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: Hector and the Search for Happiness
- Press Release: “Wrinkles” Releasing to Home Video July 15
- Press Release: The Orchard Moves to Harmontown
- Press Release: English-Language Voice Cast Announced for “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya”
- Press Release: Film Movement to Release “The Auction” and “Grigris” on August 19
- Press Release: Fandor Takes Steps to Reinvent Film Industry
Image Gallery: Hector and the Search for Happiness
Press Release: “Wrinkles” Releasing to Home Video July 15
GKIDS’ CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED ANIMATED WRINKLES AVAILABLE JULY 15 ON DVD, iTUNES, ON DEMAND AND OTHER DIGITAL SERVICES
PARTNERSHIP WITH ALZHEIMER’S FOUNDATION OF AMERICA FOR DIGITAL RELEASE AT WWW.WRINKLESFILM.COM WITH PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT AFA
New York, NY – July 14, 2014 – GKIDS, a distributor of award-winning animation for both adult and family audiences, will release its much-lauded animated film WRINKLES on DVD, iTunes, On Demand and other digital platforms on Tuesday, July 15. Directed by Ignacio Ferreras, based on the award-winning graphic novel by Paco Roca, WRINKLES made its U.S. theatrical premiere on July 4 to near-universal critical praise and was named a Critics’ Pick by both The New York Times and The Village Voice. The film features the voices of Martin Sheen (The West Wing, The Departed), Matthew Modine (The Dark Knight Rises, Weeds) and George Coe (Funny People, Archer).
In partnership with the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA), the film will be available for download and streaming at www.WrinklesFilm.com starting July 15, with 20% of gross sales from the website going to AFA, who provide care and services to individuals confronting dementia through over 1,700 member organizations. Visitors to the site will have the option of adding an additional donation to AFA with their purchase.
SYNOPSIS
Based on Paco Roca’s award-winning graphic novel, Wrinkles illustrates the visual beauty and tender emotion that can be created by traditional animation, as it tackles a universal subject matter with compassion and acerbic wit. The story opens with former bank manager Emilio being dispatched to a retirement home by his family. His new roommate is a wily, wheeler-dealer named Miguel, who cheerfully swindles small amounts of cash from the more befuddled residents but is also full of handy insider tips that are crucial to survival. Like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in an old folks home, we are introduced to daily pill regimens, electric gates, and an eccentric cast of characters who rebel against institutional authority, while doing everything in their power to avoid being assigned to the dreaded top floor assisted living wing – a dwelling place for lost souls from which there is no return. The hand-drawn animation style allows the film to move freely between the reality-bound daily lives of the ‘inmates’ and their more colorful dementia-induced fantasies, leaving plenty of room for both tears and laughter and pulling no punches in its critique of society’s attitude towards the elderly.
Press Release: The Orchard Moves to Harmontown
The Orchard Moves to Harmontown
The Riotous Road Documentary on “Community” Creator Dan Harmon to Release this Fall via The Orchard
Film Also Features Appearances by Jack Black, Ben Stiller, and Joel McHale, Among Others
(New York, NY | July 14, 2014) The Orchard, a pioneering independent music, film and video distribution company and top-ranked MCN, has acquired theatrical and digital rights spanning North America and the U.K. to Harmontown.
The documentary, directed by Neil Berkeley (Beauty Is Embarrassing) and co-produced by Future You Pictures and Starburns Industries, follows Community creator and writer/producer Dan Harmon on tour for his eponymous podcast series. The film features appearances by Jack Black, Ben Stiller, Sarah Silverman, Jason Sudeikis and Joel McHale — among other A-list comics — and will be released by The Orchard theatrically and digitally this fall.
A kindred spirit to nerds everywhere, Harmon has achieved celebrity via “Community,” but cut his teeth writing for shows such as “The Sarah Silverman Program” and the Jack Black/Ben Stiller pilot “Heat Vision and Jack.”
After being fired from the hit series he created, Harmon takes his writing on the road in Harmontown and performs live podcasts for his cult-like fan base across the country. Known for his wit, cynicism, genius and self-deprecation, the film initially begins documenting Dan’s fandom, and progressively evolves into a deeper character and case study.
“Harmontown is a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a man that would quote himself saying that a movie about him is fascinating,” says Harmon. “It’s more than a documentary. It’s your chance to figure out what’s wrong with me while cutting me in on the profit.”
Harmontown originally premiered as part of the Documentary Spotlight at the South by Southwest Film Festival, and continued with limited, special engagement screenings at Hot Docs and the Los Angeles Film Festival. Screening to critical acclaim, Harmontown has been lauded by critics like Oliver Lyttelton of The Playlist, who called the film “unexpectedly moving” and Harmon “a legitimately fascinating unlikely superstar.
Echoing the structure of the film – the chronicling of Harmon’s podcast tour – Harmon will embark upon another podcast tour in concert with Harmontown’s theatrical expansion.
“It’s exciting to know that the world will finally get to see this movie and that our incredible partners, The Orchard, are going to make that happen,” says Executive Producer, Joe Russo II. “From the first conversation we had with them, we knew that they had the energy and understanding of our audience to make the release a success. The movie is in good hands, and we can’t wait for the world to see it.”
“Sometimes, getting fired results in amazing opportunities. In the case of Dan Harmon, it resulted in the engaging and hilarious pop culture-infused doc Harmontown,” says The Orchard’s SVP of Film & TV, Paul Davidson. “Here at The Orchard, where Harmon-fanaticism runs rampant, we’re proud to be bringing Dan’s rollicking roadshow to his fans everywhere.”
The deal was negotiated by UTA Independent Film Group and Josh Braun of Submarine on behalf of Future You Pictures and Starburns Industries with Danielle DiGiacomo of The Orchard.
Press Release: English-Language Voice Cast Announced for “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya”
GKIDS, KENNEDY/MARSHALL AND STUDIO GHIBLI ANNOUNCE THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VOICE CAST FOR “THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA”
GKIDS SETS OCTOBER 17 RELEASE DATE “KAGUYA” TO RECEIVE NORTH AMERICAN THEATRICAL RELEASE AND AWARDS SUBMISSIONS
New York, NY – July 15, 2014 – GKIDS, a distributor of award-winning animation for both adult and family audiences, has announced the English voice cast for THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA, the highly anticipated new feature from Studio Ghibli. It is the first film in fourteen years from legendary Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata. In addition to Chloë Grace Moretz as The Princess Kaguya, the film features the voices of James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, Darren Criss, Lucy Liu, Beau Bridges, James Marsden, Oliver Platt and Dean Cain. (Full cast list below.) GKIDS has North American distribution rights for the film and is planning a theatrical release starting October 17, with national expansion to follow. The film will qualify for the Academy Awards® and other awards season contests.
THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA made its international premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where Variety hailed it as “a visionary tour-de-force.” Eight years in the making, the film is the untold story of The Princess Kaguya, the heroine of the ancient Japanese folktale The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.
The English-language version is being produced by Studio Ghibli and Geoffrey Wexler, with Frank Marshall of Kennedy/Marshall Executive Producing. This is the same team that handled English versions for the two previous Studio Ghibli films, The Wind Rises and From Up on Poppy Hill.
GKIDS and Studio Ghibli partnered with Studio Ghibli on the 2013 release of From Up on Poppy Hill and GKIDS handles North American theatrical distribution for the Studio Ghibli library of films, one of the world’s most coveted animation collections with titles including Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke and others. GKIDS also handles theatrical distribution for Isao Takahata’s Grave of the Fireflies, widely considered a masterpiece.
SYNOPSIS
Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo, a tiny girl grows into an exquisite young lady, raised by an old bamboo cutter and his wife. From the countryside to the grand capital city, even unseen she enthralls all who encounter her, including five noble suitors. Ultimately she must face her fate, punishment for her crime.
Based on the classic Japanese folktale, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA is the newest film from Studio Ghibli and the strikingly beautiful culmination of decades of contemplation by its director, Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata.
English Voice Cast
The Princess Kaguya – Chloë Grace Moretz
The Bamboo Cutter – James Caan
The Bamboo Cutter’s Wife – Mary Steenburgen
Sutemaru – Darren Criss
Lady Sagami – Lucy Liu
Me no Warawa – Hynden Walch
Inbe no Akita – George Segal
Prince Ishitsukuri – James Marsden
Prince Kuramochi – Beau Bridges
Lord Minister of the Right Abe – Oliver Platt
Great Counselor Otomo – Daniel Dae Kim
Middle Counselor Isonokami – John Cho
The Mikado – Dean Cain
Kita no Kata – Emily Bridges
Press Release: Film Movement to Release “The Auction” and “Grigris” on August 19
FILM MOVEMENT ANNOUNCES TWO ACCLAIMED INDIES AVAILABLE ON DVD AUGUST 19
French-language dramas THE AUCTION and GRIGRIS both earned top honors in Cannes
July 17, 2014 (NY, NY) – Film Movement, the distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films, announces today that THE AUCTION and GRIGRIS will be released on DVD on August 19. Both dramas, from French Canada and Chad respectively, earned acclaim and awards at the Cannes Film Festival last year.
A Critics’ Week winner at the Cannes Film Festival, THE AUCTION is the sophomore feature from Canadian director Sébastien Pilote. The film follows the aging Gaby, a man of few words who maintains his family farm alone, his grown daughters long since moved on from rural life. When his eldest returns home with he news that she’s divorcing and will lose her home without a loan, he quietly begins the work of auctioning off the land and livestock that otherwise would’ve been his legacy. Told with a quiety intensity, THE AUCTION depicts the lengths one father is willing to go to tend to his family as steadfastly as he does his farm.
The fifth feature from acclaimed director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun (A Screaming Man), GRIGRIS was honored with the Vulcan Award for Technical Acheivement at the Cannes Film Festival and was the African nation of Chad’s official entry into the Academy Awards®, the only filmmaker to ever represent the country. Grigris dreams of making a living on the dance floor of the local club, despite his bum leg. But when his stepfather falls ill, he will delve into the sinister world of oil smuggling in an effort to both pay the medical bills and impress the softhearted prostitute for whom he has quickly fallen. Soon, they are on the run from their poor decisions, hoping to start a new life together.
Each DVD features a bonus short film specially selected to compliment the feature. THE AUCTION includes THE GIANT, a 10-minute short from Spain, while GRIGRIS includes the Academy Award®-nominated animated short film FERAL. Available to own on DVD August 19th, both feature films also become available to own digitally on all major platforms (iTunes, Amazon Instant, Google Play and more).
Press Release: Fandor Takes Steps to Reinvent Film Industry
Fandor Takes Large Steps in Mission to Reinvent the Film Industry
Fandor Launches Major New Programs Aimed At Connecting Filmmakers, Audiences, and Film Festivals
Hartley, Jenkins, Losier, Martel, and Rappaport First Filmmakers To Be Highlighted
IFP Festival Forum, Full Frame, Santa Fe, Indie Memphis, and many Bay Area Festivals Benefit
SAN FRANCISCO – (July 18, 2014) Fandor, the online film community streaming the best independent and international cinema, today announced two major initiatives, the latest in its drive to change the way the film industry works. Fandor, led by CEO Ted Hope, is using its position at the intersection of technology and cinema to advance film art and culture, supporting filmmakers and festivals in connecting to audiences looking for life-affecting cinematic experiences.
Fandor’s two new programs are designed to help filmmakers, audiences and film festivals alike. The Fandor|Festival Alliance (F|FA) will use Fandor’s existing assets and technology to help film festivals grow their local audiences and enhance the value for those audiences, while improving ticket sales and expanding sponsorship opportunities. FIX, the filmmaker initiative, is designed to help filmmakers showcase their existing work on Fandor while engaging with their audiences in a more meaningful way. These programs build on the initiatives Fandor has already launched to advance both the film industry and film culture, including the innovative online series, Reinvent Hollywood, and the work done around. The Bechdel Test. Fandor’s recent slate of video essays, running the gamut from essential LGBTQ films, the creative relationship between Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski, gender disparity on screen, as well as on the future of film overall, are real indicators of Fandor’s commitment to go beyond consumption to real engagement.
“Fandor is clearly a community, facilitated by our constantly evolving platform and service,” said Fandor CEO Ted Hope. “Like the best filmmakers and most inquisitive audience members, we are never satisfied with the existing state of things and are always looking to improve the experience of our members, as well as the film community at large. These new initiatives indicate our dedication to being the community’s conversation starter.”
FIX
Being a part of FIX will provide filmmakers with a more engaging experience and enable them to retain greater creative control. FIX will become a place where collaboration and support between filmmakers and audiences is encouraged, leading to a more sustainable financial future for the creative community.
Designed to bring filmmakers and their audiences closer together, FIX
“FIX is reflection of the unique direct relationships we have with many of the remarkable filmmakers available on the service,” stated Jonathan Marlow, Fandor co-founder and Chief Content Officer. “We have always wanted to enhance the network effect of gathering great films and great filmmakers in one place. FIX allows us an ideal opportunity for connecting artists with audiences.
In the initial stages, FIX will set up the filmmakers with expanded film pages, enabling them to provide more information on their work and what drives them as artists. As the program grows, FIX will provide a place for filmmakers to feature their forthcoming work, engage with their audiences, enhance the visibility of their films, and ultimately create an interactive experience between the filmmaker and the viewer, while having access and transparency to methods and results of engagement efforts.
FIX launches with 5 filmmakers all debuting new work on Fandor, nearly 30 premieres in total. The featured filmmakers include: Caroline Martel (premiering her documentary Wavemakers), Hal Hartley (debuting The Girl from Monday, Ambition and Theory of Achievement), Barry Jenkins (making available numerous short films including My Josephine and Little Brown Boy), Marie Losier (premiering nearly all of her short films and her feature-length documentary The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye, and Mark Rappaport (debuting his earliest feature Casual Relations and the short Postcards, rounding-out the availability of nearly all of his work on Fandor).
In addition to these first 5 featured filmmakers, roughly 100 other filmmakers (such as Janie Geiser and Nathan and David Zellner) are a part of FIX, as well.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.