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 October 17, 2008 iW ROUND UP | Friday, October 17th
indieWIRE's snapshot of news and views from around the web on Tuesday.
Bergstein's Re-thinks?
"The Soloist" in '09?
Keeping Pace in London
Animated Pair
"Bloom" in Chicago October 16, 2008iW ROUND UP | Thursday, October 16th
indieWIRE's snapshot of news and views from around the web on Tuesday.
Making "Milk"
Round Up: "Filth and Wisdom"
Early word: "Frost/Nixon"
Virtual circuit iW NEWS | "Brothers" and "Good" Bookend 44th Chicago Film Fest
Rian Johnson's "The Brothers Bloom" starring Rachel Weisz, Adrian Brody, Mark Ruffalo and Rinko Kikuchi will open the 2008 Chicago Interntional Film Festival tonight (Thursday) in the windy city. The 44th edition of the festival takes place October 16 - 29. Vicente Amorim's "Good" with Viggo Mortensen about a man who explores his personal circumstances in a novel advocating compassionate euthanasia will close the fest. Highlights of the festival include Gael Garcia Bernal's "Deficit," and Alex Rivera's "Sleep Dealer," screening in Chicago's Cinema of the Americas section as well as Lance Hammer's "Ballast" and Barry Jenkins' "Medicine for Melancholy," screening in the Black Perspectives sidebar. For more information and a full line up, visit the Chicago International Film Festival's website. [Brian Brooks]  [permalink] [ filed under Line ups ] iW NEWS | IDFA To Screen Geyrhalter's Top Ten
Austrian doc director Nikolaus Geyrhalter has compiled his "Top 10" to screen as a special programme at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA). He chose films that "have impressed him and that have played a role in his own development." These include Ulrich Seidl's "Good News: von Kolporteuren, toten Hunden und anderen Wienern," "Koyaanisqatsi," by Godfrey Reggio, and Peter Mettler's "Gambling, Gods and LSD." One fiction film found its way into the Top 10, Terrence Malick's "The New World." A number of Geyrhalter's own films will also be shown alongside, including "Pripyat," "Our Daily Bread," and his latest, "7915km," which will screen in the Joris Ivens Competition. On November 23, 2008, Geyrhalter will be giving a masterclass in which he will discuss his Top 10 and his own work. IDFA takes place November 20-30, 2008, in Amsterdam. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Documentary, Festivals ] iW NEWS | European Film Awards Announce Doc Nods
The European Film Academy have announced the nominations for European Film Academy Documentary 2008 - Prix Arte. The ten nominees are Nino Kirtadze's "Durakovo - Le Village Des Fous," Carlos Saura's "Fados," Thomas Heise's "Kinder. Wie Die Zeit Vergeht," Antoine Cattin and Pavel Kostomarov's "Le Mere," Gonzalo Arijon's "Stranded: I've Come From a Plane That Crashed on the Mountains," Pavel Koteck and Miroslav Janek's "Citizen Havel," Arto Halonen's "Shadow of the Holy Book," Helena Trestikova's "Rene" and Klaartje Quirijns' "The Dictator Hunter." This year's documentary jury will now convene in Berlin to screen the nominated films and decide on the winner. The winner will be presented at the 21st European Film Awards Ceremony on Saturday, 6 December, in Copenhagen. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Awards Watch, Documentary, Honors ] iW NEWS | Heartland Film Fest Debut "Striped Pajamas" Thursday
The North American debut of Miramax's "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" will kick off the 2008 Heartland Film Festival Thursday, October 16 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The film is about a sheltered eight year old of a Nazi officer who defies his mother's orders not to explore the backwoods and encounters a boy living on the other side of a barbed wire fence wearing "striped pajamas," with whom he forms a friendship... [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals ] October 15, 2008iW NEWS | Sony Classics Gets "Easy"
Sony Pictures Classics has announced its acquisition of the US, South African, and Latin American rights to Ealing Studios' "Easy Virtue." Directed by Stephan Elliott, the film stars Jessica Biel, Colin Firth, Kristin Scott Thomas and Ben Barnes. The 1930s set romantic comedy made its debut at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival. "I think Sony Pictures Classics is a perfect home for this very contemporary take on a period movie," said Ealing Studios' head Barnaby Thompson in a statement. The deal was negotiated with Ealing Studio International's Natalie Brenner, Endgames' Douglas Hansen and Ealing Studios' Barnaby Thompson. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions ] iW NEWS | Magnolia Knows "Joe"
Robert Celestino's "Yonkers Joe"'s North American rights have been acquired by Magnolia Pictures. The film, a family drama starring Chazz Palminteri, Christine Lahti and Tom Guiry, premiered at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. The film will be released on Ultra VOD platforms on December 5th, 2008, and will be released theatrically on January 9th, 2009 in ten markets following a sneak preview showing on HDNET on January 7th. The deal was negotiated by Magnolia SVP Tom Quinn and Head of Business Affairs Jason Janego, with producer Trent Othick and Legal Counsel Ron Levin. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions ] iW ROUND UP | Wednesday, October 15th
indieWIRE's snapshot of news and views from around the web on Wednesday.
Callendar Leaving HBO
Round-up: "W"
"Porn" in Rio iW NEWS | Oscilloscope To Offer "Gunnin" Online
Oscilloscope Laboratories has announced an exclusive presentation of Adam Yauch's "Gunnin For That #1 Spot" on Amazon Video On Demand. Under a deal struck by the two companies, audiences can watch, rent or digitally own the film directly through Amazon.com or through TiVo boxes and Sony's new Bravia Internet Video Link before the DVD street date of October 21st. The film is described by Oscilloscope as "a blazing hip-hop, rhythmically infused paean to sports, budding fame, and the Mecca of street basketball." [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Releases ] iW NEWS | "Bullet," "Animals" To Bookend Hollywood Fest
The 12th Annual Hollywood Film Festival has unveiled the line-up of the finalists for this year's festival. The festival will take place October 22-26 at the ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood. The program includes the opening night premiere screening of Jim Dziura's documentary about gun violence in the hip hop world, "Number One with a Bullet," which features Ice Cube, Krs-One, Mos-Def and Young Buck; the centerpiece premiere the documentary "The Forgotten Woman," directed by Dilip Mehta and written by Deepa Mehta; Mark C. Andrews' "Seal Team VI"; director Jim Pasternak's documentary "Certifiably Jonathan," and the closing night premiere of director Jeremy Benson's horror film "Live Animals." For more information and complete list of the line-up please go to the festival's website. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals ] iW NEWS | "Lake City" Opening Virginia Fest
Perry Moore and Hunter Hill's "Lake City" has been announced as the opening night film of the Virginia Film Festival, hosted by the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. "City"'s star, Sissy Spacek will help present the film on October 30, 2008. Also announced were too highly buzzed films, Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler" and Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire," which will both screen Hallowe'en night. The festival also announced two new programs of films by Charlottesville-based filmmakers. On Saturday, November 1, the Festival will present films by film, video, and photography faculty in the University of Virginia's Art Department, while a free program of films by Charlottesville filmmakers Doug Bari, Elizabeth Howard and Light House students will screen Sunday, November 2. The festival runs October 30-November 2, 2008. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals ] iW NEWS | AFI Adds "Harvey"
The 2008 AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival announced Joel Hopkins's "Last Chance Harvey" as a late addition to the Festival's Centerpiece Screenings. "Harvey," which stars Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson as unlikely companions, will have its World Premiere on Saturday, November 8, 2008 at the ArcLight Hollywood Cinerama Dome. The Overture Films release is due in theaters December 26, 2008 in New York and Los Angeles and then in theaters nationwide January 23, 2009. AFI Fest runs October 30-November 9. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals ] October 14, 2008iW ROUND UP | Tuesday, October 14th
indieWIRE's snapshot of news and views from around the web on Tuesday.
Guillaume Depardieu Dies
On Ayers
Dreamworks - Universal Deal iW NEWS | Hoffman, Brolin, Scott Thomas Added To Hollywood Fest Honor Roll
The 12th Annual Hollywood Film Festival and Hollywood Awards have announced additional honorees who will be recognized for their achievements at the festival's Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony, which will take place on October 27, 2008 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. Dustin Hoffman will be honored with the "Hollywood Career Achievement Award," actor Josh Brolin with the "Hollywood Actor of the Year Award," and actress Kristin Scott Thomas with the "Hollywood Actress of the Year Award." [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Awards Watch, Honors ] iW BOT UPDATE | "Rolla," "Lucky" Lead
Guy Ritchie's "RockNRolla" and Mike Leigh's "Happy-Go-Lucky" are atop the weekly iW BOT box office chart, which was published this afternoon. More in this week's box office column, which was published last night. [permalink] [ filed under ] iW NEWS | "Surveillance" Leads Stiges Winners
The Stiges International Film Festival of Catalonia announced its annual awards, with Jennifer Lynch's "Surveillance" winning best motion picture. The "Fantastic" awards, decided by a jury that included Marina Anna Eich, Alex Gorina, Umberto Lenzi, David Pirie and Fred Williamson, were also handed out to "The Good, The Bad, The Weird"'s Kim Jee-woon for best director, "Red"'s Brian Cox for best actor, "Fighter"'s Semra Turan for best actress, "Tale 52"'s Alexis Alexiou for best screenplay, and "The Broken"'s Angus Hudson's "The Broken." The audience award went to Fernando Meirelles' "Blindness." [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals, Honors ] iW NEWS | ASC To Honor Liu, Mankofsky
Robert F. "Bobby" Liu, ASC and Isidore Mankofsky, ASC will be honored at the 23rd Annual American Society of Cinematographers Outstanding Achievement Awardson February 15, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. Liu will receive the ASC Career Achievement in Television Award and Mankofsky will receive the ASC Presidents Award. "Bobby Liu and Isidore Mankofsky have earned the respect of their peers with their achievements as cinematographers and devotion to advancing the art form," said ASC President Daryn Okada in a statement. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Awards Watch, Honors ] iW NEWS | Circle Conference Announces Shasha Grant
The Circle Conference, a program of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, concluded its second annual international film conference last week. The Circle brought together nearly 300 aspiring regional filmmakers and enthusiasts. As it concluded, they announced the winner of its international screening writing competition, the Shasha Grant, a $100,000 award aimed at launching the career of an outstanding regional filmmaker, was also recognized during a special evening ceremony. The Grant was awarded to Moroccan filmmaker Hicham Ayouch for "Sambo Do Maazouz," the story of a Moroccan who speaks and prays in Portuguese and is infatuated with Brazilian culture. "The Second Annual Circle Conference surpassed my highest expectations," said Circle Director Adrienne Briggs. "The excitement, passion and creativity of our hundreds of participants has been truly educational and inspiring." [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Honors ] iW NEWS | "Lymelife" Goes To Screen Media
The U.S. distribution rights for Derick Martini's "Lymelife" have been acquired by Screen Media Films. "Lymelife," which premiered at this year's Toronto International Film Festival, depicts two families in 1970s Long Island and stars Rory Culkin, Alec Baldwin, Cynthia Nixon, Timothy Hutton and Kieran Culkin. It won the International Critics Prize for the Discovery section in Toronto. "This is the kind of film we are most interested in releasing," said Robert Baruc, President of Screen Media Films, in a statement. "'Lymelife' is a beautifully shot film, with extraordinary performances and a powerful story that is moving, as well as intriguing." Cassian Elwes, co-head of William Morris Independent negotiated the deal with Jonathan Gray and Evan Krauss of Gray Krauss LLP for Martini. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions ] iW NEWS | Academy Announces Screenwriting Fellowship Finalists
Thirteen writers have been selected as finalists for the 23rd annual Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Their scripts will now be read and judged by the Academy's Nicholl Committee, which may award as many as five of the prestigious $30,000 fellowships. This year's finalists are Jeremy Bandow's "Hive," Griffin Broadway's "An Arabian Tale," Nancy Froeschle and Stephen Trow's "The Greater Glory," Patricia Ann Hale's "The Home of Positive Thinking," Christina D. Hammonds Reed's "Heart Problems," Ken Kristensen and Colin Marshall's "Out of Breath," Jason A. Micallef's "Butter," Eric Nazarian's "Giants," Lee Pattersons "Snatched," and Becky Peterson and William Bryant's "Ross." The finalists were selected from 5,224 scripts submitted for this year's competition. The competition is open to any individual who has not sold or optioned a screenplay or teleplay for more than $5,000, or received a fellowship or prize that includes a "first look" clause, an option, or any other quid pro quo involving the writer's work. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Honors ] iW NEWS | Santa Barbara Fest To Honor Cruz
The Santa Barbara International Film Festival has announced that it will honor Penelope Cruz with the Outstanding Performer of the Year Award at the 24th edition of the Fest, which runs January 22-February 1, 2009. "There are few actresses who can today be described as international movie goddesses, and this year, with her exceptional work in 'Elegy' and 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona,' Penelope Cruz has earned that description," said SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling in a statement. Cruz will receive the award on Saturday, January 31, at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara. Previous recipients include Angelina Jolie (2008), Helen Mirren (2007), and Heath Ledger (2006). [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Awards Watch, Honors ] October 13, 2008iW NEWS | Regent Gets "Sparrows"
Regent Releasing has announced its deal for U.S. rights to Majid Majidi's "The Song of Sparrows," the Iranian submission for the best foreign language Oscar. The film is set for a theatrical release next spring. Regent's Mark Reinhart brokered the deal with Fortissimo's Winnie Lau. Set in today's Tehran among the underprivileged, the film is described as exploring, "how a world of material goods and technology can corrupt man - making him lose spiritual purity and all-important connections to family, friends and nature." Anthony Kaufman recently took a closer look at this year's foreign language film Oscar race for indieWIRE. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, World Cinema ] iW NEWS | Stanfield Taking the Reigns at Nantucket Fest
Colin Stanfield has been named Executive Director at the Nantucket Film Festival, stepping in upon the departure of longtime event head Jill Burkhart, who will become chair of the fest's board. A former fest producer at SilverDocs in 2005, Stanfield previously spent five years running international programs for the IFP in New York. His recent work has been as a producer at Amerique Film in NYC. Mystelle Brabbee continues in her role as the longtime artistic director of the event. "With the Nantucket Film Festival's mature legacy, its unique position in the industry and the incredibly strong brand that the island itself brings, I believe our event is positioned extremely well as we move closer to our 15th year," says incoming Executive Director, Colin Stanfield. "I have tremendous respect for returning Artistic Director Mystelle Brabbee who is responsible in no small part for our great past successes, and I am very happy that her sharp instincts, passion and personality will continue to shape our future." [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals ] iW ROUND UP | Monday, October 13th
indieWIRE's snapshot of news and views from around the web on Monday. Due to the holiday, the indieWIRE: Daily email publication will return on Tuesday.
State of Independents
Re-thinking State Subsidies?
The Outer Edges of American Film
LA's The Place
"Dear Charlie Kaufman...
Examining 'Caricature' October 12, 2008iW NEWS | Weekend Estimates: "RockNRolla," "Happy" Open Big
Box Office coverage presented by Rentrak Theatrical According to estimates from Rentrak this afternoon, Guy Ritchie's "RockNRolla" led indieWIRE Box Office Tracking (iW BOT) - which ranks the per theater average of all reporting specialty films. The Warner Brothers release averaged $20,143, grossing $141,000 from just 7 locations. Its total since opening Wednesday is $199,885. Just behind was the release of Mike Leigh's "Happy-Go-Lucky." On 4 screens, the Miramax release grossed $80,000 for a $20,000 average. Last weekend's opener, Jonathan Demme's "Rachel Getting Married," continued to do stellar business. On an expanded 27 screens, the Sony Pictures Classics' film grossed $464,336, averaging $17,198 and bringing its cume to $882,454 after 10 days. Another Sony Classics' entry, Wong Kar-Wai's "Ashes of Time Redux," opened mildly on 5 screens, grossing $22,050 for a $4,410 average. 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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