$3.7 Million Grant Bolsters Heartland Fest

In the Indianapolis Business Journal, Scott Olson examines the state of the Heartland Film Festival, recent recipient of a $3.7 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. The grant is earmarked to bolster the event, expand its programs and create local and national partnerships:

Independent filmmakers visiting Indianapolis for the Heartland Film Festival often give the event glowing reviews. But after 14 years of screening and honoring such inspiring movies as "Remember the Titans," "The Rookie" and "Because of Winn-Dixie," organizers no longer want to rely simply on word of mouth to build a national reputation for the festival, which this year runs Oct. 13-21.

 
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Who's the hottest hottie?

In Toronto's National Post, J. Kelly Nestruck offers the play-by-play on the battle to be crowned "Hottest Hottie" at this year's Toronto International Film Festival. The face-off begins with hott brother and sister Jake Gyllenhaal and Maggie Gyllenhaal in a round one battle... Other contestands include Johnny Depp, Justin Timberlake and Eva Longoria. 
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On The Road to Festival Centre...

The Toronto International Film Festival Group has now raised $132 million of the $196 million targeted for the funding of the new Festival Centre that will house the event after 2008. Bell Canada is the latest partner, with group director and CEO Piers Handling announcing that Bell will name the building as part of a recent agreement. The facility, to begin construction in 2006 on the corner of King & John Streets in Toronto, will include the festival building, and a tower including a condominium development and is set to open at the end of 2008. 
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Toronto v. Cannes

In the Toronto Star, Roger Ebert is quoted comparing the Toronto International Film Festival to the Cannes fest:

"I think it is really one of the two most important festivals in the world, and probably now THE most important," he said, explaining that the biggest competitor, Cannes, is held just before summer. "Which is not a season for festival-type films, and Toronto is perfectly well-timed to really act in terms of the North American film industry as the opening day for Oscar season."

 
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With Veneziano as Prez, GSFI Nabs "Willow Tree"

Ariel Veneziano, who has been named president of GreeneStreet Films International, announced today that the company has acquired worldwide rights to Majid Majidi's "The Willow Tree, screening here at the Toronto International Film Festival. Veneziano and GreeneStreet Films co-founder and president John Penotti are jointly handling the domestic rights to the movie. In today's announcement Veneziano indicated that he intends to steer GSFI to become a more acquisitions-driven company. GSFI is also handling rights to "Slow Burn", and "Unknown". 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions, Toronto ]

Coppola Returns to 'The Outsiders'

Even he calls it a "fall from grace," going from directing "The Godfather" I and II, "The Conversation" and "Apocalypse Now" as well as writing "Patton" accumulating five Oscars in the '70s to a director-for-hire of such movies as "The Cotton Club" "Peggy Sue Got Married" and "Gardens of Stone." The job Francis Ford Coppola took in early 1982, "The Outsiders" may have seemed like one of those projects, but it came to him through the mail and became a labor of love. A.P. A.P. takes a look at Coppola. 
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Oscar Time: Toronto Festival Builds Buzz

The Academy Awards are six months away, yet contenders already are off and running. The Toronto International Film Festival, which opened Thursday, offers an early glimpse of potential competitors for Hollywood's top awards, among them theJohnny Cash film biography "Walk the Line," the romances "Elizabethtown" and ""Shopgirl"," the working-stiff drama "North Country," the sister tale "In Her Shoes" and the cowboy saga "Brokeback Mountain." "I think Toronto is, for better or worse, the starting gate for awards season," said festival co-director Noah Cowan. "The awards crop we're already seeing this year is terrific. Some really standout films." A.P. reports. 
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What's a film festival without a bevy of parties?

Of course it's all about the wonderful filmmaking, the artistic visions, the sweeping epics and touching diamonds in the rough. But we hear there's the odd party here and there at the Toronto International Film Festival that just may be worth checking out. Certainly the hottest invite to clutch close to your chest this week is Saturday's "Corpse Bride" gala after-party at Birks Boutique Yorkville. Why? Well none other than Mr. TIFF 2005 himself, Johnny Depp, will be there with his beautiful wife, Vanessa Paradis. 
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Deepa Mehta's "Water" Shines on Opening Night

Director Deepa Mehta's "Water," received glowing reviews, including praise from Salman Rushdie, when it opened the Toronto International Film Festival. The movie is a drama that stirs up political controversy with its subject matter of the mistreatment of widows in the 1930s. Rediff reports. 
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Quebec Drama Opens Toronto's Canada First Program

Louise Archambault's "Familia," a film about the interesecting lives of two women and their families, heads the Canada First Program at Toronto. The Canadian Press reports. 
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Israeli Films Create Niche at Toronto

This year, Israeli audiences can find specific ethno-cultural fare at Toronto with such film offerings as Amos Gitai's "Free Zone," starring Natalie Portman; Liev Schreiber's "Everything Is Illuminated,” based on Jonathan Safran Foer's novel; Radu Mihaileanu’s “Va, Vis Et Deviens”; Pasquale Simeca’s “The Passion of Joshua," set in Spain during the 16th century, and Laios Koltai’s “Fateless,” based on Imre Kertesz's novel. The Jewish News Weekly of Northern California reports.  
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Toronto Turns 30

In its 30th year, Toronto has earned the reputation of being the most successful international film festival. It is now recognized as a good box-office indicator, as well as providing a collegial, rather than competitive, environment for filmmakers. Angela Mulholland reports for CTV.ca News. 
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American Cinematheque to Screen "Big Easy" to Raise Money for Hurricane Relief

The American Cinematheque will present a benefit screening of Jim McBride's "The Big Easy" (1987, Sony Pictures) at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday, September 18 at 1:00 PM and an encore screening at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica on Monday, September 19th at 7:30 PM. There is no admission charge for the screening, but donations will be accepted for the Red Cross Relief Fund. Special guests to be confirmed. 
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Effie Brown starts production on Jeff Blitz's new feature film

"Rocket Science," a feature film project from Effie Brown's Los Angeles based production company Duly Noted Inc., has begun filming in Baltimore, adding to the company's expanding roster of feature film projects. As one of eight new films slated for development and production in 2005, "Rocket Science," directed by Oscar-nominated Jeffrey Blitz ("Spellbound"), marks the continued success of Brown's Los Angeles-based company. 
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Dylan Doc Set for 30 City Debut

In the latest example of experimentation with collapsing distribution windows, Martin Scorsese's "No Direction Home: Bob Dylan" will be screened in 30 cities as part of a deal set to be announced by Emerging Pictures. Emerging will join forces with Thirteen/WNET New York for free screenings of the two-part, nearly four hour doc that screened at the Teluride Film Festival this past weekend and is also set for a screening in Toronto. It will be shown in 30 cities before its PBS airdates on September 26th & 27th and a full length DVD from Paramount is anticipated a week before the TV airdate as well. 
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Strand Gets Ozon's Latest

Strand Releasing has acquired Francois Ozon's latest, "Time To Leave" (Le Temps qui reste), in a deal negotiated with Celluloid Dreams. The film, starring Jeanne Moreau, is screening in Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival. Charlotte Mickie from Celluloid Dreams negotiated the pact with Jon Gerrans from Strand. Strand is planning a July '06 release for the film. 
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INDUSTRY MOVES: Ryan Werner Jumps To IFC Films

Ryan Werner has left his post as head of theatrical distribution at Wellspring, joining IFC Films as the company's new VP of Marketing. The company said in an announcement that Werner will "be charged with overseeing the development and implementation of media strategies for all the company's slate of film properties in addition to developing poster/trailer campaigns and strategic promotional efforts." He is replacing Ron Tsuruda and Nevette Previd who have left the company. While at Wellspring, Wener handled the releases of "Tarnation", "The Brown Bunny", "Palindromes" and "The Beat That My Heart Skipped", among others, and he has previously worked for Palm Pictures, Magnolia Pictures, Sundance Channel, and IFP. 
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INDUSTRY MOVES: Changes At IDP

IDP, the joint distribution venture by Samuel Goldwyn Films and Roadside Attractions, has announced a number of key changes. Kristi Avram has been named VP of publicity, joining the company from Palm Pictures, while Shani Ankori has been promoted to VP of marketing and promotions. Daniel Feiner has been hired as director of finance and administration. Avram will head the bi-coastal PR department that includes directors of publicity Nicolette Aizenberg and Tiffany Bair, as well as new addition Lindsey Weidhorn, coordinator for marketing and publicity. 
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'Spellbound' director enrolls in 'Science' class

The director (Jeffrey Blitz) of the Oscar-nominated documentary "Spellbound," which followed a spelling bee, is turning his attention to an indie feature about high school debating. "Rocket Science" centers on 15-year-old Hal Hefner (Reece Thompson), who despite his terrible stuttering joins a high school debate team. Tatiana Siegel reports in the Hollywood Reporter. 
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Palestinian Film Looks at Suicide Bombers

As a Palestinian director, Hany Abu-Assad fully recognized he was stepping into a political minefield. By making a feature film about two young Palestinians who volunteer to become suicide bombers, he risked being accused either of glorifying terrorism or of betraying resistance to the Israeli occupation. The solution he found was to tell the story of "Paradise Now" as realistically as possible, but from a human point of view. Alan Riding profiles the director and "Paradise Now" in the New York Times (free subscription required to view entire article). 
[permalink]   [ filed under Movies, World Cinema ]

Italian Film Booed at Venice Festival

Critics at a screening booed one of Italy's big hopes to win the top prize at the Venice Film Festival Tuesday. Roberto Faenza's "The Days of Abandonment," about a woman who loses control of her life after she is left by her husband, drew boos as well as laughter in the wrong places, Italian news agencies reported. A.P. reports. 
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Quirky 'Romance & Cigarettes' has Venice singing

Director John Turturro had the Venice Film Festival singing along on Tuesday with his blue collar musical "Romance & Cigarettes," the off-beat story of a man tempted by his mistress but still in love with his wife. Clara Ferreira-Marques reports for Reuters. 
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Toronto Fest Puts Spotlight on Hollywood

It's a real place to discover new talent, the Toronto International Film Festival. Just ask Niki Caro. Three years ago, she showed up as a complete unknown at North America's biggest movie showcase, with a little film about a young Maori girl bucking convention to become leader of her patriarchal tribe. A.P. reports. 
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