iW NEWS | THINKFilm, Silverwood and Hunting Lane Team for "Blue Valentine"

Silverwood Films, Hunting Lane Films, and THINKFilm will re-unite for the romantic drama, "Blue Valentine," the groups have announced. Casting is underway on the project, which will be directed by Derek Cianfrance ("Brother Ties") from a screenplay he wrote with Cami Delavigne and Joey Curtis, with a February, 2008 start date planned. Silverwood's Lynette Howell, and Hunting Lane's Jamie Patricof and Alex Orlovsky will produce, and THINKFilm will finance, distribute, and handle international sales on the project. Howell's partner, Doug Dey, will serve as executive producer. The three entities were behind last year's Oscar-nominated film, "Half Nelson." [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Production ]

iW NEWS | "Maria Tallchief" and "Water Flowing Together" to Open 32nd American Indian Film Fest

Two ballet docs "Maria Tallchief" and "Water Flowing Together" will open the 32nd annual American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco at the Landmark Embarcedero Cinema on November 2, organizers announced recently. Directed by Sandra Osawa, "Tallchief" chronicles Osage dancer Maria Tallchief considered America's "first prima ballerina." Gwendolen Cates' "Water," meanwhile delves into the life of Navajo Indian/Puerto Rican New York City Ballet principal dancer, Jock Soto, known as "one of the finest male dancers" in the world. "Making The River" by Sarah Del Seronde and Paul Stoll about a man charged with first degree murder who was later executed will close the fest November 9. For more information including additional titles, visit their website. [Brian Brooks] 
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iW NEWS | MEIFF To Close With "Valley"

The Middle East International Film Festival in Abu Dhabi announced that Paul Haggis' "In The Valley of Elah" will close their festival, which takes place October 14-19, 2007. Additionally, the fest named Nadine Labaki, director of "Caramel" as the recipient of the Variety Middle East Filmmaker of the Year Award. "We are very excited to be receiving Nadine Labaki with her film "Caramel" for the Variety Filmmaker of the Year Award," said Nashwa Al-Ruwaini, the fest's Executive Director. "It is excellent news for the region to see such outstanding talent." They also announced the line-ups for three programs: Middle East Spotlight, GCC Films and Arab Women Directors. The programs collectively present a mix of 31 fiction, documentary and short films from 12 different countries in the region. [Peter Knegt] 
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iW NEWS | Palm Springs To Honor Hirsch and Blonsky

Emile Hirsch and Nikki Blonksy will be honored will Rising Star Awards at the 19th Annual Palm Springs Film Festival, to be held January 3-14, 2008. They will join previously announced honoree Marion Cotillard who will recieve the Breakthrough Performance Award. "Emile Hirsch has earned a reputation as the foremost leading man of his generation and his performance in "Into the Wild" solidifies that," said Festival chairman Earl Greenburg, continuing to note that Blonsky gives a "truly outstanding performance" in her first big screen role as Tracy Turnblad in "Hairspray." Past recipients of the Rising Star Award include Scarlett Johansson, Bryce Dallas Howard and Terrence Howard. [Peter Knegt]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals, Honors ]

NYT: New York Festival Is Flavored by France

The life of a film critic follows a relentless annual cycle, from Sundance and the Oscars in the winter through Cannes and the summertime blockbuster barrage, culminating in the annual holiday white elephant sale. Each season has its own distinct pleasures and frustrations, but I think my favorite time of year is right now, the moment defined by the middle of the New York Film Festival. A.O. Scott reports. 
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LAT: AFI anniversary draws legends

Everywhere one looked Wednesday night, there were legends of the film world as Jack Nicholson, Kirk Douglas, Warren Beatty, George Lucas and more walked up the red carpet at the ArcLight Theaters in Hollywood to celebrate the American Film Institute's 40th anniversary. The event was unprecedented, if only for this reason: The AFI brought together actors and filmmakers on one night to introduce screenings of their classic films. Robert W. Welkos reports. 
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SF360: Mill Valley at 30

The 30th Annual Mill Valley Film Festival kicks off Thursday, and Dennis Harvey offers a detailed look at what's to come. Tributes to Ang Lee, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Terry George, as well as double-header opening night of Tamara Jenkins' The Savages and Lee's Lust, Caution are among the highlights.  
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iW NEWS | AFI To Honor Beatty

The American Film Institute has announced that Warren Beatty has been selected by their Board of Trustees as the recipient of the 36th AFI Life Achievement Award. The award will be presented to Beatty at a gala tribute in Los Angeles on June 12, 2008. "Warren Beatty has charmed movie-goers as a dynamic leading man from his first moment on screen and continues to do so today," said AFI chair Sir Howard Stringer. "He is also a master filmmake - a writer, producer and director of such artistry and influence that his movies - from "Bonnie and Clyde to Reds - have left an indelible mark on the cultural legacy of American film. AFI is proud to present him with its 36th Life Achievement Award." Recent recipients include Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro and Sean Connery. USA Network will broadcast the gala. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Honors ]

NYT: "Kite" Delayed To Protect Child Stars

Paramount Vantage has delayed the release of Marc Forster's "The Kite Runner" to get three of the film's young actors out of Kabul in response to fears that they could be harmed for their participation in the enactment of a rape scene. Executives at Vantage are contending with issues stemming from the rising lawlessness in Kabul since the boys were initially cast, David M. Halbfinger reports. The release of the $18 million film will be pushed back six weeks to December 14, 2007. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Industry Moves ]

iW NEWS | IDA Announces Doc Short List

The International Documentary Association has announced the ten films that have been selected for consideration in the feature category of the 23rd Annual IDA Distinguished Documentary Achievement Awards Gala Benefit. They are Dan Klores' "Crazy Love, Jennifer Baichwal's "Manufactured Landscapes," Amir Bar-Lev's "My Kid Could Paint That," Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman's "Nanking," Richard E. Robbins' "Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience," Carlos Bosch's "Septembers," Michael Moore's "Sicko," Alex Gibney's "Taxi to the Dark Side," Mary Olive Smith's "A Walk to Beautiful" and Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine's "War/Dance." "We've received many outstanding entries from every part of the world," said IDA President Diane Estelle Vicari. "The tremendous quality of the films submitted was heartening for all of us committed to encouraging production and distribution of documentaries." Jury members will now selected the five nominees from these titles. The feature film nominations will be announced along with nominees in the series, special recognition and short film categories on October 11. The winner in the feature film category will be announced live at the 2007 IDA Awards Gala Benefit at the Directors Guild of America Theater on December 7, 2007. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Honors ]

Guardian: Director breaks French taboo with film tackling Algerian war

While Hollywood produced dozens of Vietnam war epics and is now tackling Iraq, the French film industry has shied away from making gun-toting action movies about its own recent war history. But one French director is attempting to redress the balance, giving the action-film treatment to the bloody saga of Algeria's war of independence against France between 1954 and 1962. "L'Ennemi Intime" (Intimate Enemies), which opened in Paris last night, is being touted as a French "Platoon," after Oliver Stone's war epic: a special-effects extravaganza that tackles the psychological horrors of the men fighting for the French colonial side. Angelique Chrisafis reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Movies ]

AFP: SKorea hopes Kim Jong-Il takes lesson from films

South Korea voiced hope Thursday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il would learn about freedom of expression as he sits through the thick stack of films it gave him. President Roh Moo-Hyun, only the second South Korean leader ever to visit Pyongyang, gave some 150 DVDs to the film buff Kim, whose regime bans ordinary North Koreans from watching the South's movies. AFP reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under People ]

Reuters: Romanian director wants audiences, not awards

Romanian director Cristian Mungiu found international stardom when his second film won the top prize at Cannes this year, but he says reaching a wider audience is more important to him than the glory of awards. Mungiu's "4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days," which is showing at the New York Film Festival, is based on a true story of two students in communist Romania trying to arrange an abortion. Christine Kearney reports. 
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iW NEWS | Ten Scripts Selected For Academy Fellowship

The 22nd annual Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have selected ten finalists for as many as five $30,000 fellowships. This year's finalists are Julian Breece for "Bail", Amy Garcia for "Amelia Earhart and the Bologna Rainbow Highway", Lisa M. Gold for "The Poker Wars, Michael L. Hare for "The Fly Fisher", Sidney King for "Kalona", David Mango for "Kissing a Suicide Bomber", John Robert Marlow for "Nano", Brett Nicholson for "Queen of the Sky", Andrew Pritzker for "Sweet in the Saddle" and Andrew Shearer and Nicholas J. Sherman for "Holy Irresistible." The finalists were selected from 5,050 scripts submitted for this year's competition. The ten selected scripts will be judged by the Nicholl Committee. Past recipients include Allison Anders, Susannah Grant, Ethan Kruger and Doug Atchison. [Peter Knegt] 
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LA Times: Yari Film Group Fast-Tracks "Pablo"

Seemingly straight of an episode of Entourage, The Los Angeles Times reports that Yari Film Group is moving quickly on "Killing Pablo," based on Mark Bowden's best-selling book on the life of Pablo Escobar. Javier Bardem is expected to play Escobar while Christian Bale is in talks to play the Delta Force commander who led the hunt against him. Joe Carnahan ("Narc") will direct. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

iW NEWS | Sundance and Time Warner Announce Fund

The Sundance Institute and Time Warner, Inc. have announced the creation of the Time Warner Storytelling Advancement Fund. The Fund will provide support over four years to help fund Sundance Institute's development and celebration of independent artists across the Institute's core programs. "We are fortunate to receive this generous commitment from Time Warner which recognizes the importance of this creative and financial support for independent artists at crucial moments in their work," said Ken Brecher, Executive Director of the Sundance Institute. "Time and again, the most provocative and original artists who have found a home at Sundance have shown a dedication to pushing the boundaries of storytelling." The groups also announced the selection of filmmaker Patricia Benoit and her project "Haiti Cherie" and playwright Tracy Scott Wilson and her project "The Good Negro" as the inaugural Time Warner Storytelling Fellows. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Industry Moves ]

NYT: Anatomy of "Darjeeling"

Wes Anderson previews the DVD extras of "The Darjeeling Limited" by offering exclusive commentary on a scene from his new film at The New York Times.  
[permalink]   [ filed under Movies ]

INDUSTRY MOVES | Andrialis and Shukat Join PalmStar

Courtney Andrialis and Jonathan Shukat have joind Kevin Frakes and Stephan Paternot's PalmStar Entertainment as development and production executives at the company. Andrialis recently worked in development and production at HDNet Films and Open City Films. Shukat was an assistant at GreeneStreet Films and also directed and produced the documentary short, "Only Seconds Left." 
[permalink]   [ filed under Industry Moves ]

Guardian: "Fat Boy" Continues UK Domination

David Schwimmer's directorial debut, the Simon Pegg comedy "Run Fat Boy Run," continues to rule the UK box office, The Guardian reports. "Fat Boy" had a surprising fourth weekend atop the charts, beating out Joe Wright's "Atonement," which held in second place. George Clooney's Michael Clayton and Jodie Foster's The Brave One both opened modestly in sixth and seventh places. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

INDUSTRY MOVES | Springer Joins Overture

Overture Films has named Rob Springer its SVP of Sales Operations, the company announced this week. Prior to his role at Overture, Springer was the VP of Operations at Rentrak International, developing the company's international box office reporting system and expanding its reach into Asia.  
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Guardian: Sequel to "The Queen" will centre on Blair and Bush

A sequel to the Oscar-winning "The Queen" is in the pipeline, but don't expect Helen Mirren to step back into Her Majesty's shoes. The movie will focus instead on Tony Blair and his relationship with Bill Clinton and George Bush. Peter Morgan, who penned the Stephen Frears-directed drama, has begun work on a follow-up that will describe the special relationship between the US and the UK. The film will focus on Blair's reaction when the US presidency was handed over from Clinton, a Democrat who had a natural political affinity with the Labour PM, to the Republican and conservative Bush. The Guardian reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Production ]

AP: Paul Schrader to get film festival award

Paul Schrader, who gained his breakthrough with the script for "Taxi Driver," will receive a lifetime achievement award at this year's Stockholm International Film Festival. The 61-year-old writer-director is being recognized for his "unique voice, which gives life to sharp, relentless characters in a modern city," festival organizers said Tuesday. AP reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals, World Cinema ]

iW NEWS | Blanchett to be Honored in Santa Barbara

Cate Blanchett will be honored with the Modern Master Award early next year at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. The presentation will be a signature event during the 23rd Annual Santa Barbara fest, set for January 24 - February 3 in California. Blanchett is at the center of two upcoming releases, Todd Haynes' "I'm Not There" and Shekhar Kapur's "Elizabeth: The Golden Age." "Cate Blanchett is the most consummate actor," commented festival head Roger Durling, in a statement, "and portraying Queen Elizabeth and Bob Dylan in the same year - and so indelibly - is pure alchemy. We're so eager to honor her in the upcoming festival." [Eugene Hernandez] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Awards Watch, Honors ]

SF Chronicle: Mill Valley to Fete Ang Lee

Film festivals have consistently boosted "Lust, Caution" director Ang Lee's directing career, but the Mill Valley Film Festival has had a special impact because of its early support. "One of the things we are most proud of is that we introduced Ang's first film, 'Pushing Hands,' in 1992," said Mark Fishkin, festival co-founder and director. "I was so taken when I first saw it that I called immediately to see if we could program it." Ruthe Stein reports. 
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iW NEWS | Cinetic Signs Maximum Canadian Deal

Maximum Films Distribution chairman Robert Lantos has a announced a three-year Canadian distribution deal with Cinetic Media founder John Sloss, the companies announced Monday night. Under the terms of the pact, Maximum will handle the Candian distribution of films repped by Cinetic. In the words of an announcement, "This unprecedented partnership marks a new paradigm in the Canadian film distribution business model, which will result in filmmakers' ability to secure greater value for their films in North America by directly monetizing Canadian distribution rights." The announcement continues, "Traditionally, those rights have been acquired as part of the United States distribution license and subject to cross-collateralization with revenues and releasing costs in the U.S." Lantos recently launched Maximum and hired Tony Cianciotta to head the distribution side and Charlotte Mickie as managing director of the company's international sales arm. Cinetic recently made news by naming former agent Bart Walker as a partner alonside Sloss and Robert Nathan and in establishing a talent management division. [Eugene Hernandez] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

Producer and Filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld at Apple Store SoHo

Producer and filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld ("Get Shorty," "Men In Black,") who is also serving as a judge on the Insomnia Film Festival, will be at Apple Store SoHo This Thursday, October 4th at 6:30pm, where he will share lessons learned in directing and cinematography. He will discuss what it takes to make an effective short movie and how student filmmakers can get their projects to stand out. Moderating the discussion will be indieWIRE blogger and Sarasota Film Festival Director of Programming Tom Hall.  
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iW NEWS | NonStop Acquires Two

NonStop Entertainment has acquired Ken Loach's "It's a Free World" and Rodrigo Pla's "La Zona," which won the FIPRESCI prize in Toronto and the best first feature award at Venice. NonStop will hold the rights to "World" in Scandinavia and Iceland and for "Zona" in Scandinavia and the Baltics. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

iW NEWS | Directors Guild of Canada Awards Polley

The 2007 Directors Guild of Canada Awards were handed out on Sunday night, handing their top prize to Sarah Polley for her work directing "Away From Her." Polley became the first female recipient of the award, as well as the youngest. "I am honoured to be a member of the Directors Guild of Canada and share in this evening when we celebrate our own talent," said Norman Jewison, who presented the award to Polley. A total of 19 team and individual craft awards were presented. "Away From Her" picked up a total of 3. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Honors ]

iW NEWS | Milwaukee Fest Highlights

The 5th annual Milwaukee International Film Festival announced that the fest, which concluded Sunday, awarded "August the First," directed by Lanre Olabisi, as the first recipient of the newly organized Film Movement Distribution Award (Feature), which was established with distribution company Film Movement to provide theatrical and DVD release for one feature and one short film screening. Becky Brazil's "Sweetie" won the short film award. The festival, which broke attendance records this year, also presented Germany film "Emma's Bliss," directed by Sven Taddicken, with its Audience Award for fiction and Daniel Karslake's "For the Bible Tells Me So," for documentary. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

iW NEWS | Cinema Guild Gets Sokurov's Latest

Alexander Sokurov's "Alexandra" has been acquired for U.S. distribution by The Cinema Guild, the company announced today. Described as the story of "a Russian grandmother who travels to a remote military outpost to visit her grandson," "Alexandra" is set to screen later this week at the New York Film Festival after a debut earlier this year in Cannes. The pact was brokered by Rezo Films. 'Alexandra's' story of a nation mired in a seemingly endless war should resonate with many in this country," said Cinema Guild's Ryan Krivoshey, in a statement. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions, World Cinema ]

iW NEWS | MEIFF Announces Competition Films

The inaugural Middle East International Film Festival in Abu Dhabi announced its official competition program, with the films competing for the fest's Black Pearl awards. The program is comprised mainly of films by emerging directors. The filmmakers will compete in three sections: Fiction, Documentary and Short. Among the notable entries in fiction are Lebanon's Nadine Labaski with her debut, "Caramel", Stefan Ruzowitzky's "The Counterfeiters," Anders Morgenthaler's "Echo," Jake Paltrow's "The Good Night," starring his sister Gwenyth Paltrow and Penelope Cruz, James Strouse's "Grace is Gone," Rodrigo Pla's "La Zona," Stephane Gauger's "The Owl and the Sparrow" and Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud's "Persepolis," which was recently chosen as France's Academy Award submission. In the documentary category, the entries include Irene Taylor Brodsky's film about her deaf parents, "Hear and Now," Michael Apted's soccer doc, "The Power of the Game," and Paul Taylor's Tribeca-favorite "We Are Together." "We are thrilled with the line-up of films we have in competition," said Festival Director Jon Fitzgerald. "They represent world-class talent, a terrific combination of critically acclaimed films, award winners and crowd pleasers." For a full list of entries, visit the fest's official website. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

AFP: Icelandic film takes Copenhagen's Golden Swan award

The jury at the fifth Copenhagen International Film Festival on Saturday awarded the top Golden Swan award for best film to "Children" by Icelandic director Ragnar Bragason. The festival also awarded the Grand Jury Special Prize to Israeli director Eran Kolirin for "The Band's Visit" (Bikur Hatizmoret). Norwegian Marius Holst was awarded the Best Director's Golden Swan for "Mirush" (Blodsbaand). AFP reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

iW NEWS | San Sebastian Fest Announces Winners

Wayne Wang's "A Thousand Years of Good Prayers" was awarded the Golden Shell for best film at the 55th annual San Sebastian Film Festival. The film's star Henry O. also took home the Silver Shell for Best Actor. Based on a short story by Yiyun Li, "Prayers" marks a return to low-budget filmmaking for Hong Kong born Wang after recent films "Maid in Manhattan" and "Last Holiday." Other major winners included Spain's Blanca Portillo, who won the Silver Shell for Best Actress for her work in Gracis Querejeta's "Seven Billiards Table," UK-based Nick Broomfield, who won Best Director for the Iraq drama "Battle For Haditha," and Iran's Hana Makhmalbaf, just 19 years old, who won the Special Jury Prize for her film "Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame." The jury prize for Best Screenplay was shared between John Sayles (for "Honeydripper") and writing team Gracia Querejeta and Daniel Plannell (for "Seven Billiards Table"), Julian Schnabel's "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" won the European Film Award, and Lebanon's Nadine Labaki won both the Audience Award and a special Youth Award for her film, "Caramel". The festival's jury was presided by American director and author Paul Auster (who worked with Wayne Wang on "Smoke" and "Blue in the Face"). [Peter Knegt]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

iW NEWS | Lee's "Lust" and Anderson's "Darjeeling" Open Big

Major numbers for a limited release film marked the openings of Ang Lee's "Lust, Caution" from Focus Features and Wes Anderson's "The Darjeeling Limited" from Fox Searchlight. Lee's "Lust" made an estimated $61,688 on a single screen, according to Focus, while Anderson's "Darjeeling" earned an estimated $66,000 on 2 screens this weekend, opening on Saturday after the film's New York Film Festival debut. In its second weeekend, Sean Penn's "Into The Wild" (from Paramount Vantage) earned an estimated $669,000 on 33 screens, according to Rentrak estimates provided today. The film had an estimated per screen average of $20,283 after adding 29 theaters this weekend. [Eugene Hernandez] 
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