LAT | Documentaries lose box office muscle

Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms.

"Despite critical acclaim, such films as 'Bigger, Faster, Stronger*' and 'Young@Heart' can't draw moviegoers," reports the LA Times, "Critically acclaimed films about provocative subjects struggle to make money all the time, but rarely have so many lauded documentaries consistently failed to connect at the box office. The recent nonfiction returns have been so bleak that several distributors are growing wary about taking on such highbrow works..." 
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VAR | IFC loses Lance Hammer's 'Ballast'

"Lance Hammer has backed out of a domestic deal with IFC Films for his Sundance drama 'Ballast' and has instead made a deal with Strand's Marcus Hu and Required Viewing's Steven Raphael to release it," Variety reports. "Both parties called the parting amicable." 
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LAW | Indie Remix: Los Angeles Film Festival 2008

"The time may indeed be nigh for a certain pressing of the indie-film reset button, and there are ample indications at LAFF of which filmmakers might be the ones to do it," writes Scott Foundas in a Los Angeles Film Festival preview for the LA Weekly, "A festival like LAFF can lead the way, but it's up to the audience -- and the industry -- to follow."  
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REU | Film company Roadside opens new "window" for films

Neil Young's "CSNY: Deja Vu" is set for a unique release that will put the film in theaters, on VOD and online late next month, Reuters reports. "Roadside Attractions, 40 percent-owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp, is in 'final negotiations' to release the film July 25 in theaters, on TV video-on-demand services and via Netflix Inc's 'Watch Instantly' Web streaming, said Howard Cohen, co-president of Roadside."  
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MULTI | IFC & Sundance Channel Chart Leadership

Scooping news that insiders are expected to officially reveal on Thursday, cable TV trade Multichannel News reported today that former Sundance Channel head Larry Aidem will become the president of Cablevision‘s Rainbow Ventures, a strategy post at the company, while Laura Michalchyshyn will become General Manager of Sundance Channel and Jennifer Caserta will serve as the new GM at IFC. Both will report to former IFC GM Evan Shapiro, who will oversee the likeminded IFC and Sundance Channel as separate networks. The move comes in the wake of Cablevision’s Rainbow Media Holdings closing a nearly $500 million deal for Sundance Channel, buying the network from NBC Universal, Showtime Networks and Robert Redford.  
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iW NEWS | IFC Takes "Medicine"

IFC Films has acquired the worldwide rights to writer-director Barry Jenkins' "Medicine for Melancholy." The film is in competition at this week's Los Angeles Film Festival, and will be released in theaters by IFC in 2009. "Medicine for Melancholy is one of the great American discoveries of the year," said Jonathan Sehring, President of IFC Entertainment in a statement. "Barry Jenkins has delivered an intelligent, heartfelt and often funny universal love story and introduced two brilliant performers to the feature film world - Wyatt Cenac and Tracey Heggins. The film will not only inspire and ignite great discussions among the African-American community, but is sure to engage audiences across the globe." The deal was negotiated by Arianna Bocco, IFC Entertainment's Vice President of Acquisitions and Jeff Deutchman, Manager of Acquisitions for IFC Entertainment with George Rush, who represents the film. [Peter Knegt] 
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iW NEWS | Filmmaker Pan Launches Slew Pictures

Filmmaker Bertha Bay-Sa Pan has launched Slew Pictures Inc., a New York-based production company with a focus on developing and producing "universal stories that will both entertain and inspire." "We are dedicated to telling stories with heart and intelligence that cross international borders, and making the collaborative process as fun as the results," said Pan in a statement. The company announced it will co-produce "Almost Perfect" with Cineric, which Pan will write and direct. The film will star Will Yun Lee. Slew Pictures is also in pre-production on Annette Apitz's family drama "Fighting Fish." [Peter Knegt] 
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iW NEWS | "Choke" Leads Maui Winners

Clark Gregg's "Choke" won the award for Best Narrative Feature at the 2008 Maui Film Festival, which wrapped this past weekend. The festival, held in Wailea, saw more than 20,000 people attend the festival, which honored Pierce Brosnan, Dennis Quaid, Virginia Madsen and Felicity Huffman with previous announced awards. Other winners include Jacob Medjuck's "Summerhood" for Best Comedy Feature, Amin Matalqa's "Captain Abu Raed" for Best Narrative Feature, World Cinema, Christian Karim Chrobog's "War Child" for Best Documentary Feature, World Cinema, and a tie between "The Great Buck Howard" and "Bottle Shock" for Best Ensemble Cast. Check out indieWIRE's dispatch from Maui here. [Peter Knegt] 
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iW NEWS | "Sixty-Six" Added To LAFF

The Los Angeles Film Festival, running June 19-29, 2008, has added Paul Welland's "Sixty-Six" to its line-up. "Six," which stars Eddie Marsan, Helena Bonham Carter and Stephen Rea, is based on the real life experiences of director Welland. The film is summer of 1966 as England is about to be consumed by World Cup Fever. [Peter Knegt] 
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iW BOT UPDATE | "Mongol" Tops iW BOT Again

Box Office coverage presented by Rentrak Theatrical

Sergei Bodrov's "Mongol" from Picturehouse is atop the weekly iW BOT box office chart for the second week in a row, which was published this afternoon. The film earned $112,212 on 5 screens over the weekend, for a $22,442 average. More in this week's box office column, which was published last night. 
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iW NEWS | "New Year" Wins deadCENTER's Top Prize

The 2008 deadCENTER Film Festival in Oklahoma City has announced the winners of their awards, with Tom Quinn's "The New Year Parade" winning Best Narrative Feature. All winners received trophies designed by Oklahoma Artist Joe Bohrer. The winner in Best Narrative Feature also won an additional $2500. Other winners included Adam Zucker's "Greensboro: Closer To The Truth" for Best Documentary Feature and Kevin Ely and Beau Leland's "Rainbow Around The Sun" for Best Oklahoma Film. Attendance numbers are still being calculated, but early estimates put the attendance at well over the projected 6000. "We had several sold-out screenings. 850 people saw 'Rainbow Around the Sun,'" said deadCENTER Film Festival chief operating officer Kim Haywood. [Peter Knegt]  
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iW NEWS | Locarno To Honor Anjelica Huston

The 61st Locarno International Film Festival has announced it will give its Excellence Award 2008 to actress Anjelica Huston. The presentation of the award on August 9, 2008, will be followed by the European Premiere of "Choke", which Huston co-stars in. Every year Locarno's Excellence Award distinguishes an internationally renowned actor or actress. Previous recipients of this award include Oleg Menchikov, Susan Sarandon, John Malkovich, Willem Dafoe and, most recently in 2007, Michel Piccoli and Carmen Maura.The Locarno International Film Festival will take place on August 6 - 16, 2008. [Peter Knegt]  
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iW NEWS | Gaines Leaving AFI for Festival Directorship at Withoutabox

Christian Gaines is leaving his post as director of festivals at the American Film Institute (AFI) and will join The Internet Movie Database's (IMDb) Withoutabox team as film festival director. In the position, Gaines will oversee Withoutabox's film festival business, including relations and business development on the festival circuit worldwide. As director of festivals at AFI, Gaines spearheaded the annual AFI Fest in Los Angeles. He was also involved with the establishment of Silverdocs, taking place June 16 - 23 in Silver Springs, MD, in addition to the establishment of the AFI Dallas International Film Festival in March. Founded eight years ago, Withoutabox launched the submission system with one of the largest communities of indie films and festivals on the Internet. IMDb acquired the company last January. "One of the reasons I feel confident in leaving AFI is that it is in capable hands," Gaines told indieWIRE by phone Tuesday afternoon. "I'm impressed and proud how capable the team is and its ability to carry on..." [Brian Brooks] 
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HR | Gay pride abounds, but indie gay films tank

"So why are so many indie gay films doing worse than ever at the boxoffice and among critics?" asks The Hollywood Reporter's Gregg Goldstein, in a new commentary pegged to the busy Queer fest season. 
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VAR | Shaye, Lynne sign deal with WB

"Former New Line toppers Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne have signed a first-look deal with Warner Bros.," reports Variety. 
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iW NEWS | Evans Named Executive VP at Focus

Jane Evans has been elevated to the new position of executive vice president, physical production. Evans will report directly to Andrew Karpen, president of Focus and co-president of Rogue Pictures, who made the announcement today. In her position, Evans will "oversee physical production and post-production on all in-house film productions and outside acquisitions for the sibling Focus and Rogue labels." She will continue to be based at Focus' Manhattan offices, having joined the company as senior vice president of physical production in December 2004. [Brian Brooks] 
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Variety | Fest can't compete with one-armed bandits

As CineVegas' big opening weekend comes to a close - much of the industry folk left this morning - The Circuit walks the floor of the Palms Casino Resort, looking for buzz. 
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iW NEWS | Philly Gay Fest To Honor Lynch, Mapa

The 14th Annual Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival has announced that Jane Lynch will be recipient of the 2008 Artistic Achievement Award for Acting and Alec Mapa will receive the 2008 Entertainer of the Year Award. Lynch will be presented with the award June 12th, and Mapa June 18th. The Festival runs from July 10-23, 2008. [Peter Knegt] 
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Stan Winston Dies

Visual effects guru Stan Winston died yesterday in Los Angeles, according to multiple news reports this afternoon. "The Oscar-winning visual effects artist died at his home Sunday evening surrounded by family after a seven-year struggle with multiple myeloma, according to a representative from Stan Winston Studio," Variety reported. And the LA Times reported, "Winston won four visual effects Oscars and earned multiple nominations. His first Oscar was for James Cameron's 'Aliens' (1986). Winston later won two Oscars for 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day' (1992) (visual effects and makeup) and 1993's 'Jurassic Park'." For more on Winston and his work, visit the Stan Winston Studio website. 
[permalink]   [ filed under People ]

iW NEWS | Nantucket Adds "Elegy"

The 13th Nantucket Film Festival has added Isabel Coixet's "Elegy" to its lineup. Based on the "The Dying Animal" by Philip Roth," the film stars Penelope Cruz, Ben Kingsley, Patricia Clarkson and Peter Sarsgaard. It will receive its East Coast Premiere in Nantucket on June 21, 2008, where it will be screening as a Sneak Preview. [Peter Knegt] 
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iW NEWS | "Lost Coast" Wins NewFest Narrative Prize; "Queen Racquela" Takes Two

Gabriel Fleming's "The Lost Coast," the story of a group of old friends who reunite on Halloween in San Francisco, won the narrative jury prize as the 20th NewFest, New York's LGBT Film Festival, came to a close on Sunday night in Manhattan. Meanwhile, Olaf De Fleur's "The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela" -- a narrative/doc hybrid about a transsexual Filipina prostitute -- won a pair of awards at NewFest, named the jury's best international feature and also winner of the Showtime Vanguard prize for abreakthrough or visionary achievement. The festival's documentary feature award went to Tanaz Eshaghian's "Be Like Others," about homosexuality in Iran. Audience awards went to Ron Davis and Stewart Halpern's " "Pageant." Short film prizes went to Charlotte Hoogakker's "Odd One Out, Very Normal Really: From Lucas to Luus" (documentary jury prize), Claudia Morgado Escanilla's "No Bikini" (narrative jury prize), and Till Kleinert's "Cowboy" (audience prize). Winners of the festival's first NewDraft script competition and reading series were Rodney Evans' "Day Dream" and Soman Chainani's "Love Marriage." [Eugene Hernandez] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals, Queer Cinema ]

iW NEWS | Barbieri's "Em" Wins at Seattle Fest; "Derek" Takes Doc Prize

The nearly one month long Seattle International Film Festival wraps up today in the Pacific Northwest. Tony Barbieri's "Em" won the Grand Jury Prize in the festival's New American Cinema competition, the film praised by the jury both for its focus on love and mental illness and for the lead performances by Stef Willen and Nathan Wetherington. In the festival's New Directors Showcase, Canadian Yves-Christian Fournier was honored with the grand jury prize for "Everything is Fine," while Isaac Julien's "Derek" won the grand jury award in the festival's documentary competition. German filmmaker Doris Dorrie's "Hanami" won the Golden Space Needle Audience Award for best film, while other Golden Space Needles went to Danny Tedesco's "The Wrecking Crew" (best documetary), Amin Matalqa for "Captain Abu Raed" (best director), Alan Rickman for "Bottle Shock" (best actor), Jessica Chastain for "Jolene" (best actress), and Andreas Utta's "Felix" (best short film). Short film jury awards went to Atul Taishete's "Rewind" (narrative grand jury prize), Rebecca Dreyfus's "Self Portrait With Cows Going Home and Other Works: A Portrait of Sylvia Plachy" (documentary grand jury prize), and Luis Cook's "The Pearce Sisters" (animation grand jury prize). Earlier this month, indieWIRE published a dispatch from the Seattle festival. [Eugene Hernandez] 
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iW NEWS | Weekend Estimates: "Mongol" Leads, "Encounters" Impresses

Sergei Bodrov's "Mongol" stayed atop the specialty-focused iW BOT this weekend, according to those films that submitted numbers to indieWIRE Box Office Tracking (iW BOT) estimates from Rentrak this afternoon. Remaining on 5 screens, the Picturehouse release grossed $106,676, a slim 20% drop from last weekend. It averaged $21,335, the highest of any film, wide or limited, reporting. Close behind was Werner Herzog's "Encounters at the End of the World," which took in $17,500 over the weekend during its exclusive run at New York's Film Forum. This is the highest documentary opening so far this year. The ThinkFilm release has totaled $25,683 since opening last Wednesday. The other reporting debut was Jay and Mark Duplass's "Baghead." Sony Pictures Classics' unique plan of opening the film in Austin may not have paid off. The film averaged a so-so $4,462 on 2 screens. indieWIRE will publish its weekly box office column Monday night and final weekend numbers for specialty and limited release films on Tuesday. Get the latest in the indieWIRE Box Office section. [Peter Knegt] 
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