"Chisolm '72" and "A Room Nearby" to Receive ITVS' Peabody Awards

The Independent Television Service (ITVS), celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2006, announced today that two of its acclaimed films were among the winners of the George Foster Peabody Awards for 2006. "Chisolm '72: Unbought and Unbossed" by Shola Lynch and Phil Bertelsen, and "A Room Nearby" by Paul and Sandra Ferlinger were chosen to be among the 32 programs honored. The two films being honored for 2006 brings the grand total of ITVS Peabody Awards to nine since opening its doors in 1991. "We could not be more proud of the amazing accomplishments of all our filmmakers," said Judy Tam, ITVS vice president and CFO in a statement. "It is wonderful to see their hard work, determination and artistic vision recognized by such a prestigious award." The Peabody Awards are the oldest and one of the most prestigious honors in electronic media. [Brian Brooks]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Honors ]

"December Ends" and "Dreamland" Among Type Prize Recipients at Method Fest

"December Ends," written and directed by Lee Toland Krieger, and starring Josh Janoswicz and Alex Thayer won Method Fest's City of Calabasas Best Picture Award Friday (April 7) outside Los Angeles, the event announced. The festival, which celebrates performance at the center of its event, also gave out acting prizes, with opening night film, "Dreamland"'s two leads (Agnes Bruckner and Kelli Garner), sharing the Standard Pacific Homes Geraldine Page Ward for Best Actress, while the New Millenium Homes John Garfield Award for Best Actor Award went to Josh Janowicz for his performance in "December Ends." Jason Matzner, who directed "Dreamland," was award the Charter Communications Best Director Award. The Daily News Best Screenplay winner was "In A Day" writer Evan Richards, who also directed the film. "This year we had so many great performances that the judges really had a tough time deciding the award winners," commented Don Franken, the festival's executive director in a statement. "A large number of high quality films with outstanding acting made it the most competitive acting competition ever. What defined this year's festival was the emergence of so many talented young actors and filmmakers." Method Fest took place in Calabasas, CA March 31 - April 7. For more information and a full list of winners, please visit the festival's website. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

History Channel Series Will Air 10 Historical Documentaries

Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms.

Beginning this Sunday, April 9, the History Channel will launch a week of special programming with 10 documentaries that will air as part of the series "10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America." Each of the 10 films that will air is the work of award-winning documentary filmmakers, who were selected to tell the story of a specific event that had an impact on America's political, cultural or social landscape. Filmmakers used archival footage and artifacts to recreate these historical incidents that are played out through crafted scenes and interviews. The selection of documentaries also provides a balanced look at some of the more well-known pivotal events in history, such as Shay's Rebellion in 1787 or the assassination of President McKinley in 1901, while shining light on other less-cited events like the Pequot War between the Native Americans and English in 1637. James Moll's "Massacre at Mystic," which tells the story of the Pequot War, will air on The History Channel this Sunday night, along with Michael Epstein's "Antietam," which focuses on one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War during the time that President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. For more information about the documentaries and the series schedule, please visit the History Channel's festival website. [Tamara Schweitzer]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Documentary, Events ]

First Look Pictures Acquires "Saints"

Park City coverage sponsored by BE KIND REWIND.

First Look Pictures has acquired the rights to Dito Montiel's "A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints," which took home two awards at Sundance Film Festival this year. The film, which stars Robert Downey, Jr. as the grown Montiel, chronicles the film director's life growing up in Astoria, Queens during the 1980s. Montiel's story portrays the struggles of a childhood spent witnessing the tough realities of New York City, and is about those "saints" who helped the young boy along the way. The film won the special jury prize at Sundance for Best Ensemble Performance as well as the Dramatic Director Award. The deal was negotiated by Richard Stone, Senior VP of business and legal affairs for First Look Studios, and Cassian Elwes of William Morris Independent. [Tamara Schweitzer] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions, Park City ]

Arizona Group Becomes IFP Phoenix

The Phoenix Film Project is now an official chapter of the nationally known filmmakers organization, Independent Feature Project, the organization announced Thursday. The Phoenix Film Project will now be known as IFP Phoenix. Headquartered in New York, IFP also serves independent filmmakers in local communities. IFP chapters exist in Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Seattle. Executive directors of all four branches unanimously approved Phoenix becoming a chapter. "It's great that the Phoenix Film community has grown enough to be recognized nationally," commented Chris LaMont, president of the Phoenix Film Foundation in a statment. "Arizona's independent filmmakers will really benefit with the presence of IFP Phoenix and the impact will be felt immediately with [the organization's] resources and national film opportunities." [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

Film Movement Adopts "Familia"

Distributor Film Movement has acquired rights to controversial film "Familia," the first feature-length film from Canadian director Louise Archambault. The film tells the story of Michele, a thirty-something aerobics instructor who flees Montreal with her 14-year-old daughter Marguerite to escape her gambling debts. Their destination is California but, penniless, they make it only as far as Montreal's suburbs and the well-appointed home of Michele's childhood friend Janine. While the two women re-establish their relationship, Marguerite and Janine's daughter, forge a friendship through tentative forays into the adult world of drugs and sex. The deal was negotiated by Adley Gartenstein, director of acquisitions and business affairs on behalf of Film Movement and Marie-Alice Couret of Christal Films Distribution. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

Reuters: "Platoon" gets second shot at Cannes fest

Twenty years after it was turned down for selection by the Cannes organizers, Oliver Stone's Vietnam drama "Platoon" will screen at the 2006 edition of the festival next month to coincide with a DVD re-release. At the same time, festival organizers announced in Paris that French actor Vincent Cassel will serve as master of ceremonies for the 59th annual event, and will host the opening and closing ceremonies on May 17 and May 28. Stone will attend the festival for the May 21 screening along with most of the major cast members of "Platoon," which won four Oscars in 1986, including best picture and best director. Reuters reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

AP: Studios Shutting Out Movie Critics

Critics are being shut out of more films as studios forgo advance screenings on flicks they expect reviewers to trash, figuring the movies stand a better chance of box-office success with no reviews rather than bad ones. So far this year, 11 movies have not screened for critics before opening day, including the Rob Schneider/David Spade sports comedy "The Benchwarmers" and Mo'Nique's fashion comedy "Phat Girlz," both opening Friday. During the same period last year, just two movies did not screen in advance for reviewers. Associated Press reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

Inaugural BRITDOC Locks Spurlock, Broomfield

BRITDOC, the new UK feature doc festival launching this summer, has officially announced some of the plans for its inaugural event. Set for July 26 - 28 at Oxford, the event will include master-classes from both Morgan Spurlock and Nick Broomfield, along with a pair of competition strands for both British and International docs. Already set to screen are Rex Bloomstein's "KZ," and Nick Francis and Marc Francis' "Black Gold," while on the international side, Doug Block's "51 Birch Street" and Andrew Neel and Luke Meyer's "Darkon," winner of the doc audience award at the recent SXSW Film Festival. The event is headed by "Unknown White Male" producer Beadie Finzie (festival director) and fest exec director Jess Search, founder of the Channel 4 British Documentary Film Foundation, co-founder of Shooting People, and exec producer of "Unknown". Also planned for the event is a pitching forum for new projects. [Eugene Hernandez] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Documentary, Festivals ]

Funny Boy Partners With Mythgarden for "Elliot Loves"

Funny Boy Films, producers of Adam & Steve (which just opened in theaters), will partner with Mythgarden to produce the award-winning screenplay, "Elliot Loves," described as "the coming of age of a Dominican American, both as a 9-year old boy fighting for the attention of his disillusioned mother, and as a 21-year old man who suffers a string of comically bad relationships until he makes peace with his past." The film will be produced by Kirkland Tibbels and George Bendele ("Latter Days," "Adam & Steve") and openly gay actors Chad Allen and Robert Gant and their partner Christopher Racster. Filmmaker Terracino will direct the film. [Eugene Hernandez] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Movies ]

Sundance Channel Greenlights Punk Christian Minister Doc Series

Sundance Channel has given the green-light to "One Punk, Under God," an original six-part observational documentary series on the alternative Christian minister Jay Bakker. Produced by World of Wonder, the series takes a behind-the-scenes look at the life of Bakker as he faces the professional, emotional and financial struggles of running his Revolution church in Atlanta, Georgia. The announcement was made today by Laura Michalchyshyn, EVP, programming & marketing, Sundance Channel. The series will debut on the network in December, 2006. Jay Bakker is the only son of former "Praise The Lord" leaders, Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Messner. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Production ]

"Conventioneers" and "Showbusiness: A Season to Remember" Among Top Florida Film Festival Winners

The Florida Film Festival (March 24 - April 2) awarded its Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature to "Conventioneers," directed by Mora Stephens, while its Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature went to Ali Selim's "Sweet Land," the festival announced recently. FFF's Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature, meanwhile went to "Showbusiness: A Season to Remember" by Dori Berinstein and "Purvis of Overtow," directed by Shaun Conrad and David Raccuglia took the audience prize in the category. In other prizes, Sian Heder's "Mother" and "Something Other Than Other" by Jerry A. Henry and Andrea J. Chia took the jury and audience awards respectively for shorts. Director John Waters, meanwhile, was this year's recipient of the Florida Film Festival's American Visionary Award. For more information about the 2006 event, please visit their website. [Brian Brooks]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

"Poseidon" Hangs Ten at Tribeca '06

The Tribeca Film Festival will screen the action adventure "Poseidon," directed by Wolfgang Petersen, ("Troy," "The Perfect Storm") as a world premiere at the festival on May 6th. The Warner Bros. Pictures and Virtual Studios film, stars Kurt Russell, Josh Lucas, Richard Dreyfuss and many others. The film is adapted from a screenplay by Mark Protosevich, based on the novel by Paul Gallico. The original "Poseidon Adventure" was made in 1972 by Ronald Neame. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

"Rising Son" to Open '06 Malibu International Film Festival

The 2006 Malibu International Film Festival will open this Friday with Cesario "Block" Montano's world premiere, "Rising Son: The Legend of Skateboarder Christian Hosoi," chronicling the life and career of Christian Hosoi, who began as a young renegade super star athlete, but ended up with a federal prison sentence for drug trafficking. The fest takes place in Malibu and Santa Monica, CA April 7 - 10. For more information and a full line up, please visit their website. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

INDUSTRY MOVES: Eric Carr Promoted at Focus

Focus Features has promoted Eric Carr to VP, Exhibitor Marketing, the company said today. A previous director of exhibitor marketing, Carr is based in Los Angeles and he reports to Linda Ditrinco, EVP of theatrical distributon. He joined Focus from New Line Cinema in 1999. The promotion is effective immediately. The company's president of theatrical distribution isJack Foley. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Industry Moves ]

Doc Directors and Bloggers Buzz About Showtime/Smithsonian Deal

Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms.

A deal between Showtime Networks and The Smithsonian Institution is drawing negative reviews from filmmakers and bloggers alike. The pact, announced nearly a month ago, marks the creation of Smithsonian Networks, which in the words of an announcement will offer programs, "drawn from the assets of the Smithsonian Institution, the world's largest museum complex, and its scientific and scholarly research centers, as well the editorial content of the Smithsonian and Air & Space magazines." According to a New York Times article, the deal includes an agreement that the joint venture has first right of refusal to commercial documentaries that heavily use the Smithsonian resources or collection. In the article, filmmaker Ken Burns blasted the deal, saying:

"I find this deal terrifying...It feels like the Smithsonian has essentially optioned America's attic to one company, and to have access to that attic, we would have to be signed off with, and perhaps co-opted by, that entity."

Among the bloggers who have picked up on the situation are Anthony Kaufman and Daily Kos. [Eugene Hernandez]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz, Documentary ]

BBC: Local releases lift French cinema

Locally produced film releases have helped a surge in French box office returns, new figures have revealed. Cinema attendance in France has risen by 17.9% in the first quarter of 2006 compared with the same period last year, according to analysts Nielsen. French films accounted for three of the top five releases, while Hollywood releases have made less impact. In France, the number one film for the first three months of 2006 was homegrown comedy "Les Bronzes 3: Les Amis Pour La Vie." BBC reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

NY Times: Universal Will Not Pull "United 93" Trailer, Despite Criticism

Universal Studios said on Monday that it would stick with plans to show an adrenaline-pumping trailer for "United 93," its forthcoming thriller about the passenger revolt on one of the planes hijacked on 9/11, despite qualms from some moviegoers and families of 9/11 victims. Adam Fogelson, Universal's president of marketing, said the trailer, which was pulled from AMC Loews Lincoln Square 12 Theater in Manhattan on Saturday after complaints from patrons, would be shown only before R-rated movies or "grown-up" PG-13 ones. He said the trailer was created to give a candid sense of the film itself, which opens at the end of the month. Sharon Waxman reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Movies ]

SF Chronicle: Bahamas "Brokeback Mountain" Ban Draws Ire

A Bahamian government board's decision to ban the movie "Brokeback Mountain" has prompted charges of discrimination and censorship in the island chain. Gay rights groups and others have called on the Plays and Films Control Board to reverse its decision prohibiting theaters from showing the award-winning movie about a troubled love affair between two cowboys. Theaters in Nassau, the capital, had already begun to advertise the movie Friday when the board announced its ban at the request of the Bahamas Christian Council. Paco Nunez reports for A.P. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Movies ]

The Guardian: Interview: Heath Ledger

As the beating heart of "Brokeback Mountain," Heath Ledger, still only 26, has blasted himself high into the A-list's stratosphere. And how does he respond to the media frenzy? By taking a year off... Here, the brooding Australian actor talks to David Lipsky about fighting fame, becoming a father and finding love on set. 
[permalink]   [ filed under People ]

Goldcrest Gets "Son"

Goldcrest Films International has aquired the worldwide sales rights to Andrew Walton's "Arctic Son," described as a doc about "family, dependence and self reliance in the Canadian Yukon." The film will have its world premiere this weekend at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham, NC. It will also screen later this month at IFP Independents Night at the Walter Reade Theater, and at the Independent Film Festival of Boston, followed by a screening at Hot Docs in Canada. The film is a production of Arts Engine Inc./Big Mouth Films. Arts Engine is planning to excecute a national outreach campaign for distributing the film, with the goal of, "engaging diverse audiences around the issues of Native American identity and family politics. [Eugene Hernandez]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

Filmmaker Caught in Battle Between IFC and Mark Cuban

Filmmaker Caveh Zahedi is caught in the middle of a growing battle between Landmark Theaters owner Mark Cuban and IFC Films. The theater owner apparently ordered his chain (the leading arthouse circuit in the country) to drop Zahedi's "I Am A Sex Addict" in retaliation over distributor IFC Films' day and date deal with Comcast. Cuban is upset that the cable system has refused to carry his HD Net cable networks. In an open letter to Cuban on his blog (hosted by indieWIRE), Zahedi detailed the situation. Cuban then responded saying that IFC knew better than to try to book the film at Landmark and he encouraged Zahedi to ask IFC to drop the day and date distribution via Comcast. The filmmaker then posted a follow-up blog plea for peace between Comcast and Cuban, hoping to restore Landmark's Berkeley venue for the opening of his film (as advertised):

I would urge you to reconsider your decision about pulling my film. It took me 14 years to make, I put everything I have into it, and I think the film has something important to say. In short, I think you might like it.

 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

The Top Ten So Far...

Each Monday, indieWIRE receives the final weekend numbers for specialty releases in theaters. This is our top ten for the past weekend so far, with most numbers already in. The top ten is subject to change before the final chart is published tomorrow and the weekly box office column is written. Three day weekend box office data provided by Rentrak as of Monday, 6:00 p.m. EST. 1. "Brick" (Focus Features) $83,574 wknd ($41,787 per scrn) 2. "Drawing Restraint 9" (IFC Films) $18,011 wknd ($18,011 per scrn) 3. "Thank You For Smoking" (Fox Searchlight) $1,606,328 wknd ($12,749 per scrn) 4. "The Devil and Daniel Johnston" (Sony Pictures Classics) $23,192 wknd ($4,638 per scrn) 5. "Our Brand Is Crisis" (Koch Lorber Films) $4,632 wknd ($4,632 per scrn) 6. "L'Enfant" (Sony Pictures Classics) $30,599 wknd ($4,371 per scrn) 7. "The Beauty Academy of Kabul (Shadow Distribution) $12,238 wknd ($4,079 per scrn) 8. "Adam & Steve" (TLA Releasing) $66,429 wknd ($3,908 per scrn) 9. "The Syrian Bride" (Koch Lorber) $10,494 wknd ($3,498 per scrn) 10. "Boynton Beach Club" (Wingate Distribution) $40,316 wknd ($3,360 per scrn) 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

Random House and Focus Features Acquire Rights to New Koontz Novel

Author Dean Koontz has sold his forthcoming novel, "The Husband" to Focus Features and Random House Films, the two comanies heads, James Schamus and Peter Gethers announced today. The story, which will be published on May 30th in hardcover in the U.S. and Canada, is the story of an ordinary working man whose love for his wife is put to a harrowing series of tests over a 60-hour period, beginning when his peaceful workday is shattered by a phone call from a stranger. "The Husband" is the third Random House, Inc. title acquired by the joint venture. In the multi-year deal announced last November between the publisher and Focus Features, the companies will develop movies together and co-finance and co-produce a substantial slate of feature films for theatrical release, all based on books published by Random House imprints in North America and internationally. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

H'wood Reporter: Starbucks building buzz for spelling bee movie

Starbucks will officially launch its first foray into the movie business Tuesday with a groundbreaking marketing campaign for the drama "Akeelah and the Bee," which opens April 28. The coffee retailer hopes the campaign will not only boost box office revenue -- since Starbucks will share in the profits -- but also transform the way studios market their movies. Gail Schiller reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

Goldcrest Packs in "39 Lbs." to Sales Line up

London-based film production, sales and distribution company Goldcrest Films has acquired all rights to Dani Menkin's doc "39 Pounds of Love" outside of the U.S. and Israel, the company announced Monday. The film is the story of Ami Ankilewitz, an American born Israeli who was diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystropy that renders him immobile, except for one finger. His doctor predicted he'd die before the age of six but over thirty years have passed and Ami, weighing only 39 pounds, still survives. The film follows a riveting cross-country journey that Ami took with friends across the USA to look for the doctor who thought he wouldn't survive. Goldcrest's Stephen Johnston, Nick Quested and Patty Tapanes brokered the deal with executive producers Ed Priddy and David Gil. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

18 Filmmakers Set for Cannes Atelier du Festival Program

For the second Atelier du Festival this year, 18 filmmakers have been selected to travel to France during the event to participate (along with their producers) in meetings intended to further new projects. Chosen for this year's program, organized by the Cannes Cinefondation, are Teboho Mahlatsi (South Africa), Santiago Palavecino (Argentina), Christina Andreef (Australia), Bernard Bellefroid (Belgium), Jose Luis Torres Leiva (Chile), Wang Bing (China), Goran Rusinovic (Croatia), Luiso Berdejo (Spain), Cruz Angeles (United States), Richard Press (United States), Fabrice Genestal (France), Michelange Quay (Haiti), Dev Benegal (India), Dover Kosahvili (Israel), Cristi Puiu (Romania), Ilya Khrzhanovsky (Russia), Ursula Meier (Switzerland) and Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Thailand). The program will take place throughout the entire Festival de Cannes this year, running from May 17 - 28th in France and meetings with the filmmakers can be arranged via the Cinefondation website. [Eugene Hernandez] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Cannes, Festivals ]

Simpsons (Finally) On the Big Screen

Teaser trailers this weekend (in front of "Ice Age 2") announced the long-awaited first Simpsons movie, set for release next summer. The film will include the regular cast of characters, according to a Hollywood Reporter story (via Reuters), as well as a new character voiceed by Albert Brooks. The story further describes the teaser:

The animated 28-second clip opens on a giant superhero "S" shield. "Leaping his way onto the silver screen," intones a narrator, "the greatest hero in American history!" Cut to Homer sitting on his couch in his tightly whities and T-shirt. "I forgot what I was supposed to say," Homer says. The narrator continues," 'The Simpsons Movie,' coming to the screen July 27, 2007." "Uh, oh ...," says Homer, "we better get started."

 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

Movielink Unveils Movie Download Service for PC; Deal Announced With All Hollywood Studios Except Disney

Movielink, the VOD company, announced that today it is unveiling its new broadband video-on-demand service giving viewers a chance to buy movie downloads or rent them for a day, via VOD. All of the major Hollywood studios, except Disney have signed deals with the company and the first title to be released on DVD and VOD on the same day will be Oscar winner, "Brokeback Mountain." The service is only available to PC users, but Apple's iTunes is expected to launch a movie download section in the future. With the new Movielink service, audiences can view downloads on up to three PC computers, transfer the movie to DVD in Windows Media format, or stream it via home networking, according to the announcement. A press release issued this morning offer additional details. [Eugene Hernandez] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]