Taking a positive look at visual impairment, rather than focusing on it as a disability, “Coyote Ugly” star Adam Garcia joins producer and actor Tsu Shan Chambers in the lead roles of “My Eyes,” a drama film now shooting in Melbourne, Australia.
When optometrist Alana discovers her daughter has a rare inherited eye disease, she must look into her past to realize her vision for the future. She discovers that a judo athlete with a visual impairment halfway across the world may hold the answers she seeks. But old truths make the task of saving her daughter’s sight an uncomfortable and marriage-threatening mission.
Joining Garcia and Chanbers in the cast are gold medal Judo champion Eduardo Ávila Sánchez and young newcomer Nia Rush.
The story was inspired by incidents that emerged during Chambers time as an optometry student and while volunteering at the 2000 Paralympic Games.
“[We are] approaching the story and...
When optometrist Alana discovers her daughter has a rare inherited eye disease, she must look into her past to realize her vision for the future. She discovers that a judo athlete with a visual impairment halfway across the world may hold the answers she seeks. But old truths make the task of saving her daughter’s sight an uncomfortable and marriage-threatening mission.
Joining Garcia and Chanbers in the cast are gold medal Judo champion Eduardo Ávila Sánchez and young newcomer Nia Rush.
The story was inspired by incidents that emerged during Chambers time as an optometry student and while volunteering at the 2000 Paralympic Games.
“[We are] approaching the story and...
- 10/18/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Comedy “How to Please a Woman,” starring “Veep” and “Bridget Jones Diary” actor Sally Phillips, has generated brisk business for Beta Cinema. Brainstorm Media has taken all rights for the U.S. and will release the film theatrically on July 22, and pay TV operator Sky has secured all rights for the U.K.
Beta Cinema also sold all rights for Canada (Mongrel Media), Poland (Monolith Films), former Yugoslavia (Discovery), Czech Republic (Bohemia Motion Pictures) and Hungary (Ads).
Madmen will put the film out in Australia and New Zealand on a wide release on May 19 and May 26, respectively.
Phillips stars as 50-year-old Gina, who feels she has become “invisible to everyone.” Establishing a house-cleaning service, staffed by good-looking male cleaners who provide cleaning with benefits, the film follows her as she learns how to ask for what she wants and encourages other women to do the same.
“We fell in love...
Beta Cinema also sold all rights for Canada (Mongrel Media), Poland (Monolith Films), former Yugoslavia (Discovery), Czech Republic (Bohemia Motion Pictures) and Hungary (Ads).
Madmen will put the film out in Australia and New Zealand on a wide release on May 19 and May 26, respectively.
Phillips stars as 50-year-old Gina, who feels she has become “invisible to everyone.” Establishing a house-cleaning service, staffed by good-looking male cleaners who provide cleaning with benefits, the film follows her as she learns how to ask for what she wants and encourages other women to do the same.
“We fell in love...
- 5/4/2022
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Controversial fact-based Australian drama “Nitram” won the first prize this weekend at the CinefestOz film festival in West Australia. Worth A$100,000 the award is one of the richest in cinema.
The film documents the build-up to a mass murder in Tasmania and its production was opposed by some community groups. But the finished avoids depicting any on-screen violence and instead concentrates on the troubled psychology of the lone perpetrator.
Directed by Justin Kurzel and presented in competition in Cannes in July, “Nitram” won the best acting prize for star Caleb Landry Jones.
Similarly distanced from the actual events, the CinefestOz jury said: “After much deliberation we agree ‘Nitram’ presented a unique perspective of this story, with great use of cinematic language, depth of detail, particularly in performance and many layers of nuance.” The film also features strong performance from Australian actors Judy Davis, Essie Davis and Anthony Lapaglia.
And, while...
The film documents the build-up to a mass murder in Tasmania and its production was opposed by some community groups. But the finished avoids depicting any on-screen violence and instead concentrates on the troubled psychology of the lone perpetrator.
Directed by Justin Kurzel and presented in competition in Cannes in July, “Nitram” won the best acting prize for star Caleb Landry Jones.
Similarly distanced from the actual events, the CinefestOz jury said: “After much deliberation we agree ‘Nitram’ presented a unique perspective of this story, with great use of cinematic language, depth of detail, particularly in performance and many layers of nuance.” The film also features strong performance from Australian actors Judy Davis, Essie Davis and Anthony Lapaglia.
And, while...
- 8/30/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Justin Kurzel’s Nitram has added another award to its festival run, crowned the winner of the $100,000 CinefestOZ film prize on Saturday evening.
The story about the lead-up to one of the darkest events in Australian history beat out Leah Purcell’s The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, anthology feature drama Here Out West, and Jennifer Peedom’s River for the honour, which was announced at the Closing Night Gala at Orana Cinema in Busselton.
It comes after star Caleb Landry Jones won best performance by an actor at the Cannes Film Festival in July, where Nitram became the first Australian film to premiere in competition in a decade.
Scripted by Kurzel’s frequent collaborator Shaun Grant, the film also features Judy Davis, Essie Davis, and Anthony Lapaglia.
CinefestOZ jury chair Nadia Tass, who has supported the festival virtually from Melbourne, said the compelling thriller was found to...
The story about the lead-up to one of the darkest events in Australian history beat out Leah Purcell’s The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, anthology feature drama Here Out West, and Jennifer Peedom’s River for the honour, which was announced at the Closing Night Gala at Orana Cinema in Busselton.
It comes after star Caleb Landry Jones won best performance by an actor at the Cannes Film Festival in July, where Nitram became the first Australian film to premiere in competition in a decade.
Scripted by Kurzel’s frequent collaborator Shaun Grant, the film also features Judy Davis, Essie Davis, and Anthony Lapaglia.
CinefestOZ jury chair Nadia Tass, who has supported the festival virtually from Melbourne, said the compelling thriller was found to...
- 8/30/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Actress Isla Fisher, director Zak Hilditch, producer Judi Levine, and producer Julia Redwood will make up the jury for next week’s CinefestOZ Film Festival.
They are set to join jury chair Nadia Tass to decide which of the four in-competition films will take home the $100,000 Film Prize at the Closing Gala Night August 28 at Orana Cinemas Busselton.
This year’s finalists include Leah Purcell’s The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, Justin Kurzel’s Nitram, anthology feature drama Here Out West, and Jennifer Peedom’s River.
Fisher has more than 35 years of film and TV experience, having begun appearing in commercials from the age of nine before playing Shannon Reed in Home & Away. She has since gone on to appear in a raft of international productions, including The Wedding Crashers, Rango, The Great Gatsby, Nocturnal Animals, Definitely, Maybe, Now You See Me, Hot Rod, The Brothers Grimsby,...
They are set to join jury chair Nadia Tass to decide which of the four in-competition films will take home the $100,000 Film Prize at the Closing Gala Night August 28 at Orana Cinemas Busselton.
This year’s finalists include Leah Purcell’s The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson, Justin Kurzel’s Nitram, anthology feature drama Here Out West, and Jennifer Peedom’s River.
Fisher has more than 35 years of film and TV experience, having begun appearing in commercials from the age of nine before playing Shannon Reed in Home & Away. She has since gone on to appear in a raft of international productions, including The Wedding Crashers, Rango, The Great Gatsby, Nocturnal Animals, Definitely, Maybe, Now You See Me, Hot Rod, The Brothers Grimsby,...
- 8/18/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Exclusive: The story of disability pioneer Sylvia Flexer is set for the big screen.
Ben Lewin, director of The Sessions and The Catcher was a Spy, is to write and direct a feature film for Keshet Studios and White Lodge Productions.
Sylvia and the President is the true story of a marginalized group of people and their fight for equality. At the age of 21, outspoken Flexer – who walked with the aid of crutches – was elected president of the League of the Physically Handicapped. It was the height of the Great Depression and, like Sylvia, the majority of the members had been affected by polio.
Following their efforts to highlight government discrimination against disabled workers in New York, Flexer and 34 other members of the League rode all night on a flatbed truck to Washington to lobby President Roosevelt – who was still hiding the extent of his own disability from the public...
Ben Lewin, director of The Sessions and The Catcher was a Spy, is to write and direct a feature film for Keshet Studios and White Lodge Productions.
Sylvia and the President is the true story of a marginalized group of people and their fight for equality. At the age of 21, outspoken Flexer – who walked with the aid of crutches – was elected president of the League of the Physically Handicapped. It was the height of the Great Depression and, like Sylvia, the majority of the members had been affected by polio.
Following their efforts to highlight government discrimination against disabled workers in New York, Flexer and 34 other members of the League rode all night on a flatbed truck to Washington to lobby President Roosevelt – who was still hiding the extent of his own disability from the public...
- 7/14/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
English actress, television presenter, and comedian Sally Phillips will lead writer/director Renée Webster’s debut feature How to Please a Woman when filming on the comedy/drama gets underway in Wa this month.
Phillips plays Gina, a 50-something woman who has a business idea to launch an all-male house-cleaning service. However, when her business grows out of control, Gina must acknowledge her own appetite if she is to make a new life for herself.
The cast also includes Erik Thomson, Alexander England, Caroline Brazier, Tasma Walton, Roz Hammond, Cameron Daddo and New Zealander Josh Thomson.
How to Please a Woman is being produced by Tania Chambers of Feisty Dame Productions and Judi Levine of Such Much Films, with Deanne Weir, Roxana McMallan, Olivia Humphrey, Adrian and Michela Fini, and Pam and Julius Colman coming on board as executive producers.
Phillips said the opportunity to work with the team of...
Phillips plays Gina, a 50-something woman who has a business idea to launch an all-male house-cleaning service. However, when her business grows out of control, Gina must acknowledge her own appetite if she is to make a new life for herself.
The cast also includes Erik Thomson, Alexander England, Caroline Brazier, Tasma Walton, Roz Hammond, Cameron Daddo and New Zealander Josh Thomson.
How to Please a Woman is being produced by Tania Chambers of Feisty Dame Productions and Judi Levine of Such Much Films, with Deanne Weir, Roxana McMallan, Olivia Humphrey, Adrian and Michela Fini, and Pam and Julius Colman coming on board as executive producers.
Phillips said the opportunity to work with the team of...
- 4/12/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Sally Phillips, the British actor known for her role in all three Bridget Jones movies, will head the cast of Australian comedy drama film “How to Please a Woman.”
Pitched as a warmhearted look at sexuality and vulnerability at all stages of life, the film casts Phillips as a 50-something woman who has the inspired idea of launching an all-male house-cleaning service. But she must ask herself questions when the business grows out of control.
Production starts next week in Perth, West Australia, under the direction of Renee Webster, whose previous directing credits include Australian Broadcasting Corporation series “The Heights” and “Itch.” Webster also penned the screenplay.
The completed film will be released in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment. International sales are handled by Germany’s Beta Cinema.
Erik Thomson, who recently appeared in “The Furnace” and next appears in “Blueback,” is set as the male lead. Other cast include Alexander England,...
Pitched as a warmhearted look at sexuality and vulnerability at all stages of life, the film casts Phillips as a 50-something woman who has the inspired idea of launching an all-male house-cleaning service. But she must ask herself questions when the business grows out of control.
Production starts next week in Perth, West Australia, under the direction of Renee Webster, whose previous directing credits include Australian Broadcasting Corporation series “The Heights” and “Itch.” Webster also penned the screenplay.
The completed film will be released in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment. International sales are handled by Germany’s Beta Cinema.
Erik Thomson, who recently appeared in “The Furnace” and next appears in “Blueback,” is set as the male lead. Other cast include Alexander England,...
- 4/12/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Two feature films, three TV dramas, one children’s series, and one online project will share in $5.9 million of production funding from Screen Australia.
The projects include feature How To Please A Woman about a woman’s choice to take her all-male housecleaning business to a more intimate level; the previously announced ABC anthology drama series Fires, set during last summer’s devastating bushfires; Stan feature Gold, and a comedy about a single woman and her database of potential sexual partners in Spreadsheet for Viacom CBS.
Screen Australia’s head of content Sally Caplan said it was a testament to the resilience of the screen industry to have so many projects move into production during such a challenging period.
“It’s fantastic to kick off 2021 with such a great sample of the premium dramas that have been greenlit across the country,” she said.
“We’re so pleased to have supported...
The projects include feature How To Please A Woman about a woman’s choice to take her all-male housecleaning business to a more intimate level; the previously announced ABC anthology drama series Fires, set during last summer’s devastating bushfires; Stan feature Gold, and a comedy about a single woman and her database of potential sexual partners in Spreadsheet for Viacom CBS.
Screen Australia’s head of content Sally Caplan said it was a testament to the resilience of the screen industry to have so many projects move into production during such a challenging period.
“It’s fantastic to kick off 2021 with such a great sample of the premium dramas that have been greenlit across the country,” she said.
“We’re so pleased to have supported...
- 2/3/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Ben Lewin’s romantic comedy headed across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
WestEnd Films has sold Ben Lewin’s romantic comedy Falling For Figaro to a raft of distributors across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, following IFC Films recent acquisition of US rights.
The UK-based sales company has closed deals for Japan (Happinet), Portugal (Nos Lusomundo), Poland, South Korea (Entermode), the Middle East (Phoenicia Pictures), Taiwan (Central Motion Picture Corporation), Canada (Pacific Northwest Pictures) and airlines (Cinesky).
The film, set in the fierce world of competitive opera singing, is led by Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley and Danielle Macdonald,...
WestEnd Films has sold Ben Lewin’s romantic comedy Falling For Figaro to a raft of distributors across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, following IFC Films recent acquisition of US rights.
The UK-based sales company has closed deals for Japan (Happinet), Portugal (Nos Lusomundo), Poland, South Korea (Entermode), the Middle East (Phoenicia Pictures), Taiwan (Central Motion Picture Corporation), Canada (Pacific Northwest Pictures) and airlines (Cinesky).
The film, set in the fierce world of competitive opera singing, is led by Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley and Danielle Macdonald,...
- 12/9/2020
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
WestEnd Film handles worldwide sales.
IFC Films has acquired US rights from WestEnd Films to the rom-com Falling For Figaro starring Joanna Lumley and Danielle Macdonald.
Ben Lewin directed the Australia/UK co-production from a screenplay he co-wrote with Allen Palmer.
Falling For Figaro follows a disillusioned fund manager (Macdonald) who pursues her dream of becoming an opera singer and engages the services of a fearsome diva in the Scottish Highlands, where she also finds love.
Rounding out the cast are Hugh Skinner, Gary Lewis, Shazad Latif, and Rebecca Benson.
WestEnd Film handles worldwide sales and previously announced deals in...
IFC Films has acquired US rights from WestEnd Films to the rom-com Falling For Figaro starring Joanna Lumley and Danielle Macdonald.
Ben Lewin directed the Australia/UK co-production from a screenplay he co-wrote with Allen Palmer.
Falling For Figaro follows a disillusioned fund manager (Macdonald) who pursues her dream of becoming an opera singer and engages the services of a fearsome diva in the Scottish Highlands, where she also finds love.
Rounding out the cast are Hugh Skinner, Gary Lewis, Shazad Latif, and Rebecca Benson.
WestEnd Film handles worldwide sales and previously announced deals in...
- 12/7/2020
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
IFC Films has acquired the U.S. rights to “Falling For Figaro,” a romantic comedy about competitive opera singing that stars Joanna Lumley and Danielle Macdonald. The film will be released in 2021.
Ben Lewin directs “Falling For Figaro,” which stars “The Wolf of Wall Street” star Lumley and “Dumplin'” star Macdonald alongside Hugh Skinner, Gary Lewis, Shazad Latif and Rebecca Benson.
The film is about a young woman who leaves her job and breaks up with her boyfriend to fulfill a dream of becoming an opera singer in the Scottish Highlands. She begins intense vocal training lessons with a renowned but fearsome singing teacher and former opera diva, and she meets and starts to fall for another student as they both train and compete for an upcoming opera contest.
Lewin wrote “Falling For Figaro” with Allen Palmer. It’s an official Australian and UK co-production and is produced by Philip Wade,...
Ben Lewin directs “Falling For Figaro,” which stars “The Wolf of Wall Street” star Lumley and “Dumplin'” star Macdonald alongside Hugh Skinner, Gary Lewis, Shazad Latif and Rebecca Benson.
The film is about a young woman who leaves her job and breaks up with her boyfriend to fulfill a dream of becoming an opera singer in the Scottish Highlands. She begins intense vocal training lessons with a renowned but fearsome singing teacher and former opera diva, and she meets and starts to fall for another student as they both train and compete for an upcoming opera contest.
Lewin wrote “Falling For Figaro” with Allen Palmer. It’s an official Australian and UK co-production and is produced by Philip Wade,...
- 12/7/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
IFC Films has nabbed U.S. rights to “Falling for Figaro,” a romantic comedy set in the world of opera singing competitions.
The film is directed by Ben Lewin, the filmmaker behind “The Catcher Was A Spy” and “The Sessions,” and stars Joanna Lumley of “Absolutely Fabulous” and Danielle Macdonald, who earned raves for her work in “Dumplin'” and “Patti Cake$.” IFC Films will release “Falling for Figaro” in 2021.
The film follows a brilliant young fund manager named Millie (Macdonald), who quits her job and ends things with her longterm boyfriend in order to fulfill her dream of becoming an opera singer — in the Scottish Highlands. She begins intense vocal training lessons with renowned but fearsome singing teacher and former opera diva Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop (Lumley). It is there she meets Max, another of Meghan’s students who is also training for the upcoming “Singer of Renown” contest. The competition between...
The film is directed by Ben Lewin, the filmmaker behind “The Catcher Was A Spy” and “The Sessions,” and stars Joanna Lumley of “Absolutely Fabulous” and Danielle Macdonald, who earned raves for her work in “Dumplin'” and “Patti Cake$.” IFC Films will release “Falling for Figaro” in 2021.
The film follows a brilliant young fund manager named Millie (Macdonald), who quits her job and ends things with her longterm boyfriend in order to fulfill her dream of becoming an opera singer — in the Scottish Highlands. She begins intense vocal training lessons with renowned but fearsome singing teacher and former opera diva Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop (Lumley). It is there she meets Max, another of Meghan’s students who is also training for the upcoming “Singer of Renown” contest. The competition between...
- 12/7/2020
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
London-based sales agent WestEnd Films has sold multiple territories on romantic comedy “Falling For Figaro,” starring Joanna Lumley (“Absolutely Fabulous”) and Danielle Macdonald (“Patti Cake$”).
The film has sold to Entertainment Film Distributors for the U.K., Twelve Oaks for Spain, Splendid for Benelux, Huanxi Media Group for China, United King for Israel, Investacommerce for the former Yugosvalian territories and Umbrella Entertainment for Australia and New Zealand. Discussions are ongoing for North America.
Directed and co-written by Ben Lewin, Sundance and San Sebastian winner for “The Sessions,” with co-writer Allen Palmer, the film is set in the world of opera competitions, and follows a young fund manager who decides to leave behind her unfulfilling London job and long-term boyfriend to chase her lifelong dream of becoming an opera singer, who is trained by a former opera diva.
The film was screened for the first time to buyers at the Toronto...
The film has sold to Entertainment Film Distributors for the U.K., Twelve Oaks for Spain, Splendid for Benelux, Huanxi Media Group for China, United King for Israel, Investacommerce for the former Yugosvalian territories and Umbrella Entertainment for Australia and New Zealand. Discussions are ongoing for North America.
Directed and co-written by Ben Lewin, Sundance and San Sebastian winner for “The Sessions,” with co-writer Allen Palmer, the film is set in the world of opera competitions, and follows a young fund manager who decides to leave behind her unfulfilling London job and long-term boyfriend to chase her lifelong dream of becoming an opera singer, who is trained by a former opera diva.
The film was screened for the first time to buyers at the Toronto...
- 9/24/2020
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: WestEnd Films has scored UK distribution and other key deals for TIFF Selects title Falling For Figaro, from director Ben Lewin (The Sessions) and starring Joanna Lumley (Absolutely Fabulous) and Danielle Macdonald (Patti Cake$).
Entertainment Film Distributors has picked up the romantic comedy for the UK. Rights have also gone to Spain (Twelve Oaks), Benelux (Splendid), China (Huanxi Media Group), Israel (United King), former Yugoslavia (Investacommerce) and Umbrella Entertainment in Australia and New Zealand.
The UK distribution deal was negotiated by Nigel Green at Entertainment and Maya Amsellem at WestEnd, acting on behalf of the filmmakers.
Discussions are said to be ongoing for North America.
The film was screened for the first time to buyers at TIFF as part of the festival’s new Industry Selects section, a curated selection of 30 projects with potential international sales appeal.
Set in the fierce world of opera competitions, and featuring music from The Barber of Seville,...
Entertainment Film Distributors has picked up the romantic comedy for the UK. Rights have also gone to Spain (Twelve Oaks), Benelux (Splendid), China (Huanxi Media Group), Israel (United King), former Yugoslavia (Investacommerce) and Umbrella Entertainment in Australia and New Zealand.
The UK distribution deal was negotiated by Nigel Green at Entertainment and Maya Amsellem at WestEnd, acting on behalf of the filmmakers.
Discussions are said to be ongoing for North America.
The film was screened for the first time to buyers at TIFF as part of the festival’s new Industry Selects section, a curated selection of 30 projects with potential international sales appeal.
Set in the fierce world of opera competitions, and featuring music from The Barber of Seville,...
- 9/24/2020
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Falling for Figaro.’
Ben Lewin’s Falling for Figaro, a romantic comedy starring Danielle Macdonald and Joanna Lumley, is among 30 titles from around the world that will feature at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) outside the official selection.
TIFF’s industry and festival programming teams chose the line-up from 29 countries for TIFF Industry Selects, which will screen to accredited users on the festival’s press and industry platform TIFF Digital Cinema Pro.
Billed as the first ever Scottish-Australian co-production, the rom-com scripted by Lewin (The Sessions) and Allen Palmer follows Macdonald as Millie, a brilliant young fund manager who decides to leave her unfulfilling job and long-term boyfriend to chase her lifelong dream of becoming an opera singer in the Scottish Highlands.
She begins intense vocal training lessons with renowned singing teacher and former opera diva Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop (Lumley) and meets fellow student Max (Flea Bag and Little Birds...
Ben Lewin’s Falling for Figaro, a romantic comedy starring Danielle Macdonald and Joanna Lumley, is among 30 titles from around the world that will feature at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) outside the official selection.
TIFF’s industry and festival programming teams chose the line-up from 29 countries for TIFF Industry Selects, which will screen to accredited users on the festival’s press and industry platform TIFF Digital Cinema Pro.
Billed as the first ever Scottish-Australian co-production, the rom-com scripted by Lewin (The Sessions) and Allen Palmer follows Macdonald as Millie, a brilliant young fund manager who decides to leave her unfulfilling job and long-term boyfriend to chase her lifelong dream of becoming an opera singer in the Scottish Highlands.
She begins intense vocal training lessons with renowned singing teacher and former opera diva Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop (Lumley) and meets fellow student Max (Flea Bag and Little Birds...
- 9/7/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Tania Chambers.
Years of perseverance in developing feature films and TV series with multiple collaborators are paying off for producer Tania Chambers.
The MD of Feisty Dame Productions is in the midst of financing How to Please a Woman and casting the co-lead of Time to Tango, a feature inspired by Miranda Edmonds and Khrob Edmonds’ short film Tango Underpants.
In addition, she is holding a writers’ room on a TV drama with such talent as Renée Webster, Miley Tunnecliffe and Kelly Lefever.
Webster is writing and will direct How to Please a Woman, a comedy-drama about a mature woman who must embrace her sexuality when her all-male house-cleaning business gets out of control.
Supported in development since 2016 by Screen Australia and Screenwest, the film has an Australian distributor and sales agent attached and the plan is to start shooting in Perth in March with funding from Screenwest’s West Coast Visions.
Years of perseverance in developing feature films and TV series with multiple collaborators are paying off for producer Tania Chambers.
The MD of Feisty Dame Productions is in the midst of financing How to Please a Woman and casting the co-lead of Time to Tango, a feature inspired by Miranda Edmonds and Khrob Edmonds’ short film Tango Underpants.
In addition, she is holding a writers’ room on a TV drama with such talent as Renée Webster, Miley Tunnecliffe and Kelly Lefever.
Webster is writing and will direct How to Please a Woman, a comedy-drama about a mature woman who must embrace her sexuality when her all-male house-cleaning business gets out of control.
Supported in development since 2016 by Screen Australia and Screenwest, the film has an Australian distributor and sales agent attached and the plan is to start shooting in Perth in March with funding from Screenwest’s West Coast Visions.
- 8/3/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Exclusive: Here’s the first image from Falling For Figaro, Ben Lewin’s (The Sessions) upcoming romantic comedy set in the world of opera starring Joanna Lumley and Danielle Macdonald.
Deadline broke the news on the pic back in October. Macdonald will play a young fund manager who decides to leave her unfulfilling job and long-term boyfriend behind to chase her lifelong dream of becoming an opera singer, with Lumley as a former opera diva who becomes her fearsome singing teacher.
WestEnd Films is handling sales on the title and will screen a first promo during the Cannes online market next week.
The movie is an official Australian-uk co-production written by Ben Lewin and Allen Palmer, and produced by Philip Wade, Judi Levine and Arabella Page Croft. Hugh Skinner, Gary Lewis, Shazad Latif and Rebecca Benson round out the cast. It will feature music from The Barber Of Seville, The Marriage Of Figaro,...
Deadline broke the news on the pic back in October. Macdonald will play a young fund manager who decides to leave her unfulfilling job and long-term boyfriend behind to chase her lifelong dream of becoming an opera singer, with Lumley as a former opera diva who becomes her fearsome singing teacher.
WestEnd Films is handling sales on the title and will screen a first promo during the Cannes online market next week.
The movie is an official Australian-uk co-production written by Ben Lewin and Allen Palmer, and produced by Philip Wade, Judi Levine and Arabella Page Croft. Hugh Skinner, Gary Lewis, Shazad Latif and Rebecca Benson round out the cast. It will feature music from The Barber Of Seville, The Marriage Of Figaro,...
- 6/18/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Screenwest’s re-imagined 2020 West Coast Visions program will fast track more new talent in a two-stage model.
In addition, Sbs acting head of scripted Amanda Duthie and strategic consultant James Hewison from Kinetic will serve as external industry assessors.
Applications are open now and close on Monday May 11 at 5:00pm Awst.
Stage one: Three shortlisted applicants will receive targeted and intensive six-month development and $20,000 in grant development funding.
Stage two: After development, one successful project will be selected to receive production funding of $750,000.
Screenwest talent development manager Eva Di Blasio said: “The new format for the West Coast Visions will enable two additional teams to develop their feature films into market-ready productions.
“The inclusion of Amanda Duthie and James Hewison on the selection panel is a fantastic endorsement of the program and will ensure that three amazing projects go into development and an exceptional, production ready feature is selected as the final recipient.
In addition, Sbs acting head of scripted Amanda Duthie and strategic consultant James Hewison from Kinetic will serve as external industry assessors.
Applications are open now and close on Monday May 11 at 5:00pm Awst.
Stage one: Three shortlisted applicants will receive targeted and intensive six-month development and $20,000 in grant development funding.
Stage two: After development, one successful project will be selected to receive production funding of $750,000.
Screenwest talent development manager Eva Di Blasio said: “The new format for the West Coast Visions will enable two additional teams to develop their feature films into market-ready productions.
“The inclusion of Amanda Duthie and James Hewison on the selection panel is a fantastic endorsement of the program and will ensure that three amazing projects go into development and an exceptional, production ready feature is selected as the final recipient.
- 4/13/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Gary Lewis also joins Danielle Macdonald and Joanna Lumley in romantic comedy.
Hugh Skinner, Shazad Latif, Rebecca Benson and Gary Lewis are joining Danielle Macdonald and Joanna Lumley in romantic comedy Falling For Figaro.
WestEnd Films is handling sales on the feature, which is directed by Ben Lewin (The Sessions) and set in the world of opera singing competitions.
Principal photography began in Scotland last week and will continue through January after which the filmmakers will travel to Melbourne to complete post-production.
Skinner is perhaps best-known for roles in TV series such as BBC comedy W1A, Hulu drama Harlots...
Hugh Skinner, Shazad Latif, Rebecca Benson and Gary Lewis are joining Danielle Macdonald and Joanna Lumley in romantic comedy Falling For Figaro.
WestEnd Films is handling sales on the feature, which is directed by Ben Lewin (The Sessions) and set in the world of opera singing competitions.
Principal photography began in Scotland last week and will continue through January after which the filmmakers will travel to Melbourne to complete post-production.
Skinner is perhaps best-known for roles in TV series such as BBC comedy W1A, Hulu drama Harlots...
- 12/13/2019
- by 57¦Geoffrey Macnab¦41¦
- ScreenDaily
(L-r): Melissa Lee Speyer, Gemma Bird Matheson, Lynette Wallworth.
Screen Australia has put almost $900,000 towards the story development of seven TV dramas, nine online projects, nine features and in an agency first – a podcast.
Podcast Engineering Consciousness, helmed by Emmy Award winner Lynette Wallworth, explores what happens to someone’s consciousness during a near-death experience. The idea is that the podcast will be used as a proof-of-concept for a television drama on the same topic. It will be produced by Bunya Productions’ Sophia Zachariou and Greer Simpkin.
Also on the slate is a live-action feature film from Ludo Studio (Bluey), written and directed by Daley Pearson, and a 10-part fictional TV series about what went on behind the scenes of the iconic Leyland Brothers’ adventures across Australia, created by Daina Reid and produced by Joanna Werner.
This is the first story development round of the year. Screen Australia runs...
Screen Australia has put almost $900,000 towards the story development of seven TV dramas, nine online projects, nine features and in an agency first – a podcast.
Podcast Engineering Consciousness, helmed by Emmy Award winner Lynette Wallworth, explores what happens to someone’s consciousness during a near-death experience. The idea is that the podcast will be used as a proof-of-concept for a television drama on the same topic. It will be produced by Bunya Productions’ Sophia Zachariou and Greer Simpkin.
Also on the slate is a live-action feature film from Ludo Studio (Bluey), written and directed by Daley Pearson, and a 10-part fictional TV series about what went on behind the scenes of the iconic Leyland Brothers’ adventures across Australia, created by Daina Reid and produced by Joanna Werner.
This is the first story development round of the year. Screen Australia runs...
- 11/11/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Danielle Macdonald.
Danielle Macdonald and Joanna Lumley will star in Falling For Figaro, a romantic comedy from The Sessions director Ben Lewin which will be an Australian-uk co-production.
Co-written by Lewin and Allen Palmer, the film will follow Macdonald as Millie, a brilliant young fund manager who decides to leave her unfulfilling job and long-term boyfriend to chase her lifelong dream of becoming an opera singer in the Scottish Highlands.
She begins intense vocal training lessons with renowned singing teacher and former opera diva Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop (Lumley) and meets fellow student Max, who is training for an upcoming contest.
The soundtrack will feature music from famous operas including The Barber Of Seville, The Marriage Of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Romeo And Juliet and Carmen.
The producers are Philip Wade, who was an executive producer on Grant Sputore’s I Am Mother, Judi Levine (The Sessions) and Arabella Page Croft (Sunshine On Leith...
Danielle Macdonald and Joanna Lumley will star in Falling For Figaro, a romantic comedy from The Sessions director Ben Lewin which will be an Australian-uk co-production.
Co-written by Lewin and Allen Palmer, the film will follow Macdonald as Millie, a brilliant young fund manager who decides to leave her unfulfilling job and long-term boyfriend to chase her lifelong dream of becoming an opera singer in the Scottish Highlands.
She begins intense vocal training lessons with renowned singing teacher and former opera diva Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop (Lumley) and meets fellow student Max, who is training for an upcoming contest.
The soundtrack will feature music from famous operas including The Barber Of Seville, The Marriage Of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Romeo And Juliet and Carmen.
The producers are Philip Wade, who was an executive producer on Grant Sputore’s I Am Mother, Judi Levine (The Sessions) and Arabella Page Croft (Sunshine On Leith...
- 10/29/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Exclusive: Danielle Macdonald and Joanna Lumley (Absolutely Fabulous) will lead the cast of Falling For Figaro, a romantic comedy from The Sessions director Ben Lewin, I can reveal.
Set in the fierce world of opera singing competitions, the movie follows Millie (Macdonald), a brilliant young fund manager who decides to leave her unfulfilling job and long-term boyfriend behind to chase her lifelong dream of becoming an opera singer in the Scottish Highlands.
She begins intense vocal training lessons with renowned singing teacher and former opera diva Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop (Lumley) and meets Max, another of Meghan’s students, who is also training for an upcoming contest.
The movie will feature music from famous operas including The Barber Of Seville, The Marriage Of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Romeo And Juliet, and Carmen.
Lewin wrote the screenplay with Allen Palmer. Producers are Philip Wade (I Am Mother), Judi Levine (The Sessions...
Set in the fierce world of opera singing competitions, the movie follows Millie (Macdonald), a brilliant young fund manager who decides to leave her unfulfilling job and long-term boyfriend behind to chase her lifelong dream of becoming an opera singer in the Scottish Highlands.
She begins intense vocal training lessons with renowned singing teacher and former opera diva Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop (Lumley) and meets Max, another of Meghan’s students, who is also training for an upcoming contest.
The movie will feature music from famous operas including The Barber Of Seville, The Marriage Of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Romeo And Juliet, and Carmen.
Lewin wrote the screenplay with Allen Palmer. Producers are Philip Wade (I Am Mother), Judi Levine (The Sessions...
- 10/29/2019
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Tania Chambers and Renée Webster.
Writer/director Renée Webster and producers Tania Chambers of Feisty Dame Productions and Judi Levine of Such Much Films are the recipients of Screenwest’s 2019 West Coast Visions initiative.
They will receive $750,000 towards the feature film How To Please A Woman, a heartfelt comedy drama about Gina, an admin worker who starts a company providing women with quality sexual experiences packaged with a houseclean. She soon discovers the boundless nature of not only their desires but also her own.
The project has received development funding from Screen Australia’s Gender Matters Brilliant Stories initiative and Screenwest’s feature development program.
Screenwest head of production and development Matt Horrocks said the film’s DNA was strong and its underlying themes were universal, observing: “The ideas explored in the film will touch audiences worldwide and I’m very excited to see another Western Australian feature film creating...
Writer/director Renée Webster and producers Tania Chambers of Feisty Dame Productions and Judi Levine of Such Much Films are the recipients of Screenwest’s 2019 West Coast Visions initiative.
They will receive $750,000 towards the feature film How To Please A Woman, a heartfelt comedy drama about Gina, an admin worker who starts a company providing women with quality sexual experiences packaged with a houseclean. She soon discovers the boundless nature of not only their desires but also her own.
The project has received development funding from Screen Australia’s Gender Matters Brilliant Stories initiative and Screenwest’s feature development program.
Screenwest head of production and development Matt Horrocks said the film’s DNA was strong and its underlying themes were universal, observing: “The ideas explored in the film will touch audiences worldwide and I’m very excited to see another Western Australian feature film creating...
- 7/12/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Sydney Sat. 6 October 2018 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Fox Studios Australia, Moore Park
Dame Changer is proud to present our first Insider Knowledge all day intensive – Judi Levine presents Working in the Us Indie and Studio Film Industry.
Judi Levine will offer a unique opportunity to gain knowledge about the Us film industry, including working with studios and the indie film sector, and honing the skills required to prepare for the Afm and other international film markets.
The one-day seminar brings together a diverse range of industry leaders and experts to discuss current trends in international and domestic markets.
Insider Knowledge Seminar
Judi presents Working in the Us Indie and Studio Film Industry.
https://www.damechanger.com/2018/09/19/judi-levine-shares-her-insights/
The one-day seminar brings together a diverse range of industry leaders and experts to discuss current trends in international and domestic markets.
Go to Eventbrite to purchase tickets
Working in the International Market...
Dame Changer is proud to present our first Insider Knowledge all day intensive – Judi Levine presents Working in the Us Indie and Studio Film Industry.
Judi Levine will offer a unique opportunity to gain knowledge about the Us film industry, including working with studios and the indie film sector, and honing the skills required to prepare for the Afm and other international film markets.
The one-day seminar brings together a diverse range of industry leaders and experts to discuss current trends in international and domestic markets.
Insider Knowledge Seminar
Judi presents Working in the Us Indie and Studio Film Industry.
https://www.damechanger.com/2018/09/19/judi-levine-shares-her-insights/
The one-day seminar brings together a diverse range of industry leaders and experts to discuss current trends in international and domestic markets.
Go to Eventbrite to purchase tickets
Working in the International Market...
- 9/26/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
The Sessions writer-director Ben Lewin is attached to helm Blue Rose, a biopic about the self-described .sex crazed. Australian composer and pianist Percy Grainger.
La-based Jeffrey Walker will return to Oz a to direct Dance Academy: The Comeback., a spin-off of Werner Film Productions. popular TV series, which will follow a young ballerina who dreams of being a star.
Following Ruin and Hail, Amiel Courtin-Wilson is to write, produce and direct Hawkwood, a thriller set in the backwaters of Africa which tells of ageing mercenary.s journey from chaos to grace.
These are among 16 feature projects which are receiving more than $620,000 in development funding from Screen Australia.
Lewin will write Blue Rose with Wain Fimeri for producers Chryssy Tintner, Jan Eymann, Judi Levine and Arclight.s Mark Lazarus and Gary Hamilton. His next film is Us indie romantic drama Purple Hearts, which will star Jane the Virgin's Gina Rodriguez...
La-based Jeffrey Walker will return to Oz a to direct Dance Academy: The Comeback., a spin-off of Werner Film Productions. popular TV series, which will follow a young ballerina who dreams of being a star.
Following Ruin and Hail, Amiel Courtin-Wilson is to write, produce and direct Hawkwood, a thriller set in the backwaters of Africa which tells of ageing mercenary.s journey from chaos to grace.
These are among 16 feature projects which are receiving more than $620,000 in development funding from Screen Australia.
Lewin will write Blue Rose with Wain Fimeri for producers Chryssy Tintner, Jan Eymann, Judi Levine and Arclight.s Mark Lazarus and Gary Hamilton. His next film is Us indie romantic drama Purple Hearts, which will star Jane the Virgin's Gina Rodriguez...
- 4/21/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Stage 32, a free social media and education networking site which links film, television and theatre creatives from around the world, is increasingly popular in Australia and New Zealand.
Australians are consistently among the top 5 active entertainment communities on the Los Angeles-based site, according to spokeswoman Tracey La Monica.
Launched by screenwriter, producer and former magazine publisher Richard Botto in February 2012, Stage 32 has members in more than 186 countries and is used by more than 200,000 professionals each day.
The Stage 32 Lounge enables member to pitch online and to interact and there are job postings, blogs and webinars taught by industry veterans. The organisers say thousands of people have found work, launched projects and made career changing connections on the site, and dozens of writers have been signed or are in development as a result of the pitching sessions.
Among the special members and guest bloggers have been Terence Stamp, Brad Carpenter (Boardwalk...
Australians are consistently among the top 5 active entertainment communities on the Los Angeles-based site, according to spokeswoman Tracey La Monica.
Launched by screenwriter, producer and former magazine publisher Richard Botto in February 2012, Stage 32 has members in more than 186 countries and is used by more than 200,000 professionals each day.
The Stage 32 Lounge enables member to pitch online and to interact and there are job postings, blogs and webinars taught by industry veterans. The organisers say thousands of people have found work, launched projects and made career changing connections on the site, and dozens of writers have been signed or are in development as a result of the pitching sessions.
Among the special members and guest bloggers have been Terence Stamp, Brad Carpenter (Boardwalk...
- 3/11/2014
- by Inside Film Correspondent
- IF.com.au
The Adg Conference session 'The Entrepreneurial Director' should have been titled 'The Desperate Director,' according to Ben Lewin, who rounded out the first day of Directing in the Digital Age yesterday. Speaking candidly to a room full of peers, Lewin spoke of how it was hitting (almost) rock-bottom in his field that opened the doors which would lead to his successful and critically acclaimed film The Sessions. Speaking of how ABC TV in Australia wouldn't return his calls, Lewin said "It was, at the time,the hardest pill to swallow... In retrospect, I am grateful for the rejection. It gave me the desperation I needed to move forward. Thus, the theme of this talk. Except for 'entrepreneurial', read 'desperate.' And for the other part of the formula - add in sheer, dumb, luck." Lewin is being modest here. Sheer dumb luck didn't grant the film a Golden Globe or Oscar nod,...
- 11/7/2013
- by Emily Blatchford
- IF.com.au
Australians have featured strongly in the 2012 Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, which included Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, Russell Crowe and Jacki Weaver.
Hugh Jackman's performance as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables was recognised with a nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role and Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (which also included Russell Crowe). It is the first time that the Screen Actors Guild has recognised Jackman's performances which have included films such as X-Men, Australia, Deception and The Prestige.
Also up for best male lead are Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook), Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln), John Hawkes (The Sessions), Denzel Washington (Flight). The other outstanding cast nominations were for Argo,.The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Lincoln and Silver Linings Playbook.
Les Misérables, directed by Tom Hooper (The King's Speech), received.the equal highest number of nominations in.total (four...
Hugh Jackman's performance as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables was recognised with a nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role and Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (which also included Russell Crowe). It is the first time that the Screen Actors Guild has recognised Jackman's performances which have included films such as X-Men, Australia, Deception and The Prestige.
Also up for best male lead are Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook), Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln), John Hawkes (The Sessions), Denzel Washington (Flight). The other outstanding cast nominations were for Argo,.The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Lincoln and Silver Linings Playbook.
Les Misérables, directed by Tom Hooper (The King's Speech), received.the equal highest number of nominations in.total (four...
- 12/13/2012
- by Brendan Swift
- IF.com.au
Australians have featured strongly in the 2012 Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, which included Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts and Russell Crowe.
Hugh Jackman's performance as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables was recognised with a nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role and Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (which also included Russell Crowe). It is the first time that the Screen Actors Guild has recognised Jackman's performances which have included films such as X-Men, Australia, Deception and The Prestige.
Also up for best male lead are Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook), Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln), John Hawkes (The Sessions), Denzel Washington (Flight). The other outstanding cast nominations were for Argo,.The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Lincoln and Silver Linings Playbook.
Les Misérables, directed by Tom Hooper (The King's Speech), received.the equal highest number of nominations in.total (four) alongside Lincoln and.Silver Linings Playbook.
Hugh Jackman's performance as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables was recognised with a nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role and Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (which also included Russell Crowe). It is the first time that the Screen Actors Guild has recognised Jackman's performances which have included films such as X-Men, Australia, Deception and The Prestige.
Also up for best male lead are Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook), Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln), John Hawkes (The Sessions), Denzel Washington (Flight). The other outstanding cast nominations were for Argo,.The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Lincoln and Silver Linings Playbook.
Les Misérables, directed by Tom Hooper (The King's Speech), received.the equal highest number of nominations in.total (four) alongside Lincoln and.Silver Linings Playbook.
- 12/13/2012
- by Brendan Swift
- IF.com.au
With The Sessions getting positive reviews at the box office, Australian producer Judi Levine tells Georgina Pearson about working with her husband, director Ben Lewin on the film that tells the true story of Mark O’Brien, a man who lives in an iron lung and wants to lose his virginity.
How did you get involved in this project?
Ben came across an essay by Mark O’Brien while researching another project and said to me, “I’ve just read something extraordinary. Read it”. I thought it was fantastic so we went from there.
Making The Sessions was very much a family affair. Tell us about the experience.
It was an entire family production. Our two daughters and son also worked with us on it – our youngest daughter played a small role in the flashback scene and our son, who is studying classical music, helped out with the soundtrack. Our...
How did you get involved in this project?
Ben came across an essay by Mark O’Brien while researching another project and said to me, “I’ve just read something extraordinary. Read it”. I thought it was fantastic so we went from there.
Making The Sessions was very much a family affair. Tell us about the experience.
It was an entire family production. Our two daughters and son also worked with us on it – our youngest daughter played a small role in the flashback scene and our son, who is studying classical music, helped out with the soundtrack. Our...
- 11/12/2012
- by Brooke Hemphill
- Encore Magazine
William H Macy and John Hawkes in The Sessions
The Sessions, a film by an Australian film-maker husband and wife duo, has taken $267,000 at the box office in its opening weekend.
Written and directed by Ben Lewin and produced by his wife Judi Levine, The Sessions is inspired by a true story and and follows man in an iron lung who wishes to lose his virginity to a professional sex surrogate.
The Fox-distributed film was awarded winner of the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival this year.
Starring John Hawkes, William H Macy and Helen Hunt, the film opened on 57 screens for a $4,680 screen average, taking the film’s total Australian box office to $278,000, following a screening at Melbourne International Film Festival.
Elsewhere, action-comedy Seven Psychopaths opened with $671,000 across 186 screens for an average of $3,608. The film which is distributed by Hopscotch was second on the box office chart, but along way behind Argo,...
The Sessions, a film by an Australian film-maker husband and wife duo, has taken $267,000 at the box office in its opening weekend.
Written and directed by Ben Lewin and produced by his wife Judi Levine, The Sessions is inspired by a true story and and follows man in an iron lung who wishes to lose his virginity to a professional sex surrogate.
The Fox-distributed film was awarded winner of the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival this year.
Starring John Hawkes, William H Macy and Helen Hunt, the film opened on 57 screens for a $4,680 screen average, taking the film’s total Australian box office to $278,000, following a screening at Melbourne International Film Festival.
Elsewhere, action-comedy Seven Psychopaths opened with $671,000 across 186 screens for an average of $3,608. The film which is distributed by Hopscotch was second on the box office chart, but along way behind Argo,...
- 11/12/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Based on the poignantly optimistic autobiographical writings of California.based journalist and poet Mark O.Brien, The Sessions tells the story of a man who lived most of his life in an iron lung who is determined – at age 38 – to lose his virginity. With the help of his therapist and the guidance of his priest, he sets out to make his dream a reality.
Fox Searchlight Pictures presents, in association with Such Much Films and Rhino Films, The Sessions with a cast including John Hawkes, Helen Hunt, and William H. Macy. The film also stars Moon Bloodgood, Annika Marks, Rhea Perlman, W. Earl Brown, Robin Weigert, Blake Lindsley, Ming Lo, Jennifer Kumiyama, Rusty Schwimmer, James Martinez with Adam Arkin. The film is written for the screen and directed by Ben Lewin. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it took home the coveted Audience Award and the Jury Prize for ensemble cast.
Fox Searchlight Pictures presents, in association with Such Much Films and Rhino Films, The Sessions with a cast including John Hawkes, Helen Hunt, and William H. Macy. The film also stars Moon Bloodgood, Annika Marks, Rhea Perlman, W. Earl Brown, Robin Weigert, Blake Lindsley, Ming Lo, Jennifer Kumiyama, Rusty Schwimmer, James Martinez with Adam Arkin. The film is written for the screen and directed by Ben Lewin. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it took home the coveted Audience Award and the Jury Prize for ensemble cast.
- 10/24/2012
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The X Factor
Seven’s singing competition show The X Factor won Monday’s ratings race, finishing with more than 400,000 viewers ahead of Nine rival Big Brother.
While The X Factor’s performance episode rated 1.462m, Big Brother’s live nominations rated 1.019m in sixth for total viewers, according to preliminary ratings from OzTam.
The X Factor won across all three key advertising demographics of 16-39, 18-49 and 25-54, followed by Big Brother’s live nominations in second place, and Big Brother’s daily show in third.
Big Brother’s daily show rated 906,000 and was ninth for the night in total viewers.
Seven’s new Us political thriller Scandal, which follows The X Factor at 9pm, struggled to benefit from the singing show’s win.
In its second episode the show dropped to 543,000, exactly 200,000 viewers off its preliminary ratings from last week’s debut of 743,000.
The show placed 22nd in total viewers,...
Seven’s singing competition show The X Factor won Monday’s ratings race, finishing with more than 400,000 viewers ahead of Nine rival Big Brother.
While The X Factor’s performance episode rated 1.462m, Big Brother’s live nominations rated 1.019m in sixth for total viewers, according to preliminary ratings from OzTam.
The X Factor won across all three key advertising demographics of 16-39, 18-49 and 25-54, followed by Big Brother’s live nominations in second place, and Big Brother’s daily show in third.
Big Brother’s daily show rated 906,000 and was ninth for the night in total viewers.
Seven’s new Us political thriller Scandal, which follows The X Factor at 9pm, struggled to benefit from the singing show’s win.
In its second episode the show dropped to 543,000, exactly 200,000 viewers off its preliminary ratings from last week’s debut of 743,000.
The show placed 22nd in total viewers,...
- 10/23/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Watch a new clip from The Sessions called Shall We Get Undressed. The drama stars Helen Hunt, John Hawkes and William H. Macy and opens in theaters via Fox Searchlight Pictures on October 26th, 2012. Scripted and helmed by Ben Lewin, who produces alongside Stephen Nemeth and Judi Levine, The Sessions is based on the poignantly optimistic autobiographical writings of California–based journalist and poet Mark O’Brien and tells the story of a man confined to an iron lung who is determined - at age 38 - to lose his virginity. With the help of his therapists and the guidance of his priest, he sets out to make his dream a reality.
- 10/10/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Watch a new clip from The Sessions called Shall We Get Undressed. The drama stars Helen Hunt, John Hawkes and William H. Macy and opens in theaters via Fox Searchlight Pictures on October 26th, 2012. Scripted and helmed by Ben Lewin, who produces alongside Stephen Nemeth and Judi Levine, The Sessions is based on the poignantly optimistic autobiographical writings of California–based journalist and poet Mark O’Brien and tells the story of a man confined to an iron lung who is determined - at age 38 - to lose his virginity. With the help of his therapists and the guidance of his priest, he sets out to make his dream a reality.
- 10/10/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Ben Lewin's John Hawkes and Helen Hunt starrer The Sessions from Fox Searchlight, has a new clip called Oh God! Scripted and helmed by Lewin, the film which was seen at this year's Sundance Film Festival, opens October 26th in limited areas, with a talented cast including Moon Bloodgood, Annika Marks, W. Earl Brown, Blake Lindsley, Adam, Arkin, Ming Lo, Jennifer Kumiyama and Robin Weigert. Based on the poignantly optimistic autobiographical writings of California–based journalist and poet Mark O’Brien, The Sessions tells the story of a man confined to an iron lung who is determined - at age 38 - to lose his virginity. With the help of his therapists and the guidance of his priest, he sets out to make his dream a reality. Judi Levine, Ben Lewin and Stephen Nemeth produce.
- 9/27/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Ben Lewin's John Hawkes and Helen Hunt starrer The Sessions from Fox Searchlight, has a new clip called Oh God! Scripted and helmed by Lewin, the film which was seen at this year's Sundance Film Festival, opens October 26th in limited areas, with a talented cast including Moon Bloodgood, Annika Marks, W. Earl Brown, Blake Lindsley, Adam, Arkin, Ming Lo, Jennifer Kumiyama and Robin Weigert. Based on the poignantly optimistic autobiographical writings of California–based journalist and poet Mark O’Brien, The Sessions tells the story of a man confined to an iron lung who is determined - at age 38 - to lose his virginity. With the help of his therapists and the guidance of his priest, he sets out to make his dream a reality. Judi Levine, Ben Lewin and Stephen Nemeth produce.
- 9/27/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
See new images from The Sessions. The drama stars John Hawkes, Helen Hunt and William H. Macy. Based on the poignantly optimistic autobiographical writings of California–based journalist and poet Mark O’Brien, The Sessions tells the story of a man confined to an iron lung who is determined - at age 38 - to lose his virginity. With the help of his therapists and the guidance of his priest, he sets out to make his dream a reality. Also in the cast of the touching film are Moon Bloodgood, Annika Marks, W. Earl Brown, Blake Lindsley, Adam, Arkin, Ming Lo, Jennifer Kumiyama and Robin Weigert. Ben Lewin directs and writes the film produced by Judi Levine, Ben Lewin and Stephen Nemeth.
- 9/20/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
See new images from The Sessions. The drama stars John Hawkes, Helen Hunt and William H. Macy. Based on the poignantly optimistic autobiographical writings of California–based journalist and poet Mark O’Brien, The Sessions tells the story of a man confined to an iron lung who is determined - at age 38 - to lose his virginity. With the help of his therapists and the guidance of his priest, he sets out to make his dream a reality. Also in the cast of the touching film are Moon Bloodgood, Annika Marks, W. Earl Brown, Blake Lindsley, Adam, Arkin, Ming Lo, Jennifer Kumiyama and Robin Weigert. Ben Lewin directs and writes the film produced by Judi Levine, Ben Lewin and Stephen Nemeth.
- 9/20/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Beasts of the Southern Wild, director Benh Zeitlin’s surreal tale of a six-year old girl living with her father in the flooded basins near the southern delta, was awarded the Grand Jury Prize for dramatic film. The House I Live In, Eugene Jarecki’s documentary about the impact of America’s War on Drugs on poor communities, won for best documentary. The Surrogate, a movie about a man in an iron lung (John Hawkes) who decides to lose his virginity with the assistance of professional sex surrogate (Helen Hunt), was honored with an Audience Award and a prize for Best Ensemble.
- 1/29/2012
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside Movies
By Josh Abraham
Fox Searchlight Pictures Presidents Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula announced today that the company has acquired worldwide rights to the inspirational true story The Surrogate. Directed and written by Ben Lewin, The Surrogate stars John Hawkes as Mark O’Brien, Helen Hunt as Cheryl Cohen Greene and William H. Macy as Father Brendan. The film was produced by Judi Levine of Suchmuch Films and Stephen Nemeth of Rhino Films and is scheduled to be released in 2012.
Click to read more…...
Fox Searchlight Pictures Presidents Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula announced today that the company has acquired worldwide rights to the inspirational true story The Surrogate. Directed and written by Ben Lewin, The Surrogate stars John Hawkes as Mark O’Brien, Helen Hunt as Cheryl Cohen Greene and William H. Macy as Father Brendan. The film was produced by Judi Levine of Suchmuch Films and Stephen Nemeth of Rhino Films and is scheduled to be released in 2012.
Click to read more…...
- 1/26/2012
- by Scott Feinberg
- Scott Feinberg
Two of the latest films to be picked up at Sundance are The Surrogate and Celeste & Jesse Forever. Fox Searchlight Pictures announced today at the Sundance Film Festival that the studio has acquired Ben Lewin's The Surrogate for distribution:
Fox Searchlight Pictures Presidents Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula announced today that the company has acquired worldwide rights to the inspirational true story The Surrogate. Directed and written by Ben Lewin, The Surrogate stars John Hawkes as Mark O’Brien, Helen Hunt as Cheryl Cohen Greene and William H. Macy as Father Brendan. The film was produced by Judi Levine of Suchmuch Films and Stephen Nemeth of Rhino Films and is scheduled to be released in 2012.
“Ben Lewin has created a touching, uplifting look at one man’s desire to experience life to the fullest. The brave and indelible performances by John Hawkes, Helen Hunt and William H. Macy left us floored,...
Fox Searchlight Pictures Presidents Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula announced today that the company has acquired worldwide rights to the inspirational true story The Surrogate. Directed and written by Ben Lewin, The Surrogate stars John Hawkes as Mark O’Brien, Helen Hunt as Cheryl Cohen Greene and William H. Macy as Father Brendan. The film was produced by Judi Levine of Suchmuch Films and Stephen Nemeth of Rhino Films and is scheduled to be released in 2012.
“Ben Lewin has created a touching, uplifting look at one man’s desire to experience life to the fullest. The brave and indelible performances by John Hawkes, Helen Hunt and William H. Macy left us floored,...
- 1/25/2012
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
HollywoodNews.com: Fox Searchlight Pictures Presidents Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula announced today that the company has acquired worldwide rights to the inspirational true story The Surrogate. Directed and written by Ben Lewin, The Surrogate stars John Hawkes as Mark O’Brien, Helen Hunt as Cheryl Cohen Greene and William H. Macy as Father Brendan. The film was produced by Judi Levine of Suchmuch Films and Stephen Nemeth of Rhino Films and is scheduled to be released in 2012.
?Ben Lewin has created a touching, uplifting look at one man?s desire to experience life to the fullest. The brave and indelible performances by John Hawkes, Helen Hunt and William H. Macy left us floored,? said Gilula and Utley.
?We’re very happy to have found a home at Fox Searchlight for this film,? said director Ben Lewin. ?We have worked hard to evoke the spirit of Mark O’Brien and his writing,...
?Ben Lewin has created a touching, uplifting look at one man?s desire to experience life to the fullest. The brave and indelible performances by John Hawkes, Helen Hunt and William H. Macy left us floored,? said Gilula and Utley.
?We’re very happy to have found a home at Fox Searchlight for this film,? said director Ben Lewin. ?We have worked hard to evoke the spirit of Mark O’Brien and his writing,...
- 1/24/2012
- by Josh Abraham
- Hollywoodnews.com
Fox Searchlight Pictures announced today at the Sundance Film Festival that the studio has acquired Ben Lewin's The Surrogate for distribution: Fox Searchlight Pictures Presidents Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula announced today that the company has acquired worldwide rights to the inspirational true story The Surrogate. Directed and written by Ben Lewin, The Surrogate stars John Hawkes as Mark O.Brien, Helen Hunt as Cheryl Cohen Greene and William H. Macy as Father Brendan. The film was produced by Judi Levine of Suchmuch Films and Stephen Nemeth of Rhino Films and is scheduled to be released in 2012. .Ben Lewin has created a touching, uplifting look at one man.s desire to experience life to the fullest. The brave and indelible performances by John Hawkes, Helen Hunt and...
- 1/24/2012
- Comingsoon.net
#65. The Surrogate - Ben Lewin I'm thinking of Bardem's perf in The Sea Inside and that there might be some huge payoffs performance wise for thesps John Hawkes (see pic above of Mark O'Brien above) and Helen Hunt in what looks to be the sort of film that Sundance embraces - a thought-provoking film item that has the ability to stir up some sort of debate. I'm unfamiliar with helmer Ben Lewin's body of work include began with doc films for Granada back in the 70's and includes the award-winning 1988 film Georgia, but I'm sure The Surrogate might call plenty of attention to itself. Depending on the scope - this is either a U.S Dramatic or Premieres category possibility. Gist: This story is about Mark O'Brien, a [quadriplegic] polio victim, who lived most of his life in an iron lung, paralyzed from the neck down. The film, set in the late '80s,...
- 11/13/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
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