The Inbox (May 31-Jun. 6, 2014)

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

Image Gallery: Jersey Boys

Visit the Gallery Here

Image Gallery: Earth to Echo

Visit the Gallery Here

Image Gallery: The Best of Me

Image Gallery: The November Man

Press Release: AT&T Becomes Sponsor of AFI Docs 2014

AT&T BOARDS AFI DOCS 2014 AS A PRESENTING SPONSOR

SUPPORT FROM ADDITIONAL CORPORATIONS, PHILANTHROPISTS AND LOCAL ARTS AGENCIES RECOGNIZES THE POWER OF FILM TO INSPIRE CHANGE

TICKETS ON SALE TODAY FOR THE JUNE 18-22 FESTIVAL

WASHINGTON, DC, May 29, 2014 – The American Film Institute announced today that AT&T will join AFI DOCS 2014, the Institute’s documentary festival in the Washington, DC area, as Presenting sponsor. Support of the five-day celebration, which runs from June 18–22, also comes from a wide range of corporations, philanthropists and government agencies, whose sponsorship affirms the ever-growing power of documentary film. Tickets to screenings and events go on sale today.

“We salute AT&T for recognizing the power of documentary film and its potential to inspire change,” said Bob Gazzale, President and CEO, American Film Institute. “With our thanks for their support and the support from all our sponsors, AFI DOCS provides an exhilarating exploration of important true stories told by artists from around the world. With screenings in our nation’s capital, the issues raised by these films have the greatest opportunity for impact with our nation’s leaders.”

American Airlines is the Official Airline of AFI and a sponsor of the festival. Official Sponsors include Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Stella Artois. Major Sponsors include Amtrak, CYM Media & Entertainment, The DC Office of Motion Picture and Television Development, Indie DCP and the Maryland Film Office. The Hotel George and Hotel Monaco are the Official Hotels of AFI DOCS. Sony is a Featured Sponsor of the festival. The Washington Post is the Major Media Sponsor.

Returning sponsors also include Clyde’s Restaurant Group, Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce, Google, Variety, Video Labs, WAMU 88.5 – American University Radio, WHUT Howard University Television and YELP.

New sponsors this year include The Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands, CNN Films, Downtown Silver Spring, Embassy of the Republic of Poland, The Fledgling Fund, Gibson Guitar Showroom, HBO Documentary Films, IndieFlix, Indiewire, International Documentary Association, Mercury Public Affairs, Oyamel Cocina Mexicana, Penn Social, Royal Danish Embassy, Uber, The Wall Street Journal and WTOP.

In addition to supporting the presentation of films, Impact Panels and Catalyst Screenings, sponsors provide strategic goods and services to filmmakers and festival attendees throughout the week. Participation ranges from sponsoring specific film screenings and receptions to outfitting venues with technology infrastructure and creating event spaces. Sponsors also participate in the national and local promotion of the festival.

2014 FESTIVAL SPONSORS
Presenting Sponsor: AT&T
Official Sponsors: Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Stella Artois
Major Sponsors: Amtrak, CYM Media & Entertainment, The DC Office of Motion Picture and Television Development, Indie DCP, Maryland Film Office
Featured Sponsor: Sony
Supporting Sponsors: Clyde’s Restaurant Group, Downtown Silver Spring, Google, Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce, International Documentary Association, Mercury Public Affairs, Uber, Video Labs
Official Media Sponsors: Variety, The Wall Street Journal, WHUT Howard University Television
Major Media Sponsor: The Washington Post
Affiliate Media Sponsors: The Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands, IndieFlix, Indiewire,
WAMU 88.5 – American University Radio, WTOP, YELP
Screen Partners: CNN Films, HBO Documentary Films
Cultural Sponsors: Embassy of Israel, Embassy of the Republic of Poland, Royal Danish Embassy
Official Airline: American Airlines
Official Hotels: Hotel George, Hotel Monaco
Venue Partners: Gibson Guitar Showroom, Oyamel Cocina Mexicana, Penn Social

Generous individual and foundation support is provided by:
Official Festival Underwriters: Stephanie & Hunter Hunt
Major Festival Underwriters: Embrey Family Foundation, The Fledgling Fund
Festival Underwriters: Tod & Sally MacKenzie, Nell Minow, George & Tricia Vradenburg

The AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center and its programs benefit from major support from Montgomery County, Maryland and the American Film Institute. The AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center also is funded in part by an operating grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive.

About AFI DOCS
AFI DOCS is the American Film Institute’s annual documentary festival in the Washington, DC, area. Presenting the year’s best documentaries, AFI DOCS is the only festival in the U.S. dedicated to screenings and events that connect audiences, filmmakers and policy leaders in the seat of our nation’s government. The AFI DOCS advisory board includes Ken Burns, Davis Guggenheim, Chris Hegedus, Werner Herzog, Barbara Kopple, Spike Lee, Albert Maysles, Errol Morris, D A Pennebaker and Frederick Wiseman. Now in its 12th year, the festival will be held June 18-22, 2014, in landmark Washington, DC, venues and the historic AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, MD.

Press Release: “Manuscripts Don’t Burn” Opens at MoMA

KINO LORBER OPENS MOHAMMAD RASOULOF’S MANUSCRIPTS DON’T BURN ON JUNE 13, 2014, AT MoMA IN NEW YORK CITY

FILM EXPANDS DURING THE SUMMER AND EARLY FALL

NEW YORK, NY (June 2, 2014) – Kino Lorber is proud to announce the New York opening of the Iranian drama (and political thriller) Manuscripts Don’t Burn on Friday, June 13, at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City.

Written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof (Iron Island, Goodbye), this assured and searing j’accuse of the Iranian status-quo draws from historical events that took place in the 1990s in Iran. Specifically, the film’s story mirrors the struggle between the Iranian government and the country’s Writers’ Association, one of the last institutions within the state to insist on the need for free speech and political independence.

The escalating struggle between the country’s intellectuals and the Iranian intelligence agency lead to the killing (and imprisonment) of several high-profile writers, translators, poets and academics. These events are now known as the Chain Murders of Iran.

Manuscripts Don’t Burn screened at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, where it won the coveted FIPRESCI Prize. It also played at the Toronto International Film Festival (in the Contemporary World Cinema section).

After a one-week theatrical run at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), starting on Friday, June 13, Rasoulof’s latest will open at select art house theatres in North America, before an eventual VOD, SVOD and home media release.

Mr. Rasoulof’s latest film also continues his defiant return to filmmaking, after he was sentenced by the Iranian Revolutionary Court (in 2010) to six years in jail and a 20-year prohibition from filmmaking. (The prison term was later reduced to one year.) Much like he did with his previous film Goodbye (2012), Rasoulof filmed Manuscripts Don’t Burn without the government’s permission – and in order to maintain the safety of the film’s cast and crew, none of their names are available and/or featured on the film’s billing block.

A botched assassination attempt of a group of writers and intellectuals in Iran quickly turned into a potentially destabilizing event for an ex-intellectual, who’s now the head of the Iranian censorship department. Kasra, one of the writers who was in the bus and witnessed the attempted murder, wrote an eyewitness report of the event and, aware that Iran’s intelligence agency could find the manuscript and destroy it, gave two copies of the documents to two of his friends.

Khosrow, a working-class man with a sick son, together with Morteza, a professional killer, are hired to discover the location of the documents and do whatever is necessary to keep this story under wraps. But forcing old friends to tell on each other isn’t an easy feat.

It is possible that Fourouzadeh, a disabled writer who’s now frustrated with the government’s censorship of his latest book, has one of the copies of the document. He believes that resistance is still an option and chooses to remain defiant; he also insists on circumventing state censorship and wants his friend Kian (a famous poet) to help him publish his book in the black market.

“I’m determined to publish it without permission,” says Fourouzadeh. “Not on the web, a printed edition. I want to touch it and feel that it’s alive.”

But even though Kian tries to be supportive, he doesn’t see a reason to resist. “Cut out the guerrilla act” says Kian. “Fighting and change were 40 years ago. That’s over now. Today’s generation doesn’t give a damn about politics. The Network Generation wants to live.”

What follows is a caustic and despairing story of corruption, betrayal and a state that considers killing its own citizens as a response to resistance.

After flying to Iran in September, 2013, with the intent of eventually returning to Hamburg in late September, Mr. Rasoulof had his passport confiscated and remains unable to leave Iran until this day.

Press Release: New York International Children’s Film Festival Announces 2015 Dates

NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2015 FESTIVAL DATES AND CALL FOR ENTRIES

SUBMISSIONS OPEN FOR THE OSCAR®-QUALIFYING FESTIVAL

NYC EVENT TO TAKE PLACE FEBRUARY 27 – MARCH 22, 2015

May 29, 2014 – New York, NY – The 2015 New York Int’l Children’s Film Festival (NYICFF) will take place February 27 through March 22, the Festival announced today. The 18th edition will feature the same high-quality, thought-provoking fare that has made the Festival a cultural touchstone for children, teens and families in New York City. An Oscar®-qualifying Festival in the Best Live Action and Animated Short Film categories, NYICFF’s prestigious jury includes actors Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis and Jeffrey Wright, filmmakers Christine Vachon, James Schamus and Gus Van Sant and distinguished animators Bill Plympton, John Canemaker and Henry Selick, among others.

With the announcement of the 2015 event dates, the Festival has also issued a call for entries for its prestigious film program. Filmmakers creating original, compelling and non-formulaic short and feature films are encouraged to submit their work. Supporting its mission to create a more dynamic film culture for children and teens, NYICFF often programs films that are not created with a young audience in mind, but are received passionately and enthusiastically by attendees aged 3-18 nonetheless.

“Last year’s Festival was an illustration of the incredibly rich diversity – both visually and culturally – of the type of filmmaking that we love to present,” said Festival co-founder and artistic director Eric Beckman. “Many films find a new, unintended but captive, audience in children. For the 2015 Festival, we will continue pushing boundaries and redefining films for kids. We look forward with great enthusiasm to watching thousands of submissions from the newest crop of films and filmmakers.”

Complete eligibility information, submission forms and official rules and regulations for 2015 can be found at www.gkids.com/submit.

2014 HIGHLIGHTS
The most recent event featured 85 films from over 30 countries, including Oscar® nominees Feral (Daniel Sousa) and Ernest & Celestine (Benjamin Renner). Also in the program were Mr. Hublot (Laurent Witz), the 2014 Academy Award® winner for Best Animated Short, and 9 Meter, by Anders Walter, who took home the Academy Award® for Best Live Action Short for his film Helium. Juan Jose Campanella’s Foosball received the 2014 NYICFF Grand Prize, and will be released in the US this August by the Weinstein Company as Underdogs.

ABOUT NEW YORK INT’L CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL:
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 25,000, with 100+ films from around the world, plus premieres, filmmaker Q&As, filmmaking workshops, and the NYICFF Awards Ceremony. Festival sponsors include Whole Foods, The New York Times, 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, Miami and Philadelphia.

Press Release: Kino Lorber Opens “Exhibition” at Film Society of Lincoln Center

KINO LORBER OPENS JOANNA HOGG’S EXHIBITION (2013), A 2013 NYFF SELECTION, ON FRIDAY, JUNE 20, EXCLUSIVELY AT THE FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER

EXHIBITION PRESS SCREENING SET FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 5 (6PM) AT MAGNO SCREENING ROOM IN NEW YORK UNRELATED (2007) AND ARCHIPELAGO (2010), HOGG’S TWO PREVIOUS FILMS, WILL OPEN ON JUNE 27 ALSO AT THE FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER DIRECTOR JOANNA HOGG WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS (IN NYC) FROM WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18 TO FRIDAY, JUNE 20

New York, NY (June 3, 2014) – Kino Lorber is proud to announce the US theatrical premiere of EXHIBITION (2013), the latest film from acclaimed British writer-director Joanna Hogg. After a successful national premiere at last year’s New York Film Festival, Hogg’s third feature film will open on Friday, June 20, 2014, in a two-week exclusive run at the Film Society of Lincoln Center in Manhattan.

In what amounts to a comprehensive introduction to one of Britain’s leading filmmaking voices, Kino Lorber will also release Hogg’s previous films, the critically acclaimed UNRELATED (2007) and ARCHIPELAGO (2010), on June 27, at the Film Society of Lincoln Center. All three films will play at select North American art house cinemas throughout the summer, before being released on VOD, SVOD and home media later this year.

Having established her name in the international film circuit with the critically acclaimed UNRELATED and ARCHIPELAGO, Joanna Hogg’s third feature film, EXHIBITION, is at once a development and a departure from her previous work – as well as her first feature film set in London.

EXHIBITION depicts a married, middle-aged couple (D and H, respectively played by Viv Albertine and Liam Gillick), both artists, who live in a beautiful modernist house in London’s Chelsea. Also designed and built by an artist, the house (i.e. the third character in the film’s triangle) is at once a labyrinth, a refuge, a prison and a psychological battleground. As D and H slowly arrive at the painful decision to sell the place, they begin a process of saying goodbye to their shared history under the same roof.

The upheaval causes anxieties to surface, and D struggles to control the personal and creative aspects of her life with H. Dreams, memories, fears, have all imprinted themselves on their home, which exists as a container for their lives and has played such an important role in their relationship.

While UNRELATED and ARCHIPELAGO displayed Hogg’s uncanny ability to direct ensemble casts, as well as and her unique capacity to get beneath the skin of the British middle class (to explore their manners, anxieties, and silences), EXHIBITION focuses on two individuals living in a complex maze of intimacy and strangeness.

First-time actors Viv Albertine, best known as the guitarist in the female punk band The Slits, and Turner-nominated artist Liam Gillick, worked without a conventional script and were lead by Hogg to challenging degrees of play, risk and self-exposure. The result is something distinctly rare and revelatory, and a film that pushes British Cinema to uncharted and exciting waters.

ARCHIPELAGO & UNRELATED
– Both are set for a one-week run at the Film Society of Lincoln Center, starting on June, 27 –

Last year, Hogg was selected as one of two Emerging Artists at the 51st audiences as a bold, dynamic new artist and showcased the US premiere of EXHIBITION, and also spotlighted ARCHIPELAGO and UNRELATED.

The auteur’s character-driven films are notable for their realistic depictions of the middle-class. With signature long takes and unconventional casting of non-professional mixed with professional actors (most notably Tom Hiddlleston whom she cast in all three of her films fresh from drama school), she’s been heralded by critics worldwide as a distinctive British voice to watch.

Hogg started her career as a photographer, before studying at the National Film and Television School. After ten years directing television drama she made her feature debut with UNRELATED (2007), which starred Tom Hiddleston. It won numerous awards including the FIPRESCI prize at the London Film Festival, the Guardian First Film Award, and Most Promising Newcomer at the Evening Standard British Film Awards.

Her second film ARCHIPELAGO (2010) received a Special Commendation at the London Film Festival for their Best Film award, and was greeted with similar critical enthusiasm and provoked much comment and debate. In 2011 she co-founded the collective A Nos Amours, dedicated to programming over-looked, under-exposed or especially potent cinema. Hogg is based in London.

UNRELATED
– Synopsis –

Middle-aged, discontented Anna (Kathryn Worth) decides to spend her summer holiday apart from her husband, in Tuscany with her friends. As the days go by, she finds herself more attuned to their teenage children (Tom Hiddleston and his sister Emma). Hogg’s 2007 debut immediately established her as an unusual artist with a place-specific approach to drama. A NYFF51 Emerging Artists Selection. A Kino Lorber

ARCHIPELAGO
– Synopsis –

A group stays on the island of Tresco off of Sicily, animated by resentments, jealousies, upheavals, and revelations that will ring true to anyone who has ever spent a vacation with their family. Tom Hiddleston, a mainstay of Hogg’s films, plays the discontented son at a crossroads in his life, at odds with his mother (Kate Fahy) and sister (Lydia Leonard). His priorities are reset by landscape artist Christopher Baker (who appears as himself) and the family’s wondrous new surroundings. A NYFF51 Emerging Artists Selection. A Kino Lorber release.

Press Release: Production Begins on “Stonewall”

PRODUCTION COMMENCES ON CENTROPOLIS ENTERTAINMENT’S STONEWALL DIRECTED BY ROLAND EMMERICH STARRING JEREMY IRVINE JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS, RON PERLMAN & JOEY KING JOIN CAST

MONTREAL, Canada (June 3, 2014) – Principal photography has commenced on STONEWALL, directed by Roland Emmerich and starring Jeremy Irvine (War Horse). Actors Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Match Point, “The Tudors”) Ron Perlman (Hellboy), and Joey King (White House Down) have joined the cast, which also includes Jonny Beauchamp (How to Make It in America), Caleb Landry Jones (X-Men: First Class), and up-and-comers Karl Glusman, Vlademir Alexis, and Alexandre Nachi. Written by Jon Robin Baitz, STONEWALL is produced by Michael Fossat, Marc Frydman, Emmerich, and Carsten Lorenz; and executive producers are Kirstin Winkler, Adam Press and Michael Roban.

STONEWALL is a drama about a young man in New York caught up during the 1969 Stonewall Riots, a pivotal event widely considered the starting point for the modern gay civil rights movement. Kicked out of his own home, young Danny Winters (Jeremy Irvine) flees to NY, leaving behind his beloved sister (Joey King). Homeless and destitute, he befriends a group of street kids who soon introduce him to the watering hole of the local drag queens, gays, lesbians, and everything in between: The Stonewall Inn. However, this shady, mafia-run club is far from a safe-haven. At the bar, Danny meets the suave Trevor (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) before catching the eye of Ed Murphy (Ron Perlman), Stonewall’s repulsive manager who colludes with corrupt police, exploits homeless youth for financial gain, and is even suspected to have had a hand in some of their “disappearances.” It spirals out of control when the police unexpectedly raid Stonewall. In a storm of anger and with the toss of a single brick, a riot ensues and a crusade for equality is born.

The STONEWALL creative team includes Director of Photography, Markus Förderer; Production Designer, Michelle Laliberté; Editor Dominique Fortin; and Costume Designer, Simonetta Mariano. The production films in and around Montreal, including Lachine and Howick, Quebec.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers is represented by CAA and Brillstein Entertainment Partners, Ron Perlman by Gersh Agency and KLWGN, and Joey King by Coast to Coast Talent Group and Industry Entertainment.

Press Release: Release Date Set for “A Letter to Momo”

GKIDS SETS RELEASE DATE FOR “A LETTER TO MOMO” OPENS JULY 23 AT NYC’S IFC CENTER FOLLOWED BY NATIONAL EXPANSION IN TOP MARKETS ACROSS THE U.S.

WINNER GRAND PRIZE – NEW YORK INT’L CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL

New York, NY – June 3, 2014 – GKIDS, a distributor of award-winning animation for both adult and family audiences, has announced that it will release A LETTER TO MOMO at New York’s IFC Center on July 23, 2014. Following the New York opening, the film, directed by Hiroyuki Okiura, will then expand to several top markets across the U.S. including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Washington, D.C., Boston, Minneapolis, Atlanta and Seattle.

A LETTER TO MOMO is the wonderfully expressive and beautifully hand drawn tale that combines bursts of whimsy and kinetic humor with deep felt emotion and drama. The last time Momo saw her father they had a fight – and now all she has left to remember him by is an incomplete letter, a blank piece of paper penned with the words “Dear Momo” but nothing more. Moving with her mother to the remote Japanese island of Shio, Momo soon discovers three yokai living in her attic, a trio of mischievous spirit creatures that only she can see and who create mayhem in the tiny seaside community as she tries desperately to keep them hidden. But these funny monsters have a serious side and may hold the key to helping Momo discover what her father had been trying to tell her. A LETTER TO MOMO was seven years in the making, and the handmade animation is superb, from the painstakingly rendered serenity of the island’s Shinto shrines to the climactic finale – a frantic chase featuring thousands of squirming, morphing ghosts and spirits that is the best cinematic flight of supernatural fancy in many years.

Press Release: “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” On DVD July 8

STYLISH AWARD-WINNER WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW? AVAILABLE ON DVD JULY 8

Light-hearted romp enjoyed successful theatrical run in early 2014

June 3, 2014 (NY, NY) – Film Movement, the distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films, announces today that WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW?, the infectiously delightful second feature film from rising-star Arvin Chen (Au Revoir Taipei), will be released on DVD on July 8th in North America.

WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW? is the delightful story of self-discovery that defies the cliches of romantic comedies and tackles the dilemmas of modern relationships in every variation. Winner of the inaugural Gold Q Hugo Award at the 2013 Chicago International Film Festival, WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW? premiered at the 2013 Berlin International Film Festival and went on to screen at Frameline, Tribeca, Traverse City and Seattle LGBT film festivals, followed by a successful, critically-acclaimed theatrical release in January of this year.

In this madcap and light-hearted comedic romp, introverted optometrist Weichung begins to question his marriage with his wife Feng upon learning of her desire to have another baby. At his sister’s engagement party, Weichung bumps into an old friend, Stephen, a wedding photographer who, though also married, is living the high life of a younger, single gay man. When Stephen teases Weichung for his newly straight-laced lifestyle, dormant emotions are awakened in Weichung, setting him off on a quest for true romance and desire.

Available on DVD July 8th at FilmMovement.com, Amazon.com and other major retailers, WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW? on DVD includes short film MEI, an early film by Arvin Chen. WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW? will also be available on digital platforms including Amazon Instant on July 8th, and comes to Netflix streaming on August 7th.

Press Release: Logo TV’s “Trailblazers” Adds Honorees

LOGO TV’S “TRAILBLAZERS” ADDS NBA’S JASON COLLINS AND THE SERIES “ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK” TO ITS LIST OF HONOREES FOR THEIR HISTORIC WORK BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS FOR LGBT EQUALITY

Collins and “Orange is the New Black” Join Previously Announced Honorees Edie Windsor & Roberta Kaplan, the Civil Rights Activists Who Defeated DOMA

Event will also Spotlight “Trailblazing Youth” Who Are Making an Impact in their Local Communities, Introduced by Trevor Hero, Daniel Radcliffe

One-Hour Special Honoring Pioneers in Fight for LGBT Equality to Premiere on the One Year Anniversary of the Defeat of DOMA – June 26 at 9pm ET/PT – from New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine

New York, June 4, 2014 – Logo TV today announced that “Trailblazers” will honor the Brooklyn Nets’ Jason Collins and the groundbreaking series “Orange Is the New Black” for their historic strides to overcome bias and bring about LGBT equality: Jason Collins for becoming the first male publicly gay athlete in a major American sport, and “Orange is the New Black” for bringing the lives and stories of characters rarely seen on television into millions of living rooms around the country. Cast members, including Laverne Cox will accept the honor on behalf of the series. Both Collins and Cox are two of the new voices defining the multifaceted, multicultural identity of the LGBT audience today. Collins and the series “Orange is the New Black” join Trailblazers’ previously announced honorees Edie Windsor and Roberta Kaplan, the civil rights activists who defeated DOMA and opened the door for gay marriage.

“It is an honor to be included in the company of Edie Windsor and Roberta Kaplan in Logo’s celebration of our progress towards LGBT equality,” said Jason Collins. “We are proof that the actions we make, big or small, can have a positive, global impact on our community.”

Openly gay college athlete Matt Kaplon, musicians Tegan and Sara and Laura Jane Grace, and gay former NFL player Wade Davis will also appear in the special. They join a growing list of celebrity appearances, including Jared Leto, Kylie Minogue, Ariana Grande, and Rita Ora. A Great Big World is confirmed to perform. Additional honorees, performers and presenters will be announced later.

“Trailblazers” is Logo’s new annual event that celebrates the pioneers who have broken new ground in the quest for LGBT civil rights. The event will premiere on Thursday, June 26th at 9pm ET/PT during the most historic week of gay rights – the 45th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, and the one-year anniversary to the day of DOMA being overruled.

Working with community partner The Trevor Project, and introduced by Trevor Hero Daniel Radcliffe, the event will also spotlight the efforts of four “Trailblazing Youth,” who are making a positive impact in their local communities. In addition, Logo is asking people to submit their stories of the friends, family, and community leaders who have made a profound personal difference in their lives. Five of these local leaders will be featured on the “Trailblazers” site as a “Hometown Trailblazer,” with one individual being selected to attend the event along with their submitter. To submit pictures and videos of the inspirational heroes, please visit http://bit.ly/1k2KDIJ.

About Jason Collins
On May 6, 2013, in a Sports Illustrated cover story, Jason Collins announced that he is gay, thereby becoming the first out professional male athlete in a major U.S. sport. Because of his pioneering declaration, Collins has gained legions of new fans across the world.

Today more and more openly gay college and high school athletes are coming forward because of the example that Jason Collins has set on and off the court. Collins’ impact is a reminder that one person’s actions truly can change society.

About Orange is the New Black
“Orange is the New Black,” Jenji Kohan’s critically acclaimed new series that transports viewers into the lives and minds of a diverse array of characters and relationships that are rarely seen on television. The show explores issues of sexuality, class, politics, race, religion, gender, and mental health in a way that pushes boundaries while it also entertains. The Netflix series shows us that regardless of sexual identity, the color of our skin, or the background from which we come, we all share a common human bond.

The series’ casting choices, honest storylines and unfaltering sense of humor have provided the world with a better understanding of the LGBT community and given a platform for a range of talented new voices. As one example, cast member Laverne Cox made history as one of the first transgender woman to star in a mainstream dramatic series.

About the Trailblazing Youth
The evening’s events will also feature a “Trailblazing Youth” segment that will highlight four young leaders tied to The Trevor Project who epitomize the power of local activism at any age.

After his close friend’s suicide, Princeton, New Jersey Native, Cason Crane founded the Rainbow Summits Project to raise $135,000 for The Trevor Project, as he became the first openly LGBT person to scale the Seven Summits – the highest peaks on each continent, including Mt. Everest.

Thirteen year-old Jazz has been an advocate for fellow transgender kids. Along with her parents, she founded the Transkids Purple Rainbow Foundation to offer advice, support and resources for kids who struggle with gender identity issues.

Jordan Scruggs from Chattanooga, Tennessee is spearheading a much-needed open channel of communication between faith and sexual orientation, creating an extensive directory of Tennessee’s most LGBT-inclusive churches. As a result of her dedication, she was recently appointed to the role of State Director of Marriage Equality for Organizing for Action.

When he began his freshman year at the Mormon-based Brigham Young University, Adam White helped put LGBT issues on the forefront of his school’s agenda by leading the university’s underground Gay-Straight Alliance into a widely recognized and respected force on campus. He also helped lead BYU’s “It Gets Better” campaign, which resonated with young Mormons across the country.

Trailblazers 2014 is executive produced by Chris McCarthy, Ryan Kroft, and Chris Williams for Logo TV. Joe Buoye serves as Executive in Charge for Logo TV with Amy Doyle, Wendy Plaut and Frank Ho as Executives in Charge of Talent and Music.

Press Release: Linkin Park to Headline “mtvU Fandom Awards” and “MTV Fan Fest”

LINKIN PARK TO HEADLINE FIRST-EVER “mtvU FANDOM AWARDS” AND “MTV FAN FEST” ON JULY 24 AT COMIC-CON SAN DIEGO

Fandom Awards and Fan Fest to Celebrate Diehard Fanboys and Fangirls while Honoring Their Favorite Shows and Movies in a Primetime Special Airing on mtvU and MTV Sunday, July 27

MTV to Launch Ultimate Fan Experience with Linkin Park Providing a Once-In-A-Lifetime VIP Experience with the Band at Comic-Con

New York, NY (June 5, 2014) – MTV’s 24-hour college network, mtvU, today announced that multi-platinum rock band Linkin Park will headline the first-ever “mtvU Fandom Awards” and the corresponding “MTV Fan Fest,” which will both take place on Thursday, July 24 at Petco Park during Comic-Con International: San Diego. The “mtvU Fandom Awards” is the ultimate celebration for diehard fanboys and fangirls to honor their favorite shows and movies of the past year. On Sunday, July 27 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, mtvU will bring the best moments from the show to MTV and mtvU in the 60-minute “mtvU Fandom Awards Special,” showcasing the musical performances and honoring the fans whose tenacious excitement pushes movies, TV, books and comics from subculture to mainstream worldwide success. mtvU will announce Fandom Awards nominees and voting categories at a later date.

“The ‘mtvU Fandom Awards’ will reinvent the traditional award show format,” said Ryan Kroft, “mtvU Fandom Awards” Executive Producer. “In addition to handing out trophies, we will recognize the achievements of fans and their favorite obsessions with special surprises and experiences. It’s the perfect event to reward the fans at Comic-Con, the epicenter of all fandoms.”

To further honor the dedicated fans of Comic-Con, the “MTV Fan Fest” will feature a stirring set from headliners Linkin Park, part of a free party at Petco Park open to all Comic-Con badge holders with food, drinks, games and giveaways. The “MTV Fan Fest” will lead into the “mtvU Fandom Awards” on Thursday, July 24.

Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum rock band Linkin Park is gearing up to release their sixth studio album, “The Hunting Party,” on June 17. The band will kick off their North American Carnivores Tour with Thirty Seconds to Mars and AFI on August 8 in West Palm Beach, Florida. For further info, go to www.linkinpark.com.

Beginning June 17, fans can enter MTV’s latest Ultimate Fan Experience at LinkinPark.MTV.com for a once-in-a-lifetime VIP trip in which one lucky super fan and their guest will get a chance to fly to San Diego for the “mtvU Fandom Awards” at Comic-Con. The day will include a meet and greet with the band and VIP access to watch Linkin Park perform. Additionally, the selected winner will receive VIP tickets to an upcoming “Carnivores” tour date near their hometown, the band’s gear signed and shipped to their home (including guitar, bass, key pad) and more. The MTV Ultimate Fan Experience aims to bring fans and artists together in ways that only MTV can.

Eric Conte and Ryan Kroft are the Executive Producers of the “mtvU Fandom Awards.” Gina Esposito is the Executive in Charge of Music Talent; Wendy Plaut is the Executive in Charge of Celebrity Talent. Joe Buoye is the Executive in Charge of Production.

The “mtvU Fandom Awards” mark the second consecutive year that MTV will be on-the-ground at San Diego Comic-Con honoring the fans. In 2013, the “MTV2 Party in the Park” at Petco Park, featuring performances from Dillon Francis and New Politics, attracted thousands of fans and garnered significant buzz as one of the best parties at Comic-Con.

Press Release: Cast Announced for “Sticky Notes”

RAY LIOTTA, ROSE LESLIE, JUSTIN BARTHA AND GINA RODRIGUEZ STAR IN ‘STICKY NOTES’

Amanda Harlib’s directorial debut currently in production in New Orleans

Los Angeles, CA (June 4, 2014)—Rose Leslie, Justin Bartha and Gina Rodriguez have joined Ray Liotta in the cast of STICKY NOTES, the directorial debut of screenwriter Amanda Harlib. The film, which is currently lensing in New Orleans, Louisiana is produced by Katie Mustard (SHELTER, WE’LL NEVER HAVE PARIS) and Joe Jenckes (MARGIN CALL, KILL YOUR DARLINGS) under the Mustard & Co. production banner.

STICKY NOTES is the story of an emotionally detached back-up dancer named Athena (Leslie), who must return home to Florida to help care for her estranged father, Jack (Liotta), after he gets diagnosed with cancer. There she must contend with Jack’s irresponsible lifestyle while looking after six year old Honey Bunny who is only beginning to grasp the err in Jack’s ways.

Harlib most recently adapted the novel SORTA LIKE A ROCKSTAR by Matthew Quick (author of Silver Linings Playbook) for Gotham Group, which is set up with Temple Hill at Fox Searchlight. She has also worked as a writer on the in-development CLUELESS 2 for Paramount. Additionally, she is the creator of the web series HAUTE & BOTHERED, which ran on Teen.com for 2 years and was sponsored by LG.

Leslie can currently be seen on the hit HBO series GAME OF THRONES and was a regular on DOWNTON ABBEY. She stars in the current indie festival hit HONEYMOON which premiered at SXSW and played at the Tribeca Film Festival this year. Magnolia Pictures has worldwide rights to the film. Gina Rodriguez was named in The Hollywood Reporter’s “Top 35 Latinos under 35” list and was also was a breakout star at Sundance 2012 for FILLY BROWN. She currently is starring in the upcoming TV series JANE THE VIRGIN. Justin Bartha is best known for his roles in THE HANGOVER trilogy and the NATIONAL TREASURE series and was most recently a series regular on FOX’s THE NEW NORMAL.

Press Release: Multiple Guests Announces for Jane Fonda Life Achievement Tribute

SANDRA BULLOCK, CAMERON DIAZ, MICHAEL DOUGLAS, MERYL STREEP AMONG GUESTS AND PARTICIPANTS AT THE 42ND AFI LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD TRIBUTE TO JANE FONDA

Special Broadcast Will Premiere Saturday, June 14, at 9:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on TNT
With Encore on TCM Slated for Friday, August 1, as Part of an All-Night Tribute to Fonda

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, LOS ANGELES, CA, Friday, June 6, 2014 – Actor, producer, activist and author Jane Fonda was honored with the 42nd annual AFI Life Achievement Award – the highest honor for a career in film – in an evening filled with surprise and sentiment. Many of film and television’s most revered artists, executives and philanthropists from across the nations turned out to pay tribute to one of America’s most cherished artists. The June 5 black tie gala was taped at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, CA and will premiere on Saturday, June 14 at 9:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on TNT and encore Friday, August 1 on TCM as part of an all-night tribute to Fonda.

Among the over 1,000 guests gathered for Fonda were Rosanna Arquette, Diego Boneta, Luke Bracey, Mel Brooks, Sandra Bullock, Clive Davis, Rosario Dawson, Cameron Diaz, Eve Ensler, Sally Field, Morgan Freeman, Troy Garity, Melanie Griffith, Kathryn Hahn, Chelsea Handler, Marcia Gay Harden, Felicity Huffman, Kevin Huvane, Catherine Keener, Ron Kovic, Diane Lane, Eva Longoria, William H. Macy, Samantha Mathis, Mary McCormack, Dylan McDermott, Chris Messina, Emily Mortimer, Alison Pill, Cleo Pires, David O. Russell, Carol Bayer Sager, Corey Stoll, Meryl Streep, Wanda Sykes, Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, Lily Tomlin, Michael Vartan, Sam Waterston, Catherine Zeta-Jones and more.

The tribute was built upon the depth of Fonda’s career as an actor, producer, feminist, activist and author. In the tradition of past AFI tributes, the details of the program were held as a surprise to the honoree, making this event one of the most beloved experiences in the film community. The night reflected Fonda’s roots in a Hollywood dynasty, bringing her full circle from her attendance at her father’s celebration at the 6th AFI Lifetime Achievement Award in 1978.

Following welcoming remarks from Sir Howard Stringer, Chair of the AFI Board of Trustees, and Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO, producer Anne Garefino (SOUTH PARK, AFI Class of 1988) received the 2014 Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal for her commitment to excellence in entertainment.

The tribute show opened with a surprise appearance by AFI Life Achievement Award recipient Mel Brooks (2013), who offered Fonda humorous advice on the evening ahead. Among Fonda’s family, friends and collaborators who shared stories about the honoree were Sandra Bullock, Cameron Diaz, Sally Field, Peter Fonda, Troy Garity, Eva Longoria, Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin and in costume as Barbarella from the 1968 film by the same name, Wanda Sykes. Jeff Daniels performed a comedic song he composed in Fonda’s honor titled “Abs, Buns and Thighs.”

U.S. military veteran Ron Kovic, Fonda’s inspiration for making COMING HOME (1978), remarked on their shared activism. A video tribute titled “A Hymn to Her,” written by playwright Eve Ensler, showcased segments from Cate Blanchett, Annette Bening, Jennifer Lopez, Vanessa Redgrave, Robert Redford and past AFI Life Achievement Award honorees Robert De Niro (2003) and Morgan Freeman (2011). Also part of a film family legacy, Michael Douglas (AFI Life Achievement Award 2009) presented the 42nd AFI Life Achievement Award to Fonda.

Proceeds from the gala event directly support the Institute’s national education programs and the preservation of American film heritage. Sponsors of the 2014 AFI Life Achievement Award tribute to Jane Fonda include American Airlines, the official airline of the American Film Institute, Audi of America, Citibank, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Stella Artois and Wells Fargo.

About the AFI Life Achievement Award
The highest honor given for a career in film, the AFI Life Achievement Award was established by the AFI Board of Trustees on February 26, 1973. It is presented to a single honoree each year based on the following criteria as mandated through a resolution passed by the AFI Board of Trustees:

“The recipient should be one whose talent has in a fundamental way advanced the film art; whose accomplishment has been acknowledged by scholars, critics, professional peers and the general public; and whose work has stood the test of time.”