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The list of films and schedule of screening times and dates has been announced for the first AFI Dallas International Film Festival, March 22-April 1. Among the films are 8 of our Top Picks from the last few festivals we've attended. This includes 5 of the 11 Narrative Competition films.
These are the ones we are keeping our eyes on:
THE GO-GETTER
Friday, March 23rd
Signature Series at the Angelika Film Center (with red carpet entrances at Victory Park as part of Victory Media Network Event, during which the largest LCD Hi-Def screen in the country will be unveiled)
BLACK IRISH
Wednesday, March 28th
Signature Series at the Landmark Magnolia Theatre
In the NARRATIVE COMPETITION:
BLACK IRISH
THE GO-GETTER
THE GOOD LIFE
MAN IN THE CHAIR
SWEDISH AUTO
In the DALLAS PREMIERE SERIES:
FAY GRIM
TRADE
In WORLD CINEMA:
RED ROAD
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The 2007 South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference & Festival has announced a few late-breaking additions to the lineup, as well as news on some of the actors and actresses scheduled to attend the festival.
On Wednesday, March 14, the festival will host a special screening of Mike Binder's 'Reign Over Me,' starring Don Cheadle and Adam Sandler. Some cast nd crew are expected to attend. Pop superstar James Blunt will attend the March 10 world premiere of Steven Cantor's documentary, 'James Blunt: Return to Kosovo,' which chronicles Blunt's trip to the battlefields where he served as a British soldier before finding success in music. Actor Shia LeBeouf and director D.J. Caruso are scheduled to attend a special screening of their film, 'Disturbia,' on March 9. Co-star of NBC series 'Friday Night Lights,' Connie Britton, is scheduled to attend a screening of her film with director Sarah Kelly, 'The Lather Effect,' on Wednesday, March 14.
SXSW has also added a special panel entitled "A Conversation with Elizabeth Avellan," to be held March 12 at the Austin Convention Center. Avellan, the acclaimed producer of such films as 'Sin City' and 'Grindhouse,' will share stories and insight from her successful career walking the line between Hollywood and indie film. Meanwhile, the "South By Bookstore" at the iF! Trade Show has scheduled book and DVD signings with the likes of John Sayles ('Lone Star'), and John Cameron Mitchell ('Shortbus'), for the afternoon of Tuesday, March 13.
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Now that Forest Whitaker has picked up his well-deserved Best Picture Oscar, many have set their sights on his next film The Air I Breathe. The stellar cast includes Kevin Bacon, Julie Delpy, Brendan Fraser, Andy Garcia, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Emile Hirsch.
First time writer-director Jieho Lee and co-writer Bob DeRosa were asked how they felt about Whitaker's triumph. "Work is piling up like crazy; not much time for blogging. But rest assured that Jieho and I and the whole AIR I BREATHE team are THRILLED for Forest," DeRosa says. "He deserves all of his awards and more."
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Just 10 days until we head down to Austin, Texas forthe 2007 SXSW Film Festival. The list of interviews with directors of entries in this year's festival is growing over at eFilmcritic.com. Check it out.
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Love is the Drug, which played a short run in Seattle and Los Angeles a few months ago and mysteriously disappeared (along with the producers and filmmakers, who have been silent ever since) has resurfaced to play the San Fernando Valley International Film Festival in North Hollywood, California.
All screenings are FREE and will take place at the Beverly Garland Hotel. The ensemble cast features Daryl Hannah and John Patrick Amedori (Butterfly Effect, Stick It).
Love is the Drug will be shown at 7:00 PM on Saturday, March 17.
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Do you have HBO On Demand? If you do, you can watch an 11 minute "Making of" featurette on the new film Starter for 10. It will eventually end up on the film's DVD but you can see it now.
It's listed under "HFL - Starter for Ten" (stands for HBO First Look) so don't look for it under "S." The category is "Inside HBO."
There are interviews with:
James McAvoy - Brian Jackson
Alice Eve - Alice Harbinson
Rebecca Hall - Rebecca Epstein
Mark Gatiss - Bamber Gascoigne
Catherine Tate - Julie Jackson
Tom Vaughan - Director
David Nicholls - Writer (novel) (screenplay)
Gary Goetzman - Producer
Steve Shareshian - Executive Producer
Starter for 10 is playing New York, Los Angeles, and Austin, Texas. It will expand on March 9, hopefully to a theater near you.
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We've been following the progress of The Final Season, which was shot in Iowa and wrapped at the beginning of July 2006. Now we have word that the film will have its World Premiere "at a major film festival," according to producer Carl Borack. The filmmakers are still looking for a distribution deal but the hope is that it will be released in late July-early August. The Final Season stars Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings trilogy) and Michael Angarano (Lords of Dogtown, Snow Angels, Man in the Chair).
Hmmm...Cannes is coming up...then there is Tribeca in New York in April. If the latter is the case, I'm there.
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Here is the complete list of nominees and winners of the 2007 Academy Awards.
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I don't often do the viral video thing, but this one just felt too important not to share. Enjoy.
(Opens with some profanities)
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The 2007 Independent Spirit Awards winners are:
FEATURE (Award given to the Producer)
"Little Miss Sunshine," Marc Turtletaub, David T. Friendly, Peter Saraf, Albert Berger, Ron Yerxa, producers
FIRST FEATURE (Award given to the director and producer)
"Sweet Land," Ali Selim, director Alan Cumming, James Bigham, Ali Selim, producers
DIRECTOR
Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris, "Little Miss Sunshine"
MALE LEAD
Ryan Gosling, "Half Nelson"
FEMALE LEAD
Shareeka Epps, "Half Nelson"
SUPPORTING MALE
Alan Arkin, "Little Miss Sunshine"
SUPPORTING FEMALE
Frances McDormand, "Friends with Money"
SCREENPLAY
Jason Reitman, "Thank You For Smoking"
FIRST SCREENPLAY
Michael Arndt, "Little Miss Sunshine"
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Guillermo Navarro, "Pan's Labyrinth"
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD (Given to the best feature made for under $500,000; award given to the writer, director, and producer)
"Quinceanera," Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland, writer/directors; Anne Clements, producer
DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the director)
"The Road to Guantanamo," Michael Winterbottom and Mat Whitecross, directors
FOREIGN FILM (Award given to the director)
"The Lives of Others," (Germany); Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, director
AXIUM PRODUCERS AWARD
Howard Gertler and Tim Perell
SPECIAL DISTINCTION AWARD
David Lynch, Laura Dern
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This is big news so we'll just dive right into it.
Alpha Dog will be released on DVD May 1.
Here are the specifics from Universal Home Video:
Release Date: 05/01/2007
Packaging: Snap Case
Price: $19.98
Disc 1
Run Time: 1 Hour 58 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
CARA Reasons: Pervasive Drug Use and Language, Strong Violence, Sexuality and Nudity
Bonus Materials
# A Cautionary Tale: The Making of Alpha Dog
# Witness Timeline
Technical Information
Audio
# English Dolby Digital 5.1
# French Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Picture: Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1)
Color
Also, High-Def Digest reports that the film will also be released on HD DVD May 1, and will include Dolby TrueHD audio.
"It will be a HD DVD/DVD combo disc, and hit stores day-and-date with the standard-def DVD counterpart. It boasts the studio's standard 1080p/VC-1 video transfers, along with Dolby Digital-Plus 5.1 surround tracks," they report. "Alpha Dog is also scheduled to include a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix, making it only the studio's third such title to support lossless audio (after End of Days and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas)."
This combo disc will retail for $39.95.
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We received some news today on Outlaw Trail, the yet-to-be released film starring Ryan Kelley (Mean Creek, The Dust Factory). "I'm often asked when this film will be in theaters and at this point I usually reply that "I do not know when," Executive Producer Brad Pelo told fans at the IMDb message board. "We are still finalizing our distribution relationship and obviously it is the decision of the distributor as to WHEN or IF it shows in a theater in your area or if it is direct to DVD (broadly speaking or simply is perceived to be direct to DVD because there were no theatrical screenings in your area)." This was in response to some questions regarding whether or not the film would go "straight to DVD."
Gardens of the Night, starring Tom Arnold, Jeremy Sisto, and Kevin Zegers (Transamerica, Air Bud) had to go back for reshoots. They were just completed this week in Whittier, California. This will obviously push everything back a couple of months.
Finally, as mentioned a couple of days ago, Fifty Pills is now out on DVD. There are a couple of different covers, depending on where you shop.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge pictures
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The 2007 SXSW Film Festival is just 2 weeks away, and we're looking forward to seeing one of our Top 5 Picks from Toronto, All the Boys Love Mandy Lane. The film will have its U.S. Premiere in the Spotlight Section on Saturday, March 10. It was one of only 2 films picked up by the Weinsteins at Toronto and will be out in theaters soon. They are distributing it through Dimension, which they took with them after leaving Miramax/Disney.
The cast and crew were present at that Toronto screening in September, and a little birdy told us today that most, if not all, will attend the U.S. Premiere in 2 weeks. Cast member Michael Welch is one of our most prolific young actors. He starred in The United States of Leland with Chris Klein (who was in The Good Life with Patrick Fugit and Zooey Deschanel, one of our Top Picks from Sundance) and Jena Malone (who was in The Go-Getter with Lou Taylor Pucci and Zooey Deschanel, another Top Pick of ours from Sundance). He was in Delivering Milo with Anton Yelchin (who is in Alpha Dog, one of our Top Picks of 2006). And he is co-starring with Chris Marquette in 2 new films. Chris was also in Alpha Dog with Anton and Emile Hirsch, and also in The Girl Next Door with Emile. Welch has just completed an episode of Law and Order: SVU which will air during May sweeps.
Also today SXSW announced the North American Premiere of Chanwook Park's new film, I'm a Cyborg, but That's OK, as its Closing Night Film for the 2007 Festival. It will screen on the final night of the festival, March 17, in Austin, Texas. Park is the director of such critical and commercial hit films as Oldboy and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance.
"It's an honor and a privilege to host the stateside debut of Mr. Park's latest film on our Closing Night," says SXSW Film Festival Producer Matt Dentler. "Mr. Park is easily one of the most exciting filmmakers working in Asia today, and we can't wait to share his new vision with the SXSW audiences."
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Cashback was our #1 Top Pick from the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival (of 30+ films screened) and one of our Top Picks for the 2006-7 festival season (of over 100 films screened).
The film opened in France awhile back and recently premiered in the UK at the Glasgow Film Festival. It opens in Canada on March 9.
Earlier we reported a "rumor" that a US release would come this summer. Now we can report, with some degree of reliability, that Magnolia Pictures will be releasing Cashback in the US July 27 or August 3.
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Today sees the release of a couple of noteworthy films on DVD.
Fifty Pills was one of our Top Picks from the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. Lou Taylor Pucci proves he has the comedic timing of a master in this sweet, crowd-pleasing romantic comedy.
American Hardcore captivated us at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival. It's definitely not for everyone, though. If you were around in the late 1970s-1980s and love music, though, you'll "get it." In the Q&A after the World Premiere, I asked the filmmakers if they could include some extra material on the DVD. They came through bigtime.
There are almost 90 minutes of extras including:
- Deleted scenes and additional interviews
- Full song performances from vintage footage
- Archival photo slideshow featuring Edward Colver
- Director commentary with Paul Rachman and Writer Steven Blush
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So far this year I've attended the Sundance and Santa Barbara Film Festivals, and am headed to SXSW in Austin, Texas just 2 weeks from Friday. But now Arizona beckons, and I'll be heading to the 2007 Sedona International Film Festival on March 1st. I'll be there for 3 days, and will then head to SXSW 6 days after that. This will be my 3rd festival this year and 12th since the start of 2006.
I'll be attending the 4 screenings posted below, including the World Premieres of Homeland Security and the newly recut The Bondage. I'm told that Sedona is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and am looking forward to taking in some of the sights there. This will also be my 5th time in the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport in just a 5 week period (I flew in and out of there for both Sundance and Santa Barbara) so I'm getting to know that airport well. No doubt I'll be filing some more reports from there.
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The 2007 Sedona International Film Festival has announced its lineup, and there are some notable selections. First, the World Premiere of Homeland Security will take place. This is the new film from the same creative team behind Local Color, which was one of our Top Picks from the past festival year. Local Color is also being screened at the festival. Both films also feature actor Trevor Morgan, whose film Off the Black, another of our 2006 Top Picks, will also be shown. In fact, all 3 films will be shown back-to-back at the exact same theater on the exact same day. Call it a Trevor Morgan triple bill.
In addition, The Bondage, which had its World Premiere at last year's SXSW Film Festival, will have first screening since then. It was also one of our Top Picks from the past year.
Homeland Security will have 2 screenings:
Friday, March 2
9:30 p.m.
Harkins Theatre 2
Saturday, March 3
4:15 p.m.
Harkins Theatre 1
The Bondage will have 2 screenings:
Wednesday, Feb. 28
8:30 p.m.
Harkins Theatre 1
Friday, March 2
2:05 p.m.
Harkins Theatre 2
Local Color will have 2 screenings:
Friday, March 2
4:25 p.m.
Harkins Theatre 2
Sunday, March 4
11:30 a.m.
Harkins Theatre 1
Off the Black will have 2 screenings:
Friday, March 2
7:00 p.m.
Harkins Theatre 2
Saturday, March 3
1:45 p.m.
Harkins Theatre 1
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It's only 3 weeks until we arrive in Austin, Texas, and it's time to get out the calendar. We are now able to post the complete schedule of films for each theater for the 2007 SXSW Film Festival. The screening schedule is now online.
Also up now at the festival site is the first batch of trailers. Be sure to check back often as more are added.
The festival will host 120 features, 60 of which are World Premieres, and 120 short films from around the globe, divided into various sections and competitions. The feature films make up the Spotlight Premieres, Documentary and Narrative Feature Competitions, Emerging Visions, 24 Beats Per Second, Lone Star States, 'Round Midnight, and Special Screenings categories of the Festival.
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The excitement is building towards the SXSW Film Festival, now just 3 weeks away. Check out this article in Ain't It Cool News about Disturbia. You'll be hearing more about this one.
And more news from our friends at the festival:
"The workaholic film geeks at eFilmCritic have begun their annual filmmaker interviews for this year's SXSW. This is definitely one of our favorite press traditions, as it gets up close and personal with most of the SXSW filmmakers who will be unveiling new work next month," says festival director Matt Dentler. "Up now are Scott Weinberg's interviews with directors Ti West (Trigger Man) and Glasgow Phillips (Undead or Alive). And, keep checking back as there is bound to be many, many more filmmaker interviews to come."
In their latest dispatch from the Berlin Film Festival, indieWIRE's Brian Brooks and Eugene Hernandez take a closer look at three fest titles, including Jamie Babbit's Itty Bitty Titty Committee, which will have its North American Premiere at SXSW next month. From the write-up following the film's premiere screening:
The film itself came from within an activist group. It was produced by POWER UP (Professional Organization of Women in Entertainment Reaching Up), the six-year-old organization aimed at supporting diversity and the visibility of lesbians in entertainment.
"Music was a big inspiration of the movie," explained Babbit, after a screening of the film here in Berlin. She used a considerable amount of material Washington-based punk and alternative rock label, Kill Rock Stars. Her own participation in radical groups of the '90s also provided some of the backdrop for "Itty Bitty". "I started noticing common themes in [AIDS activist group] ACT UP and lesbian micro-groups," said Babbit, after a rousing showing here in Germany. "The politics were important, but sex was also a motivation."
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I'm Reed Fish was one of our Top Picks from the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. After we initially announced awhile back that a distribution deal had been reached, information has been hard to come by. Now we have word from the filmmakers that a theatrical release is imminent, and our sources say it will be in the April-May time frame. A DVD will likely follow about 3-4 months later (as is standard). Netflix members can add I'm Reed Fish to their queue right now.
There is now a MySpace for I'm Reed Fish as well. At the moment, there are stills and the poster for the film. No doubt a trailer and more release information will appear as the date approaches.
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Just 3 weeks from tomorrow we'll be winging our way down to Austin, Texas for the 2007 South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival. Blanks are being filled in as the festival has announced its complete lineup of panels, short films, retrospectives, and new additions to the feature film schedule.
The panels lineup will conclude on Tuesday, March 13 with a special session entitled "Ready for Primetime: TV Comedy Today" featuring notable TV performers and producers such as Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy), Al Jean (The Simpsons), Rob Corddry (Fox's new show The Winner, The Daily Show), and more. Other notable additions to the panels lineup include: "A Conversation with Bill Paxton" on Saturday, March 10, the addition of filmmaker John Cameron Mitchell (Shortbus) to the Monday, March 12 session "Sex Scenes Stay Hard," and a multimedia presentation by acclaimed animator Emily Hubley. The complete panels lineup and schedule will be on the SXSW Web site on Friday, February 16.
"The panels aspect of the SXSW Film Festival has always been a crucial and important part of the experience," says Festival Producer Matt Dentler. "Every year, attendees are able to learn and share with some of the best in the film business. Most importantly, things are accomplished and put in motion."
In addition to the panels added, the SXSW Film Festival has also announced its lineup of shorts for the festival. They include nearly 100 films from around the globe, encompassing the worlds of animation, documentary, experimental filmmaking, music videos, and more. The full lineup of short films can be found on on the SXSW Web site.
Meanwhile, the SXSW Film Festival has also announced a few new additions to the feature films lineup for this year's event. The new features include: Eric Chaikin's documentary A Lawyer Walks Into a Bar, Kris Carr's documentary Crazy Sexy Cancer, D.J. Caruso's upcoming thriller Disturbia, and Shannon O'Rourke's documentary Maybe Baby. In the "Retrospectives" section of the film festival, SXSW has announced a special Music Documentaries Retrospective, to feature: Ron Mann's Imagine the Sound (1981), D.A. Pennebaker's Monterey Pop (1968), and Bruce Weber's Let's Get Lost (1988). Plus, SXSW will screen a remastered print of Eagle Pennell's 1979 classic The Whole Shootin' Match.
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Sarah Polley's Away from Her has been one of the most talked about films of the last few festivals I attended. It was shown at 3 of them, in fact: Toronto, Sundance, and Santa Barbara. The Canadian entry features legendary actresses Julie Christie and Olympia Dukakis.
Contributing writer and photographer Dan Molyneux attended a screening on Monday, February 12, at the AMC Clifton Commons in Clifton, New Jersey. Rolling Stone critic Peter Travers hosted the event as part of a New York Film Critics series.
"Fiona (Julie Christie) is striken with Alzheimer's. Her husband Grant, the protagonist (Gordon Pinsent), is in the process of coming to terms with the fact that Fiona can no longer live a normal life at home, and the next step for her is a nursing home," Molyneux writes. "Fiona is competent enough and agrees the nursing home is the best choice for both of them. In the home, Fiona's condition deteriorates and she seems to develop a love interest in another patient named Aubrey (Michael Murphy). The film follows Grant, who unites with Aubrey's wife Marian (Olympia Dukakis). Together the two build a relationship while their loved ones are struggling with a confusing illness with no cure."
Click the thumbnail to enlarge picture
Rolling Stone critic Peter Travers interviews Olympia Dukakis about her role in Away from Her.
Photo copyright Dan Molyneux 2007.
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One of our Top Picks from the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival, Starter For 10, opens on February 23 in New York and Los Angeles.
It is also coming to the hometown of the SXSW Film Festival, Austin, Texas. In honor of that, there will be a special screening on Thursday, February 15. Alice Eve and Rebecca Hall will be in attendance.
The Austin Chronicle is co-hosting the event and giving away FREE tickets. To get them, fill out the form HERE.
Contest ends at 4pm, Tuesday, February 13th. Winners will be notified by email where to pick up their passes.
Disclaimer:
You must be 18 to receive a pass. Passes do not guarantee admission. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first served basis. Theater is overbooked to ensure a full house. Please arrive early.
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Here is some news about a few of our Top Picks from this past year's film festivals.
Starter For 10, one of our Top Picks from the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival, opens in exclusive release in NY and LA on February 23. It will expand to an unspecified number of theaters on March 9. The film stars Last King of Scotland wunderkind James McAvoy.
Eric Allen Bell's The Bondage, which was our #1 Top Pick from the 2006 SXSW Film Festival, has been in a state of limbo since then. It's been through a couple of name changes and 15 minutes has been cut from the version we saw last March. The film stars Michael Angarano (Sky High, Lords of Dogtown, Snow Angels, Man in the Chair), Mae Whitman, Griffin Dunne, and Illeana Douglas. Producers Eccentric Cattle Entertainment told us today, "We should know more soon about the future of The Bondage. Will keep you posted." Sounds promising.
Finally, we have found a compilation of reviews and quotes about Snow Angels, our #1 Top Pick from this year's Sundance Film Festival. Thanks to GreenCine Daily via writer/director David Gordon Green's blog.
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Fierce People, directed by Griffin Dunne and starring Diane Lane, Anton Yelchin, Kristen Stewart, and Donald Sutherland, was shot in the spring of 2004 and had its world premiere at Tribeca in 2005. It played several festivals that year. Release seemed imminent, then it disappeared. Poof. Vanished. Then I attended a screening of Fierce People at the 2006 Woodstock Film Festival.
Afterward, information circulated that Lions Gate would finally be releasing the film in February 2007. No confirmation followed. Finally, Variety, Box Office Mojo, comingsoon.net, and other sites began posting a date of July 20 for an exclusive NY/LA release.
Looking to confirm this information, I was first told that "Fierce People has been removed from Lionsgate's publicity website and release list." The individual said, "When I asked them about it I was told that they had NO PLANS for a theatrical release and that the film had been "handed over" to the Home Entertainment department."
This would have meant it goes straight to DVD after all.
However, said individual spoke prematurely. We were right the first time. Fierce People will, indeed, hit theaters on July 20.
Posted by phileysmiley at 08:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
I attended a screening of "Trade" at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. All week, films had been relatively disappointing. And then this powerful work came along.
It probably is sufficient to say that its subject is child trafficking, in this case, from Mexico to the US. Audiences will recognize Kevin Kline. The other leads are a 13 year-old girl (Paulina Gaitan) and her 17 year-old brother (Cesar Ramos). The film rests largely on the shoulders of these two innocents, and it's on the basis of their performances, even more than the subject matter, that I consider this a must-see film.
Check out this pedigree. "Trade" was written by Jose Rivera (who wrote "The Motorcycle Diaries"). It is based on a New York Times Magazine article. It was originally supposed to be directed by Roland Emmerich (who wrote, directed, and produced "The Day After Tomorrow"). But Emmerich had a conflict, so he ended up producing it along with Rosilyn Heller (who produced "American Heart," a favorite of mine starring Jeff Bridges and Edward Furlong). In turn Marco Kreutzpaintner was hired to direct, a German filmmaker who had a connection to Emmerich through another producer. It was a fortuitous set of circumstances. It's a $12 million indie backed by German funds, Emmerich's own pockets, and Lions Gate, who will be distributing it.
This is quite a moving film and, although it's easy to argue the case, it does not exploit the kids itself in its effort to expose the horrors of child exploitation. While it has some Hollywood moments thrown in for commercial appeal, it's still as compelling as any film I've seen recently. The acting is frighteningly real. A good part of the film is a bit of a road movie where Kline and the boy bond -- he needs a male role model, Kline's life on the road is a lonely existence, you know the drill. Kline's relationship with the boy reminded me of his pairing with Hayden Christensen in "Life as a House." He's good at it, and it's a casting coup that helps put the icing on the cake. The other part of the film focuses on the harsh reality of child trafficking and follows several victims through their ordeals. But Kreutzpaintner's narrative never loses sight of its heartbreaking subject matter.
Director Kreutzpaintner and producer Heller were there for a Q&A. I asked about the casting. He said the boy and girl were found during auditions in Mexico City. He was just the second one they saw. They kept looking, but eventually came back to him. He had never acted before. The girl had done a bit before, but not much. What an auspicious debut. These are two to watch.
There are many "oh my God" moments. It ultimately is a "message" film in that it exposes the horrors of child trafficking, but it's also made for commercial appeal and should resonate with the larger audience. It's hard to pull off this kind of film and make it work. How does one entertain without hitting the viewer with a sledgehammer? It's a delicate balance, and this one weighs in perfectly.
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Today begins "Third Weekend" in Santa Barbara, where the festival winners are shown for FREE.
Man in the Chair was our #1 Top Pick from this year's Santa Barbara International Film Festival. It was also the grand prize winner of the American Spirit Award.
For that reason (or both? -- we'd like to think), Man in the Chair will be shown on Friday night at 7 PM at the Riviera.
Catch it if you can.
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As readers may recall, I was excited about seeing Glue in Santa Barbara last week. It was one of my Top Picks from the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival and I was looking forward to seeing it again. But the night before it was supposed to screen, I found out that they had pulled it. That was the bad news. The good news was that they had pulled it because it was about to be picked up.
Tonight the details of the deal were announced. "Picture This! Entertainment has picked up North American rights from Lumina Films to first-time director Alexis Dos Santos' film Glue: Historia Adolescente En Medio De La Nada (Adolescent Story In The Middle Of Nowhere). The comedy-drama traces the coming-of-age antics of three bored small-town teenagers and stars Nahuel Viale Munoz, Nahuel Perez Biscayart, and Ines Efon," according to Screen Daily. "Glue won the 2006 Rotterdam Film Festival's Young Jury Award as well as the 2006 Buenos Aires International Film Festival's audience award for best film, jury award for best film and the jury award for best film by a young Latin American director."
Don't touch that dial, because you can be sure that when a release is announced you'll see it here first.
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Just got this news about our Top Pick from this year's Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Man in the Chair.
According to the release, "Shoreline Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights to Michael Schroeder's "Man in the Chair" from production outfit Elbow Grease Pictures. The film will screen at this year's Berlin International Film Festival. The deal was brokered between Shoreline's Morris Ruskin and Elbow Grease Pictures' Sarah Schroeder along with Executive Producer, Peter Samuelson."
Much congratulations to Sarah, Peter, and the whole Man in the Chair team.
Posted by phileysmiley at 11:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
My Top Pick from the 2007 Sundance Film Festival was David Gordon Green's Snow Angels. Now the new issue of Entertainment Weekly (February 9) picks Snow Angels as one of the best films at this year's festival.
In the back of the magazine, in the weekly section "Movies," writer Owen Glieberman says, "David Gordon Green's tender and searing Snow Angels, a small-town tale of divorce and adultery, madness and murder...to me was the movie Little Children wanted to be." Wow! Comparing it to Little Children? It's always a real dilemma for me to compare films. But ironically, I saw these two films just 10 days apart, so perhaps it should be a bit easier.
I suppose they have a few things in common. Both are somewhat dark and disturbing. I think Snow Angels is decidedly darker, though. Both have a lighter side as well, but while Little Children's laughter comes from satire (a wink and a nod), Snow Angels' comes from absurdity, as well as a trio of innocent, tender youths who haven't yet learned how to hate. The light side of Snow Angels feels much more real. Both involve crimes, or criminals. But as we know from the opening minutes of Snow Angels, there is a gun involved. Nobody is shot in Little Children.
What they may have most in common is their focus on the parallel, intersecting lives of a handful of couples. It's a technique more and more common. Call it "Crash-like." But it really goes back to Shakespeare (and beyond) and isn't necessarily a new device. It's done equally well here, I think. Of course, I don't want to post spoilers. But I think Little Children has a happier ending. It's more Hollywood. Little Children has more in common with Desperate Housewives. Both mix comedy and tragedy, but Snow Angels is more of a tragedy.
I loved Little Children. They are very different to me. I think Little Children is more mainstream. Snow Angels is more difficult to watch. I walked out of Little Children with a smile on my face. I walked out of Snow Angels with a tear in my eye.
Some have mentioned Robert Altman in the same breath as Green. The Altman influence is certainly there in the unscripted feel, which is also why it "rings truer," I think. He doesn't bring a script to the set. Much of what we see onscreen is created by the actors, and it shows.
So why has the film not been picked up for distribution? Many wonder if the "general public is really ready" for a film like this, and cite it as the main reason which has been given for the film not being picked up. The old "we don't know how to market this" is being tossed around. Personally, I think that's crap. The reason has more to do with money than anything else, from what I've heard. It will happen.
But what if that is the case? It's the universal lament among distributors: "how do we market this thing?" I've written some pretty extensive articles about it. It comes down to the filmmakers being creative and the distributors looking at the bottom line. That is, unfortunately, the movie business and why it is, in fact, a business. A painter might make great art but it means little if no gallery will hang it. A musician might write great songs but if nobody hears them, has he really created something?
I don't know. It's a dilemma, for sure. But I understand that they can't just "let the public decide for themselves" because they are putting their money on the line, and unless they look at it as a charitable contribution, they have to try to make that money back and earn a profit if possible.
I'm pretty confident it will be sold very soon. But if not, here is a nice scenario: The Tribeca entry deadline was January 5. I don't know if they submitted or not. I certainly hope so, and it would be a smart move since IF the reason it hasn't been bought is because they've set a high price, they could conceivably get that price at Tribeca.
Toronto will most likely come after a deal, but it doesn't mean it won't screen there, of course. Many festival films already have deals. Plus the film was shot in Canada, which gives them a plus. I saw a lot of films in Toronto last year that already had release dates and the press certainly didn't hurt. I think that's a smart sequence of events.
There is a terrific piece in the New York Press about the issue. Eric Kohn writes:
Tony Safford, senior vice president of acquisitions at Fox Searchlight and former program director of the festival, asked to explain his company's decision to pass on Snow Angels -- the sort of passionate work that screams for acclaim -- said, "I think it's very, very good filmmaking. I thought it was one of the better-made films out there. It's just so unrelentingly bleak. It's about depressed people in a bleak environment with unhappy lives. Jesus Christ. How do you get 'em to go to that?"
I've seen that same basic statement echoed elsewhere. But I don't buy it, no pun intended. I think it's crap, pardon my French. I think they just want the price to come down.
Posted by phileysmiley at 05:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Earlier, I posted a list of the Top Picks from the 10 festivals I attended over the past year. One thing I like to do is to follow the progress of those films, obviously in the hopes that they get picked up for distribution and released, otherwise any advice on my part to "go see these films" falls on deaf ears.
I don't know if it's a good eye or 6th sense or luck, or a combination of the above, but 4 of my 7 Top Picks from Sundance have been sold (picked up for theatrical distribution) and 2 of my picks from Santa Barbara have been picked up.
Here are the films, where I saw them, the distribution company and price (if known), and US release date (if any).
Red Road -- Santa Barbara (Tartan Films - Pre-sold) - Opening April 6
Trade -- Santa Barbara (Lionsgate - Pre-sold) - Opening April 13
An American Crime -- Sundance (First Look Pictures - Produced) - Opening August 17
Clubland -- Sundance (Warner Independent Pictures - for $4,000,000)
Teeth -- Sundance (The Weinstein Company / Lionsgate - for $1,000,000)
Weapons -- Sundance (After Dark Films - for $1,000,000)
Other accolades are flowing in as well. Just yesterday, Red Road won the first Ingmar Bergman International Debut Award at the 30th Goteborg International Film Festival.
Posted by phileysmiley at 09:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
The 2007 SXSW Film Festival gets underway March 9 in Austin, Texas. We had a blast there last year and expect nothing less when we head down south to cover the festival for you next month.
110 features will be screened. The lineup will include 61 world premieres, 9 North American premieres, and 7 US premieres.
"This year, we received a record number of submissions and thankfully that also means the quality was higher than ever," says SXSW Film Festival Producer Matt Dentler about the approximately 3100 submissions. "People will probably look for themes in the program, but no theme rings more true than just a great batch of films we're eager to screen for our audiences. It's going to be a fun ride."
Drum roll please...as promised, here are the features on the slate at this year's SXSW Film Festival, March 9-17 in Austin, Texas.
SPOTLIGHT PREMIERES
638 Ways to Kill Castro
Directed by Dollan Cannell.
This documentary examines the incredible and controversial story of 638 alleged plots to kill Cuban leader Fidel Castro. From CIA agents to Cuban exiles, exploding cigars to femme fatales, the film also provides a startling glimpse into the evolution of Cuban politics. (North American Premiere)
All the Boys Love Mandy Lane
Directed by Jonathan Levine, written by Jacob Forman. Featuring: Amber Heard, Anson Mount.
Popular teenager Mandy Lane seems to have it all, including a deadly killer who will stop at nothing to get to her. (U.S. Premiere)
Bella
Directed by Alejandro Monteverde, written by Monteverde, Patrick Million, and Leo Severino. Featuring: Eduardo Verastegui, Tammy Blanchard, Manny Perez, Ali Landry.
A soccer star and a waitress meet, and explore the world that surrounds them and connects them as they spend a day together in New York. (U.S. Premiere)
Big Rig
Directed by Doug Pray
A mesmerizing and beautiful look at the relatively unknown experience of the American 'big rig' truck driver, as they struggle to stay relevant in today's digital age. (World Premiere)
Doubletime
Directed by Stephanie Johnes
This documentary reveals the divided world of competitive jump roping. The two top American teams belong to separate leagues that do not compete against one another. After 20 years of separation they finally meet at Apollo Theater in Harlem, to face-off. (World Premiere)
Election Day
Directed by Katy Chevigny
A verite examination, following a dozen voters (including an ex-felon, a poll worker, and more) over the course of November 2, 2004 - from dawn until long past midnight. (World Premiere)
Elvis and Anabelle
Written and directed by Will Geiger. Featuring: Max Minghella, Blake Lively, Joe Mantegna, Mary Steenburgen, Keith Carradine.
A young mortician and a small-town beauty queen become unlikely romantic partners after the latter makes a mysterious return from the grave. (World Premiere)
Everything's Gone Green
Directed by Paul Fox, written by Douglas Coupland. Featuring: Paulo Costanzo, Steph Song, JR Bourne.
Ryan, twenty-something and not getting any younger, is tempted into a money-laundering scheme but struggles with his ill-gotten gains while trying to find happiness. (U.S. Premiere)
Exiled
Directed by Johnny To, written by Kam-Yuen Szeto and Tin-Shing Yip. Featuring: Anthony Wong, Francis Ng, Nick Chueng, Simon Yam.
An exciting and modern gangster tale of brotherhood and betrayal on the streets of Hong Kong, To's latest also pays homage to the classic American western. (Regional Premiere)
Does Your Soul Have a Cold?
Directed by Mike Mills.
An artful documentary look at the issues facing modern Japanese citizens as they battle the reality of depression in a culture that only recently started to embrace it. (World Premiere)
Eagle Vs. Shark
Directed by Taika Waititi. Featuring: Jemaine Clement, Loren Horsley.
The tale of two socially awkward misfits and the strange ways they try to find love. (Regional Premiere)
Hannah Takes the Stairs
Directed by Joe Swanberg. Written by Swanberg, Greta Gerwig, and Kent Osborne. Starring: Greta Gerwig, Kent Osborne, Andrew Bujalski, Mark Duplass, Ry Russo-Young, Todd Rohal.
A group of Chicago writers are embedded in a tempestuous love triangle when Hannah inadvertently steals the hearts and minds of two close friends. (World Premiere)
He Was a Quiet Man
Written and directed by Frank Cappello. Starring: Christian Slater, Elisha Cuthbert, William H. Macy.
An office drone returns from the brink of madness to become an unlikely savior and partner, to a beautiful co-worker, in need of the ultimate favor. (World Premiere)
Hell on Wheels
Directed by Bob Ray.
The nonfiction tale of ambitious women who band together, doing their part to resurrect roller derby for the 21st century. (World Premiere)
Knocked Up
Written and directed by Judd Apatow. Featuring: Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann.
On the heels of 2005's blockbuster The 40-Year-Old Virgin, writer/director Judd Apatow again mines hilarity from the relatable human in a comedy about a one-night stand with unexpected consequences: Knocked Up. Katherine Heigl (Grey's Anatomy, Roswell) joins Virgin alums Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann for a comic look about the best thing that will ever ruin your best-laid plans: parenthood.
Kurt Cobain About a Son
Directed by AJ Schnack.
Juxtaposing stunning cinematography of present day Washington state and audio interviews with rock legend Kurt Cobain, this poetic documentary scratches beneath the surface of anything you think you know about this icon. (Regional Premiere)
The Lookout
Written and directed by Scott Frank. Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Isla Fisher, Matthew Goode, Jeff Daniels.
This intelligent crime drama is centered around Chris, a once promising high school athlete whose life is turned upside down following a tragic accident. As he tries to maintain a normal life, he takes a job as a janitor at a bank where he ultimately finds himself caught up in a planned heist. (World Premiere, Opening Night Film)
Manufacturing Dissent
Directed by: Debbie Melnyk & Rick Caine. Featuring: Noam Chomsky, Janeane Garofalo, Ben Hamper, Christopher Hitchens, Harlan Jacobson, Dave Marsh, Albert Maysles, Michael Moore, Errol Morris, Ralph Nader, John Pierson, Roger Smith.
A documentary that seeks to separate fact, fiction and legend tracks Michael Moore on tour during the release of the explosive Fahrenheit 911, all the while chronicling the politically supercharged climate in America that has fueled Moore's transition from mere filmmaker to icon of the political left. (World Premiere)
The Prisoner, or: How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair
Directed by Michael Tucker & Petra Epperlein.
Using a comic-book motif, this documentary tells the story of an Iraqi journalist who was unjustly held captive at Abu Ghraib for nine months. (World Premiere of final version)
Running With Arnold
Directed by Dan Cox. Narrated by Alec Baldwin.
Why did Arnold Schwarzenegger run for governor of California? This documentary seeks to answer that question, as well as reveal some of the behind-the-scenes tactics that created his unexpected political career. (World Premiere)
Sisters
Directed by Douglas Buck, written by Buck and John Freitas. Featuring: Chloe Sevigny, Stephen Rea, Lou Doillon, Dallas Roberts.
A pair of conjoined twins are separated, and forced to live under the guidance of a controlling psychiatrist. (U.S. Premiere)
Smiley Face
Directed by Gregg Araki, written by Dylan Haggerty. Featuring: Anna Faris,
The hilarious saga of one woman's journey through an otherwise normal L.A. day, except she is very, very stoned. (Regional Premiere)
Steal a Pencil for Me
Directed by Michele Ohayon.
The touching true story of a man and woman forced to keep their love affair secret, while staying alive during the Holocaust. (World Premiere)
Suffering Man's Charity
Directed by Alan Cumming. Written by Thomas Gallagher. Starring: Alan Cumming, David Boreanaz, Henry Thomas, Anne Heche.
Alan Cumming's latest directorial effort features a stellar cast in this darkly funny portrayal of unrequited love and unfulfilled artistic ambition. (World Premiere)
The Ten
Directed by David Wain, written by Wain and Ken Marino. Featuring: Paul Rudd, Winona Ryder, Jessica Alba, Gretchen Mol, Famke Janssen.
In a series of vignettes, an all-star cast offers up new and hilarious interpretations of The Ten Commandments. (Regional Premiere)
What Would Jesus Buy?
Directed by Rob Vanalkemade.
From producer Morgan Spurlock comes this entertaining and enlightening documentary look at the commercialization of the Christmas season. The famous Reverend Billy and his Church of Stop Shopping serve as the anchor for a disturbing and humorous portrayal of the way Christmas has evolved over centuries in America. (World Premiere)
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION
Audience of One
Directed by Michael Jacobs.
A Pentecostal minister receives a vision from God to create an epic science fiction movie based on the bible story of Joseph, sending he and his followers on a journey of extreme faith. (World Premiere)
Billy the Kid
Directed by Jennifer Venditti.
By turns humorous and disturbing, this portrait of a 15-year-old outcast named Billy, transcends diagnostic labeling and challenges the viewer to understand a triumphant teen on his own terms. (World Premiere)
Campaign
Directed by Soda Kazuhiro.
Can a candidate with no political experience and no charisma win a Japanese city council election, if he is backed by Prime Minister Koizumi and his Liberal Democratic Party? (North American Premiere)
Cat Dancers
Directed by Harris Fishman.
The mysterious and bizarre story of Ron Holiday, an exotic animal trainer and performer who, along with his co-star/wife and their co-star/lover, found big fame until great tragedy struck in 1998. (World Premiere)
Greensboro: Closer to the Truth
Directed by Adam Zucker.
Despite extensive television footage of the Greensboro Massacre of 1979, involving the local KKK and Communist Workers Party, no one was ever convicted. The film portrays a number of the participants - five of the survivors and two Klansmen - who reveal their scars when the town decides to re-investigate the case 25 years later. (World Premiere)
Hard Road Home
Directed by Macky Alston & Andrea Meller.
A cinema verite documentary that tells the story of the Exodus Transitional Community, an organization that was founded and is run by formerly incarcerated people, whose mission is to help recently released folks find their way back into society and keep them out of prison. (World Premiere)
Run Granny Run
Directed by Marlo Poras.
With just four months until the election, 94-year-old Doris 'Granny D' Haddock and her motley crew of political aces and amateurs, begin a grassroots campaign for U.S. Senate and defy all expectations. (World Premiere)
When Adnan Comes Home
Directed by Andrew Berends.
After a prison fire leaves him horribly burned, 16-year-old Adnan makes a plea for his family's forgiveness and aid, despite their resistance to assist their troubled son. (North American Premiere)
NARRATIVE FEATURES COMPETITION
Blackbird
Written and directed by Adam Rapp.
An unlikely, junk-ballad-of-a-love story that follows a displaced veteran of the first Gulf War, and a 17-year-old Midwestern runaway amid the tough, lovelorn streets of mid-1990s New York City. (World Premiere)
Flakes
Directed by Michael Lehmann, written by Karey Kirkpatrick & Chris Poche. Featuring: Aaron Stanford, Zooey Deschanel, Christopher Lloyd.
The slacker manager of a New Orleans cereal bar must face his adulthood when a rival cereal shop threatens to steal his business and his girlfriend. (World Premiere)
Frownland
Written and directed by Ronald Bronstein. Featuring: Dore Mann, Mary Wall, Paul Grimstad.
A comedy frayed at the seams, about a door-to-door coupon salesman who eats popcorn & eggs off the folded-out door of his kitchen oven. (World Premiere)
Itty Bitty Titty Committee
Directed by Jamie Babbit, written by Tina Mabry, Abigail Shafran. Featuring: Melonie Diaz, Nicole Vicius, Carly Pop, Melanie Mayron, Guinevere Turner.
Dumped by her girlfriend, rejected from her college of choice and wearing an A cup in a C cup world, Anna soon joins a radical punk-feminist group that may end up leading to more disenchantment. (North American Premiere)
Orphans
Written and directed by Ry Russo-Young. Featuring: Lily Wheelwright, James Katharine Flynn.
Two estranged, twenty-something sisters reunite five years after the death of their parents, and soon revisit their treacherous history. (World Premiere)
Pretty in the Face
Written and directed by Nate Meyer. Featuring: Meagan Moses, David Reynolds, Theresa Dyer, Nathan Amadon.
United through anxiety, 26-year-old Maggie and 14-year-old Daniel help each other recognize the ways in which they sabotage their potential, either through sexual exploration or weight concerns. (World Premiere)
Skills Like This
Directed by Monty Miranda, written by Spencer Berger. Featuring: Berger, Gabriel Tigerman, Brian Pheland, Kerry Knuppe.
In this inventive comedy, three friends have their lives turned upside down as soon as one of them realizes that larceny might be his best skill. (World Premiere)
When a Man Falls in the Forest
Written and directed by Ryan Eslinger. Featuring: Timothy Hutton, Dylan Baker, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Sharon Stone.
Three former schoolmates reconnect during their mid-life crises, as they seek the road less traveled before life's cut short. (North American Premiere)
EMERGING VISIONS
American Zombie
Directed by Grace Lee, written by Lee and Rebecca Sonnenshine. Featuring: Austin Basis, Suzy Nakamura, Al Vicente.
Two filmmakers team up to shoot a documentary about high-functioning zombies living in Los Angeles and their struggles to gain acceptance in human society. (Regional Premiere)
Arranged
Directed by Stefan Schaefer and Diane Crespo, written by Schaefer. Featuring: Zoe Lister-Jones, Francis Benhamou, Daniel London.
Two young women - one an Orthodox Jew, the other Muslim - meet and become friends as first-year teachers at a public school in Brooklyn. Over the course of the year they learn they share much in common, not least of which is that they are both going through arranged marriages. (World Premiere)
August the First
Directed by Lanre Olabisi, written by Olabisi and Shawn Alexander. Featuring: Ian Alsup, Dennis Green, Joy Merriweather, Kerisse Hutchinson.
The party to celebrate Tunde Ibirinde's graduation is the backdrop for a far more momentous occasion: the return of estranged father Dipo, after over a decade of absence. Each family member must face their feelings before they face Dipo. (World Premiere)
Confessions of a Superhero
Directed by Matt Ogens.
A documentary on the lives of four mortal men and women, who work as characters on the sidewalks of Hollywood Blvd. This deeply personal view into their daily routine reveals the hardships, and triumphs, that these characters endure in pursuit of becoming famous. (World Premiere)
Fall from Grace
Directed by K. Ryan Jones.
The first documentary to explore the hate-filled world of Rev. Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, KS. (World Premiere)
Fish Kill Flea
Directed by Brian Cassidy, Aaron Hillis, Jennifer Loeber.
Once thriving, a dead mall in upstate New York is now home to a ragtag flea market, living proof that the American Dream is in perpetual decay, as depicted in this engaging documentary. (World Premiere)
Great World of Sound
Directed by Craig Zobel, written by Zobel and George Smith. Featuring: Pat Healy, Kene Holliday, Robert Longstreet.
A young man answers an ad, thinking that he will be joining the music business and discover new talent until he realizes this new job isn't what he expected. (Regional Premiere)
Helvetica
Directed by Gary Hustwit.
A documentary exploration of typography, graphic design and global visual culture that looks at the proliferation of one typeface (which will celebrate its 50th birthday in 2007) as part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives. (World Premiere)
Kamp Katrina
Directed by David Redmon & Ashley Sabin.
A disturbing documentary portrayal of the makeshift camp constructed in a married couple's backyard, as a means of creating a safe haven and community in post-Katrina New Orleans. (World Premiere)
King Corn
Directed by Aaron Woolf.
Two recent college graduates travel to their ancestral home in rural Iowa, plant a single acre of America's most powerful crop, and attempt to follow its fate as food in this probing nonfiction account. (World Premiere)
Lost in Woonsocket
Directed by John Chester.
A group of filmmakers conducting a humanitarian experiment for a TV series find themselves helping two homeless alcoholics found living in a tent. The question of how deep to go with their help is tested as the series is cancelled but the mission is called on to continue. (World Premiere)
Monkey Warfare
Written and directed by Reg Harkema. Featuring: Don McKellar, Tracy Wright, Nadia Litz.
A bohemian couple does its best to make due with their slacker selves and a new revolution, while living in the modern Canadian cityscapes. (Regional Premiere)
The Price of Sugar
Directed by Bill Haney.
Breaking a centuries old taboo, a charismatic Spanish priest working in the Dominican Republic, ventures into the sugar plantations and makes a shocking discovery: thousands of dispossessed Haitians tirelessly working the cane fields under backbreaking and inhumane conditions. (World Premiere)
Quiet City
Directed by Aaron Katz, written by Katz, Erin Fisher, Cris Lankenau. Featuring: Fisher, Lankenau, Sarah Hellman, Joe Swanberg.
Jamie meets Charlie when she asks him for directions after arriving lost in Brooklyn. Nothing to do and nothing but time leads them to bowls of coleslaw, footraces in the park, art shows, and after-parties. (World Premiere)
Scrambled Beer
Directed by Cristobal Valderrama, written by Valderrama and Carlos Labbe. Featuring: Diego Munoz, Nicolas Saaverda, Manuela Martelli.
Vladimir lives a highly chaotic life, while Jorge is very neurotic about order and control. Their two visions of the world collide as Vladimir starts time-traveling, waking up every day on a random date, and getting involved with Jorge's girlfriend. (World Premiere)
Trigger Man
Written and directed by Ti West. Featuring: Reggie Cunningham, Ray Sullivan, Sean Reid.
Inspired by true events: The story of three hunters who mysteriously became the hunted. (World Premiere)
Twisted: a Ballonamentary
Directed by Sara Taksler and Naomi Greenfield. Narrated by Jon Stewart.
A documentary uncovering the world of balloon-twisting conferences and competitions, while exploring how eight balloon twisters' lives are dramatically changed by a little piece of latex. (World Premiere)
24 BEATS PER SECOND
1 More Hit
Directed by Shauna Garr. Featuring: J Swift, Kelly Zhander, Paul Mooney, Jamie Kennedy, Method Man, Steve-O, Akon.
The filmmaker finds her friend, a once-successful rap producer, homeless and addicted to crack. For two and half years, the two try everything to overcome the musician's 10-ton habit. (World Premiere)
Companeras
Directed by Matthew Buzzell and Elizabeth Massie.
An intimate profile of America's first all-female mariachi band: Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles. Taking on a male-dominated culture and musical tradition, this group has been shatters stereotypes while expanding the popularity of mariachi music. (World Premiere)
Dirty Country
Directed by Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher.
Meet Larry Pierce: a small-town factory worker and family man who happens to be the raunchiest country music singer in America. (World Premiere)
The Gits
Directed by Kerri O'Kane.
The story of a promising underground Seattle band, fronted by charismatic vocalist Mia Zapata. Poised to explode onto the national music scene, a cold-blooded killer destroys their dreams. (World Premiere)
James Blunt: Return to Kosovo
Directed by Steven Cantor.
Platinum-selling musician (and former soldier) James Blunt, returns to the battlefield at which he served, for an emotional journey of reflection. (World Premiere)
The Last Days of Left Eye
Directed by Lauren Lazin.
An in-depth look at the sad tale of Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes, from revolutionary pop act, TLC. Weaving video-diary footage of Lopes' last days before dying in an automobile accident, with the story of her personal and professional roller-coaster ride, this new film is both a memorable music doc and a personal account of the fragilities in fame. (North American Premiere)
Robyn Hitchcock: Sex, Food, Death, and Insects
Directed by John Edginton.
British singer/songwriter Hitchcock and band The Venus 3, featuring Peter Buck (R.E.M.), Bill Rieflin (Ministry, REM), and Scott McCaughey (Minus 5, REM, The Young Fresh Fellows), as they spend a week in July of 2006 recording an album of new material at Hitchcock's house in West London. (World Premiere)
Scott Walker: 30 Century Man
Directed by Stephen Kijak.
A journey into the mind and studio of reclusive musician, and modern-rock hero, Scott Walker as he continues to make acclaimed recordings decades into his career. (North American Premiere)
Silver Jew
Directed by Michael Tully.
An intimate portrait of reclusive poet/musician David Berman and his band the Silver Jews, in the midst of their first-ever world tour. Berman, his wife Cassie, and the rest of the group traveled to Israel to play two shows and visit Jerusalem. (World Premiere)
Wetlands Preserved: the Story of an Activist Rock Club
Directed by Dean Budnick. Featuring: Dave Matthews, Blues Traveler, Warren Hayes, ?uestlove.
The story of a truly original New York rock club, which fused music with activism, earning an army of famous fans in the process. (Regional Premiere)
'ROUND MIDNIGHT
Black Sheep
Written and directed by Jonathan King. Featuring: Nathan Meister, Danielle Mason, Tammy Davis, Peter Feeney, Oliver Driver.
Peter Jackson's Weta Workshop injects dazzling effects in this New Zealand black comedy about a herd of mutant sheep on the rampage in a quest for human blood. (US Premiere)
Borderland
Directed by Zev Berman, written by Berman and Eric Poppen. Featuring: Starring Brian Presley, Jake Muxworthy, Rider Strong, Sean Astin.
A road trip vacation becomes a nightmare, as a trio of young graduates run afoul of an ancient blood cult looking for human sacrifice. (World Premiere)
The Devil Dared Me To
Directed by Chris Stapp, written by Stapp and Matt Heath. Featuring: Stapp, Heath, Bonnie Soper, Andrew Beattie.
A stunt-fuelled action-comedy from the Kiwi cult-comedy team Back of the Y, this is the story of daredevil stuntman Randy Cambell, and his quest to follow in his late father's footsteps and become New Zealand's greatest daredevil stuntman. (World Premiere)
Fido
Directed by Andrew Currie, written by Currie and Robert Chomiak. Featuring: Carrie-Ann Moss, Billy Connolly, Dylan Baker.
Young Timmy Robinson's best friend in the world, is a rotting pet zombie named Fido. (Regional Premiere)
Grimm Love
Directed by Martin Weisz, written by TS Faull. Featuring: Keri Russell, Thomas Huber, Thomas Kretschmann.
An American student living in Germany becomes obsessed with a cannibal killer who advertised on the Internet for a lover willing to be murdered and devoured as the ultimate act of love and self-sacrifice. (North American Premiere)
Kenny
Directed by Clayton Jacobson, written by Jacobson and Shane Jacobson. Featuring: Shane Jacobson, Jesse Jacobson, Ronald Jacobson, Eve von Bibra.
We follow Kenny Smyth, as he juggles family tensions, fatherhood, and his sewage business with charm, humor and unflinching dignity. (Regional Premiere)
Mulberry Street
Directed by Jim Mickle, written by Mickle and Nick Damici. Featuring: Damici, Kim Blair, Ron Brice, Bo Corre, Larry Fleischman.
Something is changing in this New York neighborhood. A virus is spreading. A rat attacks someone in the subway. Another victim is bit downtown. And slowly the community faces a big problem. (North American Premiere)
Murder Party
Written and drected by Jeremy Saulnier. Featuring: Chris Sharp, Macon Blair, Paul Goldblatt.
A random Halloween invitation leads a lonesome man into the hands of a rogue collective intent on murdering him for the sake of their art, sparking a bloodbath of mishap, mayhem and hilarity. (Regional Premiere)
Severance
Directed by Christopher Smith, written by Smith and Jason Moran. Featuring: Danny Dyer, Laura Harris, Tim McInnerny, Toby Stephens.
A teamb-building exercise in the woods becomes a hack-and-slash nightmare when a mysterious presence lays often-hilarious waste to a group of co-workers.
The Signal
Directed by David Bruckner, Jacob Gentry, and Dan Bush.
Its New Year\'s Eve in the city of Terminus and all forms of communication have been jammed by an enigmatic transmission that preys on fear and desire, driving everyone in the city to murder and madness. (Regional Premiere)
Them
Written and directed by David Moreau & Xavier Palud. Featuring: Olivia Bonamy, Michael Cohen.
When darkness falls one unsuspecting night, Clementine and Lucas will come face to face with THEM. They are everywhere, even in their home, and they will stop at nothing. Who are they? What do they want? Based on true events. (U.S. Premiere)
Undead or Alive: a Zombedy
Written and directed by Glasgow Phillips. Featuring: James Denton, Chris Kattan, Navi Rawat.
When two misfits rob the corrupt sheriff of an Old West town, they have no idea that a plague of zombies is sweeping the country, or that Geronimo's sexy niece may be their only hope of survival. (World Premiere)
LONE STAR STATES
Forfeit
Directed by Andrew Shea, written by John Rafter Lee. Featuring: Billy Burke, Sherry Stringfield, Gregory Itzin, Wayne Knight.
An ex-con tries to manage his way back into society, reunite with his high school sweetheart, and commit one more crime. (World Premiere)
Inside the Circle
Directed by Marcy Garriott.
In this kinetic documentary capturing the raw power of a home-grown Texas hip-hop movement, we follow the journey of talented 'B-boys' Josh and Omar (best friends turned rivals), as they struggle to keep dance at the center of their lives. (World Premiere)
Love and Mary
Written and directed by Elizabeth Harrison. Featuring: Lauren German, Gabriel Mann.
Struggling businesswoman Mary is forced to find a decoy for her fiancé, so that she can return home to Texas and collect what promises to be a valuable gift. (World Premiere)
Third Ward, Tx
Directed by Andrew Garrison.
After more than a decade of building
