Reuters: New mayor to tone down glitz at Rome film festival

Expect less Hollywood glamour and more home-grown cinema at the Rome Film Festival -- the new right-wing mayor of Italy's capital has made clear he wants to see changes at the movie showcase created by his predecessor. Reuters reports. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

indieWIRE PRESENTS | TODAY: Adam Yauch and Tribeca Student Filmmakers@ Apple Store SoHo

Tribeca Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois.

Apple and indieWIRE daily Filmmaker Talks CONTINUE at the Apple Store, SoHo during the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival.

Adam Yauch: Friday, May 2, 6:30 p.m.
Before turning to film and directing--first with Awesome; I Shot That! and then with Gunnin' for That #1 Spot (now screening at the Tribeca Film Festival)--Adam Yauch also remains a founding member of the hip-hop trio Beastie Boys. He brings a unique perspective to filmmaking, which you'll discover as he discusses his latest project and fields questions from the audience. ABC News Radio's Movie Critic David Blaustein will moderate the discussion.

Student Filmmaker Panel: Friday, May 2, 8:00 p.m.
You may not recognize their names now, but that's about to change. Meet some up-and-coming filmmakers whose movies are being screened at this year's Tribeca Film Festival. Apple's Michael Wong will moderate the discussion.

Read the entire lineup here.

 
[permalink]   [ filed under Events, New York ]

iW NEWS | Thirteen Projects on Tap for Sundance Directors and Screenwriters Labs

Thirteen projects have been selected by the Sundance Institute to participate in its June directors and screenwriters labs. Emerging filmmakers from the U.S., U.K., South Africa, China, Costa Rica and Brazil will participate in the programs which take place at the Sundance Resort in Utah May 26 - June 26 under the leadership of Michelle Satter and artistic direction of Gyula Gazdag. Projects participating in the June directors lab (May 26 - June 21) include: "Blood Abundance, or the Half-Life of Antoinette" by John Magary (writer/director, U.S.), "Casa Grande" by Felipe Gamarano Barbosa (co-writer/director) and Karen Sztajnberg (co-writer, U.S./Brazil), "Meadowlandz" by Moon Molson (writer/director, U.S.), "Pariah" by Dee Rees" (writer/director, U.S.), "Poletown" by Daniel Casey (writer/director, U.S.), "Return" by Liza Johnson (writer/director, U.S.), "Shockheaded Peter" by Frank Budgen (writer/director, U.K.), and "Tshepang" by Lara Foot Newton and Gerhard Marx (co-writers/co-directors, South Africa). Screenwriters lab participants (June 21 - 26) include: "Agua Fria de Mar" by Paz Fabrega (writer/director, Costa Rica), "All Fall Down" by Jonathan Wysocki (writer/director, U.S.), "Look for Water" by Jennifer Phang (co-writer/director) and Dominic Mah (co-writer, U.S.), "The White Circus" by Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski (co-writers/co-directors, Canada) and "That Year When We Were Young," by Peng Tao ) co-writer/director) and Zeng Wenwen (co-writer, China). "We are thrilled to be supporting such a promising group of filmmakers who bring authenticity, urgency, and innovation to their storytelling," commented Satter, director of the feature film program in a statement. "The June Lab offers a place to fully explore the potential of their material and to develop their craft as screenwriters and directors." [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Events ]

iW NEWS | "Battle," "Shock," and "Kiss" Among Highlights for 34th Seattle Fest

One hundred and ninety-one features as well as 170 shorts are on tap for the 34th Seattle International Film Festival taking place May 22 - June 15, including 38 North American and 19 U.S. premieres. As previously announced, Stuart Townsend's "Battle in Seattle" will kick off the 25-day long event with "Seattle" actors Charlize Theron and Martin Henderson as well as Townsend in attendance. Randall Miller's "Bottle Shock," described as a "cinematic love letter to California's wine country," starring Alan Rickman and Bill Pullman will close the festival. Sean McGinly's "The Great Buck Howard" with Colin Hanks, John Malkovich and Tom Hanks will screen as a Centerpiece Gala June 6, while a "Gay-la" extravaganza and post-screening party will be held on Thursday, May 29 for the romantic comedy, "Kiss the Bride," starring Tori Spelling, and Philipp Karne. Among the festival highlights are the world premiere of "Jolene," co-directed by SIFF founder Dan Ireland. Eight films are slated to screen in the festival's New American Cinema competition, including the world premieres of Russell Brown's "The Bluetooth Virgin," "Em" by Tony Barbieri, and Jared Drake's "Visioneers." Debuting in the doc competition are "Combalimon," by Raphael Mathie (U.S. premiere), "Fairytale of Kathmandu," by Neasa Ni Chianain (North American premiere), "Hold Me Tight, Let Me Go" by Kim Longinotto, "In Search of Kennedy" by Chuck Workman (world premiere) and "Shadow of the Holy Book" by Arto Halonen. For more information and a full line up, visit the festival's website. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

INDUSTRY MOVES | Phathanavirangoon Joins Toronto Fest

Raymond Phathanavirangoon has been named the Southest Asian progammer for this year's Toronto International Film Festival. He joins TIFF from Fortissimo Films where he served as director of marketing and special projects. Phathanavirangoon has served as an international programmer for the Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival, worked for the Hong Kong International Film Festival and served on the Teddy Jury at last year's Berlin International Film Festival. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Industry Moves, Toronto ]

INDUSTRY MOVES | Yeung Joins Fortissimo's HK Office; Lim Promoted

Esther Yeung has been named director of marketing and special projects, replacing Raymond Phathanavirangoon in the Hong Kong office of Fortissimo Films. She joins the company from the Asia Film Financing Forum. Additionally, Ingrid Y. Lim has been promoted to director of distribution and Asian sales.  
[permalink]   [ filed under Industry Moves ]

iW NEWS | TV Deal for "Waiting for Hockney"

Tribeca Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois.

Channel 4 and More 4 have announced a UK television deal for Julia Checkoway's "Waiting For Hockney," about American artist Billy Pappas. The film had its world premiere in the Discovery section at the Tribeca Film Festival.  
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions, New York ]

IMDUSTRY MOVES | Dubinet at Unified

Ann Dubinet has been named Head of Strategic Planning, Acquisitions & Distribution at Unified Pictures. She will oversee the company's international sales and distribution operations, as well as handling domestic distribution and marketing duties.  
[permalink]   [ filed under Industry Moves ]

indieWIRE PRESENTS | TODAY: Harmony Korine @ Apple Store SoHo

Tribeca Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois.

Apple and indieWIRE daily Filmmaker Talks continue at the Apple Store, SoHo during the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival.

Harmony Korine: Thursday, May 1, 6:30 p.m.
Hear screenwriter, director, and producer Harmony Korine (Gummo, Julien Donkey-Boy) discuss Mister Lonely, his third feature film. Screening at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, Mister Lonely debuted at Cannes, and is scheduled for release by IFC Films on May 2, 2008.
Film Producer Scott Macaulay (Gummo, Julien Donkey-Boy, Raising Victor Vargas) will moderate the discussion.

Read the entire lineup here.

 
[permalink]   [ filed under Events, New York ]

HR | iTunes to sell new films day-and-date

Apple will announce a deal to offer new releases on its iTunes store day-and-date with the film's DVD release, to The Hollywood Reporter. The deal will include Fox, Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal, Sony Pictures, Lionsgate and New Line, according to the Hollywood trade, adding, "The deal does not include new titles from MGM but does extend to boutique firms such as Magnolia and Image Entertainment."  
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

iW NEWS | Goldwyn and Sony Get "Elegy"

iW NEWS | Goldwyn and Sony Get "Elegy" Earlier today, Samuel Goldwyn Films and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group (SPWAG) announced a partnership to acquire U.S. rights to Isabel Coixet's "Elegy," starring Penelope Cruz and Ben Kingsley. Netflix's Red Envelope Entertainment is also on board for the release and will work to promote the film to their 7 million subscribers. Produced by Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi and Andre Lamal, the Lakeshore Entertainment film which debuted at the Berlinale earlier this year, is based on Pulitzer Prize winner Philip Roth's short novel "The Dying Animal" and was adapted by Nicholas Meyer. The deal was negotiated by Goldwyn's Meyer Gottlieb and Peter Goldwyn, Sony's Scott Shooman Lakeshore's David Dinerstein and Netflix's Thom Zadra. [Eugene Hernandez] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

iW NEWS | THINKFilm Makes Theatrical & Home Video Deal for "Roman Polanski" Doc

U.S. theatrical and home video rights to Sundance '08 doc "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired" have been acquired by THINKFilm from HBO, which acquired the title at the festival in January. "Polanski" will have its international premiere at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival. HBO will air the film on June 9th, and THINK will launch a theatrical roll out beginning July 11 in New York. Directed by Marina Zenovich, the film spotlights the the public scandal and private tragedy that drove the legendary director from the United States more than 30 years ago. "Marina's film is one of the best documentaries I've seen in years," commented Urman in a statement. "It is as compulsively enjoyable as the juiciest tabloid yet it also serves as a stunning indictment of our tabloid-crazed culture. Buoyed by HBO's terrific promotional support, the film should have enormous want-to-see, and exhibitor interest in the film couldn't be higher." The deal, which was jointly announced by THINKFilm president Mark Urman and Sheila Nevins, president, HBO Documentary Films, and is the latest collaboration between the two companies, whose series of partnerships has included recent Oscar-winner, "Taxi to the Dark Side.." Last month, reported on the film's brief Oscar-qualifying run, which indieWIRE. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions, Cannes, Documentary ]

iW NEWS | LA Jewish Fest To Open With "Little Traitor"

The 3rd annual Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival (LAJFF) will commence May 8th by celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel with the Los Angeles premiere of Lynn Roth's "The Little Traitor." The festival will also honor Theodore Bikel with a special award, and Joan Rivers with the Marlene Adler Marks Woman of Inspiration Award. "I can't think of a better way to celebrate our third annual festival than by honoring Israel's 60th anniversary with Lynn Roth's inspiring and poignant film and Theodore Birkel's work within the Jewish community," said Executive Director Hilary Helstein in a statement. The festival runs May 8-15, 2008 with over thirty features, documentaries, short subjects and cultural events at various locations around Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

iW NEWS | Foreign Finalists Announced For Student Oscar

Five finalists were selected from 45 entries representing 29 foreign countries to compete for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' 2008 Honorary Foreign Film award in the 35th Annual Student Academy Awards competition. The finalists include Martin Duda's "I Am Bigger and Better (Czech Republic), Sergi Perez's "New Dress" (Spain), Reto Caffi's "On the Line" (Germany), Lior Geller's "Roads" (Israel), Matev Luzar's "Vucko" (Slovenia). The winning student filmmaker will be brought to Los Angeles, along with U.S.-based Student Academy Award winners, to participate in a week of industry-related activities and social events that will culminate in the awards presentation ceremony on June 7 in Beverly Hills. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Honors ]

iW NEWS | Tribeca Film Institute Announces Fellowships

The Tribeca Film Institute announced the recipients of its 2008 Media Arts Fellowships Tuesday. The fellowships, founded and supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, recognize the artistic excellence of 20 film, video and new media artists in the United States with cash awards of $35,000 each. The program also awards two additional Fellowships of $7,500 each to emerging film and video artists. "These 22 artists represent some of the most talented and forward-thinking artists creating independent media today" said Jane Rosenthal, Co-Chair of the Tribeca Film Institute in a statement. "We look forward to their lasting and substantial contribution to independent film and arts." The film and video fellows are Julianna Brannum, Andrew Bujalski, Daniel Carrera, Cherien Dabis, Jacqueline Goss, Judith Helfand, Braden King, Billy Luther, Shirin Neshat, Hugo Perez, Laura Poitras, Dee Rees, Jennifer Reeves, Naomi Uman, Lauren Woods, and Jessica Yu. The new media fellows are Sharon Daniel, Joe Davis, Josh On, C.E.B. Reas, Michael Rees, and Paul Vanouse. [Peter Knegt]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Honors ]

indieWIRE PRESENTS | TODAY: Greg Mottola @ Apple Store SoHo

Tribeca Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois.

Apple and indieWIRE daily Filmmaker Talks CONTINUE at the Apple Store, SoHo during the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival.

Greg Mottola: Wednesday, April 30, 6:30 p.m.
The director of last year's smash hit Superbad, Greg Mottola (The Daytrippers, Undeclared, Arrested Development) has written and directed a new film, Adventureland, scheduled for release by Miramax later this year. Greg will discuss his latest comedy with audience members. indieWIRE Editor in Chief Eugene Hernandez will moderate the discussion.

Read the entire lineup here.

 
[permalink]   [ filed under Events, New York ]

iBOT UPDATE | "Yangtze" Tops Chart

Yung Chang's doc "Up The Yangtze" from Zeitgeist Films is atop the weekly iW BOT box office chart, which was published this afternoon. The film earned $15,831 on 1 screens over the weekend. More in this week's box office column, which was published last night. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Biz ]

iW NEWS | C'est Officiel: "Blindness" To Open Cannes

Five Films Added to Fest... Fernando Mereilles's "Blindness" will in fact open the 2008 Festival de Cannes on May 14th -- screening in competition -- organizers have just announced. Rounding out the Official Selection for the upcoming event, planners added a few additional films to the roster. A third French film, Laurent Cantet's "Entre Les murs," will also screen in competition, joined by James Gray's "Two Lovers." Meanwhile, opening the festival's Un Certain Regard section on May 15th will be Steve McQueen's "Hunger." Finally, Robert DeNiro will present the Palme d'Or on closing night, May 25th, followed by a screening of Barry Levinson's "What Just Happened," starring DeNiro, Robin Wright Penn, John Turturro and this year's Cannes jury president Sean Penn. [Eugene Hernandez]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Cannes, Festivals ]

iW NEWS | Filmax Goes with "Paraiso Travel"

Tribeca Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois.

Filmax has acquired international sales rights and Spanish theatrical rights to Simon Brand's "Paraiso Travel." Screening as a North American premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, Filmax will have the title in the Cannes Market next month. CAA is handling North American rights. Based on Jorge Franco's book, the film has already been a hit in Colombia, where it was one of the two two grossing films ever in the country. [Eugene Hernandez]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions, New York ]

VAR | IFC Takes "Fermat's Room"

Tribeca Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois.

IFC has acquired North American rights to Luis Piedrahita and Rodrigo Sopena's "Fermat's Room," according to Variety. The film is currently screening in the Discovery section at the Tribeca Film Festival. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions, New York ]

iW NEWS | Marcie Bloom Fellowship Announced

Marcie Bloom, former co-president of Sony Pictures Classics and partner of Orion Classics, announced Tuesday the formation of The Marcie Bloom Fellowship in Film, a New York-based mentoring program designed to introduce up to four college seniors and recent graduates to the film industry. For the first year of the fellowship, participating colleges will be Wesleyan University, Columbia University and The New School. "I always dreamt of a career where I would have a reason to be around talented, creative people without being just a 'groupie,'." said Bloom in a statement. "I see this as a way of 'giving back' to a community which has been extremely kind and generous to me, and supportive of me for a long time." [Peter Knegt]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Film School ]

iW NEWS | Filmaka Announces Competition Winner

Filmaka, a global digital entertainment studio and online creative community, announced that Nuru Rimington-Mkali is the winner of its first annual feature film competition with his short "And I Refuse To Forget." Filmaka will reward Rimington-Mkali by producing his first feature film. Filmaka, founded by producer Deepak Nayar and led by industry executive Sandy Grushow is committed to "inspiring, celebrating, and rewarding creativity and talent by providing a variety of professional opportunities for undiscovered filmmakers and writers from all corners of the world." It launches its 2nd competition Tuesday, go to their website for details. [Peter Knegt]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Honors ]

INSIDE WORD | Meirelles' "Blindness" Tipped for Cannes Opening Slot

Increasing buzz indicates that Fernando Meirelles' "Blindness" will open the 2008 Festival de Cannes, two weeks from tomorrow. In Canada, the Globe and Mail reported that the film, shot partially in Toronto, will kick-off the fest on May 14th, joining the roster that was announced last week. Cannes festival reps did not immediately respond to inquiries this morning and today Miramax said the reports were "still a rumor at this point," but other film insiders are confirming the news. "Blindness" was adapted by celebrated Canadian writer, actor and director Don McKellar from Jose Saramago's acclaimed novel and has been described by Miramax as follows: "When a sudden plague of blindness devastates a city, a small group of the afflicted band together to triumphantly overcome the horrific conditions of their imposed quarantine." It stars Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Alice Braga, Danny Glover and Gael Garcia Bernal. The film was produced by Niv Fichman, Andrea Barata Ribeiro, and Sonoko Sakai and executive produced by Gail Egan and Simon Channing-Williams. [Eugene Hernandez]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Cannes, Festivals ]

indieWIRE PRESENTS | TODAY: Tom Kalin and Isabella Rossellini @ Apple Store SoHo

Tribeca Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois.

Apple and indieWIRE daily Filmmaker Talks CONTINUE at the Apple Store, SoHo during the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival.

Tom Kalin: Tuesday, April 29, 6:30 p.m. Screenwriter, director, and producer Tom Kalin (Swoon) comes to the Tribeca Film Festival to screen Savage Grace, which tells the story of the Barbara Daly Baekeland murder case. Starring Julianne Moore, Savage Grace is scheduled for release by IFC Films on May 30, 2008. During his Filmmaker Talk, Tom will discuss his latest film project and answer audience questions. indieWIRE Editor in Chief Eugene Hernandez will moderate the discussion.

Isabella Rossellini: Tuesday, April 29, 8:00 p.m. Successful model and actress Isabella Rossellini (Blue Velvet, Big Night, Fearless) wrote My Dad Is 100 Years Old and makes her directorial debut in the experimental Green Porno, a series of short films she also conceived, wrote, and appears in. She produced Green Porno in association with the Sundance Channel. Comical but insightful studies of the sex lives of various creatures, Green Porno screens at this year's Tribeca Film Festival, and Isabella will discuss the series during her Filmmaker Talk. US Weekly film critic Thelma Adams will moderate the discussion.

Read the entire lineup here.

 
[permalink]   [ filed under Events, New York ]

iW NEWS | Hot Docs Leaps In Attendance, Awards "Root"

The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival finished up Sunday, with a record-breaking attendance of 85,000, a 25% increase over last year. The 11 day festival screened 172 films from 36 countries. "The success of this year's Festival is a testament to our audiences," said Executive Director Chris McDonald in a statement. "Their passion for docs and investment in the Festival is inspiring. Filmmakers love screening their work in this city." The festival announced most of its juried awards Friday, but two awards were announced Sunday, including the Hot Docs Audience Award, which was awarded to Lisa Merton and Alan Dater's "Taking Root: The Vision of the Wangari Maathai." Runners-up were Benson Lee's "Planet B-Boy" and Kurt Kuenne's "Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father." The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Prize for best Canadian documentary was also announced, going to Pierre Mignault and Helene Magny's "Shock Waves." The CIDA Award comes with a $5,000 prize. [Peter Knegt]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Documentary, Festivals, Honors ]

VAR | Coens To Open Venice

Joel and Ethan Coen's "Burn After Reading" will open the 65th Venice Film Festival, Variety is reporting. The film, which stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton. Focus Features is releasing the film domestically on September 12, 2008. Venice runs August 27-September 6.  
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

iW NEWS | "Amal" Takes Indian Film Festival

The 6th Annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles announced its winners, with Richie Mehta's "Amal" winning the Grand Jury Prize for best narrative feature. Yunus Vally's "The Glow of White Women" was given the jury's best documentary prize, while special mentions were awarded to Shivajee Chandrabhushan's "Frozen" (in narrative) and Liz Mermin's "Shot in Bombay" (in documentary). Atul Sabharwal's "Midnight Lost and Found" won for best short. Audience awards were given to Manish Acharya's "Loins of Punjaab Presents in narrative and Christopher Mitchell's "Super 30." [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals, Honors ]

iW NEWS | RiverRun Awards "Heaven," "Yangtze"

The 10th Annual RiverRun International Film Festival announced the winners of their narrative and documentary juried competitions Monday. Faith Akin's "Edge of Heaven" won the best narrative feature award, while Yung Chang's "Up the Yangtze" took the documentary feature award. "Heaven" also won best screenplay for Akin, as well as best actress for Hanna Schygullla's performance. "California Dreamin' (Endless)"'s Razvan Vasilescu won best actor, and "Dreamin" was also honored with a posthumous special jury prize for its director Cristian Nemescu and a cinematography award for Liviu Marghidan. "Up the Yangtze" won the documentary cinematography award. In the shorts competition, Michaela Kezele's student film "MIlan" won best narrative short,Emil Trier's "Board Control" won best documentary short, and Josh Raskin's "I Met The Walrus." RiverRun ran over six days, screening 95 films from 26 countries in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. [Peter Knegt]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals ]

iW NEWS | Magnolia Goes "Red" in North America

North American rights to Trygve Allister Diesen and Lucky McKee's Sundance feature, "Red" have been picked up by Magnolia Pictures, the company announced Monday afternoon. Starring Brian Cox, Robert Englund, Amanda Plummer and Tom Sizemore, the revenge thriller opens with the murder of the titular 14 year-old dog, sole companion of elderly recluse Avery Ludlow (Cox). Avery tracks down the troubled teen who murdered his dog without much trouble, but instead of receiving simple justice from the boy's father (Sizemore) he finds himself caught in a spiral of increasingly violent acts of retribution. Magnolia plans a late summer theatrical rollout preceded by airings via HDNet's Ultra VOD program. Magnolia SVP Tom Quinn and head of business affairs, Jason Janego negotiated the deal with Sarah Lash from Cinetic Media and Josh Braun from Submarine representing the filmmakers. The film will screen in the upcoming Cannes Market with Bleiberg Entertainment selling. [Brian Brooks] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

iW NEWS | Fortissimo Gets Cannes Competition Title, "Serbis"

Fortissimo Films has acquired Brillante Mendoza's Festival de Cannes 2008 competition entry, "Serbis" (Service), securing all rights outside of France and the Philippines. The film is the first Filipino title in the section in 24 years. Mendoza's previous films include "The Masseur" (2005) and "Foster Child" (2007). It is described as a "multi-stranded storyline [that] captures the core of the modern matriarchal Filipino family, while delving into the nature of the fraught relationships between customer and client, mother and children, as well as between lovers." The pact was brokered by Fortissimo's Co-Chairman Michael J. Werner, and Director of Marketing & Special Projects Raymond Phathanavirangoon, together with the film's Executive Producer Didier Costet of France's SWIFT Productions. [Eugene Hernandez] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions ]

HR | IFC Gets "Robbed"

IFC is closing a deal for Josh Safdie's "The Pleasure of Being Robbed," which will close the Directors' Fortnight in Cannes, according to the Hollywood Reporter. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Acquisitions, Cannes ]

indieWIRE PRESENTS | TODAY: Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock @ 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.

Morgan Spurlock: Monday, April 28, 6:30 p.m. With Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?, screenwriter and documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) seeks to do what the CIA, FBI, and U.S. military have not been able to: find Osama. Join Morgan as he discusses the film (being released this month by the Weinstein Company). The event will be moderated by indieWIRE Editor in Chief Eugene Hernandez.

Read the entire lineup here.

 
[permalink]   [ filed under Events, New York ]

iW NEWS | "La Leon" Tops Torino GLBT Fest's Awards

The Torino GLBT Film Festival wrapped up its 23rd year Sunday with the jury announcing the festival's winners. Argentinean film "La Leon," directed by Santiago Otheguy, won best feature film. Special jury prizes for feature filmmaking also went to Julia von Heinz's "Was Am Ende Zaehit" and Christophe Honore's "Les Chansons d'Amour." The best short film prize went to Brazillian Esmir Filho's "Alguma Coisa Assim," while the best documentary winner was Parvez Sharma's "A Jihad For Love." Tom Gustafson's "Were The World Wine" won the feature film audience award and"Darling! The Pieter-Dirk Uys Story," directed by Julian Shaw, won the documentary audience award. The festival screened more than 270 films over 9 days and saw a 15% increase in attendance over 2007. [Peter Knegt]  
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals, Queer Cinema ]

iW NEWS | Weekend Estimates: Lelouch Leads Trio of Specialized Openers

Claude Lelouch's "Roman De Gare," distributed by IDP and Samuel Goldwyn looks to top the iW BOT, according to indieWIRE Box Office Tracking (iW BOT) estimates from Rentrak this afternoon. On 2 screens the film took in $25,545, averaging a potent $12,772. Just behind "Gare" were two other openers, Helen Hunt's directorial debut, "Then She Found Me," and Errol Morris's latest doc, "Standard Operating Procedure." Hunt's ThinkFilm release averaged $8,266 on 9 screens, while Morris's Sony Pictures Classics entry averaged $7,458 on 2. Two holdovers continued to exemplify their promise as Spring's specialty hits. In their third weeks, Tom McCarthy's "The Visitor" and Stephen Walker's "Young@Heart" expanded nicely. "Visitor" went to 76 screens, maintaining a $6,684 average and bringing its cume to $856,579. "Heart" expanded to 56 screens for a $4,018 average and a $530,487 total. In more unfortunate news, Morgan Spurlock's "Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?" fell hard in its second weekend, averaging just $819 from its 72 screens. 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 ]