New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern Docu ‘Prime Minister' Acquired By Magnolia, HBO Docu Films & CNN Films After Prize-Winning Sundance Bow
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways
EXCLUSIVE: The documentary about former New Zealand leader Jacinda Ardern that electrified in its Sundance Film Festival debut has found a home.
Magnolia Pictures, HBO Documentary Films and CNN Films have joined forces to release Prime Minister in theaters on June 13, with special preview screenings featuring a live Q&A with Rt. Honorable Dame Jacinda Ardern on June 8. Windows on HBO and CNN will follow, and the film will be streamed on Max.
More from Deadline
The film made its global premiere at January's Sundance, where it won the Audience Award in the World Cinema Documentary Competition category. The docu provides a view inside the life of former New Zealand PM, capturing her through five tumultuous years in power as she redefined leadership on the world stage.
When Ardern took the top spot at age 37 to run New Zealand, she quickly discovered she and her mate Clark Gayford were pregnant with their first child. She was only the second female nation leader to give birth while on the job, and the initial press narrative — can a new mother govern while breast feeding — became frivolity when real crises arose that tested the mettle of an emerging leader.
Ardern found herself championing a successful ban of semi-automatic weapons after a devastating massacre rocked the country; she oversaw the decriminalizing of abortion; and she faced tough choices when Covid shut down the world. She leaned into the saving of lives more than the re-starting of the economy. Ardern then walked away and is now a climate rights activist who wrote her first major book, A Different Kind of Power, and who among other things is a Senior Fellow in the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard.
Ardern got a raucous reaction at her Sundance debut after the premiere of the film showed it is possible for the leader of a nation to be strong, without losing empathy.
'We're thrilled at the opportunity to partner with our friends at HBO Documentary Films and CNN Films to bring audiences another bold work from the amazing team at Madison Wells,' said Magnolia Pictures co-CEOs Eamonn Bowles and Dori Begley.
Madison Wells founder/CEO and the film's producer Gigi Pritzker said: 'The combination of Magnolia, HBO and CNN is a best-in-class team to bring 'Prime Minister' to eager audiences across the U.S. and Canada. We are truly excited to be working together and for the journey ahead. We are so grateful to Jacinda, co-directors Michelle Walshe and Lindsay Utz, as well as the entire filmmaking team for making such a compelling, entertaining movie about modern leadership that we are certain will resonate now and well into the future.'
'I hope people can see in this story that I was human and that actually traits of kindness and empathy are also successful traits in leadership and politics, and that hopefully more people will emulate them,' said Ardern in an interview she gave to Deadline during Sundance.
International distribution plans for the film, including New Zealand, will be announced shortly.
Prime Minister is directed by Michelle Walshe and Lindsay Utz. Producers are Pritzker and Rachel Shane for Madison Wells, Cass Avery and Leon Kirkbeck for Dark Doris, Katie Peck for Prodigy and Gayford, who also serves as cinematographer. Executive producers are Chris Matson and Michael Cleaver for Divergent Pictures.
CAA Media Finance brokered the deal.
Best of Deadline
Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
'No tax on tips' is now law. What does that mean for tipped workers?
President Trump began touting his plan to end taxes on tips on the campaign trail in Nevada, a swing state where there are tens of thousands of tip earners working in and around the Las Vegas strip. Fast-forward a year, and the catchphrase 'no tax on tips' has become a key highlight of the president's signature tax and spending law. Many workers who have historically received tips will be able to deduct up to $25,000 in tips from their taxable income through 2028. The deduction begins phasing out at incomes above $150,000, and workers will still have to pay federal taxes on tips beyond the $25,000 cap. But labor advocates say Trump's big promise has morphed into a more complicated policy reality, and lower-income workers may be left out. By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's AGB and Datenschutzerklärung Other tipped workers, meanwhile, may be left frustrated by the deduction cap, the policy's limited time frame, and the disparities it may create between front-of-house and back-of-house restaurant staff. Workers have also expressed confusion online about whether they will see an immediate difference in their pay or will have to wait until next year's tax season to benefit. In Nevada, the Culinary Union — which includes 60,000 workers in casinos, restaurants, bars, and more in Las Vegas and Reno — has spoken out in favor of tax relief for tipped workers. But a statement from Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge described the bill's effects for the working-class as temporary, 'while windfall tax cuts for billionaires and the rich are permanent.' Elyanna Calle, the Austin-based president of Restaurant Workers United, also told Yahoo Finance that service industry workers would be better served by making a livable wage, adding that many back-of-house workers — line cooks and dishwashers, for example — will not be helped by the 'no tax on tips' policy. For tipped workers, ''No taxes on tips' just creates a larger reliance on tips, instead of solving the issue of base wages — wages that workers can rely on, and budget on, and count on,' Calle said. Some labor advocacy organizations have also pointed out that cuts to Medicaid and food assistance are likely to hit the same working-class people meant to benefit from the 'no tax on tips' policy, chipping away at potential gains. One Fair Wage said in a May report that an estimated 45% of the 2.75 million restaurant and tipped workers who rely on Medicaid could lose coverage. Tipped income has been subject to taxation for over a century, said Lawrence Zelenak, a tax law professor at Duke Law School. But until the early 1980s, 'enforcement was extremely bad' and the compliance rate was incredibly low — about 16% in 1981, Zelenak said. Though Congress sought stricter tax requirements in 1982, the solution was that larger restaurants were required to allocate and report tips equal to at least 8% of sales among tipped workers. The compliance rate effectively rose to about 50% as a result, according to Zelenak. Still, tips received in cash were difficult to track, and many tips were left untaxed. That changed as more customers began to tip with credit cards, which gave the IRS more information and improved compliance even more, taxing a greater share of tips. As for why Republicans sought a deduction in the tax bill and not totally removing taxes on tips, 'that's complicated,' Zelenak said. To enact no taxes on tips, lawmakers could have written a provision that excluded tips from gross income, Zelenak said. 'Instead, you still have to report tips as part of your gross income, but then you can claim a deduction for tips received.' The deduction helps 'only if you have some taxable income to offset,' Zelenak said. 'If your income is low enough that it would all be sheltered by the standard deduction anyway — which would be true of tipped workers at or near the minimum wage — then this doesn't do you any good.' Right now, the major question for tipped workers may be whether this will impact their paychecks immediately. 'There are not going to be immediate withholding adjustments on waiters and waitresses, or those receiving tips,' said Steven Elliott, a tax director at Mercer Advisors, a registered investment advisor and full-service wealth manager. 'It may come into play later in the year, maybe fourth quarter, but this is going to be mostly a positive adjustment for folks when they file their returns after receiving their W-2s." Learn more: What is a W-2 form? 'They'll get a nice surprise, those that qualify, to get a larger refund,' Elliott said. However, tipped workers could also file an updated W-4 and lower their withholding for a quicker benefit. Workers can get a faster refund through electronic filing and using direct deposit, Elliott added. In the near term, he recommended that tipped workers begin taking a closer look at their pay stubs to understand their elections and ensure they're not surprised when they receive their W-2. Emma Ockerman is a Senior Reporter for Yahoo Finance covering economic and labor issues in personal finance. Sign up for the Mind Your Money newsletter
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Janet Jackson Is Cool in a Crisp White Suit for a Night Out in London
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Janet Jackson has always been the essence of cool. On Monday, Jackson surprised fans when she arrived at the 1,500th performance of Cabaret at London's Kit Kat Club. Fans cheered outside of the Playhouse Theatre as she made her way inside the venue while in a crisp white suit. Jackson's summer suit was composed of a boxy, single-breasted blazer with a sleek shawl lapel, styled over a half-buttoned white collared shirt, and paired with tailored wide-leg white pants. The legendary singer wore her braids in a top-knot bun and accessorized the look with large gold hoops and black platform sneakers, adding a sporty flair to the sleek outfit. And while the star posed for photos solo inside the theater, she didn't arrive alone. The All For You singer attended the show with fellow musician and longtime friend Maxwell, who recently performed a headlining set at the 2025 Essence Music Festival in New Orleans. Like Maxwell, this time last summer, Jackson served as the headliner for the 2024 Essence Festival. At the same time, she was also on the road for her international Together Again Tour, which started in the spring of 2023 and ended in October of last year. In May, the Grammy-winning artist was honored with the Icon Award at the 2025 American Music Awards in Las Vegas. For the momentous occasion, Jackson also chose an all-white ensemble, which she wore both on the red carpet and on the stage for her legacy award performance. The hip-hop-inspired look featured a puffy white bomber jacket styled over a white ribbed tank and baggy jeans with peekaboo underwear from Vetements. You Might Also Like 4 Investment-Worthy Skincare Finds From Sephora The 17 Best Retinol Creams Worth Adding to Your Skin Care Routine
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
'No tax on tips' is now law. What does that mean for tipped workers?
President Trump began touting his plan to end taxes on tips on the campaign trail in Nevada, a swing state where there are tens of thousands of tip earners working in and around the Las Vegas strip. Fast-forward a year, and the catchphrase 'no tax on tips' has become a key highlight of the president's signature tax and spending law. Many workers who have historically received tips will be able to deduct up to $25,000 in tips from their taxable income through 2028. The deduction begins phasing out at incomes above $150,000, and workers will still have to pay federal taxes on tips beyond the $25,000 cap. But labor advocates say Trump's big promise has morphed into a more complicated policy reality, and lower-income workers may be left out. By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's Terms and Privacy Policy Other tipped workers, meanwhile, may be left frustrated by the deduction cap, the policy's limited time frame, and the disparities it may create between front-of-house and back-of-house restaurant staff. Workers have also expressed confusion online about whether they will see an immediate difference in their pay or will have to wait until next year's tax season to benefit. In Nevada, the Culinary Union — which includes 60,000 workers in casinos, restaurants, bars, and more in Las Vegas and Reno — has spoken out in favor of tax relief for tipped workers. But a statement from Culinary Union Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge described the bill's effects for the working-class as temporary, 'while windfall tax cuts for billionaires and the rich are permanent.' Elyanna Calle, the Austin-based president of Restaurant Workers United, also told Yahoo Finance that service industry workers would be better served by making a livable wage, adding that many back-of-house workers — line cooks and dishwashers, for example — will not be helped by the 'no tax on tips' policy. For tipped workers, ''No taxes on tips' just creates a larger reliance on tips, instead of solving the issue of base wages — wages that workers can rely on, and budget on, and count on,' Calle said. Some labor advocacy organizations have also pointed out that cuts to Medicaid and food assistance are likely to hit the same working-class people meant to benefit from the 'no tax on tips' policy, chipping away at potential gains. One Fair Wage said in a May report that an estimated 45% of the 2.75 million restaurant and tipped workers who rely on Medicaid could lose coverage. Tipped income has been subject to taxation for over a century, said Lawrence Zelenak, a tax law professor at Duke Law School. But until the early 1980s, 'enforcement was extremely bad' and the compliance rate was incredibly low — about 16% in 1981, Zelenak said. Though Congress sought stricter tax requirements in 1982, the solution was that larger restaurants were required to allocate and report tips equal to at least 8% of sales among tipped workers. The compliance rate effectively rose to about 50% as a result, according to Zelenak. Still, tips received in cash were difficult to track, and many tips were left untaxed. That changed as more customers began to tip with credit cards, which gave the IRS more information and improved compliance even more, taxing a greater share of tips. As for why Republicans sought a deduction in the tax bill and not totally removing taxes on tips, 'that's complicated,' Zelenak said. To enact no taxes on tips, lawmakers could have written a provision that excluded tips from gross income, Zelenak said. 'Instead, you still have to report tips as part of your gross income, but then you can claim a deduction for tips received.' The deduction helps 'only if you have some taxable income to offset,' Zelenak said. 'If your income is low enough that it would all be sheltered by the standard deduction anyway — which would be true of tipped workers at or near the minimum wage — then this doesn't do you any good.' Right now, the major question for tipped workers may be whether this will impact their paychecks immediately. 'There are not going to be immediate withholding adjustments on waiters and waitresses, or those receiving tips,' said Steven Elliott, a tax director at Mercer Advisors, a registered investment advisor and full-service wealth manager. 'It may come into play later in the year, maybe fourth quarter, but this is going to be mostly a positive adjustment for folks when they file their returns after receiving their W-2s." Learn more: What is a W-2 form? 'They'll get a nice surprise, those that qualify, to get a larger refund,' Elliott said. However, tipped workers could also file an updated W-4 and lower their withholding for a quicker benefit. Workers can get a faster refund through electronic filing and using direct deposit, Elliott added. In the near term, he recommended that tipped workers begin taking a closer look at their pay stubs to understand their elections and ensure they're not surprised when they receive their W-2. Emma Ockerman is a Senior Reporter for Yahoo Finance covering economic and labor issues in personal finance. Sign up for the Mind Your Money newsletter Sign in to access your portfolio
