Sebastian Maniscalco as Sebastian and Robert De Niro as Salvo in About My Father. Photo Credit: Dan Anderson. Courtesy of Lionsgate
Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco plays a man named Sebastian Maniscalco while Robert De Niro plays his father Salvo, in the comedy About My Father. Maniscalco and De Niro as father and son are the major delight in this otherwise mildly funny, warm-hearted comedy. It is a comedy about family but not really a family comedy as there are bits of adult humor.
Dad Salvo (De Niro) is a hairstylist (don’t call him a barber!) from a long line of hardworking, hard-scrabble, stoop-postured, Sicilian scowlers, but Salvo left Sicily to immigrate to America to give his son a better life. However, his second-generation Italian-American son has fallen for someone who is not a fellow Italian-American – an artist named Ellie (Leslie Bibb) whose immigrants ancestors came over a little earlier – on the Mayflower.
Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco plays a man named Sebastian Maniscalco while Robert De Niro plays his father Salvo, in the comedy About My Father. Maniscalco and De Niro as father and son are the major delight in this otherwise mildly funny, warm-hearted comedy. It is a comedy about family but not really a family comedy as there are bits of adult humor.
Dad Salvo (De Niro) is a hairstylist (don’t call him a barber!) from a long line of hardworking, hard-scrabble, stoop-postured, Sicilian scowlers, but Salvo left Sicily to immigrate to America to give his son a better life. However, his second-generation Italian-American son has fallen for someone who is not a fellow Italian-American – an artist named Ellie (Leslie Bibb) whose immigrants ancestors came over a little earlier – on the Mayflower.
- 5/26/2023
- by Cate Marquis
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Image Source: Everett Collection
Portraying a real-life figure is not out of the realm for Zac Efron. The actor previously transformed into the terrifying but charismatic serial killer Ted Bundy for Netflix's "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile," and now, he's returning to the screen in another true-story adaptation, "The Greatest Beer Run Ever." The upcoming Apple TV+ film is based on the 2020 memoir "The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A Memoir of Friendship, Loyalty, and War" by Joanna Molloy and John "Chickie" Donohue, the latter of whom is played on screen by Efron.
Directed by "Green Book" and "Dumb and Dumber" filmmaker Peter Farrelly, the movie follows Donohue as he travels to Vietnam at the height of the Vietnam War to bring beers to his friends in combat. Seriously. The plot itself sounds wild, so let's dig into the real story behind "The Greatest Beer Run Ever," which hits Apple TV+ on Sept.
Portraying a real-life figure is not out of the realm for Zac Efron. The actor previously transformed into the terrifying but charismatic serial killer Ted Bundy for Netflix's "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile," and now, he's returning to the screen in another true-story adaptation, "The Greatest Beer Run Ever." The upcoming Apple TV+ film is based on the 2020 memoir "The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A Memoir of Friendship, Loyalty, and War" by Joanna Molloy and John "Chickie" Donohue, the latter of whom is played on screen by Efron.
Directed by "Green Book" and "Dumb and Dumber" filmmaker Peter Farrelly, the movie follows Donohue as he travels to Vietnam at the height of the Vietnam War to bring beers to his friends in combat. Seriously. The plot itself sounds wild, so let's dig into the real story behind "The Greatest Beer Run Ever," which hits Apple TV+ on Sept.
- 9/15/2022
- by Alicia Geigel
- Popsugar.com
Weeks after going viral with his NPR Tiny Desk Concert, Usher is making waves again with a new Rémy Martin partnership. The music superstar has teamed up with the cognac brand for the “Usher x Rémy Martin 1738: A Taste of Passion” global campaign, which launched last week with a limited-edition bottle and Nft. The kicker: the super exclusive collab sold out in two seconds.
Launched on the direct-to-consumer Nft marketplace BlockBar.com, the collaboration saw the release of 25 bottles of Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal, each reimagined in a jet-black...
Launched on the direct-to-consumer Nft marketplace BlockBar.com, the collaboration saw the release of 25 bottles of Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal, each reimagined in a jet-black...
- 8/4/2022
- by Tim Chan
- Rollingstone.com
The Television Academy has ruled that Fox’s version of “Rent” can submit in the variety special (live) category at this year’s Emmy Awards, Variety has learned.
Originally the performance was set to be a truly live event on a Sunday night in January, but performer Brennin Hunt broke his foot during the previous evening’s performance and therefore was unable to perform the full choreography needed for the show to go on fully as planned. The performance at which he got injured was shot live-to-tape and was what ultimately made the broadcast — with the exception of the final act, for which production did switch over to a true live performance on Sunday. The final act had altered choreography from the original plan so that Hunt could sit on stage and sing, even though his foot was in a cast. The original Broadway cast of Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer...
Originally the performance was set to be a truly live event on a Sunday night in January, but performer Brennin Hunt broke his foot during the previous evening’s performance and therefore was unable to perform the full choreography needed for the show to go on fully as planned. The performance at which he got injured was shot live-to-tape and was what ultimately made the broadcast — with the exception of the final act, for which production did switch over to a true live performance on Sunday. The final act had altered choreography from the original plan so that Hunt could sit on stage and sing, even though his foot was in a cast. The original Broadway cast of Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer...
- 6/3/2019
- by Danielle Turchiano
- Variety Film + TV
Charlie Collier feels a little bad about the part he played in the injury “Rent” actor Brennin Hunt suffered the Saturday ahead of the live TV musical’s Jan. 27 broadcast — because he kinda jinxed him.
During his first executive session as CEO of Fox Entertainment at the Television Critics Association press tour Wednesday, Collier told reporters he penned handwritten notes to the cast that Friday night in which he told them all to “break a leg,” because “that’s what you say.”
But then Hunt actually did break his foot the following night during rehearsal, preventing him from going on stage for the telecast the next day and keeping “Rent” from being live for the most part.
“So Sunday morning I came in early and rewrote a lot of notes,” he said to laughter from the audience.
Also Read: 'Rent': Here's the (Actually) Live Version of Fox's TV Musical...
During his first executive session as CEO of Fox Entertainment at the Television Critics Association press tour Wednesday, Collier told reporters he penned handwritten notes to the cast that Friday night in which he told them all to “break a leg,” because “that’s what you say.”
But then Hunt actually did break his foot the following night during rehearsal, preventing him from going on stage for the telecast the next day and keeping “Rent” from being live for the most part.
“So Sunday morning I came in early and rewrote a lot of notes,” he said to laughter from the audience.
Also Read: 'Rent': Here's the (Actually) Live Version of Fox's TV Musical...
- 2/6/2019
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
Fox’s “Rent” aired Sunday, decidedly not live. After male lead Brennin Hunt broke his foot during Saturday’s rehearsal, the network decided to air “previously recorded” footage from the day before during its planned 8-11 p.m. telecast, rather than have the cast perform the show as planned.
However, viewers in the studio audience were treated to an actually live version, with the stars performing numbers from the musical with a few changes to the set to accommodate Hunt’s wheelchair. Fox dubbed this the “cast concert version,” sharing several videos from the numbers that were performed live on Twitter later Sunday evening.
For those of you at home, the live TV musical began with “previously recorded” footage of Hunt, who plays the male lead Roger, taking the stage for a few numbers with his co-stars.
Also Read: Fox's 'Rent' Goes on With Mostly Taped Footage After...
However, viewers in the studio audience were treated to an actually live version, with the stars performing numbers from the musical with a few changes to the set to accommodate Hunt’s wheelchair. Fox dubbed this the “cast concert version,” sharing several videos from the numbers that were performed live on Twitter later Sunday evening.
For those of you at home, the live TV musical began with “previously recorded” footage of Hunt, who plays the male lead Roger, taking the stage for a few numbers with his co-stars.
Also Read: Fox's 'Rent' Goes on With Mostly Taped Footage After...
- 1/28/2019
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
Tech glitches, broken bones, ghosts of stage productions past and, worst of all, live television’s unfortunate and intrusive vogue for giving studio audiences far, far too much screen time couldn’t do overmuch damage to Rent, Jonathan Larson’s beloved-by-many ’90s musical that added another chapter to both TV’s refound love of Broadway and the show’s own against-the-odds trouper legend.
In what turned out to be a fortuitous move, Fox had not been calling the new Rent anything other than that one-word title (early reports had it as Rent: Live!). Good thing: the show became more Rent: Somewhat Live! after star Brennin Hunt, who played struggling musician Roger, broke his foot during a dress rehearsal yesterday.
What aired on Fox tonight, as explained by the cast in an address to the television audience early in the proceedings, was mostly last night’s dress rehearsal, taped before a live audience,...
In what turned out to be a fortuitous move, Fox had not been calling the new Rent anything other than that one-word title (early reports had it as Rent: Live!). Good thing: the show became more Rent: Somewhat Live! after star Brennin Hunt, who played struggling musician Roger, broke his foot during a dress rehearsal yesterday.
What aired on Fox tonight, as explained by the cast in an address to the television audience early in the proceedings, was mostly last night’s dress rehearsal, taped before a live audience,...
- 1/28/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The stars of Fox’s live — but actually mostly pre-taped — production of “Rent” were joined by the original Broadway cast for the three-hour Sunday broadcast’s “Seasons of Love” finale, which was actually performed “live,” according to the notice in the upper right corner of the screen.
Idina Menzel (Maureen), Anthony Rapp (Mark), Adam Pascal (Roger), Daphne Rubin-Vega (Mimi), Jesse L. Martin (Tom Collins), Wilson Jermaine Heredia (Angel), Fredi Walker (Joanne) and Taye Diggs (Benny), along with ensemble members Gilles Chiasson, Rodney Hicks, and Timothy Britten Parker were among the original stars who appeared in the number, singing alongside their counterparts in Sunday’s televised event.
The scene was “reworked” to include the Fox production’s star Brennin Hunt, who had to sit out the show after breaking his foot during dress rehearsal Saturday. (The network used footage from that Saturday performance for much of the broadcast since Hunt injured...
Idina Menzel (Maureen), Anthony Rapp (Mark), Adam Pascal (Roger), Daphne Rubin-Vega (Mimi), Jesse L. Martin (Tom Collins), Wilson Jermaine Heredia (Angel), Fredi Walker (Joanne) and Taye Diggs (Benny), along with ensemble members Gilles Chiasson, Rodney Hicks, and Timothy Britten Parker were among the original stars who appeared in the number, singing alongside their counterparts in Sunday’s televised event.
The scene was “reworked” to include the Fox production’s star Brennin Hunt, who had to sit out the show after breaking his foot during dress rehearsal Saturday. (The network used footage from that Saturday performance for much of the broadcast since Hunt injured...
- 1/28/2019
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
A good number of people watching Fox’s Rent Live Sunday will be so familiar with the music and lyrics that they’d fit right in ordering at the Life Café or mooing in the crowd at Maureen’s protest.
“But a lot won’t,” said Brandon Victor Dixon, the Power alum who plays Tom Collins in the musical telecast. And those viewers are the ones he’s planning to keep in mind as Collins mourns Angel in the show’s reprise of “I’ll Cover You.”
For those unfamiliar with Jonathan Larson’s groundbreaking 1996 musical, it’s a loose...
“But a lot won’t,” said Brandon Victor Dixon, the Power alum who plays Tom Collins in the musical telecast. And those viewers are the ones he’s planning to keep in mind as Collins mourns Angel in the show’s reprise of “I’ll Cover You.”
For those unfamiliar with Jonathan Larson’s groundbreaking 1996 musical, it’s a loose...
- 1/28/2019
- TVLine.com
Keala Settle, the face behind the beard behind The Greatest Showman, joined the cast of Fox’s Rent on Sunday to teach us all an important lesson about our lives and how we should measure them.
The actress lent her Tony Award-nominated voice to “Seasons of Love,” one of Rent‘s most iconic songs, sung at the top of the second act during a support group meeting for people diagnosed with HIV. Hit Play on the video above to watch Seattle’s big number.
Fox’s Rent stars Jordan Fisher (Grease: Live) as documentary filmmaker Mark Cohen, Brennin Hunt (The X Factor...
The actress lent her Tony Award-nominated voice to “Seasons of Love,” one of Rent‘s most iconic songs, sung at the top of the second act during a support group meeting for people diagnosed with HIV. Hit Play on the video above to watch Seattle’s big number.
Fox’s Rent stars Jordan Fisher (Grease: Live) as documentary filmmaker Mark Cohen, Brennin Hunt (The X Factor...
- 1/28/2019
- TVLine.com
Fox’s live TV musical “Rent” began with pre-taped footage Sunday — after male lead Brennin Hunt broke his foot Saturday during rehearsal — and that’s how the majority of the show will air tonight.
Hunt, who plays Roger, took the stage with some of his co-stars at the top of the show for a few numbers, with a “previously recorded notice” appearing on screen to signal the scenes were from the taped rehearsal the day before.
The rest of the cast — which includes Brandon Victor Dixon as Tom Collins, Jordan Fisher as Mark Cohen, Mario as Benjamin Coffin III, Kiersey Clemons as Joanne Jefferson, Vanessa Hudgens as Maureen Johnson, Tinashe as Mimi Marquez and Valentina as Angel — then appeared on stage live ahead of the show’s first commercial break to let viewers know Hunt would be “unable to perform tonight” and that “most of what you see tonight is from last night.
Hunt, who plays Roger, took the stage with some of his co-stars at the top of the show for a few numbers, with a “previously recorded notice” appearing on screen to signal the scenes were from the taped rehearsal the day before.
The rest of the cast — which includes Brandon Victor Dixon as Tom Collins, Jordan Fisher as Mark Cohen, Mario as Benjamin Coffin III, Kiersey Clemons as Joanne Jefferson, Vanessa Hudgens as Maureen Johnson, Tinashe as Mimi Marquez and Valentina as Angel — then appeared on stage live ahead of the show’s first commercial break to let viewers know Hunt would be “unable to perform tonight” and that “most of what you see tonight is from last night.
- 1/28/2019
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
“Rent”-heads, it’s been more than 525,600 minutes since Fox announced the Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical would come to television, and finally “no day but today” has arrived. The special joins the ranks of other Broadway musicals that have been given the live-tv treatment, such as NBC’s “Jesus Christ Superstar: Live” and Fox’s own live “Grease,” both of which earned critical acclaim.
Based on the music, book, and lyrics by Jonathan Larson — who sadly passed just before the musical debuted off-Broadway — “Rent” has earned a rabid following and numerous awards. The gritty update of Puccini’s “La Bohème” follows seven struggling artists who live in New York’s East Village of the late 1980s/early 1990s.
Sunday’s broadcast comes with a note of sadness. Country artist Brennin Hunt, who competed in the first season of “The X-Factor,” plays struggling musician Roger Davis in the show, but during...
Based on the music, book, and lyrics by Jonathan Larson — who sadly passed just before the musical debuted off-Broadway — “Rent” has earned a rabid following and numerous awards. The gritty update of Puccini’s “La Bohème” follows seven struggling artists who live in New York’s East Village of the late 1980s/early 1990s.
Sunday’s broadcast comes with a note of sadness. Country artist Brennin Hunt, who competed in the first season of “The X-Factor,” plays struggling musician Roger Davis in the show, but during...
- 1/28/2019
- by Hanh Nguyen, Liz Shannon Miller, Ben Travers and Steve Greene
- Indiewire
As a “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star, Valentina is no stranger to intricate costume changes. Of course, Valentina has never had to go from street clothes to full-on drag in four minutes — until now.
Valentina is playing Angel, a street performer and drag queen in the ’90s, on Fox’s telecast of “Rent” tonight. And with that fan-favorite role from the Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical comes the great responsibility of going back and forth between two versions of the character, while accounting for the fact its a live broadcast. Because there are definitely not 525,600 minutes between commercial breaks.
“As Angel, I have many, many costume changes, gender changes, makeup changes, health changes. (laughs),” Valentina said during a Q&A with the cast and producers last week in Los Angeles. “And so I go on this journey of just transforming throughout the show.”
Also Read: Fox's 'Rent' Live...
Valentina is playing Angel, a street performer and drag queen in the ’90s, on Fox’s telecast of “Rent” tonight. And with that fan-favorite role from the Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical comes the great responsibility of going back and forth between two versions of the character, while accounting for the fact its a live broadcast. Because there are definitely not 525,600 minutes between commercial breaks.
“As Angel, I have many, many costume changes, gender changes, makeup changes, health changes. (laughs),” Valentina said during a Q&A with the cast and producers last week in Los Angeles. “And so I go on this journey of just transforming throughout the show.”
Also Read: Fox's 'Rent' Live...
- 1/27/2019
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
Just hours before the curtain is set to rise on Fox’s live staging of Rent, the network is scrambling to accommodate an injured cast member. Sources confirm that X Factor alum Brennin Hunt — who is set to play singer-songwriter Roger Davis in the production — suffered a broken ankle at Saturday’s dress rehearsal. But the show will go on.
A Fox insider tells TVLine that producers may work around Hunt’s injury by using pre-recorded segments. Some portions of the show will likely need to be re-staged to assist Hunt (who did not have an understudy).
In a joint statement,...
A Fox insider tells TVLine that producers may work around Hunt’s injury by using pre-recorded segments. Some portions of the show will likely need to be re-staged to assist Hunt (who did not have an understudy).
In a joint statement,...
- 1/27/2019
- TVLine.com
In just five hours, the curtain will rise on Fox’s production of Rent, the latest live musical to grace broadcast television. But waiting is lame — there’s no day but today, right? — so let’s get this listening party started early.
Fox’s Rent stars Jordan Fisher (Grease: Live) as documentary filmmaker Mark Cohen, Brennin Hunt (The X Factor) as singer-songwriter Roger Davis, Tinashe (Dancing With the Stars) as night owl Mimi Marquez, Brandon Victor Dixon (Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert) as college professor Tom Collins, Valentina (RuPaul’s Drag Race) as drag queen Angel Dumott Schunard, Vanessa Hudgens...
Fox’s Rent stars Jordan Fisher (Grease: Live) as documentary filmmaker Mark Cohen, Brennin Hunt (The X Factor) as singer-songwriter Roger Davis, Tinashe (Dancing With the Stars) as night owl Mimi Marquez, Brandon Victor Dixon (Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert) as college professor Tom Collins, Valentina (RuPaul’s Drag Race) as drag queen Angel Dumott Schunard, Vanessa Hudgens...
- 1/27/2019
- TVLine.com
Regular RuPaul’s Drag Race viewers already know that Valentina sees herself as a megastar. With her forthcoming role as Angel Dumott Schunard for Rent: Live, Fox’s live production of the musical that debuts Sunday, January 27th, she’ll come one step closer to dominating the world outside of drag.
“I started with a dream — always in my fantasies, in my head and in my world, ever since I was a little boy,” the young star tells Rolling Stone while en route to one of her final rehearsals for the televised production.
“I started with a dream — always in my fantasies, in my head and in my world, ever since I was a little boy,” the young star tells Rolling Stone while en route to one of her final rehearsals for the televised production.
- 1/25/2019
- by Brittany Spanos
- Rollingstone.com
In the more than 20 years since Jonathan Larson’s “Rent” first debuted on Broadway, the conversation of adaptation has often come up: Film director Chris Columbus infamously brought the story to the big screen in 2005, Michael John Warren similarly shot one of the final performances of the original theater run in 2008, and talk about television wasn’t far behind. But in order for Larson’s family to feel ready to bring the project to a new medium, it had to be a combination of “the right timing [and] the right people,” says Julie Larson. Enter prolific producers such as Marc Platt, the show’s original director Michael Greif and the Fox network, and “Rent” is seeing a new life in the form of a live television musical on Jan. 27.
“What I see ‘Rent’ as is a throwback and a leap forward at the same time,” says executive producer Adam Siegel. “That...
“What I see ‘Rent’ as is a throwback and a leap forward at the same time,” says executive producer Adam Siegel. “That...
- 1/18/2019
- by Danielle Turchiano
- Variety Film + TV
Cinema Epoch has taken the U.S. rights to “Cellar,” the Igor Voloshin movie that stars French-American actor Jean Marc Barr. Starline recently boarded sales on the Slovak-language picture.
In the film, Barr (“The Big Blue”) plays a jobbing rock musician. His marriage and life are put to the test as he has to decide whether to take the law into his own hands when his teenage daughter goes missing after heading to an all-night rave.
It is unusual for the first deal to be for the U.S. with a non-English-language title, but Cinema Epoch has a new Cinema Epoch Classics label for international cinema and has stepped up.
Cinema Epoch will launch “Cellar” on Amazon Prime in November followed by a cable and VOD rollout in January. “Jean Marc Barr brings a very calculated and intense performance in Voloshin’s strikingly photographed and edge of your seat directed thriller,...
In the film, Barr (“The Big Blue”) plays a jobbing rock musician. His marriage and life are put to the test as he has to decide whether to take the law into his own hands when his teenage daughter goes missing after heading to an all-night rave.
It is unusual for the first deal to be for the U.S. with a non-English-language title, but Cinema Epoch has a new Cinema Epoch Classics label for international cinema and has stepped up.
Cinema Epoch will launch “Cellar” on Amazon Prime in November followed by a cable and VOD rollout in January. “Jean Marc Barr brings a very calculated and intense performance in Voloshin’s strikingly photographed and edge of your seat directed thriller,...
- 11/3/2018
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Today for you: Fox has released the complete cast list for its live-musical presentation of Rent.
Among the performers are Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert Emmy nominee (and Hamilton alum) Brandon Victor Dixon as Tom Collins and RuPaul’s Drag Race knockout Valentina as his scene-stealing love interest, Angel. Grease: Live’s Rizzo, Vanessa Hudgens, and Kiersey Clemons (Transparent) will play Maureen and Joanne, respectively; Dancing With the Stars champ Jordan Fisher, Mark; R&B singer Tinashe, Mimi; country rocker Brennin Hunt, Roger; and Empire’s Mario, landlord Benjamin Coffin III.
In addition, Keala Settle — aka bearded lady Lettie Lutz...
Among the performers are Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert Emmy nominee (and Hamilton alum) Brandon Victor Dixon as Tom Collins and RuPaul’s Drag Race knockout Valentina as his scene-stealing love interest, Angel. Grease: Live’s Rizzo, Vanessa Hudgens, and Kiersey Clemons (Transparent) will play Maureen and Joanne, respectively; Dancing With the Stars champ Jordan Fisher, Mark; R&B singer Tinashe, Mimi; country rocker Brennin Hunt, Roger; and Empire’s Mario, landlord Benjamin Coffin III.
In addition, Keala Settle — aka bearded lady Lettie Lutz...
- 10/29/2018
- TVLine.com
The cast of Fox's long hyped live production of Rent is here and…wow. The network has tapped Vanessa Hudgens, Tinashe, Brandon Victor Dixon, Jordan Fisher and more to star in the live production of the beloved musical from the late Jonathan Larson. The musical tells the story of a group of young artists struggling to survive with HIV/AIDS an always-lurking danger. Hudgens, who starred in Fox's Grease Live, will play Maureen Johnson, a performance artist. Hearts Beat Loud star Kiersey Clemons will play her girlfriend, Joanne. Dixon, who was nominated for an Emmy for NBC's Jesus Christ Superstar Live, will play Tom Collins, a computer scientist, RuPaul's Drag Race veteran Valentina is playing...
- 10/29/2018
- E! Online
Brandon Victor Dixon, Vanessa Hudgens, Kiersey Clemons and Jordan Fisher will be among the stars living la vie boheme in January when Fox stages its live musical presentation of the Broadway smash Rent.
Fox announced the full cast today, including Brennin Hunt, Mario, Tinashe and RuPaul Drag Race star Valentina (see below for full list of cast and their characters).
Rent, Jonathan Larson’s Tony Award- and Pulitizer Prize-winning musical set during the early AIDS era long before New York City’s East Village had cleaned up to become a rich-person playground, opened Off Broadway in 1996 and, later that year, transferred to Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre. The production ran on Broadway for 12 years.
Larson died of a heart condition the night before his musical’s first Off Broadway performance.
Fox will air the three-hour musical event on Sunday, January 27, live at 7 p.m. Et and tape-delayed Pt.
Here is the full cast,...
Fox announced the full cast today, including Brennin Hunt, Mario, Tinashe and RuPaul Drag Race star Valentina (see below for full list of cast and their characters).
Rent, Jonathan Larson’s Tony Award- and Pulitizer Prize-winning musical set during the early AIDS era long before New York City’s East Village had cleaned up to become a rich-person playground, opened Off Broadway in 1996 and, later that year, transferred to Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre. The production ran on Broadway for 12 years.
Larson died of a heart condition the night before his musical’s first Off Broadway performance.
Fox will air the three-hour musical event on Sunday, January 27, live at 7 p.m. Et and tape-delayed Pt.
Here is the full cast,...
- 10/29/2018
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Fox has announced the cast for its upcoming “Rent” live musical.
Recording artist Tinashe has been cast as Mimi Marquez, a dancer who struggles with addiction and catches the eye of musician and recovering addict Roger. Roger will be played by Brennin Hunt (“Nashville”).
Singer/songwriter Jordan Fisher (“Hamilton” and the 2017 winner of “Dancing with the Stars”) will play Mark, Roger’s filmmaker roommate and best friend, who serves as the show’s narrator.
Vanessa Hudgens (“Grease: Live”) will play Maureen Johnson, a performance artist and Mark’s ex-girlfriend who is on-again-off-again dating Joanne. Kiersey Clemons (“Hearts Beat Loud”) is set to play Joanne Jefferson, an Ivy League-educated laywer.
Emmy nominee and Tony Award winner Brandon Victor Dixon (“Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert”) will play Tom Collins, a computer scientist who returns to New York after being expelled from MIT. There he meets and falls in love with Angel Dumont Schunard,...
Recording artist Tinashe has been cast as Mimi Marquez, a dancer who struggles with addiction and catches the eye of musician and recovering addict Roger. Roger will be played by Brennin Hunt (“Nashville”).
Singer/songwriter Jordan Fisher (“Hamilton” and the 2017 winner of “Dancing with the Stars”) will play Mark, Roger’s filmmaker roommate and best friend, who serves as the show’s narrator.
Vanessa Hudgens (“Grease: Live”) will play Maureen Johnson, a performance artist and Mark’s ex-girlfriend who is on-again-off-again dating Joanne. Kiersey Clemons (“Hearts Beat Loud”) is set to play Joanne Jefferson, an Ivy League-educated laywer.
Emmy nominee and Tony Award winner Brandon Victor Dixon (“Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert”) will play Tom Collins, a computer scientist who returns to New York after being expelled from MIT. There he meets and falls in love with Angel Dumont Schunard,...
- 10/29/2018
- by Danielle Turchiano
- Variety Film + TV
L.A.-based indie distributor Cinema Epoch has acquired U.S. rights to “Penance,” the English- and Irish-language movie about a priest confronting his past as a firebrand preacher who promoted violence against British rule in Northern Ireland.
Tom Collins helmed the picture, which is produced by his Derry-based De Facto Films and Edwina Forkin’s Zanzibar Films. Broadcaster TG4, The Irish Film Board, Northern Ireland Screen, and the Irish Language Broadcast fund supported the project. Collins’ Gaelic-language movie, “Kings,” was Ireland’s first foreign-language entry to the Oscars in 2007.
Peter Coonan (“Love/Hate”) plays the priest whose youthful support for violent resistance across a divided Ireland catches up with him in later life. Barry Barnes (“71”) and Gerard McSorley (“Omagh”) also star.
London-based Starline Entertainment is handling worldwide sales of “Penance” and did the Cinema Epoch deal. Julie Delaney, Starline’s director of worldwide distribution, negotiated the agreement with Cinema Epoch...
Tom Collins helmed the picture, which is produced by his Derry-based De Facto Films and Edwina Forkin’s Zanzibar Films. Broadcaster TG4, The Irish Film Board, Northern Ireland Screen, and the Irish Language Broadcast fund supported the project. Collins’ Gaelic-language movie, “Kings,” was Ireland’s first foreign-language entry to the Oscars in 2007.
Peter Coonan (“Love/Hate”) plays the priest whose youthful support for violent resistance across a divided Ireland catches up with him in later life. Barry Barnes (“71”) and Gerard McSorley (“Omagh”) also star.
London-based Starline Entertainment is handling worldwide sales of “Penance” and did the Cinema Epoch deal. Julie Delaney, Starline’s director of worldwide distribution, negotiated the agreement with Cinema Epoch...
- 10/1/2018
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Starline has taken international rights to “The Cellar,” the crime thriller from Russian filmmaker Igor Voloshin (“Bedouin”).
The picture is a three-way co-production between Slovakia’s Furia Film, Russia’s Gate Film, and the Czech Republic’s 8Heads Production. It was largely filmed in the Slovak Republic, where it will be released this week through Italfilm.
“The Cellar” stars French-American actor Jean-Marc Barr (“The Big Blue”) as a jobbing musician in a failing marriage who decides to take the law into his own hands when his teenage daughter goes missing. Voloshin regular Olga Simonova (“Bedouin”) stars alongside Barr, with Milan Ondrik (“Eva Nova”), John Robinson (“Elephant”) and newcomers Simoneta Hladka and Dalibor Stofan providing support.
U.K.-based sales outfit Starline has been building a lineup of world cinema titles that sit alongside its roster of feature documentaries. It recently acquired Tom Collins’ Irish-language period drama “Penance.”
Starline’s director...
The picture is a three-way co-production between Slovakia’s Furia Film, Russia’s Gate Film, and the Czech Republic’s 8Heads Production. It was largely filmed in the Slovak Republic, where it will be released this week through Italfilm.
“The Cellar” stars French-American actor Jean-Marc Barr (“The Big Blue”) as a jobbing musician in a failing marriage who decides to take the law into his own hands when his teenage daughter goes missing. Voloshin regular Olga Simonova (“Bedouin”) stars alongside Barr, with Milan Ondrik (“Eva Nova”), John Robinson (“Elephant”) and newcomers Simoneta Hladka and Dalibor Stofan providing support.
U.K.-based sales outfit Starline has been building a lineup of world cinema titles that sit alongside its roster of feature documentaries. It recently acquired Tom Collins’ Irish-language period drama “Penance.”
Starline’s director...
- 9/26/2018
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Starline Entertainment will handle worldwide sales on “Penance,” the new movie from lauded Irish filmmaker Tom Collins.
“Penance” alternates between Ireland during the 1916 Easter Rising against British rule and the city of Derry/Londonderry in Northern Ireland in the 1960s, during what became grimly known as “the Troubles.” A Catholic priest is forced to confront his past as a firebrand preacher promoting violence against British rule in Ireland when a former protege who fell under his influence reappears 50 years later as a hardened Ira gunman.
Shot in English and Gaelic, the film stars Peter Coonan (“Love/Hate”), Barry Barnes (“71”), and Gerard McSorley (“Omagh”).
“In these times of loudly debating nationalism, borders and Brexit, I hope this film, through the central character’s story, underlines that we are always a few heartbeats away from violence and we can live to regret ill-judged rhetoric,” Collins said.
Collins is acknowledged as Ireland’s leading director of Irish-language content.
“Penance” alternates between Ireland during the 1916 Easter Rising against British rule and the city of Derry/Londonderry in Northern Ireland in the 1960s, during what became grimly known as “the Troubles.” A Catholic priest is forced to confront his past as a firebrand preacher promoting violence against British rule in Ireland when a former protege who fell under his influence reappears 50 years later as a hardened Ira gunman.
Shot in English and Gaelic, the film stars Peter Coonan (“Love/Hate”), Barry Barnes (“71”), and Gerard McSorley (“Omagh”).
“In these times of loudly debating nationalism, borders and Brexit, I hope this film, through the central character’s story, underlines that we are always a few heartbeats away from violence and we can live to regret ill-judged rhetoric,” Collins said.
Collins is acknowledged as Ireland’s leading director of Irish-language content.
- 3/28/2018
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Other winners include Michael Inside, The Drummer And The Keeper and Rocky Ros Muc.
The 29th Galway Film Fleadh handed out its annual awards last night (July 16) and named Robert Mullan’s Mad To Be Normal as best international feature.
The 1960s-set film stars David Tennant as real-life hippy psychiatrist Rd Laing and co-stars Elisabeth Moss as his girlfriend Angie Wood.
The awards ceremony took place after the Irish Premiere of Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk.
The prize for best Irish feature went to Frank Berry’s Michael Inside, the story of a young Dubliner (played by Dafhyd Flynn) whose life disintegrates when he is sent to prison.
Nick Kelly’s The Drummer And The Keeper, about an unlikely friendship between the bipolar drummer of a rock band and an teen suffering from Asperger’s syndrome, won best first Irish feature.
Rocky Ros Muc, directed by Michael Fanning and telling the story of boxer Sean Mannion, won the best...
The 29th Galway Film Fleadh handed out its annual awards last night (July 16) and named Robert Mullan’s Mad To Be Normal as best international feature.
The 1960s-set film stars David Tennant as real-life hippy psychiatrist Rd Laing and co-stars Elisabeth Moss as his girlfriend Angie Wood.
The awards ceremony took place after the Irish Premiere of Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk.
The prize for best Irish feature went to Frank Berry’s Michael Inside, the story of a young Dubliner (played by Dafhyd Flynn) whose life disintegrates when he is sent to prison.
Nick Kelly’s The Drummer And The Keeper, about an unlikely friendship between the bipolar drummer of a rock band and an teen suffering from Asperger’s syndrome, won best first Irish feature.
Rocky Ros Muc, directed by Michael Fanning and telling the story of boxer Sean Mannion, won the best...
- 7/17/2017
- by orlando.parfitt@screendaily.com (Orlando Parfitt)
- ScreenDaily
I grew up on Broadway musicals. Once upon a time when going to see a show on Broadway didn’t cost you your mortgage plus the life of your first-born, my mom and dad were avid theatergoers. They saw the original production of South Pacific with Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza, the original production of Camelot with Richard Burton and Julie Andrews and Robert Goulet, and the original production of The King and I with Gertrude Lawrence and a then little-known Yul Brynner.
When they were still dating they went into town to see Oklahoma! Over the years they saw Carousel, and Brigadoon, and Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews in My Fair Lady, and Zero Mostel in Fiddler on the Roof, and Carol Channing in Hello, Dolly!, and the original West Side Story with Carol Lawrence and Larry Kert. My father fell asleep at Cats and my mother said she...
When they were still dating they went into town to see Oklahoma! Over the years they saw Carousel, and Brigadoon, and Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews in My Fair Lady, and Zero Mostel in Fiddler on the Roof, and Carol Channing in Hello, Dolly!, and the original West Side Story with Carol Lawrence and Larry Kert. My father fell asleep at Cats and my mother said she...
- 3/27/2017
- by Mindy Newell
- Comicmix.com
If you all aren’t already watching Supergirl, you should. For Season 2, the show about Kara Zor-El’s life in National City working for Catco Worldwide by day and embracing her superhuman talents to save the world on her off-time will be moving The CW on October 10 at 8pm. We’re super looking forward to James Olsen, more Deo and Anya mostly can’t wait for more Winn (Jeremy Jordan)! And we’re absolutely freaking out about the Supergirl & The Flash musical crossover! We all know Melissa Benoist & Grant Gustin were on Glee, but there’s also Jesse L. Martin (Tom Collins! Rent!), Jeremy Jordan!!! (voice of an angel!) & Carlos Valdes. We can only pray they can figure out a way to write Alura or Astra in because Laura Benanti is just so magical.
At what was probably the highlight of Comic Con, Anya attended the Supergirl press roundtable and...
At what was probably the highlight of Comic Con, Anya attended the Supergirl press roundtable and...
- 9/8/2016
- by Maddy and Anya Ernst
- Comicmix.com
St Petersburg’s Efp showcase will features eight titles this year.
The Swiss gay docu-drama The Circle is among eight European films being shown as part of European Film Promotion’s (Efp) third edition of its Westwind showcase in St Petersburg, October 21-25.
The line-up includes: the Spanish comedy Living Is Easy With Eyes Closed, which will be accompanied in person by its director David Trueba; Tom Collins’ Irish drama The Gift, attended by actors Dara Devaney and Paul Griffin; Montenegrin writer-director Nikola Vukčević’s revenge thriller/melodrama The Kids From Marx and Engels Street; Finnish filmmaker Pirjo Honkasalo’s dreamlike odyssey Concrete Night; and German feature debutant Sebastian Ko’s We Monsters which had its North American premiere in the Discovery sidebar in Toronto this month.
The other films programmed to screen in the Hotel Angleterre cinema are Pol Cruchten’s drama Never Die Young and Daniel Dencik’s historical drama Gold Coast as well as...
The Swiss gay docu-drama The Circle is among eight European films being shown as part of European Film Promotion’s (Efp) third edition of its Westwind showcase in St Petersburg, October 21-25.
The line-up includes: the Spanish comedy Living Is Easy With Eyes Closed, which will be accompanied in person by its director David Trueba; Tom Collins’ Irish drama The Gift, attended by actors Dara Devaney and Paul Griffin; Montenegrin writer-director Nikola Vukčević’s revenge thriller/melodrama The Kids From Marx and Engels Street; Finnish filmmaker Pirjo Honkasalo’s dreamlike odyssey Concrete Night; and German feature debutant Sebastian Ko’s We Monsters which had its North American premiere in the Discovery sidebar in Toronto this month.
The other films programmed to screen in the Hotel Angleterre cinema are Pol Cruchten’s drama Never Die Young and Daniel Dencik’s historical drama Gold Coast as well as...
- 9/29/2015
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
The Screen Directors Guild of Ireland (Sdgi) is honored to present the Foras Na Gaeilge Award to Irish director and producer Tom Collins in recognition for Outstanding Contribution in the Irish language in Film and TV. Love/Hate writer Stuart Carolan will present the award to Tom. Hailed for his Irish language films Kings (2007) and the award winning film Hush-a-Bye-Baby (1992), most recently Collins has had enormous success with the award-winning Irish noir crime drama An Bronntanas, which was adapted for a five part thriller series for TG4 that has now been picked up by French distributor Lagardère Entertainment. Directed by Collins and starring Dara Devaney (Na Cloigne), Owen McDonnell (Single Handed) and John Finn (Cold Case), An Bronntanas tells the story of the crew of a local independent lifeboat in Connemara who find over a million euro worth of drugs on an abandoned fishing boat. Speaking about the award, Tom.
- 6/24/2015
- by noreply@blogger.com (Tom White)
- www.themoviebit.com
Celtic crime thriller was Ireland’s Oscar submission.
Paris-based Lagardère Entertainment has snapped up distribution rights to Irish crime thriller An Bronntanas (The Gift) and will be selling the five-part miniseries at Miptv in Cannes next week.
The film version of An Bronntanas was Ireland’s submission to the Best Foreign-Language category of the Oscars and won the jury’s special award at last month’s Boston Irish Film Festival.
When the series was broadcast on Ireland’s TG4 at the end of last year it scored a six-fold audience increase among 15-34s
Directed by Tom Collins, and produced by Ciarán Ó Cofaigh of Rosg and Tom Collins, An Bronntanas stars Dara Devaney, John Finn, Owen McDonnell, Michelle Beamish, Pól Ó Gríofa, Charlotte Bradley and Januscz Sheagall. The script was written by Joe O’Byrne, Paul Walker, Eoin McNamee and Tom Collins.
The film was primarily shot in Irish in Connemara, County Galway...
Paris-based Lagardère Entertainment has snapped up distribution rights to Irish crime thriller An Bronntanas (The Gift) and will be selling the five-part miniseries at Miptv in Cannes next week.
The film version of An Bronntanas was Ireland’s submission to the Best Foreign-Language category of the Oscars and won the jury’s special award at last month’s Boston Irish Film Festival.
When the series was broadcast on Ireland’s TG4 at the end of last year it scored a six-fold audience increase among 15-34s
Directed by Tom Collins, and produced by Ciarán Ó Cofaigh of Rosg and Tom Collins, An Bronntanas stars Dara Devaney, John Finn, Owen McDonnell, Michelle Beamish, Pól Ó Gríofa, Charlotte Bradley and Januscz Sheagall. The script was written by Joe O’Byrne, Paul Walker, Eoin McNamee and Tom Collins.
The film was primarily shot in Irish in Connemara, County Galway...
- 4/9/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Every year Hollywood gets a curated batch of films from dozens of countries seeking an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. One film per nation is chosen to represent the best of its cinematic production during the previous year. Certainly the chosen film is not always the ideal candidate, but the reasoning behind the selection usually follows two patterns: there are countries that go with the best film even if this is not the most appealing choice and there are countries that go with the most ambitious, industry-friendly, and financially successful work. This year the astonishing number of submissions – a total of 83 – makes for an incredible list of films that range from those that sport festival pedigree of the highest caliber, unknown gems looking for an audience, expensive visual achievements, and obscure art house hopefuls.
This year more than most, there are a great number of films with serious possibilities. There is no unshakable front-runner, but there are numerous favorites. Yet, looking at last year’s 9 shortlisted films and eventual 5 nominees, nothing is written in stone. Critics and audience favorites like “ The Past” (Iran), “Gloria” (Chile), “Heli” (Mexico), and “Wadjda” (Saudi Arabia) were left out to include surprises like “The Missing Picture“ (Cambodia), “An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker” (Bosnia & Herzegovina) or “The Notebook” (Hungary).
With Awards Season now in full swing and knowing that this is one of the most difficult races to follow, here is a comprehensive list that includes information for each of the 83 submissions. Below each poster you will find the title of the film linked to its page on IMDb Pro followed by the title in the original language; the director’s name also linked to his/her IMDb Page; the language the film is primarily in; the name of the U.S. distributor if there is one; the name of the film’s International Sales Agent (Isa) or Production Company (PC) linked to the film’s page on Cinando; and a link to the film’s trailer (most of them have English subtitles, others are only in the original language, and a few are videos related to the film because a trailer wasn't available). In addition, reviews and interviews with many of these filmmakers will be added regularly.
Before getting into the list, let’s take a look at some of the statistics and patterns among these 83 foreign language features.
Period Dramas/Biopics
Several countries selected films based on the lives of prominent local figures or great period pieces, both showcase the level of films being produced across the globe in terms of production value and scope. Mexico’s “Cantinflas,” Venezuela’s “The Liberator,” Kyrgyzstan “Kurmanjan Datka Queen of the Mountains,” Bolivia’s “Forgotten,” Indonesia’s “Soekarno,” Greece’s “Little England,” Macedonia’s “To the Hilt,” Hong Kong’s “The Golden Era,” Austria’s “The Dark Valley,” Switzerland’s “The Circle,” Bulgaria’s “Bulgarian Rhapsody,” Serbia’s “ See You in Montevideo,” Slovakia’s “A Step Into the Dark” and New Zealand’s “The Dead Lands” are some of the most expensive films ever made in their respective territories. All of them are epic productions that highlight an important historical period using impressive cinematography, a great number of extras, intricate costumes, lavish locations, detailed production design, as well as great battle sequences in several of them. Other more traditional biopics/period pieces on the list include France’s “Saint Laurent,” The Netherlands “ Accused,” Germany’s “Beloved Sisters,” Spain’s “Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed” and the Czech Republic’s “Fair Play”
Masters and Festival Winners
Not surprisingly many of the films on the list come into this race after winning important awards at international festivals. Furthermore, a handful of them are from master filmmakers, masters in the making, or unique new voices. These films include Belgium’s “Two Days, One Night” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff, Nyff, AFI Fest) by the Dardenne Brothers, Canada’s “Mommy” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff, AFI Fest) by prodigy Xavier Dolan, Chile’s “To Kill a Man” (Sundance, Rotterdam, Cartagena) by Alejandro Fernandez Almendras, Hungary's "White God" (Cannes) by Kornél Mundruczó, Norway’s “1001 Grams” (Tiff) by Bent Hamer, Poland’s “Ida”(Tiff, Sundance) by Pawel Pawlikowski, Russia’s “Leviathan” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff, AFI Fest) by Andrey Zvyagintsev, Sweden’s “Force Majeure” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff) by Ruben Östlund, and Turkey’s “ Winter Sleep” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff) by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. All of these films have played at renowned international festivals and most have earned important recognition there.
Out of the Box
Whether they are aware of their actual possibilities at a nomination or not, each year a few countries take the risk of sending a film that defies convention despite having more safe choices. But that is not say they are entirely out of the race, films like “The Missing Picture” and “Dogtooth” prove that sometimes there is room for daring and unique filmmaking. With “Rocks in My Pockets” Latvia is the only country to submit an animated film this year. The film is an inventive and colorful look at depression. Then there is the almost-silent and highly poetic Ecuadorian entry “Silence in Dreamland” and Singapore’s musically driven drama “Sayang Disayang.” However, the boldest selection has to be the Philippines’ “Norte, the End of History” by acclaimed auteur Lav Diaz, which runs over four hours and is inspired by Dostoyevsky Crime and Punishment.
Documentaries
Only two countries chose to go with non-fiction entries. One of them is Panama’s “Invasion,” which deals with the aftermath of the U.S. intervention in that country in 1989. This is the Central American nation’s first ever Oscar submission. The other documentary contending is Portugal’s “ What Now? Remind Me,“ a self-portrait by filmmaker Joaquim Pinto exploring his struggles living with HIV. One should note that Portugal is one of the few countries in Western Europe to have never obtained a nomination in the category despite entering films consecutively for several decades.
Lgbt
Films with stories that highlight sexual diversity occasionally make their way into this list. Last year the only Lgbt title submitted was “ Soongava: Dance of the Orchids,” which surprisingly came from Nepal and dealt with the relationship between two young women in the traditional Asian society. This time around two countries selected films with similar themes. Brazil’s festival darling “ The Way He Looks” – a sweet coming-of-age tale- was an audacious choice among the many other films the South American country produces every year. Then there is Switzerland’s “The Circle” about a pioneering gay publication during the 1940s/1950s in Zurich and the real life relationship between two of its prominent members.
Surprising Choices
As it usually happens, some countries go against what the industry expects and decide to send films that weren’t on most people’s radars. Bulgaria for example selected “Bulgarian Rhapsody” by veteran director Ivan Nitchev over Sundance’s “Viktoria” by young female director Maya Vitkova. Similarly, Ukraine overlooked Cannes favorite “The Tribe”- a powerful drama entirely in sign language - and decided to go with “The Guide” by Oles Sanin. Nevertheless, the most shocking decision came from China. Instead of selecting a Chinese-directed film like Berlin’s Golden Bear winner “Black Coal, Thin Ice” or Zhang Yimou’s “Coming Home,” the Chinese selection committee chose “The Nightingale” by French director Philippe Muyl. Despite having a European helmer the film is authentically Chinese in terms of language and story, but it was still an unexpected move from the traditionally patriotic country.
First Timers
The unprecedented number of entries is in part due to the addition of countries submitting for the first time. Besides aforementioned Panama, there are three other debutant nations in the mix. Kosovo- a tiny Balkan state often associated with the rampart war that afflicted the region a few decades ago - is finally showcasing its film production. Their entry titled “Three Windows and a Hanging” is said to be a high quality, affecting drama. Malta - a European island nation near Italy - is often used as astonishing location for big budget studio films. This year, however, “ Simshar,” a great immigration drama will represent the country. Lastly, Mauritania – a prominently Muslim nation in Sub-Saharan Africa – selected Abderrahmane Sissako’s “Timbuktu,”which played in competition at Cannes,as their inaugural submission. Although Sissako has had several successful films at international festivals, this is the first time his country decides to participate.
Female Directors
Out of the 83 films, 14 were directed by women. That’s 17% of all entries. What’s more interesting is the fact that some of these films come from countries that are often seen as traditionally patriarchal societies. 3 Latin American entries were created by female directors: Colombia’s “Mateo,” Costa Rica’s “Red Princesses” and the Dominican Republic’s “Cristo Rey.” 4 from Asia: Hong Kong’s “ The Golden Era,” India’s “Liar’s Dice,” Japan’s “The Light Shines Only There,” and Pakistan’s “Dukhtar.” 2 from the Middle East: Israel’s “Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem” (Co-directed) and Palestine’s “Eyes of a Thief.” Lastly, 5 films from Europe: The Czech Republic’s “Fair Play,” Finland’s “Concrete Night,” Latvia’s “ Rocks in My Pockets,” Malta’s “Simshar” and the Netherlands’ “Accused.”
U.S. Distribution
Another interesting fact is the number of these films that already have U.S. distribution. Several of them have actually already opened theatrically here, and others are set to open early next year. Out 83 films, 24 already have U.S. distribution. That’s 29% of all films. Hopefully that number increases by the end of the season. The films are: Argentina’s “Wild Tales,” Austria’s “The Dark Valley,” Belgium’s “Two Days, One Night,” Brazil’s “The Way He Looks,” Canada’s “Mommy,” Chile’s “To Kill a Man,” France’s “Saint Laurent,” Germany’s “Beloved Sisters,” Hungary’s “White God,” Israel’s “ Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem,” Italy’s “Human Capital,” Latvia’s “Rocks in My Pockets,” Mauritania’s “Timbuktu,” Mexico’s “Cantinflas,” Norway’s “1001 Grams,” The Philippines “Norte, the End of History,” Poland’s “Ida,” Portugal's "What Now? Remind Me," Russia’s “Leviathan,” Spain’s “Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed,” Sweden’s “Force Majeure,” Switzerland’s “The Circle,” Turkey’s “Winter Sleep,” and Venezuela’s “ The Liberator.”
To see which distribution company has each of these films please refer to the list below.
Afghanistan
"A Few Cubic Meters of Love" (چند متر مکعب عشق)
Dir: Jamshid Mahmoudi
Language: Persian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Dreamlab Films
Trailer
Argentina
"Wild Tales" (Relatos Salvajes)
Dir: Damián Szifrón
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
Trailer
Austria
"The Dark Valley" (Das finstere Tal)
Dir: Andreas Prochaska
Language: German
U.S Distribution: Film Movement
Isa: Films Distribution
Trailer
Australia
"Charlie's Country"
Dir: Rolf de Heer
Language: Yolŋu Matha/English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Visit Films
Trailer
Azerbaijan
"Nabat"
Dir: Elcin Musaoglu
Language: Azerbaijani
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Dreamlab Films
Trailer
Bangladesh
"Glow of the Firefly" (Jonakir Alo)
Dir: Khalid Mahmood Mithu
Language: Bengali
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Impress Telefilm
Trailer
Belgium
"Two Days, One Night" (Deux jours, une nuit)
Dir: Jean-Pierre Dardenne & Luc Dardenne
Language: French/Arabic
U.S Distribution: Sundance Selects
Isa: Wild Bunch
Trailer
Bolivia
"Forgotten" (Olvidados)
Dir: Carlos Bolado
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Flor de Loto Pictures
Trailer
Bosnia & Herzegovina
"With Mom" (Sa mamom)
Dir: Faruk Loncarevic
Language: Bosnian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Scca/pro.ba
TraileR
Brazil
"The Way He Looks" (Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho)
Dir: Daniel Ribeiro
Language: Portuguese
U.S Distribution: Strand Releasing
Isa: Films Boutique Trailer
Bulgaria
"Bulgarian Rhapsody" (българска рапсодия)
Dir: Ivan Nitchev
Language: Bulgarian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Cinepaz Eood
Trailer
Canada
"Mommy"
Dir: Xavier Dolan
Language: French/English
U.S Distribution: Roadside Attractions
Isa: Seville International
Trailer
Chile
"To Kill a Man" (Matar a un Hombre)
Dir: Alejandro Fernández Almendras
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: Film Movement
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
Trailer
China
"The Nightingale" (夜莺/Le promeneur d'oiseau)
Dir: Philippe Muyl
Language: Mandarin
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Kinology
Trailer
Colombia
"Mateo"
Dir: Maria Gamboa ♀
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Alpha Violet
Trailer
Costa Rica
"Red Princesses" (Princesas Rojas)
Dir: Laura Astorga ♀
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Latido Films Trailer
Croatia
"Cowboys" (Kauboji)
Dir: Tomislav Mrsic
Language: Croatian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Wide
Trailer
Cuba
"Behavior" (Conducta)
Dir: Ernesto Daranas
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Latido Films
Trailer
Czech Republic
"Fair Play"
Dir: Andrea Sedlácková Andrea Sedlácková
Language: Czech
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: IntraMovies
Trailer
Denmark
"Sorrow and Joy" (Sorg og glæde)
Dir: Nils Malmros
Language: Danish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Nordisk Film Production
Trailer
Dominican Republic
"Cristo Rey"
Dir: Leticia Tonos ♀
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: The Little Film Company
Trailer
Ecuador
"Silence in Dreamland" (El Silencio en la Tierra de los Sueños)
Dir: Tito Molina
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: La Facultad
Trailer
Egypt
"Factory Girl" (فتاة المصنع )
Dir: Mohamed Khan
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: DayDream Art Production
Trailer
Estonia
"Tangerines" (Mandariinid)
Dir: Zaza Urushadze
Language: Estonian/Russian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Cinemavault
Trailer
Ethiopia
"Difret"
Dir: Zeresenay Mehari
Language: Amharic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Films Boutique Trailer
Finland
"Concrete Night" (Betoniyö)
Dir: Pirjo Honkasalo ♀
Language: Finnish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Film Republic Trailer
France
"Saint Laurent"
Dir: Bertrand Bonello
Language: French
U.S Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
Isa: Europacorp
Trailer
Georgia
"Corn Island" (სიმინდის კუნძული)
Dir: George Ovashvili
Language: Georgian/Abkhazian/Russian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Arizona Productions
Trailer
Germany
"Beloved Sisters" (Die geliebten Schwestern)
Dir: Dominik Graf
Language: German /French
U.S Distribution: Music Box Films
Isa: Global Screen
Trailer
Greece
"Little England" (Μικρά Αγγλία)
Dir: Pantelis Voulgaris
Language: Greek
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Black Orange
Trailer
Hong Kong
"The Golden Era" (黄金时代)
Dir: Ann Hui ♀
Language: Mandarin
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Edko Films
Trailer
Hungary
"White God" (Fehér isten)
Dir: Kornél Mundruczó
Language: Hungarian/English
U.S Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Isa: The Match Factory
Trailer
Iceland
"Life in a Fishbowl" (Vonarstræti)
Dir: Baldvin Zophoníasson
Language: None Yet
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Films Boutique Trailer
India
"Liar's Dice" (लायर्स डाइस)
Dir: Geethu Mohandas ♀
Language: Hindi
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Jar Pictures Trailer
Indonesia
"Soekarno"
Dir: Hanung Bramantyo
Language: Indonesian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Mvp Pictures
Trailer
Iran
"Today" (امروز )
Dir: Reza Mirkarimi
Language: Persian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Dreamlab Films
Trailer
Iraq
"Mardan"
Dir: Batin Ghobadi
Language: Kurdish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Versatile Trailer
Ireland
"The Gift" (An Bronntanas)
Dir: Tom Collins
Language: Irish/English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Rosg/De Facto Films
Trailer
Israel
"Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem" (Gett: Le Procès de Viviane Amsalem)
Dir: Ronit Elkabetz ♀ & Shlomi Elkabetz
Language: Hebrew/French/Arabic
U.S Distribution: Music Box Films
Isa: Films Distribution
Trailer
Italy
"Human Capital" (Il Capitale Umano)
Dir: Paolo Virzì
Language: Italian
U.S Distribution: Film Movement
PC: Indiana Production Company
Trailer
Japan
"The Light Shines Only There" (そこのみにて光輝く)
Dir: Mipo Oh ♀
Language: Japanese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Open Sesame
Trailer
Kosovo
"Three Windows and a Hanging" (Tri Dritare dhe një Varje)
Dir: Isa Qosja
Language: Albanian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: CMb Productions
Trailer
Kyrgyzstan
"Kurmanjan Datka Queen of the Mountains" (Курманжан Датка)
Dir: Sadyk Sher-Niyaz
Language: Kirghiz
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Aitysh Film
Trailer
Latvia
"Rocks in My Pockets" (Akmeņi manās kabatās)
Dir: Signe Baumane ♀
Language: Latvian
U.S Distribution: Zeitgeist Films
Isa: New Europe Film Sales
Trailer
Lebanon
"Ghadi" (غدي)
Dir: Amin Dora
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Fortissimo Films
Trailer
Lithuania
"The Gambler" (Lošėjas)
Dir: Ignas Jonynas
Language: Lithuanian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Wide
Trailer
Luxembourg
"Never Die Young"
Dir: Pol Cruchten
Language: French
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: EastWest Distribution
Trailer
MacEdonia
"To the Hilt" (До балчак)
Dir: Stole Popov
Language: Macedonian/French/English/ Turkish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Triangle Film- Skopje
Trailer
Malta
"Simshar"
Dir: Rebecca Cremona ♀
Language: Maltese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Kukumajsa Productions
Trailer
Mauritania
"Timbuktu"
Dir: Abderrahmane Sissako
Language: French/Arabic/Bambara/English/Songhay/Tamasheq
U.S Distribution: Cohen Media Group
Isa: Le Pacte
Trailer
Mexico
"Cantinflas"
Dir: Sebastian del Amo
Language: Spanish/English
U.S Distribution: Pantelion Films
Isa: 6 Sales
Trailer
Moldova
"The Unsaved" (La Limita de Jos a Cerului)
Dir: Igor Cobileanski
Language: Romanian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Insomnia World Sales Trailer
Montenegro
"The Boys from Marx and Engels Street" (Djecaci iz ulice Marksa i Engelsa)
Dir: Nikola Vukcevic
Language: Serbian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Artikulacija Production
Trailer
Morocco
"The Red Moon" (القمر الأحمر)
Dir: Hassan Benjelloun
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Bentaqerla
Trailer
Nepal
"Jhola" (झोला)
Dir: Yadav Kumar Bhattarai
Language: Nepali
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Media for Culture
Trailer
The Netherlands
"Accused" (Lucia de B.)
Dir: Paula van der Oest ♀
Language: Dutch
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Fortissimo Films
Trailer
New Zealand
"The Dead Lands"
Dir: Toa Fraser
Language: Maori
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Xyz Films
Trailer
Norway
"1001 Grams" (1001 Gram)
Dir: Bent Hamer
Language: Norwegian/French/ English
U.S Distribution: Kino Lorber
Isa: Les Films du Losange
Trailer
Pakistan
"Dukhtar" (دختر، بیٹی)
Dir: Afia Nathaniel ♀
Language: Urdu
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Zambeel Films
Trailer
Palestine
"Eyes of a Thief" (عيون الحراميه)
Dir: Najwa Najjar ♀
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Ustura Films Trailer
Panama
"Invasion" (Invasión)
Dir: Abner Benaim
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Apertura Films Trailer
Peru
"The Gospel of the Flesh" (El Evangelio de la Carne)
Dir: Eduardo Mendoza de Echave
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: La Soga Producciones
Trailer
The Philippines
"Norte, the End of History" (Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan)
Dir: Lav Diaz
Language: Tagalog/English
U.S Distribution: The Cinema Guild
Isa: M-Appeal World Sales
Trailer
Poland
"Ida"
Dir: Pawel Pawlikowski
Language: Polish
U.S Distribution: Music Box Films
Isa: Portobello Film Sales
Trailer
Portugal
"What Now? Remind Me" (E Agora? Lembra-me)
Dir: Joaquim Pinto
Language: Portuguese
U.S Distribution: The Cinema Guild
PC: C.R.I.M Productions
Trailer
Romania
"The Japanese Dog" (Câinele Japonez)
Dir: Tudor Cristian Jurgiu
Language: Romanian/Japanese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: M-Appeal World Sales
Trailer
Russia
"Leviathan" (Левиафан)
Dir: Andrey Zvyagintsev
Language: Russian
U.S Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
Isa: Pyramide International
Trailer
Serbia
"See You in Montevideo" (Montevideo, vidimo se!)
Dir: Dragan Bjelogrlic
Language: Serbian/Spanish/ English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Intermedia Network
Trailer
Singapore
"Sayang Disayang"
Dir: Sanif Olek
Language: Malay/Indonesian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: ReelJuice
Trailer
Slovakia
"A Step Into the Dark" (Krok do tmy)
Dir: Miloslav Luther
Language: Slovak
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Trigon Production Trailer
Slovenia
"Seduce Me" (Zapelji me)
Dir: Marko Santic
Language: Slovenian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Radio-Television Slovenia
Trailer
South Africa
"Elelwani"
Dir: Ntshaveni Wa Luruli
Language: Venda
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: EastWest FilmDistribution
Trailer
South Korea
"Haemoo" (해무)
Dir: Sung Bo Shim
Language: Korean
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Finecut
Trailer
Spain
"Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed" (Vivir es fácil con los ojos cerrados)
Dir: David Trueba
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: Outsider Pictures
Isa: 6 Sales
Trailer
Sweden
"Force Majeure" (Turist)
Dir: Ruben Östlund
Language: Swedish/English
U.S Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Isa: Coproduction Office (Paris)
Trailer
Switzerland
"The Circle" (Der Kreis)
Dir: Stefan Haupt
Language: Swiss German/ German/ French
U.S Distribution: Wolfe Video
Isa: Wide House
Trailer
Taiwan
"Ice Poison" (冰毒)
Dir: Midi Z.
Language: Burmese/Chinese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Flash Forward Enterteinment
Trailer
Thailand
"The Teacher's Diary" (คิดถึงวิทยา)
Dir: Nithiwat Tharathorn
Language: Thai
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Gth
Trailer
Turkey
"Winter Sleep" (Kis uykusu)
Dir: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Language: Turkish/English
U.S Distribution: Adopt Films
Isa: Memento Films International
Trailer
Ukraine
"The Guide" (Поводир)
Dir: Oles Sanin
Language: Ukrainian/Russia/English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Pronto Film
Trailer
United Kingdom
"Little Happiness" (Uzun Yol)
Dir: Nihat Seven
Language: Turkish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: 7&7 Producers' Sales Services
Trailer
Uruguay
"Mr. Kaplan"
Dir: Álvaro Brechner
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Memento Films International
Trailer
Venezuela
"The Liberator" (Libertador)
Dir: Alberto Arvelo
Language: Spanish/English/ French
U.S Distribution: Cohen Media Group
Isa: Mundial
Trailer...
This year more than most, there are a great number of films with serious possibilities. There is no unshakable front-runner, but there are numerous favorites. Yet, looking at last year’s 9 shortlisted films and eventual 5 nominees, nothing is written in stone. Critics and audience favorites like “ The Past” (Iran), “Gloria” (Chile), “Heli” (Mexico), and “Wadjda” (Saudi Arabia) were left out to include surprises like “The Missing Picture“ (Cambodia), “An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker” (Bosnia & Herzegovina) or “The Notebook” (Hungary).
With Awards Season now in full swing and knowing that this is one of the most difficult races to follow, here is a comprehensive list that includes information for each of the 83 submissions. Below each poster you will find the title of the film linked to its page on IMDb Pro followed by the title in the original language; the director’s name also linked to his/her IMDb Page; the language the film is primarily in; the name of the U.S. distributor if there is one; the name of the film’s International Sales Agent (Isa) or Production Company (PC) linked to the film’s page on Cinando; and a link to the film’s trailer (most of them have English subtitles, others are only in the original language, and a few are videos related to the film because a trailer wasn't available). In addition, reviews and interviews with many of these filmmakers will be added regularly.
Before getting into the list, let’s take a look at some of the statistics and patterns among these 83 foreign language features.
Period Dramas/Biopics
Several countries selected films based on the lives of prominent local figures or great period pieces, both showcase the level of films being produced across the globe in terms of production value and scope. Mexico’s “Cantinflas,” Venezuela’s “The Liberator,” Kyrgyzstan “Kurmanjan Datka Queen of the Mountains,” Bolivia’s “Forgotten,” Indonesia’s “Soekarno,” Greece’s “Little England,” Macedonia’s “To the Hilt,” Hong Kong’s “The Golden Era,” Austria’s “The Dark Valley,” Switzerland’s “The Circle,” Bulgaria’s “Bulgarian Rhapsody,” Serbia’s “ See You in Montevideo,” Slovakia’s “A Step Into the Dark” and New Zealand’s “The Dead Lands” are some of the most expensive films ever made in their respective territories. All of them are epic productions that highlight an important historical period using impressive cinematography, a great number of extras, intricate costumes, lavish locations, detailed production design, as well as great battle sequences in several of them. Other more traditional biopics/period pieces on the list include France’s “Saint Laurent,” The Netherlands “ Accused,” Germany’s “Beloved Sisters,” Spain’s “Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed” and the Czech Republic’s “Fair Play”
Masters and Festival Winners
Not surprisingly many of the films on the list come into this race after winning important awards at international festivals. Furthermore, a handful of them are from master filmmakers, masters in the making, or unique new voices. These films include Belgium’s “Two Days, One Night” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff, Nyff, AFI Fest) by the Dardenne Brothers, Canada’s “Mommy” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff, AFI Fest) by prodigy Xavier Dolan, Chile’s “To Kill a Man” (Sundance, Rotterdam, Cartagena) by Alejandro Fernandez Almendras, Hungary's "White God" (Cannes) by Kornél Mundruczó, Norway’s “1001 Grams” (Tiff) by Bent Hamer, Poland’s “Ida”(Tiff, Sundance) by Pawel Pawlikowski, Russia’s “Leviathan” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff, AFI Fest) by Andrey Zvyagintsev, Sweden’s “Force Majeure” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff) by Ruben Östlund, and Turkey’s “ Winter Sleep” (Cannes, Telluride, Tiff) by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. All of these films have played at renowned international festivals and most have earned important recognition there.
Out of the Box
Whether they are aware of their actual possibilities at a nomination or not, each year a few countries take the risk of sending a film that defies convention despite having more safe choices. But that is not say they are entirely out of the race, films like “The Missing Picture” and “Dogtooth” prove that sometimes there is room for daring and unique filmmaking. With “Rocks in My Pockets” Latvia is the only country to submit an animated film this year. The film is an inventive and colorful look at depression. Then there is the almost-silent and highly poetic Ecuadorian entry “Silence in Dreamland” and Singapore’s musically driven drama “Sayang Disayang.” However, the boldest selection has to be the Philippines’ “Norte, the End of History” by acclaimed auteur Lav Diaz, which runs over four hours and is inspired by Dostoyevsky Crime and Punishment.
Documentaries
Only two countries chose to go with non-fiction entries. One of them is Panama’s “Invasion,” which deals with the aftermath of the U.S. intervention in that country in 1989. This is the Central American nation’s first ever Oscar submission. The other documentary contending is Portugal’s “ What Now? Remind Me,“ a self-portrait by filmmaker Joaquim Pinto exploring his struggles living with HIV. One should note that Portugal is one of the few countries in Western Europe to have never obtained a nomination in the category despite entering films consecutively for several decades.
Lgbt
Films with stories that highlight sexual diversity occasionally make their way into this list. Last year the only Lgbt title submitted was “ Soongava: Dance of the Orchids,” which surprisingly came from Nepal and dealt with the relationship between two young women in the traditional Asian society. This time around two countries selected films with similar themes. Brazil’s festival darling “ The Way He Looks” – a sweet coming-of-age tale- was an audacious choice among the many other films the South American country produces every year. Then there is Switzerland’s “The Circle” about a pioneering gay publication during the 1940s/1950s in Zurich and the real life relationship between two of its prominent members.
Surprising Choices
As it usually happens, some countries go against what the industry expects and decide to send films that weren’t on most people’s radars. Bulgaria for example selected “Bulgarian Rhapsody” by veteran director Ivan Nitchev over Sundance’s “Viktoria” by young female director Maya Vitkova. Similarly, Ukraine overlooked Cannes favorite “The Tribe”- a powerful drama entirely in sign language - and decided to go with “The Guide” by Oles Sanin. Nevertheless, the most shocking decision came from China. Instead of selecting a Chinese-directed film like Berlin’s Golden Bear winner “Black Coal, Thin Ice” or Zhang Yimou’s “Coming Home,” the Chinese selection committee chose “The Nightingale” by French director Philippe Muyl. Despite having a European helmer the film is authentically Chinese in terms of language and story, but it was still an unexpected move from the traditionally patriotic country.
First Timers
The unprecedented number of entries is in part due to the addition of countries submitting for the first time. Besides aforementioned Panama, there are three other debutant nations in the mix. Kosovo- a tiny Balkan state often associated with the rampart war that afflicted the region a few decades ago - is finally showcasing its film production. Their entry titled “Three Windows and a Hanging” is said to be a high quality, affecting drama. Malta - a European island nation near Italy - is often used as astonishing location for big budget studio films. This year, however, “ Simshar,” a great immigration drama will represent the country. Lastly, Mauritania – a prominently Muslim nation in Sub-Saharan Africa – selected Abderrahmane Sissako’s “Timbuktu,”which played in competition at Cannes,as their inaugural submission. Although Sissako has had several successful films at international festivals, this is the first time his country decides to participate.
Female Directors
Out of the 83 films, 14 were directed by women. That’s 17% of all entries. What’s more interesting is the fact that some of these films come from countries that are often seen as traditionally patriarchal societies. 3 Latin American entries were created by female directors: Colombia’s “Mateo,” Costa Rica’s “Red Princesses” and the Dominican Republic’s “Cristo Rey.” 4 from Asia: Hong Kong’s “ The Golden Era,” India’s “Liar’s Dice,” Japan’s “The Light Shines Only There,” and Pakistan’s “Dukhtar.” 2 from the Middle East: Israel’s “Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem” (Co-directed) and Palestine’s “Eyes of a Thief.” Lastly, 5 films from Europe: The Czech Republic’s “Fair Play,” Finland’s “Concrete Night,” Latvia’s “ Rocks in My Pockets,” Malta’s “Simshar” and the Netherlands’ “Accused.”
U.S. Distribution
Another interesting fact is the number of these films that already have U.S. distribution. Several of them have actually already opened theatrically here, and others are set to open early next year. Out 83 films, 24 already have U.S. distribution. That’s 29% of all films. Hopefully that number increases by the end of the season. The films are: Argentina’s “Wild Tales,” Austria’s “The Dark Valley,” Belgium’s “Two Days, One Night,” Brazil’s “The Way He Looks,” Canada’s “Mommy,” Chile’s “To Kill a Man,” France’s “Saint Laurent,” Germany’s “Beloved Sisters,” Hungary’s “White God,” Israel’s “ Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem,” Italy’s “Human Capital,” Latvia’s “Rocks in My Pockets,” Mauritania’s “Timbuktu,” Mexico’s “Cantinflas,” Norway’s “1001 Grams,” The Philippines “Norte, the End of History,” Poland’s “Ida,” Portugal's "What Now? Remind Me," Russia’s “Leviathan,” Spain’s “Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed,” Sweden’s “Force Majeure,” Switzerland’s “The Circle,” Turkey’s “Winter Sleep,” and Venezuela’s “ The Liberator.”
To see which distribution company has each of these films please refer to the list below.
Afghanistan
"A Few Cubic Meters of Love" (چند متر مکعب عشق)
Dir: Jamshid Mahmoudi
Language: Persian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Dreamlab Films
Trailer
Argentina
"Wild Tales" (Relatos Salvajes)
Dir: Damián Szifrón
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
Trailer
Austria
"The Dark Valley" (Das finstere Tal)
Dir: Andreas Prochaska
Language: German
U.S Distribution: Film Movement
Isa: Films Distribution
Trailer
Australia
"Charlie's Country"
Dir: Rolf de Heer
Language: Yolŋu Matha/English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Visit Films
Trailer
Azerbaijan
"Nabat"
Dir: Elcin Musaoglu
Language: Azerbaijani
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Dreamlab Films
Trailer
Bangladesh
"Glow of the Firefly" (Jonakir Alo)
Dir: Khalid Mahmood Mithu
Language: Bengali
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Impress Telefilm
Trailer
Belgium
"Two Days, One Night" (Deux jours, une nuit)
Dir: Jean-Pierre Dardenne & Luc Dardenne
Language: French/Arabic
U.S Distribution: Sundance Selects
Isa: Wild Bunch
Trailer
Bolivia
"Forgotten" (Olvidados)
Dir: Carlos Bolado
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Flor de Loto Pictures
Trailer
Bosnia & Herzegovina
"With Mom" (Sa mamom)
Dir: Faruk Loncarevic
Language: Bosnian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Scca/pro.ba
TraileR
Brazil
"The Way He Looks" (Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho)
Dir: Daniel Ribeiro
Language: Portuguese
U.S Distribution: Strand Releasing
Isa: Films Boutique Trailer
Bulgaria
"Bulgarian Rhapsody" (българска рапсодия)
Dir: Ivan Nitchev
Language: Bulgarian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Cinepaz Eood
Trailer
Canada
"Mommy"
Dir: Xavier Dolan
Language: French/English
U.S Distribution: Roadside Attractions
Isa: Seville International
Trailer
Chile
"To Kill a Man" (Matar a un Hombre)
Dir: Alejandro Fernández Almendras
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: Film Movement
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
Trailer
China
"The Nightingale" (夜莺/Le promeneur d'oiseau)
Dir: Philippe Muyl
Language: Mandarin
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Kinology
Trailer
Colombia
"Mateo"
Dir: Maria Gamboa ♀
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Alpha Violet
Trailer
Costa Rica
"Red Princesses" (Princesas Rojas)
Dir: Laura Astorga ♀
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Latido Films Trailer
Croatia
"Cowboys" (Kauboji)
Dir: Tomislav Mrsic
Language: Croatian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Wide
Trailer
Cuba
"Behavior" (Conducta)
Dir: Ernesto Daranas
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Latido Films
Trailer
Czech Republic
"Fair Play"
Dir: Andrea Sedlácková Andrea Sedlácková
Language: Czech
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: IntraMovies
Trailer
Denmark
"Sorrow and Joy" (Sorg og glæde)
Dir: Nils Malmros
Language: Danish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Nordisk Film Production
Trailer
Dominican Republic
"Cristo Rey"
Dir: Leticia Tonos ♀
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: The Little Film Company
Trailer
Ecuador
"Silence in Dreamland" (El Silencio en la Tierra de los Sueños)
Dir: Tito Molina
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: La Facultad
Trailer
Egypt
"Factory Girl" (فتاة المصنع )
Dir: Mohamed Khan
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: DayDream Art Production
Trailer
Estonia
"Tangerines" (Mandariinid)
Dir: Zaza Urushadze
Language: Estonian/Russian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Cinemavault
Trailer
Ethiopia
"Difret"
Dir: Zeresenay Mehari
Language: Amharic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Films Boutique Trailer
Finland
"Concrete Night" (Betoniyö)
Dir: Pirjo Honkasalo ♀
Language: Finnish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Film Republic Trailer
France
"Saint Laurent"
Dir: Bertrand Bonello
Language: French
U.S Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
Isa: Europacorp
Trailer
Georgia
"Corn Island" (სიმინდის კუნძული)
Dir: George Ovashvili
Language: Georgian/Abkhazian/Russian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Arizona Productions
Trailer
Germany
"Beloved Sisters" (Die geliebten Schwestern)
Dir: Dominik Graf
Language: German /French
U.S Distribution: Music Box Films
Isa: Global Screen
Trailer
Greece
"Little England" (Μικρά Αγγλία)
Dir: Pantelis Voulgaris
Language: Greek
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Black Orange
Trailer
Hong Kong
"The Golden Era" (黄金时代)
Dir: Ann Hui ♀
Language: Mandarin
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Edko Films
Trailer
Hungary
"White God" (Fehér isten)
Dir: Kornél Mundruczó
Language: Hungarian/English
U.S Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Isa: The Match Factory
Trailer
Iceland
"Life in a Fishbowl" (Vonarstræti)
Dir: Baldvin Zophoníasson
Language: None Yet
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Films Boutique Trailer
India
"Liar's Dice" (लायर्स डाइस)
Dir: Geethu Mohandas ♀
Language: Hindi
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Jar Pictures Trailer
Indonesia
"Soekarno"
Dir: Hanung Bramantyo
Language: Indonesian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Mvp Pictures
Trailer
Iran
"Today" (امروز )
Dir: Reza Mirkarimi
Language: Persian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Dreamlab Films
Trailer
Iraq
"Mardan"
Dir: Batin Ghobadi
Language: Kurdish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Versatile Trailer
Ireland
"The Gift" (An Bronntanas)
Dir: Tom Collins
Language: Irish/English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Rosg/De Facto Films
Trailer
Israel
"Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem" (Gett: Le Procès de Viviane Amsalem)
Dir: Ronit Elkabetz ♀ & Shlomi Elkabetz
Language: Hebrew/French/Arabic
U.S Distribution: Music Box Films
Isa: Films Distribution
Trailer
Italy
"Human Capital" (Il Capitale Umano)
Dir: Paolo Virzì
Language: Italian
U.S Distribution: Film Movement
PC: Indiana Production Company
Trailer
Japan
"The Light Shines Only There" (そこのみにて光輝く)
Dir: Mipo Oh ♀
Language: Japanese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Open Sesame
Trailer
Kosovo
"Three Windows and a Hanging" (Tri Dritare dhe një Varje)
Dir: Isa Qosja
Language: Albanian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: CMb Productions
Trailer
Kyrgyzstan
"Kurmanjan Datka Queen of the Mountains" (Курманжан Датка)
Dir: Sadyk Sher-Niyaz
Language: Kirghiz
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Aitysh Film
Trailer
Latvia
"Rocks in My Pockets" (Akmeņi manās kabatās)
Dir: Signe Baumane ♀
Language: Latvian
U.S Distribution: Zeitgeist Films
Isa: New Europe Film Sales
Trailer
Lebanon
"Ghadi" (غدي)
Dir: Amin Dora
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Fortissimo Films
Trailer
Lithuania
"The Gambler" (Lošėjas)
Dir: Ignas Jonynas
Language: Lithuanian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Wide
Trailer
Luxembourg
"Never Die Young"
Dir: Pol Cruchten
Language: French
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: EastWest Distribution
Trailer
MacEdonia
"To the Hilt" (До балчак)
Dir: Stole Popov
Language: Macedonian/French/English/ Turkish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Triangle Film- Skopje
Trailer
Malta
"Simshar"
Dir: Rebecca Cremona ♀
Language: Maltese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Kukumajsa Productions
Trailer
Mauritania
"Timbuktu"
Dir: Abderrahmane Sissako
Language: French/Arabic/Bambara/English/Songhay/Tamasheq
U.S Distribution: Cohen Media Group
Isa: Le Pacte
Trailer
Mexico
"Cantinflas"
Dir: Sebastian del Amo
Language: Spanish/English
U.S Distribution: Pantelion Films
Isa: 6 Sales
Trailer
Moldova
"The Unsaved" (La Limita de Jos a Cerului)
Dir: Igor Cobileanski
Language: Romanian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Insomnia World Sales Trailer
Montenegro
"The Boys from Marx and Engels Street" (Djecaci iz ulice Marksa i Engelsa)
Dir: Nikola Vukcevic
Language: Serbian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Artikulacija Production
Trailer
Morocco
"The Red Moon" (القمر الأحمر)
Dir: Hassan Benjelloun
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Bentaqerla
Trailer
Nepal
"Jhola" (झोला)
Dir: Yadav Kumar Bhattarai
Language: Nepali
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Media for Culture
Trailer
The Netherlands
"Accused" (Lucia de B.)
Dir: Paula van der Oest ♀
Language: Dutch
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Fortissimo Films
Trailer
New Zealand
"The Dead Lands"
Dir: Toa Fraser
Language: Maori
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Xyz Films
Trailer
Norway
"1001 Grams" (1001 Gram)
Dir: Bent Hamer
Language: Norwegian/French/ English
U.S Distribution: Kino Lorber
Isa: Les Films du Losange
Trailer
Pakistan
"Dukhtar" (دختر، بیٹی)
Dir: Afia Nathaniel ♀
Language: Urdu
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Zambeel Films
Trailer
Palestine
"Eyes of a Thief" (عيون الحراميه)
Dir: Najwa Najjar ♀
Language: Arabic
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Ustura Films Trailer
Panama
"Invasion" (Invasión)
Dir: Abner Benaim
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Apertura Films Trailer
Peru
"The Gospel of the Flesh" (El Evangelio de la Carne)
Dir: Eduardo Mendoza de Echave
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: La Soga Producciones
Trailer
The Philippines
"Norte, the End of History" (Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan)
Dir: Lav Diaz
Language: Tagalog/English
U.S Distribution: The Cinema Guild
Isa: M-Appeal World Sales
Trailer
Poland
"Ida"
Dir: Pawel Pawlikowski
Language: Polish
U.S Distribution: Music Box Films
Isa: Portobello Film Sales
Trailer
Portugal
"What Now? Remind Me" (E Agora? Lembra-me)
Dir: Joaquim Pinto
Language: Portuguese
U.S Distribution: The Cinema Guild
PC: C.R.I.M Productions
Trailer
Romania
"The Japanese Dog" (Câinele Japonez)
Dir: Tudor Cristian Jurgiu
Language: Romanian/Japanese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: M-Appeal World Sales
Trailer
Russia
"Leviathan" (Левиафан)
Dir: Andrey Zvyagintsev
Language: Russian
U.S Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
Isa: Pyramide International
Trailer
Serbia
"See You in Montevideo" (Montevideo, vidimo se!)
Dir: Dragan Bjelogrlic
Language: Serbian/Spanish/ English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Intermedia Network
Trailer
Singapore
"Sayang Disayang"
Dir: Sanif Olek
Language: Malay/Indonesian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: ReelJuice
Trailer
Slovakia
"A Step Into the Dark" (Krok do tmy)
Dir: Miloslav Luther
Language: Slovak
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Trigon Production Trailer
Slovenia
"Seduce Me" (Zapelji me)
Dir: Marko Santic
Language: Slovenian
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Radio-Television Slovenia
Trailer
South Africa
"Elelwani"
Dir: Ntshaveni Wa Luruli
Language: Venda
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: EastWest FilmDistribution
Trailer
South Korea
"Haemoo" (해무)
Dir: Sung Bo Shim
Language: Korean
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Finecut
Trailer
Spain
"Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed" (Vivir es fácil con los ojos cerrados)
Dir: David Trueba
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: Outsider Pictures
Isa: 6 Sales
Trailer
Sweden
"Force Majeure" (Turist)
Dir: Ruben Östlund
Language: Swedish/English
U.S Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Isa: Coproduction Office (Paris)
Trailer
Switzerland
"The Circle" (Der Kreis)
Dir: Stefan Haupt
Language: Swiss German/ German/ French
U.S Distribution: Wolfe Video
Isa: Wide House
Trailer
Taiwan
"Ice Poison" (冰毒)
Dir: Midi Z.
Language: Burmese/Chinese
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Flash Forward Enterteinment
Trailer
Thailand
"The Teacher's Diary" (คิดถึงวิทยา)
Dir: Nithiwat Tharathorn
Language: Thai
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Gth
Trailer
Turkey
"Winter Sleep" (Kis uykusu)
Dir: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Language: Turkish/English
U.S Distribution: Adopt Films
Isa: Memento Films International
Trailer
Ukraine
"The Guide" (Поводир)
Dir: Oles Sanin
Language: Ukrainian/Russia/English
U.S Distribution: None Yet
PC: Pronto Film
Trailer
United Kingdom
"Little Happiness" (Uzun Yol)
Dir: Nihat Seven
Language: Turkish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: 7&7 Producers' Sales Services
Trailer
Uruguay
"Mr. Kaplan"
Dir: Álvaro Brechner
Language: Spanish
U.S Distribution: None Yet
Isa: Memento Films International
Trailer
Venezuela
"The Liberator" (Libertador)
Dir: Alberto Arvelo
Language: Spanish/English/ French
U.S Distribution: Cohen Media Group
Isa: Mundial
Trailer...
- 11/11/2014
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
x
A record 83 countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 87th Academy Awards. Kosovo, Malta, Mauritania and Panama are first-time entrants.
The 2014 submissions are:
Afghanistan, “A Few Cubic Meters of Love,” Jamshid Mahmoudi, director;
Argentina, “Wild Tales,” Damián Szifrón, director;
Australia, “Charlie’s Country,” Rolf de Heer, director;
Austria, “The Dark Valley,” Andreas Prochaska, director;
Azerbaijan, “Nabat,” Elchin Musaoglu, director;
Bangladesh, “Glow of the Firefly,” Khalid Mahmood Mithu, director;
Belgium, “Two Days, One Night,” Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne, directors;
Bolivia, “Forgotten,” Carlos Bolado, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “With Mom,” Faruk Lončarevič, director;
Brazil, “The Way He Looks,” Daniel Ribeiro, director;
Bulgaria, “Bulgarian Rhapsody,” Ivan Nitchev, director;
Canada, “Mommy,” Xavier Dolan, director;
Chile, “To Kill a Man,” Alejandro Fernández Almendras, director;
China, “The Nightingale,” Philippe Muyl, director;
Colombia, “Mateo,” María Gamboa, director;
Costa Rica, “Red Princesses,” Laura Astorga Carrera, director;
Croatia, “Cowboys,” Tomislav Mršić,...
A record 83 countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 87th Academy Awards. Kosovo, Malta, Mauritania and Panama are first-time entrants.
The 2014 submissions are:
Afghanistan, “A Few Cubic Meters of Love,” Jamshid Mahmoudi, director;
Argentina, “Wild Tales,” Damián Szifrón, director;
Australia, “Charlie’s Country,” Rolf de Heer, director;
Austria, “The Dark Valley,” Andreas Prochaska, director;
Azerbaijan, “Nabat,” Elchin Musaoglu, director;
Bangladesh, “Glow of the Firefly,” Khalid Mahmood Mithu, director;
Belgium, “Two Days, One Night,” Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne, directors;
Bolivia, “Forgotten,” Carlos Bolado, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “With Mom,” Faruk Lončarevič, director;
Brazil, “The Way He Looks,” Daniel Ribeiro, director;
Bulgaria, “Bulgarian Rhapsody,” Ivan Nitchev, director;
Canada, “Mommy,” Xavier Dolan, director;
Chile, “To Kill a Man,” Alejandro Fernández Almendras, director;
China, “The Nightingale,” Philippe Muyl, director;
Colombia, “Mateo,” María Gamboa, director;
Costa Rica, “Red Princesses,” Laura Astorga Carrera, director;
Croatia, “Cowboys,” Tomislav Mršić,...
- 10/10/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Thursday the final submissions for the Foreign Language Film category for the 87th annual Academy Awards. A record 83 countries have entered a film for consideration, including Kosovo, Malta, Mauritania, and Panama for the first time. Notable selections include Xavier Dolan's Canadian drama Mommy, a favorite at this year's Cannes, Sweden's Force Majeure, and the Russian retelling of the Book of Job, Leviathan, winner of the Best Screenplay award at Cannes. Nominations will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 15, ahead of the live telecast on ABC Sunday, Feb. 22, from Hollywood. Last...
- 10/9/2014
- by Jake Perlman
- EW - Inside Movies
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released the list of submissions for the 2015 Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award. According to the Academy's press release, a record 83 countries have submitted films for consideration, including first-timers Kosovo, Malta, Mauritania, and Panama. Now, if only all those movies were made available for online viewing — or at least on DVD (outside of their respective countries). The 2015 Oscar nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 15, at 5:30 a.m. Pt in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. The 2015 Oscar ceremony will be held on Sunday, February 22, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood. In the United States, the Oscarcast will be televised live by ABC; additionally, the Oscars will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide. See below the full list of 2015 Best Foreign Language Film Oscar submissions. Afghanistan, A Few Cubic Meters of Love,...
- 10/9/2014
- by Steve Montgomery
- Alt Film Guide
The Academy has received a record 83 submissions for the Best Foreign-Language Film Oscar.
Last year, a record 76 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Italian entry The Great Beauty, directed by Paolo Sorrentino.
Nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 15, 2015.
The awards ceremony will be held on Feb 22, 2015 in the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood.
The 2014 submissions are (in alphabetical order of country):
Afghanistan, A Few Cubic Meters Of Love, Jamshid Mahmoudi
Argentina, Wild Tales, Damián Szifrón
Australia, Charlie’s Country, Rolf de Heer
Austria, The Dark Valley, Andreas Prochaska
Azerbaijan, Nabat, Elchin Musaoglu
Bangladesh, Glow Of The Firefly, Khalid Mahmood Mithu
Belgium, Two Days, One Night, Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne
Bolivia, Forgotten, Carlos Bolado
Bosnia and Herzegovina, With Mom, Faruk Lončarevič
Brazil, The Way He Looks, Daniel Ribeiro
Bulgaria, Bulgarian Rhapsody, Ivan Nitchev
Canada, Mommy, Xavier Dolan
Chile, To Kill A...
Last year, a record 76 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Italian entry The Great Beauty, directed by Paolo Sorrentino.
Nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 15, 2015.
The awards ceremony will be held on Feb 22, 2015 in the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood.
The 2014 submissions are (in alphabetical order of country):
Afghanistan, A Few Cubic Meters Of Love, Jamshid Mahmoudi
Argentina, Wild Tales, Damián Szifrón
Australia, Charlie’s Country, Rolf de Heer
Austria, The Dark Valley, Andreas Prochaska
Azerbaijan, Nabat, Elchin Musaoglu
Bangladesh, Glow Of The Firefly, Khalid Mahmood Mithu
Belgium, Two Days, One Night, Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne
Bolivia, Forgotten, Carlos Bolado
Bosnia and Herzegovina, With Mom, Faruk Lončarevič
Brazil, The Way He Looks, Daniel Ribeiro
Bulgaria, Bulgarian Rhapsody, Ivan Nitchev
Canada, Mommy, Xavier Dolan
Chile, To Kill A...
- 10/9/2014
- ScreenDaily
Actress Saoirse Ronan and director Jim Sheridan among selection committee to submit thriller based around a lifeboat crew.
The Irish Film & Television Academy (Ifta) has submitted An Bronntanas as Ireland’s submission for the Foreign Language category at the 87th Academy Awards.
Directed by Tom Collins, and produced by Ciarán Ó Cofaigh of Rosg and Tom Collins, An Bronntanas stars Dara Devaney, John Finn , Owen McDonnell, Michelle Beamish, Pól Ó Gríofa, Charlotte Bradley and Januscz Sheagall. The script was written by Joe O’Byrne, Paul Walker, Eoin McNamee and Tom Collins.
The film was primarily shot in Irish in Connemara, County Galway by cinematographer Cian de Buitléar. The film premiered as the closing film of the Galway Film Fleadh earlier this year.
An Bronntanas (The Gift) is a contemporary thriller set against the backdrop of a local independent lifeboat crew working off the coast of Connemara, on the west of Ireland. The rescue...
The Irish Film & Television Academy (Ifta) has submitted An Bronntanas as Ireland’s submission for the Foreign Language category at the 87th Academy Awards.
Directed by Tom Collins, and produced by Ciarán Ó Cofaigh of Rosg and Tom Collins, An Bronntanas stars Dara Devaney, John Finn , Owen McDonnell, Michelle Beamish, Pól Ó Gríofa, Charlotte Bradley and Januscz Sheagall. The script was written by Joe O’Byrne, Paul Walker, Eoin McNamee and Tom Collins.
The film was primarily shot in Irish in Connemara, County Galway by cinematographer Cian de Buitléar. The film premiered as the closing film of the Galway Film Fleadh earlier this year.
An Bronntanas (The Gift) is a contemporary thriller set against the backdrop of a local independent lifeboat crew working off the coast of Connemara, on the west of Ireland. The rescue...
- 10/9/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
We’re playing catch-up here on Nerdly – after a busy 2 weeks prepping for and then attending this years Frightfest there’s a number of weekly-release reviews to bring you up to speed on. So here they are, reviews of The Cabin, Blood Orgy of the She Devils and The Longest Week.
The Cabin
Another one of those straight to DVD films that make up 99% of the horror films on sale at supermarkets, with the same generic cover art and shiny slipcase, The Cabin is destined to get mixed up with all the other cabin/lodge/house movies on the market when, in fact, it doesn’t deserve to – this film has little to do with the titular abode and more to do with the main characters bloodline (the original title of the movie) and his relationship with his faith.
The film tells the story of seminary student Brett Ethos (Matt Thompson...
The Cabin
Another one of those straight to DVD films that make up 99% of the horror films on sale at supermarkets, with the same generic cover art and shiny slipcase, The Cabin is destined to get mixed up with all the other cabin/lodge/house movies on the market when, in fact, it doesn’t deserve to – this film has little to do with the titular abode and more to do with the main characters bloodline (the original title of the movie) and his relationship with his faith.
The film tells the story of seminary student Brett Ethos (Matt Thompson...
- 8/26/2014
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Vidur Nauriyal answers questions about The Boyfriend
Vidur Nauriyal
What is your project about? What language will the film be in?
The Boyfriend follows two social outcasts who, trapped in a storm of violence, embark on a forbidden love affair. It is a sweeping romance, an explosive mix of caste and class. As things quickly turn morally hazy, each of them is forced make a series of decisions that haunts their lives forever. In our country, the price of love is very real, and I think the film really is about that.
For me, The Boyfriend is less about contemporary sexuality and politics in India than it is a fragile, poetic depiction of love in a dangerous world of intolerance.
The film will be in Hindi and English, with some parts in Marathi.
At what stage of development is it?
Script development.
Ashim Ahluwalia
Who will direct the film? Is...
Vidur Nauriyal
What is your project about? What language will the film be in?
The Boyfriend follows two social outcasts who, trapped in a storm of violence, embark on a forbidden love affair. It is a sweeping romance, an explosive mix of caste and class. As things quickly turn morally hazy, each of them is forced make a series of decisions that haunts their lives forever. In our country, the price of love is very real, and I think the film really is about that.
For me, The Boyfriend is less about contemporary sexuality and politics in India than it is a fragile, poetic depiction of love in a dangerous world of intolerance.
The film will be in Hindi and English, with some parts in Marathi.
At what stage of development is it?
Script development.
Ashim Ahluwalia
Who will direct the film? Is...
- 8/22/2014
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Tom Collins (Graeme McGeagh) wants to die, but he has as yet been unable to make it happen. After trying to drown himself in the sea, Collins is charged with breach of the peace, sentenced to community service and referred to a psychologist. While waiting to see Dr Watson (Patrick O’Brien), he meets a young woman named Eve (Annabel Logan), who offers to help him do the deed. Before they can plan a suitably spectacular suicide, however, Collins must help Mr. Neilsen (Ray Crofter) clear out his garage.
Perhaps it isn’t acknowledged often enough: making a movie is hard. It takes a lot of time, money and energy to put a story on the big screen, and even with all the resources in the world there is no guarantee that the results are going to have been worth the effort. Of course, there are films out there that have succeeded despite limited resources.
Perhaps it isn’t acknowledged often enough: making a movie is hard. It takes a lot of time, money and energy to put a story on the big screen, and even with all the resources in the world there is no guarantee that the results are going to have been worth the effort. Of course, there are films out there that have succeeded despite limited resources.
- 6/30/2014
- by Steven Neish
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Irish film festival will feature a spotlight on new Canadian cinema and an interview with actress Brenda Fricker.
The Galway Film Fleadh (July 8-13) has unveiled its full programme for its 2014 edition.
The festival will host premieres including Get Up and Go, a comedy-drama set over 24 hours in bohemian Dublin; Niall Heery’s family comedy Gold starringDavid Wilmot, James Nesbitt and Game of Thrones’ Maisie Wiiliams; Jake Paltrow’s sci-fi drama Young Ones, an Irish/Us co-pro starring Michael Shannon, Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult; and documentary I Used to Live Here, about the phenomenon of cluster suicides.
Other documentaries in the line-up include Brave Miss World, the story of former Miss World and rape survivor Linor Abargil; and New Boobs, about preventative mastectomy.
A spotlight on new Canadian cinema will feature screenings of titles such as Watermark, Our Man in Tehran and Lunarcy! in addition to showcasing award-winning films such as The Auction, Maïna, [link...
The Galway Film Fleadh (July 8-13) has unveiled its full programme for its 2014 edition.
The festival will host premieres including Get Up and Go, a comedy-drama set over 24 hours in bohemian Dublin; Niall Heery’s family comedy Gold starringDavid Wilmot, James Nesbitt and Game of Thrones’ Maisie Wiiliams; Jake Paltrow’s sci-fi drama Young Ones, an Irish/Us co-pro starring Michael Shannon, Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult; and documentary I Used to Live Here, about the phenomenon of cluster suicides.
Other documentaries in the line-up include Brave Miss World, the story of former Miss World and rape survivor Linor Abargil; and New Boobs, about preventative mastectomy.
A spotlight on new Canadian cinema will feature screenings of titles such as Watermark, Our Man in Tehran and Lunarcy! in addition to showcasing award-winning films such as The Auction, Maïna, [link...
- 6/25/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
The Galway Film Fleadh, Ireland's leading film festival, today announced its opening and closing films: Taking place from Tuesday, July 8th to Sunday, July 13th, the festival will open with musical romantic-comedy "Begin Again," and finish up with celtic noir thriller "An Bronntanas." "Begin Again," featuring music from New Radicals' Gregg Alexander, stars Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Hailee Steinfield, Adam Levine and James Corden. Directed by John Carney ("Once", "Zonad"), it premiered at the 2013 Toronto Film Festival and, according to a statement, "is devoted to the beauty of music and power of chance encounter." Eric Kohn gave the film a B grade in his review, writing that it was "a fairly mannered treatment of an expressive medium.""An Bronntanas," directed by Tom Collins, revolves around a rescue crew who receives a distress call on a stormy night, and discovers a fishing boat with some very interesting cargo. For...
- 6/11/2014
- by Oliver MacMahon
- Indiewire
World premiere of Tom Collins’ An Bronntanas to close this year’s festival, which runs July 8-13.
Begin Again will open the 2014 Galway Film Fleadh.
John Carney’s musical rom-com stars Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo and Hailee Steinfield, and features music from Glen Hansard.
It premiered at last year’s Toronto under its original title of Can A Song Save Your Life?.
This year’s festival will close with the world premiere of Tom Collins’ An Bronntanas (The Gift).
The contemporary thriller stars John Finn, Owen McDonnell and Michelle Beamish, and centres on an independent lifeboat crew who discover a fishing boat with unexpected cargo.
For more information on this year’s festival, visit its official website.
Begin Again will open the 2014 Galway Film Fleadh.
John Carney’s musical rom-com stars Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo and Hailee Steinfield, and features music from Glen Hansard.
It premiered at last year’s Toronto under its original title of Can A Song Save Your Life?.
This year’s festival will close with the world premiere of Tom Collins’ An Bronntanas (The Gift).
The contemporary thriller stars John Finn, Owen McDonnell and Michelle Beamish, and centres on an independent lifeboat crew who discover a fishing boat with unexpected cargo.
For more information on this year’s festival, visit its official website.
- 6/10/2014
- by ian.sandwell@screendaily.com (Ian Sandwell)
- ScreenDaily
Happy Birthday, Jesse L. Martin Martin is best known for originating the role of Tom Collins in the Broadway theatrical production of Rent, and for his portrayal of NYPD Detective Ed Green on the NBC drama television series Law amp Order. He made his Broadway debut in Timon of Athens, and then performed in The Government Inspector with Lainie Kazan. In 2010, Martin returned to the stage for one of his biggest theater commitments since Law amp Order performing in the productions of The Merchant of Venice and The Winter's Tale as a part of The Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. He played the roles of Gratiano and King Polixenes, respectively. The Merchant of Venice later transferred to Broadway to the Broadhurst Theater for a limited engagement, during which time Martin reprised his role as Gratiano.
- 1/18/2014
- by Stage Tube
- BroadwayWorld.com
Mad Men, Season 6, Episode 12: “The Quality of Mercy”
Written by Andre Jacquemetton & Maria Jacquemetton
Directed by Phil Abraham
Airs Sundays at 10pm Et on AMC
“You’re a monster,” is the key line of tonight’s episode. It’s almost comically literal when you think about it alongside the exchange between Duck and Pete. Duck claims he’s never seen anything like Bob Benson before, and Pete chillingly intones “I have.” You can almost hear the theme from Phantom of the Opera in the background as it cuts to Don. Variations on this theme have been strung throughout the season. Think back on the moment Peggy walked into Ted’s office only to find Don there. He was reintroduced to us in the premiere reading Dante’s Inferno, suggesting a descent into hell, but now it seems as if he would feel at home there, a monster among monsters.
Written by Andre Jacquemetton & Maria Jacquemetton
Directed by Phil Abraham
Airs Sundays at 10pm Et on AMC
“You’re a monster,” is the key line of tonight’s episode. It’s almost comically literal when you think about it alongside the exchange between Duck and Pete. Duck claims he’s never seen anything like Bob Benson before, and Pete chillingly intones “I have.” You can almost hear the theme from Phantom of the Opera in the background as it cuts to Don. Variations on this theme have been strung throughout the season. Think back on the moment Peggy walked into Ted’s office only to find Don there. He was reintroduced to us in the premiere reading Dante’s Inferno, suggesting a descent into hell, but now it seems as if he would feel at home there, a monster among monsters.
- 6/17/2013
- by Justin Wier
- SoundOnSight
Lenny Kravitz has dropped out of the upcoming Marvin Gaye biopic from Julien Temple.
Law & Order actor Jesse L Martin has now signed up to portray the soul icon in Sexual Healing, reports Deadline.
It has not been confirmed why Kravitz exited the production, which will begin shooting in Europe later this month.
Martin is best known for originating the role of Tom Collins in the Broadway production of Rent, as well as playing Detective Edward Green for nearly 200 episodes of Law & Order.
He most recently signed up for a six-episode arc in NBC musical drama Smash.
The singer and actor was once attached to star as Gaye in the James Gandolfini-produced version of Sexual Healing five years ago.
Sexual Healing centres around Gaye's time in Europe in the early 1980s, while trying to resurrect his career and kick his addictions.
Brendan Gleeson has signed up to play British music promoter Freddy Cousaert.
Law & Order actor Jesse L Martin has now signed up to portray the soul icon in Sexual Healing, reports Deadline.
It has not been confirmed why Kravitz exited the production, which will begin shooting in Europe later this month.
Martin is best known for originating the role of Tom Collins in the Broadway production of Rent, as well as playing Detective Edward Green for nearly 200 episodes of Law & Order.
He most recently signed up for a six-episode arc in NBC musical drama Smash.
The singer and actor was once attached to star as Gaye in the James Gandolfini-produced version of Sexual Healing five years ago.
Sexual Healing centres around Gaye's time in Europe in the early 1980s, while trying to resurrect his career and kick his addictions.
Brendan Gleeson has signed up to play British music promoter Freddy Cousaert.
- 3/5/2013
- Digital Spy
Alcohol giant Diageo has launched its first cross category Australian campaign, promoting five of its alcohol brands with the same creative and messaging.
The cross-category campaign uses the overarching tag line “Summer Drinks Are Calling” to promote mixed drinks to consumers.
The move is the first time Diageo has promoted a number of brands under one campaign, and is the first work by The Station Agency since being appointed to the account in June.
Diageo Australia marketing director Matt Bruhn told Mumbrella: “It is a deliberate shift in strategy to the mixed drink space – no one in the alcohol space is really doing this so we feel there’s a gap in the market.”
“Google Analytics tell us that hundreds and thousands of people are searching for how to make Singapore Slings, Old Fashioned, Tom Collins and so on. There’s a renaissance in cocktail drinking and we’ve responded to that.
The cross-category campaign uses the overarching tag line “Summer Drinks Are Calling” to promote mixed drinks to consumers.
The move is the first time Diageo has promoted a number of brands under one campaign, and is the first work by The Station Agency since being appointed to the account in June.
Diageo Australia marketing director Matt Bruhn told Mumbrella: “It is a deliberate shift in strategy to the mixed drink space – no one in the alcohol space is really doing this so we feel there’s a gap in the market.”
“Google Analytics tell us that hundreds and thousands of people are searching for how to make Singapore Slings, Old Fashioned, Tom Collins and so on. There’s a renaissance in cocktail drinking and we’ve responded to that.
- 12/6/2012
- by Cathie McGinn
- Encore Magazine
Pictures of Britain's Prince Harry naked in Las Vegas gave the city £14 million worth of free publicity. The 28-year-old royal caused controversy when nude photographs of him playing strip billiards with a bevy of beauties were published online in August, and according a new report issued by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (Lvcva), the incident has given the city a major tourism boost as the images were seen by an estimated 154 million people. According to Us gossip website TMZ, Lvcva Board Chairman Tom Collins told a recent board meeting: 'God bless Prince Harry. He made us a bunch of money.' The agency is reportedly unsure of exactly how much the scandal boosted profits but officials say...
- 10/11/2012
- Monsters and Critics
Pictures of Prince Harry's naked scandal were seen by 154 million people and gave Las Vegas £14 million ($23 million) worth of free publicity. The 28-year-old royal caused controversy when nude photographs of him playing strip billiards with a bevy of beauties were published online in August, but according a new report issued by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (Lvcva) the incident has given the city a major tourism boost as the images were seen by an estimated 154 million people. Lvcva Board Chairman Tom Collins told a recent board meeting: 'God bless Prince Harry. He made us a bunch of money', according to Us gossip website TMZ. The agency is reportedly unsure of exactly how much the...
- 10/11/2012
- Monsters and Critics
Prince Harry's penis is being hailed as a Hero by Vegas officials ... 'cause experts say the free worldwide publicity Sin City enjoyed from the naked billiards scandal is worth roughly $23 Million. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority issued a report, in which it says the pictures of Harry romping around his hotel room with a hot naked lady has reached an estimated 154 Million People worldwide since TMZ broke the story back in August.
- 10/11/2012
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.