indieWIRE Presents: Filmmaker Guy Maddin @ Apple Store SoHo

Tribeca Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois.

Apple and indieWIRE are again proud to present daily Filmmaker Talks at the Apple Store, SoHo during the upcoming 2008 Tribeca Film Festival.

Guy Maddin: Sunday, April 27, 5:30 p.m. Filmmaker Guy Maddin (The Saddest Music in the World, Brand Upon the Brain!) discusses his latest film, My Winnipeg. A docu-fantasia, as he calls it, My Winnipeg won the Best Canadian Feature Film award at the Toronto International Film Festival. After screening at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, it will be released by IFC Films on June 13, 2008. The event will be moderated by film journalist and regular indieWIRE contributor Dennis Lim.

Read the entire lineup here.

 
[permalink]   [ filed under Events, New York ]

iW NEWS | "English Surgeon," "Junior" Top Winners at Hot Docs

The winners of the 15th Annual Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival were announced Friday night at the Isabel Bader Theatre in Toronto. Ten awards and $30,000 in cash and prizes were presented. Geoffrey Smith's "The English Surgeon" won for best international feature documentary, with the jury commenting in a statement: "Polished and shameless, in the best sense of combining two seemingly contradictory elements and shaping them into a satisfying and penetrating whole." Isabelle Lavigne and Stephane Thibault's hockey doc "Junior" won the award for best canadian feature documentary. Special jury prizes were awarded to Tamar Yarom's "To See If I'm Smiling" in the international category, and Nik Sheenan's "Flicker" in the Canadian category. The new HBO Documentary Films Emerging Artist Award was presented to Boris Despodov for "Corridor #8." The festival continues until Sunday, and the winners for both the audience award and CIDA Award for best Canadian film will be announced Monday, April 28. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals, Honors ]

indieWIRE Presents: Filmmaker Tony Gilroy and Actress Amy Poehler @ Apple Store SoHo

Tribeca Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois.

Apple and indieWIRE are again proud to present daily Filmmaker Talks at the Apple Store, SoHo during the upcoming 2008 Tribeca Film Festival.

Tony Gilroy: Saturday, April 26, 6:30 p.m. Nominated for two Academy Awards for Michael Clayton--for directing and original screenplay--Tony Gilroy wrote the scripts for Dolores Claiborne, Devil's Advocate, and all three Bourne movies. He'll speak with us about his next film, Duplicity (starring Clive Owen and Julia Roberts), which he wrote and is directing. SPECIAL GUEST MODERATOR! The event will be moderated by director/screenwriter Nora Ephron(When Harry Met Sally..., Sleepless in Seattle, Bewitched.)

Amy Poehler Saturday, April 26, 8:00 p.m. Currently in her seventh season of Saturday Night Live, Amy Poehler (Blades of Glory, Shrek the Third, Mr. Woodcock) has a busy year ahead of her. With filming under way on Hoodwinked 2: Hood vs. Evil, four of her films--Hamlet 2, Horton Hears a Who!, Baby Mama, and Spring Breakdown--will debut in theaters in 2008. Hear the comedienne and actress talk about her various roles and film and TV projects. SPECIAL GUEST MODERATOR! The event will be moderated by actor and Saturday Night Live cast member Fred Armisen. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Events, New York ]

iW NEWS | "$Free.99," "Stuart Hornsley," "Matador," and "Bardos" Win All Access Awards in Tribeca

Tribeca Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois.

The 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, along with the Tribeca Film Institute, announced the winners of the fifth annual Tribeca All Access Creative Promise Awards. Tribeca All Access (TAA) is a program designed to help "foster relationships between film industry executives and filmmakers from traditionally underrepresented communities." The winners were announced earlier this evening at a ceremony at Budakkan in New York City. Pete Chatmon won the narrative section prize for his current screenplay, "$Free.99," co-written by Candice Sanchez McClaren. The emerging narrative section prize went to Leigh Dana Jackson for "The Infinite Life of Stuart Hornsley," with producer Moira Griffin." Gemma Cubero and Celeste Carrasco won the documentary section award for their work-in-progress, "She Wants to Be A Matador," while Anslem Richardson won the screenwriting section prize for "Bardos. The winners were selected from 31 eligible projects. The first three come with $12,000 prizes, while the latter is awarded $8,500. "We continue to be impressed at the caliber of our Tribeca All Access filmmakers," said Jane Rosenthal, co-founder of the Tribeca Film Institute, in a statement. "In just five years the TAA program has proved to be a vibrant marketplace at the Festival where strong narrative, documentary and screenwriting is presented year after year." [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals, Honors, New York ]

BBC: Madonna launches Malawi Aids film

Tribeca Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois.

On the red carpet at the Tribeca Film Festival, Madonna told reporters how "I Am Because We Are" contains a message of obligation. Tom Brook reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under New York, People ]

iW NEWS | City Lights Takes "The Matador"

City Lights Pictures announced the acquisition of the North American theatrical, internet and DVD rights to the Nina Gilden Seavey's doc "The Matador." Documenting David Fandila's journey to become the world's top bullfighter, the film had its world premiere at SXSW last month. "City Lights is honored to be releasing such a stunning film," said CEO Danny Fisher in a statement. "This isn't just a riveting documentary about a fascinating subject, this is an entertainment spectacle that emerges us in a unique and controversial sport." [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

INDUSTRY MOVES | Rob Williams Tapped for Liberation

Rob Williams has been named VP of acquisitions at Liberation Entertainment, leaving his acquisitions post at Netflix's Red Envelope Entertainment. In the words of an announcement, in this new position Williams will, "develop and oversee the company's U.S. acquisition strategy for film & television across multiple platforms."  
[permalink]   [ filed under Industry Moves ]

indieWIRE PRESENTS | TODAY: Clive Owen @ Apple Store SoHo

Tribeca Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois.

Apple and indieWIRE are again proud to present daily Filmmaker Talks at the Apple Store, SoHo during the upcoming 2008 Tribeca Film Festival.

Clive Owen: Friday, April 25, 6:30 p.m. Academy Award-nominated actor Clive Owen (Closer, Gosford Park, Inside Man, Children of Men) comes to the Apple Store, SoHo, to talk about two upcoming film projects--The International (with Naomi Watts) and Tony Gilroy's Duplicity (opposite Julia Roberts)--and to take audience questions. SPECIAL GUEST MODERATOR! The event will be moderated by filmmaker Mary Harron (American Psycho, I Shot Andy Warhol, The Notorious Betty Page.)

Read the entire lineup here.

 
[permalink]   [ filed under Events, New York ]

iW NEWS | Urman Named ThinkFilm President

Mark Urman has been promoted to President of ThinkFilm, replacing Jeff Sackman who recently left the company. A co-founder of the company, Urman was head of theatrical distribution when it launched in September of 2001. Urman will remain based in New York City, which will now serve as the company's headquarters. Making the announcement, ThinkFilm chairman David Bergstein said, in a statement, "Mark has played a crucial role in establishing THINK as a brand that is known and respected around the world. His strengthened role in the company guarantees that THINKFilm will retain its unique identity even as we take the company in new directions." Since being acquired by Bergstein's CapCo in the fall of 206, the company has expanded stateside, while selling off its Canadian assets last month. Urman previously served as Co-President of Lions Gate Film Releasing and has also worked for Dennis Davidson Associates, Columbia Pictures, Triumph Films, and United Artists. The company's next release, "Then She Found Me" opens in theaters tomorrow, April 25th. [Eugene Hernandez]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Industry Moves ]

Reuters: Madonna shines light on Malawi with documentary

Tribeca Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois.

A single phone call prompted Madonna to begin charity work in Malawi and it was while making a documentary on the African country's 1 million orphans that she found a baby she decided to adopt. Michelle Nichols reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under New York, People ]

Reuters: Spike Lee teams with Nokia on cell phone movie

Filmmaker Spike Lee has linked up with Nokia to direct a movie made with cell phone footage from everyday people in what he calls the democratization of film. Reuters reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under People ]

iW NEWS | TIFF Names New Programmers

The Toronto International Film Festival appointed two new programmers for 2008. Film critic, author, journalist and Concordia University professor Matthew Hays has been announced as the Canadian feature programmer, while film curator Kathleen Mullen has been named Short Cuts Canada programmer. Hays has been the film critic for the Montreal Mirror since 1993 and has written for a broad range of publications, including The New York Times, The Guardian, The Advocate and The Hollywood Reporter. Mullen has programmed numerous festivals and film centres, including Provincetown International Film Festival, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts Film Program, and the Vancouver International Film Festival. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

Apple & indieWIRE Daily Filmmaker Talks Kick Off This Week

Tribeca Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois.

Apple and indieWIRE are again proud to present daily Filmmaker Talks at the Apple Store, SoHo during the upcoming 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. Get a peek behind the scenes from leading filmmakers and actors. Come to Apple Store, SoHo to hear these filmmakers share their stories: Tony Gilroy, Paul Haggis, Tom Kalin, Harmony Korine, Guy Maddin, Matthew Modine, Greg Mottola, Clive Owen, Amy Poehler, Isabella Rossellini, Morgan Spurlock, and Adam Yauch. Read the entire lineup here. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Events, New York ]

iW NEWS | SilverDocs to Fete Spike Lee

Academy Award-winning director Spike Lee will be honored at the Charles Guggenheim Symposium at June's SilverDocs festival, which takes place in Maryland near Washington, D.C. The event, named after the late, four-time Academy Award-winner Charles Guggenheim, honors a filmmaker who has "mastered the power of the documentary to capture current events, frame history and who inspires audiences with powerful explorations of the complexity of the human experience." "Spike Lee truly is truly a master storyteller; in both his contemporary and historical films, he uncovers the deep truths and unhealed wounds of the American experience while celebrating our resilience and passion," commented AFI president and CEO Bob Gazzale in a statement. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

iW NEWS | Ang Lee to Sing to "Woodstock"

"Taking Woodstock" is the next project for Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee, and Focus Features CEO James Schamus is writing the script, which is an adaptation of Elliot Tiber's memoir, "Taking Woodstock: A True Story of a Riot, a Concert, and a Life." Set in 1969, the true story focuses on Tiber who proved pivotal in allowing the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival to happen. As an interior designer in New York's Greenwich Village, he was also tied to his family's motel in the Catskills. As its part-time manager, he had become the local town's issuer of event permits, and he granted permission for what was originally thought would be a small event. Soon half a million people were on their way to Mr. Tiber's neighbor's farm in White Lake, New York, and Mr. Tiber found himself swept up in a generation-defining experience that would change his life, and American culture, forever. "Elliot's exuberant and heartfelt story is a perfect window onto the Woodstock experience, exploring an inspiring historical moment when liberation and freedom were in the air," commented Schamus in a statement. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Production ]

INSIDE WORD | TRIBECA '08: "The List"

Tribeca Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois.

Over at Gawker, Nick Denton blows the lid off that infamous party list that always makes the rounds right before a larger fest. But, beware, the roster of Tribeca Film Festival bashes warns ominously, "Never trust the list, it often lies..."  
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals, New York ]

iW BOT | "The Visitor" Tops Chart Again

Tom McCarthy's "The Visitor" from Overture Films is atop the weekly iW BOT box office chart, which was published this afternoon. The film earned $166,499 on 18 screens over the weekend, for an average of $9,250. More in this week's box office column, which was published last night. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

iW NEWS | Recipient of Maryland Filmmakers Fellowship Announced

The Sundance Institute and the Maryland Filmmakers Fellowship announced the recipients of their joint fellowship Tuesday. John Morgan and Meg La Fauve, for their feature film project "The Cavanaughs were presented with a $10,000 grant to help move the project forward. "The Cavanaughs" details the story of an evangelical woman who suddenly rejects her faith and family and falls in love with a woman, sending the rest of her family into chaos. Presented in partnership with the Maryland Film Office, the fellowship was created in 1993 by independent producer Jed Dietz. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Honors ]

iW NEWS | CFC and NFB Launch Doc Development Program

The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) and the National Film Board (NFB) have joined forces to create Canada's first program to develop theatrical documentaries. The CFC NFB Feature Documentary Program, announced Tuesday at a Hot Docs event in Toronto, will launch in January 2009 with the goal of developing "successful original feature documentaries for international cinema audiences." The six-month program is designed to help directors develop cinematic documentaries that will combine weeks of residency at the CFC with project-specific mentorship from documentary talents."From 'Manufactured Landscapes' to the most recent critically acclaimed 'Up The Yangtze,' Canadian feature documentaries continue to dazzle audiences worldwide with their cinematic vision and masterful storytelling," said Slawko Klymkiw, CFC Executive Director, in a statement. "s CFC commences our 20th year of leadership in training content creators, we are proud to launch this new program with the NFB." The submission deadline is August 28, 2008. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz, Documentary ]

indieWIRE Presents: Errol Morris at Apple Stores in NYC and San Francisco

Tribeca Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois.

Join Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker, Errol Morris ("The Fog of War") at the Apple Store as he screens clips and discusses the making of his latest film, "Standard Operating Procedure." The film explores how photographs taken by soldiers in Abu Ghraib prison have changed the war in Iraq and changed America's image of itself. After the discussion, Morris will take questions from the audience. Sony Pictures Classics will release the film on April 25.

indieWIRE contributor and journalist Anthony Kaufman will moderate the NYC discussion.

Apple Store, SoHo
Wednesday, April 23, 6:30 p.m.

Apple Store, San Francisco
Wednesday, April 30, 7:00 p.m.

 
[permalink]   [ filed under Events, New York ]

iW NEWS | Nantucket Fest To Honor Apatow, Ryan

The 13th Annual Nantucket Film Festival announced that Judd Apatow will receive the Suzanne and Bob Wright Screenwriter's Tribute Award during the fest, while Meg Ryan will be honored with the Compass Rose Acting Tribute Award. Ryan will be on hand to present the second Adrienne Shelly Excellence in Filmmaking Award, which gives a cash prize to a promising female writer/director at the festival. Additionally, the festival announced its programming, with Brad Anderson's "Transsiberian opening the fest and Jonathan Levine's "The Wackness" closing it. For a full list of programming, please visit the festival's website. The festival runs June 19-22, 2008. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals, Honors ]

E Online: Roger Ebert Previews Film Fest from Hospital Bed

The Pulitzer Prize-winning critic, who has been absent from "Ebert & Roeper" for the better part of a year while undergoing cancer treatment, had been squeezing in some extra physical therapy at the Pritikin Center to prepare for his upcoming annual film fest April 23-27 at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Natalie Finn reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under People ]

iW NEWS | "Red Like The Sky" a Winner in Palm Beach

The 13th Annual Palm Beach International Film Festival handed out its awards this week, with Christiano Bortone's "Red Like The Sky" (Rosso Come II Cielo) taking the jury's best feature film and best director awards. The film recounts the true story of the early life of blind sound editor Micro Mencacci. Other awards went to the ensemble cast of "Kings," which includes Colm Meaney and Brendan Conroy, for achievement in acting, while Lauzanne Xavier's "With One Voice" (D'une Suele Voix) won the jury's award for best documentary feature. Shalini Kantaya's "A Drop of Life" won the short film award. Audience awards went to Lynn Roth's "The Little Traitor for best feature film, and Jody Lambert's "Of All Things" for best documentary feature. "This year, for me, it was refreshing and inspiring to have had the honor to discover so many wonderful filmmakers from the corners of the earth," said PBIFF Director Randi Emerman in a statement. The festival closed with a screening of "Young@Heart." [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Honors ]

iW NEWS | "Young@Heart" Atlanta Audience Winner

The 32nd Annual Atlanta Film Festival wrapped up Sunday night with the local premiere of Tom McCarthy's "The Visitor" and the announcement of award winners in a variety of categories. Stephen Walker's hit documentary "Young@Heart" won the audience award, The Deagol Brothers' "Make Out With Violence" took the jury prize for a dramatic feature, while Peter Gilbert and Steven James' "At The Death House Door" won the jury's documentary feature award. In the shorts program, Rob Meyer's "Aquarium" won for narrative, Grace Channer's "But Some Are Brave" won for animation, and Natalie Halpern's "Africa's Daughters" won for documentary. A special jury prize for excellence in direction was awarded to Lynn Shelton for "My Effortless Brilliance," while the inaugural Pink Peach Award for the best LGBT film at the festival went to Lucia Puenzo's "XXY." [EDITOR'S NOTE: indieWIRE Assistant Editor Peter Knegt served on the shorts jury at this year's Atlanta Film Festival.]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

AFP: Turkish film scoops top annual award at Istanbul film festival

The 27th Istanbul International Film Festival awarded on Saturday its most prestigious prize, the Golden Tulip, to "Yumurta" (Egg) by Turkish film-maker Semih Kaplanoglu for best film of the year. AFP reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

AP: Tribeca hopes for rebound after criticism last year

Tribeca Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois.

In 2007, the Tribeca Film Festival underwent a modern-day rite of passage: the backlash. Jake Coyle reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals, New York ]

iW NEWS | Maryland Film Festival Sets Line-Up

The 10th Anniversary of the Maryland Film Festival, held in downtown Baltimore, will take place May 1-4, 2009. Its programming was announced Monday, including the annual "John Waters Pick," this year scheduled as Claude Chabrol's "Story of Women," which Waters himself will introduce. Other highlights include closing night selection "Confessions of a Ex-Doofus Itchy Footed Mutha," directed by Melvin Van Peebles, as well Nanette Burstein's "American Teen," Jay and Mark Duplass' "Baghead," Alex Gibney's "Gonzo," Azazel Jacobs' "Momma's Man" and Joe Swanberg and Greta Gerwig's "Nights and Weekends." [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under ]

iW NEWS | Edinburgh Fest Announces 22 Docs

The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) announced Monday that it will showcase twenty-two documentary features as part of its lineup. "The scope and quality of the documentaries we have viewed this year is incredibly impressive," said Artistic Director Hannah McGill in a statement. "It was very hard to whittle them back to this list, so these are the best of the best." They include Chris Waitt's "A Complete History of My Sexual Failures," James Marsh's "Man on Wire," Daniel O'Connor and Neil Ortenberg's "Obscene," Ron Davis and Stewart Halpern's "Pageant," and Errol Morris's "Standard Operating Procedure." EIFF takes place from June 18-29, 2008. Its full programme will be announced on May 7. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

iW NEWS | Hailer Upped at Berlin Fest

Thomas Hailer, currently director of the Generation section at the Berlin International Film Festival, has been named the Berlinale's new Program Manager, working closely with festival head Dieter Kosslick. Meanwhile, Maryanne Redpath has been named director of Generation, Berlin's youth film section. She previously served as Co-Director of the section and will be succeeded in that post by Florian Weghorn. [Eugene Hernandez]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

DHD | New Joint Premium TV Channel Venture...

In an apparent split with Showtime, an announcement Sunday indicated that Viacom, Paramount (including Paramount Vantage), MGM, and Lionsgate will join forces to launch a new premium movie network and VOD outlet, Deadline Hollywood Daily details.  
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

VAR | Belladonna, Matson form partnership

Launching "a yearlong film festival," Belladonna Productions and Matson Films will join forces to acquire and distribute six Latin American films per year in 20 U.S. cities. The initiative is called the New World Cinema Series (NWCS), according to Variety. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals, World Cinema ]

iW NEWS | Weekend Estimates: "Visitor" Leads, "Bin Laden" Stumbles

Tom McCarthy's "The Visitor" (from Overture Films) expanded nicely in its second week, taking in an estimated $163,000 on 18 screens, for an estimated $9,056 per screen average, according to indieWIRE Box Office Tracking (iW BOT) estimates from Rentrak this afternoon. "The Visitor," which expanded from its 4 screen opening, has now taken in $279,901. It beat out the opening of Morgan Spurlock's "Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden?," which opened on an ambitious 102 screens for The Weinstein Company. The film averaged only $1,405, below two other reported limited openers: IFC's "Anamorph," which averaged $3,024, and Sony Repertory Pictures' "Zombie Strippers," which averaged $2,250. Among holdovers, Fox Searchlight's "Young@Heart" expanded from 4 to 33 screens, and took in $144,703 for a $4,385 average. In its third weekend, IFC Films' "Flight of the Red Balloon" also continued to show promise, averaging $3,570 on 11 screens and taking its total to $124,685. 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] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]