US-based filmmaker Ajay Sarpeshkar’s sci-fi thriller Mandala: The UFO Incident follows an Indian American on a quirky adventure as his rocket scientist girlfriend gets abducted by a UFO. With all fingers pointed at him and without evidence, all he has is the support of an eccentric retired investigative journalist. With a background in engineering and technology, Ajay Sarpeshkar will debut as a director with Mandala, the first film of a planned multi-film series.
The film stars veteran Indian actors Anant Nag and Prakash Belawadi as well as Sharmiela Mandre, Samyukta Hornad and Kiran Srinivas. After last year’s Hindi mythological superhero blockbuster Brahamastra, Mandala is another ambitious film riding the local superhero wave within the Indian cinema industry. The film’s extensive special effects have been post-produced in world-class facilities in Singapore, France and USA.
Ajay said, “With this film, I wanted to kick start the under-explored sci-fi genre in the Indian film industry.
The film stars veteran Indian actors Anant Nag and Prakash Belawadi as well as Sharmiela Mandre, Samyukta Hornad and Kiran Srinivas. After last year’s Hindi mythological superhero blockbuster Brahamastra, Mandala is another ambitious film riding the local superhero wave within the Indian cinema industry. The film’s extensive special effects have been post-produced in world-class facilities in Singapore, France and USA.
Ajay said, “With this film, I wanted to kick start the under-explored sci-fi genre in the Indian film industry.
- 2/1/2023
- by Glamsham Editorial
- GlamSham
An evening to remember for the Indian film industry as Filmfare hosted the 66th Vimal Elaichi Filmfare Awards 2021 on 27th March 2021. Making a much-awaited return, because ‘the show must go on’, the awards ceremony, this year, was held as a closed-door event where the coveted Black Lady was awarded to deserving winners from across a host of categories.
The biggest winner of the night was the movie Thappad, which bagged the Best Film award and saw director-producer Anubhav Sushila Sinha and T-Series’ Bhushan Kumar accepted the iconic Black Lady. It was an emotional moment for Babil Khan as he accepted the Best Actor in a Lead Role (Male) on behalf of his father Irrfan Khan for his memorable performance in Angrezi Medium. Add to that, the Awards further honoured and celebrated his legacy and contribution as the versatile actor was awarded posthumously the Lifetime Achievement Award.
On the other hand,...
The biggest winner of the night was the movie Thappad, which bagged the Best Film award and saw director-producer Anubhav Sushila Sinha and T-Series’ Bhushan Kumar accepted the iconic Black Lady. It was an emotional moment for Babil Khan as he accepted the Best Actor in a Lead Role (Male) on behalf of his father Irrfan Khan for his memorable performance in Angrezi Medium. Add to that, the Awards further honoured and celebrated his legacy and contribution as the versatile actor was awarded posthumously the Lifetime Achievement Award.
On the other hand,...
- 3/28/2021
- by Glamsham Editorial
- GlamSham
Streamers are keeping India’s more story-driven filmmakers busy, but are also taking their attention away from indie films.
The Knowledge Series at India’s Film Bazaar Online, which wrapped today, mapped out some of the realities for Indian filmmakers in a Covid-hit world. While some themes are familiar in film industries all over the world – rising production costs, shuttered cinemas and a shift to streaming – others were uniquely Indian.
On a ‘Future of Film Distribution’ panel, producer Guneet Monga explained how shooting restarted in India last October with Covid safety measures, including social distancing, zoning of film sets and regular testing.
The Knowledge Series at India’s Film Bazaar Online, which wrapped today, mapped out some of the realities for Indian filmmakers in a Covid-hit world. While some themes are familiar in film industries all over the world – rising production costs, shuttered cinemas and a shift to streaming – others were uniquely Indian.
On a ‘Future of Film Distribution’ panel, producer Guneet Monga explained how shooting restarted in India last October with Covid safety measures, including social distancing, zoning of film sets and regular testing.
- 1/21/2021
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
Film CommentaryThis is a beautifully made film but it's not without its share of problematic depictions.Sanjana DeshpandeYouTubeAfter sweeping accolades, the Tillotama Shome and Vivek Gomber starrer Is Love Enough? Sir released on Over-the-Top platform Netflix on January 9, and much has been written about the film since. The Hindi film explores the slowly brewing love story between Ratna (Tillotama Shome), a widowed domestic worker, and her rich employer, Ashwin (Vivek Gomber). The two of them belong to the extreme ends of the social spectrum. The film plays out like a poem, exploring the impossible and often moving dreams of two people whose love will likely remain unrequited. During the 99-minute runtime, director Rohena Gera examines the relationship between Ratna and Ashwin while subtly making a comment on class differences, how the upper-class views those who are from a stratum lower than theirs, and the gaze employed in their interactions. Although...
- 1/20/2021
- by Sanjana
- The News Minute
Hollywood agency ICM Partners has come on board Rohena Gera’s festival favorite “Sir” and will represent it for sales in Anglophone markets U.S., U.K. and Australia, among other territories. The Hollywood agency will also serve as the film’s awards season lobbyist.
A delicately observed study of class differences in Indian society, “Sir” stars Tillotama Shome as a domestic live-in help with Vivek Gomber, a man from a wealthy family who seems to have it all, but is somewhat lost. As their worlds collide and the two individuals connect, the barriers between them seem only more insurmountable.
The cast also includes Divya Seth Shah, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Bhagyashree Pandit, Anupriya Goenka and Bachan Pachera.
“We have a very intimate yet hierarchical relationship with the people who work in our homes,” Gera said. “I wanted to explore that without being preachy, and a love story allowed me to do that.
A delicately observed study of class differences in Indian society, “Sir” stars Tillotama Shome as a domestic live-in help with Vivek Gomber, a man from a wealthy family who seems to have it all, but is somewhat lost. As their worlds collide and the two individuals connect, the barriers between them seem only more insurmountable.
The cast also includes Divya Seth Shah, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Bhagyashree Pandit, Anupriya Goenka and Bachan Pachera.
“We have a very intimate yet hierarchical relationship with the people who work in our homes,” Gera said. “I wanted to explore that without being preachy, and a love story allowed me to do that.
- 11/10/2020
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
By Arundhuti Banerjee
Mumbai, Nov 4 (Ians) Director Rohena Gera is finally set to release her film, Sir, on November 13, after travelling prestigious festivals around the globe, including Cannes, AFI Fest Los Angeles, Sao Paulo International Film Festival, Beijing International Film Festival, and Zurich Film Festival, and winning 18 awards including for film, actress, actor, direction and Audience Choice.
Gera waited for theatres to open after the pandemic rather than go for a digital release. "OTTs are great in that they make films very accessible. But I really love the theatrical experience. I think there is something special about watching a film in the dark with strangers and completely submitting to that world. We have been very lucky in that Sir has had successful theatrical releases in so many countries. But India is home, and I made the film for Indian audiences, so it was important to have the film release here,...
Mumbai, Nov 4 (Ians) Director Rohena Gera is finally set to release her film, Sir, on November 13, after travelling prestigious festivals around the globe, including Cannes, AFI Fest Los Angeles, Sao Paulo International Film Festival, Beijing International Film Festival, and Zurich Film Festival, and winning 18 awards including for film, actress, actor, direction and Audience Choice.
Gera waited for theatres to open after the pandemic rather than go for a digital release. "OTTs are great in that they make films very accessible. But I really love the theatrical experience. I think there is something special about watching a film in the dark with strangers and completely submitting to that world. We have been very lucky in that Sir has had successful theatrical releases in so many countries. But India is home, and I made the film for Indian audiences, so it was important to have the film release here,...
- 11/4/2020
- by Glamsham Editorial
- GlamSham
Several film releases have also been postponed, including Rohena Gera’s Cannes Critics Week title Sir.
The Ficci Frames trade show and conference, scheduled to take place at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Mumbai from March 18-20, has been postponed due to concerns over the rapidly spreading Covid-19 Coronavirus.
“In view of public health concerns and the recent advisory of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, which has strongly recommended to avoid mass gatherings, Ficci has decided to postpone Ficci Frames 2020,” said the organisers in a statement, adding that they would announce new dates for the event soon.
India has...
The Ficci Frames trade show and conference, scheduled to take place at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Mumbai from March 18-20, has been postponed due to concerns over the rapidly spreading Covid-19 Coronavirus.
“In view of public health concerns and the recent advisory of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, which has strongly recommended to avoid mass gatherings, Ficci has decided to postpone Ficci Frames 2020,” said the organisers in a statement, adding that they would announce new dates for the event soon.
India has...
- 3/13/2020
- by 89¦Liz Shackleton¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
The 5th anniversary of Birmingham Indian Film Festival opened with Director Anubhav Sinha walking the red carpet at Cineworld, Broad Street for his hard-hitting thriller Article 15 (out now on global general release) and ended this week with a sold-out screening of Ritesh Batra’s Photograph at Mac Birmingham. The Festival was part of the Bagri London Indian Film Festival which together is the UK and Europe’s largest South Asian Film Festival.
Eleven days of 16 screenings and events took place in five venues across Birmingham and showcased a number of high profile and emerging women film-makers films, Q&a’s with Directors as well as a rarely seen documentary and special screenings of Lgbtq+ shorts attended by a diverse audience. The Festival’s first Screen Talk took place at The Mockingbird Cinema with India’s leading cult director Anurag Kashyap who took home a Liff Icon award.
Other guests at...
Eleven days of 16 screenings and events took place in five venues across Birmingham and showcased a number of high profile and emerging women film-makers films, Q&a’s with Directors as well as a rarely seen documentary and special screenings of Lgbtq+ shorts attended by a diverse audience. The Festival’s first Screen Talk took place at The Mockingbird Cinema with India’s leading cult director Anurag Kashyap who took home a Liff Icon award.
Other guests at...
- 7/4/2019
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
When Indian independent cinema deals with intercaste relationships or the issues involving employers and their servants, it usually produces dark, gritty and high-caliber dramas. However, “Sir”, the feature debut of director and screenwriter Rohena Gera, is crafted in a completely different style. It doesn’t fall into the same category as critically acclaimed “Fandry” by Nagraj Mangule or classic like “Paar” by Goutam Ghose, but this is not a flaw. Quite the opposite, the female director’s approach is pleasurably refreshing.
“Sir” is screening at London Indian Film Festival
Before “Sir”, Gera came out with a witty documentary “What’s Love Got to Do with It”, which was an interesting portrayal of a young privileged generation of Indians, exploring their expectations about love and marriage. The film also raised the issue of family and gender roles that prevail in society despite the changing lifestyles. “Sir” explores those further, but in a fictionized manner.
“Sir” is screening at London Indian Film Festival
Before “Sir”, Gera came out with a witty documentary “What’s Love Got to Do with It”, which was an interesting portrayal of a young privileged generation of Indians, exploring their expectations about love and marriage. The film also raised the issue of family and gender roles that prevail in society despite the changing lifestyles. “Sir” explores those further, but in a fictionized manner.
- 6/11/2019
- by Joanna Kończak
- AsianMoviePulse
The reason you should know the name Rohena Gera is pretty simple, she’s an up and coming director, a screenwriter, and a producer. If nothing else that would be enough to say that she’s someone important and bound to become a name that more and more people are going to know before she’s well and done with her career. As she’s only in her 40s at this time she has a lot of career left and a lot of ambition to keep going, so thinking that she’s a one and done kind of person isn’t just silly, it’s nowhere near
Why You Should Know the Name Rohena Gera...
Why You Should Know the Name Rohena Gera...
- 6/4/2019
- by Tom
- TVovermind.com
The Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival celebrates its tenth anniversary this June and July with a droolworthy festival lineup featuring many of the best Indian films of the year across five UK cities. Among the highlights are the world premiere of Article 15, directed by Anubhav Sinha (Mulk), the English premieres of Ritesh (The Lunchbox) Batra's Photograph, Vasan Bala's The Man Who Feels No Pain, and Rima Das' Bulbul Can Sing. I've seen a good chunk of the films in this years lineup and would happily recommend The Man Who Feels No Pain, Ghost of the Golden Groves, Bulbul Can Sing, Rohena Gera's Sir, as well as conversations with director Anurag Kashyap (Gangs of Wasseypur), actress Radhika Apte and writer/director/actor...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 5/17/2019
- Screen Anarchy
Back for it’s 10th edition, the Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival has announced its full line-up as well as the list of guests that will be attending the Festival this year.
Their most diverse showcase yet, with 10 languages and 7 talented women Directors’ films being premiered, the Festival will play host to multi-award winning director Anurag Kashyap and one of India’s most talented actress, Radhika Apte.
This year’s highlights include a red carpet opening night at Picturehouse Central with the exciting World Premiere of cop whodunnit “Article 15” starring Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurrana directed by Anubhav Sinha. Our closing night marks the return of Ritesh Batra, the Director of “The Lunchbox”, with the premiere of “Photograph” starring the legendary Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
Ayushmann Khurrana in “Article 15”
In addition to the Screen Talks with Anurag Kashyap and Radhika Apte, there will also be a Chai with Chadha event, where prolific...
Their most diverse showcase yet, with 10 languages and 7 talented women Directors’ films being premiered, the Festival will play host to multi-award winning director Anurag Kashyap and one of India’s most talented actress, Radhika Apte.
This year’s highlights include a red carpet opening night at Picturehouse Central with the exciting World Premiere of cop whodunnit “Article 15” starring Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurrana directed by Anubhav Sinha. Our closing night marks the return of Ritesh Batra, the Director of “The Lunchbox”, with the premiere of “Photograph” starring the legendary Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
Ayushmann Khurrana in “Article 15”
In addition to the Screen Talks with Anurag Kashyap and Radhika Apte, there will also be a Chai with Chadha event, where prolific...
- 5/17/2019
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Rohena Gera’s Sir has achieved glory all over the world. Its most recent victory has been in the 19th Annual New York Indian Film Festival held recently. The film has won the award for the Best Film while lead actress Tillotama Shome has bagged the Best Actress award at the festival.
An elated Rohena says, “I am just so delighted! The audience response was fantastic and that means the world. Winning an award in New York feels really special because I had my first film job in Manhattan at Paramount Pictures and then on the sets of Tony Gerber’s 5-Borough Film side streets. So coming back with a film feels like a full circle.”
She adds, “I am particularly pleased about Tillotama’s award because her portrayal of Ratna brought out the complexities of the situation and script, bringing alive an optimistic and intelligent character who has had...
An elated Rohena says, “I am just so delighted! The audience response was fantastic and that means the world. Winning an award in New York feels really special because I had my first film job in Manhattan at Paramount Pictures and then on the sets of Tony Gerber’s 5-Borough Film side streets. So coming back with a film feels like a full circle.”
She adds, “I am particularly pleased about Tillotama’s award because her portrayal of Ratna brought out the complexities of the situation and script, bringing alive an optimistic and intelligent character who has had...
- 5/15/2019
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
The 19th Annual New York Indian Film Festival announced the winning filmmakers and actors at this year’s awards ceremony. Winning Best Film was Rohena Gera’s Sir which also played as the opening night selection for the festival. Ritesh Batra won the Best Director prize for his latest film Photograph starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Sanya Malhotra which Amazon Studios will release in U.S. theaters starting this Friday, May 17.
The complete list of Nyiff winners for 2019 is below:
Best Film: Sir (Director: Rohena Gera)
Best Director: Ritesh Batra (Photograph)
Best Actor: Adinath Kothare (Paani)
Best Actress: Tillotama Shome (Sir)
Best Child Actor: Sunny Pawar (Chippa)
Best Screenplay: Baggage (Roopa Rao)
Best Documentary Feature: Sindhustan (Director: Sapna Bhavnani)
Best Documentary Short: Daughters of Polo God (Director: Roopa Barua)
Best Short (Narrative): Bebaak (Director: Shazia Iqbal)
Be sure to check out our reviews of both Sir and Photograph.
The New...
The complete list of Nyiff winners for 2019 is below:
Best Film: Sir (Director: Rohena Gera)
Best Director: Ritesh Batra (Photograph)
Best Actor: Adinath Kothare (Paani)
Best Actress: Tillotama Shome (Sir)
Best Child Actor: Sunny Pawar (Chippa)
Best Screenplay: Baggage (Roopa Rao)
Best Documentary Feature: Sindhustan (Director: Sapna Bhavnani)
Best Documentary Short: Daughters of Polo God (Director: Roopa Barua)
Best Short (Narrative): Bebaak (Director: Shazia Iqbal)
Be sure to check out our reviews of both Sir and Photograph.
The New...
- 5/14/2019
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
Actress Tillotama Shome is excited to have won the Best Actress award at the New York Indian Film Festival (Nyiff) for her performance in 'Sir', which was adjudged the Best Film.
The movie, which has been widely lauded at film festival, features Tillotama with Vivek Gomber and Geetanjali Kulkarni. Directed by Rohena Gera, it tells a love story of a servant and the son of her upper-class employer.
For Tillotama, to be nominated at Nyiff along with "greats" like Aparna Sen, Seema Biswas, Neena Gupta and Rasika Dugal is "an insane memory to have and is the mental picture that I shall save".
"For us to win best film and best actress is completely the cherry atop a very groovy cake. I am very grateful to the jury and the festival," Tillotama told Ians.
'Sir' is yet to release in India, but it may happen soon.
"The director is really...
The movie, which has been widely lauded at film festival, features Tillotama with Vivek Gomber and Geetanjali Kulkarni. Directed by Rohena Gera, it tells a love story of a servant and the son of her upper-class employer.
For Tillotama, to be nominated at Nyiff along with "greats" like Aparna Sen, Seema Biswas, Neena Gupta and Rasika Dugal is "an insane memory to have and is the mental picture that I shall save".
"For us to win best film and best actress is completely the cherry atop a very groovy cake. I am very grateful to the jury and the festival," Tillotama told Ians.
'Sir' is yet to release in India, but it may happen soon.
"The director is really...
- 5/13/2019
- GlamSham
The fifth annual Dfw South Asian Film Festival (Dfw Saff) unveiled its 2019 film lineup recently, and it includes some of the regions finest films of 2018-19. The festival takes place from May 16th through the 19th, mostly at the AMC Village on the Parkway in Addison, just north of Dallas. Among the selections for this year's event are Cannes 2018 alum Sir, by director Rohena Gera on opening night May 16th, Tiff Midnight Madness award winner, The Man Who Feels No Pain by Vasan Bala as the centerpiece film on May 18th, and Aijaz Khan's excellent Hamid as the closing night film on May 19th. In between these gala screenings will be a total of 21 screenings of shorts and features. In addition to...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 5/13/2019
- Screen Anarchy
The New York Indian Film Festival (Nyiff) announced the full lineup at the Launch event for their 19th year of celebrating Independent, art house, alternate, and diaspora films from the Indian subcontinent (May 7– May 12) at the Village East Cinemas in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Dedicated to bringing these films to a New York audience, the festival will feature 32 screenings. Nyiff will be featuring 7 World Premieres along with an International Premiere and 5 Us premieres and the rest of the films being NY premieres. Nyiff has been the go-to festival to see South Asian diaspora films that have not been seen in New York City and is continuing with this mission for the nineteenth year.
This year Nyiff has the largest number of regional (non-Hindi) language films – 20 in total. The languages focused on are Assamese, Bengali, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, Kannada, Ladakhi, Punjabi, and Harayanavi and all the films will have English subtitles.
This year Nyiff has the largest number of regional (non-Hindi) language films – 20 in total. The languages focused on are Assamese, Bengali, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, Kannada, Ladakhi, Punjabi, and Harayanavi and all the films will have English subtitles.
- 4/25/2019
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
Filmmaker Ritesh Batra's film Photograph will be screened at the upcoming 19th Annual New York Indian Film Festival. The festival organisers have announced three of the films it will showcase during its annual week-long event in May, reports variety.com. The festival, which will take place from May 7 to May 12 at the Village East Cinemas in Manhattan, will screen Sir, Photograph and The Last Color throughout the week, followed by a session with their respective directors.
"We are proud to share a wonderful collection of new films from India," said festival director Aseem Chhabra.
"This selection of exceptional titles showcases the beauty, power and glory of film storytelling at its best. Our audience will be excited by the protagonists and fall in love with their journeys," Chhabra added.
The festival will open on May 7 with Rohena Gera's Sir. The critically acclaimed film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last May,...
"We are proud to share a wonderful collection of new films from India," said festival director Aseem Chhabra.
"This selection of exceptional titles showcases the beauty, power and glory of film storytelling at its best. Our audience will be excited by the protagonists and fall in love with their journeys," Chhabra added.
The festival will open on May 7 with Rohena Gera's Sir. The critically acclaimed film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last May,...
- 4/13/2019
- GlamSham
The New York Indian Film Festival has announced three of the films it will showcase during its annual week-long event in May.
The festival, which will take place May 7-12 at the Village East Cinemas in Manhattan, will screen “Sir,” “Photograph” and “The Last Color” throughout the week, followed by Q&As with their respective directors.
“We are proud to share a wonderful collection of new films from India,” festival director Aseem Chhabra wrote in a statement. “This selection of exceptional titles showcases the beauty, power and glory of film story telling at its best. Our audience will be excited by the protagonists and fall in love with their journeys.’
The festival will open May 7 with Rohena Gera’s “Sir.” The critically acclaimed film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last May, follows a wealthy Indian man who falls in love with his widowed servant.
“Photograph,” directed by Ritesh Batra,...
The festival, which will take place May 7-12 at the Village East Cinemas in Manhattan, will screen “Sir,” “Photograph” and “The Last Color” throughout the week, followed by Q&As with their respective directors.
“We are proud to share a wonderful collection of new films from India,” festival director Aseem Chhabra wrote in a statement. “This selection of exceptional titles showcases the beauty, power and glory of film story telling at its best. Our audience will be excited by the protagonists and fall in love with their journeys.’
The festival will open May 7 with Rohena Gera’s “Sir.” The critically acclaimed film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last May, follows a wealthy Indian man who falls in love with his widowed servant.
“Photograph,” directed by Ritesh Batra,...
- 4/13/2019
- by Anna Tingley
- Variety Film + TV
The prestigious New York Indian Film Festival (Nyiff), which begins May 7th and runs through May 12th, has announced its exciting line up of showcase films for Opening Night, Centerpiece, and Closing Night.
North America’s longest-running Indian Film Festival, the esteemed New York Indian Film Festival (Nyiff), screens premieres of feature, documentary and short films made from, of, and about the Indian subcontinent in the Independent, arthouse, alternate and diaspora genres. Seven days of screenings, post-screening discussions, industry panels, award ceremony, special events, nightly networking parties, red carpet galas, media attention and packed audiences build an awareness of Indian cinema, entertain and educate North Americans about the real India, and add to the amazing cultural diversity of New York City.
About this year’s line-up, Festival Director Aseem Chhabra stated, “We are proud to share a wonderful collection of new films from India. This selection of exceptional titles showcases the beauty,...
North America’s longest-running Indian Film Festival, the esteemed New York Indian Film Festival (Nyiff), screens premieres of feature, documentary and short films made from, of, and about the Indian subcontinent in the Independent, arthouse, alternate and diaspora genres. Seven days of screenings, post-screening discussions, industry panels, award ceremony, special events, nightly networking parties, red carpet galas, media attention and packed audiences build an awareness of Indian cinema, entertain and educate North Americans about the real India, and add to the amazing cultural diversity of New York City.
About this year’s line-up, Festival Director Aseem Chhabra stated, “We are proud to share a wonderful collection of new films from India. This selection of exceptional titles showcases the beauty,...
- 4/9/2019
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
This year’s FilMart marks the international sales debut of Beijing-based distributor Times Vision, which brings to Hong Kong a slate led by crime thriller “Savage” and animated feature “Nezha.” The company will be presenting nine live action films, including one documentary, and seven animated titles.
Times Vision is led by CEO Nathan Hao, who co-founded Chinese indie distributor Lemon Tree and led its international division before joining the newly established Times Vision in 2017. Times Vision imports foreign titles – primarily arthouse films, but it also has begun delving into the remake rights market – and is now getting into production as well. It is currently at work with Chinese partners on pre-production for a remake of 2016 Japanese Oscar entry “Her Love Boils Water.”
“We are famous for being good buyers of festival titles,” Hao told Variety. “Tvod is a new thing for Chinese audiences for foreign films. Streaming is a better...
Times Vision is led by CEO Nathan Hao, who co-founded Chinese indie distributor Lemon Tree and led its international division before joining the newly established Times Vision in 2017. Times Vision imports foreign titles – primarily arthouse films, but it also has begun delving into the remake rights market – and is now getting into production as well. It is currently at work with Chinese partners on pre-production for a remake of 2016 Japanese Oscar entry “Her Love Boils Water.”
“We are famous for being good buyers of festival titles,” Hao told Variety. “Tvod is a new thing for Chinese audiences for foreign films. Streaming is a better...
- 3/17/2019
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
CinemaWhile Fahadh has been nominated for ‘Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum’, Keerthy has been nominated for her performance in ‘Mahanati’.Digital NativeDigital NativeThe Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (Iffm) is scheduled to take place from August 10 - 22. On the jury are Simi Garewal, Nikkhil Advani, Sue Maslin, Jill Bilcock, Andrew Anastasios and Geoffrey Wright who will be selecting winners under these categories – Best Film, Best Indie Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Supporting Role and Best Director. A majority of the films competing for the awards are from Bollywood, such as Padman, Hichki, Padmaavat, Sanju, Secret Superstar and Raazi. Two Tollywood films, Mahanati and Rangasthalam, are also in the competition for the Best Film award. The nominees for the Best Actor award are Ranbir Kapoor (Sanju), Varun Dhawan (October), Fahadh Faasil (Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum), Ranveer Singh (Padmaavat), Akshay Kumar (Padman), Manoj Bajpayee (In the Shadows), Soumitra Chatterjee (Mayurakshi) and Shahid Kapoor (Padmaavat). The heroines vying for the Best Actress award are Keerthy Suresh (Mahanati), Rani Mukerji (Hichki), Vidya Balan (Tumhari Sulu), Deepika Padukone (Padmaavat), Alia Bhatt (Raazi), Bhanita Das (Village Rockstars), Tillotama Shome (Sir) and Zaira Wasim (Secret Superstar). In the Best Director category, the nominations are Rajkumar Hirani (Sanju), Shoojit Sircar (October), R Balki (Padman), Siddharth P Malhotra (Hichki), Advait Chandan (Secret Superstar), Dipesh Jain (In the Shadows), Ere Gowda (Balekempa), Suresh Triveni (Tumhari Sulu), Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Padmaavat), Rima Das (Village Rockstars), Meghna Gulzar (Raazi), Tabrez Noorani (Love Sonia) and Rohena Gera (Sir). Samantha Akkineni has been nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category for her performance in Mahanati. A galaxy of stars, including Freida Pinto, Rani Mukerji, Vicky Kaushal, Ram Charan, Richa Chadha, Rajkumar Hirani, Ali Fazal, Simi Garewal and Malaika Arora, will attend this year’s Iffm. Legendary actors Shashi Kapoor and Sridevi, who passed away recently, will be honoured with special screenings of their iconic films Siddhartha and Chandni, respectively. Also read: Marathon hearing on Section 377 concludes, Sc reserves verdict (Content provided by Digital Native)...
- 7/17/2018
- by Monalisa
- The News Minute
Benedikt Erlingsson and Ólafur Egill Egilsson took the writing prize for ‘Woman At War’.
Diamantino has won the Grand Prix at Critics’ Week, the Cannes Film Festival sidebar.
The comedy-drama, about a gormless world-class footballer whose life is sent into crisis by a World Cup final error and the death of his father, was written and directed by Gabriel Abrantes and Daniel Schmidt, and is the first feature for the pair.
The Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star award went to Félix Maritaud (Bpm (Beats Per Minute) for his role in Camille Vidal-Naquet’s Sauvage, while the Sacd award was given...
Diamantino has won the Grand Prix at Critics’ Week, the Cannes Film Festival sidebar.
The comedy-drama, about a gormless world-class footballer whose life is sent into crisis by a World Cup final error and the death of his father, was written and directed by Gabriel Abrantes and Daniel Schmidt, and is the first feature for the pair.
The Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star award went to Félix Maritaud (Bpm (Beats Per Minute) for his role in Camille Vidal-Naquet’s Sauvage, while the Sacd award was given...
- 5/17/2018
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Gently suggestive and mostly confined to richly detailed interiors, the contempo Mumbai-set “Sir” recalls Tran Ahn-hung’s “The Scent of Green Papaya” for its depiction of a furtive love blossoming between an upper-crust architect and his widowed domestic helper. Yet rather than reiterating Tran’s nostalgic fetishization of the docile Asian woman, tyro writer-director Rohena Gera emphasizes the female protagonist’s dignified struggle for self-sufficiency. Still a Cinderella tale of sorts, the film nonetheless gains gravity for its insight into Indian social rigidities that tether both impoverished villagers and well-heeled urbanites.
Like Rima Das (“Village Rockstars”), Gera is a female Indian director making her mark celebrating women’s empowerment against dire economic odds. Like Das’, her direction exudes a simple grace that transcends local issues. The Indian-French co-production could bank on sales agent MK2 to put it in festivals and art-house European theaters. With films like “Ilo Ilo” and “Sunday...
Like Rima Das (“Village Rockstars”), Gera is a female Indian director making her mark celebrating women’s empowerment against dire economic odds. Like Das’, her direction exudes a simple grace that transcends local issues. The Indian-French co-production could bank on sales agent MK2 to put it in festivals and art-house European theaters. With films like “Ilo Ilo” and “Sunday...
- 5/17/2018
- by Maggie Lee
- Variety Film + TV
“Diamantino” by co-directors Gabriel Abrantes, Daniel Schmidt was announced Wednesday as the winner of the annual Critics Week sidebar at Cannes.
The Franco-Brazilian-Portuguese comedy drama had emerged as the hot favorite to win the section. Directed by first timers Abrantes and Schmidt, it chronicles the fall from grace of a top football (soccer) player after his knee collapses and ends his career. What follows is a descent into and exploration of numerous dark sides of life.
The prize for the best short film was awarded to “Hector Malot – The Last Day Of The Year” (aka “Ektoras Malo : I Teleftea Mera Tis Chronias”) by Greek director Jacqueline Lentzou.
Other prizes awarded at the ceremony included: the Sacd Prize for Icelandic-French-Ukrainian film “Woman at War” by Benedikt Erlingsson; and the Gan Foundation Award for Distribution, to Franco-Indian effort “Sir.” Felix Maritaud won the Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award for his...
The Franco-Brazilian-Portuguese comedy drama had emerged as the hot favorite to win the section. Directed by first timers Abrantes and Schmidt, it chronicles the fall from grace of a top football (soccer) player after his knee collapses and ends his career. What follows is a descent into and exploration of numerous dark sides of life.
The prize for the best short film was awarded to “Hector Malot – The Last Day Of The Year” (aka “Ektoras Malo : I Teleftea Mera Tis Chronias”) by Greek director Jacqueline Lentzou.
Other prizes awarded at the ceremony included: the Sacd Prize for Icelandic-French-Ukrainian film “Woman at War” by Benedikt Erlingsson; and the Gan Foundation Award for Distribution, to Franco-Indian effort “Sir.” Felix Maritaud won the Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award for his...
- 5/16/2018
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
At Cannes Critics’ Week, Sir examines the meeting of two worlds as privileged Mumbai businessman Ashwin (Vivek Gomber) falls in love with his live-in maid Ratna (Tillotama Shome). Told from her point of view, we see Ratna experiencing a new and modern empowerment, as she strives to escape both the pitfalls of the old-fashioned village life that condemned her as a young widow, and a potentially damaging affair with her employer.
For writer/ director Rohena Gera, Ratna’s drive to succeed was the vital center of the story of a changing society. “It was really about these two worlds,” she said during an interview at Deadline’s Cannes studio. “In a way, maybe she does represent the old world because she comes from a village, but to me what’s interesting is that actually it’s not that predictable. She’s not a victim. She’s actually somebody who’s dynamic.
For writer/ director Rohena Gera, Ratna’s drive to succeed was the vital center of the story of a changing society. “It was really about these two worlds,” she said during an interview at Deadline’s Cannes studio. “In a way, maybe she does represent the old world because she comes from a village, but to me what’s interesting is that actually it’s not that predictable. She’s not a victim. She’s actually somebody who’s dynamic.
- 5/16/2018
- by Antonia Blyth
- Deadline Film + TV
Set inside the skyscrapers of modern-day Mumbai, Sir is not your typical Indian love story, nor does it necessarily work out the way you would expect.
But in this thoughtful study of class and the way it can both restrain and empower, writer-director Rohena Gera has crafted an intelligent romance within the confines of upper-crust Indian society. Premiering in the Cannes Critics’ Week sidebar, the film could occupy the same slot that The Lunchbox did back in 2013, providing feel-good fodder for international markets.
Ratna (Tillotama Shome) is a young widow who travels from her small village in the countryside...
But in this thoughtful study of class and the way it can both restrain and empower, writer-director Rohena Gera has crafted an intelligent romance within the confines of upper-crust Indian society. Premiering in the Cannes Critics’ Week sidebar, the film could occupy the same slot that The Lunchbox did back in 2013, providing feel-good fodder for international markets.
Ratna (Tillotama Shome) is a young widow who travels from her small village in the countryside...
- 5/14/2018
- by Jordan Mintzer
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Social taboos and the status of women form the focus of a delicately observed drama about the relationship between a wealthy man and his maid
The Indian screenwriter and documentary director Rohena Gera makes her fiction feature debut with this thoughtful and heartfelt drama she has written and directed, showing here at Cannes in the Critics’ Week sidebar. It’s a love story that slides a bit towards sentimentality and photo-love unreality in its final act, away from the strongly and plausibly rooted situation we had started out with – but the performances are likable and persuasive enough, particularly the female lead.
Tillotama Shome (whose screen credits include Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding) plays Ratka, a young woman from a remote village who has come to Mumbai to be the live-in maid to a wealthy newly married couple in their handsome apartment. She has been allowed this relative freedom because she...
The Indian screenwriter and documentary director Rohena Gera makes her fiction feature debut with this thoughtful and heartfelt drama she has written and directed, showing here at Cannes in the Critics’ Week sidebar. It’s a love story that slides a bit towards sentimentality and photo-love unreality in its final act, away from the strongly and plausibly rooted situation we had started out with – but the performances are likable and persuasive enough, particularly the female lead.
Tillotama Shome (whose screen credits include Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding) plays Ratka, a young woman from a remote village who has come to Mumbai to be the live-in maid to a wealthy newly married couple in their handsome apartment. She has been allowed this relative freedom because she...
- 5/14/2018
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Red carpet protest highlighted fact only 82 women have been honoured in Official Selection over 71 editions of festival.
Cate Blanchett and Agnes Varda led 82 female industry figures in a silent ascent of the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday protesting the lack of female representation at the event over its 71 editions.
Moving, historic, 82 women from all countries and professions in cinema have just made the red carpet entrance for Les Filles Du Soleil (Girls Of The Sun) by Eva Husson. #Cannes2018 #Competition pic.twitter.com/0YY9SNbRqg
— Festival de Cannes (@Festival_Cannes) May 12, 2018
Other stars joining the protest...
Cate Blanchett and Agnes Varda led 82 female industry figures in a silent ascent of the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday protesting the lack of female representation at the event over its 71 editions.
Moving, historic, 82 women from all countries and professions in cinema have just made the red carpet entrance for Les Filles Du Soleil (Girls Of The Sun) by Eva Husson. #Cannes2018 #Competition pic.twitter.com/0YY9SNbRqg
— Festival de Cannes (@Festival_Cannes) May 12, 2018
Other stars joining the protest...
- 5/12/2018
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Variety has been given an exclusive clip from “Sir,” a contender for the Camera D’Or at Cannes. Rohena Gera’s debut feature film, which is playing in Critics’ Week, stars Tillotama Shome, best known for her portrayal of Alice in Mira Nair’s “Monsoon Wedding.”
“Sir” is a love story set against the backdrop of the class divide in India. It is “a modern-day Cinderella story with an edge, presenting a side of Mumbai that is rarely seen in cinema and tying in with strong themes of female independence,” according to a statement.
The film centers on Ratna, who works as domestic live-in help with Ashwin, a man from a wealthy family. “Although Ashwin seems to have it all, Ratna can sense that he has given up on his dreams and is somewhat lost,” the film’s synopsis states. “On the other hand, Ratna who seems to have nothing,...
“Sir” is a love story set against the backdrop of the class divide in India. It is “a modern-day Cinderella story with an edge, presenting a side of Mumbai that is rarely seen in cinema and tying in with strong themes of female independence,” according to a statement.
The film centers on Ratna, who works as domestic live-in help with Ashwin, a man from a wealthy family. “Although Ashwin seems to have it all, Ratna can sense that he has given up on his dreams and is somewhat lost,” the film’s synopsis states. “On the other hand, Ratna who seems to have nothing,...
- 5/10/2018
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
MK2, the French film producer-distributor that has a record five films competing at Cannes Film Festival, is launching a raft of daring feature debuts from a predominantly female group of filmmakers.
Regrouped under the label Next, MK2 has boarded international sales on Elsa Amiel’s “Pearl,” Mati Diop’s “The Fire Next Time,” Amandine Gay’s “Speak Up,” Caroline Poggi and Jonathan Vinel’s “Jessica Forever” and Virgil Vernier’s “Sophia Antipolis,” among others. As previously announced, MK2 is also repping Danielle Lessovitz’s “Port Authority,” Mikhael Hers’ “Amanda” and Rohena Gera’s “Sir,” which is world premiering at Critics’ Week.
“Since MK2 was founded in 1974, it’s always been a home for auteurs, such as Jia Zhangke, Pawel Pawlikowski, Xavier Dolan, Stephane Brizé and Robert Guediguian, and we’ve always aimed at showcasing films with singular perspective on the world,” said CEO Nathanael Karmitz. “This year, we’re looking...
Regrouped under the label Next, MK2 has boarded international sales on Elsa Amiel’s “Pearl,” Mati Diop’s “The Fire Next Time,” Amandine Gay’s “Speak Up,” Caroline Poggi and Jonathan Vinel’s “Jessica Forever” and Virgil Vernier’s “Sophia Antipolis,” among others. As previously announced, MK2 is also repping Danielle Lessovitz’s “Port Authority,” Mikhael Hers’ “Amanda” and Rohena Gera’s “Sir,” which is world premiering at Critics’ Week.
“Since MK2 was founded in 1974, it’s always been a home for auteurs, such as Jia Zhangke, Pawel Pawlikowski, Xavier Dolan, Stephane Brizé and Robert Guediguian, and we’ve always aimed at showcasing films with singular perspective on the world,” said CEO Nathanael Karmitz. “This year, we’re looking...
- 5/9/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
FilmsAssamese film "Village Rockstars", Malayalam film "Bhayanakam", Bengali movie "Nagarkirtan", and "Sinjar" will be showcased at the festival's India Pavilion.IANSPoster of 'Village Rockstar' By Radhika Bhirani National Award-winning films from Assam, Kerala, West Bengal and Lakshadweep will represent India's regional cinema prowess at the 71st Cannes Film Festival where a delegation led by Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani will push for their distribution and exhibition in the global market. The prestigious film jamboree, where Nandita Das' "Manto" and Rohena Gera's "Sir" are in separate competition sections, will get under way in the French Riviera on Tuesday. Assamese film "Village Rockstars", Malayalam film "Bhayanakam", Bengali movie "Nagarkirtan", and "Sinjar", a film from Lakshadweep made in the Jasari language, will be showcased at the festival's India Pavilion, organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting along with Ficci. "With a strong Indian delegation at the festival, we are positive that the world will see the diversity of our cinema and the exceptional cinematic talent our country possesses," Leena Jaisani, Assistant Secretary General, Ficci, told Ians. Irani, who has been persistent in drawing attention to the need to celebrate the country's regional cinema, will inaugurate the India Pavilion on Wednesday. The other delegates will include Ashok Kumar Parmar, Joint Secretary (Films), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; Vinod K. Jacob, Joint Secretary, (Ed), Ministry of External Affairs; Censor Board Chairperson Prasoon Joshi, Censor Board member Vani Tripathi Tikoo, filmmakers Shaji N. Karun, Jahnu Barua and Bharat Bala, as well as actress Parvathy. Tikoo feels the domestic boundaries within Indian cinema need to go. "It's either good or bad cinema. The thrust has to be on Indian cinema as good narratives are coming from every region," Tikoo told Ians, adding that it's high time that as one of the largest film producing nations in the world, "we start respecting our cinema". She rued how films from languages other than Hindi find relevance within India after gaining "olive branches", referring to the laurel wreaths that movies flaunt after touring international film festivals. "It should be the reverse," averred Tikoo, who said the idea behind taking such titles to Cannes -- "the largest film market" -- is to ease the struggle a bit for films which have fantastic narratives, but find it hard to get the right exhibition platform. Bala, known for patriotic videos like "Vande Mataram" and "Jana Gana Mana", pointed out that in the last several years, most Indian films which have got a positioning at foreign fests are regional titles. "With the presence at Cannes Film Festival, the idea is to get them into the market, find a larger distribution stream and to work on existing co-production treaties," Bala told Ians. He agreed that the distribution mechanism for regional cinema isn't great within India itself, but said things are changing due to streaming platforms like Amazon and Netflix, which have enabled their global reach. Actress Rasika Dugal, who will be in Cannes for "Manto", finds it a great initiative. "There's a lot of beautiful work happening in films in different parts of India which we don't hear about... We either get to see it at a film festival or through a friend... So, I think it's high time it gets a push," Rasika told Ians. The films apart, the delegation's focus will be on leveraging co-productions with the countries with which India has co-production treaties, along with the other potential countries, promote ease of film shooting in India and position the International Film Festival of India (Iffi) at festival circuits. The India Pavilion will also see the launch of "T for Tajmahal", poster of "Bhonsle" by actor Manoj Bajpayee and producer Devashish Makhija, and actor Dhanush-starrer Indo-French co-production "The Extraordinary Journey Of Fakir". At the main fest, two women filmmakers' projects from India have made it to competition sections. Das' Nawazuddin Siddiqui-starrer "Manto" is in the Un Certain Regard Section, while Gera's "Sir" is in the Cannes Critics' Week sidebar. On the red carpet too, there will be women power galore as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Kangana Ranaut, Huma Qureshi and Mallika Sherawat will be seen walking the red carpet for various brand endorsements, while actors like Rasika and Tillotama Shome will represent their movies. (Radhika Bhirani can be contacted at radhika.b@ians.in ) ...
- 5/7/2018
- by Megha
- The News Minute
The lineup for the 2018 Cannes Critics’ Week (La Semaine de la Critique) has been announced.Opening FILMWildlife (Paul Dano)COMPETITIONChris the Swiss (Anja Kofmel)Diamantino (Gabriel Abrantes & Daniel Schmidt)One Day (Zsófia Szilágyi)Fugue (Agnieszka Smoczyńska)Woman at War (Benedikt Erlingsson)Sauvage (Camille Vidal-Naquet)Sir (Rohena Gera)Special Feature SCREENINGSOur Struggles (Guillaume Senez)Shéhérazade (Jean-Bernard Marlin)Special Short SCREENINGSLa Chute (Boris Labbé)Third Kind (Yorgos Zois)Apocalypse After (Bertrand Mandico)Short & Medium LENGTHAmor, Avenidas Novas (Duarte Coimbra)Hector Malot: The Last Day of the Year (Jacqueline Lentzou)Pauline, Enslaved (Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet)La Persistente (Camille Lugan)Raptor (Felipe Gálvez)Schächer (Flurin Giger)The Tiger (Mikko Myllylahti)A Wedding Day (Elias Belkeddar)Normal (Michael Borodin)Closing FILMGuy (Alex Lutz)...
- 4/16/2018
- MUBI
The Cannes Film Festival’s official selection might be lacking in new works from female directors, but elsewhere in this year’s lineup, women are staking a claim for supremacy. In the International Critics’ Week sidebar, they’re actually leading the way. In the first time in a decade, this year’s competition slate includes a majority of films made by female directors.
The seven titles that will play in Critics’ Week include four directed by women: Agnieszka Smoczynska’s (best known for her wild debut “The Lure”) “Fugue,” Anja Kofmel’s “Chris the Swiss,” Rohena Gera’s “Sir,” and Sofia Szilagyi’s “One Day.” Also competing in the section: Benedikt Erlingsson’s “Kona Fer I Strid” (“Woman at War”), Camille Vidal-Naquet’s “Sauvage,” and Gabriel Abrantes and Daniel Schmidt’s “Diamantino.”
The last time female directors offered up the majority of films in the sidebar’s competition, it was...
The seven titles that will play in Critics’ Week include four directed by women: Agnieszka Smoczynska’s (best known for her wild debut “The Lure”) “Fugue,” Anja Kofmel’s “Chris the Swiss,” Rohena Gera’s “Sir,” and Sofia Szilagyi’s “One Day.” Also competing in the section: Benedikt Erlingsson’s “Kona Fer I Strid” (“Woman at War”), Camille Vidal-Naquet’s “Sauvage,” and Gabriel Abrantes and Daniel Schmidt’s “Diamantino.”
The last time female directors offered up the majority of films in the sidebar’s competition, it was...
- 4/16/2018
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
The Cannes Film Festival’s Critics’ Week is gearing up for its 57th year in 2018. The sidebar is dedicated solely to directors’ first and second films, and this year’s edition will kick off with Paul Dano’s directorial debut “Wildlife,” starring Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal. The drama premiered at Sundance to universal acclaim earlier this year (read IndieWire’s A- review). IFC Films acquired North American distribution rights soon after.
“Wildlife” is based on a novel by Richard Ford and features a screenplay written by Dano and Zoe Kazan. The story is set in the 1960s in the small town of Great Falls, Montana. Newcomer Ed Oxenbould plays a 14-year-old boy who watches his parents’ marriage fall apart. Mulligan’s turn as the family’s matriarch earned Oscar buzz out of Sundance.
“‘Wildlife’ has a timeless dimension, as well as a social bent because it deals with the...
“Wildlife” is based on a novel by Richard Ford and features a screenplay written by Dano and Zoe Kazan. The story is set in the 1960s in the small town of Great Falls, Montana. Newcomer Ed Oxenbould plays a 14-year-old boy who watches his parents’ marriage fall apart. Mulligan’s turn as the family’s matriarch earned Oscar buzz out of Sundance.
“‘Wildlife’ has a timeless dimension, as well as a social bent because it deals with the...
- 4/16/2018
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
In what is believed to be a first, the French Union of Film Critics selected a majority of films by female directors for competition in the International Critics’ Week sidebar at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
The seven competition titles in Critics’ Week, announced Monday, will include four directed by women: Agnieszka Smoczynska’s “Fugue” (pictured above), Anja Kofmel’s “Chris the Swiss,” Rohena Gera’s “Sir” and Sofia Szilagyi’s “One Day.”
They will compete against Benedikt Erlingsson’s “Kona Fer I Strid” (Woman at War”), Camille Vidal-Naquet’s “Sauvage,” and Gabriel Abrantes & Daniel Schmidt’s “Diamantino.”
“Wildlife,” Paul Dano’s adaptation of a Richard Ford novel starring Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal, will open the sidebar in a special screening. The film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January, is the only American film chosen.
Also Read: Paul Dano's 'Wildlife
Guillaume Senez’s “Our Struggles” will also be presented as a special screening, while Alex Katz’s “Guy” will close the section.
Critics’ Week is run independently of the main festival but takes place concurrently. The selection is devoted to first and second films from new directors — and its directorial debuts, including “Wildlife,” are eligible for Cannes’ Camera d’Or for the festival’s best first film.
International Critics’ Week (Semaine de la Critique) is organized by the French Union of Film Critics, which is made up of 244 critics, writers and journalists. The oldest parallel section to the Cannes Film Festival, it began in 1962.
Also Read: Cannes Lineup Reaches From Spike Lee to Jean-Luc Godard
The winners will be chosen by a jury headed by Danish director Joachim Trier and also including American actress Chloe Sevigny, Argentinian actor Nahuel Perez Biscayart, festival programmer Eva Sangiori and French journalist Augustin Trapenard.
Critics’ Week also announced 10 short films in competition, three of them by female directors.
Read original story Majority of Cannes Critics’ Week Competition Films Were Directed by Women At TheWrap...
The seven competition titles in Critics’ Week, announced Monday, will include four directed by women: Agnieszka Smoczynska’s “Fugue” (pictured above), Anja Kofmel’s “Chris the Swiss,” Rohena Gera’s “Sir” and Sofia Szilagyi’s “One Day.”
They will compete against Benedikt Erlingsson’s “Kona Fer I Strid” (Woman at War”), Camille Vidal-Naquet’s “Sauvage,” and Gabriel Abrantes & Daniel Schmidt’s “Diamantino.”
“Wildlife,” Paul Dano’s adaptation of a Richard Ford novel starring Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal, will open the sidebar in a special screening. The film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January, is the only American film chosen.
Also Read: Paul Dano's 'Wildlife
Guillaume Senez’s “Our Struggles” will also be presented as a special screening, while Alex Katz’s “Guy” will close the section.
Critics’ Week is run independently of the main festival but takes place concurrently. The selection is devoted to first and second films from new directors — and its directorial debuts, including “Wildlife,” are eligible for Cannes’ Camera d’Or for the festival’s best first film.
International Critics’ Week (Semaine de la Critique) is organized by the French Union of Film Critics, which is made up of 244 critics, writers and journalists. The oldest parallel section to the Cannes Film Festival, it began in 1962.
Also Read: Cannes Lineup Reaches From Spike Lee to Jean-Luc Godard
The winners will be chosen by a jury headed by Danish director Joachim Trier and also including American actress Chloe Sevigny, Argentinian actor Nahuel Perez Biscayart, festival programmer Eva Sangiori and French journalist Augustin Trapenard.
Critics’ Week also announced 10 short films in competition, three of them by female directors.
Read original story Majority of Cannes Critics’ Week Competition Films Were Directed by Women At TheWrap...
- 4/16/2018
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
On the heels of the Cannes 2018 lineup (which still has a few titles to add), it’s now time for the sidebars of the festival and first up is the annual Critics’ Week, which is focused on emerging filmmakers. Opening the festival is one of our favorite films of Sundance, Paul Dano’s directorial debut Wildlife starring Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Amongst the lineup is also the psychological thriller Fugue, which is directed by The Lure helmer Agnieszka Smoczynska. Of Horses and Men director Benedikt Erlingsson is also back with the drama Woman At War, while most of the other directors come from first-time directors. Featuring a jury headed by Joachim Trier, and also including Chloe Sevigny, Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, Eva Sangiorgi and Augustin Trapenard, see the line up below.
Features – Special Screenings
Wildlife, dir: Paul Dano (opening film)
Our Struggles, dir: Guillaume Senez
Shéhérazade, dir: Jean-Bernard Marlin
Guy,...
Amongst the lineup is also the psychological thriller Fugue, which is directed by The Lure helmer Agnieszka Smoczynska. Of Horses and Men director Benedikt Erlingsson is also back with the drama Woman At War, while most of the other directors come from first-time directors. Featuring a jury headed by Joachim Trier, and also including Chloe Sevigny, Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, Eva Sangiorgi and Augustin Trapenard, see the line up below.
Features – Special Screenings
Wildlife, dir: Paul Dano (opening film)
Our Struggles, dir: Guillaume Senez
Shéhérazade, dir: Jean-Bernard Marlin
Guy,...
- 4/16/2018
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The Critics’ Week sidebar of the Cannes Film Festival has announced its lineup with Paul Dano’s feature directorial debut Wildlife as the opening night film. Billed as a Special Screening, the Sundance premiere will run out of competition and stars Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal. Alex Lutz’s Guy has been set to close the section, also out of competition.
Among the seven films competing are five from first-time directors. The two sophomore efforts are psychological thriller Fugue from Polish director Agnieszka Smoczynska (The Lure) and Woman At War from Iceland’s Benedikt Erlingsson about a woman who fights a war on her own to protect an endangered planet. For the full list, as well as the 10 shorts in selection, see below
Further Special Screenings include Our Struggles from Guillaume Senez and starring Romain Duris, and Shéhérazade, a Marseille-set debut form Jean-Bernard Marlin.
Dano’s Wildlife is inspired by...
Among the seven films competing are five from first-time directors. The two sophomore efforts are psychological thriller Fugue from Polish director Agnieszka Smoczynska (The Lure) and Woman At War from Iceland’s Benedikt Erlingsson about a woman who fights a war on her own to protect an endangered planet. For the full list, as well as the 10 shorts in selection, see below
Further Special Screenings include Our Struggles from Guillaume Senez and starring Romain Duris, and Shéhérazade, a Marseille-set debut form Jean-Bernard Marlin.
Dano’s Wildlife is inspired by...
- 4/16/2018
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
“Wildlife,” Paul Dano’s adaptation of a Richard Ford novel starring Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal, has been chosen to screen in the International Critics’ Week sidebar at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
Critics’ Week is run independently of the main festival but takes place concurrently. The selection is devoted to first and second films from new directors — and its directorial debuts, including “Wildlife,” are eligible for Cannes’ Camera d’Or for the festival’s best first film.
“Wildlife” debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January, where it won positive reviews and was acquired by IFC Films. The only American film screening in Critics’ Week, it will be presented as a special opening-night screening in the sidebar.
Also Read: 'Wildlife' Review: Paul Dano's Directorial Debut Is an Austere Portrait of a Family in Crisis
Guillaume Senez’s “Our Struggles” will also be presented as a special screening, while Alex Katz’s “Guy” will close the section. The seven competition titles in Critics’ Week will include Agnieszka Smoczynska’s “Fugue,” Benedikt Erlingsson’s “Woman at War,” Anja Kofmel’s “Chris the Swiss,” Rohena Gera’s “Sir” and Sofia Szilagyi’s “One Day.”
International Critics’ Week (Semaine de la Critique) is organized by the French Union of Film Critics, which is made up of 244 critics, writers and journalists. The oldest parallel section to the Cannes Film Festival, it began in 1962.
The winners will be chosen by a jury headed by Danish director Joachim Trier and also including American actress Chloe Sevigny, Argentinian actor Nahuel Perez Biscayart, festival programmer Eva Sangiori and French journalist Augustin Trapenard.
Critics’ Week also announced 10 short films in competition and another three in special screenings.
Also Read: Cannes Lineup Reaches From Spike Lee to Jean-Luc Godard
Filmmakers who first screened in Cannes as part of Critics’ Week include Bernardo Bertolucci, Ken Loach, Guillermo del Toro, Jacques Audiard and Alejandro G. Inarritu.
The other main sidebar that runs concurrently with the festival, Directors’ Fortnight, will announce its lineup on Tuesday.
This year’s Cannes Film Festival will run from May 8 through May 19.
The Critics’ Week lineup:
Special screenings:
“Wildlife,” Paul Dano
“Nos Batailles” (“Our Struggles”), Guillaume Senez
“Sheherazade,” Jean-Bernard Marlin
Feature film competition:
“Fuga” (“Fugue”), Agnieszka Smoczynska
“Kona Fer I Strid” (Woman at War”), Benedikt Erlingsson
“Sauvage,” Camille Vidal-Naquet
“Diamantino,” Gabriel Abrantes & Daniel Schmidt
“Chris the Swiss,” Anja Kofmel
“Sir,” Rohena Gera
“Egy Nap” (“One Day”), Sofia Szilagyi
Closing night:
“Guy,” Alex Lutz
Short films competition:
“Amor, Avenidas Novas,” Duarte Coimbra
“Ektoras Malo: I Teleftea Mera Tis Chronias” (“Hector Malot: The Last Day of the Year”), Jacqueline Lentzou
“Pauline asservie” (“Pauline, Enslaved”), Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet
“La Persistente,” Camille Lugan
“Rapaz” (“Raptor”), Felipe Galvez
“Schacher,” Flurin Giger
“Tiikeri” (“The Tiger”), Mikko Myllylahti
“Un Jour de Marriage” (“A Wedding Day”), Elias Belkeddar
“Ya Normalniy” (“Normal”), Michael Borodin
“Mo-Bum-Shi-Min” (“Exemplary Citizen”), Kim Cheol-Hwi
Short films special screenings:
“Third Kind,” Yorgos Zois
“La Chute” (“The Fall”), Boris Labbe
“Ultra Pulpe,” Bertrand Mandico
Read original story Paul Dano’s ‘Wildlife’ to Open Cannes Critics’ Week Sidebar At TheWrap...
Critics’ Week is run independently of the main festival but takes place concurrently. The selection is devoted to first and second films from new directors — and its directorial debuts, including “Wildlife,” are eligible for Cannes’ Camera d’Or for the festival’s best first film.
“Wildlife” debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January, where it won positive reviews and was acquired by IFC Films. The only American film screening in Critics’ Week, it will be presented as a special opening-night screening in the sidebar.
Also Read: 'Wildlife' Review: Paul Dano's Directorial Debut Is an Austere Portrait of a Family in Crisis
Guillaume Senez’s “Our Struggles” will also be presented as a special screening, while Alex Katz’s “Guy” will close the section. The seven competition titles in Critics’ Week will include Agnieszka Smoczynska’s “Fugue,” Benedikt Erlingsson’s “Woman at War,” Anja Kofmel’s “Chris the Swiss,” Rohena Gera’s “Sir” and Sofia Szilagyi’s “One Day.”
International Critics’ Week (Semaine de la Critique) is organized by the French Union of Film Critics, which is made up of 244 critics, writers and journalists. The oldest parallel section to the Cannes Film Festival, it began in 1962.
The winners will be chosen by a jury headed by Danish director Joachim Trier and also including American actress Chloe Sevigny, Argentinian actor Nahuel Perez Biscayart, festival programmer Eva Sangiori and French journalist Augustin Trapenard.
Critics’ Week also announced 10 short films in competition and another three in special screenings.
Also Read: Cannes Lineup Reaches From Spike Lee to Jean-Luc Godard
Filmmakers who first screened in Cannes as part of Critics’ Week include Bernardo Bertolucci, Ken Loach, Guillermo del Toro, Jacques Audiard and Alejandro G. Inarritu.
The other main sidebar that runs concurrently with the festival, Directors’ Fortnight, will announce its lineup on Tuesday.
This year’s Cannes Film Festival will run from May 8 through May 19.
The Critics’ Week lineup:
Special screenings:
“Wildlife,” Paul Dano
“Nos Batailles” (“Our Struggles”), Guillaume Senez
“Sheherazade,” Jean-Bernard Marlin
Feature film competition:
“Fuga” (“Fugue”), Agnieszka Smoczynska
“Kona Fer I Strid” (Woman at War”), Benedikt Erlingsson
“Sauvage,” Camille Vidal-Naquet
“Diamantino,” Gabriel Abrantes & Daniel Schmidt
“Chris the Swiss,” Anja Kofmel
“Sir,” Rohena Gera
“Egy Nap” (“One Day”), Sofia Szilagyi
Closing night:
“Guy,” Alex Lutz
Short films competition:
“Amor, Avenidas Novas,” Duarte Coimbra
“Ektoras Malo: I Teleftea Mera Tis Chronias” (“Hector Malot: The Last Day of the Year”), Jacqueline Lentzou
“Pauline asservie” (“Pauline, Enslaved”), Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet
“La Persistente,” Camille Lugan
“Rapaz” (“Raptor”), Felipe Galvez
“Schacher,” Flurin Giger
“Tiikeri” (“The Tiger”), Mikko Myllylahti
“Un Jour de Marriage” (“A Wedding Day”), Elias Belkeddar
“Ya Normalniy” (“Normal”), Michael Borodin
“Mo-Bum-Shi-Min” (“Exemplary Citizen”), Kim Cheol-Hwi
Short films special screenings:
“Third Kind,” Yorgos Zois
“La Chute” (“The Fall”), Boris Labbe
“Ultra Pulpe,” Bertrand Mandico
Read original story Paul Dano’s ‘Wildlife’ to Open Cannes Critics’ Week Sidebar At TheWrap...
- 4/16/2018
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Wildlife, directed by Paul Dano and starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan will open the selection.
Cannes Critics’ Week, devoted to first and second features as well as shorts, has unveiled the line-up of its 57th edition, running May 9-17.
Wildlife, the directing debut of Paul Dano and starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan, will open the selection. The film premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and is based on the novel by Richard Ford.
The closing film is Guy, Alex Lutz’s second feature, a “caustic and endearing” comedy about a once famous entertainer.
All seven competition films are by European filmmakers.
Cannes Critics’ Week, devoted to first and second features as well as shorts, has unveiled the line-up of its 57th edition, running May 9-17.
Wildlife, the directing debut of Paul Dano and starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan, will open the selection. The film premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and is based on the novel by Richard Ford.
The closing film is Guy, Alex Lutz’s second feature, a “caustic and endearing” comedy about a once famous entertainer.
All seven competition films are by European filmmakers.
- 4/16/2018
- by Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
The Cannes Film Festival’s Critics’ Week, the parallel section dedicated to directors’ first and second films, will open with Paul Dano’s drama “Wildlife” starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan.
“Wildlife,” which world premiered at Sundance and was warmly received, was written by Dano and Zoe Kazan and is based on a novel by Richard Ford. Set in the 1960s, in the small town of Great Falls in Montana, “Wildlife” is told through the perspective of a 14-year-old boy who sees his mother taking her life in her own hands after his father takes a risky job in the nearby mountains and leaves them to fend for themselves.
Charles Tesson, the sidebar’s artistic director, described “Wildlife” as a “director-driven film in the vein of Jeff Nichols’ films.”
“‘Wildlife’ has a timeless dimension, as well as a social bent because it deals with the struggles of the white working...
“Wildlife,” which world premiered at Sundance and was warmly received, was written by Dano and Zoe Kazan and is based on a novel by Richard Ford. Set in the 1960s, in the small town of Great Falls in Montana, “Wildlife” is told through the perspective of a 14-year-old boy who sees his mother taking her life in her own hands after his father takes a risky job in the nearby mountains and leaves them to fend for themselves.
Charles Tesson, the sidebar’s artistic director, described “Wildlife” as a “director-driven film in the vein of Jeff Nichols’ films.”
“‘Wildlife’ has a timeless dimension, as well as a social bent because it deals with the struggles of the white working...
- 4/16/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
It’s the first fiction feature for Gera after her well-received 2013 documentary What’s Love Got To Do With It?.
Paris-based mk2 films has boarded world sales on Indian director Rohena Gera’s star-crossed romance Sir, exploring love across the classes in Mumbai, ahead of the European Film Market this week.
The picture, which was first announced at Goa’s Film Bazaar in 2016, revolves around the impossible relationship between a middle-class man and his maid. It is currently in post-production.
“Sir is a love story that attempts to break through the class barriers in India, but it’s definitely not a straightforward Cinderella story, the ending is quite the opposite to what we might suspect as is the discovery that even the most privileged individuals are victims of the class divide,” said mk2 films managing director Juliette Schrameck.
Schrameck notes that it joins a number of other new titles either by female directors or looking at the status...
Paris-based mk2 films has boarded world sales on Indian director Rohena Gera’s star-crossed romance Sir, exploring love across the classes in Mumbai, ahead of the European Film Market this week.
The picture, which was first announced at Goa’s Film Bazaar in 2016, revolves around the impossible relationship between a middle-class man and his maid. It is currently in post-production.
“Sir is a love story that attempts to break through the class barriers in India, but it’s definitely not a straightforward Cinderella story, the ending is quite the opposite to what we might suspect as is the discovery that even the most privileged individuals are victims of the class divide,” said mk2 films managing director Juliette Schrameck.
Schrameck notes that it joins a number of other new titles either by female directors or looking at the status...
- 2/12/2018
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive/Film Bazaar: Director Rohena Gera makes fictional feature debut.
Following its return to film production with A Death In The Gunj, Studioz IDrream is set to produce Mumbai-set drama Sir, written and directed by Rohena Gera.
The film, which marks Gera’s narrative feature debut, revolves around the relationships between the middle class and their domestic helpers in Mumbai society. “The story tackles Indian taboos but I want it to be understood outside of India,” said Gera.
A successful scriptwriter with credits including Kuch Naa Kaho and Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, Gera made her directing debut in 2013 with documentary What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Studioz IDrream CEO Ashish Bhatnagar said he wanted to produce the film because “our company aims to tell Indian stories that can resonate globally”.
Bhatnagar and Gera are currently in talks with a potential French co-producer.
Rakesh Mehra (Qissa, Sunrise) is also on board the film as line producer...
Following its return to film production with A Death In The Gunj, Studioz IDrream is set to produce Mumbai-set drama Sir, written and directed by Rohena Gera.
The film, which marks Gera’s narrative feature debut, revolves around the relationships between the middle class and their domestic helpers in Mumbai society. “The story tackles Indian taboos but I want it to be understood outside of India,” said Gera.
A successful scriptwriter with credits including Kuch Naa Kaho and Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, Gera made her directing debut in 2013 with documentary What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Studioz IDrream CEO Ashish Bhatnagar said he wanted to produce the film because “our company aims to tell Indian stories that can resonate globally”.
Bhatnagar and Gera are currently in talks with a potential French co-producer.
Rakesh Mehra (Qissa, Sunrise) is also on board the film as line producer...
- 11/22/2016
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
The arranged marriage feature documentary “What’S Love Got To Do With It?” will have a Us Theatrical On Demand release in May thru Gathr. Gathr Films new distribution model allows a film’s audience the opportunity to take action and directly participate in bringing the film to their community. Theatrical-On-Demand crowd sourced distribution empowers audiences to pull films to their local theaters by aggregating their interest and pre-ordering tickets in advance. Gathr audiences are passionate, active filmgoers that use the unique power of the film medium to share new ideas and stories with their communities.
“Gathr is thrilled to partner with “What’S Love Got To Do With It?. Rohena’s film touches communities all across the country and we feel that Theatrical-On-Demand is essential to engage audiences no matter where they are,” states Jay Hogan, Director of Marketing and Outreach.
What’S Love Got To Do With It?...
“Gathr is thrilled to partner with “What’S Love Got To Do With It?. Rohena’s film touches communities all across the country and we feel that Theatrical-On-Demand is essential to engage audiences no matter where they are,” states Jay Hogan, Director of Marketing and Outreach.
What’S Love Got To Do With It?...
- 5/1/2015
- by Press Releases
- Bollyspice
Director Rohan Sippy and his longtime girlfriend Roopa De Chowdhury will tie the knot on November 9 in Mumbai. A source said, .Rohan has been dating Roopa since the last few years.She was the executive producer of Chandni Chowk to China which Rohan produced. He proposed to her last week and she accepted. They immediately planned their wedding but the venue and all other details have been kept under wraps.. The wedding will be attended by family members and a few close friends..Rohan was earlier married to screenwriter Rohena Gera, who he studied with at the Stanford University. They divorced in 2003,. added the source.After the wedding, Rohan will start working on his next film with Abhishek Bachchan.
- 11/1/2009
- Filmicafe
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