Every week, I get several press releases, screening invitations and other notifications from a handful of studio contacts. While I won’t be sharing any information regarding my screening invites, some of the press releases might be of interest to my readers, so I thought I’d start sharing them in toto with all of you. These could include new image galleries for various films or important updates to upcoming releases from various smaller studios and art house production companies.

• Image Gallery: Project X
• Press Release: Big Name Celebrities to Attend Goya Awards February 19
• Press Release: ‘Tomorrow When the War Began’ Launches on DVD, VOD and Facebook
• Press Release: Lincoln Center Hosts An Evening with Taika Waititi

Image Gallery: Project X

Project X Gallery

Press Release: Big Name Celebrities to Attend Goya Awards February 19

The 2012 Goya Awards celebrate the diversity of our cinema in a party for everyone

Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Pedro Almodóvar and Jose Coronado, among many other stars from the film industry, will be attending the show being held next February 19th.

Before the beginning, channel TVE – La1 will give a preview of the red carpet.

Spanish Cinema is ready for its big party, the Goya Awards, that will be given during a ceremony in which humor, music and glamour will burst onto the stage of the Municipal Conference Centre of Madrid – Campo de las Naciones. Eva Hache is the hostess of a show where most of the nominees and celebrities of our movies will attend. Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Pedro Almodóvar, Enrique Urbizu, Mateo Gil, Benito Zambrano, Icíar Bollaín, Alberto Iglesias, Jose Coronado, Daniel Brühl, Luis Tosar, Elena Anaya, Verónica Echegui, Juan Diego, Inma Cuesta, Blanca Suárez, Lluís Homar, Goya Toledo, Pilar López de Ayala, María León, Michelle Jenner, Adrián Lastra and José Mota, among many other candidates, will meet live at the presentation of these prizes on their 26th edition.

Under the guidance of Arantxa Écija, this year’s gala will have a musical piece with Blanca Li’s choreographie performed by famous actors and actresses; humor monologues, one of them played by Santiago Segura; the traditional parodies of the four finalist films (Blackthorn. Without a destination, The skin I live in, The sleeping voice and There will be no peace for the wicked); performers that will prove their skills beyond acting; the obituary that pays tribute to those who have passed away; and journalist Toni Garrido, who will pepper the whole TV show with movie-going facts, amusing anecdotes and curiosities. All of them are the ingredients of this cinematographic appointment that, as usual, will leave the door open to surprises.

Only one of the prizes, the Honorary Award, has already a winner: Josefina Molina. The spanish filmmaker will receive the honour from the Academy to her career after its official prelude at the Finalists Party last january 28th.

Created to reward the best professionals of our film industry, the Goya Awards will celebrate their 26th. edition next sunday, in a party where the variety of spanish cinematography will be praised as it is patently obvious in the four stories fighting for the Best Motion Picture and Best Direction Awards: Mateo Gil’s western, Blackthorn. Without a destination, with 11 chances; Pedro Almodóvars’s horror movie, The skin I live in, with 16; Benito Zambrano’s historical drama, The sleeping voice, with 9; and Enrique Urbizu’s thriller, There will be no peace for the wicked, with 14. The figures of the silver screen will enjoy the live show on TVE – La 1, starting at 10:00 pm. and approachable for the hearing impaired people, as in former editions. Before the show, this public television channel will put a camera on the red carpet, where actors, actresses, filmmakers, producers and screenwriters will dress national fashion designs. And the thing is that, in a night of hapiness and disappointments for one and all, glamour is important.

Press Release: ‘Tomorrow When the War Began’ Launches on DVD, VOD and Facebook

Freestyle Digital Media Sets Omnilab Media’s TOMORROW, WHEN THE WAR BEGAN Day-and-Date Theatrical / VOD Release for February 24th
Freestyle Digital Media and Milyoni Facebook Partnership Features Industry First Release in Theaters, VOD and on Facebook with Advanced Social Interactivity Plus Exclusive Interviews and Viral Clips

Los Angeles (February 14, 2012) – Freestyle Digital Media, an innovator in the US theatrical and independent film digital distribution business, and Milyoni, the leader in social entertainment, announce the simultaneous day-and-date theatrical/VOD release of TOMORROW, WHEN THE WAR BEGAN, the #1 box office film from Australia, which becomes the first new US theatrical release to also be made available on Facebook, on February 24th. Freestyle will be the first company to release a day/date film into theaters, online and in cable VOD while also going live for rent on Facebook.
Using Milyoni’s Social Cinema technology, Facebook’s over 800 million users can share the movie viewing experience with friends no matter where they are. Fans can chat, share their favorite clips and access exclusive content all within Facebook. Details about viewing and sharing of the film on Facebook will be available shortly at http://www.facebook.com/twtwb.usa.

The Australian film, written and directed by renowned scribe Stuart Beattie (GI Joe: Rise of the Cobra, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, Collateral), was one of the highest grossing domestic films ever breaking several different box office records when it played in Australia and is poised for an initial ten-city theatrical run in North America. The ten cities are Tempe, AZ; Little Rock, AK; Seattle, WA; San Diego, CA; Miami, FL; Aiea, HI (Honolulu); Westerville, OH (Columbus); Buffalo Grove, IL (Chicago); New Haven, CT and Louisville, KY.

Susan Jackson, CEO of Freestyle Digital Media, acquired US distribution rights to TOMORROW WHEN THE WAR BEGAN from Australian Producer, Omnilab Media’s Managing Director Christopher Mapp. Freestyle Digital Media is working on the marketing and distribution with Cinmarket’s Peter D. Graves known for his campaigns on the last two Terminator films, Braveheart and A Perfect Storm.

“We are pleased to partner with Milyoni and engage the Facebook community with this #1 hit film from Australia. With Facebook’s 800 million users sharing video with friends, there is zero doubt that going forward, quality independent film will thrive through effective market campaigns on Facebook,” said Steve Harnsberger, Freestyle Digital’s Executive Vice President. “Our goal at FDM is to make quality independent film accessible to anyone, anytime, anywhere on all platforms on the same day. The FreeStyle Social Cinema app facilitates community sharing of recommendations to friends, driving awareness and consumption on all VOD platforms.”

“Helping entertainment companies bring a shared viewing experience directly to fans worldwide is what Milyoni is all about,” said John Corpus, CEO at Milyoni. “Social media has redefined the way content is consumed and shared today and savvy companies like Freestyle recognize the importance of giving fans easy access to movies in any platform – whether it’s on Facebook, on TV or in theaters. We’re excited to be a part of their campaign.”

TOMORROW, WHEN THE WAR BEGAN is a pulse-pounding action-thriller, based on the hugely popular book series from author John Marsden, that follows the journey of eight high school friends in an Australian coastal town whose lives are suddenly and violently upended by an invasion that no one saw coming. Caitlin Stasey (“Neighbours,” “The Sleepover Club”), stars as Ellie Linton, a precocious teen who leads her best friends, including Corrie (Rachel Hurd-Wood, from “Dorian Gray,” “An American Haunting”) and Kevin (Lincoln Lewis, from “Aquamarine,” “33 Postcards”), to an isolated, deep in the woods camping site named ‘Hell.’ Upon returning, they come to grips with the fact that their country has been overrun by a mysterious, invading army. When the hostile armed forces become alerted to the presence of the teenagers, Ellie and her friends, along with a new recruit, must band together to escape, outwit and strike back against the mysterious enemy that has seized control of their town and imprisoned their friends and loved ones.

Produced by Andrew Mason and Michael Boughen, TOMORROW, WHEN THE WAR BEGAN also stars Deniz Akdeniz, Phoebe Tonkin, Chris Pang, Ashleigh Cummings, Andy Ryan, and Colin Friels.

ABOUT FREESTYLE DIGITAL MEDIA
Freestyle Digital Media, LLC was launched in November 2011 by its CEO Susan Jackson who is Co-President and founder of independent theatrical distributor Freestyle Releasing, LLC and North American sales company Turtles Crossing, LLC. Freestyle Digital Media supplies quality commercial film and TV content directly to all US VOD/SVOD rental DVD/Kiosks and theaters using the latest cloud-based technologies to automate digital workflow. Freestyle’s goal is to provide fresh, well-marketed product and stay on the cutting edge of the ever-compressing windows to ensure that their partners benefit from a platform that delivers an anytime-anywhere capability in the medium of their choice and a positive digital viewing experience on any device in any location. Jackson has partnered in FDM with Steve Harnsberger and Mark Borde. Harnsberger is FDM’s Executive Vice President of Business Development and Borde is the company’s EVP of Theatrical Distribution. For more information, please visit http://freestyledigitalmedia.tv/.

ABOUT MILYONI
Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Milyoni, Inc. is the leader in social entertainment. The company’s technology provides entertainment and lifestyle companies with a way to connect and engage with Facebook fans, and turn them into customers. Whether it’s watching a live concert, movie or sporting event or shopping your favorite brands, Milyoni enables companies to monetize fans pages through a unique level of engagement and a shared, social experience. Milyoni’s services reach over 150 million fans from industry leading customers, including Universal Pictures, Lionsgate, Ridgeline Entertainment, Austin City Limits Live, Turner Broadcasting, University of Oklahoma and the NBA to bring a variety of digital content and physical goods to fans on Facebook. For more information, visit www.milyoni.com.

About Cinemarket Films
Cinemarket Films is a film marketing and production consulting firm headed up by long time industry producer and executive Peter D. Graves. Graves has been directly involved with creating feature film campaigns for over 250 films, including the last two Terminator films, Braveheart and The Perfect Storm, representing more than $4 billion in worldwide box office gross. He was also co-president of Polygram Films. Graves has also served as Executive Producer on Terminator Salvation, Oliver Stone’s W, Planet 51, Killer Elite and Tomorrow When the War Began.

About Omnilab Media
Omnilab Media is an Australian and New Zealand based globally focused vertically integrated entertainment company involved in the production, visual effects, post production and financing of a diverse range of film and television properties. Amongst the funding deals recently concluded by Omnilab Media are the production and P&A financing for Oliver Stone’s W, The Bank Job, Tomorrow When The War Began, The Messenger and Killer Elite.

Press Release: Lincoln Center Hosts An Evening with Taika Waititi

THE FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER TO HOST An “Evening with Taika Waititi” On March 1st

Taika Waititi’s BOY To Have U.S. Theatrical Debut At the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center on March 2nd

Waititi’s Shorts and Music Videos Will Be Screened in the Film Center’s Amphitheater During the Commercial Run

New York, NY (February 15, 2012) – The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced that Taika Waititi’s BOY, New Zealand’s highest-grossing local film, will have its U.S. premiere at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center on Friday, March 2nd. The semi-autobiographical film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, is a hilarious and heartfelt coming-of-age tale about heroes, magic and Michael Jackson. The film explores Waititi’s Maori roots and was shot on location in his hometown of Waihau Bay, on the northern island of New Zealand. (The writer-director-star even shot in his actual childhood home.)

The FSLC will kick off the U.S. opening of BOY on the evening of Thursday, March 1st with a special advance screening of the film, along with a showing of Waititi’s Academy Award® nominated short “Two Cars, One Night,” which inspired BOY, and a post-screening discussion with the director, an up-and-coming comedy talent whose previous work includes the HBO series “Flight of the Conchords” and the misfit comedy EAGLE VS SHARK.

For the duration of the film’s theatrical run at the FSLC’s Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, audiences can screen BOY, as well as Waititi’s short films in the Film Center’s Amphitheater.

The year is 1984, and on the rural East Coast of New Zealand, “Thriller” is changing kids’ lives. Boy is a dreamer who loves Michael Jackson. He lives with his brother Rocky, a tribe of abandoned cousins and his Grandmother. Boy’s other hero, his father, Alamein (Waititi), is the subject of Boy’s fantasies, and he imagines him as a deep-sea diver, war hero and a close relation of Michael Jackson (he can even dance like him). In reality he’s “in the can for robbery.” When Alamein returns home after seven years away, Boy is forced to confront the man he thought he remembered, find his own potential and learn to get along without the hero he had been hoping for.

Noted FSLC Associate Program Director Scott Foundas: “A veritable artistic renaissance man, Taika Waititi has emerged in recent years as a major figure in New Zealand acting, comedy, filmmaking and even painting. It’s easy to see why the heartfelt and wonderfully original BOY was such a major success at home, and it’s a pleasure to welcome Taika into the Film Society family on the eve of its U.S. theatrical premiere.”

The film, released by Paladin and Unison Films in association with Radius Films will also open at the Angelika Film Center on March 2nd.

Writer/Director: Taika Waititi, Director of Photography: Adam Clark, Film Editing: Chris Plummer, Music: The Phoenix Foundation, Production Designer: Shayne Radford, Producers: Ainsley Gardiner, Cliff Curtis, Emanuel Michael, Co-Producer: Merata Mita, Associate Producer: Richard Fletcher.

To purchase tickets to the March 1st “Evening with Taika Waititi” go to: http://www.filmlinc.com/films/series/an-evening-with-taika-waititi-featuring-boy

ABOUT TAIKA WAITITI
Taika Waititi is a writer, director, actor, and visual artist from New Zealand. As a filmmaker Waititi wrote, directed, and acted in “Boy,” his second feature which has become New Zealand’s highest grossing local film of all time. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival’s World Cinema and won awards for Best Picture, Director and Screenplay at the New Zealand Film Awards.

Waititi has a long history of performance in theatre, film and television. He has appeared in numerous films including his first feature EAGLE VS. SHARK, which he also wrote and directed. The script was work-shopped at the prestigious Sundance Institute Directors Lab and film was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. His latest acting work is as Tom Kalmaku, a supporting role in Warner Bros latest superhero blockbuster, THE GREEN LANTERN.

Waititi’s other writer/director credits include the 2005 short “Two Cars, One Night,” which was nominated for an Academy Award® and the short film “Tama Tu,” which picked up festival prizes in Sundance, Indianapolis, Stockholm and Berlin. He has written and directed multiple episodes of the TV series “Flight of the Conchords”, “Super City,” plus TV commercials in the United States and United Kingdom. He most recently directed the MTV pilot “The Inbetweeners” which has since been picked up for series production.

With a strong background in painting and photography, Waititi has spent many years presenting his work in various mediums from painting, mixed media to book and album illustration, exhibiting in both New Zealand and Berlin.

Waititi is of Jewish and Te-Whanau-a-Apanui descent and grew up on New Zealand’s East Coast and in Wellington, attending Victoria University as an arts student. In 1999, as one half of the comedy duo Humourbeasts, with Jemaine Clement, he won the Billy T Comedy Award. In 2006, Waititi was made a New Zealand Arts Foundation ‘New Generation’ Laureate, Distinguished Alumni of Victoria University and in 2010 he was invited to Doha, Qatar to present a TEDx talk on his approach to creativity in different mediums. And, he also invented a neck tie that buttons down to prevent it blowing in the wind.

ABOUT THE FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER
Under the leadership of Rose Kuo, Executive Director, and Richard Peña, Program Director, the Film Society of Lincoln Center offers the best in international, classic, and cutting-edge independent cinema. The Film Society presents two film festivals that attract global attention: the New York Film Festival, currently planning its 50th edition, and New Directors/New Films, which, since its founding in 1972, has been produced in collaboration with MoMA. The Film Society also publishes the award-winning Film Comment magazine, and for over three decades has given an annual award-now named “The Chaplin Award”-to a major figure in world cinema. Past recipients of this award include Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep, and Tom Hanks. The Film Society presents a year-round calendar of programming, panels, lectures, educational programs, and specialty film releases at its Walter Reade Theater and the new state-of-the-art Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center. For additional information on showtimes and tickets, visit http://www.Filmlinc.com.