Scandal at a film festival is usually generated by provocative auteurs or loose-lipped actors stirring up drama at press conferences. Last weekend’s laid-back Sonoma International Film Festival, held in the heart of California wine country, was a different story.
Numerous indie film players spotted Sundance Film Festival director Eugene Hernandez at the event, alongside his two predecessors in the role: John Cooper, who left in 2020, and Tabitha Jackson, who stepped down in 2022. All three were in town to screen films and mingle when the eye-popping news spread that Joana Vicente, CEO of Sundance, had resigned her post after less than three years. Surely these observers found the right pinot noir to pair with whispers about what Vicente’s exit means for Sundance — the 40-year-old nonprofit founded by Robert Redford, known in global cinema circles as a destination for artistic discovery. So, what the hell happened?
Vicente arrived at Sundance...
Numerous indie film players spotted Sundance Film Festival director Eugene Hernandez at the event, alongside his two predecessors in the role: John Cooper, who left in 2020, and Tabitha Jackson, who stepped down in 2022. All three were in town to screen films and mingle when the eye-popping news spread that Joana Vicente, CEO of Sundance, had resigned her post after less than three years. Surely these observers found the right pinot noir to pair with whispers about what Vicente’s exit means for Sundance — the 40-year-old nonprofit founded by Robert Redford, known in global cinema circles as a destination for artistic discovery. So, what the hell happened?
Vicente arrived at Sundance...
- 4/1/2024
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
The 27th Sonoma International Film Festival (March 20-24), as always, leaned into wine and food with the sold-out opening night U.S. premiere of Thomas Napper’s “Widow Clicquot” (Vertical Entertainment), starring Haley Bennett as the woman who saves the legendary winemaker’s legacy. The wine country film festival drew its highest audience attendance to date with a robust film slate programmed by artistic director Carl Spence (working with Executive Director Ginny Krieger), in his second year, including upcoming specialty fare like Luc Besson’s “DogMan” (Briarcliff Entertainment) starring Caleb Landry Jones in an incendiary performance, and Sony Pictures Classics’ raucous comedy “Wicked Little Letters,” starring Olivia Colman, along with a smattering of yummy wine and food events.
The five-day festival curated by Spence along with senior programmers Amanda Salazar and Ken Jacobson, showcased more than 100 films. Twenty-five countries were represented in this year’s lineup of 43 narrative features, 16 documentary features,...
The five-day festival curated by Spence along with senior programmers Amanda Salazar and Ken Jacobson, showcased more than 100 films. Twenty-five countries were represented in this year’s lineup of 43 narrative features, 16 documentary features,...
- 3/24/2024
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Joana Vicente is departing the Sundance Institute, where she has overseen the nonprofit and its storied film festival since late 2021. Sundance board member Amanda Kelso will step in as acting CEO through April, while Vicente will remain as an adviser to Kelso and the board through June.
Vicente came to Sundance from the Toronto International Film Festival, and arrived as Covid had pushed the festival online for 2021 and again in 2022. During her tenure, she spearheaded a hybrid format for 2023 and 2024, in which films would be viewed in person as well as online. Like most festivals, fundraising has been challenging due to the pandemic followed by pressures in the larger economy. In June, the Institute laid off 11 staffers. Vicente has also been under pressure to set the festival up for the long term and shape its vision amid a challenging landscape for independent film.
“I look back at the significant work...
Vicente came to Sundance from the Toronto International Film Festival, and arrived as Covid had pushed the festival online for 2021 and again in 2022. During her tenure, she spearheaded a hybrid format for 2023 and 2024, in which films would be viewed in person as well as online. Like most festivals, fundraising has been challenging due to the pandemic followed by pressures in the larger economy. In June, the Institute laid off 11 staffers. Vicente has also been under pressure to set the festival up for the long term and shape its vision amid a challenging landscape for independent film.
“I look back at the significant work...
- 3/22/2024
- by Aaron Couch and Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sara Kiener’s Sundance 2020 short film “The Shawl” is finding a new spotlight thanks to the Vimeo Staff Picks selection.
The coveted title has helped launch the careers of filmmakers Josh and Benny Safdie, Charlotte Wells, Kogonada, Eliza Hittman, David Lowery, and Ari Aster, and now Kiener is among those awarded with the Staff Pick badge honor for “The Shawl.”
The short film stars performers Dusty Childers and Shane O’Neill, who lend their respective voices to their animated counterparts, while they recall attending a Stevie Nicks concert. Illustrator Brianne Farley and director Kiener co-created the project, with Maya Edelman overseeing the animation.
Fleetwood Mac founder Nicks called the film “awesome,” and former Sundance Film Festival Director John Cooper called “The Shawl” a quintessential short film that emphasizes a mastery of the format. “The Shawl” went on to win a special jury award at SXSW 2020 and later screened at Rooftop Films and Outfest.
The coveted title has helped launch the careers of filmmakers Josh and Benny Safdie, Charlotte Wells, Kogonada, Eliza Hittman, David Lowery, and Ari Aster, and now Kiener is among those awarded with the Staff Pick badge honor for “The Shawl.”
The short film stars performers Dusty Childers and Shane O’Neill, who lend their respective voices to their animated counterparts, while they recall attending a Stevie Nicks concert. Illustrator Brianne Farley and director Kiener co-created the project, with Maya Edelman overseeing the animation.
Fleetwood Mac founder Nicks called the film “awesome,” and former Sundance Film Festival Director John Cooper called “The Shawl” a quintessential short film that emphasizes a mastery of the format. “The Shawl” went on to win a special jury award at SXSW 2020 and later screened at Rooftop Films and Outfest.
- 3/19/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
The champagne may be flowing at the kickoff for the 27th Annual Sonoma International Film Festival – for more reasons than one.
This year’s event in California’s wine country will open with the U.S. premiere of Widow Clicquot, directed by Thomas Napper, a narrative feature about the Grande Dame of Champagne. Actress Haley Bennett stars in the titular role of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot, “who against all odds advanced her late husband’s techniques to create the recipe for modern-day champagne.”
Siff, running from March 20-24, will showcase 43 narrative features, 16 documentary features, and 48 short films representing more than 25 countries, according to a release.
Maya Hawke in ‘Wildcat’
The festival’s Centerpiece Film is Wildcat, directed by Ethan Hawke and starring his daughter Maya Hawke as renowned Southern Gothic author Flannery O’Connor. The Closing Night Film is Luc Besson’s crime drama Dogman, starring Caleb Landry Jones. A Closing Night...
This year’s event in California’s wine country will open with the U.S. premiere of Widow Clicquot, directed by Thomas Napper, a narrative feature about the Grande Dame of Champagne. Actress Haley Bennett stars in the titular role of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot, “who against all odds advanced her late husband’s techniques to create the recipe for modern-day champagne.”
Siff, running from March 20-24, will showcase 43 narrative features, 16 documentary features, and 48 short films representing more than 25 countries, according to a release.
Maya Hawke in ‘Wildcat’
The festival’s Centerpiece Film is Wildcat, directed by Ethan Hawke and starring his daughter Maya Hawke as renowned Southern Gothic author Flannery O’Connor. The Closing Night Film is Luc Besson’s crime drama Dogman, starring Caleb Landry Jones. A Closing Night...
- 3/2/2024
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Robert M. Young, whose 70-year career included independent and studio documentaries, narrative features, and episodes of Battlestar: Galactica, died Tuesday in Los Angeles at 99. His death was confirmed in a Facebook post by his son.
Two of his films have recently been added to the Library of Congress Film Registry. They include ¡Alambrista! (1977), a film about the life of an undocumented Mexican immigrant, which won the Camera d’Or for best first film at Cannes, and The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez, (1982), one of Young’s eight films with actor Edward James Olmos. Based on a true story that inspired a corrido, it tells of a man on the run after a confrontation with police.
Both films are also part of the Criterion Collection.
Those films represented a recurring theme of Young’s career, one which showed his interest in bringing social issues to wider attention.
“We lose important people all the time,...
Two of his films have recently been added to the Library of Congress Film Registry. They include ¡Alambrista! (1977), a film about the life of an undocumented Mexican immigrant, which won the Camera d’Or for best first film at Cannes, and The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez, (1982), one of Young’s eight films with actor Edward James Olmos. Based on a true story that inspired a corrido, it tells of a man on the run after a confrontation with police.
Both films are also part of the Criterion Collection.
Those films represented a recurring theme of Young’s career, one which showed his interest in bringing social issues to wider attention.
“We lose important people all the time,...
- 2/10/2024
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Robert M. Young, one of the pioneers of American independent cinema whose work began nearly 70 years ago, died Tuesday in Los Angeles. The news was announced via a Facebook post from his son Andy.
In a career that lasted from 1956 to 2011 he directed documentaries, narrative features, both independent and studio releases, and even episodes of “Battlestar: Gallactica.” Two of his films have recently been added to the Library of Congress Film Registry. “¡Alambrista!” (1977), as timely today as when it was made, about the life of undocumented Mexican immigrant won the Camera d’or for best first film at Cannes. “The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez” (1982), one of Young’s eight films with actor Edward James Olmos, produced by American Playhouse but released theatrically, has also been included. Both films are also part of the Criterion Collection.
Though perhaps not as well known as some pre-Sundance independent American directors like John Cassavetes,...
In a career that lasted from 1956 to 2011 he directed documentaries, narrative features, both independent and studio releases, and even episodes of “Battlestar: Gallactica.” Two of his films have recently been added to the Library of Congress Film Registry. “¡Alambrista!” (1977), as timely today as when it was made, about the life of undocumented Mexican immigrant won the Camera d’or for best first film at Cannes. “The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez” (1982), one of Young’s eight films with actor Edward James Olmos, produced by American Playhouse but released theatrically, has also been included. Both films are also part of the Criterion Collection.
Though perhaps not as well known as some pre-Sundance independent American directors like John Cassavetes,...
- 2/10/2024
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
Skillet frontman John Cooper has taken offense to Demi Lovato’s pro-choice song “Swine,” calling it “pure evil” in a new interview rife with extreme comments.
For a while a now, Cooper has made more headlines for his sociopolitical views than his music. Most recently, the outspoken right-wing Christian rocker pontificated on abortion rights, first comparing pro-choice supporters to Hamas.
“Speaking of, guess who else cheers on baby murder — Americans,” he said in an interview with PluggedIn (as transcribed by Blabbermouth.) “Eight hundred thousand babies aborted a year. I looked it up … it’s over a quarter, over 25 percent of babies each year are aborted in this country. It’s absolutely crazy. But all of our celebrities cheer it on. Just like Hamas cheers it on… The point is that every day will give you new opportunities to explain to your kids, ‘Okay, you know the celebrities that your friends all really idolize?...
For a while a now, Cooper has made more headlines for his sociopolitical views than his music. Most recently, the outspoken right-wing Christian rocker pontificated on abortion rights, first comparing pro-choice supporters to Hamas.
“Speaking of, guess who else cheers on baby murder — Americans,” he said in an interview with PluggedIn (as transcribed by Blabbermouth.) “Eight hundred thousand babies aborted a year. I looked it up … it’s over a quarter, over 25 percent of babies each year are aborted in this country. It’s absolutely crazy. But all of our celebrities cheer it on. Just like Hamas cheers it on… The point is that every day will give you new opportunities to explain to your kids, ‘Okay, you know the celebrities that your friends all really idolize?...
- 1/22/2024
- by Jon Hadusek
- Consequence - Music
In 1973, the killer of Welsh teenagers Sandra Newton, Pauline Flynn and Gwendoline Hughes was not caught, despite a high-profile and widespread investigation by South Wales Police. The girls’ families spent the next three decades not knowing who was responsible for brutally taking the lives of their loved ones, or whether he still lived alongside them in the local Neath and Port Talbot communities.
In 2002, a development in forensics changed everything. The cold case was reopened with much pared-down resources, and crime scene DNA was successfully used to identify Wales’ first recorded serial killer. Steeltown Murders is the story of the loss, guilt and suspicion that followed the 1970s murders, and of the perseverance of the officers who were eventually able to provide the victims’ families with the answers they’d been denied years before.
Here are the actors making up the cast behind Steeltown Murders‘ dramatisation of real-life figures and events.
In 2002, a development in forensics changed everything. The cold case was reopened with much pared-down resources, and crime scene DNA was successfully used to identify Wales’ first recorded serial killer. Steeltown Murders is the story of the loss, guilt and suspicion that followed the 1970s murders, and of the perseverance of the officers who were eventually able to provide the victims’ families with the answers they’d been denied years before.
Here are the actors making up the cast behind Steeltown Murders‘ dramatisation of real-life figures and events.
- 5/15/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour started causing a commotion months before it even launched. But leading up to every performance on the 27-date tour, which goes into the summer and ends with two shows in Los Angeles this August, communities have gone big and ramped up the excitement for Swift.
Each city the star is performing in has prepared for her grand arrival, pulling out all the stops to turn her shows into huge local events. From changed names to honorary mayorships, here’s how the Eras Tour stops have...
Each city the star is performing in has prepared for her grand arrival, pulling out all the stops to turn her shows into huge local events. From changed names to honorary mayorships, here’s how the Eras Tour stops have...
- 4/13/2023
- by Brittany Spanos
- Rollingstone.com
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden attended a candlelight vigil in Nashville on Wednesday evening. The event honored the lives of six people — including three children — murdered in a mass shooting at an elementary school Monday morning that has left Music City reeling. The night saw featured performances from Sheryl Crow, Margo Price, and Old Crow Medicine Show’s Ketch Secor, each of whom has spoken out in favor of gun regulation after this week’s tragedy.
Among the event’s speakers, which did not include the First Lady, were Nashville Mayor John Cooper,...
Among the event’s speakers, which did not include the First Lady, were Nashville Mayor John Cooper,...
- 3/30/2023
- by Adam Gold
- Rollingstone.com
A female shooter wielding two “assault-style” rifles and a pistol killed three students and three adults at a private Christian school in Nashville on Monday in what marks the latest in a series of mass shootings in the U.S.
The suspect also died after being shot by police following the violence at The Covenant School, a Presbyterian school for about 200 students from preschool through sixth grade. Police said the shooter was a 28-year-old woman from Nashville, after initially saying she appeared to be in her teens. Authorities were working to identify her and whether she had a connection to the school.
President Joe Biden called on Congress again to pass his assault weapons ban in the wake of the Nashville shooting.
Read More: Matthew McConaughey Remembers Those Who Were Affected By Uvalde School Shooting 6 Months On: ‘We Want Those Lost Lives To Matter’
“It’s heartbreaking, a family’s worst nightmare,...
The suspect also died after being shot by police following the violence at The Covenant School, a Presbyterian school for about 200 students from preschool through sixth grade. Police said the shooter was a 28-year-old woman from Nashville, after initially saying she appeared to be in her teens. Authorities were working to identify her and whether she had a connection to the school.
President Joe Biden called on Congress again to pass his assault weapons ban in the wake of the Nashville shooting.
Read More: Matthew McConaughey Remembers Those Who Were Affected By Uvalde School Shooting 6 Months On: ‘We Want Those Lost Lives To Matter’
“It’s heartbreaking, a family’s worst nightmare,...
- 3/27/2023
- by Melissa Romualdi
- ET Canada
Launching with the opening night world premiere of Marc Turtletaub’s “Jules,” a crowdpleaser sales title starring Ben Kingsley, the 26th annual Sonoma International Film Festival (March 22-26) drew its highest audience attendance to date. The wine country film festival combined a robust film slate programmed by newly appointed artistic director Carl Spence (working with Executive Director Ginny Krieger), from upcoming specialty fare like Paul Schrader’s “The Master Gardener,” starring Joel Edgerton and Sigourney Weaver, and Searchlight’s period biopic “Chevalier,” starring Kelvin Harrison Jr., with a smattering of yummy wine and food events with top chefs, from Martin Yan’s Shaking Beef with Three Onions to Joanne Weir’s herb-covered goat cheese tarte.
The five-day festival curated by Spence along with senior programmers Amanda Salazar and Ken Jacobson, showcased 110 films, including seven films making their US premieres as well as films acclaimed on the festival circuit. Thirty-two countries...
The five-day festival curated by Spence along with senior programmers Amanda Salazar and Ken Jacobson, showcased 110 films, including seven films making their US premieres as well as films acclaimed on the festival circuit. Thirty-two countries...
- 3/26/2023
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Radical joy and consistent action were the messages at Nashville’s Love Rising benefit concert on Monday, an event that drew supporters to the city’s downtown Bridgestone Arena. Hosted by Drag Race alumna Asia O’Hara and featuring performances by Hayley Williams, Hozier, Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell, Maren Morris, Allison Russell, Joy Oladokun, and Nashville’s drag artists — among many others — the concert raised money for four Tennessee organizations working to fight the state government’s ongoing legislative attacks against the LGBTQ+ community.
It’s been a rough few...
It’s been a rough few...
- 3/21/2023
- by Jon Freeman
- Rollingstone.com
Director Benjamin Millepied’s “Carmen,” a musical starring Paul Mescal, will have its West Coast premiere March 25 at the 2023 Sonoma International Film Festival (Siff).
Another debut set to take place during the five-day festival is the world premiere of “Jules,” with director Marc Turtletaub and stars Ben Kingsley and Jane Curtin planning to make an appearance for the occasion. The screening will kick off the opening night of the festival on March 22.
Capping off the event are closing night films “The Eight Mountains,” which received a grand jury prize after its Cannes premiere, and Stephen Williams’ “Chevalier.”
Including the seven U.S. premieres slated for the festival, this year’s lineup features 110 films representative of 32 countries. In total, 38 narrative features, 20 documentary features and 52 short films were selected by the festival curators.
“For my first edition at the Sonoma International Film Festival, with a new curatorial team in place, we aimed...
Another debut set to take place during the five-day festival is the world premiere of “Jules,” with director Marc Turtletaub and stars Ben Kingsley and Jane Curtin planning to make an appearance for the occasion. The screening will kick off the opening night of the festival on March 22.
Capping off the event are closing night films “The Eight Mountains,” which received a grand jury prize after its Cannes premiere, and Stephen Williams’ “Chevalier.”
Including the seven U.S. premieres slated for the festival, this year’s lineup features 110 films representative of 32 countries. In total, 38 narrative features, 20 documentary features and 52 short films were selected by the festival curators.
“For my first edition at the Sonoma International Film Festival, with a new curatorial team in place, we aimed...
- 2/28/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay, Charna Flam and Katie Reul
- Variety Film + TV
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