iW NEWS | "Owl" and "Resolved" Win Audience Prizes at LA Fest

The Los Angeles Film Festival came to a close on Sunday night in West L.A. with a screening of Danny Boyle's upcoming, "Sunshine." Prior to the showing, festival organizers announced that Stephane Gauger's "The Owl and the Sparrow" (narrative) and Greg Whiteley's "Resolved" (documentary) won the festival's top audience prizes. Stephen Walker's "Young @ Heart" won the audience award for the best international feature at the 2007 LAFF. indieWIRE will publish a festival wrap up on Monday; for more coverage, visit indieWIRE's special section from the 2007 Los Angeles Film Festival. 
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iW NEWS | "August Evening" and "Billy The Kid" Win in L.A.

At the Los Angeles Film Festival, Chris Eska's narrative feature "August Evening" and Jennifer Venditti's documentary "Billy the Kid" won the jury prizes on Thursday night. The cash awards, $50,000 each provided by Target, were presented during a ceremony at the Hammer Museum in Westwood. Director, actor, and composter Clint Eastwood received the Spirit of Independence Award at the festival as the event heads into its final weekend. Audience awards will be presented on Sunday night prior to the closing night screening of Danny Boyle's "Sunshine." [Eugene Hernandez]  
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iW NEWS | Arthouse Goes to "Cool School"

Arthouse Films has announced its acquisition of worldwide rights to Morgan Neville's "The Cool School," debuting in the documentary competition this week at the Los Angeles Film Festival. The story of L.A.'s influential Ferus Gallery which, from 1957 - 1968, nutured artists such as Ed Kienholz, Ed Ruscha, Craig Kauffman, Wallace Berman, Ed Moses and Robert Irwin, the film is narrated by Jeff Bridges and will be released in theaters early next year and will also air nationally on PBS' Independent Lens. The deal was negotiated by David Koh from Arthouse Films and Lilly Bright from Curiously Bright Entertainment along with Julie Goldman of Cactus Three on behalf of the filmmakers and producers. "We love this documentary about the little known Los Angeles art scene and are proud to distribute the film through our Arthouse Films label," said Koh and Bright in a statement. "We want to be the label of choice for arts, cultural, and music documentaries. We are excited to work with the filmmakers on the release of their film." [Eugene Hernandez] 
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iW NEWS | Maya Acquires "August" at LA Film Fest

Chris Eska's first feature "August Evening" has been acquired by Moctesuma Esparza's upstart distribution company Maya Entertainment, in a deal signed after the film's debut this week at the Los Angeles Film Festival. The LAFF competition title is the story of an undocumented worker and his widowed daughter-in-law dealing with a tragedy. "We're excited to launch our distribution division with a beautiful film like 'August Evening'," said Esparza, compay co-chairman and CEO, in a statement. "We're confident it will satisfy both traditional art house audiences and break through to the mainstream Latino market, achieving both critical and financial success." Glen Reynolds of Circus Road Films negotiated the deal on behalf of the film's producer with Moctesuma Esparza and Jose Martinez, Jr. from Maya. [Eugene Hernandez] 
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iW NEWS | "Joshua" a Centerpiece at Upcoming LAFF

George Ratliff's Fox Searchlight feature "Joshua" will screen as the Centerpiece at the upcoming Los Angeles Film Festival on June 26. The event, taking place June 21 - July 1, describes the film as a "smart, bone-chilling psychological thriller about an upscale American family faced with an inner source of horror." The film stars Sam Rockwell, Vera Farmiga, Celia Weston, Dallas Roberts, Michael McKean and Jacob Kogan. Kasi Lemmons' "Talk to Me" will open the festival later this month. [Brian Brooks] 
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iW NEWS | U.S. Rights to "Ira & Abby" Go to Magnolia Pictures

U.S. rights to Robert Cary's romantic comedy "Ira & Abby," written by and starring Jennifer Westfeldthave been acquired by Magnolia Pictures, the company announced Friday. Magnolia's Head of Acquisitions, Tom Quinn and Head of Business Affairs, Jason Janego negotiated the deal with Rena Ronson and Phil Alberstat of William Morris Independent and producer Brad Zions. Foreign sales will be handled at the Cannes Market by Odd Lot International. Chris Messina also stars, as a neurotic New Yorker with major issues. He is at a standstill, but this changes when he meets the free spirited Abby (Westfeldt) and the impossible happens: they fall in love, meet each other's parents and decide to get married, all in a few breathless hours. Multiple divorces, in-laws, affairs, exes, and many therapists later, the couple is forced to examine whether "I do" is the only path to life-long love and happiness. "It has been so gratifying for me to see how festival audiences have connected to this film," commented Westfeldt in a statement. "I feel so lucky that a smart, innovative company like Magnolia will give it a chance to be seen on a national scale." indieWIRE reported on the film last June at the Los Angeles Film Festival, where it won the festival's audience award. [Brian Brooks] 
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Lionsgate Gets "Deliver Us From Evil"

Lionsgate has announced its acquisition of Amy Berg's "Deliver Us From Evil," winner of the Target Documentary Award for best doc feature at the 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival last month. A release this fall is planned. [Eugene Hernandez] 
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Fabian Bielinsky Dead at 47

Fabian Bielinsky, director of "Nine Queens" and "El Aura" has died, according to media reports. Reuters indicated in a report Thursday that the Argentine filmmaker died in Sao Paulo of a heart attack. His latest feature ("El Aura") is scheduled to screen at the Los Angeles Film Festival this weekend. 
[permalink]   [ filed under Los Angeles Film Festival, People ]

LA TIMES: Hollywood's backyard bash

The Los Angeles FIlm Festival kicked off in LA last night, moving to Westwood for the first timed. "So many people in L.A. are, quite frankly, ground down by life in the industry," Film Independent exec director Dawn Hudson told the LA Times, in a fest preview article. "We want to remind them why they came here in the first place. We want to remind them that it was for a love of film." 
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George Lucas to Serve as "Guest Director" at 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival

George Lucas will serve as the guest director for the 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival, taking place Westwood Village from Thursday, June 22, through Sunday, July 2, Film Independent executive director Dawn Hudson announced Wednesday evening. As guest director, Lucas will create a special sidebar program of films for the festival, which will include a selection of movies that have inspired his work. In other LAFF news, the festival retreat will be hosted at Skywalker Ranch in Marin County, in Northern California. "As a pioneer and innovator, George Lucas values the ideas, goals and artistry that Film Independent champions," said Hudson in a statement. "He is the ultimate independent filmmaker. His talent and his contributions to cinema make this year a true milestone for the Los Angeles Film Festival as a world-class event." [Brian Brooks] 
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