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 March 13, 2008 indieWIRE Presents: Wong Kar Wai at Apple Store SoHo in April
indieWIRE's ongoing series of filmmaker talks at the Apple Store - SoHo continues next month with special guest Wong Kar Wai. WHEN: Tuesday, April 1st, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. WHERE: Apple Store - SoHo, 103 Prince Street, NYC COST: Free, No RSVP required. Seats are first come, first serve. Seating is limited. Filmmaker Wong Kar Wai ("In The Mood For Love," "Chungking Express," "Happy Together") will participate in a discussion and show scenes from his latest film, "My Blueberry Nights," which tells the story of Elizabeth (Norah Jones) and her journey across America where she leaves behind a life of memories, a dream and her soulful new friend - a cafe owner (Jude Law) - all while in search of something to mend her broken heart. Film journalist Dennis Lim will moderate the discussion.
"My Blueberry Nights" is being released by The Weinstein Company on April 4th, 2008. March 11, 2008 TRIBECA '08 | Competition Slates Set for 7th Tribeca Fest
Set for April 23 - May 4, 2008, the Tribeca Film Festival has unveiled the competition and Encounters slates for the upcoming Manhattan event. Touting a "streamlined selection" of 122 feature films, festival organizers are boasting 55 world premieres, 10 international premieres, 26 North American premieres, and 8 U.S. premieres this year. A dozen narrative and documentary titles are set for the two international competition sections, while twenty-one titles will screen in the festival's Encounters section. Among other stats, the festival noted that 66 filmmakers are making their feature directorial debuts, adding that the roster for the event was culled from 2.329 submissions. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival News, Lead Story, New York ] March 5, 2008iW NEWS | "Baby Mama" to Open Tribeca Fest
Michael McCullers's "Baby Mama" (from Universal Pictures) will open the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival on April 23rd. A New York production from Lorne Michaels and John Goldwyn, the film stars Tina Fey and Amy Poehler and is the directorial debut of Saturday Night Live writer McCullers. Rounding out the cast are Greg Kinnear, Dax Shepard, Romany Malco, Maura Tierney, Holland Taylor and Sigourney Weaver. The Tribeca fest will run through May 4. [Eugene Hernandez]  [permalink] [ filed under Festivals, New York ] March 3, 2008 Nonprofit Marriage: Renewed Tribeca Film Institute Merging with Leading Filmmaker Funding Organization
In a time of persistent change for nonprofit organizations that seek to support independent filmmakers, two New York City based entities are merging, with the hopes of creating a more viable oufit for the field. Robert DeNiro and Jane Rosenthal's Tribeca Film Institute (a sibling of their for-profit Tribeca Film Festival) will join forces with Renew Media, the organization that has funneled millions of dollars in funding to indie filmmakers and artists over nearly twenty years. The news comes as arts funding for organizations and individual filmmakers seems to be in an increasing state of flux and as the changes have even sent some groups into extinction. [ read more in Biz ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Companies, Lead Story, New York ] February 28, 2008 NY NY | Going Green (Hopefully), MOMI Goes for It, IFC Gets Some BAM Love, and How about a Rendez Vous?
This week in New York, audiences at Lincoln Center looked at their water bottles in shame while watching the documentary "FLOW: For Love of Water" as part of the Green Screens series. A number of New York City government officials smiled to dig shovelfuls of virtual dirt for the "Digital Groundbreaking" of the Museum of the Moving Image's new expansion, and both the Film Society of Lincoln Center and BAM prepared themselves for their respective upcoming series, "Rendez Vous with French Cinema" and "A Tribute to IFC Films" respectively. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, New York, New York Weekly ] February 21, 2008 NY NY | Milos Forman Thrills at MoMA Fete, Film Comment Selects Bows and Redford Talks up Dunn's "Unforeseen"
Three exemplary film series got kicked off this week in New York, buoyed by appearances from three exemplary personalities. On Thursday night, MoMA's Milos Forman retrospective got a jump start from the congenially baritone Czech director himself, while on Friday night, formidable French film star Jeanne Balibar helped get The Film Society of Lincoln Center's "Film Comment Selects" underway. On Saturday night, MoMA received a casual visit for its "Documentary Fortnight" series from one Mr. Robert Redford, introducing Laura Dunn's "The Unforeseen." [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, New York Weekly ]  ND/NF '08 | "Frozen River" to Open 37th New Directors/New Films; International Titles Abound
The 37th New Directors/New Films will open with Courtney Hunt's debut feature, "Frozen River," at The Museum of Modern Art, Wednesday, March 26. This year's edition includes 26 features and six shorts as well as an HBO Films roundtable. Starring Melissa Leo and Misty Upham in the story of two women who become unwilling partners in a perilous crime, "Frozen River" won the Grand Jury prize for dramatic feature at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival in January. Curated by MoMA and the Film Society of Lincoln Center, ND/NF has long been considered a premier event spotlighting emerging talent. Other festival prize-winning titles joining this year's event include Cannes Camera d'Or winner "Jellyfish" by Etgar Keret and Shira Geffen as well as Lance Hammer's "Ballast," which took both the directors and cinematography nods for Lol Crawley at Sundance. Other Sundance titles include Tia Lessin and Carl Deal's exploration of post-Katrina New Orleans in "Trouble the Water" (best doc winner) and Daniel Robin's "my olympic summer" (best short). In all, work from 17 countries are on tap for the series taking place in New York March 26 - April 6. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, Lineups, New York ] February 4, 2008INDUSTRY MOVES | Bonn Leaving Film Society of Lincoln Center
After five years as executive director of the Film Society of Lincoln Center, Claudia Bonn is leaving the post next month. In April, she will join Wave Hill as the new head of the public garden and cultural center in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. Bonn has spent more than 15 years at the Film Society, previously serving as Director of Administration and as Director of Development. The organization's board is actively searching for a replacement. [permalink] [ filed under Industry Moves, New York ] NYP | Tribeca Fest Dropping '08 Prices, Consolidating Venues
The New York Post reports today that the Tribeca Film Festival will lower its general ticket prices and consolidate its venues this year (dropping general ticket prices from $18 to $15 this year and launching packages with lower rates). "We tried to balance our budget by increasing ticket prices, which was a big mistake," festival co-executive director Nancy Schafer told the Post. "So we're listening to our customers." She and co-exec director Paola Freccero indicated that the fest will abandon most uptown Manhattan screenings, anchored this year mainly at Tribeca Cinemas, Pace College, Borough of Manhattan Community College, AMC Loews Village VII, the City Cinemas Village East, and AMC Loews 19th Street. Notably, Battery Park screenings near TriBeCa and showings at multiplexes on 34th St., the Upper East Side, Chelsea and others have been eliminated. To balance the budget for its upcoming festival (running April 23 to May 4 this year), the festival will drop the number of features to about 120 - 125, according to the New York paper. Last year, indieWIRE reported that the fest raised prices from $12 to $18 for a ticket, much higher than the prices at most other fests. [permalink] [ filed under Festivals, New York ] January 2, 2008INSIDE WORD | Nugent at Hamptons Fest
New Hamptons Programmer... The Hamptons International Film Festival has hired the Newport fest's David Nugent as its new Director of Programming. Nugent, who was hired last month and has left Newport to join HIFF in the new year, worked with the Hamptons last year as a programming consultant following former artistic director Rajenda Roy's move to head the film department at MoMA. We invite readers to send anonymous news tips and buzz to indieWIRE: tips [@] indiewire [dot] com. Note: We have corrected David Nugent's title, which is Director of Programming. [permalink] [ filed under New York, inside word ] November 24, 2007 NY NY | "Diving Bell" Previews; MoMI in "Glorious Technicolor!"; New York Remembers Ingmar Bergman
So. New Yorkers. Were you lured into paying money to see Richard Kelly's "Southland Tales" after evil bitches J. Hoberman and Manohla Dargis swore it wasn't the total disaster everybody else said it was? Did it leave you never wanting to see a movie again? Yeah, me too. Luckily, tonic was readily available in several forms: Julian Schnabel and cast showed off the extraordinary new film "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly", the Museum of the Moving Image kicked off its "Glorious Technicolor!" series with an informative talk on the history of color in cinema, and several institutions celebrated the cinematic genius that was Ingmar Bergman. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, New York Weekly ] November 16, 2007iW NEWS | Set to Remember Pilar Miro, FSLC Previews Spanish Series
Running for much of December at the Walter Reade Theater, the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Spanish Cinema Now series (December 7 - 27) will feature 15 new features and a tribute to Pilar Miro, as well as a look at the Spanish Civil War series, "The War on Film." In a statement, Film Society of Lincoln Center program director Richard Pena noted the "intimate tone" of many of the series films, adding in a statement, "After several years of Spanish films being know for their bold, even bawdy explosiveness, this year's crop tends to focus much more personal relationships." More info is available on the Film Society website. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Events, New York ] November 9, 2007 IW PRESENTS | The Coen Brothers & Barry Sonnenfeld
At the Apple Store Soho this spring for an Apple and indieWIRE Filmmaker Talk during the Tribeca Film Festival, the Coen Brothers -- Joel and Ethan -- talk with their former D.P. Barry Sonnenfeld about their editing process. They also discuss the role of panning in films and reference their new film, "No Country for Old Men" (opening today, November 9th). Podcasts of the Filmmaker Talks were posted on iTunes:  [ filed under Apple Store Events, New York ]   Solomon & Finder, After Dark
In New York last week for a Halloween night party at the always popular holiday club, Motherfucker are Courtney Solomon and Sara Finder from After Dark Films, celebrating the upcoming nine-day HorrorFest, a unique film festival that takes place in more than 300 theaters over nine days. Last year's even cracked the top ten at the weekend box office. Chatting with the LA Times in a recent profile of the eight-film, nine-day fest, Solomon boasted, "t's a destination event." [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under NYC Parties & Events 2007, New York ]  The Ladies of HorrorFest
Vying for the title of Miss Horrorfest last week in New York were (left to right) Countess Bathory and Nixon Suicide, with organizer Sara Finder of After Dark Films, as well as contestants Sweet Dead Sarah and Mistress Malice. Horrorfest kicks off tonight (Friday) night on more than 300 screens, offering "8 Films To Die For" during its nine day run. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under NYC Parties & Events 2007, New York ] November 8, 2007 NY NY | Museum of Moving Image Goes on Cruise Control; Miramax Fetes "No Country" and Other Israel Fest Finds Drama
Everything was classy in New York this week. The Museum of the Moving Image threw a black-tie gala salute for Tom Cruise as a benefit for its education department, and the actor kept his crazy in check to deliver a humble thank-you. Cruise's fellow glitterati, meanwhile praised the actor's work ethic and common touch. Miramax gave a dose of its own glamor, hosting the New York premiere for the Coen Brothers horrific new film and chased it with a lovely little well-catered reception. And bringing a new event to the Big Apple is always a logistic challenge, but the Other Israel Film Festival discovered the difficulties of trying to do the right thing. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, New York, New York Weekly ] October 31, 2007INDUSTRY MOVES | Terranova Joins Tribeca Fest; Kwok Upped; La'Bassiere On Board
Genna Terranova is leaving her post as VP of acquisitions at The Weinstein Company to join the Tribeca Film Festival as its new Senior Programmer. The fest also announced the promotion of longtime fest programmer David Kwok to Director of Programming. Both report to Artistic Director Peter Scarlet. Also joining the festival is the new director of industry relations, Julie La'Bassiere. She will run a year-round industry department in Tribeca. "We are extremely pleased to have Genna Terranova joining the Festival; she brings a freshness and new perspective to the programming team. Additionally David Kwok has been an instrumental part of our team for the past six years now and we are delighted that we are able to recognize his hard work and success with the Festival," said fest co-founder Jane Rosenthal, in a statement. "Each year the number of international and domestic industry attending the festival increases and so we have created a year round department to service the needs of the industry and look forward to having Julie La'Bassiere head up this department." [permalink] [ filed under Industry Moves, New York ] October 30, 2007iW NEWS | New NYC Film Permit Rules Unveiled
After a recent public outcry and subsequent feedback from filmmakers and photographers, New York City's Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting (MOFTB) Commissioner Katherine Oliver unveiled a new permit rule proposal that requires a shooting permit, "if production equipment or vehicles create an obstruction, but not for productions that only use hand-held cameras or tripods that don't cause an obstruction." As announced by the IFP late Monday, the complete rules are available via a PDF on the MOFTB website. The next step in the process will include a public comment period and hearing for reactions to the proposal. "During the rule drafting process, our intention has always been to balance the needs of filmmakers working in New York City with concerns about congestion in public places, traffic flow and public safety," said Commissioner Oliver, in a statement. "We have taken into consideration the issues that were raised by numerous groups and individuals during the comment period and have addressed those points in this new draft." [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under New York, Production ] October 22, 2007 HAMPTONS | "Teeth" in the Hamptons
"Teeth" director Mitchell Lichtenstein and actress Jess Weixler flashed smiles in the Hamptons over the weekend. Weixler took part in the festival's Rising Stars program which identifies young actors it sees as, well, "rising stars." Weixler was also honored earlier in the year by Sundance for her role in "Teeth" (a film in which the teeth aren't found in the mouth), receiving a special jury prize. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Hamptons Film Festival, New York ]  Hamptons '07 | Marhdt and Herzsprung Celebrate Rising Stars
German Cinema's Oliver Marhdt again hosted the Rising Stars party at, fittingly, the Star Room over the weekend at the Hamptons International Film Festival. Actress Hannah Herzsprung was also part of this year's crop of Rising Stars spotlighted by the festival. She received a good amount of festival buzz for her role in Chris Kraus' "Four Minutes" (Vier Minuten) which screened at the fest which ended Sunday. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Hamptons Film Festival, New York ] October 21, 2007 "Valerie" and "PETA" Take Hamptons Nods
German director Birgit Moller's (second from right) "Valerie" won the Hampton International Film Festival's Golden Starfish prize for best feature Sunday afternoon, capping the festival's 15th edition in the tony enclave on Long Island's east end. Shot in cinema verite style, the film follows a down and out supermodel as she travels about Berlin trying to "scrape her life back together." Also taking Hamptons honors was American director Matthew Galkin's (right) "I Am an Animal: This Story of Ingrid Newkirk and PETA," which received HIFF's Golden Starfish for best documentary feature. In other fest awards, August Rush won the inaugural Woozyfly.com Award for best music in a film, received by Anastasia Brown (left), and both Catherine Ryan and Gary Wimberg's "Soldiers of Conscience" and Anthony Gilmore's "Behind Forgotten Eyes" tied for the festival's award in its Conflict and Resolution section. PJ Dillon, meanwhile, was awarded best cinematographer for "Kings," directed by Tom Collins, and Marisa Zanotti took best short for "At the End of the Sentence." As previously announced, Julian Schnabel's "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" won the $25,000 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation prize which recognizes science and technology themes in film, and Vanessa Redgrave received the fest's Career Achievement nod. The festival closes Sunday night with Kirsten Sheridan's "August Rush." indieWIRE will have a full report from the festival this week. Joining the award winners was Hamptons programmer David Nugent (center). [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Hamptons Film Festival, New York ] October 20, 2007 HAMPTONS | Harden and Redgrave at Wollfer Estate
Actress Vanessa Redgrave received the Hamptons International Film Festival's Career Achievement Award Thursday. The veteran actress is starring in Piers Haggar's "The Shell Seekers," which is having its world premiere at the festival. Marcia Gay Harden joined Vanessa for some photos at the Wollfer Estate, a beautiful winery near East Hampton. She is starring in Alison Eastwood's "Rail & Ties," also screening at the festival which ends Sunday. Redgrave, by the way, managed to ruffle a few feathers during an on-stage conversation with Alec Baldwin earlier in the fest, read about it here. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Hamptons Film Festival, New York ]  HAMPTONS | "Martian Child" in the Hamptons
Actors John Cusack and Amanda Peet joined New Line's Michael Lynne at Nick & Toni's in East Hampton, NY following the world premiere of their film, "Martian Child" directed by Menno Meyjes at the Hamptons International Film Festival. Cusack told the audience earlier that he was happy to have had the chance to play the role of a widower who adopts a child who believes he's from Mars. "There aren't many character-driven roles, so this was a great opportunity." [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Hamptons Film Festival, New York ] October 18, 2007 NY NY | Haneke at the MoMA; De Palma at the Academy; "Frank and Cindy" at CMJ
As October reached its midsection, screens in New York turn inevitably turn to horror films of all varieties. On Monday night, Michael Haneke was in attendance for an oblique Q&A; for his "Funny Games", while Brian De Palma and Amy Irving discussed their classic "Carrie" at the Academy Theater; on Tuesday night, CMJ opened with a more domestic type of horror, "Frank and Cindy", the story of a hideous marriage that might be the least uplifting thing "This American Life" has ever produced. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, New York, New York Weekly ]  HAMPTONS | Balaban's Big Night
Bob Balaban's "Bernard and Doris," a new HBO Films and Trigger Street Independent production, kicked off the 2007 Hamptons Internatioal Film Festival. The film stars Susan Sarandon as the legendary Doris Duke, with Ralph Fiennes co-starring as her infamous butler, Bernard Lafferty. Both actors had fest-goers buzzing after the showing, with attendees praising their performances. Calling the screening a work-in-progress, Balaban (a longtime fest advisor) quipped, "If there's something you don't like, we'll take it out," evoking laughter, adding, "If there's something you do like, we'll put in a lot more of it!" [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Hamptons Film Festival, New York ]  HAMPTONS | Fest Trio Kick-off 15th Event
The 15th annual Hamptons International Film Festival kicked off in East Hampton on the East End of Long Island, NY on Wednesday night. After the departure of fest longtime fest chief Denise Kassell and artistic director Rajendra Roy, the board recently named European Film Market co-director Karen Arikian to head the event, starting next year. Posing for a quick photo prior to the opening night screening are the fest's leadership team (left to right): programming consultant David Nugent (program director of the Newport International Film Festival), festival managing director Gianna Chachere, and programmer Josh Koury. The fest continues all weekend in The Hamptons. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Hamptons Film Festival, New York ] October 16, 2007 Arikian Leaving EFM Post to Head Hamptons Fest
European Film Market co-director Karen Arikian has been named the new Executive Director of the Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF). Arikian will join the festival, which is opening its 15th annual event on Wednesday, after the 2008 Berlin International Film Festival. The move comes as the Hamptons fest looks to the future after the recent departure of longtime executive director Denise Kassell and artistic director Rajendra Roy, who recently left to head the film department at MoMA. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival News, Lead Story, New York ] October 15, 2007iW NEWS | Schnabel Wins Hamptons' Sloan Prize
Julian Schnabel's "The Diving Bell & The Butterfly" has been named the winner of the Hamptons International Film Festival's $25,000 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Feature Film Prize. The prize is awarded to a feature film that, "explores science and technology themes in fresh, innovative ways and depicts scientists and engineers in a realistic and compelling fashion." The festival kicks off on Wednesday on Long Island in New York. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals, New York ]  DISPATCH FROM WOODSTOCK | Celebs and Stellar Line-up Head Upstate at 8th Woodstock Fest
Autumn has finally arrived in New York. Blustery winds, chilled temperatures and rain that would eventually melt into sunshine set the scene for the 8th annual Woodstock Film Festival, a four-day fete of film, music and a self-described 'fiercely independent' vision tucked within the Hudson Valley/Catskill region just 90 minutes from New York City. The fest announced it had record attendance which saw the event's high profile guests and a good number of world premieres. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, Wrap Ups ] October 11, 2007 NYFF '07 | Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud Celebrate "Persepolis"
"Persepolis" filmmakers Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud enjoy a little down time at Nick & Toni's Cafe on the Upper West Side for a casual lunch with journalists and friends alike after their screening and press conference at the New York Film Festival. The animated film, based on the graphic novel by Satrapi, is about her childhood growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution and escape from the veil and oppressive fundamentalist government. During the press conference, the filmmakers noted that they used stark black and white animation instead of real life actors and settings because the abstract nature of the drawings provided something people could easily relate to, something that was key in helping correct some of the misconceptions about Iranians. "This is a very humanistic movie, it's a pro-Iranian movie. You have some sympathy," said Satrapi. "It's anti-fanaticism, anti-dictatorship. This is about a human being, about me." [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, New York Film Festival ]  NY NY | Herzog and Morris Turn out for New Yorker Fest; NYFF Turns on More Glitz
Festival buzz reached fever pitch in New York this week as the literary New Yorker Festival joined the middle stretch of the New York Film Festival. Werner Herzog and Errol Morris joined in on the event, though the subject of Abu Ghraib maintained a sober atmosphere as the fest began its weekend run. Glitz, however, is never too far away as members of celebritydom turned out for a pair of parties for "Paranoid Park" and "No Country for Old Men," which screened at the NYFF. And at Lincoln Square, Halle Berry gave a talk after the screening of her new film, "Things We Lost in the Fire". [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, New York Weekly ] October 4, 2007 NYFF '07 Critics Notebook 2 | Sisters Doing it For Themselves at New York Fest; and a Little Boy on Boy Too
"Let's hear it for the girl...Let's give the girl a hand..." These could be signature lyrics (with apologies to Denise Williams) for a number of pics in the second half of the NYFF. Many are about women; four (all foreign) are directed by females. Odd, given that most of the films in the first batch were marked by male bravado and bonding (with only one made by a woman, whose co-director is a man). Foreshadowing these mostly melancholic, femme-focused movies are the Grace Chang starrers in the tantalizing sidebar "Chinese Modern: A Tribute to Cathay Studios." Chang (aka Ge Lan) was a major icon of the '50s and early '60s Hong Kong cinema. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, New York, New York Film Festival ]  NY NY | "Blade Runner" Wows at NYFF, "Culture" Infuriates, "Kid" Delights
This week in Gotham, the New York Film Festival was in full swing with its 45th annual run of being the most prestigious act around, offering up a bumper crop of contemporary cinema alongside a 25th anniversary screening of "Blade Runner" and a coinciding academic panel. Away from the hubbub, Lynn Hershman Leeson's "Strange Culture" infuriated viewers at MoMA, while at the IFC Center, Jennifer Vendetti's "Billy the Kid" delighted them. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, New York Weekly ] October 1, 2007 Ang Lee, James Schamus and "Lust, Caution"
While Ang Lee's latest, "Lust, Caution" isn't playing at the New York Film Festival, Friday night on the Upper West Side of Manhattan it opened to huge crowds just across the street from Lincoln Center where the NYFF was kicking off (as reported in this week's indieWIRE BOT column). The night before, Focus Features toasted Lee's "Lust" after the director returned from a trip to Asia where the film has also been breaking records in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Introducing Lee at Thursday's Sunshine Cinema private screening, the film's screening (and Focus CEO) James Schamus praised the movie as a "translucent work of art" and quippped that the movie is, "our very first two-and-a-half hour Chinese porn movie." The film, set in Shanghai in 1942, is the story of a young woman (played by Tang Wei) who seeks to seduce a Japanese collaborator (Tony Leung), resulting in a torrid affair that becomes intense and emotional as the story unfolds. Welcoming the audience and calling the project ""really really special," Ang Lee added that making the movie and exploring such a profound period of history was like "getting something off my chest." The film expands to additional cities next week, October 5th. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under NYC Parties & Events 2007, New York, World Cinema ] September 30, 2007 NYFF '07 | Angelica Huston
Good old fashioned New York Film Festival glamour... namely Angelica Huston, who plays the mother of the three brothers at the center of Wes Anderson's latest, "The Darjeeling Limited." The film opened the event on Friday night on Manhattan's Upper West Side and debuted in theaters on Saturday in two theaters, earning an estimated $66,000 per screen in just two days. indieWIRE contributor Howard Feinstein surveyed the films screenings the first few days of the NYFF in a recent article. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, New York Film Festival ]  NYFF '07 | Pierson, Sloss and Walker
Someone on Friday quipped that more than one thousand people attend the annual opening night party at New York City's Tavern on the Green. Outside in the crowded garden of the famed restaurant, industry types mix, mingle and trade buzz. Pictured are three of the taller folks on the scene, namely John Pierson, who flew in for the opening weekend of the fest with Janet Pierson, alongside new Cinetic Media partners John Sloss and Bart Walker. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, New York Film Festival ]  NYFF '07 | Bill and Tilda
Inside a crowded room set with tables for the guests of honor on opening night, Bill Murray (who maintains a cameo role in "The Darjeeling Limited") poses briefly with Tilda Swinton. Nearby, a rather camera shy Wes Anderson worked the room, generally dodging a handful of photogs who tried to pin him down for a picture. Anderson was introduced earlier in the evening by none other than Film Society of Lincoln Center chair Ann Tenenbaum, whose family name gained even greater fame from Anderson's film, "The Royal Tenenbaums." [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, New York Film Festival ]  NYFF '07 | Fun with Friends
The film industry affectionately calls it "prom night," referring to the glitzy opening night of the annual New York Film Festival that annually kicks off with a traditional "black tie" party at Tavern on the Green in Central Park. While many of the industry's old guard tend to don tuxes, the younger set be seen in dresses for the women and four in hand neckties for the guys. Pictured left to right are (front row) Shani Ankori, who will be joining IFC Films soon with IFC's Courtney Ott, Kim Jose from the production company Elephant Eye and Tribeca Film Festival programmer David Kwok with (back row) Steve Troha from St. Martins Press and HD Net's Laird Adamson. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, New York Film Festival ] September 27, 2007 NYFF '07 | On Stage at Lincoln Center for "Darjeeling"
Actors from Wes Anderson's "The Darjeeling Limited" -- Jason Schwartzman, Waris Ahluwalia, and Adrien Brody -- pose for photos after Thursday's New York Film Festival press & industry screening and press conference. The film opens the festival on Friday night and here at indieWIRE, Howard Feinstein offered his take on the first week of films screening at the festival. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, New York Film Festival ]  NYFF '07 | Henny Garfunkel and John Waters at the Show
Vet photographer Henny Garfunkel showed off some of her finest at the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center with a sampling of her Polaroids taken of some of the "who's who" of the indie (and then some) film scene. The show, "One Last Shot: Signed Polaroids" shows dozens of photos she's taken of celebs through the years and some of them even adding quite funny captions and/or autographs. (We particularly loved the caption from Jonny Knoxville that read, "See you in the showers!"-- uhhh... sure!!!) Anyway, Ms. Garfunkel is pictured going "AaaaaHHHhh!" with her friend, director John Waters at the opening of the show this week in New York. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under NYC Parties & Events 2007, New York, New York Film Festival ]  NYFF '07 Critics Notebook 1 | Finding Jewels Amongst the Famously Selective
(Many candy) apples and (a couple of sour) oranges: The 45th edition of the New York Film Festival, running September 28-October 16, is underway. Comparing movies is a drag, especially in a noncompetitive event, but the choices in this famously selective fest (28 "official" features on top of the sidebars) vary in merit. Here's the skinny on 13 of the 14 full-length narratives (I missed French vet Eric Rohmer's "The Romance of Astree and Celadon") and the one doc showing during the first nine days; a follow-up on the second half appears next Friday. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 1 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York ]  NY NY | Tropfest in Tribeca, "Fatboy" Uptown and Yom Kippur
This week in New York, the Film Society of Lincoln Center gave its younger cineastes a chance to loosen up with "Run, Fatboy, Run", while Two Boots Pioneer Theater provided a place for Jewish New Yorkers to atone for their sins. And the Tribeca Film Festival threw its first "Tropfest@Tribeca", an offshoot of the popular Australian short film festival. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, New York, New York Weekly ] September 20, 2007 IFP MARKET '07 | Indie Org Awards Grants, Services as NYC Independent Film Week Wraps
More than $100,000 in cash, donations and services were awarded on Thursday afternoon as the Independent Feature Project (IFP) showcased filmmakers and their new projects during the organizations annual "Independent Film Week" in New York City. Eunhee Cho received the inaugural Adrienne Shelly Director's Grant for her new film, "Inner Circle Line," while Avi Weider received a pair of prizes for his project, "Zeroes and Ones." [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York ] September 18, 2007 IFP MARKET '07 | "Honeydripper" Launches NYC Independent Film Event; Fest Folks Talk Premieres at Conference
Nearly three decades after attending the first Independent Feature Project market with his debut feature "Return of the Secaucus 7," filmmaker John Sayles kicked off the 2007 IFP Market -- and the umbrella event, Independent Film Week -- with the U.S. premiere of his new film, "Honeydripper." Hailed as the "First Couple" of the independent film scene by IFP board chair Ira Deutchman, Sayles and longtime producer Maggie Renzi were praised for remaining "fiercely independent." Introducing Sayles and Renzi prior to the AMC Loews Lincoln Square screening, Deutchman added that "at a time when the defition of independent film is murky at best," their work, "should inspire us all to do better." [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York ] September 14, 2007 NY NY | Film Society Takes Annual Look South with "Latinbeat," Film Forum Lauds De Lavallade and Holder, and BAM Celebrates Yugoslavia's New Wave
This week, New York's Film Society of Lincoln Center presented its Latinbeat series, showcasing a selection of contemporary Latin American cinema as well as a sidebar of four much-loved recent Mexican breakthroughs. The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), meanwhile, saluted the under-appreciated films of the Yugoslvian New Wave with its shocking depiction of individuality, sex and general freedom that characterized the period. And Film Forum gave a tribute to two modern-day legends, Carmen De Lavallade and Geoffrey Holder. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, New York Weekly ] September 8, 2007 NY NY | "Yuma" Invades Lower Manhattan; "Frownland" Recalls the Early DIY
A fitting week for cowboys and outcasts alike, this has been a week of bizarre dichotomies in the New York film scene as Lionsgate hosted their premiere of the "3:10 To Yuma" in Lower Manhattan. Cast members Peter Fonda and Ben Foster stopped by for the intimate event, which took place in the screening room of the Tribeca Grand Hotel. And up in Greenwich Village, the IFC Center and Filmmaker Magazine's series "Dialogues on Film" continued with a very special screening of Ronnie Bronstein's unusual first feature, "Frownland." [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, New York Weekly ] August 30, 2007 NY NY | Nixon Era Films, Looking Back at a Silent NY and that 'Mumble'-thing Shines in Gotham
This week in New York saw two celebrations of zero-budget filmmaking. At the Museum of the Moving Image, Larry Cohen's independently made 1972 debut "Bone" got a proper screening, at last, while at the IFC Center Aaron Katz' far less political Mumblecore mood piece "Quiet City" kicked off a week of screenings. In the meantime, Film Forum celebrated times gone by with a look at New York from 1894-1906, as seen in new clips of the time. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, New York, New York Weekly ] August 29, 2007iW NEWS | Red Envelope and New Line Home Entertainment to Spawn "The Business of Being Born"
North American rights to Abby Epstein's "The Business of Being Born" have been acquired by Red Envelope Entertainment and New Line Home Entertainment, the companies announced Wednesday. Red Envelope Entertainment head Bahman Naraghi saw the doc, produced by former talk show host Ricki Lake, during the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival. Red Envelope plans a theatrical release in "key U.S. cities" in October, followed by the film's Netflix launch. New Line Home Entertainment is planning a traditional DVD launch in the first quarter of 2008, according to Kevin Kasha, SVP of acquisitions and programming at the company. Compelled to find answers after the stressful delivery of her first child, Lake recruited filmmaker Epstein to "explore and question the way American women have babies," according to a joint release. The film’s fundamental question is, "should most births be viewed as a natural life process, or should every delivery be treated as a potential medical emergency? As Epstein uncovers some surprising answers, her own pregnancy adds a very personal dimension." The acquisition was negotiated by Naraghi, Kasha and Guy Stodel of New Line with Josh Braun of Submarine representing the filmmakers. Legal affairs were handled by REE’s Thomas Zadra, head of business and legal affairs, and Victoria Cook of Manhattan law firm FKKS, who represented the filmmakers. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, New York ] August 16, 2007iW NEWS | Tribeca Sets '08 Dates
The 7th Tribeca Film Festival will take place April 23 - May 4, 2008 in venues throughout Manhattan, the fest announced Thursday. Submissions open September 10 with the early deadline for features and shorts set for November 16 and the final deadline set for December 14. A late deadline for 2008 feature work in progress is January 11. For more information, visit their website. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals, New York ] June 25, 2007iW NEWS | Tribeca Fest Heading to China
Tribeca Enterprises, The William Morris Agency and China Interactive Media Group (CIMG) will unveil a new two-day independent film event in China next month. Dubbed the Tribeca 798 Film Festival Beijing -- named for the artist friendly 798 distict -- the event is set for July 10th and 11th and will include screenings of Benson Lee's break-dancing documentary, "Planet B-Boy," a 2007 TFF world premiere from Tribeca's TAA program. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Festivals, New York ] June 7, 2007INDUSTRY MOVES | Tribeca Fest Shift: Schafer & Freccero Named Exec. Directors; Scarlet Artistic Director
In a managerial realignment at the Tribeca Film Festival, the six year old event's executive director Peter Scarlet has been named Artistic Director of the festival, while managing director Nancy Schafer has been promoted to co-executive director along with Paola Freccero, who has served as a consultant to the organization. Both will also hold the posts of Senior Vice Presidents of Tribeca Enterprises, TFF's co-founder Jane Rosenthal announced today. Rosenthal further announced that Jennifer Maguire Isham will shift to serve as EVP of Tribeca Enterprises (after serving as president of the Festival) to "help identify new business opportunities domestically and abroad." The role of festival president has been retired. Scarlet (who joined Tribeca in 2002), will continue to act as chief programmer of the festival in addition to the new responsibilities as Artistic Director. Schafer and Freccero will jointly oversee the day-to-day operations of the Festival, with Schafer overseeing film and industry operations and Freccero overseeing content production, website and special events. They will report to Jon Patricof, COO of Tribeca Enterprises on business affairs and Jane Rosenthal on all creative matters, according to the announcement. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Industry Moves, New York ] May 9, 2007 The Coen Brothers Do Apple
More from Tribeca '07: Joel and Ethan Coen (more famously known as 'the Coen Brothers') opened the directors chat at the Apple Store in New York's SoHo, which was co-hosted by indieWIRE. Despite the 4pm weekday event, the store's theater was a crammed standing room only affair. Their latest film, "No Country for Old Men" will screen in competition at the upcoming Festival de Cannes. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, Tribeca Film Festival ]  Delpy in SoHo
More from Tribeca '07: "Two Days in Paris" director Julie Delpy and Samuel Goldwyn Films' Peter Goldwyn in the "Green Room" (actually a back office) at the SoHo Apple Store in New York where Delpy participated in a conversation about her new comedy which Samuel Goldwyn will release in the U.S. in August. Delpy's film is a hilarious story of a French-born woman (Delpy) who returns to Paris with her neurotic liberal American boyfriend and stays with her eccentric parents. Great dialog! [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, Tribeca Film Festival ]  Friends Hanging at "My Best Friend" Party
More from Tribeca '07: Miramax Films' Nicolette Aizenberg, Aaron Rabinowitz from Arnie Sawyer Studios and IFC Films' James Lilly at a soiree hosted by IFC Films and RoC for Patrice Leconte's TFF feature, "My Best Friend." The heavy spring rain last week didn't stop a crowd from staying until the employees started flashing the lights. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, Tribeca Film Festival ] Maysles Films, "The Gates" (Tribeca Film Festival)
Tightly packed into about 90 minutes is "The Gates," directed by Albert Maysles and Antonio Ferrera, an expertly assembled verite look at Christo and Jeanne-Claude, culled from some 600 hours of footage dating back to 1979, when Albert and David Maysles first began following the artists' battle to install some 7,500 metal gates draped with brightly colored fabric throughout New York'c Central Park. The film closed the Tribeca festival over the weekend and Maysles talked about the film at a recent press conference, along with Jean-Claude and co-director Antonio Ferrera. [ filed under New York, Press conferences ]  TRIBECA '07 | 10 Films To Watch from the 6th Tribeca Film Festival
With more than 150 features, some have criticized the 6th Tribeca Film Festival for offering a roster that is too eclectic and of mixed quality. But, by the end of the lengthy fest, a number of top-notch new movies had risen to the top despite the daunting lineup of screenings spread all around town. So to wrap up TFF '07, we are putting aside criticisms about the festival and its ticket-prices to single out some of the best movies that this year's festival had to offer. indieWIRE's ten best hotlist today highlights some of the movies that struck our fancy. Some made their world premiere at the festival, while others arrived with buzz from screenings at other international film festivals. We invite indieWIRE readers to consider our favorites and offer, in the comments section at the end of the article, their tips on other Tribeca festival films worth watching. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 2 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York ] May 7, 2007iW NEWS | "We Are Together" Wins Tribeca Audience Prize
Paul Taylor's "We Are Together" (Thina Simunye) won The Cadillac Award, selected by audiences at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival. The documentary, about South Afica's Agape orphanage for children left behind by people who have died of AIDS, debuted at IDFA in November where it also won a festival audience prize (and where indieWIRE first wrote about the film). Producer Teddy Leifer and Taylor confrmed that they will dedicate the film's $25,000 cash award to school fees for the children of Agape, through their RISE Foundation. The festival's other prizes were presented at a ceremony earlier this week, where "We Are Together" also won a Special Jury Mention. For additional coverage of the Tribeca Film Festival, visit indieWIRE's special section. "Audience reaction has been incredible and we've had a great festival," said Taylor. "Having some of the children from Agape with us during the festival has been very special. Everywhere they go people fall in love with them. This is their award." [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Honors, New York ] May 4, 2007 TRIBECA '07 | Volach's "Father" Wins Top Tribeca Prize; Gibney's "Taxi" Wins Doc Award
David Volach's "My Father My Lord" (Hofshat Kaits) won the Founders Award for best narrative feature (including a $50,000 cash award) and Alex Gibney's "Taxi to the Darkside" won the prize for best documentary feature (including $25,000 cash) at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival. Organizers presented the prizes at an awards ceremony and party at Jing Fong restaurant in New York City's Chinatown. A total of $270,000 in cash prizes were presented at the ceremony as the festival heads into its final weekend, which will include numerous screenings of the winning movies. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, New York ] May 3, 2007iW VIDEO | Jon Reiss & Tracy Ware on "Bomb It"
At the Tribeca Film Festival, indieWIRE's Eugene Hernandez catches up with "Bomb It" director Jon Reiss and the film's DP and producer Tracy Ware. The new documentary looks at contemporary graffiti around the world and its roots in New York City's hip-hop culture of the 1970s. [ filed under Interviews, New York ]  Alexis and the Boys!
Alexis Arquette gets a little help from her shirtless friends as she enters the party for her doc, directed by Matthew Barbato, in which she is the subject--of course. The film captures her final year as a biological male ahead of her sex reassignment surgery. It's also a window into her whirlwind LA lifestyle [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, Tribeca Film Festival ]  "The Gates" at Tribeca
Tribeca Film Festival director Peter Scarlet joined artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude (guess which ones) along with director Albert Maysles and director Antonio Ferrera (next to him) along with editor Matthew Prinzing following a press screening of "The Gates," which will close the Tribeca fest. The film follows the very long saga by the artists to bathe New York's Central Park in "gates," which finally came to fruition in 2005. Though the artists said they didn't care what people thought of their project (or child) they did seem happy by the gleeful responses seen in the film (and yes, the film also highlights dissenters). [ read more in iPOP ] [ 1 comments ] [ filed under New York, Tribeca Film Festival ]  Ed Burns at Apple
Director Ed Burns with mic in hand at the Apple Store in SoHo for a directors series co-hosted with indieWIRE during the Tribeca Film Festival. Burns' latest, "Purple Violets" is screening in the festival's Spotlight section as a world premiere. Burns spoke about his beginnings with "The Brothers McMullen" and how his career evolved from its professional beginnings in 1995. He also made sure to speak with everyone who wanted to chat one-on-one following the formal Q&A--what; a nice guy! [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, Tribeca Film Festival ] May 2, 2007 TRIBECA '07 | Critics Notebook 4: Reel Politic
Hollywood cranked out a plethora of movies about World War II and the Korean War as they were being fought. But it took years after Vietnam and the Gulf War for the U.S. to make fiction features about them. Today, American documentarians are pretty much the only filmmakers addressing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The time lag between event and product for narrative films is a truism, but if this country could swing it in the '40s and '50s, why not in the '70s and the '00s? America is not the only nation with a blind spot. Most Tribeca Film Festival films about current conflagrations are docs, and a majority of the fiction features that deal directly or obliquely with armed conflict are about situations set in a more distant past. [ read more in Movies ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, New York, Reviews ] May 1, 2007 Leconte Gives Peace
French director Patrice Leconte (dispensing peace) and IFC Entertainment president Jonathan Sehring exiting Arcqua restaurant in downtown Manhattan ahead of a screening for Leconte's "My Best Friend" (Mon Meilleur Ami), which is a Spotlight film at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film is described by the fest as a "witty yet thoughtful look at the meaning of friendship..." The French contingent at the table, in between talking about film of course, were also chatting about France's upcoming second round Presidential election happening next weekend. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, Tribeca Film Festival ]  "Super Size" the "Kill" Party
"Super Size Me" director Morgan Spurlock, IFC's Arianna Bocco and indieWIRE editor-in-chief Eugene Hernandez share some special moments at IFC's party for John Dahl's "You Kill Me," which is a Spotlight film in the Tribeca Film Festival. The party, at a club in New York's crowded Meatpacking district, was quite a good one with great music (until it was time to switch over to the regular cheesy club music following the party) and a fun guest list including Dahl, and stars Tea Leoni and Ben Kingsley. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, Tribeca Film Festival ] April 30, 2007 Postcards from Tora Bora at Tribeca
"Postcards from Tora Bora"'s Stephen Jablonsky (editor/visual effects, producer), Wazhmah Osman (co-director and subject), Elissa Federoff (associate producer) and Kelly Dolak (co-director) at one of the filmmaker parties early on in the festival. Their Discovery section film is the story of Osman's return to Afghanistan in search of her father. Her family fled the country following the Soviet take over in 1979, and Osman comes to terms with her father's decision to stay in the country where he fought for its independence and set up clinics and orphanages. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, Tribeca Film Festival ]  Amexicano in Tribeca
Director Matthew Bonifacio and writer/producer actor Carmine Famiglietti downtown Manhattan with their film, "Amexicano," playing in Tribeca's Discovery section. Set in Queens, the film centers on a working class Italian American who becomes acquainted with Mexican immigrants "working the corners" at the borough's Northern Boulevard. Despite initial indignation, he soon warms up to the crowd despite language and cultural barriers. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 1 comments ] [ filed under New York, Tribeca Film Festival ]  Third Wave at Tribeca
Director Alison Thompson, Donny Patterson (subject), Sunil Elvitigala, Oscar Gubernati (subject) at the Tribeca Cinemas at a filmmaker party. Their film, "The Third Wave," playing in the Tribeca Film Festival's Discovery program follows the story of four volunteers who travel to a town ravaged by the tsunami in 2004 and witness the town's heartache and re-birth. [ read more in iPOP ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under New York, Tribeca Film Festival ] iW NEWS | EMI Makes UK Deal for "We Are Together"
Days after its North American premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, Paul Taylor's documentary "We Are Together" (Thina Simunye) has been acquired in a UK distribution deal with EMI that includes a theatrical, DVD and soundtrack release. The new film about the Children of Agape choir from South Africa, has stirred Tribeca festival audiences, as indieWIRE reported earlier today, drawing musicians Bono and Alicia Keys to a recent fest screening and party. A Rise Films production in association with The Channel 4 British Documentary Foundation and HBO Documentary Films, "We Are Together"'s deal was brokered by Annie Roney of ro*co films international and Teddy Leifer of Rise Films with Stefan Demetriou representing EMI Music UK. "'We Are Together' (Thina Simunye) is not only a powerful, important and uplifting film, but it also reminds us of the significance of music in all our lives," said Demetriou in a statement. "We are extremely proud to be involved with this film. Everytime the film screens in a theatre, the atmosphere is incredible. The premiere at Tribeca on Thursday evening was particularly special, and we knew then we had to be a part of this wonderful film." [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, New York ] iW VIDEO | Julie Delpy and "2 Days in Paris"
At the Apple Store Soho for an Apple and indieWIRE Filmmaker Talk during the Tribeca Film Festival, Julie Delpy talks about her new movie, "2 Days in Paris" (which had its North American premiere at the festival) and discusses Richard Linklater (with whom she made "Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset") and also talks about an upcoming project. [permalink] [ filed under New York, indieWIRE: VIdeo ] iW NEWS | Here! Gets Tribeca Title, "Vivere"
Here! Films has announced a North American deal for Angelina Maccarone's German drama, "Vivere," screening at the Tribeca Film Festival. Here's sister company, Regent Releasing will handle the theatrical release of the movie, in a deal brokered with Media Luna Entertainment. Produced by Anita Elsani, the film stars Hannelore Elsner, Esther Zimmering, and Kim Schnitzer. It is described as the story of "three women on the run, each trying to save each other, and in the process, save themselves." "This touching and visually stunning drama with its twisting plotlines and thought-provoking story is sure to keep viewers both enthralled and entertained," said Here! VP Mark Reinhart, in a statement. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, New York ]  TRIBECA '07 | Critics Notebook 3: The Evolution and Whither American Indies
1. Whither American indie films? 2. Do they evolve? 3. Or wither? 1. Can't answer. Most of the U.S. indie features at Tribeca raise the question rather than provide an answer. Formally, the majority are conventional and mainstream, offering little alternative to the Hollywood model they replicate on a much more modest budget. In fact, one wonders why they are included in a festival instead of a market. Or is that the point, that this IS a market to find distributors for these accessible movies? Or that their directors might be potential grist for Tribeca Productions' mill? As Grandma used to say, "Wer weiss?" Who knows? On the plus side, some do provoke at content level, addressing themes the studios trivialize. [ read more in Movies ] [ 0 comments ] [ filed under Lead Story, New York, Reviews ] iW ANNOUNCEMENT | Apple and indieWIRE Daily Filmmaker Chats Continues: Mary Harron, Ed Burns, John Canemaker
Apple and indieWIRE are proud to present Filmmaker Talks at the Apple Store SoHo during the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival. Get a peek behind the scenes from some of the industry's leading filmmakers as well as emerging directors. Mary Harron - Monday, April 30, 4:00 p.m. Filmmaker Mary Harron, screenwriter and director of "American Psycho," talks about how she adapts novels into screenplays--most notably her current script based on Rachel Klein's novel, "The Moth Diaries." Edward Burns - Tuesday, May 1, 4:00 p.m. Join actor and filmmaker Edward Burns for a discussion on independent filmmaking, including his latest film, "Purple Violets." John Canemaker - Wednesday, May 2, 4:00 p.m. Oscar-winning animator John Canemaker shares how he brought personal and difficult subject matter to the screen through his animated film "The Moon and the Son: An Imagined Conversation." For the full lineup and more details, please visit here. [permalink] [ filed under Events, New York ]  DISPATCH FROM TRIBECA | Mexico, France and Africa In Focus on Tribeca Fest's First Weekend
Alternating days of sun and rain greeted the first weekend of the 6th Tribeca Film Festival in Manhattan and whether it was the fluctuating weather conditions or the significantly higher prices, the festival's advance ticket sales were down, according to a number sources (and organizers recently slashed student prices). But, a Tribeca festival spokesperson told indieWIRE that Saturday sales were "surprisingly strong given the price increase," including 3,200 tickets sold, just slightly down from the 3,400 sold in 2007. Acceptable, she said, given the drop in the total number of films this year. Despite a drop, there was no shortage of enthusiasm for a number of festival films. A new documentary about a Mexican boxing hero ("Chavez") and a pair of titles making the trip to Tribeca from European festivals ("2 Days in Paris" and "We Are Together") were among the buzz films during the fest's opening weekend. [ read more in On The Scene ] [ 1 comments ] [ filed under Festival Dispatches, Lead Story, New York ] April 29, 2007iW NEWS | Tribeca Fest Presents All Access Awards
Saturday night at the Tribeca Film Festival the Tribeca All Access Awards were presented. Ben Rekhi received the narrative section prize for his new screenplay, "Waste" (co-written by John Campo), described as the story of "a widowed NYC sanitation worker who must negotiate his relationship with his son after he becomes a key figure in a labor dispute." The documentary section prize went to Dee Rees for her work-in-progress, "Eventual Salvation," described as following "an 80-year-old grandmother who returns to Liberia to rebuild her life and community after years of civil war." Finally, the screenwriting section award went to Marilyn Fu for "The Sisterhood of Night," adapted from a short story by Steven Millhauser. Caryn Waechter is attached to direct the project. Honorable mentiones were presented to Jae-Ho Chang and Tara Autovino's "Ultimate Christian Wrestling" (documentary) and Roberto Marinas' "Last Road Home" (screenplay). [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Honors, New York ]
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