Last Updated on November 10, 2025 by Daily News Staff

Los Angeles, CA – November 7, 2025 — Shimmer (also known as Fulgores), winner of Mexico’s 2025 Ariel Award for Best Animated Short Film, has launched its For Your Consideration campaign in the Oscar® race for Best Animated Short.

Directed by Andrés Palma and produced by Escena Animation Studio, the emotionally charged short explores themes of fatherhood, regret, and redemption through a visually stunning story set along a haunting, shipwrecked shore.

Now available for public viewing through an exclusive Gizmodo premiere, Shimmer blends handcrafted artistry with cutting-edge 3D animation created in Unreal Engine 5.

🎥 Watch now: Gizmodo Exclusive – Shimmer

Looking for an entertainment experience that transcends the ordinary? Look no further than STM Daily News Blog’s vibrant Entertainment section. Immerse yourself in the captivating world of indie films, streaming and podcasts, movie reviews, music, expos, venues, and theme and amusement parks. Discover hidden cinematic gems, binge-worthy series and addictive podcasts, gain insights into the latest releases with our movie reviews, explore the latest trends in music, dive into the vibrant atmosphere of expos, and embark on thrilling adventures in breathtaking venues and theme parks. Join us at STM Entertainment and let your entertainment journey begin! https://stmdailynews.com/category/entertainment/

and let your entertainment journey begin!

Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story — A Closer Look at the Documentary and Its Uncredited Voice

Last Updated on November 7, 2025 by Daily News Staff

Welcome back to the STM Daily News Podcast! In Episode 2, we’re diving into two incredible stories that showcase the power of community, determination, and building something from the ground up.

Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story & Phoenix Women's Expo – STM Daily News Podcast

Welcome to episode two of the STM Daily News Podcast, where we connect the stories that matter in our community. This week, we're exploring two powerful narratives about passion, perseverance, and the strength of community. First, we dive deep into the Phoenix Women's Expo that took place last September right here in the Valley. This inspiring event brought together hundreds of women entrepreneurs, business owners, and community leaders for a day of networking, education, and empowerment. We break down the key highlights, the energy in the room, and why events like this matter for building stronger, more connected communities. Then, we shift our focus to "Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story," the groundbreaking documentary directed by Ashley Underwood that premiered on truTV and Max. At the center of this compelling film is Mike "Sleeves" Sliwa, whose journey mirrors the explosive rise of pickleball from backyard pastime to billion-dollar industry. We explore the billionaire rivalries, the professional development of the sport, and what makes this documentary essential viewing for anyone interested in sports, business, or authentic storytelling. In our "The Knowledge" segment, we explore the recently covered stories from STM Daily News. These articles and videos offer the power of knowledge to those individuals who refuse to accept the status quo, the importance of community support, and the reminder that the most inspiring narratives are happening right now, all around us. Featured Articles & Resources Women's Expo Phoenix 2025: Debbie Gibson Inspires at the 2025 Arizona Ultimate Women's Expo The Government Shutdown and Obamacare vs the ACA: Debunking the Myth: Obamacare Does Not Cover Undocumented Immigrants Politics and Perception: Why Some Americans Think Obamacare and the Affordable Care Act Are Two Different Things 3I/ATLAS – Avi Loeb Thoughts: Avi Loeb on 3I/ATLAS: Is This Interstellar Visitor Just a Comet or Something More? 10 Most Walkable Cities in the West: The 10 Most Walkable Cities in the Western United States Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story: Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story – A Closer Look at the Documentary and Its Uncredited Voice Video Series: "THE KNOWLEDGE" Check out clips from our popular video series, "THE KNOWLEDGE" — short, engaging educational conten…

What’s in This Episode

Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story

We’re talking about the documentary that’s got everyone buzzing. Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story premiered on truTV and Max back in April, and it’s so much more than a sports film.

Director Ashley Underwood takes us inside the explosive rise of pickleball through the lens of Mike “Sleeves” Sliwa’s journey. But here’s what makes it fascinating—it’s not just about the game. It’s about billionaire rivalries, the business of professional sports, and how a backyard pastime became a multi-billion-dollar industry practically overnight.

The documentary is raw, authentic, and pulls no punches. If you’re curious about what’s really happening behind the scenes in one of America’s fastest-growing sports, this is essential viewing.

Stream it now on Max or truTV.

Phoenix Women’s Expo 2025

We’re also recapping the Phoenix Women’s Expo from last September, and wow—what an event. Hundreds of women entrepreneurs, business owners, and aspiring leaders gathered right here in the Valley to connect, learn, and support each other.

From inspiring keynote speakers to hands-on workshops covering everything from social media strategy to financial planning, the expo was a masterclass in empowerment and collaboration. The energy in that room was electric, and the connections made will ripple through our community for years to come.

If you missed it, don’t worry—we break down the highlights and why events like this matter for Phoenix’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The Common Thread

What connects a pickleball documentary and a women’s business expo? More than you’d think. Both stories are about people who didn’t wait for permission, who built their own platforms, and who understood that community is the foundation of success.

Whether it’s Mike Sleeves creating his voice in pickleball or women entrepreneurs supporting each other’s growth, the message is clear: the best stories are happening right now, in real time, in our own communities.

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Listen Now

Episode 2 of the STM Daily News Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear what you think—drop us a message on social media or visit us at TNC.network.

Featured in this episode:

• Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story – A Closer Look
• Debbie Gibson Inspires at the 2025 Arizona Ultimate Women’s Expo

More from STM Daily News:

• The Knowledge Video Series
• The 10 Most Walkable Cities in the Western United States

Produced by TNC Network in Phoenix, Arizona. Telling the stories that matter in our community.

STM Daily News is a multifaceted podcast that explores a wide range of topics, from life and consumer issues to the latest in food and beverage trends. Our discussions dive into the realms of science, covering everything from space and Earth to nature, artificial intelligence, and astronomy. We also celebrate the amateur sports scene, highlighting local athletes and events, including our special segment on senior Pickleball, where we report on the latest happenings in this exciting community. With our diverse content, STM Daily News aims to inform, entertain, and engage listeners, providing a comprehensive look at the issues that matter most in our daily lives. https://stories-this-moment.castos.com/

https://stmdailynews.com/dreambreaker-a-pickleball-story-a-closer-look-at-the-documentary-and-its-uncredited-voice/

Last Updated on November 3, 2025 by Daily News Staff

A Palestinian-Israeli film just won an Oscar 

Drew Paul, University of Tennessee

For many low-budget, independent films, an Oscar win is a golden ticket.

The publicity can translate into theatrical releases or rereleases, along with more on-demand rentals and sales.

However, for “No Other Land,” a Palestinian-Israeli film that just won best documentary feature at the 2025 Academy Awards, this exposure may not translate into commercial success in the U.S. That’s because the film has been unable to find a company to distribute it in America.

“No Other Land” chronicles the efforts of Palestinian townspeople to combat an Israeli plan to demolish their villages in the West Bank and use the area as a military training ground. It was directed by four Palestinian and Israeli activists and journalists: Basel Adra, who is a resident of the area facing demolition, Yuval Abraham, Hamdan Ballal and Rachel Szor. While the filmmakers have organized screenings in a number of U.S. cities, the lack of a national distributor makes a broader release unlikely.

Film distributors are a crucial but often unseen link in the chain that allows a film to reach cinemas and people’s living rooms. In recent years it has become more common for controversial award-winning films to run into issues finding a distributor. Palestinian films have encountered additional barriers.

As a scholar of Arabic who has written about Palestinian cinema, I’m disheartened by the difficulties “No Other Land” has faced. But I’m not surprised.

The role of film distributors

Distributors are often invisible to moviegoers. But without one, it can be difficult for a film to find an audience.

Distributors typically acquire rights to a film for a specific country or set of countries. They then market films to movie theaters, cinema chains and streaming platforms. As compensation, distributors receive a percentage of the revenue generated by theatrical and home releases.

The film “Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat,” another finalist for best documentary, shows how this process typically works. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2024 and was acquired for distribution just a few months later by Kino Lorber, a major U.S.-based distributor of independent films.

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The inability to find a distributor is not itself noteworthy. No film is entitled to distribution, and most films by newer or unknown directors face long odds.

However, it is unusual for a film like “No Other Land,” which has garnered critical acclaim and has been recognized at various film festivals and award shows. Some have pegged it as a favorite to win best documentary at the Academy Awards. And “No Other Land” has been able to find distributors in Europe, where it’s easily accessible on multiple streaming platforms.

So why can’t “No Other Land” find a distributor in the U.S.?

There are a couple of factors at play.

Shying away from controversy

In recent years, film critics have noticed a trend: Documentaries on controversial topics have faced distribution difficulties. These include a film about a campaign by Amazon workers to unionize and a documentary about Adam Kinzinger, one of the few Republican congresspeople to vote to impeach Donald Trump in 2021.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, of course, has long stirred controversy. But the release of “No Other Land” comes at a time when the issue is particularly salient. The Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, and the ensuing Israeli bombardment and invasion of the Gaza Strip have become a polarizing issue in U.S. domestic politics, reflected in the campus protests and crackdowns in 2024. The filmmakers’ critical comments about the Israeli occupation of Palestine have also garnered backlash in Germany.

Yet the fact that this conflict has been in the news since October 2023 should also heighten audience interest in a film such as “No Other Land” – and, therefore, lead to increased sales, the metric that distributors care about the most.

Indeed, an earlier film that also documents Palestinian protests against Israeli land expropriation, “5 Broken Cameras,” was a finalist for best documentary at the 2013 Academy Awards. It was able to find a U.S. distributor. However, it had the support of a major European Union documentary development program called Greenhouse. The support of an organization like Greenhouse, which had ties to numerous production and distribution companies in Europe and the U.S., can facilitate the process of finding a distributor.

By contrast, “No Other Land,” although it has a Norwegian co-producer and received some funding from organizations in Europe and the U.S., was made primarily by a grassroots filmmaking collective.

Stages for protest

While distribution challenges may be recent, controversies surrounding Palestinian films are nothing new.

Many of them stem from the fact that the system of film festivals, awards and distribution is primarily based on a movie’s nation of origin. Since there is no sovereign Palestinian state – and many countries and organizations have not recognized the state of Palestine – the question of how to categorize Palestinian films has been hard to resolve.

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In 2002, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences rejected the first ever Palestinian film submitted to the best foreign language film category – Elia Suleiman’s “Divine Intervention” – because Palestine was not recognized as a country by the United Nations. The rules were changed for the following year’s awards ceremony.

In 2021, the cast of the film “Let It Be Morning,” which had an Israeli director but primarily Palestinian actors, boycotted the Cannes Film Festival in protest of the film’s categorization as an Israeli film rather than a Palestinian one.

Film festivals and other cultural venues have also become places to make statements about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and engage in protest. For example, at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017, the right-wing Israeli culture minister wore a controversial – and meme-worthy – dress that featured the Jerusalem skyline in support of Israeli claims of sovereignty over the holy city, despite the unresolved status of Jerusalem under international law.

At the 2024 Academy Awards, a number of attendees, including Billie Eilish, Mark Ruffalo and Mahershala Ali, wore red pins in support of a ceasefire in Gaza, and pro-Palestine protesters delayed the start of the ceremonies.

As he accepted his award, “No Other Land” director Yuval Abraham called out “the foreign policy” of the U.S. for “helping to block” a path to peace.

Even though a film like “No Other Land” addresses a topic of clear interest to many Americans, I wonder if the quest to find a U.S. distributor just got even harder.

This article has been updated to clarify that the film was a collaborative effort between Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers. It has also been updated to reflect the film’s win at the 2025 Academy Awards.

Drew Paul, Associate Professor of Arabic, University of Tennessee

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

https://stmdailynews.com/dreambreaker-a-pickleball-story-a-closer-look-at-the-documentary-and-its-uncredited-voice/

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