The Inbox (Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2013)

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: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Visit the Updated Gallery here

Image Gallery: Her

Visit the Gallery here

Press Release: Robert Mandel Stepping Down as Dean of AFI Conservatory

ROBERT MANDEL TO STEP DOWN AS DEAN OF AFI CONSERVATORY

“More stories to tell,” says leader of the American Film Institute’s MFA Program

MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2013, LOS ANGELES, CA – The American Film Institute announced today that film and television director Robert Mandel will step down as Dean of the AFI Conservatory. After nine years as academic leader of the renowned graduate level film school, Mandel will return to directing while remaining on faculty at the Conservatory. Mandel is also an alumnus of the AFI Conservatory (AFI Class of 1979).

“AFI is my home and always will be,” stated Mandel. “Its an educational environment like no other in the world, where young men and women learn to make movies – by making movies. It has been my honor to help see the dreams of the next generation become reality and it is they, in fact, that have inspired me to return to directing. There are more stories to tell.”

“Mandel embodies the ideal of the AFI Conservatory – storytellers who have enjoyed great acclaim returning to share their trials and triumphs with the storytellers of the future,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President & CEO. “His contributions to AFI have been extraordinary, and we are proud and honored to know they will continue through his role on the faculty.”

During Mandel’s time at the AFI Conservatory, he identified and attracted more than a dozen world- class faculty members – all award winning leaders in their disciplines. Most recently, James L. Brooks joined as Artistic Director.

Mandel also enhanced the curriculum and resulting thesis films by increasing the time and quality of direct mentoring and supervision of AFI Fellows by masters in the field. He added courses in acting, independent film finance, television and show running. With Mandel’s leadership, AFI Conservatory thesis films debuted to professional audiences at standing room only events. To further launch the careers of graduates, Mandel created a career office for job opportunities and established an AFI Fellow-Alumni mentoring program. Mandel’s commitment to create more access to the industry for AFI Fellows also resulted in programs such as screenwriting pitch sessions to agents, managers and production executives.

Mandel joined AFI in 2005 in the midst of his career directing films such as F/X and SCHOOL TIES and television shows, including pilot for THE X-FILES, as well as episodes of LOST and PRISON BREAK. He won an Emmy Award® for his first after-school special, ANDREA’S STORY.

Mandel began his career as a stage director, with productions at The Manhattan Theatre Club, The Roundabout and The Public Theater, where Joseph Papp was his mentor. He has MFA degrees from both Columbia University and AFI.

About the AFI Conservatory
The American Film Institute is America’s promise to preserve the history of the motion picture, to honor the artists and their work and to educate the next generation of storytellers. The AFI Conservatory offers a two-year Master of Fine Arts degree in six filmmaking disciplines: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting. Aspiring artists learn from the masters in a collaborative, hands-on production environment with an emphasis on storytelling. AFI Conservatory’s alumni have been consistently recognized with all of the major industry awards – Academy® Awards, Emmy® Awards, Guild Awards – and even the Tony Award. Esteemed director, producer and screenwriter James L. Brooks serves as Artistic Director of the AFI Conservatory where he provides creative leadership for the elite film program. Sony is a proud supporter of the AFI Conservatory.

Press Release: “Carrie” Remake Releasing on DVD & Blu-ray

YOU WILL KNOW HER NAME

CARRIE

Chloë Grace Moretz and Academy Award®-nominee* Julianne Moore Star in the Terrifying Horror Thriller Arriving on Digital HD™ January 3 and Blu-ray and DVD January 14

Featuring the Director’s Never-Before-Seen Alternate Ending Too Shocking for Theaters!

LOS ANGELES, CA (December 3, 2013) – Fear her power! Unleash the telekinetic horror when CARRIE debuts on Digital HD January 3 and on Blu-ray and DVD January 14 from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. An exhilarating reimagining of Stephen King’s iconic best-seller from director Kimberly Peirce (Boys Don’t Cry, Stop-Loss), this tale of small town terror stars Chloë Grace Moretz (Kick-Ass 2, Dark Shadows) and Julianne Moore (Don Jon, Game Change).

Carrie is a reimagining of the classic horror tale about Carrie White (Chloë Grace Moretz), a shy girl outcast by her peers and sheltered by her deeply religious mother (Julianne Moore), who unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town after being pushed too far at her senior prom.

Directed by Kimberly Peirce and produced by Kevin Misher, with a screenplay by Lawrence D. Cohen and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, the film is a production of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Screen Gems and was released in theatres on October 18, 2013.

Showcasing over an hour of heart-pounding exclusive special features, the CARRIE Blu-ray includes behind-the-scenes featurettes, commentary from director Peirce, deleted and extended scenes, the hit “Telekinetic Coffee Shop Surprise” viral video and an alternate ending that is sure to keep fans on the edge of their seat!

CARRIE Blu-ray Special Features:
Feature Film With Alternate Ending
“Bringing Back Carrie” Featurette
Deleted/Extended Scenes with Commentary by Director Kimberly Peirce
Commentary by Director Kimberly Peirce
The Power of Telekinesis
Telekinetic Coffee Shop Surprise
Theatrical Trailer

CARRIE DVD Special Features:
“Bringing Back Carrie” Featurette
Telekinetic Coffee Shop Surprise
Theatrical Trailer

About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is the industry leading worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox produced, acquired and third party partner film and television programing. Each year TCFHE expands its award-winning global product portfolio with the introduction of new entertainment content through established and emerging formats including DVD, Blu-ray™ and Digital HD™. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is a subsidiary of 21st Century Fox.

About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is a leading entertainment company focused on the production and distribution of film and television content globally. The company owns one of the world’s deepest libraries of premium film and television content. In addition, MGM has investments in domestic and international television channels. For more information, visit www.mgm.com.

Carrie Blu-ray
Street Date: January 14, 2013
Pre-book Date: December 18, 2013
Screen Format: Widescreen: 2.35:1
Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English/Spanish/French
U.S. Rating: R (Restricted)
Total Run Time: 99 Minutes
Closed Captioned: Yes

Carrie DVD
Street Date: January 14, 2013
Pre-book Date: December 18, 2013
Screen Format: Widescreen: 2.35:1
Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Surround Dolby Digital 2.0, French Surround Dolby Digital 2.0
Subtitles: English/Spanish/French
U.S. Rating: R (Restricted)
Total Run Time: 99 Minutes
Closed Captioned: Yes

Press Release: “The Fifth Beatle” Debuts on New York Times Best Seller List

THE FIFTH BEATLE DEBUTS IN TOP 5 ON NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLERS!

December 3, NEW YORK, NY—After an amazing show of demand for Vivek J. Tiwary’s breakout graphic novel, The Fifth Beatle sailed to number five on the New York Times bestseller list in its first week on sale!

Written by multiple Tony Award–winning producer Vivek J. Tiwary (Green Day’s American Idiot, The Addams Family, Mel Brooks’ The Producers) and painted by fanboy favorites Andrew C. Robinson (Dusty Star, King Conan, Starman, Superman) and Kyle Baker (The Shadow, Plastic Man.) The Fifth Beatle is the untold true story of Brian Epstein, the visionary manager who discovered and guided the Beatles—from their gigs in a tiny cellar in Liverpool to unprecedented international stardom.

Yet more than merely the story of “The Man Who Made The Beatles,” The Fifth Beatle is an uplifting, tragic, and ultimately inspirational human story about the struggle to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. Brian Epstein was homosexual when it was a felony to be so in the United Kingdom, Jewish during a period of pervasive anti-Semitism, and from Liverpool when it was considered just a dingy port town. He helped spread the Beatles’ message of love to the entire world, yet died painfully lonely at the young age of thirty-two, consumed by staggering ambition and the endless struggles that came with it.

Praise for Vivek Tiwary’s The Fifth Beatle:

“Tiwary and Robinson break new ground by spotlighting the Beatles’ discoverer and manager, Brian Epstein, telling his story in graphic novel form. Robinson and Baker’s artwork is colorful and fluid, with rich, deep color palettes capturing the mod energy of the ’60s.” – Publishers Weekly

“It’s captivating, brilliant, funny, and tragic, and it artistically captures every mood and locale associated with this era of Beatlemania. It’s a must-have for Beatles fans and fans of great storytelling.” – Comic Book Resources

“Emotionally powerful and visually breathtaking, The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story is one of the best graphic novels you’re going to read this year.” – Newsarama

Both heartbreaking and uplifting, The Fifth Beatle not only reveals an important, unsung chapter in the history of the Beatles—but it will inspire anyone who’s ever dared to believe in a dream. For more information and to view the trailer for the graphic novel, visit FifthBeatle.com.

The Fifth Beatle is available in bookstores everywhere.

Tiwary is represented by David Alpert and Lawrence Mattis at Circle of Confusion.

About Dark Horse
Founded in1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent such as Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Brian Wood, Gerard Way, Felicia Day, Guillermo Del Toro and comics legends such as Will Eisner, Neal Adams, and Jim Steranko, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties such as The Mask, Ghost, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Its successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Mass Effect, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, EVE: Online, Halo, Serenity, Game of Thrones and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of both creator-owned content and licensed comics material.

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,” 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 2013. 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), 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.

Press Release: “Kicking Up Dirt” Brought to Big Screen by Oops Doughnuts

OOPS DOUGHNUTS PRODUCTIONS BRINGS KICKING UP DIRT TO THE BIG SCREEN

Los Angeles, CA (December 3, 2013) – Oops Doughnuts Productions starts development on KICKING UP DIRT with AFFIRM Films.

KICKING UP DIRT is based on the true story of four time Women’s Motocross Association Champion Ashley Fiolek. Profoundly deaf since birth, this wasn’t going to keep Ashley off the track. Becoming the youngest WMA champion ever at age 18, she then went on to win two consecutive X Games Gold Medals and became the first-ever female factory rider for Honda Red Bull Racing. This is her story of the unpaved road she travelled in a male-dominated sport, defying the odds at every turn.

KICKING UP DIRT is based on Fiolek’s autobiography, written by Fiolek and Caroline Ryder. Fiolek is represented by Ashley Fox at WME.

Screenwriters are Kristin Rusk Robinson and Ian Deichtman (Life As We Know It, TV’s “Parenthood”), who are represented by Bill Weinstein and Aaron Hart at Verve and Alex Goldstone at Anonymous Content.

Oops Doughnuts Productions’ Andy Fickman and Betsy Sullenger will produce. Fickman will direct. Oops Doughnuts’ new television series LIV AND MADDIE recently premiered to very strong numbers on the Disney Channel. Fickman most recently directed the hit Fox feature PARENTAL GUIDANCE. Fickman and Sullenger are represented by WME, Management 360 and attorney Adam Kaller.

AFFIRM Films, which also distributed Soul Surfer, is a division of Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA), a Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) company, dedicated to producing, acquiring and marketing films which inspire, uplift, and entertain audiences. AFFIRM Films’ Rich Peluso, Senior Vice President, will oversee.

AFFIRM FILMS
AFFIRM Films is a division of Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA), a Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) company, dedicated to producing, acquiring and marketing films which inspire, uplift, and entertain audiences. Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition and distribution; television production, acquisition and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com.

Press Release: Peyton Reed to Helm “The Fifth Beatle”

THE BREAK-UP DIRECTOR PEYTON REED TO HELM THE FIFTH BEATLE

The New York Times Bestselling Graphic Novel Will be Adapted for the Screen in 2014

New York, NEW YORK (December 4, 2013) – It was announced today that Peyton Reed (BRING IT ON, THE BREAK-UP) has signed on to direct THE FIFTH BEATLE, the film adaptation of the recently released New York Times best-selling graphic novel chronicling the final years of The Beatles’ founder and manager, Brian Epstein. The film is being produced by Academy Award winning producer, Bruce Cohen (AMERICAN BEAUTY, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK) and Tony Award winning producer, Vivek J. Tiwary (“A Raisin in the Sun,” Green Day’s “American Idiot”) who authored the graphic novel. This marks the first ever feature film about The Beatles to secure music rights to their songs granting unprecedented access to the Lennon/McCartney music catalog. The screenplay is written by Tiwary, the project is slated to begin production in 2014 and the casting of the Brian Epstein role will begin now that Reed is on board.

Reed’s big screen debut came in 2000 with the cheerleading sleeper hit, BRING IT ON. The film grossed $90 million worldwide, opening at number one and staying in the top 10 for seven weeks. Following the success of BRING IT ON, Reed was at the helm of 2003’s cult favorite DOWN WITH LOVE, starring Renée Zellweger and Ewan McGregor, and THE BREAK-UP, starring Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn, in 2006, which debuted at #1 and has grossed over $203 million globally. Most recently, in 2008, Reed directed YES MAN, starring Jim Carrey. The film opened number one at the box office, bringing in $18.3 million on opening weekend, and eventually grossing over $225 million worldwide.

“From the moment I read Vivek’s graphic novel, I knew I wanted to be the person to bring Brian’s story to the big screen. I’m a lifelong Beatles fan, obviously, but it’s Brian’s fascinating life that really blew me away and drew me to this project. He’s the ultimate outsider who, against all odds, became the ultimate insider. He was responsible for shepherding the most popular artistic expression of “love” in the history of modern culture, and yet he wasn’t allowed to express his own love during that time,” said Reed of his latest endeavor.

Tiwary and Cohen added, “Peyton’s films are incredibly fun and entertaining, while still underscoring a serious empathy for the struggle for accomplishment, belonging, and the need to love and be loved… In brief, Peyton is simply the perfect director to take the Brian Epstein story to the big screen. We’re honored and excited to be working with him!”

THE FIFTH BEATLE recounts the untold true story of Epstein, the brilliant visionary who discovered The Beatles and helped guide the band to international stardom as their manager, securing their first record deal at a time when no one else was interested, and successfully bringing them to the world stage with a scale and scope no music impresario had ever attempted. Epstein’s boast—“The Beatles will be bigger than Elvis!”— seemed absurd in 1961, but proved humbly prophetic by 1967. When he died at the age of 32, he was an extremely successful artist manager and entertainment impresario, but a painfully lonely young man.

ABOUT PEYTON REED
Peyton Reed gained national attention with his feature directorial debut BRING IT ON (Universal). Starring Kirsten Dunst, this vibrant and inspired take on the politics of high school cheerleading won critical raves and opened at #1 with a $17.4 million weekend. It stayed in the top 10 for seven consecutive weeks, becoming the sleeper hit of summer 2000. It went on to sell over 5 million copies on DVD, spawning both a successful franchise for Universal and, most recently, a Broadway musical.

Reed followed it up with 2003’s DOWN WITH LOVE (20th Century Fox), a visually stunning homage to the sunny Rock Hudson/Doris Day comedies of the early sixties. The film, starring Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor, was critically acclaimed and has become a cult favorite.

In 2006, Reed helmed the smash hit THE BREAK-UP (Universal) starring Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston. The comedy/drama debuted at #1 with a $39 million opening weekend and went on to gross $118 million domestically and over $200 million worldwide. It was Universal’s highest-grossing film of 2006. 2008 saw Reed direct YES MAN (Warner Brothers) starring Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel and Bradley Cooper. The comedy opened at #1 domestically and became a worldwide hit, grossing over $225 million globally.

Originally from Raleigh, and a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Reed began his career as a documentary editor at ZM Productions. After writing and directing the award-winning short “Almost Beat” (1989), he directed a series of high profile behind-the-scenes documentaries, including THE SECRETS OF THE BACK TO THE FUTURE TRILOGY, THROUGH THE EYES OF FORREST GUMP and THE HONEYMOONERS ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL.

Reed went on to bring his wry wit and keen sense of visual invention to an incredibly diverse range of projects, from TV movies (THE COMPUTER WORE TENNIS SHOES, THE LOVE BUG) to music videos (She & Him, Superchunk, The Connells) to critically-hailed comedic television (HBO’s “Mr. Show with Bob and David”, Comedy Central’s “Upright Citizens Brigade”, Fox’s “New Girl”).

In addition, he has directed numerous commercials, including spots for Gap (with Sarah Jessica Parker), Target (with Isaac Mizrahi) and Cisco (with Ellen Page).

A lifelong drummer, Reed is also one half (along with fellow musician Norwood Cheek) of the recording duo Cardinal Family Singers. Their latest album, “This Is What We Did”, is available on iTunes and Amazon.

He currently resides with his wife in Los Angeles, California.

Peyton is represented by WME and Robert Offer.

ABOUT VIVEK J. TIWARY
Vivek J. Tiwary is a New York Times bestselling author and an award-winning producer of Broadway shows, film, television, and graphic novels.

He is the producer and writer of “The Fifth Beatle,” a New York Times best-selling graphic novel based on the life of Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein. “The Fifth Beatle” has secured unprecedented access to Beatles’ music and a feature film is in development to shoot in 2014. “The Fifth Beatle” will be produced by Academy Award-winning producer Bruce Cohen (AMERICAN BEAUTY, MILK, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK.)

Vivek is attached to lead produce a Broadway adaptation of Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill. The production will include the participation of Morissette, as well as that of Pulitzer and Tony award winner Tom Kitt.

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. He is developing a number of additional series including 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.

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.

Vivek is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of both the Wharton School of Business and the University of Pennsylvania’s College of Arts and Sciences. He also holds a filmmaking certificate from The New York Film Academy and is an acting student of Susan Batson/Black Nexxus Acting Studio.

Vivek is represented by Lawrence Mattis and David Alpert of Circle of Confusion.

ABOUT BRUCE COHEN
Bruce Cohen is an Academy Award-winning producer of film, television, and theater. He began his film career as the Directors Guild of America trainee on Steven Spielberg’s THE COLOR PURPLE (1985), and went on to serve as associate producer and first assistant director on Mr. Spielberg’s HOOK (1991). Cohen won the Best Picture Oscar for producing AMERICAN BEAUTY (1999). He earned additional Best Picture nominations for MILK (2008) and SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (2012). AMERICAN BEAUTY, directed by Sam Mendes, won a total of five Oscars, as well as the Golden Globe, British Academy of Film and Television (BAFTA), and Producers Guild of America (PGA) awards. MILK, directed by Gus Van Sant, was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won Oscars for Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay, as well as the PGA’s Stanley Kramer Award. SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, written and directed by David O. Russell, was nominated for eight Oscars. It was the first film in 31 years to be nominated in all four acting categories, and Jennifer Lawrence won the Oscar in the Best Actress category.

Among the other films Bruce has produced is BIG FISH (2003), directed by Tim Burton, which was both a Golden Globe and BAFTA nominee for Best Picture. He is currently a lead producer of the stage musical version of BIG FISH, now on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theater, with direction and choreography by five-time Tony winner Susan Stroman.

In television, Cohen was executive producer of the ABC series PUSHING DAISIES, which won a total of seven Emmys and was nominated for a Golden Globe as Best Comedy. He was also executive producer of the CBS special MOVIES ROCK and was nominated for an Emmy in 2011 for producing the 83rd ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS.

Cohen is on the Producer’s Council of the Producer’s Guild, having served two terms as vice president of motion pictures, and is on the Executive Committee of the Producer’s Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He is president of the Board of Directors of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, the group behind the recently successful Supreme Court case to have California’s Proposition 8 declared unconstitutional. He is married to Gabe Catone and they have a two year old daughter.

Press Release: Masterpieces of Polish Cinema Presented by Milestone Films

Milestone Films, in partnership with The Film Foundation, Announces the New York Premiere of a 21-Film Retrospective on February 5, 2014 with the Film Society of Lincoln Center

30+ Engagements Planned throughout USA and Canada

December 5, 2013

Milestone will be launching the 21-film retrospective Martin Scorsese Presents: Masterpieces of Polish Cinema throughout North America. Premiering in New York City at the Film Society of Lincoln Center on February 5th, 2014, the series features films from some of Poland’s most accomplished and lauded filmmakers, spanning the period from 1957–1987. Curated by Martin Scorsese, each film has been digitally re-mastered and brilliantly restored to newly subtitled DCPs. The program was created and organized by Scorsese’s non-profit organization, The Film Foundation.

“There are many revelations in the ‘Masterpieces of Polish Cinema’ series, and whether you’re familiar
with some of these films or not, it’s an incredible opportunity to discover for yourself
the great power of Polish cinema, on the big screen in brilliantly restored digital masters.” — Martin Scorsese

In December 2011, Martin Scorsese received an honorary doctoral degree from The Polish National Film, Television, and Theatre School in Łódź, Poland. While there, Scorsese met with the Polish organizer of the series, Jędrzej Sabliński (a digital restoration expert now with DI Factory) and Grzegorz Molewski (KINO RP). They shared a list of Polish films that had been digitally restored and discussed how The Film Foundation could help. In the months following his visit, the idea of a tour of restored Polish classics came together, with 21 titles selected by Martin Scorsese from the list of digitally restored films. The Film Foundation executive director Margaret Bodde worked with Sabliński to develop the program and recommended Milestone as the distributor for the series. Milestone is working with Propaganda Foundation, the Polish producers of this extraordinary series, to bring the films to North American audiences.

Details of the program of films at the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s premiere will be announced in later this month. Martin Scorsese Presents: Masterpieces of Polish Cinema is the first series of Polish classic films to tour North America in decades and the first presented on DCP; it will be screened in more than 30 major cities in 2014-2015.

The Polish organizers of the series are Jędrzej Sabliński of DI Factory, and Jacek Sosnowski of Propaganda Foundation along with Maciej Molewski of Cyfrowe Repozytorium Filmowe. These three worked in cooperation Kino RP, Tor Studio Filmowe, Zebra Studio Filmowe, and Studio Filmowe KADR. Generous support was provided by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland; The Polish Film Institute and the honorary patronage of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington, DC; the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Ottawa; the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York; the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles; the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Montreal; the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Toronto; and the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Vancouver.

Martin Scorsese Presents Masterpieces of Polish Cinema

Eroica, Andrzej Munk, 1957
Ashes and Diamonds, Andrzej Wajda, 1958
The Last Day of Summer, Tadeusz Konwicki, 1958
Night Train, Jerzy Kawalerowicz, 1959
Black Cross, Aleksander Ford, 1960
Innocent Sorcerers, Andrzej Wajda, 1960
Mother Joan of the Angels, Jerzy Kawalerowicz, 1960
The Saragossa Manuscript, Wojciech Jerzy Has, 1964
Jump, Tadeusz Konwicki, 1965
Pharoah, Jerzy Kawalerowicz, 1965
The Illumination, Krzysztof Zanussi, 1972
To Kill this Love, Janusz Morgenstern, 1972
The Wedding, Andrzej Wajda, 1972
The Hour-Glass Sanatorium, Wojciech Jerzy Has, 1973
The Promised Land, Andrzej Wajda, 1974
Camouflage, Krzysztof Zanussi, 1976
The Constant Factor, Krzysztof Zanussi, 1980
Blind Chance, Krzysztof Kieslowski, 1981
Man of Iron, Andrzej Wajda, 1981
Austeria, Jerzy Kawalerowicz, 1982
A Short Film About Killing, Krzysztof Kieslowski, 1987

Milestone Films
Milestone was started in 1990 by Amy Heller and Dennis Doros and has since gained an international reputation for releasing classic cinema masterpieces, groundbreaking documentaries and American independent features. Thanks to the company’s work in rediscovering and releasing important films such as Charles Burnett’s Killer of Sheep, Kent Mackenzie’s The Exiles, Lionel Rogosin’s On the Bowery, Mikhail Kalatozov’s I Am Cuba, Marcel Ophuls’s The Sorrow and the Pity, the Mariposa Film Group’s Word is Out, and the films of Shirley Clarke, Milestone has long occupied a position as one of the country’s most influential independent distributors. The company’s many awards include five Archival and Film Heritage Awards from the National Society of Film Critics; two commendations from the New York Film Critics Circle; the International Film Seminars’ prestigious Leo Award; and honors from the Fort Lee Film Commission, Il Cinema Ritrovato, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, and Anthology Film Archives. Doros has served on the Board of Directors of the Association of the Moving Image Archivists since 2008 and established the organization’s press office.

The Film Foundation
Created in 1990 by Martin Scorsese, The Film Foundation (film-foundation.org) is dedicated to protecting and preserving motion picture history. By working in partnership with the leading archives and studios, the foundation has saved over 600 films. In addition to the preservation, restoration, and presentation of classic cinema, the foundation teaches young people about film language and history through The Story of Movies, the organization’s groundbreaking educational program that is currently used in over 100,000 classrooms. Joining Scorsese on the board of directors are Woody Allen, Paul Thomas Anderson, Wes Anderson, Francis Ford Coppola, Clint Eastwood, Curtis Hanson, Peter Jackson, Ang Lee, George Lucas, Alexander Payne, Robert Redford, and Steven Spielberg. The Film Foundation is aligned with the Directors Guild of America. Margaret Bodde is executive director and Jennifer Ahn is managing director of the foundation.

Propaganda Foundation
Propaganda Foundation is an independent organization aimed at cultural development in the fields of contemporary art, theatre, and film. Established in 2009, Propaganda focuses on projects that approach issues of cultural identity, peripheral areas of art, and the international exchange of culture. The foundation maintains ongoing exhibition programs in its own gallery space in Warsaw, acts as an independent publisher, and coordinates collaborative projects with similar international institutions.

DI Factory
DI Factory provides data processing services to motion picture studios and filmmakers. The company was co-founded by digital restoration expert Jędrzej Sabliński, who in 2008, initiated the process of digital feature film restoration in Poland. Since then, Sabliński has overseen the digital restoration of more than 30 films, including The Saragossa Manuscript, Pharaoh and Promised Land. He has supervised post-production and digital image processing for more than 100 feature films.

Press Release: “Burying the Ex” Launches FundAnything Campaign

“BURYING THE EX” LAUNCHES FUNDANYTHING CAMPAIGN

The Horror Comedy, Currently In Production, Uses Crowd Funding To Allow Contributors To Actively Participate In The Making Of The Film

New York, NEW YORK (December 4, 2013) – Currently shooting in Los Angeles, BURYING THE EX, a horror comedy directed by Joe Dante (Gremlins, The Burbs, Small Soldiers), starring Anton Yelchin (Cymbeline, Star Trek Into Darkness, Fright Night), Ashley Greene (The Twilight Saga, Wish I Was Here, Staten Island Summer), Alexandra Daddario (Percy Jackson, True Detective), and Oliver Cooper (Project X), created a groundbreaking crowd funding campaign in partnership with FUNDANYTHING, which gives contributors the opportunity to actively participate in the making of the film, based on the level of their contribution. This is a break from the standard crowd funding model which raises funds prior to a film’s production. Rewards include the opportunity for people to visit the set of the LA based production, have lunch with the director, access to exclusive material through production, as well as signed items, access to special screenings, a VIP premiere package, and much more. Participants will become part of a community that will receive regular updates on events related to the film. BURYING THE EX was written by Alan Trezza. For more information on BURYING THE EX, you can visit the FUNDANYTHING page for the film at FundAnything.com/buryingtheex and follow the film on Facebook.com/buryingtheex, and Twitter.com/buryingtheex.

“I’m thrilled to partner with FUNDANYTHING on BURYING THE EX, and I am really looking forward to getting the opportunity to meet the fans who are contributing to the funding of this project,” said director Joe Dante. “I’ve always appreciated their input, and giving them this unique opportunity to be part of this production is pretty cool.”

BURYING THE EX follows Max (YELCHIN), an all-around nice guy and his incredibly beautiful but overbearing girlfriend, Evelyn (GREENE). Their relationship takes a nosedive after they decide to move in together as Evelyn turns out to be a controlling, manipulative nightmare. Max knows it’s time to call it quits, but there’s just one problem: he’s terrified of breaking up with her. Fate steps in when Evelyn is killed a freak accident, leaving Max single and ready to mile. Max eventually meets Olivia, a cute and spirited girl who might just be his soul mate, only to learn that Evelyn has risen from her grave and is determined to get her boyfriend back… even if that means turning him into one of the undead.

“I could not be more excited to be managing a campaign for a film actually in production. This is the rarest of opportunities, a fan can actually interact with the film as it is being made,” said Brad Wyman, CCO of FUNDANYTHING.

BURYING THE EX is currently shooting in Los Angeles. Cassian Elwes is executive producing along with Voltage’s Nicolas Chartier, Zev Foreman and Dominic Rustam. ArtImage Entertainment, Scooty Woop Entertainment and Act 4 Entertainment are producing.

ABOUT ARTIMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
Partners Carl Effenson & Kyle Tekiela started ARTIMAGE ENTERTAINMENT with the goal of developing and producing commercially viable films with strong thematic content. With their debut presentation – Burying The Ex – currently in production, Artimage Entertainment, which was founded in 2012, has a roster of films in various stages of development. The company has a particular interest in working on projects with a unique vision and working with directors who have demonstrated an artistic, refined talent for captivating audiences.

ABOUT SCOOTY WOOP ENTERTAINMENT
Scooty Woop Entertainment, founded in 2009 by manager/producers Frankie Lindquist and Mary Cybriwsky, is one of the industry’s fastest growing literary management/production companies. As a filmmaker driven company, SWE represents writers and directors in both film and TV and is best known for internally developing material and raising financing for their clients material. In addition to client projects, they also help arrange financing for outside material as they have on their current production, BURYING THE EX. The company also has a number of projects in the pipeline that are heading towards production in the first quarter of next year.

ABOUT ACT 4
Act 4 currently has several projects in various stages of development. Among them are

“Florence of Arabia”, a satire about a woman’s quest for equal rights in the Middle East based on the Christopher Buckley novel with Charlize Theron attached to star and produce; “John Brown”, about the famous nineteenth-century abolitionist with Ed Harris attached to star with Giancarlo Esposito co-starring and directing, and the Broadway adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ “American Psycho” directed by Rupert Goold (Enron) with music and lyrics by Tony-Award winning composer Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening) and starring Matt Smith (Doctor Who).

ABOUT FUNDANYTHING
FundAnything is quickly becoming the leader in the Crowdfunding space for filmmamkers. On the Heels of two 1million film campaigns Adam Carrolla’s Road Hard and Penn Jillette’s Directors Cut this 90 day old Crowdfunding Company has accomplished what other platforms have taken 4years to achieve.

Press Release: “Band of Sisters” Premieres at New York’s Cinema Village

BAND OF SISTERS, A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT CATHOLIC NUNS AND THEIR WORK FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AFTER VATICAN II, PREMIERES AT NEW YORK’S CINEMA VILLAGE ON JANUARY 17, 2014

DIRECTOR MARY FISHMAN IS AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS

New York, NY – December 5, 2013 – Band of Sisters (2012), a documentary about the journey of Catholic sisters in the United States from sheltered “daughters of the church” to citizens of the world, is scheduled to open in New York City on January 17, 2014, at Cinema Village.

Having already played in over 30 national markets and grossed nearly $70,000 during its theatrical run, Band of Sisters is a rare indie hit that has succeeded based on word of mouth and grass roots outreach alone.

Unlike most independent films, especially documentaries that open in New York and go straight to VOD (or are released day-and-date), Band of Sisters has been playing in dozens of mostly independent film venues around the country for over a year, from Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, and Houston to Cincinnati, Rochester, Boise, etc.

From one-off shows to full week runs, Band of Sisters has drawn audiences with no advertising, no marketing budget, and no staff other than the director and a few local volunteers.

In Band of Sisters, director/producer Mary Fishman follows nuns across the U.S. in their mission towards social justice and the transformation of consciousness as organic farmers, environmental attorneys, peace activists, holistic health care practitioners, podcasters, and others.

With poignancy, drama and humor, the film fosters well-deserved recognition for the thousands of sisters who, in the face of obstacles and threats cast by government agencies, the military, and the hierarchy of their own church, insist on an unstoppable mission of love, justice and social change.

Band of Sisters also features an overview of convent life before and after the Second Vatican Council, which formally opened under the pontificate of Pope John XXIII in October, 1962, and closed under Pope Paul VI in 1965.

Fascinating scenes of convent life prior to Vatican II contrast with those of nuns in the tumultuous and exciting years after the Council, when sisters became engaged with the great social movements of our day.

The two main characters in Band of Sisters, Pat Murphy and JoAnn Persch, both Sisters of Mercy, are well-known in activist circles across the country for their efforts to assure basic human rights for immigrant detainees and deportees.

Other women featured in the film include Sister of Mercy Theresa Kane and Amityville Dominican Sister Margaret Galiardi of New York, and Caldwell Dominican Sister Miriam Therese MacGillis of New Jersey.

Press Release: English-Language Version of “Ernest & Celestine” to Premiere at Sundance Film Festival

ENGLISH LANGUAGE VERSION OF “ERNEST & CELESTINE” TO PREMIERE JANUARY 18 AT THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

*****

AWARD-WINNING FILM FEATURES THE VOICES OF FOREST WHITAKER, MACKENZIE FOY, LAUREN BACALL, PAUL GIAMATTI, WILLIAM H. MACY, MEGAN MULLALLY, NICK OFFERMAN, JEFFREY WRIGHT “E&C” IS COMPETING FOR OSCARS, ANNIES AND GOLDEN GLOBES IN ORIGINAL FRENCH VERSION

New York, New York – December 5, 2013 – GKIDS, a distributor of award-winning animation for both adult and family audiences, has announced that the English language version of ERNEST & CELESTINE will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 18. The film opens theatrically on March 14 in New York and Los Angeles, followed by national expansion to all major US markets.

ERNEST & CELESTINE is the charming and beautifully hand-drawn new feature from the creators of the Academy Award® nominated Triplets of Belleville and The Secret of Kells. The voice cast includes Forest Whitaker (Lee Daniels’ The Butler), Mackenzie Foy (Twilight: Breaking Dawn), Lauren Bacall (The Big Sleep), Paul Giamatti (John Adams), William H. Macy (Fargo), Megan Mullally (Will and Grace), Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation), and Jeffrey Wright (Boardwalk Empire).

The original French language version of ERNEST & CELESTINE premiered at Cannes, is the winner of France’s Cesar Award for Best Animated Feature, and currently has a 100% rating on RottenTomatoes.com. GKIDS is qualifying the film for the 2014 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 film is qualifying for awards consideration in the original French language version. It was nominated for six Annie Awards earlier this week, the most for any independent or internationally produced film. In addition to Best Animated Feature, the film received nods for directing, writing, production design, character animation and editing in an animated feature.

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. Upcoming releases include 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: “Conversations on Serious Topics” Screening Set for University of Philosophical Research

THE PHILOSOPHICAL RESEARCH SOCIETY TO HOST A SCREENING OF LITHUANIA’S OFFICIAL OSCAR ENTRY “CONVERSATIONS ON SERIOUS TOPICS” AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PHILOSPHICAL RESEARCH

Los Angeles, Dec 5 2013… CONVERSATIONS ON SERIOUS TOPICS, Lithuania’s Official Oscar Entry for Best Foreign Language Film will be screened at the University of Philosophical Research in Los Angeles to its eminent faculty and alumni of seminal thinkers, Academics and Psychologists.

Written and directed by Giedrė Beinoriūtė, CONVERSATIONS ON SERIOUS TOPICS was recently awarded the Special Diploma for “Close attention to the problems of Children’s Soul” at the International Film Festival Listapad in Belarus; and was voted Best Film at the DocuDays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival in Ukraine.

Commenting on hosting such a rare screening, UPR President Obadiah Harris Ph.D said

“The University of Philosophical Research and Philosophical Research Society are pleased to bring Conversations On Serious Topics to its students, faculty, and fellow researchers in the Los Angeles area. We hope that such a film can foster further insight into the nature of human existence and continue to hone a greater sensitivity within our community.”

Dr. Harris observes, “Who, by thinking, can go further than the limits of the mind? It is like the difference between thinking of a journey to a great city and actually going there. You may have thoughts of God. But the real traveler meets the Divine through the Soul that covers the greatest distance and never tires.”

Inspired by acclaimed Lithuanian writer Vanda Juknaitė’s book, “Tariamas is tamsos,” who interviewed several children with special needs, disabilities and children from foster homes and in jail – CONVERSATIONS ON SERIOUS TOPICS takes a profound insightful look into the world seen through and experienced by young Lithuanian children and teenagers.

With their own unique ability, they describe their surroundings and draw you into intimate conversations that reveal their view of the modern world – occasionally melancholic, sometimes comical, and at times shocking and intense. Shot in a minimalist fashion, the film raises questions about loneliness, love, God, the world and human relations. “The world is people.” “Don’t you believe in God? I can teach you how to start believing…”

A Monoklis Production, CONVERSATIONS ON SERIOUS TOPICS is produced by Jurga Gluskiniene

Press Release: Oxford Film Festival Announces 2014 Lineup

Spread the word! The OFF14 lineup is now announced!

The festival is proud to present the lineup for the 2014 film festival to be held February 6-9, 2014. This year’s festival includes 78 films ranging from animation, experimental, documentary, narrative, features and shorts and a wide range of Mississippi films. Additional films will be announced as they become available. All films are listed with their director.

All films are in competition for the Spirit of the Hoka award except for the special screenings category which are out of competition films. The Hoka is presented on the Saturday night of the festival at a public awards ceremony and celebration.

The community film, Killer Kudzu, will have its world premiere on Thursday, Feb. 6 and will play several other times throughout the festival. Directed by Oxford filmmaker Meaghin Burke, the film tells the story of how a town must come together when a mutant vine tries to take over. The community film is out of competition and is produced by the Oxford Film Festival each year to allow locals the chance to be part of the filmmaking experience. A schedule of events will be posted in January.

Documentary Feature Competition

Bending Steel
Dave Carroll

Bending Steel follows Chris Schoeck, an endearing yet unassuming man as he trains to become a professional oldetime strongman. While preparing to perform amazing and unique feats of strength publicly, Chris also struggles to overcome crippling fears and inhibitions. For the first time in his life he is compelled to confront social awkwardness, unsupportive parents, and an overwhelming fear of failure. What unfolds is one man’s remarkable journey to find his place in the world.

Bible Quiz
Nicole Teeny

Seventeen-year-old Mikayla memorizes books of the Bible on her quest to win the National Bible Quiz Championship and the heart of JP, her quiz team captain. The film explores coming of age in the face of faith, doubt, fierce competition and teen love.

Breaking Through
Cindy L. Abel

Openly LGBT elected officials at all levels – including the first gay US Senator, Tammy Baldwin – share their stories of self-doubt and triumph over multiple barriers ranging from race and poverty to gender and sexual orientation. Tho’ featuring politicians, it isn’t about politics: it’s about people revealing a deeply personal, rarely-seen side of politicians and gay people.

Web
Michael Kleiman

Web mixes a deeply personal story about people in the most remote parts of the world using digital technologies for the first time and interviews with some of the leading figures in the tech world. For 10 months, the director lived with families in small villages in Peru’s Andes Mountains and Amazon Jungle as children there experienced laptops and the Internet for the first time via the One Laptop per Child program. In addition to documenting how the children and their families used the new technologies, he documented their lives and the deep bonds of friendship that formed between him and the people.

Zipper: Coney Island’s Last Wild Ride
Amy Nicholson

A small-time ride operator and his beloved carnival contraption are driven out of Coney Island when the City of New York and an opportunistic developer lock horns over the future of the world famous amusement park. ZIPPER examines the high cost of economic development on an American cultural icon.

Narrative Feature

45RPM
Juli Jackson

Charlie, an artist who seeks a connection between her work and her deceased father’s music, teams up with Louie, an obsessive record collector. Together they scour the South in search of the elusive 45 that hails from the heyday of ’60s garage rock.

Being Awesome
Allen C. Gardner

Ten years after graduating, Teddy and Lloyd are both hopelessly depressed. At their high school reunion, the pair strike up a friendship and later decide that they have to turn things around. Believing that they’ve overcomplicated their lives, they decide to break things down to basics and set a very clear, ‘simple’ goal for themselves: to be awesome.

Bob Birdnow’s Remarkable Tale of Human Survival and the Transcendence of Self
Eric Steele

When invited by an old friend (Robert Longstreet, Take Shelter) to speak to a struggling sales team at a conference, Bob Birdnow (played by Barry Nash, Dallas-based stage veteran and on-air talent coach for CNN, ESPN, and NBC) reluctantly agrees. Bob’s attempt to say something motivational takes an unexpected turn when, forced off script and desperate, he begins the one story he’d hoped he’d never have to tell.

Father-Like Son
Mac Alsfeld

After the sudden death of Clark’s father, his mother quickly remarries a man of the same age as her 24-year-old son…who is hell-bent on raising Clark as his own child.

Lighter
Ronnie Gunter

In this dark comedy, redneck comedian Roman Clower decides to walk away from his successful stand-up career and return to his hometown in South Carolina to take on the part of Hamlet in a community theatre.

Teddy Bears
Thomas Beatty and Rebecca Fishman

Teddy Bears is a dark comedy about three couples who head to the desert to help their friend Andrew heal from the loss of his mother. The friends plan a week of laughter and rejuvenation. Andrew plans a therapeutic orgy.

Documentary Short Competition

Dance Like No One’s Watching
Jenn Garrison

A short documentary that explores the world of competitive Country/Western dancing within the gay community.

Die Like An Egyptian
Matt Mamula

After a lifelong infatuation of Egyptian culture, 90 year old Fred Guentert tells the story of how he built his own Egyptian coffin, a dream he’s had since he was 8 years old.

The Ghost Pepper Eating Contest of Jefferson County
Sam Frazier, Jr.

A documentary of an annual benefit in Birmingham, Ala. for the Sidewalk Film Festival where contestants eat increasing spicy peppers up to and including the ‘ghost pepper’–the hottest pepper known to mankind.

Herd In Iceland
Lindsay Blatt & Paul Taggart

Herd in Iceland is a documentary about the annual round-up of the Icelandic horse, isolated for centuries by the country’s oceanic borders. During the summer months, the horses live a wild existence, grazing in the highlands and raising their young. Each fall, they are rounded up by local farmers and directed across the stunning landscape. The horse holds a precious place in Icelandic culture, art and tradition; for over 1,000 years Icelandic law has prohibited the importation of horses onto the island.

A Man Without Words
Zack Godshall

Made in collaboration with writer and teacher Susan Schaller, A Man Without Words tells the shocking and inspiring story of how a deaf and languageless man came to discover language and connect with larger human community.

Phil Collins and the Wild Frontier
Ben Powell

Phil Collins and The Wild Frontier follows pop music legend Phil Collins on a 5-day book tour promoting a new book that catalogues his obscure collection of artifacts from the Battle of the Alamo. As he answers questions about his collection and his retirement from music, we observe the impact his public persona has had on his life and the more painful realities of being a celebrity. What emerges is an examination of mankind’s obsession with artifacts.

Narrative Short

Alaska is a Drag
Shaz Bennett

Leo stands out in a crowd. That’s not always a good thing working in a fish cannery in Alaska. His dreams of leaving this small town are hard fought, until a new boy moves to town and sees him for who he really is: an international superstar.

Cupcake
E. J. Carter

There’s nothing sweet about it.

Diagnostic
Fabrice Bracq

Dr. Semyc is a specialist of a widespread disease for which there is no cure to date. Announce the diagnosis is a difficult exercise, however, that mastery to perfection.

The Discontentment of Ed Telfair
Daniel Campbell

Ed Telfair is a mundane middle aged man who’s dealing with insecurities in his life until taking matters into his own hands.

The Horrible Life of Dr. Ghoul
Don Swaynos

A local TV horror host is having a bad day.

Last Call
Stephen Kinigopoulos

In the wake of the zombie apocalypse, a rag-tag documentary crew follows the lives of an elderly couple; the only two that did not abandon their homes, or each other. Is love really the key to survival when hope is not enough?

Pets
Michael Harring

It’s the future, and humans have been kicked out of the cities by a new perfect race of clones. Now living on the outskirts, doing anything he can to survive, a man driven by desperation ventures into the city where he is abducted and adopted as a pet. He must decide whether the relatively posh life of a subservient pet is worth the cost of his freedom.

Picture Show
J. Michael Hicks & Robyn Rebecca Young

In a small, southern town, an elderly couple that has been confined to their home for years venture out for one last date at the soon-to-close movie theater. While recreating their first date, the couple faces the reality of their fading health and their impending mortality.

Safety
Rory Uphold

Andy tries to get over her ex by getting under Morgan. The results are awkward and unexpected.

Side Effects of Barry
Amy French

For many* women, Barry can make a difference in just one week! *Side effects of Barry include weakness in the knees, impaired judgment, lying, cheating, trips to Vegas, missing work, and missing money…

The Sidekick
Michael J Weithorn

As career “sidekick” Max McCabe pushes 40 and his job performance starts to lose its youthful zip, he is unceremoniously fired by his superhero boss and cast adrift in a world that seems to have no use for an aging professional buddy.

Six Letter Word
Lisanne Sartor

An unlikely mother is forced to confront her son’s autism after an unexpected encounter with one of her johns.

Songs in the Key of Death
Edward Valibus

FJ Ackerman is one of the most sought after professional piano tuners in the world. His unorthodox use of “Piano Tuning Zombies” is all the rage amongst the rich and famous.

The Spy Who Fleeced Me
Ed Griffith & Rodney Rastall

Secret Agent Paco Suave saves puppetkind from destruction by the evil Madame Overee

Tryouts
Susana Casares

After being rejected from cheerleading tryouts because of her headscarf, Nayla, a teenage Muslim American girl, will have to find her own way to follow her dream without compromising her beliefs.

Mississippi Documentary Competition

Landscapes of the Heart: The Elizabeth Spencer Story
Rebecca Cerese

Landscapes of the Heart is a documentary about southern novelist Elizabeth Spencer who is still writing in her 90s. Spencer recounts her life story and the many decades she lived abroad in Rome and Montreal, away from her home state of Mississippi, a life spent in exile from the discontent of family and a literary community indifferent to her non-traditional writings about the South. Her story is filled with memories and reflections about race, class, and the changing roles of women during a defining mid-century in American history.

West of Elvis
Louis Bourgeois

The film documents a few visits to Graceland Too in Holly Springs, Mississippi. The point of the film is to capture the essence of the place and the curator.

From Cotton Fields to Movie Premieres
Geoffrey Brent Shrewsbury

In the depression-era Mississippi delta, a young boy named Luster Bayless frequented the picture show to escape the hardships of poverty and isolation; his hero was John Wayne. Little did young Luster know, he would not only meet John Wayne one day, but would eventually become the Duke’s main costumer. This film follows Mr. Bayless’s unique journey from picking cotton to working with some of Hollywood’s biggest names.

Jimbo Mathus: Finding Your Roots
Geoffrey Brent Shrewsbury

This film is a brief glimpse into the life of Mississippi musician, Jimbo Mathus. Hang out with Jimbo as takes the stage at the Hill Country Picnic and talks about his musical background: from picking guitar on camping trips with his family, through appearances on David Letterman with his former band, The Squirrel Nut Zippers.

Jot ‘Em Down
Tyler Keith and Camilla Ann Aikin

A brief glimpse into the unique horse-racing culture found at the Jot ‘Em Down Store in Lexington, Kentucky, on Derby Day 2013.

Nick’s
Camilla Ann Aikin & Tyler Keith

Nick’s is a beloved seafood institution on the Choctawhatchee Bay in Freeport, Florida, that has been run by the Nick family since 1963. At the heart of the Nicks’ story is family- of which their longtime employees and regular customers are a part of- old Florida traditions, and the freshest, most expertly cooked fish around.

A Quiet Strength
Bobbie Baird, Hannah Caggiano, Deborah Hammond, Tommaso Spinelli

A single, working mother in the heart of the Mississippi Delta sees hard work, education and faith as the foundation for raising her three high school daughters. She is neither a hero nor a victim of society, but rather a simple, hardworking woman who puts one foot in front of the other each day with quiet strength.

Mississippi Narrative

Kitties: A Short Film
Greg Hanks

A hunter and zombie struggle to gain the upper hand until they are both confronted by a new threat.

Evergreen
Jackson Segars

On a Mississippi farm, two brothers clash over their responsibilities to the farm, their father, and each other.

Last Fall
Glenn Payne

A story about living life while you have the chance.

Lifted
Jordan Henry

Rob struggles to reconcile his upbringing with the recent news that he was adopted. On Halloween night, he finds himself drawn into another town member’s trick-or-treating masquerade.

The Surface
Jordan Berger

Maintain consistency, that is key …

Bellringer
James V. Bulian

One Helluva Drink
Echoes
Greg Earnest

After a terrible fall in the woods, Joel climbs to safety only to be confronted by two old friends. When he realizes they intend to harm him, he must convince them to spare his life.

Mississippi Music Video

Poor Lost Souls
Shannon Cohn, Pato Cohn

Music by Jimbo Mathus

Rattle My Faith
Derek Pearson

Music by the Wineskins

Seasons
Dane Moreton

Music by Damein Wash

Tennessee Walker Mare
Jennifer Pierce Mathus

Music by Jimbo Mathus

Twisted Ways of YOU
Daniel Guaqueta

Music by Daniel Guaqueta

WhiteGold
Jason Thornton, Jason Evans

Music by Wolf Ruffin

Animation Competition

Alfred Jarry & ‘Pataphysics
Skizz Cyzyk

In this 2 minute animated documentary, an oral report on French writer, Alfred Jarry, is given stop-motion treatment with the help of talking t-shirts, flip book pages, and time-lapse lino-cut printing. Jarry is best known for his play, Ubu Roi, and his pseudo-science, ‘Pataphysics. This short film is an excerpt from a feature length documentary, Icepick to The Moon.

Baby Chicken
Azod Abedikich

The story of a wooden man who befriends his breakfast and is then called upon to become a hero.

Balloon Cat
Michael Cermin

Balloon Cat, at its heart, is a film about reflection. While focused on the cat floating through space, the meat of the film takes place within the cat’s mind. As his physical journey progresses, the cat reflects on his life, ultimately revealing how he got into his predicament in the first place.

The Little Blond Boy with a White Sheep
Eloi Henriod

It’s school time again. During a writing test, Pierre escapes his grey school by recalling the happy memories of his holidays spent with his sheep.

The Missing Scarf
Eoin Duffy

A black comedy exploring some of life’s common fears: fear of the unknown, of failure, rejection and finally the fear of death. Narrated by George Takei.

Oasis
Sacha Goedegeb

George is on his way home after a stint in the mines. In his possession is his reward for his hard work: a rare and precious blue diamond. While seeking respite from the mid-day heat, he chances upon a strange creature which turns out to be much more than just a petty thief.

Sausage
Robert Grieves

Topical issues of food ethics are played out in the simple but compelling tale of two artisan stallholders. Their idyllic market square is invaded by a slick fast-food vendor, set to steal all their customers. What new methods must these traditional providores invent to battle for their livelihoods?

Snowdysseus
Evan Curtis

Snowdysseus explores the vulnerability in nostalgia for one’s home.

A Tangled Tale
Corrie Francis

In this unusual romance, hand-tinted sand becomes a metaphor for two souls as they join and separate. A lonely fish, hooked by an angler’s line, encounters another in the same dire situation. As the two struggle, the physical connection moves deeper. Is it love or merely a will to survive?

Transmission
Jared D. WeissIn

In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, a creature and his dog find a radio with a signal that may lead them to the first sign of other life they’ve encountered in ages. But is the chance to find new life worth leaving the only home they have?

Zweibettzimmer
Fabian Giessle

Two elderly men share a hospital room, in which the window is the only connection to the outside world and thus becomes a highly demanded resource.

Experimental Short Competition

Ghost of Yesterday
Tony Gault

Ghost of Yesterday – a collage of rotoscoped home movies – is inspired by childhood memories of religion and altered consciousness. The film explores our collective abandonment of analog imagery and is a personal attempt to reconcile with digital imagery.

My Sweet
Kate McCabe

The second in McCabe’s love letter series. A woman’s missive to her lover archly attempts to patch up an argument.

Rage Against Symphony
Elcid Asaei

An experimental short film shot via the iPhone 8mm app, focusing on a mysterious woman who lays in a bath, surrounded by the symphony of candles, incense and classical music, as all is seemingly calm and peaceful around her, yet the serenity of the environment belies the tumultuous rage burning inside of her, as she tries to hold back the tears.

Tokyo = Fukushima
Jordan Baseman

Tokyo = Fukushima is a time-lapse, stop-frame animation film of the city of Tokyo, six months after the nuclear meltdown at Fukushima. The film depicts Tokyo as throbbing with life and (nuclear) electricity despite the crisis and constant radioactive threat. Recorded over a two-month period, using a Bolex Super 16mm wind-up camera on the streets of Tokyo, the film acts as a love letter to an anxious friend. The city is trying to return to normal, although paranoia and anxiety are found everywhere due to minor earthquakes, aftershocks and government untruths. This beautiful and dark film is propelled by electronic music recorded by the filmmaker in Tokyo.

The Travelers
Andres Gonzalez

Ships going out to sea.

Virtuos Virtuell
Thomas Stellmach & Maja Oschmann

Synchronizing to the music, abstract ink drawings grow in an interplay of curiosity, timid encounters, dynamic pursuits and confrontation, stimulating many emotions, which carry us off on a poetical journey to a musical world of pictures.

Walking Inland
Chris Boniello

Memories are a common experience that humans share. Hand painted film mixes with VHS video and static recorded on magnetic VHS tape to expand these moments and provide a reflection on the past and the present. How do these memories differ from the original, the recorded, and the recreated?

Special Screenings

Cook School
D.L. Anderson

Nancy Gould’s food service course is one of the most popular within the North Carolina State Prison system, but will her class be able to pull off a fine dinning experience for 60 volunteer patrons behind the gates of Orange Correctional Center? The five-month course is administered by Piedmont Community College and graduating inmates earn 16 credits toward a degree if they can stand the heat.

The Crosby Arboretum Project
Jordan Berger, Jennifer Mizenko & Alan Arrivee.

Dancers explore movement within nature at the Crosby Arboretum in Starkville, Miss.

Long Black Limo
James V. Bulian

This is a film about a limousine driver and what he does in his spare time.

Meanwhile in Memphis: The Sound Of A Revolution
Robert Allen Parker & Nan Hackman

A Memphis music documentary featuring maverick bluff city DIY musicians from 1978 to present day. The film documents the fact that Memphis music never stopped; even after Stax Records closed, Elvis died, & the music industry left town.

Mile High Pie
Melanie Lynn Addington and Daniel Lee Perea

A short documentary film on the mile-high pies at Ed & Kay’s Restaurant in Benton, Arkansas.

π2 (Pi Squared)
Melanie Lynn Addington and Daniel Lee Perea

Tate Moore, owner of Square Pizza in Oxford, Mississippi accidentally stumbles onto a new marketing concept while thwarting store theft with security cameras and social media.

Pusharatas
Meaghin Burke

A short documentary about pusharatas (Croatian donuts) and the women who make them at Christmas in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Other special screenings to be announced at a later date.

The Oxford Film Festival is a 501c3 non-profit festival and would not be possible without the help of our generous sponsors. Visit Oxford presents this year’s Oxford Film Festival with support from Donna Ruth Roberts, Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, Mississippi Film Office, Mississippi Development Authority, Mississippi Arts Commission and many more.