3 Danish films – “THE HUNT”, “THE ACT OF KILLING” and “NORTHWEST” have made the shortlist to be the film submitted as the Danish candidate in the Foreign Language Film category for the Academy Awards. The films have been selected by a committee set up by the Danish Film Institute and film industry organizations. The final candidate is expected to be announced on Thursday, 26 September.
JIGOKU DE NAZE WARUI (WHY DON’T YOU PLAY IN HELL?) by Sono Sion
12 feature-length films from the Orizzonti section and 3 feature-length films from the brand-new Biennale College – Cinema from the 70th Venice International Film Festival will be available online as part of the Web Theatre program, at the same time as they are screening at the festival which runs 28 August – 7 September 2013.
When Stan’s girlfriend of six months, Annie drops the bomb on him that she has been preoccupied more recently and not fully committed to their relationship, he becomes unsettled. Reminding her of their agreement to always be candid about the things that happen in their lives, she elaborates to the truth of her infatuation for and brewing relationship with Mandy. Baffled to say the least Stan admits that he no longer wishes to date Mandy, for now. Meanwhile, Marcus and Aaron are looking for ways to spice up their relationship, at the exact moment when their sexual peak is seemingly in reach; agreeing to explore an “open relationship” the two attempt to set boundaries for their trysts, collectively which they assume would lead to mountains of fun for these liberal New Yorkers, marked by exploratory flings.
Director Won Kar Wai and Martin Scorsese celebrate the upcoming release of MARTIN SCORSESE PRESENTS ‘THE GRANDMASTER’
Filmmaking legends Wong Kar Wai and Martin Scorsese met in New York yesterday to celebrate the upcoming release of Wong’s kung fu epic THE GRANDMASTER. The Weinstein Company, who is releasing the film theatrically, recently announced that Scorsese is lending his name in presentation of the picture, deeming it MARTIN SCORSESE PRESENTS ‘THE GRANDMASTER.’ The film, which stars internationally beloved actors Tony Leung, Ziyi Zhang, and Chang Chen and is executive produced by Annapurna Pictures’ Megan Ellison, will open in New York, Los Angeles and Toronto on August 23rd and nationwide on August 30th.
The documentary “ANITA,” which recently screened as part of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival following its Sundance Film Festival debut earlier this year will be released this Fall by Samuel Goldwyn Films.
The 13th Hollywood Black Film Festival scheduled to take place October 2 – 6, 2013, announced the lineup of Official Selections which includes 2 Features, 38 Shorts, 11 Student Films, 7 Docs and 2 Web Series. Features on the lineup include HARD TIME BUS directed by Dean Charles and THY WILL BE DONE directed by Albert Johnson.
BLUE RUIN
Fantastic Fest announced the second wave of programming for the ninth edition of Fantastic Fest, taking place September 19 – 26 at Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline in Austin, Texas. See below for descriptions of nineteen new World, North American & US premiere films at this year’s festival.
BAYOU MAHARAJAH: THE TRAGIC GENIUS OF JAMES BOOKER
Steve McQueen’s “12 YEARS A SLAVE” will open, and and New Orleans filmmaker Lily Keber’s “BAYOU MAHARAJAH: THE TRAGIC GENIUS OF JAMES BOOKER” will close the 2013 New Orleans Film Festival. “Both of the films were produced in New Orleans and represent the burgeoning film scene in the city,” says Jolene Pinder, Executive Director of the New Orleans Film Society.
THE ILLNESS AND THE ODYSSEY
The 3rd Guam International Film Festival (GIFF) will expand from 3 to 6 days, and showcase over 45 films, including films from the 2013 Festival de Cannes and from Japan Short Shorts Film Festival, from Tuesday, September 24, through Sunday, September 29, 2013. GIFF 2013 will also feature ‘THE ILLNESS AND THE ODYSSEY’ as its centerpiece film and ‘ALAGWAY (BREAKAWAY)’ as its closing night film.
ROCK THE CASBAH
The Toronto International Film Festival announced the addition of 3 Galas and 19 Special Presentations to the 2013 Festival program, including 12 World Premieres. The festival will be the first to premiere films by directors Fred Schepisi, Alberto Arvelo, Reha Erdem, Dexter Fletcher, Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland, Megan Griffiths, Arnaud Larrieu and Jean-Marie Larrieu, Kevin Macdonald, Arie Posin, Charlie Stratton, Nils Tavernier and John Turturro. The 38th Toronto International Film Festival runs September 5 to 15, 2013.
A Place in Heaven
The Toronto International Film Festival today announced the Contemporary World Cinema lineup featuring the best in cinema from around the globe. The programme presents the latest works from filmmakers Danis Tanović, Clio Barnard, Dante Lam, Götz Spielmann, Avi Nesher, Toa Fraser, Alexey Uchitel, Jan Hrebejk, János Szász, Noh Young-Seok, Mohammad Rasoulof and Alain Guiraudie.
HollyShorts opens this week on Thursday August 15 with it’s first ever opening feature film, David Rodriguez’s star-studded dramedy LAST I HEARD. LAST I HEARD stars Paul Sorvino, Michael Rapaport, Renee Props, Andrea Nitolli and Lev Gorn. The film which features the first onscreen pairing of mafia movie legends Sorvino and Chazz Palminteri (The Usual Suspects), focuses on what it’s like to be a powerful NY mobster coming home from prison after 20 yrs, and all that you have left are the memories of who you used to be.