Winners Announced at 2006 Toronto International Film Festival

Today, Saturday 16, 2006 as the Toronto International Film Festival comes to a close awards were announced in the following categories:

People's Choice Award "Bella" directed by Alejandro Monteverde

Fipresci Critics Prize "Death of a President" directed by Gabriel Range

Discovery Award "Reprise" directed by Joachim Trier

Visions Swarovski Cultural Innovation Award "Takva - A Man's Fear of God" directed by Ozer Kiziltan

Best Canadian First Feature Award "Sur la trace d'Igor Rizzi" ("On the Trail of Igor Rizzi") directed by Noel Mitrani

Toronto City Award for Best Canadian Film "Manufactured Landscapes" directed by Jennifer Baichwal

Short Cuts Canada Award "Les Jours" ("The Days") directed by Maxime Giroux

 
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Picturehouse Makes "El Cantante" Deal

Picturehouse has closed a deal for North American rights to Leon Ichaso's "El Cantante," starring Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony. The story of famed salsa performer Hector Lavoe, the film debuted earlier this week at the Toronto International Film Festival. The company is eyeing a Summer '07 release for the film. "El Cantante is a vibrant and heart-wrenching film full of outstanding performances and glorious music," said Picturehouse president Bob Berney, in a statement. "Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony are amazing and share a chemistry rarely seen on film. We are proud to be working with Leon Ichaso and look forward to bringing this moving film to a wide audience." Produced by Julio Caro, Simon Fields, Jennifer Lopez and David Maldonado, the film was written by Leon Ichaso and David Darmstaeder & Todd Anthony Bello. Picturehouse SVP of Acquisitions Sara Rose and Carolyn Blackwood, EVP of business Affairs and co-productions at New Line brokered the deal with Graham Taylor of Endeavour and Cassian Elwes of William Morris Independent. Nicolas Chartier at Voltage Pictures is handling International sales for the film. [Eugene Hernandez] 
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INDUSTRY MOVES: Meyer at Vantage

According to Hollywood trade reports tonight... Nick Meyer will leave Lionsgate International to become co-president alongside, but reporting to, company president John Lesher. 
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50th London Fest Announces Line-Up

The Times BFI London Film Festival has announced their 50th annual event roster. The full line-up includes 181 features and 131 shorts with numerous events, special commmissions, talks and masterclasses. The festival will open with the European premiere of Kevin MacDonald's "The Last King of Scotland" on October 18th and close on November 2nd with Alejandro Gonzalez Inarratu's "Babel." The program also includes Venice Golden Lion winner "Still Life," Anthony Minghella's "Breaking and Entering," Lars Von Trier's "The Boss Of It All," Phillip Noyce's "Catch a Fire," and Roger Michell's "Venus." Forest Whitaker, Richard Linklater, Tim Burton, Dustin Hoffman, Christine Vachon, Paul Verhoeven, John Cameron Mitchell and Yo La Tengo will discuss their work in career interviews and masterclasses. Celebrating its jubilee year, the festival will also include two special events: a free, outdoor live-mix screening "A Portrait of London: Trafalgar Square," and the world’s largest surprise film screening in 50 Screens. Artistic Director Sandra Hebron said that "in this significant year, we're very excited to be able to bring such a strong selection of original and distinctive films to London, together with some truly innovative special events." [Peter Knegt] 
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"Air Guitar Nation" Acquired By Docurama

With popular showings last spring at SXSW and the Tribeca Film Festival under its belt, documentary "Air Guitar Nation" has been picked up Docurama films for a Spring 2007 release, the company announced. After releasing over 150 documentaries on DVD, "Nation" marks Docurama's expansion to the theatrical market. Directed by Alexandra Lipsitz, the film chronicles the beginnings of the US Air Guitar Championships, focusing on two aspiring winners. It will be released in association with Shadow Distribution and VH1. [Peter Knegt]  
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Mill Valley To Honor Mirren, Robbins

The 29th Annual Mill Valley Film Festival recently announced its schedule of over 200 films, including 13 world premieres and 18 US premieres. The festival will pay tribute to actors Tim Robbins and Helen Mirren with programs of clips and conversation. Mirren's latest, Stephen Frears' "The Queen," will also screen. Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu will also be honored at a Spotlight program, where his film "Babel" will be screened. The festival runs October 5-15, with Anthony Minghella's "Breaking and Entering" and Kevin MacDonald's "The Last King of Scotland" jointly opening the festival, followed by an gala at the newly remodeled Strawberry Village Shopping Center. [Peter Knegt]  
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Sony Classics Take North American/Latin American Rights to Tucker's Upcoming "And When Did You Last See Your Father?"

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired North America and Latin America rights to U.K. director Anand Tucker's ("Shopgirl") new feature length film "And When Did You Last See Your Father?" The film, being shot this coming October, is based on the award-winning memoir by established British author Blake Morrison and stars Colin Firth as Morrison and Jim Broadbent as his father, Arthur Morrison. Set in the Yorkshire Dales and London, the film is a "moving father son love story" told through flashbacks by son Blake. Trying to deal with the fact that his father is terminally ill, Blake reflects back on humorous, embarrassing and upsetting childhood and teenage memories. Interspersed with tender, heart-rending and often moving scenes, Blake's realizations help him come to terms with his relationship with his father. [Brian Brooks]  
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Lionsgate Picks Up "Away From Her"

U.S. distribution rights to Sarah Polley's "Away From Her" have been picked up by Lionsgate, the company's president of acquisitions and co-productions Peter Block and president of theatrical films Tom Ortenberg announced Wednesday. The deal was negotiated for Lionsgate by Ortenberg, Block, Jason Constantine, SVP of acquisitions and Eda Kowan, VP of acquisitions and by William Morris Independent and producer Danny Iron on behalf of the filmmakers. The studio plans a Spring 2007 release for the film, which screened as a Gala at the current Toronto International Film Festival. Married for almost 50 years, Grant (Gordon Pinsent) and Fiona's (Julie Christie) commitment to each other appears unwavering, and their everyday life is full of tenderness and humor. This serenity is broken only by the occasional, carefully restrained reference to the past, giving a sense that this marriage may not always have been blissful. Fiona, however, has the occasional lapses in her memory, which become more obvious over time, revealing she is beginning to suffer from Alzheimer's Disease. [Brian Brooks] 
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Focus Starts Production on "Evening"

Focus Features announced today that they have begun production on Director Lajos Koltai's "Evening", which is based on the best-selling novel by Susan Minot. Featuring Claire Danes, Toni Collette, and Vanessa Redgrave, "Evening" is described as "a drama that explores the romantic past and emotional present of Ann Grant and her daughters, Constance and Nina. As Ann lays dying, she remembers, and is moved to convey to her daughters, the defining moments in her life 50 years prior, when she was a young woman." [James Israel] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Production ]

"The Hawk is Dying" Soars to Strand

Strand Releasing has acquired North American rights to Julian Goldberger's Sundance and Cannes '06 film, "The Hawk is Dying," starring Oscar-nominee Paul Giamatti. Jeff Levy-Hinte of Antidote Films negotiated the deal with Jon Gerrans for Strand. Also representing the film were Rich Klubeck of United Talent Agency and Sue Bodine of Epstein, Levinsohn, Bodine, Hurwitz and Weinstein LLP. Giamatti plays Gainesville, Florida auto upholsterer George Gattling who attempts to change his mundane life by training and taming a wild, red-tailed hawk. He chases his passion while caring for his autistic nephew, played by Michael Pitt ("Last Days") and becoming caught up in a abstract and uneasy relationship with a young woman psychology student played by Oscar nominee Michelle Williams. [Brian Brooks] 
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First Look to Bring "Paris Je t'aime" to North America

First Look Pictures has acquired North American rights to Cannes 2006 Un Certain Regard opener "Paris, Je t'aime, " the company announced. First Look plans an early 2007 theatrical release for the film that just had its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. In "Paris, Je t'aime," a number of leading filmmakers each tell the story of a romantic encounter in one of Paris' districts. Participating directors include: Olivier Assayas, Frederic Auburtin & Gerard Depardieu, Gurinder Chadha, Sylvain Chomet, Joel & Ethan Coen, Isabel Coixet, Wes Craven, Alfonso Cuaron, Christopher Doyle, Richard LaGravenese, Vincenzo Natali, Alexander Payne, Bruno Podalydes, Walter Salles & Daniela Thomas, Oliver Schmitz, Nobuhiro Suwa, Tom Tykwer and Gus Van Sant. Richard Shore, chief administrative officer for First Look Studios, negotiated on behalf of the studio, with John Sloss of Cinetic Media on behalf of Celsius Entertainment. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions, Toronto ]

Netflix Takes "Prisoner"

At the Toronto International Film Festival, Netflix has acquired Michael Tucker & Petra Epperlein's The Prisoner Or: How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair. The deal is set to be revealed Wednesday in Toronto. 
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Celluloid Dreams Adds Japan Sale for Ozon's Latest

Celluloid Dreams added another sale to the roster of territories already on board Francois Ozon's new project, "The Real Life of Angel Deverell," closing a deal for Japan (Toshiba Entertainment). The company screened ten minutes from the film for buyers at the Toronto International Film Festival. Previously sold territories for the film include: Benelux (ABC/Cinemien), Switzerland (Filmcoopi), Germany (Concorde), Scandinavia (Triangel), Portugal (Atalanta), Greece (Cypress Rosebud), Turkey (Chantier), Mid East (Italia), former Yugoslavia (Tuck), Hungary (Budapest Films), Poland (Gutek), Romania (Media Pro D), Russia/CIS (MGM Paradise), Baltic States (Artdo), South Korea (Sponge), Singapoire (Festive Films), Canada (Seville Pictures), Mexico (Tarantula), and Australia (Dendy). The cast for Ozon's first English-language film includes Sam Neill and Charlotte Rampling and it is adapted from Elizabeth Taylor's novel, Angel. [Eugene Hernandez] 
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Del Col and Mavi Win Telefilm Canada Pitch This Competition

Anthony Del Col and Jagdeep Mavi won the Telefilm Canada Pitch This! competition for their project "Outsourced" Tuesday at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film  is a feature comedy about a twenty-something computer programmer/slacker who devises the ultimate get-out-of-work scheme: he outsources his own job to India - without telling his boss or co-workers. Del Col and Mavi receive a $10,000 CAD prize to assist with costs related to the development of the project. Applicants were short-listed down to six finalists, who were assigned pitch coaches to help them prepare for the competition. The competition is part of the festival's Industry Initiatives. [Brian Brooks]  
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Magnolia, Optimum, and Madman Jointly Acquire Johnny To's "Exiled"

Magnolia Pictures, Optimum Releasing, and Madman Entertainment have joined forces to acquire all English-language rights to Johnny To's "Exiled" from Media Asia, following the film's world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Additional details will be included in a Toronto Dispatch to be published today at indieWIRE.com. 
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NVR Names New Director

Eileen Newman has been named deputy director of National Video Resources (NVR), serving as the chief programmatic and operating manager of the organization. She comes to NVR from the National Board of Review, where she has been their excecutive director since 2005. NVR is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1990 by the Rockefeller Foundation. The organization "fosters independent artistic expression by supporting the creation, dissemination and public awareness of independent media in all forms". [Peter Knegt] 
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"Wedding" at Woodstock

Danish director Susanne Bier ("Brothers") will see the U.S. debut of her latest film, "After The Wedding" next month at the Woodstock Film Festival. "Wedding" will play as the centerpiece screening of the seventh annual festival on October 14, 2006. It recently had its North American debut at Toronto. [Peter Knegt] 
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Digimart Set For October

For the second consecutive year, Digimart's Global Digital Distribution Summit is offering a three-day program featuring a line-up of filmmakers, pioneers and leaders from around the world who are progressing digital distribution. The focus of the Summit will be on the opportunities and challenges related to the major technological changes that are "reducing costs, dramatically increasing access to global markets and splitting demand across a range of platforms." Film industry participants attending Digimart will also get updates on new cinema networks that have been launched around the world and direct reports from filmmakers who have develoiped successful financing and self-distribution models. The Summit takes place October 16-18 in Montreal, Quebec. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under New Media & Technology ]

SF360: Interview With Kirby Dick

Director of the upcoming documentary "This Film Is Not Yet Rated," Kirby Dick has more than a few things to say about the MPAA. In an article by Michael Fox, Dick discusses his new film as well as the historical and contemporary issues he has with the MPAA. "This ratings system isn't morally driven," Dick notes . "It's driven by the bottom line. Because the studios would prefer there be no rating system at all."  
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Jagger and Europa Corp Making Animated Movie (with Stones' music)

EuropaCorp and Mick Jagger's Jagged Films have announced a deal to co-produce "Ruby Tuesday", a new animated film that will be written and directed by Paul and Gaëtan Brizzi. Described as, "A Faustian tale of a single mother searching for happiness in New York," the film will include a dozen Rolling Stones songs. EuropaCorp and ICM are representing the film in North America. The Brizzi Brothers created "Fantasia 2000"’s Firebird Suite segment, as well as "Asterix vs. Caesar". The film is set to go into to production later this year and is scheduled for a winter 2000 worldwide release, according to an announcement. EuropaCorp is handling distribution and international sales. [Eugene Hernandez] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

Newmarket Nabs U.S. Rights to "Death of a President"

Newmarket Films has acquired U.S. rights to Gabriel Range's "Death of a President," one of the buzz titles at this year's Toronto International Film Festival that gained widespread media attention because of its provocative concept. Structured in the form of a documentary, it is the story of a fictional assassination of U.S. President George W. Bush and premiere Sunday night at the festival. The company is committed to a theatrical release of the movie "sooner rather than later," according to Aaron Ryder from Newmarket. In a statement, filmmmaker Range said, "One of the key themes of the film is the media's rush to judgement and ironically, when we announced the actual title of the film there was an immediate rush to judgement," he added, "I am really pleased that people have now seen that this film clearly does not advocate assasination, in fact it makes a strong statement against the pernicious effects of violence." [Eugene Hernandez] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions, Toronto ]

The Top Ten So Far...

Each week, indieWIRE receives the final weekend numbers for specialty releases in theaters. This is our top ten for the three day 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. Weekend box office data provided by Rentrak as of Monday, 6:00 p.m. EST. 1. "Red Doors" (Emerging Pictures) $35,050 wknd ($17,525 per scrn) 2. "Man Push Cart" (Films Philos) $13,694 wknd ($13,694 per scrn) 3. "Le Petit Lieutenant" (Cinema Guild) $16,871 wknd ($8,436 per scrn) 4. "Sherrybaby" (IFC Films) $34,774 wknd ($6,955 per scrn) 5. "I Trust You To Kill Me" (First Independent Pictures) $5,888 wknd ($5,888 per scrn) 6. "Changing Times" (Koch Lober Films) $21,560 wknd ($4,312 per scrn) 7. "Saint of 9/11" (IFC Films) $3,680 wknd ($3,680 per scrn) 8. "Half Nelson" (ThinkFilm) $226,840 wknd ($3,601 per scrn) 9. "Mutual Appreciation" (Goodbye Cruel Releasing) $10,203 wknd ($3,401 per scrn) 10. "The Illusionist" (Yari Film Group Releasing) $4,514,306 wknd ($3,314 per scrn) 
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Peter Mettler Celebrated In Toronto

Part of this year's Toronto International Film Festival includes a retrospective of documentary filmmaker Peter Mettler. Mettler, perhaps most well known for his 2002 film "Gambling, Gods and LSD," will be celebrated with a series of screenings that began Sunday. Among them is his 1982 feature-length debut, "Scissere," which CBC noteswas the first student film ever selected by the Toronto festival. [Peter Knegt]  
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Spike Lee To Create New Orleans Series

CBC reports Spike Lee will follow up his documentary "When The Levees Broke: A Requiem In Four Acts," with a scripted dramatic series set in post-Katrina New Orleans. "It's a show about the city trying to rebuild itself and the people who are trying to put their lives together," Lee told the Hollywood Reporter in a report published Monday. "When The Levees Broke" recently won Best Documentary Feature at the Venice Film Festival and plays in Toronto later this week. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under People ]

Woodstock Film Festival To Honor Kopple

Academy Award winning filmmaker Barbara Kopple has been announced as the recipient of the Woodstock Film Festival's Annual Honorary Maverick Award. Kopple produced and directed "Harlan County, USA" and "American Dream," among many others. The festival, celebrating its seventh year October 11-15, 2006, will screen Kopple's latest film, "Shut Up and Sing," a documentary about the Dixie Chicks, as its closing night film. It recently announced that Douglas McGrath's "Infamous," the new Truman Copote biopic, will be opening the film festival. [Peter Knegt]  
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"Rescue Dawn" Flies to MGM for North America

MGM has acquired all North American rights to "Rescue Dawn," the survival story of Dieter Dengler, an American pilot shot down in Viet Cong territory, written and directed by Werner Herzog and starring Christian Bale, it was announced today by the company's COO Rick Sands. The film, produced by Gibraltar Entertainment in association with Thema Production, debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival Saturday. MGM plans a theatrical run in December, 2006. MGM's Scott Packman and Ayano Ichida negotiated the deal with Adam W. Rosen of Rosen Feig Golland & Lunn who represented the filmmakers in the sale. [Brian Brooks] 
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Controversial "Death" Screens Today

The controversial "Death of a President" premieres today at the Toronto International Film Festival. CBC reports that writer-director Gabriel Range has already received death threats, though the film has yet to screen anywhere. The film was referred to as "D.O.A.P." on the festival's program to "keep the nature of the project quiet until closer to the screening". "President" fictionally observes the assassination of U.S. President George W. Bush in 2007 at a violent anti-war protest. [Peter Knegt] 
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Sidewalk Fest To Honor Sayles, Renzi

The 8th annual Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival will honor John Sayles and Maggie Renzi with a special award for "two decades of collaboration and a stellar body of work" next month. They will be honored September 22nd as part of the Opening Night Celebration, with a free panel discussion entitled "Conversation with John and Maggie" to follow the next afternoon. The festival runs September 22-24 in Birmingham, Alabama, and will open with Tim Skousen's "The Sasquatch Dumpling Gang," starring Justin Long. [Peter Knegt] 
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Globe and Mail: Black market below the surface at TIFF

There's a black market operating under the surface of the Toronto International Film Festival. With many screenings sold out and Gala tickets hard to come by, a cottage industry has sprung up on e-Bay, with sellers hawking everything from tickets to dinner reservations. A pair of Festival Passes - good for 50 movies each - had sold for $1,678.65 (Canadian), meaning the seller had turned a profit of over six hundred dollars. Mark Medley reports. 
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Globe and Mail: Shortbus

While some early critics speculated the film would never get mainstream distribution, ThinkFilm picked up the picture after it screened at Cannes. With a certain [NC-17] rating, however, the screen will only get so much exposure. "Obviously it's a small film," the director John Cameron Mitchell said at the TIFF press conference, "not that many people will see it, but we hope that everyone who does starts a band, or makes some art, or uses the internet for good, i.e. to meet another person face to face." Leah McLaren reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals, Toronto ]