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 September 27, 2008 iW NEWS | "Pandora's Box" Leads San Sebastian Awards
The winners of the 56th San Sebastian International Film Festival were announced, with Yesim Ustaoglu's "Pandora's Box" winning the Golden Shell for Best Film. Michael Winterbottom won the Silver Shell for Best Director for his work on "Genova," while Melissa Leo, Tsilla Chelton and Oscar Martinez won acting awards for "Frozen River," "Pandora's Box" and "El Nido Vacio," respectively. Other winners included Benoit Delepine and Gustave Kervern" for best screenplay for "Louise-Michel, Cao Baoping won the Altadis-New Directors Award for "The Equation of Love and Death," Samira Makhmalbaf's "Two-Legged Horse" won a special jury prize, and Joel and Ethan Coen won the TCM Audience Award for "Burn After Reading." [Peter Knegt]  [permalink] [ filed under Festivals, Honors ] NYT | Paul Newman Dies at 83
"Paul Newman achieved what most of his peers could not: remaining a major star into charismatic old age," wrote the New York Times today, after the death of Paul Newman. "If Marlon Brando and James Dean defined the defiant American male as a sullen rebel, Paul Newman recreated him as a likable renegade, a strikingly handsome figure of animal high spirits and blue-eyed candor whose magnetism was almost impossible to resist, whether the character was Hud, Cool Hand Luke or Butch Cassidy." [permalink] [ filed under People ] September 26, 2008iW NEWS | IFP Minnesota Announces Grant Winner
Emily Haddad, a Stillwater-based screenwriter and filmmaker, has been announced as the winner of the first Fresh Filmmakers Production Grant, a new funding program sponsored by IFP Minnesota, ETS Pictures and the Twin Cities-based production community. The purpose of the grant is to support beginning narrative filmmakers in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. This grant, the first of its kind in the region, will facilitate the production of one short narrative film directed by a filmmaker who has been making films for no more than five years. Haddad will direct her new screenplay, "The Egg Timer," with the resources provided by the Fresh Filmmakers Grant. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Honors ] iW ROUND UP | Friday, September 26th
indieWIRE's snapshot of news and views from around the web on Friday, opening day for the 2008 New York Film Festival.
AO Scott on NYFF '08
Indies Set for Rome Fest
Gibney's Next Doc
Recapping "Reader" Battle September 25, 2008iW NEWS | Austin Film Fest Announces Lineup
The 15th Annual Austin Film Festival (AFF) announced its festival programming, including its annual screenwriter's conference, and approximately 190 feature and short films including World, U.S. and Regional premieres. "This is very possibly the most exciting film lineup we've ever put together," said Kelly Williams, AFF Film Program Director, in a statement. "From our Comedy Vanguard program, spotlighting emerging comic voices, to event screenings with Charlie Kaufman, Danny Boyle and David Wain, to a stellar lineup of shorts that truly represents the best that's out there, this is a film program that we're confident audiences are going to appreciate and embrace." The program includes David Wain's "Role Models," Charlie Kaufman's "Synecdoche, New York," Paul Schrader's "Adam Resurrected," Mike Leigh's "Happy-Go-Lucky," Greg Kohs's "Song Sung Blue," Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire." The Austin Film Festival and Conference runs October 16-23, 2008. For more information and a complete lineup of films, visit the festival's website. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals ] iW NEWS | Arthouse and Sidetrack Team for "Beautiful Losers"
Worldwide rights to Aaron Rose and Joshua Leonard's "Beautiful Losers" have been acquired by Arthouse Films, which will partner with Sidetrack Films on global distribution. The deal was negotiated by David Koh and Lilly Bright on behalf of Arthouse Films and Curiously Bright Entertainment, along with Jared Moshe and Richard Lim of Sidetrack Films on behalf of the directors and producers. The film has already been acquired and recently released in Japan through Phantom Films and opened in the U.S. this summer. Focusing on a loose-knit group of American artists, the doc is the the story of how a group of outsiders with little or no formal training, and almost no conception or interest of the inner workings of the art world, ended up having an incredible impact on the worlds of art, fashion, music, film and pop culture. indieWRE profiled the film's release plan with Nike last month and published an interview with the filmmaker when the doc was released in August. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions ] iW NEWS | "Buck Howard" To Open BendFilm Fest
The 5th Annual BendFilm Festival has announced the line-up of films and guests for the October 9-12, 2008 event in Bend, Oregon. "We'll be kicking off the festival with [Sean McGinly's] "The Great Buck Howard, starring John Malkovich and Colin Hanks," said Sandy Henderson, Executive Director of BendFilm, in a statement. "The weekend will continue with more than a dozen feature films, two dozen shorts and more than twenty documentaries. Plus, we're thrilled to have such high-caliber entertainment industry guests here in Bend." Other films programmed include Tom Quinn's "The New Year Parade," Tate Taylor's "Pretty Ugly People," Robert Milazzo's "War Eagle, Arkansas" and Russell Brown's "The Blue Tooth Virgin." For a complete lineup, visit the festival's wesbite. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals ] iW NEWS | Mark and Condon To Guide 81st Oscars
Producer Laurence Mark has been announced as the producer of the 81st Annual Academy Awards telecast, while writer/director Bill Condon has been tapped to executive produce. It will be their first involvement in the production of an Oscar show. "Larry and Bill are fresh thinkers who will bring a unique perspective to the Oscar show," said Academy President Sid Ganis in a statement. "That fact, joined with their enormous collective talent and enthusiasm, will serve the 81st awards proceedings perfectly." The 81st Academy Awards presentation will be take place Sunday, February 22, 2009. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Awards Watch, Industry Moves ] iW NEWS | "$9.99" For Regent
The North American rights to Tatia Rosenthal's stop motion animated "$9.99" have been acquired by Regent Releasing. Regent acquired the film from international sales agent Fortissimo Films and will distribute it in select U.S. cities in the Spring of 2009. "$9.99" is the third film Regent Releasing picked up from Fortissimo at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival. The other previously announced deals were for "Serbis" and "Tokyo Sonata." "We are thrilled to bring Tatia Rosenthal's brilliantly innovative first feature to U.S. audiences," said Regent's Mark Reinhart in a statement. "Regent is committed to showcasing innovative filmmaking while nurturing promising, emerging talent. Tatia and her delightful film could not be a finer opportunity to fulfill this mission." The deal was negotiated by Reinhart, West Coast General Manager and EVP, Distribution and Acquisitions for Regent, and Fortissimo's Winnie Lau, SVP, Sales & Acquisitions. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions ] iW NEWS | Fiennes To Be Honored At London Fest
The Times BFI 52nd London Film Festival has announced that Ralph Fiennes will receive The Variety UK Achievement in Film Award on October 27, 2008 at BFI Southbank. The special event will feature an extended on-stage interview with Fiennes, including a comprehensive look back through his previous body of work and a preview of his forthcoming projects. Other recent announced additions to the festival include the UK premieres of Spike Lee's "Miracle at St. Anna" and Jesus Ponce's "Lazy Days." The festival runs October 15-30, 2008. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals, Honors ] iW NEWS | Focus Announces Winners of Africa First Program
Focus Features' Africa First Program, an initiative earmarked exclusively for emerging filmmakers of African nationality and residence, has announced the five filmmakers being awarded $10,000 apiece. Earlier this year, Focus offered participating filmmakers the chance to be awarded the financing for production and/or post-production on their narrative short film made in continental Africa and tapping the resources of the film industry there. The winning filmmakers are Edouard Bamporiki (Rwanda), Jenna Bass (South Africa), Jan-Hendrik Beetge (South Africa), Dyana Gaye (Senegal), and Wanuri Kahiu (Kenya). "Given the response to our program, there was no shortage of new talent to choose from," said Focus CEO James Schamus in a statement. "The final five have great stories to tell that are original in every respect, but what was even more impressive were the scores and scores of other strong projects we were unfortunately not able to help - this time." [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Honors ] INDUSTRY MOVES | Pere Joining Locarno
Olivier Pere is leaving the Director's Fortnight in Cannes to become the Artistic Director at the Locarno International Film Festival. He will join the event at the end of next year's Locarno festival, replacing Frederic Maire, who will leave to head the Swiss Cinematheque late next year. [permalink] [ filed under Industry Moves ] iW ROUND UP | Thursday, September 25
indieWIRE's snapshot of news and views from around the web on Thursday.
More Foreign Language Oscar Entries
Hoberman: What's the story with the 2008 New York Film Festival?
Celebrating Oshima
Two from NYFF
Meet the Eberts September 24, 2008iW NEWS | "The Soloist" To Open AFI
AFI Fest 2008 has announced that Joe Wright's "The Soloist" has been selected as the Festival's Opening Night Gala presentation. "The Sololist," a Dreamworks and Universal co-production, stars Robert Downey Jr as a journalist and Jamie Foxx as the mentally ill musician he befriends. "We are thrilled that AFI Fest has chosen 'The Soloist' for its Opening Night Gala," said Stacey Snider, Chairman and CEO of DreamWorks Studios and AFI Trustee, in a statement. "We think it's a wonderful, emotionally powerful film and, especially given its Los Angeles setting, believe there couldn't be a better way to introduce it to the public." The film will have its North American Premiere when it opens the fest on Thursday, October 30, 2008 at ArcLight Hollywood's Cinerama Dome Theatre. The film is due for theatrical release on November 21. AFI Fest will run October 30-November 9, 2008. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals ] iW NEWS | "Country" For Film Movement
Czech drama "The Country Teacher," directed by Bohdan Slama, will be released in North American through Film Movement. The film, about a young teacher that takes a job teaching at a grammar school in the Bohemian countryside, played at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival. "It is very exciting for us to acquire another film by gifted director Bohdan Slama," said Adley Gartenstein, President of Film Movement, in a statement. "He has proven once again that he can get incredibly nuanced and heartfelt performance from his actors, while telling a simple yet universal story that we know North American audiences will respond to in a very positive way." The acquisition of the film was negotiated by Gartenstein, and Laurent Baudens of Wild Bunch. Film Movement will release the film in 2009. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, World Cinema ] iW NEWS | Nolan, Shanley Tapped For Hollywood Awards
The 12th Annual Hollywood Film Festival and Hollywood Awards, have announced that producers Christopher Nolan, Charles Roven and Emma Thomas will be honored with the "Hollywood Producers of the Year Award" for their work on "The Dark Knight," and screenwriter John Patrick Shanley will receive the "Hollywood Screenwriter of the Year Award" for "Doubt." The awards will be handed out at the festival's Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony on October 27, 2008 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Awards Watch, Honors ] iW NEWS | MoMA Promotes Seigel, Hires Trainor
Joshua Siegel has been promoted to to Associate Curator of the Department of FIlm at the MoMA, while Katie Trainor has been hired for the new position of Film Collections Manager. Siegel joined the department in 1993 as Curatorial Assistant and has been Assistant Curator since 1997. Since 2000, he has co-organized the annual exhibition "To Save and Project: The MoMA International Festival of Film Preservation." Trainor, who formerly served as a project film preservationist in MoMA's Celeste Bartos Film Preservation Center in Hamlin, PA, returns to MoMA. In the new position, Trainor will oversee the implementation of all film preservation initiatives for the Museum's collection of over 22,000 titles. Trainor most recently she helped launch the IFC Film Center in New York as its inaugural operations manager. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Industry Moves ] iW NEWS | Nouveau Cinema Announces Full Program
Montreal's Festival du Nouveau Cinema has announced full programming for its 37th annual event, October 8-19, 2008. The roster boasts nearly 250 films from 60 countries, including several North American and world premieres. As previously announced, Oliver Asselin's "A Sentimental Capitalism" and Laurent Cantet's "The Class" will open and close the fest. Freshly announced selections in a variety of programs include Antonio Campos' "Afterschool," Gerardo Olivares' "14 Kilometros," Ari Folman's "Waltz With Bashir," Juraj Lehotsky's "Blind Loves," Abel Ferrera's "Chelsea on the Rocks," Kathryn Bigelow's "The Hurt Locker," Paolo Sorrentino's "Il Divo," Agnes Varda's "Les Plages d'Agnes," Wim Wenders' "Palermo Shooting," Terrence Davies's "Of Time and the City," Matteo Garrone's "Gomorra," Charlie Kaufman's "Synecdoche, New York" and Kelly Reichardt's "Wendy & Lucy." For a full list of programming, visit the festival's website. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals ] iW NEWS | Austin Fest To Honor Boyle
The 15th Annual Austin Film Festival announced that director and producer Danny Boyle is the recipient of the 2008 Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award. The award is presented to "individuals who have demonstrated an unyielding commitment to outstanding scripts and innovative filmmaking." "Danny Boyle is truly a prolific director," said Barbara Morgan, AFF co-founder and Executive Director, in a statement. "His work is regarded as some of the most cutting edge and thought-provoking filmmaking today. We are honored to have him accept the Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award at this year's festival." Boyle will accept his award at a special luncheon on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at the Austin Club. The Austin Film Festival and Conference runs October 16-23, 2008. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Honors ] iW ROUND UP | Wednesday, September 24
indieWIRE's snapshot of news and views from around the web at mid-week.
"Bashir" Picked From Israel
Jamie Stuart, Part 1
Burns Disses Palin
"Slacker Uprising"
"American Psycho" Eyeing B'way September 23, 2008iW BOT UPDATE | "Duchess," "August," "Dead Fish" Top Chart
Box Office coverage presented by Rentrak Theatrical Saul Gibb's "The Duchess," from Paramount Vantage is high atop the weekly iW BOT box office chart, which was published this afternoon. The film earned a huge $190,426 from just 7 runs. Maya Releasing's "August Evening," Variance Films' "Walking On Dead Fish," Balcony Releasing's "Enlighten Up!" and Redwood Palm's "Battle in Seattle" rounded out the top 5. More in this week's box office column, which was published last night.[permalink] [ filed under Box Office ] iW NEWS | Penn To Be Honored By BAFTA/LA
Sean Penn will be honored by the The British Academy of Film and Television Arts/Los Angeles (BAFTA/LA) with its Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film. Penn will receive the award at the 2008 BAFTA/LA Britannia Awards on Thursday, November 6, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel. "As a celebrated actor, director and producer, Sean has become a film icon over the past three decades," said BAFTA/LA Chairman Peter Morris in a statement. "The roles and subject matter he chooses to tackle as a filmmaker are both challenging and inspiring to audiences worldwide." Previous winners of the award include Martin Scorcese, Helen Mirren, Denzel Washington, Tom Cruise and Elizabeth Taylor. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Honors ] iW NEWS | "Mancora" For Maya
Ricardo de Montreuil's "Mancora," which premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, has been acquired by Maya Entertainment, a vertically integrated, multi-platform media company targeting the U.S. Latino market. The announcement was made at the film's screening at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. The film stars Elsa Pataky, Jason Day and Enrique Murciano as three people on a road trip. The deal was negotiated by Jose Martinez, Jr., head of acquisitions, and Tonantzin Esparza, director of acquisitions for Maya Entertainment, along with Debra Fisher of Cinetic Media on behalf of De Montreuil and the film's Producer, Diego Ojeda. As part of the agreement Maya Entertainment will roll out "Mancora" in Los Angeles and Miami in the spring of 2009. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, World Cinema ] iW NEWS | IFP Backing "Ballast"; Launching First Weekend Initiative
The IFP in New York will kick-off a new "First Weekend" series with the self-distributed theatrical release of Lance Hammer's "Ballast." The org bought out the second night, 8 p.m. screening of the Sundance award winner at Film Forum (October 2nd) and is selling premium tickets (priced at $25), that will include a post-screening conversation with Hammer and Tony Award winner Sarah Jones, followed by a private after-party. Full box-office proceeds are going to the film and its release. After reading a recent indieWIRE article about Hammer's plans to to take the film back from IFC and release it himself (with consultant Steven Raphael of Required Viewing), IFP head Michelle Byrd said she reached out to the filmmaker about how to help support the release, activating ideas that had been simmering for some time. The new IFP program will support self-distributed indies on a quarterly basis. "It's really just trying to figure how how we can get as many stakeholders [involved with] filmmakers who are releasing their own work," Byrd told indieWIRE this morning. [permalink] [ filed under Biz ] iW NEWS | Regent Takes "Tokyo Sonata" for North America
North American rights to Kiyoshi Kurosawa's "Tokyo Sonata," which took the jury prize at this year's Un Certain Regard in Cannes have been acquired by Regent Releasing from Fortissimo, the company announced Tuesday. Regent plans an early 2009 theatrical release in select cities. The film is the second film that Regent picked up at the recent Toronto International Film Festival from Fortissimo Films. Regent also acquired "Serbis" at TIFF '08 and both films will make their U.S. premiere at the upcoming 46th New York Film Festival. Set in contemporary Tokyo, "Tokyo Sonata" is a story of an ordinary Japanese family of four that hides their inner schisms. The father, Ryuhei Sasaki, like any other Japanese businessman, is faithfully devoted to his work. His wife, Megumi, left on her own to manage the house, struggles to retain a bond with her oldest son in college, Takashi, and the youngest, Kenji, a sensitive boy in elementary school. Mark Reinhart, West Coast general manager and EVP Distribution and acquisitions for Regent negotitated the deal with Michael J. Werner, co-chairman of Fortissimo Films. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions ] iW NEWS | Drogin Formally Announces Maximum Films
Marcy Drogin has formally announced her New York based production, management & consulting firm, Maximum Films & Managament. Drogin now serves as the NYC creative literary consultant for three LA based companies - Mandalay Pictures, CBS Films and Participant Media. "We are excited about the projects already underway with Marcy as she officially launches her new firm and look forward to developing quality entertainment in the future with Maximum Films & Management," said Cathy Schulman, President, Mandalay Pictures and Mandalay Independent Pictures, in a statement. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Biz ] iW NEWS | Fortissimo Acquires "Parque"
Fortissimo Films announced today it has acquired worldwide sales rights outside Mexico to Enrique Rivero's Parque Via. The film tells the story of an elderly man who cares for a luxury, empty house in Mexico, residing there until the day it is sold. The film won the Golden Leopard Award at this year's Locarno International Film Festival, and is scheduled to screen at the upcoming Tokyo, London and Vienna International Film Festivals. The deal was agreed between Fortissimo's Co-Chair Wouter Barendrecht and "Via" producer Paola Herrera. "We are very happy that 'Parque Via' is now part of the Fortissimo slate," said Herrera in a statement. "It deserves the very best in bringing it to an international audience. With Fortissimo we are standing on solid ground. They have all the tools needed to internationalize the film." [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions ] iW ROUND UP | Tuesday, September 23
indieWIRE's snapshot of news and views from around the web for a Tuesday.
Rudin and Harvey at Odds?
Good Weekend for Yoga Doc
"Paradise" Wins Two at LA Latino Fest
Screen Media Buys "Butter"
New Gay Fest Under Fire September 22, 2008iW NEWS | German Currents To Highlight Bavaria
The Goethe-Institut Los Angeles and the American Cinematheque are presenting their annual film series, German Currents, at the American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre in Los Angeles, and the focus is on Bavaria and their industry and films. The series kicks off with the U.S. premieres of Uli Edel's "The Baader Meinhoff Complex" and Caroline Link's "A Year Ago In Winter." In addition to the film series, special industry events during German Currents will include an exhibition honoring The Hof International Film Festival on September 28 followed by a multi-media presentation of film technology by ARRI, makers of the Arriflex camera, on September 29. Both special events will take place at the Goethe-Institut in Los Angeles. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Events, World Cinema ] iW NEWS | Liberation RYKO Pact for Video Releases
Los Angeles-based Liberation Entertainment is teaming with RYKO Distribution for the exclusive distribution of all Liberation video releases in the U.S. beginning October 1. The agreement covers all catalog titles as well as new releases, according to an announcement from Liberation. "We view this new partnership as a perfect fit for both companies," Liberation Chairman and CEO Jay Boberg commented in a statement. "And we are proud to be partnered with RYKO's outstanding creative sales & marketing team and their long history of success." [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Biz ] iW NEWS | European Film Award Announce Short Nominees
The 21st European Film Awards, to be held in Copenhagen on December 6, 2008, have announced the full list of nominees for their short film award. The nominees are Hanro Smitsman's "Raak," James Lees' "The Apology Line," Cyril Paris' "Un Bisou pour le monde," Johnny Kelly's "Procrastination," Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy's "Joy," Darren Thornton's "Frankie," Luis Cook's "The Pearce Sisters," Marc Reisbig's "Time is Running Out," Laila Pakalnina's "Uguns," Runar Runarsson's "Smafuglar," Sam Taylor-Wood's "Love You More," Ivan Ramadan's "Tolerantia," Koen Dejaegher's "De Onbaatzuchtigen," and Laszlo Nemes' "Tuerelem." [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Awards Watch, Honors, Shorts ] iW NEWS | IFP to Honor Nevins
Sheila Nevins, president of HBO Documentary Films, will be honored with a Gotham Award Tribute at the IFP's 18th Annual Gotham Awards on Tuesday, December 2nd in New York. "Sheila has unquestionably been one of the most influential forces in documentary filmmaking," said IFP's Michelle Byrd, in a statement. "She is almost singlehandedly responsible for bringing documentaries into mainstream popular culture. Her work has not only changed the documentary landscape, it's opened minds and spurred change." Over the summer, Nevins spoke about her life and career at a special "Evening with Sheila Nevins" event at the Los Angeles Film Festival. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Awards Watch, Honors ] iW NEWS | Rio de Janeiro Fest Announces Programme
Running September 25 to October 9, 2008, Festival do Rio, the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival will present over 350 films selected from 60 countries at over 30 different venues across the city. The festival will open with Bruno Barreto's "Last Stop 174," based on the story a real-life bus hijacking in Rio de Janeiro. It was this week announced as Brazil's foreign language Oscar entry. Other films include Latin premieres of Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," Francis Ford Coppola's "Youth without Youth," Joel and Ethan Coen's "Burn After Reading," Pablo Trapero's, "La Leonera," Mike Leigh's "Happy Go Lucky," Madonna's "Filth and Wisdom" and Kim Jee-woon's "The Good, The Bad, The Weird." The festival will also dedicate one special section to the work of director Derek Jarman and another to the Taviani brothers. For the first time festival headquarters will move from its usual Copacabana Beach setting to Rio's historic city centre with its Pavilhao do Festival (Festival Pavilion) situated at the Galpao de Cultura e Cidadania. The move is intended "to show the festival's endorsement of Rio's inner-city regeneration programme which has been put in place to revitalize areas of the city greatly in need of re-urbanisation." [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals ] iW ROUND UP | Monday, September 22
indieWIRE's snapshot of news and views from around the web for the first day of fall.
Slamdance '09: From Stream to Preem
Tyler Perry Expands
Trio Eyeing Oscar
"Headless Woman" and "Tony Manero" Reviews
TV's Big Night; Full List of Winners September 21, 2008iW NEWS | Weekend Estimates: "Duchess" Finds Royal Numbers
Box Office coverage presented by Rentrak Theatrical According to estimates from Rentrak this afternoon, Saul Dibb's "The Duchess" led indieWIRE Box Office Tracking (iW BOT) - which ranks the per theater average of all reporting specialty films. The Paramount Vantage released grossed a very impressive $200,000 from just 7 screens, averaging $28,571. Ed Harris's "Appaloosa" also managed good numbers. On 14 screens, the film grossed $258,000, averaging $18,429 for Warner Brothers. Well behind both of those studio-backed films was the opening of Stuart Townsend's "Battle in Seattle." The Redwood Plam Pictures/Vitagraph Films release opened on 8 screens, drawing a decent $50,215 for an average of $6,276. Among holdovers, Oscilloscope's doc "FLOW: For Love of Water" expanded from 2 to 10 screens in its second weekend. The Irena Salina directed film grossed $27,426, averaging $2,743. Alan Ball's "Towelhead" expanded from 4 to 18 screens and grossed $65,000, averaging $3,611 and bringing its 10 day total to $138,452. indieWIRE will publish its weekly box office column Monday night and the full iW BOT Tuesday afternoon. Get the latest in the indieWIRE Box Office section. [Peter Knegt][permalink] [ filed under Box Office ] iW NEWS | Bo Smith Named to Head Denver Film Society
Burleigh "Bo" Smith has been named the new executive director of the Denver Film Society (DFS). He is set to join the organization in mid-October. A 21-year vet of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston where he has served as Head of Film/Video and Concerts, Smith was chosen, in part, by DFS founder Ron Henderson. DFS executive director Scott Rowitz left the organization in March after six years, to join the California Film Institute. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals ]
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