Posted by editor@vimooz.com on February 17, 2009 under Florida Experimental Film/Video Festival, Gasparilla Film Festival, Kara Film Festival, Philadelphia Film Festival (Philly Fest), Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival | 
“Firaaq” Wins Pakistan’s Kara Film Festival
Bollywood actress Nandita Das’ directorial debut “Firaaq”, based on the 2002 sectarian violence in Gujarat, won the best feature film award at Pakistan’s Kara Film Festival. The list of winners. Read more …
Sundance Film Festival Director heads to Tribeca Film Festival
Tribeca announced on Tuesday morning that Geoffrey Gilmore, the long-time director of the Sundance Film Festival, has agreed to become the chief creative officer of Tribeca Enterprises, which owns and operates the Tribeca Film Festival, among other ventures. Mr. Gilmore, one of the independent film world’s best known executives, had been with Sundance for 19 years and helped turn it into what is arguably the defining annual event in the independent film world. Read more …
Gasparilla International Film Festival to honor Armand Assante
Emmy Award winner and four-time Golden Globe nominee, Armand Assante, will receive the Gasparilla Career Achievement Award for Excellence in Film on March 1st at the Gasparilla International Film Festival. The award will be presented at a reception held in his honor at the Dolce Vita Lounge at 5:00 p.m., immediately following the screening of one of his films, California Dreamin’ at Channelside Cinemas. The long-time actor will also grace the screen in another film festival feature, The Steam Experiment, starring Val Kilmer, which is a first-time public screening of the film.
Actor Jon Voight to attend Beloit International Film Festival
Academy Award winning actor Jon Voight and actor Kevin Farley will be in Wisconsin at the Beloit International Film Festival. They appeared in “An American Carol,” a comedy directed by Milwaukee-native David Zucker.
Kevin Farley, brother of the late Chris Farley, will be at the showings Thursday at La Casa Grande and Saturday at Wilson Theater on the Beloit College Campus. Voight, the father of actress Angelina Jolie, will only be at the Wilson Theater showing. Read more …
TLA Entertainment and the Philadelphia Film Society Still Fighting Over Philadelphia Film Festival
A fight between TLA Entertainment owner Ray Murray, who has overseen the annual springtime festival since 2001, and members of the Philadelphia Film Society, a nonprofit that co-promotes the festival, has led to Murray booking his own festival. Called Philadelphia CineFest, the event will run March 26 through April 5. The PFS is hoping to stage a festival under the original name either in the spring or fall. Read more …
FLEX, the Florida Experimental Film/Video Festival returns to the Hippodrome State Theatre In Gainesville, Florida, from February 20-26
FLEX, the Florida Experimental Film/Video Festival, returns with its fifth annual international film festival at the Hippodrome State Theatre In Gainesville, Florida, from February 20-26, 2009.
The opening weekend of the festival (Feb. 20-22) will showcase 8 programs of experimental short films and video that comprise the competitive section of the festival. After that opening weekend, FLEX will shift gears for the remaining days of the festival (Feb. 24-26) with a series of special events and a number of feature-length films. Read more …
Tags: Armand Assante, California Dreamin', Firaaq, FLEX, Florida Experimental Film/Video Festival, Gasparilla International Film Festival, Geoffrey Gilmore, Kara Film Festival, Nandita Das, Sundance Film Festival, The Steam Experiment, Tribeca Film Festival, Val Kilmer
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on January 24, 2009 under Sundance Film Festival |
The jury and audience award-winners of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival were announced tonight at the Festival’s closing Awards Ceremony.
For the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, 118 feature-length films were selected including 91 world premieres, 16 North American premieres, and 5 U.S. premieres representing 21 countries with 42 first-time filmmakers, including 28 in competition. These films were selected from 3,661 feature- length film submissions composed of 1,905 U.S. and 1,756 international feature-length films.
The 2009 Sundance Film Festival Award Winners:
The Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Documentary was presented to We Live in Public, directed by Ondi Timoner. The film portrays the story of the Internet’s revolutionary impact on human interaction as told through the eyes of maverick web pioneer, Josh Harris, and his transgressive art project that shocked New York.
The Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Dramatic was presented to Push (pictured): Based on the novel by Sapphire, directed by Lee Daniels and written by Damien Paul. The film tells the redemptive story of Precious Jones, a young girl in Harlem struggling to overcome tremendous obstacles and discover her own voice.
The World Cinema Jury Prize: Documentary was presented to Rough Aunties, directed by Kim Longinotto. Fearless, feisty and unwavering, the ‘Rough Aunties’ protect and care for the abused, neglected and forgotten children of Durban, South Africa. United Kingdom
The World Cinema Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented to The Maid (La Nana), directed by Sebastián Silva. When her mistress brings on another servant to help with the chores, a bitter and introverted maid wreaks havoc on the household. Chile
The Audience Awards are presented to both a dramatic and documentary film in four Competition categories as voted by Sundance Film Festival audiences. The 2009 Sundance Film Festival Audience Awards are presented by Honda.
The Audience Award presented by Honda: U.S. Documentary was presented to The Cove, directed by Louie Psihoyos. The horrors of a secret cove nestled off a small, coastal village in Japan are revealed by a group of activists.
The Audience Award presented by Honda: U.S. Dramatic was presented to Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire, directed by Lee Daniels and written by Damien Paul. The film tells the redemptive story of Precious Jones, a young girl in Harlem struggling to overcome tremendous obstacles and discover her own voice.
The World Cinema Audience Award: Documentary was presented to Afghan Star, directed by Havana Marking. After 30 years of war and Taliban rule, Pop Idol has come to television in Afghanistan: millions are watching and voting for their favorite singer. Marking’s film follows the dramatic stories of four contestants as they risk their lives to sing. Afghanistan/United Kingdom
The World Cinema Audience Award: Dramatic was presented to An Education, directed by Lone Scherfig from a screenplay by Nick Hornby. In the early 60s, a sharp 16-year-old with sights set on Oxford meets a handsome older man whose sophistication enraptures and sidetracks both her and her parents. United Kingdom
Directing Awards recognize excellence in directing for dramatic and documentary features.
The Directing Award: U.S. Documentary was presented to El General and director Natalia Almada. As great-granddaughter of President Plutarco Eliás Calles, one of Mexico’s most controversial revolutionary figures, the filmmaker paints an intimate portrait of Mexico.
The Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic was presented to Sin Nombre, written and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga. Filmmaker Fukunaga’s first-hand experiences with Mexican immigrants seeking the promise of the U.S. form the basis of this epic Spanish-language dramatic thriller.
The World Cinema Directing Award: Documentary was presented to Afghan Star, directed by Havana Marking. After 30 years of war and Taliban rule, Pop Idol has come to television in Afghanistan: millions are watching and voting for their favorite singer. Marking’s film follows the dramatic stories of four contestants as they risk their lives to sing. Afghanistan/United Kingdom
The World Cinema Directing Award: Dramatic was presented to Five Minutes of Heaven,United Kingdom/Ireland directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel from a screenplay by Guy Hibbert. Two men from the same town but from different sides of the Irish political divide discover that the past is never dead.
The Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award was presented to Nicholas Jasenovec and Charlyne Yi for Paper Heart. Even though performer Charlyne Yi doesn’t believe in love, she bravely embarks on a quest to discover its true nature - a journey that takes on surprising urgency when she meets unlikely fellow traveler, actor Michael Cera.
The World Cinema Screenwriting Award was presented to Five Minutes of Heaven, directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel from a screenplay by Guy Hibbert. Two men from the same town but from different sides of the Irish political divide discover that the past is never dead. United Kingdom/Ireland
The U.S. Documentary Editing Award was presented to Sergio. Directed by Greg Barker and edited by Karen Schmeer, the film examines the role of the United Nations and the international community through the life and experiences of Sergio Vieira de Mello, the U.N.’s High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The World Cinema Documentary Editing Award was presented to Burma VJ. Directed by Anders Østergaard and edited by Janus Billeskov Jansen and Thomas Papapetros. The film takes place in September 2007 as Burmese journalists risk life imprisonment to report from inside their sealed-off country. Denmark
The Excellence in Cinematography Awards honor exceptional cinematography in both dramatic and documentary categories.
The Excellence in Cinematography Award: U.S. Documentary was presented to The September Issue. With unprecedented access, director R.J. Cutler, cinematographer Bob Richman and their crew shot for nine months to capture editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and her team preparing the 2007 Vogue September issue, widely accepted as the “fashion bible” for the year’s trends.
The Excellence in Cinematography Award: U.S. Dramatic was presented to Sin Nombre, written and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga. Cinematographer: Adriano Goldman. Filmmaker Fukunaga’s first-hand experiences with Mexican immigrants seeking the promise of the U.S. form the basis of this epic Spanish-language dramatic thriller.
The World Cinema Cinematography Award: Documentary was presented to Big River Man,U.S.A./United Kingdom John Maringouin’s documentary about at an overweight, wine-swilling Slovenian world-record-holding endurance swimmer who resolves to brave the mighty Amazon in nothing but a Speedo.
The World Cinema Cinematography Award: Dramatic was presented to An Education, directed by Lone Scherfig from a screenplay by Nick Hornby. Cinematographer: John De Borman. In the early 1960s, a sharp 16-year-old girl with sights set on Oxford meets a handsome older man whose sophistication enraptures and sidetracks both her and her parents. United Kingdom
A World Cinema Special Jury Prize for Originality was presented to Louise-Michel, directed by Benoit Delépine and Gustave de Kervern, about a group of disgruntled female French factory workers who, after the factory abruptly closes, pool their paltry compensation money to hire a hit man to knock off the corrupt executive behind the closure. France
A World Cinema Special Jury Prize: Documentary was presented to Tibet in Song directed by Ngawang Choephel. Through the story of Tibetan music, this film depicts the determined efforts of Tibetan people, both in Tibet and in exile, to preserve their unique cultural identity. Choephel served six years of an 18-year prison sentence for filming in Tibet. Tibet
A World Cinema Special Jury Prize for Acting was presented to Catalina Saavedra for her portrayal of a bitter and introverted maid in The Maid (La Nana). Chile
A Special Jury Prize: U.S. Documentary was presented to Good Hair, directed by Jeff Stilson, in which comedian Chris Rock travels the world to examine the culture of African-American hair and hairstyles.
A Special Jury Prize for Spirit of Independence was presented to Humpday, Lynn Shelton’s farcical comedy about straight male bonding gone a little too far.
A Special Jury Prize for Acting was presented to Mo’Nique for her portrayal of a mentally ill mother who both emotionally and physically imprisons her daughter in Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire.
The 2009 Jury Prize in U.S. Short Filmmaking was awarded to: Short Term 12, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. The jury also presented the International Jury Prize in International Short Filmmaking to Lies, directed by Jonas Odell. Honorable Mentions in Short FilmmakingThe Attack of the Robots from Nebula-5, directed by Chema Garcia Ibarra; Protect You + Me, directed by Brady Corbet; Western Spaghetti, directed by PES; Jerrycan, directed by Julius Avery; Love You More, directed by Sam Taylor-Wood, I Live in the Woods, directed by Max Winston, Omelette, directed by Nadejda Koseva; and Treevenge, directed by Jason Eisener. were presented to
Adam, directed by Max Mayer, is the recipient of this year’s Alfred P. Sloan Prize. The Prize, which carries a $20,000 cash award to the filmmaker provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, is presented to an outstanding feature film focusing on science or technology as a theme, or depicting a scientist, engineer or mathematician as a major character.
Sundance Institute and NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) also announced the winners of the 2009 Sundance/NHK International Filmmakers Awards honoring and supporting emerging filmmakers-one each from the United States, Japan, Europe and Latin America. The winning filmmakers and projects for 2009 are Diego Lerman, Ciencias Morales (Moral Sciences) from Argentina; David Riker, The Girl, from the United States; Qurata Kenji, Speed Girl from Japan; and Lucile Hadzihalilovic, Evolution from France.
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on January 23, 2009 under Sundance Film Festival |
The 2009 Sundance Film Festival announced earlier this week the jury prizes in shorts filmmaking based on outstanding achievement and merit. The Sundance Film Festival runs January 15-25, 2009 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. Full awards will be announced the evening of January 24th at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival Awards Ceremony at the Park City Racquet Club. Actress Jane Lynch will serve as Master of Ceremonies.
The 2009 Short Film jurors are Gerardo Naranjo (Director/Writer/Producer: Voy a explotar, Malachance, Perro Negro); Lou Taylor Pucci (Actor: Thumbsucker); and Sharon Swart (Variety).
The Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking was awarded to Short Term 12, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. The Jury Prize in International Short Filmmaking was given to Lies, directed by Jonas Odell. The Shorts Jury awarded Honorable Mentions in Short Filmmaking to The attack of the robots from Nebula-5, directed by Chema Garcia Ibarra; Protect You + Me, directed by Brady Corbet; Western Spaghetti, directed by PES; Jerrycan, directed by Julius Avery; Love You More, directed by Sam Taylor-Wood, I Live in the Woods, directed by Max Winston, Omelette, directed by Nadejda Koseva; and Treevenge, directed by Jason Eisener.
Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking
Short Term 12 (Director: Destin Daniel Cretton)-A film about kids and the grown-ups who hit them.
Jury Prize in International Short Filmmaking
Lies/Sweden (Director: Jonas Odell)-Three perfectly true stories about lying. In three episodes based on documentary interviews we meet the burglar who, when found out, claims to be a moonlighting accountant, the boy who finds himself lying and confessing to a crime he didn’t commit and the woman whose whole life has been a chain of lies.
Honorable Mentions in Short Filmmaking
The attack of the robots from Nebula-5/Spain (Director: Chema García Ibarra)-”Almost” everybody is going to die very soon.
I Live In The Woods (Director: Max Winston)-A Woodsman’s fast-paced journey, fueled by happiness, slaughter, and a confrontation with America’s God.
Jerrycan/Australia (Director and Screenwriter: Julius Avery)-While attending a party, five bored kids decide to blow something up. A childhood game seals the fate of Nathan, who risks everything after he is bullied, and is forced to make a life and death decision.
Love You More/UK (Director: Sam Taylor-Wood; Screenwriter: Patrick Marber)-Two teenagers are drawn together by the Buzzcocks’ single ‘Love You More’ during the summer of 1978.
Omelette/Bulgaria (Director: Nadejda Koseva; Screenwriter: Georgi Gospodinov)-While a woman makes an omelette we learn how difficult it is to make ends meet.
Protect You + Me (Director: Brady Corbet)-A reminder of a long-forgotten event, combined with a challenging situation, provokes a man to extreme action.
Treevenge/Canada (Director: Jason Eisener; Screenwriter: Rob Cotterill)-Sometimes Christmas is worth crying over.
Western Spaghetti (Director: PES)-Everyday objects become delicious ingredients as we learn how to cook spaghetti through stop-motion.
This year the Festival’s Short Film Program was comprised of a record 96 short films from 5,632 submissions, from U.S. and international filmmakers. Submissions grew by 10% over last year. Due to the strong submissions this year, the Shorts Program was expanded to accommodate the quality of work submitted. The 2009 award winners and honorable mentions exemplify Sundance’s commitment to discovering new talent and accomplished storytelling and filmmaking.
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on January 22, 2009 under Sundance Film Festival |
IFC Films acquires ‘Dead Snow’
IFC Films acquired U.S. distribution rights to the tongue-in-cheek Nazi zombie comedy “Dead Snow” at the Sundance Film Festival Wednesday. The Norwegian horror pic about medical student co-eds on a ski holiday who meet up with evil Nazi zombies premiered in the international narrative feature section. Read more …
Rapper Lil Wayne bares his addiction to prescription cough syrup in “Tha Carter”
In “Tha Carter,” the shockingly intimate documentary about him that premiered Saturday night at Sundance, superstar rapper Lil Wayne is laid bare in several different ways including his addiction to prescription cough syrup. Read more …
Comedian Amy Poehler’s “Spring Breakdown”
Comedian Amy Poehler’s film “Spring Breakdown” lightens the economic gloom shadowing the Sundance Film Festival, premiering despite itself having been rocked by the financial crisis. The comedy about three 30-something women who go on spring break — the wild annual vacation taken by U.S. college students — was made in 2006 but languished after its studio home Warner Independent shut down last year. Read more …
IFC Films gets “In the Loop”
IFC Films has bought U.S. rights to Armando Iannucci’s comedy “In the Loop” hours before its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. “In the Loop” follows a British government minister who inadvertently supports a war on prime-time television. Read more …
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on January 21, 2009 under Sundance Film Festival |
Chris Rock’s “Good Hair”
“Good Hair,” one of 16 films in Sundance’s U.S. documentary competition, follows comedian Rock and his hilarious examination of the cultural pressures that prod blacks into costly, often painful methods to care for their hair. Read more …
Sony Pictures Classics Gets “An Education”
Sony Pictures Classics has acquired North American and Latin American rights for under $3 million to Lone Scherfig’s “An Education” after a heated bidding war. Written by Nick Hornby from a memoir by Lynn Barber, “An Education” stars Sundance “It Girl” Carey Mulligan as a 16-year-old British schoolgirl who falls hard for a charming older man played by Peter Sarsgaard. Dominic Cooper and Alfred Molina also star. Read more …
Lionsgate goes for “The Winning Season”
Lionsgate has picked up North American and U.K. rights to James Strouse’s comedy “The Winning Season.” The film stars Sam Rockwell as an alcoholic who becomes a high school basketball coach as part of his recovery. Read more …
Fox Searchlight grabs “Adam”
Fox Searchlight acquired worldwide rights Monday to rookie writer-director Max Mayer’s “Adam” following the New York romance’s Sundance debut. Hugh Dancy (”Savage Grace”) plays a man with Asperger syndrome who falls in love with his neighbor, played by Rose Byrne (”Damages”). Read more …
Visit Films buys “The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle”
Visit Films has purchased worldwide rights to Sundance Spectrum film “The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle” - a surreal comedy about a male computer programmer who gets laid-off, begins working as a janitor, and becomes “quasi-pregnant” thanks to a bizarre experiment. Seattle filmmaker David Russo’s film premiered at Sundance on Monday. Read more …
Mariah Carey’s “Push” is Getting Positive Reviews
Mariah Carey is getting positive reviews from critics who saw “Push” last weekend at the Sundance Film Festival. Mariah Carey threw out her glamorous image to play a supporting role as a social worker who helps a sexually abused teen in the indie film “Push.” “Push” was directed by Lee Daniels and based on the controversial, best-selling book by Sapphire (real name Ramona Lofton). Read more …
Tags: Adam, An Education, Chris Rock, Fox Searchlight, Good Hair, Lee Daniels, Lionsgate, Mariah Carey, Push, Ramona Lofton, Sony Pictures Classics, Sundance Film Festival, The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle, THE WINNING SEASON, Visit Films
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on January 9, 2009 under Sundance Film Festival |
The 2009 Sundance Film Festival announced the members of the six juries awarding prizes at the Festival, which runs January 15-25, 2009 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. Awards will be announced the evening of January 25 at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival Awards Ceremony at the Park City Racquet Club.
The six juries for the 2009 Sundance Film Festival are:
Dramatic Jury
- Virginia Madsen - (Actress: Sideway, Number 23, The Rainmaker, David Lynch’s Dune)
- Scott McGehee - (Producer/Director/Writer: Uncertainty, The Deep End, Suture)
- Maud Nadler - (Producer/HBO Films: Relative Values)
- Mike White - (Writer/Director/Producer: Year of the Dog)
- Boaz Yakin - (Director/Writer/Producer: Fresh, Remember the Titans, Hostel)
Documentary Jury
- Patrick Creadon - (Cinematographer/Director/Writer: Wordplay, I.O.U.S.A., Flow: For the Love of Water)
- Carl Deal - (Director/Producer: Trouble the Water)
- Andrea Meditch - (Executive Producer/Producer: Man on Wire, In the Shadow of the Moon)
- Sam Pollard - (Editor: When the Levees Broke, Jungle Fever, Mo’ Better Blues)
- Marina Zenovich - (Director/Producer/Writer: Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired)
World Dramatic Jury
- Colin Brown (New York) - (Editor: Screen International)
- Christine Jeffs (New Zealand) - (Director/Writer: Rain, Stroke; Director: Sunshine Cleaning)
- Vibeke Windelov (Denmark) - (Producer: Dogville, Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark)
World Documentary Jury
- Gillian Armstrong (Australia) - (Director: Death Defying Acts, Oscar & Lucinda, Little Women)
- Thom Powers (New York) - (Documentary Programmer, Toronto International Film Festival)
- Hubert Sauper (France) - (Director/Producer: Darwin’s Nightmare)
Shorts Jury
The Short Film Jury will present the Jury Prizes in Short Filmmaking to one U.S. and one international short film playing at the Festival, as well as Honorable Mentions based on outstanding achievement and merit. Shorts Awards will be announced at the Sundance Film Festival Shorts Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, January 20th.
- Gerardo Naranjo - (Director/Writer/Producer: Voy a explotar, Malachance, Perro Negro)
- Lou Taylor Pucci - (Actor: Thumbsucker)
- Sharon Swart - (Reporter: Variety)
Alfred P. Sloan Jury
Provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Prize is presented to the writer and director of an outstanding feature film focusing on science or technology as a theme, or depicting a scientist, engineer, or mathematician as a major character.
- Fran Bagenal - (Professor of Astrophysical & Planetary Sciences, University of Colorado)
- Rodney Brooks - (Panasonic Professor of Robotics, MIT Computer Science & AI Lab)
- Ray Gesteland - (Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah)
- Jeffrey Nachmanoff - (Writer: The Day After Tomorrow; Writer/Director: Traitor)
- Alex Rivera - (Director/Writer/Editor: Sleep Dealer)
Jury Awards
The competitive categories of the Sundance Film Festival have introduced audiences to some of the most intriguing independent films and filmmakers of the past 25 years. At the 2009 Festival, Grand Jury Prizes will be awarded to one U.S. dramatic film and one U.S. documentary film screening in competition; World Cinema Jury Prizes will be awarded to one world dramatic film and one world documentary film screening in competition.
In addition to the top jury prizes, all films in Competition are eligible to receive a range of awards, including: Directing Awards, Excellence in Cinematography Awards, and Documentary Editing Awards. The Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award will be presented to a U.S. film by the Dramatic Competition Jury, with the World Cinema Dramatic Competition Jury presenting the World Cinema Screenwriting Award. All films in Competition are eligible for Sundance Film Festival Audience Awards as selected by Film Festival audiences.
Special Jury Prizes
The documentary and dramatic juries may, at their discretion, select films from each of the Festival’s four competitions to receive special recognition for their unique vision or excellence.
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on December 30, 2008 under Sundance Film Festival |
Sundance Institute announced today the addition of THE WINNING SEASON to the films screening at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival in the out-of-competition Premieres section. THE WINNING SEASON will have its world premiere on Monday, January 19 at 8:30 p.m. at the Library Center Theatre in Park City. The 25th Sundance Film Festival runs January 15-25, 2009 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Sundance, Utah.
Directed by Jim Strouse (Lonesome Jim, Grace is Gone), The Winning Season stars Sam Rockwell (pictured) as an adult misfit brought on to coach his local girl’s high school basketball team. Cast: Emma Roberts, Rob Corddry, Shareeka Epps and Emily Rios.
“We are thrilled to welcome back to the Festival Jim Strouse who once again displays his talent for storytelling in this superbly witty film,” said Geoffrey Gilmore, Director, Sundance Film Festival. “The Winning Season is a completely gratifying cinematic drama marked by sharp dialogue and perfectly toned performances.”
For the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, 118 feature-length films were selected including 91 world premieres, 16 North American premieres and 5 U.S. premieres representing 21 countries with 42 first-time filmmakers, including 28 in the non-competition categories. These films were selected from 3,661 feature film submissions composed of 1,905 U.S. and 1,756 international feature-length films. [via]
Tags: Emily Rios, Emma Roberts, Grace is Gone, Jim Strouse, Lonesome Jim, Rob Corddry, Sam Rockwell, Shareeka Epps, Sundance Film Festival, Sundance Institute, THE WINNING SEASON
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on November 19, 2008 under Sundance Film Festival |
Sundance Institute announced today that the world premiere of Mary and Max, a clay animation feature film from Academy Award-winning short film creators Adam Elliot and producer Melanie Coombs is the Opening Night Film for the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Toni Collette and narrated by Barry Humphries, Mary and Max is the tale of two unlikely pen pals: Mary, a lonely, eight-year-old girl living in the suburbs of Melbourne, and Max, a forty-four-year old, severely obese man living in New York. The story is based on the director’s own pen-friendship that has also lasted over twenty years. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Sundance Film Festival runs January 15-25, 2009 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Sundance, Utah.
“This portrait of a global friendship between two marvelously dysfunctional people is an exceptionally moving, funny and thought-provoking work,” said Geoffrey Gilmore, Director, Sundance Film Festival. “Mary and Max is the first film of its kind to open the Festival and we anticipate audiences will embrace Adam Elliot’s feature-length directorial debut for its poignant story, exceptional voice talent and technological creativity.”
Mary and Max marks renowned Australian animator Adam Elliot’s return to Sundance Film Festival. His short film Harvie Krumpet, also produced by Melanie Coombs, screened at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival and went on to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. Elliot has been awarded five Australian Film Institute Awards, for his four previous films. These films, which also include Uncle, Cousin and Brother, have screened in hundreds of film festivals all over the world. “By Opening Night it will have been five years since Melanie and I began working on the film. It has been a whale of a pregnancy and we are so thrilled that the birth will be in Sundance. It is a dream come true to unveil our film in such an honored and nourishing environment.” said Elliot.
Written and directed by Elliot, Mary and Max tells the tale of an improbable friendship between two very different people: Mary Daisy Dinkle (Collette) a lonely Australian eight-year-old, and Max Jerry Horovitz (Hoffman), a middle-aged New Yorker. Spanning 20 years and two continents, Mary and Max is a journey that explores friendship, autism, taxidermy, psychiatry, alcoholism, obesity, kleptomania, sexual difference, religious difference, agoraphobia and more. The film is narrated by Australian legend Barry Humphries and features cameos from Eric Bana, singer Renee Geyer and Australian music icon Ian “Molly” Meldrum along with Julie Forsyth and John Flaus.
Mary and Max was Produced by Melanie Coombs and Executive Produced by Mark Gooder, Paul Hardart, Tom Hardart, Bryce Menzies and Jonathan Page and Co-Executive Produced by Iain Canning, Andrew Mackie and Richard Payten with Associate Producer Pauline Piechota. Mary and Max was financed by Screen Australia, Adirondack Pictures and Film Victoria and is being sold internationally by Icon Entertainment International.
“All of us could not think of a better place to launch Adam’s labor of love. It is thrilling to have the home of independent filmmaking recognize Adam’s enormous talent,” said Mark Gooder, CEO of Icon.
The entire 2009 Sundance Film Festival program announcement will be made on Wednesday, December 3 and Thursday, December 4.
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on October 8, 2008 under Boston Muslim Film Festival |
The American Islamic Congress (AIC) has announced the fall edition of the Boston Muslim Film Festival, which runs from October 13-21 and features films from across the Muslim world highlighting “Art under Fire” (complete details at www.MuslimFilm.org)
“Muslim cultures have produced legendary works of art, from the mosaics of Marrakesh to the Taj Mahal,” explained Nasser Weddady, AIC’s Civil Rights Outreach Director. “Yet today censorship and radicalism constrain many Muslim artists around the world. Our festival explores how musicians, filmmakers, and even comedians are struggling to respond.”
One highlight is the award-winning Egyptian film “Dunia” - nominated for a grand jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival - which tells the moving story of a poet and dancer who suffers from the effects of female genital mutilation.
The festival, which premiers at Harvard Square’s legendary Brattle Theatre, features live performances in conjunction with each film to heighten the artistic theme. Following the screening of “Democracy in Dakar,” for instance, Senegalese hip-hop artists featured in the film will perform and then lead an audience discussion.
“This is an opportunity to see a side of the Muslim world we rarely hear about on the news,” observed Weddady. “Hopefully these films will inspire Bostonians of all backgrounds to appreciate art’s preciousness as well as the layered diversity of the Muslim world.”
Boston-native Tissa Hami, a featured comedian in “Stand Up” (winner of CINE Golden Eagle Award), will perform following a screening of this documentary on Muslim-American comics.
“We see the Boston Muslim Film Festival as a new way for the general public to explore Muslim cultures and identities in a civic and artistic context,” said Weddady. “The festival is free and open to people of all backgrounds.”
Screening will be held at the Brattle Theatre, Boston Public Library, Harvard, Boston University, Northeastern, and MIT. Co-sponsors include the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities, the Global Film Initiative, Facing History & Ourselves, Americans for Informed Democracy, BU’s Women Studies Program, Barakat, and AIC’s student-led campus initiative Project Nur.
The American Islamic Congress ( www.aicongress.org) is a civil-rights organization promoting tolerance and the exchange of ideas among Muslims and between other peoples. With the motto “passionate about moderation,” the organization leads initiatives around the world and has offices in Washington, Boston, Egypt and Iran.
via press release
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on September 19, 2008 under Sundance Film Festival |
Sundance Film Festival organizers announced today new and expanded ticket offerings for Utah residents, including the first opportunity to purchase the brand-new Discovery Package as well as select passes and packages, including the popular Express Pass B, previously offered only through national ticket sales. Celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2009, the Sundance Film Festival will take place January 15-25 with screenings and events in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah.
“Sundance Film Festival, while international in the scope of its filmmakers, films, audiences and reputation, very much belongs to the people of Utah,” said Jill Miller, Managing Director, Sundance Institute. “From its early beginnings 25 years ago, the Festival’s success has been supported by the vital, enthusiastic involvement of local residents. We seek to provide a high level of access and exclusive offerings to the local community,” Miller said.
Utah residents, who collectively make up over one-third of all Sundance Film Festival attendees, are given access to the majority of all Festival tickets sold - nearly half of which can only be accessed by locals. Organizers also offer to schools throughout the Wasatch Front and Back its Filmmakers in the Classroom program and high school screenings and make available each year a select number of tickets to Festival screenings for local community groups and non-profit organizations.
2009 Sundance Film Festival Locals Pass and Ticket Package registration begins on Tuesday, September 23 9:00 a.m. (MT) and runs until Friday, October 3, to 5:00 p.m. (MT). This registration period is open to Utah residents only. To ensure local benefits reach local audiences, proof of Utah residency (valid Utah Driver’s License or a photo ID and a Utah utility bill) is required when Packages and Passes are picked up at the Main Box Offices in Park City and Salt Lake City. A Utah billing address is required for all credit card purchases.