DECEMBER 1, 2023
<Click film’s poster to see info/trailer>
Silent Night
Directed By: John Woo
Studio: Lionsgate
A gritty revenge tale of a tormented father who witnesses his young son die when caught in a gang’s crossfire on Christmas Eve. While recovering from a wound that costs him his voice, he makes vengeance his life’s mission and embarks on a punishing training regimen in order to avenge his son’s death.
Starring: Joel Kinnaman, Scott Mescudi, Harold Torres and Catalina Sandino Moreno
Genre: Comedy | Drama | International
Rating: R (for drug use, strong bloody violence, and some language)
Country: UK (English)
Runtime: 92 minutes
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Godzilla Minus One
Directed By: Takashi Yamazaki
Studio: Toho International
Post war Japan is at its lowest point when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster, baptized in the horrific power of the atomic bomb.
Starring: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Sakura Ando, and Kuranosuke Sasaki
Genre: Action | Adventure | Drama | Horror | International | Sci-Fi
Rating: PG-13 (for creature violence and action)
Country: Japan (Japanese)
Runtime: 125 minutes
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Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé
Directed By: Beyoncé
Studio: AMC Theatres Distribution
RENAISSANCE: A FILM BY BEYONCÉ accentuates the journey of RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR, from its inception, to the opening in Stockholm, Sweden, to the finale in Kansas City, Missouri. It is about Beyoncé’s intention, hard work, involvement in every aspect of the production, her creative mind and purpose to create her legacy, and master her craft. Received with extraordinary acclaim, Beyoncé’s RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR created a sanctuary for freedom, and shared joy, for more than 2.7 million fans.
Starring: Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Diana Ross, Megan Thee Stallion, and Kendrick Lamar
Genre: Music
Rating: Not Rated
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 168 minutes
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Eileen
Directed By: William Oldroyd
Studio: NEON
Eileen is a peculiar young woman — aloof and unfazed by the gloomy nature of her job at the local youth prison. But something in her changes the day that the new counsellor, Dr. Rebecca St. John arrives. She is instantly captivated by Rebecca’s glamorous, enigmatic presence. As the two women grow closer, Eileen is inspired to explore new facets of her own personality and desires. But her metamorphosis takes a twisted turn when Rebecca reveals a dark secret — throwing Eileen onto a much more sinister path.
Starring: Thomasin McKenzie, Shea Whigham, Marin Ireland, Owen Teague and Anne Hathaway
Genre: Drama | Mystery | Thriller
Rating: R (for violent content, sexual content and language)
Country: USA | UK | South Korea (English)
Runtime: 97 minutes
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Family Switch
Directed By: McG
Studio: Netflix
Jess and Bill Walker are doing their best to keep their family connected as their children grow older, more independent, and more distant. When a chance encounter with an astrological reader causes the family to wake up to a full body switch, on the morning of the most important day of each of their lives, can the Walkers unite to land a promotion, college interview, record deal and soccer tryout?
Starring: Jennifer Garner, Ed Helms, Emma Myers, Brady Noon, Rita Moreno, and Paul Scheer
Genre: Comedy | Family
Rating: PG (for suggestive material, language, teen partying and some thematic elements)
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 101 minutes
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Shayda
Directed By: Noora Niasari
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
SHAYDA, a brave Iranian mother, finds refuge in an Australian women’s shelter with her six-year-old daughter. Over Persian New Year, they take solace in Nowruz rituals and new beginnings, but when her estranged husband re-enters their lives, Shayda’s path to freedom is jeopardized.
Starring: Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Osamah Sami, Mojean Aria, Jillian Nguyen, Rina Mousavi, Selina Zahednia, and Leah Purcell
Genre: Drama | International
Rating: PG-13 (for thematic material involving domestic abuse, some violence and language)
Country: Australia (English & Persian)
Runtime: 117 minutes
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The Sweet East
Directed By: Sean Price Williams
Studio: Utopia
The Sweet East is a picaresque journey through the cities and woods of the Eastern seaboard of the United States undertaken by Lillian, a high school senior from South Carolina who gets her first glimpse of the wider world on a class trip to Washington, D.C. Separated from her schoolmates, she embarks on a fractured fairy tale travelogue into America, where she is granted access to a variety of the strange factions that proliferate the present-day unreality of contemporary life.
Starring: Talia Ryder, Earl Cave, Simon Rex, Ayo Edebiri, Jeremy O. Harris, Jacob Elordi and Rish Shah
Genre: Drama
Rating: Not Rated
Country: USA (English, Arabic, & Apache languages)
Runtime: 104 minutes
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Candy Cane Lane
Directed By: Reginald Hudlin
Studio: Amazon Studios
Eddie Murphy stars in this holiday comedy adventure about a man on a mission to win his neighborhood’s annual Christmas home decoration contest. After Chris (Eddie Murphy) inadvertently makes a deal with a mischievous elf named Pepper (Jillian Bell) to better his chances of winning, she casts a magic spell that brings the 12 Days of Christmas to life, and wreaks havoc on the whole town. At the risk of ruining the holidays for his family, Chris, his wife Carol (Tracee Ellis Ross), and their three children must race against the clock to break Pepper’s spell, battle deviously magical characters, and save Christmas for everyone.
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Tracee Ellis Ross, Robin Thede, Nick Offerman, Chris Redd, and Jillian Bell
Genre: Comedy | Fantasy
Rating: PG (for language throughout and some suggestive references)
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 117 minutes
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How the Gringo Stole Christmas
Directed By: Angel Gracia
Studio: Lionsgate
A Mexican father’s Christmas celebration goes from merry to messy when his daughter shows up with her new boyfriend — an uninvited gringo — in this hilarious holiday comedy.
Starring: Mariana Treviño, George Lopez, Emily Tosta, Jack Kilmer, and Alma Martinez
Genre: Comedy
Rating: PG-13 (for some suggestive material and language)
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 81 minutes
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How I Learned to Fly
Directed By: Simon Steuri
Studio: Film Movement
Two African-American teenage brothers suddenly find themselves on their own after being mysteriously abandoned by their parents. Deeply haunted by the mental and physical abuse inflicted by their father (Wu-Tang Clan’s Cliff “Method Man” Smith), elder brother Daniel (Marcus Scribner, ABC’s Black-ish) is determined to prevent their lives from falling apart. He maintains a daily routine, works as a dishwasher and does his best to keep a roof over their heads. Younger brother Eli (Lonnie Chavis, NBC’s This Is Us) struggles to cope with the absence of his mother, leaving her voicemail messages in search of answers. Embarking on a journey of survival and self-discovery, they uncover moments of beauty, newfound meaning and enduring love that strengthen their bond despite the uncertain road ahead. Featuring supporting performances by Cedric the Entertainer and Michele Selene Ang, How I Learned to Fly is a poignant story of determination and resilience in the face of profound adversity.
Starring: Marcus Scribner, Lonnie Chavis, Method Man, Cedric The Entertainer, Michele Selene Ang, and Crystal Bush
Genre: Drama
Rating: Not Rated
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 104 minutes
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Everyone Will Burn
Directed By: David Hebrero
Studio: Drafthouse Films
In a small village in Leon, Spain, María José prepares to end her life after failing to get over the death of her son years before. Everything changes when she receives a visit from Lucía, a strange little girl who might be connected to a local legend about stopping an impending apocalypse. With the enigmatic girl by her side, María José faces the corrupt community, triggering strange events and a series of horrific deaths among the local population.
Starring: Macarena Gómez, Rodolfo Sancho, Ana Milán, and Sofía García
Genre: Horror | International
Rating: Not Rated
Country: Spain (Spanish)
Runtime: 125 minutes
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Teddy’s Christmas
Directed By: Andrea Eckerbom
Studio: Capelight Pictures + Blue Fox Entertainment
While visiting a Christmas market in her Norwegian town, eight-year-old Mariann suddenly sees an unbelievable sight: on the top shelf of a carnival game booth, the most adorable stuffed teddy bear has just moved his head and sneezed. Feeling an instant connection with the living stuffed-animal, Mariann can’t think of any better Christmas wish than to win him as a prize. But when someone else wins Teddy, it’s up to him and his new hedgehog friend, Bolla, to reconnect with Mariann and discover the true importance of family and friendship.
Starring: Zachary Levi, Marte Klerck-Nilssen, Jan Gunnar Røise, Nader Khademi, and Mariann Hole
Genre: Adventure | Family | International
Rating: G
Country: Norway (Norwegian)
Runtime: 80 minutes
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La Syndicaliste
Directed By: Jean-Paul Salomé
Studio: Kino Lorber
An investigative thriller set in the world of nuclear power and politics, La Syndicaliste follows the true story of Maureen Kearney (Isabelle Huppert), the influential head union representative of a French multinational nuclear powerhouse. A deft navigator of elite political and financial circles, Maureen becomes a whistleblower when she discovers international backroom dealings, exposing secrets that shook the French nuclear sector. Fighting against government ministers and industry leaders, Maureen worked tirelessly to bring the scandal to light and defend thousands of jobs until she was violently sexually assaulted in her own home, seemingly targeted for her attempts to reveal the truth. As her attack is investigated, new elements create doubt in the minds of detectives and lawyers, and they begin to see Maureen not as a victim, but as a suspect. Surrounded by powerful enemies and unable to trust anyone, Maureen must fight to clear her name.
Starring: Isabelle Huppert, Grégory Gadebois, François-Xavier Demaison, Pierre Deladonchamps, and Alexandra Maria Lara
Genre: Drama | International | Thriller
Rating: Not Rated
Country: France | Germany (French, English, & Hungarian)
Runtime: 121 minutes
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Pianoforte
Directed By: Jakub Piątek
Studio: Greenwich Entertainment
The world’s most talented young pianists compete in the International Chopin Piano Competition, held every five years in Warsaw, Poland. A rare behind the scenes look at the triumphant highs and crushing lows of competition, Pianoforte is both a testament to the remarkable power of music and an intimate coming-of-age portrait.
Starring: —
Genre: Documentary | International | Music
Rating: Not Rated
Country: Germany | Poland (Slovenian, Polish, English, Chinese, Italian, & Russian)
Runtime: 91 minutes
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White River
Directed By: Xue Ma
Studio: Film Movement
A woman living in quiet Yanjiao, separated from Beijing by the White River and observing strict quarantine rules, has a simple daily routine consisting of nothing but cooking and cleaning. The mundanity, however, gives was to an erotic entanglement when she begins to sleep with a waiter from the neighborhood, under the watchful eye of her husband. From first-time female director Ma Xue, White River tests the viewers perceptions around voyeurism and female sensuality to surrealistic effect in this playfully mounted erotic drama.
Starring: Tian Yuan, Ning Feng Song, and Weihao Xu
Genre: Drama | International
Rating: Not Rated
Country: South Korea (Mandarin & English)
Runtime: 91 minutes
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The Shift
Directed By: Brock Heasley
Studio: Angel Studios
In this modern-day retelling of Job, Kevin Garner (Kristoffer Polaha) embarks on a journey across worlds and dimensions to reunite with Molly (Elizabeth Tabish), his true love. The narrative unfolds as a dystopian drama and sci-fi thriller, where a mysterious adversary, The Benefactor (Neal McDonough), disrupts Kevin’s reality. Faced with infinite worlds and impossible choices, Kevin must navigate through an alternate reality, resisting The Benefactor’s tempting offer of wealth and power. As survival hangs in the balance, Kevin fights to return to the familiar world he cherishes and the woman he loves.
Starring: Kristoffer Polaha, Neal McDonough, Elizabeth Tabish, Rose Reid, John Billingsley, Paras Patel, Jordan Alexandra and Sean Astin
Genre: Sci-Fi
Rating: PG-13 (for violence and thematic elements)
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 115 minutes
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Raging Grace
Directed By: Paris Zarcilla
Studio: Brainstorm Media + Doppelganger Releasing
Joy (Max Eigenmann) is an undocumented Filipino immigrant struggling to do the best she can to support her daughter, Grace (Jaeden Boadilla). Soon she secures the perfect job: taking care of an extremely wealthy but terminal old man. The new position pays well and guarantees a roof over their heads, but very soon, Joy and Grace start to realize everything is not as it seems. Something is festering beneath the surface, threatening all they have worked for.
Starring: Max Eigenmann, Jaeden Paige Boadilla, Leanne Best, and David Hayman
Genre: Drama | Horror | International | Mystery | Thriller
Rating: Not Rated
Country: United Kingdom (English & Tagalog)
Runtime: 99 minutes
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The Shepherd
Directed By: Iain Softley
Studio: Disney+
On Christmas Eve, a young RAF pilot flying home across the North Sea finds himself in peril when his radio and electric power cut out, leaving him stranded and running on limited fuel. Just when it appears his luck is about to run out, a mysterious good Samaritan guides him to safety.
Starring: Ben Radcliffe and John Travolta
Genre: Short | Drama | Fantasy
Rating: PG (for mild thematic elements)
Country: USA | UK (English)
Runtime: 38 minutes
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Don’t Suck
Directed By: RJ Collins
Studio: VMI Worldwide
Pete (Jamie Kennedy) believes that he has seen it all in his years as a road comic, that is until he meets his new killer opening act, a struggling comic qua vampire named Ethan (Matt Rife). During their time on the road, Pete fulfills his dream of becoming a comic’s comic.
Starring: Jamie Kennedy, Matt Rife, Ellen Hollman, Russell Peters, Lauren Compton, Jimmie Walker, Jimmy Shubert, Lisa Wilcox, and Carrot Top
Genre: Comedy | Horror
Rating: Not Rated
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 100 minutes
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The Squad
Directed By: Rick Walker
Studio: Buffalo 8
Three gun-toting, quick-witted girls move their drug operation to a new spring break hot spot every year. With sales reaching $1 million, they land on the radar of a seldom seen drug lord only known as “Frosty the Snowman” who sends his hitmen to eliminate them.
Starring: Meghan Carrasquillo, Grace Evans, Ashtyn Barlow Nguyen, Alea Hansinger, Riley Kahn, and Shawnee Brittan
Genre: Action
Rating: Not Rated
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 77 minutes
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Loop Track
Directed By: Thomas Sainsbury
Studio: Dark Sky Films
Ian, a man on the verge of a nervous breakdown, disappears from the world and takes a hike in the New Zealand wilderness. His efforts to avoid other hikers are futile and he is drawn into their worlds, but he can never shake the feeling that they are being stalked by someone, or something, sinister. As Ian’s paranoia grows, the other hikers become wary of him. He’s cagey about his past, he never sleeps, and his anxiety leads him to make concerning claims. Far from society, Ian starts to question his own sanity before plunging into a bloody battle for survival.
Starring: Thomas Sainsbury, Hayden J. Weal, Tawanda Manyimo, Kate Simmonds, and Noa Campbell
Genre: International | Thriller
Rating: Not Rated
Country: New Zealand (English)
Runtime: 94 minutes
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You Are My Audience
Directed By: Roc Morin
Studio: Good Deed Entertainment
You Are My Audience features stories from around the globe that explore identity and relate to one another in unexpected and meaningful ways. This documentary traverses the inner worlds of diverse characters as they face their own parallel identities.
Starring: Yuichi Ishii, Jason Allin, Ashok Aswani, Talin Navani, and Christina Cha
Genre: Documentary
Rating: Not Rated
Country: USA (English, Marathi, Japanese, Sindhi, & French)
Runtime: 111 minutes
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Holiday Twist
Directed By: Stephanie Garvin
Studio: ETM Distribution
HOLIDAY TWIST centers on a high-powered female executive and Grinchy workaholic CEO (Kelly Stables), whose whole world comes crashing down because of unforeseen circumstances despite her self-perceived importance. With help from a Salvation Army Santa (Blake Leeper) and a little holiday magic, the protagonist finally realizes the key to letting go of her painful past is the answer to becoming the twinkling light that both her community and her family need. It’s sure to inspire audiences to be resilient, forgiving, and transformative.
Starring: Kelly Stables, Neal McDonough, Sean Astin, Caylee Cowan, James Maslow, and Hugh Sheridan
Genre: Comedy | Family | Romance
Rating: PG (for thematic material and some language)
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 95 minutes
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1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture
Directed By: Sharon Roggio
Studio: ACOWSAY
1946 is a feature documentary that follows the story of tireless researchers who trace the origins of the anti-gay movement among Christians to a grave mistranslation of the Bible in 1946. It chronicles the discovery of never-before-seen archives at Yale University which unveil astonishing new revelations, and casts significant doubt on any biblical basis for LGBTQIA+ prejudice. Featuring Commentary from prominent scholars as well as opposing pastors, including the personal stories of the film’s creators, and original music by Grammy winning artist Mary Lambert, 1946 is at once challenging, enlightening, and inspiring.
Starring: Cheryl Anderson, Kathy Baldock, David S. Fearon, Steve Greenberg, Collier Landry, and Neto Montoya
Genre: Documentary | History
Rating: Not Rated
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 92 minutes
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In Water
Directed By: Hong Sang-soo
Studio: The Cinema Guild
A trio of friends venture to the rocky shores of a large island to shoot a film together. The director, Seongmo (Shin Seokho), recently gave up acting and has decided to make a film with his own money. His former classmate, Sangguk (Ha Seongguk), will operate the camera and Namhee (Kim Seungyun) will act in it. The only problem: Seongmo hasn’t decided what to make.
Starring: Shin Seok-ho, Ha Seong-guk, Kim Seung-yun, and Kim Min-hee
Genre: Drama | International
Rating: Not Rated
Country: South Korea (Korean)
Runtime: 61 minutes
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Tropic
Directed By: Edouard Salier
Studio: Dark Star Pictures
Lázaro and Tristán (19), twin brothers and best friends, are training together for the Astronaut Academy entrance tests. One day, Tristán is contaminated with some mysterious residue which makes him monstrous physically and weakened mentally. This disaster forces Lázaro to let go of how he remembers his brother and learn to love him as he is now, in a world where there is no room for monsters.
Starring: Pablo Cobo, Louis Peres, Marta Nieto, Marvin Dubart, Alane Delhaye, and Victor Robert
Genre: International | Sci-Fi
Rating: Not Rated
Country: France (French, Spanish, & English)
Runtime: 111 minutes
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Show Her the Money
Directed By: Ky Dickens
Studio: Yellowing Productions
Women have been shut out of the financial world, making it almost impossible to get their ideas and inventions funded. SHOW HER THE MONEY pulls back the curtain on the extreme underfunding of women in the Venture Capital world, with less than 2% of venture capital going to women. It features women entrepreneurs who bootstrap their companies into success stories, and the fierce and financially savvy women who fund them. SHOW HER THE MONEY is a compelling and crucial reminder that money is power and women need it to achieve true equality. The film follows four visionary founders as they endure uphill battles to turn their ideas into reality. In spite of their dedication and passion constantly being challenged, these women, with the financial support and mentorship of their angel investors, become even more determined, resourceful and resilient, and the growth of their businesses is mind-blowing. Each business has the potential to become a “unicorn”… a billion dollar business.
Starring: Elizabeth Banks, Diipa Khosla, Sharon Gless, Catherine Gray, and Dawn Lafreeda
Genre: Documentary
Rating: Not Rated
Country: USA (English)
Runtime: 84 minutes
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Fioretta
Directed By: Matthew Mishory
Studio: Rubber Ring Films
History-obsessed Randy Schoenberg brings his reluctant teenage son on the journey of a lifetime, through Europe and the centuries, to reclaim 500 years of their family story.
Starring: E. Randol Schoenberg, Filip Finkelstejn, Tomás Psenicka, Nolan Lebovitz, and Joey Schoenberg
Genre: Documentary
Rating: Not Rated
Country: USA | Czech Republic (English, Italian, German, & Czech)
Runtime: 127 minutes
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Vengeance: Rise of the Footsoldier
Directed By: Nick Nevern
Studio: Brainstorm Media
Tate goes on a rampage to avenge his loyal and trusted foot soldier’s violent death. To track down the villain responsible, Tate ventures beyond his comfort zone of Essex and into the dark side of 90s Soho. He squares up against violent kingpins and negotiates his way through treacherous backstreets with sheer brutal force. Set to execute his revenge, Tate will stop at nothing even as the world around him starts to explode.
Starring: Craig Fairbrass, Tara Fitzgerald, Sadie Frost, Phil Davis, Geoff Bell, and Stephen McCole
Genre: Action | International
Rating: Not Rated
Country: UK (English)
Runtime: 112 minutes
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Betrayal
Directed By: Dennis Bots & Thomas Nauw
Studio: Epic Pictures
During the final months of World War II, a Nazi officer assigned to protect the war-torn frontline in the Netherlands decides to risk his life to protect a Jewish family in hiding.
Starring: Peter Nillesen, Dirk Gunther Mohr, Andreas Lessig, Ingrid Bisschop, and Berit van de Wouw
Genre: International | War
Rating: Not Rated
Country: Netherlands (Dutch & German)
Runtime: 87 minutes
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About Us But Not About Us
Directed By: Jun Lana
Studio: Cinema Independent
A literature professor meets his student at a restaurant and, over the course of one meal, secrets and lies will be unearthed and the sinister connection to a suicide will be revealed.
Starring: Romnick Sarmenta, Elijah Canlas, Olive Isidro, Arkin Del Rosario, and James Andrew Razon
Genre: Drama | International
Rating: Not Rated
Country: Philippines (Tagalog & Filipino)
Runtime: 91 minutes
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