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QuickShots | Venice Closer, Mad at “Bruno,” QT in Austin, Tax Rebate, S.F. Jewish Fest

by Brian Brooks (July 28, 2009)
QuickShots | Venice Closer, Mad at “Bruno,” QT in Austin, Tax Rebate, S.F. Jewish Fest
A scene from Fruit Chain and Cui Jian's "Chengdu, I Love You."

“Chengdu to close Venice Fest

“Chengdu, I Love You” will close this year’s Venice Film Festival out of the competition, according to Screen. The film, co-directed by Fruit Chain and rock star Cui Jian, will screen after the awards ceremony on September 12. The film is a “dual love story between past and future” and also the “first science fiction film” out of the People’s Republic of China, the picture is a satirical comedy set during the 1976 earthquake of Tangshan (directed by Chan), which then moves forward to 2009 offering a Matrix-like science fiction story of contemporary China (directed by Jian).


Militant group issues threat over mockery in Bruno film

The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the armed wing of the Fatah movement, has condemned the film, Bruno, in which Cohen plays a gay Austrian fashionista, as “part of a conspiracy” against them. There was no comment from Cohen, The Guardianreports.


QT in Austin for “Inglorious Basterds”

The Austin Film Society and Fantastic Fest will present Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglorious Basterds” on August 15th at 9pm at the city’s Alamo Drafthouse Downtown. Tarantino will be on hand for a post screening Q&A. The screening will kick off Cinemapocalyse, a dusk-til dawn movie marathon. “Inglorious Basterds” will be followed by a double feature of repertory films programmed by Tarantino.  Both films are influences for his latest directorial effort, and is the only film that will be announced prior to the event. The “influences” double feature and the rest of the program will be announced just before they hit screen. For more information, visit their website.


25 film, TV productions among first to get California tax credits

The California Film Commission on Monday announced that 25 productions had been awarded tax credits, which refund 20% or 25% of all spending in the state on so-called below-the-line employees, Hollywood parlance for behind-the-scenes crew, the Los Angeles Times reports.


S.F. Jewish Film Festival rules in favor of social justice

The annual San Francisco Jewish Film Festival (July 23 - Aug. 10 in S.F., Berkeley, Palo Alto and San Rafael) arrives amid this jumble of uncertainties with an expansive program spotlighting the Jewish tradition of social justice and human rights. The lineup also includes, paradoxically, a number of titles (“Adam,” “Empty Nest”) about assimilated Jews whose heritage barely informs their day-to-day lives. SF360 reports.


Tidbits:

- The New York Timesis screening an exclusive clip from Sundance ‘09 winner, “The Cove,” which opens Friday.

- Paper Street Films/Tom Sawyer Entertainment announces the completion of principal photography of actor Josh Radnor’s feature film directorial debut “HappyThankYouMorePlease.” Radnor, the star of the Emmy-nominated CBS comedy “How I Met Your Mother” wrote the screenplay and co-stars along with Malin Akerman (“Watchmen”), Kate Mara (“Iron Man 2”), Zoe Kazan (“Revolutionary Road”), Pablo Schreiber (“The Wire”) and Tony Hale (“Arrested Development”). Academy Award Nominee Richard Jenkins (“The Visitor”) rounds out the cast of this New York City based project.

- Lloyd Kaufman, Chairman of the Board of Directors, announced today that the Independent Film & Television Alliance’s (IFTA) Board of Directors has renewed the contracts of President-CEO Jean Prewitt and Executive VP-American Film Market (AFM) Managing Director Jonathan Wolf through 2012.

posted on July 28, 2009
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