pop music’s most defining hits, GRAMMY®-winning and Diamond-certified songwriter Toby Gad turns inward this season with the release of his first all-original holiday album, Piano Diaries – Christmas, available on all digital platforms November 7. Pre-save here. (Miller PR, 2025)
Known for writing emotional powerhouses like John Legend’s “All Of Me,” Beyoncé’s “If I Were A Boy,” and Fergie’s “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” Gad now turns his songwriting lens toward the most nostalgic and heartfelt season of the year.
✨ A Modern Holiday Songbook
Each song on Piano Diaries – Christmas was born from authentic, intimate collaboration. Gad invited twelve world-class vocalists to sit at the piano and transform their most personal holiday memories into original songs. The result is a modern seasonal songbook that blends intimacy and sophistication through piano, orchestral, and vocal performances.
The twelve-track collection features performances by:
Jordin Sparks (American Idol)
Victoria Justice (TV star and pop singer)
Loren Allred (The Greatest Showman)
Megan McKenna (Celeb-X winner)
Michael Huntley (The Voice Season 24 winner)
Louisa Johnson (X-Factor winner)
Anthony Gargiula (TikTok sensation)
Sam Ryder (Eurovision star) …and more.
🎶 Stories Told in Song
A deeply personal project, Piano Diaries – Christmas radiates warmth and reflection. Each track unfolds like an entry in Gad’s musical journal: intimate, cinematic, and timeless.
“With Piano Diaries – Christmas, I wanted to create a timeless soundtrack that feels like a letter to the season itself. Every song carries a personal story of the artist singing it, and each performance reflects a sentimental truth about their own experience of the holidays.” – Toby Gad
The album strikes a rare balance between reverence and reinvention:
Jordin Sparks’ “Christmas Takes Me Back Home” and Michael Huntley’s “Mama Made Christmas” channel nostalgia and family tradition.
Megan McKenna’s “Feels Like Hallelujah” and Anthony Gargiula’s “Fall in Love with Christmas” radiate pure joy.
Victoria Justice’s “Blessed” and Dionne Bromfield’s “Christmas For One” bring emotional depth and quiet introspection.
Together, they capture the many shades of the holiday season.
🎄 Release Details
Piano Diaries – Christmas will be available November 7 on all streaming platforms via Kite Records. A limited-edition vinyl will also be sold at The London Shard, accompanied by two exclusive Christmas Live performances on December 15 and 16.
🎵 About Toby Gad
Toby Gad is a GRAMMY® Award-winning songwriter and producer based in Los Angeles, celebrated for crafting timeless pop anthems across genres from pop and R&B to rock. His catalog of hits spans decades and includes collaborations with some of the biggest artists in the world.
Beyond his chart-topping success, Gad has expanded into filmmaking, directing and producing documentaries centered on environmental causes close to his heart.
With Piano Diaries – Christmas, Gad steps into the spotlight under his own name, creating an original and heartfelt collection that feels destined to join the canon of modern holiday classics.
Piano Diaries – Christmas Tracklist:
Joelle James – “Kiss Me for Christmas”
Loren Allred – “What a Wonderful Night”
Huntley – “Mama Made Christmas”
Sam Ryder – “Holy Night”
Megan McKenna – “Feels Like Hallelujah”
Gavin James – “We’ve Really Loved Someone”
Louisa Johnson – “Follow the Stars”
Victoria Justice – “Blessed”
Jordin Sparks – “Christmas Takes Me Back Home”
Dionne Bromfield – “Christmas For One”
Anthony Gargiula – “Fall in Love with Christmas” Bonus Track:
Miguel Huerta and Pasqual Gutierrez in Pasqual Gutierrez’ Serious People. Photo: Tribeca Films/Memory, used with permission.
🎬Serious People
“Life’s a Movie”
Written and Directed by: Pasqual Gutierrez & Ben Mullinkosson Produced by: Ryan Hahn, Laurel Thomson, Teddy Lee Starring: Pasqual Gutierrez, Christine Yuan, RJ Sanchez, Miguel Huerta
Official Selection:Sundance Film Festival 2025 In Theaters: November 14, 2025 On Demand: December 16, 2025 (all major platforms)
Tribeca Films x Memory Present Serious People
About the Film
Serious People follows successful music video director Pasqual Gutierrez, who faces a life-altering dilemma on the due date of his first child: accept the biggest music video project of his career or finally step back and focus on his family. (Emma Griffiths PR, 2025)
Frustrated by his lack of balance, Pasqual makes a bold decision, he casts a doppelgänger named Miguel to fill his shoes in his directing duo, Cliqua, while he takes paternity leave. But as he spends more time teaching Miguel how to inhabit his life, the line between real and replacement begins to blur.
The result is a sharp, funny, and emotionally charged look at ambition, identity, and the replaceability of people in clout-driven Los Angeles. The film ultimately asks: What does it mean to be a director, a parent, and, most of all, a real person?
Running Time: 86 minutes (USA, Feature Film)
Behind the Camera
Pasqual Gutierrez
An award-winning American filmmaker, Gutierrez is best known as one half of Cliqua, the powerhouse directing duo behind some of the biggest music videos of the past decade. Together with RJ Sanchez, he’s collaborated with Bad Bunny, Rosalia, J Balvin, Madonna, Travis Scott, and The Weeknd, among many others.
Gutierrez’ work has earned multiple nominations and an MTV VMA, and his debut short film Shut Up & Fish, now Oscar-qualified, has been making waves on the festival circuit. Serious People marks his first narrative feature film, which made its world premiere at Sundance 2025.
Ben Mullinkosson
Co-writer and co-director Ben Mullinkosson brings his documentary sensibility to Serious People, blending realism with dark humor. His 2023 documentary The Last Year of Darkness won the Special Jury Mention at CPH:DOX and was released by MUBI.
Mullinkosson’s earlier work includes Gnarly in Pink (Tribeca Film Festival, 2013), distributed by The New York Times Op-Docs, and a series of acclaimed shorts that have earned Vimeo Staff Picks and millions of online views.
Why Serious People Matters
Serious People is a reflection on modern creativity, work, and self-worth. It’s a satire of hustle culture wrapped in a heartfelt story about fatherhood and identity. The film captures what it feels like to be torn between personal meaning and professional validation, a tension many of us know all too well.
Opening in theaters on November 14, with a Video On Demand release on December 16, this debut feature promises to be one of the most talked-about indie films of the year.
Serious People poster. Photo: Tribeca Films/Memory, used with permission.
The Spells to release debut LP nearly 30 years later. Photo: Nick Zinner, used with permission.
The Spells Unearth Long-Lost 1997 Debut The Night Has Eyes
Long-lost NYC trio The Spells has announced the long-overdue release of their 1997 debut album The Night Has Eyes, arriving Halloween 2025 on vinyl and digital via Garganta Press. The deluxe LP package includes a 16-page booklet filled with never-before-seen photos and stories from the band’s brief but unforgettable run. (US/THEM Group, 2025)
Originally shelved after the band dissolved in 1998, The Night Has Eyes became the stuff of underground legend, whispered about among fans of ‘90s garage punk and NYC’s darker sonic corners. Now, nearly three decades later, it finally sees the light of day.
From Austin to NYC: A Short, Brilliant Flame
The Spells, made up of Nicole Barrick (guitar, vocals), Marisa Pool (bass, vocals), and Leni Zumas (drums) formed in Austin, TX in 1995, rising from the ashes of an earlier project called The Red Scare. They relocated to New York City, where they recorded their debut with producer Greg Talenfeld (Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Pavement, The Walkmen) at Waterworks Studio in November 1997.
A Hidden Treasure Resurfaces
The newly mastered LP, produced by Greg Talenfeld and The Spells and mastered for vinyl by Honza Kapak at Hellsound Studio in the Czech Republic, captures the raw energy and shadowy allure of the late-‘90s NYC underground.
The 16-page booklet features unseen photos from Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Iggy Pop) and Lilian Lee, taken during the band’s final years in 1997–98.
Mikaela Hoover and Ruby Modine in Dead Giveaway. Photo: VP Independent, used with permission.
🎬 Philadelphia Film Festival 2025: Celebrating the Best in Global Cinema
Every October, the Philadelphia Film Festival transforms the city into a global stage for cinematic storytelling — welcoming tens of thousands of film lovers, emerging talents, and celebrated filmmakers for an electrifying 11-day experience. (Philadelphia Film Society, 2025)
Curated by the Philadelphia Film Society’s expert programming team, who travel the world from Sundance to Cannes, Berlin to Toronto, the Festival delivers a handpicked lineup of the year’s most talked-about, award-winning, and visionary films. From bold debuts to international sensations, every screening is a chance to discover the next big thing in film.
This year’s Festival runs October 16–26, 2025, featuring 11 days of world-class cinema, exclusive events, and celebrations that bring the city’s film community together.
🌟 Spotlight Feature: Dead Giveaway
World Premiere | Section: Filmadelphia
One of the most anticipated screenings of the Festival is Ian Kimble’s Dead Giveaway, a wickedly funny horror-comedy making its world premiere right here in Philadelphia. (Emma Griffiths PR, 2025)
Jill (Ruby Modine) wakes up from a blackout night of drinking and partying to find herself covered in blood — and sharing her bed with a dead man. Hungry, hungover, horrified, and possibly a murderer, she scrambles to clean up before her roommate Sarah (Suzann Toni) notices.
When her best friend Lia (Mikaela Hoover) shows up, half-concerned, half-annoyed, she reluctantly agrees to help Jill figure out what happened, but only under one condition: they have to make it to brunch before 3 p.m.
What follows is a blood-soaked comedy of errors involving mistaken identities, suspicious visitors, and a very inconvenient corpse. Between hiding bodies, dodging questions, and keeping their mimosas on schedule, Jill and Lia stumble through a hangover-fueled nightmare where every fix only makes things worse.
With an endlessly creative script by Ian Kimble, Dead Giveaway delivers a sharp mix of horror and humor — and the irresistible chemistry between Ruby Modine and Mikaela Hoover keeps audiences laughing (and screaming) until the very end.
🎥 About the Filmmaker
Ian Kimble is a writer, producer, and director with a background in award-winning short films and independent features. Dead Giveaway marks his feature debut as writer, director, and producer — expanding on one of his original short films. With this project, Kimble cements his place as one of Philadelphia’s most exciting emerging filmmakers.
📅 Screening Schedule
Philadelphia Film Festival 2025 Official Screenings
World Premiere 📍 Friday, October 17 at 9:45 p.m. Location: Film Society Center 1412 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Encore Screening 📍 Sunday, October 26 at 8:00 p.m. Location: Film Society East 125 S. 2nd St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
Whether you’re a die-hard horror fan or just love a clever dark comedy, Dead Giveaway is a must-see at this year’s Philadelphia Film Festival, proof that the city’s film scene is as bold, fresh, and fearless as ever.
Bill Scorzari announces double album release. Photo: Dreamspider Publicity, used with permission.
Bill Scorzari Returns with Sidereal Days (Day 1) — The First of a Double Album Project
HUNTINGTON, NY — New York-based singer-songwriter, recording artist, and performer Bill Scorzari is set to release his fifth and sixth albums, Sidereal Days (Day 1) and Sidereal Days (Day 2). (Dreamspider Publicity, 2025)
The first installment, Sidereal Days (Day 1), arrives October 17, 2025, with Day 2 scheduled for release in 2026.
Scorzari has independently released four acclaimed studio albums to date:
Just the Same (2014)
Through These Waves (2017)
Now I’m Free (2019)
The Crosswinds of Kansas (2022)
A Writer’s Writer
Known for his poetic lyricism and emotional depth, Scorzari has often been described as a “writer’s writer.” His music has drawn comparisons to Sam Baker, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen, Townes Van Zandt, and Chris Stapleton.
What sets Scorzari apart is his distinctive voice, one that can be both subtle and striking, as he examines the complexities of the human condition.
The Sound of Sidereal Days (Day 1)
The ten tracks on Sidereal Days (Day 1) are both wide-ranging and deeply personal. Listeners will find:
Songs of love and regret
Tracks that came together quickly, and others that took years to shape
Multi-layered arrangements balanced with short, sublime pieces
Scorzari’s music reflects a deep pursuit of clarity — his songs are as much about introspection as they are about connection. The result is a blend of the radio-ready and the contemplative, showcasing his gift for nuance and storytelling.
From Huntington to Nashville
Scorzari recorded his instrumentation and vocals for the double album himself at First Thunder Recording, his studio in Huntington, New York. Beginning in July 2022, he spent two years refining the compositions before heading to Skinny Elephant Recording in Nashville in August 2024 to collaborate with engineer Dylan Alldredge, with Scorzari and Neilson Hubbard co-producing.
Final mixes were completed by engineer Nic Coolidge at Dead Pop Studios in Providence, RI, in early 2025. Mastering was done by Hallie Melton in Nashville in April 2025, bringing the project to its polished conclusion.
Tally Koren announces new EP featuring epic interpretation of Snow Patrol’s ‘Chasing Cars.’ Photo: TCK Productions, used with permission.
Tally Koren: Redefining the Art of the Cover Song
A rising artist making her mark on the UK music scene
Tally Koren is quickly becoming a name to watch in the music industry. Known for her innovative approach to both covers and original compositions, she recently reached No. 10 on the UK Club Chart, solidifying her reputation as a creative force with staying power. (TCK Productions, 2025)
Best known for her acclaimed single “Beauty of the Duty,” Koren boasts an impressive catalogue of live performances, including appearances at The Royal Albert Hall, The National Arboretum, The Belgrade Theatre (Coventry), and The House of Lords. She also performed live at the MK Dons Stadium to open a match on International Peace Day 2019.
A recipient of the Fringe Award for Best Singer-Songwriter, Koren has been featured on BBC Radio 2 with Graham Norton, Chris Evans, and Steve Wright—further testament to her growing influence and recognition.
A Bold New Chapter: Reimagining “Chasing Cars”
The acclaimed artist is set to captivate audiences once again with her highly anticipated new EP, featuring a stunning reinterpretation of Snow Patrol’s classic “Chasing Cars.” It is set for release on October 10, 2025.
Koren’s latest project promises to be her most ambitious yet, offering listeners an immersive musical experience that invites them to “escape and forget the world.” Working alongside her trusted team of producers, she has crafted a version that blends her signature laid-back vocal style with a heartfelt yearning for unity and connection.
“When I do covers, I never like to listen to the original and like to make the song my own,” explains Koren. “I will not dream to make the song as good as the original—it’s one of my favorite singers—but I know my version makes you fly higher.”
Making the Familiar Feel New
This fresh approach to reimagining classic songs has become Koren’s trademark. Her ability to honor the spirit of a beloved track while transforming it into something uniquely her own sets her apart from many of her contemporaries.
Her interpretation of “Chasing Cars” takes listeners on a journey through sound and emotion, turning a familiar melody into an epic, transcendent experience that showcases both her artistic vision and vocal power.
Continuing Her Ascent
This new EP marks an exciting milestone in Tally Koren’s musical journey. Building on her recent chart success, it reflects her evolution as an artist unafraid to take risks and push creative boundaries.
With her distinctive voice and her gift for breathing new life into established songs, Koren continues to establish herself as a truly unique presence in the contemporary music landscape.
Paz Lenchantin’s solo album Triste is set for an October 17 release. Photo: David Alvarado, used with permission.
Paz Lenchantin Steps Into the Spotlight with Debut Solo Album Triste
Paz Lenchantin, the Argentine-American musician best known for her nearly three-decade career as bassist, vocalist, and co-writer for iconic bands like Pixies (2014–2024), A Perfect Circle, Zwan, and The Entrance Band, is now stepping forward on her own. Her debut solo album, Triste, arrives October 17 via her own label, Hideous Human Records.(another side, 2025)
A First Glimpse: “Novela”
Lenchantin recently released Triste’s opening track and recent single, “Novela.”
“The track is a melodramatic story that resolves with accepting that you are the way you are—‘Sos como sos’,” explains Paz.
Drawing from the emotional tradition of Spanish balladry, “Novela” sets the tone for the album with raw, restless compositions. The accompanying video, directed by longtime friend and filmmaker Maximilla Lukacs, is available to watch now.
A Fusion of Roots and Reinvention
The 12-track Triste blends Latin folk textures with American rock structures, placing Paz at the piano and weaving her signature string arrangements around the rock foundations she helped shape in past projects. She performed all instruments before inviting collaborators, including former A Perfect Circle bandmates Josh Freese (drums) and Troy Van Leeuwen (guitar), to add depth to the record’s sonic landscape.
Each song unfolds with both editorial precision and mystical intuition, creating music that feels timeless while firmly rooted in the present.
Written in Mexico, Mixed with Vision
The seeds of Triste were planted in Petatlán, Mexico, where Paz spent much of 2024 writing about faith, doubt, and self-discovery in the wake of her departure from Pixies. The album was later mixed by Chris Coady (Beach House, Yeah Yeah Yeahs), giving the project a lush yet intimate finish.
A Statement of Independence
For Paz, Triste is more than an album—it’s a declaration of self.
“I had to make this record on my own—not to prove anything, but just to have faith that music can nurture me back. And it did.”
With Triste, Paz Lenchantin opens the first chapter of her solo career: deeply personal, sonically adventurous, and undeniably her own.
✨ Listen to “Novela” now and watch the video, then mark your calendar for the release ofTristeon October 17, available for pre-order/pre-save.
Triste tracklist:
01 – Novela 02 – Lows & Highs 03 – Woman Of Nazareth 04 – Hang Tough 05 – Wish I Was There 06 – Si No! 07 – In The Garden With The Devil 08 – Adam 09 – Lucia 10 – Sin Dios 11 – Save It For Hell 12 – Triste
Merciless Suffering is the new album by Canadian band Dying Remains. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Maggot Stomp Announces Debut Album from Dying Remains: Merciless Suffering
Maggot Stomp is proud to unveil the debut full-length album from Canadian death metal upstarts Dying Remains. Titled Merciless Suffering, the record cements the band as a skull-cracking force blending unrelenting brutality with infectious riffs and grooves. Fans of Obituary, Frozen Soul, Tribal Gaze, and Jungle Rot will feel right at home. (Haulix, 2025)
New Video: Hung and Drawn
Alongside the album announcement, Dying Remains has unleashed a chilling new music video for the track “Hung and Drawn” — a must-watch for fans of the genre.
The video isn’t just a performance clip; it’s a short horror film. Drawing heavy inspiration from ‘70s and ‘80s B-grade gore flicks, the visual depicts one gruesome chapter in the album’s overarching narrative of a sprawling torture chamber. Directed by Aron Diaz, the film perfectly complements the band’s dark lyrical themes, bringing their macabre vision vividly (and violently) to life.
About the Album: Merciless Suffering
Merciless Sufferingis a towering slab of modern death metal rooted in the genre’s classic traditions. The record delivers:
Crushing brutality paired with catchy, well-crafted grooves
A sound that echoes the seminal work of Morta Skuld, Jungle Rot, and Obituary
A fresh, uncompromising edge designed for today’s generation of death metal fans
This is death metal at its most relentless and primal — a monolithic force that honors the past while pushing the genre forward.
On Tour Now
Dying Remains are currently tearing across the U.S. on their first-ever tour, bringing the ferocity of Merciless Suffering to the stage night after night.
🔥 Whether you’re a fan of old-school brutality or hungry for the next wave of death metal devastation, Dying Remains’ Merciless Suffering is an album that demands to be heard.
Finnr’s Cane unveils self-titled debut with Nordvis Produktion. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Finnr’s Cane Returns with Their Self-Titled Fourth Album
The mystic Canadians Finnr’s Cane return with their self-titled fourth album — a haunting and introspective journey through the frozen landscapes of the mind. Marking their debut with renowned Swedish label Nordvis Produktion, this release continues the band’s unique blend of atmospheric black metal, doom, and ambient soundscapes. (Nordvis Produktion, 2025)
A Band Forged in the North
Formed in 2008, Finnr’s Cane consists of The Peasant and The Bard—pseudonyms chosen to maintain anonymity. Hailing from the icy expanse of Sudbury, Ontario, the band has always thrived on the fringes, letting the music speak for itself.
One of their most distinctive traits is the absence of a traditional bass guitar, replaced instead with the deep, melancholic resonance of a cello. Paired with an improvisational songwriting style, this approach gives their music an organic, almost ritualistic quality.
The New Album
Arriving as summer fades into autumn, the self-titled album delves deep into themes of nature, introspection, and spiritual connection to the land. Listeners are guided through passages that shift from somber acoustic meditations to powerful, distorted crescendos, with the cello remaining a central pillar throughout.
For fans of Agalloch, Wolves in the Throne Room, and Fen, this record offers a compelling exploration of liminal spaces and the sacred elements of the wilderness.
Since their 2010 debut Wanderlust and subsequent critically acclaimed releases on Prophecy Productions and Frostscald Records, Finnr’s Cane have carved out a singular voice. This latest work— their first collaboration with Nordvis—feels like a natural continuation of their vision.
From the Band
“The final form of this album emerged slowly and instinctively, informed by our experiences and emotions over a long period of time. We carefully distilled it into what we’re certain is our absolute best work to date.” — The Bard
Album Details
Artwork: Mark Seydewitz
Layout: Thomas Väänänen
Format: CD / LP / Digital
Singles Release Timeline
June 20, 2025 — Twilight Glow
July 25, 2025 — Awaken the Sleeping Forest
Availability
Worldwide: Streaming on all major platforms + Bandcamp
SA Examiner 