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Frank J. Avella on Muck Rack

Frank J. Avella

New Jersey, New York
As seen in: Edge Media Network, Tec+Ciencia Podcast, BroadwayWorld, Awards Daily, EMN Chicago IL, Baltimore Edge Media Network, Pittsburgh, PA - EDGE Media Network, The Contending, OUTSFL
Covers:  Film, theatre, TV, entertainment.
Award-winning screenwriter/playwright" Lured, Vatican Falls, Consent, Fig Jam, Froci. RT critic. GALECA. NYCFO. Senior Staff Writer: The Contending

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Frank J. Avella’s Biography

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Frank J. Avella is a film journalist for Edge Media Network and The Contending as well as the Industry Liaison for GALECA (The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics) and a member of New York Film Critics Online.

Frank J. Avella is the recipient of a 2023 and 2019 International Writers Retreat Residency at Arte Studio Ginestrelle (Assisi, Italy) and a 2018 Bogliasco Foundation Fellowship.

VATICAN FALLS, his play about the Catholic sex abuse scandal, was a 2021 semifinalist for the O’Neill Nati…

Frank J. Avella’s Journalist Portfolio

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Finn Wittrock On His Homecoming Journey In 'Westhampton'

Finn Wittrock On His Homecoming Journey In 'Westhampton'

Finn Wittrock does his best work onscreen to date in Christian Nilsson's atmospheric, deeply affecting featur…

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The People Vs. Larry Flynt & The Crying Game -New On 4K/UHD

The People Vs. Larry Flynt & The Crying Game -New On 4K/UHD

The People Vs. Larry Flynt & The Crying Game - 2 Controversial Classics New On 4K-UHD/Blu-ray- Miloš Forman &…

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Emmys: Jonathan Tropper on Your Friends And Neighbors, Lucky

Emmys: Jonathan Tropper on Your Friends And Neighbors, Lucky

Season Two of Your Friends and Neighbors upped the crazy ante and was justly rewarded with a surprise Outstan…

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83rd Venice Film Festival Boasts Robert Pattinson, Penélope Cruz

83rd Venice Film Festival Boasts Robert Pattinson, Penélope Cruz

The 83rd Venice Film Festival slate was announced today and there will be plenty of big names and potential O…

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Kaspar Kalle, Egor Venned on Gay film No Rest For The Wicked

Kaspar Kalle, Egor Venned on Gay film No Rest For The Wicked

Kasper Kalle's dark and striking debut feature, No Rest for the Wicked, is based on a little-known short stor…

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Tammy Blanchard Is Back w/ 2 Powerhouse Turns In Test & Bruton

Tammy Blanchard Is Back w/ 2 Powerhouse Turns In Test & Bruton

Emmy winner Tammy Blanchard is that rare and remarkable thespian who has delivered indelible performances in …

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Articles

Finn Wittrock On the Homecoming Journey His Character Takes In ‘Westhampton’ [VIDEO]

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By Frank J. Avella
| The Contending Verified
Finn Wittrock does his best work onscreen to date in Christian Nilsson’s atmospheric, deeply affecting feature Westhampton, which world premiered at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival and is currently showing in theaters, via Obscured Releasing. The ubiquitous, versatile actor plays Tom Bell, a guilt-n-angst ridden filmmaker who reluctantly yet willfully, returns to the titular town he grew up in to screen his new, semi-autobiographical movie.
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‘The People Vs. Larry Flynt’ & ‘The Crying Game’ — Two Controversial Classics New On 4K-UHD/Blu-ray

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By Frank J. Avella
| The Contending Verified
Two very different but groundbreaking films played the New York Film Festival in 1996 and 1992 respectively. Both received great critical acclaim. The Crying Game went on to box office success, six Academy Award nominations and one win. The People vs. Larry Flynt was stymied by a liberal-led smear campaign that destroyed it’s commercial prospects and led to only two Oscar nominations instead of the slew it deserved. Both hold up really well today, especially the latter.
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Emmys 2026: Jonathan Tropper On Season 2 Nuances Of ‘Your Friends And Neighbors,’ Lucking Out With ‘Lucky’ [VIDEO]

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By Frank J. Avella
| The Contending Verified
Season Two of Your Friends and Neighbors upped the crazy ante and was justly rewarded with a surprise Outstanding Drama Emmy Nomination—just one nomination, but a most significant one. The previous year the Apple TV hit also scored a solo nod —for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music. This biting and incisive dark comedy deserves much more love than it has received from the Television Academy, although one would argue that category placement may be an issue.
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Interview

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What was your first job as a journalist?

At University, I covered film.

Have you ever used a typewriter?

Yes. When I was a kid.

How is social media changing news?

Everyone is in a rush to scoop--to report ASAP--and to keep it short. The good news is that we are getting news as it happens.