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 May 7, 2008 iW NEWS | Cannes Classics Set For Fifth Year
The Cannes Film Festival will spotlight classic films on rediscovered or restored masterworks or films that have been re-released in theaters or DVD with the Cannes Classics 2008 program. Presented at the Palais des Festival, the Cinema de la Plage and the La Licorne Theatre, the program includes a tribute to Manoel de Oliveira for his 100th birthday, featuring a screening of one of his first films, 1931's "Douro, Faina Fluvial," as well as Wong Kar Wai presenting "Ashes of Time Redux." Overall, the program features dozens of films, including a new or restored prints of Marcel Ophuls' 1955 film "Lola Montes," Vijay Anand's 1965 film "Guide," Paul Newman's 1972 film "Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds," Bruce Weber's 1988 film "Let's Get Lost," Alejandro Jodorowsky's 1989 film "Santa Sangre," Jean Cocteau's 1949 film "Orphee," James Toback's 1977 film "Fingers," Lester James Peries' 1965 film "Gamperaliya," and Ben Maddow, Syndey Meyers and Joseph Strick's 1960 collaboration "The Savage Eye." Two new films will also be presented in the Documentaries About Cinema section: James Cressanthis's "No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos," which follows the journey and friendship of Hungarian directors Laszlo Kovacs and Vilmos Zsigmond, and Richard Schickel's documentary about the history of Warner Brothers, "You Must Remember This," which will be accompanied by 10 screenings of classic Warner films, including a one-off "Looney Tunes." [Peter Knegt]  [permalink] [ filed under Cannes, Festivals ] iW NEWS | Critics Week Takes on "Poverty"
Philippe Diaz's "The End of Poverty?" has been added to Critics Week as part of the fest's "Cinema & Politics" day on May 19. Narrated by Martin Sheen, Diaz's ("Now & Later") doc explores whether the "true causes of povery today" stem from a deliberate orchestration since colonial times in which wealthy nations exploit the poor. Filmed in high definition in countries in Europe, Africa and South America, the film features economists, politicians and people engaged in social movements. Following its screening, Diaz and figures from the film will participate in a panel discussion. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Cannes, Festivals ] VAR | Sony Classics Gets Egoyan's Cannes Entry
Sony Pictures Classics has acquired "domestic and select international rights" to Atom Egoyan's Cannes Film Festival competition entry, "Adoration," according to Variety. [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Cannes ] May 6, 2008iW NEWS | Visit Gets Safdie's "Robbed" for Cannes
Unveiling its lineup for next week's Cannes Market, Visit Films has announced its acquisition of international rights to Josh Safdie's "The Pleasure of Being Robbed," which will close the Director's Fortnight section this year. Also on Visit's slate are Azazel Jacobs's Sundance hit "Momma's Man," Olaf De Fleur's Berlinale Teddy Award winner "The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela," Stephen Higgins and Nina Gilden Seavey's "The Matador" from SXSW and Guy Moshe's "Holly." The company recently closed a spate of deals on recent market titles, including a 4 film pact with MovieMobz in Brazil for "Arranged," "Hannah Takes The Stairs," "Choking Man," and "Severed Ways: The Norse Discovery of America." It also licensed "Hannah Takes the Stairs" to ICA Films (UK), "Choking Man" to Soda (UK), and "Severed Ways" to Ascot-Elite (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Cannes ] May 5, 2008iW NEWS | Marche du Film Sees Rise in Attendance
As of April 15th, more than 8,000 professionals from 93 countries already confirmed their participation in the Marche du Film at the Cannes Film Festival, an 8% rise from 2007 and 40% since 2003. In response to a significant screenings demand, 3 new screening rooms will complete the 30 existing ones, with an overall of 12 digital screening rooms. The Marche will be ready to host the 1,600 screenings already booked for the 2008 edition. Additionally, about 300 companies will showcase their productions on more than 6,000 square meters of exhibiting surface. About 120 exhibitors will be present in hotels or flats on the Croisette. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Cannes, Festivals ] April 30, 2008iW NEWS | THINKFilm Makes Theatrical & Home Video Deal for "Roman Polanski" Doc
U.S. theatrical and home video rights to Sundance '08 doc "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired" have been acquired by THINKFilm from HBO, which acquired the title at the festival in January. "Polanski" will have its international premiere at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival. HBO will air the film on June 9th, and THINK will launch a theatrical roll out beginning July 11 in New York. Directed by Marina Zenovich, the film spotlights the the public scandal and private tragedy that drove the legendary director from the United States more than 30 years ago. "Marina's film is one of the best documentaries I've seen in years," commented Urman in a statement. "It is as compulsively enjoyable as the juiciest tabloid yet it also serves as a stunning indictment of our tabloid-crazed culture. Buoyed by HBO's terrific promotional support, the film should have enormous want-to-see, and exhibitor interest in the film couldn't be higher." The deal, which was jointly announced by THINKFilm president Mark Urman and Sheila Nevins, president, HBO Documentary Films, and is the latest collaboration between the two companies, whose series of partnerships has included recent Oscar-winner, "Taxi to the Dark Side.." Last month, reported on the film's brief Oscar-qualifying run, which indieWIRE. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Cannes, Documentary ] April 29, 2008iW NEWS | C'est Officiel: "Blindness" To Open Cannes
Five Films Added to Fest... Fernando Mereilles's "Blindness" will in fact open the 2008 Festival de Cannes on May 14th -- screening in competition -- organizers have just announced. Rounding out the Official Selection for the upcoming event, planners added a few additional films to the roster. A third French film, Laurent Cantet's "Entre Les murs," will also screen in competition, joined by James Gray's "Two Lovers." Meanwhile, opening the festival's Un Certain Regard section on May 15th will be Steve McQueen's "Hunger." Finally, Robert DeNiro will present the Palme d'Or on closing night, May 25th, followed by a screening of Barry Levinson's "What Just Happened," starring DeNiro, Robin Wright Penn, John Turturro and this year's Cannes jury president Sean Penn. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Cannes, Festivals ] INSIDE WORD | Meirelles' "Blindness" Tipped for Cannes Opening Slot
Increasing buzz indicates that Fernando Meirelles' "Blindness" will open the 2008 Festival de Cannes, two weeks from tomorrow. In Canada, the Globe and Mail reported that the film, shot partially in Toronto, will kick-off the fest on May 14th, joining the roster that was announced last week. Cannes festival reps did not immediately respond to inquiries this morning and today Miramax said the reports were "still a rumor at this point," but other film insiders are confirming the news. "Blindness" was adapted by celebrated Canadian writer, actor and director Don McKellar from Jose Saramago's acclaimed novel and has been described by Miramax as follows: "When a sudden plague of blindness devastates a city, a small group of the afflicted band together to triumphantly overcome the horrific conditions of their imposed quarantine." It stars Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Alice Braga, Danny Glover and Gael Garcia Bernal. The film was produced by Niv Fichman, Andrea Barata Ribeiro, and Sonoko Sakai and executive produced by Gail Egan and Simon Channing-Williams. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Cannes, Festivals ] April 28, 2008HR | IFC Gets "Robbed"
IFC is closing a deal for Josh Safdie's "The Pleasure of Being Robbed," which will close the Directors' Fortnight in Cannes, according to the Hollywood Reporter. [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Cannes ] April 18, 2008CANNES '08 | L'Affiche: Inspired By Lynch
Cinema poster artist Pierre Collier has created the poster and visual identity for the 61st Festival de Cannes, inspired by a photograph by David Lynch. The festival will run May 14th through 25th. Check out the image on indieWIRE's Cannes blog. [permalink] [ filed under Cannes, Festivals ] April 11, 2008The Week in Fests | Malaga, Udine, and Vail
The latest from the festival scene this week. A link exchange by Variety.com and indieWIRE.
MALAGA ENDS ON A HIGH NOTE
UDINE CELEBRATES ASIAN MAINSTREAM
VAIL FEST POWERS ON DESPITE LOSING SCREENS
More at Variety's Festival Central April 10, 2008AFP: Cult director Tarantino to deliver Cannes Masterclass
Cult award-winning film director Quentin Tarantino is to give this year's Cinema Masterclass at Cannes, the world's premier film festival. AFP reports. [permalink] [ filed under Cannes, Festivals ] March 31, 2008CANNES '08 | 4th Atelier Slate Set
Fifteen projects are set for the 4th Atelier of the Cinefondation at the Festival de Cannes, facilitating industry meetings aimed at securing financing and additional support for new films. On this year's roster for the program are "Cure For Serpents" directed by Ben Hackworth (Australia), "Bitch" directed by Lou Ye (China), "The Stoplight Society" directed by Ruben Mendoza (Columbia), "One More Croissant" directed by Ilmar Raag (Estonia), "Here" directed by Braden King (USA), "Lucky Life" directed by Lee Isaac Chung (USA), "Qu'un seul tienne, et les autres suivront" directed by Lea Fehner (France), "Womb" directed by Benedek Fliegauf (Hungary), "The Policeman" directed by Nadav Lapid (Israel), "First of all, Felicia" directed by Razvan Radulescu & Melissa De Raaf (Romania), "White, White World" directed by Oleg Novkovic (Serbia), "Queleh" directed by Abdi Ismael Jama (Somalia), "First page Taipei" directed by Arvin Chen (Taiwan), "Punta del Este" directed by Juan Pittaluga (Uruguay), "Bi, don't be afraid" directed by Phan Dang Di (Vietnam). [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Cannes, Festivals ] March 21, 2008HR | The Cannes plan comes together
Tipping new films from Steven Soderberg, Woody Allen and Michael Winterbottom for the 61st Festival de Cannes 2008, Hollywood Reporter surveys some of the films likely to screen at the 2008 festival (May 14 - 25). [permalink] [ filed under Cannes, Festivals ] January 3, 2008iW NEWS | Sean Penn to Head 61st Cannes Jury
Actor/director Sean Penn has been named president of the jury for the 61st Festival de Cannes, taking place May 14 - 25, festival organizers announced early Thursday morning local time in France. Penn's acclaimed directorial effort, "Into the Wild," will open in the country on January 9, 2008. Penn won the best male performance prize at the festival in 1997 for "She's So Lovely" by Nick Cassavetes and took an Oscar in 2004 for his performance in Clint Eastwood's "Mystic River," which also screened at Cannes. "In the last few years it seems there has been a rejuvenation of cinema building worldwide [with] increasingly thoughtful, provocative, moving, and imaginative films by talented filmmakers: that a new generation of filmmaking may have begun," commented Penn, in a statement upon accepting the invitation extended by the festival's Gilles Jacob and Thierry Fremaux. "The Cannes Film Festival has long been the epicenter in the discovery of those new waves of filmmakers from all over the world. I very much look forward to participating in this year's festival as president of the jury." [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Cannes, Festivals ] June 25, 2007iW NEWS | Koch Lorber and Red Envelope Take "Water Lilies"
All U.S. and Canadian rights to Celine Sciamma's "Water Lillies" (La Naissance des Pieuvres) have been acquired in a joint deal by Koch Lorber Films and Red Envelope Entertainment, the companies announced Monday. The film, set in the summer at a suburban Parisian municipal swimming pool, debuted in the Un Certain Regard section at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Richard Lorber from Koch Lorber and Liesl Copland from Red Envelope negotiated the pact with Film Distribution's Nicolas Brigaud-Robert and Didar Domehri. Koch Lorber is planning a national theatrical release beginning early next year, followed by a DVD release later in the year. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Cannes ] June 1, 2007AP: Cannes winner praises Romania's films
Cristian Mungiu, the first Romanian to win the Cannes Film Festival's top prize, says his country's recent movie output helped him win the award. He has said "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days" shows how people's choices are affected by the political system, indoctrination and stereotyping. The film had a budget of $671,000. AP reports. [permalink] [ filed under Cannes, People ] May 31, 2007The Guardian Interview: Out of the back room
The film world's collective jaw may have dropped on Sunday night when "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days," a Romanian film about abortion with no stars and costing under half a million pounds, walked off with the Palme d'Or in Cannes. Less surprised, probably, was its director, Cristian Mungiu. He was confident enough of his chances when we met, 10 days before the prize-giving, to tell me that he wasn't going home when his free, festival-provided hotel room ran out: "I'm going to stick around for the awards." Nick Roddick reports. [permalink] [ filed under Cannes, People ] May 30, 2007"Paranoid" Set for IFC Release in U.S.; MK2 Sells Film in 72 Territories
Gus Van Sant's "Paranoid Park," which has been acquired by IFC First Take for a U.S. release, has been sold in some 72 territories according to Marin and Nathanael Karmitz's French company MK2, which fully finananced the movie. MK2 said Wednesday that the film, winner of the special 60th Anniversary Award at the recent Cannes Film Festival, has already sold the film in the United Kingdom, Italy, USA, Spain, India, Argentina, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Benelux, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Russia, Poland, Japan and Korea. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Cannes ] iW NEWS | NonStop Makes "4 Months" Deal
In a deal with Wild Bunch, NonStop Entertainment has announced its acquisition of Cristian Mungiu's "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days," winner of the Palme d'or at the recent Cannes Film Festival. The company will release the movie in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, while IFC First Take is handling the U.S. release after acquiring the film last week in France. Set in a small town in Romania, the film is the story of two university students dealing with an unwanted pregnancy during the last years of Communism. "We are very proud to bring home the critically acclaimed Palm d'Or winner '4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days'," said NonStop CEO Ignas Scheynius, "Together with the Golden Lion winner 'Still Life' and the Golden Bear winner 'Tuya's Marriage', NonStop Entertainment is doing a hat trick by adding the winners from the most recent film A-film festivals in Venice, Berlin and Cannes to its repertoir." [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Cannes ] Older Buzz/Rumors about CannesMay 27, 2007 May 27, 2007 May 27, 2007 May 26, 2007 May 25, 2007 May 24, 2007 May 24, 2007 May 24, 2007 May 23, 2007 May 23, 2007 May 23, 2007 May 23, 2007 May 23, 2007 May 22, 2007 May 22, 2007 May 22, 2007 May 22, 2007 May 22, 2007 May 22, 2007 May 21, 2007 May 21, 2007 May 21, 2007 May 21, 2007 May 21, 2007 May 20, 2007 May 20, 2007 May 20, 2007 May 20, 2007 May 19, 2007 May 19, 2007 May 19, 2007 May 19, 2007 May 19, 2007 May 18, 2007 May 18, 2007 May 18, 2007 May 18, 2007 May 18, 2007 May 18, 2007 May 18, 2007 May 18, 2007 May 18, 2007 May 17, 2007 May 17, 2007 May 17, 2007 May 17, 2007 May 17, 2007 May 17, 2007 May 16, 2007 May 16, 2007 May 16, 2007 May 16, 2007 May 16, 2007 May 16, 2007 May 16, 2007 May 16, 2007 May 16, 2007 May 16, 2007 May 16, 2007 May 16, 2007 May 15, 2007 May 15, 2007 May 15, 2007 May 15, 2007 May 15, 2007 May 14, 2007 May 9, 2007 May 9, 2007 May 2, 2007 May 1, 2007 April 30, 2007 April 26, 2007 April 24, 2007 April 17, 2007 April 4, 2007 March 29, 2007 February 21, 2007 January 11, 2007 May 28, 2006 May 26, 2006 May 25, 2006 May 25, 2006 May 25, 2006 May 23, 2006 May 23, 2006 May 22, 2006 May 22, 2006 May 22, 2006 May 22, 2006 May 21, 2006 May 21, 2006 May 19, 2006 May 19, 2006 May 18, 2006 May 18, 2006 May 18, 2006 May 17, 2006 May 17, 2006 May 17, 2006 May 16, 2006 May 10, 2006 May 9, 2006 May 4, 2006 April 27, 2006 April 19, 2006 April 3, 2006 March 21, 2006 March 7, 2006 | |
