Exclusive: June Zero, the latest from writer-director Jake Paltrow and producers Oren Moverman, Miranda Bailey and David Silber, is set for theatrical release in New York on June 28, Los Angeles July 5 and nationwide July 12 by Cohen Media Group.
The film had its U.S. premiere at Film at Lincoln Center’s New York Jewish Film Festival and was an official selection at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (see Deadline review) a well as the Deauville American Film Festival, Jerusalem Film Festival, Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, Miami Jewish Film Festival, JxJ Washington Jewish Film Festival and others.
It’s set around the trial, verdict and 1962 execution of Adolf Eichmann, a principal architect of the Holocaust, revisited by Paltrow in a new and surprising way. Based on true accounts,...
The film had its U.S. premiere at Film at Lincoln Center’s New York Jewish Film Festival and was an official selection at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (see Deadline review) a well as the Deauville American Film Festival, Jerusalem Film Festival, Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, Miami Jewish Film Festival, JxJ Washington Jewish Film Festival and others.
It’s set around the trial, verdict and 1962 execution of Adolf Eichmann, a principal architect of the Holocaust, revisited by Paltrow in a new and surprising way. Based on true accounts,...
- 4/23/2024
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s always fascinating when a movie with a top star, and directed by another star, goes as far under the radar as Steve Buscemi‘s “The Listener,” starring Tessa Thompson, has.
But in the case of this particularly gentle movie — available on VOD now for $6.99 — maybe that’s part of its DNA. Like the mental health helpline operator Thompson plays, this is a movie that’s there if you need it: Quiet, thoughtful, and totally shunning the kind of splashiness that most movies are thought to require these days to stand out.
“The Listener” premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2022, where it was the closing night film of the Venice Days sidebar. On April 13, it was the closing night film of the Sarasota Film Festival, out of competition — in this over 18-month festival journey, it’s also made stops at the festivals in Vienna, Thessaloniki, Stockholm, The Hague,...
But in the case of this particularly gentle movie — available on VOD now for $6.99 — maybe that’s part of its DNA. Like the mental health helpline operator Thompson plays, this is a movie that’s there if you need it: Quiet, thoughtful, and totally shunning the kind of splashiness that most movies are thought to require these days to stand out.
“The Listener” premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2022, where it was the closing night film of the Venice Days sidebar. On April 13, it was the closing night film of the Sarasota Film Festival, out of competition — in this over 18-month festival journey, it’s also made stops at the festivals in Vienna, Thessaloniki, Stockholm, The Hague,...
- 4/20/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
Justin Kuritzkes has back-to-back adaptations in the works.
The screenwriter has been one of Luca Guadagnino’s closest collaborators of late. His “Challengers” just premiered to rave reviews and he’s already set to adapt “Queer,” the novel originally written by William S. Burroughs, for the director as well. At the Los Angeles premiere of “Challengers,” the screenwriter spoke with us about adapting the novel as well as “City on Fire,” the first of a bestselling novel trilogy from Don Winslow, which Austin Butler will lead.
Adaptations are challenging, but Kuritzkes has a method to the madness. In our conversation, he teased what he’s working on and how he approaches IP. He revealed that “Queer” is something Guadagnino has wanted to make since he was a teenager when the book came out in 1985, “I was so touched and honored when he asked me to read it and to see...
The screenwriter has been one of Luca Guadagnino’s closest collaborators of late. His “Challengers” just premiered to rave reviews and he’s already set to adapt “Queer,” the novel originally written by William S. Burroughs, for the director as well. At the Los Angeles premiere of “Challengers,” the screenwriter spoke with us about adapting the novel as well as “City on Fire,” the first of a bestselling novel trilogy from Don Winslow, which Austin Butler will lead.
Adaptations are challenging, but Kuritzkes has a method to the madness. In our conversation, he teased what he’s working on and how he approaches IP. He revealed that “Queer” is something Guadagnino has wanted to make since he was a teenager when the book came out in 1985, “I was so touched and honored when he asked me to read it and to see...
- 4/19/2024
- by Veronica Flores
- Indiewire
Nearly a month after Jonathan Glazer’s Oscars speech reverberated across Hollywood and caused a wave of controversy, 455 Jewish creatives (and counting) have signed a letter in a show of support.
“We were alarmed to see some of our colleagues in the industry mischaracterize and denounce his remarks. Their attacks on Glazer are a dangerous distraction from Israel’s escalating military campaign which has already killed over 32,000 Palestinians in Gaza and brought hundreds of thousands to the brink of starvation,” reads the letter, published amid the continued conflict in the Middle East. “We grieve for all those who have been killed in Palestine and Israel over too many decades, including the 1200 Israelis killed in the October 7 Hamas attacks and the 253 hostages taken.”
The letter is signed by a mix of actors, writers, producers, filmmakers and other creatives. Among those backing Glazer are Joker star Joaquin Phoenix; Killer Films vet Pamela Koffler...
“We were alarmed to see some of our colleagues in the industry mischaracterize and denounce his remarks. Their attacks on Glazer are a dangerous distraction from Israel’s escalating military campaign which has already killed over 32,000 Palestinians in Gaza and brought hundreds of thousands to the brink of starvation,” reads the letter, published amid the continued conflict in the Middle East. “We grieve for all those who have been killed in Palestine and Israel over too many decades, including the 1200 Israelis killed in the October 7 Hamas attacks and the 253 hostages taken.”
The letter is signed by a mix of actors, writers, producers, filmmakers and other creatives. Among those backing Glazer are Joker star Joaquin Phoenix; Killer Films vet Pamela Koffler...
- 4/10/2024
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Update: More than 300 Jewish creatives — including eight-time Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken, “SNL” star Sarah Sherman, actor and documentarian Alex Winter and “Seinfeld” writer Larry Charles — have added their names to the list of signatories of an open letter in support of Jonathan Glazer’s Oscars speech.
The number of signees now sits at 492, having more than tripled since Variety first published the April 5 letter, which criticized the attacks on Glazer for being a “dangerous distraction” from the mounting death toll in Gaza while also contributing to the “suppression of free speech and dissent.”
New additions also include Oscar-winning “Anatomy of a Fall” co-writer Arthur Harari, veteran U.K. producer and Oscar winner Jeremy Thomas, “Girls” co-showrunner and co-writer Jenni Konner and “The Hunger Games” writer and director and four-time Oscar nominee Gary Ross. Many members of the Israeli film community have also signed the open letter, including Oren Moverman, Nadav Lapid,...
The number of signees now sits at 492, having more than tripled since Variety first published the April 5 letter, which criticized the attacks on Glazer for being a “dangerous distraction” from the mounting death toll in Gaza while also contributing to the “suppression of free speech and dissent.”
New additions also include Oscar-winning “Anatomy of a Fall” co-writer Arthur Harari, veteran U.K. producer and Oscar winner Jeremy Thomas, “Girls” co-showrunner and co-writer Jenni Konner and “The Hunger Games” writer and director and four-time Oscar nominee Gary Ross. Many members of the Israeli film community have also signed the open letter, including Oren Moverman, Nadav Lapid,...
- 4/10/2024
- by Ellise Shafer and Alex Ritman
- Variety Film + TV
Production has begun in Japan on Searchlight Pictures’ comedy drama Rental Family starring Brendan Fraser.
Takehiro Hira from Shogun and Akira Emoto have joined the cast.
Beef and Tokyo Vice director Hikari helms the film which also stars previously announced Mari Yamamoto.
Principal photography is scheduled to continue in Japan through May on the story of a lonely US actor in Tokyo who forges unexpected connections after he gets a job playing stand-in roles in people’s lives at a Japanese “rental family” company.
Eddie Vaisman and Julia Lebedev of Sight Unseen are producing with Hikari, and Shin Yamaguchi. Hikari...
Takehiro Hira from Shogun and Akira Emoto have joined the cast.
Beef and Tokyo Vice director Hikari helms the film which also stars previously announced Mari Yamamoto.
Principal photography is scheduled to continue in Japan through May on the story of a lonely US actor in Tokyo who forges unexpected connections after he gets a job playing stand-in roles in people’s lives at a Japanese “rental family” company.
Eddie Vaisman and Julia Lebedev of Sight Unseen are producing with Hikari, and Shin Yamaguchi. Hikari...
- 3/18/2024
- ScreenDaily
Production has begun in Japan on Searchlight Pictures’ Rental Family starring Brendan Fraser as the company announced new cast members Takehiro Hira from Shogun and Oscar winner Akira Emoto.
Beef and Tokyo Vice director Hikari helms the comedic drama, which also stars previously announced Mari Yamamoto.
Principal photography is scheduled to continue in Japan through May on the story of a lonely American actor (Fraser) in Tokyo who forges unexpected connections after he gets a job playing stand-in roles in people’s lives at a Japanese “rental family” company.
Eddie Vaisman and Julia Lebedev of Sight Unseen are producing with Hikari,...
Beef and Tokyo Vice director Hikari helms the comedic drama, which also stars previously announced Mari Yamamoto.
Principal photography is scheduled to continue in Japan through May on the story of a lonely American actor (Fraser) in Tokyo who forges unexpected connections after he gets a job playing stand-in roles in people’s lives at a Japanese “rental family” company.
Eddie Vaisman and Julia Lebedev of Sight Unseen are producing with Hikari,...
- 3/18/2024
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: BAFTA Award nominee Takehiro Hira (Shōgun, Gran Turismo) and Japanese Academy Award winner Akira Emoto have rounded out the cast of Searchlight’s Rental Family directed by Hikari (Beef) and starring The Whale Best Actor Oscar winner Brendan Fraser and Mari Yamamoto (Pachinko).
Cameras are now rolling in Japan, with production to wrap around May. A release date has not been set.
Deadline first told you about the project, which follows a lonely, down-and-out American actor (Fraser) living in Tokyo. He starts working for a Japanese “rental family” company to play various stand-in roles in other people’s lives. Along the way, he forges some surprising human connections and discovers unexpected joys within his built-in family.
“It’s an absolute dream to bring Rental Family to the world,” said Hikari. “I am truly so thankful for my collaboration with my partners at Searchlight and Sight Unseen and for their never-ending support,...
Cameras are now rolling in Japan, with production to wrap around May. A release date has not been set.
Deadline first told you about the project, which follows a lonely, down-and-out American actor (Fraser) living in Tokyo. He starts working for a Japanese “rental family” company to play various stand-in roles in other people’s lives. Along the way, he forges some surprising human connections and discovers unexpected joys within his built-in family.
“It’s an absolute dream to bring Rental Family to the world,” said Hikari. “I am truly so thankful for my collaboration with my partners at Searchlight and Sight Unseen and for their never-ending support,...
- 3/18/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
The Stockfish Film & Industry Festival in Reykjavík, Iceland, has created an award for short films to honor the legacy of late local filmmaker Eva Maria Daniels, it was announced Thursday.
Daniels, who produced such indie dramas as What Maisie Knew, Hold the Dark and Joe Bell, died in June after a battle with cancer. She was just 43.
With the support of Daniels’ husband, Moritz Diller, and son, Henry, one standout producer or director in the festival’s Shortfish (Sprettfiskur) competition will receive the inaugural Eva Maria Daniels Award for Vital Filmmaking. The winner will receive 1.5 million Icelandic króna (about $11,000) for their next project.
The 10th annual festival takes place April 4-14. Twenty short films will participate in the competition in the categories of best short narrative, best short documentary, best music video and best short experimental. The jury will be chaired by Daniels’ longtime producing partner, Riva Marker.
“Eva’s...
Daniels, who produced such indie dramas as What Maisie Knew, Hold the Dark and Joe Bell, died in June after a battle with cancer. She was just 43.
With the support of Daniels’ husband, Moritz Diller, and son, Henry, one standout producer or director in the festival’s Shortfish (Sprettfiskur) competition will receive the inaugural Eva Maria Daniels Award for Vital Filmmaking. The winner will receive 1.5 million Icelandic króna (about $11,000) for their next project.
The 10th annual festival takes place April 4-14. Twenty short films will participate in the competition in the categories of best short narrative, best short documentary, best music video and best short experimental. The jury will be chaired by Daniels’ longtime producing partner, Riva Marker.
“Eva’s...
- 3/7/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
UK sales outfit Bankside Films has unveiled a first look image of Mala Emde in the role of Vera Brandes in Ido Fluk’s The Girl From Köln, as well as a slew of key deals on the film as the company heads into the European Film Market (EFM).
The feature, currently in post-production, tells the little-known story of one of the best-selling jazz records of all time, US pianist Keith Jarrett’s 1975 Köln Concert, and how one formidable German teenager, Vera Brandes, was instrumental in its creation. Bankside will be showing a sales promo to buyers at the EFM.
The feature, currently in post-production, tells the little-known story of one of the best-selling jazz records of all time, US pianist Keith Jarrett’s 1975 Köln Concert, and how one formidable German teenager, Vera Brandes, was instrumental in its creation. Bankside will be showing a sales promo to buyers at the EFM.
- 2/9/2024
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive:f David Laub, a longtime distribution executive at A24, is joining Metrograph to build a new slate of theatrical releases as head of Metrograph Pictures, a label that’s been focused mainly on restorations of classic films.
Laub will consider American independent, international and documentary features, both finished films and earlier stage projects to potentially provide financing. The company is aiming to get to 10 releases a year.
“We are excited to work with a wide range of films and filmmakers, and be a robust new presence in the distribution landscape,” said Laub, who will hit the ground for Metrograph at the upcoming Berlinale and European Film Market next week.
It’s not an easy time for indie film distribution. Metrograph in is announcement said the industry “in dire need of fresh thinking and inventive distribution options.”
Laub will report to and work closely with Metrograph CEO Christian Grass, who joined...
Laub will consider American independent, international and documentary features, both finished films and earlier stage projects to potentially provide financing. The company is aiming to get to 10 releases a year.
“We are excited to work with a wide range of films and filmmakers, and be a robust new presence in the distribution landscape,” said Laub, who will hit the ground for Metrograph at the upcoming Berlinale and European Film Market next week.
It’s not an easy time for indie film distribution. Metrograph in is announcement said the industry “in dire need of fresh thinking and inventive distribution options.”
Laub will report to and work closely with Metrograph CEO Christian Grass, who joined...
- 2/6/2024
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Melinda Ledbetter Wilson, the wife of Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson for nearly three decades, passed away at 77.
Brian Wilson, the musician and husband, confirmed Melinda’s death in an Instagram post on Tuesday.
Expressing his grief, he mentioned that his “heart is broken” over the loss of his “beloved wife.”
In the tribute, Brian did not disclose the cause of Melinda’s death.
The post included a set of throwback photos of Melinda, and Brian expressed deep sorrow, stating, “Our five children and I are just in tears. We are lost.”
Brian emphasized Melinda’s profound impact on his life, describing her as more than a wife. He called her his savior, anchor, and source of emotional security.
The post concluded with a request for prayers and the message, “Love and Mercy Brian.” The couple’s children also shared that Melinda passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday morning.
Brian Wilson, the musician and husband, confirmed Melinda’s death in an Instagram post on Tuesday.
Expressing his grief, he mentioned that his “heart is broken” over the loss of his “beloved wife.”
In the tribute, Brian did not disclose the cause of Melinda’s death.
The post included a set of throwback photos of Melinda, and Brian expressed deep sorrow, stating, “Our five children and I are just in tears. We are lost.”
Brian emphasized Melinda’s profound impact on his life, describing her as more than a wife. He called her his savior, anchor, and source of emotional security.
The post concluded with a request for prayers and the message, “Love and Mercy Brian.” The couple’s children also shared that Melinda passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday morning.
- 1/31/2024
- by Frank Yemi
- Monsters and Critics
Melinda Ledbetter, the second wife and longtime manager of Brian Wilson, has died at 77.
Wilson announced Ledbetter’s death on Tuesday (January 30th) through social media. “My heart is broken. Melinda, my beloved wife of 28 years, passed away this morning,” he wrote. “Our five children and I are just in tears. We are lost.”
He continued, “Melinda was more than my wife. She was my savior. She gave me the emotional security I needed to have a career. She encouraged me to make the music that was closest to my heart. She was my anchor. She was everything for us. Please say a prayer for her.”
Ledbetter and Wilson’s children also shared their thoughts in the same statement, saying, “She was a force of nature and one of the strongest women you could come by. She was not only a model, our fathers savior, and a mother, she was...
Wilson announced Ledbetter’s death on Tuesday (January 30th) through social media. “My heart is broken. Melinda, my beloved wife of 28 years, passed away this morning,” he wrote. “Our five children and I are just in tears. We are lost.”
He continued, “Melinda was more than my wife. She was my savior. She gave me the emotional security I needed to have a career. She encouraged me to make the music that was closest to my heart. She was my anchor. She was everything for us. Please say a prayer for her.”
Ledbetter and Wilson’s children also shared their thoughts in the same statement, saying, “She was a force of nature and one of the strongest women you could come by. She was not only a model, our fathers savior, and a mother, she was...
- 1/30/2024
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Music
Exclusive: Fresh off success with the acclaimed docs Sly and Willie Nelson & Family, respectively chronicling the lives and careers of Sylvester Stallone and the iconic same-name country artist, Thom Zimny has signed with Artists First. The production and management company will look for opportunities to help the filmmaker showcase his talents in the narrative feature world.
An Emmy and Grammy Award-winning director, producer and editor, Zimny co-directed Willie Nelson & Family with Oren Moverman. The project marked the first authorized doc on the life and career of Nelson, premiering at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival before debuting on Paramount+.
Examining Stallone’s decades-long through Hollywood, the Zimny-helmed Sly debuted on the streamer after closing out TIFF last fall. Up next for the multi-hyphenate is The Beach Boys, a doc on the beloved surf rockers, co-directed with Frank Marshall for Disney+, which will be released later this year.
A regular collaborator of Bruce Springsteen...
An Emmy and Grammy Award-winning director, producer and editor, Zimny co-directed Willie Nelson & Family with Oren Moverman. The project marked the first authorized doc on the life and career of Nelson, premiering at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival before debuting on Paramount+.
Examining Stallone’s decades-long through Hollywood, the Zimny-helmed Sly debuted on the streamer after closing out TIFF last fall. Up next for the multi-hyphenate is The Beach Boys, a doc on the beloved surf rockers, co-directed with Frank Marshall for Disney+, which will be released later this year.
A regular collaborator of Bruce Springsteen...
- 1/5/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
"Any song that Willie has written, he's lived it." Paramount+ has debuted their new biopic doc series called Willie Nelson & Family, available for streaming this week on their Paramount+ service. This originally premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival earlier in the year, playing in their new Series section. The first authorized work exploring the extraordinary life of Willie Nelson traverses the personal and career ups, downs, and in-betweens of one of the world's most beloved musicians, by turns spiritual, dramatic, and playful. Willie Nelson is now 90 years old and still going! This seems less of a "reality" series and more of a comprehensive look at his life and family, spanning four episodes and over four hours. "Award-winning filmmakers Thom Zimny & Oren Moverman fuse their own unique styles to construct an intimate, cinematic memoir of the Red Headed Stranger, traversing the highs, lows, and in-betweens of Willie’s personal life and professional career.
- 12/22/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Just as “The Blackening” parodied the horror movie cliché that Black characters are killed off first, the “magical Negro” trope is now getting its own satirical take.
Writer-director Kobi Libii is behind “The American Society of Magical Negroes,” which premieres at 2024 Sundance. The film, distributed by Focus Features, stars Justice Smith as Aren, a young man who is recruited into a “secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people’s lives easier,” per the official synopsis.
“I know you can feel their discomfort,” the trailer says. “Watching you walk through a room full of white people is the most painful thing I’ve ever seen.”
The plot is further teased: “That’s why we fight white discomfort every day. Because the happier they are, the safer we are.”
David Alan Grier, An-Li Bogan, Drew Tarver, Michaela Watkins, Aisha Hinds,...
Writer-director Kobi Libii is behind “The American Society of Magical Negroes,” which premieres at 2024 Sundance. The film, distributed by Focus Features, stars Justice Smith as Aren, a young man who is recruited into a “secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people’s lives easier,” per the official synopsis.
“I know you can feel their discomfort,” the trailer says. “Watching you walk through a room full of white people is the most painful thing I’ve ever seen.”
The plot is further teased: “That’s why we fight white discomfort every day. Because the happier they are, the safer we are.”
David Alan Grier, An-Li Bogan, Drew Tarver, Michaela Watkins, Aisha Hinds,...
- 12/15/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
The trailer for Willie Nelson & Family, the four-part documentary by directors Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman, offers a glimpse of the colorful life of the Red Headed Stranger.
The clip features some of the rare archival clips that anchor the film, including images of Nelson playing his guitar Trigger, hanging with fellow musicians, and even falling into an inflatable pool backstage at a festival. There’s also loads of footage of Nelson onstage with his Family Band, including his sister Bobbie Nelson, who died in 2022.
Along with Nelson’s own interviews,...
The clip features some of the rare archival clips that anchor the film, including images of Nelson playing his guitar Trigger, hanging with fellow musicians, and even falling into an inflatable pool backstage at a festival. There’s also loads of footage of Nelson onstage with his Family Band, including his sister Bobbie Nelson, who died in 2022.
Along with Nelson’s own interviews,...
- 12/14/2023
- by Joseph Hudak
- Rollingstone.com
Willie Nelson & Family, a documentary series about the country music icon from filmmakers Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman, is set to bow on Paramount+ on Dec. 21.
The career retrospective is creatively driven by directors Zimny and Moverman, both recent Emmy winners — Zimny for directing the variety special Springsteen on Broadway and Moverman for the TV movie Bad Education, starring Hugh Jackman.
Paramount+ acquired the documentary series, which recalls Nelson’s life and long career as an iconic country music singer-songwriter, after its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Nelson participated in the production and allowed Zimny — a frequent Bruce Springsteen collaborator — and Moverman access to his archives.
The four-parter is executive produced by Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan and is a production of MTV Entertainment Studios, in association with 101 Studios, Blackbird Presents Films and Sight Unseen. “Willie’s music formed the soundtrack of my youth. His songwriting helped shape me as a storyteller…...
The career retrospective is creatively driven by directors Zimny and Moverman, both recent Emmy winners — Zimny for directing the variety special Springsteen on Broadway and Moverman for the TV movie Bad Education, starring Hugh Jackman.
Paramount+ acquired the documentary series, which recalls Nelson’s life and long career as an iconic country music singer-songwriter, after its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Nelson participated in the production and allowed Zimny — a frequent Bruce Springsteen collaborator — and Moverman access to his archives.
The four-parter is executive produced by Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan and is a production of MTV Entertainment Studios, in association with 101 Studios, Blackbird Presents Films and Sight Unseen. “Willie’s music formed the soundtrack of my youth. His songwriting helped shape me as a storyteller…...
- 12/14/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Ira Sachs’ Passages, which is expanding its release this weekend, has become known for its sex scenes, but the filmmaker believes audiences are drawn to it for a different reason.
The story of a married gay couple in Paris whose relationship unravels when one partner (Franz Rogowski) begins an affair with a woman (Adèle Exarchopoulos) includes crucial moments of intercourse that ignited discussion about the state of intimacy in American cinema, especially following the news that the MPA gave the film an Nc-17 rating. The version seen now in theaters is unrated.
But, in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sachs argues that audiences are drawn to the film less because of the sex and more because of the emotional density of its subject matter. “I feel like people are happy to see an adult film, to be honest,” Sachs says. “I’m not sure the sex is what...
The story of a married gay couple in Paris whose relationship unravels when one partner (Franz Rogowski) begins an affair with a woman (Adèle Exarchopoulos) includes crucial moments of intercourse that ignited discussion about the state of intimacy in American cinema, especially following the news that the MPA gave the film an Nc-17 rating. The version seen now in theaters is unrated.
But, in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sachs argues that audiences are drawn to the film less because of the sex and more because of the emotional density of its subject matter. “I feel like people are happy to see an adult film, to be honest,” Sachs says. “I’m not sure the sex is what...
- 8/11/2023
- by Esther Zuckerman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jules director Marc Turtletaub with Anne-Katrin Titze on Ben Kingsley: “This is not a way we’ve ever seen Sir Ben before.”
Marc Turtletaub’s otherworldly Jules, written by Gavin Steckler, shot by Christopher Norr and scored by Volker Bertelmann (Oscar for Best Original Score of Edward Berger’s All Quiet On The Western Front), stars Ben Kingsley with Harriet Sansom Harris, Jane Curtin, Zoë Winters, and Jade Quon as the title character. The first time I spoke with Marc Turtletaub he was with Kelly Macdonald, star of his Puzzle (screenplay co-written by Oren Moverman) at Sony Pictures Classics. His producer credits include Jeff Nichols’ Loving (based in part on Nancy Buirski's The Loving Story), Marielle Heller’s A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood, Davy Rothbart’s 17 Blocks, as executive producer Robin Wright’s Land, and an Oscar nomination for Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton’s Little Miss Sunshine.
Marc Turtletaub’s otherworldly Jules, written by Gavin Steckler, shot by Christopher Norr and scored by Volker Bertelmann (Oscar for Best Original Score of Edward Berger’s All Quiet On The Western Front), stars Ben Kingsley with Harriet Sansom Harris, Jane Curtin, Zoë Winters, and Jade Quon as the title character. The first time I spoke with Marc Turtletaub he was with Kelly Macdonald, star of his Puzzle (screenplay co-written by Oren Moverman) at Sony Pictures Classics. His producer credits include Jeff Nichols’ Loving (based in part on Nancy Buirski's The Loving Story), Marielle Heller’s A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood, Davy Rothbart’s 17 Blocks, as executive producer Robin Wright’s Land, and an Oscar nomination for Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton’s Little Miss Sunshine.
- 8/7/2023
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Hur Jin-Ho’s intense family drama is an adaptation of Herman Koch’s ‘The Dinner’.
South Korean sales firm Finecut has closed key distribution deals for Hur Jin-ho’s A Normal Family, which is set to receive its world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival.
The family drama has been sold to key territories including France and French-speaking Switzerland (Diaphana Distribution), Vietnam (Lumix Media) and worldwide Inflight excluding South Korea and Taiwan (Encore Inflight), just based on the screening of a promo reel.
The film will debut in the Special Presentations section of TIFF and is an adaptation of Dutch...
South Korean sales firm Finecut has closed key distribution deals for Hur Jin-ho’s A Normal Family, which is set to receive its world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival.
The family drama has been sold to key territories including France and French-speaking Switzerland (Diaphana Distribution), Vietnam (Lumix Media) and worldwide Inflight excluding South Korea and Taiwan (Encore Inflight), just based on the screening of a promo reel.
The film will debut in the Special Presentations section of TIFF and is an adaptation of Dutch...
- 7/25/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Eva Maria Daniels, producer of independent features “Reality,” “What Maisie Knew” and “Joe Bell,” died on June 30 in London, after battling cancer. She was 43.
Throughout her career, Daniels maintained longstanding partnerships with producer Riva Marker and A24, worked as a producer for The Mill and Company 3 and served as a consultant for the Icelandic Film Fund.
“Eva died on the same terms as she lived. She played her cards close to her chest. She didn’t seek recognition when she had success. She didn’t seek pity when she suffered. I will miss her friendship greatly, but mostly I will miss seeing what she would have done next,” wrote director Börkur Sigthorsson on Facebook.
Most recently, Daniels executive produced the Berlin Film Festival selection and Max feature, “Reality,” which stars Sydney Sweeney and was directed by Tina Satter.
“Eva was hyper intelligent and had a gift for seeking out and supporting artists.
Throughout her career, Daniels maintained longstanding partnerships with producer Riva Marker and A24, worked as a producer for The Mill and Company 3 and served as a consultant for the Icelandic Film Fund.
“Eva died on the same terms as she lived. She played her cards close to her chest. She didn’t seek recognition when she had success. She didn’t seek pity when she suffered. I will miss her friendship greatly, but mostly I will miss seeing what she would have done next,” wrote director Börkur Sigthorsson on Facebook.
Most recently, Daniels executive produced the Berlin Film Festival selection and Max feature, “Reality,” which stars Sydney Sweeney and was directed by Tina Satter.
“Eva was hyper intelligent and had a gift for seeking out and supporting artists.
- 7/5/2023
- by Charna Flam
- Variety Film + TV
Eva Maria Daniels, the Icelandic producer who most recently executive-produced the Sydney Sweeney project “Reality,” has died. She was 43.
Daniels’ friend, filmmaker Börkur Sigthorsson, posted on Facebook that she “passed away last week in London after a long battle with cancer.” She was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer in 2020 in the middle of the pandemic but by 2021 was opening up about her experience and noting that she was now cancer-free and happy to spend more time with her young child.
“Eva died on the same terms as she lived. She played her cards close to her chest. She didn’t seek recognition when she had success. She didn’t seek pity when she suffered. I will miss her friendship greatly, but mostly I will miss seeing what she would have done next,” Sigthorsson wrote on Facebook.
As a producer, Daniels worked on projects like “Hold the Dark,” Jeremy Saulnier’s thriller...
Daniels’ friend, filmmaker Börkur Sigthorsson, posted on Facebook that she “passed away last week in London after a long battle with cancer.” She was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer in 2020 in the middle of the pandemic but by 2021 was opening up about her experience and noting that she was now cancer-free and happy to spend more time with her young child.
“Eva died on the same terms as she lived. She played her cards close to her chest. She didn’t seek recognition when she had success. She didn’t seek pity when she suffered. I will miss her friendship greatly, but mostly I will miss seeing what she would have done next,” Sigthorsson wrote on Facebook.
As a producer, Daniels worked on projects like “Hold the Dark,” Jeremy Saulnier’s thriller...
- 7/5/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Eva Maria Daniels, the Icelandic producer and film festival favorite behind such recent indie dramas as What Maisie Knew, Hold the Dark and Joe Bell, has died. She was 43.
Daniels died June 30 in London after a battle with cancer, her friend and publicist Jessie Cohen told The Hollywood Reporter. She was diagnosed in March 2020 with a type of Stage 3 cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes, but she declared herself cancer free in an interview with THR‘s Chris Gardner a year later.
“Eva died on the same terms as she lived,” director Börkur Sigthorsson wrote on Facebook. “She played her cards close to her chest. She didn’t seek recognition when she had success. She didn’t seek pity when she suffered. I will miss her friendship greatly, but mostly I will miss seeing what she would have done next.”
Daniels most recently executive produced the Sydney Sweeney-starring Reality.
Daniels died June 30 in London after a battle with cancer, her friend and publicist Jessie Cohen told The Hollywood Reporter. She was diagnosed in March 2020 with a type of Stage 3 cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes, but she declared herself cancer free in an interview with THR‘s Chris Gardner a year later.
“Eva died on the same terms as she lived,” director Börkur Sigthorsson wrote on Facebook. “She played her cards close to her chest. She didn’t seek recognition when she had success. She didn’t seek pity when she suffered. I will miss her friendship greatly, but mostly I will miss seeing what she would have done next.”
Daniels most recently executive produced the Sydney Sweeney-starring Reality.
- 7/5/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Bella Thorne has been on and off sets since the age of six years old, kicking off with the Farrelly Brothers’s Stuck On You, Entourage and The O.C., and then breaking out as a teenager on the Disney Channel show Shake It Up opposite Zendaya.
Nearly 20 years and some 130 credits later, the 25-year-old Game of Love and Divinity actress is now determined to make her mark behind the camera.
“Directing has always been something that I’ve just loved. When I’m on set, I’m behind the camera. I’m asking the Dp questions. I’m wondering, and that’s always been how it was for me since really, really young,” Thorne told Deadline at the Taormina Film Festival this week. Click on Related Link to watch full interview.
The actress and singer was at the festival to debut her short film Paint Her Red and also guest...
Nearly 20 years and some 130 credits later, the 25-year-old Game of Love and Divinity actress is now determined to make her mark behind the camera.
“Directing has always been something that I’ve just loved. When I’m on set, I’m behind the camera. I’m asking the Dp questions. I’m wondering, and that’s always been how it was for me since really, really young,” Thorne told Deadline at the Taormina Film Festival this week. Click on Related Link to watch full interview.
The actress and singer was at the festival to debut her short film Paint Her Red and also guest...
- 6/29/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Bella Thorne is saying ciao to the role of festival programmer.
The “Paint Her Red” filmmaker, who makes her directorial debut with the short film, will curate a selection for the “Influential Shorts” gala programming for the 2023 Taormina Film Festival. Thorne has selected “Don’t Go Too Far” as the first short film to be screened alongside her own.
Thorne and Taormina Film Festival co-Artistic Director Barrett Wissman selected “Don’t Go Too Far,” directed by Saudi female filmmaker Maram Taibah. The film follows an Arab man (Hakeem Jomah) with an intellectual disability who is accidentally separated from his sister (Ida Alkusay) on a New York subway. Never having been left alone in his entire life, the train carries him off. He is left to find his way back home alone in an apathetic city. “Don’t Go Too Far” is written and directed by Taibah and produced by Jaselle Martino.
The “Paint Her Red” filmmaker, who makes her directorial debut with the short film, will curate a selection for the “Influential Shorts” gala programming for the 2023 Taormina Film Festival. Thorne has selected “Don’t Go Too Far” as the first short film to be screened alongside her own.
Thorne and Taormina Film Festival co-Artistic Director Barrett Wissman selected “Don’t Go Too Far,” directed by Saudi female filmmaker Maram Taibah. The film follows an Arab man (Hakeem Jomah) with an intellectual disability who is accidentally separated from his sister (Ida Alkusay) on a New York subway. Never having been left alone in his entire life, the train carries him off. He is left to find his way back home alone in an apathetic city. “Don’t Go Too Far” is written and directed by Taibah and produced by Jaselle Martino.
- 5/23/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Exclusive: New indie film financier Mizzel Media is launching in Cannes with what we understand to be a healthy six-figure investment in feature The Girl From Köln, the next film from Holy Spider and The Tale outfit One Two Films.
The movie, which is due to shoot later this year, will star Mala Emde (And Tomorrow The Entire World) and John Magaro (Past Lives) in the lead roles.
Bankside is handling world sales in Cannes on the project, which will tell the little-known backstory of how a maverick German teenager named Vera Brandes was instrumental in the creation of the best-selling solo piano record of all time, U.S. pianist Keith Jarrett’s 1975 Köln Concert. Ido Fluk (The Ticket) directs from his own script.
The investment is U.S. outfit Mizzel’s first to date. The New York-based company is run by producer and veteran manager Lillian Lasalle, whose clients...
The movie, which is due to shoot later this year, will star Mala Emde (And Tomorrow The Entire World) and John Magaro (Past Lives) in the lead roles.
Bankside is handling world sales in Cannes on the project, which will tell the little-known backstory of how a maverick German teenager named Vera Brandes was instrumental in the creation of the best-selling solo piano record of all time, U.S. pianist Keith Jarrett’s 1975 Köln Concert. Ido Fluk (The Ticket) directs from his own script.
The investment is U.S. outfit Mizzel’s first to date. The New York-based company is run by producer and veteran manager Lillian Lasalle, whose clients...
- 5/19/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Range Media Partners on Monday announced its signing of award-winning actor, producer, writer and director Ben Foster for management.
Foster was most recently nominated for a Critics’ Choice Award for his transformative turn in the Barry Levinson-directed HBO drama The Survivor, which had him playing Auschwitz survivor turned professional boxer Harry Haft. The film also starring Vicky Krieps, Billy Magnussen, Peter Sarsgaard and more also brought him an Emmy nomination, as exec producer of the contender for Outstanding Television Movie.
Foster previously scored an Independent Spirit Award for his critically acclaimed supporting turn opposite Chris Pine, Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham in the Oscar-nominated crime drama Hell or High Water, directed by David Mackenzie from a script by Yellowstone Universe architect Taylor Sheridan. Other notable past film credits include Debra Granick’s father-daughter drama Leave No Trace, for which he earned a Gotham Award nomination, as well as...
Foster was most recently nominated for a Critics’ Choice Award for his transformative turn in the Barry Levinson-directed HBO drama The Survivor, which had him playing Auschwitz survivor turned professional boxer Harry Haft. The film also starring Vicky Krieps, Billy Magnussen, Peter Sarsgaard and more also brought him an Emmy nomination, as exec producer of the contender for Outstanding Television Movie.
Foster previously scored an Independent Spirit Award for his critically acclaimed supporting turn opposite Chris Pine, Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham in the Oscar-nominated crime drama Hell or High Water, directed by David Mackenzie from a script by Yellowstone Universe architect Taylor Sheridan. Other notable past film credits include Debra Granick’s father-daughter drama Leave No Trace, for which he earned a Gotham Award nomination, as well as...
- 4/17/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
As the new crop of 2023 festival favorites roll out, Focus Features presents A Thousand And One in over 900 carefully curated theaters, testing the appetite for specialty fare at a challenging moment.
Short film and video director A.V. Rockwell’s feature-length debut stars Teyana Taylor as free-spirited Inez, who kidnaps her six-year-old son Terry from the foster care system. Holding onto their secret and each other, mother and son set out to reclaim their sense of home, identity, and stability in a rapidly changing New York City. Reviews are stellar, see Deadline’s. The winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize is at 97% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes, 82% with auds. The fest called it “an elegant ode to the terribly beautiful power of family as an anchor in an ever-changing world, making us into who we are in ways we can only haltingly understand.”
This film, like Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight in...
Short film and video director A.V. Rockwell’s feature-length debut stars Teyana Taylor as free-spirited Inez, who kidnaps her six-year-old son Terry from the foster care system. Holding onto their secret and each other, mother and son set out to reclaim their sense of home, identity, and stability in a rapidly changing New York City. Reviews are stellar, see Deadline’s. The winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize is at 97% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes, 82% with auds. The fest called it “an elegant ode to the terribly beautiful power of family as an anchor in an ever-changing world, making us into who we are in ways we can only haltingly understand.”
This film, like Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight in...
- 3/31/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
I have been tracking producer Sol Bondy since 2016 when co-production The Happiest Day in the Life of Ölli Mäki won the Un Certain Regard Grand Prize and the European Film Award for Best Debut. He and Fred Burle have been developing The Girl from Köln (aka Köln 75) with writer-director Ido Fluk, the filmmaker behind 2016 Tribeca selection The Ticket since 2019. "This project has been very close to our hearts in the last few years and we're very excited with the way it's been shaped so far," said Bondy, a Variety Producer to Watch in 2018. "It's been such a joy working with Ido on this exciting story and we're thrilled to have put an amazing team together," added Burle, Brazilian born producer who was just made a partner in One Two Films, alongside co-founders Sol Bondy and Christoph Lange. Burle joined One Two in January 2017, having graduated from the German Film and Television Academy (dffb) the previous year. He has previously worked as a film critic, at The Match Factory, and as curator of the inaugural dffb film festival. One Two Films has produced and co-produced award-winning films such as Holy Spider (Read my blog about it here), Vadim Perelman's Persian Lessons (Read my blog about it here), Jennifer Fox's Sundance breakout The Tale, Isabel Coixet's The Bookshop and Juho Kuosmanen's The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki.Other titles in the pipeline include Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurdsson's dark comedy Northern Comfort, which premieres in SXSW later this month, Annemarie Jacir's survival drama The Oblivion Theory, Sarah Arnold's debut feature Wild Encounters and Michiel ten Horn's romantic comedy Any Other Night. In Berlin this year it was announced that Bankside would be The Girl from Köln's international sales agent and was launching sales. Alamode Film already has German-speaking territories and is a coproducer, who have very recently secured funding through the Fff, the local fund in Bavaria. It is in early pre-production and will shoot this year in Poland and Germany. The Girl from Köln tells the little-known story of Vera Brandes, who, in 1975, at the age of 17, staged the famous Köln Concert by jazz musician Keith Jarrett, which became the top-selling jazz solo album of all time. With Polish Film Institute backing, Oscar-winning Polish producer Ewa Puszczynska (Ida, Cold War) of Extreme Emotions is co-producing along with Annegret Weitkämper-Krug of Germany's Gretchenfilm (Seneca). Oscar nominee and Emmy winner Oren Moverman (Love & Mercy, Bad Education) serves as executive producer. Moverman also produced Fluk's previous feature, The Ticket. The Tale writer-director Jennifer Fox also serves as executive producer. Stephen Kelliher and Sophie Green executive produce for Bankside. It stars Mala Emde (Skin Deep, And Tomorrow the Entire World) in the lead role, alongside John Magaro (Past Lives) as Jarrett. Magaro was also in Cannes last year with Kelly Reichardt's competition title Showing Up.Other cast attached include Alexander Scheer (Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush), Ulrich Tukur (The Life of Others), Susanne Wolff (Sisi & I, Styx), Jördis Triebel (Dark), Jan Bülow (Lindenberg) and Marie-Lou Sellem (Tar, Exit Marrakesh). The NYU-graduate Fluk was dubbed "a talent to watch" by Variety following his feature debut Never Too Late, the first crowd-sourced Israeli film ever made. His American debut, the Tribeca competition selection, The Ticket, starred Dan Stevens and Malin Akerman. Upcoming projects include 24 Hours in June, a retelling of the final day in the life of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg who were convicted of spying on behalf of the Soviet Union, to be produced by Academy Award winner James Schamus (Brokeback Mountain) and Joe Pirro (Driveways). Fluk is repped by Amotz Zakai, Amy Schiffman, and Kegan Schell at Echo Lake Entertainment. He is also created the recently-announced HBO series Empty Mansions for Fremantle with director Joe Wright (Atonement, Darkest Hour) attached to direct the pilot. "From the moment I heard Vera's story, about how as a high school teenager she organized one of the greatest concerts in history, I knew her story had to be told," said Fluk. "We were immediately exhilarated by Vera Brandes' remarkable female empowerment story. Her strength, courage and sheer belief in herself and the music of Keith Jarrett will entertain and inspire audiences around the world," added Kelliher.
- 3/5/2023
- by Sydney
- Sydney's Buzz
After every Sundance Film Festival, movie lovers everywhere are treated to a torrent of buzz about the premieres and come away with one overriding question — "when can I watch these movies?" Well, we now have at least one answer.
"A Thousand And One" will get a wide release in U.S. theaters on March 31, 2023, distributed by Focus Features. Directed by A.V. Rockwell, the film won the Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival following its January 22 festival debut there.
The film focuses on a black single mother named Inez (Teyana Taylor), living in 1993 New York City. Barely making ends meet as a hairdresser after a stint in Rikers Island, her son Terry (Aaron Kingsley Adetola), is in foster care. When she asks Terry if he'd be happier with her and he answers yes, she kidnaps her own son, taking him back to Harlem. Since they're now fugitives, Terry gets the new name "Darryl,...
"A Thousand And One" will get a wide release in U.S. theaters on March 31, 2023, distributed by Focus Features. Directed by A.V. Rockwell, the film won the Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival following its January 22 festival debut there.
The film focuses on a black single mother named Inez (Teyana Taylor), living in 1993 New York City. Barely making ends meet as a hairdresser after a stint in Rikers Island, her son Terry (Aaron Kingsley Adetola), is in foster care. When she asks Terry if he'd be happier with her and he answers yes, she kidnaps her own son, taking him back to Harlem. Since they're now fugitives, Terry gets the new name "Darryl,...
- 2/26/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Germany’s Mala Emde and US actor John Magaro are set to star.
UK sales outfit Bankside Films has boarded worldwide sales on director Ido Fluk’s feature Köln 75, that tells the little-known story of one of the best-selling jazz records of all time, US pianist Keith Jarrett’s 1975 Köln Concert, and how one maverick German teenager was instrumental in its creation.
The film meets teenager Vera Brandes while she is still in high school and starts producing and promoting music concerts in Cologne, and risks everything to put on what will become Jarrett’s legendary show.
German star of...
UK sales outfit Bankside Films has boarded worldwide sales on director Ido Fluk’s feature Köln 75, that tells the little-known story of one of the best-selling jazz records of all time, US pianist Keith Jarrett’s 1975 Köln Concert, and how one maverick German teenager was instrumental in its creation.
The film meets teenager Vera Brandes while she is still in high school and starts producing and promoting music concerts in Cologne, and risks everything to put on what will become Jarrett’s legendary show.
German star of...
- 2/8/2023
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: HBO is developing a series adaptation of nonfiction book Empty Mansions, about a wealthy recluse.
The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned premium network is working on the project with The Ticket filmmaker Ido Fluk, Atonement and Darkest Hour director Joe Wright and The Mosquito Coast producer Fremantle.
The story follows Huguette Clark, an elderly, fabulously wealthy recluse who is hospitalized for a number of seemingly minor ailments and a series of events is set into motion regarding her fortune and an unsigned will.
Fluk will write and exec produce, Wright will direct the potential pilot and exec produce alongside Fremantle.
At the Rtl-owned producer and distributor, the project comes from Dante Di Loreto, President of Scripted Programming in the U.S. Di Loreto, in fact, previously worked closely with Ryan Murphy, exec producing series including Glee and American Horror Story. Murphy had optioned the book back in 2014, a year after it was published.
The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned premium network is working on the project with The Ticket filmmaker Ido Fluk, Atonement and Darkest Hour director Joe Wright and The Mosquito Coast producer Fremantle.
The story follows Huguette Clark, an elderly, fabulously wealthy recluse who is hospitalized for a number of seemingly minor ailments and a series of events is set into motion regarding her fortune and an unsigned will.
Fluk will write and exec produce, Wright will direct the potential pilot and exec produce alongside Fremantle.
At the Rtl-owned producer and distributor, the project comes from Dante Di Loreto, President of Scripted Programming in the U.S. Di Loreto, in fact, previously worked closely with Ryan Murphy, exec producing series including Glee and American Horror Story. Murphy had optioned the book back in 2014, a year after it was published.
- 2/7/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Archival and present-day footage are utilized to create a non-linear portrait of a legendary singer-songwriter in Willie Nelson & Family, a seven-part docuseries from directors Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman. Encompassing all seven decades of Nelson’s career, the series also touches upon his “philanthropy, marijuana advocacy, and activism on behalf of the American farmer.” Editors Brett Banks and Chris Iversen discuss their collaborative cut, resulting in a final product that’s an “amalgam” of both of their editing choices and styles. See all responses to our annual Sundance editor interviews here. Filmmaker: How and why did you wind up being the […]
The post “I Couldn’t Even Tell You Who Cut What”: Editors Brett Banks and Chris Iversen on Willie Nelson & Family first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “I Couldn’t Even Tell You Who Cut What”: Editors Brett Banks and Chris Iversen on Willie Nelson & Family first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 2/4/2023
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Archival and present-day footage are utilized to create a non-linear portrait of a legendary singer-songwriter in Willie Nelson & Family, a seven-part docuseries from directors Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman. Encompassing all seven decades of Nelson’s career, the series also touches upon his “philanthropy, marijuana advocacy, and activism on behalf of the American farmer.” Editors Brett Banks and Chris Iversen discuss their collaborative cut, resulting in a final product that’s an “amalgam” of both of their editing choices and styles. See all responses to our annual Sundance editor interviews here. Filmmaker: How and why did you wind up being the […]
The post “I Couldn’t Even Tell You Who Cut What”: Editors Brett Banks and Chris Iversen on Willie Nelson & Family first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “I Couldn’t Even Tell You Who Cut What”: Editors Brett Banks and Chris Iversen on Willie Nelson & Family first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 2/4/2023
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Filmmakers Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman capture the seven decade-spanning legacy of one of America’s greatest living musicians in Willie Nelson & Family, a seven-part docuseries that weaves together archival and present-day footage to create a non-linear portrait of an iconic artist. Dp Bobby Bukowski talks about lensing the series, touching upon his longtime collaboration with Moverman and how “no artificial enhancement was employed” on the shoot. See all responses to our annual Sundance cinematographer interviews here. Filmmaker: How and why did you wind up being the cinematographer of your film? What were the factors and attributes that led to […]
The post “It Was up to the Subject To Choose Their Own Eyeline”: Dp Bobby Bukowski on Willie Nelson & Family first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “It Was up to the Subject To Choose Their Own Eyeline”: Dp Bobby Bukowski on Willie Nelson & Family first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 2/4/2023
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Filmmakers Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman capture the seven decade-spanning legacy of one of America’s greatest living musicians in Willie Nelson & Family, a seven-part docuseries that weaves together archival and present-day footage to create a non-linear portrait of an iconic artist. Dp Bobby Bukowski talks about lensing the series, touching upon his longtime collaboration with Moverman and how “no artificial enhancement was employed” on the shoot. See all responses to our annual Sundance cinematographer interviews here. Filmmaker: How and why did you wind up being the cinematographer of your film? What were the factors and attributes that led to […]
The post “It Was up to the Subject To Choose Their Own Eyeline”: Dp Bobby Bukowski on Willie Nelson & Family first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “It Was up to the Subject To Choose Their Own Eyeline”: Dp Bobby Bukowski on Willie Nelson & Family first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 2/4/2023
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Every production faces unexpected obstructions that require creative solutions and conceptual rethinking. What was an unforeseen obstacle, crisis, or simply unpredictable event you had to respond to, and how did this event impact or cause you to rethink your film? The obvious unforeseen obstacle, crisis, and unpredictable event we had to respond to in making Willie Nelson & Family was the pandemic. But the impact on the process was surprising. As most people know, Willie Nelson lives on the road. He always has to be on the bus, on […]
The post “It All Mirrored Willie’s World” | Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman, Willie Nelson & Family first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “It All Mirrored Willie’s World” | Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman, Willie Nelson & Family first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 2/4/2023
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Every production faces unexpected obstructions that require creative solutions and conceptual rethinking. What was an unforeseen obstacle, crisis, or simply unpredictable event you had to respond to, and how did this event impact or cause you to rethink your film? The obvious unforeseen obstacle, crisis, and unpredictable event we had to respond to in making Willie Nelson & Family was the pandemic. But the impact on the process was surprising. As most people know, Willie Nelson lives on the road. He always has to be on the bus, on […]
The post “It All Mirrored Willie’s World” | Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman, Willie Nelson & Family first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “It All Mirrored Willie’s World” | Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman, Willie Nelson & Family first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 2/4/2023
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
The Sundance Film Festival roared back to life this year with the first in-person version of the event since 2020, and TheWrap was there with bells on to talk to some of the performers and filmmakers involved in this year’s pre-eminent films. With any luck, these films will go on to join the ranks of previous Sundance debut features like “Coda” or “Whiplash” or “Boyhood” once they hit audiences at large (and possibly even the Oscar stage).
Below, we’ve rounded up some of our interviews for you to watch along with links to every interview conducted at TheWrap’s Portrait and Video Studio at The Music Lodge during the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, sponsored by Nfp along with support from Sylvania and HigherDOSE.
Actor Jonathan Majors and the team behind the challenging drama “Magazine Dreams” spoke about how the story of an obsessed bodybuilder is a “time capsule” for modern day America.
Below, we’ve rounded up some of our interviews for you to watch along with links to every interview conducted at TheWrap’s Portrait and Video Studio at The Music Lodge during the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, sponsored by Nfp along with support from Sylvania and HigherDOSE.
Actor Jonathan Majors and the team behind the challenging drama “Magazine Dreams” spoke about how the story of an obsessed bodybuilder is a “time capsule” for modern day America.
- 1/28/2023
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
Willie Nelson is many things – he’s a country music legend, a Texas icon, an outspoken activist and one of history’s most famous tax evaders. At 89, Nelson’s life so far has been colorful and gloriously overstuffed that it probably wouldn’t fit into a single documentary. That’s why “Willie Nelson & Family,” which just premiered at Sundance, isn’t a movie exactly, but an episodic independent series about his singular life and his music. TheWrap spoke to the series’ directors Tom Zimny and Oren Moverman at Sundance about how the film came together and finding their groove as filmmakers. “It was a great journey,” said Zimny.
Zimny, who has directed a number of Bruce Springsteen films, including 2019’s theatrical release “Western Stars,” and Moverman had never worked together (but Zimny had stuck him in the audience of one of the Springsteen movies) but it is clear from...
Zimny, who has directed a number of Bruce Springsteen films, including 2019’s theatrical release “Western Stars,” and Moverman had never worked together (but Zimny had stuck him in the audience of one of the Springsteen movies) but it is clear from...
- 1/25/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
These days everything and everyone is “iconic.” But here, at the center of five rich and unrushed episodes, is the real deal. As he approaches his 90th birthday, the composer of such immortal numbers as “Crazy,” “Night Life” and “On the Road Again” is still writing songs, still playing to concert crowds. Delving into the incomparable songbook, directors Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman show how Willie Nelson broke the country mold and transcended genre boxes, again and again. Their authorized biography — the musician’s wife and his manager are executive producers — is a love letter, to be sure, and like Nelson himself it doesn’t dwell on negativity, but there’s nothing simplistic or naive about it. Willie Nelson & Family is a portrait of a man who has made music and lived life on his own terms, in good times and bad.
The series is a reminder to the casual...
The series is a reminder to the casual...
- 1/25/2023
- by Sheri Linden
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sitting down in The Hollywood Reporter’s Studio at Sundance to promote their new documentary series Willie Nelson and Family, about the life of the legendary musician, filmmakers Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman opened up about the prospect of a narrative feature in the future.
“I never imagined we’d be doing a documentary about him because he never really wanted a documentary made about him,” Moverman explained.
Obviously, Nelson had a change of heart, leading to the premiere of Willie Nelson & Family. So when asked whether a biopic in the vein of modern films like Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman, Elvis, or I Wanna Dance With Somebody could ever materialize, Moverman responded encouragingly, saying he thinks Nelson is “interested in that.”
“He’s had time to reflect over the pandemic. He’s been very careful. He’s almost 90 years old. He lost his sister, who was 91, recently. She’s in...
“I never imagined we’d be doing a documentary about him because he never really wanted a documentary made about him,” Moverman explained.
Obviously, Nelson had a change of heart, leading to the premiere of Willie Nelson & Family. So when asked whether a biopic in the vein of modern films like Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman, Elvis, or I Wanna Dance With Somebody could ever materialize, Moverman responded encouragingly, saying he thinks Nelson is “interested in that.”
“He’s had time to reflect over the pandemic. He’s been very careful. He’s almost 90 years old. He lost his sister, who was 91, recently. She’s in...
- 1/23/2023
- by Hilton Dresden
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Everybody has a Willie Nelson story, including Willie Nelson himself.
“We really opened ourselves to have somewhat of a nonlinear story so that we gave ourselves the opportunities, and five hours gives you that chance to kind of go on tangents and come back into the story, skip back,” Willie Nelson & Family co-director Oren Moverman says about the decision he and Thom Zimny made for their five-part docuseries about the legendary 89-year-old musician. “Almost like talking with Willie, where he’ll tell you a story from 1963 and then tell you a story about something that happened yesterday and all these times are really part of one story. So, we just went with it.”
Going with it is the essential vibe of Willie Nelson & Family, which has its Sundance Film Festival premiere today in Salt Lake City. At times as much a meditation on the American experiment as it is on the man himself,...
“We really opened ourselves to have somewhat of a nonlinear story so that we gave ourselves the opportunities, and five hours gives you that chance to kind of go on tangents and come back into the story, skip back,” Willie Nelson & Family co-director Oren Moverman says about the decision he and Thom Zimny made for their five-part docuseries about the legendary 89-year-old musician. “Almost like talking with Willie, where he’ll tell you a story from 1963 and then tell you a story about something that happened yesterday and all these times are really part of one story. So, we just went with it.”
Going with it is the essential vibe of Willie Nelson & Family, which has its Sundance Film Festival premiere today in Salt Lake City. At times as much a meditation on the American experiment as it is on the man himself,...
- 1/20/2023
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
As sellers and buyers roll into the chilly climes of Park City and Sundance starting tonight, a batch of promising films await at the Sundance Film Festival. Along with hopes of all-nighter auctions and the opportunity to find the next Coda. After a number of conversations with vets on both sides, the simple truth is, we won’t know if there’s a towering deal ahead, until some of the top titles his the screen over the next week.
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This is the first in-person version of Sundance in a good long time. While the festival’s terrific online portal...
Related Story Will A Return To In-Person Sundance Fire Up The Indie Film Biz? Related Story Ryan Coogler On Sundance & 'Fruitvale Station' A Decade Later & How 'Creed' May Be The Most Park City Franchise Ever Related Story Brett Kavanaugh Investigation Documentary 'Justice' From Doug Liman Added To Sundance Lineup
This is the first in-person version of Sundance in a good long time. While the festival’s terrific online portal...
- 1/20/2023
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Willie Nelson in a scene from ‘Willie Nelson and Family’ (Photo Courtesy of Sundance Institute)
The 2023 Sundance Film Festival’s lineup will include 64 Short Films and four Indie Episodic projects. More than 10,000 short film submissions were received, and the 64 selected represent work from 23 countries. 519 Indie Episodic submissions were submitted and the four selected represent five countries.
The 2023 Festival will take place in person from January 19–29. Select films will be available online beginning January 24th.
“Short films and episodic projects are an integral aspect of the overall mission of the Sundance Institute — to empower artists who are taking risks, bringing new perspectives to the forefront, and creating work that entertains and provokes conversation,” stated Kim Yutani, Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming. “These platforms provide artists with the ability to expand beyond the boundaries of traditional cinema, while also motivating a unique creativity through an ever expanding format.”
Indie Episodic
Chanshi...
The 2023 Sundance Film Festival’s lineup will include 64 Short Films and four Indie Episodic projects. More than 10,000 short film submissions were received, and the 64 selected represent work from 23 countries. 519 Indie Episodic submissions were submitted and the four selected represent five countries.
The 2023 Festival will take place in person from January 19–29. Select films will be available online beginning January 24th.
“Short films and episodic projects are an integral aspect of the overall mission of the Sundance Institute — to empower artists who are taking risks, bringing new perspectives to the forefront, and creating work that entertains and provokes conversation,” stated Kim Yutani, Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming. “These platforms provide artists with the ability to expand beyond the boundaries of traditional cinema, while also motivating a unique creativity through an ever expanding format.”
Indie Episodic
Chanshi...
- 12/13/2022
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Sundance revealed the lineup for its Shorts and Indie Episodic programs today, featuring new work from filmmakers like Paul Feig and Ken Marino, “Roma” star Yalitza Aparicio Martinez, and Henry Winkler.
Sixty-four films were selected for the Shorts program from a record-high pool of 10,981 submissions. Spanning fiction, non-fiction, and animated works from artists in the U.S. and around the world, the program features both new and returning filmmakers. Aparicio Martinez will headline Mexico’s “Sweatshop Girl,” from writer-director Selma Cervantes, playing a seamstress who must hide her pregnancy to avoid getting fired. The Feig-produced “Help Me Understand” stars “The Office” actress Kate Flannery and Ken Marino among its ensemble cast. Angela Trimbur wrote and co-stars in “Mirror Girl,” while Sarafyan appears in the sci-fi short “Power Signal.”
The Indie Episodic lineup spotlights rising creators of independently produced content for episodic platforms. Four projects were chosen this year, including “Willie Nelson and Family,...
Sixty-four films were selected for the Shorts program from a record-high pool of 10,981 submissions. Spanning fiction, non-fiction, and animated works from artists in the U.S. and around the world, the program features both new and returning filmmakers. Aparicio Martinez will headline Mexico’s “Sweatshop Girl,” from writer-director Selma Cervantes, playing a seamstress who must hide her pregnancy to avoid getting fired. The Feig-produced “Help Me Understand” stars “The Office” actress Kate Flannery and Ken Marino among its ensemble cast. Angela Trimbur wrote and co-stars in “Mirror Girl,” while Sarafyan appears in the sci-fi short “Power Signal.”
The Indie Episodic lineup spotlights rising creators of independently produced content for episodic platforms. Four projects were chosen this year, including “Willie Nelson and Family,...
- 12/13/2022
- by Harper Lambert
- The Wrap
The 2023 Sundance Film Festival officially announced the Shorts and Indie Episodic programs.
Notable artists and talent in the shorts program include Paul Feig, Angela Sarafyan, Kate Flannery, Yalitza Aparicio Martinez, Angela Trimbur, Ken Marino, Bi Gan, and Shannon Plumb. Selections range from more than 23 countries, including Iran and Ukraine.
The Sundance Institute will offer in-person premieres for the Indie Episodic works, with Shorts screened in curated programs. Beginning January 24, all Indie Episodic projects and selected Shorts will also be available to stream online through the end of the festival. The 2023 festival will take place January 19 through 29, 2023, in person in Park City, Salt Lake City, and the Sundance Resort, along with a selection of films available online across the country January 24–29.
This upcoming year’s Short Film program includes work from 23 countries, and the Indie Episodic represents works from five countries. Forty-six percent of the filmmakers identify as women, and filmmakers...
Notable artists and talent in the shorts program include Paul Feig, Angela Sarafyan, Kate Flannery, Yalitza Aparicio Martinez, Angela Trimbur, Ken Marino, Bi Gan, and Shannon Plumb. Selections range from more than 23 countries, including Iran and Ukraine.
The Sundance Institute will offer in-person premieres for the Indie Episodic works, with Shorts screened in curated programs. Beginning January 24, all Indie Episodic projects and selected Shorts will also be available to stream online through the end of the festival. The 2023 festival will take place January 19 through 29, 2023, in person in Park City, Salt Lake City, and the Sundance Resort, along with a selection of films available online across the country January 24–29.
This upcoming year’s Short Film program includes work from 23 countries, and the Indie Episodic represents works from five countries. Forty-six percent of the filmmakers identify as women, and filmmakers...
- 12/13/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Festival also unveils 64 shorts.
Sundance Film Festival organisers have unveiled four Indie Episodic series including the first authorised work exploring the life of American musician Willie Nelson and new work from Xavier Dolan, as well as 64 short films.
Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman directed Willie Nelson And Family for Blackbird Presents and Sight Unseen and the documentary series chronicles the ups and downs of Nelson’s life. The festival will premiere two of five episodes.
The Indie Episodics line-up includes The Night Logan Woke Up from Xavier Dolan, the French Canadian filmmaker behind features like Mommy and I Killed My Mother.
Sundance Film Festival organisers have unveiled four Indie Episodic series including the first authorised work exploring the life of American musician Willie Nelson and new work from Xavier Dolan, as well as 64 short films.
Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman directed Willie Nelson And Family for Blackbird Presents and Sight Unseen and the documentary series chronicles the ups and downs of Nelson’s life. The festival will premiere two of five episodes.
The Indie Episodics line-up includes The Night Logan Woke Up from Xavier Dolan, the French Canadian filmmaker behind features like Mommy and I Killed My Mother.
- 12/13/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
"Don't call it a comeback, I've been here for years." It's an LL Cool J lyric but it applies to one Geoffrey Rush, renowned Australian stage and screen actor. One of the few people who have earned an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy, and a Tony Award, Rush's resume is extensive and varied.
Following an early career on the stage with the Queensland Theater Company, Rush gained universal acclaim in a breakthrough performance in 1996 with "Shine," snagging that Best Actor Oscar. Roles of great gravitas would further cement his fame, like that of sneaky spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham in Shekhar Kapur's 1998 drama "Elizabeth" and the militant Javert in Bille August's 1998 film adaptation of "Les Miserables." Rush has also kept critics on their toes with oddball roles like that of Stephen Price (a fantastic nod to Vincent Price) in the 1999 remake of "The House on Haunted Hill." The kiddies...
Following an early career on the stage with the Queensland Theater Company, Rush gained universal acclaim in a breakthrough performance in 1996 with "Shine," snagging that Best Actor Oscar. Roles of great gravitas would further cement his fame, like that of sneaky spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham in Shekhar Kapur's 1998 drama "Elizabeth" and the militant Javert in Bille August's 1998 film adaptation of "Les Miserables." Rush has also kept critics on their toes with oddball roles like that of Stephen Price (a fantastic nod to Vincent Price) in the 1999 remake of "The House on Haunted Hill." The kiddies...
- 11/25/2022
- by Anya Stanley
- Slash Film
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