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: Brick Mansions
- Image Gallery: Oculus
- Image Gallery: Transcendence
- Press Release: MTV & Logo TV To Show Behind-the-Scenes of Lady Gaga’s Roseland Balloorm Concert
- Press Release: Fandor to Release Werner Herzog Films on SVOD
- Press Release: Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles Announces Jury
- Press Release: “Catfish: The TV Show” Returns for Third Season
- Press Release: Sydney Film Festival Announces Initial Slate for 61st Festival
- Press Release: New York International Children’s Film Festival Announces Winners
- Press Release: Strategy PR’s 2014 Spring/Summer Film Preview
Image Gallery: Brick Mansions
Image Gallery: Oculus
Image Gallery: Transcendence
Press Release: MTV & Logo TV To Show Behind-the-Scenes of Lady Gaga’s Roseland Balloorm Concert
MTV AND LOGO TV JOIN FORCES AND HAND OVER THE REINS TO LADY GAGA FOR DAY LONG, BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT HER SOLD-OUT ROSELAND BALLROOM RESIDENCY ON FRIDAY, APRIL 4
Lady Gaga Joined by MTV News’ Sway Calloway to Give Fans an Inside Look at One of the Final Shows Ever to Take Place in the Iconic NYC Venue and Hear Info on the Upcoming “artRAVE: The ARTPOP Ball” Worldwide Tour
New York, NY (April 3, 2013) – MTV and Logo TV today announced plans to join forces and collectively turn over its networks to global superstar Lady Gaga for a day long multiscreen celebration on Friday, April 4. Viewers will get an exclusive and behind the scenes look at Gaga’s residency of famed New York City venue Roseland Ballroom, which is closing its doors for good after her final show on April 7th, 2014. To view a sneak peek of, click here.
Throughout the entire day, Lady Gaga will regularly break into programming on MTV, MTV Hits and Logo TV. Currently in the midst her seven night sold-out residency to mark the closure, Gaga will be joined by MTV News’ Sway Calloway to give fans unprecedented access including behind the scenes footage of show rehearsals, an exclusive tour of her apartment, and a look at some of her collection art sent in from Little Monsters. Additionally, fans will be able to check out the exclusive content via her MTV Artist page (LadyGaga.MTV.com), as well MTV and Logo’s various social channels.
Viewers will also hear news about Lady Gaga’s upcoming worldwide tour “artRAVE: The ARTPOP Ball” which kicks off in Florida on May 4th, 2014 and just had an additional 6 dates added to accommodate sales. In addition to the tour, gaga will discuss her current single, G.U.Y., the third released from her latest album ARTPOP. The video for G.U.Y. already has over 26 million views and and includes cameos from the cast of Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” & Andy Cohen from “Watch What Happens Live” in addition to YouTube sensation SkyDoesMinecraft.
The exclusive coverage of the Roseland Ballroom Residency is the latest in a long line of collaborations between MTV, Logo TV and Lady Gaga. Back in 2008, Gaga made her debut television performance on Logo TV’s NewNowNext Awards where she gave the world the first glimpse of her now famous stage antics with a performance of “Just Dance.” Since then, she has gone on to serve as the mastermind behind some of the most memorable “MTV Video Music Award” performances in recent memory, including a wig-tastic performance of “Applause,” powerful and bloody rendition of “Paparazzi” to the gender bending, adrenaline fueled version of “You and I.”
LADY GAGA came to prominence following the release of her debut studio album The Fame (2008), which sold over 15 million copies worldwide. Her contributions to the music industry have garnered her numerous achievements including five Grammy Awards amongst fifteen nominations, thirteen MTV Video Music Awards amongst twenty-six nominations, and the estimated sale of 27 million albums and 130 million singles worldwide. She has travelled the world on numerous tours including 2008’s The Fame Ball, 2009-2011’s The Monster Ball and 2012-2013’s Born This Way Ball. An HBO television special titled Lady Gaga Presents the Monster Ball Tour: At Madison Square Garden earned an Emmy Award amongst its five nominations. Her third studio album, Born This Way, broke the iTunes record for the fastest rise to the # 1 on release day. In 2013, Time Magazine named her the second most influential person of the decade. With over 2.7 billion combined views of all her videos online, Lady Gaga is one of the biggest living forces in social media with over 63 million likes on Facebook and over 41 million followers on Twitter. She is also a global activist and philanthropist, having been an outspoken supporter of many important issues including LGBT rights, HIV/AIDS awareness, body image issues, and youth empowerment. In 2011, she launched her own Born This Way Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to empowering youth and creating a kinder and braver world. In 2011 she also built & launched a social network just for her fans, LittleMonsters.com. Lady Gaga is the only artist in the digital era to top the 5 million sales mark with her first two hits. Lady Gaga’s fourth studio album, ARTPOP, was released on November 11, 2013 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 258,000 copies sold in its first week, earning Lady Gaga her second consecutive number-one album; to this date it has sold 2.3 million copies worldwide. For Lady Gaga, ARTPOP is a self-described reverse Warholian expedition. Currently, Lady Gaga is playing a record-setting number of sold-out shows at New York City’s Roseland Ballroom before it closes its doors forever. Starting in May, Lady Gaga will once again travel the world embarking on her fourth world tour entitled: artRave: The ARTPOP Ball.
About MTV:
MTV is the world’s premier youth entertainment brand. With a global reach of more than a half-billion households, MTV is the cultural home of the millennial generation, music fans and artists, and a pioneer in creating innovative programming for young people. MTV reflects and creates pop culture with its Emmy®, Grammy® and Peabody® award-winning content built around compelling storytelling, music discovery and activism across TV, online and mobile. MTV’s sibling networks MTV2 and mtvU each deliver unparalleled customized content for young males, music fans and college students, and its online hub MTV.com is a leading destination for music, news and pop culture. MTV is a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. For more information, go to www.mtvpress.com.
About Logo TV:
Logo TV is a leading entertainment brand inspired by the LGBT community and reflects the creative class across television, digital and social platforms. Logo features one-of-a-kind personalities, shows, specials, and unique stories. Logo is part of MTV’s network of brands including MTV, MTV2, MTV.com, mtvU, MTV Hits and MTV Jams.
Press Release: Fandor to Release Werner Herzog Films on SVOD
WERNER HERZOG FILMS SET FOR EXCLUSIVE SVOD DEBUT ON FANDOR
Collection of 16 Films To Launch Starting April 10th, 2014
SAN FRANCISCO (April 3, 2014) – Fandor announced today that the company has secured exclusive SVOD distribution rights to a collection of Werner Herzog films from Shout! Factory. The films are set to bow on the curated service beginning April 10th with a new film launching each week through July 2014.
Herzog is considered one of the greatest figures of New German Cinema and his films have screened for audiences worldwide. The sixteen films included in this deal span three decades, incorporating both fiction and documentary and ranging from widely recognized titles (Fitzcarraldo, My Best Fiend) to the earliest works (Even Dwarfs Started Small) from the master director, giving both new and existing fans the opportunity to diversify and enhance their awareness of Herzog’s extraordinary films.
“Fandor is actively acquiring great filmmakers’ libraries, from shorts to docs to features, providing significant curation and deep context for their audiences while mobilizing all into an active community,” said Ted Hope, CEO of Fandor. “The addition of Werner Herzog’s films furthers our mission to preserve and advance film culture by making important and oftentimes rare films accessible to wider audiences.”
Herzog’s films will be available alongside collections by noted filmmakers such as Hal Hartley, Albert Maysles, Luis Bunuel, Agnès Varda, and Andrei Tarkovsky, among others.
“Werner Herzog is one of the most lauded and influential filmmakers of the last forty-five years,” said Fandor Chief Content Officer Jonathan Marlow. “His remarkable work have given us an insight into many of the most fascinating individuals and incredible stories in the world.”
The films making their debut on Fandor are:
Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972)
Starring: Klaus Kinski, Helena Rojo, Del Negro, Peter Berling
Spanish conquistadores disappear into the jungle without a trace while searching for the legendary El Dorado.
Ballad of the Little Soldier (1984)
Directed by Werner Herzog and Denis Reichle
A documentary film about child soldiers tragically caught up in the Miskito Indian resistance of Nicaragua.
Cobra Verde (1987)
Starring: Klaus Kinski, King Ampaw, José Lewgoy, Salvatore Basile, Peter Berling
Based on the best-selling novel “The Viceroy of Ouidah” by Bruce Chatwin, Cobra Verde tells the fascinating story of Francisco Manoel da Silva.
Even Dwarfs Started Small (1970)
Starring: Helmut Döring, Gerd Gickel, Erna Gschwendtner
Werner Herzog’s bleak vision of rebellion and the resulting mayhem in an institution.
Fata Morgana (1970)
Fata Morgana (“Mirage”) is a science-fiction elegy of dead or demented colonialism in the Sahara.
Fitzcarraldo (1982)
Starring: Klaus Kinski, Claudia Cardinale, José Lewgoy, Peter Berling
An opera aficionado’s determination to build an opera house in Peru leads to an ambitious effort to pull a boat over a mountain.
The Enigma of Kasper Hauser (1974)
Starring: Bruno S., Walter Ladengast, Brigitte Mira
A mysterious foundling emerges from a dark cellar where he has spent his youth and, as if he had arrived from another planet, he has no concept of this world. Based on a true story.
Heart of Glass (1976)
Starring: Josef Bierbichler, Stefan Güttler, Clemens Scheitz, Volker Prechtel
A figure has apocalyptic visions and foresees destruction and collective madness.
Land of Silence and Darkness (1971)
Featuring: Fini Straubinger
The heroine of this documentary is a blind and deaf woman whose job is to help others similarly afflicted.
Lessons of Darkness (1992)
An apocalyptic vision of the oil well fires in Kuwait after the Gulf War as a whole world burst into flames.
Little Dieter Needs to Fly (1997)
A documentary about the extraordinary capture and escape of the German/U.S. pilot Dieter Dengler in Laos.
My Best Fiend (1999)
A film about the love/hate relationship between Werner Herzog and actor Klaus Kinski.
Nosferatu, the Vampyre (1978)
Starring: Klaus Kinski, Isabelle Adjani
An homage to F.W. Murnau’s silent classic, this richly-drawn version of the Dracula tale is one of Herzog’s most beautiful and haunting films.
Stroszek (1976)
Starring: Bruno S., Eva Mattes, Burkhard Driest, Prinz von Homburg
The story of a man for whom there is no place in society and his attempts to find freedom and fortune in America.
Where the Green Ants Dream (1984)
Starring: Bruce Spence, Wandjuk Marika, Roy Marika, Ray Barrett, Norman Keye
In a desolate stretch of earth somewhere in the heart of Australia, a group of tribal Aborigines struggle to defend a sacred site against the bulldozers of a mining company.
Woyzeck (1979)
Starring: Klaus Kinski, Eva Mattes
The powerful story of the poor soldier, Woyzeck, who is driven to madness and murder by the social conditions in which he lives. Based on the stage play by Georg Büchner.
Aguirre, The Wrath Of God, will be the first to be offered on April 10, 2014 and the films will continue to roll-out on the service once a week into July 2014.
The deal for Werner Herzog’s films was negotiated by Fandor’s Ted Hope and Jonathan Marlow with Meyer Schwarzstein of Brainstorm Media on behalf of Shout! Factory.
* * * *
About Fandor
Fandor is where the film community comes together, where filmmakers and enthusiasts are advancing film culture, and where audiences are connecting with films across genres and decades. Fandor offers a broad library of independent and international cinema specially curated to make discovering new and classic favorites easy and accessible. Fandor’s member-based service allows audiences to watch unlimited movies wherever they are: on TVs, computers and mobile devices. Fandor showcases and supports the world’s best filmmakers and returns half its revenue to them. For more information, visit www.Fandor.com.
Press Release: Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles Announces Jury
THE 12th ANNUAL INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF LOS ANGELES ANNOUNCES 2014 DISTINGUISHED JURY
HBO SPONSORING CASH GRANT FOR GRAND JURY PRIZE-WINNING SHORT
Festival also announces a free program addition of “Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown” devoted to the foods of the Punjab region, as well as the live music program Rhythm Village with a line-up that features KCRW DJ Garth Trinidad.
LOS ANGELES, CA (April 3, 2014) – The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) announced today its 2014 jury, as well as the program addition of a free screening of “Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown.” The popular outdoor musical program Rhythm Village, presented by Rukus Avenue, will once again take place this year at ArcLight Hollywood’s Courtyard with an exciting line-up of accomplished artists and KCRW DJ Garth Trinidad highlighting the centerpiece celebration on Thursday, April 10.
Juries will award prizes to films competing in the Narrative, Documentary, and Short Film categories, with HBO providing a Grand Jury cash grant for the short film winner. In addition, audiences will have a chance to cast their ballots for the same categories. The Audience Choice Award for Best Short is presented by NBCUniversal. Award winners will be announced during the festival’s Closing Night, just prior to the Los Angeles premiere of the culinary comedy JADOO.
“The jury for this year’s IFFLA is comprised of some of the most influential and successful tastemakers in the industry,” said IFFLA Artistic Director Jasmine Jaisinghani. “We are honored to have them involved with the festival this year, and appreciate their attention in judging each of the films we have very thoughtfully curated.”
The 2014 narrative film jurors are: Variety film journalist and educator David Chute, Head of Digital Development for Crackle and Sony Pictures Television John Orlando, and writer and prolific television actress Meera Simhan (Date Movie). The Best Documentary Award will be decided by award-winning writer, producer, and director Brian Knappenberger (The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz, Scratch), film festival programmer Dilcia Barrera (Sundance, AFI FEST, LACMA), and producer Chris Salvaterra (Syriana, Good Night and Good Luck). Judging the short films are Senior Vice President of Post-Production at HBO Entertainment Gena Desclos, award-winning director and writer Kamal K.M. (I.D.),and Sundance and Palm Springs International ShortFest programmer Heidi Zwicker.
“We’re thrilled to welcome CNN and ‘Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown’ to the IFFLA family,” continued Jaisinghani. “Screening the premiere episode the same day as our closing film, JADOO, gives us a unique opportunity to celebrate Indian cuisine.”
The Emmy® award-winning Original Series “Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown” begins its third season on CNN, Sunday, April 13 at 9:00PM ET, with a look at the people, food, culture, and history of India’s Punjab region. This episode will screen at IFFLA on Sunday, April 13 at 2:30PM, free of admission, offering festival patrons an opportunity to see it before the rest of the country. In this episode, Bourdain dives into the ever-changing state of Punjab on a trip to Amritsar. He samples cuisine at the dhabas (roadside restaurants), a gurpurb festival (Sikh celebration), and a free community vegetarian restaurant, and also meets with local residents who give their perspectives on life in this sometimes contentious region of India that borders Pakistan. Tickets are free and can be reserved online at www.indianfilmfestival.org.
Now in its 7 year, Rukus Avenue presents Rhythm Village (April 10-12), IFFLA’s live music program that transforms ArcLight’s Courtyard into a vibrant space, entertaining movie-goers with a selection of live performances aimed at enhancing the IFFLA experience and celebrating the richness of Indian music, film and culture.
On April 10, soulful singer/songwriter Raghav and influential KCRW DJ Garth Trinidad will perform at TRU Hollywood. Tickets are $25.00 and available at www.tunestub.com/iffla. IFFLA Fest and All-Access pass holders receive complimentary admission.
Tickets and Passes
The 12th Annual Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) runs April 8-13 at ArcLight Hollywood, located at 6360 W. Sunset Blvd between Vine and Ivar. Festival Passes, Gala tickets, and individual screening tickets are currently on sale at www.indianfilmfestival.org.
Pre-fest on-site box office opens on Friday, April 4 at 6:00PM.
General admission: $14
Opening Night Gala: $75
Closing Night Gala & Awards Ceremony: $75
All-Access Pass: $200 (access to all screenings, Galas, and Awards Ceremony)
Fest pass: $100 (access to all screenings except Galas)
About IFFLA
Now in its 12th year, the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) is a nonprofit organization devoted to a greater appreciation of Indian cinema and culture by showcasing films, honoring entertainment industry business executives, and promoting the diverse perspectives of the Indian diaspora.
2014 Jury by Category:
2014 NARRATIVE JURY
DAVID CHUTE began writing about movies for publications in the late 1970s. He has worked as a publicity writer and unit publicist, and has contributed freelance pieces to the Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, Premiere, LA Weekly, The Village Voice, and Asian Cult Cinema. His many contributions to Film Comment include two midsection supplements he guest-edited, “Made in Hong Kong” (May-June 1988) and “Bollywood Rising” (May-June, 2002). He reviews Bollywood movies regularly for Variety.
JOHN ORLANDO is Head of Digital Development for Crackle and Sony Pictures Television. He develops and oversees production on the franchises Cleaners, Chosen, and Playing It Forward, as well as the first Sony Pictures feature developed for digital distribution, Extraction. John began his career in entertainment as editor of a magazine for Disney Channel. He subsequently co-founded Threshold Digital, a media/technology company. Since then, John has worked as an executive at William Morris Agency, John Wells Productions, United Artists, and Circle of Confusion.
MEERA SIMHAN isan actress and writer currently in post-production on Miss India America, a feature she co-wrote with Ravi Kapoor. The film was partly inspired by her solo theatre show of the same title, which she wrote and performed. The show played in cities throughout the U.S., including Los Angeles, Chicago, Memphis, and New York. Simhan received her training as an actress at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and then went on to work in theatre and television in the UK for five years. Since returning to the U.S. she has had numerous recurring and guest starring roles in television, including Anger Management, New Girl, Touch, The Mentalist, Parenthood, House, Heroes, and Numbers. Her film credits include Hello I Must Be Going, which opened the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, Raspberry Magic, The 5, Homecoming, and most recently Baby Steps, which is currently in production.
2014 DOCUMENTARY JURY
DILCIA BARRERA is a Short Film Programmer for the Sundance Film Festival and works with Elvis Mitchell’s curated film series for Film Independent at LACMA. Since 2007, she has worked for numerous film festivals, previously serving as Senior Programmer at AFI FEST, Programmer for The Philadelphia Film Festival, and a screener for the Sundance Institute’s Documentary Film Program. A Los Angeles native, Dilcia has a Spanish/Portuguese Literature degree from UCLA.
BRIAN KNAPPENBERGER isan award-winning writer, producer, and director best known for the Sundance selection The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz. Other credits include Bloomberg Game Changers, Life After War, and Murder in Kyiv. His list of camera credits includes the Leonardo DiCaprio-starring environmental documentary 11th Hour and Sundance award-winning documentary Scratch.Brian makes movies for the Sundance Channel, PBS, the History Channel, National Geographic, and the Discovery Channel.
CHRIS SALVATERRA started his career in entertainment at Universal Pictures, where he oversaw the production of American Pie. Chris then joined Casey Silver Productions, where he shepherded Ladder 49 and Hidalgo. At Participant Media, he oversaw the production of films such as Syriana, Good Night and Good Luck, and Fast Food Nation. In 2010, Chris formed Katonah Pictures with partner Dan Abrams. Katonah produced Gone and 96 Minutes, and currently has numerous projects in development.
2014 SHORT FILM JURY
GENA DESCLOS is Senior Vice President, Post Production, at HBO Entertainment, overseeing post-production on all HBO original series, films, and mini-series. During her tenure, she has directly supervised such shows as Curb Your Enthusiasm, Deadwood, Sex and the City, Six Feet Under, The Sopranos, Entourage, and True Blood. Prior to HBO, Gena held various production, post-production, and producer titles for broadcast and cable networks, as well as film studios. She began her career at Lucas Film TV Ltd.
KAMAL K.M. isadirecting graduate of the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India. Kamal has worked extensively with renowned cinematographer and director Santosh Sivan as an associate director and writer on Before the Rains and Tahaan. I.D., his directorial debut feature film, has screened at various film festivals, including Busan, Abu Dhabi, Marrakech, Rotterdam, Edinburgh, and Los Angeles Film Festival, garnering numerous awards. Kamal is currently preparing his next feature film with India’s brilliant rising young star Fahadh Faazil, produced by Sree Gokulam and Resul Pookutty.
HEIDI ZWICKER has been contributing to various Sundance Institute programs for the past nine years, beginning with the Feature Film Program, International. In 2010, she was hired as the programming department’s World Cinema Coordinator and began serving as an Associate Programmer for the festival in 2012. Additionally, Heidi has been a Programmer at Palm Springs International Shortfest since 2011. She also manages the Sundance Collection at UCLA.
Press Release: “Catfish: The TV Show” Returns for Third Season
MTV’S “CATFISH: THE TV SHOW” RETURNS FOR A DRAMATIC THIRD SEASON FILLED WITH SHOCKING AND UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 7 AT 10:00 P.M. ET/PT
Tweet It: It’s back! The third season of @catfishmtv returns to @MTV on May 7 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT with @nevschulman and @maxjoseph!
NEW YORK, NY (April 2, 2014)—MTV announced today “Catfish: The TV Show,” the critically acclaimed docu-series that catapulted “catfishing” into every day conversation, will return for a 10-episode third season on Wednesday, May 7 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. Hosts Nev Schulman and Max Joseph will take viewers on a wild emotional rollercoaster ride beyond the usual tales of “love,” featuring the most memorable stories in the show’s history.
“Making ‘Catfish: The TV Show’ the last two years has exposed me to all kinds of strange and unusual scenarios, but nothing could have prepared me for the twists and turns of season three,” said Nev Schulman. “This season we have family members catfishing each other, celebrities hunting down their super-fan stalkers, Instagram romance, people posing as famous music producers and scams resulting in the loss of tens of thousands of dollars. The lies, love, betrayals and surprises will not only make you think twice about online love, but will completely change the way you think about society.”
In addition to the new types of stories, Nev and Max will also employ new techniques expanding their investigating repertoire. From new digital based research to more in-person meetings and even bringing the hopeful along for the investigation, season three will expand the scope in which they seek to uncover the truth of these possible digital deceptions.
“This season is much more mobile than the previous seasons; we actually feel like detectives exploring the cold, dark corners of America both online and in real life,” said Max Joseph. “A lot of these catfish only have cell phones which changes the mode of investigation. Reverse telephone lookups and tracing the geo-tags of photos has become more vital to our process and image search is no longer our weapon of choice. We’ve also resorted to some good-old fashioned techniques like knocking on doors, jumping on planes to visit ‘witnesses’ and asking questions in person.”
The week prior to the season premiere, on April 30 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT, MTV will air the first of two “Catfish: Untold Stories.” The hour-long specials will give viewers a dynamic way to relive weird but true catfishing tales. Featuring Nev and Max as hosts, the specials will include interviews with the real-life participants sharing their wild, crazy, and bizarre experiences.
Viewers can go to MTV.com for sneak peeks of the show including bonus and extended scenes, plus exclusive interviews. For even more information and exclusive content, fans can visit “Catfish: The TV Show” Facebook page at facebook.com/MTVcatfish.
For photos and more information, check out mtvpress.com
“Catfish: The TV Show” will air across MTV’s international channels soon after the show’s U.S. premiere beginning in May 2014 (check local listings).
“Catfish: The TV Show” is produced by Relativity Television and Catfish Picture Company LLC for MTV with Relativity Television’s Tom Forman, Brad Bishop, Julie Link Steffens serving as executive producers alongside David Metzler, Ariel Schulman, Henry Joost, Nev Schulman, Max Joseph, Andrew Jarecki and Mark Smerling. Marshall Eisen, Nomi Ernst Leidner, and Dave Sirulnick are Executive Producers for MTV. Relativity Television’s Jonathan Karsh is Co-Executive producer. Kelly Ostreicher is Supervising Producer, MTV. Jonathan Mussman is Executive in Charge, MTV.
About MTV
MTV is the world’s premier youth entertainment brand. With a global reach of more than a half-billion households, MTV is the cultural home of the millennial generation, music fans and artists, and a pioneer in creating innovative programming for young people. MTV reflects and creates pop culture with its Emmy®, Grammy® and Peabody® award-winning content built around compelling storytelling, music discovery and activism across TV, online and mobile. MTV’s sibling networks MTV2 and mtvU each deliver unparalleled customized content for young males, music fans and college students, and its online hub MTV.com is a leading destination for music, news and pop culture. MTV is a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. For more information, go to www.mtvpress.com.
About Relativity Television
Relativity Television, led by CEO Tom Forman, is one of the largest suppliers of television programming in the United States. Since its inception in 2008, Relativity Television has produced more than 750 hours of programming for more than 40 networks, including NBC, MTV, Showtime, A&E, Discovery Channel, Food Network and Disney Channel. In 2013, Relativity Television produced 36 series including “Catfish: The TV Show” (MTV), “The Great Food Truck Race” (Food) and “The American Bible Challenge” (Game Show Network).
Upcoming unscripted series include “Sex Box” (WE), “Guy’s Grocery Games” (Food), “SHOP” (FOX Sports 1) and “Kim of Queens” (Lifetime). Scripted projects include “Creep Show” (SyFy), “Godfall,” “Snakehead” and “Young & Hungry” (ABC Family), as well as series based on Relativity films Limitless, Haywire and Act of Valor.
Press Release: Sydney Film Festival Announces Initial Slate for 61st Festival
SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FIRST FILMS FOR 2014
The 61st Sydney Film Festival today announced 32 films to be featured in this year’s event in advance of the full program launch on Wednesday 7 May.
“We are pleased to present this sneak preview of 32 of the 180-plus films in this year’s program,” said Festival Director Nashen Moodley. “We have gathered a selection of the best films from the best film festivals and filmmakers around the world and across Australia. Together this will give you a multi-faceted look at the state of our world right now – our interests, our fears, our hopes and dreams.”
The Sydney Film Festival expands its geographical footprint west to Blacktown this year with a special 40th anniversary restoration of the cult classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre on Friday the 13th of June at the Skyline Drive-In.
In addition, SFF will return to the State Theatre, Event Cinemas George Street, Dendy Opera Quays, Art Gallery of NSW, the popular Festival Hub at Town Hall and, for the second year, to the much-loved Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace in Cremorne.
This first announcement comprises 32 titles including one World Premiere, 19 Australian premieres, 13 features, 11 documentaries and a special eight-film retrospective on maverick American filmmaker Robert Altman, with his son and filmmaker Michael Altman attending the Festival as one of our many special guests. Michael Altman is a highlight of our extensive talks program (announced in full in May), and will introduce several of our Altman screenings.
Today’s announcement includes insights into the minds of three of the most powerful political and philosophical figures of our age, with the enlightening documentaries Is The Man Who Is Tall Happy?, in which director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) interviews Noam Chomsky; The Unknown Known, in which director Errol Morris (The Fog of War) interviews Donald Rumsfeld; and Nelson Mandela: The Myth and Me, about Mandela’s contested legacy.
This sneak peek also invites you on some out-there adventures: on a pop comedy road trip with Frank starring Michael Fassbender as a masked musical genius, also starring Maggie Gyllenhall and Domhnall Gleeson; to the Ukraine with topless feminist sensation FEMEN in Ukraine Is Not Brothel; and on a reunion concert tour of Sheffield with Jarvis Cocker and his Brit-rock band Pulp in the music doco of the same name.
From cutting-edge physics at its sexiest in Particle Fever to the utterly delightful story of three Swedish teenage girls who want to form a punk band in We Are The Best!, this selection is just a sample of what you can expect from the 180-plus films from roughly 50 countries that will appear in the 2014 Sydney Film Festival.
The program also includes some of this year’s biggest independent film hits, including Indian love story The Lunchbox starring Irrfan Khan, and the Chinese noir thriller Black Coal, Thin Ice, which won the Golden Bear for best film at the 2014 Berlinale.
In addition, SFF 2014 will feature a specially curated photographic exhibition called Rosebud by Los Angeles-based Australian photographer Hugh Hamilton. Presented in association with Head On Photo Festival with support from Arthead, Rosebud presents a series of striking and intimate portraits of film stars and filmmakers taken with their ‘rosebud’ – a personal object of particular significance to their life and work, a concept inspired by the classic film Citizen Kane.
The full Sydney Film Festival program is announced on Wednesday 7 May at 10am.
Note: Flexipasses and subscriptions to Sydney Film Festival 2014 are on sale now. Please call 1300 733 733 or visit sff.org.au/preview for more information.
Full synopsis of all 32 films below (in alphabetical order)
ABOUT SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL
Sydney Film Festival screens feature films, documentaries, short films and animated films across the city at the State Theatre, Event Cinemas George Street, Dendy Opera Quays, the Art Gallery of NSW, Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Cremorne, the Apple Store, SFFTV at Martin Place, Skyline Drive-In, and the Festival Hub at Town Hall.
The Festival is a major event on the New South Wales cultural calendar and is one of the world’s longest-running film festivals. For more information visit www.sff.org.au
Sydney Film Festival also presents 12 films that vie for the Official Competition, a highly respected international honour that awards a $60,000 cash prize based on the decision of a jury of international and Australian filmmakers and industry professionals. Previous Sydney Film Prize winners include: Only God Forgives (2013), Alps (2012), A Separation (2011) – which went on to win an Academy Award, Heartbeats (2010), Bronson (2009) and Hunger (2008).
The 61st Sydney Film Festival is supported by the NSW Government through Screen NSW, the Federal Government through Screen Australia, and the City of Sydney. The Festival’s Strategic partner is the NSW Government through Destination NSW.
FEATURES
BLACK COAL, THIN ICE
Director: Yinan Diao | Hong Kong, China | 106 mins | In Mandarin with English subtitles
Winner of the Golden Bear at this year’s Berlinale, this stylish and exhilarating film noir is set in industrial northern China. The story follows a police investigation that ends in tatters when officers are killed and wounded while arresting suspects. Forced to retire, injured officer Zhang takes up the trace years later when similar murders come to light and a beautiful and mysterious woman enters the picture.
COLD IN JULY
Director: Jim Mickle | USA | 109 mins | In English
Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Sam Shepard and Don Johnson (Miami Vice) are an unlikely Texan trio in this nasty and funny pulp thriller. After killing a home intruder, Richard (Hall) becomes a reluctant hero. When the dead man’s father (Shepard) stalks his family, things take an unexpected turn. Enter wisecracking PI Jim Bob (Johnson), and the three go on to uncover a grisly secret.
FRANK
Director: Lenny Abrahamson | Ireland, UK | 93 mins | In English
Michael Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson and Maggie Gyllenhaal star in a hip, hilarious and sometimes dark comedy from Irish director Lenny Abrahamson (What Richard Did, SFF 2013; Garage). Fassbender always wears a bizarre giant fake head as the enigmatic lead singer of an ambitious indie-pop group. He and his bandmates go from an excruciatingly long recording session to facing the pitfalls of fame at SXSW.
GABRIELLE
Director: Louise Archambault | Canada | 104 mins | In French with English subtitles
In this uplifting tale from the producers of SFF 2012 Audience Award winner Monsieur Lazhar, a musically gifted young woman with intellectual disability falls in love, only to discover her family has concerns. Can she handle an adult sexual relationship? Radiant newcomer Gabrielle Marion-Rivard (in a semi-autobiographical role) won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Actress.
GOD HELP THE GIRL
Director: Stuart Murdoch | UK | 111 mins | In English
Directed by and featuring music from Belle and Sebastian’s Stuart Murdoch, this is a warm coming-of-age story turned indie-pop musical. Troubled yet fantastical dreamer Eve (played by Emily Browning), sensitive musician James (Olly Alexander) and posh Cass (Hannah Murray) sing and dance their way through the streets of Glasgow during what is bound to be the most idyllic summer of their lives.
JOE
Director: David Gordon Green | USA | 117 mins | In English
Nicolas Cage delivers a remarkable performance as a hard-drinking tough guy with a violent past in this Southern Gothic drama from David Gordon Green (Prince Avalanche, SFF 2013; Pineapple Express). When he meets 15-year-old Gary (Tye Sheridan), who suffers under an abusive alcoholic father, Joe takes the enterprising young man under his wing, and together they navigate a difficult world in search for redemption.
KILLERS
Directors: The Mo Brothers | Japan, Indonesia | 137 mins | In Japanese and Indonesian with English subtitles
From cult-hero co-directors the Mo Brothers (Macabre): A Tokyo serial killer uploads footage of his grisly deeds to a secret website. When a Jakarta journalist stumbles across the videos, he decides to follow suit and administer his own form of filmed justice. When the seasoned psycho and the copycat meet, the stage is set for intense psychological drama.
LOVE IS STRANGE
Director: Ira Sachs | USA | 98 mins | In English
John Lithgow and Alfred Molina are magnificent in this topical and tender romance. After 39 years together, Ben and George are wed in New York under new marriage laws. Soon after, George is fired from his teaching job at a Catholic school; and the pair are forced to give up their comfortable lives. The great supporting cast includes Marisa Tomei.
THE LUNCHBOX
Director: Ritesh Batra | India, France, Germany | 104 mins | In Hindi with English subtitles
Irrfan Khan (Life of Pi, Slumdog Millionaire) stars in this Indian indie hit – a delicious celebration of romance and food. In Mumbai’s remarkable dabba (lunchbox) delivery system, only one in four million home-cooked meals is ever lost. That one wayward lunch connects a housewife with an office worker in the dusk of his life, leading them into a rich fantasy.
OMAR
Director: Hany Abu-Assad | Palestine | 98 mins | In Arabic and Hebrew with English subtitles
The latest Oscar-nominated drama from Palestinian director Hany Abu-Assad (Paradise Now, SFF 2005) is a high-impact thriller tinged with political consciousness and imbued with romance and tragedy. A young Palestinian resistance fighter is arrested and blackmailed by Israeli secret police, but attempts to double-cross them in a desperate bid for love and freedom.
RUIN
Directors: Michael Cody, Amiel Courtin-Wilson | Australia | 90 mins | In Khmer and English with English subtitles
In the stunning follow-up to Hail (SFF 2011), Australian filmmakers Michael Cody and Amiel Courtin-Wilson deliver a visually breathtaking, impressionistic tale of love and brutality. Phirun and Sovanna are magnetically drawn together when forced to flee the city and take to the jungle. Along with growing love, they face burgeoning chaos.
THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE
Director: Tobe Hooper | USA | 83 mins | In English
Forty years after it was released to high acclaim and hysterical outrage, now superbly restored, Tobe Hooper’s classic is a superior slasher film – and much more. With very little explicit violence, this tale of five young friends who encounter a family of cannibal psychopaths remains one of the most notorious, influential and terrifying motion pictures ever made.
TOM AT THE FARM
Director: Xavier Dolan | Canada, France | 102 mins | In French with English subtitles
Xavier Dolan, the young Canadian who won the 2010 Sydney Film Prize at the age of 21 for Heartbeats, directed and stars in this tense and complex Hitchcockian psychological thriller. A young man attends the funeral of his gay lover in rural Quebec, only to find himself trapped in a dangerous dance of lust and sadistic impulses with the deceased’s brother.
WE ARE THE BEST!
Director: Lukas Moodysson | Sweden, Denmark | 102 mins | In Swedish with English subtitles
Lukas Moodysson (Together; Lilya 4-Ever; Show Me Love, SFF 2009) returns with a boisterous, feel-good film about three 13-year old girls in early ’80s Stockholm who are determined to start up a punk band despite their considerable absence of musical ability. Sweet, humane and wonderfully energetic, We Are the Best! will inspire young and old alike.
DOCUMENTARIES
E-TEAM
Directors: Katy Chevigny, Ross Kauffman | USA | 89 mins | In English, French, German, Russian and Arabic with English Subtitles
In the midst of humanitarian crises, Human Rights Watch sends in specially trained investigators armed only with laptops and mobiles – the E-Team. They painstakingly interview witnesses to atrocities, often under perilous circumstances, determined to capture their stories before they are suppressed. This documentary skilfully captures their commitment and profound humanity.
IS THE MAN WHO IS TALL HAPPY?
Director: Michel Gondry | France | 88 mins | In English
In this filmed conversation, French cinematic visionary Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) meets ‘the most important thinker alive’ – philosopher, linguist and activist Noam Chomsky. Featuring brightly coloured, hand-drawn animation to illustrate Chomsky’s personal life and ideas, and crafted with verve, it’s both a visual and cerebral pleasure.
NELSON MANDELA: THE MYTH AND ME
Director: Khalo Matabane | Germany, South Africa | 84 mins | In English, Dutch and Afrikaans with English subtitles
Nelson Mandela remains an international icon of peace. In his personal letter to Mandela – augmented by interviews with the Dalai Lama, Ariel Dorfman, Tariq Ali, Henry Kissinger and others – director Matabane confronts his childhood hero with the difficult question of whether Mandela went too far in his policy of forgiveness and reconciliation.
PARTICLE FEVER
Director: Mark Levinson | USA | 97 mins | In English
The biggest machine ever built, the Large Hadron Collider was designed to recreate the moments after the Big Bang, thus explaining the origin of matter (the ‘God Particle’). In this immensely enjoyable documentary, former physicist Mark Levinson takes us inside the moment of truth: when the switch is thrown for the first time. Particle physicists have rarely been so compelling – or funny.
PULP
Director: Florian Habicht | UK | 90 mins | In English
It’s the day of Pulp’s last UK concert in their hometown of Sheffield, and all across the city fans are ready for a big night. New Zealander Florian Habicht’s loving portrait of this iconic Britpop band is full of wit and warmth, and when gangly, charismatic genius Jarvis Cocker takes to the stage, and the crowd sings ‘Common People’, you’ll want to join in!
THE REDFERN STORY (World Premiere)
Director: Darlene Johnson | Australia | 57 mins | In English
Darlene Johnson’s forceful documentary tells the story of the volatile birth of the first all-Indigenous theatre company, the National Black Theatre. Featuring interviews with indigenous media pioneer Lester Bostock, writer Gerry Bostock, actor Lillian Crombie, activist-academic Gary Foley, academic Marcia Langton, actors Rachael Maza, Bryan Brown and Bindi Williams.
The Redfern Story is presented in partnership with Screen Australia’s Indigenous Department, the ABC and Vivid Sydney.
SEPIDEH: REACHING FOR THE STARS
Director: Berit Madsen | Denmark, Iran, Germany | 91 mins | In English and Farsi with English subtitles
This heart-stirring documentary follows an Iranian teenager who yearns to be an astronaut despite social mores and financial woes. Sepideh hauls her telescope to the dark hills surrounding her rural hometown, trailing gossip in her wake – good Iranian girls don’t go out after dark. Filmed over several years, this is compelling, inspiring viewing.
UKRAINE IS NOT A BROTHEL
Director: Kitty Green | Australia | 80 mins | In English, Ukrainian and Russian with English subtitles
Australian filmmaker Kitty Green’s fascinating documentary follows the members of FEMEN, the infamously topless female protestors of Ukraine – naked warriors against patriarchy. Such defiance has a price: the women tell of their horrific treatment at the hands of the authorities. The disturbing question, however, is just who controls their campaign?
THE UNKNOWN KNOWN
Director: Errol Morris | USA | 96 mins | In English
Oscar winner Errol Morris puts former US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in front of his penetrating lens, quizzing him on the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, his relationship with George H.W. Bush, and his years in office. Rumsfeld takes it all in his stride, and Morris’ patient, insistent probing makes for fascinating viewing.
WATERMARK
Directors: Jennifer Baichwal, Edward Burtynsky | Canada | 92 mins | In Mandarin, English, Bengali, Hindi and Spanish with English subtitles
Filmmaker Jennifer Baichwal and environmental photographer Edward Burtynsky (Manufactured Landscapes) reunite to document humanity’s relationship with water. Stunning aerial footage – filmed over three years – of the rapid shrinking of immense natural waterways is interspersed with firsthand accounts that tell of our use and misuse of this vital resource.
ALTMAN RETRO
ALTMAN ON ALTMAN
When Robert Altman was granted an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement at the 2006 Academy Awards eight months before his passing, Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin introduced him as “a man who didn’t play by the rules or stick to the script.” Presented at SFF 2014 by Altman’s eldest son, Michael Altman, this selection of classics – both the hits and lesser-known titles – celebrates his idiosyncratic career and cinematic genius.
THAT COLD DAY IN THE PARK
Director: Robert Altman | USA | 1969 | 113 mins | In English
This early offering is the first and certainly one of the darkest and most disturbing psychological thrillers in the Altman collection, evidencing his honed skills and experience from years of television direction and the influence of Alfred Hitchcock.
M*A*S*H
Director: Robert Altman | USA | 1970 | 116 mins | In English
This iconic, irreverent Korean War-set black comedy lit the spotlight on the 50-year feature-film career of Robert Altman as well as its brilliant ensemble cast, including Elliott Gould, Donald Sutherland and Robert Duvall.
McCABE & MRS MILLER
Director: Robert Altman | USA | 1971 | 120 mins | In English
This classic homage to the western features stellar performances from Warren Beatty and Julie Christie in the title roles, stunning Canadian locations and poignant music from Leonard Cohen.
NASHVILLE
Director: Robert Altman | USA | 1975 | 157 mins | In English
A clever romp through the iconic country-music capital, this mockudrama is an unforgettable tapestry of flawed people and troubled lives. Ned Beatty, Lily Tomlin and Keith Carradine lead the brilliant ensemble.
3 WOMEN
Director: Robert Altman | USA | 1977 | 124 mins | In English
Sissy Spacek, Shelly Duvall and Janice Rule star in this surreal, twisted psychological study of the bizarre relationship between three apparently ordinary women in an isolated desert community.
A WEDDING
Director: Robert Altman | USA | 1978 | 125 mins | In English
One of the best examples of the ‘Altmanesque’ style, this 24-character tragic comedy runs several simultaneous plot lines with flawless mastery. Lillian Gish, Carol Burnett, Desi Arnaz Jr. and Mia Farrow are among the stars.
SHORT CUTS
Director: Robert Altman | USA | 1993 | 187 mins | In English
This ensemble stew of vignettes overlaps and intersects well over half a dozen relationships. The all-star cast includes Lily Tomlin, Robert Downey Jr., Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Waits and Julianne Moore.
A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION
Director: Robert Altman | USA | 2006 | 105 mins | In English
Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Kevin Kline, Woody Harrelson, Lindsay Lohan and John C. Reilly are among the stars of Robert Altman’s swan song, set behind the scenes of Garrison Keillor’s beloved radio show.
Press Release: New York International Children’s Film Festival Announces Winners
NEW YORK INT’L CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2014 FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS PRESENTED MARCH 30, 2014 AT DGA THEATER
Grand Prize Feature – FOOSBALL, Juan José Campanella, Argentina
Grand Prize Short – A TOWN CALLED PANIC: THE CHRISTMAS LOG,
Stéphane Aubier & Vincent Patar, Belgium/France
Jury Award, Best Animated Short – JAMÓN, Iria Lopez, Spain
Jury Award, Best Live Action Short – CROCODILES WITHOUT SADDLES,
Britta Wandaogo, Germany
Audience Award, Ages 3-6 – SNOWFLAKE, Natalia Chernusheva, Russia
Audience Award, Ages 5-10 – A TOWN CALLED PANIC: THE CHRISTMAS LOG,
Stéphane Aubier & Vincent Patar, Belgium/France
Audience Award, Ages 8-14 – THE DAM KEEPER, Dice Tsutsumi & Robert Kondo, USA
Audience Award, Ages 12-18 – SLEIGHT OF HAND, Michael Cusack, Australia
Parents Award – 9 METER, Anders Walter, Denmark
March 31, 2014 – New York, NY – After presenting four weekends of international films for ages 3-18, New York International Children’s Film Festival concluded its 17th edition at its annual Awards Ceremony and Best of Fest Screening last night at the DGA Theater.
Determined by voting from audience members who are age 18 and younger, Grand Prize Awards were presented to one feature film and one short film. A Town Called Panic: The Christmas Log (Belgium/France), directed by Stéphane Aubier and Vincent Patar (co-directors of 2014 Oscar® nominee Ernest & Celestine and also the Town Called Panic feature), was awarded the Grand Prize for a short film. The award for the film, which made its North American premiere in the Festival’s “Short Films One” program, was accepted via video by its stop-motion stars, Cowboy, Indian and Horse.
The Grand Prize Award for a feature film was presented to Foosball (Argentina), directed by Juan José Campanella, director of the Oscar® winning film Secret in Their Eyes. Executive producer and co-writer Gastón Gorali was on hand to accept the award and to announce that, after making its US premiere in the Festival, the film has been purchased by the Weinstein Company, and will be released in the US this August under the title The Underdogs.
Winners of the Festival’s two juried prizes are eligible for Oscar® consideration in the Best Live Action and Best Animated Short Film categories, and were chosen by the Festival’s board of jurors: John Canemaker, Geena Davis, Lynne McVeigh, Matthew Modine, Richard Peña, Billy Plympton, Dana Points, Susan Sarandon, Henry Selick, James Schamus, Evan Shapiro, Uma Thurman, Christine Vachon, Gus Van Sant, Taika Waititi, and Jeffrey Wright.
The Jury Award for Best Animated Short was presented by Oscar® winning animator John Canemaker to Jamón (Spain), which played in the Festival’s “Heebie Jeebies: Spooky, Freaky & Bizarre” short film program. Iria Lopez, the film’s director accepted the award via video acceptance.
The Jury Award for Best Live Action Short was presented by actor Jeffrey Wright to Crocodiles without Saddles (Germany), and accepted by director Britta Wandaogo. The short documentary made its New York premiere in the Festival’s “Girls’ POV” short film program.
Determined by the votes of audience members age 18 and older, the Parents Magazine Parents Award was presented by the magazine’s editor-and-chief and Festival juror Dana Points to 9 Meter (Denmark). Directed by 2014 Oscar® winner Anders Walter (Best Live Action Short, Helium), 9 Meter played in the Festival’s “Flicker Lounge” short film program for ages 12 to adult.
Audience awards, presented to short films, were determined by the votes of audience members of four different age ranges. A complete list of recipients follows:
Audience Award, ages 3-6: Snowflake (Russia), Animation, Natalia Chernusheva; New York Premiere, “Shorts for Tots”
Audience Award, ages 5-10: A Town Called Panic: The Christmas Log (Belgium/France), Animation, Stéphane Aubier and Vincent Patar; North American Premiere, “Short Films One”
Audience Award, ages 8-14: The Dam Keeper (USA), Animation, Dice Tsutsumi and Robert Kondo; North American Premiere, “Short Films Two”
Audience Award, ages 12-18: Sleight of Hand (Australia), Animation, Michael Cusack; “Heebie Jeebies: Spooky, Freaky & Bizarre”
New York International Children’s Film Festival ran from March 7-30, 2014. The Festival’s 17th year included a record 19 feature films, over 20 visiting international filmmakers, 2014 Oscar® nominated films Ernest & Celestine (Best Animated Feature) and Feral (Best Animated Short) and the Oscar® winning Mr. Hublot (Best Animated Short). Highlights of the Festival included the Whole Foods Market Pop-Up Concessions Stand on March 22-23, featuring free snacks and gifts for all attendees, two sing-along presentations of Disney’s The Muppets (2011) led by Oscar® winning composer Bret McKenzie and Muppet Walter (Peter Linz), a special preview screening of Disney’s Muppets Most Wanted (2014), and two special preview screenings of 20th Century Fox & Blue Sky Studios’ Rio 2.
ABOUT NYICFF:
Established in 1997, NYICFF is an Oscar®-qualifying event and North America’s largest film festival for children and teens ages 3-18. The most recent edition attracted a sold-out-in-advance audience of 30,000. NYICFF 2014 takes place March 7-30, with 100+ films from around the world, plus gala premieres, retrospectives, filmmaker Q&As, filmmaking workshops, audience voting, and the NYICFF Awards Ceremony. Festival sponsors include Whole Foods, Meredith Parents Network, and Scholastic, with funding support by National Endowment for the Arts, NY State Council on the Arts, and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. In addition to the annual March festival, NYICFF presents year-round film programming both in New York and nationally, including annual children’s film festivals in Boston, Los Angeles, Miami and Philadelphia.
Press Release: Strategy PR’s 2014 Spring/Summer Film Preview
2014 SPRING/SUMMER FILM PREVIEW
THE IMMIGRANT (May 16)
WORDS AND PICTURES (May 23)
THE CASE AGAINST 8 (June 6 Theatrical; June 23 HBO)
CODE BLACK (June 20 in LA; June 27 in NY)
BOYHOOD (July 11)
HAPPY CHRISTMAS (July 25 Theatrical; June 26 VOD)
THE TRIP TO ITALY (August 15)
David Gordon Green’s JOE (Distributor: Roadside Attractions; opens April 11 Day and Date)
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Tye Sheridan
An ex-con, who is the unlikeliest of role models, meets a 15-year-old boy and is faced with the choice of redemption or ruin.
James Griffiths’ CUBAN FURY (Distributor: eOne Films US; opens April 11)
Starring: Rashida Jones, Nick Frost, Chris O’Dowd, Olivia Colman
A former salsa prodigy attempts a comeback years after his career was ruined.
Steven Knight’s LOCKE (Distributor: A24 Films; opens April 25)
Starring: Tom Hardy, Ruth Wilson, Olivia Colman, Andrew Scott, Tom Holland, Bill Milner
A man’s life unravels during a 90-minutes race against time.
Steven Bernstein’s DECODING ANNIE PARKER (Distributor: eOne Films US; opens May 2 Day and Date)
Starring: Helen Hunt, Samantha Morton, Aaron Paul, Rashida Jones, Maggie Grace
Love, science, sex, infidelity, disease and comedy, the wild, mostly true story of the irrepressible Annie Parker and the almost discovery of a cure for cancer.
James Gray’s THE IMMIGRANT (Distributor: The Weinstein Company; opens May 16)
Starring: Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Renner
This 1920’s-set drama stars Marion Cotillard as Ewa, a Polish woman who, after immigrating to New York in the hope of a better life for her and her sister, falls prey to a mysterious man named Bruno (Joaquin Phoenix).
Fred Schepisi’s WORDS AND PICTURES (Distributor: Roadside Attractions; opens May 23)
Starring: Clive Owen, Juliette Binoche
An art instructor and an English teacher form a rivalry that ends up with a competition at their school in which students decide whether words or pictures are more important.
Don McKellar’s THE GRAND SEDUCTION (Distributor: eOne Films US; opens May 30)
Starring: Brendan Gleeson, Taylor Kitsch, Liane Balaban
The small harbor of Tickle Cove is in dire need of a doctor so that the town can land a contract to secure a factory which will save the town from financial ruin. Village resident Murray French (Gleeson) leads the search, and when he finds Dr. Paul Lewis (Kitsch) he employs – along with the whole town – tactics to seduce the doctor to stay permanently.
Kelly Reichardt’s NIGHT MOVES (Distributor: Cinedigm; opens May 30)
Starring: Dakota Fanning, Jesse Eisenberg, Peter Sarsgaard
A drama centered on three environmentalists who plot to blow up a dam.
Ben Cotner and Ryan White’s THE CASE AGAINST 8 (Distributor: HBO Documentary Films; opens June 6 Theatrical; June 23 HBO)
A behind-the-scenes look inside the case to overturn California’s ban on same-sex marriage.
Perri Peltz and Geeta Gandbhir’s REMEMBERING THE ARTIST: ROBERT DE NIRO, SR.(Distributor: HBO Documentary Films; opens June 9)
Remembering The Artist: Robert De Niro, SR. is a portrait of the esteemed figurative painter by the man who knew him best: his son. In intimate interviews, Robert De Niro, Jr. profiles an artist whose talent went largely unrecognized as the pop art movement swept the nation, and looks at the relationship between a father and son.
Ryan McGarry’s CODE BLACK (Distributor: Long Shot Factory; opens June 20 (LA) and June 27 (NY))
CODE BLACK is about the idealistic and adrenaline-seeking ER residents at the Los Angeles County Hospital, the birthplace of emergency room medicine.
Richard Linklater’s BOYHOOD (Distributor: IFC Films; opens July 11)
Starring: Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater
One family’s journey shot over the course of 12 years.
Joe Swanberg’s HAPPY CHRISTMAS (Distributor: Magnolia Pictures; July 25 Theatrical; June 26 VOD)
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Lena Dunham, Melanie Lynskey, Joe Swanberg, Mark Webber
Irresponsible 20-something Jenny arrives in Chicago to live with her older brother Jeff, a young film-maker living a happy existence with his novelist wife Kelly and their two-year-old son. Jenny’s arrival shakes up their quiet domesticity as she and her friend Carson instigate an evolution in Kelly’s life and career. Meanwhile, Jenny strikes up a rocky relationship with the family’s baby sitter-cum-pot dealer.
Michael Winterbottom’s THE TRIP TO ITALY (Distributor: IFC Films; opens August 15)
Starring: Rob Brydon, Steve Coogan
Two men, six meals in six different places on a road trip around Italy. Liguria, Tuscany, Rome, Amalfi and ending in Capri.
Max Nichols’ TWO NIGHT STAND (Distributor: eOne Films US; Opens Summer 2014)
Starring: Miles Teller, Analeigh Tipton, Jessica Szohr, Scott Mescudi
A snowstorm forces two people who made an online connection to unwillingly extend their one-night stand.
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JOE
A gripping mix of friendship, violence and redemption erupts in the contemporary South in this adaptation of Larry Brown’s novel, celebrated at once for its grit and its deeply moving core. Directed by David Gordon Green (PRINCE AVALANCHE, PINEAPPLE EXPRESS, UNDERTOW, ALL THE REAL GIRLS), the film brings Academy Award® winner Nicolas Cage back to his indie roots in the title role as the hard-living, hot-tempered, ex-con Joe Ransom, who is just trying to dodge his instincts for trouble – until he meets a hard-luck kid played by Tye Sheridan (MUD, TREE OF LIFE) who awakens in him a fierce and tender-hearted protector.
From a screenplay by Gary Hawkins (THE ROUGH SOUTH OF LARRY BROWN), JOE is based on the novel by the late Larry Brown (Big Bad Love, Facing the Moon), the former Mississippi firefighter renowned for his powerful, gothic storytelling and universal themes of honor, desperation and moral rectitude. Shot on location in Texas, the film features Nicolas Cage, Tye Sheridan, Gary Poulter and Ronnie Gene Blevins leading a cast made up of a mix of indie actors and non-actors cast off the streets of Austin, Texas.
Release Date: April 11th (Day and Date Theatrical & VOD)
Director: David Gordon Green
Writer: Larry Brown (novel), Gary Hawkins (screenplay)
Featuring: Nicolas Cage, Tye Sheridan, Ronnie Gene Blevins
Run Time: 117 minutes
Distributor: Roadside Attractions
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CUBAN FURY
Shamed into leaving the world of professional dance, former prodigy Bruce Garrett (Nick Frost) has resigned himself to a hapless and ordinary existence. But after Bruce learns that his beautiful new boss Julia (Rashida Jones) has a secret love for salsa dancing, he decides to reignite the fire in his heels and get back on the dance floor. Unfortunately for him, Drew (Chris O’Dowd), an obnoxious alpha male coworker, has also set his sights on Julia, leaving Bruce no choice but to lace up his shoes and unleash his inner fury.
Release Date: April 11th
Director: James Griffiths
Writer: Jon Brown
Featuring: Rashida Jones, Nick Frost, Chris O’Dowd and Olivia Colman
Run Time: 98 minutes
Distributor: eOne
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LOCKE
Ivan Locke (Hardy) has worked diligently to craft the life he has envisioned, dedicating himself to the job that he loves and the family he adores. On the eve of the biggest challenge of his career, Ivan receives a phone call that sets in motion a series of events that will unravel his family, job, and soul. All taking place over the course of one absolutely riveting car ride, LOCKE is an exploration of how one decision can lead to the complete collapse of a life.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Steven Knight (EASTERN PROMISES, DIRTY PRETTY THINGS) and driven by an unforgettable performance by Tom Hardy, LOCKE is a thrillingly unique cinematic experience of a man fighting to salvage all that is important to him.
Release Date: April 25th
Director: Steven Knight
Writer: Steven Knight
Featuring: Tom Hardy, Ruth Wilson, Olivia Colman, Andrew Scott, Tom Holland and Bill Milner
Run Time: 85 minutes
Distributor: A24
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DECODING ANNIE PARKER
Based on true events, Decoding Annie Parker is the hopeful and touching story of two remarkable women and their 15-year battle against a cruel and insidious illness, breast cancer. Waged on both scientific and emotional fronts, they are drawn together not just by the disease but by their shared determination and unconventional approaches to their research and to their lives.
Annie Parker (Samantha Morton) has a personal relationship with breast cancer. Her mother and her sister died of the disease and ultimately she is diagnosed with it too. Naturally affable with an offbeat sense of humor – even in the face of her own mortality, she struggles to hold her family and life together, as her body betrays her.
Meanwhile, geneticist Mary-Claire King (Helen Hunt) is convinced there is a link between DNA and cancer – even if no one in her profession shares her belief. Against the advice of nearly all of her colleagues, she persists in her research and her dogged pursuit for funding that will lead to the groundbreaking study that will join the two women together. Decoding Annie Parker follows the incredible, irreverent and heartwarming story of how the paths of cancer survivor Annie Parker and geneticist Mary-Claire King intersect. With grace and humor the film chronicles how these remarkable
women work to make one of the most important genetic discoveries of the 20th century.
Release Date: May 2nd (Day and Date Theatrical & VOD)
Director: Steven Bernstein
Writer: Adam Bernstein, Steven Bernstein, Michael Moss
Featuring: Helen Hunt, Samantha Morton, Aaron Paul, Rashida Jones, Maggie Grace
Run Time: 91 minutes
Distributor: eOne
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THE IMMIGRANT
In James Gray’s THE IMMIGRANT, Ewa Cybulski (Cotillard) and her sister sail to New York from their native Poland In search of a new start and the American dream. When they reach Ellis Island, doctors discover that Magda (Sarafyan) is ill, and the two women are separated. Ewa is released onto the mean streets of Manhattan while her sister is quarantined. Alone, with nowhere to turn and desperate to reunite with Magda, Ewa quickly falls prey to Bruno (Phoenix), a charming but wicked man who takes her in and forces her into prostitution. The arrival of Orlando (Renner) – a dashing stage magician who is also Bruno’s cousin – restores her self-belief and hopes for a brighter future, becoming her only chance to escape the nightmare in which she finds herself.
Release Date: May 16th
Director: James Gray
Writer: James Gray, Ric Menello
Featuring: Jeremy Renner, Joaquin Phoenix and Marion Cotillard
Run Time: 117 minutes
Distributor: The Weinstein Company
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WORDS AND PICTURES
A witty romantic drama,WORDS AND PICTURES stars the engaging duo of Juliette Binoche and Clive Owen working together on-screen for the first time. Prep school English teacher Jack Marcus (OWEN) laments his students’ obsession with social media and good grades rather than engaging with the power of the written word. A one-time literary star, Jack has not published in years filling his spare time with drink versus the art of language. He meets his match in Dina Delsanto (BINOCHE) – an abstract painter and new teacher on campus, who was once celebrated for her art. From the start, the two flirt and provoke each other with equal relish.
With a performance review looming and his teaching job on the line, Jack hatches an inspired plan for galvanizing student interest in their studies: he declares a war between Words and Pictures, confident that the former can convey greater meaning than the latter. Dina and her art students accept the challenge between Jack and his English students, and the battle lines are drawn.
The film is directed by Fred Schepisi, known for his work on both comedies (“Roxanne,” “Fierce Creatures”) and dramas (“A Cry in the Dark,” “Six Degrees of Separation”), and is based on a screenplay by Gerald Di Pego (“Message in a Bottle,” “Phenomenon”).
Release Date: May 23rd
Director: Fred Schepisi
Featuring: Clive Owen, Juliette Binoche, Amy Brennerman
Writer: Gerald Di Pego
Run Time: 115 minutes
Distributor: Roadside Attractions
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THE GRAND SEDUCTION
A small fishing village must procure a local doctor to secure a lucrative business contract. When unlikely candidate and big city doctor Paul Lewis lands in their lap for a trial residence, the townsfolk rally together to charm him into staying. As the doctor’s time in the village winds to a close, acting mayor Murray French has no choice but to pull out all the stops and begin The Grand Seduction.
Release Date: May 30th
Director: Don McKellar
Writer: Michael Dowse, Ken Scott
Featuring: Brendan Gleeson, Taylor Kitsch, Liane Balaban
Run Time: 115 minutes
Distributor: eOne
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NIGHT MOVES
NIGHT MOVES, the fifth feature film from acclaimed filmmaker Kelly Reichardt, is the story of three radical environmentalists coming together to execute the most intense protest of their lives: the explosion of a hydroelectric dam-the very source and symbol of the energy-sucking, resource-devouring industrial culture they despise.
Harmon is a former Marine, radicalized by tours of duty overseas. His life in the military is behind him, but at heart he remains the same reckless alpha male he always was, eager for adventure, excited by the prospect of mayhem and destruction. Dena is a high society dropout, sickened by the consumer economy into which she was born. She’s moved west and cut ties with her family, edging ever deeper into radical politics. And Josh, their leader, is a self-made militant, devoted to the protection of the Earth by any means necessary. A son of the middle class who works on an organic farm, he’s an intensely private person by nature and may have the deepest convictions of them all.
NIGHT MOVES is a tale of suspense and a meditation on the consequences of political extremism. When do legitimate convictions truly demand illegal behaviors? What happens to a person’s idealism when they find their back against the wall?
Reichardt’s award-winning films include RIVER OF GRASS, OLD JOY, WENDY AND LUCY and the acclaimed Michelle Williams-starring Western MEEK’S CUTOFF. NIGHT MOVES is her fifth feature film. The suspense-filled film adds a “noir-thriller” to Reichardt’s already impressive and diverse body of work.
Release Date: May 30th
Director: Kelly Reichardt
Featuring: Dakota Fanning, Jesse Eisenberg, Peter Sarsgaard
Run Time: 112 minutes
Distributor: Cinedigm
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CODE BLACK
In his bold and thought-provoking filmmaking debut, physician Ryan McGarry gives us unprecedented access to America’s only 24/7 medical safety net-the emergency room floor-where gun shot and heart attack victims are rushed past hundreds of sick people with nowhere else to go. Amidst real life-and-death situations, McGarry follows a dedicated team of charismatic, young doctors-in-training as they wrestle openly with both their ideals and with the realities of saving lives in a complex and overburdened system. Their training ground and source of inspiration is “C-Booth,” Los Angeles County Hospital’s legendary trauma bay, where “more people have died and more people have been saved than in any other square footage in the United States.” CODE BLACK offers a tense, doctor’s-eye view of America’s troubled healthcare system.
Release Date: June 20th LA; June 27th NY
Director: Ryan McGarry
Producer: Linda Goldstein Knowlton
Featuring: Ryan McGarry, Danny Cheng, Jamie Eng, Dave Pomeranz, Andrew Eads
Run Time: 88 Minutes
Distributor: Long Shot Factory
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THE CASE AGAINST 8
THE CASE AGAINST 8 takes a riveting inside look at the groundbreaking Supreme Court case that overturned Proposition 8, California’s ban on same-sex marriage. Five years in the making, the film chronicles the struggle that changed history and paved the way for marriage equality battles nationwide. With exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the powerhouse legal team of conservative Ted Olson and liberal David Boies, who previously faced off as opposing counsel in Bush v. Gore, along with the four plaintiffs in the suit, the film provides a definitive account of the battle that effectively ended marriage discrimination in California.
Release Date: June 6th (Theatrical); June 23rd (HBO)
Director: Ben Cotner and Ryan White
Producers: Rebekah Fergusson and Jessica Lawson
Executive Producers: Sheila Nevins
Editor: Kate Amend
Distributor: HBO Documentary Films
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REMEMBERING THE ARTIST: ROBERT DE NIRO, SR.
Remembering The Artist: Robert De Niro, Sr., an official selection of the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, is a portrait of the esteemed figurative painter by the man who knew him best: his son. In intimate interviews, Robert De Niro, Jr. profiles an artist whose talent went largely unrecognized as the pop art movement swept the nation, and looks at the relationship between a father and son. Directed by Perri Peltz (HBO’s “The Education of Dee Dee Ricks”) and Geeta Gandbhir (Emmy®-winning editor of HBO’s “If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise”).
Release Date: June 9
Director: Perri Peltz and Geeta Gandbhir
Producer: Perri Peltz
Executive Producers: Sheila Nevins, Jane Rosenthal
Cinematographer: Rudy Valdez
Editor: Geeta Gandbhir
Associate Producer: Michael Kaplan
Music Supervisor: Trevor Gureckis
Distributor: HBO Documentary Films
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BOYHOOD
Filmed over short periods from 2002 to 2013, Boyhood is a groundbreaking cinematic experience covering 12 years in the life of a family. At the center is Mason, who with his sister Samantha, is taken on an emotional and transcendent journey through the years, from childhood to adulthood.
Release Date: July 11
Director: Richard Linklater
Writer: Richard Linklater
Featuring: Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, Ellar Coltrane and Lorelei Linklater
Run Time: 160 minutes
Distributor: IFC Films
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HAPPY CHRISTMAS
A budding novelist and her film director husband, Kelly (Melanie Lynskey) and Jeff (Joe Swanberg) and their two-year-old son live a peaceful existence in Chicago. But when Jeff’s irresponsible younger sister, Jenny (Anna Kendrick), comes to live with them after a breakup, things start to change. Jenny begins a rocky relationship with a baby sitter-cum-pot dealer (Mark Webber), and she and a friend, Carson (Lena Dunham), instigate an evolution in Kelly’s life, as her career and her relationship with her husband begin to grow in new directions. But are they welcome ones?
In HAPPY CHRISTMAS, writer/actor/director Joe Swanberg (Drinking Buddies) explores both sibling relationships and the choices women face in young families. Using his unique improvisational technique, Swanberg creates a dramatic experience that results in a natural, relatable peek into his characters’ lives, filled with an engaging warmth and the actors’ own natural sense of humor.
Release Date: July 25th (Theatrical); June 26th (VOD)
Director: Joe Swanberg
Writer: Joe Swanberg
Featuring: Anna Kendrick, Lena Dunham, Melanie Lynskey, Joe Swanberg, Mark Webber
Run Time: 78 minutes
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
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THE TRIP TO ITALY
Michael Winterbottom’s largely improvised 2010 film, The Trip, took comedians Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon-or semifictionalized versions thereof-on a restaurant tour around northern England. In this witty and incisive follow-up, Winterbottom reunites the pair for a new culinary road trip, retracing the steps of the Romantic poets’ grand tour of Italy and indulging in some sparkling banter and impersonation-offs. Rewhetting our palates from the earlier film, the characters enjoy mouthwatering meals in gorgeous settings from Liguria to Capri while riffing on subjects as varied as Batman’s vocal register, the artistic merits of “Jagged Little Pill,” and, of course, the virtue of sequels.
Release Date: August 15
Director: Michael Winterbottom
Writer: Rob Brydon, Steve Coogan, Michael Winterbottom
Featuring: Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon
Run Time: 115 Minutes
Distributor: IFC Films
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TWO NIGHT STAND
After an extremely regrettable one night stand, two strangers (Miles Teller and Analeigh Tipton) wake up to find themselves snowed in after sleeping through a blizzard that put all of Manhattan on ice. They’re now trapped together in a tiny apartment, forced to get to know each other way more than any one night stand should. Marking the directorial debut of Max Nichols, and with a screenplay by Mark Hammer, TWO NIGHT STAND also stars Jessica Szohr, Leven Rambin and Scott Mescudi.
Release Date: Summer TBD
Director: Max Nichols
Writer: Mark Hammer
Featuring: Miles Teller, Analeigh Tipton, Jessica Szohr, Scott Mescudi, Leven Rambin
Run Time: 86 Minutes
Distributor: eOne
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