VAR | Oscar candidates lagging this year

An early look at awards season from Variety: "At least on paper, this year looks like a return to the old days, when the majors dominated awards and most of the nominees bowed late in the year -- in contrast with recent history, when the Oscar charge was led by specialty divisions and fall launches."  
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NEWSWEEK | The End of the Documentary Film Market

Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms.

"It was only a few years ago that everyone was proclaiming the box-office triumph of nonfiction films," notes Newsweek's David Ansen, in a piece for the magazine's Global Literacy 2008 section. Detailing the downtown in the theatrical peformance of some docs, Ansen adds, "The irony is that we are in the midst of a great era of documentaries—but the audience is a stay-at-home crowd, not the kids who rush out to watch superheroes blow stuff up. Millions watch documentaries on HBO, PBS and the Discovery Channel, and on DVDs. 
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iW NEWS | Frameline Audiences Award "XXY," "Pageant"

The 32nd edition of Frameline, the world's largest and oldest film festival celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender films and filmmakers, finished up Sunday with a screening of Laurie Lynd's "Breakfast With Scot" and an awards ceremony. Winners included Lucia Puenzo's "XXY," which took the Audience Award for Best Feature Film, while Stewart Halpern and Ron Davis's "Pageant' won the Audience Award for Best Documentary. "The Frameline32 audience was by far the most enthusiastic audience for 'Pageant' so far this year and one that we will never forget," said Ron Davis in a statement. "Going on to win the audience award for best documentary was a truly amazing experience for us." Canadian short "No Bikini," directed by Claudia Morgado Escanilla, won the Audience Award for Best Short Film. The closing night also marked the end of a Frameline era as Michael Lumpkin, Frameline's Artistic Director for 25 years, bid the festival farewell. "No one was interested in distributing ['Mala Noche'], until Michael Lumpkin took a chance and brought it to this festival in 1986," remarked director Gus Van Sant during the closing night ceremonies at the Castro Theatre. "Michael was so nice, too. I remember I slept on his floor!" [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Festivals, Honors, Queer Cinema ]

VV | Trash Talking With Harvey Weinstein

"Strictly by accident," Village Voice writer Tony Ortega stumbled across a pile of trash from Harvey Weinstein's Tribeca office and wrote all about it. Call sheets, printed email, and screenplays offer insight into Weinstein's business. 
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iW NEWS | "St. Anna," "Nick & Norah" Among Six Toronto Additions

The Toronto International Film Festival announced the addition of six films in the Special Presentations program of its 2008 lineup. They include the world premieres of Steve Jacobs' "Disgrace," starring John Malkovich, Vincente Amorim's "Good," with Viggo Mortensen, Spike Lee's World War II drama "Miracle at St. Anna," and Peter Sollett's Michael Cera-Kat Dennings starrer "Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist," as well as the North American premieres of Paolo Sorrentino's Cannes favorite "Il Divo," and Kathryn Bigelow's "The Hurt Locker," starring Ralph Fiennes. The Festival runs September 4-13, 2008. [Peter Knegt] 
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INDUSTRY MOVES | Williams Named Co-President at GreeneStreet; Hogan as COO

With Fisher Stevens stepping back from active day-to-day duties at GreeneStreet Films (GSF), the company has named Tim Williams its new co-president, alongside GSF founding partner and co-president John Penotti. Stevens will continue to produce selected projects. Longtime company consultant Michael Hogan has been named COO at the company. Williams will continue to oversee production and development in GSF's L.A. office, while Hogan is based in New York. Other recent staff changes include Amy Beecroft as head of GreeneStreet Films International, while Eric Spiegelman is on board as a consultant developing new media, digital and internet strategy, according to today's announcement. [Eugene Hernandez]  
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INDUSTRY MOVES | Wyatt Joins Intrepid; Kurian Upped

Trina Wyatt has joined Intrepid Pictures as COO/CFO of the company, co-founded by Trevor Macy and Marc D. Evans, while Anil Kurian has been promoted to VP of development. Wyatt is joining Intrepid from Withoutabox, where she served as COO. She previously worked for Film Independent and Tribeca Entertainment.  
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INDUSTRY MOVES | Schwartz Upped at IFC

Lisa Schwartz has been promoted to EVP of distribution, operations and business development at IFC Entertainment. In the new role, she will oversee IFC's multi-platform activities, IFC in Theaters and Festival Direct, and new business development and expansion. She previously served as SVP of sales and business development for IFC Entertainment. 
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iW NEWS | Sundance Institute Announces Fellows

The Sundance Institute has announced the selection of five Fellows for its inaugural Creative Producing Initiative, a new year-long program for emerging independent producers. The Fellows and projects selected are Alan T. Chan for "Quari," Nekisa Cooper for "Pariah," Diane Houslin for "Yelling To The Sky," Sophia Lin for "Scoutmasters" and Joshua Zeman for "Forest Grove." The Initiative includes attendance at the Creative Producing Lab, the Independent Producers Conference, and the Sundance Film Festival, year-round mentorship from advisors, a living stipend and pre-production grant, and on-going support from Sundance Institute staff. "The new Creative Producing Initiative expands on the work Sundance began more than 25 years ago with the first Directors Lab to create a stronger and deeper support structure for independent artists," said Michelle Satter, Director of the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program, in a statement. The Creative Producing Lab, a five-day Lab held just prior to the Independent Producers Conference, takes place at the Sundance Resort in Utah from July 27-31, 2008. [Peter Knegt] 
[permalink]   [ filed under Honors ]

NYT | Little Movies, Big Problems

"Hollywood is having a good-to-great summer," David Carr writes today, in his weekly New York Times column, "Once you start looking under the tent poles, though, perhaps for a film where nothing is blown up, things become grim. This summer, it seems only “The Visitor” will hit the classic indie trifecta of good reviews, strong word of mouth and staying power in theaters." Carr digs deeper in the wake of Mark Gill's recent L.A. Film Festival keynote speech, which was published by indieWIRE last week.  
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