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 April 30, 2008 iW 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 28, 2008iW NEWS | Hot Docs Leaps In Attendance, Awards "Root"
The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival finished up Sunday, with a record-breaking attendance of 85,000, a 25% increase over last year. The 11 day festival screened 172 films from 36 countries. "The success of this year's Festival is a testament to our audiences," said Executive Director Chris McDonald in a statement. "Their passion for docs and investment in the Festival is inspiring. Filmmakers love screening their work in this city." The festival announced most of its juried awards Friday, but two awards were announced Sunday, including the Hot Docs Audience Award, which was awarded to Lisa Merton and Alan Dater's "Taking Root: The Vision of the Wangari Maathai." Runners-up were Benson Lee's "Planet B-Boy" and Kurt Kuenne's "Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father." The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Prize for best Canadian documentary was also announced, going to Pierre Mignault and Helene Magny's "Shock Waves." The CIDA Award comes with a $5,000 prize. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Documentary, Festivals, Honors ] April 22, 2008iW NEWS | CFC and NFB Launch Doc Development Program
The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) and the National Film Board (NFB) have joined forces to create Canada's first program to develop theatrical documentaries. The CFC NFB Feature Documentary Program, announced Tuesday at a Hot Docs event in Toronto, will launch in January 2009 with the goal of developing "successful original feature documentaries for international cinema audiences." The six-month program is designed to help directors develop cinematic documentaries that will combine weeks of residency at the CFC with project-specific mentorship from documentary talents."From 'Manufactured Landscapes' to the most recent critically acclaimed 'Up The Yangtze,' Canadian feature documentaries continue to dazzle audiences worldwide with their cinematic vision and masterful storytelling," said Slawko Klymkiw, CFC Executive Director, in a statement. "s CFC commences our 20th year of leadership in training content creators, we are proud to launch this new program with the NFB." The submission deadline is August 28, 2008. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Biz, Documentary ] April 15, 2008iW NEWS | HBO Doc Films Announces Summer Slate
Beginning June 9, 2008 and running through August 25, 2008, HBO Documentary Films will air a new film every Monday night at 9:00pm (ET/PT). The slate was announced Tuesday, and includes Marina Zenovich's "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired" on June 9th; Greg Whiteley's "Resolved" on June 16th; Jezza Neumann's "China's Stolen Children" on July 14th; Edet Belzberg's "The Recruiter" on July 28th; Ivan O'Mahoney and Laura Winter's "Baghdad High" on August 4th; Paul Taylor's "We Are Together" on August 11th; and Timothy Greenfield-Sanders' "The Black List, Vol. 1" on August 25th. For full programming, check out HBO's website. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Biz, Documentary ] April 7, 2008NYT | A Comprehensive PBS Documentary on the Iraq War Becomes a Big Hit Online
The New York Times reports "more than 1.5 million views of all or part of" the recent Frontline documentary, "Bush's War, streamed for free in 26 parts on the PBS website. [permalink] [ filed under Documentary, New Media & Technology ] April 6, 2008iW NEWS | "Trouble the Water" and "Man on Wire" Win Big at Full Frame Doc Fest
At the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival this weekend, Tia Lessin and Carl Deal's "Trouble the Water" won the Anne Dellinger Grand Jury Award, the top prize at the annual Durham, N.C. event, with a special jury prize going to James Marsh's "Man on Wire," which also won the event's audience award. "Trouble the Water" also won the Kathleen Bryan Edwards Award for Human Rights and shared the Full Frame/Working Films Award with Weijun Chen's "Please Vote for Me." Jeremiah Zagar's "In a Dream" won the Charles E. Guggenheim Emerging Artist Award, Steve James and Peter Gilbert's "At the Death House Door" won the Full Frame Inspiration Award and Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath's "The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)" won the Full Frame Spectrum Award. Other winners included Meg McLagan and Daria Sommers' "Lioness" (Center for Documentary Studies Filmmaker Award), Iris Olsson's "Summerchild" (Full Frame President’s Award), Lisa Merton and Alan Dater's "Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai" (Full Frame Women In Leadership Award), and Eva Weber's "City of Cranes" (Full Frame Jury Award for Best Short. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Documentary, Festivals ] March 31, 2008iW NEWS | Red Envelope's Che Doc at Fortissimo
Fortissomo Films has announced a deal for all rights outside of North America for Trisha Ziff and Luis Lopez's "Chevolution," which will debut at the Tribeca Film Festival. The new documentary was financed by Netflix's Red Envelope Entertainment and in the words of an announcement, was described as examining, "how the famous photo of revolutionary Ernest "Che" Guevara, captured in an instant by renowned photographer Alberto Korda, became an iconic image known throughout the world, revered by revolutionaries for 50 years, and plastered on everything from bikinis to beer bottles." Subjects included in the film include Gael Garcia Bernal, Antonio Banderas, Tom Morello, Gerry Adams. The film will also screen in the Marche du Film, alongside the upcoming Festival de Cannes. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] March 27, 2008iW NEWS | Arts Alliance Gets "Chops"
Arts Alliance America has announced a deal for North American rights to Bruce Broder's "Chops," a documentary about high school jazz students vying in a national competition. The company is planning a theatrical release followed by a DVD debut later this year. "'Chops' fits into that category of film that gets me excited," said Arts Alliance America president Joe Amodei, "When you can release product that entertains and inspires at the same time, then we have reached our goal. This film achieves both in a very big way." Submarine's Josh Braun and CAA brokered the deal with Arts Alliance America. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] March 24, 2008iW NEWS | "Haditha," "Heaven," "Encounters," "Full Battle," "Berlin" On Film Forum Spring/Summer Slate
New York's Film Forum, a key launching pad for the limited release theatrical runs of independent films and documentaries, has announced its slate of premieres for Spring and Summer 2007. Nick Broomfield's "Battle For Haditha" will open at the theater on May 7th, while Fatih Akin's "The Edge of Heaven" (from Strand Releasing) will debut on May 21st. Set for June are Erik Nelson's "Dreams With Sharp Teeth" (June 4th), Werner Herzog's "Encounters at the End of the World" (June 11th) from ThinkFilm, and Marion Cajori and Amei Wallach's "Louise Bourgeois" (June 25th), while set for July are Tony Gerber & Jesse Moss's "Full Battle Rattle" (July 9th), Julian Schnabel's "Lou Reed's Berlin" from The Weinstein Company (July 18th) and TWC's "Boy A" by John Crowley (July 23rd). Rounding out the Summer roster are Steven Sebring's "Patti Smith: Dream of Life" (August 6th) from Palm Pictures, and Maria Anna Tappeiner's "Richard Serra: Thinking On Your Feet" (August 20th). [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Biz, Documentary ] March 20, 2008VAR | Cutler Eyeing Comic Doc
Accomplished doc-maker RJ Cutler and TV producer Sarah Timberman are pursuing a new doc based on Richard Zoglin's "Comedy at the Edge: How Stand-Up in the 1970s Changed America," a new book they've optioned (according to Variety). [permalink] [ filed under Documentary, Movies ] March 19, 2008iW NEWS | Yauch's Oscilloscope Sets "Gunnin'" For June
Adam Yauch's new Oscilloscope Pictures has set the release date for its first film, Yauch's "Gunnin' For That #1 Spot." The doc, set to debut next month at the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival, is the story of eight high school basketball players vying for fame at a Harlem invitational. The film will debut in the Top 10 markets and have a national roll-out through July. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Documentary, Movies ] February 27, 2008iW NEWS | Magnolia Gets "Bigger, Stronger, Faster*"
Magnolia Pictures has announced a deal for worldwide rights to Christopher Bell's timely steroids doc, "Bigger, Stronger, Faster," which debuted last month at the Sundance Film Festival. Magnolia will release the film in theaters later this year, followed by an HDNET broadcast. "I love this movie!" said Mark Cuban, owner of Magnolia, Landmark Theaters, HDNET, and the Dallas Mavericks, "It's informative, fascinating and hysterical - all the things a movie about steroids should be. You can't miss this one if you are a sports fan." Cinetic Media brokered the deal with Tom Quinn, Dori Begley and Jason Janego from Magnolia. In a recent interview with indieWIRE, filmmaker Bell -- whose own brothers use steriods -- wondered, Is it really un-American to use steroids? Or is there nothing more American than doing whatever it takes to be number one? We are, after all, a country that defines itself in the superlative: we are the biggest, strongest, fastest nation in the world -- the last super power." [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] February 19, 2008iW NEWS | Magnolia, Discovery Announce "Man On Wire" Pact
Discovery Films and Magnolia Pictures have announced a deal for North American theatrical and DVD distribution of James Marsh's Sundance '07 doc, "Man on Wire." The story of Frenchman Philippe Petit's infamous tightrope walk between the two towers of the World Trade Center, the film won both the World Cinema Grand Jury and audience awards at the festival last month. A late-summer theatrical release is in the works. The film is based on Petit's book, To Reach the Clouds and was produced by Wall to Wall, in association with Red Box Films for Discovery Films, the BBC and the UK Film Council. Josh Braun from Submarine brokered the deal with Tom Quinn, Dori Begley and Jason Janego from Magnolia Pictures. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] February 14, 2008iW NEWS | "Queen Raquela" Wins Top Teddy Prize
Olaf de Fleur's "The Amazing Truth about Queen Raquela" won the Teddy Award for best feature film at the 2008 Berlin International Film Festival tonight in Germany, with Tanaz Eshagian's doc, "Be Like Others" winning both the jury prize and the Siegessaeule Reader's Choice Award. The prize for best documentary went to David Assmann and Ayat Najafi's "Football Under Cover." "This year's documentaries overwhelmingly won the hearts of the Teddy Jury by approaching challenging and thought-provoking subjects in an accessible and effective manner," said the jury, in a statement, "The most cinematic and gripping of them all subtly and humorously tackles gender-roles in sports in Islamic society." Felipe Sholl's "Ta" won the Teddy for best short film. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Berlin, Documentary, Honors ] February 11, 2008iW NEWS | Maximum Takes International "Water"
Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury prize-winner "Trouble The Water" has been picked up by Toronto-based Maximum Films International for all rights outside North America. The documentary, directed by Tia Lessin and Carl Deal, details the lives of aspiring rap artist Kim and her streetwise husband Scott as they are trapped in New Orleans by floodwaters."Maximum is fortunate to have acquired this award-winning and inspirational film, and to be able to work with such talented filmmakers as Tia Lessin and Carl Deal," said Maximum's Managing Director Charlotte Mickie. "We were incredibly moved by 'Trouble The Water''s inspiring message and the uplifting true story and courage of Kim and Scott Roberts." [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] February 10, 2008iW NEWS | WMI Continues Selling "Young @ Heart"
William Morris Independent is touting its work on agency clients director Stephen Walker and producer Sally George, selling their popular doc, "Young @ Heart." After brokering a North American deal with Fox Searchlight back in June at the Los Angeles Film Festival, WMI broke with its tradition of working with overseas sales agents to sell the film to Jean Labadie's Le Pacte in France, Rialto in Australia/New Zealand, Senator Films in Germany, and Pix/Avex Group in Japan. The film, initially conceived for Channel Four in the UK, was re-tooled for theaters. It showcases an aging chorus of crowd-pleasers who sing The Clash and Coldplay. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] February 9, 2008iW NEWS | Arthouse Acquires Haring Doc
Arthouse Films announced that it has acquired all North American rights and Worldwide Theatrical and DVD Rights (minus certain territories) for director Christina Clausen's doc, "The Universe of Keith Haring." Maid with the cooperation of the deceased artist's estate, the film explores the background and career of Haring and includes interviews with Yoko Ono, Madonna, Grace Jones, Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, among others. "By using audio excerpts of Keith's own voice to narrate the film it was possible for me to bring the viewer in close contact with this extraordinary young man," said Clausen in a statement. "We look forward to working with Arthouse on the release to get it to the widest audience possible." [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] February 7, 2008iW NEWS | Magnet Takes "Cocaine"
Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures has acquired the world distribution rights to rakontur's "Cocaine Cowboys 2: Hustlin' With The Godmother." The film is the sequel to Magnolia's 2006 documentary, "Cocaine Cowboys." The sequel follows cocaine dealer Charles Crosby beginning in 1991 on the inner-city streets of Oakland, California. "The first 'Cocaine Cowboys has turned out to be a seminal crime documentary, an iconic title that has developed huge name recognition," said Magnet/Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles in a statement. "We're really excited to be partnering again with the savvy storytellers at rakontur for an equally amazing story." Magnolia Home Entertainment has DVD rights to the film. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] iW NEWS | Doc Filmmakers Join Forces for Cinelan
Morgan Spurlock, Ross Kauffman, Eugene Jarecki, Jessica Yu and Steve James are among the filmmakers on board as advisors and contributors to Cinelan, the new short doc initiative being spearheaded by company CEO David Schrieberg. Based upon the creation of a steady stream of three-minute films, Cinelan will syndicate the docs via online and offline outlets, launching in partnership with Guardian News & Media, Picturehouse Cinemas and the Vizumi Network. Other filmmakers already on board include Marilyn Agrelo, Kiki Allgeier, Joanna Chejade-Bloom, Jeremy Chilnick, Mark Francis, Nick Francis, Grant Gee, Cameron Hickey, Liz Mermin, Lila Morgan, Al Morrow, Max Pugh, Jerry Rothwell, Katy Sevigny, Marc Silver, Floyd Webb and Jeremiah Zagar. Key execs on board for Cinelan, which is backed by Arts Alliance and formally launching at the Berlinale, include COO David Laks, as well Karol Martesko-Fenster, Wai Mun Yoon and filmmaker relations team Kiki Allgeier, Jeremy Boxer and Mark Rabinowitz. The company is currently accepting pitches from professional filmmakers and exploring other potential syndication partners. For more information, visit the Cinelan website. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Documentary, Trends ] January 31, 2008iW NEWS | Celluloid Dreams Takes International "FLOW"
Celluloid Dreams will represent the director Irena Salina's Sundance '08 entry, "FLOW: For Love of Water" internationally. Filmed in 12 countries, "FLOW" is represented in North America by Josh Braun/Submarine. Additionally, it was announced that the film will be the first theatrical film to collaborate with the global environmental initiative 1% For The Planet for its eventual commercial release. 1% is a growing global movement of 782 companies worldwide who have committed to donate 1% of their profit to a network of more than 1,500 global environmental organizations. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Documentary ] Older Buzz/Rumors about DocumentaryJanuary 31, 2008 January 30, 2008 January 29, 2008 January 26, 2008 January 26, 2008 January 23, 2008 January 20, 2008 January 20, 2008 January 20, 2008 January 19, 2008 January 17, 2008 January 17, 2008 January 17, 2008 January 15, 2008 January 9, 2008 December 8, 2007 December 1, 2007 November 20, 2007 October 25, 2007 October 9, 2007 September 28, 2007 August 1, 2007 July 20, 2007 July 13, 2007 July 2, 2007 June 19, 2007 June 18, 2007 June 7, 2007 June 7, 2007 May 14, 2007 May 9, 2007 April 28, 2007 April 15, 2007 March 25, 2007 March 23, 2007 March 22, 2007 March 21, 2007 March 10, 2007 February 13, 2007 February 8, 2007 February 6, 2007 February 6, 2007 February 1, 2007 February 1, 2007 December 12, 2006 December 9, 2006 November 25, 2006 November 16, 2006 October 16, 2006 October 3, 2006 September 6, 2006 August 29, 2006 August 18, 2006 August 4, 2006 July 31, 2006 July 26, 2006 July 24, 2006 July 18, 2006 July 16, 2006 July 1, 2006 June 19, 2006 June 19, 2006 May 11, 2006 May 7, 2006 April 19, 2006 April 9, 2006 April 7, 2006 April 6, 2006 April 4, 2006 March 30, 2006 March 24, 2006 March 3, 2006 February 23, 2006 December 2, 2005 November 25, 2005 November 16, 2005 October 27, 2005 October 12, 2005 October 10, 2005 October 4, 2005 September 13, 2005 September 13, 2005 August 18, 2005 | |
