Netflix has announced that it will produce seven new original scripted series in the UK, ranging from horror to science fiction, love stories to physical comedy.
All of the shows will be written and produced in the UK. The Original Series team is led by VP UK Anne Mensah.
“Setting up a team entirely based in the UK was always about being able to better connect to the fantastic program-makers we have here,” Mensah said. “To provide a space for writers, producers, directors and actors that feels local, friendly and familiar but also provides talent the opportunity to make shows that will impact on a global scale. UK-made stories really do speak to the world.
“I couldn’t be more excited by the mix of people who are now producing for Netflix. Alongside these new commissions, we have projects in development with a range of amazing creators including Andrew “Rapman” Onwubolu,...
All of the shows will be written and produced in the UK. The Original Series team is led by VP UK Anne Mensah.
“Setting up a team entirely based in the UK was always about being able to better connect to the fantastic program-makers we have here,” Mensah said. “To provide a space for writers, producers, directors and actors that feels local, friendly and familiar but also provides talent the opportunity to make shows that will impact on a global scale. UK-made stories really do speak to the world.
“I couldn’t be more excited by the mix of people who are now producing for Netflix. Alongside these new commissions, we have projects in development with a range of amazing creators including Andrew “Rapman” Onwubolu,...
- 12/13/2020
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix has added seven new series to its original content slate out of the U.K., working with the likes of former “Mr. Bean” star Rowan Atkinson, Sam Mendes and Andy Serkis, along with new writing talent including Sarah Dollard and Sophie Petzal.
The shows, commissioned by the Original Series team as part of the streaming giant’s continued investment in the U.K., will all be written and produced domestically.
From Mendes and his Neal Street Productions is a six-part show called “The Red Zone,” which mysteriously teases “a comedy about football, but also not about football.” Meanwhile, Atkinson will star in short-form, 10-part comedy series “Man vs Bee,” which finds him housesitting a luxurious mansion while duking it out with a pesky bee.
Elsewhere, in a project executive produced by Serkis, “Giri/Haji” creator Joe Barton is on board to adapt Sally Green’s “Half Bad” trilogy of books,...
The shows, commissioned by the Original Series team as part of the streaming giant’s continued investment in the U.K., will all be written and produced domestically.
From Mendes and his Neal Street Productions is a six-part show called “The Red Zone,” which mysteriously teases “a comedy about football, but also not about football.” Meanwhile, Atkinson will star in short-form, 10-part comedy series “Man vs Bee,” which finds him housesitting a luxurious mansion while duking it out with a pesky bee.
Elsewhere, in a project executive produced by Serkis, “Giri/Haji” creator Joe Barton is on board to adapt Sally Green’s “Half Bad” trilogy of books,...
- 12/13/2020
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.Newsa stunning poster for the upcoming July 20th premiere of Jonathan Glazer's Strasbourg 1518, a Mica Levi-scored short film about the mass hysteria-caused "dancing plague" in Strasbourg. This year's edition of the Telluride Film Festival has been cancelled. "With a seemingly unending number of new cases of Covid-19 and the national chaos around it, even the best strategy is threatened by this out of control environment," the festival states.Recommended Viewing In a talk presented by HowlRound Theatre Commons, subtitlers Darcy Paquet (best known as the subtitler for Bong Joon-ho's Parasite) and Linda Hoaglund (the subtitler for Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away), as well as director-writer Xiaolu Guo discuss the intricate art of subtitling. Shudder's official trailer for Jayro Bustamante's La Llorona, a retelling of...
- 7/15/2020
- MUBI
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.Recommended VIEWINGWe're very much in love with Zama, Lucrecia Martel's long-anticipated return to filmmaking. The new trailer calls us back to our encounter of the film at Toronto last year and our conversation with the director.We all know that Rainer Werner Fassbinder made a lot—a whole lot—of films in his all too brief 15 years of activity, but it's truly remarkable how new (old) work of his keeps appearing. First there was the revelation of World on a Wire (1973) and now another made-for-tv epic has been restored and is being re-released, Eight Hours Are Not a Day (1972-1973). We wonder what other future delights and provocations Rwf has in store for us!Recommended READINGDoll & EmAt The Guardian, Lili Loofbourow takes a look at how stories about women are perceived and received differently than those about men.
- 3/15/2018
- MUBI
Update: Audience award winner revealed; Good Manners, Winter Brothers also among winners.
Documentary filmmaker Wang Bing became the fifth director from China in Locarno’s seven-decade history to win the top honour of the Golden Leopard at this year’s edition.
Mrs. Fang, which is the first documentray ever to win the festival’s top prize, follows the last days of a 67-year-old Alzheimer’s patient in southern China.
Previous Golden Leopard winners from China were Hongqui Li with Winter Vacation in 2010 and Xiaolu Guo with She, a Chinese a year before, as well as Shuo Wang with Father in 2000 and Yue Lü with Mr Zhao in 1998.
The decision by the international competition jury, headed by director Olivier Assayas, reflects a trend at international festivals of recent years for documentaries beating out competition from fiction productions.
While the special jury prize went to the Brazilian writing and directing team Juliana Rojas and Marco Dutra’s Good Manners about...
Documentary filmmaker Wang Bing became the fifth director from China in Locarno’s seven-decade history to win the top honour of the Golden Leopard at this year’s edition.
Mrs. Fang, which is the first documentray ever to win the festival’s top prize, follows the last days of a 67-year-old Alzheimer’s patient in southern China.
Previous Golden Leopard winners from China were Hongqui Li with Winter Vacation in 2010 and Xiaolu Guo with She, a Chinese a year before, as well as Shuo Wang with Father in 2000 and Yue Lü with Mr Zhao in 1998.
The decision by the international competition jury, headed by director Olivier Assayas, reflects a trend at international festivals of recent years for documentaries beating out competition from fiction productions.
While the special jury prize went to the Brazilian writing and directing team Juliana Rojas and Marco Dutra’s Good Manners about...
- 8/12/2017
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Animated dark comedy set against contemporary small-town China is first Chinese animation to play at Berlinale.
Memento Film International (Mfi) has taken on world sales of Chinese animation Have A Nice Day ahead of its world premiere in competition at the Berlin Film Festival in February.
The Paris-based company is splitting sales territories with Hong Kong-based sales and distribution outfit Edko Films which will handle Asia. Mfi will handle all other territories.
Have A Nice Day is the second animated feature from Nanjing-born filmmaker Liu Jian after the award-winning 2009 Piercing 1, which was billed as China’s first independent feature-length animation.
It will be the first ever Chinese animated feature to play at the Berlinale.
The darkly humorous work revolves around Xiao Zhang, a chauffeur in a small Chinese town, who steals a large amount of money from his boss to help his girlfriend fix a failed plastic surgery operation.
News of the...
Memento Film International (Mfi) has taken on world sales of Chinese animation Have A Nice Day ahead of its world premiere in competition at the Berlin Film Festival in February.
The Paris-based company is splitting sales territories with Hong Kong-based sales and distribution outfit Edko Films which will handle Asia. Mfi will handle all other territories.
Have A Nice Day is the second animated feature from Nanjing-born filmmaker Liu Jian after the award-winning 2009 Piercing 1, which was billed as China’s first independent feature-length animation.
It will be the first ever Chinese animated feature to play at the Berlinale.
The darkly humorous work revolves around Xiao Zhang, a chauffeur in a small Chinese town, who steals a large amount of money from his boss to help his girlfriend fix a failed plastic surgery operation.
News of the...
- 1/31/2017
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Challenges mount at UK funding agency as Caroline Cooper Charles hands in notice.
Creative England head of film Caroline Cooper Charles is to step down after handing in her notice at the challenged creative industries funding agency.
Cooper Charles, previously Creative England’s senior film enterprise executive, took over as head of film six months ago following the departure of Chris Moll.
The executive is understood to be leaving of her own accord following recent cuts to the the organisation’s film team.
Creative England confirmed to Screen that Cooper Charles will leave at the end of June to “pursue creative opportunities outside of the company” and that the executive will be replaced.
Cooper Charles told Screen: “I’ve had some fantastic times at Creative England, headed up a truly brilliant team and been constantly surprised and delighted by the people and projects we’ve supported. It has been a privilege to work with such exceptional...
Creative England head of film Caroline Cooper Charles is to step down after handing in her notice at the challenged creative industries funding agency.
Cooper Charles, previously Creative England’s senior film enterprise executive, took over as head of film six months ago following the departure of Chris Moll.
The executive is understood to be leaving of her own accord following recent cuts to the the organisation’s film team.
Creative England confirmed to Screen that Cooper Charles will leave at the end of June to “pursue creative opportunities outside of the company” and that the executive will be replaced.
Cooper Charles told Screen: “I’ve had some fantastic times at Creative England, headed up a truly brilliant team and been constantly surprised and delighted by the people and projects we’ve supported. It has been a privilege to work with such exceptional...
- 3/23/2016
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: 45 Years backer promotes Caroline Cooper Charles.
Caroline Cooper Charles, previously Creative England’s senior film enterprise executive and head of creative development at Warp X, has been appointed the organisation’s new head of film.
Creative England is responsible for film initiatives iFeatures and iShorts, and has backed features including Notes On Blindness, 45 Years, Orion: The Man Who Would Be King and Burn, Burn, Burn.
During her time at Creative England Cooper Charles has led a bespoke support programme for film companies in England and previously worked across talent development strategy in the regions.
She is also CEO at production outfit Universal Spirits, producer of Jane Linfoot’s The Incident.
Prior to launching Universal Spirits Charles was head of creative development at Warp X where she was responsible for a slate of low-budget features including the cat-and-mouse thriller Hush, kaleidoscopic music documentary All Tomorrow’s Parties and road-trip comedy Bunny And The Bull.
As executive...
Caroline Cooper Charles, previously Creative England’s senior film enterprise executive and head of creative development at Warp X, has been appointed the organisation’s new head of film.
Creative England is responsible for film initiatives iFeatures and iShorts, and has backed features including Notes On Blindness, 45 Years, Orion: The Man Who Would Be King and Burn, Burn, Burn.
During her time at Creative England Cooper Charles has led a bespoke support programme for film companies in England and previously worked across talent development strategy in the regions.
She is also CEO at production outfit Universal Spirits, producer of Jane Linfoot’s The Incident.
Prior to launching Universal Spirits Charles was head of creative development at Warp X where she was responsible for a slate of low-budget features including the cat-and-mouse thriller Hush, kaleidoscopic music documentary All Tomorrow’s Parties and road-trip comedy Bunny And The Bull.
As executive...
- 10/15/2015
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Other winners include documentary Welcome To Leith.
Tolga Karaçelik’s Turkish drama Ivy has won the best feature award at the East End Film Festival (July 1-12) in London.
It marks Karaçelik’s second film, after 2010 feature Tollbooth, and was shot by Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Dop, Gökhan Tiryaki.
Set onboard a hulking cargo ship moored off the coast of Egypt, the film follows a skeleton crew of misfit sailors, forced to stay onboard after their paymasters go bust. But it isn’t long before power structures dissolve, leading to tension, threats of violence, and strange apparitions.
Ivy will receive its UK premiere at London’s Rio Cinema tomorrow (July 11).
It was chosen by a jury comprising Eeff’s 2015 Director-in-Residence Noaz Deshe (White Shadow); writer Irvine Welsh (Trainspotting); director Amma Asante (Belle); artist Viv Albertine; and director Ross Clarke (Dermaphoria).
Karaçelik will be invited back to the festival in 2016 as Director-in-Residence.
Jury member...
Tolga Karaçelik’s Turkish drama Ivy has won the best feature award at the East End Film Festival (July 1-12) in London.
It marks Karaçelik’s second film, after 2010 feature Tollbooth, and was shot by Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Dop, Gökhan Tiryaki.
Set onboard a hulking cargo ship moored off the coast of Egypt, the film follows a skeleton crew of misfit sailors, forced to stay onboard after their paymasters go bust. But it isn’t long before power structures dissolve, leading to tension, threats of violence, and strange apparitions.
Ivy will receive its UK premiere at London’s Rio Cinema tomorrow (July 11).
It was chosen by a jury comprising Eeff’s 2015 Director-in-Residence Noaz Deshe (White Shadow); writer Irvine Welsh (Trainspotting); director Amma Asante (Belle); artist Viv Albertine; and director Ross Clarke (Dermaphoria).
Karaçelik will be invited back to the festival in 2016 as Director-in-Residence.
Jury member...
- 7/10/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Mubi is proud to present the 2nd Dialogue of Culture International Film Festival (Dciff), hosted globally online by Mubi. This free film festival will run online from November 1 – 14, 2013, and be available exclusively on Mubi.
The Dciff is the world's first film festival dedicated to the worldwide phenomenon of people in search of their identity in the era of mass migration and globalization. Its goal is to jumpstart a dialogue between cultures through the universal language of cinema.
The festival program includes films from across the globe, giving voice to multiple perspectives on issues of culture and identity. To create a global dialogue and promote better understanding between cultures, the participating filmmakers, producers, and rights holders have agreed to show their films online for free. The Dciff and Mubi are proud to bring these vital and necessary films to a global audience.
The 2013 Program:
After the Battle (Yousry Nasrallah, Egypt/France) Alì Blue Eyes (Claudio Giovannesi,...
The Dciff is the world's first film festival dedicated to the worldwide phenomenon of people in search of their identity in the era of mass migration and globalization. Its goal is to jumpstart a dialogue between cultures through the universal language of cinema.
The festival program includes films from across the globe, giving voice to multiple perspectives on issues of culture and identity. To create a global dialogue and promote better understanding between cultures, the participating filmmakers, producers, and rights holders have agreed to show their films online for free. The Dciff and Mubi are proud to bring these vital and necessary films to a global audience.
The 2013 Program:
After the Battle (Yousry Nasrallah, Egypt/France) Alì Blue Eyes (Claudio Giovannesi,...
- 11/1/2013
- by Notebook
- MUBI
★★☆☆☆ Writer-director Xiaolu Guo rose to prominence in the West after her sophomore feature She, a Chinese (2009) won the Golden Leopard prize at the Locarno Film Festival. Guo now arrives at the London Film Festival with Late at Night: Voices of Ordinary Madness (2013), the second in a proposed trilogy of documentaries giving a voice to the disenfranchised. Conducting numerous candid street interviews, each intended to allow us a window into the reality of life in London's hip and happening East End, Guo spent three years trawling the streets of Hackney meeting a diverse cross-section of this unique community.
To highlight the media's obsession with celebrity culture and sensationalism over the genuine concerns of real people, Guo frames her fragmented narrative with pseudo-pop-culture style news readings, churning out topical tabloid trash as a juxtaposition of the real world and the media mirage. Intended to highlight the growing inequalities in the gentrified boroughs of London,...
To highlight the media's obsession with celebrity culture and sensationalism over the genuine concerns of real people, Guo frames her fragmented narrative with pseudo-pop-culture style news readings, churning out topical tabloid trash as a juxtaposition of the real world and the media mirage. Intended to highlight the growing inequalities in the gentrified boroughs of London,...
- 10/21/2013
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
New funds aimed at helping regional filmmakers and production companies across England have been launched this week by Creative England.
The funds, intended to support regional film companies and help develop new talent, are being managed by industry experts from both film and television.
The Creative England Production Fund, managed by Richard Holmes, is an all-England fund, focused on regional filmmakers and/or stories.
Holmes, producer of Eden Lake, Jadoo and the upcoming Keeping Rosy, said: “We’ll be looking for ambitious films that can be made by committed filmmakers for under £1.5m.”
The fund will support between 10% and 50% of total budget with individual awards typically in the range of £50-£150k.
The West Midlands Production Fund (Wmpf), also managed by Richard Holmes, and supported through the European Regional Development Fund, can invest in both film and TV drama production.
Productions must be based in the West Midlands, and must demonstrate a positive impact on the region...
The funds, intended to support regional film companies and help develop new talent, are being managed by industry experts from both film and television.
The Creative England Production Fund, managed by Richard Holmes, is an all-England fund, focused on regional filmmakers and/or stories.
Holmes, producer of Eden Lake, Jadoo and the upcoming Keeping Rosy, said: “We’ll be looking for ambitious films that can be made by committed filmmakers for under £1.5m.”
The fund will support between 10% and 50% of total budget with individual awards typically in the range of £50-£150k.
The West Midlands Production Fund (Wmpf), also managed by Richard Holmes, and supported through the European Regional Development Fund, can invest in both film and TV drama production.
Productions must be based in the West Midlands, and must demonstrate a positive impact on the region...
- 10/16/2013
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Browse all the sections of the 57th London Film Festival (Oct 9-20) including the galas, competition titles and individual sections.
Alphabetical list of titles by section including feature premiere status
Wp = Wp
Ep = European Premiere
IP = International Premiere
UK = UK Premiere
Gala’s
Opening Night
Captain Phillips, Paul Greengrass (Us) Ep
Closing Night
Saving Mr Banks, John Lee Hancock (Us/UK) Ep
Philomena, Stephen Frears (UK) UK12 Years A Slave, Steve Mcqueen (UK) EPGravity, Alfonso Cuaron (Us) UKInside Llewyn Davis, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen (Us) UKLabor Day, Jason Reitman (Us) EPThe Invisible Woman, Ralph Fiennes (UK), EPThe Epic Of Everest, John Noel (UK) WPBlue Is The Warmest Colour, Abdellatif Kechiche (France) UKNight Moves, Kelly Reichardt (Us) UKStranger By The Lake, Alain Guiraudie (France) UKDon Jon, Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Us) UKMystery Road, Ivan Sen (Australia) UKOnly Lovers Left Alive, Jim Jarmusch (Us) UKNebraska, Alexander Payne (Us) UKWe Are The Best!, Lukas Moodysson (Sweden) EPFoosball 3D, Juan Jose Campanella (Argentina...
Alphabetical list of titles by section including feature premiere status
Wp = Wp
Ep = European Premiere
IP = International Premiere
UK = UK Premiere
Gala’s
Opening Night
Captain Phillips, Paul Greengrass (Us) Ep
Closing Night
Saving Mr Banks, John Lee Hancock (Us/UK) Ep
Philomena, Stephen Frears (UK) UK12 Years A Slave, Steve Mcqueen (UK) EPGravity, Alfonso Cuaron (Us) UKInside Llewyn Davis, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen (Us) UKLabor Day, Jason Reitman (Us) EPThe Invisible Woman, Ralph Fiennes (UK), EPThe Epic Of Everest, John Noel (UK) WPBlue Is The Warmest Colour, Abdellatif Kechiche (France) UKNight Moves, Kelly Reichardt (Us) UKStranger By The Lake, Alain Guiraudie (France) UKDon Jon, Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Us) UKMystery Road, Ivan Sen (Australia) UKOnly Lovers Left Alive, Jim Jarmusch (Us) UKNebraska, Alexander Payne (Us) UKWe Are The Best!, Lukas Moodysson (Sweden) EPFoosball 3D, Juan Jose Campanella (Argentina...
- 9/4/2013
- ScreenDaily
The 57th BFI London Film Festival line-up has officially been revealed, and it is led by a slew of incredibly promising films, many of which have already been buzzing on the festival circuit, and a number of which will be making their debuts here in London.
As previously announced, Paul Greengrass’ Captain Phillips will open the festival next month, and John Lee Hancock’s Saving Mr. Banks will close it, book-ending the festival with Tom Hanks leading two highly prominent, Oscar-primed movies.
Stephen Frears’ Philomena was also previously announced as the Lff American Express Gala, with The Epic of Everest announced as the Lff Archive Gala.
And leading the line-up alongside them this year will be some of the most Oscar-buzzed movies of 2013, including Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, Jason Reitman’s Labor Day, Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity (in 3D), Joel and Ethan Coen’s Inside Llewyn Davis, Terry Gilliam’s The Zero Theorem,...
As previously announced, Paul Greengrass’ Captain Phillips will open the festival next month, and John Lee Hancock’s Saving Mr. Banks will close it, book-ending the festival with Tom Hanks leading two highly prominent, Oscar-primed movies.
Stephen Frears’ Philomena was also previously announced as the Lff American Express Gala, with The Epic of Everest announced as the Lff Archive Gala.
And leading the line-up alongside them this year will be some of the most Oscar-buzzed movies of 2013, including Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, Jason Reitman’s Labor Day, Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity (in 3D), Joel and Ethan Coen’s Inside Llewyn Davis, Terry Gilliam’s The Zero Theorem,...
- 9/4/2013
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Oh, my God! I really like this movie! And I never ever thought that I’m going to say this – but this year’s Tiff is definitely full of surprises! As usual, I have a feeling that I have to write something spectacular about some movie. But this time, I don’t give a shit if you’re [...]
Continue reading Tiff 2011: Superclasico by Ole Christian Madsen on FilmoFilia
Related posts:tiff 2011: Burning Man Trailer and Poster Tiff 2011: UFO In Her Eyes by Xiaolu Guo Virginia Madsen Signs for Amelia...
Continue reading Tiff 2011: Superclasico by Ole Christian Madsen on FilmoFilia
Related posts:tiff 2011: Burning Man Trailer and Poster Tiff 2011: UFO In Her Eyes by Xiaolu Guo Virginia Madsen Signs for Amelia...
- 9/18/2011
- by Fiona
- Filmofilia
Well, here’s an interesting title – UFO In Her Eyes. I like this kind of stories. It would be great if some day I get the chance to see my little green friends from out of space. Oh, we could have so much fun! And if I’m clever enough, maybe I will exploit them and [...]
Continue reading Tiff 2011: UFO In Her Eyes by Xiaolu Guo on FilmoFilia
Related posts:tiff 2011: Whores’ Glory Trailer, Photos, Clips Tiff 2011: A Mysterious World by Rodrigo Moreno Tiff 2011: Burning Man Trailer and Poster...
Continue reading Tiff 2011: UFO In Her Eyes by Xiaolu Guo on FilmoFilia
Related posts:tiff 2011: Whores’ Glory Trailer, Photos, Clips Tiff 2011: A Mysterious World by Rodrigo Moreno Tiff 2011: Burning Man Trailer and Poster...
- 9/18/2011
- by Fiona
- Filmofilia
By Sean O’Connell
Hollywoodnews.com: Brad Pitt, Keira Knightley, George Clooney, Carey Mulligan, Rachel Weisz, Gerard Butler and Ryan Gosling are heading to Toronto for the 36tht international film festival, which kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 8.
The fest today confirmed the hundreds of celebrities that will be attending the can’t-miss event, promoting films and making the rounds as the annual awards season starts to take shape.
Davis Guggenheim, Francis Ford Coppola, Alexander Payne, Luc Besson, Oren Moverman, Malgoska Szumowska, Bennett Miller, Sarah Polley, Jessica Yu, Michael Winterbottom and Werner Herzog are just a few of the filmmakers who have confirmed their attendance.
Celebrities making the trek include Catherine Deneuve, Charlotte Rampling, Clive Owen, Jon Hamm, Shahid Kapoor, Michael Fassbender, Michelle Yeoh, Freida Pinto, Glenn Close, Matthew Goode, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Salma Hayek, Viggo Mortensen and Woody Harrelson. Musicians U2, Pearl Jam and Neil Young also are expected to...
Hollywoodnews.com: Brad Pitt, Keira Knightley, George Clooney, Carey Mulligan, Rachel Weisz, Gerard Butler and Ryan Gosling are heading to Toronto for the 36tht international film festival, which kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 8.
The fest today confirmed the hundreds of celebrities that will be attending the can’t-miss event, promoting films and making the rounds as the annual awards season starts to take shape.
Davis Guggenheim, Francis Ford Coppola, Alexander Payne, Luc Besson, Oren Moverman, Malgoska Szumowska, Bennett Miller, Sarah Polley, Jessica Yu, Michael Winterbottom and Werner Herzog are just a few of the filmmakers who have confirmed their attendance.
Celebrities making the trek include Catherine Deneuve, Charlotte Rampling, Clive Owen, Jon Hamm, Shahid Kapoor, Michael Fassbender, Michelle Yeoh, Freida Pinto, Glenn Close, Matthew Goode, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Salma Hayek, Viggo Mortensen and Woody Harrelson. Musicians U2, Pearl Jam and Neil Young also are expected to...
- 8/23/2011
- by Sean O'Connell
- Hollywoodnews.com
Toronto - The 36th Toronto International Film Festival® welcomes hundreds of guests this year. Filmmakers expected to present their world premieres in Toronto include: Davis Guggenheim, Francis Ford Coppola, Alexander Payne, Agnieszka Holland, Guy Maddin, Luc Besson, Bill Duke, Oren Moverman, Malgoska Szumowska, Bennett Miller, Darrell Roodt, Sarah Polley, Jessica Yu, Michael Winterbottom and Werner Herzog.
Actors expected to attend include Catherine Deneuve, Charlotte Rampling, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Clive Owen, Gerard Butler, Jeon Do-Yeon, Jon Hamm, Shahid Kapoor, Michael Fassbender, Michelle Yeoh, Freida Pinto, Glenn Close, Matthew Goode, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel Weisz, Ryan Gosling, Salma Hayek, Viggo Mortensen and Woody Harrelson. Musicians include: U2, Pearl Jam and Neil Young.
The Festival also welcomes thousands of producers and other industry professionals bringing films to us.
The following filmmakers are expected to attend the Toronto International Film Festival:
Adam Shaheen, Adam Wingard, Adolfo Borinaga Alix Jr., Agnieszka Holland, Akin Omotoso,...
Actors expected to attend include Catherine Deneuve, Charlotte Rampling, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Clive Owen, Gerard Butler, Jeon Do-Yeon, Jon Hamm, Shahid Kapoor, Michael Fassbender, Michelle Yeoh, Freida Pinto, Glenn Close, Matthew Goode, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel Weisz, Ryan Gosling, Salma Hayek, Viggo Mortensen and Woody Harrelson. Musicians include: U2, Pearl Jam and Neil Young.
The Festival also welcomes thousands of producers and other industry professionals bringing films to us.
The following filmmakers are expected to attend the Toronto International Film Festival:
Adam Shaheen, Adam Wingard, Adolfo Borinaga Alix Jr., Agnieszka Holland, Akin Omotoso,...
- 8/23/2011
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
With a total of 50+1 films from around the world, the Contemporary World Cinema programme could very well be a film festival in its own right. Once again loaded in Cannes North American premieres from, the section also includes world preem titles: Xiaolu Guo's UFO in her Eyes, Lynn Shelton's Your Sister's Sister (starring Emily Blunt see pic above), Nacho Vigalondo's Extraterrestrial and Christophe Van Rompaey's Lena. Among Cannes titles we can vouch for, which will play out in the section and happen to tell us that this world is not healthy state of affairs we have Andrey Zvyagintsev's brilliant Elena, Gerardo Naranjo's Miss Bala , and Markus Schleinzer' Michael. Here's the full list: Always Brando Ridha Béhi, Tunisia World Premiere After meeting Anis Raache, a young Tunisian actor who bears a stunning resemblance to young Marlon Brando, Tunisian master Ridha Béhi decided to write a film casting the two.
- 8/16/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
As noted in previous lineup announcement entries, (Visions, Wavelengths, Future Projections, Galas and Special Presentations), the Toronto International Film Festival (September 9 through 18) has released some of its most anticipated lineups today. We're taking them one at a time, first posting them program by program with descriptions provided by the festival — and then returning over the coming hours and days to add links and further notes. Here's the lineup for the Contemporary World Cinema program.
Karim Aïnouz's The Silver Cliff. A phone message from her husband propels Violeta into the streets of Rio until sunrise. Telling their teenage son that a last minute trip has come up, she sets out to find her husband. Rio at night is her sole companion as she struggles to face his abrupt and sudden change of heart, but the beach also provides renewal, unexpected meetings and a window to a whole other world.
Ozcan Alper's Future Lasts Forever.
Karim Aïnouz's The Silver Cliff. A phone message from her husband propels Violeta into the streets of Rio until sunrise. Telling their teenage son that a last minute trip has come up, she sets out to find her husband. Rio at night is her sole companion as she struggles to face his abrupt and sudden change of heart, but the beach also provides renewal, unexpected meetings and a window to a whole other world.
Ozcan Alper's Future Lasts Forever.
- 8/16/2011
- MUBI
Tiff has just announced the final batch of films slated to hit the fest in September. The number of additions is overwhelming. We just posted the complete line-up for the Gala and Special Presentation programs. Now comes the massive wave of movies in the Contemporary World Cinema program. Here is the press release.
Toronto – The Contemporary World Cinema programme delivers 51 cinematic gems from around the globe at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival®. Offering a variety of filmmakers’ voices and perspectives from around the world, the lineup draws from Brazil, China, South Africa, France, Iran, Morocco, the Netherlands, Israel, Portugal, Russia, Canada and more. This snapshot of global trends in cinema also features the North American premieres of new films by directors such as Andrey Zvyagintsev, Gerardo Naranjo, Sion Sono, Asghar Farhadi, Karim Ainouz, Ole Christian Madsen and Cristián Jiménez
Always Brando Ridha Béhi, Tunisia
World Premiere
After meeting Anis Raache,...
Toronto – The Contemporary World Cinema programme delivers 51 cinematic gems from around the globe at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival®. Offering a variety of filmmakers’ voices and perspectives from around the world, the lineup draws from Brazil, China, South Africa, France, Iran, Morocco, the Netherlands, Israel, Portugal, Russia, Canada and more. This snapshot of global trends in cinema also features the North American premieres of new films by directors such as Andrey Zvyagintsev, Gerardo Naranjo, Sion Sono, Asghar Farhadi, Karim Ainouz, Ole Christian Madsen and Cristián Jiménez
Always Brando Ridha Béhi, Tunisia
World Premiere
After meeting Anis Raache,...
- 8/16/2011
- by Kyle Reese
- SoundOnSight
After three separate announcements (here, here and here), the Toronto International Film Festival has announced the final line-up for their Galas and Special Presentations, as well as a few other categories. Most notable is Andrea Arnold‘s Fish Tank follow-up Wuthering Heights, the next film from Timecrimes director Nacho Vigalondo, as well as Dogtooth director Yorgos Lanthimos’ Alps.
We also get Whit Stillman‘s Damsels in Distress starring Greta Gerwig and Geoffrey Fletcher’s Violet & Daisy starring Saoirse Ronan and James Gandolfini. In what should be a little fun we have Gary McKendry‘s Killer Elite starring Robert De Niro, Clive Owen and Jason Statham. We also get Owen’s horror flick Intruders and Joel Schumacher‘s Trespass starring Nicole Kidman and Nicolas Cage. Check out the full line-ups below.
Galas
Closing Night Film
Page Eight David Hare, United Kingdom
International Premiere
Johnny Worricker (Bill Nighy) is a long-serving M15 officer.
We also get Whit Stillman‘s Damsels in Distress starring Greta Gerwig and Geoffrey Fletcher’s Violet & Daisy starring Saoirse Ronan and James Gandolfini. In what should be a little fun we have Gary McKendry‘s Killer Elite starring Robert De Niro, Clive Owen and Jason Statham. We also get Owen’s horror flick Intruders and Joel Schumacher‘s Trespass starring Nicole Kidman and Nicolas Cage. Check out the full line-ups below.
Galas
Closing Night Film
Page Eight David Hare, United Kingdom
International Premiere
Johnny Worricker (Bill Nighy) is a long-serving M15 officer.
- 8/16/2011
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Rome -- Li Hongqi 's "Han Jia" (Winter Vacation), a coming-of-age story set it small town China, won the Locarno Film Festival's Golden Leopard prize Saturday during a full but drizzly ceremony at the Piazza Grande. It is the second consecutive year that a film from a Chinese director took home the festival's top prize.
Among the festival's other top prizes: "Morgen," a border drama set on the boundary between Romania and Hungary from Marian Crisan, won a Special Jury Prize, while Denis Cote was given the Prize of the City and Region of Locarno for Best Director for the Canadian thriller "Curling." Emmanuel Bilodeau, the male lead in "Curling" was given the prize for best actor, while Jasna Duricic won the Best Actress honor for her work in "Beli Belisvet" (White White World) from Serbian director Oleg Novkovic.
The top prize carries an award of 90,000 Swiss francs ($85,000), while the...
Among the festival's other top prizes: "Morgen," a border drama set on the boundary between Romania and Hungary from Marian Crisan, won a Special Jury Prize, while Denis Cote was given the Prize of the City and Region of Locarno for Best Director for the Canadian thriller "Curling." Emmanuel Bilodeau, the male lead in "Curling" was given the prize for best actor, while Jasna Duricic won the Best Actress honor for her work in "Beli Belisvet" (White White World) from Serbian director Oleg Novkovic.
The top prize carries an award of 90,000 Swiss francs ($85,000), while the...
- 8/14/2010
- by By Eric J. Lyman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This year's Guadalajara Film Festival (Ficg - Festival International de Cine Guadalajara) has so many events, sections and sidebars that one barely knows where to begin. Established in 1986 it now has an attendence of about 66,000 with industry attendence at about 3,000 all of whom are interested in interacting with one another and with filmmakers in an extremely friendly upbeat environment. Its festival has a competition for Mexican and Iberoamerican fiction, docs and shorts, French features with a focus on Agnes Varda, animation, alternative, childrens, and of course gala sections. It has a film market, numerous panels and has incorporated several key international initiatives.
About my ever active Women Directors' Tally: Of 160 new features at the festival, 27 are by women, equalling 16%. Those women are the ones who are currently playing the most important festivals: Paz Fabrega, Natalia Smirnoff, Florence Jaugey, Maria Novaro, Renate Costa, Urszula Antoniak, Elizabeth Chi Vasarhelyi, the ones not...
About my ever active Women Directors' Tally: Of 160 new features at the festival, 27 are by women, equalling 16%. Those women are the ones who are currently playing the most important festivals: Paz Fabrega, Natalia Smirnoff, Florence Jaugey, Maria Novaro, Renate Costa, Urszula Antoniak, Elizabeth Chi Vasarhelyi, the ones not...
- 3/25/2010
- by Sydney
- Sydney's Buzz
Until women reach a 50-50 parity with men directors, my mission continues to count the women directors in upcoming and recent film festivals (and an occasional informal glance at what’s selling in the markets). Women’s films in Berlin reflect women’s place in the world both in content and in the numbers of women represented as directors, producers, writers, etc. John Cooper of Sundance stresses the increasing and possibly 50-50 parity of women producers, but I am looking at the directors. As March is Women’s History Month (and all the other months are Men’s History Month according to Gloria Steinem’s L.A. Times Article of March 4, 2010) this blog is in honor of all women everywhere.
Congratulations to Kathryn Bigelow for winning the Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture. La Times puts into perspective the fact that the Best Director Oscar went to Kathryn Bigelow...
Congratulations to Kathryn Bigelow for winning the Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture. La Times puts into perspective the fact that the Best Director Oscar went to Kathryn Bigelow...
- 3/8/2010
- by Sydney
- Sydney's Buzz
Micmacs (12A)
(Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2009, France) Dany Boon, André Dussolier, Nicolas Marié. 104 mins
Having tried, and failed, to expand on his tricksy, inventive style with A Very Long Engagement, the Amélie director is firmly back in his borderline-autistic comfort zone here, with a terminally whimsical caper comedy. Boon leads a plot to stitch up a pair of arms manufacturers with the help of a gang of zany, junk-recycling misfits, and while you can admire the construction, the characters are one dimensional and emotional engagement is negligible. It's like watching the workings of an elaborate clock.
Capitalism: A Love Story (12A)
(Michael Moore, 2009, Us) 127 mins
Moore tilts at the Us financial industry this time, but rather than skewering the culprits of the banking crisis, this uneven doc pricks the subject here and there and hopes it all adds up to something. Some of it hits home, but too much is business as usual.
(Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2009, France) Dany Boon, André Dussolier, Nicolas Marié. 104 mins
Having tried, and failed, to expand on his tricksy, inventive style with A Very Long Engagement, the Amélie director is firmly back in his borderline-autistic comfort zone here, with a terminally whimsical caper comedy. Boon leads a plot to stitch up a pair of arms manufacturers with the help of a gang of zany, junk-recycling misfits, and while you can admire the construction, the characters are one dimensional and emotional engagement is negligible. It's like watching the workings of an elaborate clock.
Capitalism: A Love Story (12A)
(Michael Moore, 2009, Us) 127 mins
Moore tilts at the Us financial industry this time, but rather than skewering the culprits of the banking crisis, this uneven doc pricks the subject here and there and hopes it all adds up to something. Some of it hits home, but too much is business as usual.
- 2/27/2010
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
Xiaolu Guo's adaptation of her own novel is an insightful treatment of China's place in the global village, writes Peter Bradshaw
This film, by London-based Chinese novelist and film-maker Xiaolu Guo, won the Golden Leopard at Locarno and has been liked and admired on the festival circuit. Understandably so. It is bold and unparochial in a doggedly low-key style, following the story of Li Mei (Lu Huang), a young woman who journeys from a remote Chinese village to London, finding that "the west" – an idealised place of impossibly glamorous consumer riches – is just as tough as the place she left. In her home town, bored and mutinous Li Mei goes to the cinema with a truck driver who sexually assaults her; then she hangs out, blankly, with a moody guy in the pirate-dvd business who is proud that the cousin of ex-premier Jiang Zemin once spoke to him in...
This film, by London-based Chinese novelist and film-maker Xiaolu Guo, won the Golden Leopard at Locarno and has been liked and admired on the festival circuit. Understandably so. It is bold and unparochial in a doggedly low-key style, following the story of Li Mei (Lu Huang), a young woman who journeys from a remote Chinese village to London, finding that "the west" – an idealised place of impossibly glamorous consumer riches – is just as tough as the place she left. In her home town, bored and mutinous Li Mei goes to the cinema with a truck driver who sexually assaults her; then she hangs out, blankly, with a moody guy in the pirate-dvd business who is proud that the cousin of ex-premier Jiang Zemin once spoke to him in...
- 2/25/2010
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Crazy Heart (15)
(Scott Cooper, 2009, Us) Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall. 112 mins
Everyone loves Jeff Bridges, don't they? And everyone would like to see him win an Oscar this year, it seems, just like we did with Mickey Rourke last year. Ok, so that didn't work out, but here's this year's Wrestler: another tale of a weary, all-American icon in need of rehabilitation. Bridges's washed-up country singer is drowning his regrets with whisky and playing bowling alleys, until he finds the love of a good (young) woman and confronts his demons. It's not quite the same old story, if only because of Bridges. And the basic plot gives him plenty of room to stretch out and charm us all. How can the Academy resist?
The Lovely Bones (12A)
(Peter Jackson, 2009, Us/UK/Nz) Mark Wahlberg, Saoirse Ronan, Rachel Weisz. 135 mins
Jackson looks to have spent too long chewing over his next masterpiece here,...
(Scott Cooper, 2009, Us) Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall. 112 mins
Everyone loves Jeff Bridges, don't they? And everyone would like to see him win an Oscar this year, it seems, just like we did with Mickey Rourke last year. Ok, so that didn't work out, but here's this year's Wrestler: another tale of a weary, all-American icon in need of rehabilitation. Bridges's washed-up country singer is drowning his regrets with whisky and playing bowling alleys, until he finds the love of a good (young) woman and confronts his demons. It's not quite the same old story, if only because of Bridges. And the basic plot gives him plenty of room to stretch out and charm us all. How can the Academy resist?
The Lovely Bones (12A)
(Peter Jackson, 2009, Us/UK/Nz) Mark Wahlberg, Saoirse Ronan, Rachel Weisz. 135 mins
Jackson looks to have spent too long chewing over his next masterpiece here,...
- 2/20/2010
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
Record crowds celebrated Chinese new year in the UK last Sunday. So, as a handy resource for all those looking to extend their sinophilia through the rest of 2010, AJBee presents a China primer in film clips
The welcoming of the year of the Tiger is a perfect excuse to roar swiftly through the customs celebrated in China this time of year. Many generations of director have highlighted these, from Zhang Yimou's ancient emperors to the modern-day comrades of Xie Fei's Black Snow. Hong Kong in the 90s gave us, in my opinion, a new golden age of film unseen since 30s Hollywood; a dynamic new medium to show to world Chinese customs. But while the men behind the camera change, and the country around them, too, the traditions remain constant.
So, let's celebrate the new year with dumplings, fireworks and film clips in five step beginners guide to Chinese New Year.
The welcoming of the year of the Tiger is a perfect excuse to roar swiftly through the customs celebrated in China this time of year. Many generations of director have highlighted these, from Zhang Yimou's ancient emperors to the modern-day comrades of Xie Fei's Black Snow. Hong Kong in the 90s gave us, in my opinion, a new golden age of film unseen since 30s Hollywood; a dynamic new medium to show to world Chinese customs. But while the men behind the camera change, and the country around them, too, the traditions remain constant.
So, let's celebrate the new year with dumplings, fireworks and film clips in five step beginners guide to Chinese New Year.
- 2/17/2010
- The Guardian - Film News
Canada's most avant-garde film festival have released their entire slate for their 38th edition. Apart from Lee Daniel's pegged for Oscar - Precious, Lone Scherfig's An Education, Lars von Trier's Antichrist and Pedro Almodóvar's Broken Embraces (Los abrasos rotos), this year's edition is filled to the gills with obscure titles and names that even a hardcore connoisseur of world cinema such as myself is unfamiliar with. - I've just completed an exhaustive 35 film slate at Tiff and I've got very little time to recharge the batteries for The Festival du nouveau cinéma. Canada's most avant-garde film festival have released their entire slate for their 38th edition. Apart from Lee Daniel's pegged for Oscar - Precious, Lone Scherfig's An Education, Lars von Trier's Antichrist and Pedro Almodóvar's Broken Embraces (Los abrasos rotos), this year's edition is filled to the...
- 12/13/2009
- by Ioncinema.com Staff
- IONCINEMA.com
Filming begins on the Roman epic adventure The Eagle of the Ninth, directed by Academy Award winner Kevin Macdonald and produced by Duncan Kenworthy. Shooting entirely on location in Hungary and Scotland, the film is co-financed by Film4 with Focus Features, which holds worldwide rights excluding U.K. free-tv. The cast is headed by Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, the upcoming Dear John), Jamie Bell (Defiance, Jumper), two-time Golden Globe Award winner Donald Sutherland, and Mark Strong (the upcoming Sherlock Holmes and Robin Hood). Mr. Macdonald is reunited on the new film with Jeremy Brock, BAFTA Award-winning screenwriter of his 2006 film The Last King of Scotland, who has adapted the screenplay of The Eagle of the Ninth from Rosemary Sutcliff's classic novel of the same name.
Duncan Kenworthy, an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee for Four Weddings and a Funeral, developed and is...
Duncan Kenworthy, an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee for Four Weddings and a Funeral, developed and is...
- 8/25/2009
- The Movie Fanatic
Filming begins on the Roman epic adventure The Eagle of the Ninth, directed by Academy Award winner Kevin Macdonald and produced by Duncan Kenworthy. Shooting entirely on location in Hungary and Scotland, the film is co-financed by Film4 with Focus Features, which holds worldwide rights excluding U.K. free-tv. The cast is headed by Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, the upcoming Dear John), Jamie Bell (Defiance, Jumper), two-time Golden Globe Award winner Donald Sutherland, and Mark Strong (the upcoming Sherlock Holmes and Robin Hood). Mr. Macdonald is reunited on the new film with Jeremy Brock, BAFTA Award-winning screenwriter of his 2006 film The Last King of Scotland, who has adapted the screenplay of The Eagle of the Ninth from Rosemary Sutcliff's classic novel of the same name.
Duncan Kenworthy, an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee for Four Weddings and a Funeral, developed and is...
Duncan Kenworthy, an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee for Four Weddings and a Funeral, developed and is...
- 8/25/2009
- The Movie Fanatic
Filming begins on the Roman epic adventure The Eagle of the Ninth, directed by Academy Award winner Kevin Macdonald and produced by Duncan Kenworthy. Shooting entirely on location in Hungary and Scotland, the film is co-financed by Film4 with Focus Features, which holds worldwide rights excluding U.K. free-tv. The cast is headed by Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, the upcoming Dear John), Jamie Bell (Defiance, Jumper), two-time Golden Globe Award winner Donald Sutherland, and Mark Strong (the upcoming Sherlock Holmes and Robin Hood). Mr. Macdonald is reunited on the new film with Jeremy Brock, BAFTA Award-winning screenwriter of his 2006 film The Last King of Scotland, who has adapted the screenplay of The Eagle of the Ninth from Rosemary Sutcliff's classic novel of the same name.
Duncan Kenworthy, an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee for Four Weddings and a Funeral, developed and is...
Duncan Kenworthy, an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee for Four Weddings and a Funeral, developed and is...
- 8/25/2009
- The Movie Fanatic
Filming begins on the Roman epic adventure The Eagle of the Ninth, directed by Academy Award winner Kevin Macdonald and produced by Duncan Kenworthy. Shooting entirely on location in Hungary and Scotland, the film is co-financed by Film4 with Focus Features, which holds worldwide rights excluding U.K. free-tv. The cast is headed by Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, the upcoming Dear John), Jamie Bell (Defiance, Jumper), two-time Golden Globe Award winner Donald Sutherland, and Mark Strong (the upcoming Sherlock Holmes and Robin Hood). Mr. Macdonald is reunited on the new film with Jeremy Brock, BAFTA Award-winning screenwriter of his 2006 film The Last King of Scotland, who has adapted the screenplay of The Eagle of the Ninth from Rosemary Sutcliff's classic novel of the same name.
Duncan Kenworthy, an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee for Four Weddings and a Funeral, developed and is...
Duncan Kenworthy, an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee for Four Weddings and a Funeral, developed and is...
- 8/25/2009
- The Movie Fanatic
Year: 2009
Directors: Xiaolu Guo
Writers: Xiaolu Guo
IMDb: link
Trailer: link
Review by: Linus de Paoli
Rating: 7 out of 10
The winner of this year's Golden Leopard, She, a Chinese is also the last film I saw in Locarno. A large European co-production between the UK, France and Germany, She, A Chinese was mostly shot in China and London. Hence, it's a truly multicultural film in production as well as in story.
Li Mei is a young woman from a small Chinese province. She hates her life as a fieldworker and doesn’t want to marry the man her mother has chosen. After being raped by a truck driver, she decides to take off and start a new life in the big city. Unfortunately, she is met with even more hardship. When she gets kicked out of her factory job, she finds work in a shady, red light district barbershop that offers more than just haircuts.
Directors: Xiaolu Guo
Writers: Xiaolu Guo
IMDb: link
Trailer: link
Review by: Linus de Paoli
Rating: 7 out of 10
The winner of this year's Golden Leopard, She, a Chinese is also the last film I saw in Locarno. A large European co-production between the UK, France and Germany, She, A Chinese was mostly shot in China and London. Hence, it's a truly multicultural film in production as well as in story.
Li Mei is a young woman from a small Chinese province. She hates her life as a fieldworker and doesn’t want to marry the man her mother has chosen. After being raped by a truck driver, she decides to take off and start a new life in the big city. Unfortunately, she is met with even more hardship. When she gets kicked out of her factory job, she finds work in a shady, red light district barbershop that offers more than just haircuts.
- 8/21/2009
- QuietEarth.us
242 feature length pics which 95 world premiers.. Wow, I wish I was going, but our lucky Toronto correspondent Rick McGrath will be there instead. (Very lucky Toronto correspondent) Among the standouts are:
Some serious Greek weirdness I'm dying to see in Dogtooth.
Lars Von Triers insanity leaks out in Antichrist. (review)
The long awaited scifi awesomeness starring Jared Leto, Mr. Nobody.
And Locarno winner from the hip UK firm Warp X, She, A Chinese.
List of remaining flicks after the break.
Special Presentations
Mr. Nobody Jaco Van Dormael, France/Germany/Canada/Belgium
North American Premiere
Mr. Nobody tells the story of Nemo (Jared Leto), the world's oldest man. In 2092, Mars has become a trendy vacation destination and humans have achieved immortality, thanks to advances in genetics. At the age of 120 years, Nemo is the last mortal left on Earth. His death is drawing near, and media from all over the world...
Some serious Greek weirdness I'm dying to see in Dogtooth.
Lars Von Triers insanity leaks out in Antichrist. (review)
The long awaited scifi awesomeness starring Jared Leto, Mr. Nobody.
And Locarno winner from the hip UK firm Warp X, She, A Chinese.
List of remaining flicks after the break.
Special Presentations
Mr. Nobody Jaco Van Dormael, France/Germany/Canada/Belgium
North American Premiere
Mr. Nobody tells the story of Nemo (Jared Leto), the world's oldest man. In 2092, Mars has become a trendy vacation destination and humans have achieved immortality, thanks to advances in genetics. At the age of 120 years, Nemo is the last mortal left on Earth. His death is drawing near, and media from all over the world...
- 8/20/2009
- QuietEarth.us
- If Tiff were a person, they'd be There Will Be Blood's Daniel Plainview. The festival drains out festivals like Venice and Cannes - major suppliers of quality films, and North American audiences benefit tremendously getting a first op to see the latest from Jaco Van Dormael, Lars von Trier, Claire Denis, Michael Haneke and worth mentioning - the Locarno-winning She, A Chinese from the only filmmaker (Xiaolu Guo) who'll be presenting not one, but two films at Tiff this year. Mr.Nobody rightly receives a Special Presentations slot, it was filmed in some parts of Montreal and features Canuck Sarah Polley, and the masters section finally gets filled out including the latest from French auteur Francois Ozon (Le Refuge). Special Presentations Mr. Nobody Jaco Van Dormael, France/Germany/Canada/Belgium North American Premiere Mr. Nobody tells the story of Nemo (Jared Leto), the world’s oldest man. In
- 8/20/2009
- IONCINEMA.com
Xiaolu Guo's drama "She, a Chinese" took home the Golden Leopard Saturday at the 62nd edition of the Locarno Film Festival. The film follows the misadventures of a young Chinese girl who leaves her little village to start a new life.
Aleksei Mizgiryov's "Buben, baraban" walked away with two honors: the Special Jury Prize and best director award. Meanwhile, Urszula Antoniak won the award for best first feature for "Nothing Personal."
"Nothing Personal" also won the best actress award for Lotte Verbeek. Antonis Kafetzopoulos grabbed the best actor prize for "Akadimia Platonos" by Filippos Tsitos.
Aleksei Mizgiryov's "Buben, baraban" walked away with two honors: the Special Jury Prize and best director award. Meanwhile, Urszula Antoniak won the award for best first feature for "Nothing Personal."
"Nothing Personal" also won the best actress award for Lotte Verbeek. Antonis Kafetzopoulos grabbed the best actor prize for "Akadimia Platonos" by Filippos Tsitos.
- 8/16/2009
- by Franck Tabouring
- screeninglog.com
Locarno, a Swiss fest dedicated to indie arthouse fair, especially with an arthouse lilt, has unveiled its lineup and it includes 10 world premiers. Locarno premiers serious weirdness (and awesomeness) like David Manuli's Beket (review here) which bowed last year.
I have yet to go through everything, so I'm just posting this as of now.
Check the full lineup after the break.
The Locarno Film Festival
Piazza Grande
"500 Days of Summer," Marc Webb, U.S. (opener)
"Blue Sofa" (short), Giuseppe Baresi, Pippo Delbono, Lara Fremder, Italy
"The Two Horses of Genghis Khan" (closer), Byambasuren Davaa, Germany
"Giulias Verschwinden," Christoph Schaub, Switzerland
"La Guerre des fils de la lumiere contre les fils des tenebres," Amos Gitai, France
"The Valley," Mihaly Gyorik, Switzerland-Italy-Hungary
"Les Derniers jours du monde," Arnaud Larrieu and Jean-Marie Larrieu, France-Spain-Taiwan
"Les Yeux de Simone" (short), Jean-Louis Porchet, Switzerland-France
"My Sister's Keeper," Nick Cassavetes, U.S.
"Petit Indi," Marc Recha,...
I have yet to go through everything, so I'm just posting this as of now.
Check the full lineup after the break.
The Locarno Film Festival
Piazza Grande
"500 Days of Summer," Marc Webb, U.S. (opener)
"Blue Sofa" (short), Giuseppe Baresi, Pippo Delbono, Lara Fremder, Italy
"The Two Horses of Genghis Khan" (closer), Byambasuren Davaa, Germany
"Giulias Verschwinden," Christoph Schaub, Switzerland
"La Guerre des fils de la lumiere contre les fils des tenebres," Amos Gitai, France
"The Valley," Mihaly Gyorik, Switzerland-Italy-Hungary
"Les Derniers jours du monde," Arnaud Larrieu and Jean-Marie Larrieu, France-Spain-Taiwan
"Les Yeux de Simone" (short), Jean-Louis Porchet, Switzerland-France
"My Sister's Keeper," Nick Cassavetes, U.S.
"Petit Indi," Marc Recha,...
- 7/15/2009
- QuietEarth.us
Warp X out of Britain is killing it, what with producing films like Mark Tonderai's Hush (review coming soon, it's awesome folks), Donkey Punch, and the upcoming inside road-trip comedy Bunny and the Bull. So it's no surprise when I just ran across their most recent which is also in post-production called She, A Chinese. It's the debut feature of novelist and documentary maker Xiaolu Guo whose personal website you can explore here. In the filmmakers own words: "I [...] wanted to make a film with a strong attitude coming from the younger generation in modern China, speaking about the contemporary issues among young people in a globalized world." Sounds good to me.
It tells the story of Mei, a young Chinese woman, who leaves her monotonous village life behind for the excitement of the nearest big city, Chongqing. However, life there doesn't quite turn out as she expected it; fired from her factory job,...
It tells the story of Mei, a young Chinese woman, who leaves her monotonous village life behind for the excitement of the nearest big city, Chongqing. However, life there doesn't quite turn out as she expected it; fired from her factory job,...
- 3/18/2009
- QuietEarth.us
Edinburgh International Film Festival
EDINBURGH -- East meets West with quietly droll results in "We Went To Wonderland", the second feature-length film by London-based Chinese filmmaker/novelist Xiaolu Guo. While her 2006 debut, "How Is Your Fish Today?," spellblindingly combined documentary and fiction, this time she takes a more straightforwardly documentary approach to record her elderly parents' first visit to Europe. "Fish" frustratingly didn't obtain the exposure and acclaim a film of such quality deserves. "Wonderland", a more small-scale and uneven work, looks set for a similar future at festivals and on the small screen but confirms Guo is a name to watch.
She performs multiple duties here including camera operator, dispensing with a tripod to facilitate the close-up observation of her folks. They're very much a "chalk and cheese" duo: earthy, chatterbox mother HeYing and tall, skinny father XiuLin, the latter mute since a life-saving cancer operation 13 years before. The first half of the film sees them going about their daily business -- the mornings always starting with graceful but energetic calisthenics in their daughter's compact Hackney flat, venturing out for the occasional journey around the London area. Just before the 50-minute mark, the trio embark on a more ambitious trip through France to Italy, where HeYing is underwhelmed by the splendors of Rome. "It just feels old, ' she sniffs.
A talented artist who spent a decade in a Mao-era labor camp, her husband scribbles comments on a notepad, which are translated via titles in the middle of the screen. More dramatically, what we take to be his inner thoughts ("2012 Olympics? Here?!") are occasionally displayed, flashing on and off the screen -- an amusing if slightly heavy-handed way for his daughter to assert her authorial/editorial presence. Though never appearing on camera, XiaoLu chips in with the occasional comment or question, but is mostly a silent, unacknowledged witness to her parents' doings.
These are presented in black-and-white DV via low-end equipment. In several sequences, the technical rough edges are something of a distraction. Although there are clues that the soundtrack -- a key element of which is Philippe Ciompi's haunting score -- is the result of careful manipulation, the picture often feels like an artistically ambitious kind of home-movie.
Production company: Perspectives Films. Director: Xiaolu Guo. Screenwriter: Xiaolu Guo. Producers: Xiaolu Guo, Philippe Ciompi. Director of Photography: Xiaoli Guo. Music: Philippe Ciompi. Editor: Philippe Ciompi. Sales: Perspective Films, London. No rating, 75 minutes.
EDINBURGH -- East meets West with quietly droll results in "We Went To Wonderland", the second feature-length film by London-based Chinese filmmaker/novelist Xiaolu Guo. While her 2006 debut, "How Is Your Fish Today?," spellblindingly combined documentary and fiction, this time she takes a more straightforwardly documentary approach to record her elderly parents' first visit to Europe. "Fish" frustratingly didn't obtain the exposure and acclaim a film of such quality deserves. "Wonderland", a more small-scale and uneven work, looks set for a similar future at festivals and on the small screen but confirms Guo is a name to watch.
She performs multiple duties here including camera operator, dispensing with a tripod to facilitate the close-up observation of her folks. They're very much a "chalk and cheese" duo: earthy, chatterbox mother HeYing and tall, skinny father XiuLin, the latter mute since a life-saving cancer operation 13 years before. The first half of the film sees them going about their daily business -- the mornings always starting with graceful but energetic calisthenics in their daughter's compact Hackney flat, venturing out for the occasional journey around the London area. Just before the 50-minute mark, the trio embark on a more ambitious trip through France to Italy, where HeYing is underwhelmed by the splendors of Rome. "It just feels old, ' she sniffs.
A talented artist who spent a decade in a Mao-era labor camp, her husband scribbles comments on a notepad, which are translated via titles in the middle of the screen. More dramatically, what we take to be his inner thoughts ("2012 Olympics? Here?!") are occasionally displayed, flashing on and off the screen -- an amusing if slightly heavy-handed way for his daughter to assert her authorial/editorial presence. Though never appearing on camera, XiaoLu chips in with the occasional comment or question, but is mostly a silent, unacknowledged witness to her parents' doings.
These are presented in black-and-white DV via low-end equipment. In several sequences, the technical rough edges are something of a distraction. Although there are clues that the soundtrack -- a key element of which is Philippe Ciompi's haunting score -- is the result of careful manipulation, the picture often feels like an artistically ambitious kind of home-movie.
Production company: Perspectives Films. Director: Xiaolu Guo. Screenwriter: Xiaolu Guo. Producers: Xiaolu Guo, Philippe Ciompi. Director of Photography: Xiaoli Guo. Music: Philippe Ciompi. Editor: Philippe Ciompi. Sales: Perspective Films, London. No rating, 75 minutes.
- 6/19/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- Quick Links Complete Film Listing: Premieres: Dramatic Comp: Docu Comp: World Docu Comp: Spectrum: Park City at Midnight: New Frontier: Short Film Programs January 18 to 28, 2007 Counting Down: updateCountdownClock('January 18, 2007'); Blame It On Fidel (France), directed and written by Julie Gavras, which takes the point of view of a 9-year-old girl whose parents become political radicals in early '70s Paris. Drained (Brazil), directed by Heitor Dhalia and written by Marcal Aquino and Dhalia, about the life change of a devious pawnbroker.Driving With My Wife's Lover (South Korea), directed by Kim Tai-sik and written by Kim Joen-han and Kim, which describes the long taxi journey of a man and the cab driver he's learned is having an affair with his wife.Eagle Vs. Shark (New Zealand), directed and written by Taika Waititi, a portrait of two social misfits who try to find love. A Miramax release in its world premiere.
- 1/18/2007
- IONCINEMA.com
- Here is the complete listing for this year's Sundance film festival which kicks off tomorrow!January 18 to 28, 2007 Counting Down: updateCountdownClock('January 18, 2007'); Premiere's section lineup:An American Crime - Tommy O'Haver Away From Her - Sarah Polley Black Snake Moan - Craig BrewerChapter 27 - Jarrett Schaefer Chicago 10 - Brett Morgen Clubland - Cherie Nowlan The Good Night - Jake Paltrow King of California - Mike Cahill Life Support - Nelson George Longford - Tom Hooper The Nines - John August Resurrecting the Champ - Rod Lurie The Savages - Tamara Jenkins Son of Rambow - Garth Jennings Summer Rain - Antonio Banderas Trade - Marco Kreuzpaintner Year of the Dog - Mike White Dramatic Competition:Adrift in Manhattan - Alfredo de Villa Broken English - Zoe CassavetesFour Sheets to the Wind - Sterlin HarjoThe Good Life - Steve BerraGrace Is Gone - James C. StrouseHounddog - Deborah Kampmeier Joshua
- 1/17/2007
- IONCINEMA.com
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