PARK CITY '08 5:15p.m. | "American Teen"'s Big Date

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Howls and loud applause concluded the world premiere of Nanette Burstein's Sundance Film Festival doc competition film, "American Teen," earlier this afternoon at the Park City Library. The film, which follows the trials and tribulations of a range of teens during their senior year in high school in small town Indiana, does not hold back on the intimate realities of growing up, including sexual experimentation and alcohol use. "I think it's a great way to look back on our senior year," quipped one of the teens at the post-screening Q&A. "People are so much deeper than they first appear to be." The film is already stirring serious acquisitions , with CAA and Cinetic handling the movie. interest. Buyers tracked at the screening included Peter Rice and Nancy Utley from Fox Searchlight, Keri Putnam from Miramax, Liesl Copland from Netflix, Randy Manis, Mark Urman and Ben Stambler from ThinkFilm, and reps from Paramout Vantage, Lions Gate, and Sony Pictures Classics.... Tomorrow morning, the film will screen for buyers and press at the Yarrow in Park City. [Brian Brooks] 
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iW NEWS | ESPN Is "Kicking It"

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ESPN announced that it has acquired Sundance soccer documentary "Kicking It." Produced by Ted Leonsis (who executive produced last year's "Nanking") and directed by Susan Koch, "Kicking It" details the lives of seven soccer players from six countries as they participate in the 4th annual Homeless World Cup. ESPN will retain exclusive television rights worldwide, and execute the film's digital distribution while working with the filmmakers to secure theatrical, DVD and other distribution. "'Kicking It" speaks to the perseverance of the human spirit and the global impact of sport," said Keith Clinkscales, ESPN senior vice president of content development and enterprises in a statement. "As our company continues to expand its global reach on the belief that sport transcends different languages and ways of life to bring people together, a film like 'Kicking It' is an inspirational guide and a fitting choice for ESPN." [Peter Knegt]  
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iW NEWS | Weinstein Picks Up Int'l for "Polanski" in Park City

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Director Marina Zenovich's Sundance doc "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired" has been acquired internationally by The Weinstein Company, the company announced Saturday morning. The international deal excludes all U.S. and Canadian rights, as well as U.K. television rights. A pact for the remaining rights is expected to close today in Park City. The film had its world premiere last night at Sundance with buyers and industry buzzing about the film afterward. "Polanski," screening in the festival's doc competition, chronicles the private tragedy and scandal that led to the legendary Polish-born film-makers exile from the United States. Michal Podell, svp, business/legal affairs and acquisitions, negotiated the deal on behalf of The Weinstein Company. Josh Braun and Kevin Iwashina of Submarine Entertainment, along with John Sloss, Sarah Lash and Paul Brennan of Cinetic Media, negotiated on behalf of the filmmakers. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions, Park City ]

PARK CITY '08, 2:24 a.m. | "Sunshine", "Wackness" and Blackout Update

Park City coverage sponsored by BE KIND REWIND.

Eyes are on Christine Jeff's "Sunshine Cleaning," which drew many buyers tonight at its Sundance Film Festival world premiere at the Racquet Club. An indieWIRE insider reported good buzz for the film; Cinetic is handling the sale. Meanwhile, over at the party for "The Wackness" on Main St. Harvey Weinstein made the rounds, high-fiving director Jonathan Levine. Finally, The Salt Lake City Tribune is reporting early this morning that the 25-minute Park City blackout was caused by a circuit breaker problem. [Eugene Hernandez] 
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PARK CITY '08, 12:23 a.m. | "Polanski" and The Blackout

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Word of a deal for Marina Zenovich's competition documentary about Roman Polanski emerged late Friday night as Sundance Film Festival attendees buzzed about a blackout that hit Main St. after about 10 p.m. The outage lasted at least 30 minutes according to numerous sources. "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired" closed a worldwide deal (excluding North America) immediately after its Holiday Village world premiere. The buyer is expected to announce the deal soon. Buyers who missed the Friday night showing were watching hastily arranged screenings late Friday. A festival press and industry screeening is set for early Saturday morning and the remaining rights to the film should be sewn up by then, according to those close to the film. As for the blackout, fest-goers said it was limited to the upper Main St. area and interrupted a screening at the Egyptian Theater and numerous parties and events as the entire area went black. [Eugene Hernandez] 
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PARK CITY '08, 7:47 p.m. | Early Word on "Wackness"

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The world premiere of Jonathan Levine's Sundance dramatic competition entry "The Wackness," which concluded just a few minutes ago at the Racquet Club theater, is certainly the first screening of this year's festival to bring all of Indiewood's major players into one theater at the same time. Spotted after the showing were Fox Searchlight's Peter Rice, Tom Bernard of Sony Pictures Classics, Bob Berney from Picturehouse, Daniel Battsek and his team from Miramax Films, James Schamus from Focus Features, TWC's Harvey Weinstein, Lions Gate's Tom Ortenberg, Eamonn Bowles from Magnolia Pictures, Bingham Ray from Kimmel and key executives from Paramount Vantage, IFC Films, as well a big group from ThinkFilm. As their competitors filed past, the group from Think seemed to linger the longest, huddled for awhile near a theater exit. CAA is selling the film, which will screen again for the public on Sunday morning. As is sometimes the case, reactions were all over the map, some raving and upbeat, while others were much more critical. And even those who didn't like the film called it marketable, predicting that it will be popular with buyers. Many execs were killing time outside, with Christine Jeff's anticipated "Sunshine Cleaning" set to screen at the theater shortly. Meanwhile, back inside the theater, raising the film during a Q & A, actor Ben Kingsley highlighted the film's "innocence" adding that the story -- set in New York City in 1994 -- has, "the authority of an ancient novel." Meanwhile, Mary Kate Olsen, asked about a her scene kissing Kingsley, spoke highly of the experience. indieWIRE plans to publish a review of the film this weekend. [Eugene Hernandez] 
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iW NEWS | Diego Luna Joins "Milk"

Mexican actor Diego Luna has joined the cast of Gus Van Sant's Harvey Milk biopic, "Milk." The Focus Features projects previously announced cast members Sean Penn, James Franco, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch and Victor Garber. Luna last appeared as a Michael Jackson impersonator in Harmony Korine's "Mister Lonely." [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz, Queer Cinema ]

PARK CITY '08, 3:57 p.m. | "Good Dick" Talk, Stranded Buzz

3:57 p.m. local time... Marianna Palka's "Good Dick" has had Sundance attendees buzzing this afternoon in Park City. The film, being sold here by WMI, seems to have divided some folks who caught its first showing (less than have the audience stayed for the Q & A, but those who did seemed quite enthusiastic). After the Racquet Club screening, one studio specialty division acquisitions exec called the film "very moving," while other buyers and critics (all male) dismissed the entry and complained about its ending. Then one film festival programmer -- a woman -- said she liked the film and wondered if its more of a girl's movie. Later, another male journalist weighed in telling indieWIRE he was a fan, touting the triple threat writer/director/actor, Palka. So its too soon to declare a gender divide. The film screens two more times on Saturday here at the festival. Meanwhile, all positive word of mouth, so far, on Gonzalo Arijon's "Stranded," about the survivors of a 1972 plane crash in the Andes. The crowd-pleaser debuted at IDFA in November where indieWIRE covered the doc. [Eugene Hernandez] 
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iW NEWS | "The Living End: Remixed and Remastered" at Sundance and Berlin

Strand Releasing and Fortissimo Films will team to present Greg Araki's "The Living End: Remixed and Remastered" at both the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and the Berlin International Film Festival. The two companies are collaborating to restore and present Araki's 1992 film, which will be presented tonight as part of Sundance's Collection Series and then again on February 8th in Berlin. Araki will present the film at both festivals. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Events, Queer Cinema ]

iW NEWS | "Be Kind, Rewind" To Close Berlinale; Seven Others Added

The 58th Berlin International Film Festival announced eight new titles for its competition, rounding out the section. Michel Gondry's "Be Kind, Rewind" (which is premiering at Sundance next week) has been added as the festival's Closing Film. Other announced titles include Lance Hammer's "Ballast," Hong Sangsoo's "Bam gua Nat" (Night and Day), Dennis Lee's "Fireflies in the Garden," Philippe Claudel's "Il y a longtemps que je t'aime" (I've Loved You So Long), Petri Kotwica's "Musta Jaa" (Black Ice), Justin Chadwick's "The Other Boleyn Girl" and Majid Majidi's "Avaze Gonjeshk-ha" (The Song of Sparrows). The festival takes place February 7-17, 2008 in the German capital. [Peter Knegt] 
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iW NEWS | Celluloid Picks up "Ballast" Outside U.S.

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All international rights outside the U.S. to Sundance Film Festival dramatic competition title "Ballast" by Lance Hammer have been acquired by Paris-based sales outfit Celluloid Dreams. William Morris Independent is repping the film for both domestic and international rights. The film follows the story of a man's suicide that radically transforms three people's lives forcing them to overcome past differences and together, move on to a brighter future. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions, Park City ]

INDUSTRY MOVES | Stambler Upped at ThinkFilm

Ben Stambler has been named VP of acquisitions and development at ThinkFilm, the company announced this week. Based in the company's New York office, Stambler joined ThinkFilm in March, after serving as Manager of Acquisitions at Magnolia Pictures. He was also recently nominated for an Independent Spirit Award as a producer of Aaron Katz' "Quiet City." 
[permalink]   [ filed under Industry Moves ]

VAR | Variety Announces "10 Directors To Watch"

Variety announced their 12th annual "10 Directors To Watch" selections, which is composed of mostly first- or second-time feature directors. It also includes four with films at this year's Sundance Film Festival. The chosen ten are: Ben Affleck ("Gone Baby Gone"), Daniel Barnz ("Phoebe in Wonderland"), Tony Gilroy ("Michael Clayton"), Seth Gordon ("The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters"), Nadine Labaki ("Caramel"), Anna Melikyan ("Mermaid"), Cristian Mungui ("4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days"), Jose Padilha ("Elite Squad"), Alex Rivera ("Sleep Dealer") and Johan Renck ("Downloading Nancy"). For more details, please visit Variety's website. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Honors ]

iW NEWS | DGA and AMPTP Reach Tentative Agreement on Terms of New Contract

The Directors Guild of America has announced that talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have concluded and that a tentative new 3-year collective bargaining agreement has been reached. Highlights of this agreement include: An increase in both wages and residual bases for each year of the contract; An establishment of DGA jurisdiction over programs produced for distribution on the Internet; An establishment of a new residuals formula for paid Internet downloads that essentially doubles the current rate; And an establishment of residual rates for ad-supporting streaming on the Internet. "Two words describe this agreement - groundbreaking and substantial," said Gil Cates, chair of the DGA's Negotiations Committee in a statement. "The gains in this contract for directors and their teams are extraordinary - and there are no rollbacks of any kind." Negotiations between the DGA's 50-member Negotiations Committee and the AMPTP began Saturday, January 12, and were concluded today. "This was a very difficult negotiation that required real give and take on both sides," said DGA president Michael Apted. "Nonetheless, we managed to produce an agreement that enshrines the two fundamental principles we regard as absolutely crucial to any employment and compensation agreement in this digital age: First, jurisdiction is essential. Without secure jurisdiction over new-media production - both derivative and original - compensation formulas are meaningless. Second, the Internet is not free. We must receive fair compensation for the use and reuse of our work on the Internet, whether it was originally created for other media platforms or expressly for online distribution." For more specifics of the agreement, check out the DGA's negotiation "fact sheet". Specifics regarding the new agreement will be submitted to the Guild's National Board for approval on Saturday, January 26, 2008. The DGA's current contracts expire on June 30, 2008. [Peter Knegt]  
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INSIDE WORD | Redford Opens Sundance '08

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2:29 p.m. local time, Park City, UT... Touting a "new spirit that seems to be emerging" with more new filmmakers than ever before, Sundance Institute head Robert Redford is kicking off the festival now at a press conference at the Egyptian Theater on Main St. Alongside Redford, Sundance Film Festival director Geoff Gilmore is boasting of the 58 first time filmmakers, including "In Bruges" director Martin McDonagh, a playwright whose film is having its world premiere tonight to kick off the festival. indieWIRE will have a full dispatch from the opening later today. [Eugene Hernandez] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Events, Park City ]

iW NEWS | HBO Announces "Black List" Acquisition

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In the third documentary deal timed to the opening day of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, HBO Documentary Films has announced its acquisition of domestic TV rights to Timothy Greenfield-Sanders and Elvis Mitchell's "The Black List: Volume One," which is having its world premiere in the Spectrum section on Tuesday at Sundance. The film is described as being "composed of dramatic portraits of some of today's most fascinating and influential African-American icons," including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Sean Combs, Mahlon Duckett, Thelma Golden, Lou Gossett, Jr., Bill T. Jones, Vernon Jordan, Marc Morial, Toni Morrison, Suzanne-Lori Parks, Richard Parsons, Colin Powell, Susan Rice, Chris Rock, Al Sharpton, Lorna Simpson, Slash, Dawn Staley, Faye Wattleton, Keenen Ivory Wayans and Zane. The documentary will be part of what is described as a "multifaceted project that includes a traveling exhibit, portrait book and a user-generated campaign designed for multiple platforms." Produced by Mitchell, Greenfield-Sanders and Michael Slap Sloane, the deal was brokered by Josh Braun of Submarine Entertainment and David Koh of Arthouse Films. The TV deal reunites the project with HBO, which supported its development. A source close to the film told indieWIRE today that HBO is planning a limited Oscar qualifying theatrical release and that a separate DVD deal is currently in the works. [Eugene Hernandez] 
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iW NEWS | Fortissimo Announces Deal for Sundance Closing Film, "CSNY Deja Vu"

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Fortissimo Films has announced a deal for worldwide sales rights to the Sundance Film Festival's closing night film, "CSNY Deja Vu." A look at Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's 2007 "Freedom of Speech Tour," the film was directed by Neil Young, using the name Bernard Shakey. Fortissimo's Michael Werner negotiated the pact with Shangri-La Entertainment. The film was produced by Neil Young's Shakey Pictures, which, in the words of an announcement, "provides an apt description of the relationship between the director and Mr. Young." [Eugene Hernandez]  
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iW NEWS | Kasell Launches New Festival Division at Home.Work.People

Denise Kasell, former executive director of the Hamptons International Film Festival, has launched a film festival consulting, staffing and training operation with Home.Work.People, a real estate and human resources company serving the entertainment industry with a database of some 2,500 freelance professionals. Aimed at smaller and midsize events, the company's new festival division will work to find and train a range of festival organizers and staff, as well as advising fests on developing key initiatives and programs. "There is a big gap in the way festivals are run," noted Kasell, "and we hope to bring uniformity and a professional approach to each event. At present there really is no one doing this. There are other consultants but they are stand alone individuals, not a company with resources to hundreds of festival personnel." [Eugene Hernandez] 
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iW NEWS | Zeitgeist Announces Sundance's First Deal, Acquiring Acclaimed "Up The Yangtze"

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On the morning that the 2008 Sundance Film Festival kicks off in Park City, UT, Zeitgeist Films has announced its acquisition of Yung Chang's acclaimed first feature, "Up The Yangtze," a documentary about the effects of the construction of the massive Three Gorges Dam that is displacing millions and destroying national landmarks in the country. Set for its U.S. premiere tomorrow (Friday) in Sundance's world documentary competition, the film debuted back in November at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) and will be released theatrically by Zeitgeist in April. It looks at life on River, where the filmmaker's grandfather grew up, including a trip aboard a cruise ship for farewell tours of a river that will soon be flooded. "In Upstairs-Downstairs style, the comfortable lives of the perhaps well-intentioned but oblivious western passengers are contrasted with the difficult lives of the young Chinese crew," Zeitgeist noted in a description. The film, produced by Mila Aung-Thwin, John Christou and Germaine Ying Gee Wong, is from the National Film Board of Canada, which also handled the Zeitgeist release, "Manufactured Landscapes." "We are so proud to be distributing this stunning and heartbreaking true epic of life inside modern China," said company co-president Nancy Gerstman, in a statement this morning, "Like the rest of the world we're fascinated and horrified by the destruction caused by the Three Gorges Dam, and 'Up The Yangtze' gives an insiders' perspective, with compassion and dark humor." indieWIRE published an interview with director Yung Chang last week. [Eugene Hernandez]  
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iW NEWS | IMDB Gets Withoutabox

Amazon.com's Internet Movie Database has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Withoutabox, according to an announcement very early Thursday morning. "For eight years, Withoutabox has enabled filmmakers and festivals to reach the widest audience possible," said David Straus, CEO of Withoutabox, in a statement. "Now, they will be able to connect directly with the 50 million film lovers who visit IMDb each month." Withoutabox will remain a stand-alone operation in L.A., according to the brief press release. [Eugene Hernandez]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

iW NEWS | Filmmakers Create a New Path to DIY Distribution, with "From Here to Awesome"

A new fest that dubs itself as a "New Discovery and Distribution Festival" is creating a platform for DIY distribution. 'From Here to Awesome,' co-founded by filmmaker and IFP board member Lance Weiler ("Head Trauma"), Arin Crumley ("Four Eyed Monsters") and M dot Strange ("We Are the Strange") is currently accepting video submissions from filmmakers "explainging why they think their film is 'awesome.'" MySpace, YouTube and Current TV, which are partnering with the new "fest," will direct audiences to the submission videos who will have a chance to vote for their choice(s). In April, the top ten features and top ten shorts will be screened in participating theaters, via the Internet and available to portable devices with all revenue going directly to the filmmaker. Additionally, all rights will remain with the makers. "Less and less films are getting traditional distribution deals," commented Weiler in a statement Wednesday. "Form Here to Awesome is an attempt to answer some of the largest issues facing filmmakers today -- discovery, distribution and sustainability by putting the power to distribute in the hands of the filmmakers and their audiences." For more information, visit the festival's website. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

AFP: "Atonement" gets 14 BAFTA nominations

"Atonement," the film adaptation of Ian McEwan's award-winning novel about life and love in World War II, on Wednesday received 14 nominations at Britain's showpiece film awards, the BAFTAs. Elsewhere, Joel and Ethan Coen's bleak "No Country for Old Men" and Paul Thomas Anderson's "There Will Be Blood," starring Daniel Day-Lewis as a ruthless oil baron, each received nine nominations. AFP reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Awards Watch, Honors ]

iW NEWS | First Independent Eyes April Release for "Dark Matter"

2007 Sundance film "Dark Matter" will be released by First Independent Pictures this April, the company announced recently. The drama is the feature film debut of opera and theater director Chen Shi-Zheng and stars Liu Ye, Aidan Quinn, and Meryl Streep. The film delves into the world of a brilliant Chinese cosmology student pursuing a Ph.D. in the United States. Driven by ambition, yet unable to navigate academic politics, he is inexorably pushed to the margins of American life. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

iW NEWS | Samuel Goldwyn Takes "Fugitive Pieces"

Writer/director Jeremy Podeswa's Toronto Fest '07 opener "Fugitive Pieces" has been acquired by Samuel Goldwyn Films, the company announced Tuesday. The film will have its U.S. premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 2nd. Goldwyn VP of acquisitions Peter Goldwyn negotiated the deal John Sloss of Cinetic Media on behalf of the filmmakers. Based on the international bestselling novel by Anne Michaels, "Fugitive Pieces" is described by Goldwyn as a poetic and emotionally charged film about "love, loss and redemption." The film tells the story of Jakob Beer, a man whose life is haunted by his childhood experiences during World War II. As a child in Poland, Jakob is orphaned during wartime only to be saved by a compassionate Greek archeologist. Over the course of his life, he attempts to deal with the losses he has endured. Samuel Goldwyn plans a May release. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions, World Cinema ]

iW NEWS | "Harold and Kumar," "Seattle," "Crawford," "Mister Lonely" Among SXSW Titles Added

Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg's New Line Cinema release, "Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay," the sequel to "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle," will join the line up at the upcoming South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference & Festival. Suspected of terrorism after they try to sneak on board a plane to Amsterdam, they are forced to run from the law and try to find a way to prove their innocence. Joining the line up as well are: Stuart Townsend's "Battle in Seattle," David Modigliani's "Crawford," Harmony Korine's "Mister Lonely," Steve Conrad's "The Promotion," and "The Toe Tactic" by Emily Hubley. Helen Hunt will join a panel (her directorial effort, "Then She Found Me" is screening), as will sci-fi writer Harlan Ellison and Michael Eisner. For more information, visit the SXSW website. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals, SXSW ]

iW NEWS | Scorsese's "Shine A Light" to Open the 58th Berlinale

Martin Scorsese's Rolling Stones concert film "Shine A Light" will open the 58th Berlin International Film Festival February 7, the event announced today. The film captures two concerts at New York's Beacon Theatre on October 29 and November 1 in 2006. Sixteen cameras and more than a half milion feet of concert footage were shot. The concerts also featured performances from Jack White of the White Stripes as well as appearances by Christina Aguilera and Buddy Guy in addition to behind the scenes coverage. "We are extremely excited to have the world premiere of this magnificent film as our opening gala," commented festival director Dieter Kosslick in a statement. "Martin Scorsese has captured the pure essence of an iconic band on the big screen." [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Berlin, Festivals ]

iW NEWS | Truly Indie Finds a "Backseat" for the U.S.

The U.S. theatrical release of Bruce Van Dusen's coming of age late story, "Backseat," will be handled by Wagner Cuban Companies' self-distribution initiative, Truly Indie, with the theatrical premiere set for March 28th in New York, with additional cities to follow. Directed by van Dusen ("Cold Feet") and written by and starring newcomer Josh Alexander, the film is described as an "off-beat comedy about generation X as it struggles through prolonged adolescence into adulthood. The film won an audience award at the Austin Film Festival. The deal was negotiated by Josh Alexander, Henry Hardaway and Terry Leonard with Truly Indie executive director Kelly Sanders and head of business and legal affairs Jason Janego. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

iW NEWS | Academy Announces 9 Foreign Finalists; "Persepolis," "4 Months" Snubbed

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced nine films selected as finalists in the foreign-language film category. The finalists are: Stefan Ruzowitzky's "The Counterfeiters," from Austria; Cao Hamburger's "The Year My Parents Went on Vacation," from Brazil; Denys Arcand's "Days of Darkness," from Canada; Joseph Cedar's "Beaufort," from Israel; Giuseppe Tornatore's "The Unknown," from Italy; Sergei Bodrov's "Mongol," from Kazakhstan; Andrzej Wajda's "Katyn," from Poland; Nikita Mikhalkov's "12," from Russia; and Srdan Golubovic's "The Trap," from Serbia. The Academy's dismissal of heavily favored duo "Persepolis," from France, and "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days," from Romania, is sure to cause considerable criticism. Nominations for the 80th Academy Awards, including the five nominees in this category, will be announced on Tuesday, January 22, 2008, at 5:30 a.m. PST in the Samuel Goldwyn Theater. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Awards Watch, Biz ]

iW NEWS | Arthouse Canvases "Painters Painting"

Worldwide rights (excluding Canada) to art documentary "Painters Painting - The New York School: 1940-1970" by Emile de Antonio have been acquired by Arthouse Films. The film will be released for the first time DVD, and has never aired before on TV in the United States, and is currently being restored and remastered with extra footage and features. Filmswelike will be distributing the film in Canada. "Painters Painting" features a collage of interviews with the luminaries of the New York art scene, many of whom were de Antonio's close friends. The deal was negotiated by David Koh and Lilly Bright on behalf of Arthouse Films and Curiously Bright Entertainment and Ron Mann of Sphinx Productions on behalf of the Estate of Emile de Antonio. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ]

iW NEWS | IFC Launching New VOD Fest Platform With Loach's "Free World"

IFC Films has announced the launch of its second video on demand platform, this one for new films fresh from the international film festival circuit, bypassing theatrical distribution. Dubbed Festival Direct, the new service will showcase movies that have premiered at international film festivals; it will debut on February 29, 2008 with Ken Loach's "It's a Free World," described by IFC as, "a gritty thriller about a beautiful and ambitious woman who is sexually harassed and then fired from her job at a recruitment agency." The film won writer Paul Laverty a screenplay prize at the Venice fest and also screened at the Toroto International Film Festival. "European films that find a ready audience in Europe and many other parts of the world often seem to struggle in US cinemas," noted filmmaker Loach, in a statement from IFC. "While we can all speculate on the reason for that, the initiative by IFCE seems to me to be enterprising and bold. We hope to reach the audience that more conventional distributors ignore and widen the choice of films available to cinephiles and the general public alike." Festival Direct will be available on-demand on cable systems including Cablevision, Cox, Time Warner, Comcast and Charter. Films will cost $5.99. Other titles set for their debuts on IFC's Festival Direct include Baltasar Kormakur's "Jar City" from this year's Telluride and Toronto fests (and Iceland's submission for the foreign language Oscar), Nicolas Roeg's "Puffball," the Galway and Montreal Film Festivals, Chad Lowe's "Beautiful Ohio" from AFI Fest and the Sarasota Film Festival, and James Franco's "Good Time Max," from the Tribeca Film Festival. [Eugene Hernandez] 
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iW NEWS | Sundance Bound Union Square Becomes Berk|Lane

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En route to Park City with Steve Schachter's "The Deal," which will have its world premiere on January 22nd, Union Square Entertainment principals Jason Berk and Matt Lane are re-branding their company as Berk|Lane Entertainment. They said Tuesday that they will jumpstart independent film development and expand into alternative/online programming and television.  
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz, Park City ]

INDUSTRY MOVES | Amman Promoted at MPRM

Alan Amman has been promoted to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at PR and marketing firm, mPRm, the company announced today. He will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations at the company, reporting to co-presidents Rachel McCallister and Mark Pogachefsky. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Industry Moves ]

iW NEWS | PGA Announces Annual Film Award Nominations

The Producers Guild of America announced nominations in its film categories this morning in Los Angeles. The nominated films for the Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award are "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," "Juno," "Michael Clayton," "No Country For Old Men" and "There Will Be Blood." Awards are also handed out to the producers of animated films and documentaries. "Bee Movie," "Ratatouille" and "The Simpsons Movie" were the animated nominees, while "Body of War," "Hear and Now," "Pete Seeger: The Power of Song," "Sicko" and "White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki" were the documentary nominees. Winners will be announced Saturday, February 2, 2008 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. [Peter Knegt]] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Awards Watch, Honors ]

iW NEWS | New Site Seeks to Connect Filmmakers With Fans, Funding

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Described as a new "online social marketplace connecting filmmakers and fans," Indiegogo.com is launching today, offering a new web-based venue that will "address the fundraising challenges and market inefficiencies affecting independent filmmaking today." The new site intends to enable filmmakers to connect with the potential audiences for their films and raise money to move their projects forward. Among the first films joining the site is 2008 Sundance Film Festival entry "Flow: For The Love of Water" by Irena Salina. The filmmakers are looking to raise $10,000 for post production and music clearances, offering a range of benefits to contributors, including invitations to the film's NYC premiere, a coffee chat with the director and an autographed DVD. [Eugene Hernandez] 
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iW NEWS | Weekend Estimates: "Blood", "Persepolis" To Lead iW BOT

According to indieWIRE Box Office Tracking (iW BOT) estimates from Rentrak, Paul Thomas Anderson's "There Will Be Blood" will clearly top this week's iW BOT as it expanded to 129 screens. The Paramount Vantage Oscar hopeful took in $1.94 million for an average of $15,039 in its third weekend, bringing its total to $4.35 million. Behind "Blood" was Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi's "Persepolis," which took in $194,878 on 18 screens, averaging $10,827 and bringing its cume to $548,229. With no reported openings to report from the estimates, notable expansions included Juan Antonio Bayona's "The Orphanage," which aggressively went to 707 screens in its second weekend, suffering a significant drop in its per-location average. The Picturehouse release took in $2.1 million for an average of $2,891. Meanwhile, perhaps the most aggressive expansion in recent Indiewood history continued on its way, as "Juno" rose to a Fox Searchlight record 2,448 screens and took in $14.0 million. It lost out on first place overall to the expanded "The Bucket List" (which topped the overall box office), but topped $70 million and is now less than $1 million away from being Fox Searchlight's highest grossest film ever. indieWIRE publishes its weekly box office column on Mondays and final weekend numbers for specialty and limited release films on Tuesdays. Get the latest in the indieWIRE Box Office section. [Peter Knegt] 
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