The Inbox (Aug. 9-15, 2014)

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: Dolphin Tale 2

See the Gallery Here

Press Release: “Ilo Ilo” Releasing to DVD September 16

“MODERN MASTERPIECE” ILO ILO, WINNER OF CANNES CAMERA D’OR, AVAILABLE ON DVD SEPTEMBER 16

OSCAR®-WINNING DIRECTOR ANG LEE CALLS THE NEW YORK TIMES CRITICS’ PICK “AN AMAZING DEBUT”

August 12, 2014 (NY, NY) – Film Movement, the distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films, announces today that ILO ILO, the universally acclaimed debut film from Anthony Chen, will be available to own on DVD and at all digitial providers on September 16, 2014.

The film, winner of the Camera d’Or for best first film at the Cannes Film Festival, follows the middle-class Lim family as they navigate economic and domestic struggles in 1997 Singapore. The family’s live-in maid Teresa, a Filipino immigrant, is an outsider in both the family and Singapore itself, seeking to manage the antics of rambunctious young Jiale and find solid footing in her new community. The two eventually form a unique bond, but just as Teresa becomes an unspoken part of the family, the financial crisis hits home, challenging the relationships among them all.

One of the best-reviewed independent films of 2014, ILO ILO marks an impressive debut from filmmaker Anthony Chen, who based the story on his own family’s live-in maid and her contributions to his life as a child. Having lost touch, Chen and his siblings were reunited with their own Autnie Terry upon the interntaional release of ILO ILO. Academy Award®-winning director Ang Lee (Life of Pi, Brokeback Mountain) has said of ILO ILO, “Anthony Chen’s portrait of family life in 1997 Singapore is one of those rare films that manages to capture an entire period within one intimate slice of life. Beautifully acted and precisely observed, ILO ILO is an amazing debut, full of heart and intelligence.”

Available to own on DVD on September 16th at FilmMovement.com, Amazon.com adn other retailers following a successful nationwide theatrical release, ILO ILO will also be available to own digitally via iTunes and Amazon Instant. The DVD also includes a bonus short film, BLIK, the animated story of a boy who falls in love with the much older girl next door, and a Making Of featurette that takes audiences behind the scenes of the production of ILO ILO.

Press Release: “Go For Sisters” Releasing on DVD August 19

FREESTYLE DIGITAL MEDIA BRINGS ‘GO FOR SISTERS’ FROM ACADEMY AWARD-NOMINEE JOHN SAYLES TO DVD ON AUGUST 19th

Unique Across-The-Border Thriller Available in Stores Nationwide this Summer

Los Angeles, CA (August 12, 2014) – Freestyle Digital Media has set August 19th, 2014 for the DVD release of the thrilling feature film GO FOR SISTERS from two-time Academy Award-nominee John Sayles (LONE STAR, MATEWAN, EIGHT MEN OUT). Starring LisaGay Hamilton, Yolonda Ross and Edward James Olmos, GO FOR SISTERS was written, edited, and directed by Sayles, and was produced by Edward James Olmos, Alejandro Springall, and Peter Bobrow.

GO FOR SISTERS tells the story of Bernice (Hamilton) and Fontayne (Ross), who grew up the closest of friends but took very different paths in life. Twenty years later, those paths cross: Fontayne is a recovering addict fresh out of jail, and Bernice is her new parole officer. But when Bernice’s son Rodney goes missing on the Mexican border, his shady partners in hiding are brutally murdered, she needs someone who can navigate Rodney’s world without involving the police… and turns to Fontayne. The pair enlist the services of Freddy Suárez (Olmos), a disgraced ex-LAPD detective, and plunge into the underbelly of Tijuana, quickly finding themselves in a potentially deadly cat-and-mouse game with a ruthless gang of human traffickers.

The distribution deal for the film was originally brokered by Susan Jackson for FDM, and by Dylan Marchetti from Variance Films, a division of Amplify, on behalf of the filmmakers.

“Freestyle Digital Media is happy to bring this powerful film to DVD,” said Jackson. “John Sayles adds two more strong women to his long list of characters.”

Recent Freestyle titles include COME BACK TO ME, a creepy horror-thriller from Freestyle Releasing that stars Matt Passmore and Katie Walder, and FALCON RISING, an action thriller which will debut in theaters on September 5th. Other Freestyle titles include the box office hit GOD’S NOT DEAD, as well as BOTTLED UP with Melissa Leo, UNDERDOGS, with D.B. Sweeny and Natalie Imbruglia, TIGER EYES, the first big screen adaptation of a Judy Blume novel starring Willa Holland and also the THE IDENTICAL starring Ashley Judd and Ray Liotta.

Press Release: American Film Market To Host African Co-Production Roundtable

AMERICAN FILM MARKET HOSTS AFRICAN CO-PRODUCTION ROUNDTABLE

Los Angeles – August 13th, 2014 – The American Film Market (AFM), running November 5-12 in Santa Monica, has today announced the speakers for its roundtable African Co-Productions: The Possibilities and the Challenges.

Taking place between 4:00pm – 5:30pm on Sunday, November 9th, the roundtable will focus on the development and promotion of the African film industry through co-production. The roundtable will bring together stakeholders who have an interest in films produced in Africa with cross-cultural appeal, thereby initiating business opportunities that can impact the untapped potential of the African film industry.

The following speakers have been confirmed to participate:

Bernard Azria, CEO, Côte Ouest

Dike Dimiri, Group Head, Enterprise Risk Management, Heritage Banking Company Limited

Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, Regional Director, M-Net / Africa Magic

Jason Njoku, Founder, iROKO Partners

Chris Roland, Owner, ZenHQ Films

Ijeoma Onah, CEO, FISL Global Network, Moderator

“Africa’s film industry is growing at a rapid pace. Coupled with its high rate of urbanization, the dual growth of more quality films and an expanding audience is creating opportunities for producers in Africa and around the world. AFM is the perfect platform to connect Africa with the global production community,” said AFM Managing Director Jonathan Wolf.

AFM Roundtables take place in the AFM Studio on the lobby level of the Loews Hotel. Visit www.americanfilmmarket.com/attendee/roundtables-conversations to view the complete Roundtable program.

About the American Film Market
The business of independent motion picture production and distribution reaches its peak every year at the American Film Market. The global film industry converges in Santa Monica for eight days of deal-making on films in every stage of development and production, as well as screenings, conferences, networking and parties.

With 8,000 industry leaders from more than 70 countries, 700 screenings and the industry’s largest Conference Series, AFM is the pivotal destination for filmmakers, producers, writers, directors, distributors, financiers, industry executives, talent, the international media and all those who provide services to the worldwide motion picture industry.

The AFM is produced by the Independent Film & Television Alliance® the global trade association of the independent motion picture and television industry.

About The Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA)

The Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) is the global trade association for the independent motion picture and television industry. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the organization represents more than 150 member companies from 23 countries, consisting of independent production and distribution companies, sales agents, television companies and financial institutions engaged in film finance. IFTA is dedicated to protecting and strengthening its Members’ ability to finance, produce, market and distribute independent films and television programs in an ever-changing and challenging global marketplace.

AFM Partner Events
AFM Partner Events offer participants many ways to connect with the film industry.

AFI FEST presented by Audi – November 6 – 13
The American Film Institute’s annual celebration of international cinema from modern masters and emerging filmmakers, AFI FEST features nightly red-carpet galas, special screenings, conversations and tributes. AFI FEST is the only film festival in the United States to hold the prestigious FIAPF accreditation, assuring a high standard of quality and reliability for the international film community.

The World Animation & VFX Summit – November 2 – 5
The World Animation & VFX Summit shapes the future of worldwide animation and VFX, connecting studio executives, producers, agents, distributors and talent, face-to-face in a warm and intimate club environment.

US-China Film Summit – November 5
The U.S.-China Film Summit focuses on how Chinese and Hollywood film industry leaders are navigating the East-West filmmaking process and addresses the trends and dynamics in the U.S.-China film relationship, including recent success stories.

The Britannia Awards – October 30
The Britannia Award is the highest accolade presented by BAFTA Los Angeles and is a celebration of achievement honoring individuals and companies who have dedicated their careers or corporate missions to advancing the art-forms of the moving image.

Press Release: “Maybe It’s Magic” To Premiere at “Movies in the Parks”

ICFilmFest Premieres “Maybe It’s Magic” at Bowen Park with ‘Movies in the Parks’

Festival screening features 9 films from 8 countries

Chicago IL/Summer 2014-The ICFilmFest, the first touring festival of world class children’s film programs, will have its “Movies in the Park” premiere screening at Bowen Park in Waukegan on Friday, August 22nd at 6pm.

The popular Maybe It’s Magic program caters to families with elementary aged children with a diverse collection of shorts. The program includes Colored Pencils, a Brazilian film celebrating creativity, and Nokomi from France in which a young girl explores dazzling ice caverns, and Tick Tock Time Emporium, a magical film about a store that sells time. The ICFilmFest is curated by Nicole Dreiske and presented by the Waukegan Park District in collaboration with the International Children’s Media Center.

The screening is free to all and families are welcome to bring a picnic dinner or snacks and blankets.

ICMC Executive Director Nicole Dreiske comments on the interactive nature of the Festival: “Watching movies is an active experience at the ICFilmFest. Lively discussions and voting designed to make the experience memorable and interactive for even the littlest movie lovers.”

Children have the opportunity to vote for their favorite films immediately following each program. Their participation determines the winner of the “Best of the ICFilmFest” to be awarded to the film that receives the greatest number of votes. Click here for the ballot.

For more information call (847) 360-4740 or visit www.waukeganparks.org/events/events.htm

Nokomi, France

Play Lunch, Australia
Waukegan Movies in the Park ICFilmFest 2014 Schedule

Friday, August 22nd at 6pm MAYBE IT’S MAGIC Ages 7+ (78min)

The characters in this shorts program invite viewers to take a closer look and notice the magic in moments both simple and sublime. Explore dazzling ice caverns with Nokomi and hold your breath as a shy girl brings compassion to the playground, celebrate Claudio’s creativity in Colored Pencils, and control the mysteries of time at the Tick Tock Emporium. Maybe It’s Magic includes 9 films from 8 countries: Pl.ink! (Norway/Poland), The Toboggan (Canada), Play Lunch (Australia), Luminaris (Argentina), In a Heartbeat (Iceland), Nokomi (France), Colored Pencils (Brazil), Eyes on the Stars (US), and Tick Tock Time Emporium (USA).

Press Release: Lucy Hale to Host 2014 MTV VMA Red Carpet

LUCY HALE TO HOST THE 2014 “mtv VMA Red Carpet” WITH MTV’s SWAY AND CHRISTINA GARIBALDI

AIRing LIVE from the Red Carpet AT THE FORUM in inglewood, ca

On sunday, august 24 at 8:00 p.m. ET/pt

VMA Nominees Charli XCX and Fifth Harmony to Perform Live; Inglewood’s Own Becky G and YouTube Star Ingrid Nilsen (Missglamorazzi) to Act as Special VMA #instaGLAM Correspondents

MTV to Debut Brand New Episode of “Teen Wolf” Immediately Prior to the Pre-Show at 7:00 P.M. ET/PT

NEW YORK, NY (August 15, 2014) — MTV today announced that rising country singer and actress Lucy Hale will host the hour-long 2014 “MTV VMA Red Carpet” pre-show LIVE alongside MTV’s own Sway and Christina Garibaldi on Sunday, August 24 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT outside of The Forum in Inglewood, CA and leading into the VMAs live at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. The telecast will feature live performances by chart-topping artists, Fifth Harmony and Charli XCX, presented by State Farm®. Leading up to the star-studded pre-show, MTV will air an all new episode of its hit scripted drama, “Teen Wolf,” beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT.

“Hosting this year’s MTV VMA Red Carpet is the topper to a pretty great year for me after releasing my first album,” said Lucy Hale. “I’m looking forward to meeting and talking to some of my favorite artists. It’s going to be an amazing night!”

Lining the red carpet will be more than one thousand screaming fans creating a unique and interactive experience on-site and for viewers at home. Housed on massive bleachers, the fans will give the show a whole new energy with en masse audience participation. Also, for the first time ever, fans at home will have the chance to interact with celebrities during the pre-show via social media.

“I cannot wait to perform during the VMAs pre-show,” said Charli XCX. “And it’s so exciting to have a nomination not only for ‘Boom Clap’ but for other things with ‘Fancy.’ It’s a girl power anthem and the video is next level.”

“We couldn’t believe it when we were told that we get to perform on the VMA red carpet,” said Fifth Harmony’s Ally Brooke. “We’ve all grown up watching many of our favorite artists perform at the VMAs and now to not only be nominated for an award but also get to perform is phenomenal for us.”

Also during the pre-show, pop act and Inglewood’s own Becky G and YouTube star Ingrid Nilsen (Missglamorazzi)will report on all the night’s beauty trends while serving as conduits for the audience to experience the VMAs in real time through fan inspired challenges using #instaGLAM. Additionally, teen sensation Austin Mahone will be on hand fulfilling his #DareAustin challenge that had fans submitting their ideas for how he should arrive on the red carpet via social media.

As previously announced, “House of Style” host and VMA performer and nominee, Iggy Azalea, will be on hand to talk about her role with the return of the series. During the main show, “House of Style” special correspondent, Rita Ora, will bring fans live into the VMA action with real-time commentary on all things VMAs – from the performances to red carpet hair, notable fashions, and more.

In the episode of “Teen Wolf” that’s airing immediately prior to the pre-show, Scott (Tyler Posey) and Kira (Arden Cho) fight to protect Satomi’s pack from assassins and Stiles (Dylan O’Brien) and Malia (Shelley Hennig) discover the origins of The Dead Pool. The episode will re-air in its regularly scheduled timeslot on Monday, August 25 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT, followed by an all-new “Wolf Watch.”

The 2014 “MTV Video Music Awards,” the loudest and at times, the most controversial, annual live celebration of music, is set to make its triumphant return to the west coast when it airs LIVE from the Forum in Inglewood, CA on Sunday, August 24th at 9pm ET/PT. BEYONCÉ leads the nominations this year with eight, followed by Emimen and Iggy Azalea with seven each. This year’s VMAs will feature not-to-miss performances from Nicki Minaj, Usher, Ariana Grande, 5 Seconds of Summer, Maroon 5, Iggy Azalea and BEYONCÉ, who will also receive the prestigious Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.

Ratings for the 2013 “MTV Video Music Awards Pre-Show” increased 100 percent compared to the previous year with P12-34 and garnered a 3.6 rating among that demographic, and total viewers grew a whopping 119 percent with 4.6 million tuning in.* Additionally, the 2013 “MTV Video Music Awards” aired across MTV’s global network of more than 60 channels and enjoyed a double-digit ratings increase year over year in key international markets such as the UK, Australia, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Argentina and more.

Dave Sirulnick and Ryan Kroft serve as Executive Producers for the 2014 “MTV Video Music Awards Pre-Show.” Garrett English serves as Executive Producer and Executive in Charge. Joanna Bomberg is Co-Executive Producer. Wendy Plaut is Executive in Charge of Celebrity Talent and Malika Quemerais serves as Music and Talent Executive.

2014 “MTV Video Music Awards Pre-Show” performances are presented by State Farm®, live “House of Style” coverage is presented by Unilever’s Caress®, Degree Women® and TRESemmé®, the #VMADare is presented by 5GUM, #InstaGlam InstaAccess is presented by CoverGirl.

*Source: Nielsen. Live+SD. P12-34, unless noted. Ranked on 000s. Entertainment = excludes sports. Telecast rank dates: 12/31/12-8/25/13.

Press Release: Focus Features’ 2014 Fall Slate

2014 Fall Preview – Focus Features

THE BOXTROLLS – In Theaters Everywhere Beginning September 26th

Story: A family event movie from the creators of “Coraline” and “ParaNorman” that introduces audiences to a new breed of family – The Boxtrolls, a community of quirky, mischievous creatures who have lovingly raised a human boy named Eggs (voiced by Isaac Hempstead Wright) in the amazing cavernous home they’ve built beneath the streets of Cheesebridge. When the town’s villain, Archibald Snatcher (Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley), comes up with a plot to get rid of the Boxtrolls, Eggs decides to venture above ground, “into the light,” where he meets and teams up with fabulously feisty Winnie (Elle Fanning). Together, they devise a daring plan to save Eggs’ family.

Directors: Anthony Stacchi and Graham Annable

Writers: Irena Brignull, Adam Pava, based upon the book Here Be Monsters by Alan Snow

Voice Cast: Ben Kingsley, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Elle Fanning, Dee Bradley Baker, Steve Blum, Toni Collette, Jared Harris, Nick Frost, Richard Ayoade, Tracy Morgan, Simon Pegg

MPAA Rating: PG; Running Time: 96 minutes 3D

KILL THE MESSENGER – Oct. 10 (select cities); Oct. 17 (add. cities); Oct. 24 (more cities)

Story: Two-time Academy Award nominee Jeremy Renner (“The Bourne Legacy”) leads an all-star cast in a dramatic thriller based on the remarkable true story of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gary Webb. Webb stumbles onto a story which leads to the shady origins of the men who started the crack epidemic on the nation’s streets…and further alleges that the CIA was aware of major dealers who were smuggling cocaine into the U.S., and using the profits to arm rebels fighting in Nicaragua. Despite warnings from drug kingpins and CIA operatives to stop his investigation, Webb keeps digging to uncover a conspiracy with explosive implications. His journey takes him from the prisons of California to the villages of Nicaragua to the highest corridors of power in Washington, D.C. – and draws the kind of attention that threatens not just his career, but his family and his life.

Director: Michael Cuesta (“Homeland”)

Writers: Peter Landesman,

based upon the books Dark Alliance, by Gary Webb, and Kill the Messenger, by Nick Schou

Cast: Jeremy Renner, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ray Liotta, Tim Blake Nelson, Barry Pepper, Oliver Platt, Michael Sheen, Paz Vega, Michael Kenneth Williams, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Andy Garcia

MPAA Rating: R; Running Time: 112 minutes

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING – In Select Theaters Beginning Nov. 7

Story: Starring Eddie Redmayne (“Les Misérables”) and Felicity Jones (“The Amazing Spider-Man 2”), this is the extraordinary true story of one of the world’s greatest living minds, the renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, who falls deeply in love with fellow Cambridge student Jane Wilde. Once a healthy, active young man, Hawking received an earth-shattering diagnosis at 21 years of age. With Jane fighting tirelessly by his side, Stephen embarks on his most ambitious scientific work, studying the very thing he now has precious little of – time. Together, they defy impossible odds, breaking new ground in medicine and science, and achieving more than they could ever have dreamed. The film is based on the memoir Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen, by Jane Hawking, and is directed by Academy Award winner James Marsh (“Man on Wire”).

Director: James Marsh (“Man on Wire,” “Shadow Dancer”)

Writer: Anthony McCarten (“Death of a Superhero”)

Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Charlie Cox, Emily Watson, Simon McBurney, David Thewlis

Press Release: Brigade’s 2014 Fall Preview

2014 Fall Preview – Brigade

BIRD PEOPLE – September 12th

Directed and Co-Written by Pascale Ferran

Co-Written by Guillaume Bréaud

Cast: Josh Charles, Anaïs Demoustier, Roschdy Zem, Camélia Jordana, Radha Mitchell

Fed up with the stresses of his work and home life, Gary, an American businessman en route to Dubai, views his overnight layover as an opportunity to start fresh in Europe.

HELLAWARE – September 26th

Written and Directed by Michael M. Bilandic

Cast: Keith Poulson, Sophia Takal, Kate Lyn Sheil, and Brent Butler

A wannabe photographer finds a Goth rap group on YouTube – Insane Clown Posse knock-off Young Torture Killers – and travels to Delaware to immerse himself in their culture.

10.000KM – October (Date TBD)

Directed by Carlos Marques-Marcet

Written by Carlos Marques-Marcet and Clara Roquet

Cast: Natalia Tena and David Verdaguer

Alexandra and Sergi are a young couple in love. When an artistic residency takes Alexandra from Barcelona to Los Angeles, they must rely on technology to keep their relationship alive, attempting to bridge the gap of the 10,000 km that divide them.

HARMONTOWN – October 3rd

Directed by Neil Berkeley

Featuring: Dan Harmon, Jack Black, Ben Stiller, Sarah Silverman, Jason Sudeikis, and Joel McHale

A documentary chronicling Dan Harmon’s podcast tour following his firing from his cult-like creation, NBC’s “Community,” Harmontown provides untapped insight to Harmon’s personal demons and his ever-present talent that is poised to redeem him.

LISTEN UP PHILIP – October 17th

Written and Directed by Alex Ross Perry

Cast: Jason Schwartzman, Elisabeth Moss, Jonathan Pryce, Krysten Ritter, Josephine De La Baume, Dree Hemingway, Jess Weixler

A story about changing seasons and changing attitudes, a newly accomplished writer faces mistakes and miseries affecting those around him, including his girlfriend, her sister, his idol, his idol’s daughter, and all the ex-girlfriends and enemies that lie in wait on the open streets of New York.

STATIONS OF THE ELEVATED – October 17th

Directed by Manfred Kirchheimer

Restored from its original 1981 version, STATIONS weaves together vivid images of graffiti-covered elevated subway trains crisscrossing the gritty urban landscape of 1970s New York, to a commentary-free soundtrack that combines ambient city noise with jazz and gospel by Charles Mingus and Aretha Franklin.

REVENGE OF THE GREEN DRAGONS – October 24th

Presented by Martin Scorsese

Directed by Andrew Lau & Andrew Loo

Written by Michael Di Jiacomo & Andrew Loo

Cast: Justin Chon, Kevin Wu, Harry Shum, Jr., Ray Liotta, Jin Auyeung, Shuya Chang, Eugenia Yuan, Billy Magnussen

The story of two immigrant brothers Sonny and Steven who survive the impoverished despair of New York in the 1980s by joining Chinatown gang The Green Dragons.

THE BABADOOK – November 28th

Written and Directed by Jennifer Kent

Cast: Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman

A sinister children’s book called Mister Babadook mysteriously appears in the home of Amelia and her increasingly odd son Samuel. As the book continues to reappear, and things begin to go bump in the night, Amelia begins to wonder if there’s a presence in the house more disturbed than her son.

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FILM DETAILS

BIRD PEOPLE

Opens September 12th

Directed and Co-Written by Pascale Ferran

Co-Written by Guillaume Bréaud

Cast: Josh Charles, Anaïs Demoustier, Roschdy Zem, Camélia Jordana, Radha Mitchell

Synopsis:
The airport hotel: more often than not the dreary site of a woeful inconvenience—a missed flight, an impediment standing in the way of a destination and the chance to move on with one’s life. But not so for Gary (Josh Charles) and Audrey (Anaïs Demoustier). The principal setting of BIRD PEOPLE, a hotel at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport represents a place of promise and hope and serves as the unlikely establishment that brings these two lost souls together.

Fed up with the stresses of his work and home life, Gary, an American businessman en route to Dubai, views his overnight layover as an opportunity to start fresh in Europe. For Audrey, a Parisian chambermaid, the hotel is her ticket through college and a path away from her humdrum life. As their paths cross nearer in the halls of the hotel, their lives change in a way neither ever could have imagined.

Directed and co-written by French filmmaker Pascale Ferran, and co-starring Radha Mitchell, BIRD PEOPLE is a genre-defying exploration of how life can change in an instant in the most unexpected of ways.

TRT: 127 minutes
Country: France
Language: English, French, Japanese
Genre: Drama/Romance/Fantasy
Distributor: Sundance Selects

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HELLAWARE

Opens September 26th

Written and Directed by Michael M. Bilandic

Cast: Keith Poulson, Sophia Takal, Kate Lyn Sheil, Brent Butler

Synopsis:
HELLAWARE gently satirizes the world of highbrow art through the eyes of a wannabe photographer who becomes consumed by the bright lights of mainstream success. Jaded by the “incestuous, New York, socialite shit” that sells at prominent art galleries, Nate (Keith Poulson) embarks on a quest for a more authentic brand of contemporary art.

When a coked-up YouTube search leads to a music video from Delawarean Goth rappers Young Torture Killers, an Insane Clown Posse knock-off, Nate knows he’s found his subjects. He soon drags his friend-with-benefits Bernadette (Sophia Takal) to rural Delaware to shoot the group playing in their parents’ basement. To “immerse himself” in the group’s culture and add an extra layer of realism to his work, Nate befriends the rappers and makes return trips to get to know them. But as his relationship with group develops, he becomes increasingly aware that, while you can take the boy out of the art world, you can’t take the art world out of the boy.

A coming-of-age New York comedy in the class of modern indie darlings like TINY FURNITURE or FRANCES HA, HELLAWARE is written and directed by Michael Bilandic and made its world debut at BAM Cinemafest.

TRT: 73 minutes
Country: USA
Language: English
Genre: Comedy
Distributor: Factory 25

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10.000KM

Opens October (Date TBD)

Directed by Carlos Marques-Marcet

Written by Carlos Marques-Marcet and Clara Roquet

Cast: Natalia Tena and David Verdaguer

Synopsis:
Alexandra and Sergi make love in their tiny Barcelona apartment. They’ve decided to have a baby, but find their plans dashed when Alex receives an offer for an artistic residency in Los Angeles. Understanding this may be Alex’s last chance to re-launch her photography career, the couple decides to put their plans on hold for a year. Separated by 10,000 kilometers, Alex and Sergi must rely on virtual communication to keep the flame of their relationship alive. But with their realities no longer shared and the touch of one another gone, the technology that has supposedly brought the world closer together may just tear them apart.

TRT: 99 minutes
Country: Spain
Language: Spanish
Genre: Drama
Distributor: Broad Green Pictures

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HARMONTOWN

Opens October 3rd

Directed by Neil Berkeley

Featuring: Dan Harmon, Jack Black, Ben Stiller, Sarah Silverman, Jason Sudeikis, and Joel McHale

Synopsis:
A kindred spirit to nerds everywhere, writer-comedian Dan Harmon has achieved celebrity via the hit series “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 his signature creation, Harmon hits the road with his popular podcast and performs live for his cult-like fan base across the country. Known for his wit, cynicism, and disarming vulnerability, Harmontown finds Harmon bathed in the adoration of his fans as he confronts his personal demons and comes out on the other side.

From acclaimed filmmaker Neil Berkeley (Beauty Is Embarrassing), and featuring past and present collaborators Sarah Silverman, Jack Black, Allison Brie, Joel McHale and many more, Harmontown tells Harmon’s story with unabashed candor — showing his highs, his lows, and everything in-between.

TRT: 101 minutes
Country: USA
Language: English
Genre: Documentary
Distributor: The Orchard

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LISTEN UP PHILIP

Opens October 17th

Written and Directed by Alex Ross Perry

Cast: Jason Schwartzman, Elisabeth Moss, Jonathan Pryce, Krysten Ritter, Josephine De La Baume, Dree Hemingway, Jess Weixler

Synopsis:
A complex, intimate, and highly idiosyncratic comedy, Listen Up Philip is a literary look at the triumph of reality over the human spirit. Anger rages in Philip (Jason Schwartzman) as he awaits the publication of his sure-to-succeed second novel. He feels pushed out of his adopted home city by the constant crowds and noise, a deteriorating relationship with his photographer girlfriend Ashley (Elisabeth Moss), and his indifference to promoting his own work. When Philip’s idol Ike Zimmerman (Jonathan Pryce) offers his isolated summer home as a refuge, he finally gets the peace and quiet to focus on his favorite subject — himself.

TRT: 109 minutes
Country: USA
Language: English
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Distributor: Tribeca Film

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STATIONS OF THE ELEVATED

Opens October 17th

Directed by Manfred Kirchheimer

Music Composed by Charles Mingus

Synopsis:
STATIONS OF THE ELEVATED (1981) is a 45-minute city symphony directed, produced and edited by Manfred Kirchheimer. Shot on lush 16mm color reversal stock, the film weaves together vivid images of graffiti-covered elevated subway trains crisscrossing the gritty urban landscape of 1970s New York, to a commentary-free soundtrack that combines ambient city noise with jazz and gospel by Charles Mingus and Aretha Franklin. Gliding through the South Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan – making a rural detour past a correctional facility upstate – STATIONS OF THE ELEVATED is an impressionistic portrait of and tribute to a New York that has long since disappeared.

STATIONS captures the exuberant height of the 1970’s graffiti movement in New York, featuring the work of early legends including Lee, Fabulous 5, Shadow, Daze, Kase, Butch, Blade, Slave, 12 T2B, Ree, and Pusher. At a time when graffiti was largely dismissed as vandalism and a symbol of urban decay, Kirchheimer explores it as a form of self-expression and a reaction to New York’s social and economic conditions, an artistic counterpoint to the “legalized vandalism” dominating the city’s visual landscape in the form of corporate advertising. Juxtaposing the colorful imagery of ‘tagged’ cars with shots of hand-painted billboards depicting hamburgers and bikini-clad women, STATIONS forces audiences to ask: “What is urban art, and what role does it play in the daily life of a city?”

TRT: 45 minutes
Country: USA
Language: English
Genre: Documentary
Distributor: Artists Public Domain

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REVENGE OF THE GREEN DRAGONS

Opens October 24th

Presented by Martin Scorsese

Directed by Andrew Lau & Andrew Loo

Written by Michael Di Jiacomo & Andrew Loo

Cast: Justin Chon, Kevin Wu, Harry Shum, Jr., Ray Liotta, Jin Auyeung, Shuya Chang, Eugenia Yuan, Billy Magnussen

Synopsis:
In the vein of crime classics like MEAN STREETS and INFERNAL AFFAIRS, REVENGE OF THE GREEN DRAGONS follows two immigrant brothers Sonny and Steven who survive the impoverished despair of New York in the 1980s by joining Chinatown gang The Green Dragons. The brothers quickly rise up the ranks, drawing the unwanted attention of hard-boiled city cops. After an ill- fated love affair pits Sonny against his own brother, he sets out for revenge on the very gang who made him who he is. From acclaimed director Andrew Lau and Andrew Loo, and legendary executive producer Martin Scorsese comes a brilliant mix between a Hong Kong action film and a New York City crime thriller, portraying the never-before-told true story of The Green Dragons.

TRT: 94 minutes
Country: USA
Language: EnglishGenre: Action/Crime/DramaDistributor: A24

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THE BABADOOK

Opens November 28th

Written and Directed by Jennifer Kent

Cast: Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Daniel Henshall, Hayley McElhinney, Barbara West, Ben Winspear

Synopsis:
Young widow Amelia lives with her seven-year-old son, Samuel, who seems to get odder by the day. His father’s death in an accident when driving Amelia to the hospital to give birth to him may have something to do with the boy’s unnerving behavior, which scares other children and perhaps even his own mother. But when a sinister children’s book called Mister Babadook mysteriously appears—and keeps reappearing—Amelia begins to wonder if there’s a presence in the house more disturbed than her son. Jennifer Kent’s visually stunning debut genuinely frightens us with the revelation that the things that go bump in the night may be buried deep inside our psyches, not just in the basement.

TRT: 94 minutes
Country: Australia
Language: EnglishGenre: Horror/DramaDistributor: IFC Midnight