AP: Chinese Director Says He'd Bow to Censors

Chinese director Lou Ye flew to Cannes for the black-tie premiere of his love story set amid the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, but his movie's producers stayed home. Someone had to deal with the censors. Lou was still awaiting word Thursday on whether his film, "Summer Palace," would clear the censors and be allowed to screen in China. Despite free-market reforms and greater openness in the communist country, Lou is the latest in a string of Chinese directors who face censorship problems at home while being wooed abroad. AP reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

NY Times: At Cannes, Foreign Art Films Mix With Politics

"With the manufactured hysteria over 'The Da Vinci Code' now little more than a fast-fading hangover, the 59th Cannes Film Festival has begun in earnest. And just as they do every year, the programmers have proved that in between the critical grandstanding and the public-relations hyperbole there actually is room for art, or at the very least some satisfying films. The first few days here have not yet produced any revelations, but filmgoers have again been able to tour the cinematic world, passing through Paris on the way to Paraguay and Tiananmen Square, where the politics are almost as hot as the sex." Manohla Dargis reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Cannes, Festivals ]

Paramount Vantage Unveiled; Unit Will Include Paramount Classics

Today in Cannes, Paramount officially unveiled Paramount Vantage, its new speciality division that will include the Paramount Classics label. The unit, run by John Lesher, will release 8 - 10 films per year, ranging from house films to smaller budgeted comedy and horror films, according to the announcement. indieWIRE will have additional details in a forthcoming story later today. [Eugene Hernandez]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz, Cannes ]

AP: Rebel Director Takes on Irish Cause

Ken Loach, Britain's cinematic patron saint of the downtrodden, is taking on a piece of history he believes has been played down in his native land the country's history of imperialism in Ireland and elsewhere. A regular at the Cannes Film Festival with such films as "My Name Is Joe," "Sweet Sixteen" and "Land and Freedom," Loach returns with "The Wind that Shakes the Barley," a bloody saga of British against Irish and brother against brother during Ireland's fight for independence and subsequent civil war in the early 1920s. AP reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under People ]

AP: France Gives Sidney Poitier Top Arts Honor

France gave Sidney Poitier its highest arts honor Thursday at the Cannes Film Festival, where the culture minister praised the Oscar winner for tearing down barriers for black actors in Hollywood. Poitier, 79, was named a commander in France's order of arts and letters. In 1964, he became the first black performer in a leading role to win an Academy Award, for "Lilies of the Field." "You are the champion of equality between men," culture minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres said. AP reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Cannes, People ]

Variety: Cannes Classic fetes Canuk

This year the Cannes Film Festival will pay tribute to Canadian animator Norman McLaren in their Cannes Classic retrospective series in conjunction with the National Film Board of Canada. Founded by McLaren in 1941, the NFB animation studio in Montreal has put forth a multitude of short animated films over the years, such as "Neighbors," which won the Oscar in 1952 for Best Animted Short and the 1955 short film Palme d'Or winner "Blinkity Blank," both of which will be screened along with 11 other films on Monday, May 22. Variety reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Cannes, Festivals ]

BBC: Spain Honors Director Almodovar

Spanish film director Pedro Almodovar has won his country's prestigious Asturias Prize for art. The director, whose films include "Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown" and "All About My Mother," said he was "overwhelmed" by the honor. The annual prize is awarded in eight categories, including arts, science and international cooperation. Almodovar's latest film, Volver, which stars Penelope Cruz, is in competition at the Cannes Film Festival. BBC reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Cannes, People ]

Reuters: China censors delay approval for Cannes contender

Chinese director Lou Ye seems ready to go ahead with the Cannes premiere of his film "Summer Palace" on Wednesday even though he may face reprisals at home because the movie has yet to receive official approval. Chinese censors on Tuesday refused to review the Palme d'Or contender, alleging flaws with the print, according to Nai An, line producer of "Summer Palace." The mainland Chinese director's fifth film -- a love story set against the backdrop of social unrest -- could be denied legal exhibition in China if it is screened abroad before it has obtained approval. He could also be blacklisted by the authorities. Reuters reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Cannes, Movies ]

Reuters: French actress Aimee set for tribute at Cannes

The Cannes Film Festival will pay tribute to Anouk Aimee, doyenne of French cinema, on May 27, organizers said Tuesday. Described by festival director Gilles Jacob as "one of the cinema's most beautiful embodiments of femininity," Aimee found success at age 16 in Cayette's "The Lovers of Verona." She also starred in Federico Fellini's "La Dolce Vita" and "8 1/2" as well as in "Lola" by Jacques Demy. Reuters/Hollywood Reporter report. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Cannes, Honors ]

AP: "Da Vinci Code" Protests Widespread

"Anger over 'The Da Vinci Code,' premiering Wednesday at the Cannes Film Festival, escalated as Christian groups from South Korea, Thailand, Greece and India planned boycotts, a hunger strike and attempts to block or shorten screenings. The plot of the movie, adapted by Ron Howard from Dan Brown's worldwide best seller, makes the case that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and had children with her. In Thailand, government censors ordered the final 10 minutes of the film be cut following a meeting Tuesday with a coalition of Thai Christian groups protesting the content of the film." AP reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Cannes, Movies ]

AP: Stars Come Out for Gore's Documentary

Hollywood rolled out the green carpet Tuesday for former Vice President Al Gore and his global-warming documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth." Actors and activists attended the opening of the film, which argues that global warming is imminent and potentially catastrophic. Sharon Stone, David Duchovny and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" star Larry David, as well as comedian Garry Shandling, were among the star-studded crowd, where guests walked a green carpet instead of the traditional red. AP reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Movies ]

"Boffo!" and "21 Up America" Bookend 2006 SilverDocs Fest

SilverDocs 2006 will open with the East Coast premiere of Bill Couturie's "Boffo! Tinseltown's Bombs and Blockbusters" on June 13 and will close June 18 with the world premiere of Christopher Quinn's "21 Up America," inspired by the critically acclaimed British series by Michael Apted. "Boffo!" executive produced by Variety's Peter Bart and publisher Charlie Koones, was suggested by Bart's upcoming book How I Learned to Love the Blockbuster and Fear the Bomb and is in celebration of Variety's 100th Anniversary. The film explores the alchemy of the hit and the razor thin line between success and failure. The full SilverDocs line line up will be announced soon. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

Genius Joins Grodfilm in Five Year Agreement

Genius Products, Inc. has entered into an exclusive five-year distribution agreement with filmmaker Dan Grodnik's Grodfilm Corporation that gives Genius Products the first right of refusal on all future film productions, it was announced today by Genius CEO Trevor Drinkwater. Genius expects to release six to 12 films annually under the agreement, which includes home video, digital, television and theatrical distribution rights throughout North America. In addition to DVD releases, the films covered by this agreement, together with new films from the recently announced deal with Peace Arch Entertainment and the Wellspring library, give Genius an extensive library of film content to exploit over a variety of digital distribution platforms. Theatrical releases resulting from this agreement will be distributed through The Weinstein Company. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

SXSWclick Revs Up for Third Edition

The South by Southwest Conference & Festivals (SXSW) has announced its third edition of its new-media festival, called "SXSWclick." The program is a year-round initiative created by the fest to spotlight short-form storytelling via the Internet and mobile devices. Film and videomakers are invited to submit their work for consideration via the their website. The deadline for submissions is June 12, and the line up will be available on the official site June 30. Winners for jury and audience awards will be announced July 28 and winners will automatically be selected to screen at the next SXSW Film Festival taking place March 9 - 18 in Austin, TX. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

CMG Gets "The Treatment" for Cannes

Cinema Management Group (CMG) has acquired all international rights to the romantic comedy, "The Treatment," which won the Tribeca Film Festival's "Made in New York - Best Narrative Feature" award recently. The film, directed by Oren Rudavsky, is described as a "moving and funny love story about a nerdy but likeable intellectual who finds the woman of his dreams, with an eccentric Freudian psychoanalyst." Chris Eigeman ("The Last Days of Disco") and Ian Holm ("The Lord of the Rings") star in the film. "We are thrilled to have discovered 'The Treatment' at Tribeca," commented GMG president Edward Noeltner in a statement. "It's the perfect New York City-set movie, a little neurotic, very attaching, and in the end you just can't get enough of the characters." [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions, Cannes ]

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. "Stolen" (International Film Circuit) $8,829 wknd ($8,829 per scrn) 2. "Sketches of Frank Gehry" (Sony Pictures Classics) $17,239 wknd ($8,620 per scrn) 3. "The Lost City" (Magnolia Pictures) $202,048 wknd ($6,518 per scrn) 4."Army of Shadows" (Rialto) $31,272 wknd ($6,254 per scrn) 5. "The Russian Dolls" (IFC First Take) $16,512 wknd ($5,504 per scrn) 6. "Keeping Up With The Steins" (Miramax) $653,723 wknd ($4,737 per scrn) 7. "Water" (Fox Searchlight) $267,731 wknd ($4,318 per scrn) 8. "Down In The Valley" (ThinkFilm) $60,866 wknd ($4,058 per scrn) 9. "The Syrian Bride" (Koch Lorber Films) $7.020 wknd ($3,510 per scrn) 10. "Clean" (Palm Pictures) $10,179 wknd ($3,393 per scrn) 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]