FESTIVALS: Los Angeles Fests' Truths: Death, Music and Cuba are Documentary Highlights
Read More »DAILY NEWS: MStrike Deadline Passes Without Agreement; Wittkowsky is Leaving Cleveland Org; "Kiss Kiss" Dealby Eugene Hernandez, Anthony Kaufman and Brian Brooks/indieWIRE>> UPDATE: Strike Deadline Passes; No Deal Yet, Talks to Resume Today(indieWIRE/05.02.01) -- At midnight in Hollywood, the deadline for a strikepassed as the contract between producers and the Writers Guild of America(WGA) officially expired.One minute past the deadline, spokespeople for both sides emerged before thecameras to indicate that talks continued between the WGA and the Alliance ofMotion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Negotiations were ongoingat the WGA...
Read More »DAILY NEWS: Madstone Digital Distribution; Bermuda Announces Its Winners; Lions Gate's Rapper Picby Eugene Hernandez and Anthony Kaufman/indieWIRE>> Madstone Pushes Forward on Digital Distribution Plans by Acquiring Wrubel(indieWIRE/05.01.01) -- Madstone Films is getting closer to making atheatrical "Digital Distribution Network" a reality. The company, alreadyknown for signing directors Lisa Siwe, Aaron Woodley and Joan Stein to produce digital video features for the company under a two-year contract,recently signed on former New Yorker Films exec Susan Wrubel as VicePresident of Film Acquisitions. While the company continues to searchinter...
Read More »DAILY NEWS: From the LA Film Fest -- Award Winners and Biz Dealsby Eugene Hernandez and Maud Kersnowski/indieWIRE>> "Jessica" and "Falls" Take Top LA Film Fest Awards(indieWIRE/04.30.01) -- Charles Herman-Wurmfeld's "Kissing Jessica Stein" won the audience award and a special critics jury prize yesterday, as the Los Angeles Film Festival presented its awards. Described as a film about a woman who is fed up with the dating scene, the lead character answers a personal ad followed bypursuing her first same-sex relationship. Heather Juergensen and JenniferWestfeldt were singled out by the jury for their writing and acting.The Critics Jury of Jam...
Read More »REVIEW: "Golden Bowl" Cracked; Merchant Ivory's James Misstep
Read More »DAILY NEWS: Mr. Panahi Reacts to Being Held in Airport; Coens and Barenholtz; Cannes' Fortnight; and Argentine Filmsby Eugene Hernandez/indieWIRE>> "The Circle" Director Lashes Out Against U.S. Authorities After Being Detained in NY Airport(indieWIRE/04.27.01) -- On April 15, en route to film festivals in SouthAmerica from Hong Kong, Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi ("The White Balloon," "The Circle") was detained at New York City's JFK Airport for failure to present a transit visa. This week, the award-winning director sent a letteraddressed to the National Board of Review alleging mistreatment by airportauthorities and detailing a nightmarish...
Read More »FESTIVALS: The Motion of the Ocean; LAFF's Calling Card Shorts
Read More »DAILY NEWS: Directors Fortnight Lineup Announced; Two Docs in the Spotlight -- Zenovich's "Tapie" Makes a Deal at LAFF, while Wonsuk Chin's Kozmo.com Story Debuts in NYCby Eugene Hernandez/indieWIRE>> Directors Fortnight Lineup Set(indieWIRE/04.26.01) -- The lineup for the Directors Fortnight secti...
Read More »INTERVIEW: With "Gaea Girls," Kim Longinotto and Jano Williams Hit the Mat
Read More »DAILY NEWS: LAFF Film Nabbed by IFC; NEA's Ivey Stepping Downby Eugene Hernandez and Maud Kersnowski/indieWIRE>> "The Chateau" Acquired by IFC Films after LA Film Fest Debut(indieWIRE/04.25.01) -- The Los Angeles Film Festival is generally thoughtof as a festival where deals are begun, but not announced. But yesterday,IFC Films snapped up the domestic rights to Jesse Peretz's "The Chateau" after a weekend screening. Some are wondering if this year will prove to bethe exception to rule for the renamed festival since the buzz is that "TheChateau" isn't the only film that has buyers thinking of pulling out theircheckbooks."We are truly excited...
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