The buzzy regional event attrracted festival programmers from Cannes, Berlin and around the world.
Croatian director Sonja Tarokić’s debut feature The Staffroom was the big winner at the 69th edition of the Pula Film Festival when it received nine awards at the closing ceremony at the weekend in the port’s 2,000 year-old Roman amphitheatre.
The Croatian Programme Jury, headed by Austrian director Stefan Ruzowitzky, presented the film with the festival’s main award, the Grand Golden Arena for best festival film, as well as Golden Arenas for best director, best actor for Stojan Matavulj , best supporting actress, and best editing.
Croatian director Sonja Tarokić’s debut feature The Staffroom was the big winner at the 69th edition of the Pula Film Festival when it received nine awards at the closing ceremony at the weekend in the port’s 2,000 year-old Roman amphitheatre.
The Croatian Programme Jury, headed by Austrian director Stefan Ruzowitzky, presented the film with the festival’s main award, the Grand Golden Arena for best festival film, as well as Golden Arenas for best director, best actor for Stojan Matavulj , best supporting actress, and best editing.
- 7/25/2022
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
‘Top End Wedding.’
Americans will have the chance to see Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding early next year, but only on VOD and other digital platforms.
Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired the Us rights to the romantic comedy which raked in $5.26 million in Australian cinemas, the year’s second highest grosser behind Ride Like a Girl’s $11.5 million.
The specialty distributor plans a multi-platform release on February 21, its third recent Oz acquisition following Mirrah Foulkes’ Judy & Punch and Koko: A Red Dog Story, the third edition of the franchise written and directed by Aaron McCann and Dominic Pearce, which opens here on 80 screens tomorrow.
“Top End Wedding is a delightfully fun romantic comedy that also showcases the breathtaking beauty of Australia,” says Meg Longo of Samuel Goldwyn Films.
Goalpost Pictures’ Rosemary Blight, who produced with Kylie du Fresne and Kate Croser, added: “The team at Samuel Goldwyn are passionate...
Americans will have the chance to see Wayne Blair’s Top End Wedding early next year, but only on VOD and other digital platforms.
Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired the Us rights to the romantic comedy which raked in $5.26 million in Australian cinemas, the year’s second highest grosser behind Ride Like a Girl’s $11.5 million.
The specialty distributor plans a multi-platform release on February 21, its third recent Oz acquisition following Mirrah Foulkes’ Judy & Punch and Koko: A Red Dog Story, the third edition of the franchise written and directed by Aaron McCann and Dominic Pearce, which opens here on 80 screens tomorrow.
“Top End Wedding is a delightfully fun romantic comedy that also showcases the breathtaking beauty of Australia,” says Meg Longo of Samuel Goldwyn Films.
Goalpost Pictures’ Rosemary Blight, who produced with Kylie du Fresne and Kate Croser, added: “The team at Samuel Goldwyn are passionate...
- 12/3/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Octane Entertainment has also picked up Goran Dukic’s thriller American Dream starring Mekhi Pfeiffer.
Jack Campbell’s Los Angeles-based Octane Entertainment has acquired international rights to Melanie Aitkenhead’s horror thriller Revenge Ride about a young woman who joins an all-female gang and seeks revenge on a group of American football high school players.
Serinda Swan, Diego Boneta and Pollyanna McIntosh star in the film that was produced by 513 Films.
Octane Entertainment has also picked up Goran Dukic’s thriller American Dream starring Mekhi Pfeiffer, which Samuel Goldwyn will release in the Us on September 27.
Pfeiffer plays a...
Jack Campbell’s Los Angeles-based Octane Entertainment has acquired international rights to Melanie Aitkenhead’s horror thriller Revenge Ride about a young woman who joins an all-female gang and seeks revenge on a group of American football high school players.
Serinda Swan, Diego Boneta and Pollyanna McIntosh star in the film that was produced by 513 Films.
Octane Entertainment has also picked up Goran Dukic’s thriller American Dream starring Mekhi Pfeiffer, which Samuel Goldwyn will release in the Us on September 27.
Pfeiffer plays a...
- 9/8/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
In today’s film news roundup, Jacki Weaver gets cast, Mekhi Phifer’s “Obsession” gets acquired and MiLa Media launches an open script submission system.
Castings
Two-time Academy Award nominee Jacki Weaver will join Naomi Watts and Andrew Lincoln in the family drama “Penguin Bloom.”
Weaver will portray the mother of Watts’ character in the drama, which follows a young family on Sydney’s northern beaches who must come to terms with a near-fatal accident that leaves their mother paralyzed. As they learn to adjust to her new situation, an unlikely ally enters their lives in the form of an injured Magpie chick, dubbed “Penguin” by the family.
“Penguin Bloom” is adapted from the bestseller by Bradley Trevor Greive and Cameron Bloom. The film is directed by Glendyn Ivin from a script by Shaun Grant and Harry Cripps. “Thor: Ragnarok” star Rachel House is also joining the cast as a...
Castings
Two-time Academy Award nominee Jacki Weaver will join Naomi Watts and Andrew Lincoln in the family drama “Penguin Bloom.”
Weaver will portray the mother of Watts’ character in the drama, which follows a young family on Sydney’s northern beaches who must come to terms with a near-fatal accident that leaves their mother paralyzed. As they learn to adjust to her new situation, an unlikely ally enters their lives in the form of an injured Magpie chick, dubbed “Penguin” by the family.
“Penguin Bloom” is adapted from the bestseller by Bradley Trevor Greive and Cameron Bloom. The film is directed by Glendyn Ivin from a script by Shaun Grant and Harry Cripps. “Thor: Ragnarok” star Rachel House is also joining the cast as a...
- 8/1/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
"Sonny, are you going to turn on me?!" Samuel Goldwyn Films has unveiled an official trailer for an indie crime thriller now titled Obsession, the latest from Croatian filmmaker Goran Dukic (of Wristcutters: A Love Story). This has gone under a few other titles including Ruthless or American Dream, but now they're releasing it this fall with this Obsession title. The film is about an out-of-work mechanic, played by Mekhi Phifer who, after saving an older man and befriending him begins to fall for his mysterious wife. The older man has plans to build a motor sports park, and his wife puts together a plot to murder him and rob him of his riches. Also starring Elika Portnoy, Brad Dourif, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, and Kerry Cahill. Looks like an old school love affair crime caper, with a racetrack heist and murder and everything thrown in. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Goran Dukic's Obsession,...
- 7/31/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Samuel Goldwyn has acquired the Goran Dukic-directed thriller Obsession about an out-of-work mechanic played by Mekhi Phifer who, after saving an older man (Brad Dourif), begins to falls for his wife (Elika Portnoy). Dourif’s George has plans to build a racetrack, and his wife forms a plot to murder him and rob him of his riches, drawing Phifer’s Sonny into the mix. The pic is set for a theatrical and VOD release for Sept. 27. Deal was negotiated on behalf of Meg Longo at Samuel Goldwyn and ICM Partners on behalf of the filmmakers.
Pic was financed by Mutressa Movies, which was founded by Portnoy in 2008 with Alex Orlovsky recently joining the company to run the Los Angeles office. The duo’s shared credits include Beasts of No Nation, Love Is Strange, Blue Valentine and Place Beyond the Pines among others. Their next project Eliza Hittman’s Never...
Pic was financed by Mutressa Movies, which was founded by Portnoy in 2008 with Alex Orlovsky recently joining the company to run the Los Angeles office. The duo’s shared credits include Beasts of No Nation, Love Is Strange, Blue Valentine and Place Beyond the Pines among others. Their next project Eliza Hittman’s Never...
- 7/31/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Before the North Dakota oil boom (as witnessed in Jesse Moss’ The Overnighters), a good century back, there was the another type of boom. Commonly associated with the West, North Dakota was home to a short lived gold rush. Sabyn Mayfield will tap into the reserves of two up-and-comer players for what will be his directorial debut as THR reports that Boyd Holbrook and Rachel Brosnahan will topline Boomtown alongside Jocelin Donahue and newcomer Tyler Riggs. Holbrook is set to play Jt’s childhood best friend and Brosnahan plays a local bartender in the oil town.
Gist: Co-written by Mayfield and David Newbert, this follows Jt Turner’s (Riggs) journey across the country to Williston, North Dakota, home of the modern day Gold Rush. In an effort to make ends meet, the main character leaves his family behind to pursue a grueling, yet highly coveted, job in a now booming oil industry.
Gist: Co-written by Mayfield and David Newbert, this follows Jt Turner’s (Riggs) journey across the country to Williston, North Dakota, home of the modern day Gold Rush. In an effort to make ends meet, the main character leaves his family behind to pursue a grueling, yet highly coveted, job in a now booming oil industry.
- 10/27/2015
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Paul Potts movie ‘One Chance’ wins 2013 Starz Denver Film Festival Audience Award (photo: James Corden as ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ hit Paul Potts looking at Brad Pitt photo in ‘One Chance’) Among the winners at the 2013 Starz Denver Film Festival (Sdff), which ran November 6-17, was David Frankel’s One Chance, the story of Paul Potts, a timid shop assistant and amateur opera singer who eventually topped "Britain’s Got Talent." James Corden plays Potts, while Julie Walters and Colm Meaney are his parents. Director Frankel’s best-known movies are The Devil Wears Prada (2006), which earned Meryl Streep a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for playing Anne Hathaway’s style-conscious boss and nemesis, and the sentimental blockbuster Marley & Me (2008), toplining Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson. A 2012 reunion with Meryl Streep in Hope Springs, also featuring Tommy Lee Jones and Steve Carell, did only moderate business. This year’s Starz Denver...
- 11/21/2013
- by Anna Robinson
- Alt Film Guide
Goran Dukic's "What Do We Have in Our Pockets," Ritesh Batra's "Café Regular, Cairo" and Jason Willis' "Catnip: Egress to Oblivion" are three highlights of the 12 short films locked in a tight race to take home top prizes at TheWrap's "ShortList" Online Film Festival. The films are available to viewed and voted for until Thursday, when the winners of the Industry and Audience Awards will be announced during a ceremony at Santa Monica Airport. Also read: 'Voice Over,' 'Making of Longbird,' 'Until the Quiet Comes' Among ShortList Film Festival Finalists Dukic's unconventional animated short,...
- 8/28/2013
- by Greg Gilman
- The Wrap
Short on time but long on passion for film? Lucky for you, there's a festival for that.
Alongside TheWrap and MTV, NextMovie is happy to once again bring you the ShortList Film Festival. Twelve amazing short films are in competition this year, many of them previously featured in such prestigious competitions as Sundance and the La Film Festival.
From now until August 29, the dirty dozen of contenders are available for your streaming and voting pleasure. The winning film will take home the Industry Award, the prize for which includes a first-look deal, an agreement that it will be aired on an MTV network and win a package of camera equipment for the director's next feature or short.
Jump behind the cut for a look at each of the 12 nominated films, and be sure to watch them all at the ShortList.
Fear Of Flying Directed by Conor Finnegan
Ireland, 9 min
A...
Alongside TheWrap and MTV, NextMovie is happy to once again bring you the ShortList Film Festival. Twelve amazing short films are in competition this year, many of them previously featured in such prestigious competitions as Sundance and the La Film Festival.
From now until August 29, the dirty dozen of contenders are available for your streaming and voting pleasure. The winning film will take home the Industry Award, the prize for which includes a first-look deal, an agreement that it will be aired on an MTV network and win a package of camera equipment for the director's next feature or short.
Jump behind the cut for a look at each of the 12 nominated films, and be sure to watch them all at the ShortList.
Fear Of Flying Directed by Conor Finnegan
Ireland, 9 min
A...
- 8/21/2013
- by NextMovie Staff
- NextMovie
Last year, we brought you an inside look at the "ShortList," an online film festival honoring some of the year's best works of short films. This year, TheWrap is once again partnering with MTV and Cinedigm to bring you a line-up of twelve incredible short films that have previous that have been previously featured in festivals like Sundance and La Film Festival.
The entries for the second annual "ShortList" come from all over the globes including the U.S., Sprain, Israel, and others. The winner of the "ShortList" will have a world of opportunities open to them. The winning short will be aired on an MTV network, and the creator will receive a first-look deal with Cinedigm.
Click past the jump to learn more about this year's entries and find out where you can watch the short films.
You can learn all about each of the entries in the listing...
The entries for the second annual "ShortList" come from all over the globes including the U.S., Sprain, Israel, and others. The winner of the "ShortList" will have a world of opportunities open to them. The winning short will be aired on an MTV network, and the creator will receive a first-look deal with Cinedigm.
Click past the jump to learn more about this year's entries and find out where you can watch the short films.
You can learn all about each of the entries in the listing...
- 8/20/2013
- by MTV Movies Team
- MTV Movies Blog
I’m pretty sure that four years back when Trevor Groth and John Cooper (Sundance programming tandem who overhauled, switched over and re-defined the Spotlight section) knew just how significant the Next section (“less is greater than”) would become in the American independent-filmmaking sphere. Tomorrow, the Sundance Institute debuts its first ever Next Weekend program in Los Angeles and over the course of one weekend, denizens of La will get to experience a slew of films from the 2013 program, including much talked about titles like Hannah Fidell’s A Teacher (pictured above), Eliza Hittman’s It Felt Like Love and Alexandre Moor’s Blue Caprice. More intriguingly, a pair of titles not included in the original fest lineup, like Madeleine Olnek’s The Foxy Merkins and Chadd Harbold’s How to Be a Man make an appearance in the mini-festival event, which we assume were not ready in time to make the initial selection,...
- 8/7/2013
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
The 18th annual Nantucket Film Festival, which focuses on excellence in screenwriting, announced the festival winners today, in addition to the winners of its competitions for best screenplay for film and television. The prestigious Showtime Tony Cox award for best emerging screenwriter went to Destin Daniel Cretton for "Short Term 12." The audience award went to "Life According to Sam," from directors Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine. The Vimeo award for Best Writer/Director went to Ryan Coogler for "Fruitvale Station." The full winners list follows: Showtime Tony Cox Award for Best Screenwriting in a Feature Film -- Destin Daniel Cretton ("Short Term 12") Showtime Tony Cox Award for Best Screenwriting in a Short Film -- Goran Dukic ("What Do We Have in Our Pockets?") Audience Award for Best Feature -- "Life According to Sam" (directed by Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine) Audience Award for Best Short Film --...
- 7/1/2013
- by Madeline Raynor
- Indiewire
Here is a complete listing of the films that were shown/covered by the Ioncinema.com team comprised of Nicholas Bell (Nb), Jordan M. Smith (Js) and Eric Lavallee (El). We’ll be populating this page up until March.
U.S. Dramatic Competition
Afternoon Delight – Jill Soloway: Nb (★★ 1/2): Review
Ain’T Them Bodies Saints – David Lowery: El (★★★ 1/2), Nb (★★★ 1/2): Review // Interview
Austenland- Jerusha Hess: Nb (★): Review
C.O.G.- Kyle Patrick Alvarez: Js (★★ 1/2), Nb (★★ 1/2): Review
Concussion – Stacie Passon: El (★★★), Js (★★★ 1/2), Nb (★★★): Review // Interview
Emanuel And The Truth About Fishes – Francesca Gregorini: Js (★★★), Nb (★★★ 1/2): Review
Fruitvale – Ryan Coogler: El (★★★), Js (★★★★★), Nb (★★★★): Review // Interview // Video
In A World… – Lake Bell: El (★★★): Review
Kill Your Darlings – John Krokidas: El (★★★), Nb (★★★): Review
The Lifeguard – Liz W. Garcia: El (★★ 1/2): Review
May In The Summer...
U.S. Dramatic Competition
Afternoon Delight – Jill Soloway: Nb (★★ 1/2): Review
Ain’T Them Bodies Saints – David Lowery: El (★★★ 1/2), Nb (★★★ 1/2): Review // Interview
Austenland- Jerusha Hess: Nb (★): Review
C.O.G.- Kyle Patrick Alvarez: Js (★★ 1/2), Nb (★★ 1/2): Review
Concussion – Stacie Passon: El (★★★), Js (★★★ 1/2), Nb (★★★): Review // Interview
Emanuel And The Truth About Fishes – Francesca Gregorini: Js (★★★), Nb (★★★ 1/2): Review
Fruitvale – Ryan Coogler: El (★★★), Js (★★★★★), Nb (★★★★): Review // Interview // Video
In A World… – Lake Bell: El (★★★): Review
Kill Your Darlings – John Krokidas: El (★★★), Nb (★★★): Review
The Lifeguard – Liz W. Garcia: El (★★ 1/2): Review
May In The Summer...
- 1/29/2013
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Tons of notable entries from established auteurs, documentarians and the next generation of filmmakers to watch out for are the make-up of Sundance’s 2013 Short Film program. A total of 65 short films were selected from a whopping 8000 plus entries and among the notable names/shorts to look out for we find The Captain – from the Blue Tongue Films gang of Nash Edgerton and Spencer Susser (Hesher) a project penned with Taika Waititi (Eagle vs Shark), Goran Dukic who brought The Wristcutters to the fest several years back, brings us What Do We Have in Our Pockets?, while Damien Chazelle who directed the feature Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench, brings us Whiplash and Guillermo Arriaga (The Burning Plain) let’s us feast on Broken Night.
Andrew Renzi makes it back to back years at the fest, he was invited last year for The Fort (here’s our interview with him) returns with Karaoke!
Andrew Renzi makes it back to back years at the fest, he was invited last year for The Fort (here’s our interview with him) returns with Karaoke!
- 12/4/2012
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
I must admit that I didn’t have any real expectations about the just-announced shorts lineup at the forthcoming Sundance Film Festival, but this slate looks really strong, a good mixture of familiar names (many with feature experience) and emerging talents. Scanning through the selection, I’m excited to see new works by Cat Candler, Nash Edgerton and Spencer Susser, Guillermo Arriaga, Jillian Mayer, Lucas Leyva (from 2012′s “25 New Faces”), Lauren Wolkstein, Goran Dukic and Damien Chazelle in the U.S. narrative section. And kudos to a “25 New Face” from 2010, Robert Machoian, who has two shorts – Movies Made From Home # 6 …...
- 12/4/2012
- by Nick Dawson
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Sony Pictures Classics has announced that they have acquired all worldwide rights to Smashed. The film, directed by James Ponsoldt (Off The Black), is produced by Jonathan Schwartz (Like Crazy) and Andrea Sperling (Like Crazy) of Super Crispy Entertainment, who were honored at Sundance this year with a Special Jury Prize for Excellence in Independent Film Producing, as well as Jennifer Cochis. The film is executive produced by Audrey and Zygi Wilf. Spc previously worked with Sperling on the 2005 feature, The Quiet.
Smashed premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival to positive reviews and stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World), Emmy Award® winner Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad), Academy Award® winner Octavia Spencer (The Help), Nick Offerman (Parks & Recreation), Emmy Award® winner Megan Mullally (Will & Grace) and Emmy Award® winner Mary Kay Place (Big Love; Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman).
In Smashed, Kate and Charlie like to have a good time.
Smashed premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival to positive reviews and stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World), Emmy Award® winner Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad), Academy Award® winner Octavia Spencer (The Help), Nick Offerman (Parks & Recreation), Emmy Award® winner Megan Mullally (Will & Grace) and Emmy Award® winner Mary Kay Place (Big Love; Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman).
In Smashed, Kate and Charlie like to have a good time.
- 3/7/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The Irish Film and Television Academy has announced that Hollywood screenwriter Gill Dennis will be giving a Masterclass for Screenwriters and one-on-one individual consultations as part of this year's Screenwriter-in-Residence programme, in association with Ifta, at the 2011 Galway Film Fleadh. Gill Dennis is currently the Master Filmmaker in Residence at the American Film Institute and has mentored a new generation of filmmakers there, including Jonathan Levine (The Wackness), Jacob Estes (Mean Creek) and Goran Dukic (Wristcutters).
- 6/9/2011
- IFTN
Actress/filmmaker Amy Seimetz is not exactly a stranger to the film set. For most of the last decade, she appeared in shorts and eventually landed a part in Goran Dukic's "Wristcutters: A Love Story," which debuted at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, starring Patrick Fugit. She also starred opposite Jess Weixler in Joe Swanberg's "Alexander the Last" in addition to Lena Dunham's "Tiny Furniture" and David Robert Mitchell's "The Myth ...
- 2/4/2011
- indieWIRE - People
Actress/filmmaker Amy Seimetz is not exactly a stranger to the film set. For most of the last decade, she appeared in shorts and eventually landed a part in Goran Dukic's "Wristcutters: A Love Story," which debuted at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, starring Patrick Fugit. She also starred opposite Jess Weixler in Joe Swanberg's "Alexander the Last" in addition to Lena Dunham's "Tiny Furniture" and David Robert Mitchell's "The Myth ...
- 2/4/2011
- indieWIRE - People
Actress/filmmaker Amy Seimetz is not exactly a stranger to the film set. For most of the last decade, she appeared in shorts and eventually landed a part in Goran Dukic's "Wristcutters: A Love Story," which debuted at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, starring Patrick Fugit. She also starred opposite Jess Weixler in Joe Swanberg's "Alexander the Last" in addition to Lena Dunham's "Tiny Furniture" and David Robert Mitchell's "The Myth ...
- 2/4/2011
- Indiewire
Zia commits suicide after being dumped by his girlfriend, only to find that she killed herself a few months later and is looking for him in limbo. He befriends a Russian guitarist named Eugene, who died after being electrocuted in a rock concert. Along the way they pick up a hitchhiker looking for the 'People in Charge' to clarify that she is not a suicidal, but rather a victim of Od. Together they end up on a journey throughout the world of limbo as they seek out Zia's ex-girlfriend Film: Wristcutters: A Love Story (2007) Director: Goran Dukic Starring: Patrick Fugit, Shannyn...
- 9/22/2010
- by alyssamenard
- Examiner Movies Channel
Wristcutters: A Love Story Dir. Goran Dukic (2006) A slight digression: musician and sometime actor, Eugene Hutz, best known for his work as Gogol Bordello's frontman and as Alex in the film version of Everything is Illuminated, must have the charisma of 1000 suns. Or the type of charisma that inspires people to become obsessed with him. There's a documentary on him, The Pied Piper of Hutzovina, and Madonna's debut as a director, Filth and Wisdom, is mostly centered around Hutz. Wristcutters: A Love Story, has a central character of Eugene, a Russian musician played by actor Shea Whigham, who is based on Hutz. Imagine how charismatic and interesting Hutz must be to inspire so many people's art... Mindboggling, right? And in Wristcutters, Eugene shows our hero, Zia (an all-grown-up Patrick Fugit), around the afterlife limbo for suicides where the movie is set. Based on the short story Kneller's Happy Campers...
- 9/17/2010
- TribecaFilm.com
Yes, we're excited to see "Iron Man 2," "Inception" and God help us, "Predators." But what we're really looking forward to spending a few hours in the company of an undertaking Bill Murray ("Get Low"), an Italian-speaking Tilda Swinton ("I Am Love") and a toga-wearing Rachel Weisz ("Agora") in the comfort of air-conditioned theater over the next three months. (Either that or we'll be enjoying them from the comfort of home online, on demand or on DVD.)
There are no less than 114 independently produced movies arriving in theaters this summer to compete with the big studio blockbusters and we've compiled this helpful guide that covers all of them. Yet realizing that the latest arthouse and foreign fare is subject to changing dates, particularly if you don't live in Los Angeles or New York, we've also included links to follow the films on Twitter, Facebook and release schedules where available, so...
There are no less than 114 independently produced movies arriving in theaters this summer to compete with the big studio blockbusters and we've compiled this helpful guide that covers all of them. Yet realizing that the latest arthouse and foreign fare is subject to changing dates, particularly if you don't live in Los Angeles or New York, we've also included links to follow the films on Twitter, Facebook and release schedules where available, so...
- 5/11/2010
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
The actor could go for more Oscar-baiting roles or a brand-new franchise.
By Christopher Campbell
Tobey Maguire
Photo: Jim Spellman/WireImage
After he's hung up those web shooters and says goodbye to his role as Peter Parker, following the news that "Spider-Man 4" has been scrapped, what's next for Tobey Maguire? Will he reach out for another franchise, or will he go after more serious, Oscar-hungry roles akin to his recent acclaimed (and Golden Globe-nominated) stint in the drama "Brothers"?
The 34-year-old actor may now be wondering if he should make those "Hobbit" rumors come true. Maguire has long been said to be a contender for the role of young Bilbo Baggins in the Peter Jackson-produced, Guillermo del Toro-directed "Lord of the Rings" prequels, but he has continually denied involvement. Actually, Maguire told MTV News last month that he'd never met Del Toro and hadn't talked to anybody...
By Christopher Campbell
Tobey Maguire
Photo: Jim Spellman/WireImage
After he's hung up those web shooters and says goodbye to his role as Peter Parker, following the news that "Spider-Man 4" has been scrapped, what's next for Tobey Maguire? Will he reach out for another franchise, or will he go after more serious, Oscar-hungry roles akin to his recent acclaimed (and Golden Globe-nominated) stint in the drama "Brothers"?
The 34-year-old actor may now be wondering if he should make those "Hobbit" rumors come true. Maguire has long been said to be a contender for the role of young Bilbo Baggins in the Peter Jackson-produced, Guillermo del Toro-directed "Lord of the Rings" prequels, but he has continually denied involvement. Actually, Maguire told MTV News last month that he'd never met Del Toro and hadn't talked to anybody...
- 1/12/2010
- MTV Movie News
In the tradition of great movies based on real game shows (Quiz Show; Slumdog Millionaire), Tobey Maguire is said to be producing and starring in a film called Prisoners of Trebek, based on a true story about a guy who found romance while attempting to master Jeopardy. Pajiba has the exclusive scoop on the project, which was scripted by The Hoax screenwriter William Wheeler and is being likened to the work of Charlie Kaufman. Producing with Maguire's company is Mark Gordon, who worked with Wheeler on The Hoax and regularly collaborates with Roland Emmerich (2012; The Day After Tomorrow).
The Kaufman connection could mean we should expect Alex Trebek to show up as himself in a surreal sort of comedy akin to Being John Malkovich. Or, Trebek could be more similar to Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, which also went behind the scenes of a game show in its biographical portrait...
The Kaufman connection could mean we should expect Alex Trebek to show up as himself in a surreal sort of comedy akin to Being John Malkovich. Or, Trebek could be more similar to Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, which also went behind the scenes of a game show in its biographical portrait...
- 12/14/2009
- by Christopher Campbell
- Cinematical
NEW YORK -- AfterDark Films has acquired North American rights to Goran Dukic's dark romantic comedy Wristcutters: A Love Story, starring Patrick Fugit, Shannyn Sossamon, Will Arnett and Tom Waits.
The film will be released in August via the company's Lionsgate output deal. A potentially controversial marketing campaign is planned, featuring cardboard cutouts of characters jumping off a bridge, electrocuting and hanging themselves in keeping with the film's suicide theme. "We just hope they don't cause too many accidents," said AfterDark partner Courtney Solomon, who plans to place the signage on telephone poles and trees in major markets.
Wristcutters, based on a short story by Etgar Keret, follows a group of young adults stuck in purgatory after committing suicide. The group embarks on a Wizard of Oz-style road trip, stopping at a magical camp run by an eccentric man (Waits) on their way to meeting the messiah (Arnett). Fugit will play a heartbroken member of the group, and Sossamon plays a hitchhiker who claims that her fate is all a big mistake.
The film will be released in August via the company's Lionsgate output deal. A potentially controversial marketing campaign is planned, featuring cardboard cutouts of characters jumping off a bridge, electrocuting and hanging themselves in keeping with the film's suicide theme. "We just hope they don't cause too many accidents," said AfterDark partner Courtney Solomon, who plans to place the signage on telephone poles and trees in major markets.
Wristcutters, based on a short story by Etgar Keret, follows a group of young adults stuck in purgatory after committing suicide. The group embarks on a Wizard of Oz-style road trip, stopping at a magical camp run by an eccentric man (Waits) on their way to meeting the messiah (Arnett). Fugit will play a heartbroken member of the group, and Sossamon plays a hitchhiker who claims that her fate is all a big mistake.
- THINKFilm has not only got a winner on its hands â. but may we dare say - its got the sort of potential that might see it cross into the mainstream golden evening of the award season â. yep the Oscars might not look unattainable as I had first predicted. Given out last night, the Independent Film Project awards were prety much a Half Nelson tribute type of affair - winning in the breakthrough actor, director and picture categories with its closest rival being Alejandro Gonzalez Inarrituâ.s Babel which picked up 2 awards. Note: Rinko Kikuchi (the naked Jap) from Babel and the (always play the same role twice) young Shareeka Epps shared the same award. Filmmaker Amy Bergâ.s Deliver Us from Evil - a doc that unfortunately in my area spent very little time in theatres around my neighborhood lost out to the little seen Iraq in Fragments by James Longley.
- 11/30/2006
- IONCINEMA.com
- It comes as no surprise that leading this year’s pack of nominees are Little Miss Sunshine and Half Nelson, but this year’s mix of contenders are a mixed breed coming from films that were showcased a little everywhere – including this year’s Sundance. And the 2007 Independent Spirit nominees are...Feature (Award given to the Producer)"American Gun," Ted Kroeber, producer"The Dead Girl," Tom Rosenberg, Henry Winterstern, Gary Lucchesi, Richard Wright, Eric Karten, Kevin Turen, producers"Half Nelson," Jamie Patricof, Alex Orlovsky, Lynette Howell, Anna Boden, Rosanne Korenberg, producers"Little Miss Sunshine," Marc Turtletaub, David T. Friendly, Peter Saraf, Albert Berger, Ron Yerxa, producers"Pan's Labyrinth," Bertha Navarro, Alfonso Cuaron, Frida Torresblanco, Alvaro Augustin, Guillermo Del Toro, producersFIRST Feature (Award given to the director and producer)"Day Night Day Night," Julia Loktev, director; Julia Loktev, Melanie Judd, Jessica Levin, producers"Man Push Cart," Ramin Bahrani, director; Ramin Bahrani,
- 11/29/2006
- IONCINEMA.com
Michael Hazanavius' OSS 117: Nest of Spies, a French spy spoof, earned the Golden Space Needle Audience Award as best film at the 32nd annual Seattle International Film Festival, which concluded its 25-day run Sunday. Runners-up were Goran Dukic's Wrist Cutters: A Love Story, Marcos Carnevale's Elsa & Fred, Wash Westmoreland and Richard Glatzer's Quinceanera and Charles Sturridge's Lassie. Dukic also took the prize for best director. The Trials of Darryl Hunt, an account of a man wrongly imprisoned in a rape/murder case, won the best documentary award for its directors Rickie Stern and Annie Sundberg.
- 6/19/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- Goran Dukic's Wristcutters: A Love Story took home the $10,000 grand jury feature film award at the 11th annual Gen Art Film Festival Tuesday. The comic feature about suicidal souls in purgatory, recently featured in competition at the Sundance Film Festival, was one of several prizewinners at the New York fest. The audience award for best feature went to Scott Glosserman's serial killer mockumentary Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon.
- 4/12/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
PARK CITY -- You don't get too many romantic comedies set in the afterlife so in this way "Wristcutters: A Love Story" is somewhat original and amusing. But only somewhat. The gimmick of characters, all suicide victims, navigating a world remarkable similar to the one they fled -- "only worse" -- allows for a few good gags. But that carries you only so far.
This premise, at least as explored by Croatian-born writer-director Goran Dukic, working from a novel by Etgar Keret, never expands beyond a little gag-filled romantic comedy. Grander, more cosmic or philosophical implications are ignored for what has to be the most unusual "meet cute" in movies ever.
The catchy title will draw a crowd at festivals but any theatrical payoff for "Wristcutters" would be extremely limited. Dukic does bring a European sensibility to the film, which may help theatrical or TV sales overseas.
Purgatory for these souls who have indulged in suicide to escape their earthly problems is cleverly comprised of industrial park locations and vast stretches of Southern California's Antelope Valley, littered with the decaying discards of a careless society. Unreliable and aging cars are the only transportation and all jobs are menial.
Keeping things lightly comic, Dukic makes certain no one has migrated here over anything important. Zia (Patrick Fugit), a depressed youth who broke up with his girlfriend before the Big Exit, wanders in a daze in this sub par existence until he encounters Russian rocker Eugene (Shea Whigham), who electrocuted himself on stage by pouring beer on his electric guitar.
Learning that his ex-girlfriend (Leslie Bibb) recently killed herself as well, Zia convinces Eugene to drive into the desert to find her. They pick up a hauntingly beautiful hitchhiker in Mikal (Shannyn Sossamon), who is traveling to meet the People In Charge. She insists her being here is all a mistake as her death wasn't a suicide. En route to nowhere, the trio comes across a magical encampment run by an eccentric old coot named Kneller (singer-songwriter Tom Waits).
At some basic level, if you are going to attempt a comedy about suicide, shouldn't you at the very least deal with suicide? Why are people so desperate to quit life? And assuming the existence of such a forlorn afterlife, how do they confront their demons and cope with their tragic decision? Barroom guessing games about how patrons killed themselves won't get you there.
The four main characters are offbeat enough to engage viewers, but the comic impulses here are tepid. "The Wizard of Oz" is clearly the model for this journey down a yellow desert road. But characters and situations are too unimaginative. Odd moments of magic realism are just odd rather than reflective of deeper meanings.
Technical credits are fine, as Dukic's crew takes advantage of the fact this afterlife is definitely low-budget.
WRISTCUTTERS: A LOVE STORY
Halycon Pictures, Adam Sherman Inc., Crispy Films present a No Matter Pictures
Credits:
Writer/director: Goran Dukic
Based on the novel by: Etgar Keret
Producers: Chris Coen, Tatiana Kelly, Mikal P. Lazarev, Adam Sherman
Executive producer: Jonathan Schwartz
Director of photography: Vanja Cernjul
Production designer: Linda Sena
Music: Bobby Johnston
Costumes: Erica Nicotra
Editor: Jonathan Alberts.
Cast:
Zia: Patrick Fugit
Mikal: Shannyn Sossamon
Eugene: Shea Whigham
Kneller: Tom Waits
Desiree: Leslie Bibb
Yan: John Hawkes
Brian: Jake Busey
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 91 minutes...
This premise, at least as explored by Croatian-born writer-director Goran Dukic, working from a novel by Etgar Keret, never expands beyond a little gag-filled romantic comedy. Grander, more cosmic or philosophical implications are ignored for what has to be the most unusual "meet cute" in movies ever.
The catchy title will draw a crowd at festivals but any theatrical payoff for "Wristcutters" would be extremely limited. Dukic does bring a European sensibility to the film, which may help theatrical or TV sales overseas.
Purgatory for these souls who have indulged in suicide to escape their earthly problems is cleverly comprised of industrial park locations and vast stretches of Southern California's Antelope Valley, littered with the decaying discards of a careless society. Unreliable and aging cars are the only transportation and all jobs are menial.
Keeping things lightly comic, Dukic makes certain no one has migrated here over anything important. Zia (Patrick Fugit), a depressed youth who broke up with his girlfriend before the Big Exit, wanders in a daze in this sub par existence until he encounters Russian rocker Eugene (Shea Whigham), who electrocuted himself on stage by pouring beer on his electric guitar.
Learning that his ex-girlfriend (Leslie Bibb) recently killed herself as well, Zia convinces Eugene to drive into the desert to find her. They pick up a hauntingly beautiful hitchhiker in Mikal (Shannyn Sossamon), who is traveling to meet the People In Charge. She insists her being here is all a mistake as her death wasn't a suicide. En route to nowhere, the trio comes across a magical encampment run by an eccentric old coot named Kneller (singer-songwriter Tom Waits).
At some basic level, if you are going to attempt a comedy about suicide, shouldn't you at the very least deal with suicide? Why are people so desperate to quit life? And assuming the existence of such a forlorn afterlife, how do they confront their demons and cope with their tragic decision? Barroom guessing games about how patrons killed themselves won't get you there.
The four main characters are offbeat enough to engage viewers, but the comic impulses here are tepid. "The Wizard of Oz" is clearly the model for this journey down a yellow desert road. But characters and situations are too unimaginative. Odd moments of magic realism are just odd rather than reflective of deeper meanings.
Technical credits are fine, as Dukic's crew takes advantage of the fact this afterlife is definitely low-budget.
WRISTCUTTERS: A LOVE STORY
Halycon Pictures, Adam Sherman Inc., Crispy Films present a No Matter Pictures
Credits:
Writer/director: Goran Dukic
Based on the novel by: Etgar Keret
Producers: Chris Coen, Tatiana Kelly, Mikal P. Lazarev, Adam Sherman
Executive producer: Jonathan Schwartz
Director of photography: Vanja Cernjul
Production designer: Linda Sena
Music: Bobby Johnston
Costumes: Erica Nicotra
Editor: Jonathan Alberts.
Cast:
Zia: Patrick Fugit
Mikal: Shannyn Sossamon
Eugene: Shea Whigham
Kneller: Tom Waits
Desiree: Leslie Bibb
Yan: John Hawkes
Brian: Jake Busey
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 91 minutes...
- 1/24/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- This year Ioncinema.com is covering the 2006 edition of the Sundance Film Festival Live from Park City, Utah. We’ll be on hand to cover the festival, and while we won’t be able to cover everything from A to Z: here is a comprehensive beforehand look at the selections in each of the festival’s sections. (Note: To access individual preview pages, simply click on the links below) January 19th to the 28th, 2006Counting Down: updateCountdownClock('January 19, 2006'); Nicholson & Kirk in Flannel Pajamas Come Early Morning - Joey Lauren Adams Flannel Pajamas - Jeff Lipsky Forgiven - Paul Fitzgerald A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints - Dito Montiel Half Nelson - Ryan Fleck The Hawk is Dying - Julian Goldberger In Between Days - So Yong Kim Puccini for Beginners - Maria Maggenti Quinceanera - Richard Glatzer Right at Your Door - Chris Gorak Sherrybaby (a.k.a:
- 1/17/2006
- IONCINEMA.com
The Sundance Institute has selected 12 projects for its annual Screenwriters Lab, to be held Jan. 9-14 at the Sundance Village in Utah. The Lab provides participating writers the opportunity to develop their screenplays in a community of accomplished screenwriters. This year's selections include Zoe Hopkins' Cherry Blossoms, Abdi Nazemian and Micah Schraft's Dot, Aditya Assarat's Hi-So, Emre Mirza and Paxton Winters' Iraqi Freedom, Kazuo Ohno's Mr. Crumpacker and the Man from the Letter, Derek Nguyen's Monster, Kieran and Michele Mulroney's Paper Man, Djamshed Usmonov's To Get to Heaven First You Have to Die, Stephen Guirgis' Untitled Stephen Guirgis Project, Richard Press' Virtual Love, Dael Orlandersmith and Blanka Zizka's Yellowman, and Goran Dukic's Wristcutters.
- 12/16/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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