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: Tribeca Film Festival, Part 1
- Image Gallery: Tribeca Film Festival, Part 2
- Image Gallery: Tribeca Film Festival, Part 3
- Image Gallery: Sundance London Slate Announced
- Press Release: Yahoo! Introduces New Web Shows
- Press Release: Kate Winslet’s ‘Golden Hat’ Picture Book to Benefit Autism Awareness
- Press Release: New York International Children’s Film Festival Adds ‘Monkey King’
Image Gallery: Tribeca Film Festival, Part 1
Image Gallery: Tribeca Film Festival, Part 2
Image Gallery: Tribeca Film Festival, Part 3
Image Gallery: Sundance London Slate Announced
SUNDANCE LONDON: FILM PROGRAMME UNVEILED FOR INAUGURAL EVENT
14 Films Make Their UK Premieres, 26-29 April at The O2
London, 7 March 2012 — Sundance Institute and The O2 announced today the programme of 14 narrative and documentary feature films that will make their UK premieres at the inaugural Sundance London festival, taking place at The O2 from 26-29 April. These films premiered in January at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah – the premier independent film festival in the United States.
“I welcome the opportunity to see how people in the UK experience these films,” said Robert Redford, President and Founder of Sundance Institute. “While they are American productions they speak to universal experiences and global challenges.”
He went on to add, “Sundance London also is the perfect opportunity to continue our long-time commitment to growing a broader international community around new voices and new perspectives.”
John Cooper, Director of the Sundance Film Festival, said, “Sundance London grew out of our desire to help American independent filmmakers expand their reach, and we are happy that these 14 filmmakers are joining us on this adventure. Their participation has helped us to not only create a programme for Sundance London that reflects the diversity of our film festival in Park City, but also that helps build an enduring legacy of American stories that speak to international audiences.”
Alex Hill, Chief Finance and Strategy Officer of AEG Europe, owners of host venue The O2, adds: “All at The O2 are very excited that the inaugural Sundance London film and music festival is nearly upon us. The 14 films which Sundance Institute is bringing to London reflect the strength, depth and breadth of American independent cinema that showcased earlier in the year at the Sundance Film Festival. They complement an exciting music component with performances from Tricky and Placebo, and our opening night event An Evening With Robert Redford and T Bone Burnett. In what is arguably the world’s most culturally diverse city, The O2 is proud to be hosting such a prestigious festival.”
In addition to film screenings, Sundance London will host live music performances and events each evening, including the previously announced Opening Night event An Evening With Robert Redford And T Bone Burnett, Placebo in concert and Tricky and Martina Topley-Bird performing Maxinquaye. Also on offer to Sundance London audiences will be unique opportunities to attend panels and hear guest speakers talk about the part they play in making films, documentaries and the role of music in modern cinema.
Forthcoming announcements include the festival’s short film programme, special events and additional music performers.
Programme information and ticket packages are available at www.sundance-london.com. Individual tickets will be on sale in early April.
FILM PROGRAMME IN DETAIL
2 Days in New York (Director: Julie Delpy, Screenwriters: Julie Delpy, Alexia Landeau) — Marion has broken up with Jack and now lives in New York with their child. A visit from her family, the different cultural background of her new boyfriend, an ex-boyfriend who her sister is now dating, and her upcoming photo exhibition make for an explosive mix. Cast: Julie Delpy, Chris Rock, Albert Delpy, Alexia Landeau, Alex Nahon.
Chasing Ice (Director: Jeff Orlowski) — Science, spectacle and human passion mix in this stunningly cinematic portrait as National Geographic photographer James Balog captures time-lapse photography of glaciers over several years providing tangible visual evidence of climate change. Winner of the Excellence in Cinematography Award: U.S. Documentary at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.
Filly Brown (Directors: Youssef Delara, Michael D. Olmos, Screenwriter: Youssef Delara) — A Hip Hop-driven drama about a Mexican girl who rises to fame and consciousness as she copes with the incarceration of her mother through music. Cast: Lou Diamond Phillips, Gina Rodriguez, Jenni Rivera, Edward James Olmos.
Finding North (Directors: Kristi Jacobson, Lori Silverbush) — A crisis of hunger looms in America and is not limited to the poverty stricken and uneducated. Can a return to policies of the 1970s save our future? Features interviews with activists including Witness to Hunger’s Mariana Chilton, Top Chef’s Tom Colicchio and Academy Award®-winning actor Jeff Bridges, as well as original music by T Bone Burnett & The Civil Wars.
For Ellen (Director and screenwriter: So Yong Kim) – A struggling musician takes an overnight long-distance drive in order to fight his estranged wife for custody of their young daughter. Cast: Paul Dano, Jon Heder, Jena Malone, Margarita Levieva, Shay Mandigo.
The House I Live In (Director: Eugene Jarecki) — For over 40 years, the War on Drugs has accounted for 45 million arrests, made America the world’s largest jailer and damaged poor communities at home and abroad. Yet, drugs are cheaper, purer and more available today than ever. Where did we go wrong and what is the path toward healing? Winner of the Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Documentary at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival
Liberal Arts (Director and screenwriter: Josh Radnor) — Bookish and newly single Jesse Fisher returns to his alma mater for his favorite professor’s retirement dinner. A chance meeting with Zibby – a precocious classical music-loving sophomore – awakens in him long-dormant feelings of possibility and connection. Cast: Josh Radnor, Elizabeth Olsen, Richard Jenkins, Allison Janney, John Magaro, Elizabeth Reaser.
LUV (Director: Sheldon Candis, Screenwriters: Sheldon Candis, Justin Wilson) — An orphaned 11-year-old boy is forced to face the unpleasant truth about his beloved uncle during one harrowing day in the streets of Baltimore. Cast: Common, Michael Rainey Jr., Dennis Haysbert, Danny Glover, Charles S. Dutton.
Nobody Walks (Director: Ry Russo-Young, Screenwriters: Lena Dunham, Ry Russo-Young) — Martine, a young artist from New York, is invited into the home of a hip, liberal LA family for a week. Her presence unravels the family’s carefully maintained status quo, and a mess of sexual and emotional entanglements ensues. Cast: John Krasinski, Olivia Thirlby, Rosemarie DeWitt, India Ennenga, Justin Kirk. Winner of the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Prize for Excellence in Independent Film Producing at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.
An Oversimplification of Her Beauty (Director and screenwriter: Terence Nance) — A quixotic young man humorously courses live action and various animated landscapes as he tries to understand himself after a mystery girl stands him up. Cast: Terence Nance, Namik Minter, Chanelle Pearson.
The Queen of Versailles (Director: Lauren Greenfield) — Jackie and David were triumphantly constructing the biggest house in America – a sprawling, 90,000-square-foot palace inspired by Versailles – when their timeshare empire falters due to the economic crisis. Their story reveals the innate virtues and flaws of the American Dream. Winner of the Directing Award: U.S. Documentary at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.
Safety Not Guaranteed (Director: Colin Trevorrow, Screenwriter: Derek Connolly) — A trio of magazine employees investigate a classified ad seeking a partner for time travel. One employee develops feelings for the paranoid but compelling loner and seeks to discover what he’s really up to. Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass, Jake Johnson, Karan Soni. Winner of the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.
Shut Up and Play the Hits (Directors: Dylan Southern, Will Lovelace) — A film that follows LCD Soundsystem front man James Murphy over a crucial 48-hour period, from the day of their final gig at Madison Square Garden to the morning after, the official end of one of the best live bands in the world.
Under African Skies (Director: Joe Berlinger) — Paul Simon returns to South Africa to explore the incredible journey of his historic Graceland album, including the political backlash he sparked for allegedly breaking the UN cultural boycott of South Africa, designed to end Apartheid.
Press Release: Yahoo! Introduces New Web Shows
Yahoo! Makes Comedy Serious Business With Premiere of New Comedy Channel Shows Featuring Seth Morris, Mike O’Brien, Ken Marino and More
Yahoo! Screen now home to new slate of premium original comedy Web shows
SUNNYVALE, Calif. – (March 5, 2012) – Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO), the premier digital media company, today debuts a variety of original comedy Web shows from a collaborative effort between Yahoo! and top-tier production partners. The new shows include “First Dates With Toby Harris” featuring Seth Morris (Funny or Die); “Sketchy” (Electus/ Principato-Young Entertainment), and “7 Minutes in Heaven” with “Saturday Night Live” writer Mike O’Brien (Broadway Video). The slate of comedy shows also includes an existing Yahoo! Studios original show, “Odd News,” Yahoo! News’ weekly wrap-up on the strangest stories from around the globe, hosted by comedian Greg Proops. All the new comedy shows will live on Yahoo! Screen (http://screen.yahoo.com), Yahoo!’s new online video destination.
In the coming weeks, Yahoo! will debut additional comedy shows including “Hackerazzi” (David Morgasen) and “Burning Love” (Paramount Pictures/Red Hour), which features an impressive lineup of celebrity talent and spoofs popular reality television dating shows.
With more than one billion streams to date of original comedy programming, Yahoo! is already the top online destination for comedy. The comedy channel on Yahoo! Screen was officially launched with the live broadcast of “CrazyStupidPolitics: Bill Maher Live From Silicon Valley,” the first free online stand-up comedy broadcast. The Yahoo! Comedy Channel also features licensed content from top comedy content creators.
“Yahoo! is already the leader in original storytelling online, with nine out of the top ten shows on the web and provocative, groundbreaking projects like Tom Hanks’ ‘Electric City,’” said Mickie Rosen, SVP Yahoo! Media Network. “Following the success we saw with our slate of programming for women, we’re excited to work with comedy powerhouses like Funny or Die, Broadway Video, Paramount Pictures/Red Hour, Electus/Principato Young Entertainment, David Morgasen and others to continue innovating on our slate programming approach.”
“Yahoo!’s continued efforts to push forward the creativity and originality of premium online content elevates the entire digital entertainment space,” said Drew Buckley, COO and head of Digital for Electus. “We are incredibly proud to launch our new comedy show ‘Sketchy’ with Yahoo! as they are at the forefront of original programming on the Web.”
“We are excited to showcase “First Dates” on the Yahoo! Comedy Channel,” said Dick Glover, CEO of Funny Or Die. “It’s a great series that will resonate well with the Yahoo! audience, and Seth particularly loves the idea of continuing with the series until he, or rather Toby Harris, succeeds in getting to a ‘second’ date.”
“Yes, that would be nice, but until that day comes, it is fortunate for Toby (and yes, let’s face it , for me too), that there are many single girls in Los Angeles,” said Seth Morris, star of “First Dates With Toby Harris.”
Re-Imagined Creative Canvas for Advertisers
Similar to the successful female-targeted slate of programming Yahoo! debuted in October 2011, the Yahoo! Comedy Channel offers marketers a significant opportunity to align their brand with premium content and a “Share of Voice” opportunity to buy against the entire slate of shows.
Yahoo!’s consumer insights inform the content creation process to help ensure delivery of high-quality, premium digital video experiences to the right audiences at meaningful scale.
The Yahoo! Comedy Channel already has top-tier brands signed on as advertisers for the launch of the slate.
Yahoo!’s Success With Original Video
Consumer insights indicate that the desire for premium digital video is greater than ever before. Yahoo! is in the strongest position to capitalize on this growing market trend, with the most viewed portfolio of original programming online. Yahoo!’s original programs reel in more viewers than many other websites combined.
Yahoo! original video programming attracted over 35 million unique visitors in December 2011. More Americans watched Yahoo! Studios video programs than videos on Hulu.com for the thirteenth straight month in a row.
Yahoo! had 20 of the top 25 most watched online Web series in December 2011 (comScore Custom Report).
Yahoo! Studios produces up to 30 original programs each month.
Yahoo!’s New Slate of Comedy Shows and Talent
Funny or Die presents “First Dates With Toby Harris” (Funny or Die) http://screen.yahoo.com/firstdates
Starring Seth Morris, created and directed by Elliot Dickerhoof, produced by Anna Wenger. “First Dates With Toby Harris” is a series that takes us on a journey of ill-fated first dates with the lovable (sometimes deplorable) and always single Toby Harris. Set in Los Angeles, each episode centers around a different woman and issue that will leave the audience bickering about who was right and who was wrong, and how they might have handled it better.Love him or hate him, a date with Toby is a date you will always remember.
› Episode length: approx 3-5 minutes
› Frequency: Weekly
› Total run of episodes: 12
“Burning Love” (Paramount Pictures/Red Hour), Coming Spring 2012
The scripted comedy series “Burning Love” spoofs popular reality dating shows and features an impressive lineup of comedic actors from film and television including Ken Marino, Malin Akerman, Kristen Bell, Michael Ian Black, Ken Jeong, Adam Scott, Abigail Spencer, Natasha Leggero, Ryan Hansen, June Diane Raphael, Noureen DeWulf, Kerri Kenney, Beth Dover, and more. The show follows fireman Mark Orlando (Ken Marino) as he searches for the perfect woman. Viewers get a front-row seat to the champagne toasts, candles, heartbreak, bubble baths, chocolate, choreography, hair extensions, roller skating, betrayal, spray-tans, and rainbows in the most romantic, comedic Web series ever made.
“Sketchy” (Principato Young/Electus) http://screen.yahoo.com/sketchy/
“Sketchy” is a weekly video series featuring stand-alone, topical comedy shorts written, directed, and starring some of the biggest names in comedy.
› Episode length: approx. 3-5 minutes
› Frequency: Weekly
› Total run of episodes: 26
“7 Minutes in Heaven” (Broadway Video) http://screen.yahoo.com/7minutesinheaven/
Host Mike O’Brien (“Saturday Night Live” writer) invites celebrities into his closet for an intimate conversation.
› Episode length: approx. 3-5 minutes
› Frequency: Weekly
› Total run of episodes: 10
“Odd News” (Yahoo! Studios) http://screen.yahoo.com/oddnews
“Odd News” is a weekly Web show, hosted by Greg Proops, that delights and surprises viewers with the funniest, most bizarre, but absolutely real news stories of the week. ”Odd News” is consistently in the top ten of the most watched shows online.
› Episode length: approx. 3-5 minutes
› Frequency: Weekly
› Total run of episodes: 24
“Hackerazzi” (David Morgasen), Launching March 19, 2012
From David Morgasen, the director known for classic viral videos like the “David Blaine Street Magic” spoofs and “Obama-McCain Dance-off”, as well as his work on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” comes “Hackerazzi.” It’s like Wikileaks, except instead of classified government documents, it features embarrassing celebrity videos, never meant for us to see. It’s the only place you can see hidden treasures like Mitt Romney busting a move at a fundraiser, Prince William pulling a prank that goes horribly wrong on Kate Middleton, or Donald Trump getting dissed by a parrot. All this thanks to state-of-the-art digital effects.
› Episode length: approx. 2-4 minutes
› Frequency: Weekly
› Total run of episodes: 14
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! is the premier digital media company, creating deeply personal digital experiences that keep more than half a billion people connected to what matters most to them, across devices and around the globe. And Yahoo!’s unique combination of Science + Art + Scale connects advertisers to the consumers who build their businesses. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit the pressroom (pressroom.yahoo.net) or the company’s blog, Yodel Anecdotal (yodel.yahoo.com).
Yahoo! is the trademark and/or registered trademark of Yahoo! Inc. All other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
This press release (including without limitation the quotations) contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties concerning Yahoo!’s strategic and operational plans for the Yahoo! Comedy Channel, as well as Yahoo!’s expectations regarding the demand for online video and its ability to capitalize on that demand, the Yahoo! Comedy Channel’s audience and programming, and related collaborative efforts and marketer opportunities. Actual results may differ materially from expectations and those described in this press release. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the possibility that expectations regarding the demand for online video and Yahoo!’s ability to successfully address that demand with the Yahoo! Comedy Channel programs or its other offerings might prove incorrect, the collaboration might prove less successful than expected, the debut of new programs might be delayed or limited, and the anticipated benefits to Yahoo! and opportunities for marketers might not be realized. More information about potential factors that could affect Yahoo!’s business and financial results is included under the captions, “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” in Yahoo!’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, which is on file with the SEC and available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Press Release: Kate Winslet’s ‘Golden Hat’ Picture Book to Benefit Autism Awareness
Kate Winslet’s Hat Worn & Self-Portrayed by 100 Celebrities Features Golden Charm in her book, The Golden Hat: Talking Back to Autism 100 celebrities lend their self-portraits and their words to a worthy cause
February 28, 2012 — Kate Winslet’s traveling hat, which graced the noggins of 100 of the world’s most famous celebrities, couldn’t have accomplished such a generous feat without a little fairy dust—so that’s exactly what it got. Kate explains, “I put the wishbone charm onto (the hat) since I wanted to find something that gave the hat its own good luck memento. It had a lot of traveling to do, and I wanted to wish it luck along the way and give the project, as a whole, an extra touch of luck and magic.
The outcome? Kate’s highly anticipated book, The Golden Hat: Talking Back to Autism, featuring stunning self-portraits of 100 A-list celebrities, will benefit her brainchild (no pun intended), The Golden Hat Foundation. She founded the non-profit in 2010 with Margret Ericsdottir to find ways to eliminate barriers for people with autism.
Kate originally became compelled to get involved during her narration of a documentary entitled A Mother’s Courage: Talking Back to Autism about an Icelandic boy named Keli living with autism. Upon meeting Keli’s mother, Margret, Kate was deeply moved by Margret’s extensive journey to find a way for her nonverbal son to learn to communicate.
While launching The Golden Hat Foundation, Winslet came up with the idea to recruit the support of phenomenal individuals to photograph themselves wearing her well-loved trilby. “Put the hat on your head and think about how much we take communication for granted,” she told them. “How would you communicate to the world who you are in a single quote? What words would you choose? Express something that’s important to you.”
Eager to spread the word, she gate-crashed parties, hung out on friends’ film sets, went backstage at theatres, sent hundreds of emails, left numerous “begging” phone messages and carried the hat on her lap to Austin, Los Angeles, London and Paris. The result is this work of art. Arriving in stores on March 27, 2012, The Golden Hat: Talking Back to Autism, is sure to be a long-cherished book.
Proceeds from the book will go towards construction of innovative living campuses, offering people with autism the opportunity to learn to communicate effectively, receive an education, develop marketable skills and enjoy recreational activities, all within a supportive social network. “When given a suitable education and the means to communicate effectively, people with autism can realize their dreams,” says Winslet.
To purchase The Golden Hat: Talking Back to Autism, or for more information about the Golden Hat Foundation, visit www.goldenhatfoundation.org.
About The Golden Hat Foundation
The Golden Hat Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating barriers for people with autism around the world, and creating an environment that holds these individuals as intellectually capable. The mission of the Golden Hat Foundation is to help educate the world regarding the intellectual capabilities of individuals with autism. Our long-term goals include establishing innovative living communities that offer people with autism the opportunity to learn to communicate effectively, receive an education, job training and enjoy recreational activities, all within a supportive social network. When given a suitable education and the means to communicate effectively, people with autism can truly realize their dreams.
Press Release: New York International Children’s Film Festival Adds ‘Monkey King’
NEW YORK INT’L CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL ADDS NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE OF “MONKEY KING: UPROAR IN HEAVEN” TO 2012 SLATE
THE FILM WILL SCREEN IN 3D ON SATURDAY MARCH 10 AND WEDNESDAY MARCH 21 AT WALTER READE THEATER
TICKETS NOW ON SALE AT GKIDS.COM HI-RES IMAGES AT WWW.GKIDS.COM/PRESS
NEW YORK, NY, MARCH 7, 2012 – New York Int’l Children’s Film Festival has added the North American premiere of THE MONKEY KING: UPROAR IN HEAVEN to this year’s festival lineup. The film is a new frame-for-frame restoration and 3D rendering of the Wan Laiming masterpiece, a national treasure and China’s most celebrated and accomplished work of animation. The film had its world premiere at the 2012 Berlin Film Festival.
Composed of gorgeously flowing animation created by hand from over 130,000 ink drawings and an opulent soundtrack inspired by the Beijing Opera, the film follows the adventures of the magical Monkey King of Flower Fruit Mountain, a mischievous character who creates havoc by refusing to bow down to the authority of the Celestial Jade Emperor. After stealing a magic staff from the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea, the cheeky Monkey King challenges the established order of heaven, freeing horses from the imperial stables, disrupting imperial banquets, and entering into epic battle with one colorful god after another – while snubbing his nose at the pompous formality of the heavenly court. Based on the classic Chinese story Journey to the West, the original film was made at the height of that country’s golden period of animation and was released a mere months before the before the entire film industry was shut down by the Cultural Revolution. This is a truly stunning work of animation and mythological storytelling, far surpassing anything China has produced before or since.
The film will play Sat, Mar 10 at 11:00am and Weds, Mar 21 at 6:30pm at Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center. Tickets for all NYICFF events are now on sale at www.gkids.com. As in past years, all screenings are expected to sell out, so advance purchase is highly recommended.
ABOUT NYICFF:
Established in 1997, NYICFF is an Oscar®-qualifying event and North America’s largest film festival for children and teens. The 2011 edition attracted a sold-out-in-advance audience of 25,000 and generated 80 million media impressions. NYICFF 2012 takes place March 2-25, with 100+ films from around the world, plus gala premieres, retrospectives, filmmaker Q&As, filmmaking workshops, audience voting, and the NYICFF Awards Ceremony. Festival sponsors include HSBC Premier, HBO, Parents Magazine, and Scholastic with funding support by National Endowment for the Arts, NY State Council on the Arts, and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. In addition to the annual March festival, NYICFF presents year-round film programming both in New York and nationally.
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