Casting directors have a strange distinction in the awards world: Their guild has an Academy branch, but it’s the only one without its own Oscar category. Imagine for a moment that they did. What are the best-cast films of 2016?
IndieWire asked 13 of the top casting directors to nominate films worthy of casting recognition this year. There were a few restrictions worth noting. Although casting directors often get early sneak peeks at films, many noted there are some films they still hadn’t seen. In particular, many are anxious to find out what legendary casting director Ellen Lewis has cooked up for Martin Scorsese’s “Silence.” The other restriction, which was imposed as responses came in: They couldn’t all write about “Moonlight.” (We’ll dig further into the casting of that film in another article.)
Read More: Casting Directors and the Academy: Why Lynn Stalmaster’s Honorary Oscar Matters...
IndieWire asked 13 of the top casting directors to nominate films worthy of casting recognition this year. There were a few restrictions worth noting. Although casting directors often get early sneak peeks at films, many noted there are some films they still hadn’t seen. In particular, many are anxious to find out what legendary casting director Ellen Lewis has cooked up for Martin Scorsese’s “Silence.” The other restriction, which was imposed as responses came in: They couldn’t all write about “Moonlight.” (We’ll dig further into the casting of that film in another article.)
Read More: Casting Directors and the Academy: Why Lynn Stalmaster’s Honorary Oscar Matters...
- 11/23/2016
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
Fresh from triumph on the festival circuit, a host of exciting British films is set for release. We talk to the directors behind this sudden renaissance
At Cannes, in May, there was anxious talk. Of the 70-plus features showcased at the film festival only two of them were British. Did it signal a decline in the UK industry? By the end of 2013, would our film people be wringing their hands while cinemagoers queued up for American fare and the House of Lords unhappily convened a select committee?
Without a doubt, the pair of British films on show at Cannes were excellent – Clio Barnard's The Selfish Giant and Paul Wright's For Those in Peril – both bruising, powerful dramas. But French and American and Mexican and Chinese and Cambodian film-makers left Cannes with the top prizes; meanwhile fans and boosters of British cinema travelled back across the Channel in mild panic.
At Cannes, in May, there was anxious talk. Of the 70-plus features showcased at the film festival only two of them were British. Did it signal a decline in the UK industry? By the end of 2013, would our film people be wringing their hands while cinemagoers queued up for American fare and the House of Lords unhappily convened a select committee?
Without a doubt, the pair of British films on show at Cannes were excellent – Clio Barnard's The Selfish Giant and Paul Wright's For Those in Peril – both bruising, powerful dramas. But French and American and Mexican and Chinese and Cambodian film-makers left Cannes with the top prizes; meanwhile fans and boosters of British cinema travelled back across the Channel in mild panic.
- 9/15/2013
- by Tom Lamont
- The Guardian - Film News
★★☆☆☆ Part of the way through British filmmaker Tom Shkolnik's debut feature, the eponymous character - aspiring stand-up comic Ed (Edward Hogg) - performs a routine about gardening which has his audience fidgeting as nervous laughter ripples through the venue. Whilst The Comedian (2012) is not actually a comedy per se, it's hard not to empathise with that audience, as the film labours from its opening scene and never really manages to engage or offer an insight into the lives of its characters. Ben is stuck in an overwhelming rut. He spends his days on a telephone attempting to sell medical insurance to middle-aged women.
Ben's evenings involve going out drinking with his house-mate Elisa (Elisa Lasowski), or struggling through comedy gigs. After the aforementioned gardening routing, however, the drudgery of his life, and its similarly unexciting portrayal on screen, looks like it may be broken by a chance meeting with...
Ben's evenings involve going out drinking with his house-mate Elisa (Elisa Lasowski), or struggling through comedy gigs. After the aforementioned gardening routing, however, the drudgery of his life, and its similarly unexciting portrayal on screen, looks like it may be broken by a chance meeting with...
- 6/4/2013
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
The Comedian | Byzantium | The Big Wedding | Populaire | The Purge | Blood | Everybody Has A Plan | No One Lives | Man To Man | Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
The Comedian
(15) (Tom Shkolnik, 2012, UK) Edward Hogg, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett. 79 mins
There's an uncanny degree of naturalism to this downbeat sketch of a lost London soul, confused over his sexuality, his faltering stand-up career and his place in life. It was made with a Dogme-like set of rules encouraging spontaneous improvisation in real locales. The result is somewhere between Mike Leigh and mumblecore, a meandering slice of life that often hits the truth.
Byzantium
(15) (Neil Jordan, 2013, UK/Us/Ire) Gemma Arterton, Saoirse Ronan, Sam Riley. 118 mins
There might be little left to say about vampires, but genre veteran Jordan has a better right (and better actors) than most to say it. This tale of two 200-year-old women hiding out in a coastal town is more mature and less gory than most offerings.
The Comedian
(15) (Tom Shkolnik, 2012, UK) Edward Hogg, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett. 79 mins
There's an uncanny degree of naturalism to this downbeat sketch of a lost London soul, confused over his sexuality, his faltering stand-up career and his place in life. It was made with a Dogme-like set of rules encouraging spontaneous improvisation in real locales. The result is somewhere between Mike Leigh and mumblecore, a meandering slice of life that often hits the truth.
Byzantium
(15) (Neil Jordan, 2013, UK/Us/Ire) Gemma Arterton, Saoirse Ronan, Sam Riley. 118 mins
There might be little left to say about vampires, but genre veteran Jordan has a better right (and better actors) than most to say it. This tale of two 200-year-old women hiding out in a coastal town is more mature and less gory than most offerings.
- 6/1/2013
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
The Comedian | Byzantium | The Big Wedding | Populaire | The Purge | Blood | Everybody Has A Plan | No One Lives | Man To Man | Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
The Comedian (15)
(Tom Shkolnik, 2012, UK) Edward Hogg, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett. 79 mins
There's an uncanny degree of naturalism to this downbeat sketch of a lost London soul, confused over his sexuality, his faltering stand-up career and his place in life. It was made with a Dogme-like set of rules encouraging spontaneous improvisation in real locales. The result is somewhere between Mike Leigh and mumblecore, a meandering slice of life that often hits the truth.
Byzantium (15)
(Neil Jordan, 2013, UK/Us/Ire) Gemma Arterton, Saoirse Ronan, Sam Riley. 118 mins
There might be little left to say about vampires, but genre veteran Jordan has a better right (and better actors) than most to say it. This tale of two 200-year-old women hiding out in a coastal town is more mature and less gory than most offerings.
The Comedian (15)
(Tom Shkolnik, 2012, UK) Edward Hogg, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett. 79 mins
There's an uncanny degree of naturalism to this downbeat sketch of a lost London soul, confused over his sexuality, his faltering stand-up career and his place in life. It was made with a Dogme-like set of rules encouraging spontaneous improvisation in real locales. The result is somewhere between Mike Leigh and mumblecore, a meandering slice of life that often hits the truth.
Byzantium (15)
(Neil Jordan, 2013, UK/Us/Ire) Gemma Arterton, Saoirse Ronan, Sam Riley. 118 mins
There might be little left to say about vampires, but genre veteran Jordan has a better right (and better actors) than most to say it. This tale of two 200-year-old women hiding out in a coastal town is more mature and less gory than most offerings.
- 5/31/2013
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
This week get our teeth into Neil Jordan's modern gothic vampire story Byzantium, give Tom Shkolnik's The Comedian a big hand and find that Populaire - a French comedy about a world champion typist - is littered with typos. With Catherine Shoard and Peter Bradshaw.
This is the audio version of our weekly video review show.
Henry BarnesCatherine ShoardPeter BradshawPhil Maynard...
This is the audio version of our weekly video review show.
Henry BarnesCatherine ShoardPeter BradshawPhil Maynard...
- 5/31/2013
- by Henry Barnes, Catherine Shoard, Peter Bradshaw, Phil Maynard
- The Guardian - Film News
Some new media (a trailer, poster above, as well as a release date) for the dramedy titled The Comedian, which stars Edward Hogg, Elisa Lasowski, and our man from the hit UK series Misfits, Nathan Stewart- Jarrett. Directed by Tom Shkolnik, the synopsis for The Comedian reads: Ed is a stand up comedian in his early thirties, he is handsome, charming, witty and lost. Trying to make it on the London comedy circuit, he spends his nights performing in small rooms above pubs and his days making ends meet at a call centre. He lives with Elisa, a beautiful French singer, the two like brother and sister, inseparable, loving and asexual. One day, on a night bus home, Ed meets Nathan, a young...
- 5/6/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
The 27th London Lgbt Fest offers tons of screenings in the coming days (Pictured above: Underground transgender superstar Divine in John Waters' 1974 sorta class Female Trouble) This year's London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival officially opened with a gala presentation of Jeffrey Schwarz’s I Am Divine this past Thursday. In the coming week, the festival will be showcasing dozens of features and shorts featuring characters of various forms of sexual orientation and gender identity from all over the world. Among tonight's features is John Waters' 1974 camp classic Female Trouble, starring Waters' muse Divine as a youngster who, after running away from home on Christmas Day, getting raped and pregant, and becoming a single mom, is transmogrified from loving schoolgirl to tough criminal. Waters' stock player Edith Massey plays Aunt Ida, who has obviously spent her life hanging out with the wrong straight crowd, remarking at one point in...
- 3/15/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Browsing through the lineup of the 4th annual Festival de Cinéma Européen des Arcs, which takes place in Paris, France, from December 15 through 22, I found this... A dramedy titled The Comedian, which stars Edward Hogg, Elisa Lasowski, and our man from the hit UK series Misfits, Nathan Stewart- Jarrett. Directed by Tom Shkolnik, the synopsis for The Comedian reads: Ed is a stand up comedian in his early thirties, he is handsome, charming, witty and lost. Trying to make it on the London comedy circuit, he spends his nights performing in small rooms above pubs and his days making ends meet at a call centre. He lives with Elisa, a beautiful French singer, the two...
- 11/16/2012
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
I participated in a Dreamago panel moderated by WGA-West VP and USC film writing prof and an artistic director at the Sundance Institute Wrting Labs, Howard Rodman.
Other panelists included Vince Fischer who, having been educated and working in Paris, Montreal, New York in business and advertising, event production, and creating the endorsement agency GlamCom which initiates deals between celebrities and products, such as he did with George Clooney and Nespresso, has gone on to create Artistic Alliance Eci which represents screenwriters, directors and actors with offices in Beijing, L.a. and Paris, to match people and projects abroad. Daniel Hsia, the writer/ director of Shanghai Calling, (Isa: Aldamisa) a U.S. - China co-production distributed in China by China Film Group and in So. Korea by Sookie and due to be released in Norht America in 2013 works with Janet Yang and is eager to do more co-productions in China though he admits to difficulties with censors, etc. You can see the trailer of Shanghai Calling here.
Neil Landau who wrote Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead, the 3D animated feature Tad: The Lost Explores from Paramount which is the highest grossing animated film in Spain's history and the #1 Spanish box ofice movie of the year, is now working on its sequel and another animated feature by the same director. His latest screenplay is being produced by Cary Brokaw for Avenue Pictures (The Player, Closer, Angels in America). He is curretnly developing an original miniseries for HBO for the Russian Market and a crime drama for Sreda in Moscow.
Paula Manzanedo-Schmitt is VP of Film Finances Inc. the world leader in completion guarantees. She has been involved in more than 1,000 films and TV programs internationally and in U.S. She spoke of the various cross-cultural requisites in film production abroad.
The discussion centered around whether filmmakers could make a film without the notorioius interference of studios (they should all be so lucky as to have this problem). In other words, the panelists discussed their experiences making films with Russians and Chinese. All agreed that working abroad, and especially with international sales agents who also produce allows for greater freedom of vision (although in China the reward is writng so that China censorship does not interfere because one has written to their specifications). All agreed also that there is a certain cross-cultural divide one must discover in order to work effectively.
My suggestions for finding a way to create without corporate interferences are listed below:
** Coproduce with Canada who has the most coproduction treaties in the world, or go directly to producers or sales agents who do not rely on treaties.
** Work with international sales agents who produce international coproductions which include U.S., or with the producers of those films who now have established track records.
Take a look at Level K, Tine Klint's relatively new Danish company which is preselling films from U.K., Canada and Australia:
Not Another Happy Ending by Brit John McKay 33 Liberty Lane by Canadian Peter Hewitt The Turning by Australian Cate Blanchett and Robert Connelly starring Emily Watson The Last Ocean by New Zealander Peter Young
French sales agent Films Distribution is selling
Marina Zenovich's doc Roman Polanski: Odd Man Out which Showtime acquired for U.S. TV. Citadel from Ireland has sold to Cinedigm/ New Video for U.S. and Mongrel for Canada. 30 Beats from the U.S. sold to Roadside Attractions for U.S. and Codex Media And Advertising Corporation for Turkey.
Other French companies are doing likewise.
Studio Canal is selling
Liz Garbus' Love, Marilyn - though this was picked up complete at Tiff 12. Don Mazer's I Give It A Year from the U.K. and produced by Tim Bevan. It began presales in Cannes.
Celluloid Dreams is selling
Greetings From Tim Buckley--U.S.-Tiff 12 Special Presentations World Premiere - Director: Daniel Algrant The Comedian a U.K. comedy by Tom Shkolnik Francis Ha - U.S. - Tiff 12. by Noah Baumbach Satellite Boy - Australia The Conspiracy - U.K.
Snd is preselling The Love Punch an English language French comedy
Wild Bunch is selling
Blood Ties written by James Gray, directed by Guillaume Canet, Cast : Billy Crudup, Clive Owen, Marion Cottillard, Mila Kunis, Zoe Saldana, Producers: Alain Attal (Les Productions du Tresor), Hugo Selignac, John Lesher.
This very American sotry takes place in New York, 1974. Chris Pierzynski has just been released after years in prison for his part in a gangland murder. Waiting reluctantly outside the prison gates is his younger brother, Frank, a cop with a bright future. Chris and Frank have always been different, and their father, who raised them alone, has always favored Chris - despite all his troubles. Frank has known this since they were kids, and it eats at him like nothing else.
It has presold to Belgium-Lumière, Scandinvia -Scanbox Entertainment, Netherlands-Lumiere, Romania-Independenta Film, Switzerland-Frenetic Films, Turkey-Codex Media, Ukraine Top Film Distribution
Maniac by Franck Khalfoun U.S. English Horror, Writers : Alexandre Aja, Gregory Levasseur, Cast : Elijah Wood, Nora Arnezeder, America Olivo, Producers : Thomas Langmann (La Petite Reine), Alexandre Aja. It has presold to Germany -Ascot Elite, Japan - Comstock Only God Forbids by Nicolas Winding Refn from Denmark, in English has been selliing since Berlin 2012 and has sold to Bulgaria-A Plus Films Ltd., Germany-Tiberius Film Gmbh & Co. Kg, Hungary-Budapest Film (Distributor), Hungary-Mtva, Italy-Italian International Film, Korea (South)-Daisy & Cinergy Entertainment, Poland-Gutek Film Ltd, Romania-Independenta Film, Turkey-Calinos Films
Global Screen (Germany) has many English language films, some originating from U.S. and English speaking countries and others from non-English speaking countries.
• No Place on Earth (The Cave) by Emmy Award winning director Janet Tobias a U.S., U.K., German co-production. the doc tells the longest recorded underground survival story in human history, when 5 Jewish families descended into a pitch black cave to escape the Nazis for 511 days.
Hungaricom Ltd (Hungary) has the English language animated comedy feature The Secret of Moonacre and Immigrants - L.A. Dolce Vita both produced by Arlene Klasky, Gabor Csupo, and Gabor Kalomista, a Los Angeles based company with Hungarian born principals. The synopsis of Immigrants is worth repeating: More people immigrate to America than to all other countries in the whole world combined. Why? Is it because they love hot dogs and hamburgers? Or because they want to meet Snoop Dogg or have a close encounter with Pamela Anderson? Maybe. But the real reason is – immigrants go to the U.S. to chase the American dream. Immigrants is the story of Vladislav (a Russian), and Joska (a Hungarian). Both are immigrants and best friends, living and chasing the American dream together. Vlad has a daughter, Ana, who’s adapting to life in America at the speed of light, while her dad is in complete culture shock. They stay at the Vista del Mar, an apartment complex run by an old failed actress, Greta Knight, who is always after Vlad for sexual favors. The building is home to immigrants from all over the world: Flaco, a friend from Mexico; Mr. Chea, who runs a Chinese family restaurant; Nazim, a former Pakistani nuclear scientist who drives a tour bus; and Mr. Splits, an old black pimp. We follow Vlad and Joska in their adventures… through their encounter with the American capitalist company Glut-co, through their attempt to open a Russian/Hungarian restaurant, and as their friendship is put in jeopardy when they hit the L.A. night scene. All the while Vlad is looking for a way to make a life for himself and his daughter; and Joska… well, Joska is mainly looking for women.
If Niel Landau's adventures in Russia appeal to you, but you don't have the connections there, visit Rosskino and the L.A. based Eleonora Granata Russian Film Commissioner or produce in Russia through international sales agents which were founded by Russian-Americans who know both cultures such as Aldamisa (where longtime Disney acquisitons VP Jere Hausfater is now looking for projects), 108 Media who has Myn Bala the Kazahkistan submission for Best Foreign Language Academy Award nomination is Canadian owned, or Red Sea, all of whom are Russian – American and/ or Canadian owned.
Singapore is looking for Looking for copros and Icon has stepped up to the plate with James Wan Presents House of Horrors, an English language U.S. horror film now in pre-productions. In the aftermath of a horrific massacre, lead Detective, Mark Lewis, and the police department’s psychologist, Dr. Elizabeth Klein, question a suspect for the brutal murder of five college students. This has been preselling at Cannes 2012 (Line up), Afm 2011, Cannes 2011 and Berlin Efm 2012. Directed by Javier Guttierrez, written by James Wan and Max La Bella it will be distributed in Singapore by Cathay.
British companies are also packaging and preselling U.S. films:
Content is selling American indies 96 Minutes, Hick, Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence In The House Of God by Alex Gibney
Stealth Indie (Michael Cowan) is selling two U.S. indies, Crave and The Giant Mechanical Man
Bankside has a deal with New York based Killer Films for Innocence, now in post. This thriller is a modern-gothic vampire story where a recently bereaved teenage girl finds herself the focus of everyone’s attention at her elitist private school where life is steeped in tradition and ceremony.It has been preselling this at Afm 2011 and 2012, Toronto and Cannes 2011 and it has presold to Le Pacte for France, Videovision for So. Africa, Umut Sanat Filmcilik for Turkey, Shooting Stars for UAE.
Ealing Metro is preselling
Nina directed and written by Cynthia Mort, a U.S. production, a biopic about Nina Simone, a tormented genius who eventually finds love and peace. Produced by Barnaby Thompson, Stuart Parr, Mark Burton and Ben Latham Jones, it has presold since Toronto 2011 to Orlando for Israel, Entertainment One for Benelux, Cinesky has U.S. Better Living Through Chemistry directed and written by David Posamentier, a U.S. comedy now in post-production.A straight-laced pharmacist's uneventful life spirals out of control when he starts an affair with a dangerously seductive customer who takes him on a joyride with explosive consequenses involving sex, drugs and possibly murder. Starring Sam Rockwell, Olivia Wilde, Michelle Monaghan and Ray Liotta, produced by Felipe Marino, Joe Neurater and Keith Calder, it has presold to Metro Pictures of India. Bailout is being presold. One morning Matt Prior wakes up to find himself jobless, crippled with debt, convinced his wife is having an affair and six days away from losing his home. Bailout is a hysterical, heartfelt tale of how we can reach the edge of ruin and begin to make our way back.
Salt is preselling Welcome to the Jungle, a U.S. comedy directed by Rob Meltzer, written by Jeff Kauffman, produced by Justin Kanew and Luillo Ruiz and starring Adam Brody, Dennis Haysbert, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Kristen Schaal, Megan Boone and Rob Huebel. A group of co-workers including Chris (Adam Brody) get stranded on a desert island when their nutty teambuilding coach (Jean Claude Van Damme) is mauled by a wild cougar. in the spirit of "lost in the wilderness" comedies such as Tropic Thunder and workplace comedies like The Office, Welcome to the Jungle is a rare beast in today's market: a comedy that delivers on the laughs - both the high and the lowbrow. It has already presold to Front Row for the Middle East.
Westend is preselling Joe which will start shooting this month be delivered in 2013. It is to be directed by David Gordon Green, produced by lisa Muskat and stars Nicholas Cage. Joe is the story of a man who becomes the unlikeliest of role models to 15-year-old Gary Jones, the oldest child of a family ruled by a worthless father. Together they try to find a path to redemption and the hope for a better life in the rugged, dirty world of a small Southern town. Joe is the story of the last hold-out of the cowboy age, when it was okay to shoot up a bar room or tell a lady what to do.
Other panelists included Vince Fischer who, having been educated and working in Paris, Montreal, New York in business and advertising, event production, and creating the endorsement agency GlamCom which initiates deals between celebrities and products, such as he did with George Clooney and Nespresso, has gone on to create Artistic Alliance Eci which represents screenwriters, directors and actors with offices in Beijing, L.a. and Paris, to match people and projects abroad. Daniel Hsia, the writer/ director of Shanghai Calling, (Isa: Aldamisa) a U.S. - China co-production distributed in China by China Film Group and in So. Korea by Sookie and due to be released in Norht America in 2013 works with Janet Yang and is eager to do more co-productions in China though he admits to difficulties with censors, etc. You can see the trailer of Shanghai Calling here.
Neil Landau who wrote Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead, the 3D animated feature Tad: The Lost Explores from Paramount which is the highest grossing animated film in Spain's history and the #1 Spanish box ofice movie of the year, is now working on its sequel and another animated feature by the same director. His latest screenplay is being produced by Cary Brokaw for Avenue Pictures (The Player, Closer, Angels in America). He is curretnly developing an original miniseries for HBO for the Russian Market and a crime drama for Sreda in Moscow.
Paula Manzanedo-Schmitt is VP of Film Finances Inc. the world leader in completion guarantees. She has been involved in more than 1,000 films and TV programs internationally and in U.S. She spoke of the various cross-cultural requisites in film production abroad.
The discussion centered around whether filmmakers could make a film without the notorioius interference of studios (they should all be so lucky as to have this problem). In other words, the panelists discussed their experiences making films with Russians and Chinese. All agreed that working abroad, and especially with international sales agents who also produce allows for greater freedom of vision (although in China the reward is writng so that China censorship does not interfere because one has written to their specifications). All agreed also that there is a certain cross-cultural divide one must discover in order to work effectively.
My suggestions for finding a way to create without corporate interferences are listed below:
** Coproduce with Canada who has the most coproduction treaties in the world, or go directly to producers or sales agents who do not rely on treaties.
** Work with international sales agents who produce international coproductions which include U.S., or with the producers of those films who now have established track records.
Take a look at Level K, Tine Klint's relatively new Danish company which is preselling films from U.K., Canada and Australia:
Not Another Happy Ending by Brit John McKay 33 Liberty Lane by Canadian Peter Hewitt The Turning by Australian Cate Blanchett and Robert Connelly starring Emily Watson The Last Ocean by New Zealander Peter Young
French sales agent Films Distribution is selling
Marina Zenovich's doc Roman Polanski: Odd Man Out which Showtime acquired for U.S. TV. Citadel from Ireland has sold to Cinedigm/ New Video for U.S. and Mongrel for Canada. 30 Beats from the U.S. sold to Roadside Attractions for U.S. and Codex Media And Advertising Corporation for Turkey.
Other French companies are doing likewise.
Studio Canal is selling
Liz Garbus' Love, Marilyn - though this was picked up complete at Tiff 12. Don Mazer's I Give It A Year from the U.K. and produced by Tim Bevan. It began presales in Cannes.
Celluloid Dreams is selling
Greetings From Tim Buckley--U.S.-Tiff 12 Special Presentations World Premiere - Director: Daniel Algrant The Comedian a U.K. comedy by Tom Shkolnik Francis Ha - U.S. - Tiff 12. by Noah Baumbach Satellite Boy - Australia The Conspiracy - U.K.
Snd is preselling The Love Punch an English language French comedy
Wild Bunch is selling
Blood Ties written by James Gray, directed by Guillaume Canet, Cast : Billy Crudup, Clive Owen, Marion Cottillard, Mila Kunis, Zoe Saldana, Producers: Alain Attal (Les Productions du Tresor), Hugo Selignac, John Lesher.
This very American sotry takes place in New York, 1974. Chris Pierzynski has just been released after years in prison for his part in a gangland murder. Waiting reluctantly outside the prison gates is his younger brother, Frank, a cop with a bright future. Chris and Frank have always been different, and their father, who raised them alone, has always favored Chris - despite all his troubles. Frank has known this since they were kids, and it eats at him like nothing else.
It has presold to Belgium-Lumière, Scandinvia -Scanbox Entertainment, Netherlands-Lumiere, Romania-Independenta Film, Switzerland-Frenetic Films, Turkey-Codex Media, Ukraine Top Film Distribution
Maniac by Franck Khalfoun U.S. English Horror, Writers : Alexandre Aja, Gregory Levasseur, Cast : Elijah Wood, Nora Arnezeder, America Olivo, Producers : Thomas Langmann (La Petite Reine), Alexandre Aja. It has presold to Germany -Ascot Elite, Japan - Comstock Only God Forbids by Nicolas Winding Refn from Denmark, in English has been selliing since Berlin 2012 and has sold to Bulgaria-A Plus Films Ltd., Germany-Tiberius Film Gmbh & Co. Kg, Hungary-Budapest Film (Distributor), Hungary-Mtva, Italy-Italian International Film, Korea (South)-Daisy & Cinergy Entertainment, Poland-Gutek Film Ltd, Romania-Independenta Film, Turkey-Calinos Films
Global Screen (Germany) has many English language films, some originating from U.S. and English speaking countries and others from non-English speaking countries.
• No Place on Earth (The Cave) by Emmy Award winning director Janet Tobias a U.S., U.K., German co-production. the doc tells the longest recorded underground survival story in human history, when 5 Jewish families descended into a pitch black cave to escape the Nazis for 511 days.
Hungaricom Ltd (Hungary) has the English language animated comedy feature The Secret of Moonacre and Immigrants - L.A. Dolce Vita both produced by Arlene Klasky, Gabor Csupo, and Gabor Kalomista, a Los Angeles based company with Hungarian born principals. The synopsis of Immigrants is worth repeating: More people immigrate to America than to all other countries in the whole world combined. Why? Is it because they love hot dogs and hamburgers? Or because they want to meet Snoop Dogg or have a close encounter with Pamela Anderson? Maybe. But the real reason is – immigrants go to the U.S. to chase the American dream. Immigrants is the story of Vladislav (a Russian), and Joska (a Hungarian). Both are immigrants and best friends, living and chasing the American dream together. Vlad has a daughter, Ana, who’s adapting to life in America at the speed of light, while her dad is in complete culture shock. They stay at the Vista del Mar, an apartment complex run by an old failed actress, Greta Knight, who is always after Vlad for sexual favors. The building is home to immigrants from all over the world: Flaco, a friend from Mexico; Mr. Chea, who runs a Chinese family restaurant; Nazim, a former Pakistani nuclear scientist who drives a tour bus; and Mr. Splits, an old black pimp. We follow Vlad and Joska in their adventures… through their encounter with the American capitalist company Glut-co, through their attempt to open a Russian/Hungarian restaurant, and as their friendship is put in jeopardy when they hit the L.A. night scene. All the while Vlad is looking for a way to make a life for himself and his daughter; and Joska… well, Joska is mainly looking for women.
If Niel Landau's adventures in Russia appeal to you, but you don't have the connections there, visit Rosskino and the L.A. based Eleonora Granata Russian Film Commissioner or produce in Russia through international sales agents which were founded by Russian-Americans who know both cultures such as Aldamisa (where longtime Disney acquisitons VP Jere Hausfater is now looking for projects), 108 Media who has Myn Bala the Kazahkistan submission for Best Foreign Language Academy Award nomination is Canadian owned, or Red Sea, all of whom are Russian – American and/ or Canadian owned.
Singapore is looking for Looking for copros and Icon has stepped up to the plate with James Wan Presents House of Horrors, an English language U.S. horror film now in pre-productions. In the aftermath of a horrific massacre, lead Detective, Mark Lewis, and the police department’s psychologist, Dr. Elizabeth Klein, question a suspect for the brutal murder of five college students. This has been preselling at Cannes 2012 (Line up), Afm 2011, Cannes 2011 and Berlin Efm 2012. Directed by Javier Guttierrez, written by James Wan and Max La Bella it will be distributed in Singapore by Cathay.
British companies are also packaging and preselling U.S. films:
Content is selling American indies 96 Minutes, Hick, Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence In The House Of God by Alex Gibney
Stealth Indie (Michael Cowan) is selling two U.S. indies, Crave and The Giant Mechanical Man
Bankside has a deal with New York based Killer Films for Innocence, now in post. This thriller is a modern-gothic vampire story where a recently bereaved teenage girl finds herself the focus of everyone’s attention at her elitist private school where life is steeped in tradition and ceremony.It has been preselling this at Afm 2011 and 2012, Toronto and Cannes 2011 and it has presold to Le Pacte for France, Videovision for So. Africa, Umut Sanat Filmcilik for Turkey, Shooting Stars for UAE.
Ealing Metro is preselling
Nina directed and written by Cynthia Mort, a U.S. production, a biopic about Nina Simone, a tormented genius who eventually finds love and peace. Produced by Barnaby Thompson, Stuart Parr, Mark Burton and Ben Latham Jones, it has presold since Toronto 2011 to Orlando for Israel, Entertainment One for Benelux, Cinesky has U.S. Better Living Through Chemistry directed and written by David Posamentier, a U.S. comedy now in post-production.A straight-laced pharmacist's uneventful life spirals out of control when he starts an affair with a dangerously seductive customer who takes him on a joyride with explosive consequenses involving sex, drugs and possibly murder. Starring Sam Rockwell, Olivia Wilde, Michelle Monaghan and Ray Liotta, produced by Felipe Marino, Joe Neurater and Keith Calder, it has presold to Metro Pictures of India. Bailout is being presold. One morning Matt Prior wakes up to find himself jobless, crippled with debt, convinced his wife is having an affair and six days away from losing his home. Bailout is a hysterical, heartfelt tale of how we can reach the edge of ruin and begin to make our way back.
Salt is preselling Welcome to the Jungle, a U.S. comedy directed by Rob Meltzer, written by Jeff Kauffman, produced by Justin Kanew and Luillo Ruiz and starring Adam Brody, Dennis Haysbert, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Kristen Schaal, Megan Boone and Rob Huebel. A group of co-workers including Chris (Adam Brody) get stranded on a desert island when their nutty teambuilding coach (Jean Claude Van Damme) is mauled by a wild cougar. in the spirit of "lost in the wilderness" comedies such as Tropic Thunder and workplace comedies like The Office, Welcome to the Jungle is a rare beast in today's market: a comedy that delivers on the laughs - both the high and the lowbrow. It has already presold to Front Row for the Middle East.
Westend is preselling Joe which will start shooting this month be delivered in 2013. It is to be directed by David Gordon Green, produced by lisa Muskat and stars Nicholas Cage. Joe is the story of a man who becomes the unlikeliest of role models to 15-year-old Gary Jones, the oldest child of a family ruled by a worthless father. Together they try to find a path to redemption and the hope for a better life in the rugged, dirty world of a small Southern town. Joe is the story of the last hold-out of the cowboy age, when it was okay to shoot up a bar room or tell a lady what to do.
- 11/5/2012
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
As the 56th London Film Festival neared its close, the awards ceremony kicked off with our man London Film Fanatiq in the house for Blogomatic3000. The red carpet saw many representatives of this year’s nominees greet the crowds and discuss their work with the press. Several jury members, including Tom Hiddleston and Olivia Colman also came out to pay tribute to the talent behind some of the festival’s finest features.
Check out all the red carpet pictures from the event and a full list of winners below:
Best Film Award
Rust and Bone, Jacques Audiard, France/Belgium After Lucia, Michel Franco, Mexico End of Watch, David Ayer, USA Everyday, Michael Winterbottom, UK Fill The Void, Rama Burshtein, Israel Ginger and Rosa, Sally Potter, UK In the House, François Ozon, France It Was The Son, Daniele Ciprì, Italy/France Lore, Cate Shortland, Germany/Australia/UK Midnight’s Children, Deepa Mehta,...
Check out all the red carpet pictures from the event and a full list of winners below:
Best Film Award
Rust and Bone, Jacques Audiard, France/Belgium After Lucia, Michel Franco, Mexico End of Watch, David Ayer, USA Everyday, Michael Winterbottom, UK Fill The Void, Rama Burshtein, Israel Ginger and Rosa, Sally Potter, UK In the House, François Ozon, France It Was The Son, Daniele Ciprì, Italy/France Lore, Cate Shortland, Germany/Australia/UK Midnight’s Children, Deepa Mehta,...
- 10/21/2012
- by Guest
- Nerdly
The capital has been the home of some of the biggest names and films in the industry over the past ten days, and with the festival finally coming to a close tomorrow, the results are in for the official competition categories.
Sir David Hare, Tom Hiddleston, David Yates, Sebastian Faulks, Olivia Colman, Kazuo Ishiguru, and many more prominent names presided over the various Juries, and with so much talent this year, I don’t envy what must have been very difficult decisions.
Also being honoured this year are Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter, both of whom have been presented with the BFI Fellowship, the highest honour from the film institute. The former brought his latest feature, Frankenweenie, to the festival for its opening night, whilst the latter stars in Mike Newell’s Great Expectations, bookending the festival nicely as the Closing Night Film.
With the festival now coming to an end tomorrow,...
Sir David Hare, Tom Hiddleston, David Yates, Sebastian Faulks, Olivia Colman, Kazuo Ishiguru, and many more prominent names presided over the various Juries, and with so much talent this year, I don’t envy what must have been very difficult decisions.
Also being honoured this year are Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter, both of whom have been presented with the BFI Fellowship, the highest honour from the film institute. The former brought his latest feature, Frankenweenie, to the festival for its opening night, whilst the latter stars in Mike Newell’s Great Expectations, bookending the festival nicely as the Closing Night Film.
With the festival now coming to an end tomorrow,...
- 10/20/2012
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Tom Shkolnik’s debut feature starts strong but soon enough founders under the weight of its own improvised method. Ed (Edward Hogg) is a dispassionate office drone working in a soul-destroying call center, while fashioning a career as a stand-up comic on the side. However, Ed soon enough comes to realise that he actually might not be that funny, and like many of us, inevitably has to temper his dreams against the crushing pain of reality.
A brutal opening scene in which we observe him flopping on stage electrifies the film with nervous energy and promise; the audience laughs at rather than with Ed, while post-gig, the Mc offers refunds to anyone who didn’t like him. His only solace is a conversation on a bus with Nathan (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett), a kindly young man who attended the gig and provides him with an honest but fair appraisal of his work.
Tom Shkolnik’s debut feature starts strong but soon enough founders under the weight of its own improvised method. Ed (Edward Hogg) is a dispassionate office drone working in a soul-destroying call center, while fashioning a career as a stand-up comic on the side. However, Ed soon enough comes to realise that he actually might not be that funny, and like many of us, inevitably has to temper his dreams against the crushing pain of reality.
A brutal opening scene in which we observe him flopping on stage electrifies the film with nervous energy and promise; the audience laughs at rather than with Ed, while post-gig, the Mc offers refunds to anyone who didn’t like him. His only solace is a conversation on a bus with Nathan (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett), a kindly young man who attended the gig and provides him with an honest but fair appraisal of his work.
- 10/16/2012
- by Shaun Munro
- Obsessed with Film
The 56th BFI London Film Festival is, as usual, overflowing with talent. Here we have compiled a list of the Top 10 Rising Stars that have already impressed critics and received awards at festivals this year. This is a group to keep an eye on, as the brilliant actors and directors make their way to stardom.
Riz Ahmed (Reluctant Fundamentalist)
London-born Actor and Rapper, Riz Ahmed portrays Changez Khan, a young Pakistani man ambitious to begin his stockbroker career in New York City. Changez plans deteriorate after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers. Adapted from Moshin Hamid’s bestseller, The Reluctant Fundamentalist follows the life-changing events of 9/11 from a non-us viewpoint. The fragility of the Western and Islamic worlds is expertly explored by a strong cast, and led, skilfully and emotively, by Riz Ahmed. James Floyd (My Brother the Devil)
James Floyd, known for his versatility as an actor,...
Riz Ahmed (Reluctant Fundamentalist)
London-born Actor and Rapper, Riz Ahmed portrays Changez Khan, a young Pakistani man ambitious to begin his stockbroker career in New York City. Changez plans deteriorate after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers. Adapted from Moshin Hamid’s bestseller, The Reluctant Fundamentalist follows the life-changing events of 9/11 from a non-us viewpoint. The fragility of the Western and Islamic worlds is expertly explored by a strong cast, and led, skilfully and emotively, by Riz Ahmed. James Floyd (My Brother the Devil)
James Floyd, known for his versatility as an actor,...
- 10/14/2012
- by Phil
- Nerdly
The BFI London Film Festival officially opened last night with the UK premiere of Tim Burton’s latest feature, Frankenweenie, a black and white stop-motion film destined to become something of a cult classic.
With the festival now underway, the juries for the separate categories in competition have been announced, with Sir David Hare, Tom Hiddleston, David Yates, and Olivia Colman leading an impressive line-up to judge the contenders.
Also celebrated at this year’s festival will be Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter, both of whom are being presented with the BFI’s highest honour, the BFI Fellowship.
You can read the full list of jurors in the official announcement below, but here’s a run-down of the main categories and the films in competition.
Sir David Hare leads the jury for the Best Film Award, for which the following are competing:
After Lucia, Michel Franco, Mexico End of Watch,...
With the festival now underway, the juries for the separate categories in competition have been announced, with Sir David Hare, Tom Hiddleston, David Yates, and Olivia Colman leading an impressive line-up to judge the contenders.
Also celebrated at this year’s festival will be Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter, both of whom are being presented with the BFI’s highest honour, the BFI Fellowship.
You can read the full list of jurors in the official announcement below, but here’s a run-down of the main categories and the films in competition.
Sir David Hare leads the jury for the Best Film Award, for which the following are competing:
After Lucia, Michel Franco, Mexico End of Watch,...
- 10/11/2012
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The programme for the 56th BFI London Film Festival launched yesterday under the new creative leadership of BFI’s Head of Exhibition and Festival Director, Clare Stewart, bringing a rich and diverse programme of international films and events from both established and upcoming talent over a 12 day celebration of cinema. The Festival will screen a total of 225 fiction and documentary features, including 14 World Premieres, 15 International Premieres and 34 European Premieres. There will also be screenings of 111 live action and animated shorts. A stellar line-up of directors, cast and crew are expected to take part in career interviews, master classes, and other special events. The 56th BFI London Film Festival will run from 10-21 October 2012. This year sees the introduction of several changes to the Festival’s format. Now taking place over 12 days, the Festival expands further from its traditional Leicester Square cinemas – Odeon West End, Vue West End, Odeon Leicester Square...
- 9/7/2012
- by John
- SoundOnSight
Announced yesterday, the programme for the 56th BFI London Film Festival brings a rich and diverse programme of international films and events from both established and upcoming talent over a 12 day celebration of cinema. The Festival will screen a total of 225 fiction and documentary features, including 14 World Premieres, 15 International Premieres and 34 European Premieres. There will also be screenings of 111 live action and animated shorts. A stellar line-up of directors, cast and crew are expected to take part in career interviews, master classes, and other special events.
This year sees the introduction of several changes to the Festival’s format. Now taking place over 12 days, the Festival expands further from its traditional Leicester Square cinemas – Odeon West End, Vue West End, Odeon Leicester Square and Empire – and the BFI Southbank to include four additional new venues – Hackney Picturehouse, Renoir, Everyman Screen on the Green and Rich Mix, which join existing London venues the Ica,...
This year sees the introduction of several changes to the Festival’s format. Now taking place over 12 days, the Festival expands further from its traditional Leicester Square cinemas – Odeon West End, Vue West End, Odeon Leicester Square and Empire – and the BFI Southbank to include four additional new venues – Hackney Picturehouse, Renoir, Everyman Screen on the Green and Rich Mix, which join existing London venues the Ica,...
- 9/6/2012
- by Phil
- Nerdly
One of the clear victors emerging out of Telluride was Ben Affleck‘s The Town follow-up, the political hostage thriller Argo. Featuring a great ensemble including Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin and John Goodman, the film received top-notch reviews for its mix of thrillers and comedy and now we’ve got word it’ll be showing at another prestigious festival.
BFI London Film Festival announced their promising line-up today, which includes Argo, as well as Michael Haneke‘s Amour, Martin McDonagh’s Seven Psychopaths, Michael Winterbottom’s Everyday, Sally Potter’s Ginger and Rosa, Jacques Audiard’s Rust and Bone and much more. Check out the complete line-up below, as well as WB’s first TV spot for Argo.
London, Wednesday 5 September: The programme for the 56th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express launched today under the new creative leadership of BFI’s Head of Exhibition and Festival Director,...
BFI London Film Festival announced their promising line-up today, which includes Argo, as well as Michael Haneke‘s Amour, Martin McDonagh’s Seven Psychopaths, Michael Winterbottom’s Everyday, Sally Potter’s Ginger and Rosa, Jacques Audiard’s Rust and Bone and much more. Check out the complete line-up below, as well as WB’s first TV spot for Argo.
London, Wednesday 5 September: The programme for the 56th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express launched today under the new creative leadership of BFI’s Head of Exhibition and Festival Director,...
- 9/5/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
The line-up to the 56th London Film Festival has just been announced and you can see the list of movies coming to the greatest city in the world below. We already knew that Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie and Mike Newell’s Great Expectations would open and close the festival respectively but now we have the rest of the movies coming to London Town.
Let us know your thoughts on the line-up below in our comments section.
The Festival itself runs from October 10th to October 21st and we’ll be doing our best to bring you reviews from as many films as we possibly can!
London, Wednesday 5 September: The programme for the 56th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express launched today under the new creative leadership of BFI’s Head of Exhibition and Festival Director, Clare Stewart, bringing a rich and diverse programme of international films and...
Let us know your thoughts on the line-up below in our comments section.
The Festival itself runs from October 10th to October 21st and we’ll be doing our best to bring you reviews from as many films as we possibly can!
London, Wednesday 5 September: The programme for the 56th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express launched today under the new creative leadership of BFI’s Head of Exhibition and Festival Director, Clare Stewart, bringing a rich and diverse programme of international films and...
- 9/5/2012
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Outside of the highly anticipated Rust & Bone from helmer Jacques Audiard, Celluloid Dreams is much more immersed in the market aspect of Cannes this year. Headed by Hengameh Panahi, Celluloid Dreams brings to some noteworthy Cannes this year, but outside of that doesn’t have anything to front. The Rambler, The Side Effect are noteworthy projects worth keeping tabs on, while Dormant Beauty starring the just Isabelle Huppert who is on some Cannes auteur bucket list drive and Dan Algrant’s debut Greetings from Tim Buckley (see pic above) should be top tier items drawing plenty of buyer interest.
City State (Borgriki) by Olaf De Fleur Johannesson
Dead Mine by Steven Sheil
Rust & Bone (De Rouille Et D’Os) by Jacques Audiard
A Place On Earth by Fabienne Godet
Bald Mountain by Heitor Dhalia
City State 2: Brave Men’S Blood by Olaf De Fleur Johannesson
Detachment by Tony Kaye...
City State (Borgriki) by Olaf De Fleur Johannesson
Dead Mine by Steven Sheil
Rust & Bone (De Rouille Et D’Os) by Jacques Audiard
A Place On Earth by Fabienne Godet
Bald Mountain by Heitor Dhalia
City State 2: Brave Men’S Blood by Olaf De Fleur Johannesson
Detachment by Tony Kaye...
- 5/17/2012
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
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