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 November 10, 2008 French Cinema at BAM: A Gem, Multiculturalism and Even Comedy
In 1954 then-critic Francois Truffaut wrote the influential essay, "A Certain Tendency of French Cinema," for Cahiers du Cinema. In it he pejoratively lumped together France's most gifted screenwriters and directors in a single, literary "Tradition of Quality," destroying a few careers in the process. (As a filmmaker, he became what he knocked.) A five-title exhibition at New York's BAM, New French Films (November 12-16), is skewed 180 degrees in the opposite direction. The series brilliantly highlights the multiple tendencies at play in contemporary Gallic movies. Most important, the BAM show includes what is, for me, the finest film of the past year, Tunisian-born Abdellatif Kechiche's "The Secret of the Grain," which was ignored at Tribeca. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 3 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York ] October 30, 2008 iW NEWS | Macedonian Film Fest Set For NYC
The Macedonian Film Fund in association with International Film Circuit announced that it will present the first Macedonian Film Festival in New York City, from November 20th through November 23rd at The Village East Cinema. The festival will screen Teona Strugar Mitevska's "I Am From Titov Veles" as the opening night film, while other screenings include Milcho Manchevski's "Before The Rain," Sergej Stanojkovski's "Kontakt," Ivo Trajkov's "The Great Water," Darko Mitrevski's "Bal-Can-Can," Milcho Manchevski's "Dust," Stole Popov's "Happy New Year," Kiril Cenevski's "Black Seed" and Igor Ivanov's "Upside Down." Several directors of the ten films featured in The Macedonian Film Festival will attend the public screenings of their films for Q&As. For the complete schedule of screening times, please visit this website. [Peter Knegt]  [permalink] [ filed under Festivals, New York ] October 21, 2008 DISPATCH FROM THE HAMPTONS | Bruce Weber & Ellen Kuras in Spotlight as Fest Refines Course
Is it wrong to compare every American weekend festival to Telluride? The venerable Colorado fest sets the standard with its mix of new works, classics, intimate networking, a laid back vibe and a beautiful setting. Notably, the Hamptons International Film Festival took a step in the right direction this year, offering a slightly more casual scene, a tighter program, events for industry insiders, and weather that cooperated all weekend. As with other favorite weekend getaway fests -- such as Provincetown, Nantucket, and Woodstock -- the Hamptons event has perservered. And this year, it found an even stronger international hook under the leadership of new executive director Karen Arikian (and new director of programming David Nugent), drawing a strong presence of filmmakers and industry from overseas. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York, On The Scene ] October 19, 2008 DISPATCH FROM THE HAMPTONS | "Troubled Water," "Herb and Dorothy" Dominate at 16th Hamptons Fest
Norwegian director Erik Poppe's "Troubled Water" and Japanese director Megumi Sasaki's "Herb and Dorothy" won big at the Hamptons International Film Festival this afternoon, with both features winning jury and audience prizes in their categories. "Water" took the festival's Golden Starfish for Best Narrative Feature, while "Herb" received the Golden Starfish for Documentary Feature Film -- and both won their respective audienece prizes -- during a ceremony in East Hampton, New York today hosted by "The Daily Show" co-creator Lizz Winstead. The narrative award includes a package of $185,000 in in-kind production services, while the doc nod includes a $5,000 cash prize. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York, On The Scene ] October 17, 2008  HAMPTONS '08 | Baldwin and Folks
At a Nick & Toni's brunch today in East Hampton, frequent Hamptons International Film Festival guest Alec Baldwin (center) sits down with some of the actors participatiing in this year's Breakthrough Performers program at the fest. Pictured with Baldwin for some casual conversation and tasty Nick & Toni's food at the popular local restaurant are Kate Mara (near left) from "Stone of Destiny," Jake Abel from "Flash of Genius" (far right) and Annamaria Marinca from "Boogie" (and "4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days"). This year's Breakthrough program features a mix of three Rising Stars from the U.S. program and Shooting Stars from the European Film Promotion program. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Hamptons Film Festival, New York, On The Scene ]  HAMPTONS '08 | Bibi Andersson!
Regarded as the most expensive Scandinavian film ever made, Peter Flinth's "Arn The Knight Temple" will have its North American premiere here at the Hamptons International Film Festival tonight. Pictured with Hamptons fest programmer David Nugent (right) are stars Joakim Natterqvist and legendary Ingmar Bergman collaborator Bibi Andersson. Given her work with Bergman on "The Seventh Seal," "Wild Strawberries," and "Brink of Life," Andersson has had folks excitedly buzzing here in the Hamptons. "Arn" is a medieval story from Sweden's history that insiders here in the Hamptons have been touting to locals and industry attendees alike. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Hamptons Film Festival, New York, On The Scene ]  DISPATCH FROM THE HAMPTONS | Barendrecht, Israel, Valentino and International Fare in Focus
A previous guest of the Hamptons International Film Festival, former European Film Market leader Karen Arikian yesterday emphasized the international focus of HIFF's event in its 16th edition. Arikian is back in the U.S. from her previous post in Berlin and is now the new executive director of the Hamptons event on Long Island. The fest opened Wedenesday night with Matt Tyrnauer's acclaimed documentary about famous Italian fashion figure, Valentino in the doc, "Valentino: The Last Emperor. The following night, and keeping with a tradition started several years ago, indieWIRE and HIFF collaborated on the annual "Industry Toast" - this year, saluting Fortissimo's Wouter Barendrecht. But, back on the fest's world focus at the opening night party, a Hamptons-based artist told the local TV channel, "The more international it becomes, the less local it becomes." [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York, On The Scene ] October 7, 2008 NYFF '08 | Assayas Discusses His "Summer Hours," Martel's "Woman" Makes NYC Debut
As the 46th New York Film Festival winds down through its second and final week, indieWIRE had the chance to hear from two of its featured directors. Olivier Assayas, whose "Summer Hours" made its U.S. debut at the festival, sat down for an interview at The Park Lane Hotel last Thursday, while Lucrecia Martel, Argentine director of "The Headless Woman" spoke after the film's Monday press screening at the Walter Reade Theater. The New York Film Festival runs through Sunday, October 12. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York, New York Film Festival, On The Scene ] October 6, 2008 DISPATCH FROM NEW YORK | Woodstock: A True American Maverick Among Fests; "Broadway" and "Dream" Take Top Prizes
Woodstock is a town perpetually caught up in its funky mythology. However, the Woodstock Film Festival -- now on the verge of its tenth anniversary -- has a separate legacy in the works. The cozy scenery of this quaint artists' colony hides a passionate gathering of cinephiles and professionals alike. Founded in 1999 by Meira Blaustein and Laurent Rejto, the festival's ninth year culminated on Saturday night with an impressively upscale awards ceremony in the nearby city of Kingston, where the combination of guests in attendance looked like the set-up for a film industry geek joke: Ang Lee, James Schamus, Kevin Smith and Haskell Wexler walk into a bar... [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York, On The Scene ] October 5, 2008 NYFF '08 | "Gomorrah," Garrone and Scorsese in NYC; Wong Kar Wai Revisits "Ashes of Time"
There is no slick soundtrack and no Hollywood stars playing criminals, but Italian director Matteo Garrone's "Gomorrah," which won the Cannes Film Festival's grand prize, and is currently screening at the New York Film Festival, is nothing short of riveting, and sadly - real. Over the last thirty years, the Comorra crime syndicate has murdered 4,000 people in Italy's Naples and Caserta provinces. That number tops assasinations by the IRA, ETA and other European terrorist organizations. Additionally, its economic might is estimated to be an immense 150 billion Euros per year via drug and arms trafficking and other "enterprises" such as "protection" as well as by doing business in seemingly legitimate businesses as construction, tourism, textiles, trasport, fuel, distribution, food, supermarkets, restaurants, retail and banking. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York, On The Scene ] September 30, 2008iW Presents | Wong Kar Wai talks music & film [Apple Store, SoHo]
This weekend, while he is in town for the New York Film Festival, indieWIRE presents a conversation with filmmaker Wong Kar Wai. He will discuss how music is used in his films and show scenes from "Ashes of Time Redux." October 4th, 3:00 p.m.
Apple Store, SoHo
The event is free, seating is limited. September 28, 2008 NYFF '08 | Politics and Cantet on Opening Night; Film Criticism in Focus; and McQueen's "Hunger"
It's hardly a surprise that the U.S. presidential race was a hot topic on Friday night as the New York Film Festival kicked off in Manhattan with its traditional bash. With fewer than 40 days before the American general election, the opening night screening of Laurent Cantet's "The Class" took place at the same time as the first televised debate between Senators John McCain and Barack Obama. Heavy mist dampened the post-screening party at Tavern on the Green in Central Park where guests seemed torn between talking about the opening night film, winner of this year's Palme d'Or in Cannes, and the evening's debate. Reactions to both seemed about the same: somewhat mixed. Although enthusiasm for both the film and Barack Obama's performance was considerable among those informally polled throughout the night - though the crowd were most likely not a typical cross-section of America's political spectrum. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York, On The Scene ] September 18, 2008 DISPATCH FROM NYC | Winners and Porno: IFP's Independent Film Week Defies the Economic Woes with $50K Prize
The savviest independent filmmakers showing a wide variety of works-in-progress this week at IFP's Independent Film Week Conference understood the importance of pleasing their audiences. On countless panels and ongoing discussions around town, members of the industry lamented the current state of affairs with familiar anxiety, discouraged because the current glut of product hasn't made things any easier. But when Kevin Smith took the stage last Sunday to mark the fifteenth anniversary of his own journey to IFP with "Clerks," he insisted that filmmakers set on finishing their projects mainly need to focus on impressing anyone willing to invest. "It doesn't matter if you have ten bucks or ten million bucks - your job remains the same," he said. "Making it with someone else's money is better." [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York ] September 17, 2008 DISPATCH FROM NYC | At IFP Conference, Snag Talks Dual Online/Hamptons Fest Premieres; Others Explore Net Opportunities
During an appearance at IFP's Independent Film Week Conference today, SnagFilms CEO Rick Allen revealed several plans to premiere new documentaries online. As SnagFilms' library continues to expand, the company will stream two documentaries in conjunction with screenings of both films at the Hamptons International Film Festival next month, and the company is hosting an online sidebar of festival films. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York ] September 16, 2008 FIRST PERSON | Peter Broderick: "Welcome To The New World of Distribution," Part 2
EDITORS NOTE: Peter Broderick's look at the distribution concludes today at indieWIRE. While almost everyone seems to have an opinion about the state of the Old World of Distribution, the New World is much harder to assess. Although its population is growing rapidly and there are a number of boomtowns, much of it remains unexplored. There are no maps or guidebooks. Fortunately I have accompanied hundreds of filmmakers on their journeys, and many others have sent me reports from the frontiers. Here is an overview of what many independents have discovered so far about the geography of the New World: [ read more in People ] [ 5 comments ] [ filed under First Person, Lead Story, New York ]  DISPATCH FROM NYC | Pondering the Future at Independent Film Week: Festivals and Distribution
Dedicated to the theme "Filmmaking 2.0," the first weekday of Independent Film Week '08 explored changes emerging in the film business at F.I.T. in New York City. Sundance's Geoff Gilmore spoke out about the state of festivals and imagined what such events might be like in a decade, while Rainbow Media chief Josh Sapan elaborated on his companies growing strategy to bring indie, foreign and doc features to home theaters via video-on-demand. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, New York ] September 15, 2008 FIRST PERSON | Peter Broderick: "Welcome To The New World of Distribution," Part 1
Welcome to the New World of Distribution. Many filmmakers are emigrating from the Old World, where they have little chance of succeeding. They are attracted by unprecedented opportunities and the freedom to shape their own destiny. Life in the New World requires them to work harder, be more tenacious, and take more risks. There are daunting challenges and no guarantees of success. But this hasn't stopped more and more intrepid filmmakers from exploring uncharted territory and staking claims. [ read more in People ] [ 6 comments ] [ filed under First Person, Lead Story, New York ] September 14, 2008 indieWIRE PROFILE | "Medicine For Melancholy" Director Barry Jenkins
"We stopped seeking validation and just went out and made the movie," filmmaker Barry Jenkins explained last week in Toronto, sitting down to chat a bit about his first feature "Medicine For Melancholy." A Toronto International Film Festival Discovery section title, the acclaimed fest circuit film, acquired over the summer by IFC Films, is launching IFP's Independent Film Week on Monday in Manhattan after winning the audience award at the San Francisco International Film Festival and hitting a number of other fests. A low-budget indie feature set in San Francisco, the film follows two people during the 24 hours after they meet and hook up. It's about, in Jenkins' words, "the naivete of the morning after. Trying to forge an emotional connection from a physical act." [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, New York, Profiles ] August 21, 2008 NY NY | McDowell at Lincoln Center, Jacobs in Brooklyn and Smith Performs For Podlewski
As New York's cinematic summer nears its finale, a few notable film personalities, both young and old, drifted through town for a variety of showcases. Downtown, Patti Smith gave a concise, impromptu performance at Film Forum for one of her last appearances following a screening of the documentary, "Patti Smith: Dream of Life." On the other side of the water in Brooklyn, filmmaker Azazel Jacobs swung by the Brooklyn Academy of Music as the retrospective of his work came to a close with the premiere of his latest feature, "Momma's Man." [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, New York, New York Weekly, On The Scene ] August 19, 2008iW NEWS | 28 Films On Tap For Latinbeat
The Film Society of Lincoln Center's annual Latinbeat series announced their 2008 programming, which presents 28 films from 11 different countries. This year's series hosts films from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Venezuela and the United States. "Never before has the landscape of Latin American film been richer and more varied in style, genre, theme, location and the number of countries explored," says the Film Society's Marcela Goglio, who curated the series with Film Society program director Richard Pena, in a statement. "The number of strong, arresting works and the range of exciting unique personal voices reflect the diversity and overall cultural effervescence of the region itself." Announced titles include Lucia Cedron's "Lamb of God," Laura Amelia-Guzman's "Cochochi," Ishtar Yasin Gutierrez's "The Path," Wolney Oliveira's "El cayo de la muerte," Mariana Randon's "Postcards from Leningrad," Anahi Berneri's "Encarnacion" and Enrique Fernandez and Cesar Charlone's "The Pope's Toilet." Latinbeat runs from September 5-25, 2008 at the Walter Reade Theater in New York City. For tickets and more information, visit their website. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals, New York, World Cinema ] August 18, 2008iW NEWS | BAMcinematek Presents "Best of NewFest"
BAMcinematek, the repertory film program at BAM Rose Cinemas, will present "The Best of NewFest: The 20th Anniversary New York Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Film Festival," this Friday through Sunday, August 22-24. The program will spotlight a selection of the 2008 programming, including are festival award winners "Pageant," directed by Ron Davis and Stewart Halpern (Audience Award For Best Feature), and "The Lost Coast," directed by Gabriel Fleming (Best U.S. Narrative Feature Award). Other films include Lonnie Tristan Renteria's "Ebony Chunky Love," Shamim Sharif's "The World Unseen," Morgan Jon Fox's "OMG/HaHaHa," James Vasquez's "Ready? Ok!," Monalisa McComb's "Being Proud, Black, & LGBT In America," Charles B. Brack's "Dreams Deferred," Hanifah Walidah and Olive Demetrius' "U People," and the short programs "Maneater" and "Girls On Film." Tickets are available at the BAM Rose Cinemas box office or online. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Events, Festivals, New York, Queer Cinema ] August 15, 2008 NY NY | BAM Spotlights Gould, McDowell Takes On Anderson and a NY NY Goodbye
[EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the final New York column from Charlie Olsky. He recently took a position with Susan Norget in publicity. We will miss him.] This week in New York, the Brooklyn Academy of Music got uptight with Elliott Gould, Malcolm McDowell refused to apologize to Lindsay Anderson, and I started a new job which will conflict with writing this column in the future. So long! [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 1 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, New York, New York Weekly, On The Scene ] August 13, 2008 INDEPENDENT FILM WEEK '08 | 37 Projects On Board For No Borders
IFP today announced the 37 projects that have been accepted for the No Borders International Co-Production Market, one of three sections of IFP's "Project Forum" to be held during the 30th Annual Independent Film Week, September 14-19, 2008, in New York City. Heading into its 14th year, No Borders is the only international co-production market in the U.S., connecting U.S. and international narrative projects at the script stage with financiers and buyers. "No Borders has become one of the great success stories of IFP's first 30 years," said Michelle Byrd, executive director of IFP, in a statement. "Since 2004 when the program became restricted to narrative projects, we've had 151 projects take part in a record-setting 1,688 financing meetings. The efficiency and impact of the program has grown dramatically since inception." [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival News, Lineups, New York ] August 12, 2008 NYFF '08 | Eastwood's "Changeling," Aronofsky's "Wrestler" Join French Heavy New York Film Festival Slate
The full selections for the 46th New York Film Festival were unveiled today with Cannes 2008 titles featuring prominently in this year's event, taking place September 26 - October 12. The North American premiere of Clint Eastwood's "Changeling" will screen as the festival's Centerpiece, while Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler" will close out the festival, considered a major highlight of the New York film community's calendar year. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, Lineups, New York, New York Film Festival ] August 8, 2008 Hynes, Norget, Olsky
At a backyard party last night in SoHo, Susan Norget (center) marked a changing of the guard at her eponymous PR firm, bidding a fond farewell to colleague Eric Hynes (left) and welcoming Charlie Olsky (right). Hynes a contributor to indieWIRE (via Reverse Shot) prior to joining Susan Norget Film Promotion is heading off to grad school at NYU this fall, while Olsky will be leaving his role as a local New York journalist (and frequent iW contributor) later this month when he joins Norget at her company. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under NYC Parties & Events 2008, New York ] July 17, 2008 NY NY | "Exiles" Premieres at IFC, MoMA Waxes Brazil and BAM Spotlights Gordon Green
For residents of New York, there are a number of imperatives this week. New Yorkers: Go see Kent Mackenzie's lost masterpiece "The Exiles" at the IFC Center! Go meet David Gordon Green, the director with the strongest authorial voice of his generation, and see some of the films that have influenced him! And go get a Brazilian! [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, New York, New York Weekly, On The Scene ] July 15, 2008 NYFF '08 | Cannes Winner, "The Class," to Open 46th New York Film Festival
Laurent Cantet's "The Class" (Entre les murs), winner of the Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival, will open the 2008 New York Film Festival on September 26th. NYFF 2008 will unspool this year at the Zeigfeld Theater in Manhattan due to ongoing renovations at its traditional opening venue, Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall. The event will continue through October 12th. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival News, Lead Story, New York, On The Scene ] July 10, 2008 NY NY | BAM Goes Punk, "Rattle" Takes Iraq to Cali and those Ubiquitous Summer Fests
New Yorkers fled from the city in droves during the long Independence Day weekend, but for those left behind to deal with the heat had a few options on the film front. The 4th annual Afro-Punk Festival combined music and film with race awareness, and the documentary "Full Battle Rattle" showed off a bizzaro-Iraq where all the blood is fake. And for those looking for further entertainment, peruse the abbreviated guide to this summer's outdoor movies. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, New York, New York Weekly ] July 7, 2008 NY NY | Celebrating Zeitgeist, Kon and Japan
New York saw at least one triumph in an unlikely field this week, as MoMA saluted Zeitgeist Films, still going strong at 20 despite the failure of countless other distribution companies. And those interested in Japanese film were awash in opportunity; besides the continuing Nakadai retrospective at Film Forum, Lincoln Center celebrated animator Satoshi Kon with a mid-career retrospective, and Japan Cuts offered a look at the range of contemporary Japanese cinema. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, New York, New York Weekly ] June 13, 2008 NEWFEST '08 | "Tru Loved" in New York
The folks from "Tru Loved" opened the 20th NewFest, New York's LGBT Film Festival last weekend. Striking a pose in front of their poster during the pre-screening party in Manhattan were producer/actor Antonio Brown, lead actress Najarra Townsend and director/writer Stewart Wade. NewFest continues through the weekend and closes Sunday with "Were the World Mine" by Thomas Gustafson. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under NYC Parties & Events 2008, New York ]  NEWFEST '08 | Filmmakers Make the 2nd Decade
A slew of filmmakers and more joined the festivities as NewFest launched its 20th edition this week in New York, brushing off the muggy weather for some good times. Left to right: Richard Berkowitz, subject of doc "Sex Positive," Spencer Schilly, director of "The Houseboy," NewFest administrative director Kerry Weldon, Yair Hochner writer-director of "Antarctica," Gustav Hofer and Luca Ragazzi, co-directors and subjects of "Suddenly Last Summer." [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under NYC Parties & Events 2008, New York ] June 12, 2008 NY NY | MoMI Mounts Herzog, Rooftop Stays Local, Film Society Goes Italian, and Webbys go Gondry
This past week in New York was all about climbing. Two people created a public spectacle climbing the New York Times building as Werner Herzog gave a talk inside. Meanwhile, people climbed onto the Open Road Rooftop to celebrate the opening of Rooftop Films summer series, and the temperatures climbed into the upper 90s and stayed there along with heat's best friend humidity... Summer's here! [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, New York, New York Weekly ] June 5, 2008 NY NY | "Stranger" Takes a Bow with Maysles, Sundance Goes Brooklyn and NewFest Turns a Twink 20
June is busting out all over, and NYC programmers have been going into overdrive as the temperatures start to soar. Sundance returned to Brooklyn this week, with a full 10 days of programming at BAM, while Albert Maysles helped see "Stranger Than Fiction"'s season to a close at IFC Center downtown with rare screenings of some classic work. And this week, NewFest helps launch pride month during its 20th blow out. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, New York, New York Weekly ] May 29, 2008 NY NY | Israel's 60th, Media That Matters, Sundance and BAM, Brooklyn International Fest, and Being "Bourne"
Memorial Day weekend saw absolutely perfect weather in New York, as well as the absence of most film programmers, the quiet is not to last. The summer season has now kicked off, with the Film Society of Lincoln Center's tribute to Israel's 60th anniversary and the Media that Matters Film Festival launch at the IFC Center. The packed upcoming week features a prom, a failed heavy metal band, a 9/11 conspiracy thriller and a conversation between the Bourne filmmakers and a neuroscientist. Let summer begin! [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, New York Weekly ] May 5, 2008 TRIBECA '08 | Catching up on 20 Interviews, Critics Notebooks Dispatches and More from the Festival
The 2008 Tribeca Film Festival came to a close over the weekend in New York City and indieWIRE is wrapping up its coverage from the 12-day event. Our festival dispatches, interviews, critics notebooks amounted to twenty related articles on this year's festival, which took place April 23 - May 4 in addition to iPOP photos and buzz items. We invite you to check out iW's coverage from Tribeca. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, New York, Wrap Ups ]  TRIBECA '08 | The Peeps with the $$
Tribeca Film Festival founders Jane Rosenthal and Robert DeNiro toward the end of the awards ceremony at the Target Room, which you know... Honestly, was a surprisingly a good show. The awards were fun. And congrats! to Tomas Alfredson for "Let the Right One In" who won the big bucks (even with the shitty dollar-- thanks Bush) who won the Founders Award for Best Narative Feature and to Gini Reticker for "Pray the Devil Back to Hell" taking best doc.... (also big bucks -- $25 Ks all around, not bad!). To check out all the winners and all that, go to this. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, Tribeca Film Festival ]  TRIBECA '08 | Korine and b
More from Tribeca '08: Probably the best chance to ever get in the hottest place one earth at the moment with a low ceiling is this joint (and somehow immune from the no smoking law in NYC?) Plus, the clientele is honestly sort of too much... though in a sort of Us kind of way... Though some of that rumor may be just from the chattering classes.... Anyway, we digress... A cool part of last week was hanging (or seeing) "Mr. Lonely" director Harmony Korine with fashion designer Agnes b. (um, Agnes f'n b god damnit!!! And we owe her lots of $$$$ -euros-) at the Beatrice Inn in Greenwich Village in New York. (Go there... 285 W. 12th St. -- you won't believe the warm reception...) A DAMN good party for "Lonely," merci Agnes and ifc. Where's Andy? [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, Tribeca Film Festival ] May 4, 2008iW NEWS | "War Child" Wins Tribeca Audience Prize
C. Karim Chrobog's' "War Child" won The Cadillac Award, receiving a $25,000 cash prize after being named the audience favorite at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. The event, which concludes today in Manhattan, presented jury prizes earlier in the week, naming Tomas Alfredson's "Let the Right One In" (Lat den ratte komma in) the best narrative feature, while Gini Reticker's "Pray the Devil Back to Hell" won best documentary feature prize. Complete coversage of the festival is available in indieWIRE's special section. [permalink] [ filed under Honors, New York ] May 2, 2008 Schamus in the Spotlight
Focus Features CEO James Schamus (center), pictured with filmmaker Ang Lee and Focus president Andrew Karpen, was honored during a black tie event hosted by the Museum of the Moving Image on Wednesday night in New York City. Also honored was Showtime Networks CEO Matt Blank. While serving in the executive ranks at a leading studio specialty division, Schamus is also an acclaimed producer and screenwriter. His longtime collaboration with Ang Lee has yielded such films as "Brokeback Mountain," "Lust, Caution," and "Sense and Sensibility," among many others. A co-founder of Good Machine, which was later acquired by Universal Studios to create Focus Features, Schamus is a professor at Columbia University's School of the Arts. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under NYC Parties & Events 2008, New York ] indieWIRE PRESENTS | TODAY: Adam Yauch and Tribeca Student Filmmakers@ Apple Store SoHo
Apple and indieWIRE daily Filmmaker Talks CONTINUE at the Apple Store, SoHo during the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. Adam Yauch: Friday, May 2, 6:30 p.m. Before turning to film and directing--first with Awesome; I Shot That! and then with Gunnin' for That #1 Spot (now screening at the Tribeca Film Festival)--Adam Yauch also remains a founding member of the hip-hop trio Beastie Boys. He brings a unique perspective to filmmaking, which you'll discover as he discusses his latest project and fields questions from the audience. ABC News Radio's Movie Critic David Blaustein will moderate the discussion.
Student Filmmaker Panel: Friday, May 2, 8:00 p.m. Read the entire lineup here. [permalink] [ filed under Events, New York ] May 1, 2008 TRIBECA '08 | "Let the Right One In" and "Pray the Devil" Among Top Tribeca Fest Winners
Swedish director Tomas Alfredson's "Let the Right One In" (Lat den ratte komma in), recently acquired by Magnolia Pictures' genre label Magnet, won the Founders Award for Best Narative Feature tonight at the Tribeca Film Festival's awards event held at the Target-Tribeca Filmmaker Lounge in downtown New York City. The prize includes $25,000 in cash and an art award entitled, "Maternal Nocture: Clearing Storm" created by Stephen Hannock. Director Gini Reticker's "Pray the Devil Back to Hell" won best documentary feature, also receiving $25,000 and a piece of art called "Liza Minnelli" by Timothy White. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival News, Lead Story, New York ] iW NEWS | TV Deal for "Waiting for Hockney"
Channel 4 and More 4 have announced a UK television deal for Julia Checkoway's "Waiting For Hockney," about American artist Billy Pappas. The film had its world premiere in the Discovery section at the Tribeca Film Festival. [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, New York ] indieWIRE PRESENTS | TODAY: Harmony Korine @ Apple Store SoHo
Apple and indieWIRE daily Filmmaker Talks continue at the Apple Store, SoHo during the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. Harmony Korine: Thursday, May 1, 6:30 p.m. Hear screenwriter, director, and producer Harmony Korine (Gummo, Julien Donkey-Boy) discuss Mister Lonely, his third feature film. Screening at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, Mister Lonely debuted at Cannes, and is scheduled for release by IFC Films on May 2, 2008. Film Producer Scott Macaulay (Gummo, Julien Donkey-Boy, Raising Victor Vargas) will moderate the discussion. Read the entire lineup here. [permalink] [ filed under Events, New York ] April 30, 2008 TRIBECA CRITICS NOTEBOOK 3 | Some Gems at TFF: "Bitter & Twisted," "Bart Got a Room," "Days in Sintra"
Now that I have seen dozens and dozens of films in this 7th Tribeca Film Festival, I want to correct myself. I was wrong in my first report. Tribeca is unique, and occupies a certain niche in New York that belongs to it alone. It is neither film festival nor film market. It is closer to Las Vegas's Showest, or Orlando's Show East, which are more mainstream in their focus than, say, artier events like the New York Film Festival, although it is eclectic enough to include "high art" movies, too. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 4 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York ]  TRIBECA '08 INTERVIEW | "Old Man Bebo" Director Carlos Carcas and "Donkey in Lahore" Director Faramarz K-Rahber
EDITORS NOTE: This is part of a series of interviews, conducted via email, profiling directors who have films screening at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. Carlos Carcas' "Old Man Bebo and Faramarz K-Rahber's "Donkey in Lahore" are both screening in the World Documentary Competition at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. "Bebo," a Spanish doc, follows the career of legendary musician Bebo Baldes, a key figure in the development of mambo. "Donkey," from Australia, details couple Brian and Amber, who are tested when Brian has to convert to Islam to marry Amber. Both directors talked to indieWIRE about their films and their expectations for Tribeca. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Interviews, New York ] indieWIRE PRESENTS | TODAY: Greg Mottola @ Apple Store SoHo
Apple and indieWIRE daily Filmmaker Talks CONTINUE at the Apple Store, SoHo during the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. Greg Mottola: Wednesday, April 30, 6:30 p.m. The director of last year's smash hit Superbad, Greg Mottola (The Daytrippers, Undeclared, Arrested Development) has written and directed a new film, Adventureland, scheduled for release by Miramax later this year. Greg will discuss his latest comedy with audience members. indieWIRE Editor in Chief Eugene Hernandez will moderate the discussion. Read the entire lineup here. [permalink] [ filed under Events, New York ] April 29, 2008iW NEWS | Filmax Goes with "Paraiso Travel"
Filmax has acquired international sales rights and Spanish theatrical rights to Simon Brand's "Paraiso Travel." Screening as a North American premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, Filmax will have the title in the Cannes Market next month. CAA is handling North American rights. Based on Jorge Franco's book, the film has already been a hit in Colombia, where it was one of the two two grossing films ever in the country. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, New York ]  TRIBECA '08 INTERVIEW | "Baghdad High" Co-Directors Ivan O'Mahoney and Laura Winter
EDITORS NOTE: This is part of a series of interviews, conducted via email, profiling directors who have films screening at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. Ivan O'Mahoney and Laura Winter's "Baghdad High" follows the lives of ordinary Iraqis during the war. Screening in the World Documentary Competition at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, O'Mahoney and Winter gave four Iraqi high school seniors a digital camera to record a year in the lives. The result is a film that shows how remarkably similar these teenagers' lives are compared to those in the Western world. indieWIRE talked to both filmmakers about the film and their expectations for its North American Premiere at Tribeca. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Interviews, New York ] VAR | IFC Takes "Fermat's Room"
IFC has acquired North American rights to Luis Piedrahita and Rodrigo Sopena's "Fermat's Room," according to Variety. The film is currently screening in the Discovery section at the Tribeca Film Festival. [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, New York ]  TRIBECA '08 INTERVIEW | "57,000 Kilometers Between Us" Director Delphine Kreuter
EDITORS NOTE: This is part of a series of interviews, conducted via email, profiling directors who have films screening at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. Screening in the World Narrative Competition at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, director Delphine Kreuter makes her feature film debut with "57,000 Kilometers Between Us." Kreuter, a photographer and video artist, takes on the idea of connecting in today's world by following one dysfunctional family. Kreuter talked to indieWIRE about the film and her hopes for its North American premiere at Tribeca. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Interviews, New York ]  TRIBECA PROFILE | "My Winnipeg" Director Guy Maddin
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Guy Maddin's "My Winnipeg" is screening at the 7th Tribeca Film Festival, currently underway. IFC First Take will release the film in theaters beginning in June in the U.S.] "I was going in the direction that all indie directors go," said filmmaker Guy Maddin, reflecting on his career. "It was fun to do a U-turn and go in the opposite direction. Ironically, if I go to Hollywood, I'd be happier going this way. I'll get there on my own strengths, if I get there at all." Maddin, talking to a moderator Dennis Lim in front of a crowd that gathered at the Apple Store SoHo Sunday night (co-hosted with indieWIRE), is referring to the primitive nature of his recent films, most particularly "My Winnipeg," which is making its U.S. debut at the Tribeca Film Festival this week. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, Profiles ] indieWIRE PRESENTS | TODAY: Tom Kalin and Isabella Rossellini @ Apple Store SoHo
Apple and indieWIRE daily Filmmaker Talks CONTINUE at the Apple Store, SoHo during the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. Tom Kalin: Tuesday, April 29, 6:30 p.m. Screenwriter, director, and producer Tom Kalin (Swoon) comes to the Tribeca Film Festival to screen Savage Grace, which tells the story of the Barbara Daly Baekeland murder case. Starring Julianne Moore, Savage Grace is scheduled for release by IFC Films on May 30, 2008. During his Filmmaker Talk, Tom will discuss his latest film project and answer audience questions. indieWIRE Editor in Chief Eugene Hernandez will moderate the discussion. Isabella Rossellini: Tuesday, April 29, 8:00 p.m. Successful model and actress Isabella Rossellini (Blue Velvet, Big Night, Fearless) wrote My Dad Is 100 Years Old and makes her directorial debut in the experimental Green Porno, a series of short films she also conceived, wrote, and appears in. She produced Green Porno in association with the Sundance Channel. Comical but insightful studies of the sex lives of various creatures, Green Porno screens at this year's Tribeca Film Festival, and Isabella will discuss the series during her Filmmaker Talk. US Weekly film critic Thelma Adams will moderate the discussion. Read the entire lineup here. [permalink] [ filed under Events, New York ] April 28, 2008 TRIBECA CRITICS NOTEBOOK 2 | Docs: Topical or Art? Or Both? The Highs and Lows
EDITOR'S NOTE: In the second of three critics notebooks, New York-based film critic Howard Feinstein takes a look at some of the documentary offerings at this year's Tribeca Film Festival. Feinstein, a former editor at the Village Voice and a current programmer at the Sarajevo Film Festival, also offers up some opinion on presenting docs as vehicles for discussion vs. their worthiness as art. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 1 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York ]  TRIBECA '08 | Moore and Kalin do "Savage Grace"
Director Tom Kalin (left) and star Julianne Moore joined about 150 for a dinner hosted by IFC in Manhattan's Meatpacking District for their film, "Savage Grace," which screened at the Tribeca Film Festival over the weekend. The film is a dramatization of the shocking Barbara Daly Baekeland murder case, which happened in a posh London flat on November 17, 1972. Joining Moore and Kalin before sitting down to eat were IFC Entertainment's Lisa Schwartz, Comcast's Diana Kerekus and IFC Entertainment president, Jonathan Sehring. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, Tribeca Film Festival ]  TRIBECA '08 | Mitchell and Hilton
Director John Cameron Mitchell ("Shortbus") arrived about 1am at the "Squeezebox" party after giving a chat at Yale. He performed a song with friend/collaborator Stephen Trask from "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," which had its beginnings at the '90s nightclub of the same name. Hanging out with Mitchell at the party was super blogger Perez Hilton. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, Tribeca Film Festival ]  TRIBECA '08 | Karen Black Takes it Off
The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black made their grand entrance all painted up and ready to cast spells over the weekend at the "Squeezebox" premiere. The group performed a nice little set at the party along with other denizens of the night. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, Tribeca Film Festival ]  TRIBECA '08 INTERVIEW | "Trucker" Director James Mottern
EDITORS NOTE: This is part of a series of interviews, conducted via email, profiling directors who have films screening at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. Screening in the World Narrative Competition at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, John Mottern makes his feature directorial debut with "Trucker." The film follows Diane Ford (Michelle Monaghan), a truck driver with a tendency for bar benders and one-night stands. That changes when her estranged 11-year old son shows up at her door when her ex-husband (Benjamin Bratt) is hospitalized. Mottern, who previously wrote and directed documentaries for BBC and Discovery, talked to indieWIRE about the film and his expectations for its world premiere at Tribeca. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Interviews, New York ] indieWIRE PRESENTS | TODAY: Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock @ Apple Store SoHo
Apple and indieWIRE are again proud to present daily Filmmaker Talks at the Apple Store, SoHo during the upcoming 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. Morgan Spurlock: Monday, April 28, 6:30 p.m. With Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?, screenwriter and documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) seeks to do what the CIA, FBI, and U.S. military have not been able to: find Osama. Join Morgan as he discusses the film (being released this month by the Weinstein Company). The event will be moderated by indieWIRE Editor in Chief Eugene Hernandez. Read the entire lineup here. [permalink] [ filed under Events, New York ] April 27, 2008 TRIBECA '08 DISPATCH | Clive Owen, Film Critics and "Squeezebox!"
Recalling a night at former New York City club Motherfucker back in 2002 where he watched early footage of "Squeezebox!," Tribeca Film Festival programming head David Kwok saluted a group of local filmmakers (and their fans) for their perserverance and patience in bringing the documentary to the big screen. At the time, the group -- including directors Steve Saporito & Zach Schaffer and producer Lyle Derek -- expected to finish their film by the end of 2002. Yet, even back then they warned that it might take longer than that, "This is a personal project for all of us," Derek told indieWIRE six years go, "We want to really just take our time, this is a labor of love." [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York ] April 26, 2008indieWIRE Presents: Filmmaker Guy Maddin @ Apple Store SoHo
Apple and indieWIRE are again proud to present daily Filmmaker Talks at the Apple Store, SoHo during the upcoming 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. Guy Maddin: Sunday, April 27, 5:30 p.m. Filmmaker Guy Maddin (The Saddest Music in the World, Brand Upon the Brain!) discusses his latest film, My Winnipeg. A docu-fantasia, as he calls it, My Winnipeg won the Best Canadian Feature Film award at the Toronto International Film Festival. After screening at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, it will be released by IFC Films on June 13, 2008. The event will be moderated by film journalist and regular indieWIRE contributor Dennis Lim. Read the entire lineup here. [permalink] [ filed under Events, New York ]  TRIBECA '08 INTERVIEW | "My Marlon and Brando" Director Huseyin Karabey
EDITORS NOTE: This is part of a series of interviews, conducted via email, profiling directors who have films screening at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. Huseyin Karabey's "My Marlon and Brando retells the true story of Turkish actress Ayca Damgaci, who heads to Baghdad in search of her husband (her "marlon and brando"), Kurdish actor Hama Ali Khan. Damgaci co-wrote the script with Karabey and stars as herself i the film, which also features Khan's actual love letter videos he sent to Damgaci. indieWIRE talked to Karabey about the film, which is screening in the World Narrative Competition at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. [ read more in People ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Interviews, New York ]  TRIBECA '08 INTERVIEW | "Newcastle" Director Dan Castle
EDITORS NOTE: This is part of a series of interviews, conducted via email, profiling directors who have films screening at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. Screening in the World Narrative Competition at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, Dan Castle makes his directorial debut with "Newcastle." Previously helming a number of award-winning short films, Castle tells the story of three Australian brothers, each struggling to find a role in a world centered around surfing culture. indieWIRE talked to Castle about the film and its world premiere at Tribeca. [ read more in People ] [ 1 comments ] [ filed under Interviews, New York ] indieWIRE Presents: Filmmaker Tony Gilroy and Actress Amy Poehler @ Apple Store SoHo
Apple and indieWIRE are again proud to present daily Filmmaker Talks at the Apple Store, SoHo during the upcoming 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. Tony Gilroy: Saturday, April 26, 6:30 p.m. Nominated for two Academy Awards for Michael Clayton--for directing and original screenplay--Tony Gilroy wrote the scripts for Dolores Claiborne, Devil's Advocate, and all three Bourne movies. He'll speak with us about his next film, Duplicity (starring Clive Owen and Julia Roberts), which he wrote and is directing. SPECIAL GUEST MODERATOR! The event will be moderated by director/screenwriter Nora Ephron(When Harry Met Sally...</ |