Every week, I get several press releases, screening invitations and other notifications from a handful of studio contacts. While I won’t be sharing any information regarding my screening invites, some of the press releases might be of interest to my readers, so I thought I’d start sharing them in toto with all of you. These could include new image galleries for various films or important updates to upcoming releases from various smaller studios and art house production companies.

• Press Release: Adam Corolla to Speak at Ameican Film Market
• Press Release: Strong Sales Activity Observed for Three Fortissimo films at London Film Fest
• Press Release: One Direction Event Has Record-Breaking Weekend Around the World
• Press Release: “I Am Yours” and Others Scheduled for Release on Home Video
• Press Release: American Film Market Reveals Screening Guide
• Press Release: Indiegogo Campaign Started to Fund Prequel to “Night of the Living Dead”

Press Release: Adam Corolla to Speak at Ameican Film Market

ADAM CAROLLA RETURNING TO SPEAK AT THE 2014 AMERICAN FILM MARKET

Los Angeles, CA – October 13, 2014 – Adam Carolla, comedian, podcast king, New York Times Best Selling Author and crowdfunding leader will participate in an Industry Conversation discussing the making of his film Road Hard at the American Film Market (AFM) on Sunday, November 9th. The conversation, titled Road Hard – A Comedian’s Journey from Crowdfunding to Distribution, will give Carolla a forum to discuss challenges and triumphs of funding a film, taking it through production, and working towards distribution.

In 2013, Carolla led a successful crowd funding campaign, raising $1.5 million for his movie, Road Hard via the website FundAnything.com, which became the subject of his keynote address at last year’s AFM Production Conference. Within the past year, he went on to write, direct, and star in the film which shows the journey of a former standup-turned-sitcom-star who, after the cancellation of his show and a divorce, is forced to go back on the road and perform at the dumpy clubs he played on the way up.

“When I attended the AFM last year, Road Hard was just getting off the ground with the successful crowdfunding campaign. I’m thrilled to return to the AFM with this project in post-production, and share all the new experiences gained while making the film” said Adam Carolla.

“Writer, producer, director, actor, bestselling author, Guinness World Record for most downloaded podcast, winner of the Long Beach Grand Prix Pro/Celebrity Race and, of course, a master of crowdfunding. We’re thrilled to welcome Adam Carolla back to AFM. He is the ultimate entrepreneur and a true renaissance man,” said Jonathan Wolf, Managing Director of the AFM.

The AFM Industry Conversation with Adam Carolla will take place at 3:00pm, at the AFM Studio in the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel.

Press Release: Strong Sales Activity Observed for Three Fortissimo films at London Film Fest

FORTISSIMO SEES STRONG SALES ACTIVITY FOR ITS THREE LONDON FILM FESTIVAL TITLES

SALES SUCCESS FOR “THEEB”, “LOVE IS STRANGE” AND “BLACK COAL, THIN ICE”.

LONDON, OCTOBER 14, 2014: Fortissimo Films announced the finalisation of new sales on its three titles that are being presented this week at the BFI London International Film Festival; THEEB, LOVE IS STRANGE and BLACK COAL, THIN ICE. Each of the three films is enjoying its respective UK Premiere following a flurry of Festival triumphs earlier in the year.

In a high-profile sale to the UK on the eve of the start of the London Film Festival , Fortissimo pre-emptively sold its Berlin International Film Festival Golden and Silver Bear winner BLACK COAL, THIN ICE to StudioCanal for the UK. Diao Yi’nan’s Chinese thriller tells the story of an ex-cop and his former partner who decide to follow up on an investigation of a series of murders that ended their careers and shamed them, when mysteriously, identical murders begin once again. The film is the current frontrunner for the 51st Golden Horse Awards, with 8 nominations including those for Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Leading Actor and Best Leading Actress. Award winners will be announced in Taipei on November 22nd.

Following its P&I screening in London, Fortissimo sold THEEB, its award-winning Bedouin Western to Cinemien for Benelux, and Megacom for ex-Yugoslavia. Following its Orizzonti Award win for Best Director at this year’s Venice International Film Festival, Naji Abu Nowar’s directorial debut also went on to screen in Toronto. The international sales agent is currently negotiating deals with other territories. The film follows the story of one boy’s journey to adulthood after the death of his father. When ‘Theeb’ (Jacir Eid) finds his Bedouin tribal life is interrupted with the arrival of a British Army Officer (Jack Fox) on a mysterious mission, Theeb’s older brother Hussein agrees to escort him on a treacherous journey across the Arabian Desert. An ambush occurs and Theeb, although just a young boy, comes to quickly understand that if he is to survive he must live up to the attributes of the ‘wolf’ of which he was named and learn about life, loss, trust and betrayal.

Fortissimo has also closed further deals for Ira Sachs’s popular LOVE IS STRANGE with Edko Films for Hong Kong and with Filmware for Taiwan. The film, which is currently in release in North America through Sony Pictures Classics, where it has grossed in excess of US$2.2 million at the box-office, will be released in the UK early next year following its London Film Festival Premiere by Altitude Pictures. Directed by Ira Sachs (who is in attendance for a panel at the LFF), the film follows Ben (John Lithgow) and George (Alfred Molina) who, after nearly four decades together, marry in an idyllic wedding ceremony in lower Manhattan. But when George loses his job soon after, the couple must sell their apartment and temporarily live apart until they can find an affordable new home. While struggling with the pain of separation, Ben and George are further challenged by the intergenerational tensions and capricious family dynamics of their new living arrangements.

Press Release: One Direction Event Has Record-Breaking Weekend Around the World

RECORD-BREAKING WEEKEND IN CINEMAS ACROSS THE WORLD FOR ONE DIRECTION EVENT CINEMA

Global pop superstars One Direction’s screening of their Where We Are Tour was one of the biggest independent Event Cinema releases ever in the U.S.

Arts Alliance, leading producer of Event Cinema, worked with Sony Music, Fathom and Abramorama to bring One Direction – Where We Are – The Concert Film to the big screen and unite the world’s biggest band with the biggest ever Event Cinema audience across one weekend.

Over the weekend the film trended as the number one global topic on Twitter and early indications are that 1.2 million tickets will have been sold worldwide, making it the highest attended Event Cinema release of all time. This puts the film on course to smash previous Event Cinema records with an estimated $15m global weekend Box Office.

With an international per screen average of $4,500, results around the world have shown the true pulling power of One Direction. North America Box Office will have generated an estimated $3.4m, averaging $5,000 per screen, for the Columbus Day weekend becoming one of the most successful Event Cinema releases across the region. UK & Ireland Box Office is estimated to hit $1.9m doubling previous Event Cinema records in Ireland & beating all previous UK concert genre Event Cinema releases.

Records continued across other European territories. In Italy, the film is the number one Event Cinema release of all time, with $1.7m Box Office and 120,000 fans packing cinemas to a per-screen average of $6,000, topping the overall movie film charts that weekend. Portugal sold out cinemas in less than 3 hours with 33 screens generating over 16,000 ticket sales and a per-screen average over $6,200.

Elsewhere, combined Latin America sales are expected to hit 300,000 tickets, breaking previous Event Cinema records in the region. Across the Middle East and Asia, records have also fallen with Japan breaking all time concert Event Cinema grosses with $835,000 Box Office across 107 sites and a spectacular per screen average of $7,800.

Filmed live at Milan’s iconic San Siro stadium on the Italian leg of their record-breaking 2014 tour, the film invited One Direction fans to experience the concert first-hand, featuring all of their biggest hits plus a 22 minute never-before-seen backstage interview. The film will be coming to DVD from 28th November 2014.

Mark Foster, CEO of Arts Alliance said:

“I’m delighted that Arts Alliance were able to capture the energy and draw of One Direction and use our unparalleled partnerships across the globe to bring their spectacular concert to audiences across the world. Whether it be the biggest names in rock & pop, a Shakespeare classic, an opulent ballet or opera or an exclusive look into the latest art exhibition, these extraordinary events unite millions of people worldwide to share an experience together, this is what Event Cinema is all about and why I’m so passionate about it.”

Since forming on the UK X Factor in 2010, One Direction have gone on to become a global phenomenon, achieving unprecedented worldwide success and this exclusive celebration has allowed fans worldwide to join the band on stage during their biggest ever tour.

Heath Tyldesley, Project Lead at Arts Alliance said:

“It’s been a privilege working with the teams at Sony Music, Syco and Modest! to create a watershed moment for Event Cinema and reward an incredible fan-base with a simultaneous global experience showing the true power of the big screen to unite audiences around the world”

Caspar Nadaud, Director of Distribution at Arts Alliance, said:

“We are proud of the support and enthusiasm of our cinema partners worldwide to deliver such a far reaching footprint across 78 countries to realize an incredible $15m Event Cinema global Box Office”.

Upcoming screenings by Arts Alliance include live cinema screenings from the Royal Opera House, performances from Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the innovative Exhibition on Screen series, offering audiences their own private view of some of Europe’s most important art exhibitions.

Press Release: “I Am Yours” and Others Scheduled for Release on Home Video

FILM MOVEMENT ANNOUNCES TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL SELECTION I AM YOURS ON DVD NOVEMBER 11

French period drama FOR A WOMAN and dark Spanish love story CANNIBAL available to own following strong theatrical releases

October 16, 2014 (NY, NY) – Film Movement, the distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films, announces today that I AM YOURS, a debut feature from Iram Haq adn an Official Selection at the Toronto International Film Festival, will be available to own on DVD and all digital platforms on November 11, 2014.

The film marries two cultures as it follows young single mother Mina, juggling 6 year old Felix’s upbringing in Oslo and her troublesome relationship with her traditional Pakistani family who don’t approve of her life choices. Constantly looking for love in all the wrong places, Mina falls in and out of relationships with a string of men, none of them lasting very long. But when Mina meets jesper, a Swedish film director who dearly adores her, she falls head over heels in love, willing to go to any lengths to make it work this time around.

CNoted by Variety as “a talent to watch!”, filmmaker Iram Haq effortlessly chronicles both the day to day of Mina’s life and her inner monolog as well, bringing to the audience a unique insight into falling, and staying, in love.

Available to own on DVD November 11th at FilmMovement.com, Amazon.com and other retailers, I AM YOURS will also be available to own digitally. The DVD include a bonus short film, THE AMBER AMULET, the story of a ten-year-old super hero who sets out to save his neighbors.

Press Release: American Film Market Reveals Screening Guide

AMERICAN FILM MARKET REVEALS COMPLETE SCREENING GUIDE INCLUDING WORLD AND MARKET PREMIERES

Los Angeles – October 16, 2014 – The American Film Market (AFM) has announced their full list of screenings, including world and market premieres, for the upcoming edition, running November 5-12 in Santa Monica. Over 415 films will screen at the market, including 331 market premieres and 91 world premieres.

Saul Dibb’s wartime romance SUITE FRANCAISE (TF1 International), starring Michelle Williams and Matthias Schoenaerts, is amongst the most eagerly anticipated world premieres at the market, along with the Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek and Jessica Alba starrer HOW TO MAKE LOVE LIKE AN ENGLISHMAN (The Solution Entertainment Group), RIDE (6 Sales) starring and directed by Helen Hunt, THE LAST KNIGHTS (Arclight Films) starring Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman and ANY DAY (VMI Worldwide) starring Sean Bean, Kate Walsh, and Eva Longoria. Additional titles featuring such notables as Octavia Spencer, Marcia Gay Harden and Chevy Chase are also set to debut.

A number of acclaimed projects will be making their market debut at AFM, including: 99 HOMES (Hyde Park International), starring Michael Shannon and Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver’s HUNGRY HEARTS (Radiant Films International); Michael Winterbottom’s THE FACE OF AN ANGEL (WestEnd Films) starring Daniel Bruhl, Kate Beckinsale and Cara Delevingne; Hal Hartley’s NED RIFLE (Fortissimo Films) and the Gemma Arterton starrer GEMMA BOVARY (Gaumont), all making their way to Santa Monica following their recent successful festival play.

Additional market premieres include: MY OLD LADY (Protagonist Pictures) starring Maggie Smith, Kristin Scott Thomas and Kevin Kline; SET FIRE TO THE STARS (The Works) starring Elijah Wood; ALEX OF VENICE (Screen Media) from director/actor Chris Messina; KUNG FU JUNGLE (Emperor Motion Pictures) starring Donnie Yen, Baoqiang Wang, Charlie Young, and Michelle Bai; THE ROAD WITHIN (Annapurna) starring Robert Sheehan, Dev Patel, Zoe Kravitz, Robert Patrick and Kyra Sedgwick; BARELY LETHAL (Highland Film Group) starring Hailee Steinfeld, Jessica Alba and Samuel L. Jackson; MATCH (Premiere Entertainment Group) starring Patrick Stewart, Carla Gugino and Matthew Lillard; ROBOT OVERLORDS (Embankment Films) starring Ben Kingsley and Gillian Anderson; FAR FROM MEN (Pathe) starring Viggo Mortensen; WALTER (Beta Cinema) starring William H. Macy, Virginia Madsen, Peter Facinelli and Milo Ventimiglia; BEYOND THE LIGHTS (Relativity International) starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Minnie Driver and Danny Glover; RUTH & ALEX (Myriad Pictures) starring Morgan Freeman and Diane Keaton; COMET (Content) starring Emmy Rossum and Justin Long; THE SOUND AND THE FURY (New Films) from director/actor James Franco and JACKIE & RYAN (Highland Film Group) starring Katherine Heigl.

Press Release: Indiegogo Campaign Started to Fund Prequel to “Night of the Living Dead”

CAMERON ROMERO ANNOUNCES ORIGINS – THE PREQUEL STORY TO GEORGE ROMERO’S ICONIC NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD.

Campaign Opens With $150,000 Goal and Historical ‘Bloody Disgusting’ Partnership During Indiegogo’s Horror Month

LOS ANGELES, October 16, 2014 – The Romero families directorial legacy continues with son following in his father’s footsteps. G. Cameron Romero (“Staunton Hill”), son of George A. Romero (“Night of the Living Dead”) announced today that he has launched his campaign on Indiegogo, for ORIGINS, the genesis story of the first Romero zombie in his father’s iconic masterpiece NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, with a goal of $150,000 for pre-production costs.

Set in the turbulent late sixties, the film tells the story of a brilliant scientist – Dr. Alan Cartwright – who strikes a deal with the military that will give him all the resources he needs to finalize his work in exchange for what he later learns is a price all mankind will have to pay.

“I feel carrying on my dad’s legacy is something that I not only want to do, but it’s something I HAVE to do,” says Cameron Romero. “because I, like all my dad’s fans, was raised on his creation.” Producer Darrin Reed (“Lila and Eve”) said “The origin story deserves to be told by someone who passionately loves and has a unique insight into the original movie and nobody has that more than George’s own son.”
Fans can contribute to the ORIGINS campaign by visiting helptelltheorigin.com

Through rewards for contributing to the campaign, legions of fans will have the unique opportunity to participate in the making of the film by being part of a ‘brain trust’ that will be polled to help answer questions during the pre-production of the film. Other perks include items such as signed ‘legs’ and ‘arms’, the ability to visit the set, and perhaps most enticing of all – being in the film as a zombie and killed on camera.

Bloody Disgusting, the most well recognized name in horror news is featuring ORIGINS through its partnership with Indiegogo. This historical relationship marks the first time that a horror site has partnered with a crowdfunding platform.

The beginning of the ORIGIN campaign will be celebrated with a launch event in Los Angeles on Oct. 15th and will run for thirty days.

The campaign is already gaining support from companies such as Cold Steel, the Zombie Apocalypse Store, Dogfish Head Brewery and others that have yet to be announced.

Released in 1968 and directed by George A. Romero, the original feature is credited as being the first zombie film, which went on to spawn five Romero sequels over 40 years of cinematic history. Ripe with political commentary both on race and the Vietnam War, NIGHT OF THE LVIING DEAD has endured generation after generation and has inspired such acclaimed filmmakers as Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez. In 1999, the film was added to the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry and has been on multiple AFI Top 100 lists. It was distributed by the The Walter Reed Organization, and though the film’s copyright fell into public domain along with its zombies, the Romero name and legacy has endured.

And now with Origins, the legend will continue.