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 October 3, 2008 iW NEWS | Tallgrass Film Fest to Fete "Kansas" and "Deal" in Line up
A work-in-progress screening of Laura Cohen and Joe Winston's doc "What's the Matter with Kansas" will open the 2008 Tallgrass Film Festival with 100 films set to screen during the sixth annual event taking place October 23 - 26 in Wichita, Kansas. The film focuses on how conservatives won the heart of America nad examines populism in the past, present and future through the viewpoint of several families and their experiences. As previously announced, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and Wichita native Dan Glickman will be honored with the "Ad Astra Award." Films screning in the domestic narrative section include Sandy Tung's "Alice, Upside Down," Jennifer Phang's "Half-Life," Kevin Ely and Beau Leland's "Rainbow Around the Sun," and Nina Paley's "Sita Sings the Blues." Closing the fest is the Midwest premiere of "The Deal," starring William H. Macy, Meg Ryan and Jason Ritter. For more information including a full line up, visit the festival's website. [Brian Brooks]  [permalink] [ filed under Festivals ] iW NEWS | "Toots" and "Ullmann" Bookend 9th PaleyDocFest
The ninth PaleyDocFest will open with Kristi Jacobson's "Toots," which pays tribute to regarded New York restaurateur Toots Shor. The festival will examine subjects subjects from Johnny Cash to Jerome Robbins in addition to Providence "wiseguys" as well as three men who decide to run all 4300 miles of the Sahara Desert. The festival will close with "A Look at Liv Ullmann, Then and Now," featuring an in-person appearance by Ullmann. For more information and a full line up, visit the festival's website. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals ] iW NEWS | Mackiewicz Joins Regent Worldwide Sales as co-prez
Liz Mackiewicz is joining Regent Worldwide Sales as co-president, the company -- an affiliate of Regent Entertainement -- unveiled. She will serve with co-president, Adam Wright. Together, Mackiewicz and Wright will share all management and distribution initiatives, furthering the expansion of the 10 year-old company. Prior to joining Regent, Mackiewicz served as senior vice president of international sales for Morgan Creek International. In this position, Mackiewicz was responsible for evaluating projects, sales in all territories, maintaining major studio relationships, licensing and distribution activities. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Industry Moves ] TODAY: "Ballast" Director Lance Hammer @ Apple
Join filmmaker Lance Hammer at the Apple Store SoHo as he discusses his feature film, "Ballast," which took prizes for best director and cinematography at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. Hammer produced, edited, and will self-distribute this dramatic, quietly beautiful film set in the Mississippi delta, where one man's suicide affects three people's lives. indieWIRE contributor Anthony Kaufman will moderate the discussion. "Ballast" opens in NYC at Film Forum on October 1. WHEN: Friday, October 3, 7:00 p.m. [permalink] [ filed under Events ] iW ROUND UP | Friday, October 3rd
indieWIRE's snapshot of news and views from around the web on Friday.
Jackson Hole Film Org, Fest Close
"Che" and "Changeling"
NY Doc Fest Set
"Jar City" Remake
Kenny on "Caring" October 2, 2008iW NEWS | IFC Gets Bela Tarr Title
IFC Entertainment has acquired Bela Tarr's 2007 Cannes Film Festival entry "Man From London," starring Tilda Swinton, for its on-demand platform Festival Direct. IFC's Lizzie Nastro negotiated the deal with Winnie Lau from Fortissimo Films. The film, based on a novel by Georges Simenon, is described by IFC as, "the story of Maloin, a dour old railway worker trapped in a bleak routine. His home life with his nagging wife and daughter is equally dire until one day, Maloin sees a suitcase being passed off while passengers from London disembark a boat and transfer to a waiting train. After the man who receives the suitcase gets thrown into the harbour by an indistinct assailant, Maloin retrieves the drowned stranger's soggy case and finds it full of British bills. Soon, a police inspector is searching for the money and Maloin must decide what he will do with his ethically compromised windfall." [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, World Cinema ] iW NEWS | AFI Adds to Fest Slate
Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler" and Steven Soderbergh's "Che" have been added as centerpiece galas for the upcoming AFI Fest, the AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival. Also added to the festival are Rian Johnson's "The Brothers Bloom," Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck's "Sugar," the "Tokyo!" triptych with films by Bong Joon-ho, Leos Carax, & Michel Gondry, and James Gray's "Two Lovers." [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under AFI Fest, Festivals ] iW NEWS | BAFTA/LA To Honor Cheadle, Swinton, Frears
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts/Los Angeles (BAFTA/LA) has announced additional honorees for its 17th Annual BAFTA/LA Britannia Awards on Thursday, November 6, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel. The 2008 honorees include actor and producer Don Cheadle with the BAFTA/LA Humanitarian Award Presented by Volvo; actress Tilda Swinton with the Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year; and BAFTA award-winning television and film director Stephen Frears with the John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Artistic Excellence in Directing. Sean Penn was previously announced as the honoree for this year's Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Honors ] iW NEWS | Danish Anchorman Bertelsen To Host European Film Awards
When the guests at the European Film Awards ceremony take their seats at Copenhagen's Forum on December 6, 2008, the host of the evening will be popular Danish journalist, anchorman and TV-host Mikael Bertelsen. On stage with him will be the Danish Radio Big Band, Denmark's most popular jazz orchestra. Among the evening's announced guests are Dame Judi Dench, this year's recipient of the European Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Danish Dogma brothers Soren Kragh-Jacobsen, Kristian Levring, Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg who will receive the award European Achievement in World Cinema 2008. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Awards Watch, Events ] iW NEWS | "Were The World Mine" Gets Release Date
Tom Gustafson's festival favorite "Were The World Mine has announced its self-distribution plan to theatrically release in 16 cities beginning in November. The US release includes: New York City and San Francisco on November 21, followed by Boston, San Diego, Washington DC, Seattle, Atlanta, St. Louis, Philadelphia and Minneapolis. Los Angeles, Chicago and other cities are still pending. The theatrical release is being booked by New American Vision for domestic theatrical. The film has screened at over 50 festivals thus far, the film has won 14 awards including the Audience Award for Best Film at the 2008 Florida Film Festival. indieWIRE profiled the film earlier this year. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Queer Cinema, Releases ] iW NEWS | "Porno," "Walking" Added To Fest Nouveau
The Festival du Nouveau Cinema has announced two late additions to the fest, Kevin Smith's "Zack and Miri make a Porno" and Kari Skogland's "Fifty Dead Men Walking." Both films recently had their Canadian Premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival. The fest begins Wednesday, October 8 and continues until Sunday, October 19. These two films will be screened at the Imperial Cinema on October 17. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals ] iW NEWS | Cinevolve Picks Up Venezuela's Oscar Bid
Alejandro Bellame Palacios' "The Color of Fame" (El Tinte de la Fama) has been announced as Venezuela's official selection for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards by a committee of the country's film industry professionals. In a deal that will deliver this film to a variety of screens in the US, Los Angeles-based Cinevolve Studios has announced their acquisition of the film from Venezuela's Totem Films. The deal, which encompasses all domestic and international rights for theatrical (excluding Venezuela), home entertainment, television and internet and new media, was negotiated by Arik Treston and Nicole Ballivian, respectively the CEO and President of Cinevolve Studios and Totem Films. Cinevolve plans a limited theatrical release between the fourth quarter of 2008 and and the first quarter 2009, with a home entertainment release to follow. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, World Cinema ] iW NEWS | "Chelsea," "Kassim" To Open DocFest
The 7th annual Documentary Film Festival (DocFest) has announced its programming, screening 60 films over three weeks. The opening night films will be Abel Ferrera's "Chelsea on the Rocks," a history of Manhattan's The Chelsea Hotel, and Kief Davidson's "Kassim the Dream," the story of World Champion Boxer Kassim "The Dream" Ouma. The fest will close with Nina Davenport's "Operation Filmmaker." Other films include Jeruschka White and Caryn Capotosto's "Come on Down! Come on Down! The Road to the Price is Right," Melody Gilbert's "Disconnected," Liz Welch Tirrell's "The Long Haul," B. Douglas Robbins' "Debate Team," and Kristy Guevera-Flanagan's "Going on 13." The festival runs October 17-30 at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco and October 31-November 6, at the Shattuck Cinemas in Berkeley. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Documentary, Festivals ] iW ROUND UP | Thursday, October 2nd
indieWIRE's snapshot of news and views from around the web on Tuesday.
Oscar Obsession
Scorsese and DeNiro Together Again
NYFF: The Junkets
On Ophuls' "Lola Montes" October 1, 2008iW NEWS | here! Takes "Saving Marriage" Worldwide; Targets California's Prop 8
Worldwide rights to John Henning and Mike Roth's doc "Saving Marriage" have been acquired by here! Films, the theatrical distribution and worldwide sales division of here! Networks. Partner Regent Releasing has pushed up the release date of "Saving Marriage" to release in select cities beginning October 10 in an effort to defeat Proposition 8 in California and take advantage of upcoming elections on November 4th. The film chronicles the two-years after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled gay marriage legal in November of 2003. Public outcry pushed conservative legislators to approve a constitutional amendment that would override the decision and take marriage away from the gay and lesbian couples. The film archives the fight as the gay community spurs into action by an issue that could change their lives. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions ] iW NEWS | Freeman, Walken, Whitaker Titles Among 29th American Film Market Line up
The numbers are big for the 29th American Film Market slated for November 5 - 12 in Santa Moncia, California. 513 films in 35 lanugages including 102 world premieres and 375 "market premieres" will screen during the event taking place at the seaside Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel and Le Merigot Beach Hotel. Films making their world premieres at the AFM include Academy Award winners Morgan Freeman and Christopher Walken in "The Lonely Maiden," also starring William H. Macy (Yari Film Group); Timothy Hutton in "The Killing Room," with Chloe Sevigny, Nick Cannon and Peter Stormare (ContentFilm International); and Forest Whitaker in "Powder Blue," also featuring Jessica Biel, Kris Kristofferson, Ray Liotta and Patrick Swayze (QED International). The screening schedule, a full list of films available during AFM, and additional information is located on the Film Catalog website. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Line ups ] iW NEWS | Eastwood to Receive Hollywood Fest Honors
Academy Award-winning director and producer Clint Eastwood will receive the "Hollywood Director of the Year Award" at the 12th annual Hollywood Film Festival and Hollywood Awards. The event will take place at during a gala ceremony on October 27th at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals ] iW ROUND UP | Wednesday, October 1st
indieWIRE's snapshot of news and views from around the web on Tuesday.
Ultra-realist Indie Film
MPAA Sues RealNetworks
Jamie Stuart: Take 2
NYFF: The Film Critics
Box Office Bottleneck
Miyazaki Among Japan's Greatest? September 30, 2008iW NEWS | B-Side Takes "Crawford"
David Modigliani's award-winning SXSW documentary "Crawford" has been picked up by B-Side Entertainment. As part of the pact, B-Side entered a deal with Hulu.com, which will host the doc's feature film premiere -- a first for the ad supported streaming service. The film centers on the small Texan town where U.S. President Bush bought a ranch prior to running for high office in 2000 and the human impact of perception-versus-reality politics. B-Side CEO Chris Hyams negotiated the acquisition deal with Josh Braun of Submarine representing the filmmaker. Hyams, Braun and filmmaker David Modigliani brought the premiere idea to Hulu. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions ] iW BOT UPDATE | "Wild," "Duchess" Lead Chart
Box Office coverage presented by Rentrak Theatrical Matt Wolf's "Wild Combination" is atop the weekly iW BOT box office chart, which was published this afternoon. The film earned $11,850 from one screen. Paramount Vantage's "The Duchess" and IDP/Samuel Goldwyn Films's "Fireproofrounded out the top 5. More in this week's box office column, which was published last night.[permalink] [ filed under Box Office ] iW Presents | Wong Kar Wai talks music & film [Apple Store, SoHo]
This weekend, while he is in town for the New York Film Festival, indieWIRE presents a conversation with filmmaker Wong Kar Wai. He will discuss how music is used in his films and show scenes from "Ashes of Time Redux." October 4th, 3:00 p.m.
Apple Store, SoHo
The event is free, seating is limited. iW NEWS | Middle East Fest Announces Schedule
Over 60 films from 32 countries around the world will take part in the Official Competition for this year's Middle East International Film Festival, running October 10-19, 2008. This year's Official Competition is comprised of four sections: feature, documentary, short films and student films. "I am pleased to say that MEIFF 2008 has attracted some of the top films, filmmakers and distinguished industry guests from all corners of the world and we are honoured to host them in Abu Dhabi," said Vice Chairman of MEIFF, Mohamed Khalaf Al Mazrouei, in a statement. Films in competition include Samir Habachi's "Beirut: Open City," Alexander Melnik's "Terra Nova," Saleh Karama's "Henna," Elisabeth Chai Vasarhelyi's "Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love," and James Marsh's "Man on Wire." The films are eligible for the fest's Black Pearl Awards. The Black Pearl cash prize distributed to the winners, along with a trophy, has been increased this year with prizes totaling over $1 million. All Black Pearl Award Winners will be decided by a jury split into two sections, a feature and documentary jury and a shorts, students and advertisements jury with the winners announced in the Closing Ceremony on October 19, 2008. For a complete lineup of films, check out the festival's website. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals ] iW ROUND UP | Tuesday, September 30th
indieWIRE's snapshot of news and views from around the web on Tuesday.
'Radical Chic'
Screener Season
DOX OFFICE | High "Combination" At IFC Center
FIRST PERSON | Ted Hope
Weinstein v. Nikki Finke iW NEWS | European Film Awards Announce Discovery Nods
The European Film Awards have announced the nominees of this year's European Discovery Award, given to "young and upcoming director for a first full-length feature film." This year's nominees are Steve McQueen's "Hunger," Aida Begic's "Snijeg," Seyfi Teoman's "Tatil Kitabi," and Sergey Dvortsevoy's "Tulpan." The winner will be announced at the 21st annual ceremony, December 6, 2008 in Copenhagen. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Awards Watch, Honors ] September 29, 2008iW NEWS | Sundance Channel Goes To "Prison"
Documentary coverage sponsored by SnagFilms. Marc Evans's "Prison My Whole Life" has been acquired by Sundance Channel. The film follows William Francome's investigation into the arrest of Mumia Abu Jamal, famed death-row prisoner and award-winning Black Panther journalist. The film will premiere on Sundance Channel on Monday, December 8th. The deal was negotiated by Christian Vesper, Sundance Channel Senior Vice President Acquisitions, Program Planning and Scheduling, on behalf of Sundance Channel, and Micah Green of CAA, on behalf of the filmmakers. [Peter Knegt][permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] iW NEWS | Ghent Film Fest Announces Program
Expanding its traditionally world cinema-focused program, the 35th edition of the Ghent International Film Festival, to be held October 7-18, 2008, will feature five landmark film music concerts, two extensive exhibitions, as well as screenings of 131 films from 45 different countries. Announced films include Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" will open the fest, and Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler," which will close the fest, Guillermo Arriaga's "The Burning Plain" and Tom McCarthy's "The Visitor" are also among the films screening. Music will be celebrated with five film music concert, including the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra presenting the music of John Williams, a tribute concert to the late director Anthony Minghella featuring Oscar winner Gabriel Yared, and Clint Mansell, long time collaborator of Darren Aronofsky, performing suites from "Pi," "Requiem for a Dream," and "The Fountain." The concert series will conclude on October 18th with the 8th World Soundtrack Awards, featuring concert performances by Dario Marianelli, Angelo Badalamenti and Tuur Florizoone, among others. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals ] iW NEWS | "Mankind" Wins Tropfest
Jason van Genderen's "Mankind Is No Island" - a 3-minute film that was shot entirely on a cell phone - took home the top $20,000 prize last night at Tropfest NY, the world's largest short film festival. Thousands turned out for the free, outdoor event to see the world premieres of eight short films. The films, which can now be viewed online here, were selected from more than 100 submissions from around the world. A panel including Julianne Moore, Billy Crudup, Malcom Gladwell, Radha Mitchell, Christine Vachon and Bruna Papandrea selected the night's best film live in front of the crowd. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Honors, Shorts ] iW ROUND UP | Monday, September 29th
indieWIRE's snapshot of news and views from around the web on Monday.
Studios Hoping to Pick Up Oscar Slack
Weinstein Getting Into Oscar Race
D-cinema Deal
"Bashir" Out of Doc Oscar Race
Where are the women? September 28, 2008iW NEWS | Weekend Estimates: "Duchess" Leads, "Lucky" Bombs
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. In its second weekend, the Paramount Vantage released grossed $570,000 from 55 screens, averaging a potent $10,364. Just behind was the surprisingly strong performance of IDP/Samuel Goldwyn Films's Christian romance, "Fireproof." The Kirk Cameron headliner grossed $6,513,996 on 839 screens, the second-highest gross for any debut on under 1000 screens this year. Fox Searchlight's "Choke" did not do quite as well. Grossing $1,335,000 on 435 screens, the Clark Gregg directed film averaged a relatively mild $3,069. Its relatively astounding, however, in comparison to Lionsgate's "The Lucky Ones." The Rachel McAdams-Tim Robbins starrer averaged just $425 from its 489 screens. 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 ]
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