The 2020 Sundance Film Festival has broken a record weeks before it begins: Of the 16 films in Dramatic Competition, seven tell stories primarily about the lives of black characters: “The 40-Year-Old Version,” “Charm City Kings,” “Farewell Amor,” “Miss Juneteenth,” “Nine Days,” “Sylvie’s Love” and “Zola.”
Surveying the last 30 years of Sundance, there’s usually been at least one in-competition film with black leads. In 1992 and 1989, there was one black film in competition, while 1993 had two. But prior to 2020, there had never been more than five.
Black filmmakers saw a renaissance in the late ’80s and early ’90s, a period that introduced Spike Lee, Wendell B. Harris Jr, Robert Townsend, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Julie Dash, Matty Rich, the Hudlin Brothers, Leslie Harris, and others. Some of their films premiered and competed at Sundance, but even then they never composed a significant presence.
Between 1989 and 1993, a total of 10 films with black leads...
Surveying the last 30 years of Sundance, there’s usually been at least one in-competition film with black leads. In 1992 and 1989, there was one black film in competition, while 1993 had two. But prior to 2020, there had never been more than five.
Black filmmakers saw a renaissance in the late ’80s and early ’90s, a period that introduced Spike Lee, Wendell B. Harris Jr, Robert Townsend, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Julie Dash, Matty Rich, the Hudlin Brothers, Leslie Harris, and others. Some of their films premiered and competed at Sundance, but even then they never composed a significant presence.
Between 1989 and 1993, a total of 10 films with black leads...
- 12/5/2019
- by Tambay Obenson
- Indiewire
Ben Geurens in ‘Locusts.’
Typifying the challenges facing the vast majority of Australian films, Heath Davis’ suspense-drama Locusts and Partho Sen-Gupta’s thriller Slam were released on a handful of screens last weekend.
Working with limited marketing budgets the distributors and producers relied primarily on reviews and publicity, and the weekend figures were commensurately modest.
Ben Geurens and Nathaniel Dean play estranged brothers who are the targets of an extortion racket in Locusts, which grossed $11,000 on 11 screens and $14,000 with previews.
Film Ink Presents is handling the theatrical release of the privately-financed film, which co-stars Jessica McNamee, Steve Le Marquand, Justin Rosniak, Andy McPhee, the late Damian Hill and Alan Dukes, while Jonathan Page’s Bonsai Films will sell the ancillary rights.
“It’s difficult for independent films to secure screens and marketing exposure,” Angus Watts, who produced and wrote Locusts, tells If. “We’re happy with the support from exhibitors...
Typifying the challenges facing the vast majority of Australian films, Heath Davis’ suspense-drama Locusts and Partho Sen-Gupta’s thriller Slam were released on a handful of screens last weekend.
Working with limited marketing budgets the distributors and producers relied primarily on reviews and publicity, and the weekend figures were commensurately modest.
Ben Geurens and Nathaniel Dean play estranged brothers who are the targets of an extortion racket in Locusts, which grossed $11,000 on 11 screens and $14,000 with previews.
Film Ink Presents is handling the theatrical release of the privately-financed film, which co-stars Jessica McNamee, Steve Le Marquand, Justin Rosniak, Andy McPhee, the late Damian Hill and Alan Dukes, while Jonathan Page’s Bonsai Films will sell the ancillary rights.
“It’s difficult for independent films to secure screens and marketing exposure,” Angus Watts, who produced and wrote Locusts, tells If. “We’re happy with the support from exhibitors...
- 10/21/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
The disappearance of a fearless female Palestinian-Australian slam poet triggers suspense and powerful social and political commentary in “Slam,” an outstanding slow-burn thriller by expat Indian filmmaker Partho Sen-Gupta (“Sunrise”). Starring Palestinian actor Adam Bakri as the missing woman’s conflicted brother, and leading Aussie performer Rachael Blake as a troubled cop, Opening Down Under on Oct. 17 after generating plenty of buzz at Sydney and Melbourne film festivals earlier this year, “Slam” has valuable things to say about the times in which we live and deserves to be seen on a much wider stage.
“Slam” slams into action with Ameena Nasser (Danielle Horvat) staring into the camera. Wearing a headscarf and addressing her speech “to mother,” Ameena delivers a ferocious denunciation of colonization, patriarchy, intolerance and the misuse of power, all the while asserting her right and need as a woman to speak out. At first her delivery has the...
“Slam” slams into action with Ameena Nasser (Danielle Horvat) staring into the camera. Wearing a headscarf and addressing her speech “to mother,” Ameena delivers a ferocious denunciation of colonization, patriarchy, intolerance and the misuse of power, all the while asserting her right and need as a woman to speak out. At first her delivery has the...
- 10/17/2019
- by Richard Kuipers
- Variety Film + TV
The short film program was exceptional and the sequencing of the shorts was also very well planned, each somehow leading into the next, whether by filmic style or elements or by theme. There were four programs, each with six shorts. The subjects were far-ranging, and considering Egypt is a Muslim country and religion often plays a strong role in the lives of many, the program was very liberal. I strongly advocate for the inclusion of these well-curated shorts in many short film festivals or in festivals with concurrent themes.
** On the subject of woman and her place in Muslim society, the 15-minute short, Give Up The Ghost by Zain Duraie, is quite daring as the protagonist resists a tradition which automatically puts her into an inferior position. Give Up the Ghost won the El Gouna Star for the Best Arab Short Film. In modern Jordan, Salam and her husband must...
** On the subject of woman and her place in Muslim society, the 15-minute short, Give Up The Ghost by Zain Duraie, is quite daring as the protagonist resists a tradition which automatically puts her into an inferior position. Give Up the Ghost won the El Gouna Star for the Best Arab Short Film. In modern Jordan, Salam and her husband must...
- 10/5/2019
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
‘Top End Wedding’, ‘Hearts and Bones’ and ‘The King’ are among the 34 longlisted films.
Some 34 feature films will compete for nominations for this year’s Aacta Awards, and the longlist covers a diverse range of titles, from box office earners like Top End Wedding and Storm Boy, through to critically lauded films like The Nightingale and micro budget indies such as Suburban Wildlife.
However, perhaps the most notable inclusion in the longlist is David Michôd’s Netflix Original The King, which premiered at Venice Film Festival last week to an eight-minute standing ovation.
Typically, to be eligible for Aacta Awards, a film – even when made for a streaming platform – must have paid cinema screenings in Australia or local festival play.
Aacta has made an exception for The King, which is not due to play in Australian cinemas or in festivals before its release on Netflix later this year, because of...
Some 34 feature films will compete for nominations for this year’s Aacta Awards, and the longlist covers a diverse range of titles, from box office earners like Top End Wedding and Storm Boy, through to critically lauded films like The Nightingale and micro budget indies such as Suburban Wildlife.
However, perhaps the most notable inclusion in the longlist is David Michôd’s Netflix Original The King, which premiered at Venice Film Festival last week to an eight-minute standing ovation.
Typically, to be eligible for Aacta Awards, a film – even when made for a streaming platform – must have paid cinema screenings in Australia or local festival play.
Aacta has made an exception for The King, which is not due to play in Australian cinemas or in festivals before its release on Netflix later this year, because of...
- 9/10/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
All3media International has signed an exclusive first-look deal with Slam Films, the scripted TV indie led by Episodes star Stephen Mangan and actor-producer Louise Delamere (No Angels).
The agreement gives all3media first look to sign distribution rights on any of the company’s new commissions for the next two years. Slam’s recent productions include comedy drama Bleak House Guest for Sky, starring Monica Dolan, Ian Hart and Mangan; Birthday for Sky Arts and Netflix, written by Joe Penhall and directed by Roger Michell; and, most recently, comedy Hang Ups for Channel4. Slam also co-produced feature film Away, starring Timothy Spall and Juno Temple, directed by David Blair.
Robert Delamere continues in his executive producer role. Robin Davies, who has been with the company since 2015, is the company’s head of production and was co-producer on Hang Ups. Slam was also recently joined by Katy Obr from Scott...
The agreement gives all3media first look to sign distribution rights on any of the company’s new commissions for the next two years. Slam’s recent productions include comedy drama Bleak House Guest for Sky, starring Monica Dolan, Ian Hart and Mangan; Birthday for Sky Arts and Netflix, written by Joe Penhall and directed by Roger Michell; and, most recently, comedy Hang Ups for Channel4. Slam also co-produced feature film Away, starring Timothy Spall and Juno Temple, directed by David Blair.
Robert Delamere continues in his executive producer role. Robin Davies, who has been with the company since 2015, is the company’s head of production and was co-producer on Hang Ups. Slam was also recently joined by Katy Obr from Scott...
- 6/11/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Partho Sen-Gupta..
Screen Australia, Screenwest and France.s Cnc Cinémas du Monde have all backed Slam, the latest film from writer-director Partho Sen-Gupta (Sunrise, Let The Wind Blow)..
To be shot in Western Sydney later this year, Slam follows the disappearance of a young Muslim woman in a climate of mistrust and xenophobia.
Cast will include Adam Bakri (Omar), Rachael Blake (Sleeping Beauty, Lantana) and Abbey Aziz (Let it Be Love). Post-production will be completed in Western Australia and France.
"I wrote Slam with urgency and anger in reaction to the world around me nose-diving into hatred and fratricide,. said Sen-Gupta..
.But I am very pleased that what has resulted is a poetic appeal to reason, a socially motivated thriller that transcends language and nationality. I am very excited to work with such a talented international cast and crew who were touched by the human story and will collaborate with...
Screen Australia, Screenwest and France.s Cnc Cinémas du Monde have all backed Slam, the latest film from writer-director Partho Sen-Gupta (Sunrise, Let The Wind Blow)..
To be shot in Western Sydney later this year, Slam follows the disappearance of a young Muslim woman in a climate of mistrust and xenophobia.
Cast will include Adam Bakri (Omar), Rachael Blake (Sleeping Beauty, Lantana) and Abbey Aziz (Let it Be Love). Post-production will be completed in Western Australia and France.
"I wrote Slam with urgency and anger in reaction to the world around me nose-diving into hatred and fratricide,. said Sen-Gupta..
.But I am very pleased that what has resulted is a poetic appeal to reason, a socially motivated thriller that transcends language and nationality. I am very excited to work with such a talented international cast and crew who were touched by the human story and will collaborate with...
- 5/23/2017
- by Inside Film Correspondent
- IF.com.au
Exclusive: Adam Bakri to lead Australian-French co-pro.
Partho Sen-Gupta’s Australian-French co-production Slam has completed financing after securing support from Screen Australia, Screenwest and France’s Cnc Cinémas du Monde.
The Sydney-set thriller is scheduled to start shooting in late 2017 with post-production in Western Australia and France. It marks the first Australian production to receive funding from Cnc. Bonsai Films will distribute in Australia with Doc & Film International handling international sales.
Starring Adam Bakri (Omar), Rachael Blake (Sleeping Beauty) and Abbey Aziz (Let It Be Love), the film follows the disappearance of a young Muslim woman in Sydney in a climate of mistrust and xenophobia.
Australian production houses Invisible Republic, headed by Michael Wrenn, and George and Nille & Co, headed by Tenille Kennedy, are co-producing the film with Marc Irmer’s Paris-based Dolce Vita Films.
“Partho Sen-Gupta has the ability to take a dark subject matter and make an incredibly beautiful film as we saw with his...
Partho Sen-Gupta’s Australian-French co-production Slam has completed financing after securing support from Screen Australia, Screenwest and France’s Cnc Cinémas du Monde.
The Sydney-set thriller is scheduled to start shooting in late 2017 with post-production in Western Australia and France. It marks the first Australian production to receive funding from Cnc. Bonsai Films will distribute in Australia with Doc & Film International handling international sales.
Starring Adam Bakri (Omar), Rachael Blake (Sleeping Beauty) and Abbey Aziz (Let It Be Love), the film follows the disappearance of a young Muslim woman in Sydney in a climate of mistrust and xenophobia.
Australian production houses Invisible Republic, headed by Michael Wrenn, and George and Nille & Co, headed by Tenille Kennedy, are co-producing the film with Marc Irmer’s Paris-based Dolce Vita Films.
“Partho Sen-Gupta has the ability to take a dark subject matter and make an incredibly beautiful film as we saw with his...
- 5/21/2017
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Dubai/Exclusive: Palestinian actor Adam Bakri (Omar) has been cast in Sydney-based director Partho Sen-Gupta’s upcoming drama Slam, alongside Australian actress Rachael Blake.
The story follows a young Australian of Palestinian origin whose peaceful life is shattered when his sister disappears and local media claim she has run away to join Isis.
Michael Wrenn’s Australian production outfit Invisible Republic is producing the film with Australia’s Charles Billeh and Marc Irmer of Paris-based Dolce Vita Films on board as co-producers. Screen Australia supported development of the English-language project.
Billeh is attending Dubai Film Market to find a minority co-producer from the region for the film, which is scheduled to shoot in Sydney next year.
Born in India and now based in Sydney, Sen-Gupta previously directed award-winning Hindi-language dramas Let The Wind Blow (2004) and Sunrise (2014).
The story follows a young Australian of Palestinian origin whose peaceful life is shattered when his sister disappears and local media claim she has run away to join Isis.
Michael Wrenn’s Australian production outfit Invisible Republic is producing the film with Australia’s Charles Billeh and Marc Irmer of Paris-based Dolce Vita Films on board as co-producers. Screen Australia supported development of the English-language project.
Billeh is attending Dubai Film Market to find a minority co-producer from the region for the film, which is scheduled to shoot in Sydney next year.
Born in India and now based in Sydney, Sen-Gupta previously directed award-winning Hindi-language dramas Let The Wind Blow (2004) and Sunrise (2014).
- 12/12/2016
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
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