We all know the Catholic church has kept its share of hideous secrets. As “Spotlight” and other cases showed, priests have used their authority to sexually abuse underage girls and boys under the protection of the Church, which used its power to squash the press.
And yet, Netflix’s “The Keepers” is shocking. Ryan White’s docuseries blows the lid off a Catholic scandal from the ’60s, one that is still playing out. This true cold-case crime story has not been solved — and is still unfolding with new developments.
Sister Cathy Cesnik was 26 and a beloved teacher at Baltimore’s Archbishop Keough High School when she was murdered in 1969. Fifty years later, documentarian White, journalists, and former students delve into the mystery and the role the school’s chaplain, the late Father Maskell, may have played in it. Decades after they left the school, women in their 60s tell White...
And yet, Netflix’s “The Keepers” is shocking. Ryan White’s docuseries blows the lid off a Catholic scandal from the ’60s, one that is still playing out. This true cold-case crime story has not been solved — and is still unfolding with new developments.
Sister Cathy Cesnik was 26 and a beloved teacher at Baltimore’s Archbishop Keough High School when she was murdered in 1969. Fifty years later, documentarian White, journalists, and former students delve into the mystery and the role the school’s chaplain, the late Father Maskell, may have played in it. Decades after they left the school, women in their 60s tell White...
- 6/26/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
We all know the Catholic church has kept its share of hideous secrets. As “Spotlight” and other cases showed, priests have used their authority to sexually abuse underage girls and boys under the protection of the Church, which used its power to squash the press.
And yet, Netflix’s “The Keepers” is shocking. Ryan White’s docuseries blows the lid off a Catholic scandal from the ’60s, one that is still playing out. This true cold-case crime story has not been solved — and is still unfolding with new developments.
Sister Cathy Cesnik was 26 and a beloved teacher at Baltimore’s Archbishop Keough High School when she was murdered in 1969. Fifty years later, documentarian White, journalists, and former students delve into the mystery and the role the school’s chaplain, the late Father Maskell, may have played in it. Decades after they left the school, women in their 60s tell White...
And yet, Netflix’s “The Keepers” is shocking. Ryan White’s docuseries blows the lid off a Catholic scandal from the ’60s, one that is still playing out. This true cold-case crime story has not been solved — and is still unfolding with new developments.
Sister Cathy Cesnik was 26 and a beloved teacher at Baltimore’s Archbishop Keough High School when she was murdered in 1969. Fifty years later, documentarian White, journalists, and former students delve into the mystery and the role the school’s chaplain, the late Father Maskell, may have played in it. Decades after they left the school, women in their 60s tell White...
- 6/26/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
This episode takes a look at Criterion from the artistic lens, as we talk film with illustrators Caitlin Kuhwald and Michele Rosenthal. Caitlin has designed covers for Amarcord, The Organizer, To Be or Not to Be, Here Comes Mr. Jordan, and many more. Michele has designed images inspired by her “Affection” of Criterion. We talk about the July announcements, Twin Peaks, Buena Vista Social Club, Trips to Italy, and all sorts of other topics.
Episode Notes
8:00 – July Announcements
32:00 – Newsletter Clue – Fire Walk With Me
38:30 – Buena Vista Social Club
42:30 – Jonathan Demme Rip
46:00 – Short Takes (Diabolique, A Taste of Honey, Woman of the Year)
54:00 – FilmStruck
Episode Links Criterion Now Facebook Group Criterion Close-Up 24 – With Caitlin Kuhwald Criterion Close-Up 34 – With Michele Rosenthal The Mean Magenta Will Eisner Sam Spratt (artist of The Lure poster) Episode Credits Aaron West: Twitter | Website | Letterboxd Caitlin Kuhwald: Website | Twitter | Instagram Michele...
Episode Notes
8:00 – July Announcements
32:00 – Newsletter Clue – Fire Walk With Me
38:30 – Buena Vista Social Club
42:30 – Jonathan Demme Rip
46:00 – Short Takes (Diabolique, A Taste of Honey, Woman of the Year)
54:00 – FilmStruck
Episode Links Criterion Now Facebook Group Criterion Close-Up 24 – With Caitlin Kuhwald Criterion Close-Up 34 – With Michele Rosenthal The Mean Magenta Will Eisner Sam Spratt (artist of The Lure poster) Episode Credits Aaron West: Twitter | Website | Letterboxd Caitlin Kuhwald: Website | Twitter | Instagram Michele...
- 5/1/2017
- by Aaron West
- CriterionCast
Months after being pulled from the Sundance Film Festival, Lucy Walker’s Buena Vista Social Club documentary has both a title and a release date. “Buena Vista Social Club: Adios” is due in theaters on May 26 via Broad Green Pictures, the distributor confirmed.
Uncertainty and controversy have surrounded the film since the unexpected cancelation of its Park City premiere.
Read More: Broad Green Pictures Is Missing Release Dates and Angering Filmmakers. Here’s Why.
“We at Broad Green are disappointed that we will not be able to premiere this compelling documentary at this year’s Sundance Film Festival,” the company wrote in a statement at the time. “The film’s post production process has taken longer than expected and thus the decision was made to wait to introduce the film to audiences until it can be presented in its best possible iteration.”
IndieWire’s Anne Thompson and Graham Winfrey...
Uncertainty and controversy have surrounded the film since the unexpected cancelation of its Park City premiere.
Read More: Broad Green Pictures Is Missing Release Dates and Angering Filmmakers. Here’s Why.
“We at Broad Green are disappointed that we will not be able to premiere this compelling documentary at this year’s Sundance Film Festival,” the company wrote in a statement at the time. “The film’s post production process has taken longer than expected and thus the decision was made to wait to introduce the film to audiences until it can be presented in its best possible iteration.”
IndieWire’s Anne Thompson and Graham Winfrey...
- 4/22/2017
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we’ve taken it upon ourselves to highlight the titles that have recently hit platforms. Every week, one will be able to see the cream of the crop (or perhaps some simply interesting picks) of streaming titles (new and old) across platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and more (note: U.S. only). Check out our rundown for this week’s selections below.
Antichrist (Lars von Trier)
Like the majority of Lars von Trier films, from the first moments of Antichrist, one will be able to discern if it’s an experience they want to proceed with. For those will to endure its specific unpleasantness, there’s a poetic, affecting exploration of despair at its center. Chaos reigns, indeed. – Jordan R.
Where to Stream: FilmStruck
Donnie Darko (Richard Kelly)
Last year marked...
Antichrist (Lars von Trier)
Like the majority of Lars von Trier films, from the first moments of Antichrist, one will be able to discern if it’s an experience they want to proceed with. For those will to endure its specific unpleasantness, there’s a poetic, affecting exploration of despair at its center. Chaos reigns, indeed. – Jordan R.
Where to Stream: FilmStruck
Donnie Darko (Richard Kelly)
Last year marked...
- 4/21/2017
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
The name Buena Vista Social Club is a recycled moniker, one which has acquired several layers of cultural resonance since it became absorbed into a grand cultural zeitgeist in the late 1990s.
Continue reading...
Continue reading...
- 4/18/2017
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
This Week in Home VideoPlus 9 more new releases to watch at home this week on Blu-ray/DVD.
Welcome to this week in home video! Click the title to buy a Blu-ray/DVD from Amazon and help support Fsr in the process!
Pick of the WeekApocalypse Child
What is it? A young man in the Filipino town of Baler suspects he may have been fathered by a certain American director who filmed a Vietnam war epic in town several years prior.
Why buy it? The identity of finding the truth about his father is a catalyst of sorts here, but it’s far from the focus of Mario Cornejo and co-writer Monster Jimenez’s beautiful, raw, and affecting film. Instead it’s the idea of escaping one’s past through self-deception and distraction that pervades the screen alongside gorgeous visuals and performances. You can’t look away no matter how much you may want to. There...
Welcome to this week in home video! Click the title to buy a Blu-ray/DVD from Amazon and help support Fsr in the process!
Pick of the WeekApocalypse Child
What is it? A young man in the Filipino town of Baler suspects he may have been fathered by a certain American director who filmed a Vietnam war epic in town several years prior.
Why buy it? The identity of finding the truth about his father is a catalyst of sorts here, but it’s far from the focus of Mario Cornejo and co-writer Monster Jimenez’s beautiful, raw, and affecting film. Instead it’s the idea of escaping one’s past through self-deception and distraction that pervades the screen alongside gorgeous visuals and performances. You can’t look away no matter how much you may want to. There...
- 4/18/2017
- by Rob Hunter
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Every week we dive into the cream of the crop when it comes to home releases, including Blu-ray and DVDs, as well as recommended deals of the week. Check out our rundown below and return every Tuesday for the best (or most interesting) films one can take home. Note that if you’re looking to support the site, every purchase you make through the links below helps us and is greatly appreciated.
Donnie Darko (Richard Kelly)
Last year marked the 15-year anniversary of Richard Kelly’s debut cult curio, Donnie Darko. While the film’s cult-status has elevated it into its own separate canon alongside other 21st-century indie-cult hits, Kelly’s two other films — the positively delirious and daring Southland Tales and the labyrinthine sci-fi period piece The Box — prove that he is a director deserving of much greater consideration. Sadly it’s been about eight years since a new...
Donnie Darko (Richard Kelly)
Last year marked the 15-year anniversary of Richard Kelly’s debut cult curio, Donnie Darko. While the film’s cult-status has elevated it into its own separate canon alongside other 21st-century indie-cult hits, Kelly’s two other films — the positively delirious and daring Southland Tales and the labyrinthine sci-fi period piece The Box — prove that he is a director deserving of much greater consideration. Sadly it’s been about eight years since a new...
- 4/18/2017
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
Aaron welcomes Keith Enright, The Completionist, to discuss the latest and greatest in the Criterion world. We discuss the April 2017 releases, Something Wild, Fox and His Friends, and the latest content from FilmStruck.
Episode Links & Notes
4:25 – In Memoriam: John Hurt, Emmanuelle Riva, Mary Tyler Moore
13:30 – April 2017 Criterion Releases
31:00 – Something Wild
36:50 – Fox and His Friends
42:10 – Cameraperson Preview
44:30 – Short Takes (High Noon, Gimme Shelter)
56:00 – FilmStruck
1:12:00 – Barry Jenkins in the Criterion Closet
1:15:00 – 2016 Best of the Year
Criterion – The Young Girls of Rochefort Criterion – The Umbrellas of Cherbourg Criterion – Woman of the Year Criterion – Buena Vista Social Club Criterion – Rumble Fish Criterion – Tampopo Joshua Reviews Something Wild https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/4396-fox-and-his-friends-social-animals Trevor Reviews Fox and His Friends On the Channel – Adventures in Moviegoing with Roger Corman Barry Jenkins Visits the Criterion Closet Criterion Forum – Best of 2016 Thread Janus Films — Taipei...
Episode Links & Notes
4:25 – In Memoriam: John Hurt, Emmanuelle Riva, Mary Tyler Moore
13:30 – April 2017 Criterion Releases
31:00 – Something Wild
36:50 – Fox and His Friends
42:10 – Cameraperson Preview
44:30 – Short Takes (High Noon, Gimme Shelter)
56:00 – FilmStruck
1:12:00 – Barry Jenkins in the Criterion Closet
1:15:00 – 2016 Best of the Year
Criterion – The Young Girls of Rochefort Criterion – The Umbrellas of Cherbourg Criterion – Woman of the Year Criterion – Buena Vista Social Club Criterion – Rumble Fish Criterion – Tampopo Joshua Reviews Something Wild https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/4396-fox-and-his-friends-social-animals Trevor Reviews Fox and His Friends On the Channel – Adventures in Moviegoing with Roger Corman Barry Jenkins Visits the Criterion Closet Criterion Forum – Best of 2016 Thread Janus Films — Taipei...
- 1/30/2017
- by Aaron West
- CriterionCast
The World Dramatic section at the Sundance Film Festival features films from around the globe by filmmakers with fresh, dynamic perspectives, such as the new Georgian film “My Happy Family.” The film follows Manana (Ia Shugliashvili) who announces to her family and family on the eve of her 52nd birthday that she plans to leave home. A wife of 25 years to a good husband, Manana has lived under one roof and co-existed with three generations of family, but suddenly she decides to break from tradition and live on her own in a new apartment. Watch an exclusive clip from the film below.
Read More: Lucy Walker’s Buena Vista Social Club Documentary Pulled From Sundance
The film was directed by Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Gross. They previously directed the film “In Bloom,” about two friends living in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi in 1992 who wand to escape society and their families,...
Read More: Lucy Walker’s Buena Vista Social Club Documentary Pulled From Sundance
The film was directed by Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Gross. They previously directed the film “In Bloom,” about two friends living in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi in 1992 who wand to escape society and their families,...
- 1/20/2017
- by Vikram Murthi
- Indiewire
The new documentary “It’s Not Yet Dark” follows the story of Simon Fitzmaurice, a young Irish filmmaker who went on to direct an award-winning feature film despite a diagnosis of Motor Neuron Disease (Mns). Narrated by Colin Farrell and featuring music from James Vincent McMorrow, the film follows Simon from the 2008 Sundance Film Festival where he premiered his short film “The Sound of People” to his diagnosis and fight against the disease. He wrote a feature film script entitled “My Name is Emily” despite being completely paralyzed and only using eye gaze computer software. Five years later, he wrote a memoir and directed “My Name is Emily,” which will be released in the United States this February. Watch an exclusive trailer for the film below.
Read More: 10 Surprises and Hidden Gems from the 2017 Sundance Lineup
“I’m so excited for Simon and Ruth, who have shared their lives and...
Read More: 10 Surprises and Hidden Gems from the 2017 Sundance Lineup
“I’m so excited for Simon and Ruth, who have shared their lives and...
- 1/20/2017
- by Vikram Murthi
- Indiewire
Momentum Pictures has acquired the North American theatrical rights to Sundance entry “Fun Mom Dinner,” which sold its streaming rights to Netflix, Deadline reports. The deals combined for around $5 million. “Fun Mom Dinner” premieres on January 27 in Sundance’s Premieres section.
The comedy follows high-powered lawyer and mother Emily (Katie Aselton) and a group of friends who take a break from their full time jobs as moms to have a wild night out on the town. The film stars Toni Collette, Molly Shannon, and Bridget Everett as moms who party hard while also making “tearful revelations.”
UTA, Wme and ICM handled the sale. The film joins the list of more than half a dozen Sundance movies that have been acquired ahead of their premieres.
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Related storiesHere's Why ABC's Talking-Dog TV Show Belongs At the Sundance Film FestivalTragedy,...
The comedy follows high-powered lawyer and mother Emily (Katie Aselton) and a group of friends who take a break from their full time jobs as moms to have a wild night out on the town. The film stars Toni Collette, Molly Shannon, and Bridget Everett as moms who party hard while also making “tearful revelations.”
UTA, Wme and ICM handled the sale. The film joins the list of more than half a dozen Sundance movies that have been acquired ahead of their premieres.
Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
Related storiesHere's Why ABC's Talking-Dog TV Show Belongs At the Sundance Film FestivalTragedy,...
- 1/20/2017
- by Graham Winfrey
- Indiewire
New Criterion Collection releases for April 2017. There are a lot of good ones to check out below. My favorite is Tampopo!! The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg An angelically beautiful Catherine Deneuve was launched into stardom by this glorious musical heart-tugger from Jacques Demy. She plays an umbrella-shop owner’s delicate daughter, glowing with first love for […]
The post The Criterion Collection Adds Rumble Fish, Tampopo, Buena Vista Social Club, and Others For April 2017 #Criterion appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post The Criterion Collection Adds Rumble Fish, Tampopo, Buena Vista Social Club, and Others For April 2017 #Criterion appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 1/18/2017
- by Rudie Obias
- ShockYa
The Criterion Collection has marked the beginning of 2017 with a favorite tradition among cinephiles: its yearly drawing hinting at the movies it plans to release on DVD and blu-ray this year. Devoted fans that they are, the fine folks at CriterionCast have released an annotated version of the hand-drawn illustration that breaks down each potential clue.
Read More: How Criterion and Turner Classic Movies Hope to Crack the Streaming Business With FilmStruck
Some of the more straightforward hints point to “Sixteen Candles” (there are literally 16 candles scattered throughout the drawing), “They Live by Night” (a gravestone for Night lists the departed’s lifetime as lasting from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.) and “Tampopo” (a woman can be seen preparing noodles, and Criterion’s partner Janus Films recently re-released the classic film in theaters). That same clue also suggests a blu-ray upgrade of Chantal Akerman’s masterful “Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce,...
Read More: How Criterion and Turner Classic Movies Hope to Crack the Streaming Business With FilmStruck
Some of the more straightforward hints point to “Sixteen Candles” (there are literally 16 candles scattered throughout the drawing), “They Live by Night” (a gravestone for Night lists the departed’s lifetime as lasting from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.) and “Tampopo” (a woman can be seen preparing noodles, and Criterion’s partner Janus Films recently re-released the classic film in theaters). That same clue also suggests a blu-ray upgrade of Chantal Akerman’s masterful “Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce,...
- 1/2/2017
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Our annual New Years present from the Criterion Collection has come one day early this year!
As usual, the Criterion Collection New Years Drawing from Jason Polan teases at a number of upcoming releases (announced, rumored, and unknown). I’ll do my best to gather the best guesses in this article, so feel free to comment below.
Here are links to the various drawings from the past few years
2010 – Criterion.com / CriterionCast.com 2011 – Criterion.com / CriterionCast.com 2012 – Criterion.com / CriterionCast.com 2013 – Criterion.com / CriterionCast.com 2014 – Criterion.com / CriterionCast.com 2015 – Criterion.com / CriterionCast.com 2016 – Criterion.com / CriterionCast.com
Let’s pick it apart below:
Original
Annotated
A. Candles: Sixteen Candles (John Hughes’ phantom page)
B. Cuban Flag with Musical Notes: Buena Vista Social Club (FilmStruck)
C. Pans: Dheepan
D. Window: _
E. Ghost: Ghost World (see our story from August 2010)
F. Food: Tampopo
G. Woman: Jeanne Dielman, 23 Commerce Quay, 1080 Brussels (upgrade)
H and I.
As usual, the Criterion Collection New Years Drawing from Jason Polan teases at a number of upcoming releases (announced, rumored, and unknown). I’ll do my best to gather the best guesses in this article, so feel free to comment below.
Here are links to the various drawings from the past few years
2010 – Criterion.com / CriterionCast.com 2011 – Criterion.com / CriterionCast.com 2012 – Criterion.com / CriterionCast.com 2013 – Criterion.com / CriterionCast.com 2014 – Criterion.com / CriterionCast.com 2015 – Criterion.com / CriterionCast.com 2016 – Criterion.com / CriterionCast.com
Let’s pick it apart below:
Original
Annotated
A. Candles: Sixteen Candles (John Hughes’ phantom page)
B. Cuban Flag with Musical Notes: Buena Vista Social Club (FilmStruck)
C. Pans: Dheepan
D. Window: _
E. Ghost: Ghost World (see our story from August 2010)
F. Food: Tampopo
G. Woman: Jeanne Dielman, 23 Commerce Quay, 1080 Brussels (upgrade)
H and I.
- 12/31/2016
- by Ryan Gallagher
- CriterionCast
The Campaign Begins: Inside the First Weekend Push to Woo Academy Voters with Food, Swag, and Celebs
Truth is, while there are about 6,000 voting Academy members, it can take only 300 or so Oscar votes to get a movie nominated. Hence all the relentless campaigning, which is in full gear, as distributors, foreign countries, and Oscar-whisperers plan and execute relentless rounds of screenings with public appearances — at lunches, Q&A panels, premieres, DVD launch parties, and “holiday” fetes.
Check out this slice of the past few days to get a sense of all the wining and dining that goes on. Academy members are being constantly wooed, just like the Hollywood Foreign Press Association who vote on the Golden Globes, with yummy food, drink, music, and celebrities —despite various attempts by the Academy to monitor and limit the scale of all this campaigning.
On the animation side, for example, this past week saw a Friday Academy screening of Universal/Illumination’s animated contest musical “Sing,” directed by live-action director...
Check out this slice of the past few days to get a sense of all the wining and dining that goes on. Academy members are being constantly wooed, just like the Hollywood Foreign Press Association who vote on the Golden Globes, with yummy food, drink, music, and celebrities —despite various attempts by the Academy to monitor and limit the scale of all this campaigning.
On the animation side, for example, this past week saw a Friday Academy screening of Universal/Illumination’s animated contest musical “Sing,” directed by live-action director...
- 12/5/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
The Campaign Begins: Inside the First Weekend Push to Woo Academy Voters with Food, Swag, and Celebs
Truth is, while there are about 6,000 voting Academy members, it can take only 300 or so Oscar votes to get a movie nominated. Hence all the relentless campaigning, which is in full gear, as distributors, foreign countries, and Oscar-whisperers plan and execute relentless rounds of screenings with public appearances — at lunches, Q&A panels, premieres, DVD launch parties, and “holiday” fetes.
Check out this slice of the past few days to get a sense of all the wining and dining that goes on. Academy members are being constantly wooed, just like the Hollywood Foreign Press Association who vote on the Golden Globes, with yummy food, drink, music, and celebrities —despite various attempts by the Academy to monitor and limit the scale of all this campaigning.
On the animation side, for example, this past week saw a Friday Academy screening of Universal/Illumination’s animated contest musical “Sing,” directed by live-action director...
Check out this slice of the past few days to get a sense of all the wining and dining that goes on. Academy members are being constantly wooed, just like the Hollywood Foreign Press Association who vote on the Golden Globes, with yummy food, drink, music, and celebrities —despite various attempts by the Academy to monitor and limit the scale of all this campaigning.
On the animation side, for example, this past week saw a Friday Academy screening of Universal/Illumination’s animated contest musical “Sing,” directed by live-action director...
- 12/5/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Citing no shortage of innovation in the film festival space in the New York City area — with the Brooklyn Film Festival and Art of Brooklyn Film Festival also occurring during the same week — Williamsburg’s annual Northside Festival, the music and innovation conference phased out its film section in favor of “content.” Content, though, seems to be a rather loaded proposition and Northside’s Content Festival offered a glimpse inside how indie filmmakers can make a living.
The content side of the festival, making its debut in advance of the festival’s music and innovation portions, seemed more like a direct offshoot of innovation rather than the evolution of what had been the film section. Innovation in the content space seems to be defined by virtual reality and branded content. One thing the talks were short on were independent content makers, apart from Lex Dreitser, an independent Vr maker who...
The content side of the festival, making its debut in advance of the festival’s music and innovation portions, seemed more like a direct offshoot of innovation rather than the evolution of what had been the film section. Innovation in the content space seems to be defined by virtual reality and branded content. One thing the talks were short on were independent content makers, apart from Lex Dreitser, an independent Vr maker who...
- 6/17/2016
- by John Fink
- The Film Stage
The multi-year output deal makes the recently announced Prime Video service the exclusive premium subscription home for Broad Green’s upcoming theatrical films.
The roster includes Broad Green’s upcoming thriller The Infiltrator (pictured) starring Bryan Cranston, which opens theatrically on July 15 release, and Lucy Walker’s documentary Buena Vista Social Club – Adios.
Other titles include Robert Redford, Nick Nolte and Emma Thompson starrer A Walk In The Woods, which surprised observers when it grossed $29.5m in North America, and Learning To Drive with Patricia Clarkson and Ben Kingsley.
I Smile Back earned a SAG Award nomination for Sarah Silverman, while the lauded drama 99 Homes features Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon.
Steve Nickerson, president of home entertainment at Broad Green, said: “Working with Amazon to share our titles on Prime Video now gives us the ability to strategically promote our films across more platforms, to reach even more viewers.”
“We know our Prime members are always hungry...
The roster includes Broad Green’s upcoming thriller The Infiltrator (pictured) starring Bryan Cranston, which opens theatrically on July 15 release, and Lucy Walker’s documentary Buena Vista Social Club – Adios.
Other titles include Robert Redford, Nick Nolte and Emma Thompson starrer A Walk In The Woods, which surprised observers when it grossed $29.5m in North America, and Learning To Drive with Patricia Clarkson and Ben Kingsley.
I Smile Back earned a SAG Award nomination for Sarah Silverman, while the lauded drama 99 Homes features Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon.
Steve Nickerson, president of home entertainment at Broad Green, said: “Working with Amazon to share our titles on Prime Video now gives us the ability to strategically promote our films across more platforms, to reach even more viewers.”
“We know our Prime members are always hungry...
- 4/22/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood joins other westerners in a musical odyssey through the north Indian state for a documentary recalling Buena Vista Social Club
Prominently advertised on the London underground by online video subscription service Mubi, who have the exclusive rights to it in the UK, Junun is an hour-long documentary directed by Paul Thomas Anderson about an east-west meeting of musical minds that took place this year in Rajasthan.
Western tunesters Jonny Greenwood and Nigel Godrich (lead guitarist and producer of Radiohead, respectively) and Israeli composer-singer Shye Ben Tzur are shown sitting democratically on the floor of a splendidly appointed chamber at the 15th-century Mehrangarh fort as they jam with some of India’s finest artists, including trumpeter Aamir Bhiyani, nagara players Nathu and Narsi Lal Solanki, vocals and harmonium-playing duo Zaki and Zarkir Ali Qawwal, and a dozen or so other to produce some divine, swirling tunes.
Continue reading.
Prominently advertised on the London underground by online video subscription service Mubi, who have the exclusive rights to it in the UK, Junun is an hour-long documentary directed by Paul Thomas Anderson about an east-west meeting of musical minds that took place this year in Rajasthan.
Western tunesters Jonny Greenwood and Nigel Godrich (lead guitarist and producer of Radiohead, respectively) and Israeli composer-singer Shye Ben Tzur are shown sitting democratically on the floor of a splendidly appointed chamber at the 15th-century Mehrangarh fort as they jam with some of India’s finest artists, including trumpeter Aamir Bhiyani, nagara players Nathu and Narsi Lal Solanki, vocals and harmonium-playing duo Zaki and Zarkir Ali Qawwal, and a dozen or so other to produce some divine, swirling tunes.
Continue reading.
- 10/9/2015
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Guardian - Film News
Since any New York City cinephile has a nearly suffocating wealth of theatrical options, we figured it’d be best to compile some of the more worthwhile repertory showings into one handy list. Displayed below are a few of the city’s most reliable theaters and links to screenings of their weekend offerings — films you’re not likely to see in a theater again anytime soon, and many of which are, also, on 35mm. If you have a chance to attend any of these, we’re of the mind that it’s time extremely well-spent.
The Film Society at Lincoln Center
A new 35mm print of Claire Denis‘ debut, Chocolat, screens throughout the week.
Film Forum
For a Vittorio de Sica retrospective, see The Bicycle Thief on Friday, Miracle in Milan on Saturday and Sunday, and Mister Max & Marriage Italian Style on Sunday.
A new restoration of Otto Preminger‘s...
The Film Society at Lincoln Center
A new 35mm print of Claire Denis‘ debut, Chocolat, screens throughout the week.
Film Forum
For a Vittorio de Sica retrospective, see The Bicycle Thief on Friday, Miracle in Milan on Saturday and Sunday, and Mister Max & Marriage Italian Style on Sunday.
A new restoration of Otto Preminger‘s...
- 9/18/2015
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Film, TV and music join forces for some incredible performances at the Hollywood Bowl this summer. Watch famed Mexican actor, Gael Garcia Bernal “conduct” the La Phil as an episode of Amazon’s Mozart in the Jungle is filmed during Mozart with Dudamel on Thursday, July 30. The La Philharmonic are also performing iconic scores from Bug Bunny and E.T. while the Buena Vista Social Club bid farewell with their last performance on stage.
- 7/29/2015
- by info@cinemovie.tv (Super User)
- CineMovie
Broad Green Pictures announced today a partnership with Denver & Delilah and Foundation Features to produce and finance Brain On Fire, a film based on Susannah Cahalan’s critically acclaimed memoir Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, which was first published in 2012 and quickly became a New York Times bestseller.
The film will be directed by Gerard Barrett (Glassland, Pilgrim Hill). Charlize Theron, A.J. Dix and Beth Kono of Denver & Delilah, and Rob Merilees and Lindsay Macadam of Foundation Features are producing.
The film will star Chloë Grace Moretz (If I Stay, Kick-Ass), Jenny Slate (Obvious Child) and Thomas Mann (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Project X). Principal photography will begin July 13 in Vancouver and the film is set for release in 2016.
Brain On Fire follows Cahalan (Moretz), a rising journalist at the New York Post who mysteriously starts having seizures and hearing voices. As weeks go...
The film will be directed by Gerard Barrett (Glassland, Pilgrim Hill). Charlize Theron, A.J. Dix and Beth Kono of Denver & Delilah, and Rob Merilees and Lindsay Macadam of Foundation Features are producing.
The film will star Chloë Grace Moretz (If I Stay, Kick-Ass), Jenny Slate (Obvious Child) and Thomas Mann (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Project X). Principal photography will begin July 13 in Vancouver and the film is set for release in 2016.
Brain On Fire follows Cahalan (Moretz), a rising journalist at the New York Post who mysteriously starts having seizures and hearing voices. As weeks go...
- 7/7/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Screen La Star Of Tomorrow Gerard Barrett will direct the adaptation of Susannah Cahalan’s memoir to star Chloë Grace Moretz.
Broad Green Pictures, Denver & Delilah and Foundation Features will produce and finance Brain On Fire: My Month Of Madness.
Charlize Theron will serve as producer on the story starring Moretz as a New York Post journalist afflicted by debilitating seizures who finds salvation in a last-gasp diagnosis. Jenny Slate and Thomas Mann also star.
Principal photography is scheduled to start on July 13 in Vancouver for a 2016 Us release via Broad Green. Theron’s Denver & Delilah partners A.J. Dix and Beth Kono will also produce alongside Rob Merilees and Lindsay Macadam of Foundation Features.
Mister Smith continues to represent international sales after launching the project at the Efm last February. Broad Green owns a 45% stake in the company and the partners previously announced they were working together on Buena Vista Social Club – Adios.
Barrett’s drama...
Broad Green Pictures, Denver & Delilah and Foundation Features will produce and finance Brain On Fire: My Month Of Madness.
Charlize Theron will serve as producer on the story starring Moretz as a New York Post journalist afflicted by debilitating seizures who finds salvation in a last-gasp diagnosis. Jenny Slate and Thomas Mann also star.
Principal photography is scheduled to start on July 13 in Vancouver for a 2016 Us release via Broad Green. Theron’s Denver & Delilah partners A.J. Dix and Beth Kono will also produce alongside Rob Merilees and Lindsay Macadam of Foundation Features.
Mister Smith continues to represent international sales after launching the project at the Efm last February. Broad Green owns a 45% stake in the company and the partners previously announced they were working together on Buena Vista Social Club – Adios.
Barrett’s drama...
- 7/7/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Films include Ewan McGregor’s directorial debut, biopic Callas starring Noomi Rapace and Nick Park animation Early Man.
Swedish major Svensk Filmindustri has closed deals on nine films following discussions at Cannes’ Marché du Film for Scandinavian release.
From Cornerstone, head of acquisitions Robert Enmark signed for Swiss director Vincent Pérez’s Alone in Berlin, based on German author Hans Fallada’s 1947 classic, with Emma Thompson, Brendan Gleeson, Daniel Brühl and Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt in the leads.
Set in 1940, the film follows a working class couple taking action against the Nazi regime, after their son is killed in the war.
From Lakeshore, Svensk picked up Ewan McGregor’s directorial debut, American Pastoral, adapted from Us author Philip Roth’s Pulitzer-winning 1998 novel.
McGregor will also star alongside Jennifer Connelly and Dakota Fanning in the story of a successful businessman, married to a former beauty queen, whose life falls apart when his daughter becomes a revolutionary.
Svensk closed...
Swedish major Svensk Filmindustri has closed deals on nine films following discussions at Cannes’ Marché du Film for Scandinavian release.
From Cornerstone, head of acquisitions Robert Enmark signed for Swiss director Vincent Pérez’s Alone in Berlin, based on German author Hans Fallada’s 1947 classic, with Emma Thompson, Brendan Gleeson, Daniel Brühl and Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt in the leads.
Set in 1940, the film follows a working class couple taking action against the Nazi regime, after their son is killed in the war.
From Lakeshore, Svensk picked up Ewan McGregor’s directorial debut, American Pastoral, adapted from Us author Philip Roth’s Pulitzer-winning 1998 novel.
McGregor will also star alongside Jennifer Connelly and Dakota Fanning in the story of a successful businessman, married to a former beauty queen, whose life falls apart when his daughter becomes a revolutionary.
Svensk closed...
- 6/2/2015
- by jornrossing@aol.com (Jorn Rossing Jensen)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Paris-based documentary specialist has sealed several deals on Argentine filmmaker German Kral’s Our Last Tango.
It has sold for theatrical release in Taiwan (Swallow Wings) and in Greece (Rosebud). As previously announced Japanese New Select Co at the beginning of the market.
Deals are currently under negotiation in South Korea, Hong Kong, France and the Us.
The Buena Vista Social Club-style work charts the passionate and complicated relationship between Argentine tango stars María Nieves Rego and Juan Carlos Copes.
The company also sold Ulyana Lopatkina, A Russian star, about celebrated Russian ballerina, to Swallow Wings for Taiwan.
Wide House chief Anais Clanet also announced the imminent completion of international arms trade documentary Shadow World.
“We’re expecting it to premiere this autumn,” she said.
It has sold for theatrical release in Taiwan (Swallow Wings) and in Greece (Rosebud). As previously announced Japanese New Select Co at the beginning of the market.
Deals are currently under negotiation in South Korea, Hong Kong, France and the Us.
The Buena Vista Social Club-style work charts the passionate and complicated relationship between Argentine tango stars María Nieves Rego and Juan Carlos Copes.
The company also sold Ulyana Lopatkina, A Russian star, about celebrated Russian ballerina, to Swallow Wings for Taiwan.
Wide House chief Anais Clanet also announced the imminent completion of international arms trade documentary Shadow World.
“We’re expecting it to premiere this autumn,” she said.
- 5/18/2015
- ScreenDaily
Well-timed, I imagine, given the Obama administration's announced intentions to re-establish relations with Cuba. Most recently, in January of 2015, they lightened restrictions on U.S. citizen travel to Cuba, and President Obama and Cuba's President Raúl Castro met in April - the first meeting between leaders of the two countries in over fifty years! Broad Green Pictures announced today production of a follow-up to the 1999 Oscar-nominated documentary "Buena Vista Social Club," which catapulted Cuba’s vibrant music and culture onto the global stage. To be titled "Buena Vista Social Club - Adios," Academy Award nominee Lucy Walker will direct the...
- 5/1/2015
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
The movies started flirting with what would be called "rock & roll" from the very beginning, slapping Bill Haley and the Comets' "Rock Around the Clock" onto a scene in the juvenile-delinquent drama The Blackboard Jungle (1955) and co-opting Elvis Presley's proto-punk pout for the big screen as soon as they could. But there's nothing like the real thing when it comes to seeing those historical musical moments, which is where documentaries come in: A number of nonfiction filmmakers saw the advantage of capturing these artists onstage, backstage or behind the scenes — partially for posterity,...
- 8/15/2014
- Rollingstone.com
Our continuing look back at some of the biggest summers we've lived through takes us back 15 years to one of the best recent movie seasons overall. In honor of the 2014 summer movie season, Team HitFix will be delivering a mini-series of articles flashing back to key summers from years past. There will be one each month, diving into the marquee events of the era, their impact on the writer and their implications on today's multiplex culture. We continue today with a look back at the summer of 1999. It was the summer I became Moriarty. To be fair, I had been contributing to Ain't It Cool for a little while already by that point, and I had been slowly but surely embracing the potential of the website and the audience that I was reaching. I had already taken a few trips to Austin, including a memorable stay at the third Quentin Tarantino Film Festival,...
- 8/7/2014
- by Drew McWeeny
- Hitfix
As we ponder how series 8's music will sound, Jeff digs out ten inventive takes on the Doctor Who theme...
Feature
With series eight’s Deep Breath fast approaching, there are questions all Dw fans will be asking – perhaps none as pressing as “What new bag of tricks will Murray Gold be bringing to the theme song?” While we all wait with bated breath, why not take a gander at these variations on Ron Grainer’s immortal work?
Doctor Who Theme – Gallifrey Remixes (Dominic Glynn and Syzygy)
Dominic Glynn’s theme from Trial Of A Timelord is an 80s effort that’s worn well for this writer, particularly the way Glynn sneaks in a new array of far-out soundscapes. This remix, originally performed at L.A.’s Gallifrey One convention, features four upgrades of Glynn’s ‘Trial’ theme, as produced with Syzygy (a.k.a. Justin Mackay). It takes a...
Feature
With series eight’s Deep Breath fast approaching, there are questions all Dw fans will be asking – perhaps none as pressing as “What new bag of tricks will Murray Gold be bringing to the theme song?” While we all wait with bated breath, why not take a gander at these variations on Ron Grainer’s immortal work?
Doctor Who Theme – Gallifrey Remixes (Dominic Glynn and Syzygy)
Dominic Glynn’s theme from Trial Of A Timelord is an 80s effort that’s worn well for this writer, particularly the way Glynn sneaks in a new array of far-out soundscapes. This remix, originally performed at L.A.’s Gallifrey One convention, features four upgrades of Glynn’s ‘Trial’ theme, as produced with Syzygy (a.k.a. Justin Mackay). It takes a...
- 7/20/2014
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
Charlize Theron last hosted Saturday Night Live in November of 2000 — which might as well have been a lifetime ago. The episode, which aired just days before that year’s presidential election, featured a running gag about possible outcomes (President Ralph Nader’s address to the nation is interrupted by a flying pig and frozen devils); the night was filled with Fey-era recurring characters like Will Ferrell’s Robert Goulet and the ladies of Gemini’s Twin and even Chris Kattan’s Mr. Peepers; Theron herself was there to promote The Legend of Bagger Vance, a movie which single-handedly made her...
- 5/10/2014
- by Hillary Busis
- EW.com - PopWatch
Exclusive: The distributors behind Sunday night’s (2) big Oscar winners are readying theatrical expansion plans in the wake of their triumphs.
Update Mar 3: On Monday morning (3) Fox Searchlight executives were busy locking in more theatres to push out New Regency’s best picture Oscar winner 12 Years A Slave.
With the biggest award of the night under its belt, as well as senior awards for adapted screenplay for John Ridley and supporting actress for Lupita Nyong’o, Searchlight distribution executives will expand the 411 count to 1,000 on Friday (7).
12 Years A Slave has amassed $50.3m in North America to date and comes out on DVD on Tuesday (4). While this is already an impressive number for a difficult film, those behind the release clearly see opportunity to parlay success into broader exposure.
The same could be said of the film’s international performance. Lionsgate International handled sales and thus far its markets have returned approximately $90m – an exceptional result that looks...
Update Mar 3: On Monday morning (3) Fox Searchlight executives were busy locking in more theatres to push out New Regency’s best picture Oscar winner 12 Years A Slave.
With the biggest award of the night under its belt, as well as senior awards for adapted screenplay for John Ridley and supporting actress for Lupita Nyong’o, Searchlight distribution executives will expand the 411 count to 1,000 on Friday (7).
12 Years A Slave has amassed $50.3m in North America to date and comes out on DVD on Tuesday (4). While this is already an impressive number for a difficult film, those behind the release clearly see opportunity to parlay success into broader exposure.
The same could be said of the film’s international performance. Lionsgate International handled sales and thus far its markets have returned approximately $90m – an exceptional result that looks...
- 3/3/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Rewind time from NBC as Zooey Deschanel admitted to Jay that she believed her first apartment in Los Angeles was haunted. Deschanel also recapped last season of “New Girl” and talks about what to expect this season. Then Terry Crews explained his character “Squeegee Lo” to Jay and also shows off his best dance moves. Later, Crews shares a story of a “near death experience." Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club Performs. Jay Leno’S Monologue Friday, September 13, 2013 Happy Friday The 13th! Today, Of Course, Is Friday The 13th, And Over In Finland, The Airline "Finnair" Today Had A Flight Numbered 666 Going To Helsinki - Which Has The Three Letter Designation "Hel." So On Your Ticket It...
- 9/14/2013
- by April Neale
- Monsters and Critics
Entertainment One has promoted Sandie Don to head of distribution for its Australian business, Hopscotch/eOne.
In her role, Don will oversee theatrical distribution for Hopscotch/eOne including acquisitions, sales and marketing.
Don, who previously held the role of marketing and acquisitions director, will continue to focus on both the acquisition and distribution of local and international productions as well as the prolific and commercial line up from eOne output partners including Summit and Lakeshore.
Don formed Hopscotch Films in 2002 with partners Troy Lum and Frank Cox. The company is one of Australia’s leading independent film distributors and was subsequently acquired by eOne in 2011.
Don has spearheaded theatrical release campaigns including The Sapphires, Incendies, Source Code, Pan’s Labyrinth, The Wrestler, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Mao’s Last Dancer, The Kids Are All Right, Barney’s Version and Midnight in Paris.
Prior to joining Hopscotch, she headed marketing and publicity for Australian distribution company Dendy Films, creating...
In her role, Don will oversee theatrical distribution for Hopscotch/eOne including acquisitions, sales and marketing.
Don, who previously held the role of marketing and acquisitions director, will continue to focus on both the acquisition and distribution of local and international productions as well as the prolific and commercial line up from eOne output partners including Summit and Lakeshore.
Don formed Hopscotch Films in 2002 with partners Troy Lum and Frank Cox. The company is one of Australia’s leading independent film distributors and was subsequently acquired by eOne in 2011.
Don has spearheaded theatrical release campaigns including The Sapphires, Incendies, Source Code, Pan’s Labyrinth, The Wrestler, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Mao’s Last Dancer, The Kids Are All Right, Barney’s Version and Midnight in Paris.
Prior to joining Hopscotch, she headed marketing and publicity for Australian distribution company Dendy Films, creating...
- 7/1/2013
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Brothers From the Attic: Unexpected Afterlife for Protopunk Band
After cutting their debut album in 1974, “Death” found that nobody in the record industry wanted to touch their music. That is, until 35 long years later when, in a story that yet again confirms the greater strangeness of truth to fiction, “Death” is miraculously rediscovered, their album finally released to great acclaim by music aficionados and fans, and, soon after, A Band Called Death, the richly-textured and deeply-moving documentary under review here by Mark Covino and Jeff Howlett appears about them. The best part of the story is, it couldn’t have happened to a more admirable and engaging group of people than the Hackney brothers and their musically-inclined offspring, most of whom are drummers and in bands themselves.
In choosing the name “Death” for the punk band that David Hackney and his two brothers, Bobby and Dannis, started out of their parents’ house in Detroit,...
After cutting their debut album in 1974, “Death” found that nobody in the record industry wanted to touch their music. That is, until 35 long years later when, in a story that yet again confirms the greater strangeness of truth to fiction, “Death” is miraculously rediscovered, their album finally released to great acclaim by music aficionados and fans, and, soon after, A Band Called Death, the richly-textured and deeply-moving documentary under review here by Mark Covino and Jeff Howlett appears about them. The best part of the story is, it couldn’t have happened to a more admirable and engaging group of people than the Hackney brothers and their musically-inclined offspring, most of whom are drummers and in bands themselves.
In choosing the name “Death” for the punk band that David Hackney and his two brothers, Bobby and Dannis, started out of their parents’ house in Detroit,...
- 6/28/2013
- by Paul Cantagallo
- IONCINEMA.com
Since Buena Vista Social Club’s 1997 album is the best-selling World Music album of all time, it’s not surprising that tourists who come to Cuba (mostly Spaniards, Italians, and Canadians) expect to hear traditional son and boleros like “Dos Gardenias” when they visit. As a result, if you walk down Calle Obispo in Old Havana, you are assaulted by the sounds of live son groups on every block.
At first I thought it was awesome (because c’mon, who doesn’t like son?), but after living in Cuba for months, the misrepresentation of Cuba’s music scene began to frustrate me, because the truth is Cubans themselves don’t listen to this music. The Bvsc musicians, while fantastic, were of another, older generation. It would be as though everyone outside the Us thought that American music = Frank Sinatra, period.
Instead of son, the overwhelmingly popular music of the last decade has been reggaeton,...
At first I thought it was awesome (because c’mon, who doesn’t like son?), but after living in Cuba for months, the misrepresentation of Cuba’s music scene began to frustrate me, because the truth is Cubans themselves don’t listen to this music. The Bvsc musicians, while fantastic, were of another, older generation. It would be as though everyone outside the Us thought that American music = Frank Sinatra, period.
Instead of son, the overwhelmingly popular music of the last decade has been reggaeton,...
- 6/7/2013
- by NY Remezcla
- Huffington Post
This year the event dedicated to women and cinema will throw its programme open to groundbreaking Middle Eastern movies
"The best documentary at the Doha international film festival in 2011 and 2012 was won by a woman," says Will Young from the Birds Eye View film festival. "The best feature in the Dubai international film festival in 2011 and 2012 was won by a woman … We knew there was something going on."
The "something", says the event's creative director Kate Gerova, was "an explosion of creative talent" among female directors from the Middle East with Lara Saba's Blind Intersections opening the Beirut international film festival and Djamila Sahraoui's Yema winning the Algerian international film festival last year. Throw in the added topicality sparked by the Arab spring and the organisers of Birds Eye felt it only right for the annual festival dedicated to women and film to give itself over for one year to Arab women film-makers.
"The best documentary at the Doha international film festival in 2011 and 2012 was won by a woman," says Will Young from the Birds Eye View film festival. "The best feature in the Dubai international film festival in 2011 and 2012 was won by a woman … We knew there was something going on."
The "something", says the event's creative director Kate Gerova, was "an explosion of creative talent" among female directors from the Middle East with Lara Saba's Blind Intersections opening the Beirut international film festival and Djamila Sahraoui's Yema winning the Algerian international film festival last year. Throw in the added topicality sparked by the Arab spring and the organisers of Birds Eye felt it only right for the annual festival dedicated to women and film to give itself over for one year to Arab women film-makers.
- 4/3/2013
- by Homa Khaleeli
- The Guardian - Film News
John Boorman Season | Fuaim Is Solas | Rendez-Vous With French Cinema | Birds Eye View Film Festival
John Boorman Season, London
Boorman is one of those directors whose films everyone knows but whose name often gets left behind somewhere. Deliverance, for example, has become a universal point of reference for hicksville paranoia; Excalibur raised the bar for amped-up swords and sorcery movies; Hope And Glory has seeped into our collective wartime memory; Point Blank, which is going on general release, is a textbook case of how to be stylish, violent and hard-boiled. In fact, Boorman seems to have added something to every genre you can think of since he started in the 1950s, making documentaries for the BBC. Why isn't he better appreciated? He is here, at least, with a BFI Fellowship and a retrospective that includes his daughter's touching film portrait Me And Me Dad.
BFI Southbank, SE1, Sat to 30 Apr
Fuaim Is Solas,...
John Boorman Season, London
Boorman is one of those directors whose films everyone knows but whose name often gets left behind somewhere. Deliverance, for example, has become a universal point of reference for hicksville paranoia; Excalibur raised the bar for amped-up swords and sorcery movies; Hope And Glory has seeped into our collective wartime memory; Point Blank, which is going on general release, is a textbook case of how to be stylish, violent and hard-boiled. In fact, Boorman seems to have added something to every genre you can think of since he started in the 1950s, making documentaries for the BBC. Why isn't he better appreciated? He is here, at least, with a BFI Fellowship and a retrospective that includes his daughter's touching film portrait Me And Me Dad.
BFI Southbank, SE1, Sat to 30 Apr
Fuaim Is Solas,...
- 3/30/2013
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
Qed International has tapped New Regency and Fox Atomic veteran John Hegeman as its president of worldwide marketing and acquisitions. In the newly created post, Hegeman will oversee global marketing and acquisitions as well as all genre productions for the indie production, financing and sales distribution company. He will report to Qed CEO Bill Block. Photo: Sundance's Greatest Hits: The Movies That Broke Through Hegeman and Block previously worked together at art-house player Artisan Entertainment, where Hegeman was president of worldwide marketing and helped launch such films as such films as The Blair Witch Project, Darren Aronofsky's Pi and Buena Vista Social Club. Hegeman will
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read more...
- 1/16/2013
- by Tatiana Siegel
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In the spirit of the Buena Vista Social Club, comes Legends of Ska from director General Moses. Calling itself a documentary film focusing on the sights & sounds of Jamaica during the early 1960s, Legends of Ska will intersperse old and new concert footage, interviews with characters who played a significant role in the early ska days of the 1960s, photographs, slides, artifacts and even tourist home movies to transport viewers to the 1960s, to chronologically follow the history of Jamaican ska, and also explore the period that preceded it. At the center of the film will be exclusive footage of performances from the Legends Of Ska concerts held in...
- 8/29/2012
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Every year there seems to bring at least one music documentary that gets tagged "the new Buena Vista Social Club". But to borrow from The Three Amigos!, this year's Buena Vista Social Club could be the real Buena Vista Social Club. Sorta. The film is Searching For Sugar Man and we've got a new internet-fresh clip to share with you. brightcove.createExperiences(); Searching For Sugar Man's subject is a musician whose time seemed to have come and gone. Sixto Rodriguez, billed for a brief moment in the early '70s as a folk singer to rival to Bob Dylan, was rumoured to have committed suicide on stage at the end of a gig.Not happy to leave it there, Swedish filmmaker Malik Bendjelloul picked up the trail with some help from the musician's most fervent South African fans (including Stephen ‘Sugar’ Segerman in this clip) and ended up with...
- 7/16/2012
- EmpireOnline
For new filmmakers and veterans alike, navigating the waters of the international film sales scene can be a daunting task. Halfway through the hectic Cannes Film Market I had a chance to sit down with Scott Bedno of hard-working indie sales outfit Spotlight Pictures. He took a few minutes to help shine a spotlight on the film industry from the international sales agent's perspective.
So tell me a bit about Spotlight; who are you and how long have you been in business?
Spotlight Pictures is a full-service film sales company licensing all media rights of feature films worldwide. Spotlight started in 2005, but the core members of the Spotlight team have decades of experience in the international arena.
What is your position in the company and what is your background?
I am the President of International at Spotlight Pictures. I started at Spotlight in September 2011, but I have known the company CEO, Matthew McCombs, since I first started in the business, as an assistant to legendary buyer’s rep, Gordon Steel. I don’t want to mention how long ago that was! After working with Gordon, I then worked as an acquisitions executive for the Australian distributor, Becker Entertainment, working under Mark Gooder, where we acquired titles such as “The Blair Witch Project” and “Buena Vista Social Club.” I dabbled in the “new media” space for a while, then settled into sales about a decade ago.
You seem to be doing better than just surviving, but actually growing in the past couple markets, what's your secret?
We find that as we’ve grown as a company, producers have gravitated towards us. They appreciate our straight-talk; some sales companies are prone to give out overblown sales estimates just to secure a film, we analyze the market for them realistically. We also try and lay out a road map of the sales strategy and discuss marketing ideas with our producers, as it truly is a partnership. We know how much time and energy our producers put into making the film, so we want to match that time and energy in selling the film. We don’t represent a large number of titles so we can devote enough time and resources to the films we do represent.
Lionsgate acquires Summit, eOne gobbling Alliance, seems like the pond is shrinking; as an "indies' indie" what's your take on the current climate for independent financing and distribution?
Certainly independent financing has taken a hit since the banking crisis. However, there always seems to be a steady stream of investors who want to be involved in the film business, so I feel the death of independent cinema is exaggerated to some degree. Mergers and acquisitions seem to be cyclical as well. At one point, there were no mini-major studios or studio/indie hybrids, then there were a bunch of them, now there aren’t as many. Two years from now, who knows? All I know is, quality product will find a market.
What are some of the titles you currently have, and how was Cannes for you?
We had a great Cannes, I’m pleased to report. We closed deals in Germany, Japan, Latin America, Turkey, Middle East, UK, just to name a few. I will also be closing deals after the market. Our recent titles include “Atlas Shrugged: Part I” which had a theatrical release in the States on over 450 prints, “Millennium Bug,” a creature feature using only practical effects (no CGI!) which buyers loved, the family/dog, “I Heart Shakey 3D,” and the zombie comedy, “Detention of the Dead.” As you can see, it’s a diverse slate, but we know different buyers are looking for different types of product, so we want to make sure we have something for everyone. What they have in common is the passion of the filmmakers behind them.
What's your advice to indie producers?
My advice to producers is to make the film you want to make, but it couldn’t hurt to talk to a sales agent before you start down the path. Our current producers bounce ideas off us for their next projects all the time, and we’ll give them our advice from what our buyers are saying to us. We have no ego, so you can say, “I’m making this movie about a dandelion growing in the desert, as it’s a symbol of a young woman’s coming-of-age in post-World War II Mongolia, and you can’t talk me out of it!” And we’ll say, “If that’s your passion, and you have to make the film, then go for it…but can you at least have some name cast?”
What one piece of information would producers be surprised to know?
All producers are concerned about piracy, as are we. However, most producers have been given the advice that you don’t want to have your film released in foreign territories ahead of the Us release, due to piracy. In fact, the opposite is true. There is more piracy flowing out from the States than flowing into the States. Which makes sense, as pirates take advantage of the promotion and awareness from the Us release. You’ve seen the studios catching on to this, as “Battleship” was released very successfully in foreign territories well in advance of the Us release.
Are you open to being contacted even if a film hasn't won a prize at Sundance?
Certainly! We’re always looking for quality product, and that doesn’t mean you need festival accolades to be considered. Producers please check out our website, www.spotlight-pictures.com, and contact us directly regarding your project.
Next up...The Distributor
Written by Zack Coffman. Follow Zack's film marketing tips and adventures @choppertown on Twitter.
So tell me a bit about Spotlight; who are you and how long have you been in business?
Spotlight Pictures is a full-service film sales company licensing all media rights of feature films worldwide. Spotlight started in 2005, but the core members of the Spotlight team have decades of experience in the international arena.
What is your position in the company and what is your background?
I am the President of International at Spotlight Pictures. I started at Spotlight in September 2011, but I have known the company CEO, Matthew McCombs, since I first started in the business, as an assistant to legendary buyer’s rep, Gordon Steel. I don’t want to mention how long ago that was! After working with Gordon, I then worked as an acquisitions executive for the Australian distributor, Becker Entertainment, working under Mark Gooder, where we acquired titles such as “The Blair Witch Project” and “Buena Vista Social Club.” I dabbled in the “new media” space for a while, then settled into sales about a decade ago.
You seem to be doing better than just surviving, but actually growing in the past couple markets, what's your secret?
We find that as we’ve grown as a company, producers have gravitated towards us. They appreciate our straight-talk; some sales companies are prone to give out overblown sales estimates just to secure a film, we analyze the market for them realistically. We also try and lay out a road map of the sales strategy and discuss marketing ideas with our producers, as it truly is a partnership. We know how much time and energy our producers put into making the film, so we want to match that time and energy in selling the film. We don’t represent a large number of titles so we can devote enough time and resources to the films we do represent.
Lionsgate acquires Summit, eOne gobbling Alliance, seems like the pond is shrinking; as an "indies' indie" what's your take on the current climate for independent financing and distribution?
Certainly independent financing has taken a hit since the banking crisis. However, there always seems to be a steady stream of investors who want to be involved in the film business, so I feel the death of independent cinema is exaggerated to some degree. Mergers and acquisitions seem to be cyclical as well. At one point, there were no mini-major studios or studio/indie hybrids, then there were a bunch of them, now there aren’t as many. Two years from now, who knows? All I know is, quality product will find a market.
What are some of the titles you currently have, and how was Cannes for you?
We had a great Cannes, I’m pleased to report. We closed deals in Germany, Japan, Latin America, Turkey, Middle East, UK, just to name a few. I will also be closing deals after the market. Our recent titles include “Atlas Shrugged: Part I” which had a theatrical release in the States on over 450 prints, “Millennium Bug,” a creature feature using only practical effects (no CGI!) which buyers loved, the family/dog, “I Heart Shakey 3D,” and the zombie comedy, “Detention of the Dead.” As you can see, it’s a diverse slate, but we know different buyers are looking for different types of product, so we want to make sure we have something for everyone. What they have in common is the passion of the filmmakers behind them.
What's your advice to indie producers?
My advice to producers is to make the film you want to make, but it couldn’t hurt to talk to a sales agent before you start down the path. Our current producers bounce ideas off us for their next projects all the time, and we’ll give them our advice from what our buyers are saying to us. We have no ego, so you can say, “I’m making this movie about a dandelion growing in the desert, as it’s a symbol of a young woman’s coming-of-age in post-World War II Mongolia, and you can’t talk me out of it!” And we’ll say, “If that’s your passion, and you have to make the film, then go for it…but can you at least have some name cast?”
What one piece of information would producers be surprised to know?
All producers are concerned about piracy, as are we. However, most producers have been given the advice that you don’t want to have your film released in foreign territories ahead of the Us release, due to piracy. In fact, the opposite is true. There is more piracy flowing out from the States than flowing into the States. Which makes sense, as pirates take advantage of the promotion and awareness from the Us release. You’ve seen the studios catching on to this, as “Battleship” was released very successfully in foreign territories well in advance of the Us release.
Are you open to being contacted even if a film hasn't won a prize at Sundance?
Certainly! We’re always looking for quality product, and that doesn’t mean you need festival accolades to be considered. Producers please check out our website, www.spotlight-pictures.com, and contact us directly regarding your project.
Next up...The Distributor
Written by Zack Coffman. Follow Zack's film marketing tips and adventures @choppertown on Twitter.
- 6/14/2012
- by Zack Coffman
- Sydney's Buzz
Elbow, Paul Weller, and Bon Iver will headline this year's Latitude Festival. The 2012 music event at Henham Park, Suffolk will take place on the weekend of July 12-15. The Horrors, Laura Marling, Wild Beasts and White Lies are among the 60-plus acts that have been confirmed so far. Professor Brian Cox will present BBC Radio 4's science programme The Infinite Monkey Cage during the event, while classical pianist Lang Lang will make his outdoor festival debut. Jack Dee, Tim Minchin and Reginald D Hunter are among the comedy performers, while Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates, Thomas Dolby and Buena Vista Social Club will also appear. Michael Kiwanuka, Simple Minds, Bat for Lashes, M83, Lloyd Cole and Metronomy are also among the (more)...
- 3/5/2012
- by By Tom Eames
- Digital Spy
Focus Features’ new digital distribution subsidiary Focus World has recently picked up Cuban zombie comedy Juan of the Dead for a North American digital release. The film gained Focus’ attention when it played at last year’s Toronto film festival and whilst I won’t be in America anytime soon I’ve got to say that this all sounds very promising.
It’s not often that you get a good horror comedy and as someone who doesn’t quite get Shaun of the Dead maybe I just don’t get horror comedy at all. Whenever I doubt myself though I just stick on Peter Jackson’s Braindead and as Derek destroys heads my piece of mind is restored. You see when I’m not being scared by horror films or at least intrigued by them it’s always fun for them to jump the shark and go nuts, that or funny.
It’s not often that you get a good horror comedy and as someone who doesn’t quite get Shaun of the Dead maybe I just don’t get horror comedy at all. Whenever I doubt myself though I just stick on Peter Jackson’s Braindead and as Derek destroys heads my piece of mind is restored. You see when I’m not being scared by horror films or at least intrigued by them it’s always fun for them to jump the shark and go nuts, that or funny.
- 1/3/2012
- by Ross Jones-Morris
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Although it was announced just yesterday, we know that Gkids, the animation distributor folks who brought us Michel Ocelot’s Azur & Asmar, Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues and Tomm Moore’s The Secret of Kells, were dancing the bolero around Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal’s Chico & Rita when it was presented at Tiff last year. After a year of festival play and favorable reviews, fans of animation can expect to see the musical romance drama circa 1948 sometime in 2012, and La folks can see it during its Oscar qualifying run in the month of December. Gkids will release through its new Luma Films label - animation geared towards adults. Gist: Cuba, 1948. Chico is a young piano player with big dreams. Rita is a beautiful singer with an extraordinary voice. Music and romantic desire unites them, but their journey – in the tradition of the Latin ballad, the bolero – brings heartache and torment.
- 9/29/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
For the last four weeks, Current TV has been running down its list of 50 documentaries every person must see in his/her lifetime. Tomorrow night, the series unveils its No. 1 documentary: Hoop Dreams. Steve James’ moving portrayal of inner city athletes is a safe choice to top the list of docs, though its only Oscar nomination at the time was for editing. Still, there are some glaring omissions that made room for host Morgan Spurlock’s Supersize Me (#5) and network honcho Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth (#8), not to mention more dubious inclusions like last year’s Catfish. See what...
- 8/29/2011
- by Lanford Beard
- EW.com - PopWatch
Kenneth Branagh's Norse epic hammers the competition while latest Fast & Furious instalment shows no sign of slowing down
The winner
To say that Marvel's film division had a lot riding on the success of its Thor movie would be an understatement. The company and distribution partner Paramount had a hit franchise in Iron Man, but would audiences show up for a Kenneth Branagh action sci-fi about a hammer-wielding alien god starring Jim Kirk's dad from the Star Trek reboot (Chris Hemsworth)? And if they didn't, where would that leave the forthcoming Captain America picture, next year's Avengers team-up, and more besides?
In the UK and elsewhere, Marvel and Paramount have plenty to be happy about. Thor debuted with £5.45m, including £2.34m from three days of previews. Add in bank holiday Monday, and that tally rises to £6.44m. That's in a similar ballpark to Iron Man three years ago, which...
The winner
To say that Marvel's film division had a lot riding on the success of its Thor movie would be an understatement. The company and distribution partner Paramount had a hit franchise in Iron Man, but would audiences show up for a Kenneth Branagh action sci-fi about a hammer-wielding alien god starring Jim Kirk's dad from the Star Trek reboot (Chris Hemsworth)? And if they didn't, where would that leave the forthcoming Captain America picture, next year's Avengers team-up, and more besides?
In the UK and elsewhere, Marvel and Paramount have plenty to be happy about. Thor debuted with £5.45m, including £2.34m from three days of previews. Add in bank holiday Monday, and that tally rises to £6.44m. That's in a similar ballpark to Iron Man three years ago, which...
- 5/4/2011
- by Charles Gant
- The Guardian - Film News
Submarine (15)
(Richard Ayoade, 2010, UK/Us) Craig Roberts, Yasmin Paige, Noah Taylor. 97 mins
Ayoade evidently did his homework before stepping behind the camera, swotting up on everything from the French New Wave to The Graduate to Wes Anderson, but the result is a fresh and distinctly British-flavoured coming-of-ager, full of provincial frustrations and recognisable types. The story takes few risks – an intelligent Welsh schoolkid's quest for self-definition and sexual adventure – but Submarine works hard to earn our affections with a mix of sincerity, energy and impeccable comic timing.
You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger (12A)
(Woody Allen, 2010, UK/Us) Anthony Hopkins, Naomi Watts, Gemma Jones. 98 mins
The ever-scrappier Allen observes life's frivolities with a bemused but cheerless eye in a London comedy whose great cast compensates for the fatalistic outlook.
Route Irish (15)
(Ken Loach, 2010, UK/Fra/Ita/Bel/Spa) Mark Womack, Andrea Lowe, John Bishop. 109 mins
Loach considers the physical...
(Richard Ayoade, 2010, UK/Us) Craig Roberts, Yasmin Paige, Noah Taylor. 97 mins
Ayoade evidently did his homework before stepping behind the camera, swotting up on everything from the French New Wave to The Graduate to Wes Anderson, but the result is a fresh and distinctly British-flavoured coming-of-ager, full of provincial frustrations and recognisable types. The story takes few risks – an intelligent Welsh schoolkid's quest for self-definition and sexual adventure – but Submarine works hard to earn our affections with a mix of sincerity, energy and impeccable comic timing.
You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger (12A)
(Woody Allen, 2010, UK/Us) Anthony Hopkins, Naomi Watts, Gemma Jones. 98 mins
The ever-scrappier Allen observes life's frivolities with a bemused but cheerless eye in a London comedy whose great cast compensates for the fatalistic outlook.
Route Irish (15)
(Ken Loach, 2010, UK/Fra/Ita/Bel/Spa) Mark Womack, Andrea Lowe, John Bishop. 109 mins
Loach considers the physical...
- 3/19/2011
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
Be one of the first to see this true story of Benda Bilili at a free screening in cinemas across the UK on Sunday 13 March
Five years in the making, Benda Bilili follows a group of street musicians in Kinshasa, Congo, as they struggle to record their first album. Four of the group are paraplegics who get around the city in Mad Max/Easy Rider-style customised wheelchairs. The other three are homeless street children whose star is Roger Landau - a teenage prodigy who plays on a home-made, single string guitar fashioned from a tin can.
Lose yourself in the remarkable true story of Benda Bilili as we follow them from their first recording session to worldwide acclaim and stardom. Hailed as the new Buena Vista Social Club, Benda Bilili is an inspirational and life-affirming story of a dream that becomes reality.
To view the film trailer go to: bendabilili.
Five years in the making, Benda Bilili follows a group of street musicians in Kinshasa, Congo, as they struggle to record their first album. Four of the group are paraplegics who get around the city in Mad Max/Easy Rider-style customised wheelchairs. The other three are homeless street children whose star is Roger Landau - a teenage prodigy who plays on a home-made, single string guitar fashioned from a tin can.
Lose yourself in the remarkable true story of Benda Bilili as we follow them from their first recording session to worldwide acclaim and stardom. Hailed as the new Buena Vista Social Club, Benda Bilili is an inspirational and life-affirming story of a dream that becomes reality.
To view the film trailer go to: bendabilili.
- 3/7/2011
- The Guardian - Film News
Austin, TX - Billy Bob Thorton’s, The King of Luck, documentary on Willie Nelson, will screen Saturday, March 19 for the Closing Night at the SXSW Film Festival.
The World Premiere film explores Willie Nelson “the man, the songwriter, the friend, the father, legendary performer and champion of the family farmer.”
Also announced today, a work-in-progress version of the Judd Apatow produced ‘Bridesmaids,’ will screen. The film is directed by Paul Feig, and stars Kristin Wig and Annie Mumolo.
Rainn Wilson’s short film, The Blitzen Trapper Massacre, will be having it’s World Premiere as well, Umshini Wam, a short film from Harmony Korine featuring South African act Die Antwoord, and Hit So Hard, P. David Ebersole’s documentary on Hole drummer Patty Schemel, among others will screen.
Read more announced titles below.
Press Release
SXSW Film Announces 2011 Closing Night & Additional Titles
Thornton’s The King of Luck, Work...
The World Premiere film explores Willie Nelson “the man, the songwriter, the friend, the father, legendary performer and champion of the family farmer.”
Also announced today, a work-in-progress version of the Judd Apatow produced ‘Bridesmaids,’ will screen. The film is directed by Paul Feig, and stars Kristin Wig and Annie Mumolo.
Rainn Wilson’s short film, The Blitzen Trapper Massacre, will be having it’s World Premiere as well, Umshini Wam, a short film from Harmony Korine featuring South African act Die Antwoord, and Hit So Hard, P. David Ebersole’s documentary on Hole drummer Patty Schemel, among others will screen.
Read more announced titles below.
Press Release
SXSW Film Announces 2011 Closing Night & Additional Titles
Thornton’s The King of Luck, Work...
- 3/3/2011
- by Albert Art
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
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