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 May 17, 2008 CANNES '08 | Sat PM Roundup
indieWIRE offers a select take of Cannes 2008 news around the world.
FESTIVAL PRESIDENT KEEPS THE ARTFORM ALIVE
FAMOUS EVEN BEFORE THEY'RE BORN
NOT TO BE PASSED BY
NOT SO BIOGRAPHICAL BIOPIC
Get the latest from the 2008 Cannes Film Festival in indieWIRE's special section. CANNES '08 | Sat AM Roundup
indieWIRE offers a select take of Cannes 2008 news around the world.
"THIRD WAVE" CLEANS UP THE STARS
IT'S NO SECRET: EVERYONE IS ANTICIPATING THE LATEST "INDY" INSTALLMENT
FILM REVIEW: DESPLECHIN'S "A CHRISTMAS TALE"
"TYSON" DOMINATES THE RED CARPET
MARCHE MARCHES IN FULL FORCE
Get the latest from the 2008 Cannes Film Festival in indieWIRE's special section. iW NEWS | "How About" For Strand
Strand Releasing has acquired all U.S. distribution rights to "How About You." "You," directed by Anthony Byrne, is the story of a young girl left in charge of a residential home over Christmas. It is based on the short story by Irish author Maeve Binchy, and stars Vanessa Redgrave, Imelda Staunton, Brenda Fricker, Joss Ackland and Hayley Atwell. The film is a co-production of Noel Pearson of Ferndale Films and Sarah Radclyffe of Sarah Radclyffe Productions, and is represented by London based international sales agency and financing company Bankside Films. "We are delighted that Strand Releasing will be releasing 'How About You' in the United States," said Bankside's Hilary Davis in a statement. "Their track record speaks for itself and we are confident that their individual approach will ensure a very successful release for this thoroughly enchanting film." Strand plans to release the film theatrically this September. [Peter Knegt]  [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Cannes ] May 16, 2008IW NEWS | IFC Gets Assayas' Latest
IFC Films has acquired North American rights to Olivier Assayas' "Summer Hours," starring Juliette Binoche. The company is planning a 2009 release for the French drama which is screening this week in the Marche du Film here at the Cannes Film Festival. IFC's Arianna Bocco negotiated the deal with MK2 International's Matthieu Giblin. The film is described as following, "the divergent paths of three forty something siblings whose lives collide when their mother, heiress to her uncle's exceptional 19th century art collection, dies suddenly." [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Cannes ] CANNES '08 | Fri PM Roundup
indieWIRE offers a select take of Cannes 2008 news around the world.
STRAIGHT TO THE (MARKETING) HEART
WHERE WORLDS COLLIDE
BEACH FARE
HUNGER STRIKE
Get the latest from the 2008 Cannes Film Festival in indieWIRE's special section. Celluloid Dreams in Darkness
Celluloid Dreams announced it will begin pre-production on "Hello Darkness," written and directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland, winner of the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival for "Quinceanera". The $15 million budgeted film is described as a kitchen-sink vampire film with a romantic twist. "Darkness" follows a young man who becomes a vampire (thus making him eternally young) and his swaying love interests between his confidant and a posh girl named Lucy. The film is now in casting and is planning on shooting in Newcastle, this fall 2008. [Jenny Sung/indieWIRE] [permalink] [ filed under Biz ] iW NEWS | Jaman.com Announces Worldwide Movie Channel
Jaman.com has announced the availability of instantly streamed movies in high-definition quality for free, worldwide. Films will play immediately in the browser, without the need to download. Jaman is launching streaming with 100 ad-supported titles from its collection of more than 3000 independent and international films. Viewers can choose to download the films without advertisements for $1.99 or with them for free. "This development changes the marketplace for long-form content," said Jaman founder Gaurav Dhillion in a statement. "By offering a free streaming media service along with our media service along with our current rental and ownership download options, we are anticipating the future of digital cinema." Among the initial available titles is 2005 Sundance winner "Shake Hands With The Devil" and mockumentary "My Date With Drew." [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Biz ] iW NEWS | Fortissimo Gets On Gibney's "Bus"
Fortissimo Films has acquired the worldwide rights (except the UK and US) to Jigsaw Film's new production, "Magic Bus." "Bus" will be directed by Alex Gibney, and chart the story of the infamous, LSD-fueled bus journey of avant-garde author Ken Kesey and his cohorts across America. "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Alex Gibney and [the film's producer] Will Clarke on what no doubt will be a fascinating cinematic trip through the beginnings of the hippie and counter-culture movement that shook the US and the world set against the wonderful music that moved those times," said Fortissimo EVP Nicole Mackey in a statement. The film is partly financed and is being executive produced by Phoenix Wiley, and is expected to be completed next year. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Cannes ] CANNES '08 | Fri AM Roundup
indieWIRE offers a select take of Cannes 2008 news around the world.
CANNES DAY 1 & 2 FILMS
"BLINDNESS" IS VISUALLY ARRESTING
A GREY CANNES (NOT JUST A WEATHER REPORT)
GUERILLA FILMMAKING...LITERALLY iW NEWS | Karlovy Vary To Open With "Guitar"
The 43rd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival will open on July 4, 2008, with the international premiere Amy Redford's "The Guitar." "Guitar," Redford's directorial debut, played at Sundance and follows the story of a woman who is diagnosed with terminal cancer, fired from her job and abandoned by her boyfriend all in the same morning. The festival will close with the world premiere of Tom Thurman's docu-portrait "Nick Nolte: No Exit." The film sternly analyzes actor Nolte, as well as interviewing Ben Stiller, Jacqueline Bisset, Patricia Arquette and Alan Rudolph. Nolte himself will attend the screening. The festival will additionally feature 40 World, International, and European premieres and over 200 Czech premieres. It runs through July 12,2008. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals ] iW NEWS | Student Academy Awards Announced
Eleven students from eight colleges and universities have been named winners in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' 35th Annual Student Academy Awards competition. They will participate in a week of industry-related activities and social events, culminating in the awards ceremony on June 7 at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater. The winners in the "Alternative" category are "Circles of Confusion" (Phoebe Tooke, San Francisco State University), and "Viola: The Traveling Rooms of a Little Giant" (Shih-Ting Hung, University of Southern California); in the "Animation" category, Oscars went to "Simulacra" (Tatchapon Lertwirojkul, The School of Visual Arts), "The Visionary" (Evan Mayfield, Ringling College of Art and Design, Florida), and "Zoologic" (Nicole Mitchell, California Institute of the Arts); the "Documentary" category winners were "As We Forgive" (Laura Waters Hinson, American University, Washington, D.C.), "If a Body Meet a Body" (Brian Davis, University of Southern California), and "Unattached"( J.J. Adler, Columbia University); and in the "Narrative" category, winners were "A Day's Work" (Rajeev Dassani, University of Southern California), "Pitstop" (Melanie McGraw, University of Southern California), and "The State of Sunshine" (Z. Eric Yang, Florida State University). The "Honorary Foreign Film" award went to "On the Line (Auf der Strecke)" (Reto Caffi, Academy of Media Arts, Cologne, Germany). While the U.S. winners know they will each receive an award, their placement - Gold, Silver or Bronze - will not be revealed until the June 7 ceremony. In addition to a trophy, Gold Medal winners receive $5,000, Silver Medal winners receive $3,000 and Bronze Medal winners receive $2,000. The Honorary Foreign Film winner receives $1,000 in addition to a trophy. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Awards Watch, Honors ] May 15, 2008CANNES '08 | Thurs PM Roundup
indieWIRE offers a select take of Cannes 2008 news around the world.
MEETING MEREILLES
UNCERTAIN FUTURES FOR BOUNTY AT CANNES
CANNES CANDIDS
A TASTE OF CANNES
THE "BRAD"Y BUNCH
PROCEED WITH CAUTION
MOVIE TITANS ANNOUNCE FILM
FESTIVAL FASHION iW NEWS | Brooklyn Fest Announces "Cinergy-11"
The Brooklyn International Film Festival announced the line up for its 11th annual festivals, themed "Cinergy." The event will run from May 30, 2008 to June 8, 2008, with films showing at both the Brooklyn Lyceum Theater and the Brooklyn Heights Cinema. Highlights include the US Premiere of Paul Kirk's "Able Danger," Austin Chick's "August," Judson Pearce Morgan and Kelly Overton's "The Collective," Tao Ruspoli's "The Fix," and David Modigliani's "Crawford." The festival will award the winners with prizes totaling over $80,000 in film services, products and cash. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals ] CANNES '08 | Thurs AM Roundup
indieWIRE offers a select take of Cannes 2008 news around the world.
BOLLYWOOD IS SO LAST YEAR
WATCH OUT FOR THESE
THE FANTASTIC FOUR
OFFSETTING THE PRETENSE OF EUROPEAN ETIQUETTE May 14, 2008iW NEWS | Magnet Takes "Surveillance"
Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced that it has acquired the U.S. rights to Jennifer Lynch's "Surveillance." Starring Bill Pullman, Julia Ormand and Cheri Oteri, "Surveillance" is a thriller that details the aftermath of a violent killing. "'Surveillance' is a wild, wild trip, steered by Jennifer Lynch's incredibly accomplished directorial hand," said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles in a statement. The film is screening out of competition at Cannes on May 21, 2008. Magnet is planning a fall theatrical release. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions ] CANNES '08 | Wed PM Roundup
indieWIRE offers a select take of Cannes 2008 news around the world.
CANNES FROM YOUR COMPUTER
CANNES IN A VAN
CANNES YOU GUESS?
CANNES '68 REVISITED IFC Brings "Pleasure" to North America
North American rights to Cannes Directors Fortnight closing feature, "The Pleasure of Being Robbed" by co-writer/director Joshua Safdie have been picked up by IFC Films, the New York-based distributor confirmed Wednesday afternoon. [Brian Brooks/indieWIRE] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Cannes ] Elephant Eye Acquires Two
Elephant Eye Films have two new acquisitions: Director Nate Meyer's urban drama "Frat Girl," a follow-up to "Pretty In The Face," which is starting production, and Michael Jacob's "Audience of One," a documentary about a Pentecostal minister who receives a vision from God telling him to make a science fiction film, which won the Special Jury Award at South By Southwest and was a an official selection of New Directors/New Films. Based in New York, the principals of the newly formed Elephant Eye are Kim Jose, David Robinson and Vicky Wight. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Cannes ] Rotterdam's Hubert Bals Fund Announces Recipients
The Rotterdam Film Festival's Hubert Bals Fund announced its financial contributions to 27 projects with filmmakers from 17 countries. The Fund's goal is to aid innovative talents closer to completing their projects and acting as a seal of approval to attract further investors. Of the 27 selected is Pablo Larrain's "Tony Manero," screening at the Director's Fortnight at Cannes, as well as Edwin's "The Blind Pig Who Wants to Fly" and Matias Meyer's second feature to follow his previous success "Wadley." Supporting digital film projects since 2006, Phillipines' Lav Diaz is also receiving support from the Fund, as are four other digital projects. For more information, please visit http://www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com. [Jenny Sung/IndieWIRE] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals ] Delpy's "Countess" Closes Pre-Sale
Director Julie Delpy's second feature directorial effort, "The Countess" has closed pre-sale agreements with the UK's Halcyon and France's Bac Films, Paris-based film sales company Celluloid Dreams announced Wednesday. "The Countess" is described as a "period thriller" about the notorious Countess Bathory, played by Delpy. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Biz, Cannes ] CANNES '08 | Wed AM Roundup
indieWIRE offers a select take of Cannes 2008 news around the world.
BATTLE OF THE BADGES
BUYER'S LAMENT
THE STARS HIT CANNES
GET YOUR DRINK ON AT CANNES
VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA TRAILER iW NEWS | IFP Selects Doc Lab Projects
On Thursday, organizers of IFP's Independent Filmmaker Lab announced the ten documentary projects selected to participate in the event. Created to support independent projects before they submit to film festivals, the program brings first-time feature filmmakers to leading industry mentors through its Documentary Lab in May and its Narrative Lab in June. The selected projects include Cambria Matlow and Morgan Robinson's "Burning in the Sun," Augusta Palmer's "The Hand of Fatima," Geralyn Pezanoski's "Mine: Taken By Katrina," Ngawang Choephel's "Ocean Song and Dance," Troy Word's "The Presence of Joseph Chaikin," Xavier Marrades Orga's "The Stranger's Land," Yolanda Pividal's "Tijuana, Nada Mas," Lorena Manriquez and Miguel Picker's "Ulises' Odyssey," Lee Storey's "Up With People," and Melis Birder's "The Visitors." Following the programs, excerpts from the films screen at IFP's Independent Film Week in New York City in September. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Documentary, Events ] May 13, 2008iW NEWS | Overture and Vantage Team For Moore
Paramount Vantage and Overture Films have announced that they will team to co-finance and distribute Michael Moore's next film, an as-yet-untitled follow-up to "Fahrenheit 9/11." Paramount Vantage will handle international distribution in all media and Overture will handle domestic distribution in all media. The former will launch the film into the international marketplace this week in Cannes. "It's great to be working again with [Overture CEO] Chris McGurk and [Paramount Film Group President] John Lesher," said Moore in a statement. "Both of them have been exceptional to work with in the past and I look forward to their assistance in this new project." Lesher previously represented Moore as one of his agents at Endeavor and was involved in "Fahrenheit 9/11," while McGurk oversaw the release of "Bowling For Columbine" while at MGM. "We are thrilled to be working with Michael again, said McGurk and Overture COO Danny Rosett jointly in a statement. "His fearless filmmaking has become an important catalyst for challenging mainstream thoughts and values regarding the important critical issues facing this country and the world." This is the first co-production between Paramount Vantage and Overture Films after making an exclusive international distribution deal made during Cannes 2007 that allowed Overture access to Vantage's international sales division as well as the distribution arm of Paramount Pictures International. The new Moore film is scheduled for release in 2009. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Biz ] NYT: Robert Rauschenberg, Titan of American Art, Is Dead at 82
Robert Rauschenberg, the irrepressibly prolific American artist who time and again reshaped art in the 20th century, died Monday night. He was 82. Michael Kimmelman herereports. [permalink] [ filed under People ] AFP: Some like it hot! Cannes' caviar n' champ
The Cannes Film Festival opens officially to red-carpet glory on Wednesday but already the whining about the steep prices enforced for the yearly global invasion of stars and celluloid has begun. Pierre Pratabuy herereports. [permalink] [ filed under Cannes, Festivals ] May 12, 2008LAT | FIRST LOOK: Cannes colors "Blindness"
If eyes are the window to the soul, then Cannes Film Festival organizers' choice of "Blindness" as the opening night film promises a 24-frames-per-second allegory about the fragile state of civil society and the human spirit. Sheigh Crabtree reports with a trailer sneak peak. [permalink] [ filed under Cannes, Festivals ] AFP: The year that shook Cannes
A year of revolt the world over, tumultuous 1968 also brought high drama to Cannes, the single time the film festival had to be cut short, with no one taking home a prize and no red-carpet finale. Claire Rosemberg herereports. [permalink] [ filed under Cannes, Festivals ] Reuters: Cannes pits Hollywood against obscure arthouse
Hollywood legends and obscure arthouse directors descend on Cannes from Wednesday for the world's biggest film festival that combines edgy cinema with A-list celebrities, glitzy parties and frenetic deal-making. Mike Collett-White [permalink] [ filed under Cannes, Festivals ] iW NEWS | Provincetown Celebrates 10 Years With Garcia Bernal
The 10th Annual Provincetown International Film Festival announced some of its programming and its annual honorary awards Monday, with Gael Garcia Bernal taking the Excellence in Acting Award and Jane Lynch receiving the Faith Hubley Memorial Award. As previously announced, Quentin Tarantino will be awarded the Filmmaker of The Edge Award. All previous winners of that award have been invited back to participate in the 10th anniversary celebration, including John Waters, Christine Vachon, Ted Hope, James Schamus, Gus Van Sant, Todd Haynes, Jim Jarmusch, Mary Harron, Gregg Araki and Todd Solondz. The festival will open with Madonna's "Filth and Wisdom" and close with Clark Gregg's "Choke." The centerpiece selections will be Alan Ball's "Towelhead" and James Marsh's "Man on Wire." [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals ] May 11, 2008iW NEWS | Weekend Estimates: "The Fall" Leads
While "Speed Racer" became the first major casualty of the summer blockbuster season, new specialty releases also failed to significantly impress this weekend, with Tarsem's "The Fall" leading the specialty-focused iW BOT, according to those films that submitted numbers to indieWIRE Box Office Tracking (iW BOT) estimates from Rentrak this afternoon. Roadside Attractions' "The Fall" grossed $80,188 from 9 screens for a decent $8,910 average. Other openers included Bruce Burgess's doc "Bloodline," which took in $6,200 from one screen for Cinema Libre. Fairing worse were two ThinkFilm openers, Bruce McDonald's Ellen Page starrer, "The Tracey Fragments," which grossed $3,330 on one screen, and Henry Bean's "Noise," starring Tim Robbins and Bridget Moynahan, which averaged just $2,025 on 2 screens. Among holdovers, Claude Lelouch's "Roman De Gare," distributed by IDP and Samuel Goldwyn, continued to pull good numbers, grossing $64,000 from 15 screens for a $4,267 average and a $333,582 cume. Last week's top two openers, "Mister Lonely" and "Son of Rambow," switched places this week, with "Rambow" averaging $3,833 from an expanded 36 screens, and "Lonely" just behind with a $3,600 average, about a fifth of its opening average. Finally, Spring's specialty breakout, Tom McCarthy's "The Visitor," expanded to 217 screens and maintained a healthy average of $3,521, taking its total to over $2.5 million. 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 ] iW NEWS | Edinburgh Film Fest Announces Slate
The Edinburgh International Film Festival announced its programming for its 62nd edition this week. This year the Festival, which runs from 18 - 29 June, will host fifteen World premieres including the previously announced Opening Night Gala, John Maybury's "The Edge of Love," while the Closing Night Gala will be the World premiere of "Faithheart," a comedy by Vito Rocco. The Festival will showcase 142 feature-length films from 29 countries, including 15 World premieres. Highlights include new Pixar release "Wall-E" screening as the Family Gala; Shane Meadows' "Somers Town" and Duane Hopkins' "Better Things" both in the British Gala section; Brad Anderson's "Transsiberian" and Isabel Coixet's "Elegy" both screening in the Gala section. The festival runs June 18-29, 2007. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals ]
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