From the "Biz" Archives:

by Eugene Hernandez/indieWIRE

>> Cannes Unveils Director's Fortnight Lineup

World premieres from three American filmmakers, are among the films that will screen in the Director's Fortnight section at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival (May 12 - 23). Spike Lee ("Summer of Sam"), Sophia Coppola ("The Virgin Suicides"), and Alex Winter ("Fever") are all set to unveil their new films in France. While Ed Sanchez and Dan Myrick's "The Blair Witch Project" rounds out the U.S. entries in the section.

A slew of other world premieres are included in Director's Fortnight this year, among them films from Chantal Akerman ("Sud") and Angelica Huston ("Agnes Browne"). Director's Fortnight will offer a special screening of "The War Zone" directed by Tim Roth, and screenings of Djibril Diop Mamberty's "Le franc" and "La petite vendeuse de soleil" as part of a tribute to the filmmaker.

[The complete Director's Fortnight lineup, as well as lineups for other sections of the festival, are available now at indieWIRE.com]

GET THE CANNES LINEUPS @ indieWIRE.com: http://www.indiewire.com/onthescene/fes_99Cannes_990422_lineup.html

>> Philly Fest Opens Tonight with Francois Girard's "The Red Violin"

139 films from 40 countries will be screened at the 1999 Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema, which kicks off tonight and runs through May 9th. Among the indie films set to screen in Philly as part of the event's "Festival of Independents," are Adam Gooder's "In Between," Charlene Gilbert's "Homecoming," Ken Klein's "Breath," and John Krawlzick's "Storm."

The 8th annual event will also offer a spotlight on filmmaker Ken Loach, with screenings of "Ladybird, Ladybird," "Riff Raff," and "My Name is Joe." Among other programs are a selection of documentaries, including Nanette Burstein and Brett Morgan's "On the Ropes," Leslie Woodhead and Bud Greenspan's "Endurance," Lisa Gossels and Dean Wetherell's "Children of Chabannes," and Michael Glawogger's "Megacities."

[For more information, call 800/WOW-PFWC, or visit the official festival website at: http://www.libertynet.org/pfwc/]

>> Kevin Smith Weds, Baby Due Soon

Congratulations to filmmaker (and self-proclaimed indieWIRE reader) Kevin Smith on his wedding this weekend to Jennifer Schwalbach. According to his post on the News Askew website, Kevin and Jen were married on Sunday afternoon at George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch in Northern California. The newlyweds are expecting a child next month.

Commenting on the experience, Smith wrote, "I can say only this - you've never really seen your future until you've glimpsed it reflected in the eyes of the person standing across from you on the altar. But when you see it...Then you REALLY know what love is."

[For more news on Kevin Smith at the View Askew universe, visit his website at: http://www.viewaskew.com.]