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.

• Press Release: Whitewater Films Present Screen of “Drones”
• Press Release: Participant Media Mounts Social Action Campaign for “The Square”
• Press Release: Cirque du Soleil Performances Available on VOD
• Press Release: “The Deflowering of Eva Van End” Available on DVD December 3rd
• Press Release: National Archives Presents Steven Spielberg Film Festival
• Press Release: Zeitgeist Films Presents US Theatrical Release of “Child’s Pose”
• Press Release: Worldview Entertainment Acquires North American Rights to “The Search”
• Press Release: Content and Preferred Partner on “The Nightmare”
• Press Release: Alanis Morissette Brings “Jagged Little Pill” to Broadway
• Press Release: GKids Announces English Language Voice Cast for “Ernest & Celestine”
• Press Release: Keep a Child Alive’s 10th Annual Black Ball Raises $4 Million

Press Release: Whitewater Films Present Screen of “Drones”

WHITEWATER FILMS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AFI FEST, PRESENT A SCREENING OF RICK ROSENTHAL’S “DRONES”

FOLLOWED BY A SPECIAL ROUNDTABLE EVENT: MICRO-BUDGET FILMMAKING: THE NEW PARADIGM

LOS ANGELES, CA (November 4, 2013) – Following the Los Angeles debut screening of producer/director Rick Rosenthal’s riveting new film DRONES at AFI FEST presented by Audi, the filmmaker will bring the popular Whitewater Films Roundtable to the ballroom of the Roosevelt Hotel to discuss how micro-budget filmmaking has emerged as the new paradigm for independent filmmakers.

The screening of DRONES is Saturday, November 9 at 1:15PM at the CHINESE 6 Theaters in Hollywood. The panel will immediately follow across the street at 3:00PM at the Roosevelt Hotel. Tickets or an AFI FEST Pass are necessary for admittance to both the screening and the panel afterwards. Tickets and passes are available at AFI.com.

Panelists will include actor/director Matthew Lillard (THE DESCENDANTS, FAT KID RULES THE WORLD), writer/director Cherien Dabis (MAY IN THE SUMMER, AMREEKA), actor/director Gregory Smith (HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN, METHOD, ROOKIE BLUE), cinematographer Noah Rosenthal (DRONES, COLD COMES THE NIGHT) and actress Eloise Mumford (DRONES, THE RIVER, LONE STAR). Director / producer Rick Rosenthal (DRONES, BAD BOYS, MEAN CREEK) will serve as moderator.

The Whitewater Roundtable strives to facilitate community-building within the independent film industry. Through a series of face-to-face, lunch-time discussions addressing the art and craft of filmmaking, industry professionals share the freshest information on a wide spectrum of topics.

Previous Roundtables have been featured in The Hollywood Reporter, The Huffington Post, The Wrap and Film Closings, and have addressed a diverse list of subjects, including: how to successfully market indie films in the post-print media era, the interplay of image and music, piracy and its effect on independent films, the rise of Transmedia, the impact casting continues to have on foreign pre-sales and domestic deals, and much more.

Produced by Whitewater Films and directed by Rick Rosenthall, DRONES is an unflinching examination of the complex moral issues and collateral damage facing a U.S. military that relies ever more heavily on the use of unmanned drones to execute its strategies. DRONES follows two Air Force pilots (Matt O’Leary and Eloise Mumford) operating an RPA (remote piloted aircraft) from a trailer in Nevada. Their mission is to surveil a remote compound in the rugged Afghan mountains in hopes of identifying and assassinating an HVT (high value target) believed to be a high-ranking member of Al Qaeda. As the two pilots monitor a quickly evolving situation on the ground, a straightforward mission grows more and more complicated. Soon the pilots are forced to question not only their mission but also the very nature of U.S. military policy. With time ticking down on their fuel levels and a potential terrorist in their gun sights, the pilots must choose between their own personal integrity and the honor and safety of the United States.

DRONES features a screenplay by veteran television producer Matt Witten (House, Law and Order) based on his play of the same name. Producers are Rick Rosenthal, Jim Hart, Trent Broin, Matt Witten, and Nick Morton.

ABOUT WHITEWATER FILMS:
Whitewater Films is an independent production company dedicated to helping emerging directors find their voices and assisting established filmmakers in getting their passion projects off the ground. Founded by veteran director/producer Rick Rosenthal and joined by a team of young, accomplished producers, the company’s films include Drones, Afternoon Delight, Fat Kid Rules the World, On The Ice, Mean Creak, Nearing Grace, Kabluey, and According To Greta.

About AFI FEST presented by Audi
A program of the American Film Institute, AFI FEST presented by Audi is a celebration of global cinema and today’s Hollywood – a showcase for the best festival films of the year and an opportunity for master filmmakers and emerging artists to come together with audiences in the movie capital of the world. AFI FEST is the only festival of its stature that is free to the public. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes AFI FEST as a qualifying festival for both Short Film categories for the annual Academy Awards. This year’s edition takes place November 7-14, 2013. Additional information about AFI FEST is available at AFI.com/AFIFEST. Connect with AFI FEST at facebook.com/AFIFEST, twitter.com/AFIFEST and youtube.com/AFIFEST.

Press Release: Participant Media Mounts Social Action Campaign for “The Square”

PARTICIPANT MEDIA ENTERS “THE SQUARE” TO MOUNT SOCIAL ACTION CAMPAIGN FOR JEHANE NOUJAIM’S GRIPPING, AWARD WINNING-DOCUMENTARY

FILM WILL BOW THEATRICALLY IN EIGHT NORTH AMERICAN CITIES ON JANUARY 17, 2014

November 4, 2013 – Participant Media will join forces with director-producer Jehane Noujaim (Control Room; Startup.com; Rafea: Solar Mama) and producer Karim Amer (Rafea: Solar Mama) for the documentary THE SQUARE, a riveting, deeply human chronicle of the Egyptian protest movement. Participant Media will mount a comprehensive social action campaign targeting universities, cultural institutions and thought leaders across the country, with support from Participant’s digital network TakePart as well as “TakePart Live,” its live nightly talk show on Pivot, Participant’s new television network.

The first film to win the Audience Award at both the Sundance and Toronto film festivals, THE SQUARE will open theatrically in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC, Boston and Toronto on January 17, 2014. The film is being released theatrically by Noujaim Films.

THE SQUARE is an epic documentary that tells the behind-the-headlines story of the Egyptian Revolution through the eyes of young activists who have sought for the last two years to build a better Egypt. The film captures the immediacy and intensity of the protests in Tahrir Square from the 2011 overthrow of military leader Hosni Mubarak through the ousting of Mohammed Morsi in 2013, providing a kaleidoscopic, visceral portrait of the events as they unfold before Magdy, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, Khalid Abdalla, an Egyptian actor who played the lead in Participant’s The Kite Runner and the charismatic Ahmed, whose poetic storytelling carries the narrative. Armed with nothing more than cameras, social media, deep consciousness, and a resolute commitment to change, these young revolutionaries give us a front line perspective of the ongoing struggle fought with new weapons.

“Jehane has crafted a compelling, emotional and enlightening film that transports you to the center of Tahrir Square,” said Participant CEO Jim Berk. “We look forward to deploying all our social action resources at Participant to bring THE SQUARE to the widest possible audience.”

Noujaim said, “We made THE SQUARE in order to inspire the hearts and minds of people worldwide, and we are thrilled that Participant Media, a company that was founded on the belief that film has the power to change the world, will create and implement a social action campaign for the film.”

The deal was negotiated by Participant’s COO Jeff Ivers, with Cinetic Media’s John Sloss on behalf of the filmmakers.

About Participant Media
Participant is a global entertainment company founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll to focus on feature film, television, publishing and digital content that inspires social change. Participant’s more than 40 films include GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK, SYRIANA, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, FOOD, INC., WAITING FOR ‘SUPERMAN’, THE HELP, CONTAGION and LINCOLN. Through its films, social action campaigns, digital network TakePart.com and Pivot, its new television network for Millennials, Participant seeks to entertain, encourage and empower every individual to take action.

Press Release: Cirque du Soleil Performances Available on VOD

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL Performances available on VOD From Gravitas Ventures

BRING THE WONDER OF CIRQUE DU SOLEIL TO THE COMFORT OF YOUR LIVING ROOM

November 5, 2013 – Over 100 million people have seen Cirque du Soleil® performances live and now over 100 million North American VOD households have direct access to Cirque du Soleil content on demand via Gravitas Ventures, who are exclusively distributing the shows, as part of “A Season of Cirque du Soleil”.

The programs include performance specials featuring the live shows as well as behind-the-scenes documentaries that highlight the creative process of a Cirque du Soleil show. These titles are available for the first time to a North American audience on VOD.

UPCOMING LIVE PERFORMANCES:
Following the premiere of TOTEM™ at the Port of Los Angeles this month, additional TOTEM performances are planned, including one in Santa Monica in January. If you’d like to attend this performance to parallel a live show with a viewing on VOD, we do have a select amount of tickets available.

Press Release: “The Deflowering of Eva Van End” Available on DVD December 3rd

“THE DEFLOWERING OF EVA VAN END” AVAILABLE ON DVD DECEMBER 3rd FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Absurdist satire from Toronto Int’l Film Festival channels Wes Anderson at his best

“Riveting! Quite an achievement!” -Boyd van Hoeij, Variety
“Impeccably nuanced and genuine! An unassuming quirk to the film!” -Jacqueline Valencia, Next Projection

November 5, 2013 (NY, NY) – Film Movement, the distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films, announces today that THE DEFLOWERING OF EVA VAN END, the absurdist satire debut from director Michiel ten Horn, will be released on DVD on December 3rd in North America, in time for holidaiy gift-giving. The Deflowering of Eva Van End recalls the dark comedy of Todd Solondz’s Welcome to the Dollhouse and the amiable quirk of Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom. Ten Horn develops an uplifting and hopeful mood in his film, and ultimately a deep affection for his characters.

All Film Movement DVD releases include a short film – this month’s release includes two by ten Horn, ARIE and BASTA. Providing a unique glimpse at the filmmaker’s evolution in his craft, the films are thirteen and ten minutes in length, respectively. Arie follows an elderly man whose world is changed – for the better – when he loses his beloved pet canary. In Basta, two brothers conspire to help their mother, distraught over the departure of her favorite child – their older brother – for the army.

An official selection at the Toronto International Film Festival, The Deflowering of Eva Van End will be available on DVD at Film Movement, and also through major retailers such as Amazon.com. The film will be available to stream directly from Film Movement for just $3.99; online streaming begins December 3rd and can be accessed here. Additionaly, Amazon Instant and iTunes will make the film available for rent and download beginning December 3rd.

Synopsis of THE DEFLOWERING OF EVA VAN END:
In this perfect blend of satire and sincerity, a dysfunctional family gets turned on its head when the ‘perfect’ exchange student moves in. Every member of the van End family is preoccupied with his or her own peculiar fixation – be it father Evert’s Sype relationship with a boy in Africa (seemingly his only functional relationship), or mother Etty’s relentless tirades against her dope-dealing youngest son or her praises for her eldest son, about to marry. Trapped in the middle is the youngest – 15-year-old Eva – struggling for any attention or affection at all. When Veit, the Adonis German exchange student Eva invited, moves in, the family is shocked and each family member must confront his or her own doubts, insecurities, fears and desires. During Veit’s two week stay, all five family members begin to reinvent themselves, led by former wallflower Eva, who begins a dramatic transformation.

THE DEFLOWERING OF EVA VAN END |2013 | Comedy | Dutch with English subtitles | 98 minutes I Unrated
Additional information, press kit, trailer and film stills can be found here.

About Film Movement:
Launched in 2003, Film Movement is a full-service North American distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films, based in New York City. Film Movement has released more than 250 feature films and shorts from 50 countries on six continents, including top prize winners from Sundance, Cannes, Venice, Toronto, Berlin, Tribeca and other prestigious festivals. Film Movement releases its films through numerous distribution channels, including thousands of art-house cinemas, universities and libraries; home video (Netflix and Amazon); television outlets (Sundance Channel, HBO, IFC and Showtime); Cable Video on Demand (including its very own branded cable VOD platform—Film Festival on Demand—available in over 40 million US homes); In-flight Entertainment (Alaska Airlines, Air Canada and United/Continental,) and broadband outlets (iTunes, Hulu, Amazon and YouTube).

Press Release: National Archives Presents Steven Spielberg Film Festival

National Archives Presents Steven Spielberg Film Festival

Free Film Screenings Pay Tribute to Foundation for the National Archives’ 2013 Records of Achievement Honoree

Washington, DC – In honor of filmmaker Steven Spielberg, the Foundation for the National Archives’ 2013 Records of Achievement Award recipient, the National Archives will present free public screenings of four Spielberg films.

The Steven Spielberg Film Festival, presented at the Archives’ William G. McGowan Theater in association with DreamWorks Studios, will include screenings of:

Saving Private Ryan (1998; rated R) – Friday, November 15, 7 p.m.
E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial (1982; rated PG) – Saturday, November 16, noon
Amistad (1997; rated R) – Saturday, November 16, 7 p.m.
Lincoln (2012; rated PG-13) – Monday, November 18, 7 p.m.

Free tickets will be distributed at the Special Events entrance to the National Archives at 7th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, beginning 60 minutes prior to showtime. Seating is limited and first-come, first-served.

Mr. Spielberg is being honored by the Foundation, the National Archives’ private partner, in recognition of his film legacy, which has brought history to life on the big screen. The Records of Achievement Award is a tribute to an individual whose work has fostered a broader national awareness of the history and identity of the United States through the use of original records, including those preserved by the National Archives. Previous recipients of Foundation awards include: Tom Brokaw, Ken Burns, the late John Hope Franklin, Annette Gordon-Reed, Brian Lamb and C-SPAN, Jacqueline Badger Mars, David McCullough, James McPherson, and David M. Rubenstein.

Mr. Spielberg, a three-time Academy Award® winner, will be recognized for his contributions as director of such historical films as Lincoln, Saving Private Ryan, Amistad, and Schindler’s List. He also will be honored for his work in creating what has become the USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education, which is dedicated to making audiovisual interviews with survivors and witnesses of the Holocaust and other genocides into a compelling voice for education and action.

Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero will join Foundation President A’Lelia Bundles to present the award.

The Foundation for the National Archives is proud to sponsor this public program through the support of the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund, Inc., and the generous sponsors of its 2013 Gala and Records of Achievement Award ceremony: AT&T, the Maris S. Cuneo Foundation, Governor Jim Blanchard and Janet Blanchard, and Marvin F. Weissberg.

About Steven Spielberg
Considered one of our country’s most influential filmmakers, Steven Spielberg is a principal partner of DreamWorks Studios and a three-time Academy Award® winner. Spielberg took home his first two Oscars® in 1993, for Best Director and Best Picture, for Schindler’s List, followed by a third award in 1999 for his direction of the World War II epic Saving Private Ryan. He has also garnered Academy Award® nominations for Best Director for Munich, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and most recently for Lincoln, which traces the President’s fight during the height of the Civil War to pass the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery.

Moved by the experience of directing the Holocaust drama Schindler’s List, Spielberg donated his profits to establish the Righteous Persons Foundation, an organization dedicated to strengthening Jewish identity and community in the United States. He also founded Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation—now the USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education—which preserves video testimonies from survivors and other witnesses of the Holocaust.

About the National Archives
The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent federal agency that preserves and shares with the public records that trace the story of our nation, government, and the American people. From the Declaration of Independence to accounts of ordinary Americans, the holdings of the National Archives directly touch the lives of millions of people. The National Archives carries out its mission through a nationwide network of archives, records centers, and presidential libraries, as well as at www.archives.gov.

About the Foundation for the National Archives
The Foundation for the National Archives is an independent nonprofit that increases public awareness of the National Archives, inspires a deeper appreciation of our country’s heritage, and encourages citizen engagement in our democracy. The Foundation generates financial and creative support for National Archives exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives, introducing America’s records to people around the U.S. and the world. (www.archivesfoundation.org)

Press Release: Zeitgeist Films Presents US Theatrical Release of “Child’s Pose”

CHILD’S POSE

A film by Calin Peter Netzer

Opens in NYC on February 19 – Press contact: adam@filmforum.org
Opens in LA on February 21

Filmmaker Calin Peter Netzer will be in Los Angeles November 12-18 and available for long-lead interviews

Screenings at the AFI Festival in Los Angeles:
Tuesday, November 12 at 3:30 pm at Chinese 1
Wednesday, November 13 at 8:45 pm at Chinese 5

Zeitgeist Films is proud to present the US Theatrical release of CHILD’S POSE, a film by Calin Peter Netzer. The film will open at Film Forum in NYC on February 19, and at the Nuart Theatre in Los Angeles on February 21. A national release will follow.

Golden Bear winner at the 2013 Berlin Film Festival, Calin Peter Netzer’s sharply crafted CHILD’S POSE pivots on a riveting performance by Luminita Gheorghiu (12:08 East of Bucharest; 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days; Beyond the Hills; The Death of Mr. Lazarescu, the role for which Los Angeles Film Critics Association awarded her the Best Supporting Actress award) as a steely, well-to-do Bucharest architect determined to keep her 30-something deadbeat son out of jail after a deadly car crash.

How far will she go to convince the police, eyewitnesses and even the victim’s family that her son was not recklessly speeding? A spellbinding drama of social commentary and psychological realism, this caustic look into the corrupt heart of the Eastern European bourgeoisie twists into a brilliantly ambiguous study of obsessive motherly love. Savagely witty and utterly engrossing, CHILD’S POSE is the Official Romanian Entry for Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Academy Awards.

Press Release: Worldview Entertainment Acquires North American Rights to “The Search”

WORLDVIEW ENTERTAINMENT ACQUIRES NORTH AMERICAN RIGHTS TO MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS’S “THE SEARCH” STARRING BÉRÉNICE BEJO AND ANNETTE BENING

Filming is underway, Wild Bunch commencing foreign sales at AFM

November 6, 2013 (Los Angeles, CA) — Worldview Entertainment has closed a deal for the North American distribution rights for Academy Award winner Michel Hazanavicius’s drama, “The Search,” starring Academy Award nominees Bérénice Bejo and Annette Bening. Hazanavicius wrote the screenplay and is reuniting with Academy Award winning producer Thomas Langmann, and his award winning production team from “The Artist.” Worldview’s Christopher Woodrow, Molly Conners, Maria Cestone and Sarah E. Johnson will executive produce. “The Search” is the second acquisition for Worldview this year following the pre-Cannes pick-up of the competition title, “Jimmy P.,” starring Academy Award winner Benicio Del Toro, which was later sold to IFC Films.

“The Search” is the story of an NGO worker who forms a special relationship with a young boy in warn-torn Chechnya and is based on Academy Award winner Fred Zinnemann’s Oscar-winning 1948 film, with the same title, which is set in post-World War II Berlin. The production is currently filming in the country of Georgia before moving to France. Wild Bunch is handling international sales and is introducing to the film to buyers at AFM. CAA represented Worldview on the acquisition.

“Worldview is thrilled to partner with Michel and Thomas as they reunite after their Oscar-winning success with “The Artist.” This film is a daring and heart-wrenching story and we believe it will be masterfully executed,” said Worldview CEO, Christopher Woodrow.

Leading up to AFM, Worldview Entertainment announced plans to finance and produce the crime thriller, “Candy Store,” starring Robert De Niro, Jason Clarke and Omar Sy, which Academy Award winner Stephen Gaghan will direct; Takashi Miike’s crime thriller, “The Outsider,” starring Tom Hardy; “Term Life” for Universal Pictures, directed by Peter Billingsley and starring Vince Vaughn and Hailee Steinfeld; and Kim Farrant’s thriller, “Strangerland,” starring Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman, Guy Pearce and Hugo Weaving.

Worldview’s impressive 2013 slate includes two studio co-financing deals: Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu’s comedy, “Birdman,” with Fox Searchlight and New Regency, starring Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, Academy Award nominee Naomi Watts, Zach Galifianakis and Academy Award nominee Edward Norton; and Daniel Espinosa’s crime thriller, “Child 44,” with Summit/Lionsgate, starring Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, Academy Award nominee and Gary Oldman. The company also financed and produced Kate Barker Froyland’s drama, “Song One” starring Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway which just wrapped; Zach Braff’s drama, ‘Wish I Was Here,” starring Braff and Academy Award nominee Kate Hudson; will be reteaming this fall with David Gordon Green on the drama “Manglehorn,” starring Academy Award winners Al Pacino and Holly Hunter; and the horror thriller, “Beyond the Green Inferno,” the sequel to Eli Roth’s, “The Green Inferno,” which will be directed by Nicolas Lopez;

Worldview had six films premiere on the festival circuit this fall: Academy Award nominee Atom Egoyan’s crime thriller, “Devil’s Knot,” starring Academy Award winners Colin Firth and Reese Witherspoon, which was acquired by Image Entertainment; Eli Roth’s horror thriller, “The Green Inferno,” which was acquired by Open Road Films; David Gordon Green’s drama, “Joe,” starring Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage and Tye Sheridan; Ti West’s thriller, “The Sacrament,” which was acquired by Magnolia Pictures; Guillaume Canet’s crime thriller, “Blood Ties,” starring Academy Award nominee Clive Owen, Billy Crudup, Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard, Mila Kunis, Zoe Saldana and Academy Award nominee James Caan which Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions acquired; and Jehane Noujaim’s Egyptian revolution documentary, “The Square,” which recently opened theatrically.

About Worldview Entertainment
Worldview Entertainment is a leading independent motion picture studio that finances, produces and acquires theatrical quality feature films with budgets up to $50 million for worldwide distribution. The company is backed by a strong capitalization and represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Worldview was founded in 2007 and is based in New York City.

Press Release: Content and Preferred Partner on “The Nightmare”

CONTENT AND PREFERRED PARTNER ON RODNEY ASCHER‘S HORROR DOCUMENTARY THE NIGHTMARE

DUO PARTNER WITH THE PRODUCER OF THE ACADEMY AWARD-WINING FILM, UNDEFEATED, GLEN ZIPPER WITH CONTENT INTRODUCING THE FILM TO INTERNATIONAL BUYERS AT AFM

6 November 2013, Los Angeles – Content announced that cult director Rodney Ascher (ROOM 237) will direct THE NIGHTMARE, a disturbing investigation into the demonic visions experienced by victims of sleep paralysis and provoked by Ascher’s own unsettling experiences with the condition. THE NIGHTMARE is produced by Preferred Film & TV‘s Ross M. Dinerstein (THE PACT, DARK SUMMER) and Kevin Iwashina (JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI), alongside the producer of the Academy Award-Winning film, UNDEFEATED, Glen Zipper. The horror documentary is executive produced by Content’s Jamie Carmichael (THE PACT, BLACK BOOK), who will also introduce the film to international buyers at the American Film Market this week.

Ascher’s hit Kubrick analysis feature ROOM 237 premiered at Sundance, screened in Cannes’ Director’s Fortnight, won the Best Director (Documentary) prize at the Austin Fantastic Fest and IDA’s Creative Editing award in 2012. It is repeatedly listed as one of the must-see documentaries of 2013.

Ross Dinerstein said, “We’ve assembled a great team with Rodney, Kevin, and Glen and are going to collectively break new ground with this film.”

Preferred Content’s Kevin Iwashina and Content’s Jamie Carmichael will handle North American sales.

“ROOM 237 was a mind bendingly brilliant movie. Rodney has a piercing intellect and a unique cinematic vision for horror,” said Content’s Carmichael. “We can’t wait to follow him down this new supernatural worm hole…”

THE NIGHTMARE is the sixth film produced by Preferred Film & TV (PFT), the joint venture between Content Media Corporation (CMC) and Preferred Content. Recent films include; Alistair Legrand’s intense horror film THE DIABOLICAL; Nicholas McCarthy’s THE PACT, which was a UK box office hit and release by IFC Midnight; Dallas Hallam and Patrick Horvath’s THE PACT 2 which is currently in post-production and also acquired by IFC Midnight; Karl Mueller’s Mr. Jones which will be released theatrically in May by Anchor Bay and Paul Solet’s DARK SUMMER which is also in post-production;

About Preferred Film & Television
Formed in 2012, Preferred Film & Television (PFT) is a joint venture between Content Media Corporation (CMC) and Preferred Content’s (PC) Ross Dinerstein and Kevin Iwashina. Preferred Film & TV produce and develop content of all genres with a commitment to quality projects with both established and emerging filmmakers.

About Content Film, a division of Content Media Corporation Ltd
Content Film is the worldwide film and library sales arm of Content Media Corporation Ltd., which specializes in high quality and commercial feature films. In addition to handling worldwide sales, marketing, and publicity — the company assists film producers in securing finance. The Feature Film Library arm also manages international sales on over 255 titles. Content Film is being managed in an executive capacity by Jamie Carmichael, President – Film Division.

The Content Film slate also includes: JIMI: ALL IS BY MY SIDE directed by John Ridley and starring Andre Benjamin which premiered in Toronto; the medieval actioner IRONCLAD 2: BATTLE FOR BLOOD; the family adventure PUDSEY: THE MOVIE, the supernatural horror DARK SUMMER directed by Paul Solet, the terrifyingly intense horror THE DIABOLICAL, the award winning sci-fi action THE MACHINE starring Toby Stephens and Caity Lotz and Slash’s produced classic horror NOTHING LEFT TO FEAR.

About Rodney Ascher
Besides Room 237, Ascher is known for the short film ‘The S From Hell’ (which also premiered at Sundance), editing the 30+ year in the making Andy Kaufman album “Andy and his Grandmother”, and is in production on a chapter of the anthology film, “the ABCs of Death pt 2”. He is managed by Lee Stobby at Caliber Media Co.

Press Release: Alanis Morissette Brings “Jagged Little Pill” to Broadway

BROADWAY TO GET A DOSE OF JAGGED LITTLE PILL

Alanis Morissette will take multi-platinum album to the stage

New York, NEW YORK (November 8, 2013) – Seven-time Grammy Award winner Alanis Morissette will take her 1995 hit album, Jagged Little Pill, to the Broadway stage debuting a workshop production of the piece in 2014. The musical, also called “Jagged Little Pill,” will include the full song list from the album as well as tracks from the rest of her body of work and some new, original songs that she will compose specially for the stage production. Two-time Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Kitt (“Next To Normal”, Green Day’s “American Idiot”) has signed on to provide orchestrations and arrangements. Kitt will be next represented on Broadway with his new, original musical “If/Then” opening in March 2014.

“Jagged Little Pill” will be produced by veteran Broadway producer Vivek J. Tiwary, who saw success with a similar venture, Green Day’s “American Idiot,” and British-Malaysian producer Arvind Ethan David.

“I look forward to taking the heart of Jagged Little Pill and expanding its story, fleshing it out into ever deeper layers of emotionality, specificity, humanity, power, physicality, spirit and fabulism,” shared Morissette. “I look forward to collaborating with Vivek and Tom and our whole inspiring team to create something greater than the sum of our parts.”

Jagged Little Pill, co-written with Morissette by the album’s producer Glen Ballard, sold over 33 million copies worldwide, producing six hit singles. The album is still the best-selling debut release by a female artist in the U.S. and the highest-selling debut album worldwide in music history. It debuted at number one on the Billboard charts, where it stayed for 12 weeks, and was eventually ranked as the number one best-selling album of the 1990’s, certified 16x Platinum. Morissette won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, making her the youngest artist in history to win the title at age 21. She also won the Grammy for Best Rock Album and the single “You Oughta Know” won Best Female Rock Vocal Performance and Best Rock Song. Morissette’s musical success spans globally with over 60 million albums sold, seven Grammy Awards, 12 Canadian Juno Awards, two Golden Globe nominations and multiple contributions to major theatrical releases, including THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA and CITY OF ANGELS.

“Jagged Little Pill was a triumph of self-expression– an album that was impossible to ignore with its massive sound and raw honesty. I’m proud to be working with Alanis to bring that same emotional power and bravery onto a Broadway stage,” said producer Tiwary. “We need more Broadway musicals with a serious, relatable emotional core and strong female voices. So we’re looking forward to honoring the Jagged Little Pill legacy– while still surprising fans with some unexpected twists.”

“Alanis’ songs have always uniquely combined narrative clarity with dramatic power– bringing them to the Broadway stage feels like bringing them home,” added David.

ABOUT ALANIS MORISSETTE
Since 1995 Alanis Morissette has been one of the most influential singer-songwriter-musicians in contemporary music. Her deeply expressive music and performances have earned vast critical praise, 12 Canadian Juno Awards, 7 Grammy® Awards (with an additional 14 nominations), a Golden Globe nomination and sales of over 60 million albums worldwide. Morissette’s 1995 debut, “JAGGED LITTLE PILL,” was followed by such eclectic and acclaimed albums as “SUPPOSED FORMER INFATUATION JUNKIE” (1998), “MTV UNPLUGGED” (1999), “UNDER RUG SWEPT” (2002), “SO-CALLED CHAOS” (2004), “JAGGED LITTLE PILL ACOUSTIC” (2005), her greatest hits album “THE COLLECTION” (2005), “FLAVORS OF ENTANGLEMENT”(2008), HAVOC AND BRIGHT LIGHTS (2012), as well as musical contributions to theatrical releases, some of which include “The Chronicles of Narnia,” “Prince of Persia,” and “City of Angels.” Alanis has acted on the big and small screen with roles in “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Dogma,” “Sex and the City,” “Weeds” and “Up All Night,” and has appeared as a celebrity guest mentor on the 2nd season of “The Voice.” Outside of entertainment, Alanis is an avid supporter of female empowerment, as well as spiritual, psychological and physical wellness. She has contributed her writing to a variety of outlets and forums, and leads workshops, special speaking engagements and keynote speaking worldwide. For more information see www.alanis.com.

ABOUT TOM KITT
Tom Kitt received the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama as well as two Tony Awards for Best Score and Best Orchestrations for “Next to Normal.” His music for “Next to Normal” also received the 2009 Frederick Loewe Award for dramatic composition and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Score. He is currently working on a new musical, “If/Then”, opening at the National Theatre in Washington, DC in 2013. Tom is also responsible for the music supervision, arrangements and orchestrations for Green Day’s “American Idiot” on Broadway, and provided additional arrangements for their Grammy Award-winning album 21st Century Breakdown and their new album trilogy, ¡Uno! ¡Dos! ¡Tré! Tom is also the composer of “High Fidelity” (Broadway); “Bring it On, The Musical” (with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Broadway); “The Winter’s Tale” and “All’s Well That Ends Well” (The Public’s NYSF); “Orphans” (Broadway); and “From Up Here” (MTC.) As a musical director, conductor, arranger and orchestrator, his credits include PITCH PERFECT (Feature Film), 13, DEBBIE DOES DALLAS, EVERYDAY RAPTURE, HAIR, LAUGH WHORE, and PIPPIN (Deaf West.)

ABOUT VIVEK J TIWARY
Vivek J. Tiwary is an award-winning producer, writer, and financier for film, television, theater, music, and graphic novels. He is the producer and writer of “The Fifth Beatle” (www.FifthBeatle.com) a feature film and graphic novel based on the life of Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein. “The Fifth Beatle” has secured unprecedented access to Beatles’ music and is in development to shoot in 2014. He is also exclusive producer of Amelia Rules! — a children’s film franchise and television series based on the series of tween graphic novels by New York Times best-selling author Jimmy Gownley. In television, Vivek sold a sitcom pilot “Punk Rock Dad” to CBS, based on the bestselling memoir/parenting manual by Pennywise lead singer Jim Lindberg, and he is developing a number of additional series including “Ascension,” a historical fiction / thriller juxtaposing the history of astronomy with mankind’s future in the stars. On Broadway, Vivek’s productions have won a combined 25 Tony Awards from 44 Tony nominations—every single one of his shows have been decorated. They include “The Addams Family,” Green Day’s “American Idiot” (the groundbreaking adaptation of the superstar rock band’s multi-platinum album), Mel Brooks’ “The Producers” (the most Tony Awards ever) and “Young Frankenstein”, “A Raisin In The Sun” (starring Sean Combs), and “A Little Night Music” (starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury). Off-Broadway, Vivek produced a theatrical collaboration between electropop/performance artists Fischerspooner and avant-garde theatre collective The Wooster Group (founded by Willem Dafoe, Spalding Gray, and others) that launched the 2008 Sao Paulo Art Bienal. Vivek also serves on the Board of Directors for Valiant Entertainment (www.valiantentertainment.com), a multi-platform company that boasts the third largest and most-loved universe of comic book characters and has been hailed by the New York Times as “Marvel 2.0”. Prior to founding Tiwary Entertainment Group (www.tiwaryent.com) and online music education/empowerment company StarPolish, Vivek held a number of major label music-industry positions, including launching and heading the Alternative Marketing Department at Mercury/PolyGram Records, and managing Video Promotion for Mercury/PolyGram, where he worked closely with MTV and VH1. Vivek has worked with artists covering the entire musical spectrum including Bruce Springsteen, Shania Twain, Bon Jovi, Pearl Jam, Kiss, LL Cool J, John Mellencamp, Allen Ginsberg, Oasis, Hanson, 311 and The Mighty Mighty BossTones to name but a few. Among many charitable pursuits, Vivek is the Co-Founder of Musicians On Call (www.musiciansoncall.org), a nonprofit organization that uses music and entertainment to complement the healing process. He is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of both the Wharton School of Business and the University of Pennsylvania’s College of Arts and Sciences. Vivek also holds a filmmaking certificate from The New York Film Academy and is an acting student of Susan Batson/Black Nexxus Acting Studio. Tiwary is represented by David Alpert and Lawrence Mattis at Circle of Confusion and Seth Gelblum at Loeb+Loeb.

ABOUT ARVIND ETHAN DAVID
Arvind is a Producer of films, television and theatre and an experienced media executive and entrepreneur, with an international focus, working between the UK, US and Asia. Arvind currently serves as Head of Production and Development for Ideate Media (www.ideatemedia.com.my), a new content company jointly owned by Khazanah Nasional Berhad (the strategic investment arm of the Government of Malaysia) and Astro Overseas Limited (the international division of Malaysia’s leading integrated media entertainment group). Arvind is also a principal of Slingshot, the next generation film production and financing business that he founded in 2006 with Arts Alliance principal, Thomas C. Hoegh. Slingshot (www.slingshot-studios.com) produced and financed five feature films, most recently the British break-out hit comedy THE INFIDEL, which is currently being adapted both as a Bollywood movie and as a stage musical (with music by Erran Baron Cohen, book by David Baddiel and additional material by Arvind). As a writer, Arvind has published numerous pieces of short fiction journalism as well as stage work. His play DIRK, the official adaptation of the Douglas Adams novel Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, is performed frequently around the world. Arvind is a qualified British attorney, holds an MA in Jurisprudence from Oxford University and an MBA from the London Business School. He lives in Los Angeles and is represented by David Alpert, Ashley Bernes & Lawrence Mattis at Circle of Confusion, Richard Thompson at Bloom Hergott and Neil Adleman at Harbottle & Lewis.

Press Release: GKids Announces English Language Voice Cast for “Ernest & Celestine”

GKIDS ANNOUNCES THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE VOICE CAST FOR “ERNEST & CELESTINE”

VOICE CAST INCLUDES: FOREST WHITAKER – as “Ernest”, MACKENZIE FOY – as “Celestine”, LAUREN BACALL, PAUL GIAMATTI, WILLIAM H. MACY, MEGAN MULLALLY, NICK OFFERMAN, JEFFREY WRIGHT

AWARD-WINNING FILM COMPETING FOR OSCARS, ANNIES, GOLDEN GLOBES

New York, New York – November 8, 2013 – GKIDS, a distributor of award-winning animation for both adult and family audiences, has announced the English voice cast for ERNEST & CELESTINE, the charming and beautifully hand-drawn new feature from the creators of the Academy Award® nominated Triplets of Belleville and The Secret of Kells. ERNEST & CELESTINE premiered at Cannes, has played Toronto, London, Los Angeles and other prestigious film festivals, is the winner of France’s Cesar Award for Best Animated Feature and numerous festival prizes, and currently has a 100% rating on RottenTomatoes.com.

GKIDS is qualifying the film for the Academy Awards® in the Best Animated Feature category, where the company has had past success with The Secret of Kells, A Cat in Paris, and Chico & Rita.

The just-completed English language voice cast includes Academy Award,® Emmy,® Golden Globe® and Screen Actors Guild Award winner Forest Whitaker (Lee Daniels’ The Butler), Mackenzie Foy (Twilight: Breaking Dawn), Academy Award® and Emmy® nominee and Golden Globe® and Screen Actors Guild Award winner Lauren Bacall (The Big Sleep), Academy Award® nominee and Emmy,® Golden Globe® and Screen Actors Guild Award winner Paul Giamatti (John Adams), Academy Award® and Golden Globe® nominee and Emmy® and Screen Actors Guild Award winner William H. Macy (Fargo), Emmy® and Screen Actors Guild Award winner and Golden Globe® nominee Megan Mullally (Will and Grace), Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation), and Emmy® and Golden Globe® winner and Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Jeffrey Wright (Boardwalk Empire). Voice recording was completed in New York and Los Angeles.

ABOUT ERNEST & CELESTINE
From the creators of the Academy Award®-nominated Triplets of Belleville and The Secret of Kells comes a visually stunning, enormously entertaining new film with generation-spanning appeal. Deep below snowy, cobblestone streets, tucked away in networks of winding subterranean tunnels, lives a civilization of hardworking mice, terrified of the bears who live above ground. Unlike her fellow mice, Celestine is an artist and a dreamer – and when she nearly ends up as breakfast for ursine troubadour Ernest, the two form an unlikely bond. But it isn’t long before their friendship is put on trial by their respective bear-fearing and mice-eating communities.

Fresh from standing ovations at Cannes and Toronto, ERNEST & CELESTINE joyfully leaps across genres and influences to capture the kinetic, limitless possibilities of animated storytelling. Like a watercolor painting brought to life, a constantly shifting pastel color palette bursts and drips across the screen, while wonderful storytelling and brilliant comic timing draw up influences as varied as Buster Keaton, Bugs Bunny and the outlaw romanticism of Bonnie and Clyde. Based on the Belgian book series by Gabrielle Vincent, ERNEST & CELESTINE is winner of the Cesar Award for Best Animated Feature and numerous festival prizes.

ABOUT GKIDS
GKIDS is a distributor of award-winning filmed entertainment specializing in animation for both adult and family audiences. The company has scored three Best Animated Feature Oscar® nominations, with The Secret of Kells in 2010 and both A Cat in Paris and Chico & Rita in 2012 – marking the first time an independent distributor has had two simultaneous nominations in the category. Current and upcoming releases include Studio Ghibli’s From Up on Poppy Hill, Ignacio Ferreras’ Wrinkles, featuring Martin Sheen, Matthew Modine and George Coe, as well as the animated Oscar®-contenders Ernest & Celestine, from producers Les Armateurs, and A Letter to Momo, from Japan’s Production I.G. GKIDS also handles North American theatrical distribution for Oscar®-winner Hayao Miyazaki’s famed Studio Ghibli library of films, one of the world’s most coveted animation collections with titles Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke and others. GKIDS is producer of the New York Int’l Children’s Film Festival, an Oscar®-qualifying event and North America’s largest festival of film for children and teens.

Press Release: Keep a Child Alive’s 10th Annual Black Ball Raises $4 Million

KEEP A CHILD ALIVE’S 10TH ANNUAL BLACK BALL RAISES $4 MILLION FOR THE HIV TREATMENT AND CARE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN AFRICA AND INDIA

Benefit featured performances from Grammy-Award winning artists Alicia Keys, Pharrell Williams, Carole King and Roy Ayers, amongst others

New York, NY (November 8, 2013) – Keep a Child Alive CEO Peter Twyman announced today that the 10th annual Black Ball, held last night at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom, raised $4 million – funds that will go to providing lifesaving HIV treatment, care and support to children and families affected by HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa and India. Hosted by Keep a Child Alive Global Ambassador Alicia Keys, the event featured spectacular performances by Keys, Pharrell Williams, Carole King, Roy Ayers, Kathleen Battle and Laura Mvula, with an Afterglow finale featuring sounds from Swizz Beatz.

“Last night’s Black Ball celebration truly symbolized what we can accomplish with the power of commitment, generosity and standing together!” said Alicia Keys. “Beyond marking our 10th anniversary—the night was an opportunity for all of us at Keep a Child Alive to give thanks to our incredible supporters who have helped us transform lives and bring care to thousands of children and families in Africa and India. It was a magical evening, the best one yet, and we pray that in the next 10 years, the need to raise money for AIDS won’t exist.”

Along with the performances, guests of the Black Ball enjoyed an elegant cocktail reception and a live auction led by Tash Perrin and Bonnie Brennan of Christie’s.

Among the evening’s generous donations was that of Stewart Rahr who contributed $2 million to Keep a Child Alive, thereby re-affirming his commitment to the effort to bring dignified HIV treatment and comprehensive, loving care to children and families affected by HIV in Africa and India.

Mr. Rahr, listed as #327 on the Forbes 400 according to Forbes Magazine, sold his pharmaceutical distribution company for over $1 billion and put aside $100 million to establish the Rahr Foundation. Rahr gives generously to many charities including those focused on medical issues, education and healthcare, and has been a long-time supporter of Keep a Child Alive.

“Stewie has been an amazing and generous advocate of Keep a Child Alive and we are so grateful for his dedication in our fight to help children and families affected by HIV,” said Alicia Keys.

Jynwel Charitable Foundation last night announced a $250,000 gift that will enable Keep a Child Alive to implement and expand innovative programs for children and young people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. The Foundation, committed to funding break-through programs that help scale and accelerate advancements in global health, education and conservation, provided this grant to support initiatives that will deliver age-appropriate treatment, care and support to young people living with HIV, and advance the use of technology to fuel a movement of young advocates in several countries. Jynwel Charitable Foundation is proud to partner with Keep a Child Alive to continue expanding and enhancing access to dignified HIV treatment and support for affected children and families.

Parfums Givenchy, a proud sponsor of Keep a Child Alive’s Black Ball, is a luxury fragrance and cosmetics brand that cultivates a unique blend of aristocratic elegance and daring creativity.

The creative freedom of the brand, which combines style with impertinence, is reflected in its Couture-inspired perfumes, its audacious and trend-setting make-up products with genuine leather cases, and its innovative skincare formulas.

Spirits for the evening were generously donated by event sponsor Sherry-Lehmann Wine & Spirits, a premier Upper East Side fixture for over 75 years.

Founded in 2003, Keep a Child Alive believes that every person has the right to dignified health care and a promising future. The organization currently supports nine grassroots organizations, which provide lifesaving HIV treatment and comprehensive clinical care for children and families affected by HIV in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa, and India. Services also include psychosocial support, nutritious food, as well as loving support for children orphaned due to AIDS. To date, local partners have served over 300,000 people.

ABOUT THE BLACK BALL
The Black Ball is a star-studded event where celebrity and philanthropy join hand-in-hand. The evening celebrates the work of Keep a Child Alive and raises millions for children and families living with and affected by HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa and India. In years past, Alicia Keys has shared the Black Ball stage with Jay-Z, Bono, Annie Lennox, David Bowie, Chris Martin, Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Hudson, John Mayer, Justin Timberlake, Common, Sheryl Crow, Lenny Kravitz, Angélique Kidjo, Norah Jones, will.i.am, Janelle Monae, Femi Kuti, Bonnie Raitt, Damian Marley, Lou Reed, Paul Simon, and Usher, among others. The Black Ball has now raised over $22.5 million since its inception.

The Black Ball has also honored humanitarians who use their passion, fame, and courage to better our world. Previously, Keep a Child Alive had the pleasure of honoring President Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Sir Richard Branson, Simon Fuller, Bono, George Harrison, Angélique Kidjo and Stephen Lewis, amongst others.

ABOUT KEEP A CHILD ALIVE
Founded in 2003 by long-time AIDS activist Leigh Blake and co-founded by 14-time Grammy® Award winner Alicia Keys, Keep a Child Alive believes that every person has the right to health care and deserves a promising future. Keep a Child Alive was born out of outrage over the injustice of children and families dying due to a lack of access to drugs that were widely available in wealthier countries. The organization’s focus has been to raise global awareness about the urgent and unmet need for HIV treatment in sub-Saharan Africa, and to grant funds to community-based organizations to provide free, life-saving treatment to keep children living with HIV from needlessly dying.

Ten years later, Keep a Child Alive’s core mission is unchanged. Their work has since grown to include the care components that we know are necessary to support successful, life-long HIV treatment: comprehensive clinical care, psychosocial support, nutritious food, and loving care for children orphaned due to AIDS. To date, Keep a Child Alive’s local partners have served over 300,000 people. Keep a Child Alive now provides financial and programmatic support to nine innovative, community-based partners in Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, and India. With Alicia Keys as Global Ambassador, Keep a Child Alive uses its voice to raise awareness, mobilize people to take action, and rally resources in the global response to HIV.