Independent Filmmakers, Photographers Protest Proposed NYC Permit Law

"I already have a permit for my camera, its called the First Amendment," Picture New York's Beka Economopoulos told WNBC-TV at a Union Square rally in Manhattan on Friday night (as seen in a YouTube clip of news footage). Her statement was in response to a proposal by the NYC Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting (MOFTB) to change rules requiring permits to photograph in public places in the City of New York. The move, which was also explored in today's New York Times, is being criticized as particularly harmful to New York's independent filmmakers. "We've lived for 40 years without these regulations, there's no reason to introduce them now," Economopoulos continued in the TV interview. Included in the proposed law are restrictions that include requiring a permit and insurance for those filming or photographing with a trippd and a crew of 5 or more people at one site for 10 or more minutes or 2 people at a single site for more than 30 minutes. Contacted by indieWIRE, Juliane Cho, Associate Commissioner of NYC MOFTB, referred to information about the change posted on the division's website and noted that one of the proposed rules would give her organization "the ability to provide a waiver of the insurance requirement for those who cannot afford it." Feedback on the proposed rules are being accepted through August 3, 2007 and protest efforts are being lead by Picture New York and more information is available on their website. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Production ]

Reuters: U.S. officials may subpoena filmmaker Moore

U.S. federal officials may be planning to subpoena filmmaker Michael Moore seeking information about a trip he took to Cuba for his documentary, "Sicko," a source close to the situation said on Friday. In a late Thursday appearance on NBCs "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Moore said he was notified at the TV studio in Burbank, California, that a subpoena had already been issued. Bob Tourtellotte reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under People ]

LAT | 'All the Boys Love Mandy Lane,' but Harvey Weinstein doesn't

Acquired by The Weinstein Company nearly a year ago at the Toronto International Film Festival, Jonathan Levine's slasher film "All the Boys Love Mandy Lane" lost its U.S. release date just days before it was expected to open earlier this month. In The LA Times, John Horn takes a closer look at what happened. The film is now set for a U.S. release next year from Senator U.S. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

iW NEWS | Haynes' "I'm Not There" Set for 2 Screen Film Forum Debut, Nov. 21

Todd Haynes' new film, "I'm Not There," will debut on two screens at New York City's Film Forum on November 21. "Inspired by the music and many lives of Bob Dylan," in the words of the film, the movie stars Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger and Christian Bale, all portraying Dylan. Film Forum made the announcement late Friday as it unveiled its entire Fall and early Winter premieres lineup. Also set to debut at the venute later this year are John Turturro's "Romance and Cigarettes" (Sept. 7), Heddy Honigmann's "Forever" with Anita Thacher's "Lost In Memoriam" (Sept 12 - 25), Marco Williams' "Banished" (Sept. 26), Tony Kaye's "Lake of Fire" (October 3), Anton Corbijn's "Control" (October 10), Rodolphe Marconi's "Lagerfeld Confidential" (October 24), Ben Niles' "Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037" (November 7), Francisco Vargas' "The Violin" (Dec. 5), Bill Guttentag & Dan Sturman's "Nanking" (Dec. 12), and Marion Cajori's "Chuck Close" (Dec. 26). [Eugene Hernandez] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Movies ]

SF360: Fabulous Fashion in Film

Before television there had never been a visual medium quite so "mass" as the movies--offering identical imagery to people throughout a country, even the world. Elegant screen sartorial highs and garishly campy lows alike will be well-represented in Fabulous Fashion in Film, an eight-day Castro Theatre series programmed and presented by local film/celebrity-event maestro Marc Huestis. As it goes on, the "Fabulous Fashion" series strays farther from classic Hollywood glamour. Monday features major fashion "don'ts" Little Edie and Big Edith Beale in '70s train-wreck cult documentary favorite "Grey Gardens," followed by Jennie Livingston's brilliant 1990 "Paris is Burning," about NYC's pre-Madonna voguing scene. Dennis Harvey reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

AP: Comic-Con: Comics fans, film geeks unite

They come for anime and original comic-book art. They come for video games, collectible figurines and to show off their "Star Wars" or "Lord of the Rings" costumes. They might even come to buy a winged helmet or a suit of armor. But many of the 120,000 fans who descend on Comic-Con, the nation's largest pop-culture convention, come for a glimpse of Hollywood's latest offerings and biggest stars. Sandy Cohen reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Events ]

iW NEWS | Lionsgate Announces Roadside Deal

Lionsgate has announced a passive, minority stake in Roadside Attractions, giving the mini-major rights to Roadside's releases in home entertainment and all ancillary markets. The news comes in the wake of a recent move by Roadside to leave its participation in IDP, which handles titles from Samuel Goldwyn Films. "Lionsgate's investment is a fantastic opportunity for Roadside Attractions and provides us with the resources to get to the next level," said company co-presidents Howard Cohen and Eric d'Arbeloff, in a statement. "They started in our business, so of course they get it, Lionsgate's investment will allow Roadside to both continue hitting our "singles and doubles" such as our releases of 'Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic' and 'Boynton Beach Club' as well as to hit more homeruns like 'Amazing Grace.'" They intend to release 12 - 14 films per year. [Eugene Hernandez] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

iW NEWS | "Titty" and "Sickness" Among Top Philadelphia Gay Fest Winners

The 13th Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival cloed Tuesday with Jamie Babbit's "Itty Bitty Titty Committee" winning best feature and "In Sickness and in Health" taking best documentary. In other prizes, best male short went to "The Saddest Boy in the World," while the prize in the female category went to "Peace Talk." Eytan Fox's "The Bubble" won best feature in the audience category, while "Life of Reilly" by Frank L. Anderson and Barry Poltermann took best doc. The festival, which took place July 12 - 24 closed with C. Jay Cox's "Kiss The Bride." [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals, Queer Cinema ]

iW NEWS | "Under the Same Moon" to Open Latinbeat '07

The Film Society of Lincoln Center's Latinbeat will re-open with with Patricia Riggen's debut feature "Under the Same Moon" (La Misma Luna), starring Adrian Alonso ("The Legend of Zorro"), Kate del Castillo and Eugenio Derbez, described as a "road movie and an endearing family tale." This year's program features 23 films from Latin America including Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal's directorial debut "Deficit." This year's series sidebar, 'Four Breakthroughs from Mexico's New Cinema,' looks at the country's newest wave of directors with a quartet of films from Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Marisa Sistach, Carlos Reygadas, and Fernando Eimbcke The event takes place September 7 - 18. For more information, visit the Film Society's website. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Events ]

iW NEWS | TIFF Adds Eight to Special Presentations

The Toronto International Film Festival has added eight additional titles to its Special Presentations section, joining 17 films previously announced. According to TIFF, the films "offer the latest achievements from an array of veteran filmmakers, directors on the rise, and celebrated actors working behind the camera." Films set to screen include: "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford," directed by Andrew Dominik (U.S.); British romance "Atonement," directed by Joe Wright (U.K.); World Trade Organization uprising feature "Battle in Seattle," directed by Stuart Townsend (U.S.); Todd Haynes' "I'm Not There" (U.S.); Paul Haggis' story of a soldier that goes missing, "In the Valley of Elah" (U.S.); Sean Penn's story about a young man who sells his possessions to live in the wilderness of Alaska, "Into the Wild" (U.S.); Noah Baumbach's story of family dysfunction, "Margot at the Wedding" (U.S.); and Tamara Jenkins' story of two siblings who re-unite to care for an elderly parent, "The Savages" (U.S.). The Toronto International Film Festival runs September 6 - 15. For more information, visit the TIFF website. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals, Toronto ]

REELER | The Fest That Wasn't There

On The Reeler, John Lichman reports from the controversial New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. Filmmaker Curtis Waller, who declined the offer to pay $5,000 to have the festival promote his screening, did pay a hefty price to screen his movie at the event. He tells Waller, "I'm doing a lot of self-promotion, but I guess they're just looking to make their dollar wherever they can make it..."As far as I'm concerned, I'm paying $300 to screen my movie, but at the same time I get to say my movie was in a festival in New York City." In a response posted, filmmaker Abel Ferrara, who has a long history of screening films at the festival, counters in his own words, "if you think 300 usd is an unfair price for a manhatten theatre screening your seriously uninformed." 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

iW NEWS | New England Focus of 16th Woods Hole Fest

The 16th Woods Hole Film Festival, which showcases and promotes "the work of independent filmmakers from New England," will open Saturday with re-mastered 1971 doc "Blue Water, White Death," which is being released on DVD on July 31st by MGM and inspired Peter Benchley to pen "Jaws." This year's program will present 123 films, including 33 feature length narrative films and documentaries and nine short film programs. For more information, visit the festival's website. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

iW NEWS | Burnett Fefferman Named SVP of Publicity at IDP/Samuel Goldwyn Films

Liza Burnett Fefferman has been named Senior Vice President, Publicity for IDP/Samuel Goldwyn Films, Michael Silberman, President of IDP (Independent Distribution Partners) announced Wednesday. Fefferman will head the PR department overseeing the company's film slate in addition to managing corporate publicity and branding, she will report directly to Silberman and starts immediately. Most recently, she was a public relations/marketing consultant whose client list featured GreeneStreet Films, Dan Klores' Shoot the Moon Productions, the New York Jets and Conde Nast's domino magazine. Previously, Fefferman was the Executive Vice President, Publicity for The Weinstein Company overseeing a slate which included the Oscar nominated "Transamerica" and "Hoodwinked." "Liza possesses the perfect blend of sensibility and expertise to spearhead our publicity efforts," commented Samuel Goldwyn Jr. in a statement. "Her energy and experience make her the ideal person for the job. We are thrilled to have her onboard." Fefferman will be based in New York. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Industry Moves ]

iW NEWS | Fortissimo Takes Sales Rights for "Help Me Eros"

Fortissimo Films has acquired worldwide sales rights outside Taiwan and Malaysia to Lee Kang-Sheng's "Help Me Eros," described as "a provocative, darkly comic and sexually daring film [which] represents Lee's second feature following his debut 'The Missing' (Bu Jian), winner of the New Currents Award at the Pusan International Film Festival 2003 and the Tiger Award at the Rotterdam International Film Festival 2003." The deal was brokered between Homegreen Films' Vincent Wang and Fortissimo's co-chairman Wouter Barendrecht. "We have known Lee Kang-Sheng for a long time, since working together on films such as 'Vive L'Amour' and 'What Time is it There?," commented Barendrecht in a statement. "So it is very exciting to see him blossom into his own as a world-class director with this daring, hilarious and shockingly explicit film. We are proud to be representing this film as well as continuing our long-term relationship with Homegreen Fims." [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

iW NEWS | "Devil" to Open 27th Atlantic Film Festival

Roger Spottiswoode's "Shake Hands with the Devil" will open the 27th Atlantic Film Festival September 13 in Halifax, NS Canada, organizers announced Wednesday. Based on Canadian Lieutenant-General Romeo Dallaire's award-winning book, Shake Hands With The Devil tells the story of Dallaire's posting in Rwanda and his mounting horror and frustration at his inability, and the world's indifference, in preventing the Rwandan genocide in 1994 that killed over 800,000. "We are thrilled to be opening the festival with such an affecting film," said AFF director Lia Rinaldo in a statement. "Michael Donovan has an impeccable ability to recognize film projects that will ultimately alter people's views on critical world issues." [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

AP: Julia Roberts to get cinema-arts prize

Julia Roberts will receive the 22nd American Cinematheque Award at a ceremony in Beverly Hills on Oct. 12. "Julia Roberts is a true movie star who has delighted audiences and critics in so many pictures," board chairman Rick Nicita said in a statement. AMC will air the tribute Dec. 5. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Honors ]

Reuters: Disney-branded films to ban depictions of smoking

Walt Disney Co. on Wednesday became the first major Hollywood studio to ban depictions of smoking, saying there would be no smoking in its family-oriented, Disney-branded films and it would "discourage" it in films distributed by its Touchstone and Miramax labels. Reuters reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

iW NEWS | Kelly's "Southland Tales" Coming to U.S. Theaters in November

Samuel Goldwyn Films has announced the U.S. release of Richard Kelly's "Southland Tales." The company is planning a theatrical debut on November 9 in partnership with Destination Films and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group. The film, which debuted at last year's Cannes Film Festival and has since been completed, stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Seann William Scott, Justin Timberlake, Mandy Moore, Cheri Oteri, Kevin Smith and Amy Poehler among others, with original music by Moby, a music sequence by Timberlake and a soundtrack that includes The Killers, The Pixies, Muse, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Radiohead, and Jane's Addiction. Set in the near future in Los Angeles, July 2008, the film is described as, "an epic story that takes place over the course of three days, culminating in a massive 4th of July celebration." It features, "Boxer Santaros (The Rock), an action star stricken with amnesia, Krysta Now (Gellar), an adult film star developing her own reality television project, and Roland Taverner (Scott), a Hermosa Beach police officer who holds the key to a vast conspiracy." "The time and additional visual effects that were added have allowed me to achieve my original vision for 'Southland Tales," Kelly said in a statement. "The fans' response has been overwhelming and I anticipate that moviegoers will respond enthusiastically." The filmmaker will be at Comic-Con in San Diego this Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 to sign autographs and greet fans. [Eugene Hernandez] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

iW NEWS | Beijing Film Academy Goes to IFP Minnesota

Fourteen delegates from the Beijing Film Academy will be honored at a reception at IFP Minnesota on August 1st. The delegates, all faculty of the Academy, represent various disciplines including screenwriting, directing, scenic design, director of photography, sound recording, research and more. At the reception, IFP MN will present clips of the delegates' work, and invite local media artists to attend the reception to share their work and vision with the Chinese. For more information, visit their website. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Events ]

iW NEWS | Global Film Adds Board Members

Six new members have been appointed to the Board of Directors for the five-year old Global Film Initiative as the organization expands its Global Lens Film Series and other programs. Appointed to the board are: writer and blogger Michael Guillen, educator and administrator Fredna Howell, marketing manager Miles Ito, instructor and curator Konrad Ng, philanthropist and PR exec Judy Ovitz, and investor Dan Zilberman. [Eugene Hernandez] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Industry Moves ]

iW NEWS | Telluride Fest Welcomes PFA's Kramer as Guest Director

Edith R. Kramer has been named the guest director for the upcoming Telluride Film Festival (August 31 - September 3, 2007). The retired Senior Film Curator and Director of the Pacific Film Archive at UC Berkeley, Kramer served for 22 years at the organization. "Edith has introduced me to many films and filmmakers I might never have discovered otherwise," said festival co-director Gary Meyer, in a statement. "Her international reputation will result in Kramer bringing movies to Telluride that nobody else could get from archives, and her introductions will have audiences anxious for more." Previous guest directors at the festival have included Salman Rushdie, Buck Henry, Laurie Anderson, Stephen Sondheim, Peter Sellars, Phillip Lopate and J.P. Gorin. [Eugene Hernandez] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

iW NEWS | Film Independent Names 10 for Screenwriters Lab

Film Independent named the selected fellows for its annual Screenwriters Lab, which runs in Los Angeles from July 30 - September 12. Jeff Kleeman will teach the Lab, which is sponsored by the Writers Guild of America, west. This session's ten projects include: Nicole Jefferson, "Becoming Betty Davis"; Mike Miller, "Cleave"; Suzi Yoonessi, "Dear Lemon Lima"; Tony Mosher and Mitch Larson, "Down the Dirt Road"; Drew Pillsbury, "Kiss Don't Tell"; Gretchen Somerfeld, "Miami Purity"; Garret Williams, "Mudpuppy"; Jessica Sanders, "My Daily Routine"; Cheryl Guerriero, "Palmer"; Abigail Severance and Mo Perkins, "The Summer We Drowned." The Screenwriters Lab is an intensive seven-week program designed to assist writers working in independent film improve their craft. This session's guest speakers will include writer/director Scott Frank ("The Lookout"), writer/director Doug Atchison ("Akeelah and the Bee"), writer/director Scott Prendergast ("Kabluey"), writer/director Karen Moncrieff ("The Dead Girl"), writer Jeff Stockwell ("Bridge to Terabithia"), and writer Eric Roth ("The Good Shepherd"). [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Events ]

iW BOX OFFICE | 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. "Sunshine" (Fox Searchlight) $242,964 wknd ($24,296 per scrn) 2. "Talk To Me" (Focus Features) $355,680 wknd ($9,880 per scrn) 3. "My Best Friend" (IFC Films) $84,728 wknd ($6,518 per scrn) 4. "Rescue Dawn" (MGM) $349,842 wknd ($6,137 per scrn) 5. "12:08 East Of Bucharest" (Tartan Films) $5,603 wknd ($5,603 per scrn) 6. "Goya's Ghosts" (Samuel Goldwyn Films) $159,671 wknd ($3,259 per scrn) 7. "Palm Pictures" (Palm Pictures) $19,370 wknd ($3,228 per scrn) 8. "Time" (Lifesize Entertainment) $3,204 wknd ($3,204 per scrn) 9. "Ma Tante Aline (VivaFilm) $207,145 wknd ($3,187 per scrn) 10. "Interview" (Sony Pictures Classics) $55,612 wknd ($2,927 per scrn) 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

iW NEWS | Sundance Institute Names Fellows for Composers Lab

Six musicians have been selected for the 10th Sundance Institute Composers Lab, taking place July 24 - August 9 in Sundance, Utah. This year's Composers Lab Fellows are Jeremy Flower, Derrick Hodge, Shahzad Ali Ismaily, Enis Rotthoff, Gingger Shankar, and Jeff Toyne. During the two-weeklab, organized by the Sundance Institute, fellows participate in workshops and creative exercises under the guidance of veteran film composers and film music professionals. The Composers Lab fellows also collaborate with filmmakers from the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program and Documentary Program to "explore the process of writing music for film and to create accompanying scores for scenes shot during the Feature Film Program's Directors Lab and those workshopped through the Documentary Program's Edit and Storytelling Lab." "Music is a vital part of filmmaking, but young filmmakers don't have many opportunities to learn about film music until they're in the hot seat," commented Peter Golub, Director, Sundance Institute Film Music Program in a statement. "This Lab provides a unique opportunity for emerging composers and filmmakers to work together in an atmosphere that encourages experimentation." [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Events ]

iW NEWS | Toronto Unveils Midnight Madness, Sprockets and Wavelengths Titles for Upcoming Fest

The Toronto International Film Festival unveiled additional titles screening in the event's Sprockets Family Zone, Midnight Madness and Wavelengths sections. Among the titles screening in Sprockets, presented by the Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival, is a gala screening of Canadian filmmaker Aristomenis Tsirbas' animated feature "Terra" about a precocious alien girl (voiced by Evan Rachel Wood) living on the planet Terra who is thrown into conflict with Earth's last inhabitants. Joining Midnight Madness are zombie film "George A. Romero's Diary of the Dead" by George A. Romero (USA); Hitoshi Matsumoto's "Dainipponjin" by Hitoshi Matsumoto (Japan); Adam Mason's "The Devil's Chair" (UK); Wilson Yip's "Flash Point" (Hong Kong/China); Xavier Gens' "Frontiares" (France); "A I'interieur" by Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury (France); Stuart Gordon's "Stuck" (Canada, USA); and Fumihiko Sori's "Vexille" (Japan). TIFF's Wavelengths program is a curated presentation of in artist-made film and video from around the world. Now in its eighth year, the program spotlights 25 films and videos by emerging and renowned filmmakers, as well as visual artists working in film and video. Among the filmmakers and artists participating this year are: Ken Jacobs, Peter Hutton, Kara¸ Goldt, David Gatten, Nicky Hamlyn, Pip Chodorov, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Bruce McClure, Heinz Emigholz, Jean-Marie Straub and more. For more information including a full list of Sprockets and Wavelengths titles, visit the Toronto International Film Festival's website. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals, Toronto ]

NYT: Hollywood Hopefuls (Dream On) at Pitchfest

It's probably best envisioned as a horror flick, with comic elements. So, here's the pitch: 200 writers from all over pay $395 apiece to take face-to-face meetings with legitimate Hollywood buyers and brokers. Scouts from top talent agencies and management firms, studios and production companies are seated behind little conference tables, waiting to be bowled over. But the starry-eyed screenwriters, imagining a Cinderella story with themselves in the lead, instead get just a chilling seven minutes to present their ideas before time stops like a guillotine's drop and they're ushered out the door--and back into oblivion. David M. Halbfinger reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under People ]

SF360: In the ring with Jewish boxers at SFJFF

"The Thesaurus of the Yiddish Language contains 392 synonyms for the word 'hit,' including k'nack, patch, tzettle and zetz," says San Francisco Jewish Film Festival Program Director Nancy Fishman. "We are showing five great films that showcase the moxie and smart fighting style of Jewish boxers, both old and new." She notes that a lot of people don't know that Jews have participated in boxing more than any other professional sport in the U.S. Nancy Fishman reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]