iW NEWS | Magnet Scares up North American Rights to "Kiltro" and "Mirageman"

North American distribution rights to "Kiltro" and "Mirageman" have been picked up by Magnet, the newly formed genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, the group has announced. The deal for the two action films, written, directed and edited by Ernesto Diaz Espinoza, was negotiated by Magnet/Magnolia SVP, Tom Quinn, and Head of Business Affairs, Jason Janego, with producer Derek Rundell and producer's rep Houston King. Magnet will also produce Zaror's next film, which will be announced soon. "I've never seen anyone with Marko's power and size exhibit such agility and acrobatic skill. He's amazing to watch," commented Quinn in a statement. "I haven't been this excited about an action star since the first time I saw Tony Jaa in 'Ong Bak.'" Recently launched, Magnet specializes in horror, action, comedy and Asian cinema. Magnolia Pictures is an operating business of the Wagner/Cuban Companies. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

Apple Stores Host Special Screening of Wes Anderson's Short "Hotel Chevalier"

Apple is offering a special screening of Wes Anderson's new short film "Hotel Chevalier", starring Jason Schwartzman and Natalie Portman. This 12-minute short, set entirely in a Paris hotel room, is a prequel to Anderson's new film "The Darjeeling Limited," which is the opening night film of the New York Film Festival. The short will be screening at Apple Stores in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles on Tuesday, September 25 at 9pm with Anderson, Schwartzman, and Portman at the SoHo store and Roman Coppola at the Chicago store.  
[permalink]   [ filed under Events ]

iW NEWS | IFC First Take Picks up Sundance winner "Padre Nuestro"

Sundance '07 Grand Jury winner "Padre Nuestro" has been acquired by IFC First Take and will be released in Spring of 2008, according to a Friday announcement. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

iW NEWS | First Run/Icarus Eyes "I For India" for North America

All North American rights to Sandhya Suri's "I For India" have been acquired by First Run/Icarus Films from Paris-based sales company Dreammachine, the company announced Friday. The film will have its U.S. theatrical debut November 14 at New York's Pioneer Theater. The film, which screened in the world doc competition at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, is a chronicle of immigration set in '60s Britain through the experience of one Asian family and their movie camera. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

Guardian Interview: Tilda Swinton

Known for her wildly eclectic and offbeat film roles, Tilda Swinton reveals herself to Charlotte Higgins as a cinema-obsessed geek who just happens to be a great actor. "I was pretty miserable, but I wasn't showing it. And I suddenly became aware that you can feel one thing and show another, you can fool people, you can never know what someone's thinking. What I realised then--this is pretty awful, but it's true, and it's good to get this digested early--is that you can't take sincerity for granted." 
[permalink]   [ filed under People ]

AP: Rosenberg re-elected SAG president

Screen Actors Guild President Alan Rosenberg was re-elected to a second term amid growing concern about a possible actors' strike next year. Rosenberg defeated three other candidates Thursday, carrying about 47 percent of nearly 25,000 votes cast, SAG spokeswoman Pamela Greenwalt said. AP reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

AP: San Sebastian Film Festival opens

Political and social stories again take center stage at the San Sebastian Film Festival--the oldest and most prestigious in the Spanish-speaking world, which kicks off Thursday evening. The Iraq conflict gets high-profile attention with Nick Broomfield's "Battle for Haditha" in the official competition, an investigation into the 2005 killing of 24 civilians in Haditha by U.S. Marines. The 10-day festival was opening with David Cronenberg's "Eastern Promises," a thriller about London's criminal underworld starring Naomi Watts and Viggo Mortensen. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals, World Cinema ]

iW NEWS | Atopia Goes For "The District!"

Montreal-based Atopia Distribution has acquired the North American rights to Aron Gauder's Hungarian comedy "The District!". "The District!," an animated musical satire that the 2006 Seattle International Film Festival described as "an Eastern European South Park" has played at nearly 60 fests across the world (including Toronto, Rotterdam and Karlovy Vary), winning awards at 13 of them. Atopia will be taking the film out theatrically in the United States and Canada begining next month, with engagements booked in Austin, Boston, Seattle, Montreal and Toronto. The film's theatrical run will be followed by a DVD release on December 4, 2007. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

iW NEWS | Weinstein To "Walk All Over Me"

The Weinstein Company has acquired the U.S. rights to "Walk All Over Me" from Vancouver-based IndustryWorks Distribition. Directed by Robert Cuffley and starring Leelee Sobieski, Tricia Helfer, Jacob Tierney and Lothaire Bluteau, the film is noted as a "coming of age thriller" about a small-town girl (Sobieski) who assumes the identity of a dominatrix (Helfer) to pay the bills. "We were very pleased at the overwhelming response "Walk All Over Me" had in Cannes and Toronto," says Evan Tylor, president and founder of IndustryWorks. "With its obvious commercial appeal, we look forward to a great success in the closing the remaining territories at both MIPCOM and the upcoming American Film Market." [Peter Knegt]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

iW NEWS | Sundance Institute Selects Seven Filmmakers

The Sundance Institute announced the selection of seven filmmakers as the 2007 Annenberg Film Fellows: Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Sophie Barthes, Caran Hartsfield, Braden King, Eric Lahey, Richard Montoya, and David Riker. The program, created in 2004, helps provide direct financial support toward the realization of each recipient's project. "These seven independent filmmakers represent the powerful vision and individuality at the heart of American independent film and the Sundance Institute," said Ken Brecher, the institute's executive director. "As recipients of Annenberg Film Fellowships, these talented filmmakers will receive crucial, timely support to enable their films to get to the next level." Each filmmaker will receive a $10,000-$15,000 grant. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Honors ]

iW NEWS | Other Israel Film Festival Announced

The first annual Other Israel Film Festival will take place in New York City from November 8-15, 2007. The event will include award-winning films, guest filmmakers, panel discussions, special gala events & receptions, photography exhibits and musical performances. Rokaya Sabbah's "On Hold," which will have its international premiere, has been announced as the opening night film. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

SFC: American filmmakers hope to bring impact of Iraq war home

Without a military draft, few middle-class Americans have been directly touched by the Iraq war, making the 4-year-old conflict seem distant compared with the war in Vietnam. It is unprecedented for so many Hollywood films to depict a war in anything but flattering terms while the country is still fighting it. Most major Vietnam War-related films either came out after the war ended (such as 1978's "Coming Home" and 1979's "Apocalypse Now") or expressed the frustrations about Vietnam through the prism of another war, like the 1970 film "MASH," which was set during the Korean War. Why now? Filmmakers feel many Americans are seeing a sanitized, bloodless view of the war in the mainstream media. Joe Garofoli reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Movies ]

iW NEWS | IFC Gets Kalin's "Grace," Lin's "Game"

Tom Kalin's "Savage Grace" and Justin Lin's "Finishing the Game" have been acquired by IFC Entertainment. Kalin's "Grace," from this year's Cannes Film Festival, is only the director's second feature after his acclaimed early-90s indie, "Swoon" (although he produced "Go Fish" and "I Shot Andy Warhol"). Produced by Killer Films, Monfort Producciones, and Celluloid Dreams, Kalin's film stars Julianne Moore in the true story of Barbara Baekeland. It was written by Howard Rodman. Lin's "Finishing The Game," which debuted earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, is a mockumentary about casting a replacement for Bruce Lee in an unfinished fictional film. Lin's previous movies include the acclaimed "Better Luck Tomorrow" and also "Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift." Lin's "Game" wil be released this year, while Kalin's "Grace" is set or an '08 debut. [Eugene Hernandez] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

iW ANNOUNCEMENT | Producers Jason Kliot and Joana Vicente @ Apple Store SoHo TODAY

indieWIRE continues its monthly series with Apple Store - SoHo that presents indie film professionals discussing various aspects of the filmmaking process.

WHEN: Wednesday, September 19th, 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m WHERE: Apple Store - SoHo, 103 Prince Street, NYC, 103 Prince Street, NYC COST: Free, No RSVP required. Seats are first come, first serve. Seating is limited.

New York City based film producers Jason Kliot and Joana Vicente have produced over 30 films by acclaimed directors such as Brian De Palma, Jim Jarmusch, Miguel Arteta, Hal Hartley, Steven Soderbergh, Nicole Holofcener, and Todd Solondz. Jason and Joana are also two of the first producers to pioneer digital production in the US. They are going to discuss their partnership that has produced films such as: "Coffee and Cigarettes", "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room", "Lovely and Amazing", "Chuck & Buck", and the latest film by Brian De Palma, "Redacted."

The event will be moderated by indieWIRE Editor in Chief Eugene Hernandez. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Events ]

iW NEWS | Myriad Planning North American Release of Argento Film; Weinsteins Make DVD/TV Deal

Following a recent Toronto International Film Festival debut, Myriad Pictures has announced that it will release Dario Argento's "The Mother of Tears" theatrically in North America, while the company also said Tuesday that The Weinstein Company has acquired U.S. DVD and TV rights (as well as Canadian TV rights) to the film. [Eugene Hernandez]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions, Toronto ]

AP: AFI showing 11 classic films at once

The American Film Institute is celebrating its 40th anniversary by simultaneously screening 11 classic films, each with a live introduction by a star or filmmaker. The screenings, on Oct. 3 at the Arclight Hollywood theater, are open to the public. Among the presenters will be Jack Nicholson for "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," Julie Andrews for "The Sound of Music," Clint Eastwood for "Unforgiven" and George Lucas for "Star Wars -- Episode IV: A New Hope." AP reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

iW NEWS | Woodstock Sets Slate for October Fest

After opening with Julian Schnabel's "The Diving Bell and The Butterfly" on October 10th, the 2007 Woodstock Film Festival will close on October 14th with Todd Haynes' "I'm Not There," the festival announced today (Tuesday). Patricia Riggens' "Under The Same Moon" (La Misma Luna) and Ira Sachs' "Married Life" are both on tap as centerpiece screenings for the Upstate New York weekend fest. Killer Films' Christine Vachon will receive the Maverick Award at the fest, while Ted Sarandos is the recipient of the Trailblazer Award. The festival has eight world premieres and seven U.S. premieres on tap this year. Set for the narrative competition are: Chris Eska's "August Evening," Luke Eberl's "Choose Connor," Alex Holdridge's "In Search of a Midnight Kiss," lya Chaiken's "Liberty Kid," Sol Tryon's "The Living Wake," and Noah Buschel's "Neal Cassady." While the documentary competition will include: Jennifer Venditti's "Billy The Kid," Oren Jacoby's "Constantine's Sword," Morgan Neville's "The Cool School," Rachel Talboti's "Making Trouble," Godfrey Cheshire's "Moving Midway," Daniel Junge and Siatta Scott Johnson's "Iron Ladies of Liberia," and Marlo Poras's "Run Granny Run." For more information, please visit the festival website. [Eugene Hernandez] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

iW BOT *UPDATE* | Documentary "Helvetica" Packs IFC Center, Tops iW Bot Chart

After its March 2007 world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival and single play dates at various film centers and design conferences across the United States, director Gary Hustwit's feature-length documentary "Helvetica" landed Sept. 12 for an extended run at New York's IFC Center and the response was a tidal wave turnout by typography fans. (indieWIRE recieved the box office numbers for "Helvetica" after our weekly box office column was published on Monday. The complete indieWIRE BOT weekly chart is available at indieWIRE.com.) "Helvetica," a look at global design culture and an examination of the Helvetica typeface via interviews with acclaimed designers, earned $21,724 since its Wednesday opening, good enough for the top spot on the iWBOT. Hustwit's on-site appearances alongside designer Tobias Frere-Jones and editor Shelby Siegel helped attract crowds. Still, its status as the top weekend specialty film confirmed what Hustwit believed all along: people can't get enough of good design. 'Helvetica" returns to the art-house circuit playing Chicago's Gene Siskel Film Center Sept. 21 and the Oklahoma City Museum of Art Sept. 28. [Steve Ramos] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

SFC: "The Graduate" at 40: A defiant and astute film to be proud of

The timing was all wrong, and so was the casting. The director, Mike Nichols, had made only one film before and was still learning the medium. Most of the score commissioned from Paul Simon remained unwritten and had to be replaced by songs rummaged from prior Simon & Garfunkel albums. "The Graduate," by all rights, should have been a bungle. Steven Winn reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Movies ]

HR | SPC commits to 'Married'

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired North American rights to Ira Sachs' "Married Life," according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film, which screened at the recent Toronto International Film Festival, is set for the upcoming New York Film Festival.  
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions, Toronto ]

iW NEWS | "Billo" and "Unsettled" Take Top Temecula Fest Prizes

Laura Muscardin's "Billo, Le Grand Dakhaar" won the best picture prize at the 13th Temecula Valley Film and Music Festival, while Adam Hootnick's "Unsettled" took best documentary at the recent fest, which took place in the California town September 12 - 16. Gary Null's "Gulf War Syndrome - Killing Our Own" received a special jury prize and an honorable mention went to Thomas Elliott and Pawel Gula's "Damned to Heaven." In audience nods, writer/director McKay Daines won best feature for "Heber Holiday," while "The Journey to Palomar" by writer/directors Robin Mason and Todd Mason won best doc. For more information including additional winners, visit the festival's website. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

LAT: SAG makes deal for actors on Web series

The Screen Actors Guild announced Friday that it signed a contract to cover performers on "quarterlife," a Web series that will debut Nov. 11 on MySpaceTV.com, the video page for the popular social networking site. The move represents the most high-profile effort to date by SAG to extend union pay rates and health insurance benefits to actors who work on Internet shows. Richard Verrier reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

Guardian Interview: Ken Loach and Paul Laverty

The director and writer of the Toronto migrant worker drama "It's a Free World" discuss their working relationship, the time they went to Hollywood, and why individually they're nothing. The Guardian reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under People ]

E: Toronto Makes Promises, If Not Buzz

When the 32nd Toronto International Film Festival began, big buzz surrounded films looking at Serious Topics like war and corruption, but when the 10-day festival closed on Saturday it was old-fashioned thrillers and feel-good movies that caught the attention of moviegoers and buyers. Barry Brown reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals, Toronto ]

iW NEWS | Big Weekend for Cronenberg's "Promises"

Winner of the People's Choice Award, the top prize at the recently concluded Toronto International Film Festival, David Cronenberg's "Eastern Promises" opened to big numbers in its theatrical debut over the weekend. The film, from Focus Features, made an estimated $552,676 on 15 screens this weekend, for an estimated per screen average of $36,815. [Eugene Hernandez]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

NYT: Mother Nature's Restless Sons

"Into the Wild," written and directed, and even partly filmed, by Sean Penn, who invested the project with some of the same testy singleness of purpose he has recently brought to his political activism, his reporting stints in Iran and Iraq, his jeep tour of Venezuela with Hugo Chavez. That Hollywood might not be wild for a movie about a guy who slowly turns himself into a cadaver did not deter Mr. Penn for an instant. Charles McGrath reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Movies ]

SF360: Live from Madcat

The Madcat Women's International Film Festival, at 11 years old, is a young film festival by Bay Area standards, and the festival acts its age in the best of ways. Its mix of women's films is generally wildly irreverent and often plucked from the margins--not just the margins of form, since a lot of the work is experimental, but also the furthest reaches of the planet. Its exhibition is freed as well from the constraints of festival tradition and convention. Susan Gerhard reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

AP: Clooney presents Weintraub with award

George Clooney praised producer Jerry Weintraub as a good friend, then presented the maker of "Ocean's Eleven" and its sequels with the Lifetime Achievement Award at a Boston Film Festival tribute dinner. The 23rd Boston Film Festival opened Friday with John Cusack's film, "Grace is Gone." AP reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]