Academy Award Nominee War Witch Gets A Release Date

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War Witch, the Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film and Film Independent Spirit Award nominee for Best International Film will open nationwide on VOD on February 26, 2013, and theatrically in New York on March 1st, 2013 at Angelika Theater and Lincoln Plaza.  Other US cities to follow.

Written and directed by Kim Nguyen, War Witch follows the story of Komona (Rachel Mwanza) who is only 12 years old when she is kidnapped by rebel soldiers and enslaved to a life of guerrilla warfare in the African jungle. Forced to commit unspeakable acts of brutality, she finds hope for survival in protective, ghost-like visions (inspiring a rebel chief to anoint her "War Witch"), and in a tender relationship with a fellow soldier named Magician (Serge Kanyinda). Together, they manage to escape the rebels' clutches, and a normal life finally seems within reach. But after their freedom proves short-lived, Komona realizes she must find a way to bury the ghosts of her past.

Starlet from SXSW Festival to Open in NY and LA on November 9th

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Starlet, directed by Sean Baker, and official selections at SXSW Film Festival 2012 and Locarno Film Festival 2012, will open in New York and Los Angeles on November 9th.

Starlet explores the unlikely friendship between 21-year-old Jane played by Dree Hemingway, and 85-year-old Sadie played by Besedka Johnson. Besedka Johnson is the winner of the OUTSTANDING ACTING award at SXSW Film Festival 2012.

Tribeca Films to Release the Award Winning Spanish Thriller No Rest for the Wicked in December

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Tribeca Film will release the award-winning thriller No Rest for the Wicked (No habra paz para los malvados), directed by Spanish thriller/film noir director Enrique Urbiz, which is currently screening as part of Fantastic Fest in Austin. Tribeca Film plans a December release for the film.

Santos Trinidad (José Coronado) is a dirty cop with a violent streak and a serious thirst for rum and Coke. During a drunken binge, he murders three people in a bar. A witness escapes from the building before Santos can catch him. While Santos sets out to kill the witness and cover up his crimes, a judge and the police conduct an investigation into the murders. Santos’ hunt for the witness and the parallel police investigation slowly converge to reveal a massive criminal conspiracy that no one involved could have ever anticipated.

The film swept the 2012 Goya Awards —the Spanish equivalent of the Oscars— with wins for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Sound. No Rest for the Wicked was scripted by Urbizu and Michel Gatzambide and produced by Gonzalo Salazar-Simpson and Alvaro Augustin as well as Lazona and Telecinco Cinema.

Gay Independent Film In The Family Returns to NYC Theatre on November 16

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Patrick Wang’s award-winning debut independent feature film In The Family returns to New York City’s Cinema Village on November 16. The  film has won multiple awards, including nomination for an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature and filmmaker Patrick Wang was named one of “25 New Faces of Independent Film” in 2012 by Filmmaker Magazine.

In the film, Chip Hines (Sebastian Banes), a precocious and loving six year-old, only knows life with his two Dads, Cody Hines, his biological father, “Pa”, (soap sensation, Trevor St. John, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) and the kind and resourceful Joey Williams, “Dad” (writer-director Wang). Both men are embraced by Cody’s family and by their community of co-workers and friends. Caught up in the lapidary and subtle rhythms of their small, sophisticated Southern town, Martin, Tennessee, Cody teaches Junior High Math and Joey is a general contractor who has been supervising the restoration and preservation of a mansion owned by retired attorney Paul Hawks and his wife Marge (Susan Kellermann (BEETLEJUICE; 33 VARIATIONS)).

Oscilloscope to Release The Apple Pushers Documentary Narrated by Ed Norton

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Oscilloscope Laboratories has picked up Mary Mazzio’s documentary The Apple Pushers for distribution in the US. Narrated by Academy Award® nominee Edward Norton, The Apple Pushers follows immigrant street vendors who are rolling fresh fruits and vegetables into poor neighborhoods of New York City, where finding a fresh red ripe apple can be a serious challenge. These pushcart vendors, who have immigrated from all parts of the world and have sacrificed so much to come to the United States, are now part of an experiment in New York to help solve the food desert crisis and skyrocketing obesity rates in urban communities.

The film premiered to critical acclaim at The Hamptons International Film Festival 2011 and has been screened at Lincoln Center in New York City, and other major festivals, universities, and government showings. It will next be seen as part of The Whole Foods DoSomethingReel Film Festival, which will host screenings of the film in 5 major cities around the country on April 22–Earth Day. Oscilloscope will make the film available on VOD nationwide following the festival, and will continue to book special screenings and engagements across the country. The Apple Pushers will also be broadcast on public television’s WORLD channel in May and June.

The film is written and directed by Mary Mazzio, and produced by Mazzio, Tom Scott, and Christine Vachon.

Bully Expands in Wider Release After New PG13 Rating

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The controversial new documentary “Bully,” was given a PG-13 rating by the Classification and Rating Administration on Thursday, clearing the film for wider release in theaters by the film distribution company, Weinstein Company.

The ratings board had initially given “Bully” an R rating for harsh language, but after earlier unsuccessful appeals, the Weinstein Company decided to release the film with no rating.

This week though, the Weinstein Company and Lee Hirsch, the director and a producer of the film, agreed to edit some, but not all, of the offending language from the film. Kept intact was what is considered a crucial scene in which obscenities are hurled at a young victim on a school bus.

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Morgan Spurlock's New Documentary MANSOME a Hilarious Look at Metrosexuals and Mens Grooming Habits

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Oscar and Emmy Award-nominated director/producer Morgan Spurlock's new documentary film MANSOME has a release date. The film which is scheduled to have its world premiere at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival on April 21st, will open in limited release in several major cities nationwide including New York and Los Angeles beginning May 18th.

MANSOME  was written, directed and produced by Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold) and executive produced by DumbDumb co-founders Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Electus Founder Ben Silverman, MANSOME marks Arnett and Bateman's first executive producer credits.

In the age of manscaping, metrosexuals, fancy men's day spas, and high-end grooming products galore, MANSOME is a witty, provocative and highly-entertaining glimpse into what it means to be a man in a world where the definition of masculinity has become as diverse as a hipster's facial hair in Williamsburg. With his signature humor and insight, Spurlock combs over the follicles of men's idiosyncratic grooming habits, opening up a dialogue about men's unique approach to self image.

An expose of comic proportions, MANSOME follows Arnett and Bateman to the spa as they undergo various beautification rituals while offering amusing stories and observations about elusive male bathroom secrets. The film highlights a wide range of men including champion beardsmen, longtime barbershop owners, known metrosexuals, mustachioed males and professional wrestlers; all intercut with candid, one-on-one interviews and commentary from actor/comedians Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Paul Rudd, Zach Galifianakis, Adam Carolla, Judd Apatow, as well as sociological experts and everyday men and women all of whom weigh in on everything from the growing incidence of men turning to plastic surgeons to our obsession with facial hair.

"As someone who has spent the past eight years shaving around a ridiculous mustache, I couldn't think of a more 'Mantastic' story to tell than this," said director/producer Morgan Spurlock.  "I jumped at the chance to work with Will and Jason.  They're so manly, so handsome, so ... Mansome."

"If I do say so myself, there are no better coiffed, buffed, sharpened and styled men than Morgan, Will and myself to open the world's eye to the changing notion of masculinity in today's culture," said executive producer and DumbDumb Co-Founder Jason Bateman. "Mansome is a special tribute to our passion and dedication for male grooming and the freedom of facial-hair expression which we wholeheartedly feel should be equal amongst both sexes," continued executive producer and DumbDumb Co-Founder Will Arnett.

"Jason Bateman and Will Arnett are two legendary back shavers, and Morgan's mustache and strange receding hairline make them the perfect partners to bring this project to life," said Ben Silverman, Executive Producer and Founder of Electus.

The other interview subjects featured in MANSOME include John Waters, ZZ Top band members Dusty Hill and Billy Gibbons, Anthrax musician Scott Ian, Cosmopolitan Editor-in-Chief Kate White, author Brett McKay, sociologist Michael Kimmel, beard expert Allan Peterkin, champion beardsman Jack Passion, Old Spice Guy Isaiah Mustafa, Co-Founder of Movember Andrew Garone, biological anthropologist Helen Fisher, pro-wrestler Shawn Daivari, stylist Stefan Campbell, clothing buyer Ricky Manchanda, and salon and barbershop owners Martial Vivot, Donnie Hawley, Ricky King, Adam Baker, Michael Haar and Kamal Neru.

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QUEEN OF VERSAILLES from 2012 Sundance Festival to Premiere on Bravo in 2013

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The documentary, THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES, directed by filmmaker and photographer Lauren Greenfield - who won Best Director at Sundance 2012 for the documentary, will premiere in 2013 on Bravo.

THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES was filmed over three years and is described as an insightful and entertaining documentary about billionaires Jackie and David Siegel, who are constructing the largest house in America - a 90,000 square foot dream home modeled after the palace of Versailles. As a result of the financial crisis, their extravagant plans are put on hold. David's time-share business runs into difficulties, and the filmmaker captures the Siegel's turn of fortune. While delivering big laughs, "The Queen of Versailles" also manages to be a moving, clear-eyed snapshot of a unique and sobering moment in our history, as we are forced to reevaluate the sustainability of the American dream.

Director Lauren Greenfield has previously directed three award-winning documentary films - "THIN," "kids + money," and "Beauty CULTure." Her work was recently showcased in the Getty Museum's historical exhibition, "Engaged Observers: Documentary Photography Since the Sixties" (2010).

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Weinstein Company Rejects MPAA R Rating and Will Release BULLY as Unrated

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The Weinstein Company announced that they will release the controversial documentary 'Bully' as unrated, basically, disregarding the 'R" rating assigned by the MPAA. Weinstein had mounted a very public campaign in an effort to get the MPAA to change it's mind with over half a million people signing an online petition and support from celebrities like Meryl Streep.

See press release from The Weinstein Company:

ELENA, Winner of Cannes’ Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize, Opens in NY on May 16

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ELENA, a film by by award-winning Russian filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev (Golden Globe nominee "The Return") will open at Film Forum in New York City on May 16 and at the Nuart Theater in Los Angeles on May 25; a national release will follow.

Winner of Cannes’ Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize and Grand Prize for Best Film at Ghent Film Festival, ELENA is described as a gripping, modern twist on the classic noir thriller. Sixty-ish spouses Vladimir (Andrey Smirnov) and Elena (Nadezhda Markina - winner of Best Actress Award at Festival Nouveau Cinema Montreal; Seville and Durban film festivals, and Best Actress Nominee at the European Film Awards) uneasily share his palatial Moscow apartment—he’s a still-virile, wealthy businessman; she’s his dowdy former nurse who has clearly “married up.” Estranged from his own wild-child daughter, Vladimir openly despises his wife’s freeloading son and family. But when a sudden illness and an unexpected reunion threaten the dutiful housewife’s potential inheritance, she must hatch a desperate plan…

in addition to  award-winning Russian filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev, ELENA also features what is being described as "Hitchcockian" music by Philip Glass.

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