Fresh off starring in the Netflix adaptation of the Stephen King story Mr. Harrigan’s Phone, veteran actor Donald Sutherland has now signed on to star in the coming-of-age thriller Heart Land, which Variety has heard is being described as “28 Days Later meets Lord of the Flies.” Directed by David Carson (Star Trek: Generations), Heart Land is filming in New Zealand and Quebec, Canada. It will go through the post-production process in the UK.
Matthew A. Collins (All That Glitters) wrote the screenplay for this one, crafting a story that centers on two disparate bands of children struggling to survive in the brutal landscape of a pestilent America, where adults have become infected by a mysterious plague and only children are immune. Left to their own devices, the youthful survivors must rely on primal instinct and dwindling resources to fend off the raging infected.
The lead character is Jonah, the...
Matthew A. Collins (All That Glitters) wrote the screenplay for this one, crafting a story that centers on two disparate bands of children struggling to survive in the brutal landscape of a pestilent America, where adults have become infected by a mysterious plague and only children are immune. Left to their own devices, the youthful survivors must rely on primal instinct and dwindling resources to fend off the raging infected.
The lead character is Jonah, the...
- 11/2/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Donald Sutherland has boarded the coming-of-age genre thriller “Heart Land,” a rare U.K. and New Zealand treaty co-production.
Directed by David Carson, the film is currently being filmed in New Zealand and Quebec, Canada, with post-production set to take place in the U.K.
Penned by Matthew A. Collins (“All That Glitters”), “Heart Land” is billed as “28 Days Later” meets “Lord of the Flies.” The story is centered around two disparate bands of children struggling to survive in the brutal landscape of a pestilent America, where adults have become infected by a mysterious plague and only children are immune. Left to their own devices, the youthful survivors must rely on primal instinct and dwindling resources to fend off the raging infected.
The pic is centered around a character named Jonah, who is the grandson of Rick (Sutherland).
“Rick is the emotional heart and anchor of ‘Heart Land,’” says Carson.
Directed by David Carson, the film is currently being filmed in New Zealand and Quebec, Canada, with post-production set to take place in the U.K.
Penned by Matthew A. Collins (“All That Glitters”), “Heart Land” is billed as “28 Days Later” meets “Lord of the Flies.” The story is centered around two disparate bands of children struggling to survive in the brutal landscape of a pestilent America, where adults have become infected by a mysterious plague and only children are immune. Left to their own devices, the youthful survivors must rely on primal instinct and dwindling resources to fend off the raging infected.
The pic is centered around a character named Jonah, who is the grandson of Rick (Sutherland).
“Rick is the emotional heart and anchor of ‘Heart Land,’” says Carson.
- 11/1/2022
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Jill Wagner and Cameron Mathison will co-star in the upcoming Gac Family holiday film The Christmas Farm set to premiere during the network’s annual “Great American Christmas” celebration.
Production on the project began on Wednesday.
Wagner stars as Janie, a rising marketing executive living in The Big Apple, who returns to her hometown of Woodland Falls when her Great-Uncle Randall passes away. Randall surprises Janie with a special gift: the family homestead, her childhood home.
While not immediately sure what to do, Janie agrees to honor Randall’s final request to plan and host Woodland Falls’ annual Winter Wonderland. She will be further surprised by who her late uncle has arranged to help her: his farmhand Dylan (Mathison).
With a boyfriend anxiously waiting for her return in Manhattan, Janie begins to feel an unexpected emotional tug about living life in a more authentic, meaningful way.
Executive Producers of The Christmas Farm are Brad Krevoy,...
Production on the project began on Wednesday.
Wagner stars as Janie, a rising marketing executive living in The Big Apple, who returns to her hometown of Woodland Falls when her Great-Uncle Randall passes away. Randall surprises Janie with a special gift: the family homestead, her childhood home.
While not immediately sure what to do, Janie agrees to honor Randall’s final request to plan and host Woodland Falls’ annual Winter Wonderland. She will be further surprised by who her late uncle has arranged to help her: his farmhand Dylan (Mathison).
With a boyfriend anxiously waiting for her return in Manhattan, Janie begins to feel an unexpected emotional tug about living life in a more authentic, meaningful way.
Executive Producers of The Christmas Farm are Brad Krevoy,...
- 5/4/2022
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
New projects from ‘The Father’, ‘Born To Be Blue’ producers in Ontario Creates iff forum (exclusive)
Virtual meetings, panels and networking to take place September 12-13.
New projects from producers and production companies behind The Father, Born To Be Blue, Mustang and I’m No Longer Here are among the roster at the virtual 16th Ontario Creates International Financing Forum (iff) set to run from September 12-13.
The two-day co-financing and co-production market, which will run online due to the pandemic, serves international and Canadian producers developing mostly English-language projects and takes place in association with Toronto International Film Festival.
Sessions encompass one-on-one producer and executive meetings with 42 executives in attendance including new companies like Voltage Pictures,...
New projects from producers and production companies behind The Father, Born To Be Blue, Mustang and I’m No Longer Here are among the roster at the virtual 16th Ontario Creates International Financing Forum (iff) set to run from September 12-13.
The two-day co-financing and co-production market, which will run online due to the pandemic, serves international and Canadian producers developing mostly English-language projects and takes place in association with Toronto International Film Festival.
Sessions encompass one-on-one producer and executive meetings with 42 executives in attendance including new companies like Voltage Pictures,...
- 8/30/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
by Seth Metoyer
MoreHorror.com
Tis the season for many horror film festivals and with that, a ton of films being screened. A little horror comedy short to note called A Tricky Treat will have its La premiere at this years Screamfest.
The film was also honored with four awards at the Macabre Faire Film Festival showcase in New York. Check out the details and trailer below, and if you happen to hit a festival or two this year, be sure to give this one a watch.
From The Press Release:
A Tricky Treat, a short horror comedy directed by acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Patricia Chica, has been honored with four awards at the Macabre Faire Film Festival showcase in New York.
- Best Short Film:
Producers: Patricia Chica, Grace Santos, Byron A. Martin
Executive Producer: Tara Kurtz
Co-Executive Producers: Morris Umali, Adonai Interiano
- Best Director: Patricia Chica
- Best...
MoreHorror.com
Tis the season for many horror film festivals and with that, a ton of films being screened. A little horror comedy short to note called A Tricky Treat will have its La premiere at this years Screamfest.
The film was also honored with four awards at the Macabre Faire Film Festival showcase in New York. Check out the details and trailer below, and if you happen to hit a festival or two this year, be sure to give this one a watch.
From The Press Release:
A Tricky Treat, a short horror comedy directed by acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Patricia Chica, has been honored with four awards at the Macabre Faire Film Festival showcase in New York.
- Best Short Film:
Producers: Patricia Chica, Grace Santos, Byron A. Martin
Executive Producer: Tara Kurtz
Co-Executive Producers: Morris Umali, Adonai Interiano
- Best Director: Patricia Chica
- Best...
- 10/2/2015
- by admin
- MoreHorror
The 18th edition of the co-production market within Canada’s Atlantic Film Festival in Halifax will run from September 17-20.
Latin America and the Us will be showcased for the second consecutive year at Strategic Partners.
Event brass also said they planned to build on the 2014 project exchange with Mexico’s Los Cabos International Film Festival.
Last year’s collaboration brought April Shannon, the producer and co-founder of Mexican production company Agrupación Caramelo Cinematographic, to Strategic Partners from the Los Cabos festival with her thriller Franco’s Night.
Ontario producer Byron A. Martin of Byron A. Martin Productions was chosen to attend the Los Cabos International Film Festival last November with his feature Wolverine Hotel.
That film secured financing through Elliptic Entertainment at Los Cabos. Latina-Canadian filmmaker Patricia Chica will direct the thriller with a supernatural twist about three drug addicts.
“Unique collaborations like our project exchange developed in 2014 with Los Cabos International Film Festival add extraordinary...
Latin America and the Us will be showcased for the second consecutive year at Strategic Partners.
Event brass also said they planned to build on the 2014 project exchange with Mexico’s Los Cabos International Film Festival.
Last year’s collaboration brought April Shannon, the producer and co-founder of Mexican production company Agrupación Caramelo Cinematographic, to Strategic Partners from the Los Cabos festival with her thriller Franco’s Night.
Ontario producer Byron A. Martin of Byron A. Martin Productions was chosen to attend the Los Cabos International Film Festival last November with his feature Wolverine Hotel.
That film secured financing through Elliptic Entertainment at Los Cabos. Latina-Canadian filmmaker Patricia Chica will direct the thriller with a supernatural twist about three drug addicts.
“Unique collaborations like our project exchange developed in 2014 with Los Cabos International Film Festival add extraordinary...
- 6/12/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
We return with another edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting the recent independent horror news sent our way. Today's feature includes screening details on Avenged and Serpent's Lullaby, a new Hayride 2 trailer, concept teaser and production details for The Void, first details on short film Paralysis, and more:
Details on Q&A Screenings of Avenged: "Avenged is showing at the Arena Cinemas in Hollywood from March 6. Uncork’d Entertainment will release the critically acclaimed Avenged at Arena Cinemas Hollywood on March 6, 2015.
As part of the opening night celebrations, the 10:15 Pm screening on Friday March 6 will be followed by a Q&A with cast and crew - including star Amanda Adrienne and director Michael S. Ojeda.
A second Q&A session will be held after the Sunday March 8 6:30 Pm screening.
These two Q&A sessions are Exclusive to Los Angeles. A lethal injection of scares, thrills, romance,...
Details on Q&A Screenings of Avenged: "Avenged is showing at the Arena Cinemas in Hollywood from March 6. Uncork’d Entertainment will release the critically acclaimed Avenged at Arena Cinemas Hollywood on March 6, 2015.
As part of the opening night celebrations, the 10:15 Pm screening on Friday March 6 will be followed by a Q&A with cast and crew - including star Amanda Adrienne and director Michael S. Ojeda.
A second Q&A session will be held after the Sunday March 8 6:30 Pm screening.
These two Q&A sessions are Exclusive to Los Angeles. A lethal injection of scares, thrills, romance,...
- 3/1/2015
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
Every year internationally renowned identical twin filmmakers, the Soska Sisters ("American Mary," "See No Evil 2"), invite you to bleed for an incredibly good cause: Women inHorror’s PSA for a Massive Blood Drive . Donating blood is something many people find off-putting and terrifying. By using humor, innovation, and provocative imagery, this PSA will encourage viewers to face their fears and donate to the cause.
For this occasion, the Soska Sisters are launching an anthology of horror shorts directed by celebrated women filmmakers from around the world.
Women in Horror Recognition Month (WiHM) assists female genre artists in gaining opportunities, exposure, and education through altruistic events, printed material, articles, interviews, and online support. The collaborative vision is a world wherein all individuals have equal opportunity to create, share, and engage in freedom of expression.
The Soska Sisters and Women in Horror have invited award winning Canadian filmmaker Patricia Chica to present her darkly comic short
"Ripe N’ Bloody" to be included in this anthology of films from some of the most innovative, unique, and irreverent female directors across the globe.
“I am a huge fan of the Soska Twins’ work, so I’m thrilled to be part of this project which supports two causes that are dear to my heart: the empowerment of Women in Film and Blood Donation," says Patricia Chica.
“I started getting involved with blood donation when my mother was diagnosed with leukemia in 2002 and needed a lot of transfusions in order to survive. It made me realize how important each litter of blood was for the survival of my own mother and all of the patients at the hospital who were suffering from similar conditions. My recent film"Ceramic Tango" dealt with the issue of blood and HIV awareness”, explains the director.
“This PSA is not only aligned with my purpose of making films that serve society and elevate the viewers' consciousness but it was morbidly fun to make! ”, concludes Patricia Chica.
"Ripe N’ Bloody" is a Canadian production that was written by award winning filmmaker-screenwriter Kamal John Iskander ("Jesus Comes to Town," "Montréal Girls"), produced by Patricia Chica, Grace Santos (Odessa, Silk), and veteran Byron A. Martin ("Serpent's Lullaby," "My Babysitter is a Vampire"). The short was executive produced by Tara Kurtz ("Blue Weekend,""Something About Her"), co-executive produced by Adonai Interiano of Hni Productions, and artist Morris Umali. Practical effects were created by Danny McCarthy of 800 Lb Guerilla. Visual effects were created by Henry Lipatov, Anton Golovchenko, and the crew at Fame Cube based in the Ukraine. Director of photography Imad Rhayem, production designer Gabrielle Giraud, and makeup artist Valentina Badaracco round out the production team. Starring Leonard Waldner, Stephen Brewster, Andrea Fletcher, Keira McCarthy, and introducing Marco Reilly.
An expanded version of the short will be presented on the festival circuit during the 2015/2016 season.
Patricia Chica (@PatriciaChica) is a Canadian/Salvadorian 35-time award winning filmmaker who has built a loyal audience and cult following internationally. Her films explore “dark” subject matter in order to find the “light” and frequently feature elements of psychological drama and suspense. Screening in more than 200 international film festivals, her films "Rockabilly 514" "Day Before Yesterday," "CeramicTango," and "Serpent’s Lullaby" have been enthusiastically received by audiences worldwide. Variety recently described her as “a prolific director of shorts and TV projects.” Patricia is attached to direct acclaimed screenplay Wolverine Hotel, a finalist at the Los Cabos Film Co-Production Forum and at the Oaxaca FilmFest. ( www.PatriciaChica.com)
Kamal John Iskander is an award winning writer and director whose acclaimed short comedy, "Jesus Comes to Town," screened in over 30 international film festivals and won 7 awards including the Cine Golden Eagle (Washington, DC) and the Best Short Narrative (Virginia Film Festival). Mark Bell, editor of Film Threat, called his work “a delight to behold.” Kamal is currently developing six other screenplays in various genres. "The Gospel According to Charlie" (winner of Best International Screenplay at the Oaxaca FilmFest) is his most personal work and a wild journey featuring characters from the outskirts of Los Angeles. (www.jesuscomestotown.com)
Tara Kurtz (@kurtz_tara) has worked in all facets of film development including production, location management, casting, and distribution. In addition to producing, Tara has extensive experience in talent management. Her feature credits include "Something About Her" and "Blue Weekend" for Cineville Productions.
Grace Santos (@Grace_S_Feeney) is an award winning producer and actress known for "Spun" (Honorable Mention -Producers Guild of America’s Weekend Shorts Challenge) and "Silk" (starring Oscar nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo of "House of Sand and Fog). (www.gracefeeney.com )
Danny McCarthy manages the Special FX Makeup and Wardrobe departments at Stu Segall Productions and Strategic Operations in San Diego, CA. He leads a team of makeup artists that have assisted in the training of members from every branch of the U.S. military and Special Forces as well as the law enforcement and first responder communities. As a graduate of the Tom Savini Special Effects School, he had the great honor of learning his trade from several makeup masters including, Dick Smith. (www.facebook.com/pages/800-lb-Guerilla/103539906441412
Synopsis
A man is kidnapped by a very strange family, and his fate is held in the hands of two kids.
Ripe N’ Bloody presents a shocking tale of the unexpected with a twist that reminds the audience that “It’s in You to Give.”
Watch the entire PSA below...
For this occasion, the Soska Sisters are launching an anthology of horror shorts directed by celebrated women filmmakers from around the world.
Women in Horror Recognition Month (WiHM) assists female genre artists in gaining opportunities, exposure, and education through altruistic events, printed material, articles, interviews, and online support. The collaborative vision is a world wherein all individuals have equal opportunity to create, share, and engage in freedom of expression.
The Soska Sisters and Women in Horror have invited award winning Canadian filmmaker Patricia Chica to present her darkly comic short
"Ripe N’ Bloody" to be included in this anthology of films from some of the most innovative, unique, and irreverent female directors across the globe.
“I am a huge fan of the Soska Twins’ work, so I’m thrilled to be part of this project which supports two causes that are dear to my heart: the empowerment of Women in Film and Blood Donation," says Patricia Chica.
“I started getting involved with blood donation when my mother was diagnosed with leukemia in 2002 and needed a lot of transfusions in order to survive. It made me realize how important each litter of blood was for the survival of my own mother and all of the patients at the hospital who were suffering from similar conditions. My recent film"Ceramic Tango" dealt with the issue of blood and HIV awareness”, explains the director.
“This PSA is not only aligned with my purpose of making films that serve society and elevate the viewers' consciousness but it was morbidly fun to make! ”, concludes Patricia Chica.
"Ripe N’ Bloody" is a Canadian production that was written by award winning filmmaker-screenwriter Kamal John Iskander ("Jesus Comes to Town," "Montréal Girls"), produced by Patricia Chica, Grace Santos (Odessa, Silk), and veteran Byron A. Martin ("Serpent's Lullaby," "My Babysitter is a Vampire"). The short was executive produced by Tara Kurtz ("Blue Weekend,""Something About Her"), co-executive produced by Adonai Interiano of Hni Productions, and artist Morris Umali. Practical effects were created by Danny McCarthy of 800 Lb Guerilla. Visual effects were created by Henry Lipatov, Anton Golovchenko, and the crew at Fame Cube based in the Ukraine. Director of photography Imad Rhayem, production designer Gabrielle Giraud, and makeup artist Valentina Badaracco round out the production team. Starring Leonard Waldner, Stephen Brewster, Andrea Fletcher, Keira McCarthy, and introducing Marco Reilly.
An expanded version of the short will be presented on the festival circuit during the 2015/2016 season.
Patricia Chica (@PatriciaChica) is a Canadian/Salvadorian 35-time award winning filmmaker who has built a loyal audience and cult following internationally. Her films explore “dark” subject matter in order to find the “light” and frequently feature elements of psychological drama and suspense. Screening in more than 200 international film festivals, her films "Rockabilly 514" "Day Before Yesterday," "CeramicTango," and "Serpent’s Lullaby" have been enthusiastically received by audiences worldwide. Variety recently described her as “a prolific director of shorts and TV projects.” Patricia is attached to direct acclaimed screenplay Wolverine Hotel, a finalist at the Los Cabos Film Co-Production Forum and at the Oaxaca FilmFest. ( www.PatriciaChica.com)
Kamal John Iskander is an award winning writer and director whose acclaimed short comedy, "Jesus Comes to Town," screened in over 30 international film festivals and won 7 awards including the Cine Golden Eagle (Washington, DC) and the Best Short Narrative (Virginia Film Festival). Mark Bell, editor of Film Threat, called his work “a delight to behold.” Kamal is currently developing six other screenplays in various genres. "The Gospel According to Charlie" (winner of Best International Screenplay at the Oaxaca FilmFest) is his most personal work and a wild journey featuring characters from the outskirts of Los Angeles. (www.jesuscomestotown.com)
Tara Kurtz (@kurtz_tara) has worked in all facets of film development including production, location management, casting, and distribution. In addition to producing, Tara has extensive experience in talent management. Her feature credits include "Something About Her" and "Blue Weekend" for Cineville Productions.
Grace Santos (@Grace_S_Feeney) is an award winning producer and actress known for "Spun" (Honorable Mention -Producers Guild of America’s Weekend Shorts Challenge) and "Silk" (starring Oscar nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo of "House of Sand and Fog). (www.gracefeeney.com )
Danny McCarthy manages the Special FX Makeup and Wardrobe departments at Stu Segall Productions and Strategic Operations in San Diego, CA. He leads a team of makeup artists that have assisted in the training of members from every branch of the U.S. military and Special Forces as well as the law enforcement and first responder communities. As a graduate of the Tom Savini Special Effects School, he had the great honor of learning his trade from several makeup masters including, Dick Smith. (www.facebook.com/pages/800-lb-Guerilla/103539906441412
Synopsis
A man is kidnapped by a very strange family, and his fate is held in the hands of two kids.
Ripe N’ Bloody presents a shocking tale of the unexpected with a twist that reminds the audience that “It’s in You to Give.”
Watch the entire PSA below...
- 2/13/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Los Cabos International Film Festival took place this month of November. It was a brave move to keep it going after Cabo had been so hard hit by Hurricane Odile with winds of 125mph less than a month earlier. The vast destruction in our part of town was quickly being repaired though traces remained visible and repairs still to be done necessitated cutting the normal invitation list by half and doubling up hotel rooms for a few unlucky journalists. That being said, there were 15,000 attending the festival. Volunteers wore the worthy words on their t-shirts: #Unstoppable, and they were that.
For all the infrastructure problems of the city in the midst of rebuilding itself, the festival seemed to thrive with all sorts of invitees showing up from all over the world. It seemed like gala events, panels, master classes, coproduction meetings, works in progress, screenings and interviews were constantly taking place. It was a great team and we all felt part of it.
The festival is overseen by the executive board members Eduardo Sánchez Navarro, Alfonso Pascal Barcenas, Scott Cross and Sean Cross (who also founded Vail Film Festival) and is organized by the festival team of Alonso Aguilar (General Director), Alejandra Paulin (General Coordinator) - who was a great market director in Guadajalara before coming here, Maru Garzon (Head of Programming), Ana Molinar Trujillo (Communication Manager), and Monica Herrera (Film Programmer). My friend from Guadalajara, normally an English teacher, Fabian Cruz was also there working for the festival.
When Eduardo Sánchez Navarro Redo remembers how he first came to Los Cabos, there is no doubt in his mind that destiny and luck played an important part. When he married his wife 30 years ago, he decided to travel along the entire Pacific Coast, from Acapulco to Mazatlan, where he crossed over to La Paz eventually driving to Los Cabos. The beauty of the area impressed him and it was during this trip that he and his wife decided to buy a vacation home in Los Cabos, thus beginning a distinguished career as a principal player and developer of what is Los Cabos today. Over the course of more than 20 years, his company, Grupo Questro, has emerged as one of the most highly respected developers in all of Mexico. He, together with Juan Gallardo Thurlow, Scott Cross, and Sean Cross, founded the festival in 2012.
My job as a journalist was to explore and write, hard to do when you are having such fun 24/7. We journalists were all in one hotel where we were given space and time to bond. Travel writers mixed with trade writers: from Film Journal David Noh, whose article is worth sharing here, my colleagues Peter Rainer from NPR and Christian Science Monitor, Anne Thompson from Thompson on Hollywood on Indiewire, Godfrey Cheshire of RogerEbert.com and many others met and mixed. Also Ira Deutchman of Colombia University Film School and Emerging Pictures and Robin Brock of Creative Coalition were there with time to share dinners.
The filmmakers, in another hotel, mixed by day and at the communal lunches and parties. I will write more on them in an upcoming blog! After all, filmmakers are the backbone of our industry. Without them, we have nothing!
The agents, mostly from CAA, were placed in another hotel, luxurious and far away. As someone said, Cabos is like Cannes, only in November. If so, perhaps they were at the Eden Roc in Cap d’Antibes. (Actually they were at Hacienda Beach Club & Residences) CAA has always been an honored part of this festival. I have heard that that is because someone with lots of money from Mexico invests it in cinema through CAA and even started the festival. That is, however, pure conjecture. Under the guidance of CAA agent, Micah Green, people can be assured that the directions he sees and the decisions he makes about investing private individuals' capital into filmed entertainment is priceless. I could think of no one I would trust more --in this untrustworthy business we are in-- than Micah.
At least two other agents – Bec Smith and Rena Ronson from UTA -- were also there. Rena and Micah were on the Film Financing Panel moderated by Variety’s expert in all things Iberoamerican and my idol, John Hopewell. Other participants on the Film Finance Panel were Jonathan King, Evp of Production at Jeff Skoll’s Participant Media whose partnership with Canana formed Participant PanAmerican production fund. “No” by Pablo Lorrain was their first investment. Pp also financed "El Ardor" which played in Cannes and “Cesar Chavez”, directed by Diego Luna. Also on the panel were Mark Musselman of Canada’s 10X2yinc, the exec producer of “Eastern Promises” and most recently of “Remember” by Atom Egoyan which was also produced by Robert Lantos and son, also in Los Cabos. It went into production in 2014 and is tipped for Cannes. Other panelists included Raul Del Alto of Mexico’s Ag Studios (Itaca Films Mexico, Itaca Films USA, Itaca Films Colombia and Itaca Filkms Brazil, and Rena Ronson of UTA who, like Micah Green of CAA focuses on global film finance, distribution and marketing strategies for Independents and co-financed features and is fluent in Spanish because of her long time experience with Latin America.
At one point I looked up and found the European fund chiefs there as well, Laufey Gudjonsdottir from Iceland (where Interstellar was filmed), Katriel Schory from Israel Film Fund and Edith Sepp-Dallas from the Estonian Film Institute. They were there for Bpx. Best Practice Exchange is an initiative that brings together the leaders of film funding agencies from across the world to take part in high-level-workshops – one or two each year – designed to promote new standards of excellence in the provision of public funding for the support of film production, development and distribution. The aim of Bpx is to ensure that policies and procedures adopted by film funding agencies will act together, positively and proactively, to stimulate and sustain practices of international coproduction and cofinancing worldwide.
Triggered by the situation in which filmmaking outside the main production centers of Hollywood and Bollywood now finds itself, Bpx was created by Simon Perry, president of Ace (Ateliers du Cinéma Européen), in collaboration with Katriel Schory, executive director of the Israel Film Fund. It held its first workshop in February 2013 in Israel, and two further workshops in Toronto (September 2013) and Berlin (February 2014) and this was the third! Bravo!
Among the Mexican, Canadian and U.S. films that showed, the winners were as follow:
Mexico First
Mexico First winning film was ¨Llevate mis amores” ("All of Me") by Arturo Gonzalez. The film narrates the story of the generosity of the women of Las Patronas who feed the immigrants who ride La Bestia. The director was awarded a cash Prize of Usd $15,000. This film made me cry. I thought of it again when reading the L.A. Times article about the murder of Adrian Rodriguez and his assistant, Mexican good Samaritans who dedicated their scarce resources to feeding Central American migrants passing by on La Bestia, which is what the women in this movie do. And one of the women was at the festival too.
Los Cabos Competition
The Los Cabos Competition winner was “Güeros” by Alonso Ruizpalacios, also a winner at the Berlinale, Jerusalem Film Festival, Tribeca, Toronto and San Sebastian. Being sold internationally by Mundial, the joint venture of Canana (again!) and Im Global, the film has sold to Kino Lorber for U.S., Cannibal for Mexico, Dreams Hill for Italy, Noori for So. Korea and Maison Motion for Taiwan … "Güeros" is the undeniable triumph of a nouveau director who dares to pay homage the French New Wave on a wild detective hunt through Mexico City. In light of the 43 murdered students, this film, about students on strike, strikes a chord within the watcher. The film´s producer won a Usd $15,000 cash prize.
Work In Progress Mexico
The second Work in Progress Mexico prize was awarded to "Los Herederos," by Jorge Hernandez, a film that describes adolescent effervescence and idleness through a group of friends who spend their vacations adrenaline-seeking through parties, sex and alcohol. The winner received a Usd $10,000 cash prize.
Mexico-usa-canada Co-production Forum
The winner of the first Mexico- USA- Canada Co-production Forum was also announced: "Afronauts" by Frances Bodomo, based on the real life story of the Academia Nacional de Ciencias, Investigación Espacial e Investigación Astronómica of Zambia. Writer- Director Frances Bodomo received a Usd $8,000 cash prize. It also received funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Mexico First: Fox +
In its second year running the México Primero: Fox+ chose one of the films that participated to have its distribution rights pre-bought for the Latin American and Caribbean (Except Brazil) markets. The México Primero: Fox+ prize consists of Usd $40,000 and was awarded to Isaac Ezban´s "El Incidente" ("The Incident"), two M.C. Escher-maze-like parallel stories about characters trapped in illogical endless spaces: two brothers and a detective locked on an infinite staircase, and a family locked on an infinite road… for a very long time. The international sales agent, Shoreline, will be showing the film at Ventana Sur December 3rd at 17:00 at Cinemark 3.
Work In Progress Mexico Fox +
In its second year running as well, Work in Progress México Fox+ selected a participating film to have its distribution rights pre-bought for the Latin American and Caribbean (Except Brazil) markets. The Usd $30,000 prize was awarded to Katina Medina Mora’s "Sabras que hacer conmigo" aka "En Contraluz", produced by Gerardo Gatica and Alberto Muffelmann.
Work In Progress Mexico Chemistry
This Third edition of the Festival also witnessed the first Work In Progress México –Chemistry award. Chemistry post-production studios granted the winner, Jorge Hernandez’s "Los Herederos", $45,000 Usd in color correction services.
Mexico – USA – Canada Splendor Omnia Mantarraya Co-production Forum
On its first year running, the Coproduction Forum Mexico- USA- Canada Splendor Omnia – MANTArraya will be granting a $30,000 Usd equivalent prize worth 40 hours of color correction, 40 hours of sound mixing, as well as a paid stay in Tepoztlan Morelos, site of their studios, to the winner "Afronauts" by Francez Bodomo (U.S.).
The key phrase to understanding Cabo is "Seeing what the neighbors do" as the festival and market connects Canada, U,S, and Mexico in showing of films and exploring coproduction. And the mixing of filmmakers and journalists from all three Americas was exciting in the possibilities it offered to everyone.
As for the hard-core business done there:
Mark Kassen will be directing "Criminal Empire for Dummies" written by Cliff Dorman. Kassen will also be producing the film along with James Gibb of Cutting Edge Group and Greg Hajdarowicz of Gremi Films. The deal took place at the exclusive resort Hacienda Beach Club & Residences and was reported by Variety.
Actor and producer Luis Gerardo Mendez ("Nosotros Los Nobles") signed a representation agreement with Paradigm. Reported by Variety. So I guess Paradigm also sent agents to Los Cabos.
Pat Saperstein of Variety also attended Los Cabos and scooped a story, that “Wolverine Hotel” from director Patricia Chica who was participating in the Coproduction Forum, is closing in on production with a "recent financing commitment from Jean-Guy Després, who will serve as exec producer. The edgy crime thriller is produced by Canada-based Byron Martin. Looking to cast a Latino actor as co-star, Chica met with rising Mexican thesp Luis Gerardo Mendez ('We Are the Nobles') during Afm though he has not yet been attached. 'A Latino star opens up a market', said Martin."
Celebrated producer Monica Lozano announced the launch of Alebrije Distribución. She has had her hand in 23 productions since her first film, "Amores Perros". "Instructions Not Included" the Us$ 5.5 million film that grossed Us$ 100 million worldwide was also her production. With this Pan-American initiative, the company will acquire distribution rights for the Latin and North American markets. Reported by Variety again!! You would think John was the only real reporter there. Pinske should be proud of him! Most of us got no scoops, but then, I guess we have to prove ourselves worthy - which I am not because at heart, I am not a reporter hunting for news, but rather a gatherer of information and a writer.
Speaking of Monica Lozano, the Germany-based international sales agent, Media Luna, acquired world rights to Internet Junkie, directed by Alexander Katzowicz and produced by Monica Lozano. Variety reports on this again!
"Yamaha 300", a participating project of the 1st Mexico – USA- Canada Coproduction Forum, produced by Valerium Arts (Mayra Espinosa y Jorge Michel Grau, producer and writer-director of the horror hit "Somos lo que hay" respectively, and Grau, the writer of the remake "We Are What We Are") and Uncorked Productions (Andrew Corkin, the producer of the horror film "What We Were"), will be one of the first projects to receive the development stage and postproduction support offered by The Good Film Fund, an initiative of Media Darling (Amy Darling) and The Chatanooga Film Festival. See Variety.
New York producer Dodgeville Films ("To Be Takei") will be joining Varios Lobos in Mexico to produce "Ya no estoy aquí", Fernando Frias’s second film, which was also a winner during Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund second edition. This film in the Coproduction Forum was reported on in Variety.
"Siete Horas" ("Seven Hours"), one of the winning projects of the second Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund edition, which will be directed by Chema Rodriguez and produced by Francisco Vargas, the renowned director of the film "El violin", made an alliance with the Spanish production companies Sin un Duro and Noodles Prods to co-produce the project. (Variety)
CineTren closed deals to handle Latin American distribution for Spring, a Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead film, whose Latin American Premiere was held at Los Cabos International Film Festival. Negotiations between Nate Bolotin and Marie Katz fromLos Angeles-based Xyz and Manuel Garcia from CineTren, took place at the Hotel Grand Solmar. Next time, I'll have to visit all the hotels!! See Variety article.
BH5 Group, which participates in the executive production of "Remember" by Atom Egoyan, will be working with Alonso Ruizpalacios, director of Güeros, in his second movie: Museo, a project that participated in the Ist Mexico- USA- Canada Co-production Forum. Even though Variety wrote about this, my blog on the three year old conglomerate of companies, BH5, was more complete:
BH5 Group Makes a Splash with Three Impressive Films at Los Cabos Int'l Film Fest
BH5, a conglomerate of five formerly independent production companies all run by various friends from the same film school, will be working the international markets much more. Besides the Toronto hit, Jodorowsky's "Dance of Reality", they are working with larger companies like Pathe now. Their work in progress, "You Will Know What To Do With Me" ("Sabras que hacer conmigo" aka "En Contraluz") which just won the The Usd $30,000 prize of Fox+, is seeking an international sales agent.
"Entrevero" by Max Zunino, also winner of the Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund second edition, was selected in the development project category by Ibermedia. See Variety.
And though Colombian Ciro Guerra, whose "The Wind Journeys" was produced by our German friends Roman Paul and Gerhard Meixner at Razor Film Production and by Burning Blue's prolific Diana Bustamente -- who is now also heading the Carthagena Film Festival -- showed in 2009 Cannes Un Certain Regard and was sold by Paris’ Elle Driver to 19 countries including Film Movement for U.S., announced to Variety's John Hopewell that his next film, "Embrace of the Serpent" will star U.S. actor Brionne Davis (“Savaged”) and Belgium’s Jan Bijvoet, the lead in Cannes Competition entry “Borgman” a really creepy dark comedy, he did not discuss his next project "Taganga" in the Coproduction Forum. "Taganga" is about a fisherman from a small village by the Colombian coast where many foreign-owned scuba diving centers have been established. A new law requiring local fisherman to change the motors of their boats forces him to earn quick money, so he chooses to dynamite to fish. The owner of the largest scuba diving center opposes this use of explosives. When the fisherman receives a death threat if he continues the dynamiting of fish, he assumes the center's owner is behind the threat. In order to prove it, he begins a series of fateful actions.
Finally, while it seems like Variety wrote all the news, I have one item which no one has reported on. Reese Witherspoon stated at her press conference in Los Cabos, where her film "Wild" premiered in a red carpet gala, that she is talking to Eugenio Derbez ("Instructions Not Included") to make a movie with him. I heard her say it and later spoke of this to Ben Odell (my next blog on Los Cabos features him). Ben (now partners with Eugenio at 3Pas Studios) said, Actually that would be a great idea but they had not spoken about it. However, they are both represented by CAA, so it would seem like a natural and really exciting pairing. After all, aren't "Legally Blond" and "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" the same film? She is certainly on a role as a producer with "Wild" and David Fincher's "Gone Girl" as he is with his U.S. career. The studios are all courting her now, she said. More to come on this...
For all the infrastructure problems of the city in the midst of rebuilding itself, the festival seemed to thrive with all sorts of invitees showing up from all over the world. It seemed like gala events, panels, master classes, coproduction meetings, works in progress, screenings and interviews were constantly taking place. It was a great team and we all felt part of it.
The festival is overseen by the executive board members Eduardo Sánchez Navarro, Alfonso Pascal Barcenas, Scott Cross and Sean Cross (who also founded Vail Film Festival) and is organized by the festival team of Alonso Aguilar (General Director), Alejandra Paulin (General Coordinator) - who was a great market director in Guadajalara before coming here, Maru Garzon (Head of Programming), Ana Molinar Trujillo (Communication Manager), and Monica Herrera (Film Programmer). My friend from Guadalajara, normally an English teacher, Fabian Cruz was also there working for the festival.
When Eduardo Sánchez Navarro Redo remembers how he first came to Los Cabos, there is no doubt in his mind that destiny and luck played an important part. When he married his wife 30 years ago, he decided to travel along the entire Pacific Coast, from Acapulco to Mazatlan, where he crossed over to La Paz eventually driving to Los Cabos. The beauty of the area impressed him and it was during this trip that he and his wife decided to buy a vacation home in Los Cabos, thus beginning a distinguished career as a principal player and developer of what is Los Cabos today. Over the course of more than 20 years, his company, Grupo Questro, has emerged as one of the most highly respected developers in all of Mexico. He, together with Juan Gallardo Thurlow, Scott Cross, and Sean Cross, founded the festival in 2012.
My job as a journalist was to explore and write, hard to do when you are having such fun 24/7. We journalists were all in one hotel where we were given space and time to bond. Travel writers mixed with trade writers: from Film Journal David Noh, whose article is worth sharing here, my colleagues Peter Rainer from NPR and Christian Science Monitor, Anne Thompson from Thompson on Hollywood on Indiewire, Godfrey Cheshire of RogerEbert.com and many others met and mixed. Also Ira Deutchman of Colombia University Film School and Emerging Pictures and Robin Brock of Creative Coalition were there with time to share dinners.
The filmmakers, in another hotel, mixed by day and at the communal lunches and parties. I will write more on them in an upcoming blog! After all, filmmakers are the backbone of our industry. Without them, we have nothing!
The agents, mostly from CAA, were placed in another hotel, luxurious and far away. As someone said, Cabos is like Cannes, only in November. If so, perhaps they were at the Eden Roc in Cap d’Antibes. (Actually they were at Hacienda Beach Club & Residences) CAA has always been an honored part of this festival. I have heard that that is because someone with lots of money from Mexico invests it in cinema through CAA and even started the festival. That is, however, pure conjecture. Under the guidance of CAA agent, Micah Green, people can be assured that the directions he sees and the decisions he makes about investing private individuals' capital into filmed entertainment is priceless. I could think of no one I would trust more --in this untrustworthy business we are in-- than Micah.
At least two other agents – Bec Smith and Rena Ronson from UTA -- were also there. Rena and Micah were on the Film Financing Panel moderated by Variety’s expert in all things Iberoamerican and my idol, John Hopewell. Other participants on the Film Finance Panel were Jonathan King, Evp of Production at Jeff Skoll’s Participant Media whose partnership with Canana formed Participant PanAmerican production fund. “No” by Pablo Lorrain was their first investment. Pp also financed "El Ardor" which played in Cannes and “Cesar Chavez”, directed by Diego Luna. Also on the panel were Mark Musselman of Canada’s 10X2yinc, the exec producer of “Eastern Promises” and most recently of “Remember” by Atom Egoyan which was also produced by Robert Lantos and son, also in Los Cabos. It went into production in 2014 and is tipped for Cannes. Other panelists included Raul Del Alto of Mexico’s Ag Studios (Itaca Films Mexico, Itaca Films USA, Itaca Films Colombia and Itaca Filkms Brazil, and Rena Ronson of UTA who, like Micah Green of CAA focuses on global film finance, distribution and marketing strategies for Independents and co-financed features and is fluent in Spanish because of her long time experience with Latin America.
At one point I looked up and found the European fund chiefs there as well, Laufey Gudjonsdottir from Iceland (where Interstellar was filmed), Katriel Schory from Israel Film Fund and Edith Sepp-Dallas from the Estonian Film Institute. They were there for Bpx. Best Practice Exchange is an initiative that brings together the leaders of film funding agencies from across the world to take part in high-level-workshops – one or two each year – designed to promote new standards of excellence in the provision of public funding for the support of film production, development and distribution. The aim of Bpx is to ensure that policies and procedures adopted by film funding agencies will act together, positively and proactively, to stimulate and sustain practices of international coproduction and cofinancing worldwide.
Triggered by the situation in which filmmaking outside the main production centers of Hollywood and Bollywood now finds itself, Bpx was created by Simon Perry, president of Ace (Ateliers du Cinéma Européen), in collaboration with Katriel Schory, executive director of the Israel Film Fund. It held its first workshop in February 2013 in Israel, and two further workshops in Toronto (September 2013) and Berlin (February 2014) and this was the third! Bravo!
Among the Mexican, Canadian and U.S. films that showed, the winners were as follow:
Mexico First
Mexico First winning film was ¨Llevate mis amores” ("All of Me") by Arturo Gonzalez. The film narrates the story of the generosity of the women of Las Patronas who feed the immigrants who ride La Bestia. The director was awarded a cash Prize of Usd $15,000. This film made me cry. I thought of it again when reading the L.A. Times article about the murder of Adrian Rodriguez and his assistant, Mexican good Samaritans who dedicated their scarce resources to feeding Central American migrants passing by on La Bestia, which is what the women in this movie do. And one of the women was at the festival too.
Los Cabos Competition
The Los Cabos Competition winner was “Güeros” by Alonso Ruizpalacios, also a winner at the Berlinale, Jerusalem Film Festival, Tribeca, Toronto and San Sebastian. Being sold internationally by Mundial, the joint venture of Canana (again!) and Im Global, the film has sold to Kino Lorber for U.S., Cannibal for Mexico, Dreams Hill for Italy, Noori for So. Korea and Maison Motion for Taiwan … "Güeros" is the undeniable triumph of a nouveau director who dares to pay homage the French New Wave on a wild detective hunt through Mexico City. In light of the 43 murdered students, this film, about students on strike, strikes a chord within the watcher. The film´s producer won a Usd $15,000 cash prize.
Work In Progress Mexico
The second Work in Progress Mexico prize was awarded to "Los Herederos," by Jorge Hernandez, a film that describes adolescent effervescence and idleness through a group of friends who spend their vacations adrenaline-seeking through parties, sex and alcohol. The winner received a Usd $10,000 cash prize.
Mexico-usa-canada Co-production Forum
The winner of the first Mexico- USA- Canada Co-production Forum was also announced: "Afronauts" by Frances Bodomo, based on the real life story of the Academia Nacional de Ciencias, Investigación Espacial e Investigación Astronómica of Zambia. Writer- Director Frances Bodomo received a Usd $8,000 cash prize. It also received funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Mexico First: Fox +
In its second year running the México Primero: Fox+ chose one of the films that participated to have its distribution rights pre-bought for the Latin American and Caribbean (Except Brazil) markets. The México Primero: Fox+ prize consists of Usd $40,000 and was awarded to Isaac Ezban´s "El Incidente" ("The Incident"), two M.C. Escher-maze-like parallel stories about characters trapped in illogical endless spaces: two brothers and a detective locked on an infinite staircase, and a family locked on an infinite road… for a very long time. The international sales agent, Shoreline, will be showing the film at Ventana Sur December 3rd at 17:00 at Cinemark 3.
Work In Progress Mexico Fox +
In its second year running as well, Work in Progress México Fox+ selected a participating film to have its distribution rights pre-bought for the Latin American and Caribbean (Except Brazil) markets. The Usd $30,000 prize was awarded to Katina Medina Mora’s "Sabras que hacer conmigo" aka "En Contraluz", produced by Gerardo Gatica and Alberto Muffelmann.
Work In Progress Mexico Chemistry
This Third edition of the Festival also witnessed the first Work In Progress México –Chemistry award. Chemistry post-production studios granted the winner, Jorge Hernandez’s "Los Herederos", $45,000 Usd in color correction services.
Mexico – USA – Canada Splendor Omnia Mantarraya Co-production Forum
On its first year running, the Coproduction Forum Mexico- USA- Canada Splendor Omnia – MANTArraya will be granting a $30,000 Usd equivalent prize worth 40 hours of color correction, 40 hours of sound mixing, as well as a paid stay in Tepoztlan Morelos, site of their studios, to the winner "Afronauts" by Francez Bodomo (U.S.).
The key phrase to understanding Cabo is "Seeing what the neighbors do" as the festival and market connects Canada, U,S, and Mexico in showing of films and exploring coproduction. And the mixing of filmmakers and journalists from all three Americas was exciting in the possibilities it offered to everyone.
As for the hard-core business done there:
Mark Kassen will be directing "Criminal Empire for Dummies" written by Cliff Dorman. Kassen will also be producing the film along with James Gibb of Cutting Edge Group and Greg Hajdarowicz of Gremi Films. The deal took place at the exclusive resort Hacienda Beach Club & Residences and was reported by Variety.
Actor and producer Luis Gerardo Mendez ("Nosotros Los Nobles") signed a representation agreement with Paradigm. Reported by Variety. So I guess Paradigm also sent agents to Los Cabos.
Pat Saperstein of Variety also attended Los Cabos and scooped a story, that “Wolverine Hotel” from director Patricia Chica who was participating in the Coproduction Forum, is closing in on production with a "recent financing commitment from Jean-Guy Després, who will serve as exec producer. The edgy crime thriller is produced by Canada-based Byron Martin. Looking to cast a Latino actor as co-star, Chica met with rising Mexican thesp Luis Gerardo Mendez ('We Are the Nobles') during Afm though he has not yet been attached. 'A Latino star opens up a market', said Martin."
Celebrated producer Monica Lozano announced the launch of Alebrije Distribución. She has had her hand in 23 productions since her first film, "Amores Perros". "Instructions Not Included" the Us$ 5.5 million film that grossed Us$ 100 million worldwide was also her production. With this Pan-American initiative, the company will acquire distribution rights for the Latin and North American markets. Reported by Variety again!! You would think John was the only real reporter there. Pinske should be proud of him! Most of us got no scoops, but then, I guess we have to prove ourselves worthy - which I am not because at heart, I am not a reporter hunting for news, but rather a gatherer of information and a writer.
Speaking of Monica Lozano, the Germany-based international sales agent, Media Luna, acquired world rights to Internet Junkie, directed by Alexander Katzowicz and produced by Monica Lozano. Variety reports on this again!
"Yamaha 300", a participating project of the 1st Mexico – USA- Canada Coproduction Forum, produced by Valerium Arts (Mayra Espinosa y Jorge Michel Grau, producer and writer-director of the horror hit "Somos lo que hay" respectively, and Grau, the writer of the remake "We Are What We Are") and Uncorked Productions (Andrew Corkin, the producer of the horror film "What We Were"), will be one of the first projects to receive the development stage and postproduction support offered by The Good Film Fund, an initiative of Media Darling (Amy Darling) and The Chatanooga Film Festival. See Variety.
New York producer Dodgeville Films ("To Be Takei") will be joining Varios Lobos in Mexico to produce "Ya no estoy aquí", Fernando Frias’s second film, which was also a winner during Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund second edition. This film in the Coproduction Forum was reported on in Variety.
"Siete Horas" ("Seven Hours"), one of the winning projects of the second Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund edition, which will be directed by Chema Rodriguez and produced by Francisco Vargas, the renowned director of the film "El violin", made an alliance with the Spanish production companies Sin un Duro and Noodles Prods to co-produce the project. (Variety)
CineTren closed deals to handle Latin American distribution for Spring, a Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead film, whose Latin American Premiere was held at Los Cabos International Film Festival. Negotiations between Nate Bolotin and Marie Katz fromLos Angeles-based Xyz and Manuel Garcia from CineTren, took place at the Hotel Grand Solmar. Next time, I'll have to visit all the hotels!! See Variety article.
BH5 Group, which participates in the executive production of "Remember" by Atom Egoyan, will be working with Alonso Ruizpalacios, director of Güeros, in his second movie: Museo, a project that participated in the Ist Mexico- USA- Canada Co-production Forum. Even though Variety wrote about this, my blog on the three year old conglomerate of companies, BH5, was more complete:
BH5 Group Makes a Splash with Three Impressive Films at Los Cabos Int'l Film Fest
BH5, a conglomerate of five formerly independent production companies all run by various friends from the same film school, will be working the international markets much more. Besides the Toronto hit, Jodorowsky's "Dance of Reality", they are working with larger companies like Pathe now. Their work in progress, "You Will Know What To Do With Me" ("Sabras que hacer conmigo" aka "En Contraluz") which just won the The Usd $30,000 prize of Fox+, is seeking an international sales agent.
"Entrevero" by Max Zunino, also winner of the Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund second edition, was selected in the development project category by Ibermedia. See Variety.
And though Colombian Ciro Guerra, whose "The Wind Journeys" was produced by our German friends Roman Paul and Gerhard Meixner at Razor Film Production and by Burning Blue's prolific Diana Bustamente -- who is now also heading the Carthagena Film Festival -- showed in 2009 Cannes Un Certain Regard and was sold by Paris’ Elle Driver to 19 countries including Film Movement for U.S., announced to Variety's John Hopewell that his next film, "Embrace of the Serpent" will star U.S. actor Brionne Davis (“Savaged”) and Belgium’s Jan Bijvoet, the lead in Cannes Competition entry “Borgman” a really creepy dark comedy, he did not discuss his next project "Taganga" in the Coproduction Forum. "Taganga" is about a fisherman from a small village by the Colombian coast where many foreign-owned scuba diving centers have been established. A new law requiring local fisherman to change the motors of their boats forces him to earn quick money, so he chooses to dynamite to fish. The owner of the largest scuba diving center opposes this use of explosives. When the fisherman receives a death threat if he continues the dynamiting of fish, he assumes the center's owner is behind the threat. In order to prove it, he begins a series of fateful actions.
Finally, while it seems like Variety wrote all the news, I have one item which no one has reported on. Reese Witherspoon stated at her press conference in Los Cabos, where her film "Wild" premiered in a red carpet gala, that she is talking to Eugenio Derbez ("Instructions Not Included") to make a movie with him. I heard her say it and later spoke of this to Ben Odell (my next blog on Los Cabos features him). Ben (now partners with Eugenio at 3Pas Studios) said, Actually that would be a great idea but they had not spoken about it. However, they are both represented by CAA, so it would seem like a natural and really exciting pairing. After all, aren't "Legally Blond" and "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" the same film? She is certainly on a role as a producer with "Wild" and David Fincher's "Gone Girl" as he is with his U.S. career. The studios are all courting her now, she said. More to come on this...
- 12/1/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Byron A Martin Productions’ crime drama Wolverine Hotel will represent Canada at the Los Cabos International Film Festival and Co-Production Forum.
The film went through the Atlantic Film Festival’s Strategic Partners co-production market in Halifax recently and stars Riley Keough (pictured) of the upcoming Mad Max: Fury Road.
Patricia Chica directs and will attend the Mexican event later this month with producer Byron Martin, who said his primary goals weren to confirm a co-production partner and sign a sales agent.
Wolverine Hotel is based on a screenplay by Canadian Andrew Lynch about three drug addicts trapped in a grim environment.
“Byron A Martin has been selected for our inaugural project exchange programme,” said Strategic Partners director Laura Mackenzie.
“He embodies the world-class talent we have here in Canada and the project he has in development is impressive and perfectly suited for co-production.”
Martin and Chica’s first collaboration Serpent’s Lullaby played in Short Film Corner...
The film went through the Atlantic Film Festival’s Strategic Partners co-production market in Halifax recently and stars Riley Keough (pictured) of the upcoming Mad Max: Fury Road.
Patricia Chica directs and will attend the Mexican event later this month with producer Byron Martin, who said his primary goals weren to confirm a co-production partner and sign a sales agent.
Wolverine Hotel is based on a screenplay by Canadian Andrew Lynch about three drug addicts trapped in a grim environment.
“Byron A Martin has been selected for our inaugural project exchange programme,” said Strategic Partners director Laura Mackenzie.
“He embodies the world-class talent we have here in Canada and the project he has in development is impressive and perfectly suited for co-production.”
Martin and Chica’s first collaboration Serpent’s Lullaby played in Short Film Corner...
- 11/3/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Los Cabos International Film Festival will offer, within its industry activities, a total of Usd $227,000 to support projects from Mexico, the U.S.A. and Canada.
In its Third Edition, in an effort to contribute the development and consolidation of the North American film industry, presents as part of its industry activities, the first Mexico-usa-Canada Co-production Forum .
Los Cabos Film Festival , announces the 13 participant projects in the Forum:
Afronauts by Frances Bodomo (USA). Coward by Boris Rodriguez, an Anne Marie Gélinas production (Canada). The Other Tom by Rodrigo Plá, a Sandino Saravia production (Mexico). First Match by Olivia Newman, a Veronica Nickel and Chanelle Elaine production (USA). Away from Meaning by Olivia Luengas Magaña, a Vanessa Romo Gutiérrez production (Mexico). Butterfly by Maria Saakya, a Jeff Kalousdian production (USA). Museum by Alonso Ruizpalacios, a Manuel Alcalá and Alberto Muffelman production (Mexico). Permanent by Colette Burson, a Haroula Rose and Joshua Blum production (USA). Taganga by Ciro Guerra, a Katrin Pors and Serge Noel production (Canada- Colombia). Wolverine Hotel by Patricia Chica, a Byron A. Martin production (Canada). X Quinientos by Juan Andrés Arango, a Edher Campos and Yanick Letourneau production (Canada- Mexico- Colombia). I’m No Longer Here by Fernando Frías, a Gerry Kim and Mayuran Tiruchelvam production (Mexico- USA). Yamaha 300 by Jorge Michel Grau, a Mayra Espinosa Castro production (Mexico - USA). Representatives from each project will have access to a series of one-to-one meetings with key members of the international film industry and potential co-producers.
The Co-production Forum Jury, composed of Fabien Westerhoff , Sales and Distribution Director at WestEnd Films (UK), Nick Ogiony , Sales Agent at Creative Artists Agency (USA) and Lyse Lafontaine , renowned Canadian producer, will announce the winning project at the Festival, which will receive a cash prize of Usd $8,000.
Also, the recognized studios Splendor - Omnia Mantarraya will award a prize valued at Usd$30,000 to one of the participating projects, consisting of a 40 hours of color correction, 40 hours of sound mixing, accommodation and food for two people in Tepoztlán, Mexico.
Supporting the completion of Mexican feature or documentary films in post-production stage, Los Cabos Film Festival has announced the six films participating in the second Work In Progress Mexico :
El charro de Toluquilla by José Villalobos Romero, a Sergio Adrián Morkin and José Villalobos Romero production. Charity by Marcelino Islas Hernández, a Santiago García Galván production. Heirs by Jorge Hernández Aldana, a Michel Franco production. Light Feet by Juan Carlos Núñez, a Henry Lesperance Álvarez production. You Will Know what to Do with Me by Katina Medina Mora, a Gerardo Gatica and Alberto Muffelmann production. Holy Days by Alejandra Márquez Abella, a Nicolás Celis and Sebastián Celis production.
Jaie Laplante, Director of the Miami International Film Festival (USA), Nicole Mackey, Vice President of sales agency Fortissimo Films (UK), and Nate Bolotin, Xyz Films cofounder (USA), as members of the Work In Progress Mexico Jury, will evaluate six films that compete for a cash prize of Usd$10,000 .
The TV station Fox+ will also award a prize of Usd $30,000 to one of the participating films (the equivalent to the anticipated purchase of broadcast rights for Latin America and the Caribbean, excluding Brazil through the channel’s windows). And the outstanding post-production company Chemistry will award a prize worth Usd $45,000 consisting of 80 hours of color correction, 40 hours of conform and digital mastering, and packaging in Dcp.
In addition, the two winning films of the Post-production Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund , each received from Labodigital’s Usd $52,000 in post-production services. These two films will also be part of the Work In Progress Mexico selection.
In its Third Edition, in an effort to contribute the development and consolidation of the North American film industry, presents as part of its industry activities, the first Mexico-usa-Canada Co-production Forum .
Los Cabos Film Festival , announces the 13 participant projects in the Forum:
Afronauts by Frances Bodomo (USA). Coward by Boris Rodriguez, an Anne Marie Gélinas production (Canada). The Other Tom by Rodrigo Plá, a Sandino Saravia production (Mexico). First Match by Olivia Newman, a Veronica Nickel and Chanelle Elaine production (USA). Away from Meaning by Olivia Luengas Magaña, a Vanessa Romo Gutiérrez production (Mexico). Butterfly by Maria Saakya, a Jeff Kalousdian production (USA). Museum by Alonso Ruizpalacios, a Manuel Alcalá and Alberto Muffelman production (Mexico). Permanent by Colette Burson, a Haroula Rose and Joshua Blum production (USA). Taganga by Ciro Guerra, a Katrin Pors and Serge Noel production (Canada- Colombia). Wolverine Hotel by Patricia Chica, a Byron A. Martin production (Canada). X Quinientos by Juan Andrés Arango, a Edher Campos and Yanick Letourneau production (Canada- Mexico- Colombia). I’m No Longer Here by Fernando Frías, a Gerry Kim and Mayuran Tiruchelvam production (Mexico- USA). Yamaha 300 by Jorge Michel Grau, a Mayra Espinosa Castro production (Mexico - USA). Representatives from each project will have access to a series of one-to-one meetings with key members of the international film industry and potential co-producers.
The Co-production Forum Jury, composed of Fabien Westerhoff , Sales and Distribution Director at WestEnd Films (UK), Nick Ogiony , Sales Agent at Creative Artists Agency (USA) and Lyse Lafontaine , renowned Canadian producer, will announce the winning project at the Festival, which will receive a cash prize of Usd $8,000.
Also, the recognized studios Splendor - Omnia Mantarraya will award a prize valued at Usd$30,000 to one of the participating projects, consisting of a 40 hours of color correction, 40 hours of sound mixing, accommodation and food for two people in Tepoztlán, Mexico.
Supporting the completion of Mexican feature or documentary films in post-production stage, Los Cabos Film Festival has announced the six films participating in the second Work In Progress Mexico :
El charro de Toluquilla by José Villalobos Romero, a Sergio Adrián Morkin and José Villalobos Romero production. Charity by Marcelino Islas Hernández, a Santiago García Galván production. Heirs by Jorge Hernández Aldana, a Michel Franco production. Light Feet by Juan Carlos Núñez, a Henry Lesperance Álvarez production. You Will Know what to Do with Me by Katina Medina Mora, a Gerardo Gatica and Alberto Muffelmann production. Holy Days by Alejandra Márquez Abella, a Nicolás Celis and Sebastián Celis production.
Jaie Laplante, Director of the Miami International Film Festival (USA), Nicole Mackey, Vice President of sales agency Fortissimo Films (UK), and Nate Bolotin, Xyz Films cofounder (USA), as members of the Work In Progress Mexico Jury, will evaluate six films that compete for a cash prize of Usd$10,000 .
The TV station Fox+ will also award a prize of Usd $30,000 to one of the participating films (the equivalent to the anticipated purchase of broadcast rights for Latin America and the Caribbean, excluding Brazil through the channel’s windows). And the outstanding post-production company Chemistry will award a prize worth Usd $45,000 consisting of 80 hours of color correction, 40 hours of conform and digital mastering, and packaging in Dcp.
In addition, the two winning films of the Post-production Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund , each received from Labodigital’s Usd $52,000 in post-production services. These two films will also be part of the Work In Progress Mexico selection.
- 10/23/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The 17th annual Strategic Partners co-production/co-financing market united renowned producers, financiers, broadcasters, distributors, aggregators and agency representatives all under one roof with exciting, measurable results.
On the heels of one-on-one meetings, innovative keynote addresses and panels – several themes resonated with the esteemed delegates. With 2014 - 2015 ushering in a two-year spotlight on Ibero-America and the U.S.A, a strong drive to develop and nurture long-lasting business relationships was greatly emphasized. The very latest in content financing, complex co-productions case studies, the rise of digital distribution and trends in the evolution of ‘digital first’ series, among many other hot topics, were intricately examined and discussed at the event, which took place September 11 - 14 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Strategic Partners is proud to be supported by important Canadian partners such as Telefilm Canada, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Film & Creative Industries Nova Scotia, Canada Media Fund, and Canadian Media Production Association, among others.
During this year’s Strategic Partners, it was announced that two talented Canadian producers have been selected to participate in the inaugural project exchange program with Brazil’s RioContentMarket and Mexico’s Los Cabos International Film Festival. Quebec producer Jeremy Spry of Muse Entertainment Enterprises has been chosen by the Brazilian TV Producers Association to attend RioContentMarket in Brazil in February 2015 with his TV Series Time Snail. Ontario producer Byron A. Martin of Byron A. Martin Productions has been selected to attend the Los Cabos International Film Festival in November 2014 with his feature film Wolverine Hotel. The Canadian Media Production Association sponsors this co-production initiative.
“Strategic Partners 2014 was such a thrilling meeting of the minds. The buzz in the room for the entire three days was truly palpable,” said Director of Strategic Partners, Laura Mackenzie. “It was particularly exciting to witness the relationships that evolved over the course of the event, the deals discussed and soon to be published, and to announce the wonderful news that Jeremy Spry and Byron Martin have been selected for our inaugural project exchange program. They both embody the world class talent we have here in Canada and the projects they have in development are impressive and perfectly suited for co-production.”
Strategic Partners is often the catalyst for many production success stories. In 2013, producers Tom Spriggs and William Borthwick of the Los Angeles and London-based Face Films brought a feature project at that time referred to as The Untitled Yellowstone Project to Strategic Partners, where they met Fred Fuchs and eventually Tyler Levine. As a result of these meetings, a collaboration was solidified and the team went into production six months later. The project is currently in postproduction under the name Population Zero.
“It’s pretty obvious I am a fan of Strategic Partners because bluntly... it works! I wasn't sure what to expect first time around but it far exceeded my expectations,” said Spriggs. “Being able to combine a social aspect with focused one on one meetings works very well. Then to add on panels and group discussions that are filled with people that are basically experts in their perspective fields in entertainment, makes Strategic Partners really stand out.”
Producer Neil Tabatznik of Canada’s Blue Ice Group had a productive and measurably successful experience at Strategic Partners in both 2013 and 2014, and he’s thrilled with the results. “The event is warm, friendly and intimate, but real business is conducted within its framework,” said Tabatznik. “Our company has contracted 16 million dollars of business over our participation in this event over the past two years.”
Each year, top Canadian and international industry players, including producers, investors, sales agents, funding agencies, broadcasters, and distributors are selected to attend Strategic Partners. Offering over 1,000 pre-scheduled 1-2-1 meetings, co-production focused roundtable sessions, cutting edge panels, visionary keynote speakers, and screenings and receptions – Strategic Partners is a convergence of talent and innovation, producing tangible results.
For program updates and information on all things co-production, you can now follow Strategic Partners on social media: Twitter:
@SPcopromarket
Facebook: www.facebook.com/atlanticfilmfestivalstrategicpartners
Youtube: www.youtube.com/atlanticfilmdotcom
About Strategic Partners: An International Film, Television and Digital Co-Production Market
The Atlantic Film Festival’s Strategic Partners is one of the world’s preeminent co-production/co-financing markets focusing on feature film, TV and web based fiction. Strategic Partners offers an intimate, organized forum for projects looking for financing as well as those still at an early stage, looking for the right partner.
Over the past 17 years, Strategic Partners has established itself not only as a one of a kind co-production market, but also as a cutting edge, intimate environment that delivers solutions to existing and foreseeable industry challenges. The intelligence and program offered at Strategic Partners is developed over many months of research into current global issues. However, this information is only a complement to Strategic Partners’ primary function – to build, establish and nurture relationships between producers and their partners.
Strategic Partners is a part of the Atlantic Film Festival family of programs. Today’s Atlantic Film Festival is now a year-round celebration, growing beyond our eight-day cornerstone event in September to include: ViewFinders: Atlantic Film Festival for Youth, the Aff Outdoor Film Experience, and Strategic Partners. -...
On the heels of one-on-one meetings, innovative keynote addresses and panels – several themes resonated with the esteemed delegates. With 2014 - 2015 ushering in a two-year spotlight on Ibero-America and the U.S.A, a strong drive to develop and nurture long-lasting business relationships was greatly emphasized. The very latest in content financing, complex co-productions case studies, the rise of digital distribution and trends in the evolution of ‘digital first’ series, among many other hot topics, were intricately examined and discussed at the event, which took place September 11 - 14 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Strategic Partners is proud to be supported by important Canadian partners such as Telefilm Canada, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Film & Creative Industries Nova Scotia, Canada Media Fund, and Canadian Media Production Association, among others.
During this year’s Strategic Partners, it was announced that two talented Canadian producers have been selected to participate in the inaugural project exchange program with Brazil’s RioContentMarket and Mexico’s Los Cabos International Film Festival. Quebec producer Jeremy Spry of Muse Entertainment Enterprises has been chosen by the Brazilian TV Producers Association to attend RioContentMarket in Brazil in February 2015 with his TV Series Time Snail. Ontario producer Byron A. Martin of Byron A. Martin Productions has been selected to attend the Los Cabos International Film Festival in November 2014 with his feature film Wolverine Hotel. The Canadian Media Production Association sponsors this co-production initiative.
“Strategic Partners 2014 was such a thrilling meeting of the minds. The buzz in the room for the entire three days was truly palpable,” said Director of Strategic Partners, Laura Mackenzie. “It was particularly exciting to witness the relationships that evolved over the course of the event, the deals discussed and soon to be published, and to announce the wonderful news that Jeremy Spry and Byron Martin have been selected for our inaugural project exchange program. They both embody the world class talent we have here in Canada and the projects they have in development are impressive and perfectly suited for co-production.”
Strategic Partners is often the catalyst for many production success stories. In 2013, producers Tom Spriggs and William Borthwick of the Los Angeles and London-based Face Films brought a feature project at that time referred to as The Untitled Yellowstone Project to Strategic Partners, where they met Fred Fuchs and eventually Tyler Levine. As a result of these meetings, a collaboration was solidified and the team went into production six months later. The project is currently in postproduction under the name Population Zero.
“It’s pretty obvious I am a fan of Strategic Partners because bluntly... it works! I wasn't sure what to expect first time around but it far exceeded my expectations,” said Spriggs. “Being able to combine a social aspect with focused one on one meetings works very well. Then to add on panels and group discussions that are filled with people that are basically experts in their perspective fields in entertainment, makes Strategic Partners really stand out.”
Producer Neil Tabatznik of Canada’s Blue Ice Group had a productive and measurably successful experience at Strategic Partners in both 2013 and 2014, and he’s thrilled with the results. “The event is warm, friendly and intimate, but real business is conducted within its framework,” said Tabatznik. “Our company has contracted 16 million dollars of business over our participation in this event over the past two years.”
Each year, top Canadian and international industry players, including producers, investors, sales agents, funding agencies, broadcasters, and distributors are selected to attend Strategic Partners. Offering over 1,000 pre-scheduled 1-2-1 meetings, co-production focused roundtable sessions, cutting edge panels, visionary keynote speakers, and screenings and receptions – Strategic Partners is a convergence of talent and innovation, producing tangible results.
For program updates and information on all things co-production, you can now follow Strategic Partners on social media: Twitter:
@SPcopromarket
Facebook: www.facebook.com/atlanticfilmfestivalstrategicpartners
Youtube: www.youtube.com/atlanticfilmdotcom
About Strategic Partners: An International Film, Television and Digital Co-Production Market
The Atlantic Film Festival’s Strategic Partners is one of the world’s preeminent co-production/co-financing markets focusing on feature film, TV and web based fiction. Strategic Partners offers an intimate, organized forum for projects looking for financing as well as those still at an early stage, looking for the right partner.
Over the past 17 years, Strategic Partners has established itself not only as a one of a kind co-production market, but also as a cutting edge, intimate environment that delivers solutions to existing and foreseeable industry challenges. The intelligence and program offered at Strategic Partners is developed over many months of research into current global issues. However, this information is only a complement to Strategic Partners’ primary function – to build, establish and nurture relationships between producers and their partners.
Strategic Partners is a part of the Atlantic Film Festival family of programs. Today’s Atlantic Film Festival is now a year-round celebration, growing beyond our eight-day cornerstone event in September to include: ViewFinders: Atlantic Film Festival for Youth, the Aff Outdoor Film Experience, and Strategic Partners. -...
- 9/23/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Two Canadian producers who attended the market in Nova Scotia have been invited to take part in Brazil’s RioContentMarket and Mexico’s Los Cabos International Film Festival.
Quebec producer Jeremy Spry of Muse Entertainment Enterprises has been chosen by the Brazilian TV Producers Association to attend RioContentMarket in February 2015 with his TV series Time Snail.
Ontario producer Byron A Martin of Byron A Martin Productions will participate in the Los Cabos International Film Festival in November with his feature Wolverine Hotel.
The Canadian Media Production Association sponsors the co-production initiative.
“Strategic Partners 2014 was such a thrilling meeting of the minds,” said director of Strategic Partners, Laura Mackenzie.
“The buzz in the room for the entire three days was truly palpable. It was particularly exciting to witness the relationships that evolved over the course of the event, the deals discussed and soon-to-be-published, and to announce the wonderful news that Jeremy Spry and Byron Martin have been selected...
Quebec producer Jeremy Spry of Muse Entertainment Enterprises has been chosen by the Brazilian TV Producers Association to attend RioContentMarket in February 2015 with his TV series Time Snail.
Ontario producer Byron A Martin of Byron A Martin Productions will participate in the Los Cabos International Film Festival in November with his feature Wolverine Hotel.
The Canadian Media Production Association sponsors the co-production initiative.
“Strategic Partners 2014 was such a thrilling meeting of the minds,” said director of Strategic Partners, Laura Mackenzie.
“The buzz in the room for the entire three days was truly palpable. It was particularly exciting to witness the relationships that evolved over the course of the event, the deals discussed and soon-to-be-published, and to announce the wonderful news that Jeremy Spry and Byron Martin have been selected...
- 9/17/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The new Anchor Bay DVD release "Wild Cherry", is the 2009 comedy feature lensed in Manitoba, Canada:
"'Helen McNicol' (Tania Raymonde) is a high school senior in love with 'Stanford' (Ryan Merriman) her jock boyfriend.
"But when Helen discovers her name written in the high school football team's secret 'Bang Book' with Stanford obligated to 'deflower' her, the tables are turned and the battle begins when Helen and her two best friends, 'Katelyn Chase' (Rumer Willis) and 'Trish van Doren' (Kristin Cavallari) form a pact to maintain their virginity, embarrass the team and foil the plot against them.
"Their plan comes into full swing as the clothes come off, the heat rises and the girls show that revenge has never been sweeter..."
"Wild Cherry" is directed by Dana Lustig and written by David Kolbowicz & Grant Vetters and Chris Charney. Producers are Mike Dimanno, R. Scott Reid, Gavin Wilding, Kyle Bornais, David Flanagan and Byron Martin.
"'Helen McNicol' (Tania Raymonde) is a high school senior in love with 'Stanford' (Ryan Merriman) her jock boyfriend.
"But when Helen discovers her name written in the high school football team's secret 'Bang Book' with Stanford obligated to 'deflower' her, the tables are turned and the battle begins when Helen and her two best friends, 'Katelyn Chase' (Rumer Willis) and 'Trish van Doren' (Kristin Cavallari) form a pact to maintain their virginity, embarrass the team and foil the plot against them.
"Their plan comes into full swing as the clothes come off, the heat rises and the girls show that revenge has never been sweeter..."
"Wild Cherry" is directed by Dana Lustig and written by David Kolbowicz & Grant Vetters and Chris Charney. Producers are Mike Dimanno, R. Scott Reid, Gavin Wilding, Kyle Bornais, David Flanagan and Byron Martin.
- 2/12/2011
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
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