The Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) announced today the 10 documentaries selected for the 2016 IFP Filmmaker Labs, IFP’s annual yearlong fellowship for first-time feature directors. The creative teams of the selected films are currently attending the first week’s sessions – The Time Warner Foundation Completion Labs – taking place May 11-15 in New York City. You can check out the full list of chosen docs right here.
Stay up to date on all of today’s buzziest industry news below:
– Exclusive: Friel Films has acquired the rights to Dean Demitrieski’s award-winning autobiography “Tears for My City: An Autobiography of A Detroit White Boy.” Friel’s Philip Wurtzel (“A Haunting in Cawdor”) is set to direct, with production due to begin later this year. “‘Tears’ is a gripping, unforgettable story. I was hooked from the first page,” says director Wurtzel. “Dean paints an intense and affecting portrait of a very rough childhood. If the film can pack even half the emotion the book does, we’ll really have something.” “Tears For My City,” which has been nominated for over 18 literary awards, chronicles the upbringing of a Macedonian boy whose family moves into Detroit’s most dangerous neighborhood when gang violence was at its peak in the 1970s. Dimitrieski adapted the screenplay. Friel Films will produce. Casting will begin shortly.
-We’ve got an exclusive look at the LA Film Fest premiere “Don’t Hang Up,” starring Garrett Clayton and Gregg Sulkin. Of the film, Clayton told Indiewire, “The movie is very funny, mentally challenging, and you will never be bored. I’m also excited because no one has ever seen me do a role like this. My character Brady is a very aggressive, insecure extravert. He learns a huge lesson about humility in this film. How much the people in our lives mean to us and that every action no matter how trivial ALWAYS has a consequence.” Check out the photos below
Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Festivals newsletter here.
Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.